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

[dunchies]

[ Yeah, he had a similar reaction to those too. ]

That's right. I'm still trying to keep track of all the names here. [ A log is starting to sound more appealing, but, hands. ] Definitely not just a jackalope then. Mammals with poison aren't common at all. Does it secrete naturally all over, or do you have to control it? My fur gets staticky itself, but I have to focus on charging it to have any strong effect.

[ Not counting when he caught fog sickness, of course. He's getting more excited now based on the rambling. ] Oh, adventurers! I was one too! Dogs do make great companions, but I'd feel awful if something happened to them in a dungeon. Though I guess newbies won't make it too deep, so probably a good call for their sake.

[bladeofnymeia]

I know it can come from my horn and the barb-bits on my body. And, if I use certain attacks, it could be expressed through my claws, but that takes conscious effort? So I just try to move and position myself carefully...

[She perks up a bit at the mention of a shared vocation.] Mm! Of course, I would never bring him into any dungeon or anything similar. But it was always nice to have a companion out in the world when I was on my own otherwise.

[dunchies]

[ Laios nods attentively, glancing at her barbs and claws as she mentions them. He's much more curious than nervous even as she explains. ]

Very useful for defense in the wild, I bet. Though, I suppose it might take some time getting used to if that's not your usual style.

[ He didn't think he'd run into a fellow dungeon-crawler anytime soon. The thought makes him wag his tail fondly. ] I wish I could've brought my dogs when I first left home, but nowadays the strays I find keep me company when I'm in town. If only they could see me now! [ He laughs a little. ]

So, what was your specialty? Travelling the world can rack up a lot of experience.

[bladeofnymeia]

This whole experience has taken much to get used to. But I am making an active effort - you cannot improve without practice.

[It applies to your hobbies, to battle, and to being isekai'd into a new body.]

Ah...well, I've kept to being a Paladin. So, sword and shield, and a little bit of magic. Not much, but enough in a pinch. And it isn't too hard to understand, which is a relief. But if I ever had the time, I'd love to learn more from other versions of swordplay.

[As Laios loves monsters, he gets the sense that, as Firoza picks up, she...loves swords. Hoo boy.]

Samurai use katanas, and their movements are very controlled and fluid...and then Red Mages, they conduct magic through rapiers, and use the magic to augment their swordplay. But it's flashy and efficient at the same time, and they can jump and flip so easily to come close, attack, and then pull back...and then the Vipers - they use dual blades that can combine into one long, double-sided blade, and they're constantly switching between the forms in their attacks, going faster and faster as they battle, and it's so impressive! Oh, and then there's the Dark Knights with their claymores, that they can maneuver with such heavy blades is incredible - and the Gunbreakers, their blades are combined with...well, a firearm, sort of? I don't know how that works. But their attacks are augmented by that extra firepower.

[She sighs, settling back, her eyes shining with a wistful respect.] It's so interesting how the basic form of the sword can be changed and adapted across different cultures to meet their needs, and I'd love to see if it was possible to learn some of the forms and movement to improve my own swordplay. If a Paladin, with their defensives, could also do lots of things an opponent didn't expect? That would be incredible...

[dunchies]

Yes, exactly. [ Great minds! ] All the lessons so far have been really helpful with that too. [ Spectating matches included, even if they did highlight all the species he wasn't. ]

Wow, we're pretty similar then! Swords are my go-to, but I learned a few healing spells to help out where I can. I'm not an expert either, though. [ Nor is he much of an expert on sword fighting styles. Good thing Firoza can't see the sorry state he left some of his swords in (Echo willing). Regardless, he's all ears while she runs through the gamut of specialties, trying to picture each of their skills as she explains. ] That's amazing. I never really thought about how differently swords can be used. Like adaptations to their environments...

One of my—uh, a past party member, he's a real powerful swordsman. I think he actually uses one of those, ah... katanas! Or something like it anyway. His finishing blows were always so clean. Definitely like a samurai. [ Laios should definitely not be assuming, but it wouldn't be the first time. ] I wish he could've taught me some of his techniques. My basic training came from the military, but that was all pretty standard stuff, to be honest.

