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TEST DRIVE ∞ May 2025
Test Drive ∞ May 2025
The First Collision
The Diadem is an invite-only panfandom game set in a retro-futuristic world where uprooted souls find themselves deep within an eerie wasteland of roads and highways frequently assailed by cosmic storms. Three united strongholds keep the population. Its capital is Panorama, a large metropolis at the planet's center.
Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.
But first, you need to find a ride.
Soon, you realize you aren't alone. Calling themselves fluxdrifts, the "locals" have similar stories to you, either for themselves or their ancestry. You speak to an old woman who claims she hailed from another star. You meet a young man who says his great-great-grandfather knew a strange language everybody spoke "back home." As you explore, you stumble across a coin you recognize or your sister's locket. How did it get here? What does this mean? That's for you to discover.
But first, you need to find a ride.
No invites needed to play on the TDM. Everyone's welcome! Use the Invite Request thread below to request an invite from another player.
∞ Summary ∞
IC-wise, arrivals are scattered throughout the month. Events described on the TDM are also ongoing throughout the month. If you'd rather jump right into the action, you're free to begin in media res with your character having already been on the planet for several days.
Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.
Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:
TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.
Post-impact, characters will wake up in a med tent by the Scrapyard. From there, they must accept a vehicle on loan and make the 2-hour drive to the nearest city, Panorama. If they refuse the car because they don't want the loan, they'll be in debt for medical bills instead...so just take the car. It'll come in handy.
Some things to keep in mind when bringing in your character:
- Pick an injury. At minimum, they got knocked out; at most, whatever they can recover from. Medicine is decently advanced so they'll heal faster if not painlessly.
- Decide items kept. Reasonable items on their person only: photos, keys, clothes, costumes. No pets or animal companions. Wildly out-of-place tech and personal cell phones will be damaged beyond repair.
- Select a weapon. Do this only if eligible. Guidelines about weapons and powers are on the FAQ.
- Choose a vehicle. Decide whether your character gets 2-3 options or if they're stuck with something they hate. Players can pick directly from our collection or source their own images. Anything under a similar aesthetic will work. If your character needs accommodations for driving, they can have them. Ask us for details.
- Get a phone. Characters have to obtain a phone (and a SIM card) themselves. If they've got one from home, it's damaged beyond repair. Phones are cheap. It'll only take a couple of weeks to afford one. You need to know the number before you text or call anyone. Read about phones and the Forum before you hop on it.
TDM threads can be canon if characters are accepted. Top-levels made to the TDM should be open to all.
Fluxdrift
Arrival & Introduction
Date: Throughout May
You've tumbled over a cliff. You were fighting for your life. You're on the cusp of death. You slipped in the shower. Whatever the catalyst, you struggle to cling to consciousness. As darkness overtakes you, a swirling vortex warps light and shadow in a way that defies all physics. A dark wail etches into your very bones. You couldn't describe it if you tried. You can barely comprehend what it is.
Then you open your eyes.
Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.
You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.
Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.
You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.
Through the figure's mask ©, you swear the face is grinning down at you. The tent you're in smells of antiseptic, and scratchy blankets line your cot. Injuries you've sustained have been bandaged. In the corner, you spot a MedBot that's fixed you up. Depending on the extent of your injuries, the doctor on duty might give you some painkillers before you go. Thankfully, your belongings are by the exit. Sorry if anything's damaged. Your landing was pretty rough.
You follow the figure outside. They are Yom Crook, here to lend a hand to fellow fluxdrifts like yourself. Their car's parked beside them. Actually, there are lots of cars around, but Yom Crook's stands out with its painted shark mouth. They explain they found you, unconscious, in a diffusion zone and brought you here. The nearest city is a 2-hour drive northeast. Forget about walking. You'll never make it. Also, you owe the doctor a lot of money for patching you up. But you're in luck: they've got some wheels for you and if you accept the vehicle on loan, Yom Crook will cover your medical bills. That's a good deal, right? It's not the shiniest car or motorcycle, but it'll do. If fortune favors, you'll get to choose between two or three options. Plus, if you need accommodations to drive—like adjustments to your seat height or modified controls—you'll receive all that for free.
