restormania | TEST DRIVE #001 : FALLING INTO BONDS WITH YOU

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TEST DRIVE #001 : FALLING INTO BONDS WITH YOU

I. Greetings, Travelers.

You heard the voice, the song, the Call. You turned toward that voice and are falling, tripping through time and space, colors swirling all around you. You blinked.

You open your eyes to the great sprawling roots and unbending branches of the Tree of Harmony above you. You look around to find yourself in an open roof auditorium. And you are not alone. Others are there, waking up just as you are when figures step from around the tall stark columns circling the center of the room.

”Greetings Travelers. The Sentinels of Restoria welcome you to our Greenhouse of Unity. The Devourer comes for us all and we must bond our worlds to save them. We cannot save your worlds without your help.”

Your guide will lead you down a long staircase to another area of the Greenhouse’s compound: The Hall of Travelers. There you will be told what to expect of your time in Restoria, and then you will select a House: Stone or Cloud. Your House will provide benefits to you to help you in your new role, should you choose to accept it, including your choice of communication device and Housing.

If you need additional time to consider, you will be given leave to rest there in the Hall itself on one of the many comfortable cots provided for the night and simple meals will be provided. Maybe others will need time just as you do to think about the serious decision you would be undertaking. By the dawn, you must have your answer.

What will you do now, Traveler?

II. Getting Your Hands Dirty

Those who select House of Stone will be led by a member of the House to the Traveler Port leading directly to the center of the City of Stones for Orientation. There, Guides will take newcomers through the City, showing them important locations, such as the local groceries, restaurants, and entertainment. You may notice a lot of Stones’s entertainment involves outdoor activities or contact sport games. It is a city of physicality, but also camaraderie and group engagement. They may not talk a lot, but don’t be surprised if you are offered hugs and friendly arm holds wherever you go. Travelers are encouraged to greet each other similarly.

You will be shown your Housing, where basic supplies have been readied for you, and may be surprised to find that up to two items from home have also arrived with you and were already taken to your assigned room (unless they are too large to fit and you find a note instead of where they have been stored elsewhere). The Guides will give you time to greet any neighbors you have and take stock of what you might still need in your room, but before long they will be ushering you back out into the tunnels and through the canyon to the Sanctuary. It is a very busy day in the City of Stones with the Clay Exhibition taking place!

Entering through the Glimmering Gymnasium, you’ll be taken all the way to the other side to a wide set of stairs leading down a area depressed into the ground like a court that is used for outdoor games and other competitions has been filled with a thick layer of a deep red brown watery mush: The Gravel Pit, as it is affectionately called by the citizens of the City. The clay is a special mix just for this occasion. Coat your body in the clay, and you’ll find yourself wearing protective armor that moves just as smoothly as your typical clothing - but you can’t wear much underneath it. Too much clothing means it’s hard for the clay to set, so it's best to wear as little as possible.

And from there you’ll be encouraged to join in on the various exhibition matches: mud wrestling, mixed martial arts, gymnastics, and much more is open for any newcomer who would like to take part. What better way to start bonding with those around you?

III. Head in the Stars

Those who select House of Cloud will be led by a member of the House to the Traveler Port leading directly to the center of the City of Clouds for Orientation. There, Guides will take newcomers through the City, showing them important locations, such as the local eateries, museums, galleries and theaters. You may notice a lot of Cloud’s entertainment involves more creative pursuits and educational engagement. It is a city of knowledge, but also of culture and art. The people love to talk, to debate and challenge preconceptions, whether those of others or even their own. They will greet newcomers openly and without reservation, but they all have that assessing eye, looking to see what they can judge of your character.

You will be shown your Housing, and may be surprised to find that up to two items from home have also arrived with you and were already taken to your assigned area (unless they are too large to fit and you find a note instead of where they have been stored elsewhere). The Guides will give you time to greet any neighbors you have and take stock of what you might still need in your room, but not long as there is still so much left to do. Please keep up as they hurry you off to the Sanctuary of Clouds where they show off the Grand Library and give a waved hand of respect to the Watchtower before moving up into the mountains just outside of it. The air thins and the snow on the mountain side is cold, but it does not take long to reach the Observatory.