[bladeofnymeia]

[I mean, if it happens to pop up if he's communicating via the Grumpearls later...she'll be worried, but not mad, because shit happens. It must be so wild for people without experience with the Echo to suddenly have a similar outlet but only for communicating remotely.]

Exactly! They each came from different cultures and their needs, and the knowledge available. If I could read a bit better, I wouldn't mind looking up a history of these things...but I'm not the best with books.

[You learn to read up to like. American 4th grade level and then enough math to make money work and that's it, beyond various seamstress knowledge. That's what you get at home. It's fine.]

That does sound like a Samurai. [She smiles sympathetically at the military mention.] I have a bit of experience in a Grand Company - essentially a military, but it doesn't feel as...rigid as the examples from other countries I've seen. And training under the Sultansworn is a bit like military training, but when you're a free Paladin, you're not exactly beholden to any group...but yes. They teach you standard technique. Other things come from learning in the field.

[dunchies]

I know what you mean! I love learning about— [ He catches himself quickly. Don't say it yet. ] —how different far-off places can be. The environments. Animals. I'd have liked to see them myself one day...

[ He falters, as if realizing now not all paths to adventuring are the same. Academia may not have been his thing, but he should probably give more credit to his school for letting him read up on monster research. ] I could help you practice some time, if you'd like. I'm no scholar, but I have read a lot.

[ Now the question is where to find books. That Polteageist certainly seemed well-read enough for them to exist here. ]

... Yeah. Rigid is the right way to put it. [ He shifts a little uncomfortably, recalling one too many not-so-fond memories. But, he puts that aside. ] Learning in the dungeon was definitely much better! I know they're not as strict around here anyway, but I can't wait to try actually exploring like this.

[bladeofnymeia]

[She catches the pause, but doesn't press.] Ah - well, I'm sure you'll still have a chance. Whenever it is we can return to our homes, I'm positive we'll have our whole lives ahead of us yet. You may well get your chance.

[Travel! Adventure! See the things! You can never see it all in one lifetime but gosh darnit you can try! And aside from the occasional worldwide disaster only you can stop, it's pretty fun and fulfilling.

She looks genuinely surprised at the offer.] You - you'd really do that? I...um...yes. I'd like that. Though, I don't know where I'd start...

[The knowledge stored here in...tablets? Books? How did the Pokemon here record things? It would all be so removed from what she could use as a starting point. Still, it's worth it to try, for sure - even if she got a little better at understanding complex things, couldn't she put her head together more with the other Scions? Think those big, deep thoughts? And then act on them like always? That'd be nice.

It'd be really nice to be an active part of those academic conversations.]

I've mostly done quests as part of my exploring, and then some wandering on my own...I did find an excellent stump for practicing moves on. Very sturdy. Excellent training dummy.

[dunchies]

Yeah. That would be nice. [ He doesn't sound particularly convincing, even to himself. His words are heavy—strained almost—by a responsibility only he knows for now. Still, he smiles softly at Firoza, nodding in affirmation. Laios more than anyone understands how important it is to be able to study what you love. ] Of course. We'd have to figure out what they write in around here, but it shouldn't be too hard. The guild leaders have been pretty accommodating so far.

[ Never mind that the Pokémon alphabet may be vastly different than what they're used to. They'll get there when they get there. ]

Oh, that's smart. Battling seems big here, but it'd be nice to practice technique without the pressure. You'll have to show me sometime... [ A beat. He really needs to get better at formalities. ] Ah, what was your name again?

[bladeofnymeia]

[Oh no recognizing the like...five characters Hingashi and Doma both seem to use that she can use to find out where the restrooms are was already so hard, don't tell her she has to learn another alphabet]

Firoza Istus. But, Firoza is fine. And your name is...?

[dunchies]

[ If there's a will, there's a way, and Laios certainly isn't going to let learning a new alphabet get in the way of reading around here. He can only imagine the history the native Pokémon might have here. ]

Firoza! I'll be sure to remember it. [ It'll be much easier to put names to faces around here when they aren't human. ] Laios Touden, but just Laios is fine, too.

[ His tail starts to wag without him even thinking. A friend! And another adventurer at that. It's hard not to feel the excitement wash over him. ]

[bladeofnymeia]

Laios. Good to meet you.

[She'll hold out a paw for him to shake, even if it's. A little awkward. But it's an instinct.]