TEST DRIVE MEME #14

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #14

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

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand!)

-Characters have arrived in Expiation, a seemingly idyllic fantasy world where they have been told they will be judged and sentenced for crimes they were charged with upon arrival.

-Every two months, several characters are chosen for sentencing, where they’re brought to the Courthouse (formerly City Hall) and told to perform a task related to their assigned crime. Their only contact at the Courthouse is a mysterious and long-suffering man called Jerry.

-Over time, characters have begun to realize that not all is as it seems in Expiation: as it turns out, the entire world is a simulation that seems to be run by an artificial intelligence. This AI claims that its purpose, and thus the purpose of Expiation, is rehabilitating the Chosen after their crimes.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-In November 2024, a strange event overtook Aldrip and turned it into a week-long eternal night where technology ceased to work. During this time, the simulation that generates Expiation seemed to malfunction, causing a strange crack to appear in the surroundings. Through this crack, characters were able to see some sort of metal enclosure. They could reach a hand in, but little more than that. This crack has disappeared, for now, but what it means for Aldrip's future remains to be seen.

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. Current players may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs. Applications are open to all this cycle!

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

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A TRANQUIL BEACH VACATION... ?

Hmmm… the sun is shining, there’s the sound of waves–

Wait, the sound of waves?

This new batch of Chosen find themselves waking up in what looks like a fishing village. Some of them wake up outside, some of them wake up with their faces in the sand. Others wake up in what seems like an inn? They might not be the only ones in the bed with them, though. There’s not that many spaces! They may find themselves waking up next to another Chosen – or one of the locals, the Naga. They seem like there’s nothing wrong with this though, and even welcome them into their home. Do they want anything to eat? Drink? They can leave the bed even, if they’d like to continue to rest. Whatever the Chosen ask, they’ll give it to them without hesitation. See? Isn’t it so great here? You don’t even want to go to Aldrip right now! Those guys are awful. See what they did to those poor little welcome bots? Some of those Chosen had tried to dismantle or beat them! They’d run to Rumpitur and the Naga – who aren’t amazing with technology, but had been able to patch them up. But they’re very much still just second-rate patched. They can still see where they’ve been taken apart, and some wheels might even be lopsided as they roll around and give out the parchments and tablets.

Those poor, poor, bots.

But! Spring means rebirth, and that means that the Naga are celebrating. They've even been inviting Chosen from Aldrip to come visit! Those merchants they sent over there were inviting them while trying to sell their wares. Watch out though - they may get dragged into helping set up for the party, or help cook and run errands for the festivities to come.

XOXO GOSSIP GIRL

While the appearance of the Chosen in Rumpitur was not expected, the locals seem to take it in stride - and welcome the new arrivals warmly. The small town may not have much to spare, but they will happily share what they have: a bed at the inn, a meal at the restaurant, a couple of fish from the recent haul. The snake people are more than willing to engage in conversation, too, though don't count on them to answer all your questions - they can't tell you what they don't know, after all. Instead, they're likely to steer the conversation in the direction of the other Chosen. They shudder as they speak of them, sighing dramatically as they recount all the reasons why they're not so keen on the newcomers' Aldrip counterparts.

"Have you heard? They've blown up their own city hall three times! How barbaric!"

"I don't understand how the people there put up with them… they have no respect for anything! They even erected statues of themselves without asking for permission!"

"Now I'm not saying they're all like this, but when my neighbor's friend went over to visit, she swore up and down they were sleeping in coffins!"

"I know this might sound crazy, but my mother has seen them wear socks with sandals!"

"Apparently some of them go missing on a regular basis. I'm not saying they're responsible, but one has to wonder what happens to them…"

… And so on and so forth. The Rumpitur residents are eager to share all the gossip, no matter how ridiculous or improbable, and will continue to do so even after the aforementioned Chosen from Aldrip arrive at their town. They advise the newcomers should stay on guard around them, and don't believe what they say easily. The question is, do you believe them?

