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test drive meme
Hello, and welcome to Vella's TDM! As a reminder, this game is invite-only and open to anyone on the mods' timelines: Cocoamplitude , Avery
- A Mysterious Gift
Good morning! Today’s shaping up to be a bright, sunny day on the island. The weather is balmy but not too hot, and there’s a gentle, cool breeze. It’s as idyllic and perfect as you could want… but there seems to be something being carried by the wind. It won’t take you long to notice because it’s so out of place - it’s bright and colorful and definitely not something normal. It’s a balloon floating towards the island at a leisurely pace, and hanging from the balloon is what looks to be a… wrapped present? It’s a white box with a red ribbon, and it doesn’t seem to be weighing down the balloon at all. How odd...
If you happen to be armed with a slingshot, you can use it to pop the balloon. When the balloon is popped, the present will fall to the ground - but be careful where you’re shooting! There’s a river running through the island, and your gift could easily end up swept away if it falls just above the water… And if you don’t have a slingshot, feel free to get creative! Or you can make one and be ready for the next mysterious package - because there will be one just a few minutes later, drifting along.
Should you choose to unwrap the present, one of two things will happen: Maybe you'll get something small in size but no less valuable: a shiny, pristine crown that looks like it might cost a fortune. Whether or not you take care of it is up to you, but hey, you run this island now! (Not really.) Alternatively, you might get a very large red double sofa; when you unwrap the present, it suddenly springs out and lands with a loud thunk onto the ground. Pray that it doesn't smash your toes! How something so big squeezed inside a box so small is a mystery, but hey...congrats?
Gotta Catch 'em All (cw: Scorpions)
The island has tons of natural resources. There are the apple fruit trees dotted around the island and plenty of flowers that you can see up on the cliffs, but beyond that are the rivers threading through the island and the beaches themselves. They seem to be filled to bursting with fish - you can see their dark shadows in the water clear as day, and the fish seem to come in a variety of sizes. Make yourself a fishing pole and go for it! The fish are not only good for cooking and eating, but you can also sell them off for bells. Or keep them as pets, that’s fine too.
But if you’re not a fan of fishing, there’s still plenty to catch. The island is also completely filled with… Well. Bugs. The island is filled with bugs. Butterflies flutter around, and you can get some bells for selling them off...and don't count out the dragonflies, grasshoppers, and mantises, either! You'll need a bug net to nab these critters, but once they're yours, you're free to do what you'd like with them.
When it gets dark, though, be careful! That’s when scorpions come out, and they’re known for their sting. They're far and few between, but when you find them, try not to panic. If you don't have your net out, they'll leave you alone and stay at the edges of your general vicinity. If you bring your net out, though, they'll raise their legs and shake their tails defensively at you. Get too close too fast, and they'll chase after you. They're fast.
Henry's Quest
Henry the frog has been living on the island with you, and today he has a request! He wants to make some hedges to put around his house (or maybe he just wants to tidy up the island), and for that he needs weeds. Twenty of them, in fact. More is fine, but less is just unacceptable. If you choose to accept the task, he’ll give you a reward for helping him: ten iron nuggets! It’s all he has though, so whether you choose to do this solo or with some friends, you’re only getting ten iron nuggets total. Still, while it’s not exactly a rare resource, it’s certainly a limited one, so you may find the reward enticing. Or perhaps you just want to help him out of sheer kindness. Whatever the reason may be, it’s time to get to work.
The island has plenty of weeds, so it shouldn’t be too hard to pick the ones you need. If someone happens to be plucking in the same spot as you, maybe you can work together! After all, more hands means more weeding, which means you can all make Henry happy even faster.
For those who are less teamwork-oriented, you’re free to do this solo, but where’s the fun in that? … Ah, you’re thinking of hogging all of the nuggets for yourself, aren’t you? Well in that case, maybe you should consider sabotaging the competition...though do you really want to draw the ire of the people you’ll be spending at least the next few weeks with?
(OOC Note: We will not be NPCing Henry on this TDM.)
Winding Down
Another day at the island has come and gone. The night sky is clear and the stars are out -- the perfect way to wind down after a day’s worth of hard work. Someone - maybe you! - has built a campfire on the beach, and it’s as good a time as any to get to know the people you’re living with. You’re stuck here, after all.
Sit around, chat, maybe tell some spooky (or not so spooky) stories. Enjoy yourself! You’ve got many more days ahead of you, but for tonight you can just rest and enjoy the peace of the island you now get to call home.
Deirdre | Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
[Deirdre is no stranger to living a life in the forest, so if anything, she's actually been adapting quite well to the living conditions of this island. Gathering comes naturally to Deirdre even without magic, and she's been able to make quite a few things with a little help, and she's got a slingshot out when she spies a present up above.]
Oh...what is this?
[Well, Deirdre wants to find out! So she's going to line up a good shot...aiming steadily, despite her waifish constitution, she takes aim and--!
...
Well, there goes the present into the river.]
Ah--! Oh no, how could this have happened...?
[Well, this is a bummer. Or well. It would be a bummer for anyone but the feral forest woman, because even if she's got her goddamn shaman robes on--]
No--I will not allow this. I will retrieve it...!
