MAY TDM.

[ximilian]

● ● ● T D M . 0 1

// PART I. waking up with a stranger  

So what do you say? What are you willing to do to erase your regret from existence?

These words ring in your ears when you wake with a gasp — perhaps the last thing you remember after hearing them is the sense of free-fall, or your throat constricting as tears threaten to fill your eyes. Whatever it is, you can’t shake the feel of dread — that whatever you’ve done in your dream has changed everything forever.

As the sense of dread fades and your heart slows into something resembling a normal tempo, you notice something you should have noticed immediately: you are not in your bed.

1.0   White walls, clinical yet clean, sparsely-furnished rooms. You may wake in one of three rooms: a room with only one bed, a room with two beds, or a room with four beds. Those waking up in rooms with more than one bed notice that they are not alone. Perhaps the other occupants of the room are still sleeping, only to wake up with their heart pounding… or perhaps they have been awake for longer, a spectator to everyone else’s dreaming.

What you do is entirely up to you: try and wake the others from their dream? Yell in surprise when you wake to someone staring at you? Or maybe you’ll try to sneak away before anyone else wakes...

After all, nothing binds the characters to the room they wake up in. If you find your bed comfortable, you may claim it as yours, or try to change rooms. However, there are only eight one-person rooms — so those who want solitude may have to fight for it.

2.0   Those with life-threatening injuries find themselves awakening in the infirmary, in a regular hospital bed. Most of their injuries have been treated, and any lingering illnesses or conditions will have designated medicine bottles on the table next to the bed.

White curtains surround the bed on both sides, giving an illusion of privacy. But is that a rustling sound you hear? Some footsteps? Perhaps you’re not the only one in need of some medical attention.

In fact, if you’re very badly off, you may want to hope for some company — you can’t stay in the infirmary forever, and will have to make your way through the hallways of the station to the living quarters, and claim a room and a bed there.

TOP

// PART II. the welcome wagon  

Suddenly, the soft hum of the station is replaced by loud static, like an old radio being turned on. Wherever you are on the station, it’s impossible to miss it — or the clear voice that follows.

// VIVECA.AI

Don’t freak out! I’m the AI of this station, name’s Viveca. Sorry, these old speakers are old tech and don’t get much use… anyway, the reason for that should be on your bedside table. There’s an earpiece. Put it on, and it’ll explain how to use the network that connects everyone here. You can also talk to me through it, if you want.

// VIVECA.AI

Now, we weren’t exactly ready for you to arrive just yet, so the station’s a bit... hm, well, I suggest you go and see for yourself. There’s lots to do here, and I recommend you familiarise yourself with where everything is. Go train, go test a mission on the simulator, check the lab… as long as you stay away from the Northern Wing. Trust me — not only will you not be able to enter, but I’ll know, and that’ll get you thrown off the station faster than you can say "freckles".

// VIVECA.AI

Oh, and get to know each other. The success of your missions depends on that.

With that, the speakers go silent — though if characters follow Viveca’s instructions, the earpiece will provide them with a chance to speak to her again.

True to her word, there is a lot to do and see on the station. When characters leave their rooms, they have the chance to explore all of the Southeastern and Southwestern Wings, and the Center of the station.

3.0   In the armory, characters can try to work the machine to make themselves some weapons to perhaps replace ones that didn’t come with them to the station, or to simply be prepared for future missions... but there aren’t many materials available, so the more the weapon requires, the more chance there is of the end result being less than satisfactory. A gun whose barrel is made out of recycled rings, a sword that’s just the blade and no handle, a knife made out of cheap aluminium — well, it’s better than nothing, right?

4.0   Eventually, when characters get hungry and want to eat, the kitchen and mess hall are ready for them… mostly. What food there is on the station seems to have been stocked for long-term storage: canned foods, dried meat and fruit, dried herbs and seasoning, condiments, some rather musty root vegetables and cartons of chicken stock. It’s certainly not impossible to make good dishes out of those, but it may require some skill.

