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Expiation Mods ([personal profile] expiationmods) wrote in [community profile] expiationlogs2024-06-10 07:58 am

TEST DRIVE MEME #9

Test Drive Meme #9
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.

June's's TDM is forward-dated to June 20th.

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

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?
Summer Solstice (June 20th)
The summer solstice, also known as the longest day of the year. Aldrip may have received a big upgrade in size recently, but this special day still calls for celebration amongst the locals, who have a long tradition of celebrating various celestial phenomena. For this occasion, the entire city will be throwing a Midsummer celebration! The festival itself takes place from June 20-24, with the solstice happening the evening of June 20. There will be celebrations before, during, and after the festival as well!

On the shortest day of the year in December, the Chosen were told to stay indoors until sunrise. The opposite holds true for the summer solstice: all are encouraged to remain outside from dusk until dawn, and locals throw a festival to keep everyone entertained through the wee hours of the morning!

The streets of the commercial district are lined with sun-painted lanterns, lit as dusk starts to fall and kept glowing until sunrise the next day. Those lanterns illuminate a lively street bazaar featuring exotic food and drink, curious wares, and lawn/party games of all kinds. The Chosen are encouraged to either participate, or occasionally wager bets on other people who may be competing against one another. May the odds be ever in your favor?

As the sun begins to set, locals light large bonfires. There will be music and dancing—Chosen are encouraged to participate in whatever way they’d like, whether they want to perform or lead a line dance. If they’re not inclined to join in, the fires and music still provide a perfect backdrop for a little relaxing conversation and meeting new friends.

After dark, a large fireworks show begins. All in attendance are encouraged to bring (or find!) blankets to lay out so they can watch the show. Clinking glasses with good friends at the height of the show is considered good luck, so it’s not uncommon to see some folks having a drink during this time. As Aldrip is so close to the ocean, some locals even offer discounted boat rides to get a different view of these fireworks.

At dawn, the locals finally tuck in for a few hours of rest. But don’t worry—the Midsummer festival continues even after the solstice is done!
Midsummer Festival (june 20-june 24)
Locals begin prepping for the festival days in advance, and while they won’t drag others in to help the same way they have in the past, they still won’t turn down an extra set of hands. You’ll even get paid for your troubles, either in money or in favors (free meal vouchers, rent at the inn, etc). There’s no shortage of work to be done, from dragging tables around to stringing lanterns or even collecting sticks for bonfires. Just be careful, locals tell of strange whispers coming from Pessiria Forest at odd times of day and night…

The festival itself has different activities and happenings depending on what area you visit. Most of these activities can be done on any day of the festival. Most of the games and contests outlined here are examples—you’re free to make up others if you feel so inclined!

BEACH EPISODE!!
The beach is a prime location in the month of June, and locals really go all out for this particular occasion, setting up a large beach party with food, drink, and brightly-colored umbrellas to provide some shade.

There are various sporting activities such as beach volleyball, windboarding, surfing, and a large, built-up dune for sand surfing. Most of these are just for fun, but if locals see some really good contenders, they might urge a competition between them.

For those less sporting, there are all sorts of activities and challenges. Kite flying, sandcastle building, and scavenger hunts are particularly popular with the locals. Maybe they’ll ask you to bring back a certain number of round seashells, or to make friends with someone sitting under a pink umbrella…the possibilities are endless, really. There will also be official competitions for kite flying and sandcastle building, so put your best foot (or shovel) forward!

Some enterprising locals have also set up boat tours to take locals and Chosen through the nearby waves. In some places, the light makes it seem almost like you can see something in the distance…but it’s not on the map, right? Maybe it’s just your imagination. Hmm.

HAVE A FIELD DAY
The rolling hills outside of the city make a perfect place for various races and games. Bring your competitive spirit, because there will be medals awarded for winning races! Some common games include: bag races, “wife” carrying (gender, spousehood, and pre-existing relationship not required, of course!), three-legged races, relays, baton passes, and foot races.

It’s not all sporty competitions, though! Some older locals will lead more relaxing activities, such as stretching, meditation, and recreational group dances. These are volunteer-led groups, of course, so if those volunteers have to sit down or step away for a bit…well, they’ll have to ask someone to take over for them.

Those with good animal handling stats are not forgotten either, of course! There will be animal races, as well, on horses or even chocobos. There may or may not even be a petting zoo, pony rides, or other fun, relaxing activities with animals. Sometimes you just need to sit in a pen full of bunnies, okay.

Please do be careful, though: increased activity could make some of the monsters roaming outside the city a little bit curious about what’s going on this close to town…

WHEN YOU’RE DOWNTOWN
The green spaces of Aldrip have been decked out in their very finest, and floral season is in full bloom. Some enterprising gardeners will be unveiling new garden designs in honor of the festival: hedge mazes, giant sculpted topiaries, and elaborate fountains.

While it doesn’t hold a candle to the Ketsoran diplomatic masquerade, the event center will also be hosting several nights of dining and dancing during the festival. It may be a little less lavish, but it’ll nonetheless be quite glamorous—and the food will probably be good, too.

The bazaar from the day of the solstice continues throughout the festival. Additionally, various shops and businesses may choose to provide specials, discounts, and other offers to entice new and current Chosen alike.

