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wildestlogs2021-10-01 09:11 pm
wildestmods) wrote in wildestlogs2021-10-01 09:11 pm
TEST DRIVE ※ 1
TEST DRIVE #1
These woods are lovely, dark, and deep, but being lost in them is pretty alarming to most people. Perhaps it's lucky you're hearing what sounds like... a party?
If you follow the sounds through thinning trees, a brick-paved road rises from the ground ahead. Keep going, and you'll find yourself approaching a bustling festival. Small, jaunty, colorful buildings line a way bedecked with flags, banners, and (of course) ever-present vendors.
Good morrow! Dost thou carest for a turkey leg? Some funnel cake? Modestly priced costume jewelry? Come right this way, dear visitor! The faire is here!
First, however, the faeries would like a moment of your time. At one of the entry gates, a spritely, brightly-dressed faerie tells you, "Tickets are long-since sold out, but joy is one currency we accept. So as long as you plan to enjoy yourselves, you may enter with a day pass. However, please read the sign. By entering, it means you agree to the terms."
The faerie points to a large wooden sign with words painted on it. The sign says something to the effect that the summer faeries are not responsible for anything that happens at the faire, and by entering you're agreeing to exempt them from indemnifying you for not offering the same magical protections they offer proper ticket holders in the unlikely event of surprise and disaster, etc etc.
Fortunately, it's actually not that different from a standard legal agreement for some kind of dangerous activity like go-cart racing. Of course faeries would be careful about any legal disclaimers for events.
USEFUL LINKS
A FAIRE SHAKE
A renaissance faire is in full swing in the woods today, or so it would seem. But no one here is just playing a part: these outsize personalities, bright costumes, and pseudo-Elizabethan voices are perfectly real.
It's the only place you can go for food and appropriate clothing. Also there's magic at your feet, drawing you towards others bound by the Quest magic, making it so all paths seem to lead to the Faire. Even if you don't want to enter, it feels like you have to, like there's something important to find.
a) The Faerie Toll
Some of the faeries are lighthearted and cheerful, with round and heart shaped faces and brightly colored clothes. These summer faeries are willing to part with some faerie coin in exchange for certain actions. Anyone that watches others take them up on their deals can see that the actions are indeed harmless, and there is no catch. Apparently happiness and frivolity really can be exchanged with the faeries here. Ways to earn a small bit of coin: physical comedy, agreeing to a round in the dunk tank (yes they have one), telling the faeries a good joke (but it really has to be a good one, by faerie standards), letting oneself getting pied in the face, and pieing someone you're with in the face, among other things. Silly dances are also in high demand, especially ones with actual rules vs. ones that are made up on the spot, with a clear preference for moves like tiktok dances, the macarena, or the Hustle.
Some of the faeries are lighthearted and cheerful, with round and heart shaped faces and brightly colored clothes. These summer faeries are willing to part with some faerie coin in exchange for certain actions. Anyone that watches others take them up on their deals can see that the actions are indeed harmless, and there is no catch. Apparently happiness and frivolity really can be exchanged with the faeries here. Ways to earn a small bit of coin: physical comedy, agreeing to a round in the dunk tank (yes they have one), telling the faeries a good joke (but it really has to be a good one, by faerie standards), letting oneself getting pied in the face, and pieing someone you're with in the face, among other things. Silly dances are also in high demand, especially ones with actual rules vs. ones that are made up on the spot, with a clear preference for moves like tiktok dances, the macarena, or the Hustle.
b) New and In Stock
You tried to steal from the faeries instead of paying their toll, or have otherwise misbehaved. The faeries like your moxie, though. They'll let you keep what you took (if you took something), but first you're gonna have to do some time in the stocks.
Will anyone take mercy on you and bust you loose? Does anyone have a tomato? Perhaps you meet someone else while they're suffering a similar punishment in the other stocks across from you. If you didn't actually steal, maybe you got framed. Or you're in the stocks with your "partner in crime" who you were falsely accused of being affiliated.
