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March | Test Drive Meme
Jikan Test Drive MemeMinimize
You've seen this before. The thought strikes suddenly, during whatever it is you were doing. Having an important conversation? Running away from home? Dying in the midst of a fierce battle? Where ever you are, one things is true: you're certain this isn't the first time you've lived through this. But upon realizing this, that's when it happens. Like someone hitting rewind on the VCR, you're back where you were ten minutes ago. And it happens again. And again. And again--Until finally, something is different. A door stands in front of you. Will you go through it? Nothing else seems to be working, so this might be your only chance.
Upon opening the door and heading inside, a strange feeling overwhelms you. It's comforting and warm, like being enveloped in a soft, heavy blanket. You hear a voice murmuring in your ear, but it's unintelligible.
And in the next moment, you've appeared in front of a mysterious stone shrine in the middle of a forest, surrounded by the unfamiliar yet worried faces of fox-like humans in red and white robes, speaking in a foreign language that doesn't sound so foreign to you anymore.
Maryouku University
There isn't much time to process what's happening before characters are transported to the nearby Maryouku University. All injuries are completely healed, and those under mental duress will have a powerful soothing spell cast on them to calm them down. Their every need is met: food is offered, and questions are answered. "You've arrived in the Western Kingdom of Nippon, on a planet called Gaia," they explain. "When you became aware of the timeloop, we... well, let us explain."
Orientation Maryouku University, Kyoto
Everyone is brought to a large auditorium, where dozens of other people looking similarly out of place are seated around them. The Kitsune Yokai from before filter on stage, as well as a number of humans and other Yokai in labcoats. And after a brief introduction, they begin to explain. What they experienced back home was a timeloop. While the loops in their home worlds are smaller and likely to resolve on their own, the fact that such a small amount of time is being repeated is what makes them so dangerous for those who become aware of it. And they've been working around the clock, checking adjacent universes for others who've become aware. While the technical explanations may go over the heads of most, that's not the reason they were all brought together like this.
And they continue to explain: their own world was trapped in a year long loop for decades, if not longer. Through the use of an ancient form of bonding magic, they bound their world to the present flow of time, allowing it to progress past the timeloop. Or at least, that's how they thought it worked. In truth, Kizuna is very powerful reality-warping magic. And thanks to the powerful bond all refugees now share with the country of Nippon, the magic surrounding them will only continue to evolve.
Until a means of resuming the flow of time back in their home world is found, they'll just have to make due with this one. But not to worry, because Nippon is fully committed to taking care of the refugees!
A Brand New Home Kyoto, Kansai
Once orientation is over, characters will be allowed to choose housing in both Kyoto and Tokyo, enabling them the means of easily living between both cities if they please. These housing options will be fully paid for by the government of Nippon, with the NRL and MRU providing a stipend for food expenses in Tokyo and Kyoto respectively.
In lieu of providing transportation, all refugees will be granted an unlimited rail pass that they can use to travel all across Nippon! As of the beginning of May, express routes connecting Tokyo and Kyoto will be running at all times of day, allowing refugees to freely travel between the Eastern and Western Kingdoms.
In Higashiyama, a certain ayakashi has been spotted all over the city: the wasurebana, the forget-me-flower ayakashi, who entices those who see it into picking the flower and losing their memory as a result. These memories can be something as simple as forgetting the last few days, to forgetting who they are entirely. Or even just specific things, like names and places. These effects will wear off once the flower wilts, but in the mean time, they sell for a pretty penny at most flower shops given the difficulty in harvesting them.
Over in Gion, various izakaya around the city are holding special deals in honor of Hina Matsuri. While typically a holiday for children, there's no reason adults can't have fun too! But only women will get to benefit from this special deal: all food is half-price, and drinks are on the house! But one bar is particular has taken a more extreme route: one sip of their exclusive Hina Drink will cause the drinker to physically transform into a woman. This effect only lasts an hour, so enjoy it while you can!
Over in Uji, refugees will find numerous signs warning that there have been reported sightings of the Uramibana on MRU campus grounds. All visitors to the campus will be offered charms that negate the ayakashi's effects. But most will never even know that the Uramibana are there, as only those who have killed someone will be able to see it. Although the curse is easily treatable, most aren't willing to admit that they were able to see the flower in the first place, given the implications. But with a charm in hand, those looking to see a rather rare supernatural occurrence (and who have a little murder under their belt) will be totally fine should they spot the patch of curious white flowers.
NRL Time Refugee Support Network
Once they've received their housing assignment, all refugees will be given small handheld devices called magi-tech comms, or magi-comms for short. They're heavier than a conventional smartphone would be, but far sturdier, and powered by the ambient magic that flows through the city. They don't need to be charged, but they won't work outside of cities at all. Upon booting it up, they'll find a message linking them to a special channel for refugees.
#nrl_time_refugee_support - online
Use the following code for your top-level if you'd like! This is how network communication will look for characters in the game until more advanced magi-tech comms become available for characters.
