spherememing | February/March Test Drive Meme

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February/March Test Drive Meme

February/March TDM

Welcome to Sphere's February/March Test Drive meme! This is a great place to get a feel for the game and how your characters might fit in here. Explore the setting, and get your samples and some starting CR all at the same time!

Applications and Reserves are always open!
Threads on the TDM are considered game canon if both parties agree to it!
Threads on the TDM may be considered for Activity Check if need be!

blue moon

So the people within the Sphere City miss the moon. At least, that’s what someone can draw from the fact that as January slips into February, large images of the moon are everywhere. The Full moon, to be more specific. There are silver streamers around the merchant dome, and lights have been modified to have a more silver than golden glow in appearance, even at all hours of the day there. Sure it makes things a bit difficult to see, but that’s not really a problem is it?

At night, several domes have large projections of the moon made against the domes. They’re pictures of the moon in varying states of artistic and scientific values. There's a kind of dreamy music that’s played, and a lot of the locals have silver flowers in their hair. Fire pits are common, and older residents are seated around them, telling tales of the moon and its connection to the waters above them. Some stories tell how it glows and shines or is made of green cheese. They also tell how sometimes there were people in the moon, men or women, gods or goddesses, or animals like rabbits. And some stories tell of how the moon would make people mad, and that’s where the term lunacy comes from.

Oh, and there are a few stories about werewolves too. And about how there walking among the people in the Sphere. Even now.

Food at the festival is based around the moon too, or at least the idea of the moon. There’s mooncake of course, but there’s also moon pies, half moon cheese pies, and pierogi, and various cheese and cracker platters, because the moon is made of green cheese after all. There’s moon-based cocktails, that are blue and silver. And some that are shimmering and shining.

People can draw fortunes from the moonwell, but, they’re silly and nonsensical, and people eat the silvery rice paper after they’re finished with them. A few of them however have more ominous sort of fortunes in them. Things like “help me” or “they’re out to get you” or “they’re coming and you can’t stop them.” People shrug those ones off too though. if someone asks about them.

what big eyes you have

So, there are rumors about werewolves that have been circulating around town, and people seem to be given red cloaks at random. Pretty girls and women are offered them the most, but they are open to anyone. If people put them on, which the surrounding locals will cheer and encourage them to do. Then they tell them that their clue is in their pockets and that they will save the town.

In the pockets is another silver disk with a list of names on it. One of those names is a werewolf. You’re given three clues (something like: ‘wearing a blue sweater’ or ‘bald man’ or ‘at the candy stall’) for each one, and then you either accuse them of being a werewolf or clear them. If you accuse them and you’re correct then you’re given a small vial with glowing stones in it and are told that they were actually pieces of the moon before it was lost. Whatever that means. You may want to hold onto them.

If you accuse them and you’re wrong, the game is over for you for the moment and the cloak is taken away. Each cloak has a different list of six names on it, and the names replenish every time someone gets a new cloak. Why yes, the Sphere is playing a game of werewolf with you. How the game goes entirely up to you, and whether or not your character gets invested or what. NPCs are definitely available for this if need be! Please feel free to go a little nuts with this, and player characters can definitely be one of the suspects if they're up for it.

exploration: something that was lost can be found

It’s big news around Sphere City: some old lost and sealed domes have been found along the edges of town. Not only have they been found, but they’re open! Not only are they open but the stuff inside is there on a first come first serve basis. These old domes show no signs of dust, but there are some personal effects within them, pictures and the like. They definitely belonged to someone who had been pulled into the city at some point within the last seven years.