Take the vehicle. (And the loan.) Yom Crook assures you that you'll have six months before collectors come around. Any time you're ready to pay a part of it down, return here to the Scrapyard. You'll get a receipt and everything. Paying off the loan in six months isn't impossible, but it will take a lot of work. Just don't get too lax. There's a good chance you'll be juggling multiple loans as you try to get by.
You either know how to drive, or you'll have a bare-bones manual to get you started. Road rules are more a suggestion than enforced, so just hit the pedal and go. The car has some basic features. The built-in compass will help you navigate.
OPTIONAL PROMPTS: a flat tire; a body on the road (is it a trap?); a fender bender
Panorama
Explore & Settle In
Conditions: Warm spring temperatures, light showers
After 2 hours on the road, you find civilization. The largest of the strongholds, Panorama is where the economy thrives. Massive power plants glowing red make it visible from a distance. The city is divided into three districts. For now, you can access the Pavilion and the Blocks. Don't worry about the Sanctum; they're not letting you in.
You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.
You only need to know two things about Panorama: 1) it's big, the size of a modern metropolis, and you'll need your car to get around; 2) anything goes as long as you don't pick a fight with the wrong person. Street smarts will get you far. Despite its geographical size, the population isn't huge. With roughly a million people in a city designed for over twice that number, Panorama is far from deserted, but nor is it overcrowded. It's a good thing. Resources are limited as it is.
The Pavilion: Free Samples
Like any large city, Panorama features a couple of supermarkets. The stock's not as consistent as a proper supermarket. On occasion, shelves can remain cleaned out for a week or two. Regardless, the long tradition of free samples remains. If you're not already shopping, you'll notice the crowded parking lot and clusters of lines inside.
Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.
As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.
Try samples, push through the crowds as you shop, or give yourself a five-finger discount. If you're cautious, you can pocket a few small items without consequences. The Pavillion doesn't have the infrastructure for surveillance; unless someone sees you, you won't be caught. Steal from the store or pilfer someone's wallet. Maybe you even make a new friend if you bump into another fluxdrift. Or, start a fight with somebody who cut you off in the cheese line. Don't make too much of a ruckus, or you'll be thrown out.
As you look around, you'll see posters advertising temporary positions for the cash register or graveyard shifts in the warehouse. Seems they might've lost several employees recently (how'd that happen?), which is good for you! It's just a 6-week position, but it'll get you on your feet. The city has temporary positions like this all over. Permanent ones are harder to come by when you're new.
Samples include: steamed cabbage dumplings, synthetic cherry juice, cheddar cheese, and chocolate-covered alien eggs (it's crunchy and weirdly tasty). They're served in the usual throwaway paper cups with little toothpicks.
The Blocks: Power Outage
Power's finicky in Panorama, especially in the Blocks. Saint Margery's Hospital, located in the same area, has priority for power so the first to go are the motels. Maybe you've been in your room for a couple of weeks, maybe you just got here—and by the way, every motel desk is happy to put the fee on your tab if you don't have the money upfront—but all the motels on the east side are in a blackout, leaving only the west side motels up and running.
What do you do? You have three choices:
What do you do? You have three choices:
- Risk leaving your room and head to the other side where there's power. Knock on some doors and negotiate with another to share the room. They might shut the door in your face, ask for a favor in return, or be nice enough to help you with no strings attached. There's no guarantee your unattended room will be untouched, though, and you'll be on the hook for any damages an intruder causes.
- Sit in the dark and deal. It's not the worst idea, but the TV's down, the vending machines are powered down, and with the entire place plunged into darkness, you risk getting robbed. If you struggle with defending yourself, you might want to find some trustworthy company. You can also sneak out of there and let them take your leftover pizza. It's not like you've got a ton of valuables, right? Plus, clobbering someone in the face with a frying pan sounds great until you realize you've gotta do something with the body. And what if this person's got a friend waiting?
