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mundane_realms2021-02-01 11:00 am
dm_screen) wrote in mundane_realms2021-02-01 11:00 am
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Bardsong's Third Test-Drive Meme!
How to Use:
It all began when you fell from the skies above, wreathed in flame. When you landed, you learned that you weren't alone: So many others, each from worlds entirely different from yours, have found themselves in his predicament, and know about as much as you do! The locals greet you with a cautious friendliness, welcoming you to the town of Concord. They tell you that the world was broken apart mysteriously not long ago, and are trying to devise ways to step far beyond the town borders to find where the rest of the globe went, get to the bottom of things.
But your arrival is nothing short of a blessing. Perhaps you, the Starfallen, are the answer to their prayers.
You also catch wind of a strange new landmass to the west that recently connected to this one; one comprised of primeval nature so vivid that its wild nature can affect those who spend too long within it.
Now, where to begin...?
I. Settling In
With two waves of new arrivals now having descended to Concord as falling stars, it seems the Concord Astronomical Society has become quite efficient at helping to orient their nascent Starfallen and assisting them in integrating into their new home. Of course, there's only so much that can be done to prepare someone for a whole new life in a whole new world...
IA. Home Sweet Home
As one such measure of preparation, The Concord Astronomical Society has ensured that an extremely low-rent option has been provided for the Starfallen until they can find some sort of living situation on their own terms: Concord Crossing, a block of somewhat cheaply-made townhouses where their new arrivals are randomly assigned roommates among the ranks of their fellow Starfallen. Supposedly, it's a great way of building camaraderie; but without any choice in the matter, one can only hope their roommates prove to be amicable. It doesn't help that some of the units have only one full-sized bed for every two occupants, leading to some understandable debates and issues regarding the general sleeping situation.
IB. It's Nothing
Taking the paths just past the city gates lies a small expanse of farmland; beyond that lies unkempt fields and hills. But before long, the sky darkens, the daylight growing somehow thinner with each step, until one arrives at... nothing. Just a sea of distant stars and an abrupt termination of the land under their feet into fathomless celestial depths.
Despite the strangeness, it's not uncommon to see people paying the edge of the land a visit, perhaps because its meaning is in the eye of the beholder; is it a sobering glimpse of the world's broken state? A beautiful, romantic representation of the possibilities ahead of them? A Sobering reminder that they're trapped in this new home of theirs?...
IC. Comment Section
Another amenity provided by the Concord Astronomical society is a magical journal called a Liber Nuntiorum, which transfers the writing on its pages to every other such journal held by every other Starfallen. Just in case one would wish to write something to their new friends and allies. Or draw something, for that matter. Everyone will see it, so think carefully about what you'll be showing everyone else before you commit to writing it!
II. Always work to do
Winter has finally descended upon the land in earnest, but the hazards, troubles, and labors of the world are undeterred by its chill. Requests are abound and while the people of Concord can handle the more mundane tasks on their own, there's a few monster-related or otherwise dangerous quests that's best left to members of the various guilds or the Starfallen. But at least there's good money in it for those who are ready to go out and earn it, right?
IIA. Those pricks!
Location: Concord
“That new landmass that came in from the east may not have caused any damage when it arrived, but those Thornlets have since blown onto our shard and are making a nuisance of themselves tumbling through the town and scratching up passerby! Someone get rid of them!”
Reward: 200 sol per shrub(?)
IIB. Don't Want None
Location: Laourn
“There's a juvenile Frostfang Anaconda that's taken over my bakery on the edge of town! It hasn't attacked anyone yet, but it's scaring my customers and employees and has already eaten my entire stock of hot cross buns. They're hard to kill, but I'm sure someone can figure out a way to at least drive it off!”
Reward: 600 Sol
IIC. Wild Animals
Location: The Outlands
“We need to transport some specialized arcane equipment into the Outlands, and some new and exciting magical catastrophes would occur if we tried to take it through the portal linking Concord and Laourn. We need someone who can accompany our caravan while we take it through the wilderness. Just remember that things can get a little strange when you visit the Outlands, so don't panic if you grow feathers or cat ears or something!”
Reward: 1000 Sol
III. Curious Happenings
Ask the people on the street in Concord or Laourn and about current events and they'll all be in agreement: The last few months have been particularly... eventful. Not always in bad ways, either, but certainly in strange ways.
Unfortunately, the aftershocks of these little happenings tend to outlast the events in question...
IIIA. The Good Stuff
There's a buzz forming around some shifty-looking merchants in the Market Square of Concord, who are hawking a small red potion that they call "The revolutionary new development in energy drinks". They claim that it works like a healing potion "but better" when used in battle, and a "A powerful new tool for health and wellness" otherwise.
Whether the Starfallen purchases one or simply picks it up off the ground after the Merchants flee at the sight of some patrolling members of the town guard is up to them.
These unstable second-generation bootlegs of one Alchemist's attempt at an enhancement potion tend to behave in one of two different ways: Either the Starfallen will have their "best feature"- either in their opinion or the opinion of others- temporarily enhanced, often resulting in strange and often enticing flukes of personality or physiology; or, instead, there will be a burst of chaotic magic that may result in strange and unpredictable effects. If all else fails, just remember: No refunds.
IIIB. Sprig Deal
Towards the end of the last year, a certain impish, horned, romantically-inclined figure had decided to play an entertaining little prank on her fellow Starfallen: She planted small little sprigs of leaves and white berries atop archways in Concord and Laourn alike that would compel passerby beneath them to begin bouts of either fond kissing or friendly brawling.
The result, as one can readily imagine, was total bedlam.
The citizens of both towns finally- thankfully began taking them down with the start of the new years, but some of them are still here and there across Concord and Laourn, lurking above thresholds and archways and just waiting for some unsuspecting passerby to meet beneath them.
But what are the odds of that happening, anyway?
IIIC. Birds of a Feather
A few months ago, the town of Concord faced a wave of vandalism and thefts from an unlikely source: a colony of feathered, flightless reptiles known as Featheraptors that had taken up residence nearby and made a nuisance of themselves. With their packleaders since captured or slain and the rest of the colony scattered, the residents of Concord were content in their knowledge that the issue had been resolved.
Unfortunately, the Featheraptors never got the memo.
With winter coming into full force across the two shards, Featheraptors have become an urban menace. Nesting near warm foundries in the South Quarter, getting into fights with housepets, and- of course- stealing anything and everything they can get their claws on, going so far as to pilfer from pockets or performing hit-and-runs on carried possessions. Many of them have even ended up inside the Starfallen's housing at Concord crossing, making for an unpleasant surprise when new arrivals open their cupboards.