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expiationlogs2024-02-11 08:51 pm
TEST DRIVE MEME #7
Welcome to Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and some subtle horror. As of December 2023, we’re making a couple of structural changes to the way our bimonthly test drive works.
TDM top-levels are now open to all, whether you are already in-game or not. New characters, please put TDM in your subject header so we’ll know you’re trying things out! There will be a directory of newbie top-levels at the bottom of the post. New folks are welcome and encouraged to use TDM threads as samples in their application. Current players may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs.
The February TDM is going to be forward-dated to February 19.
Our CALENDAR is here to help to remember dates. That means RESERVES will be opening on February 19 and APPLICATIONS will open on February 22. After this, applications will next open in April 2024.Full Navigation
You awaken in a room of blinding white light–so bright that you can’t make out any details. You hear voices around you, speaking in muffled tones. It sounds an awful lot like they’re talking about you. You’re on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you’re so close...but then the floor drops out from under you. You fall into blackness.
Sure is cold out here. For new arrivals, even moreso: they find themselves waking in this strange new place in the middle of Aldrip, most of them harmlessly sprawled on the ground. Some may have landed in a snowdrift. A few unlucky folks may have appeared in one of the fountains or on a rooftop. Either way, their unfortunate state is on display for all to see. It may be embarrassing, but hey, at least it makes getting help a bit easier.
Locals and Chosen alike will be happy to brief newcomers on where they are and what's going on. Welcome to Aldrip, many will say, though they're clearly very busy. Newcomers will quickly learn that they're preparing for a delegation from a neighboring city, a diplomatic visit that should hopefully ease tensions between Aldrip and neighboring Ketsora, after one of the Chosen attacked the latter city. Apparently Aldrip agreed to host a lavish party for the Ketsorans, but they're a long, long way away from finishing it. Attitudes are tense, but cautiously excited; who doesn't like a party, right?
Oh, and don't mind the toads. They're fine. Everything is fine.
FESTIVE PREPARATIONS
As a show of good faith to the Ketsoran delegation, Aldrip's locals hastily turn the events center into an elegant reception hall. Apparently it's Ketsoran tradition: visitors to your city should be welcomed with a lavish party--the more days and expenses paid, the better. Aldrip is determined to make this party generous and opulent enough to appease their neighbors to the south. There's a long, long list of things to do in preparation–not just setting up for this party, but rebuilding and cleaning up damages left behind from January's events.
i. REBUILDING
Aldrip’s run-down state was of little concern right after January’s tense situation, but now that they have guests to impress, the locals are working themselves into a frenzy trying to get the town back to normal. Any Chosen seen with idle hands will be asked, cajoled, guilted, or outright volunteered into helping the clean-up process. This isn’t limited to rebuilding or clearing rubble: some may be put to work cleaning up public spaces, like the inn or the many businesses in town that could use some love. Some will even be asked to tend to green spaces or clear out monsters lurking too close to the town borders. Chosen-run establishments that are necessary to the community, such as the clinic, will also receive extra attention, getting their supplies and maintenance requests handled quickly.
ii. WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
Naturally, the other focus is on preparing for the party itself. The entire town is getting decked out for this: fresh paint on buildings, colorful flags, banners, and lanterns strung in public places and gathering spots. Local businesses will be putting their best foot forward, and some may need extra help to make that happen. The Chosen will find themselves pulled into this prep work as well, not just in the events center but around the rest of the town as well. They may be asked to run errands for businesses, work on decorating, prepare a delicious menu of food, or even to practice an act they can perform at the party. Better brush up on those juggling skills.
As always, we leave the type, scope, and placement of any of this work up to players!
A MASKED AFFAIR (19-23)
iii. ALL DRESSED UP
Aldrip’s tailors and seamstresses have their work cut out for them. All the way up to the first night of the party, and even in the evenings between party days, they’ll be doing their level best to make sure everyone in town, locals and Chosen alike, look their absolute best for the ball. They may even grab some reluctant characters off the street to deck them out in the latest fashions. They do take requests, of course, but those Chosen with no opinion may find themselves at the whim of the tailors’ creativity. There’s no telling what they’ll come up with.