- Get in your car and drive (or grab a friend for a road trip). If you scroll the Forum, you might notice reports on diffusion zones southward. Besides, these motels are hardly your forever home. The city can only provide so much. Why not go for a ride and see what you can find out there?
OPTIONAL PROMPTS: clean up on aisle 3 (what is that goo?); a knock at your door but no one's there; you hear screaming or a commotion down the hall
The Fringes
Quad 3: Lockdown
Conditions: Stormy, with flooding roads
Felix Bjurstrom
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57
> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.
> Date: 125-05-17
> Time: 02:15:57
> Emergency road lights have been reported in Quadrant 3! Please, can someone go see what's there? When last we chasers investigated emergency lights, a whole truck filled with sour candy had tipped over. Our stores were stocked for weeks! Oh, be careful - reception looks bad in that zone.
Through the open windows, a computer awakens and displays a cheerful smile. The lights inside switch on.
Pick your scenario role below. Your thread partner doesn't need to take the opposite role! They can join you in the same scenario (i.e. trapped together). Players are also free to create a generic NPC for the other side to facilitate the thread.
After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.
After characters escape, they'll find one bottle of antibiotics in their pocket or car, whether they remember taking it or not.
A: Sealed In
As you peer through the windows, you see crates of medicine floating around. Antibiotics in the diadem are valuable. Hospitals and doctors are always buying. You can keep it for yourself or make a quick buck. Or maybe you're compelled to help somebody back in the city who's in need. Whatever the reason, you decide to take the risk and step inside.
Water splashes around your ankles. The lock buzzes behind you. If you try to break the windows, you discover they're unnaturally resistant to shattering. With the whole place locked tight, the water begins to churn. Then the computer lights up again.
Warning, it flashes in large, bold text. Quarantine in progress. Release code required for exit.
- To find the code, you'll have to search. Duck under the water, go through sopping envelopes and sticky notes or pick the locks on the filing cabinets and desk drawers. You can also try hacking the computers. Use your computer knowledge or fall back on the age-old trick of seeing who wrote down their password.
- The files, notepads, and emails start innocuous, but as you look through them, disturbing phrases jump out at you—a dark thought you've had or a cruel taunt from someone in your past. The longer you're fixed on the terrible words, the higher the water begins to rise. Only another can break you out of your trance.
- With the rising water comes fear. And the more you're afraid, the more the water also rises. You begin to see faces in the water, bobbing like balloon heads. Do you recognize them? If you move to take a closer look, they will sink back beneath the surface as if never there.
- If you manage to swallow your panic, you can eventually find a triple-laminated binder with the release code and instructions. Bad news: you need someone on the outside to punch in the 6 strange symbols in order. The instructions explain that the code panel is located at the back of the building.
B: Set Free
As you peer through the windows, you see not just the crates of medicine but someone trapped inside. They look like they might be in trouble, and from your vantage point, you notice that the water is bubbling strangely. It's definitely not normal rainwater. As you watch, the water rises unnaturally, stopping and starting. It's as if the water level is responding to an external stimulus.
- The glass is soundproof. You can't hear what the person inside is saying, so you'll have to communicate with each other another way. Try charades, typing on your phone, or whatever you think of. Eventually, you determine that they're stuck and that you need to enter some sort of code onto a pad located—according to your trapped partner—at the back of the building.
- Around the back, shadows swallow your surroundings. The panel must be pried open, but a slippery substance makes it hard to get a good grip. Each time the substance touches you, you grow uneasy. You swear you see eyes watching you, though when you turn around, nothing's there.
- You can't seem to keep the instructions in your mind. And those symbols...they burn into your retinas. Through them, you glimpse an incomprehensibly massive figure unfurling in the darkness, pulsing as if in a deep sleep. When you snap back to reality, you realize you've injured yourself, slicing your hand on a sharp edge or a bruise you can't remember getting.
- Once you manage to release the doors, the water inside the office drains upward into the sky as though sucked out by a giant hose. The darkness spreads. Get out of there fast before the shadows drag you or your partner into the void.
Main Navigation ::: ⇅
Top
cards.
