Test Drive Meme #2

[diceofthegods]

SEASONS GREETINGS

On the morning of the first of the year, a notification message pops up on everyone’s Rocky-Talkies no matter if they just arrived or are longer-established offworlders. Small minor-illusion fireworks accompany the ping which features Charlie smiling and waving. Alongside him are both Slayd and Dimitri (where Dimitri is not smiling, but what can you expect?)

Without further ado, Charlie begins to speak: "Happy Winter Solstice and beginning of a new year! We have some fantastic news for you! The town of Hast has opened its arms to us in welcome thanks to your good work in the area. Not only that, but we have some very special visitors in their harbor. You will get to meet one of the legendary heroes that saved this world! Hoshiko!"

At her mention, an image of a... wanted poster mugshot pops up with a brunette woman holding up two fingers and sticking her tongue out. "Wait, no, sorry- Not that one!" Charlie corrects, the profile changing to a more recent photograph of the woman. Here, her hair is longer and she holds herself a bit more maturely.

"She'll be accompanied by a group of friendly kobolds who assisted in that journey as well. Hoshiko will be putting on a lovely firework display for everyone as a New Year’s celebration. The kobolds, meanwhile, are avid traders. They travel all around the seas to the north and have collected plenty of interesting items to trade. They have sent word that they are interested in any scrap metal you can find! Thankfully, the beaches near Hast are plentiful in scrap metal to collect from previous mining ventures there. You will also be doing the people of Hast a favor by cleaning up their beaches.

That said, please take care and wear gloves if you plan to collect the scrap! I will make sure there are plenty available in our shop for the taking. I have also restocked it with more warm winter clothes!" Though they are basic, it might be nice to accessorize a little. "Be on your best behavior to our hosts in Hast if you plan to visit, and please go with our warmest wishes besides! Hoshiko will make sure you're safe!"

The next part is said lower since Charlie seems to think the recording has ended before it actually did: "She promised she would, at least."

Hast To Be

The town of Hast is a cascade of buildings that trace down the large Bail Mountain and spill out into the harbor below. Hast is a busy and active mining town. Several mine entrances can be seen dotting the mountainside. Here, they mine for precious metals and useful minerals that are used throughout the continent for a multitude of purposes.

You are welcome to explore the mines at your own risk! You are warned that outside of the normal risks of being in a mine, there are some monsters that inhabit the older mines that are no longer in use. The town is not liable for anything that happens to someone foolish enough to enter unprepared.

The people here are friendly, albeit seemingly always on the move. They appear too busy to even really worry about newcomers. There are plenty of small shops where you can find raw minerals and metals for sale as well as products that are refined from such materials. Tools, more sturdy weapons, and useful gear are some things that may catch your eye here!

Charlie has afforded everyone 10 gold pieces to spend here. We will leave what you buy and how much it costs up to the player, on the honor system that you don’t go hog-wild. Generally, one gold piece = 100 modern-day American dollars for reference. (Please don’t over-worry about what-costs what, we trust you to use your best judgement!)

Aside from material goods, you can also enjoy one of the few pubs or eateries that exist around the town.

⁂ "The Rusty Nail" is a pub that serves primarily the local miners. Meanwhile, "The Bitten Coin" is the tavern that also serves as one of the local inns. If you’re looking for fancier fare go somewhere else you can find some slightly more stately restaurants toward the harbor.
⁂ "The Tossed Dagger" serves some delicious local fish dishes, and "Gordo’s Big Biscuits" is somewhat self-explanatory.
⁂ Most of the entertainment here is bar-fights and somewhat crude performances given the local’s preferences, but you can certainly find comfort at the inn if you’re not looking to mix with rowdy miners and fishermen.

Enjoy your time!

Kobold Chaos

Rusty Bucket Bay by Grant Kirkhope

1:07 / 3:P57

▶︎

Click here to listen.

