TEST DRIVE MEME #9

[expiationmods]

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)!

♡

Comments

[startraveler]

[The silence is long and awkward, but not exactly to Aether. He finds the entire situation quite amusing and he's glad that Lorenz is trying to find something nice to say about the drawing instead of getting upset. The artist tried their best and it's not their fault the other didn't check what kind of style they're working with.]

Right? I knew you would understand. So much heart was put into this piece of art.

[Everybody in this space knows that this is not what Lorenz wanted, so maybe this is the right place to politely thank the artist and leave.]

[hotproblems]

[The artist is going to pass out if they have to sit here and sweat about the picture any longer, so Lorenz says--]

Of course, as with any art. I admire your talents, my friend. Please... display this piece, to entice more subjects for your work!

[Not that he doesn't like it, but it's not going to suit the aesthetic of his... wherever he's going to live here. Ahem. It does have objective talent put into it, after all.

He clears his throat, standing from the modeling stool. Okay.]

Well, this has been a productive session, but I mustn't monopolize your time. [And then, to his new pal here,] Shall we?

[startraveler]

[To Aether all of this sounds like a reasonable conclusion.

When he's prompted to leave, he nods to Lorenz and follows him. The artist can finally relax. They definitely deserve some rest after all this stress.]

I'm impressed how you handled the situation.

[Aether smiles once the two of them are far enough from the poor artist.

He has to admit that his initial impression of the man wasn't good, but he definitely redeemed himself in his eyes.]

[hotproblems]

[Frankly, Lorenz is as glad to be away from that whole situation as the artist is relieved to be rid of the stress. He's trying very hard not to feel like that was all a huge waste of time, though...

Ah-- still talking about it, alright. He hums.]

I have no talent for art, and I know the amount of dedication one must adhere to, to become so skilled. I could hardly spoil an artist's passion over a difference in personal tastes. [He waves a hand as if this is totally obvious, anyone would do this for The Arts, etc.] That said, I will have to be more discerning in the future...

[It would have been nice to have a pretty portrait to hang up. Alas.]

[startraveler]

[Aether gives a nod, though he wouldn't say it's for The Arts. More that it's just what a reasonable person would do.]

There's a lot of different people here. I'm sure you'll find an artist that will draw in a style more to your tastes.

[He gives an encouraging smile, then moves on from this subject.]

Have you been here long?

[hotproblems]

[Shh, it's for The Arts, don't worry about it.]

Yes, I imagine so. Perhaps putting out a call to all local artists would prove fruitful... [much to think about!!] Ah, but I have been here only a day, so familiarizing myself with the town must come first.

[After already trying to get a portrait done, anyway... don't think too hard about this.]

[startraveler]

So you're also new here like me.

[He guesses Art must be very important to this guy. Or getting a portrait is.]

Well, we can explore this place together, if you like. As I said before, I'm an adventurer, so finding myself in new places is something I'm pretty used to.

[He has many, many years of experience.]

[hotproblems]

[Ah, fellow new person, so they're in this together. Lorenz can lean into the adventuring camaraderie, he supposes, giving a short nod.]

Certainly! I would be remiss to turn down companionship under these tumultuous circumstances.

[tumultuous.]

Now then, as you are the experienced adventurer, where do you recommend we begin? On my own, I would be drawn to the center of town.

[startraveler]

[Very tumultuous.]

The town center would be the best place to start, but I also think we should search for someone who's been here longer than the two of us. Not a local, but another "chosen", as they seem to call us.

[Surely, not everyone in here is new, right?]