Cat Planet
Just south of the bustling city of Osaka lies Wakayama, a largely rural region of the Western Kingdom, well known for its plethora of ancient ruins and adherence to traditional customs. And while many of the small villages found here aren't usually the most friendly towards outsiders, things have changed!
At the start of the month, all refugees will find themselves receiving a mail from the NRL, passing on a message from Wakayama's Tourist Association.
"Hello Everynyan! We, the Bakeneko of Wakayama, have heard many tales of the great refugees from across time and space, but few of our kittens have ever had a chance to meet one of you.
Our kind isn't as well known as other Yokai, but here in Wakayama, our modest villages have been thriving. Won't you come and visit us for a week? It does the soul well to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And you'll be just in time to see the Plum Blossoms!"
Our kind isn't as well known as other Yokai, but here in Wakayama, our modest villages have been thriving. Won't you come and visit us for a week? It does the soul well to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And you'll be just in time to see the Plum Blossoms!"
And with Wakayama just a train ride away, why not take them up on the offer?
Simple Life Shingu, Wakayama
Taking a train from Nara will bring refugees to the Tanabe region of Wakayama. Small villages and vast fields of rice and other crops pepper the landscape. Even the largest station in the region is still rather small, with only a few trains available to head south to Shingu, the Bakeneko territory.
Stepping off the train in Shingu proper, refugees will be met by a group of curious Bakeneko kittens -- looking like miniature catpeople, and none standing more than two feet high. The tiny procession will lead them back to town, where the refugees will be quick to discover why the Bakeneko likely keep to themselves. They are a very small people, coming in a variety of forms. While most Bakeneko will simply appear as human-like with some cat features, the elders are for more feline, with some looking more like ordinary cats walking on two legs.
And given that not a single one of them is taller than 5 feet, it goes without saying that their buildings are designed with their height in mind. Most refugees will have to duck under doorways, signposts, and-- well, just forget about taking a rickshaw around town. Thankfully, the only inn within the village is designed with travelers in mind, and the ceiling are the highest in the village: nearly 6 feet high! But you might still need to ask for a second futon if you don't want to sleep with your legs on the floor.
But the biggest draw to the village right now is the Plum Blossoms. The entire countryside is filled with bright pink flowers, the petals dancing in the wind. Villagers will invite refugees out to a large picnic gathering under the flowers, with plenty of free food and drink to go around. And as they skitter about, Bakeneko Kittens will tell them that if they catch a petal in the palm of their hand (or paw), they can make a wish.
Ordinarily, this is just a superstition. But for the refugees, who are all imbued with reality altering Kizuna magic-- if they make a wish, it might just come true.
Stuck In A Tanabe, Wakayama
It's believed that one of the reasons Wakayama is still so heavily affected by the power of long gone gods is due to a naturally occurring tree known as mahougi, crystalline trees that can be found all over Wakayama's cities and towns, releasing ambient magic into the air. Over the centuries, many have been cut down or relocated to cities across Nippon, and today they are rumored to be the power source for magi-tech within major cities in the East.
Of these, the most powerful is the Momoirogami, a massive tree located in the Tanabe region, whose pink, crystal-like flowers resemble plum blossoms. The roots of the Momoirogami sit in gnarled twists and turns at the base of the tree, creating small alcoves and crawlspaces that extend to a secret shrine built under the tree itself. Crawling beneath the tree to pray at the shrine is seen as rite of passage in Wakayama for those studying higher order magic.
But not every path to the shrine is so obvious, and many may find themselves becoming trapped in the roots with their ass sticking out. Praying to the Momoirogami is all that's needed for the roots to loosen their hold, but not everyone is going to know that. And if that weren't bad enough, just being around the Momoirogami may cause severe kizuna effects to manifest!
With just how large the tree is, some may end up trapped for hours before they're saved by one of the Miko who tend the shrine. Better find some way to pass the time!
Where the Wild Things Are Southern Wilds, Wakayama
Those in search of something a bit more exciting may see fliers around various cities in Nippon seeking those with an adventurous spirit willing to explore the Southern Wilds of Wakayama in search of a certain type of flower. Known as etherblossoms, these flowers are critical in research pertaining to the creation of stable teleportation points -- a dream long held by many in the West who find the trains to be a bit too slow. Ordinarily, these blossoms can only be found in the protected lands atop the floating Tengu cities, making it impossible to harvest them.
But recently, these distinct flowers have been spotted along the mountains of the Southern Wilds of Wakayama, and a high bounty has been placed on them: one million yen for anyone who can bring back either a living specimen or seeds.
What's the catch? Well, the Wilds are called that for a reason. These areas are considered cursed, having once been the dominion of ancient gods who lost their lives on mortal soil. While not nearly as dangerous as the Northern region, the Southern Wilds are home to many a type of monstrous creature or ayakashi.