Tailors are available to alter, clean, or completely change characters’ costumes between party nights, but they may come up with something less elaborate after more than one go-around. They may even be less altruistic about giving things for free.
Not everyone is lucky enough to get these ornate getups free of charge, unfortunately; some of the clothing shops in town got hit pretty hard by recent events! Chosen who pick certain shops may find that they’re asked to work to earn it in a variety of different ways. Some characters may be asked to model new fashions outside of shops, or to run errands for the shopkeepers. They could find themselves distributing flyers to advertise for the store, cleaning up, cooking meals, or any number of different tasks. We leave the options in your capable hands.
Please note that this event is a masquerade, meaning that masks aren’t just encouraged, they’re required. Tailors will often offer to provide a mask, but if there’s another way a character would like to obtain a mask, please feel free to utilize it.
iv. FOR LUCK
Aldrip’s locals certainly are a superstitious bunch, which might explain why they decorate the elaborate formalwear with certain motifs, designs, or colors. Some of the Chosen wearing embellished clothing may find that it enhances certain aspects of their personality or appearance. For example, Yellow can encourage a sunny disposition, or a heart could make them seem more desirable. Perhaps a flower brooch makes them smell like roses, or a peacock design has them preening and strutting. Maybe matching patterns could even inspire feelings of friendliness or affection. On the other hand, raindrops or dark colors may make them feel a little gloomy. Please note that this is optional, and that the range of effects is entirely up to you.
NIGHTS AT THE BALL (19-23)
Thanks in no small part to the help of the Chosen, the events center has been transformed into a lavish dance hall. Thick velvety curtains drape from ceiling to floor, adding an air of luxury to the whole event. Servers carry trays of delicious, exotic foods and drinks, offering them to attendees. Various performers and acts will rotate through the space as the week progresses, featuring different types of music, dramatic numbers, joke telling, acrobatics, and any number of other things.
Some may see familiar faces working in various capacities throughout the week. That’s right! Some Chosen may choose to–or be volunteered to–work during the event as bartenders, servers, cooks, entertainers, game runners, etc. Maybe they need the cash? Or…maybe they’re just bored.
Partygoers may find, oddly, that their masks make it suspiciously difficult to recognize their friends–they may even have trouble recognizing their voices. Some may even mistake a total stranger for someone they know, or vice versa. Either way, it’s strange, isn’t it? Almost as if the masks are obscuring peoples’ identities.
v. SAVE ME A DANCE
A local at the door is offering dance cards to those who will. Those who choose to participate in this fun game will find that they’re missing something–or several somethings, around 4-8. These could be any number of things, including but not limited to: physical items, appearance traits, memories, powers, attributes, or anything else you can think of. How do characters get them back? By dancing with other Chosen, and writing their names in the dance card. Who knows? Maybe you’ll make a new friend!
vi. ALL FUN AND GAMES
Some of the gaming tables from the casino make a return, as well: there are small rooms in the back for blackjack, darts, pool, and other games. There are other games, too, for people who will. A flower vendor encourages people to buy single roses in different colors, each with their own meaning in the language of flowers. Various scavenger hunts ask people to find people wearing certain colors, patterns, or shapes in their elaborate clothing. Some even play games like charades.
At the stroke of midnight on each night of the party, the band stops playing their music, just for a moment. They count down to the last chime of the clock, and then everyone removes their masks. Surprise!
You know the drill–this is the wildcard one. Just because it’s not listed in the prompts above does not mean it’s unavailable as an option. We encourage you to do whatever you’d like to utilize the setting to its full potential. To help with this, the SOTG for February is here. If you have any questions about what is and is not possible, please don’t hesitate to ask!