5.0   The lab provides an interesting space for those who enjoy tinkering and technology — though the parts available are all in large boxes with no apparent method to their sorting. It may very well be that what you need for a hoverboard or a robot dog are in the boxes — it’s just a matter of finding it!

6.0   Meanwhile, those who want to train (or perhaps let off some steam by sparring with others) find the training room suitable for their needs. On top of the entire room existing for the express purpose of training, whether it’s martial arts, weapon skills or magic, anyone entering the room will see a message pop up on their network:

Complete these tasks for a boon:
a. Teach someone a new move or skill
b. Win a sparring match against someone
c. Learn to fight with a new weapon, style or skill

Should you take up this challenge, any time you complete any of the three, you’ll see that one turn light green — a mark of completion. Once all three are completed, you’ll see a new message:

Congratulations! You are now eligible for one (1) boon. Please check in later for submissions.

But when is later? What submissions? Even if you try to ask, no answer comes… all you can do is hope that you haven’t done all that work in vain.

7.0   A welcome reprieve to the cold, dark space that surrounds the characters can be found in the sunlight room. A skillful illusion surrounds anyone who steps inside the room: characters will hear birds singing, feel a light breeze on their skin, as they walk through a grass field, a meadow and a small forest. In the middle of the room, a small brook runs the width of the room, and to cross it one must walk over a bridge — wooden, creaky, yet undeniably charming.

There are other things to do, of course… but the only room that requires a mandatory visit from everyone is the simulation room...

TOP

// PART III. ready steady go  

For those eager to get started, it might be best to do a little practice run first, huh? When you’ve successfully entered the simulation, you will immediately be provided with a supply satchel containing the following: a grapple hook, a long cord of rope, a flashlight, and a couple of snack bars (these will not actually feed you IRL). And your mission, if you choose to accept it (and you must, right? Otherwise what else are you doing here?) is as such:

There’s an orb buried deep in the Lodgen Mountain Mines — a series of winding underground tunnels long since abandoned now that any and all useful resources had been picked clean — and it’s causing a little bit of a problem down there, but the good news is that it’s yours to claim so long as you can get in and get out. You see, there’s been a cave-in and the culprit is the orb itself. Extracting this valuable object might take a little bit of doing, and if that’s not complicated enough, the orb’s presence appears to be the cause for the mines being in their current state of fragility.

Still: you’re resourceful, and more than that, you’re determined, and you can enter the mines in the following ways: going in from the top and climbing down through the mine shaft; going in from beneath the rubble where a narrow but perfectly safe-ish tunnel opening leads back into the mountain; finding an entry point from the mountain’s side by way of a refreshing dive into the lake that neighbours the mines.

8.0   If you decide to climb into the mine through the mine shaft, there’s a risk of the rocks you’re using as hand and footholds to crumble, or for the rocks to give way against your weight.

9.0   If you decide to go in through the tunnel, be careful you don’t take the wrong prong in the fork of paths. One will get you closer to the orb, but the other might lead you into the darkness where the first thing you’ll notice are several beady little specks of light reflecting off the beam of your flashlight, accompanied by the sharp chittering of large monster rats who haven’t had a decent meal in who-knows-how-long, and are eager to befriend you. It’s probably a good time for that weapon you have on you, or if that’s not an option, maybe there’s something you can MacGuyver from your supply bag?

10.0   Swimming is always an option, but like all unknown waters there’s the risk that you’re not alone, and we don’t just mean your fellow teammate swimming somewhere close by. (Though you might want to continue onwards together, Buddy System Style and all.) There are beautiful, haunting creatures that live in the depths who have the ability to draw their prey towards them through song — Sirens, some might call them. They call to you now, and oh boy, don’t you want to dive deeper? See what secrets they hold? Now would be a good time for your swimming partner to pull you back to your senses or be lost to the waters.

But okay! You’ve made it. Don’t forget that the mines are still in a very fragile state, so it’s best to tread carefully and avoid making sounds that could agitate the delicate infrastructure and risk the whole mission — and your simulated life. This is on you. This is about you.

