May Test Drive Meme

[tabularasa_mods]

Test Drive Meme #1 New Locations ▲ New Species ▼ Scenarios ▲ Comments Welcome to Tabula Rasa's first Test Drive Meme! This meme will be structured the same as an event or intro mingle so you can get a feel for how the game will be after it opens. Anyone is welcome to use this meme whether you plan to apply or not, and we will not be policing what characters or canons choose to play on here. Use it as you'd like and have fun!

Please note that none of the locations and changes described below will be included in the game when it opens. To help create an accurate impression of the game, we have included several imprints suggested by prospective players from the TDM Imprints Submissions. These prompts and locations are only for the TDM. A new arrangement of imprints will be picked when the game opens, which will likely look completely different from the TDM. Please keep this in mind when applying to the game in the future.

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. Responding to other players on the TDM will also be part of an AC bonus, so we encourage anyone who plans to app to tag out to other players as well.

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Full Navigation
Premise ▲ FAQ ▼ State of The World ▲ Locations
Pre-Launch Feedback

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New Location: The Lakeside
Currently the largest defined area within the world, the lakeside is characterized by gray stone cliffs, bright purple trees, and the large body of water situated next to it. Scattered in the clearings between the foliage are the ruins of industrial buildings, though most of them are completely empty on the inside. Fresh graffiti decorates the walls both inside and out, as well as some of the larger cliff faces near to the buildings. Empty dumpsters, metal barrels and broken scaffolding can be found laying around. Barbed fences in various states of disrepair surround most of the buildings, though the gates are all unlocked and open freely to intruders.

On a small island in the middle of the lake is a lighthouse. The lighthouse looks to be in much better shape than the rest of the lakeside's buildings. There's a small dock on the island, but no boats, so you'll need to swim if you want to reach it.

The inside of the lighthouse is packed with Japanese arcade machines. Some of them are stacked on top of each other against the walls, but many more have simply been left in the middle of the entrance and even on the stairs, making it a bit difficult to navigate the building. Colorful banners for popular games and game companies hang from the stairs and ceiling. At the center of the spiral staircase is a giant metal crane, not unlike the kind you'd seen in an arcade crane game. The lamp at the very top of the lighthouse has been replaced by two large TV screens.

Unfortunately, none of the machines in the building seem to have power, so for now they don't do anything.

lakeside ▲ lighthouse ▼ arcade

New Location: The Heart Of Paris
At the edge of the cliffs surrounding the lakeside is a large red tower. From a distance, some newcomers may immediately recognize its shape as the Eiffel Tower, but upon closer inspection it's not like the iron structure one would be familiar with. Instead of iron, the whole tower is made of lengths of solid bone held together with lumps of warm, squishy flesh. The entire structure pulses as if it were alive. The stairs are still in place, allowing visitors to climb the structure, though the sticky fluid coating every surface and the slight swaying of the tower's pulse might make it more difficult.

Hanging from the very center of the tower is a massive blue heart, strung up by a large number of connected veins that weave into the various muscles of the tower. If any of the flesh is cut, it bleeds, and the entire area seems to sway slightly in response.

Eiffel Tower ▲ behemoth

New Location: The Unforeseen Simulation Joint
On the opposite end of the lakeside area is a large dome-shaped building. The inside of the dome is mostly barren, and a realistic image of a beautiful starry sky filled with constellations decorates the ceiling. There's a small plaza area at the very center, featuring a decorative fountain and some more of the purple trees and plants from the outside. There are dirt pathways that seem like they should be leading to somewhere, but most of them lead to completely empty areas. Two of the paths lead to smaller domes within the main dome, though at this time only one of them contains anything.

The first area of the USJ contains a mountainous environment, featuring gray stone cliffs and luscious green plants. Stairs have been carved into part of the mountainside, leading down to a small spring area at the very bottom. The entire mountain area is set slightly below ground level, however, and what may have once been a small spring is now a large flooded pool with the mountain's peak barely poking up to the surface. A large spiraling water slide has been constructed above the peak, and a second spout of the slide pours a waterfall down to where the base of the spring should be. The water is ice-cold, but calming.

