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

✨ on emp
✨ will match any format, I just write TLs in prose to be lazy.

I. Greetings, Travelers.

The transportation to the land of Restoria is not terribly disorienting to Passion Flare. It reminds her of the sensation she feels when she is summoned into the hands of a new wielder. Drawn across time and space by a brightly shining dedication. While she is quite comfortable with such an experience, she knows it might not be so familiar to others.

If you look particularly disoriented, you may find yourself with a little white-gloved hand on your shoulder. The young woman has pink eyes, as clear and glittering as gemstones. Full of friendly compassion.

"Hello. Would you like to sit down and rest?"

II. Getting Your Hands Dirty

The City of Stones suits Passion Flare to a tee. In a way... it almost reminds her of the pink kingdom where she had been created. It's been a long time since she thought about Empress Philomella. It's a pleasant recollection, and it adds a particular tenderness to her interactions with everyone. She's all but glowing with confidence, affection, friendship. She's in here element.

She is equally as confident about participating in the Clay Exhibition. She takes in the description of the exhibition and then nods assertively, stripping down to the white bandeau and underwear beneath her uniform. She's a very fit and athletic young woman, this brief glimpse of her body before she covers it in clay shows that she's well-suited to for the events to come.

She has more strength and stamina than a normal human, but she'll take it easy on you if you don't have such advantages. She'd rather provide you a bit of fun and challenge than show off for now reason. She would, of course, prefer to be a bit challenged herself... She'll be on the lookout for a challenge.

If you seem reluctant or too shy, she'll come to talk to you.

"Are you coming to compete?"

V. All Soulstice Day

How interesting. She is very familiar with feeling this sensation with her potential wielders, but Passion Flare has never been somewhere where she could feel such connection with so many different individuals at one time. She isn't complaining, she wants to give this feeling to anyone who will accept it from her.

Passion Flare's aura is clear: a vibrant pink that speaks about love, conviction, and connection.

She's more than happy to reach out and take your hand, gaze deeply into your eyes with a gentle smile.

"I am Passion Flare, the Enduring Blade."

Theo is so distracted by everything going on that she startles with a little squeak when Passion Flare takes her hand. She glances down at their joined hands for a moment, blinking widely in surprise, before she bursts into delighted laughter.

Her other hand comes up to clasp their joined hands and she gives them a little shake.

"I'm Theo." Theo's aura is as delighted as her laughter, excited and bright. "It's lovely to meet you - may I call you Passion? Or would you prefer the whole thing?"

She will absolutely address her by the whole thing if she wants her to, happily.

"You can call me anything you like, of course," she asserts with total familiarity. Passion Flare seems utterly at peace with the strength of their new friendship. "Now merely seemed like the right time to introduce myself fully. It's not often everyone can simply see my aura like this."

All glittering with magic and starlight. It would be very hard to gaze into the gently swirling energy around her and think this young woman is nothing but human.

"It's a pleasure, Theo. Are you settling in comfortably?"

"No no, the pleasure's all mine, Passion!" Theo chirps, smile widening. While many may seem out of sorts here, and especially during this strange holiday, despite her initial startling Theo seems right at home. Or at the very least, she's very good at pretending she's as comfortable as the locals are.

"I'm settling in as well as anyone else is," She looks thoughtful for a moment, before her shoulders rise in a quick shrug. "I'm used to traveling, you could say. And you? You've settled in?"

"Oh yes, it is my duty to travel to many different worlds."

She is always pleased to talk about her duty. Especially in a world like this that is so obviously rife with magic and travelers, there's no need to play coy about her most sacred of intentions.

"The Enduring Blade may appear anywhere it is needed."

"To travel - like this?" Theo asks to confirm. Her interest is genuine; traveling across countries is commonplace and even the occasional travel between dimensions isn't all that out of the ordinary, but between different worlds all together is brand new to her. So to find someone who does that already . . .

Still, she can't help but smile again, warm. Duty-bound people were fascinating to her, in the best way possible. She stuck to her own beliefs as thoug her life depended on it - and well, it kind of did - but those who lived their lives bound to something were on a different level.

"Then it's a good thing you've appeared here along with us, isn't it?" Surely, this Devourer they spoke of stood no chance now. "With such a strong-sounding title, we've nothing to fear."

"Yes," an upbeat nod, her blonde ponytail bobbing behind her. "I have been Called to many times. I am the spirit of an enchanted blade. We go where pure hearts call to us in their time of need."

Interesting that there is an "I" and a "We". There does seem to be some distinction between the spirit and the blade, but they are also inseparable.