She'll spread them out in a flicker, whisk them away, pull one out, reshuffle. Whatever seems to be fun for her and whomever else might be there.
Anyone coming to inspect, though, will get a grin and another flick of her hand, with another card appearing. ]
Want to know your fortune? If you're not a card person, I can look at the stars for you, too.
[ If they're even visible... And if they're not her home's stars, then how exactly is she going to be able to divine anything from them? She winks. ]
Though, I think I can guess what it's going to be. [ Another flick. ] Something about 'new beginnings' and 'strange fortunes'. But I don't need any cards to figure that out.
[ What's stranger than arriving in a place like this, after all? ]
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One shoulder lifts in a lazy shrug. ]
I’ve no need for the services of a fortune-teller.
[ He’s lived far too long to care overmuch about his future. The fact that he now has a future in this godsforsaken place is something he’s still trying to deal with. ]
That, though– [ he mimics her hand motion. ] A bit of magic?
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Yeah, I get that a lot.
[ They're not really for telling fortunes. She could, of course; she could connect to her astromancy and go off of what she feels, but they're more for battle. Using them like this is just fun for the kids and people looking for a bit of hope in the dark.
She closes both up, letting them go, then summons another. She turns the card between her fingers, letting him see. ]
Just the same, mon ami. They're a little trick of mine to help me fight.
[ This card gets tossed, and it lodges sharply into the wedge between the window and its frame. She smiles. ]
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He watches her summon the cards and just as quickly dismiss them. The card that is thrown, lodging into the window with a sharp sound, gets a raised eyebrow out of him. ]
Well now. That is handy. Have you aught else up your sleeves?
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I used to have a scythe up my sleeve too, but that seems to have escaped me.
[ How, she has no idea. It's a pretty large piece of equipment she can summon at will, but it seems to have popped out of her grasp and fallen away somewhere. A shame, too; she really liked it. And sure, she could get another pretty easily, so she's not too fussed... But she really liked that one. ]
But listen to you, being a busybody.
[ She smiles casually, completely at ease. Her eyes tell a different story: a kind of assessing scrutinizing like a predatory might, calm but watchful. She's an expeditioner, after all, and it's her job to look for openings. ]
You know about magic. [ Duh. ] You've got chroma where you're from?
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[ Such as entire weapons going missing. He has yet to try summoning his own, though he hardly has a need for them, so he isn’t too pressed about it.
He catches that look in her eyes, and thinks to himself that for as personable as she is, she’s actually quite sharp. Those cards of hers are not just for show. ]
Aye, we’ve magic aplenty. I can’t say that I am familiar with the term “chroma,” however.
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I'm just describing the premise of the game, I promise no spoilers lmao
all good!
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lord i really fubar'd my brackets lmao
it's all gucci, I've done SO MUCH WORSE on this tdm already
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feel free to let this go or we can do a new thing!
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He glances down absently and spots the motion of the card as the woman shows it to someone nearby. The conversation also intrigues him so that he moves away from the railing and descends down the stairs with audible footsteps in that slow approach. Sunday intends to merely listen in as an observer but when the other bystander shakes their head and walks away - well. He might as well approach. ]
The cards seem rather apt with such a statement, [ he says while inclining his head slightly in greeting, though he does rather mean that, since - ] I was in search of a new start before arriving, though I had not predicted this in particular.
[ Had any of them? Doubtful. But now he does finally glance skyward before looking to her again with a gesture to the cards. ]
Do the cards and stars tell you the same things?
[ Genuine curiosity - they're different methods, so perhaps the results differ. ]
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It looks like a new beginning found you, huh?
[ She can't say it's quite the same for her, but that would be wallowing in feelings, and she'd rather just stay in the moment. Her fingers aren't twitchy but almost need the stimulation, as she rises just to sit on the railing of the fire escape instead of cross-legged on the floor.
With a hum, Sciel looks up, peering at the stars from beneath the lines of metal grated steps. ]
I don't think these are my stars, honestly. Not that it'd be much of a problem, but it feels a little weird to just ask them for help without talking to them, you know?