The second area is contained in the smaller red dome, housing the grounds and three-story mansion of a New England estate. The mansion is caught in a massive fiery blaze... although, nothing inside seems to be damaged, and anyone who enters will find that the flames are only uncomfortably warm at worst. Antique furniture, oil paintings and strange figurines can be found in abundance. A large library takes up the center of the building, though the books only seem to contain random nonsense words right now.

USJ ▲ estate ▼ cold spring

New Location: The Heavenly Blanc Bar & Cafe
Near the USJ is a slightly run-down building that's easily recognizable as a bar or restaurant. The large wooden sign over the entrance reads "The Heavenly Blanc Bar & Cafe" in mismatched letters, as if half the words were copied from a completely different source. There are some wooden tables and seating on the outside, as well as several thick pipes jutting in and out of the side of the building.

The inside is clean and cozy, with several conflicting menus on the wall above the counter. None of the lights work, but there's an odd mix of neon signs, classy lamps and plain hanging bulbs. Unlabelled bottles of what one can only assume is alcohol cover the shelves behind the counter, alongside jars of coffee beans and tea leaves. A jukebox, pinball machine and dartboard can also be found in the corner next to the bar, though only the dartboard is playable right now.

At the back of the building is a unisex washroom, as well as the stairs to the second floor attic. Oddly enough, the attic is decorated with thick metal pipes running out from the walls and a large section of metal grating on the floor. The room is stacked haphazardly with boxes and crates, a large TV in one corner, a punching bag, a single-sized bed, and a bench with a computer on it. Much like everything else, unfortunately, none of the electronics work. A large whiteboard takes up one of the walls, and a square table with wooden chairs rests on the grating at the center of the room.

7th Heaven ▲ Cafe Leblanc

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New Species: Fireys
Fireys are lanky, furry humanoids with long ears and beak-like snouts. Fittingly, their pelts are a firey mix of bright reds and golds. Even more fittingly, they can combust their hands and bodies into actual flames. This fire doesn't seem to harm them, though, and they can often be found tossing it among themselves as a sort of game. They have loud, squawking voices and spend much of their time singing together in large groups.

Playful and hedonistic, the fireys are friendly creatures... however, they can be overly persistent in trying to rope others into their games. For whatever reason, the fireys have unusually weak necks and seem to enjoy tearing off each other's heads. This doesn't hurt them at all, though if another creature hangs around them long enough they might try the same thing on them. All in good, harmless fun, of course.

fireys

New Species: Jellyrabbits
Jellyrabbits are a jellyfish-like creature covered entirely in short, soft hairs that glow with a faint light. A pair of long ears rest at the top of the umbrella. They have sharp hearing, and their ears are often swiveling about to listen to everything around them. They float like balloons, undulating their bodies to gently drift through the air at a slow and leisurely pace.

Jellyrabbits are incredibly docile. However, they aren't completely defenseless. Touching the tentacles below the umbrella will deliver a painful sting. The fuzzy top is fine to touch, though, and they seem to enjoy a gentle pat or scratch behind the ears.

New Species: Ghowls
The ghowls' natural forms are monstrous creatures roughly the size and shape of a human. They have sharp avian beaks on their faces, vacant white eyes, sickly grey skin with only a handful of feathers still clinging to their bodies, and talon-like fingers and toes with razor-sharp tips. Known for being incredibly violent and relentless, these creatures will attack anything and anyone that isn't one of their own, clawing and biting their victims until they cease moving. There doesn't seem to be any purpose behind these attacks, and the lack of death means that their victims can't be "killed" anyway, but they cannot be reasoned with and will only stop if countered with force.