Or is it?

When you’ve neared the location of the orb, you’ll find that it’s mostly quiet and you’re on your own, except … if you stand still for long enough, you can hear muffled cries for help behind a large wall of rock right by you, sounds that are clearly distressed and panicked. But before you can make any kind of snap decision, there’s a tiny blip of static in your earpiece and a matter-of-fact voice will state that you should probably get going — there’s an orb to recover and you’re nearly there. Anything else you attempt to do is outside of your mission, and time is ticking. Will you listen to the voice or will you try and save the trapped? You might be successful, but time is running against you and the longer you stall the more unstable the mines become.

● ● ●

N O T E:   During each mission, characters will be given one personal goal to complete. For the purposes of the test drive, we’re offering three goals to choose from and leaving it to players to pick one for their character and run with it:

A   Choose the most difficult or challenging path into the mountain.

B   Help a teammate during the mission.

C   Retrieve the orb at all costs, leaving any possible trapped individuals to fend for themselves.

TOP

F Y I

• TDM threads can be considered game canon so long as all parties involved agree to it.
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves are currently open to those with invites. They will be open for everyone May 26.
• Apps open for those with invites May 26. They will open for everyone May 29.
• For any questions regarding TDM, please direct them here. For questions about the game, please refer to the FAQ.

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Comments

edelgard von hresvelg | fire emblem: three houses

[vermillain]

PART I. the infirmary

[ when edelgard wakes up, it's to a stark white room she does not recognize. it takes her a moment to adjust, like she'd forgotten how to breathe — but in her defense, during her last conscious memory she was certain she'd breathed her last. laying stock-still, listening to the sound of her breaths, feeling the rise and fall of a chest notably missing the gaping hole that'd been given to her in what feels like just seconds ago...

eventually, she sits up. looks around. feels cold air on her legs and arms and back that doesn't feel natural, but she shivers with something else other than the chill. she spies a table with a box of clothing next with her name on it next to her, just out of arm's reach, but when she swings her legs over the side of the bed she feels the thin garment on her shift, and that chill at her back only expands. despite herself, her cheeks flush with embarrassment.

fortunately (?), she spots or hears someone's footsteps nearby, and she decides against the lesser of two embarrassing evils. ]

Excuse me. Would you mind handing me that box?

[ please try to ignore the outrageously crimson-red armor dress... and the fact it happens to be soaked in blood. ]

PART II. the armory

[ wander by the armory and one might peep edelgard frowning in front of the pedestal, holding in her hands what appears to be a large battle axe made entirely out of styrofoam. she doesn't look pleased, punching away at the control panel beside the pedestal with the concentration of a boomer trying to work their newfangled ipad dagnabbit. wander close enough, and you'll hear her mutter to herself, ]

No, I do not want a Nerf gun, whatever that is...

???. network (username: vonhresvelg)

While convenient, I admit I can see potential for this particular mode of communication to be troublesome.
Would anyone happen to have any suggestions on how to best avoid negligent messages from being sent?

CYOA

( edelgard can be found exploring her new surroundings with a critical but curious eye, so feel free to run into her in other areas: in the sunlight room, taking a moment to dip her feet into the babbling brook during what she had thought was a private moment; in the kitchen trying to find some tea or sweets; hesitating outside of the simulation room because honestly, what the fuck even is this technology. comment or pm with any suggestions for prompts if you don't find one you like here and let's work something out! )

● ● ●

( note: playing it fast and loose atm so i haven't yet decided on her specific route but it will probably either be silver snow, verdant wind, or azure moon. but for the most part it shouldn't make much of a difference unless you happen to be a canonmate! )

p1

[raucous]

( because he's not one to sit still, gladio's been patrolling the station. or, rather, the parts he's able to access. it didn't take him long to memorize the layout, even less time to realize he doesn't recognize a single face here. on one of his rounds, he even began to question if he was dead and this was some weird as hell afterlife. but, he's trying not to think about that right now or about death.

it's his seventh pass by the infirmary and for the most part, it's been pretty quiet. but, this time he hears a voice as he begins to pass the door. so, he does the gentlemanly thing and peers inside. he's not expecting to get an eyeful of a curvy backside, but here they are.

he leans his shoulder against the doorframe, arms crossed low over his torso, and just the barest hint of a smirk flirting at the corner of his mouth. )

You sure you don't want something else first?

