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TDM #1

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Welcome to Glencola Reef's first Test Drive Meme! This is a place where anyone interested in applying a character - or just curious to see how their characters might interact with the setting and others in the game - can mingle with one another. General prompts are provided below for inspiration.

TDM GUIDELINES

Please read the rules before posting to the TDM. These still apply here and will be enforced, up to and including deleting tags/toplevels and prebanning.
Posts from a TDM are required to apply. At least three tags across any number of threads within a TDM, posted within the last 6 months, must be provided in every application.
TDM threads can be used for AC. Note that new characters only need to check in for their first AC cycle, but established characters can use TDM tags for their AC.
TDMs are not considered game canon by default. This is mostly for logistics reasons - due to how characters travel on the map, it's unlikely that non-network threads that take place here will actually happen in-game. However, I won't stop anyone from working out how to make parts of threads game canon if they really want to.
New TDMs will be posted every three months. Keep checking back into the current TDM for new toplevels!

I. ARRIVAL

You awaken on a tropical island beach, soaking wet, powerless, and without any idea how you got here. Were you carrying something important, or wearing powerful armor? How unfortunate - it looks like only the most basic clothes, items in your pockets, and simple weapons managed to make the trip with you. Are you even physically the same as you remember? If you had superhuman abilities tied to your physiology, you might be stuck in a completely different body that lacks your usual senses. You might've been whisked away from a tense battle or a near-death experience and wake up delirious, or even injured.

Thankfully, against overwhelming odds, you're not the only one to wake up on this particular stretch of beach. You and your companion have a lot of puzzling out to do.

II. NETWORK

Even if you weren't lucky enough to wake up near someone else, at least you've arrived with a military-grade radio transceiver gripped tightly in your hand (or mouth, or other vaguely opposable appendage of choice). The clunky walkie-talkie will start buzzing and crackling for every public message that starts coming your way. Answering them back is as easy as pressing the "talk" button on the side of the device and either speaking into the receiver, or using the keypad to type into the message box that appears on the screen, then pressing the button again to send. A list of ongoing conversations with responses that are less than 24 hours old can be found by scrolling through the menu, identified by the callsigns that are participating in them. It seems that you've been assigned a callsign, too - it shows up in the top right side of the screen, format AB123C. The letters and numbers picked are...probably random.

This is your easiest avenue to communicating, or coordinating with, or complaining at the other people stuck on this island; how you decide to use this tool is up to you.

III. EXPLORING

For a place that appears, by all signs, to be an equatorial island in the middle of a tropical ocean, the local environments are surprisingly diverse. Beaches range from idyllic white sand to storm-swept pebble crags to cliffs with waterfalls cascading off the edges; the interior forests can be thinned from sandy soil or dense jungles full of prickly underbrush and with towering canopies; and the central mountain peaks, perilous enough to climb on their own, terminate in ravines and sinkholes that are hidden by thick foliage until you already have one foot over the edge.

The animals that make their homes here are equally as varied, and sometimes just as dangerous. The standard Earth fare of tropical fish swim right up to most shores, especially where reefs have grown, and a multitude of seafaring and jungle birds make their homes in ocean-facing cliffs and trees. Any one of these creatures would make for an easy snack. But you're not the only opportunistic hunters here; sharks prowl the waters, big cats stalk the jungles, and feral boars raid any camps that smell enticing. And that's just the stuff that looks like it came from modern Earth. Your improvised fishing rod might have captured a trilobite, or maybe that deer you were stalking has rounded on you with a set of alien mandibles full of sharp teeth. Or maybe, among the plants and animals completely foreign to you, you've stumbled across one that's strangely familiar to your home and no one else's.

There's a lot to figure out about this place. At least, in this instance, you aren't doing it alone.

NAVIGATION

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ARRIVAL

[When Ion comes to, sitting up shakily in the unfamiliar setting, his mind is abuzz with questions. Where is he? His friends? Why does he feel so different? What happened? There's plenty to worry about, but feeling around for his cane and finding instead another sleeping body, startles slightly. Right away, he pushes his previous concerns aside in favor of seeing to his surprise companion, gently shaking them by the shoulder.]

Hello? Can you hear me?

[When they rouse, he offers a small smile that's somewhere torn between relieved and nervous.]

Oh, good. Careful, now.

NETWORK
[cs: IY007V | voice ]

Pardon me, everyone. Has anyone managed to locate a source of fresh water? I'm concerned about the possibility of dehydration in this climate.

[He's completely out of his depth, here, and figures that plenty of the others are, as well. At least this is somewhere to start.]

And if it isn't too much trouble, would it be prudent to share some thoughts on temporary shelter for the night? I'm not quite sure where to begin...