Grant Kirkhope is a Scottish composer and voice actor for video games and film. Some of his notable works include GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and Perfect Dark, among many others.

code

The kobolds mentioned are plentifully packed in a barely-seaworthy hunk of metal ship that serves as their maritime clown-car. It is being tugged along by a far more... ship-looking ship. These creatures are hyperactive, will yip your ears off about nothing, and are all too excited to receive any metal or 'shiny bits' and will parade around with it like little peacocks proudly. That said, they are friendly (even if somewhat annoying or tiring for lengths of time).

If asked, they will happily tell you that the scrap is not only to repair their ship but also to build an effigy to their god: the "Arsenal Dragon." When pressed on this, they will say their god is indeed a very real person. He was another one of the great heroes that saved the land! He had ascended to divinity at the end of his journey and is currently helping to rebuild the otherwise desolate north. They will then proceed to gush about how cool and amazing and strong and great he is.

Did they mention great? And strong? And cool? Oh, and amazing!

There are two kobolds running an official trade-in booth hastily constructed on the beach. They have (barely legible) nametags.

"Mung", reads the tag in front of a red and cream kobold with gold horns. "Liberius", meanwhile, is a squat, white creature with thick glasses that looks like he's on the verge of a nervous breakdown at all times.

You can trade scrap metal and they will give you a random magical-or-interesting item of equal value. While can gather as much scrap as you wish, but please keep it to one trade-in per character. Everyone that helps out can report so to Mung and Liberius here and receive - in addition to their item - a bit of reputation as well as five (5) bond points to use for activity rewards.

LIGHT 'EM UP

Once the sun begins to set, offworlders are encouraged to head down to the harbor for a fireworks show on the water as promised. They are gifted sparklers of whatever color they choose and given the option to buy larger fireworks of their own if so desired. It can be noted that any purchased with the gold provided by Charlie have a unique logo branding on them that is separate from the town of Hast. This is a personal investment, it seems, versus helping the town proper.

If questioned, the proprietor herself - Hoshiko - will make an appearance. She wears a long, furred cloak that covers most of her body from view and shields her from the cold. "Look, a lady has to make money in this world somehow," is all she’ll say with a cheeky sort of smile. However, anyone that comes across her is free to make a perception check to notice that they have less gold than before.

If successful (a roll of 12 or higher), Hoshiko will congratulate them on their quick catch and return the gold then. If unsuccessful, they’ll find (most of) the gold returned and a note at the end of the night that simply reads: "Thanks! Here’s your change."

Other than the brief encounter, the captain seems mostly preoccupied with making a magnificent display of pyrotechnics. They launch from her ship and dance across the sky for quite some time before a large finale. Any stray sparks or potential fire hazards are to be expected, whether from her own show or careless handling of other fireworks, but thankfully they have a plan for that too.

A large, white dragon will put out any fires with a powerful blast of frost breath. Sorry if you get caught in the chill! It doesn't seem too concerned with that so much as stamping out any flames before they can spread. "Find someone to warm you up!" it will laugh (in a perhaps familiar voice) before moving on.

Notes

⁂ Hello and happy new year! Welcome to Children of Bahamut's second test drive meme! If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback then feel free to ask here.

⁂ We have a top-level directory for folks this test drive for ease of finding ones to tag into! We also ask that you please mention though if you are a current or new player in your top-level.

(Example header: character name | canon | current/new player )

⁂ Additionally, we have a separate top-level for rockstar profiles for people to post if they want to participate in an easier icebreaker texting option!

⁂ A reminder that TDM threads can be used for activity rewards even if the other person does not end up claiming and joining the game!

⁂ Full Navigation ⁂

Comments

Downfall

[recreator]

"'Why', you ask? I should think the answer more than obvious."

A familiar (or not-so-familiar) voice speaks up behind her, and it doesn't sound particularly impressed. Provided Aisthota is still capable of swiveling her head around in the aftermath, she will find a half-dragon, half-humanoid figure lurking a safe distance behind her.

What proves most apparent in the relative darkness are the arching horns, the broad wings that rise behind him like sails, and the luminous golden eyes which shine with their own inner light.

