July Test Drive Meme

[tabularasa_mods]

Test Drive Meme #3 Welcome to Tabula Rasa's Test Drive Meme! Our upcoming August app cycle will be for current players only. However, anyone is welcome to use this meme as a way to try out the setting, test out a character for future app cycles, or just for fun. You may also borrow ideas from this meme’s prompts for use in the main game.

Threads from the TDM may be used as samples on your application. TDM samples must be 2 threads with different characters, each with at least 5 comments from your character. You may include your top-level comment if it is a thread you started.

Current players in the game may also claim an AC bonus by tagging other characters on the TDM. Please see the Activity Check page for details.

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Scenario A: This One Blows
With so many winged creatures starting to fill up the world, it was only a matter of time before someone asked: how does flight work? Aerodynamics is a complicated subject, but one cannot hope to fly at all in a world with no air or wind. What, then, would be the point of having wings at all if they can't be used?

All at once the sky becomes filled with air, and the winds begin to move. However, there doesn't seem to be much logic to where and how hard they blow - all the wind knows is that it does blow, and that winged creatures may use it to fly up and away. Unfortunately, the result is something of a chaotic windstorm, and with an infinite supply of snow falling from the mountaintop the world is suddenly whited out in a raging blizzard.

If you're outside when the wind strikes, you'd best grab onto something before you get blown away yourself. If you're indoors at the time you'd think that would be lucky, but the wind hasn't quite figured out where it's coming from, either... so maybe stay away from anything sharp or heavy, in case a sudden indoor tornado starts whipping things around.

Scenario B: Let There Be...?
Light is another tricky subject. Where does it come from? The sky seems like a reasonable answer, but not all places are exposed to it. What of caves and buildings? How does light get there, and what happens when it can't?

The change may come slowly or suddenly as the world itself seems to experiment with the idea. Anything with a roof over it is left in total darkness, while everything outside remains brightly lit. It's as if a bright spotlight were pointing down at the world from above - even windows won't do much to let the light in, as it can only illuminate what it touches. Reflecting light may still be too difficult of a concept for this world.

The idea of there being other light sources is also, unfortunately, a difficult subject. Nothing seems to be able to penetrate this new darkness. Navigating indoors may be difficult for awhile, especially if you're also battling a hurricane.

Scenario C: How To Train Your Dragon
Dragons are dangerous and powerful creatures, but the fluffier, feathery breed has quickly grown in popularity among the people of the new world. Many find the small dragons cute, and some have even adopted them as pets. They're only as big as a house-cat, so what's the harm?

Well, the winged dragons have noticed that people are much more forgiving around them if they play up their cuteness. They've grown more fearless around strangers, and with that they can be quite a nuisance. It's more common now to see them swooping down on people, stealing shiny things, or just getting in the way to beg for food scraps and attention. Though not actively malicious, their claws and beaks are also quite sharp if you're unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end.

Persistence is another strong trait among dragons, as evident from their fishier dragon brethren, so these bad habits might be tough to break.

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[symbolofstrength]

"In that case, why not come inside and have a seat? And have something to drink, if you'd like." He helps her up gingerly, trying to not get scratched by her claws, but it's not a big deal if he doesn't succeed.

"Assuming the wind doesn't start up in there again... but there's no way to predict it, so you're as safe in here as anywhere else."

[fluffyharpy]

"All right, that sounds like a good idea."

Lysandra stood up with Oak's aid, being careful not to scratch the older man's hand in the process. She was exhausted and wore the fatigue on her face with a sigh on her lips and eyes that looked at if they may shut for a goodnight's sleep at any moment.

"I really hope that the wind doesn't return anytime soon. I barely survived my last run-in with it.

[symbolofstrength]

He's not exactly a tall man, but he'll let her use him for support as they walk if she needs to. He guides her to one of the comfy booths, sitting opposite her for a moment once she gets situated.

"They have coffee, tea, and alcohol here, I can see if I can get you some. Or just water." While he doesn't care for alcohol himself, he doesn't have any moral problems with it, he just thinks it tastes bad. So if she wants alcohol, he's not going to judge.

[fluffyharpy]

Lysandra soldiers on as best she can, though not directly hurt from her sky-bound encounter her steps are still slow and heavy until they reach the bar. Once inside she sits herself down on one side of the booth, carefully tucks her long wings at her side, ad sighs a deep sigh of relief.

"I think I'll just have water for now," she said. "This place sure is rough, isn't it?"

[symbolofstrength]

"The windstorms are new, it wasn't too bad before that. There's the occasional aggressive wildlife, but they're easy enough to avoid. Hopefully they'll pass just as quickly as they arrived." The windstorms, that is. He stands up with a nod as he now knows what she wants, and goes off to search for it.

A few minutes later, he comes back with a sealed plastic water bottle. He sets it down on the table, but then glances at the claws on her fingers; will she be able to get a good enough grip to open it without poking holes in the bottle? So he opens it for her himself, the seal between the cap and the ring of plastic that holds it on audibly cracking, before sitting back down.

[fluffyharpy]

Lysandra nodded to Oak for his helpful little act, then took a deep drink for a good five seconds.

"I hope so too, if I'm going to be here for a while I'd prefer to keep my feet firmly on the ground. That might sound weird coming from someone with wings but, unlike most harpies, I can't fly."

[symbolofstrength]

"Well, not everything with wings can fly, after all." Just look at Piplup and family. He cocks his head in curiosity at the word 'harpies', though.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that word. Do you mind telling me exactly what a 'harpy' is?"

[fluffyharpy]

"I guess," she said sorrowfully, something about that statement stuck to her, but before she could say more Oak's question came to the forefront of her mind. "

"You don't have harpies where you're from?" Well, that was odd, what kind of place didn't have harpies, she wondered with one clawed-hand held to her chin. "Well, it is a long story, but we're a subspecies of humans with wings, feathers, and talons."

[symbolofstrength]

Just because she can't fly under her own power doesn't mean she'll never fly -- but it's not the same thing, is it? Not that he knows anything about that.

"I see. We only have one kind of human in my world, really. We come in different proportions and colors, and some of us have special abilities like psychic powers, but nothing as dramatic as wings."