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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
no subject
Holly pulls a face. "Why would any sensible species want to procreate with humans?"
Someone clearly has a hang-up, but in her defense, it's a hang-up that stretches civilisation-wide, not a personal one. Having your entire civilisation driven literally underground leaves a lasting impression.
"And clones don't... work. If you were a clone you'd be catatonic." Cloning tech's been around 500 years, but no one's ever been able to trigger the actual 'spark of life'. Give it a soul, so to speak. Hell, Koboi's first escape relied on that very fact.
Except he's kind of got a point with the talk about different worlds, realms, whatever, because nothing he's saying makes sense and they're awfully weird things to lie about.
That comment might be the first hint that the fairies where Holly comes from, at least, certainly have a concept of science. Another may be the wings sprouting from her back, easily missed in the position they've locked up in, flat along her spine. Look close enough and they're not sprouting from her back at all, but rather a power pack.
Totally dead, she just hasn't abandoned them yet; considering the state they're in she's not sure she trusts the self-destruct mechanism to go off if she did. She'll have to dispose of them the old fashioned way.
no subject
It's a weird thing for someone to know. Most humans don't have the capacity to prove that about themselves.
"Cloning works where I'm from but they mess it up a lot. To keep clones from being blank slates they're able to age you up fast and straight up program stuff into your head to match your physical age."
He actually sits down on the ground, criss cross, to keep himself at a non-threatening level. His dog flops happily into his lap and Kon scritches him behind the ears.
"It's public knowledge that it works on people, too, sooo I'm gonna hazard a guess and say this is some trippy interdimensional thing."
no subject
“You sound awfully calm about that idea.”
Not that she’s exactly freaking out herself, which she should really be more worried about, probably. Have the last few years really numbed her to this kind of crazy that much?
She’s not exactly dropping her defensive stance, but she doesn’t look quite as on edge. At the very least, this mud man— clone— half-human— whatever he is, isn’t trying to attack her, which is more than can be said for most humans she’s had run-ins with.
This still isn’t good, this kind of encounter should mean a basic mind-wipe at best, but it’s not like she can call up Foaly and ask him to send a team, is it?
“…you must be right, though. Humans where I’m from haven’t even got the busted kind of cloning tech. Not even close. And they haven’t met aliens.”
They don’t even know about the civilisation living beneath their feet, let alone anything that may be out there in the stars.
no subject
Most parts of it anyway. Adapting to the human half of his DNA being from one of the world's worst supervillains has been a struggle.
"What are you? A faerie or elf or something? I wouldn't be shocked if they exist in my universe - my ex is a half-god and I've met some beings that were maybe nature spirits - so there's some weird legend stuff that's definitely real. But I've never met one."
no subject
Half… god. You know what, why not? Not like today can get much weirder if it tries.
She squints across at him, seriously thinking for a good— thirty seconds, or so. He’s seen her. There’s no wiping out here. She might be able to pull off a mesmer, but she doesn’t trust her magic right now; if her shield didn’t behave how she expected, even something as simple as redirecting him away from this line of questioning could cause some damage if her mesmer is the same. And she’s not in the business of giving humans brain damage.
Note to self: tell Foaly to hurry up and invent a field mind wipe kit. Not that it would probably have survived the trip, anyway, even if it existed.
D’arvit.
“For the record, you should be having this entire encounter wiped from your memory.” She sighs. “Both. I’m both. Elves are fairies.”
no subject
He's not a fan. Cadmus had wanted to install control words in him and had failed because the Newsboys had broken him out before the maturation process had finished. Lex Luthor had wanted to install control words and successfully did it, using them late rto make him hurt his friends.
But he tries not to be harsh, tries to be understanding.
If they're trying to hide their existence, memory erasure is better than killing witnesses.
"But I'm guessing if you're scared of humans and don't want them to know you exist, you have a good reason for it. They do kind of suck sometimes."
Again, see: Cadmus. Lex. Amanda Spence and the Agenda. General Good. Amanda Waller...
"For what it's worth - since I know you have no reason to believe me - I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to figure out what brought me here, where here is, and how to get back home."
no subject
“Less than five years ago a mud boy, only twelve years old, kidnapped one of us and held them for ransom. Successfully. I’d say that’s pretty uncool, too.”
Leaving out the fact that the fairy in question was her, and that the kidnapper is now one of the People’s closest allies. Artemis certainly didn’t start that way, even now sometimes she’s not completely sure they can trust him.
Fowl and his lies.
Shake that thought away. She rests a fist on her hip.
If he wanted to grab or otherwise hurt her, he probably would have by now, so he has that going for him, at least. She’s vulnerable on the ground like this, without a weapon or backup. It’d be easier than she’d like it to be. “That we can agree on. I don’t have time for this kind of detour.”
no subject
A pause.