They have a unique talent, however, that makes them trickier to deal with. Ghowls have the uncanny ability to perfectly mimic any voice they hear. They cannot speak or form their own sentences, but they can copy words and sentences like a parrot. They can also shapeshift their bodies to a limited degree, allowing them to mimic the appearances of humans. While these disguises may not be able to fool someone up close, from a distance they can be easily mistaken for the person they're imitating - and once they're close enough that the disguise fails, they can launch their assault at dizzying speeds.

ghouls ▲ owls

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Scenario A: The Creation Of The World
At first, there is nothing. The endless white of the void stretches out in all directions. For a moment of time that lasts both a millisecond and an eternity, there is nothing but you and the strangers you've found yourself with in this empty, alien world.

In the next moment, there is something. Entire landscapes lift up out of the ground, plants and trees grow to full size in a fraction of a second, water bubbles up from freshly-formed lakebeds, and even buildings spring up from seemingly nowhere to fill the growing space that has just now been defined. The world is suddenly alive, thriving, and expanding at a rapid pace.

The problem is, you're right in the middle of it.

You may have gotten lucky. Maybe you ended up safe and sound on the lakeside, standing under a tree and no worse for wear. Or perhaps a building decided to form itself around where you were standing, and now you're stuck in the middle of it. You might even find yourself at the very tip of the Heart of Paris, clinging to whatever you can grab a hold of to keep yourself from falling.

Wherever it is you are, you're not alone, and you might just need a hand getting your bearings.

Scenario B: Something In The Water
While there is little to eat, people soon find that there is plenty to drink. Every drop of clear, refreshing liquid, no matter whether it be part of the landscape or something found bottled in the bar or cafe, bears the slightest hint of alcoholic heat.

It soon becomes clear that this isn’t quite the alcoholic beverage that its subtle but distinct flavor suggests. No matter how much one drinks, they cannot become drunk. Their judgement remains unclouded and they never become disoriented in the slightest. However, that does not mean it has no effect on those who drink it.

Even under these circumstances, lost in a strange environment that does not know what to do with itself, a drink of water serves to lighten the mood and brighten the spirit. The full effect varies from person to person and from drink to drink - one might simply be more prone to smiling, while another will be filled with such good cheer they cannot help but share it with all who listen. In company, many people become more inclined to talk to their newfound companions, about any and all subjects that come to mind.

If nothing else, it gives people the chance to relax, and with people more inclined to be social it’s a good time to make new friends.

Scenario C: Playing With Fire
An endless blaze rages on within the inner dome of the USJ, and the fireys seem to have taken a liking to it. The furry creatures can be found frolicking within the dome's burning mansion, dancing in the flames and tossing anything they can get their hands on. Every room they touch ends up a mess - the fire may not be able to damage anything, but the fireys sure are making up for it.

They don't seem bothered by people. In fact, they seem quite friendly, though it may be startling at first to have a fireball hurled at your face. If you can keep up with their games, you might even find yourself learning a thing or two about handling fire, tossing it around and picking it up like a natural-born firey.

There isn't much need for the light or warmth of fire right now, but it makes for a fun party trick if you want to surprise someone.

Scenario D: Body Snatchers
The fireys can be a troublesome bunch, but they really don't mean any harm. The same can't be said for every creature here, however...

It might start with a friendly voice, or with a familiar figure waving in the distance. Is it someone you've run into before? But something seems off - didn't you just see them going somewhere else a moment ago? Or is that your own voice calling back, beckoning you to come closer?

Obeying the voice is a mistake, but they won't just stand around waiting, either. The ghowls are faster than they appear to be, and once the gig is up they'll charge forward on all fours, claws out and ready to tear apart anything they can reach. They're bloodthirsty, horrible creatures, and unfortunately for everyone else, they're stuck here too.

You can try to outrun them, or you can try to fight back. Whatever you decide on, you better hope you don't fail. Recovering from disembowelment will be a slow, agonizing process.

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

cloud strife | final fantasy vii remake | ota

[memorate]

1. The Heavenly Blanc Bar & Cafe

[ He entered this familiar place because he was curious, although he never expected it to be this familiar. There are certain aspects of the bar that not only remind him of Tifa's place, but he's pretty sure they are from the Seventh Heaven bar. It doesn't explain why the rest of the place looks so different, though.