[Deirdre dives into the river after the present!! Because surely this isn't going to be a terrible idea.]
Henry's Quest
[Weed pulling, huh...well, Deirdre can't say that she's ever had a problem with such things, but she's never thought of making hedges with them before. It's honestly quaint?
So you can find Deirdre over here pulling up some weeds. She's taking it pretty slow, gathering them up in her arms while she does so, but she will look at anyone coming over with a smile.]
Have you come to take care of the weeds as well? Feel free to join me...I would not mind the company.
[She's pretty softspoken, but if nothing else, Deirdre means it. Let's get them weeds for the little frog friend!!]
Winding Down
[Consider this a wildcard option!! Deirdre's probably going to be sitting by the fire at the beach, or maybe will even come up to talk, but this is more of an open-ended thing so go nuts tbh.]
winding down
when she comes to sit by the campfire, keith glances over at her after he swallows down a piece of fish he'd cooked. ]
So... Did you ever get that present?
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I did. It required a little bit of persistence, but...I was able to retrieve it. It's quite a delightful little thing, isn't it?
[It looks fancy?? Not that she knows what it's worth. But she did it, and it's worth still being kind of damp!!]
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[ maybe a little too fancy, for a place like this. ]
You're not gonna wear it?
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[Plus she's already got a circlet. Still...]
Perhaps it would be a lovely gift for someone else.
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[ it might be a nice gift, yeah... ]
Got anyone in mind?
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[...Hm.]
Why do you ask? Would you like it?
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[ uhhhh. keith looks surprised for a moment, but almost immediately shakes his head. ]
No, I don't need it. I just wanted to see if you had any ideas. ...I met a guy earlier who might appreciate something like this.
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[Deirdre doesn't really seem phased by the surprised look, but she tilts her head when he mentions that.]
Quest!!
Another pair of the hands will make the work go faster.
[But honestly... she wouldn't mind taking her time for this.]
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[Deirdre will happily go down and get into pulling up the weeds with Byleth, then. It's a nice, familiar task to her...]
I am certain that Henry will be pleased, once we are done.
mysterious gift;
On the one hand, she seems to know what she's doing... On the other, that dress seems really heavy, um...]
Ah - miss!
[Before she can really stop herself, Rin is splashing into the river after her - not very deep, but definitely up to thigh-depth. Her shorts are getting soaked. This is not really a concern. Nor is the fact that the pretty lady probably can't hear her, she'll just kind of...run her hands along the surface of the water anxiously and try to see if this person's okay. Please come up for air.]
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Well, she's coming up looking like a drown rat before moving some hair out of her face, though she starts when she realizes that she isn't alone.]
Oh...! [Well, hello there. Deirdre's reaction is not too startled, thankfully, but she definitely didn't expect that. Deirdre's expression settles into a calm smile towards Rin, though.] Oh...I did not see you. You have my apologies. Are you looking for something as well?
[...You, Deirdre. She is looking for the you???]
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That said, she immediately breaks into a grin both relieved and impressed when Deirdre comes up; she can also feel the feline features she's picked up here (white cat ears and a tail, the ears standing out starkly against all the orange of her hair) twitching and pricked up in interest.]
I just wanted to make sure you got what you were after! [And didn't drown, but that seems a little dark to say and she doesn't want to drag the mood down while this lady is being so nice about the whole thing. So! Thumbs-up for you, Deirdre.] That was a good shot earlier, nya! Really cool!
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You're very kind to look out for me; thank you. I was able to get the gift back from the clutches of the river. [Even so--] It was, wasn't it? I cannot say that I have used an item like this before, but it is rather good at bringing those presents down.
[...]
Perhaps...a little too good. [Another chuckle escapes Deirdre, as she brings the box into both hands and gestures with her head to follow, starting to walk back towards land; come on, Rin, let's go see what's inside!] But I am curious as to what could be inside. I do not suppose that you have found any of these presents yourself...?
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Mm, not yet! But now that I know they're here, I'll have to keep an eye out...
[She'll wade back up toward land though, motions quick and strong; she doesn't seem bothered by the water any, and she's eager to see what's in the box herself, honestly...]
I wonder who's sending them; it seems nice of them, whoever they are.
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It is very kind of them, isn't it? They're sending these wonderful gifts out into the world for all of us to enjoy...I hope we get to meet them. Perhaps we could send them a present as well. Should we find a way.
[But once we're back on land, Deirdre will place the box on the ground--it's a little soggy, but it seems to have held up at least okay. She'll continue talking while she starts to unwrap the ribbon...]
I do hope that you have a little better luck than I had. I truly should have watched where I was...oh?
[Deirdre manages to get the box open, and there's a rather tiny item inside? It glints a bit in the sun, pretty and gold, and...well. Deirdre pulls out a very, very tiny crown from the box in awe.]
...Oh, goodness. What is this doing in here?
[Deirdre will bring it up so Rin can see it. Holy shit? Holy shit.]
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Maybe if we get some balloons we can try it! If it reaches them that would be so nice... But if not, we would be sending the others here some presents of our own! Giving them some nice things sounds fun, nya...
