undyingcourt | Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

DEC TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to the Undying Court Test Drive Meme! This post will allow players to test drive their AU characters in the setting, as well as meet fresh faces or even connect with those they have preexisting CR with. As with anything involved in the setting, this post will likely contain: violence, enthrallment, torture, and sexual content.

Regarding continuity, all TDM threads can be taken as in-game canon if desired. Please keep in mind that the game proper will begin in mid December, in the Winter Season, so Students/Novices should create their prompts under the assumption that the TDM takes place during the season prior to the one they will be apping as. This means that students planning to app as first season novices will be visiting Castle Courtsheart prior to their Beginning. In other words, if you plan to app a student as a second season, the TDM will take place during their first, and so on.

Feel free to brush up on the Premise, Vampire Powers, and head over to the FAQ/Game Info page if you have any questions!

Make sure you are aware of the Rules when posting your top-level. (Content warnings are always welcome!)
Please format your Top-level in this format: Character Name (AU Name if different) | Canon | Teacher/Student | Court
As a reminder, a Test Drive sample is required in order to app.
If you have any questions specific to the TDM, ask them in the Questions thread below!

Top-Level Directory:

Chat with NPC: Revar
Ace Attorney - Apollo Justice (Student)
Alice in the Country of Hearts - Alice Liddell (Student)
Attack On Titan - Erwin Smith (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Astarion (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Halsin (Teacher)
Baldur's Gate 3 - Raphael (Teacher)
Batman - Bruce Wayne (Teacher)
Bridgerton (Netflix) - Anthony Bridgerton (Student)
Castlevania - Soma Cruz (Student)
Castlevania: Nocturne - Maria Renard (Student)
Cosmo Warrior Zero - Harlock (Student)
Critical Role - Percy DeRolo (Teacher)
Daria - Daria Morgendorffer (Teacher)
Devil Summoner - Raidou Kuzunoha XIV (Student)
Dragon Age - Fenris (Teacher)
D&D: Honor Amongst Thieves - Edgin Darvis (Teacher)
D&D: Honor Amongst Thieves - Xenk Yendar (Teacher)
Ensemble STars!! - Mayoi Ayase (Student)
Fate/Zero - Kariya Matou (Kariya Makiri) (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Hilda Goneril (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Lorenz Hellman Gloucester (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Marianne von Edmund (Student)
FE: Three Houses - Sylvain Gautier (Student)
Final Fantasy XIV - Estinien Varlineau (Teacher)
Frozen - Prince Hans (Student)
Genshin Impact - Diluc Ragnvindr (Teacher)
Genshin Impact - Tighnari (Teacher)
Hanna Is Not A Boy's Name - Conrad Achenleck (Teacher)
Hannibal (NBC) - Will Graham (Teacher)
Jujutsu Kaisen - Gojo Satoru (Teacher)
Jujutsu Kaisen - Toji Zen'in (Teacher)
Lucifer (Netflix) - Lucifer Morningstar (Teacher)
MCU - Loki Laufeyson (Teacher)
Original - Aurinn Laurentius (Student)
Original - Bellatrix Bakhar (Student)
Original - Christine Delacroix (Teacher)
Original - Hanako 'Rosalina' Nurumi (Teacher)
Original - Jisu (Eden Woods) (Student)
Original - Karma D'Auvergn (Teacher)
Our Flag Means Death - Edward Teach (Teacher)
Our Flag Means Death - Izzy Hands (Student)
Persona 3 Portable - Kotone Shiomi (Student)
Persona 5 R - Goro Akechi (Student)
Persona 5 - Haru Okumura (Student)
Persona 5 - Ren Amamiya (Student)
Pride and Prejudice - Elizabeth Bennet (Student)
Return to Labrynth - Sarah Williams (Teacher)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Snow White (Student)
Stargate: Atlantis - John Sheppard (Teacher)
Star Trek: AOS - James T. Kirk (Student)
Star Wars - Darth Vader (Teacher)
Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order - Trilla Suduri (Student)
The Adventure Zone: Balance - Kravitz (Teacher)
The Adventure Zone: Balance - Lydia (Teacher)
The Adventure Zone: Graduation - Fitzroy Maplecourt (Student)

NEW ARRIVALS

New arrivals will be starting their first season in the winter, but they're welcomed to the castle early, under the watchful eyes of the Silver Court. Upon arrival, they will be shown to a room by a human whose eyes glow softly from within, with vacant smiles. Thralls. There, the human thralls will draw them a bath and bring them new clothes to wear to their first meeting. These are rich, expensive things made of high quality fabric. Whether it's a silk dress and a heavy velvet cowl, or a fine pants and a vest made from a brocade, the servants will provide. The new initiate's old clothes will be burned after, in a symbol of the life they are leaving behind. If they are hungry, they will be provided food. If they need anything at all, they need only ask their new servants.