The Observatory is filled with tables and desks covered in star charts and books filled with various annotations and theories about space, time, and the laws of the universe. Some may even seem like familiar titles from your own world, and you are told that you are welcome to study them. Follow the winding staircase up to a large platform with various couches and cushy chairs for comfortable lounging and a large, obviously advanced telescope. Maybe you can sit back and relax for a brief moment.

The platform begins to raise itself up more and more as the sun fades and night falls over Restoria. The ceiling of the Observatory will open up to allow the platform to rise out over the mountain - the perfect location for stargazing and space-viewing. The air is quite frigid up here, which doesn't seem to bother the natives of Cloud. Newcomers, however, may find it necessary to cozy up together with blankets and hot drinks.

IV. Herb-a-Reore

As explained during Orientation, all Travelers will have opportunities to earn funds of their own. They do understand that not everyone will be satisfied with the basic free amenities that the Houses will provide them and may want to have capital of their own to purchase luxury items or anything else. Between larger Quests, taking jobs in their Cities and helping out around their respective Houses, the Sentinels also provide monetary missions to earn Reore on a regular basis.

With the large influx of Travelers, so comes the Merging, where the worlds of the visitors and Restoria begin to mesh and mix. The Sentinels take care to catalog many of these changes, including the new flora that show up around the cities, which they carefully cultivate in the large Conservatory. With the Travelers available, they request assistance in cataloging all of these new arrivals, offering each Traveler a reward of Reore for their time and expertise. Who better to help them make sure they don't miss a single herb or flower?

Travelers may recognize various plants from their own world, some benign, some less so. Some might even seem to have minds of their own: tendrils that reach out and poke, sticky webs designed to capture the unobservant, or sweet smells that make one sleepy. Please make sure to label them properly.

V. All Soulstice Day

The people of Restoria are friendly and welcoming in general to newcomers, but you may find them even more so today. They will greet you with smiles, offer their hands or even come in for a quick hug. Others may stare deeply into your eyes as if looking for some recognition, an understanding.

It may seem confusing, until you touch someone or look into their eyes yourself and feel a soothing sensation, as if you have known this person your entire life and couldn’t think of a reason to be wary of them. You can feel them almost as if you can sense their emotions in a distant way. Best friend? Family? Whatever this feeling is, you just know that you care about them and want to spend time with them.

What could be going on? Will you choose to ask?

If you do, you will be told what a fortuitous time it is for Travelers to arrive in Restoria with the celebration of Soulstice Day taking place. A day when the magic of Restoria is at its strongest and compatible bonds are even more likely! A wonderful day for new friendships and the strengthening of long held camaraderie.

Native Restorians and Travelers alike will feel themselves drawn to people as their auras react to heightened compatibility. Those friendly auras will almost sing to each other, bringing about happy, content feelings and a sense of understanding that might feel rare to you for someone you’ve only just met. Nothing is forced, but the possibilities are open for all who choose to lean into them.

People who meet someone with a compatible aura will find the effects of the Soulstice last for a couple days after the fact. A strong motivator for making new friends.

NAVIGATION

PREMISE ➤ RULES ➤ TAKEN ➤ FAQ ➤ APPLICATION ➤ HOUSES ➤ LOCATIONS ➤ QUESTS ➤ ACTIVITY ➤ REWARDS ➤ MERGING ➤ SUGGESTIONS ➤ CALENDAR ➤ MOD CONTACT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He didn't expect to be stood up to, and also by someone maybe quite a bit bigger than him. It takes him back for a moment, but not enough to deter his irritation completely. At least he has a new target, so the Sentinel gets to escape.]

We're not going to fail.

[He doesn't want to think about the consequences if they do, so as far as he's concerned, that's a non-option.]

Even if there are dangerous plants here from my world, I'm not a horticulturist. I wouldn't know them any better than a stranger would! Being the test subject for their uncontrollable garden is a waste of my time, and abilities.

Maybe not a waste of yours, since you seem so ardent.

[Eddie doesn't want to think about it either, but he also knows better than to blindly pretend it isn't an option, either.

Always have a backup plan.