"You were simply standing in the wrong place at the exact wrong moment. Though if you ask nicely enough, I might be inclined to unfreeze you."

[aisandfyr]

Well, this is not the first time she's recognized that distinctive voice attached to an unfamiliar form, though it is a bit of a surprise to be hearing it again like this. She turns and gives him, just, the best impression of a sopping wet cat that a Roegadyn can manage.

"Please, Emet-Selch?"

[recreator]

Emet-Selch mutters beneath his breath, his brow furrowing in clear displeasure. How very much can be conveyed in two simple words. She knows him - or another version of him, as seems to be the going trend these days. She has likely been to Elpis. And (for better or for worse), she probably doesn't see him as an enemy.

...ah, yes. He was afraid of this. But, now is hardly the time to ponder this particular recurrent phenomena.

Instead he lets out a swirling cloud of steam, hissing like a kettle just beginning to boil, and makes a lazy, twirling gesture with one finger crooked downwards.

"You may prefer to turn back around. Unless you actually like it when others breathe fire in your face, that is. Don't worry, I've had exactly two moons to practice."

...which probably shouldn't be comforting at all, relatively speaking. Whether she decides to pivot or no, Emet-Selch snaps his fingers, summoning a simple shield to form around the Roegadyn woman before - and without any preamble at all, really - a bright stream of fire erupts from his mouth, temporarily engulfing the outside of the barrier.

It won't burn, and it won't break. Convenient little blink-and-you'll-miss-it sauna - in his opinion. What Aishota thinks of it remains to be seen, however.

[aisandfyr]

For better or for worse, Aisthota trusts Emet-Selch completely. She turns away as suggested, no questions asked, and the shielded flame turns out to be quite refreshing compared to the frost, if she does say so herself. She does a couple of experimental squats and, apparently satisfied with the state of her joints, turns to face Emet-Selch properly. The smile she gives him is bright and warm and wholly unreserved, despite the clear draconic changes he's undergone.

"Thank you! That's much better!"

(apologies for the misspellings, I will get it right I promise)

[recreator]

An altogether dangerous decision, really. One should always ask questions when Emet-Selch is involved, but regardless of how he feels about this show of blind faith, he's left with few illusions about where he and this newest shard stand - at least in Aisthota's eyes. That smile practically screams "friendship!" after all.

And look, he didn't even have to pry a word of thanks out of this one.
Oh how the situation has shifted.

"There is no need to thank me. Though if you'd prefer to start somewhere, mayhap you could offer a name."

roegadyn names, man, i get it

[aisandfyr]

The smile freezes in place as she realizes that he doesn't recognize her. No, no, this is fine, she knows how to handle this.

"My name is Aisthota Fyrstaelwyn. I'm a special familiar made by Azem!"

Yeah, just like he told her to do!!!

[recreator]

Really now? Does she think he does not know precisely what she is? Does she not realize that is why he unfroze her in the first place?

Well, fine then. He'll play along and see just how soon this Roegadyn woman catches on. And who knows. Mayhap...events unfolded differently for this one? If there is more than one shard, then surely their journeys can not have been exactly the same. After all, even the other him within the simulation behaved in inexplicable ways...

Emet-Selch frowns as he studies Aisthota, and then finally his lips twitch in (mock) confusion, and then the slow dawning of intrigue.

"Ohhhhhh, a 'special' familiar are we?" he inquires, feigning curiosity. "Well, I'm sure Azem won't mind a bit if I take you apart to see just how you work. 'Twould be just like my incorrigible associate to thrust their latest curiosity right into my path to see what I'd make of it."

[aisandfyr]

Uh-oh! Uh-oh!!!

Aisthota quickly recoils, arms up. "You don't want to do that! You can see I have a soul, right? That's what makes me special! I can't be put back together if you take me apart!"

[recreator]

To his credit, Emet-Selch refrains from approaching, instead offering a noncommital shrug. Yes, yes, he can see her soul just fine. Naturally.

