TDM I

[thetonmods]

The Ton Test Drive Meme I

Welcome to the The Ton's first ever Test Drive Meme!

The game will officially open on the 1st of April (lol) and we will announce this via the game's Plurk account. Applications will open on this date - please do not submit an application before then as it will be ignored until the opening date.

Please note that the Test Drive Meme does not require an invite.

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Arrival

I. WELCOME

You don't remember when or where you fell asleep exactly.

Perhaps it's the tickling sensation of a low hanging tree branch brushing against your nose or the feel of the slightly damp grass underneath you that causes you to awaken but when you do you'll find yourself lying amongst a glade of wisteria trees. You're not alone - nymphs of the trees laugh and dance about you, clearly amused at the new arrival. Along with them, your new loyal servant is here on Pheme's bidding. How this servant looks is different to each arrival. Some are saddled with short, stout butlers, others are welcomed by towering, busty maids. Regardless of their appearance, they introduce themselves with a kindness and warmth that is simultaneously reassuring and strangely impossible to resist when they beckon you to follow them from the grove and out into the city of Andovale.

The closest structure within sight is the Palace and its grounds. It is here that the Lady Pheme resides and from here that she rules over the city, your servant explains to you. You have been selected and brought here personally by her. It is she who assigned the servant to guide you through the regency-inspired city that is your new home.

Eventually, they will bring you to your new residence within the outskirts of somewhere called the "Trade Quarter". You are now the resident of a room within one of the many imposing town houses which make up the Grand Crescent. Throughout your stay here the servant will be your own personal butler or maid. This is where all new arrivals will be living for the time being you are told. Your servant will also give you a crash course on life here and the concept of Thumos - the energy or life force that keeps Andovale and all life within it going - including you now that you are here. It's generated through acts of intimacy, whether that be physical or emotional.

Once you have been shown to your room, you are given two things: a network communication device and a letter. The letter reads as follows:

My dearest reader,

Welcome to Andovale.

The delights of our fair city are yours to explore.

I do hope that you make your stay here a most interesting one. I shall be frightfully disappointed if you do not - and we do not want that, do we?

You will hear from me again very soon.

Yours Truly,

Lady Pheme

You are free to wander about and explore the house and its surroundings as you please. It's certainly spacious enough. As well as your own quarters, each of the townhouses of the Grand Crescent have large communal areas, which includes the kitchens (although why you'd like to go there when your servant can fetch any delicacies you'd like for you!), a dining room, a parlour with its own small library, two drawing rooms (somewhere you can go to chill out basically - harp music anyone?) and a generously sized garden. Strangely, unlike most accurate regency townhouses, there do not appear to be any servant's quarters - perhaps these servants don't need to rest? Or they go somewhere else entirely for that.

Why not introduce yourself to your new housemates? Or enjoy some tea and cakes that have been prepared for you personally by your retainer, which they seem to keep insisting on bringing to you?

---

II. AN INVITATION

Your arrival coincides with the beginning of spring and with it the height of the ton's social season. What kind of social event can signify the start of this better than a grand ball?

Coincidentally you won't have long to enjoy your new home in peace and quiet. Wherever you are within the Grand Crescent your house's assigned butler or maid will track you down sometime during the day. They are not empty-handed and they carry a silver tray, upon which is an envelope with a wax seal bearing the letter "P". Inside the envelope is an invitation. An invitation from your benevolent ruler, Lady Pheme herself.

Each character will receive an invitation identical in wording to the one below:

MASKED BALL

YOUR CHARACTER'S NAME HERE


Is requested to attend the ball at THE PALACE, on 25th of March current, at 9 o'clock p. m.


Do not trouble yourself - masks will be provided upon your arrival.

Lady Pheme

You have already been told that an invitation to the Palace from the lady herself is the only way in. So if you want to find out anything about the tyrant lady then you better get yourself gussied up. Your servant can help you find something appropriate to wear - or not appropriate, the choice is entirely yours after all. The ball awaits.

Masked Ball

For the first time tonight, the gates of the Palace are open. Whether you're arriving on horseback, by carriage or on foot, you must travel through those gates and down a wide sweeping roadway, lined with immaculately trimmed hedges and roses bushes.

Stone steps and huge double doors greet you at the other end. Once you go through these doors, you will enter a grand entrance hall. You will see this room and the ballroom only. All other rooms are out of bounds and no amount of physical force or magic powers will get you to them.

In the short time that Andovale has been in existence, Lady Pheme has already built herself a bit of a reputation for being rather erratic when it comes to the Palace's interior. She seems to change it on a whim whenever she feels like it. She does so hate being bored after all. The colour scheme she fancies on this particular evening is black, white and silver. The many servants and attendants milling around are dressed all in white and are of course, wearing masks themselves. Every free surface is covered in grand flower arrangements, also in white.