[As for the rest of the weirdo's outburst, Eddie remains completely and unequivocally unimpressed, crossing his arms in front of him to show off just how unimpressed he is.]

Then what isn't a waste of your time? Let me guess, you're the snooty type that sits back and lets everyone else work while you "help" by telling them what they already know what to do.

Why is everyone obsessed with making assumptions about me?

[He huffs strongly out his nostrils, but otherwise tries to not let it bother him.]

To start, you're undervaluing the role of administration and leadership, which is important, and it is where some of my skill sets lie. I'm also a diplomat, and considering that our goal here is to "bond our worlds," I would be doing a lot more good for all of us if I was put into a position that let me do that, rather than stare at plants.

I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here and say because you've been running around making assumptions about everyone else.

[Eddie continues to look spectacularly unimpressed.]

See, like that. I understand administration and leadership just fine. Psyche is a leader I'd die for, because I know she'd do the same for me. ["Whereas you seem the type who would replace me without a second thought the next day," he refrains from adding in a spectacular show of tact.] She's a real leader, someone who leads from the front.

And if this is your idea of diplomacy and forging bonds, we're all doomed. I'm no diplomat, but running around yelling at "the little people" because you don't want to do something isn't a great bonding tactic.

Another assumption! And no, I haven't been, aside from first impressions. Of which, you are leaving an impressively bad one by coming at my character with very little reason for it.

Tell me, who is Psyche in charge of? A group of people of less than twenty, or a company? A city? A country? If you have a leader of a country who would sacrifice themself for the sake of a single person, then all you have is a dead body at the end of the day.

What would you have me do, then? Apologize? If I went and found that Sentinel and apologized, would that really make a difference to you?

[Eddie forces himself to take a few breaths. Even righteously, he isn't exactly fond of being angry. Let this guy think what he wants of him. He'll sleep just fine at night. If he, you know, needed sleep.

He might lay in bed tonight with his eyes closed just to spite this guy!

Damn it, now he's angry again. More deep breaths, Eddie.]

And just what are you in charge of? Not back home, I don't really care. I mean here. How are you any different than me right now in the social hierarchy?

["Social hierarchy." He is nailing this not being mad thing!]

To me? No. My life doesn't revolve around you. To them? It might be a start. We're all in the same boat here, us, them. We all want the same thing. I'm just suggesting that maybe if you want to forge strong bonds with people, don't yell at them.

[That said, he knows all too well that hate is also a very strong bond, but he's trying not to think about that.]

[If he had more than a +0 on Insight, maybe he'd see how angry Eddie's getting with this conversation. Ah well!]

We would technically be a part of the same class, if put into a hierarchy. The Sentinels are above us. Are you under the impression I'm trying to be better than you? Even worse- do you think the Sentinels are on our level? If you're looking for some form of authority to get frustrated with, they're the only actual authority around.

They're not the ones acting more important right now.

[You can't trick him, glove guy!]

For someone who's claims that your life doesn't revolve around me, you seem rather focused on telling me how to behave. Would it make you feel better if you bossed me around a little? Satisfy your apparent desire to strike out against anyone who seems "better" than you? Which is your words, not mine.

Dude, really? That's what you're getting from this?

[Eddie is so, so unimpressed.]

I just don't think you should act like a jerk. There's no reason to be cruel to someone else. That's it. My dad taught me that simple concept when I was 5, and he's a supervillain.

Other than that, you could go walk into traffic, I really don't care.

[Except... he would totally save him if he walked into traffic, because that's his nature. Curse his nature!]

I'm not being cruel, and haven't been even once since arriving. Brisk, efficient, blunt... yes. Cruel, no.

You, on the other hand, have assumed things about me and belittled me, multiple times.

[Now he crosses his arms.]

I think you owe me an apology.

[For a moment, Eddie feels bad. Maybe he's going too far... And then he sees the smug look on the guy's face, and the moment passes.]

I mean I could, but then I wouldn't be able to brisk, efficient, or blunt. I think I should start being more like you, you know? You've taught me some things today, buddy. Thanks for that.

[Chauncy pauses, lips pursed... and then laughs. Actually laughs, because that was pretty funny.]

