AUGUST TDM.

[lasteden]

➛ Welcome to Last Eden's TDM for August! Threads here can be counted as game canon. ➛ Feel free to use the prompts to test out a new character or to try out the game's premise! ➛ The TDM can be used for your application sample, though it is not a requirement. A DREAM, OF A SOUL AWAKE. You are asleep. The dreamscape ripples, resolves into a vision of a foreign land, and then a world of pure white. There is the sensation of rising through deep water, and then you find yourself in a room of white marble. Your items may be set on the floor around you, or you could have arrived bare-handed - whichever it is, you'll soon be addressed by a couple of tired-looking people in white coats. It seems they're as confused as you are. A ➛ After getting a brief introduction to the White Moon and choosing a faction, you will be allowed to leave. It's a whole new world, after all - so why not look around? The architecture of the Administrative Zone is very formal, in high contrast to the Free Market which is practically a riot of colour and wares. Merchants from all four nations peddle their wares here - have a look around, but also keep a watch on your purse. Some things can be quite expensive. B ➛ As you head out of the Administrative Zone's gates, a flash of light catches your eye. The sun-crystal is reflected quite brightly in the window of a nearby building, almost dazzling you - and in that instant you see someone behind you in the street. A youth with white hair and grey clothing, oddly familiar. You blink, and he's gone. Maybe he was never there at all. TO THE STARS, WE ENTRUST OUR DIRECTION. The money given to every new foreigner is limited. It seems you will be expected to earn your keep from now on, either through tradecraft or through offering your services to the populace. If taking on small contracts isn't your thing, each faction also has bounties up for the taking. After all, you carry a surprising resistance to the miasma that lurks outside the city walls. Why not put it to use? C ➛ Fancy taking a ride on a dragon? The roostkeepers of the Ice faction are friendly and will allow you to interact with their charges as long as you're respectful of their boundaries. The older dragons will merely gaze at you pensively, but the youngsters are always up for a game of catch or two. There's also the option of dragon taxi if you wish to travel between regions. If you can fork out the coin, they'll send you across the Moon in the fastest time possible. D ➛ The inland Sea is abuzz with activity at this time of the year. While the seasonal variations are dampened inside the Moon ship, that hasn't stopped the natives from hanging out at the beach. The Blood faction's side has plenty of revelry, with fireworks set off at night and grilled fish stalls set up along the waterfront. Some of the food on offer may carry potent effects, however - the shamans are used to ingesting enhanced wines, but are you? E ➛ If you've let slip the fact that you're from another world, you may soon gain some fans. Some natives will be curious and wish to interview you, but others may have more shady intentions. It can be hard to distinguish well-wishers from kidnappers - if you're being cornered by a few very earnest folk, it might be time to run. F ➛ The roostkeepers will let you ride one of their older dragons if you are going to the Badlands on an exploration mission. It's a desolate landscape barren and devoid of all plant life, but such rocks might hide valuable treasures. Strange ores and crystals jut out of rock formations about a mile or two outside the city walls. Even map information will fetch you some reward from your faction. But don't venture out too far, or your resistance may wear off and leave you at the mercy of the elements. G ➛ Wildcard! Feel free to utilize minor NPCs if needed. If you have any questions about the setting, direct them towards the FAQ.

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[scarsolderthanyou]

He circles tighter until he comes in to land, far enough away that the scoop of his wings slowing him down and the dust from his landing doesn't touch the young man. The dragon lands behind him, raising even more dust, dark in the barren landscape.

When it clears, the black beast is gone, and there's just a tall, raw-boned old man with gray hair, gray skin, and a face more weathered than really wrinkled. His eyes are blue, and one is cloudy like it's at least partially blind. He pats the dragon's nose, then pads on over. His feet are bare, oddly enough, though the rest of him is properly clothed, and he even has a shoulder bag of some sort.

"Though only people with dragon nursemaids got to come out this far," he says, by way of greeting.

[onlyatraveler]

The wind whipped up reached the young traveler, however, kicking up the trailing edge of their long overcoat. Now face-to-face with the strange creature, which still resembles nothing Kino had ever even had described to them, with the dragon looming behind, the youth feels a small amount of trepidation. They remain calm, however, blinking through the dust as it settled. Strangely enough, by the time it had, an entirely different figure stood before the two of them. There's a moment of surprise on the traveler's face before it reassembles to its usual composure.

That he seemed to have some sort of transformative power was certainly odd, even in the eyes of a traveler who had seen many strange things in their short lifetime. But the stranger showed no animosity, as far as Kino could tell, neither by presence or the words offered as greeting.

"That certainly would have been faster." The wry humor was offered without much change in expression; it seemed to be a running characteristic that the kid is just very straight-faced. "But it would have left Hermes," said with a pat on the handlebars of the motorrad, "behind, so we decided to come out here on our own."

"Well, I suppose the dragon could've carried me, but..." The voice trails off, clearly not pleased with the concept.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Now it's the old man's turn to look surprised. He pauses, narrows his eyes at the motorrad, and flicks his tongue out, lizard-like, as if tasting the air. Said tongue is a little thinner and longer than your typical human tongue, though at least there's no fork at the end. "Your machine talks?" he asks, as if deeply suspicious of it. He knows about machines, to some extent-- and that usually they aren't alive.