In addition to nearly every sort of ayakashi one can imagine, these forests are also home to a creature known as the Gatagami, the rattling god. Taking the form of a larger-than-life skeleton, this creature will chase after those exploring the forests, its body contorting to fit through gaps between trees. Thankfully, the Gatagami isn't very powerful, and all it can really do is attempt to shove people off cliffs and scare the living daylights out of them. Instead, what makes it so dangerous is how persistent it can be, known to follow after exorcists and hunters alike until they collapse from exhaustion. And no matter how much damage you cause this bony god, given a few minutes, it will quickly put itself back together again.
If you don't have the stamina to match against a god, you'd better hope you're really good at hide and seek if you want to claim that million yen prize.
OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's March TDM! The TDM is considered game canon, and also serves as the intro log! That said, whether you choose to carry threads over to the game or not is up to you!
• Current players are more than welcome to top-level, or take prompts from the TDM and use for their own logs! This may change in the future depending on how busy TDMs become.
• CRAU characters may start regaining their CRAU memories one month after the TDM. However, vague feelings of familiarity are allowed between previous game CR! For more on this, please read the FAQ!
• You do not need to sign-up for housing! Choose whichever style you prefer, in both Kyoto and Tokyo. Roommates can be chosen by the characters or can be random. If you want to switch housing later, your character has the option of moving at the beginning of each month.
• Destroying the wasurebana flower can also remove the effects of the amnesia more quickly! Likewise, putting it in a glass of water to prevent wilting will prolong the effects.
• You are welcome to have your character cursed by the Uramibana without being given a charm, should they be able to see it. Just keep in mind that death is permanent in Jikan, so they will need to seek a cure! Character who have never killed someone cannot see the flowers, and cannot be cursed by them.
• Although they do call their children Kittens and retain some notable cat-like mannerisms, such as curling up to nap just about anywhere, calling a Bakeneko a Cat will offend them!
Please leave any questions about the TDM prompts in the thread below! General game questions can be directed to the FAQ!
Apps are always open!
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no subject
The mention of marriage drew a snicker from him. "I don't need any of that bureaucratic birdshit. If I want to be with someone, I don't need a piece of paper or a ring or anything else to remind me that I want to be with them." As he got more wound up he shook his hand holding his glass for emphasis. "And how come you have to give up on side action in order to be with someone? Just spit roast or something. Sharing is caring and all that. Why give up on having fun just to be married?"
Never let it be said that he wasn't a hopeless romantic.
no subject
This time when Rude finished his drink, all while listening to his partner, he just singled for the bartender to leave the damn bottle. Seemed pointless coming and going. Rude was going to finish it one way or another. Though he was kind enough to refill Reno's too.
See? He could be romantic too. Sort of.
He said nothing though. He'd heard similar takes before and his own opinion on the matter was vastly different. At least partly. Marriage wasn't for him either. Who would want to? He was a Turk. They were almost universally hated, sometimes even by their own people. Rude didn't want to get married, didn't need a piece of paper to tell him how much someone meant to him.
But he was also loyal. If he found that one person that he did want to spend his time with he would spend his time with that one person alone. It was that simple.
That one person would have to be okay with Reno though.
Rude was, after all, loyal. His romantic partner would have to be accepting of his work partner otherwise it just wouldn't work out at all. Which was probably why he was still single.
no subject
But play? He thought he could fool around if he felt like it and still be loyal. He was still coming home at night, wasn't he? It was something that he took far less seriously than Rude. That 'teenage delinquent' side of him. It'd take someone he really liked who wanted something else to put a stop to that. He didn't give up his fun for just anyone.
He noticed Rude go quiet. He was perfectly aware of the differences between them, but it wasn't unusual for him to do most of the talking.
"Hey, Rude," he paused his ranting. "Did you figure out where you're sleeping tonight?"
no subject
Like now.
"They offered free housing. I took it." Rude replied with a glance over at Reno. "You didn't?" It was one of the first things Rude had done. Find a room that wasn't taken so he could sit down and gather his thoughts. Which had taken him an hour or two before he had finally left to go and see if he could find a familiar face in the sea of strangeness.
no subject
Frankly, he hadn't planned on 'getting a place' exactly. Being alone sucked, so he was going to find someone else's place to use. Which hadn't been decided yet.
But now that Rude was here it was pretty much set in stone. Didn't even matter if there was only one bed or anything. That's where he was staying.
"No luck with Tseng or any of the others yet, so we might have to call it a night soon. We should've caught word of them by now if they were around."
no subject
"They'll make themselves known." When they were good and ready, if they were there. If not then they were on their own, with a bunch of dead people. And wasn't that just the wildest thought that had ever entered his head?
Rude finished his drink and slapped some money down on the counter to cover the cost before he grabbed the neck of the half finished bottle and slid off of the stool he had been sat on. Time to go. While he could still move under his own power. Rude wasn't drunk yet, but he had a nice buzz that would be sure to help him sleep.
no subject
It was fortunate that he had a high tolerance due to many years of training, because though he'd spent much of the day drinking he was still very much in possession of his faculties.
Thus, as Rude got up to leave, he was quick to down the rest of his drink and jump up to follow after. They had a cozy little home to get settled into, right?