test drive meme #16

[hadrielmods]

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open January 24th, and apps are open February 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

Two quick points here as well:

1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: THE CREEPY CRAWLIES
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

Watch out as you explore the streets of Hadriel, because you're not alone, and there's always something lurking in the shadows, waiting to impale you on its giant claws and crunch your bones between its mandibles. That's right, this time the Door is bringing you bugs from Starship Troopers, in all their giant and disgusting glory!

Bugs are, well, giant insects that come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the rank, and are way too tall or too heavy than they have any right to be. They can move quickly, most of them have the ability to fly, and their exo-skeletons means that it's difficult to really hurt them unless you've got some muscles on you. Or a really big boot, I guess.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO TWO: WHO'S THAT IN THE MIRROR?
[Something's lurking in the dark. Something that really wants to ruin your day by any means necessary- that includes preying on your darkest fears, or just, you know, simply killing you. But that's not a problem, right? You're big and tough! Except, so is this creature out to get you. And it knows all of your weaknesses and insecurities too because, well... it is you.

Doubles of characters will be flooding the city and attempting to ruin the originals lives by whatever means necessary. This generally involves killing the original and then impersonating them, but it can also mean killing people you love or just bringing up your awkward teenage years to traumatize you in front of all your new cool friends.

What can you do to stop it? Well, you could kill them first, that certainly won't require a few trips to therapy later! There's always locking them away, or maybe trying to befriend them because hey, who's better at ruining your life than you?

This is a mini version of our Dead Ringers event this month!]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO THREE: CAN YOU JUST LIKE, CHILL FOR A SEC?
[Embrace tranquility! Or rather, get pulled, kicking and screaming into an event during which you magically have to find some chill, or else Tranquility will force chill upon you.

For this prompt, characters will find themselves in a state of sudden peace and calm, without much anger or meanness to go around. That guy you hate? Maybe you should give him a peace offering. The chick who stole your girlfriend? Maybe you should congratulate her! Everything is peaceful and everything is... sorta gray.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be able to relax, but we have an emotional spectrum for a reason. Pretty soon, the tranquility of this might turn into something a little creepy, even Stepfordish... but it's hard to really care when everything is so damn pleasant, right?]

Comments

fear!

[devotional]

[ Lunafreya only knows snippets of Gladiolus, the majority of her knowledge stemming from a general awareness of the Amicitia bloodline as it relates to the kings of Lucis. The rest she's gleaned from the notes and letters she's exchanged with Noctis through their shared journal over the years, and while the prince's opinion of the man had started out rather poorly, Lunafreya can't deny that he regards Gladio with a high degree of respect and affection. The picture Noctis has painted of Gladiolus' character has left Lunafreya with a certain sense of wonder and awe, and the literal vision of him hefting a broadsword as long as her body only serves to further drive the point home.

She'd heard the sounds of combat from a ways away, and when she arrives on the scene, it's with a lengthy, crudely-made lance in hand. It's not more than an oversized toothpick, really; upon closer inspection, one may notice that it appears to have been a former broom handle given a second life, both of its ends carved into wicked points. Lunafreya stops short of rushing headlong into battle at the sight of Gladio, though she quickly springs into action as one of the oversized bugs manages to shift behind him. ]

Sir Amicitia! [ She calls even as she rushes in. The Oracle has never been much of a combatant, but she decisively brings the point of her lance (if it can even be called that) down into the carapace of what appears to be an overly large beetle. Luna makes sure to keep low to the ground, lest Gladio's blade decides to swing overhead. ] While I do not doubt that you have this situation under control, allow me to render assistance as best as I am able!

[ Don't mind her. She's just attempting to shake the still very much alive beetle off of her lance, waving one of her hands towards it as a small pillar of light shoots through its thorax. It's nothing like the one she used against Leviathan back on Eos, but it certainly is flashy... and effective. ]

[manspreading]

[ Gladio's only seen Lunafreya in pictures, years ago, when Noct was still a kid and he felt the need to show off his friend and betrothed when asked if he was sure he hadn't dreamt her up or something. It's definitely not Noct's fault, Gladious got a kick out of teasing the prince even at that age. It builds character. But he knows of the Oracle, has seen the headlines and kept up the news. He can't be sure that the Tenebraean princess is the same girl joining him in battle now, but if she knows his name -- his family's name, then she's at least a friend of the Crown.

