Guidelines

For this first TDM, your character has been in Newase at least a short time -- long enough to have woken up, visited the Mirage Welcome Home, and learned a little bit about their new circumstances.

Please refer to the Character Choices page for options on options for your character's species, nature, and abilities.

If you're iffy on the idea of Arts and Specials, looking for input on what choices to make for your character to bring them in, or looking to develop a setting-AU background, please post to the Character Creation Help thread. Mods will offer their insight and other players are more than welcome to make suggestions as well.

Please list your character choices either in your thread's subject, or in each individual prompt if you are trying out numerous ones! This is especially relevant for those taking Blade or Driver choices so you can partner up with others on the TDM.

Your character will have 20 XP to spend on application. Try some different ideas out on the TDM and see what might appeal.

Above all, have fun!

Training Grounds

The Training Grounds are not, historically, a busy place, and normally cover far more ground than they need to. Counselors send the Mirages who come through down there to acclimate themselves to their new ability in the sprawling range, whether it be against target dummies or targets for arrows or bullets or even against an old retired Driver named Griscol who still knows a thing or two about his Blade.

But the sudden influx of Mirages has the Sparring Grounds overwhelmed and chaotic. As the counselors and Griscol scramble about trying to give their pupils pointers, Mirages can line up at the practice dummies, take a spot behind the firing line, or match up with each other to get some practical hands-on experience. One of the counselors has a healing Art, so anyone who gets hurt won't remain so for too long. Ask for tips, practice your arts, or get some sparring done with your fellow Mirages.

The Shnid Hunt

Shnids are a pestilence and plague on Pumonia, and have been as far back as history exists. Looking like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit and about the size of a medium-large dog, shnids devour crops voraciously and without restraint. Worse till, though they appear cute and harmless, shnids are savage aggressors who hurl themselves at any living being who comes near and deliver however many painful chomps with their powerful jaws are needed to send that other creature running.

Consequently, the counselors at the Mirage Welcome Home always encourage new Mirages to take on the Shnid Hunt mission from the merc boards -- both because shnids are not terrible dangerous foes, and because sometimes new Mirages need to learn that even the cutest and cuddliest of Newase's wildlife won't hesitate to lunge for their throat, no matter how gently that Mirage is just trying to usher them away so no one gets hurt.

Venture out into the vast, verdant fields of Pumonia, team up to take down ten of the beasts, and earn your first pay as a Mirage.

The Fire Ogre

Tumultuous storms roll off the sea with some frequency, part of why Pumonia is so fertile, but as residents depart for Tyrus and leave empty farms and plots behind, those storms bring a greater danger as well. A bolt of lightning has lit an abandoned house on fire, and despite the pounding rain the entire structures blazes brilliantly in the storm-dark twilight. The flames strain and leap, eager to jump from the roof and chimney of the house to the nearby barn, and from there into a knot of buildings around a broad river. Even with water pouring from the sky, the fire seems unstoppable...

But this is Newase, and all things are governed by the ogre. One peeks out of the flames even now, a great mass about half the size of the building and all swirling energy. To call it the fire itself is both accurate and entirely wrong; it is the ogre that governs the spread of this fire, and should some heroes destroy it, the fire will no longer be able to spread...

The Sonic Rail

By day, the view through the windows of sonic railcar is an awe-inspiring sight. Terrain blurs past so quickly the eye can't resolve it. Great sections of the highlands where few have ever ventured on foot sprawls out, offering sights of exotic creatures and curious vistas nestled too far away for safety. Occasionally the train passes a Mech, a rare chance to see some of the hardest-working patrollers on Metta.

But this one travels at night, so the countless miles flashing past outside are all uniform darkness. The cars are well-lit, making napping a struggle, but even so other passengers do their best to doze, huddled up against the windows with jackets or pillows over their eyes.

Then the car jolts, and the ogre that is its heart gives out a grumbling little noise. Deceleration presses you sharply into your seats as the whole vehicle slows, not by braking or friction but by the will of the ogre itself. And then all is silent.

