TEST DRIVE 02

[pluviosamods]

TEST DRIVE

Hello, and welcome to the second Pluviosa Test Drive!

This Test Drive corresponds to Days 4-12 in the ship calendar, and will run until around the game's next major event. You can get a better idea what's going on in the most recent Game Update which covers Days 5-8. Currently, character IC housing is not in operation yet; it is expected to open on Day 9 (part of the way through the Test Drive period). Otherwise, the ship is largely in the state described on the Setting page and in other game information.

Test Drive threads involving characters who are accepted are considered canon to the events of the game unless otherwise agreed by players/mods. Pluviosa does not do welcome mingle logs nor does it have any kind of in-character welcome information, making your test drive threads your character's arrival to the game setting. That said, mod-run interactions such as formal exploration and/or interactions with the Ship as an NPC are not available on the Test Drive.

It is advised that potential players familiarize themselves with the Premise page, the Rules/Session Zero page, and at least the first few paragraphs of the Setting page. As Pluviosa is a horror game, we especially encourage players to be aware of the content warnings that will be major themes of the game. If you have any further questions, you can ask them on the QUESTIONS header in the comments!

If you're test driving a character, you're welcome to join the game Discord and hang out and meet your fellow players!

ARRIVAL - LIKE THE RAIN

You wake up. You remember waking up, right? In another place, another time...

There's blood running down your fingers. Outside, the rain isn't pounding, yet, just a gentle patter...

Or is it?

As characters gain fuller awareness of their surroundings, they will realize that there is, in fact, no blood on their hands (save any that might have already been there). It feels as though they lost focus for a moment and hallucinated, but the hallucination ended with them somewhere else entirely.

There is not actually the sound of rain. If characters are near enough to a window, balcony, or even a hole in the ceiling, they will find that it is cloudless, beaming sunlight outside. The emptiness in the distance rolls on and on, completely absent any signs of life.

That being, of course, because the signs of life are all in here. Characters might wake up on any of the decks on the upper side of the ship - anywhere that isn't the cafeteria or lounge where previous arrivals spend most of their time is free game. This also means, of course, that they have the jungle of plants to contend with...

LIGHTS ON, SHOW START

Most areas in the ship are dark when characters arrive. That doesn't mean that they stay dark. Occasionally, lights overhead flicker on and off for a few minutes at a time.

The problem with this isn't the lights themselves (cool white and kind of industrial). It's the reaction that the addition of the extra light causes the plants in the dark areas of the ship that's cause for alarm. To describe the growth as explosive isn't an understatement - vines, saplings, and even thicker branches surge with growth, pushing outwards towards the distant sunlight and upwards towards the flickering bulbs.

The growth is sudden enough to take all but the most aware characters by surprise, and if they're in the wrong corner of the room, it's very easy to get tangled up, wedged in by a tree trunk, or otherwise trapped against some corner or wall. If you're lucky and skilled, you might be able to cut yourself out from there (or break down the wall you're shoved up against), but otherwise, there's only one solution left.

Yell like your life depends on it, and hope somebody out there can hear you. And that whoever hears is someone who is inclined to help, rather than leaving you there. Or worse.

Oh, and the lights flicker back off after a few minutes, of course. Hopefully you're not waiting for rescue in the dark (with the smell of mold and the general faint dampness of the forest) for too long.

TILT-A-WORLD

Occasionally, the whole ship tilts.

This is not simply the side to side motion of a ship on the water (or the equivalent motion brought on by the way this particular ship moves); it's an extremely forward or backward tilt that sends things sliding across the floor if they aren't secured by roots or something else. Unlike storm-tossed ships, the tilt is somewhat prolonged - rather than everything sliding back and forth a couple times a minute, the tilt lasts for five, ten, maybe as much as twenty minutes.

Although it's not enough to knock a well-balanced character off their feet, it's quite likely that new arrivals will not be particularly on-balance. And attempting to traverse the ship with the tilt is a tall order... especially when the ship's angle does unexpectedly change... to the exact opposite direction. All that goes up the mountain must go back down, and a glance out the windows reveals that that's exactly what's going on, as the ship progresses across a mountainous landscape without real regard for the concept of mountain passes.

