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

[destinedhost]

A good bedside manner, hm?

That...

Was not something he'd heard before. He'd heard a lot of compliments on his appearance and good manners, but...

"How lucky for you then that I'm going to be your pocket healer," he said with a smile. "Since we'll be neighbors and collaborators."

[blue_ice]

"I'm honored," Kaiba agreed with a little smile. They finally reached steadier ground, and then he had a moment to think.

"We should take all of this to our homes first. To save anything special you'd like to keep for your work."

[destinedhost]

"Okay," he said. "We can meet outside, then? When we're done? Or we can meet inside a cabin to get out of the cold..."

How would Kaiba decorate his?

He seemed like a rather utilitarian person on first glance, but... there was his frankly ostentatious jackets. Maybe he'd decorate with a more dramatic flair...?

Ryou couldn't help but wonder... and want to find out.

They were friends, after all.

...

Or something adjacent to it, perhaps.

[blue_ice]

"...Maybe we should take this to a cabin."

Kaiba hated to admit it, but the cold was starting to get to him. Might as well pick some little huts and start learning to live the primitive village way. He turned the sled in that direction, his thoughts swirling.

"No water, no electricity...it's all lighting fires and using natural resources. Definitely not something I specialize in."

[destinedhost]

"All right."

No water, no electricity...but making a fire was as simple as finding tinder and scraping sticks. Or getting flint.

Water... that was trickier. Was there a well nearby?

"So long as we have ways to light a fire, we should be all right. Even if we have to make a fire pit like our ancestors did for cooking."

He followed Kaiba with light steps; thankfully his little wagon was light!

"Water... there should be a river or well nearby if there's a settlement, at least. We don't have plumbing, but..."

He was sure Kaiba would mcguyver some kind of water pump system by the time the week was out. If he could invent duel disks...

[blue_ice]

"I'll be hauling water home, got it," Kaiba grunted. He could do that much for Ryou. And maybe he could improve the system with a little work...

Eventually, they found a pair of unoccupied cottages. He swung open the door to the first one, gently pushing the sled inside. It's not much warmer than outside, but...

"Right. First order of business, light a fire." And he'd be looking around for firewood now, determined not to let them freeze.

[destinedhost]

Okay.

Light a fire...

The cottage was simple and small, with what looked to be a basic kitchen, living space, and a sleeping area. In the kitchen there was...

There.

A fireplace!

There was another one in the sitting area, too, but it was much bigger. The one in the kitchen seemed to be for cooking, while the one in the sitting area...

"Kaiba, here's a fireplace. There looks to be something like a firestarter nearby, too."

He didn't know why he knew what that was, or how he quickly managed to suss out how to get heat...

...

It was probably best not to think about it.

[blue_ice]

"Thanks," Kaiba nodded, very glad to be stepping back inside. Bakura really was observant about these things...

And after just a few moments, he managed to light a fire without incident. With that they could rest and warm up a bit. There was a small couch just big enough for two people near the fireplace, and he took to that now, inviting Bakura with a raised brow.

"I don't think we have to rush back. I'd rather not get frostbite on my first day."

[destinedhost]

Good. The fire was lit.

Fire lit...the cabin would get warm quickly enough and then they'd be able to warm up. Kaiba was already on the couch, and...

Oh.

Oh, goodness, he was probably cold. How silly of him, he should have some kind of blanket in this place...

"Give me a moment," Bakura said, "I'll be right back."

And he strode towards the sleeping area with no hesitation and no looking back.

There was a thick quilt on the bed, though the fabric was a bit scratchy and not the smoother fabrics he preferred. That was fine, though; it looked to be made of wool, and that was plenty warm, especially during the winter. He could carry this in...

[blue_ice]

"Oh, there was a blanket...?"

Kaiba looked relieved to see it. But there was only one, which meant...

"Guess we're sharing it. Get over here, it'll be inconvenient for me if you freeze."

His face flushed just a little. This was only practical, he told himself.

[destinedhost]

Ryou, nonplussed, nodded. It was practical to share a blanket in this cold; nothing strange about it.

After all, compared to what he'd unwillingly shared with others, this was a walk in the park.

(It's nice, too. It's nice to have someone here who he knows he'll be able to see tomorrow, even if he knows it's for survival.)

He sat down, spreading the blanket evenly across their laps.

"I hope you don't mind wool," he chuckled. "It's not the physics-breaking high thread count blankets you're used to, but it's warm."

[blue_ice]

"It's fine," Kaiba promised, scooting a little closer so they could wrap themselves in it more fully. He'd need to keep his hands underneath to keep them warm...

"Beggars can't be choosers. That's going to be the motto of my life from now on. Not what I'm used to, but. I have to endure if I want to be a dragon."

[destinedhost]

A dragon...

Ah, yes. The promise of becoming a dragon: of course Kaiba would find that appealing. With his love for the Blue Eyes, it was a wonder that this man wasn't going to scalie conventions in high-tech dragon suits, complete with scaliesona.

...Oh. That was a rather pleasant image, actually. Cute.

Ryou scooted a little closer.

"...I wonder what we'll look like when we transform."

Becoming a dragon...at least he'd remember it. He wouldn't have long black-outs wondering what happened as everything fell apart around him.

... right?

Right. Absolutely. It had to be true. Draconic transformation wasn't the same as spirit possession; this implied a type of fusion on his part.

Who would be more dominant, though? The dragon? Or himself?

Was there even enough of himself to salvage?