Later that night they are taken to a grand hall, with high arched ceilings and candles burning in chandeliers. There are figures painted overhead, beautiful and entwined. Some have their eyes are colored to match the courts, others are gracefully placed in their death, with blood dripping from necks and wrists.

Balconies line the hall behind a forest of pillars, and vampires all watch as the group walk through (some more hungrily than others).

"Welcome to your first undying season, initiates," a pale, silver-haired vampire calls. They have silver eyes are clad in silver robes, but command the attention of everyone in attendance. They have a beauty that seems neither male nor female. They are standing at the center of a wide semi-circle of other vampires, "As the Silver Court's acting voice at this end of the Autumn season, allow me to introduce you to the Houses that will be your new homes."

The vampire, Revar, gives the newcomers an overview of all of the courts—Blue, Red, Gold, Silver, and Black—and then invites those already claimed by their Courts to join the vampires who will be their Makers.

Revar offers the Foundlings who are left a gentle, knowing smile, and then allows them to be chosen. They are like the last sheep left at the auction, and the vampires who take them may not be the enthused about it. Nevertheless, Revar waits patiently until all have found a maker.

Now that they are paired up it is expected—indeed, required—that the initiate drink from their maker. That is their Beginning. Only once they have truly begun can they can be considered novices.

AUTUMN NOX

Silver Court is in season and for the Autumn Nox it holds a large symposium, inviting all the best vampire minds from around lands nearby and far. The whole castle is abuzz with new activity. The stables are packed full of horses, carriages litter the grounds, but somehow the castle has enough rooms to house all the new arrivals.

Novices will find that some of these vampires have not seen a human-novice in a very, very long time. These vampires might see the human-novices more like specimens, curious about their every move. They won't bite, but novices may find themselves observed as they wander the castle and its grounds.

The symposium itself is open to anyone at the castle. Scholars can present on any topic at all. Novices will find that these range from the incredibly mundane (you've always wanted to attend a history of bottom-feeding river fish, haven't you?) to the truly fascinating (new insights into how vampire hearts work) to the downright strange (the symposium has a range of lectures very close to dawn about the sharing of vampire...fluids). Seasoned novices with their own Autumn classes to attend are expected to keep up with their studies, but some teachers may let them out of a session to attend the lectures and workshops of the symposium.

The Silver Court vampires are incredibly busy between running the symposium and trying to help the new novices get settled in. They may need some volunteers to lend a hand with setting up rooms or helping scholars find their way around. In fact, volunteers might find themselves leading scholars down to the second kitchen for a bite to eat, a strong reminder that even these demure learners are still monsters who must drink blood.

PUMPKINS-GONE-WILD

The symposium isn't all that the autumn season brings. The Silver Court’s talents are on display in other ways—sometimes not in ways another had particularly hoped. An overly zealous youngblood in the Silver Court tried to grow a few extra pumpkins for the occasion and ended up with a few too many! The pumpkin vines break out of the green house and start sprouting pumpkins everywhere. These are no ordinary pumpkins, they will sprout and grow and become fully formed in the course of a night. Better keep an eye out for those vines or else your room might become full of pumpkins! Luckily, the pumpkins aren’t rotting any time soon (they’ll last until winter, or so the Silver Court vampires are saying), but it can be pretty inconvenient for them to grow everywhere. Start cutting those vines to pieces, and hope they don’t try to entangle you in the process.

LIBRARY CLEAN-UP

Meanwhile, with all the scholars in town are making a mess of the library, much to the Silver Court vampire’s dismay. Books are being checked out and not checked back in, passed around from scholar to scholar. You might find those lost books just about anywhere. Who was reading in a tree? Anyone who collects the books and returns them to the library is sure to get a little bit of favor with the librarians, and it’s never a bad thing to have a bit of an in with a Court. If you’re worried about failing Silver Court, it’s time to get searching! Although how you’re going to convince a 300 year old vampire that time is not fake and that deadlines are real (and in fact were two days ago) is anyone’s guess.

