005 ⟡ SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE

[bayhelpers]

⋆✩ test drive 05 ✩⋆

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

HIDDEN IN THE TALL GRASS

All around you now, is the scent of loam and plantlife. It is just slightly damp - the morning dew has not yet dried, and the sun’s light visible even while the sun still crawls up from the horizon. The grass around you is somehow ridiculously tall however.

Or perhaps you’re just small?

It’s difficult to see much of anything in the fields you’ve arrived in, but at the very least you can see yourself. Your limbs, no longer what they should have been. Your very skin, covered perhaps with fur, scales, or something else entirely. There is much about this situation that bears no answer, but maybe that will change as you wander through the sea of grass.

The sounds of other Pokemon soon become clear to your new ears. Other confused wanderers, fumbling with their new bodies. One by one, you make your way through the grass to each other - or maybe, someone finds you. Pokemon who didn’t wake up dazed in the grass also begin to appear, and they bring with them offers of help and explanation. All of them point toward the same place, eagerly indicating a series of gleaming lights through the blades.

Don’t worry friends - Malamar is here to help!

YOUR FRIEND, HERE TO HELP

⟡ Severity of dysphoria and disorientation symptoms are entirely up to the player, as is the duration of time these symptoms last.

⟡ The grass fields stretch for a long distance, but grass becomes shorter the closer one comes to the ends of the fields. Forests, as well as the bank of a river can be found, as can the new Outpost constructed here. Malamar, being a good friend, always aims to bring everyone to town. Though the route may be a bit long - they’re avoiding danger!

⟡ Upon arrival at the Outpost of Skull Town (though ‘Death Blood Murder’ seems to have been added above the word Skull on the sign), Pokemon will be ushered into a communal housing structure while news is ferried to Bottlecap Bay.

⟡ While TDM events specifically will occur here, Players are welcome to have their Top Levels involve other locations as well.

ii. The Town of Death Blood Murder Skull

AN OMEN OF THE SEASONS

Shortly after the sun sets, on the very same day that new arrivals began to wake in the grass, eerie lights and music drift down from one of the distant mountains. They wind their way into the valley, bringing with them an unseasonable chill. Something is coming.

Something is Froslass, queen of those dead by frost and in lonely spaces, and she is on her traditional visit down from the mountains. Does this happen yearly? Every few years? It's hard to tell - Ghosts aren't always the best at keeping track of living time - but however often it is, she is delighted to see that the Ghosts of the forest and valley have built an entire town this time, just for her!

What? Malamar wants her to know it's not just for her? Of course it is, silly! It has Death and Murder and Skulls in the name, doesn't it? She'll even magnanimously accept all these living participants, since they so graciously showed up to pay her tribute.

Quibbles over the town aside, Froslass's presence heralds the beginning of an undead ritual. Ghostly flames make delicate, flickering paths through the valley, visible only at night but felt even during the day. Trip through one of them and you will find yourself shivering, maybe even feeling slightly disconnected from your body.

Froslass herself holds court in town, expecting attention and entertainment, particularly near dawn and dusk. While she's not outright hostile, she is rather volatile: she's easily delighted by anyone who puts in a genuine effort, no matter how unskilled, but she's very quick to anger if she thinks someone isn't sufficiently motivated - or worse, avoiding her! Be ready to either participate or stay far, far away to keep unnoticed. Even that might not save you, as her presence seems to have a very odd effect on Ghosts and even other Pokemon in town. You may be subject to encouragement... and some of it might not be gentle.

HAIL TO THE QUEEN

⟡ Ghost types and those who have ever experienced dying are susceptible to Froslass's presence.

⟡ This may be mild: maybe characters just find Froslass charming or stately, or are a little more tolerant of participating in the festivities, even if they’d normally be annoyed. Or it can be more severe, with characters having an inexplicable urge to act more spooky or ghostly.

⟡ In the worst cases, characters can get really caught up in it and feel an outright compulsion to not only do things for Froslass, but to make sure that other people are doing their part too. This can even escalate to Pokemon battles!

⟡ Your friend Malamar is very concerned about this, and will be encouraging people to try and snap their other friends out of it! (Is this perhaps also contributing to battles? No, it couldn’t be, your friend Malamar wouldn’t do something like that…)

SOIREES AND SERVICE

Fortunately, the festivities required aren't particularly deadly or horrifying! Froslass expects to be well fed and entertained as recompense for her very important role, but she is very happy to share with everyone as long as she's getting her dues.

Pokemon can choose to help make and serve elaborate dishes for Froslass, and attend on her needs - she'll require them to be well-decorated if so, to match her brilliance! Those who are less skilled with food can choose to sing, tell stories, make music, or dance for her - she particularly enjoys performances with fans or ribbons - or offer her little Ghost Pokemon figures made out of harvest fruits and vegetables. Barring that, Pokemon can decorate Skull Town and their less crafty townmates, making sure everyone is adequately adorned for the occasion (or crafting necessary props like those fans and ribbons)!