THE SPIRE
One of the taller buildings in town has installed a large spire near one of the garden squares. They claim that, as the sun rises to its midday point, light passing through the spire will create an incredible light show. They’re right, as a matter of fact: the light reflects and refracts, scattering rainbows across the square. It’s a dazzling display. When the sun passes its midday point, however, the beautiful color show suddenly turns into white light. Anyone looking at this light will find that they are no longer able to keep track of how long they’re watching it. Your mind may begin to go blank, almost as if it refuses to accept something, some deep truth that the world is trying to tell you…



No, that must be your imagination. The light vanishes shortly thereafter—or was it ever there to begin with? The unsettling feeling may remain, but it’ll be harder and harder to be certain of what caused it.

This is fine and also normal.
Wildcard Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!
endcaller: (Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.)

[personal profile] endcaller 2024-06-15 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
I was... I am a scientist. The most brilliant of my era, if historians are to be believed.

[He says this without much pride.]

A mad scientist.

I'm evil, you understand. Very evil. Rotten to the core of my fetid being. Devoid of any moral virtues...

[This he says with a wry, lightless grin.]

Do you think I'm worth being friends with?
luneminary: (71.)

[personal profile] luneminary 2024-06-19 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
[If Ryoji had a nickel for the number of people he wanted to be friends with insist that they are nothing but pure evil, Ryoji would have two nickels! It might surprise Fandaniel then that his expression does not shift to that of fear or anger.]

In the first place, I don't think it's possible for anyone to be pure evil. The same way I don't think anyone could be purely a good person, either. That's not how humanity works.

[There's something otherworldly in the way his blue eyes stare back at Fandaniel. It's almost as if he's being viewed under a microscope.]

Your actions in the past don't necessarily have to be your future. And even if you end up rejecting all of that, being evil doesn't mean you can't have any friends.
endcaller: (HELP I'M TRAPPED IN A UNIVERSE FACTORY!)

[personal profile] endcaller 2024-06-19 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Beneath the intense scrutiny, something shifts in Fandaniel's gaze. For a fleeting moment, emotion is visible in his dark eyes. There is a flash of an ancient soul crippled beneath the weight of its own rage and despair.

His pale features twist into a grimace.

That's not how humanity works.

How would this boy know anything about that? For thousands of years, Fandaniel has fulfilled his role as the Observer, watching mankind and waiting for them to prove they are worthy of existence. He knows his answer: They are not. Whatever good lies in the hearts of mortals is outweighed by the bad. Life, with all of its misery, is ultimately meaningless.

None of these thoughts pass his lips. Instead, he throws his head back and lifts a glove to his brow.]


Oh! To be so tragically misunderstood! My poor heart aches!

[He brings the hand down and twirls to Ryoji's side like a dancer.]

Honestly, what are they teaching the youth today? Shouldn't you be playing with blocks and scraping your knees or doing whatever it is boys your age do?
Edited 2024-06-19 16:46 (UTC)
luneminary: (21.)

[personal profile] luneminary 2024-06-27 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[It only lasts for but a moment. Ryoji blinks - and with a sheepish grin, it's as if he's but a regular human once more.]

I do wish I got to finish school, but I got whisked in here before that. It hasn't been bad, though - there's a lot of things you can learn outside of a classroom.

[If anything, he's more confused by this stranger's sudden dramatics. Maybe he's someone who's into theatre?]

Oh, but what I said isn't something they taught in school! Hmm...I guess you could say it comes from a personal observation?
endcaller: (Can I see your skull mister?)

[personal profile] endcaller 2024-06-27 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
From personal observation you've determined there is no true evil in the world?

Oh, to be young again. Why, when I was your age I was...

[Fandaniel tilts his head and purses his lips. What had he been doing as a teenager?

Something... uuh... giant robots. With teeth.

Screw it.

He flaps his hands through the air in a dismissive gesture.]


Never mind, that was so long ago who could ever possibly remember!

My point is you are far too young for such conviction. Give yourself a few years and once life has torn away all your youthful exuberance let me know then how you feel about the inner workings of mankind.

Ha!

luneminary: (68.)

[personal profile] luneminary 2024-07-04 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hey Fandaniel why did you give the giant robot teeth -

But for all of his dismissals, Ryoji remains unfazed. Instead, he's trying his best to understand. He's seen apathy before, and the lifelessness that comes with it, but this seems different. Rather than being barely alive, Fandaniel seems like he's suffering from what he has seen.]


Isn't it more childish to think that true evil exists? Living beings are more complex to be defined by a single trait. Even a singular thing can change who they are for the rest of their lives.

...Is that what happened to you? Did something so terrible happen that all you could see in life is despair?
endcaller: (In empty spaces I twist and talk)

[personal profile] endcaller 2024-07-04 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[He saw the Tower fall. He saw his people die. Then, over millennia, he watched countless thousands of mortals slaughter each other.

As far as he's concerned, life is not sacred. It is only a vehicle for suffering and in the end, nobody is anything but ash. He could recount endless centuries of despair if he wanted to. But who has the time?

Slowly, he steps towards Ryoji again, eyes as dark as a starless sky, and lifts a gloved hand, one finger hooked forward which he gently presses against the boy's nose.]


Boop.
luneminary: (57.)

[personal profile] luneminary 2024-07-10 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Okaaay, he didn't expect that! That gets a confused laugh out him. It was surprisingly cute? But that doesn't disguise the weight on the other's shoulders, or the lightless look on his eyes.

...He's avoiding the question, isn't he?]


You don't need to tell me. That's a lot to ask on a first meeting, isn't it?
endcaller: (My biology I know. You I worry about.)

[personal profile] endcaller 2024-07-10 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a lot to ask at any meeting.

[Fandaniel shrugs.]

But if you find yourself relentlessly curious about me then try again at a later time. Perhaps I will finally tell you my tale.

[Sordid, depressing and horrific though it is.

He decides he doesn't mind traumatizing a teenager.]