[onlyatraveler]

He certainly seemed reptilian before Kino noticed the tongue, what with the scales and all. Very curious, though at this point, the traveler had become far more conservative with how often and early in conversations they asked prying questions. It was usually more constructive to be genial to a stranger, then ask for permission later, when the situation had eased into something more commonplace.

That might take a bit longer here, given extraneous circumstances.

The traveler's expression grows a little more stony at the comment—not that it really offended them, per se, but because it would offend—

"You can hear me, can't you? Gosh, Kino, why is everyone around here like this!"

Kino gives a short sigh. And they had just asked the motorrad to be polite.

"Yes," said after a brief pause, "he does. His name is Hermes, and you can call me Kino."

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Your machine is male," Stone surmises from that. "And named Hermes." He looks from the motorrad to Kino and back again, then decides to just go with it. This isn't the Three Worlds. Maybe machines are different in other worlds.

He shakes his head, and adds, "I'm Stone." Yes, like a rock. Given how gray all over he is, these days, it at least fits.

[onlyatraveler]

Well. Maybe not by the strictest medical definition, but it's not that Kino would have any particular knowledge on that. Medicine in their home country was kind of fucked up, to put it very simply. It was one of the greatest reasons they were a traveler now.

"Yes." That was the simple answer. Thankfully, Hermes decided not to interject with any more rude comments. Kino understood his frustration—he'd never really had his existence doubted so much before—but they did wish he could be a little more selective.

As Kino is still balancing Hermes personally, they take a moment to set down his kickstand so he could stand on his own.

"It's nice to meet you, Stone." The kid had a very even, measured tone, standing still with good posture. They had, at some point, for some reason, either been taught or learned alone how to err on the side of politeness.

"Yeah, same for me." On the other hand, Hermes' tone was a little more spontaneous, as one would expect more from a child.

Kino pauses before continuing, "I assume that you have also recently arrived to this place?"

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Is it really?" Stone wonders, sliding another glance at the motorrad, but there's something in his expression that is more amused than wary, this time. He doesn't sound polite, exactly, but he does sound friendly enough.

Then he shifts his gaze back to Kino. "It's been a week or so, but that's still recent. How long for you?" He pauses, then adds, "For you two?" He can only assume they arrived together, since Kino didn't protest the machine being "his" and he's sure the locals don't have anything quite like it, not even the ones over in Light when he flew over.

[onlyatraveler]

The motorrad obviously couldn't respond to the scrutiny—besides his ability to speak, he was otherwise completely inert, relying on the pact that he had made with Kino to continue to move both of them forward. Kino keeps an eye on Stone, however, relieved that he didn't seem cross. It wasn't enough to make the traveler relax—truth be told, they never fully let their guard down—but it makes things continue a bit smoother.

"Mm," the kid wonders aloud, pausing as if to mentally count. Keeping track of the days was important to Kino. As a rule, they never remained in the same country for more than three days. It was important for a traveler to continue moving, especially if they wanted to see everything they could—and Kino knew first-hand the dangers of growing too attached.

That wasn't a possibility here, though. They were stuck, and the change in pace was something they were still grappling with.

"I believe we have been here for around the same time." Kino offers no correction, so it certainly seems the kid and motorrad had stuck together. "Keeping track of the days is a little different, after all."

The massive crystal that acted as the "sun" certainly simulated nights and days, but neither of them were used to that yet.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone could understand that, if Kino ever articulated it. While he had a home, as it were, he spent a lot of time away from that home exploring. Here, there's only so far he can travel, and even then he needs his dragon nursemaid along or people get nervous about it.

So he nods, and looks up to squint suspiciously at the crystal. "Can't even find south here," he admits. "Usually I feel it in my bones, and always know which way it is. There's no south here."

[onlyatraveler]

They should swap travelers' stories later. It was one of Kino's favorite pastimes.

"Oh." It reminds Kino of something they had observed earlier. They turn to rummage around in the pocket of a bag saddled onto Hermes, soon bringing out a small circular device: a compass. They carefully show the crystal surface to Stone, where the needle seemed... confused, in a word. It would point in a certain direction, spin around a little, then point in another.

"I've had a similar problem," the kid says, just a touch despairingly.

"In your bones, though? How do you do that, huh? Hey, Kino, can you learn how to do that? It seems a lot more convenient!

[scarsolderthanyou]

It just so happens it's one of Stone's favorite passtimes, too. Lay it on him, kiddo, give him all those stories of countries he's never heard of.

"It's just part of what I am," Stone answers the machine, after eying the compass with interest. "You have to be born with it. Sorry. Suppose we'll both have to rely on maps and memories to get around this place."

[onlyatraveler]

Oh, gladly.

But for now.

"Ohh..." The motorrad pauses, thoughtful. "I guess I understand that." He has a frame of reference, of course, knowing some of the intrinsic differences between himself and Kino due to what they were and therefore how they relied on one another. The traveler, without natural way to travel, giving balance and direction to the vehicle without the power to do so alone.

Regardless of what they relied on to get around, this world seemingly eschewed everything. It was fortunate enough that it was difficult to get lost, since they seemed to be pressed to the inside of the surface of... something. Kino was still wrapping their head around it, being able to distantly see land sloping on the other side of the crystalline star.

"Stone," the traveler begins, "May I ask you a question?"

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone eyes Kino thoughtfully for asking permission, but not without approval, and nods. "It's better to ask than to wonder." Especially when you were younger.