Upon arrival, you are handed two very important items. The first is your dance card, the second is your mask. You will not be able to enter the Palace ballroom without both of these items.










The delight that is the dance card is key to every regency ball experience. Traditionally held by young women, at this ball everyone gets one. The dance card is used to record the names of those with whom you intend to dance each successive dance with at a formal ball such as this.

Got cold feet? Dancing not your thing? You might find that card being magically filled out for you. One second it's completely blank, the next you look down and find yourself with a list of delightful individuals with whom to show off your dance moves. (You have Pheme to thank for that - she's just looking out for you!)

Curiously, there is no sign of your generous hostess herself. Just a throne sitting empty at the top of the ballroom.

As for the masks, well... they're not quite what they seem too. It isn't as though you'll have any choice but to find that our for yourself. As previously mentioned, there's no entering the ballroom without one on. You might be able to persuade someone to swap masks with you or ask a member of the Palace stuff for another one - but they're all about as chaotic as each other.

Hey, at least the drinks are unlimited.

A typical regency ball usually ends around 5 in the morning so you might be here a while.

Note: The images below are just a guide, you can decide exactly what your mask looks like as long as it fits within the colour/animal category described.

Silver Mask

Simple and classic - unless you go for one of the more elaborately patterned ones.

The wearer of this mask will find themselves experiencing only the most pleasant of hallucinations. We'll leave the interpretation of that up to you.

You're also hungry. Really damn hungry.

Blue Mask

Masks of this hue will leave the wearer with an overwhelming sense of sadness. You're just plain bummed out.

Unless that is, you get yourself someone to dance with. In fact the only way to feel remotely normal or cheerful while you're wearing this mask is to dance the night away and you will feel compelled to do just that. Otherwise you're just going to be a giant sad sack all evening and nobody wants that.

Peacock Mask

Wow, so you like to make a statement, huh? Or maybe it was the only one within reach. Either way, nobody's going to fail to notice you in one of these.

Seriously. No, seriously, is it just you or is everyone staring at you? You know the mask is pretty garish in comparison to the others but this seems like an overreaction...

The truth is this mask makes you irresistible to others. So you have the personality of a shovel? Your problems are over, my chum. All of the ton will now be dazzled by your sparkling wit and the positively flawless way in which you conduct yourself. Everyone's laughing at your jokes, even when you didn't make one. Everyone wants to be the first name on your dance card. You might even find yourself with a couple of marriage proposals by the end of the night.

You lucky thing you.

Pink Mask

Two words: MEET CUTE.

Come on, it's everyone's favorite trope! You know that romcom hero or heroine who is delightfully and cutely clumsy? Always bumping into their future love interest? Well, this mask lets you become just that.

You know, after your third spilled drink of the night this could actually get really annoying.

Harlequin Mask

There is no such thing as privacy for those who end up with a harlequin mask. It may take you a while to realise (unless someone else takes pity enough to point it out to you) but this particular mask projects the wearer's innermost private thoughts onto the front of it for anyone else to read.

Let's hope you're not thinking anything too insulting. Otherwise, we might have a fight on our hands.

Cat Mask

This mask causes the wearer to start acting... well, like a cat.

Chasing shiny objects, randomly knocking glasses off the drinks table, rubbing yourself against somebody else's legs... all of that. You weirdo. What will it take to ward you off? A spray from a water bottle? A laser pointer? If only those had been invented...

Golden Mask

This mask will really amp up your Thumos production. When we say really, we mean really.

The slightest touch from another will suddenly feel like ecstasy to you. Even something as simple and bland as someone tapping you on the shoulder is liable to have you feeling weak at the knees.

Naturally this could get a little awkward if you've never even met the other person before. Oh well, at least they can't see your face properly.

Red Mask

Red is the colour of passion. That must be why you're passionately angry at that person. Specifically the first person you lay eyes on once you enter the ballroom. You might even say that they are your nemesis.

Does this person even know that they're your nemesis? Probably not. (Unless they just happen to also put on a red mask and lay their eyes on you at exactly the same moment!) It doesn't matter. Clearly they must be stopped.

Now no decent, upstanding member of the ton would condone actual violence of any kind. Particularly not at a high society soirée such as this. Your fighting must be sneaky, subtle - make them feel like they're simply not welcome here! Throw thinly veiled insults at their attire, literally throw one of the vol-au-vents at them when their back is turned, accidentlly spill your glass of lemonade in their lap... Do whatever it takes. Well, within reason.

How do you like them apples?

The bustling market of Andovale's Trade Quarter is known for having only the finest produce. This week there is a new stall that has never appeared before and it does not specialise in your run of the mill fruit and vegetables.

