bopbay | 007 ⟡ JANUARY TEST DRIVE

⋆✩ test drive 07 ✩⋆

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

SNOW MAN'S LAND

Where you felt the warmth of hope, there is now only a numbness - which grows colder and colder as you begin to wake. While a small few may find themselves graced with bodies appropriate to the environment, for most this field of ice and snow is the worst possible place to appear.

All is not lost for those without appropriate defenses, fortunately. A short trek through the deep and frigid snow leads one to any number of cave entrances. Some are as large as hangar doors (if of course, your world had vehicle hangars at all) - and others just small enough to squeeze into, but all of them offer at least a temporary respite from the biting chill of the wind. Once you can catch your breath and your body stops shivering long enough to observe the surroundings, it becomes clear that wherever you are is always like this. Cold. Covered in snow, with more snow still falling. Icy and foreboding, with even the trees reaching out with gnarled and bare branches which sheen with frost.

Can one even dare to hope for rescue in such a place as this? The caves at least provide shelter, but something dangerous seems to linger in the air within. One thing is certain, as stark and cold as the temperature:

Nothing here will leave you in peace.

ICE TO MEET YOU⟡ With the Arrivals finding themselves in the far reaches of Icefall Lake, it may be no surprise that initial rescue efforts won’t begin as such - in fact, the first teams to go out into the snow will be investigating the potential for more avalanches, due to requests from local Pokemon! They will quickly send word back to Skull Town that rescues are required.

⟡ While the region may seem entirely inhospitable, many of the wild Pokemon of Icefall will in fact take mercy on the new arrivals if they find them; either offering space in dens formed of heavy packed snow (which are surprisingly warm inside), or even guiding them to cave tunnels themselves. Of course, some of these Pokemon may demand a fight regardless, so watch out!

⟡ The caves may not carry the same environmental hazards as the outdoors, but they do have their own: this is the inside of a hollowed-out mountain, and it's very unstable and prone to cave-ins. Characters will constantly hear the sounds of falling or shifting rock, as well as their own voices echoing back - sometimes after a significant delay or from an unexpected direction. And those who stay inside longer will start hearing voices of people who aren't present at all.

ii. COLD PAWS

WARM HEARTS

The cold does not abate once you finally receive rescue.

But it does improve a little. As Pokemon - creatures of all manner of shape and size - bring the newcomers out from the region they call ‘Icefall Lake,’ the utterly inhospitable cold surrounding them dies down to a gentler, crisper sort of freeze. Where before the sky had been shrouded most constantly in clouds spewing sheets of snow or even hail, the skies above the small settlement up ahead are clear and sunny.

That settlement? Death Blood Murder Skull Town…. or just Skull Town for short.

“It was determined by popular vote,” explains one Lurantis, and despite the clear discomfort with the cold around them she seems to be an incredibly dedicated leader. Every newcomer - and rescuer for that matter - is immediately herded to their small clinic for a check-over to determine if injuries are present. From there, Pokemon are just as quickly shown the great communal living hall, where they’ll reside until it’s a little safer to journey to Bottlecap Bay itself. The hope, Lurantis will shyly explain if approached directly, is that by the time everyone gets there the Guild Leaders will have sorted out housing.

(They won’t.)

Even just wandering the village itself displays just how dedicated this bug-like plant appears to be to her job though. The roads are constantly being worked on; paths are being pounded into place and then salted to prevent ice, while helpful rails line the few streets that exist. Other Pokemon can be seen carefully clearing snow where it’s gathered too heavily, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to stick around and help out before following the convoy back to Bottlecap itself.

If you follow back at all of course. After all, it’s quite tranquil here! Like something out of a story book.

NEVER A SKULL MOMENT⟡ Newly-arrived and -transformed Pokemon, once rescued, will be taken back to Skull Town. Most will have to stay for at least a couple days before Lurantis puts together an escort through the forest - it's at least a day's journey back to the larger city of Bottlecap Bay, particularly through the snow. But existing characters may escort newbies back if they so chose!

⟡ Quarters in Skull Town are somewhat tight, with both housing and meals being communal - but the overall environment is friendly and tight-knit. Lurantis will happily accept help with town chores from anyone who the clinic has cleared, but won't insist on it, even in exchange for food and lodging. However, other NPC Pokemon may start growing resentful if it continues for a while. The town doesn't have as many resources to spare as the city, so everyone here needs to contribute!

