test drive 01

[thestewards]

'Cause I have these new fears I carry with me
So you can feel stronger, you can know peace

► All TDM threads may be considered canon provided both parties agree and are accepted into the game.

► Canon threads may be redeemed for influence and reputation, depending on how you solve the issue at hand or how you engage with the prompt.

► Feel free to switch up your character's Jewel from thread to thread. Get a feel for how a Birthright Jewel may limit or enchance your character's abilities.

GOOD MORNING, DRAEGA
The psychic summons comes with the first light of dawn, waking you from a dream of home. It takes you a minute to remember where you are (a warm, comfortable room in Queen Fayura's residence) and then a moment longer to parse the words.

*Your presence is requested in the training field behind the Queen's Residence. You have ten minutes to get your ass out of bed on your own, or ten minutes to decide you want to be up to your neck in ice-cold mountain water. Your choice.* Gray power flavors the voice. Ah, you recognize that psychic touch. Allairavar, the Master of the Guard.

You remember, too, that he warned the household at last night's supper: if you live in the Queen's Residence, you practice with the Queen's court. You…

i. Drag yourself out of bed with an aching groan, dress with the bleary-eyed confusion of one too suddenly forced awake, and amble onto the training field to avoid the promise of a much more shocking wake up call. Or maybe you make your way quickly with a skip in your step and a twinkle in your eye. You haven't realized yet that Allairavar does not like morning people. Even so, you don't want to get dunked in ice water in the middle of winter.

ii. Roll over and go back to sleep. The Master of the Guard isn't really going to carry through with his threat. In your defense, he doesn't. But one of the First Circle does. You're not sure how you got from your room to a large barrel full of water that could freeze open flame, but here you are, soaked and shivering and very much awake.

Regardless of how you get to the training field, Allairavar pairs you with another Stranger and puts you through your paces. It's barely above freezing, but you're going to need a shower when you're done.


BUILD BETTER BOMBS
There are three rows of four tables set up in the Tinker Guild Hall's auditorium, all heavy laden with materials. Bits of wires, buttons both small and large, ticking clocks. A tank full of goldfish. Sand, canisters of gasses, a strange viscous liquid in a bowl of lead.

"Handle that with gloves," Master Tinker Mari warns you with a wink and a grin. "The bowl, I mean. Don't handle the liquid or you'll lose your hand." She waves her hands at you.

This is supposed to be a crash course in bomb making, and in a way it is. Master Tinker Mari crashes into person after person, pushing them into pairs. She shoves someone up to you. "Blow my mind!" she whispers dramatically, and then she vaults the table, making something in a vial smoke, bubble, and pop.

Around the edge of the auditorium are four chalkboards, each with several diagrams on them. Presumably, these are schematics for you to follow. Smoke bombs, flour bombs. Fireworks and sparklers. Water bombs—maybe she means water balloons? One schematic requires a hamster wheel.

You might as well give it a go.

Note: Master Tinker Mari won't let anyone blow themselves up (or blow up the building). In the event Strangers make something truly dangerous and not just inconvenient, she will hurry over with a much more serious demeanor and disarm the bomb they've created with a suggestion that they take her advanced course.


CHARITY IS AS CHARITY DOES
You were sent here to help, so help you have: by letting the Ebon Council auction off three hours of your time and the power in your Jewels to help with local troubles. Maybe someone's cold box has lost its cooling spell—that's basic Craft and you can help with that—or maybe someone needs you to fetch their cat down from a tree. Whatever it is, you're here to take care of it.

The stage you stand on creaks beneath your feet as a polite older witch bids on you and your partner (the Ebon Council would never let you work alone, no, the landens are too dangerous for you to be out on your own!) with three jars of pear preserves. No money exchanges hands here, just items like non-perishable foods and handmade clothing or blankets.

You'll help the little old witch who needs some rocks moved from the fields just outside Draega's walls, but it occurs to you that only the Blood were at this auction, and only they will reap the rewards. That's hardly charity… but that's also not your problem, is it? Maybe it is. You could always ask that landen couple hovering just to the side of the stage what they need (their roof is leaking, and the man's right hand is crippled, twisted into a rigid claw). Or maybe you won't. They don't have anything to offer, and everything has a price, even your time.


HIT AND RUN
Chill winter air doesn't keep anyone inside in Draega. Stalls line the streets of the Old Town Bazaar, and vendors hawk their curious wares. Blood and landen mingle here, each a little wary of the other but with the affect of those who have accepted they must live alongside their enemy. Expressions are shuttered, but marks are marks no matter who hands them over. No shopkeeper denies a customer just because the money comes from someone they don't like, not in times like these.

As you make your way through the Bazaar, perhaps in search of something or someone or a place to eat (the scent of meat pies is thick in the air), you hear a shout and a cry of pain. People peel back as one, revealing a group of young landen men carrying clubs and wearing cruel sneers. At their feet, a young boy sprawls across a puppy in the muddy slush that covers the road.

You catch the flavor of his psychic scent: he's half-Blood, one of those pitiable creatures accepted by neither the Blood or the landens.

"Y-you can't hurt him!" the little boy cries, curling around the puppy. "P-Prince Verim will stop you!"

The young men laugh. "Prince Verim isn't here," one spits, raising his club.

You could step back. After all, this isn't your problem. You could just alert the First Circle and call it done; they patrol the area, one of those males will surely be here soon. Or you could step in. Everything has a price, and the price of attacking a helpless child and a puppy is a tussle with you.