[ It's...impossible to tell if she's joking or if she's being serious. ]
But the uncertainty is rife all around; that much is unavoidable. [ Another flick of the wrist and she summons a card, her eyes still on the sky.
The card turns over in her fingers, looking like a deep, blue star. ] A lot of questioning and curiosity. Feeling lost. I think that's par for the course, right?
forgot to say earlier, i'm good with spoilers through mid act 2 if they come up!
What she says next has him turning a curious gaze back to her. There's a faint pause where he's clearly evaluating what she says regarding asking for help from the stars - and the rest which gets rather close to his own thoughts as the card appears and reveals itself. ]
I suppose you're right, about both what the stars might prefer and the uncertainty of everything.
[ Even if it was meant to be a general statement more than a reading, Sunday cannot deny that questioning has played a large part in the last few days. Beyond arriving here without anyone else he'd traveled with, too; had it not been for qualms leading into cynicism perhaps he would not be here as life would have gone another direction. But here he is, and Sunday lets his clasped hands rest on the railing while studying the card she's brought forth. ]
At home, when others turn to the stars for aid they usually mean by communicating for someone to come from another star system or reaching out to travelers between them. I must confess I am less familiar with other methods despite spending plenty of nights observing the stars where I grew up. They were a constant but less so assistance as is.
[ Though he's curious what else hers might offer, if she'd meant it about asking. ]
you got it!
But such a thing feels so far away, even silly to think about, in the face of what she's seen.
It doesn't stop her from grinning, though, or looking up at the sky. ]
That sounds amazing, honestly. I'm a little envious we don't have such a thing.
[ Sciel hums a moment, considering, and then she hops up to her feet. Stepping around him, she gestures with a hand. ]
Come on, let's head up. We'll see the stars better from the roof, after all. Might be a good chance to see what we're dealing with and maybe it'll help me discern what's what.
[ Good for navigational awareness, too. Or maybe she's just bullshitting him. Who knows! ]
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[ The IPC is ever expanding, after all, even if that was once to his former chagrin. But what happens to Penacony is no longer his concern from an administrative standpoint given he ended that rather... finally, and perhaps other worlds would feel differently about the opportunity.
Something neither here nor there since as she stands with the suggestion to get a better view of the stars, he nods and then gestures with a hand back in the direction the stairs he'd descended. ]
I believe there is a passage to the roof at the end of the upper hallway, if the signs are to be believed. Based on the buildings around us not being terribly tall, it seems there should be an unimpeded view of the sky.
[ One more gesture with the intent for her to go first and Sunday will follow as they head up the stairs unless she insists he leads the way. And in the spirit of this venture, and because she's shared a bit herself, it's only fair he does the same. ]
When we were younger and when she couldn't sleep, my sister used to plead for us to go outside to look at the stars if she wasn't already pulling me towards them. Even as I got older and she left on her own journey, I still found it a comfort.
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so sorry for the delay!!
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[ While Fern had thought that the lack of light might lead to certain people trying to take advantage in this place that is clearly intended for those down on their luck, her patrol of the motel complex hasn't led to any such discoveries. Which is a relief, and she's considering returning to her room to wait out the morning light when she's stopped by a voice overhead.
She blinks, turning to eye the staircase that seems to lead to the top of the squat building. There sits a woman who seems to have also ventured out in the middle of the night for some fresh air.
Not that the air is very fresh here. In fact, it's far more polluted than even the desecrated land of Barovia, just in a different way.
Fern considers the stranger's words, one thick brow raising. This isn't at all what she expected out here — an offer to have her fortune told. ]
You're a seer, then?
[ Like the Vistani? ]
all good!
[ Girl, you literally have voice lines in battle like "I saw your future".
Sciel flicks through the cards in her hands that appear...seemingly at random, flicking through blacks and golds with an occasional tint of blue as she goes. Her hands are barely moving, so it has to be some kind of parlor trick or something, but she gives the other woman a broad grin. ]
I'm just good at reading cards. [ And using them for buffs nbd ] And I understand the stars a bit. But I'll tell your fortune just the same if you want.