( to which he means to cover up, not anything like a triple x throwdown. )

[vermillain]

[ things edelgard did not factor into her calculations: that her presumed savior would pop up on the opposite side of where she needed them to be. startled, she jumps lightly in her seat before whipping around, reaching behind her to try and hold the parted fabric close. it's difficult to do when she's sitting on the hem, but at least now that she's twisted around he won't be privy to an eyeful... moreso than he already had, anyway. ]

I don't know what you mean.

[ she narrows her eyes at him, deciding she does not appreciate his smirk. if he were truly a gentleman he'd look away! and ignore the sharp blush on her cheeks, skin too fair to be anything else but traitorous. ]

The box will do just fine, thank you.

[raucous]

( yeah, well. these things happen :)

but, look, he's helping in his own way. being in the infirmary isn't a good time and he's making it light and fun. maybe just a lil flirty. who's to say! it's taking their mind off the troubles at hand or something.

anyway. perhaps to her approval (or something), gladio does keep his eyes above the waist... though his smile cuts just a little sharper seeing the flush color her cheeks. doesn't comment on it, though. a small saving grace, maybe. he pushes off from where he's leaning and comes further into the room to grab the requested box and hand it over.

he also shifts the top blanket up to drape over her shoulders to give her some decency back. see? he's nice. kinda. )

That's what I mean, if you want to play at being oblivious.

[vermillain]

[ look, edelgard is nothing if not humble enough to admit when she's wrong. so he will find the sharpness in her eyes softening as she drops her gaze, reaching up to tug on the blanket to pull it a little more securely around her shoulders. sadly, the flush remains, egged on now due to a different sort of embarrassment. she's not quite comfortable having a strange man so close while she's in such a state of undress, but she won't send him away since he'd gone through the trouble of helping a stranger out. ]

Thank you...

[ she shifts the box onto her lap, quietly looking its contents over. her lips form a thing line at the side of her bloodied dress. she'd been certain she would have preferred it to what she's wearing now, but after seeing the large puncture right in the center where her chest would be... yeah, she's rethinking that now. ]

I don't suppose you've seen any spare clothing around?

[raucous]

( even though he's being nice and not looking her over like a letch, he does kinda peek in the box. he's only human and he's curious. also he has to know if she's gonna pull some weapon outta there and try something. he's always on guard, but he's especially so while here. but, that doesn't seem to be the case and judging by the looks of the garment in there...

well. he can kinda guess why she's here. )

No problem.

( he begins to wander around the room, peeking into cabinets and drawers, whatever's around. he finds a plain pair of scrubs (or what looks similar enough to them) and brings them over, tossing them onto the bed beside her. )

That'll probably work until you can get something better.

( he does put some distance between them and keeps his back to her. he's probably gonna be good and not peek. )

Are you feeling alright? I can go find someone if you need help getting dressed.

[vermillain]

[ she's never been so grateful to see clothing before, even if she's not at all familiar with their style — or their color. but anything is better than nothing, which is unfortunately the state of her normal clothing at the moment. and it's definitely better than this sheet masquerading as a smock that she woke up in. seeing that he's given her some space and privacy, she slowly slips off the bed, working as swiftly as possibly to get herself into the scrubs.

she's not normally so rude, but she can't help the dry laugh at his question. ]

I feel... perfectly fine. [ physically, anyway. she assumes he couldn't possibly mean any other way. ] Like nothing even happened.

