Test Drive Meme - Autumn 2018

[thelostmods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

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I. Dragon Catch

You step out of your house, letter in hand to find what Zephyr laid out neatly in written word for you. Dragons, saddles and a brief explanation Zephyr was interested in a cool new book about people befriending dragons! The little godling had set up a corral, some stables and encouraged everyone to try befriending a dragon to ride. Snippets of the book are included for aid. All in all it seems like a lot of fun!

Well, until you look over the Meadous village proper.

Dragons of varying shapes, colors and sizes are meandering about the meadous, clearly having escaped the corral they had been kept in. One dragon has perched itself atop your neighbor’s home taking a nice nap in the sunshine. A gaggle of cat sized dragons have taken up digging up another neighbors garden. A few dragons hang from the beer tree, more than a bit… blasted.

One or two people you recognize are attempting to catch up to the dragons with mixed results. One person is at least hanging off of a saddle looking rather perturbed.

Do you help or merely let the dragon based chaos ensue by going back inside where you’re less likely to get involved?

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II. Be Careful What You Wish For

Well, that... that wasn't quite to plan. You stare down at the crayon drawing from Zephyr showing you exactly what you wished for. Except you hadn't meant it literally. Or you hadn't meant it quite like that, even if your wording had been vague. Now you're stuck with something you didn't want. Or perhaps you made a big mistake and now you're a different species. Or have extra appendages you can't get rid of. Not without making the walk of shame back to the Wishing Pond to wish away the changes. Why this? Why? If only you had been more clear or if only Zephyr understood subtly a bit more clearly.

Hopefully, no one will catch you as you steal forth to undo your mistake. Now that would be quite embarrassing if they saw you like this!

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III. Pumpkin Maze Frights

Fall has settled over the landscape nicely, with that comes a rather customary pumpkin patch maze. A tradition long standing that comes as the seasons shift with the Meadous.

Even long time residents seem surprised at the new heights the maze has taken on, not to mention a new sign warning its extra scary this year! The sign also advises there will be a cool prize to anyone brave enough to venture forth!

A few residents are gathered at the opening, talking amongst themselves over the newly scary-ified pumpkin maze. The maze walls are composed of pumpkins of varying shapes, sizes, colors and carvings. One or two snatch a pumpkin to turn into a pie.

Everything is fairly whimsical all in all until one steps into the maze itself to follow the dirt pathway within.

The dirt path under foot is easy to follow, but offers some minor startles at the occasional loose leaf crunching underfoot.The mixed in carved pumpkins that make up the maze walls provide some shallow lighting along with floating string lights in a light bulb shape hang over head. It is oddly darker in the maze than it ever has been before. It’s almost a little scary. The unnatural quiet of the maze doesn’t help matters any. Walking deeper into the maze only leads to less lights here and there.

Zephyr has maybe gone a bit over zealous with this scary thing.

A wind whips up, making the candle light within the pumpkins flicker and lanterns bobble overhead. A few candles flicker out completely for a long moment before sputtering back to life.

Is that a shadow on a maze wall ahead of you? Will you call out or duck behind a TDM convenient hay bale stacks?

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IV. Bulletin Board

Each month, Zephyr clears away most of the notes from their Bulletin Board and adjusts the decorations, leaving it fresh and open for anyone who might wish to post something new. The Meadous is a fairly rural place with minimal technology. Those used to a network may find the Bulletin Board is the closest they can come to something like that again. Who wants to actually talk to the neighbors when you can post a passive aggressive note about someone making a racket at 2 AM, instead? There's also some measure of anonymity afforded. Just be sure to only post up your notes when no one else is around and can catch you at it.

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V. Choose Your Own Adventure

Whether it's just waking up in the Meadous or exploring some other part of the Setting, you're striking out with your own prompts to get some action started.

Comments

[termineur]

That's about thirty years past me. Not sure if my world's destined to have androids in it, either. [ Yeah, someone else is paying attention to the other bulletin board conversations. ] Yeah, I can definitely see how the technology difference would be hard to get used to.

You can try wishes at any time- however, I think it usually takes a couple days here before you start actually getting anything back. It has something to do with how Zephyr's power works. They use our being here in their world to help power the wishes they grant. So it makes sense we need to be here a little while first.

And hey, I know we don't know each other, but I've got an ability that helps me fix anything and put it back into perfect condition. It works with medical instances, so I imagine it'd work with you as well. If you ever have an emergency and need an extra pair of hands to help fix something, let me know. I imagine wishes will be easier, but just in case. My name's Gabriel Gray, and I live on 1087 Rocky Road.

[exigere]

It's difficult to say. Technological development and research tends to have varying rates of advancement across worlds, from what I've come to understand. It's possible that some may never see such sophisticated technology in their lifetime, just as it's equally possible it could happen within a day's time.

I do appreciate the offer. While I understand it's considered normal to simply wish for repairs or replacements, I'm not sure how well my programming is going to respond to magical elements, on top of everything else here that I'm subjected to. It'd be easier to go to someone who can perform the physical tasks and labour necessary for any of my potential repairs. In the event I should be in need of your abilities, however, I will keep your offer in mind.

My name is Connor. Thank you for your time and advice.

[termineur]

Well, my world's facing a veritable explosion of special abilities due to the genetic evolution of mankind. I suspect androids are going to be less of a concern when a quarter of the population can float whatever they want to themselves. But you're right, you never know how things are going to turn out. Not even when you have a precognitive ability.

You're very welcome. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[exigere]

Levitation and precognition are certainly not features of the androids that are in circulation where I'm from. I imagine in a world like that, we would be largely considered useless.

I imagine there will be plenty more questions in the very near future. I'll be sure to contact you, though I'll try not to be too overbearing.

[termineur]

Maybe not 'useless', but I feel like humanity would be distracted from something like making androids for awhile. They'd be too busy building vaults that people who walk through walls can't get into, stuff like that.

And hey, be as overbearing as you want. Usually, I'm the one asking way too many questions- might be nice to answer some for a change.

[exigere]

People can walk through walls in your world as well? Is there any limit to what the humans there are capable of? [ pls forgive curious robo who can't process all this floating humans who walk through solid objects and tell the future shit ]

If you insist. I will still try my best to not overwhelm you with my curiosity.

[termineur]

Well, most people only have one special ability. But so far I haven't seen a limit to the variety. And a few people do have access to multiple abilities. Ones I've seen so far include flying, rapid cellular regeneration, the ability to create radiation, high speed, time manipulation- all sorts of things are possible.

And I do insist. As Zephyr once told me, curiosity is important. Especially when you've just been plunked down into a completely new universe.

[exigere]

This all sounds very strange, and fascinating at the same time. I may end up having more questions about your world than this one. I already have so many.