"It just..." she hesitates in this, considering her words. "I'm not normally drawn away from the woman currently wielding me. We haven't brought Zenaide with us."

"They brought you here without your wielder?" She asks, her smile fading to something more of a frown. The fact that this woman just admitted to being an enchanted blade either hasn't registered with Theo, or she's simply accepted it as normal. It honestly could be both. "That's rather rude of them. Perhaps they've simply called her late?"

"It is strange, I can't wield myself so much of my own power is out of my reach. I wonder if... perhaps it's not my power that the wardens have called for, but my experience?"

She crosses her arms over her chest, thinking on it, and also watching the other people around them. Not everyone is so keen to come together and connect the way they are. Some seem very disoriented and vulnerable, awkward and shrinking after being inundated with some many new things.

Theo glances around too, lips pursed in thought. "That's rather silly, though - wouldn't they want those they bring in to have access to all of their strengths? Regardless of experience."

Silly, and a bit suspicious, at least to her. Were she gathering people from other worlds, she would want every skill available from them, not hamper them.

"I couldn't say." While long-lived and well-traveled, she's not a mindreader. Indeed, one of the better lessons of her many long years is that it's not worth the effort to pretend to know things she doesn't know. Her ego isn't worth the headache that such lies will inevitably bring.

Her expression remains thoughtful, but the ever present cheer seems to disappear, albeit briefly. "Certainly, a suspicious little thing." She murmurs. And then she blows out a sigh, her full attention returning to her new friend. "I imagine we will find out why sooner or later, though. But I imagine your experience is will be a great boon to us!"

"I'll do my best," her smile shows a little silliness behind this humility.

"Of course I have a perspective I view from, just like anyone else." Much like lying about knowing more than she does, Passion Flare has also learned to accept that she has a bias in her decision making. She's even aware that she can more... inflexible than others may always appreciate. This awareness, however, does not move her principles.

"Of course. Different perspectives are necessary, don't you think?" She smiles a little knowingly. Given her professions, for lack of a better word, she encounters different perspectives all the time. "It offers over more ideas, even if those ideas may be a bit disagreeable."

She's also someone who is a bit inflexible in her own views, but it has been something she's been working on. How well that's going, however . . . this place may be the thing that tests it. "I will do my best as well."

[ To say Resplendent Star is a little bit thrown off is an understatement. This place is incredibly strange, and she can already tell she won't be able to use her Essence like she normally would, and she really-- really ought to say no to these people because she needs to go back home, there are things she's left unfinished that can't be. Not now.

And yet -- if what she's been told is true -- will it even matter if there might not be a Creation to go back to?

She startles at the hand on her shoulder, though to her credit she recovers swiftly even as she scrutinizes the other woman closely. Star takes a breath, and forces a smile that almost feels natural. ]

Thank you, I think I'll be all right. You're very kind.

[ Slowly, the tension eases out of the line of her shoulders as she allows herself to take in the situation and this stranger. The pink eyes are unusual, she notes, but not completely unheard of where she's from. ]

I suppose I must admit this is all a little bit... overwhelming.

Is this your first time in another world?

[ Passion's tone and voice remains entirely one of comfort and understanding. She doesn't look at the other woman as some kind of 'bumpkin' if this is her first time traveling. Some worlds have the magic or technology, some don't. Passion has visited both, befriended and protected people in both. It doesn't matter to her at all. What matters to her is what's in someone's heart, and this lady seems like anyone else: vulnerable in a new time and place. ]

Prior to today, I hadn't any idea other worlds even existed, truth be told.

[ That's not strictly true -- she knows of Malfeas, the Demon Realm, but that's at least connected to Creation. This -- this is somewhere else altogether, and perhaps she can be forgiven for seeming a bit unsettled.

Thankfully the stranger doesn't seem condescending, or as if she's likely to judge her. Star offers a smile, and a bow from the waist for a second or two, the equivalent of a handshake. ]

My name is Resplendent Star. What shall I call you?

[ The young woman returns the bow without hesitation. She's perfectly pleased to greet others in whatever they find natural. ]

Passion Flare. I have been to many worlds since my creation, I would be happy to assist you in whatever you might need.

I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure where to start. [ She says it with a slight laugh, and maybe the very slightest veneer of self-deprecation. This is... a little bit awkward, to say the least, which is something she's not used to. Most social interactions come almost insultingly easily to her. ]

But -- that's quite fascinating. This must all seem old hat to you, then.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE #001 : FALLING INTO BONDS WITH YOU

Passion Flare | House of Stone | OTA

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sorry for the delay!