002 ⟡ MARCH TEST DRIVE

[baymods]

⋆✩ test drive 02 ✩⋆

The day begins like any other.

Routines, eventful scenes, and boring errands — no matter what you were in the middle of, there's a moment where everything begins to feel wrong. A searing pain tears through your body, so intense that it feels like every nerve has been struck at once. Muscles spasm, joints scream in protest, and as you double over, you find yourself clawing or clinging at anything within your reach. As your attempts to maintain composure fail you, your bones begin to twist with an agonizing force, the pain rising in a crescendo until it becomes unbearable to even breathe. Then, as quickly as it began, everything stops.

For a single, terrifying moment, there's nothing. No sight, no sound, no touch, no taste, no smell — just the weight of nothingness swallowing you whole. The absence of sensation might even be worse than the pain, leaving you adrift in a void you can't escape. Hopelessness threatens every fiber of your existence, and try as you might to fight it, your darkest thoughts begin to surface, flooding your mind in an onslaught of suffocating feelings and ideas.

In the darkness, you hear a voice.

It's faint, a gentle flashing of something warm along the edges of your mind, like sunlight itself. It's a voice, but you can't identify who or what it comes from, how it sounds, or what it means — still, you know it's directed at you. Something tugs at your heart, a powerful ache that throbs once and ripples outwards. You can feel the aches again, like fresh sores throughout your body. You feel off, like something isn't quite right, like you're not where you should be, or who you should be. But the voice continues, whispered just beyond your understanding. The sound is warm like hope, and it wraps around you, distant yet intent, before you wake up.

i. arrivals

OUT OF THE WOODS

A branch cracks, loud and deafening in an otherwise eerily silent forest. Thick fog coils through the trees and around your new form, twisting into unnatural shapes in your peripherals, and returning to nothing when your head whips around in an attempt to catch it. Though your memories are still solidly your own, they're gathered and pressed oddly into the back of your skull, out of reach in a way that's difficult to explain. Something rustles between leaves and underbrush, and the unmistakable sound of claws against bark follow shortly afterwards. Though the fog is thick and difficult to see through, you're suddenly aware of one thing: you're not alone.

The fog that surrounds you and your fellow new arrivals is maddening, and something foreign wraps around not just your mind, but your body as a whole. A strange illness has long been spoken of and witnessed within and around Bottlecap Bay, and you're the unlucky bunch to arrive with it slithering its way in now.

The fog is heavily related to this mystery illness that has plagued Pokemon, both inside the city and wild, for some time now. Though the connection isn't easy to fully grasp, it becomes incredibly clear as time passes that the fog worsens the symptoms of the illness. Some Pokemon who traverse the fog come out just fine, but others fall ill with varying levels of severity.

As soon as the first reports come from the Cheri Berry guild indicating that a large amount of confused Pokemon have been spotted approaching Bottlecap Bay from the forest, the three guilds send their members out in forces. Rescue these newcomers and discover that they're just like you, and not just confused wild Pokemon. Dr. Denne firmly insists on bringing everyone they can to the Pokeclinic, so please hurry!

AND INTO THE FIRE

⟡ Whether you fall ill or not, the fog is not safe to stay inside of for extended periods of time. Time within the fog leads to hallucinations, aggression, temporary memory loss, and overall confusion, so Pokemon should be careful, and try to get out as soon as possible!

⟡ While all new characters will arrive infected with this mystery illness, it is not contagious in any traditional fashion, and the severity of the symptoms is up to the players. Some barely exhibit any symptoms at all beyond the initial foggy memory and may even wind up cured out of nowhere! Existing characters may become infected during the rescue, if you so desire.

⟡ The illness can cause Pokemon to have the fog symptoms listed above in any area, and it can come and go erratically. It also creates symptoms much like a normal illness, varying by the person. Some examples are: coughing, fatigue, fever, chills, sneezing, nausea, and the accidental discharge of Pokemon moves. NPC characters who have had this illness have died from it, and some characters are warned the same.