[ Another long flick of cards, like she's shuffling. ]
You get to decide if it means anything to you.
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Cryptic as the language may have been to them at first, those fortunes had guided them on their quest, leading them to allies like Kasimir and powerful items like the Sunsword.
She suspects what she's told by this stranger won't be quite on that level, but...
She is curious to get a better look and see what she's doing with those cards, so she starts to scale the fire escape. ]
Understand the stars, you said? Like drawing meaning from the constellations?
[ Once she's all the way up, she settles down a safe distance away, watching the cards with a steady stare. ]
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Yeah. It's...a thing I like to do. The stars whisper to me and I like to whisper back.
[ See? Certifiable weirdo.
It's more complicated than all of that, obviously. It's astromancy and it's sentimental, and it has more to do with comfort than anything else. To channel one's fortune from cards and from the stars into something tangible for combat. It's more like she's asking for guidance from both and twisting it to her own advantage. But outside of life-and-death? Cards are just fine for divination too. And sure, they don't always need to be accurate to the moment...
...but sometimes, the message comes back around. ]
You ever been on a ship? Sailors use the stars not just to divine where they are but they'll use hints to figure out what to do. Cloud cover can mean poor favor or a storm; red skies a sign of warning. To see the stars clearly is its own message.
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The question she's asked might seem a mundane one, and it is, but for Fern her main memory of being on a ship is not a pleasant one. Her expression twitches into one of unease for just a moment, brows slanting and mouth pressing into a line, before she shakes it off. ]
I do know that sailors can be quite superstitious. I've also heard of some who use their magical control over the sky and the elements to assist their sailing. Taking the weather into their own hands, rather than being at the mercy of the sky and the sea.
[ She's spent a good while traveling with a storm sorcerer, so she has some idea of how it works. She wonders what Alden would make of all this. While she found Adrian by the roadside, however, there's been no sign of their other companions. She can only hope something worse hasn't happened to them than ending up here.
No point in worrying about that right now. ]
Go ahead, then. [ Fern nods, spurring the woman on to perform her divination. And as was already said, she'll decide for herself if she wishes to take any meaning from it. ]
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Roaming about the nearby streets, she wondered if it would be easier to traverse the city if it had grapple points set-up, similar to the ones across Lumiere and the Continent. Travelling via roofs was one of the few things she enjoyed about the broken-off city, after all.
It's then when she notices the flicker of lights in the dim light of the moon, leading her to investigate its source. This pays off in spades when she sees the familiar face and hears the familiar tinkling voice of Sciel as she climbs up the ladder, and onto the fire escape.]
Is that something you're telling everyone?
[Her tone is light, doing little to hide her amusement. Maybe she'll bite too, but she can't help but tease in the meantime. She smiles at her friend and fellow expeditioner.]
Found out anything interesting yet?
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There you are. I'd been looking for you and the others.
[ Sorry, kiddo, you're getting a momentary little hug. It's more of a shoulder grab and a hip check, but her grip is fierce in its brevity. Sciel looks her over instinctively, assessing (as she does). ]
And no, not too interesting. They've got weird eggs at the local store that taste weirdly fantastic [ Sciel that's not what she meant ] but other than that? Not much.
[ As though this entire situation wouldn't be called 'interesting' if it was, you know, a planned visit. The level of industry here is staggering and the car rental had practically been expecting visitors like them, and if none of that screams 'planned' then she doesn't know what is.
But they can figure that out. They've gone through worse things so far. ]
When did you arrive?
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Long enough to know what eggs you're talking about.
[It had been a handful of days for her as she slowly started settling in. She looked well, though a tad worse for wear, but even then, it paled in comparison to their state after dealing with countless Nevrons.]
Been trying to familiarize myself with this place, while looking for you and the others. [Time better spent than trying to deal with other people who've found themselves here too, if you ask her.] Have you... Have you seen anyone else?
[There's apprehension there, her smile fading, expression a little unsure.]
