f_o_e | Test Drive Meme 1

☙ Test Drive Meme

☙ Quest:

Quest 0.1: Star Seekers
An ex-adventurer named Ausan Leighey seeks a company of adventurers to investigate a star which fell into the Yggdrasil Labyrinth.

According to the accounts of soldiers that have gone in before, the area the star supposedly fell is known to be full of sand dunes that shift about under you. They had turned back after finding the carcass of a creature, bones picked clean.

What could have done that, you wonder, even as you're suiting up because money has to come from somewhere.

It's ants. Giant, acid-spitting ants. Luckily for you, it's not the rainy season so all you have to deal with is the occasional scout that may accidentally walk into you, their advance heralded by those shifting sands. Not a problem at all, for a group. A bit of a problem for some going at it solo, so make the smart choice!

Will you try to use those natural ant pheromones to get through without too much fighting? Or perhaps you're just in this for the levels! Either way (probably both involving ant guts), you'll find a chunk of star at the end of your journey, half-buried in the sand.

Quest 0.2: Napier’s Request
Every adventurer needs good equipment! The problem is...everything is so expensive! Complaining to the store owner does nothing. She’s only an NPC after all and like any RPG NPC’s her responses are limited.

But when you went to the pub, you found she’s put in a Quest:

Hey, I know a lot of people have weapons or armour they’re not using anymore and they’re probably just collecting dust. How wasteful! If one of you can go collect three pieces of old equipment and bring it to me I’ll trade you something good.

Sounds easy enough! But the terms of the quest means you can’t trade in your own equipment...looks like it’s time to accost some of your fellow adventurers for stuff! Do you ask nicely? Do you try to trick them?

Or maybe you see an opportunity with the quest and hold a yard sale of your own old equipment.

☙ Labyrinth Encounter:
Adventurers exploring the labyrinth may encounter all sorts of events...beware, your choices may have real consequences for yourself and others travelling with you.

Rounding a corner, there is an adorable squirrel-like creature. Unlike the other creatures of the labyrinth it seems to be friendly! It tries to approach, do you…

A. Scare it away?
Scare the squirrel away and it runs off with a squeak...and then there’s a rumble before a giant monster squirrel crashes through the trees to attack! Oh no! The squirrel called its mom!

B. Allow it to approach?
Allow the squirrel to approach and it rubs up against your arm then tries to climb you like a tree. Cute! And then it steals 5000 gold from your pocket! Or if you don’t have that then whatever money you had. Oh, no! What do you do?

☙The Town of Etria:
It's been a long day of squirrels, giant ants and bartering with a stranger for that old piece of bread in their pocket because that thing was definitely still labeled as "equipment" for reasons unknown to either of you. (And had a defense buff of +10? Why?!)
Now though, your pockets are heavier with either gold or equipment because you can't have both in this town. So for your next plan, do you go to…

A. Guild
Ah, home sweet home. The moment you open the door you're greeted by the delicious smell of free food and perhaps your members are home already? Bond, fight over who gets to use the bathroom and its never-ending supply of hot water first, and once you're no longer crusted in ant guts, it's time for dinner!

B. Golden Deer Pub
That gold is weighing you down a bit too much, huh? Well, the Golden Deer Pub has you covered. A small blackboard outside lists the daily specials:

Fluffy mountain pie with a field salad, 600 gold
Dry-roasted river gar with wild rice, 650 gold
Grave hazelnut mooncake, 500 gold
Water, 50 gold

And, of course, the owner Fontayne being… himself, means that your order also comes with a side order of a joke. Dinner and a show! Hey, ever heard the joke about the FOE and the tree? You have? Want to hear it again? And then again? He's an NPC, they're not known for their imagination. Or free thought. At least the food, while expensive, is delicious and hey, you never know who you'll meet here. Maybe someone who has deeper pockets and won't mind covering your meal. Perhaps someone looking for more members for their guild, or to join a guild so they can finally stop sleeping in the corner of Napier's shop.

☙ Extra

FAQ

extended FAQ

rules

July 4, 2020 at 9pm EST

July 11, 2020 at 9pm EST

here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She looks like she wants to argue...but she knows when she's out of her leagues and, unlike with Bai Li Ji, she has no reason to push her luck.]

All right.

[Then she turns and runs. Probably...if this is a squirrel running into the trees won't help, would it?

And she doubted that the squirrel would remain stunned forever! Weren't there some heavy gates in this place? She vaguely remembers seeing some but she can't remember where they were...]

Is there anywhere we can hide?

[The mom-ster squirrel is right behind them. Nerys and A-Ting are headed in the general direction of town.]

Well, I don't think a sand dune or tree or anything like that will work. We have to try to get back to town. There are... gates... there... and... guards.