"Well, of course you can. It's only happened seven times before - eight now, provided events in your timeline have followed roughly the same path as mine. Have I the right of it, hero? Or would you prefer it if we kept playing at this game?"

[aisandfyr]

Her shoulders slump with a huff--it's already clear that even if she were interested in trying to keep the charade up, she's far too easy to read to pull it off. "You can't tease me like that!"

...wait.

"...what's this about timelines?"

[recreator]

"Well, it's a little late to be telling me what I can and cannot do, don't you think?" he replies. "Besides, even if I didn't know the truth, I would surely have had my suspicions."

Emet-Selch seems mostly unaffected by her disappointment, instead crossing his arms as he regards her with an air of neutrality. Ah, but how to explain? Best to keep it simple, he thinks. After all, he doesn't quite understand it all himself.

"Hm. How to put this simply? When individuals are summoned here from a particular star, they do not all arrive from the same moment in time. Neither do the events of their histories always perfectly align. For example: I have crossed paths with a certain someone who came to be known as The Warrior of Light - and on the First, The Warrior of Darkness. Hydaelyn's Chosen. Champion of Eorzea. Yet I have never met you before. To complicate matters further, many of the offworlders have a shared experience within something known as the 'Amani Simulation' where they have encountered unique versions of others who were brought here."

[aisandfyr]

That's a lot to take in, isn't it? Aisthota holds a hand to her chin in contemplation as she absorbs this information. Someone who isn't her, doing the kinds of things she's done....

And then she nods firmly. "I get it! It's like the other shards, but vertical instead of horizontal! And then this place and that other one are outside of the array so they can access all of it, like pulling a single bottle of wine out of a rack!"

There are accompanying hand gestures, and at the end of it, she nods again with a pleased smile, like anything she said just made any sense whatsoever.

[recreator]

Well, as long as it made sense to her, he supposes not all is lost here. Yet if she's expecting a eureka! moment from Emet-Selch, alas, all Aisthota will receive is an (un)impressed stare.

A shake of his head.

"You lost me at the wine bottle, I'm afraid. But from what I could put together of your theory: yes, something like that. Those responsible for the summonings appear capable of accessing any and all of these alternate histories and then pull from them at will. And thus you've a mismatched collection of spirits, produced from myriad sources, some from exceptionally old vintage and others - bottled only a few days ago."

To keep the metaphor going and all.

[aisandfyr]

She nods some more. "They must be very powerful to manage that! It's very strange that we don't know anything about who they are or why they brought us here, don't you think?"

[recreator]

"Strange doesn't even begin to describe my thoughts on the situation! Though, things being as they are, no one seems particularly eager to go gallivanting off in search of trouble. Namely, due to the limited scope of Charlie's magicks. Wander too far, and--"

He snaps his fingers for emphasis, though nothing seems to change.

"Gives one a new appreciation for villains who choose a direct approach and publicly gloat over their plans, doesn't it? That we know so little could mean anything. Perhaps these individuals are still setting the board and are not yet prepared to make their move. Or, conversely, perhaps all is going exactly according to their plans and they see no reason at all to spoil the surprise when they already have the upper hand. Pure conjecture, of course."

[aisandfyr]

Aisthota does not comment on Emet's deep personal understanding of the mindset of a scheming villain, because she is a good girl and pure of heart, unlike the asshole writing her.

"I do always feel better when I know what I'm going to be fighting, even if I haven't figured out the how yet," she admits. "Here, I don't even know if I need to be fighting something at all yet!"

[recreator]

Oh to be a good girl and so pure of heart.
Emet-Selch can't relate at all.

"Well, probably not right now," he says absently. "My advice (should you choose to accept it) would be to familiarize yourself with your surroundings first. Make some friends - which I'm certain will be no trouble at all for you, and keep up your combat skills just in case. You'll also be contending with the whole dragon transformation... thing."

He waggles a scaled hand slowly for emphasis.