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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 |
u a true champion
Minato moves the axe again, but then... asks him for instruction. He glances from Minato to the offending logs, before nodding.]
...Sure. We just breaking it up to move it, or actually making firewood?
[Has he ever done this? Definitely not back home. But there are quite a few odd job requests put up by the locals here, and fancy spices cost money, so... He's at least tried a time or two.]
You got the idea of it, though, yeah. Here. [And he'll reach out for that axe! Chill bonding over activities instead of talking about anything. It just feels right between them.]
not sure how close you imagined these 2 might be so i'm just vibing
Firewood wouldn't be a bad idea.
[ It is pretty cold... Surely someone out there could use the extra firewood?
He hands the axe over as Shinjiro reaches for it, resting the handle in his former ally's hand. It looked a decent size compared to Minato, but in Shinjiro's hands it certainly resembles something closer to a hatchet.
It's easy to fall back into his old rhythm of teamwork, delegating tasks to others according to their skillsets. And in any event, Minato's the sort who preferred quiet action over conversation too.
He doesn't voice it, but... This is nice actually. ]
I ALSO VIBE its whatever lmaoo
Am I the first one've us you've run into here?
[ Thwack. He brings down the axe, probably a little too forcefully rather than letting gravity don't for him-- but hey, the log sure ends up split. A little leverage on the edge of the handle loosens it from the earth, and he lifts it again.]
Mitsuru showed up around when I did. And there's some weird time shit going on between here and back home.
[The second swing goes a bit better, with the head of the axe sinking into the woods before he gestures to Minsto.]
Wanna try?
no subject
[ Minato watches as Shinjiro cleaves the log partway with a solid swing. It falls apart halfway, neatly, and without any stray splinters. ]
Then, maybe I'll run into Mitsuru someday.
[ He doesn't ask where he can find her. Simply, he trusts that their paths will cross whenever it becomes necessary. ]
...I met a girl who says she's from Gekkoukan High. Shiomi Kotone? She said she was the leader of SEES.
[ Maybe that answers Shinjiro's unspoken question, that yes, he's well aware that there's some weird time shit going on. But because Minato's the sort who didn't think anything of people becoming transmogrified coffins or blood pooling all over the floor when the clock struck midnight, he speaks nonchalantly, like he's remarking on the weather.
He draws nearer only when his former teammate gestures him over. Minato steps to Shinjiro's side, reaching out to rest a hand against the axe's handle. ]
no subject
Yeah. That part's weird as hell. She's good though.
[It's a simple statement, but still something close to high praise from Shinjiro. Kotone had more than proved herself capable and trustworthy here. Just has much as the leader he's more familiar with. Just.... more obnoxiously cheery about it.
He steps back to give Minato some space.]
You might have to wrench it out of the wood, so be careful. Just chop a little to the side of where I did. And make sure your leg isn't in the way in case you miss. I don't wanna have to haul you to the clinic in two pieces.
[Instructions given he shrugs.]
You staying at the inn, or found some other place to hole up?
no subject
His fingers wrap more securely around the axe's handle as he places a foot against the log, holding it in place. ]
It sounds like I can trust her then.
[ Not that he'd felt particularly suspicious about her, but Minato puts a lot of stock in his former colleague's opinions.
Taking Shinjiro's earlier words to heart, Minato carefully coaxes the axe's blade from the wood. It's stubborn at first, but with enough movement the log finally frees the axe from its surface. Minato takes a moment to stand over the piece of wood. He studies the mark that Shinjiro left on it already.
And then he takes the axe in both hands, lifting it up (making sure his legs are out of the way too) before bringing it down exactly where Shinjiro told him to.
Thwack.
The blade buries itself in the wood again. Minato leaves one hand on the axe to keep it steady. ]
Just the inn. ...it feels a little like the dorms.
[ Not that it held similar amenities, but rather, it had a similar coziness to it thanks to its residents going in and out of the building. ]
My neighbor there is --
[ There are several words Minato can select. Brash. Chatty. A bit eccentric. Makes eyes at anything that breathes in his direction. ]
-- nice.
[ ...yeah, that works. ]
He's good with animals.
[ Which is basically Minato's definition for a "good person." ]
no subject
[He watches Minato's posture, the precision, the way he thunks the head of the axe into the fallen log without slipping or catching any limbs in it. Just like with everything else, he's a quick learner. And so he nods, satisfied, and moves to start picking up some other pieces of the debris laying around.
The inn feeling like the dorms explains a lot. Maybe that's one of the reasons Shinjiro had never really wanted to stay there. Everything had been too raw when he'd first arrived, confused as hell and pissed-off at his own breathing. But the way Minato says it... yeah, it suits him.
'Good with animals' is a good sign, and he throws one of those rocks over the fence, before nodding.] Yeah? There's a hell of a lot of weird ones here. He have any himself?
no subject
There's a good heart underneath Shinjiro's gruff words. If he didn't have one, perhaps his life wouldn't have been cut short that October full moon. ]
No. He doesn't. But he showed me how to feed a cow.
[ Minato watches Shinjiro for a moment before coaxing the axe from the log's surface. The rock Shinjiro tosses goes sailing over the fence -- he's helping, maybe even without realizing it. The tiniest of smiles creeps across Minato's face.
That's just how Shinjiro rolled, isn't it? He couldn't help but ultimately lend a hand and get involved. ]
I think he wants to study the animals here. The weird ones too.
no subject
There's plenty of those. Just let him know that some of those huge chickens are assholes with some big claws.
[Sometimes he thinks he'd rather get kicked by a horse than a chocobo, honestly. But so far this roommate or whoever seems like an okay person. While Minato's standards for friends might be down in the gutter, anyone who likes animals can't be that bad.
He yeets another rock, and then continues.]
I've gone to help out on the farm a few times. They don't raise 'em for slaughter there, so the animals all have a pretty cushy gig. You run into any of the goats?
[... listen, he likes the goats, even if they're all fucking assholes.]
no subject
[ He'll be sure to pass that warning on to Sha-Ming. How bad could it be though? Even a huge chicken couldn't be that big, though it's true that the smallest of claws could still inflict plenty of damage.
Minato watches as Shinji sends another rock sailing over the fence. He wonders, in the back of his head, whether that's actually a safe way to get rid of them. It's only a matter of time before there's an unsuspecting passerby but... eh. ]
No, I haven't seen the goats yet. I'll tell them you say hello when I see them.
[ Minato nudges the piece of wood he's been working on to readjust its available surface before lifting the axe. He lets it drop, sharpened edge burying its way into the wood.
Thwack.
The log splits in half.
Minato glances over at Shinjiro while standing over his handiwork. ]
It must be nice there for them.
[ A pause. ]
If I were a goat there, maybe I'd be happy.