Test Drive Meme - New Blood

[undyingmods]

DEC TEST DRIVE MEME

WELCOME, VAMPIRES!

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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

Comments

[midlifecryseas]

[ Despite the growling, Edward's calm smile never wavers. Once he's sure he has the novice's attention through conversation, he lets go of his arm. ]

Exactly what it sounds like, I reckon. Freaky experiments on one another. Torture. Probably weird sex stuff thrown in. Blue Court has a reputation for being the deviant ones in this place, but our imaginations have got nothing on those Silver types.

[ Edward looks the novice over for any tells: colors in his clothes, his eyes, pressing on the edges of his mind to see if there's any give. ]

Don't think I've seen you in any of my classes, yet. First season?

[flagofbone]

[His clothing were darker shades of blue and as he looks over Edward, the flicks of bright almost turquoise blue stood out in his brown eyes, before he glances back to the hall, his frame taut and uneasy - holding himself to keep from acting on his instinct to barge in. Harlock's mind seem rather resolute.]

I am.

[midlifecryseas]

[ Blue, then. And freshly, too, from how little's in his eyes and how strongly the smell of human blood is on him, still. The little push back on his prying is interesting, and Ed respects it. His creeping presence is gone from Harlock's mind just as quickly as it came. ]

Yeah?

[ His eyebrows raise in interested, mild surprise, as if he didn't know it before Harlock told him. ]

Don't worry about all this then, mate. Unless your maker says otherwise, none of it's for you.

[flagofbone]

Just like that?

[No... he can't act out too much, not yet. He had to remind himself, wincing as he accidentally bit his tongue.]

So torture is just normal here.

[midlifecryseas]

Yep. Just like that.

[ Ed smiles, serene. Ah, to be so young. And human. The smell of blood is suddenly stronger, liquid, as Harlock bites his tongue, and Ed sucks from his pipe and exhales smoke to dull the taste of it in the air around them. ]

Normal for the poor wretches enthralled at Courtsheart, yeah. Normal for those Silver bastards, too. Kind of a relief, actually, when they take it out on each other like this, instead of the students. It's the rest of the year you'll need to keep your head about you 'round them.

[flagofbone]

[He bit back an obvious 'it's not right', knowing damn well that few people would care in this place, though he can't hide the expression on his face, trying to resist the very human urge to prod at his minor injury.]

So you're here to keep the new students from stumbling in blind?

[Harlock does make note of the warning]

[midlifecryseas]

[ Good call. Surprisingly restrained for a potential member of the Blue Court, too. Could be useful to them someday, this one. ]

From stumbling in at all. Going down there won't do any good. Your effort's better spent putting it out of mind.

[flagofbone]

I don't have a habit of forgetting things.

[He realized he hadn't heard a scream in a while - which is arguably worse than hearing another in his opinion. Harlock exhales slowly, his body still wound up with tension, trying to squash the sense of helplessness of not being able to do anything meaningful here.]

I think I've seen you on the balcony while they were sorting us out.

[midlifecryseas]

Not saying you should, mate. Remembering the traumatizing shit is our court's specialty, after all. Someone has to.

[ Yeah, lack of screams isn't a good thing, usually. Could go either way, though. The change in topic's a good idea, though. The "putting it out of mind" he was talking about, so he answers readily. ]

Impressive memory, there. Yeah, you probably did, for a time. Had my own novice to deal with this season, but before that? Just business as ush.

[flagofbone]

I learned to keep my eye on my surroundings, even if seems fine to put your guard down.

[It's... almost a relief when a tired sob came to them, twisted as it is. Harlock's eyes darken, clearly filing things away for later]

And it's clear I can't afford to do the latter here.

[midlifecryseas]

[ Good and wise instinct, there. And Edward would be remiss to tell anyone in the castle they should let their guard down. Still, he's not a Blue Court teacher for nothing. His eyes don't stray the way the novice's does, fixed on the student. ]

Mostly. Until that constant vigilance wears you out. Gotta relax where you can, hm?

[flagofbone]

[His eyes flick back, and a wry smile appears ever so briefly]

I am aware of the principle - but you'll have to forgive that someone new to - well everything here - is still trying to assess the situation.

[If he were with his fellow bandits or a place he's familiar with, he'd be more at ease - but alone and still adjusting, he'll remain cautious]

[midlifecryseas]

Lucky you found a friendly teacher so soon after your arrival, instead of the other kind.

[ Look at this fanged smile. The epitome of trustworthy, this guy. ]

Shit at introductions, though. I'm Edward Teach, Blue Court instructor, notorious for being easy, grade-wise... mostly. What's your name, lad?

[flagofbone]

If you're the friendly one, I'd hate to see the strict ones.

[His smile is wry as he introduces himself in quite a casual tone]

Harlock, Phantom Harlock. Former bandit and general troublemaker.

[midlifecryseas]

[ That earns him a chuckle. Bandit and troublemaker, eh? ]

You'll fit right in.

[ Edward finally glances in the direction of the basement, and the ongoing screams, before looking at Harlock again and nodding the other way. ]

'Fraid I'm stuck here for a bit, but why don't you go find a bite to eat elsewhere? Can't taste it myself, but I hear the meals you humans get made for you are fucking incredible. Enjoy while it lasts, man.

[ And since they can't appreciate normal food anymore to the point it makes most of them sick, the kitchens are about the last place in Castle Courtsheart vampires are wont to go. The perfect place for even a skittish first season to relax, though Edward doesn't go so far as to say as much. ]

[flagofbone]

Yeah, I might just do that.

[He tilt his head, as if trying to discern some deeper meaning before apparently brushing the idea off. Harlock gives a final, hard stare down to where the experiments are before turning away - stopping just long enough to give a brief nod before disappearing]

[midlifecryseas]

[ Good lad. Edward smiles blithely and nods his approval, still seemingly ignoring the stairs to the basement beside him. He focuses on repacking and relighting his pipe again, which he gestures back with at Harlock's nod.

Once the novice is rounded the corner, Ed's smile drops. He waits another fifteen minutes, counting the time off in his head until he's sure Harlock is on his way elsewhere. The Edward sighs, knocks the ashes from his pipe and heads downstairs. ]

(ooc: I figure this thread is finished, but ngl I'm adding this comment entirely to have 10 comments for rewards/regains; feel free to add one more of your own for the same!)

[flagofbone]

[Once he thinks he's out of Teach's hearing rang - which is he likely underestimating, the bandit suddenly punches the wall, ignoring the sharp protest his knuckles are giving at the action, his teeth gritting.

Damnit! He's so damn powerless! All he can do is observe and swallow his bile.

But he won't forget... he won't forget what he had felt.]