And they’re definitely worth checking out. One never knows one might find in them. Various varieties of clothing are available, as are books, food items (probably shouldn’t eat them), toys and there may or may not be some magical or important historical things hidden here or there if your character is very lucky. Mod note: Nothing world breaky or living can be found, but small things like potions or jewelry or amulets or small weapons (daggers or guns with a very limited amount of bullets.)

mechanic: memory share

Too see the full updates on how memory shares work, please visit here

Memory shares are experienced over the networked, and beamed directly into the other person's brains as if they are experiencing it themselves.
Shares do not need to be written a certain way, but here is a mod example: Too see the full updates on how memory shares work, please visit Max Tinder memory share.
These memories are things that they are watching through the experience of the person who's memory has already happened. It's like seeing a recording that feels very real. However, there isn't anything that they can personally do within it. These are things that have already happened to the character and are fixed points.
These posts are responded to like a message on the network, and not in the memory itself.

wildcard

This is a good place to test out something like the network or an idea of your own! Remember upon waking in The Sphere, each character is fitted with a small golden circle behind their right ear. This is how they are connected to the network through a neural link. Touch and hold the button to create a broadcast of one of three types:

Audio. Your character thinks audible words onto the network.
Writing: Your character thinks text into the network.
Video. Your character projects a broadcast of a video of themselves onto the network.

Replies are determined by the player. The network needs to be accessed by choice, so character broadcasts are not automatically beamed directly into people’s heads. The Sphere isn’t that rude.

Private messages are allowed by pressing and holding and pressing and holding again as you picture the person in your mind. This can be an image or a name, err more on the side of things being more accessible than less.

photo inspiration

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kell takes their bond for granted. Rhy has awoken every morning with it being barely even an echo of itself, needing to look upon the silvery scar to see if the lines were even still there.

"Poorly. I've been learning a trade, Kell. Me. Can you imagine it? Putting these stunningly beautiful hands of mine to use for something as low as that? Oh, but I must introduce you to pretzels!"

Kell frowns at Rhy, at the information. How could Rhy have been here long enough to start learning a trade and Kell be unaware?

"Perhaps you will not be so spoiled then," Kell says and there's a ghost of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Who is Pretzels?"

Spoiled? How dare? Did he not make... no, that didn't matter right now. Right now he ached to reach out and touch Kell, just to see if his brother was real. But he doesn't. Just keeps his hands to himself because it's a bit easier this way.

"Pretzels are a food stuff, my friend. Often gotten from carts. They have a number of flavors. A friend of mine introduced me to them. He's a gray worlder. From somewhere around a century after us. He's told me of interesting things of how their world changes, but it seems magic remains unknown to them."

It's almost a little surprising that there was no indignant protest at the ribbing. Almost enough of a surprise to be concerning in some way.

Kell looks curious then and he certainly has more than a few questions about that but he doesn't want to delve into it just yet.

"They must be very good if you are this adamant about them."

There are a lot of reasons for everything. Including what comes next. Which is moving forward to embrace his brother, for just a moment. It's not the longest hug, but he needs it.

Months. He's missed his brother for months.

"They are lovel. I shall acquire us some later."

Kell is only surprised for a moment at the suddenness of the embrace. He hugs him back because he can sense Rhy needs it. He would have been able to even if there wasn't the bond tying them together.

"I am curious," Kell says and he glances toward the fireworks of a sort again. "How is it this place has such strange things and yet I don't feel magic."

"Technology, I'm told," Rhy answers once he's separated from his brother. His eyes as well trace the path of the fiery spectacle. Imagine doing that with fire magic. He's seen great things in parades, but nothing like that. "They are like Gray London. They must learn to do with their hands since they cannot command the elements as you do. Perhaps one day Bard's world will look like this."

Though why they would choose to be under water confuses him. Perhaps that 'Global Climate Change' another person told him of.

"They do not seek balance with the world. Rather they beat it into the shape they wish."

Troubling. All of it is troubling to Kell and it's clear on his face at least it would be to Rhy if no one else.

"And there is no way home?"

He had tried his own magic on that end.

"They tell me that the force which brought us here seeks to return us. I have... seen some of the affects."

He bore memories of other versions of himself now. Of a Rhy Maresh who was a capable mage, a triad and respected for his powers as a King in his own right. Older, wiser, a firmer ruler. A man that Maxim would approve of.

