TDM #4

[fabulists]

fable test drive meme #4

// away with the fairies

In your land, there may be stories of the Fae taking people away. Perhaps you haven't heard of the Fae at all, or perhaps you are more familiar with them than others. No matter how well acquainted you are with the Fae, everyone around you has experienced the same fate tonight: Being taken by them. Partially, at least. For they did not want to kidnap anyone from their home and take them away from the life they knew. In a small jar of fairy dust, part of your soul was taken in the night and brought to a magical village by the name of Fable.

On arrival, the Fae release you from the jar before waving their magic wands, and materialise this taken little part of you into a brand new you. From here onwards, your new life begins, shared among all sorts of magical creatures. Here, you will be allowed to grow, thrive and enjoy the bounties provided to you by these mysterious and wonderful creatures. In exchange, they ask for a share of the magical fruit that you grow in your garden, donated to their dragon overseer in exchange for rewards. After a briefing on your new life, you understand things as best as you possibly can. Now, it's time to settle into a brand new cottagecore life.

Welcome to Fable.

// arrival

Now that you are a resident of Fable, you have a brand new cottage, a garden, and a few tools to use! There's not an awful lot in your cottage, though: Just a cardboard box, a lamp, a cassette tape and a single bed. Fear not, though! By participating in friendly tasks, your cottage will look great in no time.

Something sparkly catches your attention before you realise it's a message board, advertising an array of tasks for bonus fruit. Did this thing appear out of nowhere just now? That must be the case, since you can swear it wasn't there a second ago. The board may inspire you to go out there and mingle. It seems that the monthly tasks are geared towards friendliness to welcome this new season!

april showers & pretty flowers

// treacherous thunderstorm

Around this time of year, the weather in Fable can certainly get hectic. While magic can only do so much to tidy the remaining fallen leaves off the ground, there's nothing like a doozy of a downpour to really sweep everything fresh and new. With all of the new flowers that have been growing in Fable, a lot of rainwater is certainly needed to give them all a drink. The dragons and storm spirits have been brewing up a torrential downpour scheduled to fall all over Fable and beyond - along with some strong winds. Are you prepared for the occasion?

From cottage to cottage, roof tiles rattle and leaves are swept away. It is advised to not go outside during this storm period, and if you're caught in the rain, to take shelter immediately! If you can't reach your cottage in time, there are other village landmarks to take shelter beneath. The thunder is very loud and the wind is strong enough to knock someone off their feet. It might be best to keep close to people in this weather - going out alone could be very dangerous. And if you're cooped up inside with a friend or a stranger, why not get to know them to pass the time?

It is important to be wary of the lightning. If someone gets struck by lightning, they will not die - but they will experience an injury and a magical feedback loop which swaps their personality! The cure for this problem is rainwater tea - a remedy which is advertised throughout the town's message boards as a precaution for any unlucky residents. The affected person will be lightning charged, causing them to receive an electric shock every time their hands are near water, which will make brewing tea impossible. Someone who has struck will need to rely on another person to brew the tea for them. A lightning-shaped scar will mark the person who got struck wherever they were affected.

After the storm ceases, there may be property damage such as collapsed gates, fallen fences, missing roof tiles and even an injury or two! Oh no! As compensation for enduring such a hearty storm - the realm's overseer, Prism, provides brand new repairing tools to those who had taken damage.

// flowers of kanshi

After enduring such a horrendous downpour, you definitely feel the urge to get out of town. The residents of Fable gossip endlessly about how stunning the cherry blossoms are in Kanshi this time of year, and the fairies practically insist that you go.

Upon arrival, you can see that Kanshi has received quite a beating from the storm. The winds and rain have blown cherry blossom petals all over the place - in the streets, rivers, and they're covering the buildings. You can see all sorts of tiny magical creatures making their best efforts to clean up, part of you wonders why they aren't using magic.

You feel a tap on the shoulder, and realise that it's a tiny sakura dragon sitting perched on you.

"Hi," they say, "I hope it's not too much to ask, but ... could you help us out here?"

You did come here to relax, so you may be a little bit hesitant at first. Still, you'll allow the dragon to continue.

"Kanshi normally has a dusting of petals here and there, but this is just too much for us to deal with on our own. If you help us gather petals, we'll offer you free access to our hot springs and restaurants. We'll even use the petals to craft furniture for you."

That's not a bad suggestion. Besides, it would be difficult to enjoy a trip here with petals covering the place. Once you agree to the dragon's request, you are given a fishing net to catch petals on the ground, in the water and in the air.

