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

[boarishboy]

Technically, Ignis isn't wrong. Faerghus was the land of knights; men and women of battle expertise and chivalry were their nation's pride. For better or worse, sometimes, but- This Dimitri hasn't quite learned the 'worse' side of it just yet.

"We can look at them?" he questions. For some reason, he hadn't imagined such a thing would be possible. Some people had sparklers and smaller fireworks, sure, but Dimitri would love to study the larger ones if possible. "I'd love to learn more. It is perhaps silly, but specifically- I'd want to see what compounds they use tom make the differing colors." He has the idea to see if he couldn't make ones to suit. He believes blue and green would be quite a cute combination (for no reason in particular, of course).

[parer]

"I see no reason why they wouldn't, so long as you were to stay out of the way of the preparation for those being fired off, and they still have some to spare," Ignis muses. The kobolds have been fairly open in their chatter, when they haven't been distracted by every other thing in the area (or Ignis's tail).

"And Hoshiko herself may delegate the matter to someone else... although you would have to watch your pockets about her if she deigns to speak with you herself."

[boarishboy]

Or the shiny bits of Dimitri's armor, he knows. It was a bit overwhelming at first but thankfully some other offworlders had assisted him in escaping their greedy grasps. "The pirate woman, wasn't she? I suppose being cautious about your loose change around her makes sense." He doesn't think it's great, but arguably a lesser crime that could easily be overlooked if she has the right connections. And it seems like she does from this display.

"Either way- That's good to know. I'd hope that people here would be willing to share their knowledge, but wasn't sure what to expect yet."

[parer]

"She does return things, no doubt thanks to Charlie's pressing," Ignis admits. "However, well. You never know when you may need something in even that short amount of time. So best to keep track regardless."

Also Ignis personally doesn't like people casually touching him in a public setting anyway, especially when they're trying to be sneaky, save for three exceptions, so.

Carefully maneuvering past individuals gathered in the more populous streets on the way to the docks, Ignis makes sure that he doesn't move so fast that he loses the blond. "Still, while things have been slow-going with the rest of this land, we indeed have been fortunate that Charlie is willing to assist with matters, and so to are those that he knows and gets involved." It's better than one could expect in being suddenly dragged to a new world like this.

[boarishboy]

Charlie doesn't seem the type to be able to command such authority, but there again: If Hoshiko was one of the heroes from before, perhaps she knows something about him that they don't? Dimitri isn't one to judge a book by its cover. After all, Annette could absolutely magically wreck his entire being if she so chose.

"He's been a gracious host so far, despite the circumstances. I imagine even if unexpected, it hasn't been entirely dissimilar to taking in people seeking refuge from war or other strife." Granted, they were prepared for that influx all that time ago... Or, at least, had anticipated it sooner.

"Either way, it's good to see that even people from all walks and worlds are able to co-exist so far." (Dimitri says, to the man who murdered someone.)

[parer]

Charlie exhibits the ability to command authority much better if, say, you have committed the first murder amongst off-worlders, and the guy you killed threw a fit about it, and it got both of you dragged into something that felt suspiciously like the principal's office.

Let's not worry about how Ignis knows about this experience.

"Indeed. Perhaps there is something to be said for how we have allegedly been chosen by dragons and such." In other words, picking those who might actually be able to function as a society rather than a string of shitshows.

Ardyn not included.

Ignis will just wonder what masochist or problem decided Ardyn was a good match.

In the meanwhile, as he leads Dimitri to the docks, Ignis focuses on the present. "However, comparing us to refugees... It isn't a wrong way to look. Frankly, I would say that we have it rather light comparatively." The refugee matter was something that Insomnia was always struggling with, and which he knows for a damn fact wasn't handled with the grace so many people deserved.

[boarishboy]

Dimitri, despite everything, unfortunately also wonders perhaps a bit too much about why exactly he was chosen. While he is a noble, there were doubtless much more capable or important figures out there to bond with either of this world or the next. Maybe his own dragon bond will enlighten him eventually.

"That is true. Accommodations seemed to be made for us preemptively, after all, or at least quickly once realized what was happening. Most of us also seem more confused than anything rather than angry at being truly displaced, which no doubt helps matters run smoother than they might otherwise." It's a lot to consider, logistically, and he thinks that Charlie is handling it with about as much grace as one could.

"It gives me something to think about when I return home, if nothing else." More considerations for running his nation eventually... Even now, the crown and his country were ever on his mind.

[parer]

"Accommodations made for us ahead of time, a more rural area where our presence doesn't feel as intrusive... There are many reasons this seems to be going well compared to how it might in other places. There are not what some might consider an 'overwhelming' number of us, either." They're not even in the triple digits yet. They can make up a neighborhood at worst.

The sort of war which leads to refugees is not usually so simple or neat.

"At any rate... It is good to see someone else having to think on such issues. For now, however, it appears we have arrived at our destination." Ignis looks over Dimitri briefly. "If you would like... I could wait here for you to finish inquiring about the fireworks, and we could speak more on such matters, or at least I could direct you to a few places of interest that I've discovered in this town."

&wrapped?!

[boarishboy]

That's a good point to consider as well, Dimitri realizes. Most wars meant people came in droves to find safety, but this was far more minimal. So, it was easier to plan for. In fact, they seemed to have over planned since there were still houses available for people to inhabit should they arrive.

"Likewise, I enjoy being able to talk about such matters." Usually, Dedue was the one who got the brunt of his political pondering. Not that his retainer minded any, of course, but there were some who thought Dimitri should say less to an outsider like him. To those people, Dimitri hoped they fell out of a second-story castle window even if he'd never say so.

Regardless! "I'll follow you to where you think you would be best." So, he does.