[She trails off, though, as the box is opened and- ]
Ohh, that's pretty - you got something really special!
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henry's quest
That's not to mention that this is the first request he's been given here. This isn't an expectation, this is something a neighbor asked him to take care of. This is entirely different from anything and everything he's used to, so here's Faris, bound and determined to collect some weeds.
...We've all gotta start somewhere, right.]
Ah! So you've been sent on this quest as well! [it's really not a quest—] I would appreciate the company, yes! Is this a task you're familiar with?
[it's just gathering weeds, oh my god faris. he's not trying to be insulting???]
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...Well, she does suppose that it is a quest. A request, but still one. Even so, Deirdre finds herself smiling none the less, gesturing for him to join her in the weed patch.]
I have, yes. Henry must need quite a few of these hedges if he is asking so many of us for help...
[Though, at the question...Deirdre tilts her head a bit.]
...I am well versed in gathering, if that is what you're asking. I usually do not bother with weeds. [She's not insulted, just kind of ????? But it's fine, probably.] Are you unfamiliar with such a thing?
[...Honey.]
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[...maybe don't sound so proud of that, faris...]
I am Prince Faris of the sultanate of Gallopolis! Our grand city is located in the desert, so I have not been given tasks quite like this before.
[Thankfully, he's already got the rundown that no one is going to recognize who he is or even Gallopolis, which is honestly great as far as he's concerned. He moves to join Deirdre easily, and though he's definitely very unaccustomed to this (pulling weeds is harder than he assumed!!) he goes at it with entirely too much exuberance.]
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Deirdre finds herself smiling, hiding it behind her hand a little as he comes to join her. He's...certainly enthusiastic, to say the least--]
Pleasure to meet you, Prince Faris. You are doing very good, for someone with no prior experience.
[Look at him go!! Deirdre's rather used to the pulling herself, even if she's not quite going at it as fast as Faris is. When you're strength stat is this low you gotta go slow, okay!!]
The desert...I have heard of it in stories. But I have never journeyed far outside of the forest. [Deirdre tilts her head a bit.] Will you tell me about where you come from? I am curious. It must be a beautiful place.
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[It's partially genuinely modest, and partially a show because that's more or less exactly what he's always done. There is something genuinely nice about being able to do something so simple, though.
He pauses and sits back a bit as he considers Deidre's words.]
Erdrea is a land full of many different terrains. Gallopolis is in the desert, but the other kingdoms exist in entirely different environments. I've heard that Sniflheim is so cold that it is always snowing! But I have not been there, so I don't know if there is any truth to such stories.
[Oh, right, the point—]
The desert is a harsh and unforgiving place. Even just outside the city there are monsters to worry about and traversing the sands is not easy. To the north of us are the Celestial Sands, where a... t-terrifying monster is said to roam.
[R-Right, he really doesn't want to think about that right now, so moving on!!]
Despite these hardships, Gallopolis has flourished under my family's rule. My father is the greatest sultan we have ever had! [...that's just his opinion.] It is my hope - and duty! - to follow in his footsteps and continue to provide for my fellow Gallopolitans.
[...Did that actually explain anything. Regardless, he seems very passionate about it.]
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Even if Faris definitely goes off on a few tangents (some more concerning than others), Deirdre listens very intently to all of that--she's always been a sponge for knowledge, and this is no different.]
So long as you remain steadfast...as long as you never lose sight of that, I am sure that you will grow to be a fine sultan. That is what I believe.
[It doesn't explain much, but Deirdre seems determined when she says that. Like she believes it entirely, because there's nothing else telling her otherwise!! King Gallopolis must be a good dude if Faris has turned out like this, after all.]
I can sympathize with your plight...with monsters. The Spirit Forest's animals can be rather...difficult, to deal with when they attempt to come into our town. But to deal with such a fearsome creature elsewhere as well...I can sympathize.
[...On one hand, Deirdre wants to ask about. Because she is nothing if not curious. On the other hand, she doesn't want to bring the mood down. She has enough tact for that much, and she'd rather not talk about the Loptous Sect.]
Please, tell me more of Gallopolis. It's people must live wonderful lives, yes?
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[It's the sort of reassurance that he's heard hundreds of times before, but it's different when it's coming from someone who doesn't know him at all and has no reason to tell him exactly what he wants to hear. The rest of it gets a nod, and Faris pauses like he's tempted to ask - the Spirit Forest does sound like an interesting place, after all - but ultimately Deirdre gets there first and Faris nods.]
Indeed! Why, just recently we held this year's Sand National - the greatest horse racing event in all Erdrea! As it was the year of my coming of age, I participated as well.
[...kiiiinda. Anyway!!]
My people are very fond of these races and the parties that come afterwards. My father certainly does know how to gather our people together! Ah, but we are not the only ones who are capable of holding a crowd; there is a circus in town currently as well, and they have an exceptionally talented man called The Great Sylvando. I have little interest in such things, [that's debatable] but his act truly was impressive.
While our surroundings may be harsh, Gallopolis is a jewel in the desert, and travelers do come through every so often despite the danger! That's how I met my... friends.
[Sure, that's one description for them.]
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