[ she sounds both in awe of this fact, and slightly troubled by it. healing injuries, even grave ones, she's witnessed. she's even experienced. but healing from death? now that gave her pause. ]

[raucous]

( if it makes her feel any better, he's used to rude lil brats. especially those reluctant to offer any gratitude for the things he does.

...well, used to be. things changed and yeah. that kind of comparison isn't the greatest so he's going to steer swiftly in the other direction. that's much easier.

he makes a low sound of acknowledgment, pondering over what her statement actually means. usually, people who have something small wrong with them don't wind up in a hospital gown, so his curiosity is highly piqued. assuming she's likely dressed by now, he glances over his shoulder to check. )

Curious what happened to you. Was it something here?

[vermillain]

[ fortunately she is dressed, thanks for asking, but somehow the scrubs only make her look smaller, make her feel more out of place. she keeps the box of her belongings tucked under an arm; the clothes may be useless now, but she can investigate later if there are anything else therein that could be of use. ]

No. It was right before I was taken. [ a pause, a slight frown. ] Right before I agreed to come, I suppose.

[ she eyes him, now finally feeling comfortable enough to really take notice. ]

Did you not wake here?

oh hello - sunlight room!

[arnaults]

[ she'd thought she was the only one in here. but from a distance, she notices the other woman sitting on the banks of the little river - her stature, her hair, all familiar. it's only as she draws closer that she realizes who she's recognizing.

for a moment, she thinks it might be a little trick of the room, some hallucination it knows she'd want to see in a place as lovely as this. but dorothea is too old to be afraid of looking like a fool, so she hurries towards the figure anyway. ] Edie? Is that you?

[ ooc eta: i usually take her from CF jsyk ! ]

hello!!

[vermillain]

( ooc; CF, don't mind if i do! )

—Dorothea!

[ it isn't often edelgard likes to be caught off-guard. she has to berate herself, really; not even a full day here and she's already let her guard down so foolishly. she is fortunate it is just dorothea, just as she's fortunate it's dorothea, a face as friendly as it is familiar.

still, she can't help but be embarrassed, to be caught idling so. she flushes and tugs her feet up from the brook, moving to stand. ]

I didn't expect to see you here as well.

[ the implications of it is... disappointing. while regrets are not uncommon in people, she would have hoped those closest to her didn't have any they wished to undo this desperately. ]

[arnaults]

[ dorothea doesn't have much of a guard in the first place. despite her time at garreg mach, and in the war, her utility came down to having great power and being able to follow orders. having good instincts or constantly looking over one's shoulder were skills better left to other people - hubie comes to mind.

so all she can do when she sees edie is smile, her jaws almost aching with the force of it. ] Me neither, but I'm so glad to see you. This place is all so strange. The idea of facing it without a friend is... daunting.

[vermillain]

[ truthfully, it's one of the many things edelgard admires about dorothea... that even without that level of shrewdness, she can still keep her head above the water so well. edelgard knows this particular skill has served her well in her role, but she likes to think (sometimes, when she's alone and her thoughts have quieted) that in another life, in a more peaceful time... she could have had a similar kind of freedom. ]

I'm glad I can be that comfort for you, Dorothea.

[ of course, edelgard is glad to see a friend too. especially someone as warm and effortlessly comforting as dorothea. but it is definitely a double-edged sword to see someone she cares for here. ]

You haven't had any struggles here yet, have you?

[arnaults]

[ thea laughs easily, shaking her head. ] It was a confusing morning, to be sure. But I'm no Caspar - I haven't gotten into any fights. I've just been trying to wander around and make sense of it all.

[ they could talk about the regrets that led them here - but dorothea wants to keep the smile on edelgard's face. so instead, she asks- ] Have you visited the training room? I got some odd set of instructions when I peeked in.

[vermillain]

[ it's clearly a relief for edelgard to hear dorothea hadn't run into any problems, and the mention of caspar actually prompts her smile wider. she can just imagine the man getting quite excited about... well. nearly every aspect of this. she thinks of them all, he's probably the one who would adjust to being out in space the best. ]

I haven't, no. I'm afraid I got a bit too distracted by this room. [ she shakes her head, both at her own distraction and the fact that it feels quite weird to call this area a mere "room." still, she realizes she's dawdled long enough and bends down to retrieve her boots. ] Is it something I can help you with?