Pokemon who aren't particularly artistic have at least one other option: help maintain the ghostly flames throughout the valley. These lights were originally made by Froslass, and while they're currently placed to guide other Ghosts into town, they're being saved for another purpose later. She'll be very put out if any of them are snuffed! Fortunately, the lights are easy to keep flickering. It takes days for one to die, and the judicious application of a Ghost, Fire, or Ice move - or, lacking any of those, the addition of some completely normal kindling - brightens it right up again. There are, however, rather a lot of them...

Froslass outright expects any Pokemon who has taken a turn contributing to the festivities to have some time to enjoy them, too. Come, sit down, have some good food served to you by Pokemon in elaborate outfits, and enjoy a fun diversion! Or at least take a relaxed stroll through town with her and her retinue and take in the atmosphere!

LIGHT UP THE TOWN

⟡ Yes. Yes it's a maid cafe. (Maid outfits are optional, but Froslass does think they're suitable attire.) If not interacting with another character currently taking a shift, players may assume that NPC Ghosts are acting as staff!

⟡ Froslass rewards or curses those who catch her attention by participating or abstaining from the festivities. Particularly unlucky curmudgeons will just get a mild case of frostbite, but mostly her rewards and curses are themed around what she thinks would be helpful or harmful... based on her conception of the world, which is a tad Ghost-centric.

⟡ All of these curses or blessings are temporary and will not last past the end of Froslass's visit.

⟡ Some possible blessings: Characters are able to detect a single emotion of player choice. Characters' voices have become melodic enough to slowly lull people to sleep, whether they intended it or not. Characters are struck by constant inspiration for ghostly pranks. Characters become less sensitive to sunlight (wait, you already weren't sensitive to sunlight? What do you mean, of course you were).

⟡ Some possible curses: Characters feel emptier and hungrier than usual, like their stomachs have become a black hole. Characters feel drained of energy unless they're around someone feeling a specific emotion (of player choice). Characters find it nearly impossible to enter inhabited buildings, which are suddenly unnervingly uncomfortable to be in. Characters are lonely and can't bear not being around people, desperately seeking others out when by themselves.

iii. Fête of the Forgotten

VESSELS SAILING AWAY

As the festivities welcoming the immaculate Froslass settle down, the end of the month gradually brings the true meaning of the occasion to light. When she first arrived, it was easy to lose the facts among the fanaticism - not to mention, Malamar’s frustrations. It’s always difficult when friends fight. However, as the leaves slowly turn to the color of flame and the air begins to crisp for harvest, Skull Town gathers more and more Ghost Pokemon ready to bring forth their core traditions.

A tradition of remembrance. Of connection. A celebration of ‘ghosts’ who no longer walk the mortal realm.

During the final week of September, Pokemon such as Spiritomb and Oricorio begin to reach out to the Outpost citizens to collaborate for their final tradition. Having spent some time among the Pokemon of Bottlecap Bay, they feel confident that the communities of Spectrunk and Bottlecap can harmonize with its meaning. They spin tales of boats sailing across distant seas, and of faint lights floating through the blackest skies to guide spirits to their new home. Here and now, as the summer season officially greets the autumnal one, Pokemon may be granted a chance to reconnect with those who sailed ever further.

Those who sailed beyond, to their final place of rest.

Where the weeks prior were filled with festivities and excitement, the final week of September is a somber time as small boats to carry spirit flames are prepared for the final day. They will sail them down the river and out to the sea as the sun sets in those last moments - a tribute to the departed, as well as a message to those who still reside in the places they came from.

To the quiet surprise of Pokemon beyond this world, it seems there is something to this ritual. As their boat sails outward, spirits of those they left behind in their homes - whether deceased or otherwise - appear before their very eyes! It is a chance perhaps, to get some closure.

Or to simply say hello, as the Ghosts would say.

LIGHTS ALONG THE SHORE

⟡ The final week of the festival in fact runs from September 22nd to September 30th - Approximately 8, rather than 7 days.

⟡ Players may be creative with the stories shared from the Ghost Pokemon during this time: the only key points to remember are that it seems many either sailed here themselves, or had ancestors that did so.

⟡ Pokemon do not have to make a boat in order to participate within the festival - if your character would not do so, you are free to assume a well-meaning Ghost Pokemon crafted and launched one for them!

⟡ Spirits of otherworldly characters will remain from sunset to sunrise, September 30th to October 1st. They may not necessarily be fully present - perhaps unable to speak, or hear clearly. They may also appear to come from a time different from the character’s own. Strangely, while many will recognize who they are speaking to despite appearances, some spirits claim to have never met.