And for characters who have managed to make their way to the "civilized" parts of the ship, namely the cafeteria and the lounge above it... None of the furniture in these areas is secured. The cafeteria carts under the direct control of the Ship don't seem as inclined to go anywhere, but the tables and chairs in the cafeteria and the couches and armchairs upstairs... Well, it's a good thing both spaces are surrounded by railings. Large chunks of tree trunk also still littler the lounge, sliding back and forth and occasionally rolling with great force across the floor.

Better hold on tight.

SOMETHING WHISTLING

While wandering around the ship's interior, characters might occasionally hear a person whistling.

The sound always seems to be coming from just around the corner, but it sounds alive in a way that other sounds don't. Maybe more alive, even, than the rustle of leaves, the occasional drip of water, and the sounds of things sliding back and forth across the grimy, leaf-covered floors. The whistler, whoever they are, doesn't actively respond if called out to - but the whistling does pause, as though indicating that the call was heard, before starting up again.

If characters choose to follow the whistling, they're inevitably led to the same place - somewhere overlooking the great gap down the middle of the ship, whether an internal suite's balcony, one of the bridges crossing between the two halves, or one of the hallways that runs alongside it. Once they're there, there's no whistler in sight; however, characters will be filled with the overwhelming urge to look over the edge of the railing and down into the lower parts of the ship.

Exactly what they experience after looking down varies. Some will hallucinate that they've fallen over the side, feeling their balance go haywire and seeing the floor rushing up to them right up until the moment of "impact," at which everything returns to normal. Some will feel a stranger's hands on their shoulders, threatening to push them over with a great shove that goes through them with incorporeal fingers. Some will just hear unidentifiable laughter right up close to their ears, and experience the distinct sensation that there's someone laughing at them, in a haha-made-you-look kind of way.

But whatever happens, when they look up, there's no one there - or at least not anyone that physically close to them. The one good thing about being drawn to the middle section of the ship by whatever prankster this is is that it makes it a lot easier to run into people if you're all drawn to the same, highly visible place.

And at least the other person is flesh and blood, right? Probably.

Comments

Fridtjof Djt-bidit | Final Fantasy XIV

[paladinforhire]

Arrival

He shouldn't have blood running down his fingers. He should be able to feel his gloves on his hands and he does, but there's still blood -

Fridtjof wakes up, blinking in surprise. He squares his shoulders and lifts himself from the... well. It's the remnants of a bed at the very least. He's slept on worse. He doesn't really care that he's dirty either, his armor still shining white and blue. He picks up his sword and shield and fastens them onto his back, heading out of what ends up being the cabins.

Maybe someone can help him out here? He's usually pretty good at figuring out where he is, but he's pretty lost right now.


Lights On, Show Start

There's the sound of yelling from down the corridor, but it's not distressed at least. The Rava is just frustrated by the suddenly growing plants. He's strong enough and fast enough to cut through the mess, but there's probably other people around who need assistance. And that's what a paladin is for - to help the weak and needy.

"Is anyone there?" Shout if you need help, people!

... And maybe avoid the sword if you can.


Something Whistling

Fridtjof's hearing is good, and so the whistle is annoying him enough that he heads out to find what's going on. He makes his way to the edge of the balcony and looking down. ... He's annoyed when he doesn't see anyone, and shoves back against whoever it is that's trying to shove him. He growls and draws his sword and shield - nothing.

... This is annoying. This is frustrating, and he's really tempted to start hitting things. Still, he pulls his temper into check and looks around, trying to figure out what to do. Fortunately for him, there's a lot of people here who are likely just as annoyed! Either they have answers or they're eager to spar too.

Hopefully.


Wildcard

[Want to do something else? Let me know on Discord at artematthew<.]

Lights On, Show Start

[featheradrift]

It's the yelling that draws the Wanderer over in the Rava's direction. The intermittent bursts of plant growth had been an impediment to his traversal of the ship, but it hadn't an obstruction.

