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

[due_reckoning]

He appreciated it. Good. That's- That's all he could have wanted. Especially if Cloud is keeping it with him, has kept it with him all this time. Some small part of him that Cloud can carry with him. Something that almost makes him feel like he... maybe did one thing worthwhile.

Wedge shifts a little with Cloud's arms around him like this, starts to reach up to thread his fingers into the blond's hair but his shoulder protests too sharply when he tries to raise it too far. A soft huff, disappointed but he simply goes back to petting the fur on his chest. "Just... give yourself time, okay? Now that you kinda know what's up you'll be able to separate what's what in time. I know you want it fixed like now so you don't have to think about it any more but it doesn't sound like the sort of thing you can rush, bro."

But that third thing? That's... terrifying. He can only imagine how horrible it must be, especially with how powerful Cloud is. That something could make him do something he doesn't want to... it's dangerous. Really dangerous.

"As for the other thing.... that's what you need your pack for, yeah? People that care about you and know you and wouldn't let you do anything you'd regret. People to... remind you why you're fighting it, right?" It would be so easy for Cloud, someone already accustomed to isolating himself, to use it as an excuse to do so even more. But if anything it just means he needs more support than he wants to admit.

[relativefugue]

The purring persists, for as long as Wedge pets his fur. Cloud doesn't even notice it- or perhaps he does, and is simply not acknowledging it, glad to just exist and let go for a little while. It's been too long. He's exhausted, sleep-deprived, relieved, warm, too many emotions to keep track of and restrain in a state like his.

"You sound like Sephiroth. Said things about how if I knew everything at once or tried to work ahead, I might risk really hurting myself, or breaking. Still, what time is left? Sephiroth- the one back home- is going to cause some serious problems for the world if I don't do something. I feel helpless. It's shitty."

That's the most Cloud has opened up to someone in a long time, admitting helplessness. Or the feeling of it, rather.

His pack...He started to accept one back home, but here? It's been flying solo with the occasional intervention from each of the Firsts. Until Wedge, he couldn't say he had a damn thing like a pack to speak of. But if anyone knows him somewhere like Wedge...He guesses the Firsts would be it. "...I guess. But you realize this makes me a danger to be around, right? I could hurt you, Wedge. Just like I hurt Tifa."

[due_reckoning]

Wedge looks down, away from Cloud for a moment. What does it matter, really, when he's already dead? Not that he can tell Cloud that. No, he simply shakes his head, denying the very real possibility that Cloud presents.

"You've got time here. Time to figure yourself out and time to learn how to manage this... thing." His fingers press more firmly against Cloud's chest, through the fur to rub soothing circles against his skin. "Maybe learn to trust yourself again too."

It's a little terrifying, honestly, but it feels right. Feels like something that can help really solidify his words for Cloud, make him understand in a way that words might not. Cloud is, for all that he tries not to be too touchy, a man of action. Something that reminds him of what got them so deep into this mess in the first place.

When you do something, commit. With all you got. Or it isn't worth shit

So he leans in, once again spurred on by those words, to press a soft kiss to Cloud's cheek.

[relativefugue]

Cloud never really saw himself as a touchy or tactile sort. As far as he can recall, he never was, either. The truth beneath the mess, though, is that he's desperately starved of it. Of affection and human connection, and the warmth only being close can provide. Certainly the dragon instincts help too, leaving Cloud relaxing a great measure as Wedge digs through his fur to pet a little more deeply. The fondness in the touches is shockingly easy for Cloud to sense. Another round of subconscious rumblings vibrate throughout his scaly, fluffy chest.

"Usually trusting yourself means knowing who you are."

He's about to try and support that point when Wedge speaks his language louder than any spoken words ever could. Slitted mako eyes go wide as soft lips graze his scale-flecked cheek. A sound, something between a sigh and a whine, bubbles up from Cloud's chest, the fur-plumed tip of his long tail twitching and wiggling, almost flustered in nature. A keen eye might also notice his ears standing straight up at attention as well.

Despite having all these aggrivating fangs, and scales, things he worries about harming others with, and despite his awkwardness and wish to keep his walls-his safety- up tall... Cloud still pulls Wedge close, and cradles the back of his head in a paw like something precious. Wedge has this magnetism, this magic about him that sends those walls crashing down, no matter how hard Cloud fights to keep them strong. Maybe, just maybe, a part of him finds relief in that. Maybe being seen is okay.

...Cloud kisses him back, softly, on the lips, lingering for a few electrified moments.

[due_reckoning]

Wedge can see, in his periphery, the way his ears go up, hear the swish of his tail, feel the warmth flood his cheeks beneath small delicate scales. It's enough to have his next breath escape with the faintest hum of satisfaction. Only to swiftly be replaced with a sharp inhale of surprise of his own. He doesn't have any of the draconic features Cloud does, not yet at least, but it's there in the thrill of tension in his body, the way his brows lift and his mouth falls open in surprise.

Only to then melt against the blond, fingers carding through his fur and up to the side of his neck, letting the fin there slide between his fingers and his thumb settle on the curve of Cloud's jaw. He doesn't push for anything more than the soothing warmth of their lips together, breaths mingling, relief surging through him in a way that makes him realize how tightly he's still been holding himself. Relaxing completely is almost impossible with the number of injuries he has, the steady ache and throb of bone deep bruises.

But for just a moment, with Cloud's lips on his, he can ignore it all in favor of savoring that sweet gesture of affection.