test drive meme

[chims]

the test drive meme

It's a new day in The World, and a special quest is abound. But wait, the players cry! The game isn't open yet! Shush you, the GMs warned. This is only a test drive meme. The game is simple. You've woken up in a lush field of grass, soft to the touch and a little damp with dew. Spring has reached The World, and there's a randomized checklist in your hand. Your goal is to catch five of the Lucky Animals bounding about, and it's perfectly fine to work together. In fact, we encourage it! Collect them all and deposit them in a pen where the GMs await. There's plenty for everyone, but they will be watching closely for cheaters. Any items won in this pre-game minigame will carry over once holyrelic opens, so get your limited edition item set today! Magnificent prizes await you, so go forth! Just beware; some of the Lucky Animals aren't really so lucky and have their own side effects. (All participants who apply will receive a mochi hat of the player's choosing. They can be either small (think mini tophats) or large (like a harvest cleric's hat) and any of the three colors, with any variety of accessories. All participants who finish the quest will earn a spring-themed beginner item set! It will include one weapon and a bonus item set with five restoratives, five randomized buff spells, and five randomized food items.)

Comments

[greaterspeed]

[Sonic gives Yuuta a thumbs up before taking the Ganesha off Yuuta's hands]

All right! If you ever need a hand with something, feel free to give me a shout.

[isolates]

Yeah, I'll do that.

Oh! By the way, we should exchange member addresses.

[leggierissimo]

[... really now. Hm. That wasn't quite expected.]

If you say so, partner.

[This day is just turning out more and more interesting.]

[leggierissimo]

I saw something. Maybe that's what we're supposed to catch?

[He brings one hand to his mouth, contemplative.]

Awfully fast little things, aren't they?

[iseedollpeople]

They stop sometimes.

[Without further comment, she starts moving in the direction the new Animal was going.]

[leggierissimo]

[... hm. Well. If she's going... he might as well follow along. It wouldn't hurt to try to win whatever this is, after all. So, don't mind as he follows behind you.]

I don't think I caught your name.

[greaterspeed]

... Member addresses?

[iseedollpeople]

[She pauses and looks over her shoulder when he speaks up; doesn't reply until after she's gotten going again. Got to keep her eye peeled, after all.]

Misaki Mei.

[leggierissimo]

[Oh, don't worry. He's keeping his eye out, too. Two sets of eyes are better than one!]

Joshua. Nice to meet you, Mei-chan.

[iseedollpeople]

[One and a half sets bro check your sight privilege.

There's a pause where a pleasantry would normally be before she answers.]

How many have you found?

[leggierissimo]

[Figure of speech, dear. Figure of speech~

But, hm. This one isn't too talkative. Fairly serious, too.]

Oh, I haven't found any yet.

[iseedollpeople]

[So you think.

She still isn't moving terribly fast -- turning her head this way and that to peer into tufts of grass, but not exactly rummaging around. Those Animals are awfully small...]

I think the other one was scaring them off.

[Meaning she hasn't found any either.]

[leggierissimo]

[Well. She seems to be doing such a great job at this. He'll just leave her to do anything more than just scanning the area~]

The goat one? It wouldn't surprise me.

[iseedollpeople]

A goat isn't a predator, so why...

[It's half to herself and all rhetorical; it's not like any of the animals here are entirely recognizable. In fact, they look more like caricatures than anything--

She slows down even more, now that they've made an entire circuit of the meadow.]

You don't know these animals, Joshua-kun?

[deniability]

Oh? I can wait.

[greatcleavage]

Those too. Zombie, ghouls, ghasts... My enemy is a lich, with an evil cleric working for him. [His knuckles tighten on the hilt of his sword.]

[isolates]

So we can contact each other on these things. [He pulls out his relic and waves it a bit for emphasis.]

[inhearts]

[ That definitely catches her attention. Minako approaches, slowly, hoping she doesn't scare any of them away.

Does she? ]

[inhearts]

We're probably not talking about the same Shadows! I don't think she's a lich. [ Beat. ] Or a cleric.

[solveforn]

[They scurry for a bit, but are in the immediate area. N looks up at the "intruder", mostly with an evaluating look. The animals don't seem upset or frightened, just eager to play.]

They seem excited.

[leggierissimo]

Maybe some of them are just more aggressive than others.

[A little shrug, and Joshua flips one of the tassels of his hat back over his shoulder. At least the meadow isn't too large... otherwise they might be here all day.]

They look familiar, but different at the same time. I can't say I've seen these specifically.

[leggierissimo]

Oh, no need. I'm oriented enough.

[He waves one hand dismissively, standing up from his position on the ground.]

I take it you haven't caught any yet?

[deniability]

Not a single one. I do hope they aren't expecting us to be this active all the time...

[iseedollpeople]

Hmm.

[It's a dissatisfied-sounding murmur, but she doesn't bother to argue. Instead, she stops and crouches, as though being closer to the ground will reveal the tiny Animals.]

They're fake versions of real animals. Like cartoons. Have you touched one?

[inhearts]

[ She stops, a respectful distance away. Despite some of them being on her list, Minako makes no move to catch them. ]

They look like they take to you.