And she can do light magic. Well, that narrows things down by a lot. ]

Luna? [ Dang, that is rude to address Noct's fiancee by just her nickname but Gladio's also a bit busy smashing bugs under the weight of his sword. Confusion and introductions can wait for later. (Though with the creatures they've faced on their journey, Gladio has no doubt these monsters will be dispatched easily enough.) ]

Try not to get in the way.

[ He means that in the best way possible, and even appreciates the fact that she's staying low, out of range for his long, wide swings. In seconds, his shield dissipates, freeing his hands to lift and slam his sword down on more of the bugs. There's hardly a creature in sight that could rival the size of it anyway, so it totally works. ]

[devotional]

[ If Lunafreya notices the informalities in the way Gladio addresses her, she shows no sign of it. ] Indeed, [ She manages with a small, shaky smile, doing as she's bade by stepping aside. Seeing the shield of the king work is much like watching a force of nature, and Luna feels that Gladio works best when he doesn't have to worry about beheading her with that humongous sword of his.

The Oracle makes it her mission to watch his back, dispatching the brave insects that deem it wise to sneak up behind him. It isn't long before her own weapon begins to crack and splinter in her hands, leaving her to use whatever magic she has at her disposal to fend off the seemingly neverending onslaught of bugs coming their way. Lunafreya keeps an eye on Gladio while working to keep the bugs off of him, ensuring that he isn't injured before turning her attentions back towards the veritable horde scuttling their way. ]

When I first arrived, [ She says breathlessly, her "lance" splintering into pieces as she drives it into an unfortunate arachnid. ] I had the distinct pleasure of encountering lumbering plant daemons. I see that your own welcoming committee is far less hospitable. [ How Lunafreya can joke in a situation like this is anyone's guess, but she works under the assumption that Gladio might appreciate the levity of her words. Her astral energies are far less potent in Hadriel than they are on Eos, but she possesses enough to erect a protective barrier between herself and the few bugs daring to scramble over the corpses of their fallen comrades, making their way towards her. ]

I've no doubt that you can do this all day, Sir Amicitia, but may I suggest a tactical retreat...? [ Lunafreya ventures, focusing her attentions on avoiding the swings of Gladio's sword once more. ] I am certain that Noctis would be cheered by your presence, and I fear that I do not possess even a quarter of the endurance that you have--

[ Lunafreya drops low, bringing down her temporary shield in favor of blasting a few more insects with light. She can't clear a path, compromised as her abilities are, but with some help she could probably make a bit of headway. ] Our residence is not far from here. Whenever you are ready, I can show you the way?

[manspreading]

[ Ask Noctis, Gladiolus is certainly no stranger to bantering mid-battle. He chuckles at Lunfreya's comment, even tosses her an approving nod as he tears through several of the insects with his blade. Her support is welcome, for all that Gladio would never say it aloud. His time on the road had given the time to grow accustomed to support in battle. Aw, Gladio, you've grown up. Good for you. ]

Well, don't I feel special. Must be my lucky day! [ Not that he enjoys fighting bugs of varying sizes and levels of monstrosity, but he does rather enjoy fighting so the irony in his voice isn't as heavy as it could be. Normally he would argue that ending the beasts would save them all a headache later, but Luna said the all the right words to get Gladio's attention. Mainly, that a certain prince was to be found. ]

Noct is here? [ Gladio seems both relieved and concerned to hear it, of course. A strange place wrought with bugs is no place for the future king of Lucis, but then without Gladiolus by his side that kid is hopeless. With his giant sword, he cuts a swath ahead of them, going by Lunafreya's magic to lead them out of the worst of the mess. ]

Kid's hopeless without me. [ He smirks. ] Lead the way.