No, there had to be. If Seto Kaiba, a man with so much personality it oozed from every pore, was sent here, too... then it wasn't about a dragon taking over a weaker host. The host had to be dominant in this case...

[blue_ice]

"From seeing some of the dragon transformations around town...there's a lot of possibility. But we'll be strong. We'll take to the skies."

That was what Kaiba wanted more than anything. To fly.

"I'm sure you'll look just as appealing as ever. Maybe more so."

...wait, was it his turn to flirt now?

[destinedhost]

Appea--

Ryou was thrown out of his thoughts with all the subtlelty of a bomb.

They will be strong.

Not I.

They.

His lonely heart curled into itself, shriveled and dehydrated, but ready and willing to lap up these words like it was everything he needed.

"I..."

Oh gosh. His cheeks burned. Seto Kaiba, being kind to him? Was this real, or was he in a long dream?

...

Well, he supposed that if he was dreaming, he would have heard the words coming from that tanned man he dreamt about. Hot sands, dark skin, and a face that was always out of sight, just out of reach. His voice always had this pleasant rumble, though...

"More so, huh?" He asked, "Do wings and a tail really make the man for you, then?"

A light tease, even as he could barely hear his own voice over the beat of his own heart.

[blue_ice]

"They might," Kaiba admitted, his face still slightly pink. He definitely had Thoughts.

"But we have to endure the middle stages. It might get uncomfortable...but if everyone else got through it, we will too."

He'd use his grit and determination. And maybe lean on his new ally a little bit. At least he wasn't facing this alone...

[destinedhost]

Oh.

Ahaha, oh. They were really having this conversation, weren't they?

Ryou's own cheeks darkened slightly as he averted his eyes.

"I think you'll thrive." He said. "You...always do."

[blue_ice]

"You will too," Kaiba promised. He looked at Bakura seriously, his eyes glinting with...something. A deep determination, perhaps.

"I'm not leaving you behind. If the rest of your friends ever show up and find out I let you got hurt...I'd never hear the end of it. And you have skills I don't, that I'll need to rely on.

And...you're not bad company. Like it or not, we're in this together." The smallest of smiles crosses his lips.

[destinedhost]

If your friends...

Why didn't he entirely believe that? Seto Kaiba cared so little about what others thought, it was almost a meme. There were actually memes on the internet that just focused on Kaiba and how he gave so few fucks.

("When Seto Kaiba smiles, it's because he fired a man's entire family. And they don't even work for him.")

There was also Kaiba thirst twitter, but Ryou only passed a glance at that.

("Seto Kaiba riding a dragon? Look, hear me out: Kaiba IS the dragon. Asking for a ride.")

So it...

Was it fair to say that his heart felt...something? Perhaps not much more than a pleasant heat, but...Definitely something. Especially since when was the last time anyone other than his...

...

Fan club of stalkers gave him more than a once-over?

"Ah, together...yes. We...we are."

Ryou smiled back, but it was shy. Hesitant, even.

[blue_ice]

"Mm. Feeling any better?"

Kaiba adjusts the blanket around them a bit. It's certainly scratchy, as promised, but it'll keep them comfortable while the cottage continues to heat up.

"Depending on how long this takes to heat...it's getting late. You could stay here, if you wanted."

[destinedhost]

Oh, no no no. He couldn't. He couldn't possibly. It was rude, he was outstaying his welcome, he couldn't possibly do it. He knew he needed to head home and warm up his own cottage and get everything situated.

He needed to...

He needed--

"Definitely warmer. It's getting rather cozy in here. Like a dragon's den."

He needed to get--

"And if you're offering, I'd love to stay here with you."

Dammit. Just because he was lonely didn't mean he needed to impose. Because he was imposing, right? He had to be imposing. It didn't matter what hung in the air and sat on the tip of his tongue like his favorite sweet. It didn't matter.

What mattered was--

"It's rather lonely being in a cottage by yourself, especially in this cold. Food even tastes better when you're with good company."

[blue_ice]

"Then it's settled. And if you're hungry, I heard that the food's free. I could head into town quickly and grab something for us."

It would help that the house would continue to warm up. They could share a meal, and...it'd be comfortable.

Bakura was interesting, and certainly decent company. Kaiba was happy to keep him for tonight.

[destinedhost]

"Or we can go together," Ryou suggested. "After all...I'm going to need to go to the market anyway. We can increase our load with two people rather than one, right?"

It was just practical to go together, and had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that it felt weird for Kaiba to go out and fetch something for him.

"And I might be able to ask some questions about animal husbandry while I'm there."

Ryou. Ryou what are you thinking.

"If we're staying here, it would be convenient to have animals for eggs and wool and raw materials without having to get it from other sources. I was considering at least building a coop for a few birds to get fresh eggs for breakfast in the morning."

[blue_ice]

"Fair enough. But we can't risk leaving the fire unattended. My fault, I should've thought ahead."

They'd just have to do this warming up thing again, but if they hurried, it wouldn't get too much colder. He shrugged and stood up, reluctantly pulling away from the warmth of the blanket...and Bakura.

"Let's be thorough so we don't have to go outside again for a bit."

[destinedhost]

Oh dear. The Seto Kaiba, admitting fault? The world really is falling to pieces.

Or perhaps things are looking up.

Ryou stood in turn, bracing himself for the trip outside. He was dressed warm enough, but...the market might be a long walk. He'd better be prepared for that.

"Right. I don't want to step out of the warmth once we're inside."