Click to view:
| CANON | CHARACTER/TOP LEVEL |
| The Case Study of Vanitas | Vanitas |
| Circle of Magic | Sandrilene fa Toren |
| The Dresden Files | The Archive |
| Dungeon Meshi | Mithrun |
| Final Fantasy VII R | Aerith Gainsborough |
| Final Fantasy VII R | Cloud Strife |
| Gnosia | Sha-ming |
| House M.D. | Dr. Gregory House |
| The Locked Tomb | Gideon Nav |
| Metro Exodus | Colonel Miller |
| Naruto | Kakashi Hatake |
| Onmyoji (Netflix) | Abe no Seimei |
| Original | Astralin Turnont |
| Persona 3 | Aigis |
| Persona 3 | Minato Arisato |
| Persona 4 | Naoto Shirogane |
| The Tarot Sequence | Addam St. Nicholas |
no subject
That brush past his shoulder doesn’t phase him. This kid can’t be more than what seven? Ten? He can’t tell. Kids are just that…kids. So it’s only a fraction less annoying when they barge into your secret hiding spot to find what? Socks?
But he doesn’t move an inch from where he is. His eyes drift from the window to the floor which is in desperate need of a sweep. ]
Gosh. Now what in the world can you use to warm up feet?!
[ He asks out loud with feigned curiosity while lightly wringing his grip around the broom ]
If only you can put together sturdy, insulating fabrics so you can walk while keeping your feet warm. Like I don’t know…a shoe? Pfft! Man. Wouldn’t that be something?
no subject
[ If he's going to be sarcastic then Toph can absolutely return it with maximum sarcasm herself. She ruffles through the stocks, throwing things behind her on the floor carelessly. Toph of all people couldn't care less about the relative cleanliness of the clinic closet. ]
Do you think you could explain to me in smaller words what a shoe is?
[ A box goes flying over her shoulder. ]
no subject
Well, when a mommy cobbler meets a pile of synthetic leather for the first —
[ Bam! That thought goes interrupted by a box being tossed to the ground.
A beat. ]
Or you can use the stockpile of gauze rolls to the right. Your call, Little Foot.
no subject
That might work, [ she admits, not begrudgingly but because it will require testing.
Toph immediately snatches up a roll of gauze and plunks herself down right on the dusty floor littered with scattered medical supplies from her searching. She starts wrapping a few layers over one tiny calloused foot as she responds, pausing intermittently to test her earthbending sensitivity through it by flexing her ankle to place the bottom of her foot flat on the floor. Toph highly respects sarcasm so she is not put off in the least by their exchange, and he'd actually been helpful already. ]
I'd take anything that can start a fire quickly, too. I keep having to take breaks while I'm out there and it sucks starting one on my own.
[ The one thing firebenders are good for, and none of them around... ]
no subject
[ And that’s just a universal fact. You can be a pre-teen alien from Pluto and still play with fire.
Once again, he doesn’t get up from his makeshift seat. Instead, he uses his cane to point out the chemical shelf. ]
Potassium. Ten feet down to your left.
[ Trust him on this one, Toph. He paid attention to his high school chem lessons. ]
no subject
Please, I have better things to do than mess around with pointless kid stuff.
[ Toph pops to her feet, partially wrapped with gauze, and follows the directions for finding the suggested potassium. Being a walking lie detector in terms of sensing heart rate fluctuations, she has no reason to doubt him. ]
Thanks for the tips, old man. Does this come with instructions?
no subject
No.
[ But Toph’s curiosity is genuine enough to move House from his makeshift seat, walking steadily on his cane towards her direction. ]
Afraid you’re gonna have to experiment with this one! Just like those men in the Stone Age.
[ There is a shift in his mood. His annoyance is replaced with the demeanour of an adult who doesn’t want to be responsible for a kid receiving third-degree burns. A proper man of science, some might say. ]
But really — [ He snatches the bottle off from her hand. ] Just fifteen millilitres on some dry wood. A dab and some flint will do. Any more than that and you’ll be in another prison for arson.
no subject
[ Toph appreciates the explanation, though, and doesn't mind it being given with some sarcasm attached. She just wants to be clear on what she's doing so she doesn't commit arson.
