TEST DRIVE MEME #8

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #8

Welcome to Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with elements of fantasy, science fiction, and some subtle horror.

TDM top-levels are 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! You can also put your top-level in the TDM DIRECTORY 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.

April's TDM is forward-dated to the end of Gogol, Dara, and Seimei's player plot on April 20th.

You can view our CALENDAR to keep important dates in mind. RESERVES open on April 20 and APPLICATIONS will open on April 23 After this, applications will next open in June 2024.

NEW FOR APRIL 2024: there is now a top level for everyone to post their TDM top levels into! This is for new characters only. Thank you!

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Arrival

You remember a room of blinding white light—so bright that you couldn't make out any details. You heard voices, speaking in muffled tones. It sounded an awful lot like they were talking about you. You were just on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you were so close...but what happened after that?

Ah–that's right. You fell into blackness.

New characters are most likely to wake in one of the following locations:

THE DOCKS
You wake to the gentle sound of waves, your body rocking with the movement of the water. Wait—water? Since when was there water beneath you?

Since now, apparently. You appear to be in the lower rooms of a boat…and you might not be alone. There are several of these crafts in the harbor, ranging from larger cruising vessels to small sailboats. The one thing they all have in common is this: they are all half-built, as if someone realized very recently that there is a whole ocean to explore. Wonder where they might be going? Either way, you’d better get out of here, before the construction crew finds you and brands you as a stowaway.

ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
When you come to, the first thing you hear is the commotion of distant voices and running feet. You feel a warm light on your face…it’s too bright to look at directly, so when you open your eyes, you have to look away. It’s probably for the best. Those stage lights can’t be good for your eyes.

… Stage lights?

That’s right, you seem to be just offstage in an entertainment venue. Someone is fussing with you, powdering your face with some last-minute touch-up makeup, vaguely coaching you on. “You’ll be great! Just get out there and have fun!”

With little room to argue or ask questions, you are immediately shoved out on stage, and find yourself in front of a sold-out crowd. What you find on the stage to help you perform is up to you: a microphone, musical instruments, magician’s tools, a full-blown play, the sky’s the limit.

Break a leg…?

CITY CENTER
“These new statues are so lifelike!” Click.
“I wonder which artist installed all of this? It’s almost eerie, isn’t it?”
“I feel like they could move at any second!” Click click.

You wake in a garden. Not just in a garden—amongst the flowers, almost as if you’re an installed piece of artwork. Are you alone, or posed with someone else? Up to you. You may even find yourself entwined with vines, half-buried in the ground, or subtly hidden beneath a large bush. A few hapless locals stand in front of you, taking pictures. Do they really believe you’re a statue? They’re in for a rude awakening whenever you finally move…

Well. Better dig yourself out of here and figure out what’s going on.

However you awaken, the next time you’re able to stand still and take in your surroundings, you’re approached by a small mechanical creature, which reveals a handheld tablet with a rolled-up parchment within it. Booting up the tablet for the first time brings you the following message:

WELCOME, CHOSEN.
WE ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

So…now what?

These new familiar streets

The unexpected expansion of Aldrip means that there's suddenly a vast uptick in things to do. The locals don't seem to find any of this unusual or surprising at all, but the Chosen seem to remember that Aldrip wasn't always like this...how unusual! Well, whatever the case, the city is abuzz with activity…and wildlife, apparently. Thanks to some recent events, there seems to be a surplus of poisonous snakes slithering haplessly through the city, as well as, perhaps, a few lingering pockets of miasma. Best to watch your step…

i. This smells like a sidequest
Businesses and individuals all over town will be giving out quests ranging in size, scope, and request. Any of these will net you a prize from the right requestor. These prizes are mostly just silly little knick knacks, and they don’t seem to have any value, but the locals are adamant that they are quite important! At the same time, some locals may offer more useful rewards, such as money, clothing, food, or even a month’s rent at the local inn, especially for newcomers. Either way, you might have to team up to complete some of these challenges. Grab a partner!