[arnaults]

[ to see edelgard's smile broaden is always a delight. dorothea can't help matching it. ] Well, they want me - or perhaps all of us - to teach something, learn something, and win a sparring match. [ she counts off the three tasks on her fingers. ]

If you're given the same tasks I was, we could complete them rather easily. And you know I'm no good at brawling. I'd happily lose to you.

p2

[starshower]

[Tifa's not one for weapons, but that doesn't mean she can't check out the armoury to see what it's got. Her leather gloves are more than enough, but she wouldn't say no to a pair of brass knuckles for really packing those punches... but she's met with disappointment when not only does she not find what she's looking for, but the weapons that she does find are... Well, they leave a lot to be desired.

Styrofoam, plastic, aluminum... They've thought of everything except for what it should be, and honestly? She can't help but laugh at it.

Tifa watches the woman grumbling at the control panel nearby, eyes falling on the funny looking weapon in her hand and, no longer able to stifle her giggle, she calls out playfully.]

Hm? You don't like that axe?

[vermillain]

[ it's not like edelgard to have someone sneak up on her like this, so she's more than a little startled when tifa manages to do so. laughter, too, is not something she's used to hearing immediately from strangers, so it takes her a moment to recognize that it isn't malicious. glancing down at the toy sword in her hands, she has to admit it is an amusing sight she makes right now.

she bashfully smiles through a flush of embarrassment, holding the fake axe up and swinging it through the air. ]

It makes for a good model, certainly. But not one I'd readily take to the battlefield, I'm afraid.

[starshower]

[Edelgard's smile softens Tifa's, and she echoes her laugh with another, playfully leaning away from the brandishing axe as if it were the real thing.]

I'm sure you could make it work. Just gotta make sure to hit real hard.

[She makes a smacking motion with her fist before taking a look around the room, as if to gesture to the weapons (or lack thereof).]

Too bad that axe isn't the exception. Can't even find a pair of knuckles around here. Just a bunch of... ah... [She picks up what she assumes to be a sword, but attached to the hilt is a pool noodle, and she waves it around to make her point.]

[vermillain]

[ she laughs, for what feels like the first time in a long time. it makes her a little embarrassed, but there's no need to be so wistful now. she gives the foam sword a sad shake of her head, batting it lightly with her axe. ]

Are you a brawler, then? [ edelgard seems neither put off nor surprised by this, only visibly intrigued and impressed. she gestures towards tifa's fists, her tone coy and playful. ] At least your weapons came with you.

[starshower]

Yeah. You could say that.

[Brawler would be an apt name! She's never thought to call herself one until now, though.

After a couple light whacks with the "sword", she slides it back into its place where she found it, carefully, as if it were the real thing.]

What kind of weapon were you hoping to find? Maybe I can help. Two heads are better than one, as they say. That applies to double the eyes, too.

[vermillain]

[ edelgard, of course, can't help but think of caspar when she thinks of a brawler, and how pumped he would have felt about seeing that training room and knowing there are others here who like to fight with their fists. he would have probably challenged this young woman to a friendly spar right then and there. ]

If you're certain I won't be taking up your time, I'd gladly appreciate help. [ so far, it doesn't seem as if having a weapon is necessary, but if it's true they'll be sent out on missions... well. who knows how those will turn out. ]

I prefer battle axes, personally. But I can also wield swords and lances, if we can't find that.

network ; username: quinlan

[starsdust]

Worried about a stray text getting out in the wild?

[vermillain]

I admit it's definitely a concern...

???. network. username; General

[cruelyethuman]

Have you tried to just not wear it. Another suggestion would be to ask the ay-I.

[There's the faint sound of rustling as the Darkling tries to cut off communication, a muttered curse.]