[Why is she so out of breath so fast? She used to be much quicker. What is it with this place?]

Are the guards even useful?

[She's also out of breath which she knows she shouldn't be. This place truly is the worst!

The exit of the labyrinth was...right...there. Just a little further!]

[Nerys and A-Ting round the corner and crash through the main gates. There are two NPC guards on duty. They... basically do nothing. It appears that they are indeed useless. However, Nerys shuts the gates and the Mother Squirrel is locked out.]

Whew!

[Nerys heaves a huge sigh of relief and just sits down, right where she is.]

Why is it always me?

[She is not asking anyone in particular, but feel free to answer if you actually know.]

Edited 2020-07-10 14:51 (UTC)

[A-Ting also slides to the ground...not from relief but because she's tired. Which is irritating. She hasn't been this easily exhausted in a while.

But well, what can you do? She's always been the pragmatic sort. It's not like complaining would do much.

She sits with her legs crossed, placing her hands on her knees with a posture that looks a little...like a delinquent, actually.]

Do you get chased by giant squirrels often?

[Nerys looks over at A-Ting. The way the girl is sitting, the way she cocks her head, and her general manner remind Nerys of herself at around that age. It is a surreal feeling.]

Not really. I just seem to have a knack for getting into trouble. I've had to fight to survive since I was young. What about you? You handled yourself well. Care to tell me where and how you learned to fight?

...my grandfather taught me. [She says without much inflection because...she hasn't let herself think of her grandfather in a few years except in the context of getting revenge for him.] My big brother has also been helping me cultivate.

[Nerys hears it in her voice, her grandfather is a painful subject. Perhaps A-Ting will tell her when she is ready.]

I had two brothers. What was your brother like? What's cultivating?

[She's a little relieved that no further questions were asked. Somehow speaking about it seemed...overwhelming.]

Big brother is... [She looks up, her face scrunched up in thought.] ...kind of quiet, but he also a bit long-winded. [Or rather his manner is very quiet while he lectures her on cultivation.] Like those immortals that people tell stories about.

[She sounds very matter-of-fact and not very impressed despite her words. In truth, while she appreciated her brother's help and she was fond of him she can't help but feel that this brother of hers was a little odd.

As for what is cultivating/cultivation.]

Dunno. It has to do with souls and immortality and stuff. And becoming stronger. [Her current situation means her lessons are skipping over the theoretical and philosophical parts of cultivation which includes questions like 'what is cultivation' in favour of more practical lessons like 'how to heal faster from having every single one of your ribs broken'.]

[Nerys smiles and a nostalgic look crosses her face.]

I've known several men who were quiet, but not many who were long-winded. Immortals? Do you mean like gods? I would be interested to hear more.

[She thinks about it with a small frown then shakes her head.]

I don't think so. Getting to a certain stage of cultivation will allow you to live forever...but in the end, they are still just people even if they've forgotten what it's like to live like one or the value of mortal lives.

[She is not only speaking of her brother, naturally, but also of the man she's been travelling with...though, as far as she knows, only one of them has been killing people callously.]

I guess those who cannot die could devalue mortal lives pretty easily. The Prophets are not like that, but the Pah-wraiths are. They both have always been immortal, they did not obtain immortality.

[Yeah, you might have to ask her to explain a little bit more.]

The prophets? Which prophets? [Unfortunately, she can't hear capitals.] And what are Pah-wraiths?

[Nerys is used to having to explain her beliefs. She speaks as though she has the speech memorized.]

I'm from the planet Bajor. I'm Bajoran. The Prophets are immortal beings that we, the Bajorans, consider to be gods. They're benevolent and powerful, so we worship and pray to them. They live in the Celestial Temple. Some people from other planets consider the Prophets to be very powerful aliens, and nothing more.

The Pah-wraiths once dwelt in the Celestial Temple as well. For reasons unknown, the Prophets kicked them out, and threw them into the Fire Caves. They're immortal as well. However, they're purely evil.

We believe that charity, humility, and faith are very important. We believe that everyone has a Pah. Some people call it a soul, a spirit, or an essence. We believe our Pah exists after death as a Borhya, which is like a ghost or spirit. If we're worthy, then our Pah will join the Prophets in the Celestial Temple.

That's the basics about the Prophets and the Bajoran religion. I hope that helps. Would you tell me more about where you are from?

Test Drive Meme 1

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Run faster!

her legs are short cut her some slack! ALSO MOM-STER SQUIRREL

Did someone say "MOM-STER SQUIRREL?!" RNG says "Whew."

The RNG gods smile on us this day

Getting to know you.

Getting to know all about you

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This sounds interesting.

I love this canon a lot! I mean...obviously since I play from it.

Re: I love this canon a lot! I mean... obviously since I play from it.

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Welcome to Bajoran Religion 101