The unfamiliar voice though... with so few in numbers on the ship, it's easy to get a headcount, and no one had been missing. This is ultimately what draws him over. The yelling was nothing like the hallucinatory whispers that were almost like background noise at this point.

Fridtjof might be alerted to the presence of another person beyond the tangle of plants and branches when the drifter starts unleashing wind blades at the obstruction between them, but it'll be far more apparent when said person calls out to him over the noise.

"Back away if you don't want to be cut!"

[paladinforhire]

Fridtjof just chuckles as the person starts slashing the plants. Wind, huh? He's capable of manipulating that too, but a little differently than that. He backs out of the way and puts his shield up. He's taken worse on it, and it's not like he's a stranger to getting hit.

"All right, if you're ready - charge ahead!" It'll be fine. Probably.

[featheradrift]

At the prompt, the Wanderer summons a sphere of Anemo energy and charges forward. The sphere tears the plants into shreds, and he bursts through the foliage to the sight of a man with a shield—definitely not anyone he's seen before. His appearance suggested he wasn't related to the ship, but just to be sure, he keeps his distance from the newcomer.

"Who are you," the drifter asks immediately, still floating in the air. It's not so much hostility than wariness that he asks. Where was this man just a few days ago. Had he been wandering the depths of the ship this entire time, or did he just appear recently?

[paladinforhire]

"Well, that's a little rude." His tone is fairly amused, though - he's not actually offended. "But the name is Fridtjof. I seem to have just... shown up here." It's not the first time he's been dragged to another world, and it may not be the last.

He looks the other over carefully - a hat. His archenemy. He just smiles a little bit and nods to the other. "And you are? I suppose I should say thank you for clearing a path."

[featheradrift]

He doesn't answer, looking over the man in front of him. He certainly doesn't look like someone who's been stuck in an overgrown ship for a few days. Clean, hale, and far too relaxed for someone who was just whisked away to an unknown location. This isn't his first rodeo, clearly.

"So more people are appearing on the ship," he mutters to himself, thinking. There was nothing obvious to indicate the transfer of newcomers onto the ship—meaning it would be difficult to figure out how this was happening. Unfortunate that he isn't a Kshahrewar scholar and therefore lacks the knowledge to build an energy detector.

It'll eventually become clear to Fridtjof that the drifter has either forgotten to or doesn't intend on responding to him, though he seems quite content to float in front of the Viera as he thinks.

[paladinforhire]

Uh.

He lifts a hand and waves at the floating person. "Uh, hey? A little info here? I'd appreciate it." He's trying to figure out what's going on. He's doing his best here but he's not a scholar.

[featheradrift]

Right. He refocuses on the man before him. Might as well help the guy out, because there really isn't anything better to do (other than antagonize him, but he's had his fill of that with the Harbinger already on board.)

"What do you want to know?" he asks as he settles on the ground. The glowing of on his outfit subsides as he stops using Anemo energy to maintain his position in the air.

[paladinforhire]

"For one, where are we? Other than some manner of ship - that much I can tell." The glowing doesn't bother him, he's used to seeing random glowing stuff. "But where are we in terms of... well, I suppose 'which star are we on' would be a good place to start."

He taps his chin, thinking a bit. "And how many others are here as well. That would also be helpful to know."

[featheradrift]

The Wanderer shrugs in response to the first request of information. "Honestly, that's all we know. We're on some ship with mechanical legs, and it's walking until it can't walk anymore."

He thinks for a moment, trying to recall the information he heard the ship provide others.

"Matye. That was this planet's name. Ring a bell?"

He does not yet answer the second question.

[paladinforhire]

"It does not. I was hoping it would be as simple as 'some unknown area on the First or the Source', but I suppose that was too much to wish for."

He thinks for a moment more and then shrugs. "I suppose it doesn't matter. From your unworried gaze I take it there are no foul beasts ready to snap us up here - or at least none that you think are worthy of being concerned about." Hm... "But tell me, what manner of crisis faces this place? There always seems to be some sort of crisis..."

