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

[offtune]

[ zero lifts her chin and scrutinizes the girl before her now. the cries of the boy is not lost to her her, and one particular scream makes her inwardly cringe. brings her back to that forsaken cell and the beaten girls, dying one after another. ]

Well, if you're gonna leave, you better leave soon. I'm betting it's gonna get real nasty here soon.

[ she's drawing her sword. this isn't an intervention — she's just sick of hearing the kid's cries. ]

[handvore]

[ Velvet turns her attention back to the boy and then Zero, finding herself hesitant to move from her spot now. Her eyes flicker down to the sword and that is where she raises an eyebrow. ]

And what do you planning on doing?

[ She might as well ask and possibly stick around. ]

[offtune]

Thinking of raising a little hell.

[ said rather nonchalantly as she steps toward the shivering boy and the gang of men. it sickens her how hypocritical she's become. once upon a time, not only was she the boy on the floor, but she had also been the men before him. she'd killed families one by one and allowed the children to watch their parents massacred by her.

honestly, she's no better than these men — and yes, the guilt is there, but that isn't the reason why she is willing to save him. she isn't quite sure if she even has any particular reason. ] You thinking of watching now?

[handvore]

You're going to get involved with a stranger?

[ How typical of people. But, what changed her mind? Didn't this woman want to leave and now she's going to go help the kid? Talk about conflicting interest, but it isn't like she can say anything about it. ]

Perhaps. [ Damn. She can't exactly leave now, can she?

Letting out a sigh, she turns her body to finally face back to the men and boy. If anyone dies then maybe she can eat them up. ]

[offtune]

[ that's because she's a hypocrite and somewhere along her journey in midgard, she realizes that she can't just run away from problems. confront them face-on. while it is easier to simply walk away like she initially intended, the moment the hypothetical scenario of man beating a child to death in the streets became reality, she knew it's not something she can simply walk away from.

zero wonders if that's why this girl hasn't gone yet either, but it's not like it matters to her. ]

No, I'm making them shut the hell up. [ surely you understand, velvet. zero glances back at her. ] You want in or are you just gonna keep asking pointless questions?

[handvore]

[ Pressing a hand against her forehead, Velvet can feel herself get even more annoyed as the seconds pass by. To be fair, if this had been Laphicet then she would be jumping in within seconds. Just what would he say if he saw her?

Curse that human side of her. Even if she is a daemon now, she isn’t a complete monster. With a flick of her wrist, Velvet’s blade slides down. ]

Let’s just get this done with. [ She isn’t going to let some stranger show her up and it does mean that the crying will stop as well. ]

[offtune]

[ zero doesn't see her draw her sword, but she hears the light clink of steel as it does. it causes her to cant her head slightly toward the sound — toward the girl. she doesn't see it but zero does smirk before her attention returns to he alarmed men.

this girl is soft, after all.

she'll save the tease for later — for now, they have to take out the trash. ]

Big one's mine. [ with that, she lunges forward. there's a part of her that's grateful that most of the crowd knew not to stand in her way, as it would not have stopped the blade that's lunged straight for the man's jugular. at the same time, it seems a few of his henchmen realize what is about to happen and is currently aiming to flank her. zero snaps back, eye widening as she braces for a sword aiming to slash her side unless the girl comes to help — ]

[handvore]

[ If asked about it, Velvet is only going to say it is because she got sick of the crying and she does not feel like having someone coming up to her later and asking why she did nothing when she could have done something. Granted, that isn't the actual reason for it. ]

Whatever you say. [ However, if they come her way then she isn't going to step aside just so Zero can have her pick.

It is good that she decided to stay behind because it gives Velvet the advantage of rushing to Zero's side and releases her daemon flaw, grabbing onto one of the henchmen's head and crushing it within seconds. ]

Useless.

tw: blood

[offtune]

[ she's quite agreeable, which means that they'll get along, at least for the duration of this adventure, just fine. and even moreso because velvet is able to respond to her silent request for backup quickly. ]

You can say that again. [ she's wiping off the blood from her cheek. ] Watch where you fling their shit.

[ in this case, it's less blood and more burst brain remains from the impact of her crush. it's impressive strength, but it doesn't make it less gross. zero doesn't seem especially annoyed, though, because she's decidedly moving forward, diving her sword deep into the gut of the "big one," before pulling it out upwards, slinging his guts and blood unto both her and her partner. ]

Stay down, you piece of worthless trash!

tw: blood

[handvore]

Oops.

[ She sounds like she doesn't mean that at all because, well, Velvet does. Eat blood, Zero, because there is going to be a decent amount of that happening here. She isn't going to let it all be clean when she is able to fulfil her hunger.

The smell of blood is strong in the air and Velvet takes in a deep breath to soak it all up. There appears to be another henchman moving towards their direction and instead of using her hand, she'll be sure to cut their leg open before sticking her sword into their stomach. Now is where she will use her hand to eat their head off. ]

I guess it is meal time. [ If you're Velvet. ]

[offtune]

[ and that's... fine, she supposes. it's not like zero is very particular about where blood finds itself on her body. in fact, she's powered by blood. it fuels the hunger in her cursed soul, and she curses as she feels her adrenaline rising right along with it.

but people are starting to feel fear, even the boy has run away. as the mess spreads, the panic follows suit. the crowd is gone, screams trailing behind them as they take their frenzied leave.

then, it's just the two of them and a couple dead bodies. it's a familiar sight, even down to the mealtime. ]

What— seriously?! [ she sounds more flustered than she has any right to be. mikhail used to eat raw flesh all the time, but — he at least had the excuse of being a fucking dragon. ] You're gonna put your mouth on that?

[handvore]

[ Ewh.

She is a lady, despite how she looks and acts 99% of the time and even that 1% can be questioned, not even Velvet is going to put it in her actual mouth. ] No, not my mouth. I am going to absorb them all. [ Because fuck eating them like a normal daemon. It is more of a benefit of her claw that she can even do this.

The bodies easily disappear once her daemon claw has been wrapped around them, becoming nothing more than dust in the air. Her hand quickly becomes bandaged again as she finishes her 'meal time'. ]

It's better than letting them waste.