Fortunately, you won't be in there overly long. Even if you can't escape and no one busts you out, the faeries aren't particularly cruel and the absolute worst you'll get thrown your way by the crowd is a fruit.
If you push, the faeries might also let you out if someone else agrees to be responsible for your good behavior. This could, naturally, lead to both of you doing more time together.
You tried to steal from the faeries instead of paying their toll, or have otherwise misbehaved. The faeries like your moxie, though. They'll let you keep what you took (if you took something), but first you're gonna have to do some time in the stocks.
Will anyone take mercy on you and bust you loose? Does anyone have a tomato? Perhaps you meet someone else while they're suffering a similar punishment in the other stocks across from you. If you didn't actually steal, maybe you got framed. Or you're in the stocks with your "partner in crime" who you were falsely accused of being affiliated.
Fortunately, you won't be in there overly long. Even if you can't escape and no one busts you out, the faeries aren't particularly cruel and the absolute worst you'll get thrown your way by the crowd is a fruit.
If you push, the faeries might also let you out if someone else agrees to be responsible for your good behavior. This could, naturally, lead to both of you doing more time together.
c) I'm Just Here For the Turkey Leg
Wandering lost in the woods is hungry work. Maybe you know better than to eat food offered by faeries, but the humans of the faire should be safe enough, right? Where else are you going to find a whole turkey leg, a funnel cake, or a cold beer around here? The lines can get pretty long though, and sometimes orders get mixed up, or someone swipes what was yours! Maybe they bump into you and spill food down your front. Or perhaps you see someone with no money and decide to offer to share.
Some of the food seems out of this world or is clearly made for a more alien palate (not always in an appetizing way). Most of the food has big enough portions if you're not the only one eating
Wandering lost in the woods is hungry work. Maybe you know better than to eat food offered by faeries, but the humans of the faire should be safe enough, right? Where else are you going to find a whole turkey leg, a funnel cake, or a cold beer around here? The lines can get pretty long though, and sometimes orders get mixed up, or someone swipes what was yours! Maybe they bump into you and spill food down your front. Or perhaps you see someone with no money and decide to offer to share.
Some of the food seems out of this world or is clearly made for a more alien palate (not always in an appetizing way). Most of the food has big enough portions if you're not the only one eating
d) Surely, You Joust
Whether you're just watching, betting on the outcome, or have convinced someone to armor you up and put you on a horse, the jousting tournament is a major event! Will anyone be able to unseat the intimidating Black Knight? Have you started a rivalry with a competitor you just met in a line twenty minutes ago? Are you helping another member of the squad by pumping them up for their match? Or are you just over here to see how many horses you can pet without anyone noticing?
Even those not interested in the competition might want to give it a whirl. There are different rewards for unseating certain levels of competitors like food supplies, flasks of boozeahol, small bags of silver or gold, and weapons of moderate quality, like swords, knives, or bows.
For those that don't own their own armor and lances, some light armor and lances are on loan but the armor is all dinged up and the lances are easily broken, putting someone using them at a disadvantage.
Whether you're just watching, betting on the outcome, or have convinced someone to armor you up and put you on a horse, the jousting tournament is a major event! Will anyone be able to unseat the intimidating Black Knight? Have you started a rivalry with a competitor you just met in a line twenty minutes ago? Are you helping another member of the squad by pumping them up for their match? Or are you just over here to see how many horses you can pet without anyone noticing?
Even those not interested in the competition might want to give it a whirl. There are different rewards for unseating certain levels of competitors like food supplies, flasks of boozeahol, small bags of silver or gold, and weapons of moderate quality, like swords, knives, or bows.
For those that don't own their own armor and lances, some light armor and lances are on loan but the armor is all dinged up and the lances are easily broken, putting someone using them at a disadvantage.
e) Everyone's a Comedian
You (and maybe your threadmate) are being teased by a pair of funnymen doing a bit, be they jesters, Punch and Judy style puppets, or a pair of washing well wenches. The audience is delighted, but are you? What are you both going to do?