[featheradrift]

For that to be a question on the man's mind, he must be used to traveling, and used to encountering all sorts of problems.

"So eager to play hero already? Is that what you're used to? Going around to new places and saving them to earn the adoration of its residents?" the Wanderer sneers. "Well, Great Hero, there is no crisis here, unless you count being unable to leave as one."

[paladinforhire]

"Not exactly eager - it is tiring - but me and my fellows tend to be the ones people turn to when the star is in danger. And it's mainly one of us who gets the adoration." Not to say he hasn't been honored, but... well. The Warrior of Light is a symbol for all peoples near and far. He just hits stuff hard.

The 'great hero' crack gets him to snort. "I'm no great hero. But being able to leave is a problem. One I've encountered before, but somehow I doubt that it will be solved the same way."

Arrival

[luciacorina]

Lucia Corina is making a considerably more cautious expedition into the higher residential decks, sticking to areas that were somewhat cleared out in the aftermath of the Incident, but still hoping she might find something interesting in one of the rooms... and, frankly, too used to being constantly on the move to just sit in the cafeteria or lounge all day. Even when she's playing for her meals, which she isn't here, she doesn't like to do it all day--staying indefinitely on display tends to bring back echoes of her swing.

She hears a loud clatter in a room farther down the hall, and nervously retreats out of the room she was in, in case it heralded the lights flicking on and another explosion of growth, but the lights stay off, and a person comes out of the room.

A new person. She definitely would have remembered if she had seen anyone yet with ears like that. His armor glints in the low light of the red strips on the wall, and the flickering of the candle she has with her, in her battered but mostly intact lantern. (It's not like it had glass to break, she isn't rich, it's mostly just dented.)

"Hello, ser," she ventures, hoping not to surprise him too much. She isn't sure what she'll look like to him, in her sturdy but worn (and more tattered than she notices) black and white dress, with her hair a mess from catching on trees and vines (even more than usual), holding a flickering iron lantern. He could be from any kind of world. "Have you just arrived?"

[paladinforhire]

He blinks at her owlishly, his light golden eyes betraying both surprise and confusion. His armor is at least intact, and his sword and shield both glow light blue. He offers her a smile and the glow disappears from his weapons as he holsters them. ... Wouldn't be the first time he's shown up somewhere new and been wildly confused.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I have." He gestures broadly with his gauntleted hands. "I haven't been to this place before - I'm sure I would have remembered it." The plants are somewhat familiar-ish - he's been to the jungle plenty of times even outside of the Wood. "What... place is this?"

[luciacorina]

"Hm. You're the first new arrival I've met since the day the rest of us found ourselves here." She frowns. "I don't know what that means. I still don't know what or who is bringing us here, or why. Here is... some kind of enormous metal ship with legs? It doesn't seem to have a name. There's some kind of intelligence governing it, and it merely told us to call it 'Ship'." She feels a little easier with the obvious potential threat of his weapons away. He's probably perfectly nice, most everyone has been, but... still. If she had known there were going to be new arrivals, she might have taken someone up on the offer of company while she explored.

"My name is Lucia Corina," she adds as an afterthought, with a brief one-handed curtesy. "I can show you to the more... effectively reclaimed areas, if you'd like? There's food."

[paladinforhire]

Okay. ... Uh. Okay. He's... trying to take all of that in. A giant ship? With legs? ... Okay that's weird, but... hm. He'd tuck his hands into his pockets if he had pockets, but he doesn't have any very good ones right at this moment. Not within reach, at least.

"I'm Fridtjof. Fridtjof Djt-bidit. ... I understand if that's too much for you, I know a lot of Hyur have trouble pronouncing Viera names." He's been called a number of things, some flattering and some... 'Fred'. "But food would be good! I just got up, after all."

[luciacorina]

"Do you prefer being called the whole thing?" She assumes by 'too much' he means the whole combination, anyway, it hasn't occurred to her that he means pronouncing it at all. "Lucia Corina is my name in full, I don't go by only part. My surname is... no longer relevant." Her face shadows for a moment, easily lost in the flickering candlelight. "What are Hyur? Or Viera? If you don't mind me asking."