UNETHICAL EXPRIMENTS

[CW: Torture, experiments]

Those who venture towards the basement might hear something a little different than normal. The thralls who spend their time down there are normally quiet, commanded to keep silent and pleasant for the vampires they serve. But with the arrival of the new scholars comes disquieting, inhuman screams from the darker reaches of the basement. Novices trying to catch a glimpse will be chased away, but teachers might be invited to watch as these vampires experiment on one another, all in the name of science. What’s a little torture, when you’re undying?

Thanks for joining us for our first TDM! For any questions regarding the TDM prompts, please comment in the thread below. For general game questions, please check the FAQ/Game Info. Remember that the game proper will begin mid December, in the Winter Season, so Students/Novices should create their prompts under the assumption that the TDM takes place during the season prior to the one they will be apping as.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Well, she's brave, Xenk will give her that. He nods at her, approaching now that she has his attention. She's a foundling, so a court and maker would be assigned regardless of who she speaks to, but Xenk isn't so set in his ways that he minds learning new things, and new perspectives.

That, or she'll die before her fourth season. Either way. There are worse things to do. Xenk's steps are quiet and steady as he approaches her, his posture ramrod-straight and his golden gaze focused. ]

Tell me. Where are you from, foundling?

[ Ah. Part of her wasn't expecting the vampire to come over from her acknowledging him. Where Eden's posture and stance was quite good, but also very casual, as Xenk grew closer the teen's own stance stilled and was made a little more 'proper.' Either in knowing the difference in their places, or because of how straight this man was standing. 'What is he, military or something?' It was definitely a curiosity.

Eden wasn't going to shy away from the gaze, however, being the type to keep eye contact with whomever she was speaking with. ]

The Old Woods in the south region. Though there's a bit of a feud between a couple towns about what the whole name's meant to be, because of it's size and age.

[ In other words, those that didn't get caught up in the argument simply called it as she had. The lack of a proper town or village was purposeful; not for evasion, but simply the truth. ]

[ Making eye-contact with Xenk is a mistake Eden must learn from... Xenk looms above her impassively, but not judgmentally. He's sizing her up, though he's always willing to believe in the potential of novices. ]

I see.

[ Not Gold lands, in other words. He seems way less interested now, so perhaps that's why he changes topics. ]

And what do you think of the procession so far?

[ Being literally 5'4", it's quite easy to loom. Eden's learned not to let height be a means of intimidation for people, discarding that as anything more than the fact that it meant she had to look somewhat upwards. Whether a good sign or not, the teen's grey eyes will remain in keeping contact. ]

The procession?

[ She was listening and following along during everything, but more of her attention was on the finer details of the hall. Not as an appreciator of art per se, but because it was the nicest place she remembers being at. Though she did notice more than exposed body parts in the art when looking up. ]

I think someone should make sure the vampires take care of their hunger before it. Some were drooling. It ruins the moment just a little bit.

[ Xenk nods, as if taking her suggestion quite seriously. And he is -- he takes almost everything seriously. It's part of what makes it so easy for him to loom. ]

This is not inaccurate. I am sure some of them are looking forward to receiving their chosen Novices. Or perhaps guide a Foundling through their undying seasons. Though as you say, just as many of them do see your kind as potential meals.

[ He draws his hand behind his back. ]

You need not worry. The castle's thralls provide more than enough sustenance.

Ah, that's another reason to make sure you all handle your hungers first.

[ Even before the ceremony had started, those with a maker gossiped about how the 'beginning' was supposed to go. So while there was no experience with the way things worked in this society, she was already applying the logic she had already learned about a body's balance. ]

Are the ones that are planning or expected to be makers made sure to have something before the ceremony? Doesn't doing something like that leave a drain on the body? It'd be better to make sure there's a surplus that's brought back to even instead of causing a deficit.

[ Eden, you're literally mentally jumping ahead further than where your courses are meant to start. Stop that. ]

Of course.