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[ A full blown city, with enough lights and contraptions and people to put their dwindling Lumiere to shame. It's too many people, frankly, to the point that there's so much ambient noise. She'd call it overwhelming but, right now, it's still kind of exciting. There's so much life when all they've encountered for weeks has been death and destruction.
It feels so surreal to be among people again. It was beginning to feel like they were never going to experience any semblance of normalcy ever again. ]
I spent some time at the car depot before coming here. I was looking for all of you. I thought maybe Lune would leave a log or maybe a flag or something.
[ Sciel sees the change. How could she not? She turns somewhat, so she can lean on the railing and bring herself a bit more to Maelle's height (without being rude). She reaches out and gently takes her arm. ]
I've run into Verso while I was out getting food. [ No small surprise. But what she says after is quiet, gentle: ] ...And I saw Gustave.
spoiler warning!! and so sorry for the delay
I've run into him, too. [Maelle is conscious of Sciel's hand on her arm, warm and comforting, much like her presence when they had found a quiet spot to bury Gustave. While they had gone through so much more since then, Maelle hadn't fully processed her grief. Not yet.
And then to suddenly see him here, tangible, living, and breathing... It was a lot to take in, a lot to process. Her emotions were a mess of joy, confusion, and shock, feeling some far stronger than others. She can only imagine what Sciel was thinking, what she was going through with that revelation as well.
Letting out a breath, she shakes her head.] Wasn't sure he was quite real at first.
all good! (and spoilers all the way down just in case)
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sorry to dogpile but the cards prompt is so good
[ With resident hooligans appropriately dispatched and some peace re-established, G'raha does what any normal person would during a blackout--not sleep. No, he slept for over two centuries, he will spend as many nights up and exploring, thank you very much.
As such, it isn't long before he runs across a woman playing cards in a very particular fashion. It doesn't take a mage to recognize magic, but this exceptional type isn't one he's seen often outside Sharlayan (or so he believes it to be).
His eyes are wide with clear wonder as she summons a new card and G'raha finds himself smiling easily. ]
I happen to be a fan of cards and stars both.
[ He turns his gaze up towards the night sky. Other portions of the city are still well lit, making the light pollution on the horizon dull the edge of the night. What few ones he can see are far and few between--foreign. ]
Though I cannot rightfully say I recognize those that grace us this evening.
[ He glances at the woman. ]
And you...?
[ Does she recognize them? If so, that could certainly be a lead. ]
I love it, it's all good!
I've never seen these stars, no. So it's a little bit harder to discern much for the moment. Guess I have to take some time to get to know them, talk to them a little. I might be able to know a bit more then.
[ Sciel you can't just insinuate you talk to celestial bodies, you weirdo. ]
But you like cards too? Is that the gambling kind or...?
[ Listen, she's fine with gambling in this house. Just wanting clarity. ]
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Is she joking? Because talking to stars might not be as out there as he thinks. G'raha's lips quirk into an amuse smile as he tilts his head in the opposite direction. ]
Ah, time does foster familiarity. I would be most interested to hear if you get a response.
[ It could also mean there's some weird eldritch truth reaching back out to her, so...well. Interesting either way.
As for the cards... ]
There is a card game that is quite popular on my star, which is a bit of trading and gambling, I suppose. But what you have there--those are tarot cards, if I'm not mistaken?
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[ And she doesn't know about the overall idea that these aren't the same stars as her home. It's a little silly; there's no harm in talking to different stars, trying to divine fortunes and to navigate by their light. And yet, the idea of sharing her secrets with a new set of celestial bodies...
It's like having to start over with a new friend that's too similar and yet not the same.
She perks up at the words and manages a smile. ]
Yeah. Promise I'm not doing any gambling over here - though I wouldn't say no if there was somewhere to play. [ Sciel please ] Have you had your fate told somewhere before?
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'an astro who casts on themselves' I see that judgment, graha :T
he doesn't mean it like that sciel!!
also I don't know what I'm doing, idk if those cards are fully tarot /wobbly hands
they are definitely close enough! Sharlayan tarot is weird anyway (so G'raha is wrong)