WALKIE-TALKIE
Catch up with a new acquaintance you met at the Queen's Residence or simply pause to listen to the news playing in a store you're passing through. Far-casters come in all shapes and sizes, from the held-held device that's a bit clunky to the radios that stand at a man's height in some restaurants. If you're spinning the dial and listening to some radio programs, you'll hear…

etiquette with evandra and aren.
[A woman's voice leads. It's a little bit rough and a little bit husky, the kind of voice that gives bad ideas to young men and headaches to fathers.] …just as well. Since you don't want to die for offending a Warlord Prince's lady, what do you do, Lord Aren?

[A man's voice, chipper and bright. He sounds more like an eager boy than the full-grown man he is.] Apologize immediately to her, but meet his gaze so he knows the apology is for him as well. Remember, dear listeners: a Warlord Prince's lady may be all that stands between you and a violent end. Make sure she likes you!

[The woman laughs.] Or at least doesn't think killing you is worth the trouble. If we all learn a little more about each other, we can learn to live together. As always, I'm Evandra.

[With great gusto, Lord Aren says:] I'm Aren, and you've been listening to…

[Together:] Etiquette with Evandra and Aren! [Jaunty outro music plays, a complete tonal dissonance with the fact that the two were just educating landens on how to avoid murder.]

the weather
[A soft-spoken man's voice rumbles out of the Far-caster. He's pleasant to listen to, with a soothing cadence to his voice.] …rain tomorrow with overcast skies through the morning and afternoon. Landen weather devices indicate a decrease in sky-pressure, so those of you who suffer from migraines may want to talk to your Healers or Medicos now.

There's possibility of snow later in the week from the northwest. Questions about snow removal? Reach out to your local Transport Guild rep or your Ebon Council chairperson.

the news
…Blood family of four found murdered in their homes. The Queen's Court assures Draega that no payment for the murders is being asked for at this time. [The man speaks at a brisk pace, hurried and harried as though he has too much to say and not enough time to say it.]

That's right, Garret. [Another man, nasally in tone. He doesn't sound rushed so much as put upon.] Preliminary investigations do indicate the Hunter Guild may be responsible for the deaths.

[Garret:] Indeed they do, Wilt. Evidence at the scene supports the use of Breakers on the family. Turning now from the grisly murder to the surprising way the Queen's Winsol gift to the city is being used to benefit both Blood and landens.

Comments

[kesi]

Yes. It comes with the territory. [Takame couldn't count on one hand how many times he was tasked with escorting or otherwise protecting someone since becoming an adventurer. It only made sense then that they would be recruited for this.]

Me? H-How do I...? [Well if how he fumbled at first was any indication, he didn't have a response to give. In truth, he didn't feel any way at all about their circumstances. He was given a task, given an incentive, and he would follow through with it as commanded. There was no need to feel any way. But he couldn't admit that, it never gained a positive response when he did to an ally. But an answer was expected of him, he couldn't give nothing.

He's silent for a moment, lost in thought. Trying to figure out what the proper thing to say was. What would they say? It takes him longer that it should, but eventually after a while of staring into nothing he finds a response.]

There must more to our task than we were told. I would... learn what that is before coming to a verdict. [An excuse.] ... But this realm needs help. It's only right to help those who need it. If we've got the power to do something, we should. [A noble statement, or it would be if he weren't regurgitating his last family member's motto word for word. There was no weight to them, but with how rarely his tone ever changed few notice how often he just spouted air. He'll divert attention from himself instead of testing that, though.] What do you make of this, then?

[verstoned]

The Queen wants the realm fixed and both sides to come to accord, but the Blood and the landens are both not interested. [Though Rhus' tone is light, there's no mistaking the expression on his face to be anything but grave.

There will be war. He's seen where situations like this go, and there's really only one possible solution. It makes him feel tired. It makes him feel old. It makes him take another long drag from his small kiseru and full his lungs with blessed, fragrant fogweed.]

Hydaelyn would 'ave my head if I did not assist the Queen.

[But Rhus knows what happens when a world is just turned upside down, and is no longer able to sustain its life.

Someone's story will turn out to be just like the Warriors of Darkness'.]

[kesi]

I doubt we would have been called if the Blood and landens could settle their differences by talking.

[Takame wouldn't have at any rate. He was many things, an adventurer, a warrior, an obedient infantry unit. But a not a diplomat. The only possible thing he could have been called for was a long term battle. He wasn't good for much else save snooping.

It was just a fact, and at least adapting would be simple as every other day, and yet deep in his heart he yearned for something different. Regardless, this was how things were now. His duty would be done.]

We are of the same mind, then.

[verstoned]

[The Miqo'te makes a face around the mouthpiece of his pipe, before shaking his head, fragrant fogweed smoke trailing from his mouth.]

If they wanted a smooth talker to make that sort of peace, they would have asked Alphinaud rather than us. No, we fight and... fetch and carry. [Rhus is not his young and foolish but beloved Elezen friend-- he would never have been able to do that either. He's long gotten tired of playing the crowd-pleasure, the diplomat, having to watch what he says and exhaust his mind on honeyed words.

He's only fortunate that he's found people who don't mind how blunt he can become.

He might not like fetching and carrying but hells. Better than negotiating.]

[kesi]

[Heavens knew Takame didn't possess the silver tongue that his sister or this Alphinaud did. The Queen was best utilizing his talent, using the tool at her disposal the way it's supposed to be used. Of course, he would get scolded if his sister knew he thought of himself that.

Though he prayed for another use of his potential, in a fight felt comfortable. Maybe too comfortable. At least this all would be worth their while.]

Our paths were set from the start.

[verstoned]

[Rhus looks up at Takame at the declaration, brows furrowed, then shakes his head. He doubts they would be forced to do anything they did not want to...]

Why do something other than help save this world? 'S not Hydaelyn, but any world lost is still lost. [That's said bluntly.

Without magic, it wouldn't be able to sustain any life. At least, that's how Hydaelyn works, and how the world of the other Warriors worked as well. But how to fix that tragedy... He has no idea.]