⟡ As usual for new arrivals, Guild Leaders will be taking their time to decide on who fits best where. So once characters make it to Bottlecap Bay, housing can be found with any guild. Players are free to assume anyone from Oran, to Cheri, to even Lum opened their room to other Pokemon to be shared - or new characters are welcome to remain at Skull Town!

iii. KICKING AND DREAMING

SLEEP YOU OFF YOUR FEET

It’s shortly after the new arrivals have all been accounted for that the Grumpig Brothers make their announcement.

“We noticed our adopted outsiders get a lot of use out of our Pearls,” claims the more outspoken of the two, “And we’ve received a lot of new feedback as a result! So after working with some other Psychic Pokemon, we think we’ve found a way to refine them!”

Pokemon may have noticed a Hypno hanging around the workshop quite a bit, among others, and that certainly explains it. But what do they mean by…better? Grimpig and Glumpig are talking about ideas such as blocking certain mental frequencies, or even alarm transmissions so you won’t miss a call in your sleep!

Later, that last feature will stand out quite a lot.

The night starts normally. Those who intend to sleep, curl up in their nests or beds to do so. The pearls they own could be anywhere - under their pillow, in a drawer, in a sack. As long as they're somewhere nearby, it doesn't seem to matter.

Because that night, your dream isn’t necessarily…your dream. It’s not as if it doesn’t start that way; the dream is just as bizarre as any dream is. Perhaps you’re eating a giant marshmallow. Maybe you’ve gained the power to fly all around the world despite being a wee little Wurmple! Or maybe it’s even just something you remember from earlier in the day - dreams are the mind sifting through what it’s learned after all. But something shifts. Something changes, and suddenly you can feel that what you’re dreaming isn't your own.

Trouble is, you can’t just wake up.

GOOD NIGHT⟡ Due to the changes to the grumpearls, characters have been afflicted with a curse of dream-sharing! Created accidentally by an overload through the pearl communication network, Pokemon participating will find themselves drifting into others' dreams whenever they sleep.

⟡ While dreams can include things like memories, we encourage players to emphasize the dream focused nature of this event! Anything can happen in your dreams, for good or for ill. Maybe you’re at home, and you’re the only Pokemon there. Maybe you’re driving your cool old motorcycle around Bottlecap’s clouds, because who said bikes can’t fly in your dreams? Nothing has to make sense - just please make sure to respect other player’s opt-outs and preferences!

⟡ Characters can encounter each other in dreams, or they can find themselves taking the role of the dream's original recipient and simply interact with the dream itself.

⟡ Once a character is caught, even leaving their grumpearl behind will no longer help. However, players who wish to opt out may say that their character's grumpearl was nowhere near their bed on the first night, and that in the morning they were warned to avoid using it for now.

⟡ Shared dream sleep isn't restful, and as the month goes on, characters who are experiencing it at night will find themselves dozing off from exhaustion during the day more and more often. (Which only makes it worse!) In the most severe cases, some may even become trapped in an extended sleep!

⟡ When characters are not asleep, they'll find that the Grumpig brothers and the less-affected Psychic Pokemon are doing their absolute best to resolve the problem as soon as they can. Unfortunately, while the clinic can make sure that the most severely affected Pokemon are looked after in their beds, nobody can guarantee you won’t end up in someone else’s dream once you fall asleep again.

⟡ It’s not all bad though. Aside from many dreams being bafflingly zany at worst, victims will find themselves granted a pack of hot drink mixes once they wake up. Just a little token of apology while the Grumpigs iron out the remaining kinks. Especially after what happens on the 30th…

DREAM BLOODY MURDER

Amid all the dreams, it’s no surprise that not all of them are pleasant.

It happens to the best of us, doesn’t it? Some terrible mistake, some long buried trauma, rising back again in the form of something incomprehensible. Maybe that pitfall you almost avoided grew teeth and started eating the world around you. Maybe something you said while awake comes back to haunt your nightmares in the form of the absolute worst consequence. It’s something that shouldn’t happen. It’s something that would never happen - and maybe, just maybe, if other Pokemon couldn’t interrupt, it would be something you dread never waking from at all.

One nightmare stands out though.

One nightmare doesn’t seem relevant to anything you know. It’s a swirl of pressuring heat, and volcanic chaos. It’s rivers of violet and red melting into one, cascading impossibly upwards into waterfalls. Strange and alien beings fill the air, battling themselves as well as others - though what these creatures (Pokemon?) are?