// sakura springs

Finally! It's time to relax. The sakura dragons were true to their word - in addition to the furniture gifted in exchange for the petals you collected, you have access to all of Kanshi's most favoured attractions!

There are incredible restaurants with shiba inu chefs ready to tailor to your every desire! The dining can be enjoyed in outdoor cafés surrounded by flowers, evening restaurants - and even an izakaya (alcohol & food bar) with food and drink available all night. It seems that the residents of Kanshi are very grateful for all the effort taken to clean up their home. If you want to spend the night here, even, the owners of the ryokan (traditional inns) will be glad to accommodate any guests. There are many beautiful wonders all across Kanshi, but one of the most renowned attractions are the hot springs. These incredible buildings feature indoor pools, outdoor waterways and rivers to bathe in which rejuvenates and uplifts anyone who steps in these waters. It's no wonder that creatures travel from all over just to bathe in them!

For every thread you write, you will receive cherry blossom furniture for your cottage! Feel free to leave a comment here to redeem these once you've written 5 tags in your thread! Since our TDMs are considered game canon, if you choose to app, these rewards will cross over with you when you join the game!

Let's see what the attractions of Kanshi have in store!

The Flower Cafés are sooooo cute! Situated outside, these charming cafés offer spectacular views of Kanshi's flower fields. All of the food and drinks arrive in incredibly charming pastel colours! (Even the savoury stuff!) Enjoying time in the café while surrounded by all of this pollen will cause a flower to bloom in your hair every time you smile! When they sprout, it's a very ticklish sensation - which might make you smile a lot. This ticklish pollen can be treated with a swim. Good thing there's a hot spring nearby!

The Restaurants have no shortage of incredible food! Whether you would like to order off the set menu, a conveyor belt or destroy all-you-can eat, every option is available. The more food you consume, the more you will feel the urge to open up and talk about yourself. Even things you might not normally be so inclined to tell strangers...!

The Izakaya Bars are the perfect spots for any adults who love good food and good alcohol. There are no innocuous effects from the food and drink ... apart from the house special - cherry plum sake! It is everyone's favourite drink in Kanshi and all-time best seller. Consuming the sake will cause any of the following effects: giggles, excessive compliments, tingly sensations, increased stamina and the urge to overshare your thoughts.

The Hot Springs are beloved by all of Kanshi's locals and beyond. These huge, towering buildings are crafted with wood and feature private indoor pools, outdoor waterfall pools and smaller pools which are connected by streams. In order to allow guests to bathe in peace, the mythological & animal villagers of Kanshi have granted their guests from Fable to have an area all to themselves. They have also provided care packages to the guests! They contain a variety of scented bath salts to choose from. Each salt type has an (undisclosed) effect once in use. The Rose Scented Salts will make someone feel warm, friendly and affectionate. The Vanilla Bean Salts will make someone feel confident and talkative. Their mood will also be enhanced - whether it's a happy kind or melancholic kind. And the Warming Lavender Salts, surprisingly, will give someone the tail and ears of an animal!

over the rainbow

// a rainsplosion

You were likely more than aware of the intense storm that happened earlier. Just when you figure that everything is settled, you are interrupted by a group of frantic fairies flittering through Fable's village.

"Quick! Quick! Come with us! You've gotta see it!"

See what, exactly? Once you have the opportunity, you ask these excitable fae why they're in such a hurry.

"There's gonna be an explosion! A magic explosion!" ... Is that even safe?

"You know the storm? The huge storm? Well - a lot of it was magic, you know! The storm spirits created something magnificent to tidy up winter and blow everything away. And then the dragons and unicorns got involved, and they all started playing in the clouds and had a magic fight! This one cloud is so full of magic - it's going to explode! You've got to come and see it! Nothing bad will happen ... we think! But if it does, we'll fix the problem right up with our magic! Promise!"

Can you really trust the fairies to keep their promise...? But a magical explosion does sound pretty cool. Perhaps against your better judgement, you agree to go.

On the mountainside, you see it - a huge looming storm cloud flickering with rainbow colours and streaks of lightning. There are a few dragons flying nearby, with a heavy layer of anticipation in the air. You can hear laughter from the creatures, which might reassure you that you aren't in any real danger. And then--

The cloud EXPLODES with a fantastic BOOM!

