Test Drive Meme 1

[labyrinthian_mods]

☙ 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
Got something in mind? Want to play with the setting more? The sky's the limit, so feel free and make up your own prompts to play with!

Welcome to Labyrinthian’s first Test Drive Meme! Please check out the FAQ, extended FAQ and rules as you test your characters out. The setting is yours to play with, so be creative and have a good time with it!

An important date to remember is July 4, 2020 at 9pm EST is when Reserves will open and Applications will open on July 11, 2020 at 9pm EST. There will be reserves for this app round, so please make sure to have that in before you apply. As a side note, TDM threads are not canon, so please feel free to assume established CR for the sake of the TDM if it will make threading or showing off your character's voice easier.

If you have any questions about the TDM, feel free to ask us here. If there are any other questions, you can catch us via PM, the FAQ or the contact page. You are of course welcome to use prompts from the previous test drives as well. Thank you for your interest in Labyrinthian!

Comments

[unwantedtwin]

[...

Look, she's not judging, she's just a little confused because...]

Aren't you a little old to be called 'brother'? Should I call you uncle instead?

[softheartedshizun]

[Don't @ him! He's not that old! This body was definitely some generic young peak of prime age, and he himself...!

...

Definitely hasn't experienced 30 years of life yet!!]

...

Do what you like.

[Let him cry silently in his heart as he feels old for the first time.]

[unwantedtwin]

[If you were like, at least a decade younger maybe she would have called you big brother without question.

...honestly. This person was so strange.]

Then...Uncle Shen.

[Even as she says it she realizes...it's been a while since she's called anyone uncle. Not since that day three years ago. It's a bitter sort of feeling and she doesn't know what do do about it so she shoves it away. To avoid thinking of it, she gripped his sleeve tighter and walked a little faster.]

Maybe we can look for that star.

[softheartedshizun]

[He wasn't sure how he felt about it, if he had to choose he definitely preferred Teacher in general, but, he wasn't going to propose such a relationship when he had nothing to teach and they had only just met!

But, he could get used to it.

When she started walking faster he kept up pace with little effort.]

Hopefully, it will not be in the lower levels.

[This was a starting quest, right? They shouldn't have to go inside yet, right!?]

But first, we should make sure we have supplies.

[unwantedtwin]

[There are some very bad connotations associated with teacher right now so really. Best not to bring that up, maybe.

She does pause, though. Look, she understands the need to have supplies but also...]

I have no money.

[softheartedshizun]

Not even starting money?

[Had they received starting money? He wasn't sure now that he thought about it.]

Do you have random items from the monsters you had to kill?

[Hopefully she picked them up....]

[unwantedtwin]

I used it to buy food.

[Which was a lot more expensive than she expected...]

I do. I wasn't sure what to do with them.

[But they'd been there so she'd...picked them up. But also...]

None of it seems like they're edible.

[softheartedshizun]

If it's useless it's for selling. We can give it to the item shop and then buy some health potions and other needed items.

[The best way to get starting gold.]

[unwantedtwin]

Why would someone buy something useless?

[She's not doubting you she just doesn't think that makes sense.]

[softheartedshizun]

Because it's not useless for them. They have other skills that allow them to put it to good use. Such as... making potions, equipment, other items....

[Whatever you can buy at the shop.]

[unwantedtwin]

Huh.

[Now she does look a little impressed.]

Uncle Shen is really knowledgeable about these things.

[softheartedshizun]

[Ha! Don't doubt your elders! Though, he wasn't sure how proud he should feel about being good at video game mechanics.]

Well, a little investigation will reveal many new things.

[unwantedtwin]

[Investigation...? That's definitely not her specialty though she can be surprisingly perceptive.

But this situation goes beyond perception, doesn't it?

Still......she just wants to fight those monsters!]

Then let's hurry already.

[She's tugging on his sleeve insistently, exactly like the impatient child she is.]

[softheartedshizun]

Are we not already headed there?

[He was at least. Don't be in such a hurry, they had plenty of time.]

The star isn't going to vanish any time soon.

[unwantedtwin]

[Speak for yourself she was absolutely aiming to run right into the labyrinth.]

I want to fight the ants.

[She doesn't care that much about the star. Just let her fight things! Strong things! So she can become stronger!]

[softheartedshizun]

The ants will always be there, so it's definitely best to have proper supplies.

[Especially since ants usually aggro terribly and will kill you faster than anything else can.]

[unwantedtwin]

Fine. But let's make it quick.

[She tugs on his sleeve again, not realizing how much she sounds like a child begging for ice cream.

Except, you know. She's asking to fight monster ants.]

[softheartedshizun]

Yes, yes.

[He wasn't bothered, somehow... it was a bit comforting, a young person pulling on him, though he can't really place his finger on why.]

It shouldn't take too long, and then we can go.

[unwantedtwin]

[She nods. Then seems to consider him seriously.]

Maybe we should get your some armour too. [She's not saying you look weak but...]

[softheartedshizun]

[He considered it a moment, getting new armor might be a good idea, however, he doubted what they could afford and what he could wear would be worth the cost compared to small difference it could potentially make.]

I can only wear cloth armor, so these robes should be more than good enough for now.

[unwantedtwin]

[She looks at those robes for a moment, and feels the material between her fingers, considering. Then she looks up at him with all the solemnity only a child could manage.]

All right. I'll protect Uncle Shen.

[softheartedshizun]

[He wants to cry. A child should not have to protect him! He should be protecting them! But, the nature of his class this was not inherently wrong. But!]

We will protect each other.

[He really did want to suddenly hug her though, you are a bit of a brat but this moment was very pure!]

[unwantedtwin]

I don't need to be protected.

[She's strong, okay.]

[softheartedshizun]

[Don't say something so overwhelmingly sad as a child!]

Even if you don't, it's this 'uncle's' job to do so anyway.

[unwantedtwin]

[There's shock in her expression and, for a moment, her grip on his sleeve tightens.

Her denial that she needs to be protected was a reflexive one. She's strong enough to not need protection and yet...

It has also been some time since she's had anyone to protect her. And, well. She's not sure what to do about it so she looks down and just makes a vague sound of agreement.]

Mm.

[But she's now holding onto your sleeve so tightly someone would have to pry her fingers off to get her to let go. But now she's also curious...]

Is Uncle Shen a father?