Nothing like fighting a war against fire-wielding enemies to make you respect fire. ]
Think you could demonstrate for me? I can't read so I don't know what it says on the bottle, but if you do it once I can copy it. [ She sounds completely unembarrassed to admit her lack of literacy -- it's why she was asking about instructions. ]
no subject
[ That’s being nice, right? This is a good deed. Look at Dr. Gregory House: New prisoner at Aldrip, maker of fires for blind teens.
He takes one more once over inside the closet. His hideaway served its purpose. ]
C’mon — [ He says, turning to exit the closet. ] Let’s go set the roof on fire.
no subject
[ Toph isn't gonna make a big deal out of it, but if it's possible for her to repay someone who did her a favor, she will. She doesn't like charity-- and she likes showing off and helping others. It's great when she can accomplish all three aims at once.
Teaching her how to set fires with chemicals definitely counts as a favor to Toph. She trots after him eagerly. ]
I'm Toph, by the way.
no subject
[ Emphasis on the last syllable. Of course, he’s being facetious. He can’t go one second without making something as simple as introductions feel like pulling teeth. ]
I’m Dr. House. [ To clarify: ] An actual doctor. Not the witch doctor variety of snips’n’snails and puppy dog tails.
no subject
Two can play that game. ]
Not that I care, but if I'm going to learn how to set things on fire, I should probably have a responsible adult teach me.
no subject
[ Okay. He was slacking off, but he could feel the pain resurfacing from his bad leg. So it’s not like House is lying entirely through his teeth. ]
No wonder you can’t start a chemical fire on your own. That’s the first step: Never trust a responsible adult.
no subject
Does that mean you don't want to take the stairs? [ House favoring one leg over the other and using a cane is perfectly obvious to Toph, likely as obvious as her blindness is to him. Since he'd brought it up, she'll offer a shortcut. ]
Because I can get us to the roof way faster.
no subject
If you say there’s a ladder outside, I’m gonna scream.
[ He responds in the flattest of tones. Of course, not being serious about it. But he will cook up a revenge plot somehow, some way if she's got him traversing up a building. ]
no subject
[ Toph strides away purposefully. This is as good a time as ever to test out if she can still bend with her usual acuity with her feet wrapped in a few layers of gauze.
Also, if she were a nicer person, she'd warn him that they're about to go on a high speed earth elevator, but he seems to communicate primarily in jerk language, so she can oblige. ]
no subject
One look up, one look down and then a stare down at Toph and: ]
Wow! This is great. Love the whole bunch of nothing going outside here.
[ He’s ready to go stuff himself back inside the closet. ]
no subject
[ Does she sound cocky when she says that? Hell yes.
Toph simply sinks into a low, wide-legged stance, arms tucked close at her sides, and the ground beneath them rumbles as a neat circle of earth around the two of them splits apart and shoots up into a rising pillar.
Okay, so it isn't high speed, but it's not slow, and they are certainly approaching the roof of the building much faster than taking the stairs. ]
no subject
The words hadn’t exactly formed. His brain is too busy processing what the hell just happened. As promised, Toph found their ‘shortcut’.
He peeks over the edge of the pillar. ]
…Cool.
[ That's all he got in him. Good job, kid. ]
no subject
With a quick motion she has a steady earth bridge extending out from their pillar to let them onto the roof. ]
I'm actually the emergency transportation for the clinic, [ she explains helpfully. ] That's why I was raiding the supplies.
no subject
And then House hears the words “emergency transportation”. Now he has even more questions. We’ll get to the claymation part soon enough, but for now — ]
Now that’s just stupid.
[ He blurts out. ]
In what world does a clinic’s walking, talking ambulance need to raid a supply closet?
[ His attention is on Toph, but then drifts over to the bridge. He’s going to have to cross that mini-bridge soon enough. ]
no subject
I'm not going to raid a clinic I don't work for. I have standards.
[ Her morals are flexible, but standards? Values? That she has in spades. ]
no subject
[ Whatever. As long as their intrusive thoughts don’t win, they’ll be back to minding their own business soon enough. ]
no subject
[ Toph sounds sure of herself, even smug if anything. She turns to face him where he's still on the pillar and sets her hands on her hips. ]
Scared?