"And am probably still strong enough to throw a dude into another dude."
He's being practical here.
"I don't know if you've got magic powers or something but you're kinda bitty. I'd feel weird if I just left you alone to fend for yourself. Especially not knowing what's out here. And hey, if you do have magic or something, between the two of us we've got a chance against any baddies."
He practically radiates sincerity. Maybe it's fake, but for the most part this guy is the anti-Artemis. Other than the muscles, he looks like any old goober of a teen in a t-shirt instead of a well-put-together suit. His body language is infinitely more open. And he doesn't even look prepared for the elements much less like he prepared to kidnap an elf. The forest is a little on the cool side for just a t-shirt and jeans.
no subject
It’s true, he really seems nothing like Artemis, far as she can see. Just a strong looking mud man who’s apparently not, entirely, a mud man at all, apparently usually has powers, and seems genuine enough, but—
“I have magic,” that she isn’t sure is working how it’s supposed to, which is extra worrying when it comes to her ability to heal—you don’t want that going wrong, “and I can take care of myself. I’m probably at least four times your age. …the age you look.”
Clones. That’s confusing.
no subject
"We're in a weird situation, kidnapped by weird beings, and you just said one of your people got chumped by a 12-year-old boy."
He raises an eyebrow.
no subject
Holly opens her mouth, tilts her head, then shuts her mouth again.
It’s a double drag and he doesn’t even know it, considering she was exactly the one who got chumped by a 12-year-old boy. Well, 12-year-old super genius and his ridiculously well trained bodyguard, but still.
“…in our defense, the kid was practically the smartest human on the planet at the time.” Maybe. Close enough. “But point taken.”
no subject
As in, one became the goddamn president and abused his power for supervillainy.
He looks down at his dog, who's drooling slightly on his jeans due to all the positive attention and scratchies.
"Still, we don't know what's out there. Krypto can help keep an ear and nose out for us, warn us if anyone's coming." He looks back up at her and offers an olive branch, hoping it'll help her understand he really wants to help. "And like I said: I'm a clone. And not entirely human. The humans who made me didn't exactly have my best interests at heart, and other humans tried to treat me like an automaton or a disposable person at times. I get why you'd distrust humans because they'll do stuff that nasty to other humans - or part-humans - let alone other species."
He shakes his head.
"I'm not about to do that to someone else when the 'half-alien' and 'clone' things have made people try to pull all kinds of crap on me. Especially when the people I care about are a whole range of species."
He holds out a hand for her to shake but still sits there and lets her be the one to potentially come closer.
"How about we stick close just long enough to nose around a little and be sure we're not about to get attacked by something. Fair deal?"
no subject
It’s not a bad argument, as arguments go. It’s hard to conceive of a world like his, where someone like him can exist, but really, what does he gain lying? They’re both stuck here. He hasn’t attacked. He’s being reasonable, as humans go. She still can’t say she trusts him as far as she can throw him (not far at all, given the size disparity alone) but that’s just common sense.
“…fine,” she relents, but takes a second extra to step close enough to take the hand to shake. Her hand is, of course, tiny. “We shake on all that, you’ll be held to it.”
Not exactly true, not literally, but don’t mess with a fairy is a sound principle even if it’s not like the legends say.
no subject
He shakes her hand gently. He's had a lot - a lot - of practice with not accidentally crushing more delicate hands.
"I wouldn't offer it unless I meant it."
He lets go after the shake and slowly gets up to his feet, taking his time so it doesn't look like a lunge. Then he leans over and gently holds the dog's muzzle in his hand so he actually pays attention.
"Okay, buddy, I need you to keep your nose and ears out while we look around, okay?" The dog licks his cheek. "Good boy. Don't bark if you hear anything, just get our attention and point with your nose."
The dog does something unusual. Instead of barking in agreement - since Kon just asked him not to bark - he actually nods, ears flapping wildly. And then he starts to walk up the trail ahead a little, sniffing around and occasionally raising an ear to listen.
no subject
“…smart dog.”
Yeah, that’s different. Holly doesn’t exactly spend a lot of time with dogs—the idea of keeping pets doesn’t settle with most fairies in Haven, and those that do tend to have much smaller pets—but she’s pretty sure she’s never known a dog to act quite like that.
She watches him sniff around for a moment, that’s normal enough at least, before sighing and rolling her shoulders. Alright. Looking around. Checking there’s nothing laying in wait.
“This’d be a lot easier if I could take to the air, or check thermals, but none of my gear survived the trip. Guess it’s the old fashioned way or bust.”
It’d feel like offering a weakness, if not for knowing that if Foaly’s gear couldn’t make it through whatever dragged them here, nothing dangerous anyone else could bring probably did either.