[ He nods. As a member of the Gold Court, he has a personal stake (ha-ha) in whether the thralls are adequate enough for everyone in the castle. With the arrival of the novices and the upcoming symposium, any feedback is welcome. Even from the novices themselves, as long as they're not rude about it. ]

None of the vampires here have any reason to go hungry. The castle has played host to endless seasons before your own -- you need not fear. A Beginning takes only the smallest amount of blood in the exchange. It will surely be more draining for you than for your maker.

No reason to go hungry on purpose, you mean.

[ People can get so caught up in what they're doing that everything else in the world fell to the background. The last part had the teen thinking a bit. Sure, it meant committing to drinking some of the blood, but humans used blood as an ingredient in food before. Sure, it was animal blood, but she hadn't thought of the effect. ]

I didn't think we'd feel anything like that. It just sounded like some part of an initiation ritual. Why would it be more draining on our side?

[ Xenk nods. It's true, some people forget to eat if they're busy, or for whatever reason. Not everyone follows a precise schedule like him. ]

It is the first step in a great change. A vampire's blood is foreign to your body, and this will begin the transformation into its new form. While its taste will be exquisite, we have found that some adapt more easily to the intrusion than others. It is uncommon, but possible.

[ Xenk just out here sharing worst-case scenarios though, don't take his word for it. ]

[ She genuinely can't tell if it's vampire bias or genuine memory that has the teacher saying the taste of blood will be 'exquisite.' ]

Do you remember what the first change in your 'transformation' was?

[ Fishing for information to better prepare herself? Maybe. It almost sounds like some kind of drug, and given that the circumstances of how she lived was uncommon, she'd rather know. ]

[ It's a little of Column A, a little of Column B... Blood rituals be like that. ]

It was many years ago, but I believe I first noticed the change in my eyes. Mine were previously dark, thus the gold shone through quite clearly.

[ He says this with a clear note of pride. There's nothing he loves more than being in the Gold Court. ]

... How about the second change?

[ Given her grey eyes, and her gut feeling (more what other teachers had said while waiting, in-between the times she's been absorbed in looking at the various details,) one could imagine why that wouldn't seem like as much of a transformation.

Not everyone can have cool changes in their eyes, Mr Pride. She wants something that was more obviously tracked in her own case. ]

[ Silver is so much shinier than gray though!! But Xenk doesn't miss a beat at her question. ]

Then fangs are the next thing I noticed. One's skin clears, and their senses sharpen, but it may happen gradually enough that you may not notice. But sharper teeth are impossible to miss.

[ He smiles. Did he bite his tongue a few times at the start? Maybe. He is not going to admit to that, he's got that Pride after all. ]

[ Hers are shiny, too! Well, more of that blue-grey shiny, but it seemed subtle enough to miss until she was at the end of this course of classes. The fangs were a good note, nodding appreciatively and thinking 'oh, that makes sense' because when a villager had broken a tooth, they kept hurting their tongue. ]

That all makes sense.

[ Though she pauses in the direct eye contact, giving the crowd of people a look. One of those more curious and 'proper' looks as more than just masses in the area. It's when she most hopes that no one's reading into her mind, because it's the realization that a good amount of people are quite attractive, both novices and teachers ~~yes, even you too Xenk~~. It's quite the collection after having only been consistently around a single person her entire life. It's also a hope that this doesn't become a big and distracting problem. ]

Anything significantly different for those going through this Beginning at a younger age compared to... Even the age you were turned. From your own professional observations, that is.

[ You are an adult, after all. And potentially very ~~old~~ experienced. This sounds like she's going to go through two major growth stages at once. ]

[ He does tend to have that effect on people. Xenk doesn't even find it strange at this point. Vampires are attractive. Eden would not be the first person to arrive in Castle Courtsheart and think "oh no, everyone is hot!" ]

It is somewhat rarer to be turned at a younger age, as you are.

[ He is admittedly not great at telling human ages anymore. He'd guess she's 15? But no, Foundlings usually start at 16. So 16 then? He has no clue. ]

Many who are turned young mask their appearance upon their Becoming, to signify an entry into their new undying life. You will learn to mask sooner, of course, but there are many who embody their masks on a daily basis, as they do not wish to be looked down on for their perceived youth.

So bias about the young...

[ That gets, probably, the most nonchalant shrugs. That kind of bias has always gone on, so vampires doing it as well meant almost less. She wouldn't change herself over something like age, though. Not when she's in the prime of her youth! Well, the prime and the very end, or forever? She'll think about that later tonight. ]

Masking day after day, though... Sounds a bit tiring, or draining. Say, can you learn to be able to tell when someone's masking?