He needs time to think and process what exactly is happening, although he'd rather be doing anything else than that.

Occupying a stool by the bar, he wonders if he should just help himself to a drink. There's no official staff here by the looks of it. If anyone finds themselves here with him, he'll address them dryly. ]

Local, or just passing through?

[ It's ok, he thinks he already knows the answer. ]

2. The Lakeside

[ The lakeside is a visually stunning place, even with some of the industrial buildings in sight. If someone were to ask Cloud, or just spend one day in Midgar, they'd know that this place could do a lot worse. The bright purple trees alone are almost dream-like, almost romantic depending on who you ask. Cute jellyrabbits floating around, harmless and simply observing any newcomers. Off in the distance, across the lake, is a lighthouse that's demanding to be explored. What could one find there if they went? Everything about this place is a wonder, and the start of a new adventure!

And then there's Cloud, near the lake and toppled over in pain. He can't even stand up without having to lean against one of the trees. Next to him is a jellyrabbit, slowly floating away like a balloon.

... It appears he got stung in the ear like a dumbass. ]

Nnghhh...

3. Wildcard

[ Anything goes! ]

1

[realway]

[ the one cloud addresses is dressed in a charcoal cloak, head turning toward him as she descends down the stairs. she just finished investigating the second floor, what little there was to look around, and his wit only gets the faintest smile. ]

I doubt anyone is a local around here. [ not even him. she takes the last steps to the main floor, but does not yet approach him. ] Wherever here is.

[memorate]

Guess not.

[ Cloud's had some pretty bad experiences with cloaked figures, so his first instinct is to keep his guard up even if she's not approaching him yet. On the other hand, her features are so well-hidden that he has yet to notice that she's not human. ]

What were you doing up there anyway? Shouldn't be looting around if it's not your place.

[realway]

Oh, don't worry. There's nothing worth looting up there. [ or well, nothing that she would find useful in the immediate moment. ] Anyway I'm not a thief.

[ she hesitates, for a moment, as she brings a hand up to the brim of her hood. after that she pulls it back, deciding he doesn't scream the type of danger she's looking to avoid. ]

Mind if I sit with you?

[memorate]

[ He gives her a nod of gesture, letting her know it's fine, although he wonders why anybody would want to sit with him. He doesn't consider himself that genial compared to others, but then again, there doesn't seem to be anyone else around to be compared to.

Curious to see what's hiding beneath the hood, he can't hide his utter surprise when she pulls it back, as much as he tries to play it cool. ]

...Is that a costume?

2

[believeprotector]

[Riku is still a little off balance from his sudden arrival in this new world… and its sudden expansion from absolute nothingness to the landscape he sees now. The lake side itself seems peaceful at least, and the strange creatures hovering around don't seem intent to attack on sight. …Which doesn't make them any less dangerous, it appears, Riku thinks when he sees the blond guy topple over a few trees over.]

You okay? If you need, I can try to–

[…Except that the green wash of Cure magic that Riku has become fairly accustomed to doesn't spark at his finger tips. And neither does the Darkness or his Keyblade when he attempts to reach for either. Huh.]

Sorry. I guess magic isn't an option in this world.

[memorate]

I... I'll be fine...

[ Eventually, but not right now. He pulls himself up and leans against the tree, the only thing that's keeping him upright while he still tries to regain his balance. That pain in his ear has really done a number on the rest of his nerves...

He appreciates the offer, though, even if he thinks he knows what went wrong with the kid's magic. ]

Your problem is that you don't have any Materia.

[ No, Cloud... ]

Wait, what did you mean by world? Where is this?

[believeprotector]

[The reply leaves Riku blinking for a second – and "what is materia?" is definitely a question he's filling away for later. It's not important when this guy is still half about to fall over. Never mind their other problems…]

…This is a different world. Not mine… and not yours either, I assume? 