This particular stall is selling golden apples. In appearance they appear to be literally made of solid gold yet the beautiful woman minding the stall demonstrates that they are perfectly edible. In fact, they're downright delicious - you just can't stop yourself taking a bite. We would venture to say that they are probably the most delicious apples you have ever tasted.

They also come with side effects.

The legendary Golden Apples of the Garden of Hesperides were a wedding present to the goddess Hera from Gaia, the ancestral mother of all life. The apples promised immortality and anyone who ate them would never again experience hunger, thirst, suffering or illness... well, these apples are but a pale imitation of that. No, you won't become immortal but for exactly twenty-four hours after you've taken your first bite you will find that you don't need to eat, drink or rest. Your strength and stamina will increase tenfold and things that would normally cause harm to you cannot. Optionally, you may also be feeling extremely concupiscent, as the locals would put it - aka horny to you and me.

Somehow there's always a bad apple in the bunch though, right? Or several.

Unfortunately some of these apples are Apples of Discord. If you happen to pick one of these, one bite will still give you all of the traits mentioned above but for the next twenty-four hours you will find that unluckiness and chaos seems to shadow your every step...

So maybe you're passing beneath an open window and a maid accidentally empties a vase of water and some dead flowers on your head. Maybe you're in your local inn just trying to have a quiet drink but find that others are constantly trying to start a fight with you. Trying to get lucky with that special someone? Maybe certain parts of your anatomy just will not get with the program. And we advise you to maybe avoid carrying anything delicate and breakable for the next short while.

Wildcard

To assist you with inspiration our full list of Andovale's locations can be found here.

Want to play something that isn't listed here? Go ahead!

Please note that TDMs are considered game canon.

Both prospective and current characters who are already in game will be permitted to top-level on TDMs.

As your first port of call, we would recommend having a read of the premise page, as well as our rules. For any general game questions you may have which are not answered by the FAQ then please leave a comment on the FAQ page - for any questions specific to this TDM then please respond to the questions comment below.

Most importantly - have fun!

Comments

3

[zemnianjoy]

[ Caleb Widogast had been watching this particular vendor for the time being, conversely he was taking note of all of the effects that the apples were having on the people who took the stall-keeper up on the offer. One lady had immediately latched onto her gentleman companion and hurried away, hand sliding to his rear to squeeze.

Another, after a single bite, had managed to ran himself face first into the little kiosh that sold an assortment of fine flavored ices, quite without thinking or clearly looking.

When there was a refusal, he pushed himself off the tree to weigh in on the strange things that he had seen. ]

That was probably a good thing that you did so; it seems that the effects either air to unmitigatably frisky or irrepairably unfortunate.

[promissory]

[When someone else pops up to speak to Zack, he half expects them to try and sell him something, too. He already has a polite decline on the tip of his tongue when this guy starts talking, but he soon realizes he hasn't been accosted by another salesman.]

Wait, seriously?

[He glances back at the apple seller he's just passed and lowers his voice to continue the conversation.]

They're just apples, though.

[zemnianjoy]

((ooc: small world, but I was checking your plurk and your muse list, and I saw that you were using on your muse list, an icon that I made of Ukitake Jyuushirou; I'm a big Ukitake stan so I had a very big and excited squeak))

--

[ Caleb Widogast would never be good at selling anyone anything. So thankfully the other man disabused himself of that notion very quickly, he motions for Zack to come very quickly away from the seller, with a murmured 'it's alright, nothing to see here'. But already the vendor was finding another person that was quickly approaching. Caleb made a quick motion for Zack to come over and then he folded his arms across his chest and nodded toward the seller, murmuring in a softly accented voice ]

Watch this.

[ A man in riding gear came by, the vendor offered an array of apples and the man delighted, settled his riding crop between arm and side, selected an apple from the assortment ]

I would have fallen into that trap if I had been alone.

[ This man could not resist taking a bite out of the apple; immediately a look of pure bliss came over him, his cheeks flushed in a way they hadn't been previously and then he all but leaned against the apples and made coy and almost obscene eye contact with the vendor. ]

That is a bit awkward, ja? Conversely, I also beheld someone take a bite of an apple and then minutes later upset an entire shaved ice cart--

[promissory]

[ooc: Holy cow, that's so funny, I last played him ages ago, too! But what excellent taste we have~]


[Zack allows himself to be led far enough away by his new...friend? Acquaintance? Fellow observer. And watch he does, unsure at first of he's really going for see anything of note.

Except, of course, he does. He can't help but make a face at how forward the man suddenly turns after taking a bit of the apple. Zack is no stranger to being a flirt himself, but surely he never acted like that, even when he was a teenager, right?]

...Man, this town's got it bad, huh.