⟡ Symptoms may improve or worsen for characters as the players desire, at this time.

⟡ As some of you have already discovered during your quests, the forest is filled with Pokemon exhibiting these same symptoms, as well as dangerous pitfalls, plants with minds of their own, and poisonous berries, leaves or thorns! Be careful!

ii. nightmares over

LINGERING SHADOWS

The nightmares had ended weeks ago, or so everyone had thought. Now, some Pokemon may experience them again, a more extreme version that causes a number of Pokemon to wake up in the middle of the night in a panicked sweat, screaming, writhing or scrambling quickly out of their nests. Upon waking, these Pokemon plagued by resurfacing nightmares notice something is wrong. Physical scars or injury over a spot of insecurity, phantom pains over limbs that are no longer there, or constant shadows in the corners of their vision...

How does it feel, when the Pokemon beside you wakes up with a calm stretch and a healthy, well-rested and rejuvenated smile? They feel great, they say, looking at you with worry and concern. What's wrong? You didn't feel that warm and wonderful sensation during the night, like being wrapped in a blanket of lullabies? How odd...

What could this possibly mean?

THE FOLLOW UP

⟡ From our survey, 8 characters talked things out, and 6 timed out, meaning we took this as a fairly even match of sharing versus holding it in. Because of that, only those who held it in have "consequences" to bear, and only those who talked it out have "blessings" to hold.

⟡ Characters who did not talk through their nightmares in the previous TDM experience one more horrible nightmare, accompanied by the feeling of a foreign presence. They may optionally feel someone eating their happier dreams, leaving only nightmares in their wake. These characters may now experience physical manifestations of their suffering upon waking from this last dream-eater's nightmare: scars, phantom pains, continuing nightmares with the sensation of being eaten, strange injuries, weakened abilities, etc. We encourage creativity! While you may choose the punishment and its severity, everyone who did not talk it out should have a lasting scar or effect of some sort. It should be at least mildly unsettling and upsetting, but not a heavy block for playing your character.

⟡ Characters who talked out their own problems, especially if they also helped others, will sleep amazingly, especially with the company of others. They'll tend to feel more refreshed after a night's rest in company, and will notice that they feel great in the mornings after sleeping alongside friends or companions. Their presence will also, from now on, seem to create a soothing aura that calms those around them during the night, meaning that those Pokemon experiencing suffering may seek them out for better rest.

⟡ New characters this round enter with a similar sort of presence. Characters who see their sleeping forms will feel the urge to cuddle up next to them and keep them safe from these nightmares. Any characters who sleep in the same room as them will feel more refreshed the morning after. New characters who do not find sleeping partners or roommates may find themselves plagued with similar creeping nightmares.

iii. pokeclinic

PRESSED FOR SPACE

Though the number of mystery-illness cases has been steadily rising for months now, this is the first time that the Pokeclinic has seen so many patients at once. Existing characters receive updates constantly over their Grumpearls, indicating the Pokeclinic at max capacity, but still insisting that all new Pokemon be brought to the clinic, and that all previous "newcomers" come in for a quick checkup, as well.

Anyone who steps foot or paw into the Pokeclinic can tell immediately that it's overbooked. The main ward of rooms is packed, cots spilling out into the hallways, and even the lobby is beginning to look like an impromptu campsite. Pokemon staff shuffle, flutter and scramble around the bodies of ill Pokemon, performing checkups wherever they can find the space, applying medication and herbal treatments where necessary, and reassuring worrying family and friends.

In the midst of this chaos, it's not hard to see how mixups are occurring. It gets bad enough that even Polteageist themselves joins in on treatments, causing a shocked ripple of whispers and gasps any time they float by in a hurry. They can be heard, at times, firmly scolding those who make the mistakes, insisting that there's no excuse for poor health care, and that even in times of urgency, care and attention to detail is needed. But for the time being, this isn't enough to help.