⟡ Spirits may also appear as players wish - Perhaps they are fully human (or inhuman, in some cases). Perhaps, they take the form of a Pokemon as well, one characters associate with them.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ TDM CWS: Disorientation, Grieving/Death (as a topic of conversation), Hypnosis/Mental Influence

⟡ 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, they may assume themselves to share rooms within any one of them during the course of the TDM.

⟡ 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 a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.

⟡ 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

[paperceptive]

Loop? The...star person?

[ Odile doesn't know how to explain it, if they don't know. She certainly doesn't know what the deal was with that! But while Siffrin has been through significant physical and mental trauma recently, and their memory has never been good...she's getting worried. ]

Siffrin - your fever has not come back, has it? May I check...?

[ Does she even know how to check a cat for fever? But she needs to. ]

[1/2]

[loopsiedaisy]

[They          ]

[They have heard this name before.]

[...]

[There's something that they're not remem -]

[          ...there's something that they haven't been letting themself think about.]

[They are, out of nowhere, certain that they do not want to keep following this thread of thought with Odile around. If they figure it out, she'll figure it out, and that's... they need to have a chance to understand it first, before her (or Mirabelle, or Isabeau), or - no, that's also following the thought. Don't think about it.]

[They'll talk to... to Shoka, maybe...]

[And then they need to     find             Stardust.]

[2/2]

[loopsiedaisy]

[...]

[And for now they need to give Odile something else.]

I don't think so...? [But they nod. She can check, it's fine...]

[And meanwhile... it's something they'd be embarrassed(? fearful?) to admit any other time, but right now it's easier than the alternative.] When I first showed up here, I... forgot a lot of things? I, um, couldn't remember my name, for a while. S-so, maybe... I'm still missing more than I thought...?

[They trail off. And if they sound anxious, or queasy, even though they're trying to put on a brave face... that's a very Siffrin thing to do in response to being told there's so many more important things you've forgotten, right?]

[...it's almost tempting to think that's all it is! That's upsetting enough, but as long as Odile is around, she can just remind them of everything they don't know! They can just keep going, believing that, especially since things... things finally almost feel like they're going to be okay...]

[But in their chest and stomach, where the star they swallowed once burned, they know that's not it.]

[paperceptive]

[ Odile steps closer, reaching out to place the backs of her claws carefully against Siffrin's forehead. She has never been a particularly maternal person. It's not in her blood. Still, she's gentle. ]

...hm. You do seem alright...

[ Relatively speaking, at least. But nervous or not, she has certainly seen them doing worse. Odile withdraws her hand, but stays where she is, sitting a bit closer to them now. ]

Would you like me to fill you in on everything? We can discuss something else if you'd rather - there's certainly a lot of options.

[ Like, this place, turning into cats...Odile will return to the former eventually, but if Siffrin needs a break, they ought to have one. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[They do want her to.]

[But they're also very sure that they won't be able to save the thing they're not thinking about until later if she does. They hide behind the brim of their hat for a moment, then raise their head again to smile at her as normally as they can manage.]

[They can't force themself to say out loud that they need time to process, even though that would probably be a good answer, so instead they just...]

...what are the other things? I'm sure you have questions about this place!

[Odile always has questions. Or she did, back in Vaugarde, at least...]

[paperceptive]

[ Odile pauses, looking at Siffrin for just long enough that it is obviously a decision to spare them when she asks: ]

I do, yes. I've started compiling some basics, but I haven't gotten a full explanation from anyone...how much do you know about these "Pokemon"?

[ They'll obviously return to the previous topic later. Even Siffrin cannot possibly avoid it forever, now that they can't just loop back time on her. But Odile's well aware now of how bad it can be if she presses too hard. She'll just...let them have this for a bit. She is curious about this world too! ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Moving along! Moving along and not thinking about it!]

[...that's a very broad question. All Pokemon facts momentarily fly out of Siffrin's head under the weight of where in the world to start. But finally they settle on:] Um. All the animals here are Pokemon, but it's not just animals...? Some of them are plants, or ghosts, or other things. I've seen one that looks like a keyring, and there's another that's just a giant ice cream cone...

Oh! But they already knew about humans, before we showed up. [They never actually... found out any more about that... it seemed to be a touchy subject. Even if everyone's current Pokemon shapes seem to have gotten them accepted by the locals more easily.]

And... Pokemon have a lot more Craft types than we have? [Had? If they weren't talking to Odile they probably would've said "had," but they're feeling a little bit closer to their world right now.]

[This all feels like stuff Odile probably already knows! But they're not sure what else to say without being prompted...]

[paperceptive]

I heard something about that. I'm an Ice and Dark type user, apparently...

[ She didn't get the full list. They'd been standing and whispering in an alley, it didn't seem the time for a comprehensive explanation. Frankly, as much as she wants one...Odile isn't confident that this is the time, either. ]

Which do you have?