[ The prime for now and forever... that's gotta suck to contemplate! Good thing Xenk doesn't have to worry about that at all. ]

I agree. It would not be truthful -- though some believe their mask speaks their truth.

[ He's just not a guy who believes in changing anything about himself. He's perfect just the way he is! ]

Mind reading is the most common way. Though a maker would have little trouble sensing the novice's mask. As would any blood claim -- to share blood is to share truth.

[ Yet she also knows that her prime would've lasted a while even if this didn't happen. At least there was this final year of growth, even if most of it is being spent learning about what the undead life will be like. ]

I suppose when you can make the truth appear however you want...

[ She doesn't know how much of a 'truth' it is. There's plenty of time to settle that though, now isn't there? ]

Ah, so mind reading and a blood connection would get around it... Well, not around it, but see that it's still just a mask. Which do you think is easier? To be able to read if someone's masking, or what they're currently thinking of?

[ Also she appreciates this mini-lesson. It'll make future classes easier. ]

[ Xenk makes a minute shrug. Discussions on the existence of truth or justice might fall more on the hands of the Blue Court, as he leans into Gold Court so he doesn't have to worry about such questions. ]

It is a useful skill to have, though its use depends on each person.

[ Like, he doesn't look down on anyone who uses it, it's just not his style. ]

Indeed. The body can change, but the mind remains the same. Even in a different form, we remain as we are. And blood is a deeper truth than even the mind.

[ Her question does give him pause. He appreciates her keen interest in these topics, especially since mind reading falls under his purview, and it's definitely earning her points in his book. ]

It depends on the vampire's defenses. In my classes, I teach novices how to guard their thoughts -- this can include thoughts of their masks, though it is not strictly the purpose. However if one is skilled enough, as many Blue Court vampires are, then masking can become as second nature. In such a case, it would be difficult to determine, and far easier to read their surface thoughts.

[ She'll figure out what she thinks about it even more when classes actually start for them as well. At the least, Eden's listening and thinking about everything Xenk's saying. ]

Because if it's second nature, it's just a further extension, instead of some active change that you're putting before people? I guess I'll understand more after the ceremony and when all of these lessons begin.

[ Instead of sneaking this much of a preview. Even Eden can recognize that she's jumping a little ahead of herself, given the ceremony was still happening. ]

[ Gosh, it's just so nice to talk to somebody and have them listen... most people fall asleep during his lectures, this is great. He still loves exposition. ]

I believe so. I'm afraid I cannot speak of the matter first-hand, as I do not personally make a habit of masking.

[ He shrugs again. It's such a small movement when you're as ramrod straight (but not, you know straight) as Xenk is. ]

Reading thoughts is far easier, in my opinion. Most project their thoughts without intending it, before they learn how to guard their minds.

[ With how straight this man stood and walked, Eden could believe that he wasn't the masking type. Yet that last part has her covering her mouth, holding back a cough of concern. ]

Projecting thoughts? I know there's keeping active thoughts in the mind, but I didn't realize...

[ She was going to say how she didn't think she'd do well for mind reading, but now. Xenk, she's had a lot of thoughts tonight. Some that weren't going to be stopping for while she was living around so many ~~attractive~~ people. There was no embarrassment about having such thoughts, but knowing that she could be projecting them? Oh dear. What if? ]

[ It's ok, Eden, he's used to it. He is very used to it. He knows he's hot. It's all white noise after a while... ]

It is not natural for humans to guard their thoughts, as they are unaware of the potential to have them intruded upon. You need not fret -- I do not judge you for your thoughts.

[ Yeah, he's heard it. All of it. ]

Those who project their thoughts so clearly are often skilled in mind reading. Perhaps you would do well in one of my courses.

... I don't see why I would be judged for them.

[ She's thinking nothing cruel, heinous or just straight up mean, after all. It's embarrassing to find out that she was projecting, but wasn't embarrassed about the content. It was a fine line. ~~At least she was thinking about hot people more than her dagger.~~

Eden definitely wasn't expecting someone to say she'd do well in a Gold course, though. ]

You think so? I mean, I was going to look into the basics for all the courts, just to learn them...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme - New Blood

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