So they put out a plea to the other guild leaders. The Pokeclinic needs everyone who can help to check up on patients, deliver meals and medications, and check records for mixups. Lum Berries are fewer in number, so it makes sense that they're being overwhelmed right now! Polteageist promises to make it worth everyone's while, of course. Any Pokemon who works within the clinic during this time will be awarded with points.

WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

⟡ Characters, old and new alike, are encouraged to help where they can. Obviously those more serious cases should focus on resting, but anyone capable is allowed the chance to help out!

⟡ Caretaking is one of the most important roles in the Pokeclinic. While Pokemon like Chansey, Lilligant, Gardevoir and others move around using their moves to help with ailments, many of the patients need more personal care and assistance. Whether it's feeding them their recommended diet, helping locate and deliver their medication, or just snapping Pokemon out of hallucinations, it all helps!

⟡ The rooming situation is a complete mess! Hospital cots are stacked multiples to a room, lined up in hallways, or even spilling into the lobby. New characters may end up staying together, and existing characters may end up temporarily checked in while awaiting their screening, or listed as an actual patient after showing signs of the illness. Or maybe there was some kind of a mixup? Whatever the case, you're in rooms together, now!

⟡ Clinic visits may lead to violence on occasion. In some cases, Pokemon moves are set off on accident (like a thunderbolt going off after a reflex check), and in other, the illness-related agitation flares up, leading to straight up brawling in the clinic. With newcomers and ill wild Pokemon mixed together during the chaos, some may resist treatment and lash out at staff, other patients, or any passerby. Try to keep order if you can!

LEARNING YOUR BODY

Polteageist has worked with Dr. Denne to encourage an assortment of activities and classes to help characters better adjust into their new forms. Not only is this helpful in every day matters like movement and balance, but Dr. Denne also believes that this could help reduce symptoms of the mystery illness that's still being looked into! Because of this, characters are encouraged to pair off for activities or visit various classes together, hosted in various places around the city.

BODY SPECIFIC

⟡ Various body type angled classes are being held throughout Bottlecap Bay! On the beach, aquatic Pokemon hold classes on swimming, and an underwater obstacle course has been set up beneath the waves of the ocean and through the various underwater cave systems!

⟡ Pokemon with wings or other methods of flying are encouraged to meet in the Canopy for some careful flying classes. The natural clutter of the trees and branches makes for a great agility course, too, and this has been marked off with bright painted colors.

⟡ For those with more or less legs than they're used to, various activities have been set up around the city and outskirts to promote paired encouragement of movement! Just be aware, sometimes these new forms of yours come with a large tail, or bulky wings, and you might just smack into someone next to you while trying to get your bearings.

⟡ Mightyena is holding sparring tournaments and matches on the beach just before the cliffs. Try your bodies out in battle with one another!

TYPE SPECIFIC

⟡ Each type (fire, water, grass, etc) has its own collection of activities to try to better become accustomed to the movesets. Often, opposing types will be matched up and told to fire attacks at one another, with the aim of practicing brushing off super-effective moves, or powering through weaker type moves. First aid kits are scattered throughout the city for this purpose.

⟡ Sometimes, it can be difficult adjusting to a type. Fire types, while comfortable in high heat, may find themselves overheating or unable to control their temperatures. Water types may forget how to breathe on land temporarily, requiring assistance in meditation. Grass types may feel oddly slow, or tied to the ground beneath them, though it's purely in their mind. Maybe your dragon type can't stop roaring. Feel free to be creative with your character's struggles!

⟡ In an attempt to encourage special Pokemon moves (rather than physical), one of the local bakeries has developed Type Muffins for characters to try out! Just be warned, sometimes it makes it so easy to use your moves that you might send them off on accident. It's suggested you try these with a friend to spot you.