Rhy would prefer not to have those memories.

"What I am assured of, though I do not know whether to believe or not, is that when we are returned, it is to the precise moment at which we were taken. With no memories of the event. Theoretically you could have already gone and returned back in London and I would not have missed you at all. I myself am into my fifth month here."

And he wonders if Kell even knew the loss of him. Rhy had ached with it.

"I don't understand how you could have been here all that time and I not know it," Kell says and the information is heavy on him. Rhy had never really been on his own, had he and yet he had been thrust into a strange world with no one there. It angers Kell but also a sadness grows and guilt, more guilt.

"Have you truly been alright?"

The anger and guilt throb at Rhy's temples, and he reaches out to touch his brother's arm, hoping to soothe the man a little. The last thing he needs right now is a feedback loop between them. While it hasn't been the best here, he's found some semblance of peace in his own mind again, and lost the little resistance he had developed.

He needs time to re-find his center.

"Might I suggest it was magic, brother, and ask us both to move on from there? There are enchantments even Antari cannot weave. And such have held me here, away from you and Arnes and London. Away from my duties."

Was he alright? No. The ache in his chest should say that much.

"Not at all, Kell. Not even remotely. But I have survived. What else can I do? What else have we left ourselves but surviving?"

The touch doesn't really soothe but Kell knows the reason behind it. He forces the emotions out of his mind, narrowing his focus.

If it had been magic wouldn't Kell have recognized it? But there is no other explanations to proffer.

"That doesn't sound like you," Kell says and he is glad that Rhy didn't try to hide the truth even though they both knew it's impossible.

"And so you have taken up a trade to survive?"

"Yes, perhaps, but much has changed for me in my time here. I'm not sure how to process this place, for it is so changing for me. That does not, though, mean I needed a trade."

He moves to sit himself down, because the fireworks are better if he is relaxed.

"I am bored. And the clothing here is so wrong and foolish. So I'm learning to make clothing."

"A trade couldn't hurt, though," Kell's lips turn into a small smile. When Rhy sits, Kell stands a moment longer before joining him.

"I am sure you will excel at it."

Oh what a silly thing to say. No one expected Rhy to offer his hands to such menial work. The look he shoots his brother is somewhere between withering and fond.

"I am not so certain. I warn you, you shall have many pains in your fingers. I am not good at not stabbing my fingers."

Perhaps it was silly but still, he stands by the fact it couldn't actually hurt.

"I think a pinprick is something that I can handle," Kell looks amused, after all he's no stranger to injury.

"And you shall not complain of me needling you, dear brother?" Rhy teases.

Because now he's almost tempted to hit his thumb an extra time or two just for amusement sake.

"It works both ways, brother," Kell says with a small smile then.

Fair enough. But Rhy just looks at the man in something not unlike shock, his hand going to his breast as if to say he was shocked and unable to believe what was said to him. How could he ever be so cruel?

"You would seek to harm your rightful King?"

"King?" Kell raises a brow. And it holds his attention far more than the dramatic flair of shock and offense.

"Have you deemed yourself King here?"

"Here?"

Ah, there it was. Indeed there it was. Rhy just smiles and nods.

"Why not. Who need see me as a Prince of Arnes here when I can claim to be King? It holds more gravitas, does it not? And who was here to correct me?"

Kell gives Rhy a long hard look. The light from the fireworks that go off shift the shadows.

"I am here."

"Yes, it would seem that you are, are you not? Interesting, I shall have to account for that. Perhaps I shall say my brother is a horrid liar," Rhy smiles.

Isn't that lovely, brother? He could make people think that. Because, frankly, he's got quite the reputation here.

"Rhy... why would you tell such a lie and then continue to lie about me?"

Even for Rhy it seems a far stretch.

Well, he supposes that depends on a lot. Especially which thing his brother considered a lie.

"My status is correct, even if it is in the future."

Who else would lead Arnes? Tell him that, brother.

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