You certainly can’t tell in the nightmare.

But what you do know is this: it is a nightmare, and it’s one that doesn’t belong to you. It’s one where your power has been unleashed in the worst way possible, and one where calamity has become unavoidable. Toxic fumes and eldritch cries surround you utterly, bathing you in their might, and when at last you can’t take it any longer...!

You wake up.

DON'T LET THE BLIPBUGS BITE⟡ It is up to players if they experience the final nightmare, but the majority of Pokemon in Bottlecap Bay seem to have experienced it at the very end of the grumpearl backlash. On the bright side, the intensity of this dream seems to have pointed the Grumpig brothers to the source of the problem. They’re quick to quarantine some faulty pearls and make adjustments to all the others.

⟡ Pokemon who were affected by the dream-share will be asked to visit the clinic, where local Musharna and Hypno will be aiding Dr. Denne in making absolutely sure there are no more lingering side effects! Optionally, this can cure anyone still affected by last year’s nightmares… but that part they can't guarantee.

⟡ And what was that final nightmare anyway? When pressed, none of the Guild Leaders seem to know for certain - however, Polteageist is certain that a Pokemon who left to live beyond the Spire may be able to help. They will be quick to assure others that it’s nothing they need to worry about, as they have a team in mind to do some investigating. For now there is plenty of other work to be done right here, within Bottlecap’s already-explored regions!

⟡ For some who experienced the final nightmare, they may find themselves feeling unusually energetic, or even aggressive. Alternatively, some Pokemon will turn up at the clinic bearing symptoms of poisoning.

✩ OOC NOTES.

⟡ TDM CWs: Body horror/Dysmorphia, Freezing conditions, Canon-typical Pokemon violence, Unreality (within dreams), Mental influences, Apocalyptic imagery

⟡ 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.

⟡ Arrivals should all be gathered to Skull Town by January 15th ICly - though, naturally, players may tag the TDM at any time they like. The dream-share event will begin ICly on January 20th, ending after the last nightmare on the 30th.

⟡ 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

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[ A low growl follows Siffrin's response. Cautiously, the wolf steps forward before beginning to circle where they sit. Though he appears fully grown, he's the size of a fox at best, small antlers poking through the top of his head. His eyes narrow at them, as if to put their fraying edges into focus. ]

Keep talking in riddles, and I'll rip your throat out before he has a chance to.

[ His way of being helpful. In truth, their sickly-sweet scent is enough to keep him at bay. What sort of creature is this anyway? ]

Still time for you to run and hide.

[Do they recognize this voice...? It sounds kind of familiar, but... this is definitely a Pokemon. Clearly. And it's not one they know.]

[...]

[Siffrin drops backward again to stare at the sky. If they were awake, they'd never say this. If they were thinking consciously enough to realize they were sharing someone else's dream, they wouldn't either. But dreams don't feel entirely real even when you're not fully aware you're in one, and sometimes you say and do things that you'd never do awake -]

Go ahead. I'll be back here anyway!

[That's what burnt sugar means. If they ever thought the Universe was done with them -]

[ Frustrating. He should just take a nip and be on his way, sugary scent be damned. Surely they can't taste that bad, even if the supposed lack of fear is doing them no favors in that department either. A wolf just can't win. ]

Be back? [ He stops in his tracks. Curiosity gets the better of him. ] Just how would you know that?

[ His face hovers over theirs now, yellow eyes peering down. Against his better judgement, he can't help but lick his chops over the prospect of an infinite meal. ]

Because it's happened before!

[Not here, yet, but they don't say that. They're sure anyway.]

[Oh. He looks like he's practically ready to start drooling over them. One of their arms spasms slightly, as though they were about to lift their hand to push Bigby's head further away, then gave up on it before they actually followed through.]

[Instead they can't help a short, morbid laugh. Getting eaten alive will be a new one, they suppose! At least the first couple times! But maybe it's only fair - they sure dreamed of eating their friends whole plenty, and they've been eating other Pokemon, haven't they? Haha!]

You won't remember, though. So I guess we'll be having this conversation a lot!

[ The slight movement is enough to catch his attention. He presses a paw against their shoulder, claws slowly sinking deeper, as if to test just how much flesh and blood they really have. At least at this size, there's not much harm he can do with only that. ]

And how many times have we had this conversation? [ His face lowers closer, both eyes locking onto their one good one. ] Enough not to be afraid?