[Riku is fairly sure already, but it's best to check. There are some worlds close to the In-Between where people actually live fairly normal lives. …Or well, there's Twilight Town anyway.]

[memorate]

Last I checked, I couldn't travel between worlds.

[ Little do they know that there is a Cloud Strife in the Olympus Coliseum somewhere out there. ]

Whose world is it, then...?

[ Not that he expects the kid to know the answer to that, it's becoming increasingly clear to him that they're both just as much in the dark. Luckily for them, there's a lighthouse just across the lake to light their way for them. ]

I see something, out in the distance...

1

[rattlingthestars]

[ The outside of the public house - bar? - is one of the most familiar things Jim's seen so far, outside of the natural scenery itself. He stands across from it for a while, trying to loiter around without looking like an idiot; he's probably only successful at half of that.

Eventually, though, he does venture inside - and the inside's a lot more of a puzzle than the outside, with machines he doesn't recognize and signs advertising things he's never heard of.

He notices Cloud belatedly, and hides his startle badly as he backs up a little into the powered-off jukebox. ]

Uh. I think I'm pretty far from home.

[memorate]

[ That much is clear. The guy looks way too disoriented to notice his surroundings, but Cloud can't blame him either. It's been a weird day for everyone. ]

Where from?

[ Naturally, he assumes it's someone from his own planet. He has yet to realize how many worlds there are out there. ]

[rattlingthestars]

Uh. Montressor. In the Cygus system.

[ Jim has no real expectation that the guy will have heard of the mudball he's from, unless he's a merchant sailor or something. On examination, Jim's pretty sure he's not a sailor. ]

You the landlord?

[ He doesn't look like one of those, either. ]

[memorate]

Customer.

[ He looks around the bar from where he's seated, highlighting the fact that while there is a customer here (himself), there is nobody to serve him anything. ]

Starting to think that there might not be a landlord here.

[ Which means they can... probably serve themselves...

Still seated, his eyes scan through the shelves of bottles. He usually sticks to the cheap stuff, but why not try some of the top shelf drinks if it's free for the taking? He has no idea what to get, though. ]

Any speciality drinks in Montressor?

2!

[pinwheels]

[ Rinoa's only just stepped out of her accidental dip into the lake when she sees the man hunched over by one of the brilliantly purple trees, a look of agony on his face as he clutches at his ear. She's hardly an expert on this place, but she can guess the balloon-like creature just drifting away from him is the cause.

She jogs to his side, instinctively reaching a hand out to send healing magic his way, but once again, it doesn't come, and not for the first time since arriving in this place, a frown creases her brows. That's right. No magic. ]

Hey, are you okay? What happened?

[ She offers her hand, offering it for him to lean on. ]

Here, let me help you.

[memorate]

[ He glances at her hand, not necessarily ungrateful but definitely too proud to just accept it. Instead he looks away, embarrassed and trying to salvage whatever "street cred" he has left. ]

I'm fine. I just tripped.

[ Wait, how is that cooler than what actually happened? GOD... ]

You should try to stay away from those creatures.

[ He pushes himself up on his feet, still one hand over his ear. Once he gets over the initial embarrassment of being seen like this, he finally looks at her properly, only to notice how soaked she is. ]

... Looks like you tripped, too.

[pinwheels]

[ Tripped. Honestly. It sounds like the kind of excuse Squall would come up with, and Rinoa can't help the amused smile that tugs at the corners of her lips. She's busy trying to cover it with one hand when the blonde man takes a proper look at her, and with a laugh, she shakes her head. ]

Not quite...! Everything was white, and then that lake-- [ she points ] --kinda just... grew around me. I had to swim for it!

[ And with no magic to help her, either. ]

And... I guess now we're here! [ She tilts her head, smiling at him. ] So, hi. I'm Rinoa. And you are...?

[memorate]

I-- uh, Cloud.

[ Her sudden introduction takes him off-guard, who was still trying to follow her explanation to how she ended up in the water. It sounds like she just appeared in it when she was brought here, which makes him wonder where else others can just... pop in from. ]

You're the first person to ask my name here.