Quests and requests can include, but are not limited to, ideas such as:

A local art collector looking for striking photographs of local flora and fauna
The neighborhood food cart owner on the hunt for new and interesting ingredients and recipes
Your neighbor’s search for their missing cat
Requests to clear monsters out of certain areas
Scavenger hunts to find local landmarks, such as murals on the side of buildings, a specific statue, or a hole-in-the-wall business

You're free to use your imagination, the setting, and local NPCs to come up with whatever ideas your heart desires.

ii. Should’ve waited for the patch
This sudden change is going fairly well, but it could be better. Some areas of town will be subject to something that seems like glitches. These effects could range from things going missing or suddenly changing (your favorite lipstick just changed from red to blue?? how odd!) to streets and doorways going into places they logically shouldn’t go to. Your front door isn’t supposed to be at the end of the dock, is it? Better watch your step, because strange things seem to be afoot.

Day and night life

While it’s not an official festival by any means, the beginning of spring is the cherished start of the planting season for the farmers outside of Aldrip, and the entire city comes together to promote it! Chosen are encouraged to take part in the planting process if they desire, but there’s plenty more to do, for those who don’t have a green thumb. Flyers can be found all over town for various competitions, shows, businesses, and events. Just be careful—the city has grown rapidly in a short period of time, and that means crime rates have grown as well. It’s unwise to linger alone after dark. Who knows what someone may find down a dark alleyway…or who knows, maybe they should be more afraid of you.

iii. Iron Chef: Aldrip
Fire up those pots and pans! The highlight of the town center is a huge cooking competition, where locals and Chosen alike are encouraged to bring their finest culinary skills to the table and create a spectacular dish. Those who would rather cheer from the sidelines, or even act as judges for the competition, are encouraged to do so as well. Anyone may enter—and we do mean anyone, so judge at your own risk.

iv. This is not Aldrip’s Best Friends Race
Many local businesses in the Commercial and Entertainment Districts are putting on all sorts of shows and competitions: talent contests, arm-wrestling competitions, fashion shows, dance exhibitions, the sky's the limit. Local business owners will tempt the Chosen into participating by offering rewards: free items, the option to keep costumes they put you in, trophies, all manner of comforts that could entice wary newcomers into volunteering.

Chosen who own or work at local businesses are also encouraged to participate by starting their own shows or contests. They’ll be rewarded with an uptick in business and free advertisement.

The Events Center will be hosting a lavish and well-advertised drag show and competition, and some locals will encourage participation from Chosen of all genders. Most of them will lay off if the Chosen are really not interested (they’re not putting their lives at risk for this!) but some of the more determined and charismatic ones might not take “no” for an answer.

Wildcard

Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it can’t happen. We encourage you to look at our new setting page for Aldrip, as well as the world map. Anything that looks interesting there is fair game, so have fun with it!

♡

Comments

[laserguy]

[Once Akihiko is free, Scott steps back and places his hands back in his pockets.]

No, that's a recent hobby. We used to throw everyone into the ocean, complete with a ball and chain.

[...Scott's fully bullshitting and he will actually be helpful in just a second, he just has to get this out of his system. He's been in a mood lately. Why? He just feels like it, sue him. Probably the combination of the city literally changing, his roommate disappearing, and one of his... friends getting their organs separated from her body. Yeah, probably that. Not that he fully wants to take it out on Akihiko, but.

A small little sigh pulls from him, and suddenly, he looks a little more serious.]

Take it that you're new, right? [...] Feeling okay? When I first got here, I didn't wake up in dirt.

[marakunda]

(The sarcasm isn't lost on Akihiko and he's already making a note of it. So this is one of those kinds of people. Fine by him, not everyone can be sunshine and rainbows.

Another brush of his shirt, another showering of dirt and petals falling to the ground before he folds his arms, trying to weigh up both Scott and the situation. There's no attempt to hide it either, Akihiko's posture on the defensive as he glances around.)

I must be new, but you're making it sound as if this isn't a one-off thing if you went through something similar. (A pause and then Akihiko relents, shoulders relaxing a fraction as he remembers his manners and gives a tilt of his head.) Akihiko Sanada.