[ Specks of drool finally drip down from the corners of his mouth. ]

If you remember, then remind me: what comes next?

[No matter how often you've died and how numb you've grown to it, there's still a primal, instinctual fear response to having sharp fangs so close to your throat. A human being is just another animal, after all! Siffrin's heartbeat is speeding up; perhaps it's doing the same thing outside of the dream, too. Their muscles twitch involuntarily with adrenaline. But they stay limp anyway. If it's possible to smell of resignation and dread, more than fear...]

[Well. They mostly stay limp. They do screw up their face as Bigby's drool drips down on it, and lift the arm the wolf isn't pinning to wipe it off. They don't bother to bring their arm back down, leaving it splayed above their head.]

Do you really think I still keep count? [It'll be true soon enough.]

[Bigby's got Siffrin on the rest, though; they can't answer. They could make something up: they could just say he rips them open, or tell him it depends on what they say next. But why bother? They can always try again next loop, if they want to. So they just shrug up at him.]

[However unsettled Siffrin's mental image is, they do seem to be flesh and blood, or at least a reasonable dream fascimile. That lasts until Bigby's claws actually break skin - Siffrin expects to be made of (time, rotten) and stardust, so that's what the dream supplies. Their blood smells overpoweringly of burnt sugar with barely a trace of iron, and it's dark enough to be nearly pitch black. It glitters.]

[...]

Aren't you worried about running and hiding? [Who or whatever he was threatening them with, sort of... wouldn't it be after him too? He's not exactly big.]

[ Like keeping count of all the meals he's eaten. ]

Worthless. I know.

[ Every heartbeat reverberates. The world trembles in unison. His lips pull back, further than they should, baring teeth upon teeth. What glittery blood you have, Siffrin. It's practically revolting to the senses, but his mind is elsewhere now. If fear has a sister, then dread it must be. That's more than enough for him to have his fill. ]

Don’t worry about me.

[ His form starts to fray, first like static, then like ooze. Pieces of him his drip down as he salivates. Mouths begin to rip open across his body, hungry and ready. ]

I’ll be quick.

[ But not quick enough. Shining stars fall around them, shaping into arrows as they pierce into the ground. When they don’t hit their target, they shatter, like dust in the wind, only to repeat. The concrete starts to crack. The ground begins to sink.

In that moment, the wolf snaps back into the small creature he was before. He jumps from Siffrin but only makes it so far. He’s struck, again and again, before collapsing under his own weight. Blood begins to pool under him, dark and endless, slowly seeping its way toward Siffrin until its all that surrounds them. There’s no glittery shimmer, only a slick sheen like oil.

A glutton caught by his own appetite. So the story goes. He heaves a deep breath as he pushes himself back onto his feet. Black blood continues to pour. ]

Death with no purpose. Life with no end. Its own form of torture, isn’t it?

[ The hunter will be here soon enough. ]

[That's not something they've seen before. That close up, it does actually get Siffrin to go stiff, eyes wide. Actual fear, not just dread of something else. Which probably only whets the wolf's appetite further -]

[- but it doesn't matter anyway.]

[Siffrin lets out an involuntary gasp as the wolf springs off them, then rolls onto their elbows. Stars fall and shatter around them, some dangerously close, but none ever actually spearing them through. (Yet.) They struggle to catch their breath.]

[Between the dust and gleaming lights, it takes Siffrin long enough to regain their bearings that they don't see when the wolf is first hit. Only when he collapses.]

[They watch the blood seep toward them, oozing over their fingers.]

[Feels like they should be gloating. The urge isn't not there. But with the star-arrows, and the Pokemon(?) being able to talk to them even though they're in human shape, it also feels something like a fairytale. A play. "Take your own advice;" a lesson the greedy hound is going to get to learn over and over, and never have stick...]

[The Universe led them both here, to have it happen. That feels kind of cruel, doesn't it?]

...yeah. Sorry. [They're not in the habit of saying 'sorry,' but... it's only a matter of time before the wolf becomes nothing but an actor to them. Might as well say it while they feel anything.] You really won't remember.

[It doesn't occur to them that the wolf might not be talking about just himself, or about himself at all.]

007 ⟡ JANUARY TEST DRIVE

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