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

wording it that way does make me feel slightly better about being highly underqualified for devourers, thanks

My new friend Ben, I practically live to help others realize their shining potential. And I know you're here for good reason.

I'm Ishaq.

nice to meet you ishaq
and what does that mean
are you a therapist or somethng

I don't know what a therapist is. Sounds arcane, so maybe my ignorance embarrasses me.

I can tell you with certainty that I'm someone who appreciates the value in community. And a community is best served when we encourage and empower each other, right?

a therapist is someone whos trained to help people, basically. usually like psychological ones
and i guess so?? ive never really considered it before
kind of a lone wolf type of guy myself

I see, well. We're lacking that where I come from. Your average cleric can absolve most psychic damage, and clerics can get so touchy about their dominion.
I'd love to see a therapist and cleric go head to head actually.

Nothing wrong with an individualist perspective. Vital, in fact, because there's a lot one can learn from someone who's used to taking care of himself. I get the sense you're knowledgable.

[there is a delay in response, mostly because Ben is squinting at the message in disbelief]

no no therapists are like. you sit down and talk about your problems with them. they're not fighters or nothing
but clerics? seriously???

i guess im knowledgable? not exactly the first word that comes to mind

I have a similar incredulity about clerics. Mostly because of who they serve.

Sometimes we are our harshest critics. There's honor in modesty, I'm not here to shame anyone for that. I just think you've got some admirable traits.

i think we might be thinking of different clerics here
thats nice of you to say i think
im not used to people just being nice to me out of nowhere im kind of thrown off here

Mine are the sort that submit to divine intervention. Very few of them have a sense of humor about it.

Pity to hear, but I suspect that says more about the people you used to know and less about you specifically. Good thing you're in a new place then, isn't it? With new people galore.

mine do the same thing only without the fighting

no its definitely about me specifically
though i guess you have a point
always liked traveling
still unsure on people tho

Much as I have theological difference with clerics, even I'll admit it's hard to make it far without one in your number. Never had a talent for healing, myself.

Even so, I quite like you.

yeah see thats where its different cuz ours are just like, priests. talk about god, say a few prayers, thats it. no magic involved whatsoever

i'm sorry??

You're a good conversationalist. You're clearly willing to take a risk, what with talking to strangers on strange things. What's not to like?

a big part of my job is talking to people so im just used to talking it up with complete strangers
but usually my grumpiness and the fact that i can be an asshole are two big reasons people dont like me
which is understandable

"Grumpiness" and "asshole" tend to define much of the company I historically keep, I'm naturally endeared to it. Call it a character flaw.

Either way, it's lucky that I came across you.

hahaha thats unfortunate, no wonder you like me
it is pretty lucky
for both of us i mean

So you've figured out the whole arcane, magic element of my world. Crafty of you!

Would it surprise you if I called myself a sorcerer?

im totally making a shocked face right now
mostly tho its surprising in a cool way
no magic where im from

None at all? I'll admit, I needed a moment to conceptualize it. My world hinges on magic, even if half the methodology leaks from the divine.

Now I'm curious about the sociopolitical implications. Do you have an Empress? Any looming wars? Ever been arrested for blasphemy?

(All the above for me.)

my country is a democracy, president is voted in by the people, there's some monarchies still around in other countries
were reliant on technology instead
we just got done with a war a few years ago but i mean war is always looming (i was a soldier in said war)
and ive never been arrested period
what blasphemous things did you do to get arrested

LOVE this idea of democracy. A leader voted by the people, now that's a selling point.

Sorry about your war perpetually looming, guess some things are universal.

Honestly the charges against me were bombastic. I have a group of like-minded individuals, we're in a few cities and towns off the western Raithir coast. My group and I advocate for mortal self-empowerment, for compassion within community, for grasping your individual potential. The sort of ideas that challenge the Empress's status quo, as she claims she's gods-given.

its mostly good but it does have its downsides sometimes
like when they decide to go to war and the people dont actually want it
but yeah it being universal doesnt surprise me folks just cant get along

oh so you basically want individuality and the empress is like nah? shocker

More or less, yes. I preached self-reliance (and community-reliance) over divine supplication. She claims a bloodline from an ascended god, so I suppose I was something of a theological threat. The gods are uncaring, they cannot change. Unlike people.

You and I have already changed somewhat, from this conversation! I certainly feel better for knowing you.

sounds about right what with the being a threat and gods not changing. your empress sounds like a real piece of work

haha its nice to know theres someone here who can tolerate my bullshit

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