wildestmods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wildestmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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
Re: in the woods
It's been ages since she's been able to pull something like this. Most people know who she is by reputation before she even meets them. Spirits and Fera really are terrible gossips. It may be a little mean, but she's allowed to have her fun, right?
"Just Elle," she shrugs.
There's a glint in her eye that says "I know something you don't." She is clearly waiting to see how Stacia responds.
Re: in the woods
"Well, Just Elle," she says, checking for a pun, "is this an invitation to a game of twenty questions?"
Re: in the woods
"Go for it."
There's a challenge in her tone. She definitely wants Stacia to figure her out, but she's clearly going to make her work for it, at least a little. Whether or not Stacia bites, so to speak, is up to her.
Elle knows that this is a risky play, she may end up giving a terrible impression instead of the one she's intending to, but she never claimed to make good decisions.
Re: in the woods
Elle's definitely something magical, to be in a pack. Stacia doesn't think Kinfolk can slip into the Umbra without assistance, and if Elle were one of the fae she'd know more about the Dreaming than she seems to. And she's probably something other than a Garou, given that she's being all mysterious about her identity to an Athro. Also, not a vampire -- the Rig gave her ample opportunity to look at vampires under various light conditions, and Elle definitely doesn't look as dead as any of them.
Nuwisha, maybe? Stacia's managed to endear herself to big-C Coyote, and William had taken her under his wing and taught her one of their Gifts in fairly short order...
Re: in the woods
Is this a dick move? Probably. Dammit, Elle wants to be the one who's all mysterious and cool for once. She never gets to play aloof, or she tries and gets too excited to maintain it.
"And no fancy Shadowlord gifts, they'll ruin all the fun."
She winks. She knows that she's already beginning to show her hand by admitting to knowledge of Shadowlord gifts, but it's not too incriminating.
Re: in the woods
Then again...not worth experimenting with their use right now in front of a to-her stranger. Who knows how the magic works here? With the air of one being very gracious, she adds: "But since we're both so very friendly, I'll keep all my gifts to myself."
Still, Elle knows that there are Shadow Lord gifts for ferreting out information. Stacia doesn't have many of those, they strike her as gifts you learn as gifts belonging to other Shadow Lord camps than her own, which would seem to indicate that Elle and her future self aren't particularly close. A lot of people see a Shadow Lord working closely with a Silver Fang and assume that the Shadow Lord is a Child of Crow; Stacia's made plenty of use of that erroneous assumption about her and Ace's relationship before. So either the Stacia of Elle's 2020 has changed significantly from Stacia as she is presently, or Elle is closer to another Shadow Lord than she is to Stacia. That packmate of hers who works with that Stacia, perhaps?
She's also in a pack with Isaac. That could account for the smug secret-keeping all on its own really, and the Bastet tend to be solitary rather than pack oriented. Elle could be one of the Simba, they do group up, but Stacia has trouble imagining Isaac putting up with even a young Simba; they're basically the Silver Fangs of cats and Isaac is...Isaac.
Definitely not a Corax, given that she's holding her secret instead of blurting it out. She also doesn't strike Stacia as one of Gaia's adopted children - well, maybe Kappa isn't off the table yet. And Athena has been making long-term projects of trying to bring back lost shifters, but is two-or-three years enough for that? If it were, that could be why Elle is being so pleased with herself. Line of questioning worth pursuing.
But first, confirmation that Stacia is even poking around the right area of the supernatural:
"One: are you a shapeshifter?"
Re: in the woods
Stacia has a good point about those Ragabash gifts. Elle wonders if gifts even work here, or if being cut off from the spirits means that all gifts are gone. She wonders if she can learn gifts here.
Learning gifts from killi without their permission tends to be considered rude, but she's made exceptions before. She should probably exercise caution, at least.
Elle feels a little off-put by the Stacia in front of her. The Shadow Lord doesn't wield authority the same way. There's a seriousness that she lacks. She wonders if this friendly face is an act.
Probably.
It's probably pretty genuine as well. Elle knows something about only showing the sides of yourself that you want other people to see; about using your honesty as a weapon. She learned from the best, after all.
The serious Elder Shadow Lord Stacia that Elle knows is probably an act, too. She wonders if Stacia gets tired of keeping track of what faces she's showing to who, the way Elle sometimes does. Maybe it's easier for her.
Re: in the woods
"Two: Do you have fur when you shift?"
A 'no' will eliminate more options than a 'yes', but Stacia's still betting on the 'yes'. Unless Elle's hair is a wig and it's a surprise trick question.
Re: in the woods
Stacia's already narrowing it down. Not that it's too hard to guess, with what information Elle has already given her. The game is fun, though, and it's helping to take Elle's mind off of the panic that's been sitting in her chest since she woke up.
Re: in the woods
"Three: if you in your animal form walked down the street in a suburban neighborhood, would people assume you were an escapee from a zoo?"
Secret hide-a-question: how long does it take Elle to consider her answer?
Re: in the woods
Elle is making sure to take small pauses before she answers each of Stacia's questions. She takes enough time to make it clears that the answers are deliberate, but short enough that Stacia can tell that she hasn't really had to think about any of them yet.
Elle doesn't really have a specific goal here. Other than appreciating the distraction and relishing the chance to be the person who knows things, for once, she's using this as an opportunity to get to know Stacia better. Stacia has always seemed a bit unreachable to Elle. It's nice to meet her own relatively equal footing.
Re: in the woods
"Four," she says, holding up the indicated number of fingers. "Are humans known to keep your animal kin as pets? And I'm not talking about "as long as the neighbors don't see and call animal control", I'm talking "need to find a specialized vet" at the outside."
That's mostly just rats and the tentative spiders at this point.
Re: in the woods
She's sure there's a millionaire out there with 'exotic' taste that has tried, but she's pretty sure the tastes of the rich and eccentric are not what Stacia's asking about.
Elle tries to go through what options Stacia has left.
There's Garou, Bastet (obviously), Gurahl, Kitsune, and Nuwisha, if Elle's been keeping track correctly. All of the redeemed breeds have been ruled out already.
Elle doubts that Stacia will need all 20 questions, but is interested in finding out if Stacia uses them anyway. It would be a good way to gather information of Elle.
Re: in the woods
"Five: are your kin canids?"
Might be a bit too blunt for their game, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. 'No' means she a Bastet or Gurahl, 'yes' means a Nuwisha or Kitsune. Stacia doubts that Elle is a Garou -- not unless she's a very daring Ragabash.
Re: in the woods
"My spiritual kin are not," she specifies.
She knows the oddly specific answer will pick up on Stacia's radar, but that particular secret will probably have to wait to be shared. It's not that she thinks Stacia will react poorly, it's just that it's too much to explain at the moment. If they have some downtime Elle might get into it, but not right now.
Re: in the woods
"Six: what color is your fur when you shift?"
Re: in the woods
Elle has never been asked to describe her feline form before.