[loopsiedaisy]

[Huh. Siffrin would've guessed that Paper would translate into Grass, or something like that? But clearly they have no idea how any of this works, because:]

I thought I would be Steel, when I heard that was a type... but I'm Electric type, here.

...just one type! [How come Bottlecap Bay lets you have two, Odile,]

[Regardless, being distracted by talking about something else - while still being conscious of having Odile here, alive, okay - seems to be settling Siffrin down. Their shoulders are slowly untensing.]

1/2

[paperceptive]

[ Odile is immediately annoyed with herself for thinking it! But her exasperation has always been fond, even if she isn't always the best at making that clear. And she has a suspicion it might help to cheer Siffrin up. So... ]

[paperceptive]

How shocking.

[1/3]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Oh??]

[2/3]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Ohhhhhhhh??]

[3/3]

[loopsiedaisy]

Are you sure it's really you, Odile? You've never been ecstatic about puns before...!

[They will spare her any more. They know she still doesn't really enjoy puns, not like Isabeau.]

[But their smile is definitely a bit less deliberate and more relaxed now!]

[paperceptive]

No one will ever believe you.

[ It's good to just banter with them a little, one thousand lingering questions or not. Odile knows she cannot go long without telling them she knows of the time loops. They deserve that from her. But just for a moment, it's nice to joke around. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[How devious...!]

Not even a little bit, [Siffrin agrees.]

[It does bring to mind something else... Odile said she'd been worried about them and the others, right?]

You haven't found anyone else here, have you...? Nobody showed up with you.

[paperceptive]

No. I woke up alone in a field, that way.

[ Gesturing farther away from town. ]

There were others out there, but you're the first I've recognized. [ It's possible she wouldn't know the forms of the others - she mostly recognized Siffrin's hat at first - but Odile is still fairly confident they aren't here. She did look. Anyway, if they match those shadows, then she certainly hasn't seen them. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin... nods. That's kind of what they figured.]

[It feels like a lot more people showed up this time than ever before? ...but it's still only so many people. The vast majority of the Pokemon in the outpost and back in the Bay are still native to this world. And they've at least heard of everyone who got turned into a Pokemon, what with guild chatter... so if Odile didn't find anyone among the new people, then.]

[Then they're not here.]

[But they're alive. So it's okay. Siffrin has no right to be greedy now. Even if they were going to travel together for a while longer (!!) everyone has places to go home to...]

[Still... they thought it earlier, but they say it aloud now:] They must be worried...

[paperceptive]

I'm sure they are. Especially with you missing.

[ Will they be able to intuit that Odile is with them? She's not quite sure how; she's not sure how anyone could intuit any of this particular circumstance. But she hopes they'll know anyway. She'll keep an eye on them, as well as she can. ]

[loopsiedaisy]

[Siffrin opens their mouth, then closes it and ducks behind their hat. They meant about Odile, but... yeah, haha! What a great friend they are, not caring about what them vanishing would do to everyone!]

[Not that they were intending to vanish; they were barely thinking at all, really. But, at least a little bit, they think they were wishing to         ]

[. . .]

[And anyway, they should've known to be more careful about wishing! Even if, apparently, there's just - a lot past that they're not remembering...]

[...still not thinking about this yet.]

Y-yeah.

...do you, um, have anything else you want to know about Pokemon?

[paperceptive]

...maybe later.

[ Entirely unlike her! But she's watching as they duck behind their hat. ]

You gave us all quite a scare, you know. I've never seen Craft sickness that severe before. And now you're forgetting things...are you really feeling alright, Siffrin?

[loopsiedaisy]

[They have no idea about the Craft Sickness, but:] I'm fine!!

[Odile doesn't look like she's going to be satisfied with their reassurances right now - at least not that one. Siffrin hesitates, thinking about 'Just tell us one thing...']

[In a much smaller voice, they add:] Um. I'm feeling better than I was. Really. I was worried about you too...

[That's fine to say, right...? Maybe they shouldn't be allowed to say the last thing, considering they were the reason (or were they?) And "worried" isn't exactly the right word...]

[But despite the Thing they are putting off dealing with looming over them, and despite already burying themself under layers of things they're not telling Odile, they really do feel so much better now. Compared to even just an hour ago.]

[paperceptive]

Don't worry. We're all just fine.

[ Odile regards them for a moment. She's...finding herself reluctant to bring up the time loops. She's also getting increasingly frustrated with herself over that fact! She's being ridiculous! ]

Siffrin, may I ask you something that may sound strange?

[loopsiedaisy]

[The expression on Odile's face is making them nervous. (Well. What doesn't make them nervous.)]

[But is there anything they can actually say here except:] Yes...?

[paperceptive]

[ Trying very hard to be gentle: ]

How many times do you remember going through the House in Dormont?