You have to admit - it does look pretty incredible! Just as you take a moment to admire the rainbow explosion, the magical shockwaves blast out and phase through you which causes an immediate effect...! Uh oh?!

Depending on which colour of the magical rainbow blast hits you, a different effect will occur:

Being hit with the colour Red will cause you to kiss the person you see next! Oh, my!

Being hit with the colour Orange will transform you into a merperson! Which is great, except ... you can't see any water around here! Maybe someone can carry you to water.

Being hit with the colour Yellow will give you an animal ears and tail of your choice. So cute! But you also feel the urge to follow the instincts and behaviours of said animal to some degree, too.

Being hit with the colour Green will summon enemies for you to fight! Yikes! From the shadows, monsters manifested out of your worst fears will come to life before trying to attack you - you've been given a weapon to defend yourself, but it would be better if you battled them with another person!

Being hit with the colour Blue will make you spontaneously burst into tears. It seems like nothing can stop you from crying, either - but comfort from another will ease the pain.

Being hit with the colour Purple will cause all of your inner thoughts to hover above your head in a thought bubble. Let's hope you aren't thinking of anything too strange at the moment ...

In a standard fairytale way, all effects end at midnight. Those cheeky fairies didn't keep their promise after all!

Welcome to Fable's fourth TDM!
We're excited to have you here, and hope you enjoy the prompts!
To familiarise yourself with the setting, please take a look at the arrivals & premise page!
We would also appreciate it if you could have a look at the rules as well.
As a general note, the TDMs are considered game canon!
Which means all rewards for fruit & furniture can be used in the game if you apply!

New arrivals have a cottage, a network device, the clothes on their back and a single item from home.
To view the locations, NPCs and more information about the game, please visit our full navigation!

If you have any questions that you have not seen answered in the FAQ, please ask in the FAQ post. Thank you!

(CODE)

Comments

dorothea | fire emblem: three houses (verdant wind)

[backstreetbard]

1. take cover

[ No one ever plans to be caught out in a storm, and it wasn't as if Dorothea had intentionally ignored the warnings, but she had errands to run that afternoon and an overcast sky had never stopped her before. Of course, by the time she ducks under the shelter of the vine-covered bench swing, she's soaked to the skin and shivering. When she spots you out in the downpour, she waves you under the modest shelter. ]

Come on, get out of the rain. This isn't much, but it's better than nothing.


2. kanshi

[ If you ask Dorothea to describe what a dragon ought to look like, she'll paint you a picture of words; they're immense, ferocious creatures with teeth like swords and slashing claws and great, leathery wings. The delicate little petal wings of the sakura dragons don't match that description at all, and she's immediately charmed.

If you happen to cross paths with her while she's helping them clean up all the excess cherry blossoms, you'll find her crouching beside a little pond, scooping up the petals with her net. When she spots you, she reaches out with a request. ]

Would you hold my hand a moment? If I lean out any farther I'll fall in, but there's a clump of petals there that I just can't reach.


3. orange you glad--

[ Dorothea is quickly learning that following fairies is a gamble. The little things had insisted, wanting her to see the fantastic explosion of magic, but her curiosity has not served her well in this case. Being bowled over by a powerful wave of energy is never fun, and especially when you can't get back up again on account of the lower half of you turning into a fish's tail. ]

Can someone help me? Please?

[ What is even happening? Why does she already feel like she's drying out? Why did she have to become part fish when she hates fish? All pressing questions. Even more pressing--will you help this girl get to the water? ]


4. wildcard

[ If none of the above prompts tickle your fancy, make something up and I'll play along. you can message me here or on discord at mochi#1888. ]

kanshi

[secondthoughts]

[ Whatever Hector was doing or wherever he was headed, he quickly forgets it all when Dorothea turns to him and asks him for help directly. Of course he'll help--if only he could go on with his life without all this altruism (mostly because it'll take him a moment to remember what he was doing, or where he was going).

So without a word, or much acknowledgement as to what she says--as far as he's concerned, she didn't really need to explain herself at all--Hector firmly wraps his hand around hers and lowers his center of gravity, making himself an anchor so she can lean as far out as she needs to. ]

Go on. I got you.

[backstreetbard]

[ Oh, how gallant! Dorothea makes quick work of scooping up the swirling petals, not wanting to hold up her assistant for too long a time. Once she's collected everything she can reach, she gives Hector a nod to pull her back, then tosses her hair to get it out of her face. ]

Thank you for that. I think of all the problems one could have, too many flowers is fairly mild, but it's nice to help all the same, isn't it?