CHALLENGE YOUR MIND

⟡ More dangerous (but not lethal!) challenges await those who wish to sign up for them. Polteageist insists that with the dangers on the horizon and at their door, it's important now more than ever to become prepared. So, they have suggested an escape room of sorts. These come in three flavors, and even ill Pokemon are welcomed to try them, as experienced rescue Pokemon will be on call the entire time. Anyone who takes longer than the allotted time will be rescued.

⟡ Ocean room. Two Pokemon are put to sleep and wake up in a small cave beneath the water, with pockets of oxygen for those who need them. Upon waking, they must work together to escape the labyrinth of caves beneath the water and make it back to Bottlecap Bay. Some obstacles along the way may include: a maze-like cave system with misleading routes, paths with less or no sunlight, strange plants that may inflict status effects, agitated or disoriented wild Pokemon, and varying water temperatures/underwater geysers. It has an hour time limit, so good luck!

⟡ Forest room. Two Pokemon are put to sleep and wake up in the center of a dense forest, with tree covering blocking most sunlight. Upon waking, they must work together to find their directions, navigate through thick brush and forest, and make it back to Bottlecap Bay. Some obstacles along the way may include: the fog, collapsed floors into cave systems, sudden steep drops, aggressive Pokemon and plants, vines, thorns, poisons and toxins. It has a two hour time limit, so good luck!

⟡ Cave room. Two Pokemon are put to sleep and wake up far beneath the city, in one of the many tunnels belonging to the mines. Upon waking, they must work together to reorient themselves and find a way out to Bottlecap Bay. Some obstacles along the way may include: unstable sections of mines leading to collapses, a vast assortment of tunnel directions leading to disorientation, extreme temperatures, lava pits, and lessening oxygen levels. It has an hour time limit, so good luck!

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ TDM CWS: body horror, death, disorientation, hallucinations, illness, injury, scars

⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.

⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY!

⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, if they assist with any of the clinic prompts, they may gain points for their future guild!

⟡ The creepy forest fog can be done away with temporarily through Pokemon moves, but always seems to work its way back like it has a mind or will of its own.

⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!

⟡ As of today, reserves and applications are now permanently open, with apps processed every other month! See information on their respective pages for details!

⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!

FULL NAVIGATION

Comments

Pressed for Space

[truthdecided]

[Fortunately for Siffrin, they aren't the only one hustling around the clinic, though this one's favored movement is through flight, with a basket clutched in his talons.

He'd like to think he has a sharp memory, though he has his own clients to serve.

Still, given they're both following similar objectives, he might as well weigh in.]

Hmm... Buizel are water types, whereas Growlithe are fire. While both are mammals, their nutritional needs differ.

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin jumps at being addressed. Though their new ears are far more sensitive, they're still nowhere close to hearing wingbeats - rather than footsteps - and expecting that to be a someone.]

[It's embarassing to be caught struggling, but they'd like even less to screw this up, so they manage to force a smile in Akechi's direction.] I'm not used to types mattering to what you eat!

Would it be, uh, something fishy for the Buizel, then? And... charcoal, or wood or something, for the Growlithe...?

[Water mammal seems logical enough, but what in the stars would a fire mammal eat? Siffrin noses around some of the packed meals in their sack, sniffing speculatively.]

[truthdecided]

Growlithes are canines, so if there's a biscuit, I'd start there.

[Perhaps he should have led with the animal type, but ah well. The fishy guess is reasonable enough that he raises no objections.

Akechi could bring up other factors, like flavor and how different Pokémon seem to have their particular preferences, but best not to over complicate.

No, he'll keep watching Siffrin. Perhaps now they'll have a decent starting point.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Biscuits, biscuits... okay, there's a box at about the right spot in the stack that smells a little bit like grain and a little bit savory. That's gotta be it. The savory part is making Siffrin's mouth water. And the one above does smell faintly like the coastline, whatever's in it. So it must be Minior, Misdreavus, Buizel, Growlithe. Got it. (And then a good ten more underneath...)]