She turns a little, gesturing with her lantern. "The stairs are this way--the cafeteria is on the top level."

[paladinforhire]

"That's all right. And Fridtjof is what I'm usually called, when people can pronounce it." He tilts his head at the question, one ear flicking slightly in confusion. "... I'm a Viera? Long ears, tall, either extremely pale or fairly dark? And Hyur are... well, like you."

Is this another world? That would explain why she doesn't know what they mean. "But ah... let's eat. Things always look better over a meal."

[luciacorina]

Races, then? "Human, is what I would call what I am, at least in my world. And there are none like you there, at least that I have met or heard tell of." She pauses. Did she skip something important in her explanation? "Those who have found ourselves here were taken from a variety of different worlds. There are a few who knew each other before, but I am the only one from my world, and most things the others know are thoroughly foreign to me. Most of us here at least appear human, though there are exceptions." Like John. She still doesn't really know how he got them up that staircase.

She leads the way up the stairs and to the cafeteria. "The food is here-- there's always been a fair selection, since the storm stopped."

[paladinforhire]

"Ah. Different worlds, that explains it." A lot of culture variance exists even in his own world. He can only imagine what other worlds are like! ... Actually he probably can't. He's not the thinker in the group - he's very much like Estinien in that way.

He seems mostly cheerful as they walk, though he's very clearly taking in the scenery. He hates be surprised - and he'd prefer to not have that happen to him. "Hm. And what - ah!" His eyes light up as he spots the dumplings. ... But he doesn't smell meat, and his ears droop slightly. "Ah..." He can deal with that, though - he picks up a few on a plate and grabs some... oh. No chopsticks. A fork will do. Time to find a table... he sits down and pulls his gloves off for better movement.

[luciacorina]

Oh, his ears are... very expressive. Clearly disappointed in some way by the food.

Lucia Corina takes some toast and jam, just to have something, and sits down across from Fridtjof. Attempting to give him a slightly familiar face to ask questions of, if he has more. "I'm glad there's food now," she says after a few bites. "I had enough in my pack to get through the storm with, but I was quickly running low, and I'm not sure how much anyone else had."

[paladinforhire]

"Yes, it can be an issue when food supplies run low." He pops a dumpling in his mouth and chews it, swallowing before he speaks again. "Morale is an important thing! It's very frustrating when there's nothing to eat. I had to learn how to hunt when I was young so I try to make sure whoever I'm accompanying doesn't have that issue. I spent many moons learning how to attack prey from the shadows."

He looks over her curiously, chuckling a little bit. "Though I wouldn't expect someone who isn't a Viera to know much about the ways of the Wood. And unfortunately it's not as if I can take you to visit."

[luciacorina]

Carnivorous... rabbit man? She wonders idly whether this is what the rabbit Casper mentioned was like, or if it was a rabbit-shaped rabbit.

The word 'Wood' spoken with significance puts her a little on edge, but she tries to suppress it, especially since he's from some other world where it almost certainly doesn't mean anything like wood elves. "Regretfully, none of us can show any of the others anything of our worlds. I've been told about some incredible sounding things, but all we have is the ship. There's a bubble around it, apparently protecting us from hazards outside, we cannot even debark to see more of this world." She keeps remembering things she should probably mention. "Not that there appears to be much to see, out there, only lifeless wastes."

[paladinforhire]

"I see. I've seen some lifeless wastes in my time, but unfortunately I don't have the skills to fix anything like that on my own. My command of aether is only so strong." He's not like, a deity. Much as he wishes he could be one to protect the Warrior of Light...

"But... ah. Even if we were able to be in my world, I couldn't show you. That's... what I meant. Those who leave the Wood are banished forever." He glances down at his food for a moment before looking up at her again. "I had a good reason to leave, but I still cannot return. Even helping to save existence doesn't qualify you for an exception, it seems."