[laserguy]

Yeah, we all pretty much went through this. They haven't gotten creative since the year I've been here. Guess you can't expect much when one of the guys working around here is named Jerry.

[Granted, Jerry is more of a low class henchman than the actual mastermind, but he's the only one anyone knows by name. So, throwing him under the bus. He's sure no one is going to defend his honor.]

Scott Summers. [He shifts somewhat in place, looking almost awkward for a moment as if internally trying to decide something. Okay, fine, even though he didn't sign up to be part of the nonexistent cheerful welcoming committee, he's not just going to... leave Akihiko here, especially since he's still covered in some dirt and everything.]

I'm not busy today, so I can show you around. Or answer whatever. If you're hungry, I'll grab you food, but it better not be something overpriced-- because I'll charge interest.

[marakunda]

Don't know him.

( Someone with a name like that would stick out like a sore thumb, it's the kind a person would remember or so Akihiko likes to think. Still, the information is useful and he makes a point to remember it along with Scott's name. So people arrived here in strange fashions? Sounds dubious. )

Not busy huh? Works for me then. ( That and now Scott mentions it, he could go for some kind of food; it's been a while since the student last ate and Akihiko pauses only to pull a stray vine from his hair. ) Reckon you can tell me what this place is about?

[laserguy]

You'll probably meet up eventually. Won't be for a good reason though.

[That's not an ominous warning or anything, it's fine. At least Scott doesn't make it sound threatening, just more... matter of fact about it. Whenever anyone sees that accountant reject, it's for sentencing and crap. And everyone knows that the whole sentencing is a bunch of bull to start with. It... it means nothing. They can just put any weird crime on there.

...]

Do you want the answer the council and Jerry would give? Or the actual answer?

[Scott asks before nodding at Akihiko, prompting him to follow as they get out of this area. Besides, they can eat and talk at the same time and being a helpful little asshole definitely takes energy okay--]

[marakunda]

(Someone called Jerry, a person not in the good books of others. Akihiko is already reminding himself to look into it if he ends up staying long in this place, the idea that he won't be leaving soon not yet out in the open.

Akihiko nods back, only taking a moment to check the holster strapped under his right shoulder. The evoker is still there and for now it's all he needs should the situation turn even more dire, and he starts to follow Scott for now despite the urge to simply begin running for any kind of exit to finish what had been started.)

The actual one, it might give me some idea on how to get out of this place.

[laserguy]

[Scott notes the gun strapped to Akihiko's person, but he doesn't looked alarmed by it. If he got a better glimpse of it, he'd recognize the weapon immediately, but for now, he just waits until the other teen is ready before heading out. It's chill, he's probably chill and so he's not going to ask about it. Not like he thinks Akihiko is some freakin' psychopath that would shoot him in the back, so yeah, probably fine.

He's almost tempted to ask him if he can use a Persona, because it feels like half of the teens that he knows uses one, especially if they're Japanese. But whatever. Maybe he'll ask once they start shoving a hamburger in their face. Sliding his hands back inside the pockets of his jacket, Scott starts answering him with some sourness.]

We're here because the guys in charge just enjoy toying with us. That's all. [Probably not the actual answer, but it's the one that Scott believes.] The crap about redemption and making up for your crimes? It's just a stupid excuse they use.

[marakunda]

( To his credit, Akihiko follows without much argument. He can recognise a situation when he sees one and despite the urge to start demanding answers or such, Akihiko is able to simply take a breath and keep walking. This guy seems like he wants to help and should anything go down Aki knows he can deal with whatever is thrown with him.

The others would be proud at such a restraint from the boxer, but then things have happened over the last few months to help with such development. )

At the whim of others, held for a stupid made up crime? ( Seriously, what the hell? Akihiko can't help the frown on his face as he lets that one sink in. Later he'll ask himself what could be so powerful it could pull people from other worlds and times. ) Perhaps we ought to find them all and deal with that.