[They keep sniffing, distracted by the next package up.]

What do Misdreavus eat? That one smells weird.

[The Minior one just smells like rocks and salt and stuff, too - but Siffrin happens to have actually seen the Minior earlier. It's a floating rock. Fair enough.]

[truthdecided]

Honestly, I've yet to fully grasp the natural diets of ghost types.

[This, despite living with three of them in the Oran Berries guild. He'd shrug, but seeing as he's currently in the air, that's not especially wise.]

Though, I suppose we'll find out soon enough.

[loopsiedaisy]

[A bit of the fur along Siffrin's back bristles without their input. Brr. They've definitely heard about ghost types by now, but that doesn't mean they're used to the idea.]

...are ghost types really ghosts? [They should probably find out before it gets into "and at this point I'm afraid to ask" territory.]

[But now that they've figured out the order of their deliveries, they should start moving before they forget again. Siffrin chomps down on the handle of the sack and resumes dragging it to the next door, giving Akechi a grateful nod.]

[truthdecided]

Hmm... I'm still doing research on the matter, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[This is a world full of strange, magic creatures, after all.

Well, either way, he'll follow along, since he has hiss own deliveries to make in that direction.

A very hungry Gible, a Popplio that's lots its pep, just to name a few.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Brrr. They don't love that.]

Isn't it weird that they can eat, then...? [Siffrin mumbles; it's probably pretty indistinct through the mouthful of fabric.]

[Whatever they say, though, once they push their way through the doorway, they do steadfastly deliver all the meals with a cheerful expression. (They may eye the Misdreavus for longer than the others, while they're nudging packaged meals onto cots.)]

[Four deliveries down! A whole sackful left to go...]

[truthdecided]

Frankly, ghosts eating is fairly mundane compared to some of the creatures here. Living magnets, for example.

[Speaking of which, that's another one on the list, so he moves along to that particular cot, dropping the package while trying not to stare at how a mechanical, floating orb even eats.]

[loopsiedaisy]

Is it...?

[Well, Akechi's right, that is extremely odd. Siffrin's just not sure that they agree that ghosts are less so.]

[The Shinx drags the sack back to the doorway to get it out of the way, then sets to work on figuring out at the next few meals. Smells like berries and fruits, oats, another fishy one... okay, yeah, they're pretty sure they've got it. But now that Akechi's tagging along, they seem content to wait at the door until he's done too.]

[They push it open once Akechi heads toward them.]

So. What's the weirdest Pokemon you've seen?

[They'd definitely feel more awkward asking a native Pokemon this, but Akechi sounds like he's in the same situation as them.]

[truthdecided]

[Akechi presses his wings together, taking a deep breath. He doesn't want to offend anyone in the room, so he moves a bit closer to Loop before answering.]

I saw an ice cream cone with a face the other day.

[loopsiedaisy]

O-oh.

[It is basically what they wanted to know! It's probably better to get their reactions and expectations out of the way now than to do it face-to-face with said ice cream cone.]

[Siffrin waits until they're back in the hallway before saying anything else.]

How did they move? Bouncing on the tip of the cone?

[truthdecided]

Honestly, it just floated. ...Quite a few Pokémon do, even those who aren't of the psychic type.

[He turns around, bringing another snack package over to a Voltorb that sparks a little, but thankfully doesn't shock Akechi.

It then starts eating. Somehow. The lack of mouth raises many questions.]

There comes a point where you learn to accept that Pokémon anatomy doesn't necessarily abide by any form of logic.

[loopsiedaisy]

[...they're just not gonna worry about it! Mouths optional! They're suddenly very glad they got to keep theirs, though.]

So you're telling me you get to fly, ice cream cones get to float, and I have to trudge along on my own tw - four feet? That sounds pretty unfair. I might have to fowl a complaint.

