Test Drive - July Edition

[rekindlemods]

The July Test Drive! Trying to see if a character will fit or work in the setting? Need some interaction samples? Well this meme is for you! Make a post, tag around, and most importantly, have fun! Here's the setting page for those who want to learn a little more about the city itself. And don't forget to go reserve your character, GO GO GO.......

Here's some prompts to help you get started, if you need it:

Option 1

[ It looks like there are preparations underway for some sort of festival or fair. There are various stands and booths being erected along sectioned-off streets and the riverbank, and decorations are slowly but surely being hanged. Fireflies seem to be appearing all along the riverbank as the sun sets, with a few stands set up with mason jars of various sizes as well as paper lanterns, possibly as further decorations. Whatever the case, it looks like those setting up could use some help! ]

Option 2

[ Though most of the stands are being set up, that doesn't mean that there aren't a few vendors looking to help those out and about beat the heat in some fashion. There are some selling shaved ice with various flavors, and others that appear to be handing out water-filled balloons or squirt guns. However, like in the market district, there's a catch – the items are free, so long as you arrive at the stall in pairs or groups larger than two. ]

Option 3

[ Whoops. Looks like you haven't taken the cautionary words of the other NPCs to heart, or maybe you just wanted to take your chances. Either way, the withdrawal symptoms have started and you need to find someone to hug quickly before you get even more sick.]

Option 4

[If there's something else you wanted to play with, that you didn't see here, then have fun with that. You've just arrived in a strange city, after all. There's got to be plenty to explore out and about, not to mention people to meet.]

Comments

[5percenttruth]

"I could say the same." But she already knew he was in the city.

She inclines her head, then offers the little box of duck giblets up for the crow. "Have you tried onigiri, Jericho?"

[corvidinchief]

"Mysterious as always," the general replies, taking LeBlanc's hand in his and raising it to his mask before accepting the box of scraps. Beatrice flutters down from her perch on Swain's shoulder and hooks her talons around the rim of the box, regarding the illusionist with the three eyes on one side, then the three on the other, before beginning to feed.

"I've not yet had the chance. What's in these?" he asks, raising an eyebrow.

[5percenttruth]

LeBlanc allows the gesture and withdraws her hand elegantly when Swain lets go. She meets the raven's stare with equanimity, then takes out a piece of onigiri and delicately bites it in half.

"The ones I've selected are mostly filled with salted fish." She points at two round ones with her forefinger, half the onigiri ball held between her thumb and middle finger. The ones she's pointing at have nori designs on them to make them look like pandas. "These are plain, though."

[corvidinchief]

Swain helps himself to one of the rice balls, pulling down his mask to take a bite and chewing reflectively before putting the rest of the thing in the tray with the duck guts and recovering his mouth. "Not bad. So what do you think of the city so far?"

[5percenttruth]

LeBlanc waves her hand airily. Swain almost certainly recognizes the gesture and accompanying touch of magic as one that shields their actual conversation from eavesdroppers and has them appear to talk about something innocuous.

"It's stagnant."

[corvidinchief]

Swain nods appreciatively at the spell. He's always felt he's the superior combatant, but LebLanc definitely has the more extensive bag of tricks.

His eyes crinkle in a smile. "And here I was thinking about the architecture. I assume you're referring to the less-visible aspects of the city; the citizenry seem busy enough." He scratches his cane on the ground as he looks at the people bustling around them. "Not that they seem to be doing anything of import."

[5percenttruth]

"Look at them, really look at them. Tell me what you see. Tell me what's missing."

[corvidinchief]

"Don't get pedagogic with me!" Swain snaps back. "If you're referring to the fact that none of the children are native, I've noticed."

[5percenttruth]

"Tch. Don't be so irritable. It won't get us home any faster." LeBlanc has a little more of her onigiri. "A society without children is a dead society. They just haven't fallen in the grave yet."

Another bite of onigiri. "They're trying so hard to stay out of the grave. But you and I both know that sort of thing has a price."

[corvidinchief]

"Always," he agrees, Beatrice giving a mournful croak as she alights back on his shoulder. "I'd surmise they're unable to breed, rather than unwilling. Which means they might be summoning all these foreign children deliberately. The rest of us could just be caught up in the net. Makes as much sense as the drek they're trying to sell us."

The general reaches up to stroke his bird on the head. She leans into the touch.

[5percenttruth]

LeBlanc has been turning the problem over and over since she got here. She knows she doesn't have enough information, she knows she's being lied to ('a lie of omission is still a lie'), and it scratches little lines of excitement under her skin.

A game of deception where she's not the one setting the rules. How long has it been since she's had one of those?

"Why phrase it as a power problem, though?" she muses. "A Zaunite sort of power problem, I gather, rather than one of ours."

[corvidinchief]

"An interesting question," Swain muses, leaning on his cane with both hands. "They've more than mastered summoning, so they clearly don't lack for magical power. And the pawns they've summoned are kept somewhat docile, so they've some skill at statecraft as well. Plus, the lights all come on whenever they're wanted. As near as I can tell, they've got every kind of power they could need."

He taps his cane on the ground as he gazes around the market. "But not every kind they wanted, if I had to wager."

[5percenttruth]

"Not every kind they need, either," LeBlanc disagrees. "They'd have their own children, otherwise."

[corvidinchief]

"Ah, good point," the general says, nodding his head (Beatrice bobbing along with him.) "I suppose they lack potency."

[5percenttruth]

"Have you seen what's outside the city, Jericho?" LeBlanc lifts her eyes to the observation tower. "The guards are quite insistent we can't leave."

And she hasn't felt like ignoring them just yet.

[corvidinchief]

Swain scratches at his chin through the mask, 'hmm'ing to himself. "I found a vantage point and took a look. Ruins, but not reclaimed by nature. Very odd. It lends credence to their story."

The general pauses to straighten his back, grunting. "Also provides plenty of cover for an approaching army. They're either fools or they don't fear attack from outside."

[5percenttruth]

"They can be both." LeBlanc taps a finger against her cheek thoughtfully. More quietly, she asks, "Swain, have you seen any sign of farms while you've been here?"

[corvidinchief]

An eyebrow arches. "None at all. I take it you have a theory?"

[5percenttruth]

"I have wild speculation," LeBlanc corrects. "Based around three facts." She raises a finger with each number. "One, they need energy to survive. Two, there's no discernible source of food. Three, I know what you'll eat under certain circumstances."

[corvidinchief]

Swain laughs. "You think they're performing interdimensional summmonings just to engage in cannibalism? If they've got that much magical power to burn they could just conjure food."

[5percenttruth]

LeBlanc shrugs. "Wild speculation, like I said." She finishes her onigiri. "I'd still like to know where their food comes from."

[corvidinchief]

"Badly enough to investigate, or just idle curiousity?' Swain asks, raising an eyebrow.

[5percenttruth]

What an odd question! "You know I have no use for idle curiosity."

[corvidinchief]

"Well, if you're actually interested in finding out, then it looks like we have a project to work on."