EXPLORATION

[Between the heat and the need to continue forward in the hopes of finding resources and shelter, Ion's weak-bodied condition gets the best of him. The boy looks frail enough on a good day, but collapsed in the underbrush he's clearly more than a little ill. His hair sticks to his face, eyes unfocused and sunken, skin cold and clammy with sweat despite the heat. He gasps, breathing erratic, trembling with a hand clutched over his heart.

Clearly, the kid could use some help. Have some water handy, perhaps? Or maybe you really don't want to make this your problem--you can probably sneak by unnoticed.]

[ The boy has reason to be nervous. The figure who'd washed up next to him on the beach cuts an imposing figure, even freshly roused from unconsciousness. Umbra's great horned head rises first, staring eyelessly at the boy. There is no face to be seen on that inscrutable helm, not even any openings for breath or sight—just gilded gray steel, flecked with small blue lights.

Umbra growls, because it is one of the only things he's been able to do for centuries now and because he is confused and in pain and he doesn't know who this boy is. He is not another Tenno, is he? The growl in his throat dies down to a more plaintive sound before cutting out entirely. Is the boy a Tenno? Can he bring Umbra peace like the last one had done?

He reaches out with a steel-gloved hand, but he stops short of touching the boy. Rather, he simply holds out the hand, palm up, asking wordlessly for the connection that had been granted to him just moments earlier. ]

[Used to seeing individuals in armor, Ion hadn't immediately made any assumptions when noticing the figure beside him. Being growled at, though, does startle him enough that he takes his hand back, fiddling a little nervously with the tuning fork hung around his neck.]

I'm sorry, I hope I didn't shock you.

[And then, curiously, his unexpected companion offers a hand. Ion isn't particularly sure what to make of it...but he's also always been a bit more trusting than he should be. Or, rather, willing to put his trust in those that he knows he perhaps shouldn't. He only hesitates briefly before giving what is asked and placing his small, pale hand in the gloved one.]

[ For a moment, there is hope. The boy reaches out and Umbra remembers the pale glow of Tenno magic, that gentle voice suddenly coming from inside of him, telling him that he isn't alone. That it wasn't his fault.

The very memory of it aches; he wants that voice back, wants it more than anything. But when that pale hand touches his, there is no light within it, no magic. And inside Umbra, there is only silence. He waits for a desperate few seconds, face-plate fixed on the hand within his own, but there is no denying the truth. The Tenno is gone. Another child has been taken from him.

He relinquishes the boy's hand. He wants nothing more than to howl his anguish up to the uncaring sky, but he's too weak even for that. Instead, he pushes himself unsteadily up from the sand, coarse grains clinging to his damp armor as he kneels there, adrift. His head turns to look at the boy again. Does he know how he had come here? Where the Tenno had gone?

There's another rumble deep in Umbra's chest, this time more wounded animal than snarling beast. He doesn't even have a voice to ask his questions, but his confusion and hurt are still clear in the slump of his shoulders, that wounded sound.

He doesn't know what's happened to him—or the Tenno. ]

[Although he doesn't understand exactly what the armored individual beside him is trying to convey, there's a certain sort of communication that does shine through. A part of him wants to reach out and offer him a hand, but because that touch had triggered such an intense reaction, Ion thinks better of it, for now.]

These are strange and troubling circumstances. I don't know what you were taken from, or how either of us arrived here so suddenly...but perhaps we can help each other find a way back.

Yeah, actually! I was able to find a little waterfall heading inland from the beach. Best way to try to spot something like that is listening out. And, um... seeing if there's any sort of trickle of water down to the beach? I was walking along next to the treeline. It's good to keep in the shade, too.

For shelter, probably your best bet for the night is- Ah... how tall are you? If you can reach some palm fronds, that might be good?

Thank you so much for the information! I've camped in the wilderness before, but never alone and without supplies, in an unfamiliar place...I'm afraid I'm out of my depth, but it sounds like I might not be the only one.

[It's a bit of a relief, in a sense, just as it's horribly troubling.]

I'm a bit shorter than average for my age, I suppose. I stand around 5'5". I think I may be able to reach some lower-hanging branches, but I'm not able to climb for anything out of reach.

D-definitely not! I'm pretty sure most people have never dealt with something like this. Apart from, like, those people on television. Bear Grylls and that Survivorman... man.

[He really wishes he'd watched more of those shows now.]

How... old are you, though?

[Ah, age. Always a complicated subject. Fortunately, Ion has a practiced answer ready for situations just like this, and it's only partially untrue!]

I'm recently fourteen. I've never heard of those people, but they sound capable!