[zemnianjoy]

[ ooc: coincidentally, I stan Zack too which is why I made it a priority to tag out with you! ]
-

[ Caleb had watched all of this with a combination of awkward horror coupled with an inability to look away from this scene. The Exandrian equivalent of a train wreck was probably 3 kobolds in a trenchcoat fighting a Moorbounder in a ball gown; that had absolutely nothing on this ]

This is my first day here and I am very much at a loss of how to do anything here.

[ a wry smile, slightly pained because from a scholar's perspective-- it meant that you did not know what could be trusted; anything from food to people could potentially be under suspicion ]

From a stand-point of pure self preservation, I recommend not jumping in when offered things; and warn people when you are able, like I was able to do with you.

[ There was something of a puppy about this guy, and though Caleb Widogast was not a dog person-- he sort of reminded Caleb of his friend Beau, and thus it had been natural to warn him ]

[promissory]

[ooc: hfjshfh again I say, what excellent taste we have!!]


[Zack just keeps watching the scene, unable to look away from how the man all but climbs over the table to get to the woman. The woman who seems to have no problems with any of this. Zack frowns and crosses his arms over his chest.]

Yeah... Well, first of all, I'd stay away from her. She's obviously in on it.

[A pause.]

I mean, unless you like trouble. Don't let me stop you.

[This guy doesn't give off the impression that trouble is what he's after, though, and not with the way he looked after Zack just now.]

Thanks for that, by the way. I don't always use my head when I should.

[zemnianjoy]

Oh, undoubtedly-- I know there was mention of Thumos in the letter I recieved and it is hard not to wonder what our purpose here is. When someone gives you a room, clothing and food free of charge, I am usually very suspect of what they want in return.

[ Caleb shrugs and glances over at Zack, there was no one who knew that gift horses came with prices and ill-hidden vices. It was why he was conversely a very 'look-before-you-jumped' type ]

Think nothing of it, I am very wary of what is happening so I am attempting to make heads or tails of it. Ah, my name is Caleb, Caleb Widogast-- I am probably from a different world than yours, that seems to be the running case with each person I have met this day.

[ The fog in his mind was still there and it was hard to go back to the palatial mansion where they all stayed without feeling some sort of tense air squeezing even happening within lungs. So far he'd been able to get his bearings enough within each of the alternate quarters of the city ]

[promissory]

[Zack's face darkens a little.]

Yeah, that Thumos stuff. Maybe I'm paranoid, but it feels like we're being made into science experiments, which is...super cool.

[It is, in fact, not super cool and Zack can attest to that personally. So if he's going to end up being some other person's plaything, he's going to be pretty pissed off. But they don't know that for sure, yet. They just have to be vigilant.

And with that introduction, he lets himself smile. No need to get too dark on this guy he's just met!]

Good meetin' ya, Caleb. I'm Zack Fair. But let's test it. You ever heard of Midgar?

[zemnianjoy]

[ Caleb was about has excited to be a science experiment as Zack, for reasons that were not so dissimilar to the SOLDIER's. However, Caleb kept up his poker face, which was much easier now then it had been; he'd already collected a few notes and was at the standby to collect more as they occurred to him. He was a wizard, being viligant was what he did best-- of course, coupled with all of the trauma.

Neither here nor there ]

I have never heard of Midgar-- is it a place where everyone in your world would naturally have heard of it? If you've never heard of Rexxentrum, Ank'harel or Emon, then it is safe to say that we both have absolutely no idea where the other is from.

[ He glances over at Zack and then motions for them to start walking ]

Have you noticed anything else odd that has happened since you stepped foot in this plane?

[promissory]

Oh, yeah. Midgar's huge in comparison to pretty much everywhere else.

[He cocks his head to the side and listens to the other names Caleb throws out. And not a single one of them is even slightly familiar.]

Nah, can't say I know those places, either. Weird.

[And then they're walking. Just two dudes having a stroll and a chat. Surely that must be normal, even if neither of them feels the same.]

You mean besides our hired help being pretty insistent on making us play dress-up?

[zemnianjoy]

[ It was important to reach for normalcy in the face of things that may not have been quite as normal. His normal was back in Exandria, with Jester, Fjord, Cadeucus, Veth, Beau and Yasha. The one link he had currently in this place was a man that he had complicated feelings toward because of how situations played out.

And he didn't have his emotional support cat. He felt a bit floundering now and the only thing that he could do was try to use his penchant for research to suss out whatever this was

He drags out the communicator and raises it ]

This collects something, though we are trying to figure out what.

[ and then a beat, offering a precious point of contact; in this world-- it probably was best to have all the contacts one could ]

I am CatWizard on the network, by the way-- I am still figuring it out but I know we have access to a network, but I'm fairly sure that this Lady Pheme does as well.