[ Then she extends her hand again, this time in a more formal way. ]

I'm Dorothea. What should I call you?

[secondthoughts]

[ As Hector pulls Dorothea up, a grin finally cracks across his face, and he stands up a little straighter. ]

I'd much rather have too many flowers than too few.

[ He reaches out again, grasping her hand firmly and giving it a solid shake. His mannerisms, the way he does this--it's clear that wherever he's from, or whatever he's done values a good handshake. ]

Hector. It's a pleasure, Dorothea.

[ And after a moment, he drops his hand. ]

You need a hand? This place is covered in petals.

[backstreetbard]

I have to agree with you, there. The world would be terribly dreary without flowers. Granted, I've never seen this many in one place. Even the botanical garden in Enbarr didn't have quite this concentration.

And the pleasure is mine, Hector.

[ Only 'Hector' for now, though, until she can come up with a cute nickname. ]

Your help would be appreciated, naturally, but only if you have the time to spare. You looked like you were heading somewhere, and I'd hate to detain you more than necessary.

[secondthoughts]

Nah. It really wasn't that important. [ Where was he going? The izakaya? At this hour? His alcoholism can wait. ]

Besides. I think I'd rather spend time among the blossoms.

[ Wink!

As if on cue, one of the tiny little dragons floats over to hand Hector a net, which he takes with a brief glance and a nod of thanks. He puts a foot on the edge of the canal and holds his hand out for Dorothea to take, so she can keep him up as he did for her. ]

So. What's Enbarr?

kanshi

[silentscout]

[When Dorothea makes that request, Lalli kind of just. Looks down at his noodle arms. Yeah, that's not going to be reliable.

Instead he gives out a huge sigh like he is being put upon so much by this request, but then he holds his hands out and mutters a few words in a language Dorothea likely doesn't know. A few moments later, glowing footsteps appear on the water. If she tries stepping on them, they will indeed support her weight.]

[backstreetbard]

[ Look, she has known plenty of noodle-armed people who are incredibly strong. She doesn't judge a book by its cover! But she also won't turn her nose up at a magical assist, either, and the luminous footprints are fascinating to her.

She pokes one of them gently with her net before taking a tentative step out over the water. It's a little bit of a balancing act, but she treads carefully, scooping up petals as she goes and eventually making her way back to dry land. ]

That was impressive, thank you! I've never seen magic like that before.

[silentscout]

Mhmm.

[Yeah, he sounds a little smug there. It's as if he's saying "yes, I know I'm impressive."

As for the rest though:]

Finnish magic.

[As if that explains everything.]

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea's brows arch at the attitude, but she refrains from saying anything sassy since he did just help her. ]

Finish magic.

[ Yes, "finish" with one "n." She repeats the words, head tilting slightly. It's clearly a question. ]

I see.

[ She does not see. ]

[silentscout]

[Unfortunately, Lalli doesn't quite hear the difference between 'finish' and 'Finnish', so he can't clear up that misconception. But he can tell from her tone she's asking a question, even if he doesn't understand where the confusion is coming from, so.]

If you have a question, ask it. I can't read minds.

take cover;

[veardant]

[ tighnari is used to the rain, sudden storms hardly bother him, but the wind and noise are.. less appreciated. both are hell on his ears.

he's currently hurrying toward his shop when the skies tear open, and his umbrella would be useless in this wind. but he doesn't mind getting wet. still, a loud thunderclap has him hissing through his fangs as he quickly darts beneath the shelter the young woman is gesturing toward. ]

I'd offer you my umbrella, but it won't be of much use in this wind.

[ his tail flicks, bristles, shaking off water. ]

[backstreetbard]

[ From a distance, she thought he was wearing some kind of hat, but as Tighnari ducks under the leafy canopy, she can clearly see that isn't the case. He not only has a pair of shockingly tall, foxlike ears, but a fluffy (if waterlogged) tail as well.

Now, if she'd come from any number of other Fire Emblem games, the sight of someone with animal features would come as no surprise to her, but Fodlan is devoid of such characters, so she has to school her expression and keep herself from staring to avoid being rude.

Instead, she gestures to the spot on the bench swing beside her. ]

Why don't you have a seat, then, and we can wait out the worst of the storm? [ Then, after a beat: ] I'm Dorothea.

[veardant]

[ it's fine, even in teyvat people are sometimes caught staring at his ears and tail. his people are not terribly common. also it's too bad you're not from tellius, dorothea - so many cute animal people!! ]

I'm Tighnari. Wish I could say we were meeting under better circumstances.