[ At least within seconds of meeting each other, maybe she's not as worried as some of the others? ]

Tell me, do you recognise any landmarks around here? Anything look familiar from home?

1

[abeautifulgame]

[Damien shoots a glance back at him, over his shoulder, as he limps towards the bar, intent on helping himself to a drink] Do I look like a local to you? [he looks like a man dressed for late November in Chicago, is what he looks like. though, once he actually gets a good look at Cloud, he continues:] You, on the other hand ...

[he thinks he figured out where all of the metal the Eiffel Tower's supposed to be made of went. it's in that ridiculous shoulder guard]

[memorate]

[ The man totally looks like a local to Cloud, only because all of the NPCs in his world are so regular-looking... and then there's mister shoulder guard here. Damien is right to roast him about it, even if it kind of goes over Cloud's head. ]

Me? What do I look like to you?

[abeautifulgame]

[look, he'll have you know he's a main antagonist, okay? not everyone has to have silver hair and a sword that's obviously compensating for something to be a bad guy]

[but anyway (or speaking of, maybe), he rolls his eyes, and turns to lean into the counter, so they're not having this conversation uncomfortably over his shoulder] More like you belong here than I do. I think it's the ... [he gestures vaguely to Cloud. to all of Cloud]

2!

[rotomphone]

[ he had a feeling those Frillish-looking things were too cute to be harmless... he'd had a close run-in with them as well, but he would have felt much better if he had a Pokémon buy his side. he still can't understand why his Poké Balls refuse to work, and it's starting to make him anxious. what if something worse shows up? ]

You alright, mate? [ he runs over, hesitant to reach out until he's sure of where he's been stung. there's not much he can do besides be a source of moral support, but he isn't just going to ignore someone in pain. he glances at the jellyrabbit floating away seemingly without a care, lips pursed in worry. ] So those things do sting...

[ he didn't expect being thrown into a strange world to be without risk, but this is the first instance of actual harm he's come across. it's unsettling, to say the least. ]

[memorate]

Glad to be your test subject.

[ For all the kindness he's being shown, he still finds a way to be grumpy about it. If Cloud had to be stung, he'd rather not be seen at all than to be helped, and that's because he's a giant baby. ]

What the hell are they anyway?

[ He's seen his fair share of monsters, but nothing like these things... ]

[rotomphone]

[ when you've got someone like Piers as a colleague, you get used to grumpy attitudes. Raihan doesn't take it personally - he's more concerned if Cloud is seriously hurt, or if it was just a nip. if it's anything like Tentacool venom, it's probably smarting pretty badly. ]

Beats me. They don't look like any Pokémon I've seen before...

[ yet another instance where having his Rotom Phone would make things easier... but there's no use bemoaning it. what's worse is that if things are going the way they have so far today, this guy probably doesn't even know what a Pokémon is. ]

Where'd it get you?

2

[brightful]

I don't think they like it when you touch them.

[Marlene would be worried if this was anyone else. But it's Cloud and he's proven himself to be insanely durable. Instead of trying to lecture him as she normally might do she smiles and laughs, hurrying over to stand beneath the floating jellyrabbit. They're fascinating to her and she'd like to get her hands on one herself.]

You're not too hurt to get up, are you?

[Now she sounds a little worried. Marlene ditches the jellyrabbit and goes over to offer him a hand getting up to his feet.]

[memorate]

[ Lectured by a child... this is how far he has fallen. Not just any child either! Unfortunately, Cloud doesn't recognise Marlene immediately, having only known her for a short period of time and this one appears to be two years older than he last remembers.

He does notice that she addresses him with some familiarity, though. Is it one of the Sector 5 kids? No, he's pretty sure he remembers their faces... ]

Just a sting. I'll be alright.

[ He looks around for a second, wondering if her guardians are anywhere around. He's not fit to be a babysitter, even he knows that much. When it becomes evident that there's nobody else around, he looks at her again, still wondering about something. ]

... Have we met somewhere?