You're welcome. You probably don't care to know my name, but this is a small town, and we have even smaller living quarters. You'll see me whether you like it or not, so let's get introductions out of the way. I'm Prince Chauncy Morior.

[Oh. The guy is laughing. Does this mean he won? It really doesn't feel like he won, but the guy stopped twisting his words every four seconds--stupid politicians--so it might have been a win.

He'll take it. For now.]

Weren't you just busy lecturing me about words in mouths, or something to that effect? Take your own advice.

Eddie. Eddie Myers. No title necessary.

You're right, as long as you keep it up too.

[He offers the win over again to Eddie, genuinely.]

So Eddie.

[He gestures to the plants around them.]

What plants have you identified?

[He makes no promises if you start being a jerk again.

At the question, Eddie deflates somewhat.]

Nothing. For the most part, the plants native to my Earth aren't really anything, but because Mercury City is a nexus point or something [Please don't ask him, he doesn't know.] we have a lot of plants from other places. Like... planets and timelines and stuff. And those can be really, really dangerous.

[He just has no idea what they look like.]

Edited 2021-02-03 16:16 (UTC)

Ah.

[He says without any disappointment, and maybe another emotion that he is clamping down hard on showing.]

What do you do in Mercury City?

[There's a difference between not knowing and trying and not knowing and being a dick about it!!

Jerk.]

Oh, me? [He smiles awkwardly.] I'm sort of a superhero.

[With a body like his, he doesn't attempt to have a dual identity. Not remotely worth the effort.]

[Yes, this is exactly where he's going with it, let's see if Eddie catches on.]

And are you...

[He gestures to Eddie's tall, strong looking body.]

Good at it?

[That almost sounds like he's trying to insult him.

That might work if only Eddie had a modicum of pride. The unhealthy kind, not the good kind.

Instead, he just grins a brilliant smile.]

Yep! My specialties are search and rescue, crowd control, and emergency response, though, so plant recognition is a little beyond me. If Vishna or Car--Proto were here, they'd be able to catalog things in no time. Especially Vishna; she's an actual botanist.

That's impressive, those abilities.

[He does sound genuine when he says that!! He's not trying to be insulting... yet.]

I wish I could see it in action, and I know just the place that could a "superhero."

A shame it is, it seems that we're both- no matter our skill sets- assigned to plant identification. Ah well. Those people in trouble will just have to wait until we're both done looking at turnips, aimlessly trying to decide if it's a normal turnip, or a foreign, identical and extremely lethal one.

[Eddie starts rocking slightly from the balls of his feet to his heels.]

Just because it's not my skill set doesn't mean I shouldn't try. If something looks familiar, even if I don't necessarily know what it is, it can still help. Same goes for you, you know. Unless someone else is here from your world, you have to at least try.

[He doesn't rise to the bait.]

You never want to summon a superhero like Betelgeuse you know. It's like running around hoping you find a firefighter--either you have some sort of weird fetish, or you're secretly about to burn something to the ground and want an audience. Neither is particularly flattering, and both can be considered crimes depending on how far it goes for the former.

[Chauncy, at this point, sighs. He gives. You win, Eddie. His shoulders slump and he crosses his arms, whatever remainders of smugness he had on him melts away.]

Fine. I don't know plants. The closest thing to a plant that I understand is when it's been sliced up into thin pieces of paper or when it's part of a salad. Maybe I'll recognize some dangerous ones. In which case, you're going to help me. Since you fight things.

And I don't know what you're talking about with Betelgeuse. Should I know this? This sounds like a you thing.

[Oh, was this still a competition? He'd already forgotten.]

I can help with that!

[Trying to help is a lot better than being a jerk to people, so he'll take it.]

He's this guy where, when you say his name three times, he, uh... helps some ghosts haunt your house? Makes your parent's dinner party dance to Day-O? Tries to marry goth teenagers? [He scratches the back of his neck.] You know, I didn't really get that movie.

[His truest weakness is cheerfulness.]

Fine. Let's go... That way, there. And if you see pink fog at all, let me know.

[He's not going to go first.]

I don't know what you mean, and I don't know what a movie is.

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