[Does television even exist in his world? Signs point to no.]

[Martin pulls a face. Why are there kids here? This is really weird. An uncomfortable. Children make him nervous. They can be... so very mean.]

Yeah, they're- It's their whole thing. Telling you about surviving in the wild. Like how to catch dew with leaves and drinking that when you can't find any other freshwater.

[At least in this case, the child in question sounds to be very polite. Ion has a kind voice, soft-spoken and feminine. Of course, it could all be a ploy. Who knows on mystery island!]

I see! You must have picked up some very useful tips from them. Do you think--ah, not to be a bother, I know you have your own worries to address wherever you've found yourself out here--could you advise me what to do if I'm able to reach some of those fronds?

[Is he meant to just pull them over himself like a blanket, or...]

Edited 2023-05-16 19:59 (UTC)

O-oh! Um! W-w-well. That... I mean. Y-yeah. Some. But I haven't... er. It's sort of been... years since I watched any of their stuff? I'm really sorry! I can try to remember, though!

S-so the fronds I was thinking you could use as a shelter, more. Under you and over you. If you have any way to sort of tie them together, that's even better. Like vines? And you probably don't want to set up camp directly on the beach just in case the tide here does weird things or-or there are little crabs that come out at night and crawl all over you.

Thank you! That's very helpful! I'll see what I can put together.

[He's not overly confident that he'll manage much on his own, but if he can't make it to any groups that might be able to help him on a physical level, he'll do his best.]

Little crabs, huh? [He can't help but giggle at the thought.] It sounds so cute...but I'm sure I wouldn't think that if I was pinched and kept awake. I'll be sure to keep further inland, though I'm a bit nervous about what might be lurking in the brush, as well.

Yeah, the... great outdoors isn't the best for sleeping in anywhere when you haven't got a proper tent. I've never actually been camping, properly.

[Occasionally sitting down in the apocalypse absolutely does not count.]

[At first, when Randvi sees a small figure hunched over in the underbrush, breathing erratically, she thinks that he's crying. It's not an unreasonable reaction to all of this - particularly from a teenager, this boy looks even younger than poor Ceolbert had been - but as she approaches she realizes he may be in severe physical distress as well.

She kneels in front of him, speaking calmly]

My name is Randvi. Can you understand me? I can help you.

[Even in that state, Ion feels the presence of someone lowering down beside him. As the words reach him, he blinks a few times to try and clear his spotty vision, nodding slowly. That's easier to do than form words, but swallowing a painful breath he still makes an effort to speak.]

Yes...thank you. I'm sorry for...the trouble.

[Already, he's burdening someone. How this weak body continues to betray him is beyond frustrating.]

Do not concern yourself with that. This is...

[She doesn't even know how to describe it]

This is pushing everyone to their limit.

There is water nearby, but I have no way to carry it. I have some fruit if you think you can eat, to fortify yourself.

[Even with his very next breath, Ion feels the urge to apologize again. He hates that he has to rely on someone that's surely also in a frightening position. That he has to borrow her resources and likely won't be able to return the favor no matter how hard he'd like to.

Still, he can't turn down her help. Ion nods, swallowing back a wad in his throat.]

That should help...thank you. Hopefully afterward I'll be able to stand.

[Right now, his legs won't cooperate.]

[She only knows that this fruit is safe to eat because Levi suggested it. They help each other.

Randvi hands the boy half of a round fruit with yellow flesh]

Be ready, it's very sweet.

[Accepting the fruit with shaking hands, it seems to take all his effort just to bring it to his mouth to bite into. As she said, it is remarkably sweet, the sugary taste bursting against his tongue. That with its own natural juices feels like instant energy entering his body. Although it isn't a cure-all and nothing compared to extended rest and hydration, it's enough that after chewing it slowly and letting it process, Ion feels just stable enough to sit upright. He eats more, and as he does, the shaking in his body subsides from a tremor to a tremble.]

I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along.

[He'd probably have cooled down enough eventually, but the jungle was dangerous--any animal could come along in that time and see him as the easy prey he was.]

My name is Ion. I'm very thankful to meet you, Randvi.

[Randvi sees a veil lift from the boy’s eyes as he eats, and wonders if that's what she’d looked like as well, struggling in the heat]

Ion. I'm glad I could help you.

[It's not a name she's heard before, but these past years she's been learning a lot of new names.

She extends her hand]

I can show you to the water, if you'd like. It's not far.

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TDM #1

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

TDM GUIDELINES

I. ARRIVAL

II. NETWORK

III. EXPLORING

Fon Master Ion (VII) | Tales of the Abyss

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network (cs: L0N31Y | voice)

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Exploration

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