You (and maybe your threadmate) are being teased by a pair of funnymen doing a bit, be they jesters, Punch and Judy style puppets, or a pair of washing well wenches. The audience is delighted, but are you? What are you both going to do?
f) Wares, If You Have Coin
You're here! You have some gold! Time to get yourself some "period appropriate" (for varying values of both words) gear. Have you found a shopping buddy? What if you resell some goods you just picked up at a slight markup? Are you suspicious of the quality of a vendor's goods? Maybe this item over here is the last of its kind, and you and this stranger want it!
You're here! You have some gold! Time to get yourself some "period appropriate" (for varying values of both words) gear. Have you found a shopping buddy? What if you resell some goods you just picked up at a slight markup? Are you suspicious of the quality of a vendor's goods? Maybe this item over here is the last of its kind, and you and this stranger want it!
g) Stop! Thief!
Someone picked your pocket or snatched something out of your hands! It might even be your thread partner. Do you give chase? If your threadmate isn't the thief, are they helping you chase the thief down or getting in your way?
Someone picked your pocket or snatched something out of your hands! It might even be your thread partner. Do you give chase? If your threadmate isn't the thief, are they helping you chase the thief down or getting in your way?
h) Archery Range
Are you taking the chance to start learning a new skill on the practice targets? If it's any incentive, several fair maidens and handsome young fellows are hanging about, flirting with the best shots. If you're already good, you might be competing in the archery competition for a prize! The targets are close enough you can make conversation with the person one target over.
Are you taking the chance to start learning a new skill on the practice targets? If it's any incentive, several fair maidens and handsome young fellows are hanging about, flirting with the best shots. If you're already good, you might be competing in the archery competition for a prize! The targets are close enough you can make conversation with the person one target over.
i) Fortune Told
A stubborn young blonde woman in a long purple robe with a pointed hat - one that looks more than a little bit witchy - is determined to read your fortune for you. Loudly. Whether you like it or not. She has to demonstrate her skills to drum up business, you see! Now please hold your hand still, she just needs to get a good look at your fate line...
(Note: Players will have to npc the fortuneteller says in their thread and can go absolutely wildly wrong. However, sometimes the fortuneteller suddenly gets more intense and guesses a few things closer to the truth...)
A stubborn young blonde woman in a long purple robe with a pointed hat - one that looks more than a little bit witchy - is determined to read your fortune for you. Loudly. Whether you like it or not. She has to demonstrate her skills to drum up business, you see! Now please hold your hand still, she just needs to get a good look at your fate line...
(Note: Players will have to npc the fortuneteller says in their thread and can go absolutely wildly wrong. However, sometimes the fortuneteller suddenly gets more intense and guesses a few things closer to the truth...)
j) Out of Water
You draw attention to yourself with your behavior, or by how strange your manner of dress is (according to the faire folk, anyway.) Perhaps you have a still-functioning small electronic like a smartphone that's unlike anything they've ever seen. People are starting to give you the stink eye or ask you invasive questions. Will your threadmate help you out?
You draw attention to yourself with your behavior, or by how strange your manner of dress is (according to the faire folk, anyway.) Perhaps you have a still-functioning small electronic like a smartphone that's unlike anything they've ever seen. People are starting to give you the stink eye or ask you invasive questions. Will your threadmate help you out?
k) Bargaining With the Fae
There are some faeries here that are different from the sunny, cheerful summer faeries running the fair. These are the winter faeries, more ethereal and elegant, more immaculately dressed in finery that's a little too fancy for the event. Despite their beauty - or maybe because of it - these faeries are...colder. Many of them are busying themselves with maintaining magical lanterns around the edges of the faire. If asked, they tell your character they're handling security and to bug off.
But some of them maintain stands in shadier-looking areas of the faire. They're willing to offer more in exchange for greater payment. Warm, durable clothing to cut through the slight chill that comes at evening and night time. Swords made of much stronger metals than can be found elsewhere, of better make, with edges that take forever to dull. Bows with strings that rarely ever break.