[ sweeping his tail aside, he sits. ]

My shop is just across the road, we can duck in when the rain lulls.

[backstreetbard]

These circumstances aren't so bad, are they? Two mysterious strangers meeting for the first time in a rain storm sounds like the start of a story, doesn't it? Though, if it were an opera, it would be a scene in the second act where two star-crossed lovers meet in secret and sing a duet about their forbidden love.

[ Naturally, her interest is piqued at the mention of a shop. ]

Oh? What sorts of wares do you sell in your shop?

[veardant]

[ at that, he arches a brow, and offers a chuckle. ]

Well, that's one way of putting it. I suppose my romantic side isn't quite so active as yours, but meeting someone new is always interesting.

[ he's hardly a romantic at all, sorry dorothea.. this fox is very boring and grounded. but he gestures to a shop across the road, and down three doors. avidya apothecary. ]

I run an apothecary. We carry many medicinal remedies and ingredients of all kinds, but also items for the care of fur, skin, scales, and feathers. Despite the sheer amount of animal-like denizens here, there was a surprising lack of these items.

orange you glad-- !

[indolentaxe]

[Hilda's seen a lot of weird things in her two months in this place, but this rainbow explosion thing is just ridiculous. It's made a total mess of things, spraying colors everywhere and setting off all kinds of bizarre effects. She was struck with yellow, and has cat ears and a tail for her trouble.

For all intents and purposes, she has every intention to just retreat and hide under a bed or something. But a familiar voice stops her in her tracks.]

Dorothea??

[It sure is her. Or, half-her. The other half is a fish. Because of course it is.

Well, she's certainly not going to leave her alone in all this chaos, especially since she can't walk.]

Here, I've got you. What do you need?

[backstreetbard]

Hildie?! Oh, thank the Goddess. Am I ever relieved to see you.

[ She holds her arms up,draping them around Hilda's shoulders when the other woman lifts her up off the ground. ]

My hero, truly. I don't suppose you know where to find any ponds or streams? I feel like I'm going to dry up.

[indolentaxe]

Yep, it's little ol' me. Your knight in shining armor.

[Well... noble in a nice dress. Close enough.]

There's a pond not too far from here. Let's get you there, and then we can play catch up. I didn't expect to see another familiar face here!

[Off they go!]

[backstreetbard]

[ Dorothea hangs on as Hilda carts her to the pond, sighing with relief when she's deposited into the water, in spite of the fact that her dress is now completely soaked. ]

That's much better. You really are a lifesaver, Hildie. But enough about me, what have you been up to? How long have you been here?

[indolentaxe]

[In solidarity, Hilda kicks her shoes off and sits at the pond's edge, dipping her feet into the water. The cool water feels nice on her skin.]

I've been here since... uh, February, they call it? Two months now.

Mostly I've just been getting to know people and getting settled. It's a lot to take in, part of you being whisked away like this.

take cover

[pyronic]

[The rain has never bothered Diluc much, immune to its bone-deep chill, but taking shelter is preferable to getting incessantly pelted by it. He'd have considered leaving Dorothea her space and finding somewhere else to lodge had it not been for her insistence, and rather than make a scene by declining, he acquiesces with a nod and sits beside her.]

I suppose you've neglected to bring your umbrella as well. Thank you.

[Y'know, for letting his grumpy ass take up valuable space here.]

[backstreetbard]

I don't even own one, truth be told. [ Dorothea admits this with a small laugh. ] So the rain caught me quite unprepared. But this is a pleasant spot to wait out the worst of it.

[ As pleasant as it can be when they're both soaked, and there's no telling how long it will take for the rain to slow down. ]

I'm Dorothea.

[pyronic]

[It's quite apparent from the jump that this woman is more forward than most, but that's a quality Diluc has always appreciated in others. He turns towards her to introduce himself properly, nodding as he does.]

Diluc Ragnvindr. Have you been here long, Dorothea?

[Busybody that he is, Diluc has pretty much catalogued every face he's come across, but only now has he met her.]

[backstreetbard]

Pleased to meet you, Didi. [ Congrats, that's your new name forever now. Hope you like it! ] Not at all, I arrived just a few days ago. It isn't home, but it's nice enough.

[ Nice, with none of the comforts or the problems of home. No having to deal with the rebuilding that comes after a war, but none of her friends are around, either. ]

What about you?