No Rest in Capilong

"Best Rates for Mirages!" read the sign. "Finest hot springs in land! Fresh breakfast!" Whether because of the promises or simply the late hour and its convenience, you showed up at the front counter of this inn to receive a key from its helpful Nopon proprietor -- only to find yourself wedged into a tiny, dark room with an uncomfortable pair of beds and an involuntary roommate.

But the hot springs are real -- considering the boilers that warm the water chug away constantly right next door, that fact is indisputable. Do you go enjoy them as the sole comfort your stay has brought you, or spend the night commiserating over what the 'fresh breakfast' is going to be?

Wildcard

Newase is a grand place, and the isle of Metta vast and rich with opportunity...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He was distracted from the noise, and consequently his righteous fury! Simple as that.

"Usually there's two large baths. And conventionally, one is for the men and one is for the women." Zeke spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head as if that was beyond outrage and straight into pity. "Of course, I've always thought convention could jolly well hang itself..."

"Ah like convention, convention's good," Nephenee said with more speed than was really necessary, "If it's empty...Ah'd reckon it'd be fine....Be nice to swim around an' stretch."

The downsides of long, highly muscled legs were that they needed stretching often, and she found swimming was quite good for that. Even this body had that problem.

"Then it's decided!" Zeke swept one finger upwards, then brought it down with a twist that got a surprising amount of his torso and even his hips involved with a little swivel and rotate. "To the baths we go!"

He had to let up on her, having teased her quite too much as it was.

The heck was th-no, wait, she knew better than to ask. This was Zeke. But at least they had a direction, now?

"Al..right?" At least she could relax a little. "T-to the baths." She hoped she didn't regret this. "An'...hopefully that Nopon fella will be done by the time we get back."

"Your optimism is ever-charming, Nephy." Boldly and courageously, Zeke von Genbu, Bringer of Chaos, opened the door to their room and stepped out into the hall.

"N-Nephy???" Taking the bait, Nephenee quickly walked out after him, giving him the most surprised and incredulous look. "Where'd that come from?" She wasnt very sure how she felt about this, either.

"Well I can't go around calling you 'Nephenee' all the time." Zeke strode for the stairs in the hallway, then up them, long legs taking them two at a time. The baths were up on the roof, exposed to open air. "By the time I was done telling you to look out, the danger would already have come and gone."

"'Cuse you!"

She trotted after him, taking the steps in the same stride just to keep up. It wasn't difficult, at least.

"Ah've been through two wars an' ain't never had a problem. Front lines an' all!"

"How many were you backing up your Driver in?" Zeke said as he opened the door at the top. Here they had to split up-- presuming she wasn't going to come into the men's changing room, of course!

"..." Dang it! "Alright, Ah'll give ya that."

Heck no, she was going to the left, where the ladies' room was. Incidentally, she was thankful for the time to herself. As she changed, she realized Zeke might have been having some fun at her expense. She wasn't sure.

Wrapped in a towel and hiding her face under one as well, Nephenee emerged on the other side, quickly scooting into the women's side, just in case she might be seen. "Oh...this feels real nice..." It was like nothing she'd ever felt before, actually, and she felt herself melting as she sat near the barrier so they could talk still. It actually was easier for her, this way - he couldn't see her, after all.

Even as she was heading in, she heard a plunk as he dropped into the water himself. Zeke settled back, the quiet save for Nephenee's voice settling around him blissfully. Ah, this was much better!

"Not one for outdoor bathing much, I take it?"

"We don't got anythin' like this back home." She shrugged, even if he couldn't see her. "If ya go swimmin' or bathin' outside, it's a lake or river. An' even if ya take a bath indoors, it ain't gonna stay warm long."

The idea of an outdoor lake, for lack of better comparisons, that stayed warm was incredibly foreign to her, even after hearing the explanation from others. But she couldn't say she disliked them, by any stretch. There was a sound of moving water as she sank into it and swum in a little circle, discarding the head-towel onto the rocks nearby. "They got these back your way, Ah guess?"

Test Drive Meme #1

Guidelines

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