Their deals are definitely backhanded though. For payment, they might say something like "we could really use your view on something, just a half hour of your time" and instead of having you participate in conversation where your insight is welcome, you lose your ability to see for a half hour.
These effects are unpleasant but usually temporary, lasting no longer than a half hour or so - but it's not like they'll tell you that. And if you try to go back to the stall afterwards to confront them, they'll have mysteriously disappeared. You'll at least get to keep whatever your bought and it will be of good quality, but the joke is definitely on you.
There are some faeries here that are different from the sunny, cheerful summer faeries running the fair. These are the winter faeries, more ethereal and elegant, more immaculately dressed in finery that's a little too fancy for the event. Despite their beauty - or maybe because of it - these faeries are...colder. Many of them are busying themselves with maintaining magical lanterns around the edges of the faire. If asked, they tell your character they're handling security and to bug off.
But some of them maintain stands in shadier-looking areas of the faire. They're willing to offer more in exchange for greater payment. Warm, durable clothing to cut through the slight chill that comes at evening and night time. Swords made of much stronger metals than can be found elsewhere, of better make, with edges that take forever to dull. Bows with strings that rarely ever break.
Their deals are definitely backhanded though. For payment, they might say something like "we could really use your view on something, just a half hour of your time" and instead of having you participate in conversation where your insight is welcome, you lose your ability to see for a half hour.
These effects are unpleasant but usually temporary, lasting no longer than a half hour or so - but it's not like they'll tell you that. And if you try to go back to the stall afterwards to confront them, they'll have mysteriously disappeared. You'll at least get to keep whatever your bought and it will be of good quality, but the joke is definitely on you.
l) Wild Card!
You can make up anything your character might reasonably see at a normal Renaissance Faire, or place an encounter in the woods nearby! Go wild!
You can make up anything your character might reasonably see at a normal Renaissance Faire, or place an encounter in the woods nearby! Go wild!
❧ This counts as a plot and is part of game canon! This means that new players aren't the only ones that can make top-levels. Current characters can be thrown in like it's any other plot or event. The default for threads is that they're game canon if all characters involved are apped in or already in game, but prospective players may opt out and consider a thread non-canon if they're not happy with it.
❧ Feel free to play around with powers. If your character has powers from canon you want to play around with, go for it. If you'd like to test out possibilities for game powers, also go for it. Feel free to change it up from thread to thread if you need to. If you want to keep a thread as canon this can be handwaved as the magic making characters' powers shift a few times before settling.
❧ Potential players may use test drive threads as their log samples. However, at least one post in their thread must fit the requirements for apps, and in quality and length (200 words). If you do plan on using a thread as a sample, please make sure the writing throughout your threads is a good example of your writing skills and has some solid examples of the character's voice.
❧ Players can count TDMs towards AC, with the same AC rules as any other threads.
❧ The game is invite-only. Players without invites are allowed to tdm since some of them may know someone in game to ask for one, and since some people enjoy TDMs just for fun in games they don't plan to app into. But an invite is required during the apping process.
❧ The game is at a starting cap at 30 players. Right now the current number of invitees is likely to not exceed the game's 30 slots, but if we go a few over they will still be allowed to app during this first round. Future apps will be rolling apps and will have a wait queue if the cap has been exceeded.
❧ Invites at game start are limited to current and former players of the mods' previous game Piper90 (
piper90), former players of the first incarnation of Wilderlands (wilderlands, and people friended to the main mod's plurk. If any of those individuals want to invite someone outside those pools in the first app round, they can request it when the mods make a headcount of potential appers. If the game will be under (or only slightly over) 30 players to start, some extra players may also be invited, but the mods want to limit it to exceed the player cap too much. ❧ The first game round will be apps only, no reserves. Apps open: 10/15/21. Game start: 11/01/21
L) Father, I crave violence
To a casual observer he likely came off as oblivious, looking at the sky as if he’d never seen it before, through the trees at every hint of movement but particularly lingering on the birds; but to anyone really looking they’d notice while he’s following the main path, he purposefully stays off of it. Staying close enough through the trees to keep it in sight but far enough he won't be easily spotted. And he walks around the brush and brambles like a deer in the woods, quiet and cautious but without a concerted effort, like it’s second nature.