[Siffrin only has one delivery to make to the Pokemon whose cots have spilled out in the hallway, to an Emolga. After that they resume tugging their sack to the next door, navigating carefully. They're still forced to pause and adjust once or twice, when they miscalculate dimensions on the side of their bad eye and get the sack caught on someone's bed.]

[truthdecided]

[...

Akechi groans. That pun...]

Fowls are only a select few categories of birds, you know.

[But whatever. He has his own work to do in that room as well, so he follows along, watching their movements and taking note of their depth perception.]

There are others more accustomed to moving with paws. Firepaw-kun was a cat before he arrived here, so he may be able to assist you.

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin grins, the tip of their tail twitching. They make no further fowl comments. (Heh heh.)]

[Their next delivery is to a Skiddo, then a Gible...]

[Oh!] I've met Firepaw! He found me in the woods.

[They're suddenly struck by a thought.] ...you weren't already a bird before you arrived here, too? [Maybe that's more usual than not?]

[Wrapped package of snacks for a Skitty, large package for a wilted-looking Flygon... and they're done with their deliveries in this room! Their sack is looking much emptier. And feeling much lighter.]

[truthdecided]

No, I was entirely human. Most of us were.

[Akechi scurries along, dropping snack packages for a Shelgon, a very hefty one for an Exeggcute, and some seeds for a little Starly.

So far, so good. At least the conversation makes the work feel less tedious.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[...]

Sounds lonely.

[They're back to talking about Firepaw, though it might not be clear.]

[Once more into the hallway, and once again to inspecting the final set of packages! This time Siffrin rears back once they get a good whiff of their second to last package, pawing at their nose. The box is keeping the scent from spreading, but up close it smells awful!]

[truthdecided]

I suppose it is a bit alienating to be the only cat among our group.

[It's difficult for Akechi to imagine, and to Firepaw's credit, he's kept his spirits high.

That scent, though... Akechi grimaces and covers his beak with a wing.]

...I don't suppose the recipient is a Trubbish or a Grimer?

[It'd explain the stench, at least.]

[loopsiedaisy]

Grimer sounds familiar. [So it must be that one. This is said in a different kind of muffled way - Siffrin is still rubbing at their nose, their face wrinkled up.]

I don't think I've met one yet. [Now they're not sure they want to.]

[This is actually reminding them of another question they had, but they're saving that for when their nose is clear. Or maybe for after the box is gone, they want to get rid of that one as fast as possible.]

[truthdecided]

They're effectively purple piles of sludge. One of the many poison types, and by far one of the messiest.

[It comes with the territory, being sludge and all.

Though, after a moment, his feathers fluff up in frustration.]

Speaking of poison types, it appears there's a stunky in need of a snack. Let's just hope they can keep their odor under control.

[He shuffles along. There is work to be done, after all.]

[loopsiedaisy]

[It sounds like the two poison types are probably in the same place, which makes sense... but Siffrin shudders at the thought. Yeah, let's definitely get that over with.]

[One extremely rapid Grimer delivery later, they remember their other question.]

Um... Firepaw mentioned to me that a lot of Pokemon name themselves with their species.

How do you know which one someone's talking about? Like, if there were two Stunkies?

[truthdecided]

I'm honestly not sure.

[Akechi hums, eyes scanning the room. He hasn't run into duplicate Pokémon occupying the same space, and yet...]

But surely it must get confusing, even among families, assuming cross-species breeding isn't a factor. What do two partners of the same species even call one another?

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin's back to trying to tell apart their remaining deliveries, now that the stinky package is gone. (The remnants of the scent linger, but are much more bearable.) They fidget with the edge of the sack, sheathing and unsheathing their claws.]

Maybe they've got extra names, for when that happens. Or nicknames?

[Or you're just supposed to figure it out from context...]

[truthdecided]

I suppose it's possible that they have individual names, but there's a cultural difference that keeps them from being used publicly.

[Akechi rifles through his own satchel. He's running low on packages as well, but thankfully, none of his offerings have particularly overwhelming scents.]