Even the way he looks around at everything is more purposeful than it appears at first glance, like with the way he occasionally halts when he hears something in the distance and tries to get a better look while stepping behind a tree.
When he keys into the sound of movement above him, he looks up, and just barely reacts fast enough to stumble back away from the attack, falling backwards and ending up with a sword pointing down at him.
The fact that his assailant is short and adorably cat-like doesn’t make Dwight any less terrified, and he doesn’t wait to hear what all he has to say, barely registering what he does catch between his panic and how fast it was spit out at him. Rolling - if he has to take a hit, better to take it to the back - he tries to quickly scramble back to his feet, to take off for the thicker brush further away from the sight of the path.]
Re: L) Father, I crave violence
[He keeps a knee leaning on it and the sword lightly touches Dwight's neck but not with enough pressure to cut him.]
Don't. Move.
[Little Cato's voice takes a less threatening tone, like he just wants answers.]
As long as you don't try to attack me, I won't hurt you. But I have questions. Once you answer them I'll let you go.
Are you responsible for kidnapping me here? And if so, why? Where's my crew?
no subject
The kid starts talking - at least he thinks he's a kid, sounds like a kid - and that's...not normal of the people the Entity sent to kill them. Sure, some were more chatty than other's but most didn't bother with an "I won't hurt you" line. Not one that wasn't just an obvious tease. And they were never looking for someone else, at least, not friends.
Swallowing, he tries to regulate his breathing and keep his tone soft and calm, but he can't quite squash down the terrified tremor in his voice.]
No...I...I'm not even sure how I got here. [For all he knew he might not be in a new place at all. Maybe the Entity just changed up her rules.] And I don't know where your crew is, I don't know where anyone is.
[Which was a bit alarming in itself. He didn't realize just how reliant he'd become on the Entity's "gift" or how comforting it was to see the soft yellow glow of his companion's auras in the distance, until he woke up utterly alone for the first time in a long time.]
Except for you. That one's sort of obvious.
[The nervous attempt at humor comes out on automatic, as much an attempt to pacify as the calm tone.]
no subject
Did you hear the voices? There was a tunnel, and voices that talked to me.
Is that what happened to you too?
no subject
He attempts to turn his head without lifting it or moving it too much, trying and failing to get a look at the kid. Get an idea if he was just messing with him. But it's a no-go. The move puts pressure against the blade and he quickly gives up on the idea, going back to facing the dirt.]
Y-you...you mean like, that falling dream?
[That was just a dream, wasn't it? What did that mean if they both had it? Maybe it really had happened? And this was some new...thing like the Entity that could grab people from different worlds?]
Said something about needing to save the...[What had they called it again?]...Wilderlands? And the green? [Whatever that was supposed to mean.]
no subject
[He considers it for a second, slowly lifts the knee off Dwight's back, slowly withdraws the blade.]
You better not be lying. If you're really who kidnapped me, you're going to regret it.
But if you got kidnapped too...I don't have any problems with you.
[When Dwight actually gets a good look, now that he isn't just a blurred streak of fur and metal, it's pretty obvious the kid that tackled him is indeed a kid. He's fourteen but extremely short compared to a human, closer to the size of a human 10 year-old, an 11 or 12 year old at best.]
[He is very small and very fluffy.]
Do you know what the Green even is?
no subject
After putting a few feet of distance between them, just enough to give him a good head start if he's attacked again, he slows to a stop. Turning to look back at his attacker, he really is just a kid. Or...maybe kitten was more appropriate? Under any other circumstances, he'd be adorable. With the punk mohawk, he could easily look like he came out of one of those old 90's cartoons.
He'd ask who gave this child swords if he didn't look and act like he knew exactly what he was doing with them.
God, what the fuck was his life at this point that this barely registered as a blip on his weirdness scale?
For his own part, Dwight doesn't have the look of a kidnapper. More the opposite. Malnourished and filthy, his old office clothes are caked in a mix of dirt, sweat stains, and what looks suspiciously like the occasional smear of dried blood. He looks like he's been living in them for months without a bath, at least, and frankly, probably smells like it, too.
Shaking his head at the question, he bits at his nails for a moment before catching himself and pulling his hand away from his mouth.]
Afraid not. You?
no subject
[He shrugs one shoulder and then seeing the state of the man - smelling it even - and the anxious nail-biting, he puts one of the swords away in the sheathe at his back.]
Are you...are you okay? You don't look okay.
[It's reluctant, but he puts the other sword away too.]
Is that blood? Are you hurt?
no subject
[Leave it to omnipotent god types to turn everything into a puzzle or game.]
You'd think beings willing to go to the trouble of pulling people from other universes would be less cryptic with their instructions.
[The sudden concern and the sheathing of his swords takes Dwight by surprise. The mention of blood getting him looking down at himself like he forgot it was there. Frowning, he grips his shirt, self-consciously rubbing at the threadbare material with his thumbs as if that might make the stains less apparent.]
It's uh...it's old. I'm not hurt.
[The question of whether he was okay was a bit harder to answer, but just standing in the bright warmth of daylight, breathing in air that wasn't stale and marred with a constant undercurrent of death; it was enough to pull the hint of a soft smile. The thought that he was out, really out, that this wasn't just a trick, sinks its claws into him again, getting a barely audible huff of a laugh bubbling out of him. The softness of that smile seeps into his voice, a hint of that laugh sneaking in too, giving it an almost delirious edge.]
Actually, I'm about as close to okay as I've been in a while, I think.
Be better if I could find some of my team though...
[Looking back up, his eyes search the trees for a moment, as if he might get lucky and see one of them picking their way through the woods. But there's nothing there, and quick as it appeared the hint of a smile gets anxiously bit away, replaced with a pensive frown before he looks back over at the kid.]
W-what about you? You said you were looking for your crew, too? What do they look like?
[If they were all cat people they should at least be easy to spot.]>]
no subject
[And he's looking for his own people, too.]
[Little Cato is still cautious because he has very many reasons to be - hence his initial attack - but the signals he's getting are "guy who's been in the shit, relieved at getting out." He's not really getting any hostile energy and his danger gland isn't really registering a threat.]
[So there's sympathy, with a kind of openness and sincerity that only comes from children. Dwight doesn't know the miracle it is that Little Cato's still capable of it. That he's not scared of showing it with the expression on his face.]
Two are robots. They're pretty obvious. One's super annoying. You'll notice the annoyingness before any other physical trait, trust me.
Three of them are human. My dad's light-skinned and blonde, and has a robot arm. And my grandma looks a little like him but she's got gray hair and a scar on her face. She's old but looks like she can beat you up.
And then there's Quinn, she's dark-skinned, with dark curly hair, and also looks like she can beat you up.
And then there are two that look kind of like me but one's this tall - [He holds a hand lower to the ground] - With white fur and black stripes and rounder ears. He's got an annoyingly high-pitched voice you can hear for basically miles. He's a tiger tiger, they're a sub-species of my species.
[His face falls and he suddenly looks uncomfortable, but he still does want to find his other "father."]
[So he can kick him.]
The other one is Ventrexian, like me. He's an adult, as big as an adult human. He has a different fur pattern, though. Dark fur with a white patch down the center of his face. Gold eyes.
[How had he not figured it out? Different fur, different eyebrows, gold eyes to Little Cato's blue... "You look like your mother" was certainly an excuse, but not sharing a single trait other than species? Not even one?]