Oh, and there is one more topic that seems prevalent among the rumors - the villagers whisper about the visitors from faraway lands finally deciding to end their isolation and reestablish friendly relations with the mainland. What could that be about…?



OOC:
Is there any specific gossip you'd like the people of Rumpitur to spread, real or fake? Feel free to comment here, so the players can use it in their threads if they want! If you'd like to submit a gossip about another character, please make sure the player is okay with it first!

AREN'T YOU EGG-STATIC?

It’s Spring time! It’s time to celebrate the new budding leaves in the trees, many with their blossoms on full display. There are birds singing in the trees, an energy in the little animals that inhabited around and in this fair city.

The merchants of Rumpitur are also here to not only sell their resources for a steep price, but as a show of good faith and to attempt to build bonds, they have offered to celebrate the annual tradition of egg hunting within and around the village! There are eggs that are very particular with chromic shells scattered around town, and they are meant to start off the Spring hope of a good year for commerce, friendship, and prosperity.

Never mind that pesky stereotype that snakes eat eggs. These are traditional and celebratory events only!

Everyone is encouraged to celebrate this fun and light-hearted tradition of find and seek! When the event kicks off, the Rumpitur merchants explain that the eggs are meant to be cracked open to reveal a prize inside! Their chromic shells can be cracked and then peeled or they can be smashed (you heathens) to reveal their contents. The chromic egg shell colours do not correspond to a particular prize either, so it’s all fun and games until someone turns into a snake. What? No, nevermind.

Run free and have fun, Chosen! Share your eggs or horde them for yourself!

Edible Effects:(click to expand!)

Milk Chocolate Egg - Nothing! It’s just delicious! Or is it…?


White Chocolate Egg - Characters will manifest angelic qualities such as wings or a halo or white clothing. They are compelled to help others in need and to avoid causing crime! They will even go so far as to stop a crime from happening at all costs… even self sacrifice! These effects will last 24 hours; this effect can be prolonged with repeatedly consuming this type of egg.


Dark Chocolate Egg - Characters will manifest demonic qualities such as horns, barbed tail, red skin, sharp teeth and even leathery wings. They are compelled to encourage and entice other characters to commit crime (do the Chosen really need help with this? No.). These effects will last 24 hours; this effect can have a prolonged duration with repeatedly consuming this type of egg.


Chocolate Peanut Butter-filled Egg - Characters will suddenly be attached to the first person that they see. They are tethered to within 3 feet from this other person. Your new partner for the next 8 hours? Yeah, they can walk away from you, and you have to follow or be dragged along. And yes, if multiple Chosen eat one of these, there can be multiple teethers. What a great bonding experience!


Chocolate and Caramel Egg - Characters can only tell the truth; alternatively, characters can only tell lies. This is not a compulsion so much as their words will change and warp as they leave their mouths depending on the effect they are under. They can resist, but to no avail. Give in and speak your truth/untruths! This effect will last 6 hours.


White Chocolate with Strawberry-filling Egg - Characters under this effect face an escalating compulsion to share a secret, a crime, or a regret about their lives. The longer they hold out, the more painful the experience becomes. They must tell another Chosen; talking to the trees or the Rumpitur natives doesn’t count. This compulsion lasts for 4 hours or dissipates after the compulsion has been fulfilled.


Chocolate with Lemon-filling Egg - Characters experience aphrodisiac effects. They are overcome with the urge to cuddle anyone around them or… you know. On this effect, characters can either be charming or sassy, so they are ready and able to lay down some smooth moves or encourage a little rough play. This effect lasts 12 hours and can be prolonged with repeated consumption.


Chocolate Nougat Egg - Characters are suddenly very drunk or high or hyper-active. They will probably make a nuisance of themselves or at least need help to find somewhere safe. Let all your drunk/high/hyper dreams come true and try not to puke in someone’s flower pots, okay? This effect will last for 8 hours; it can have its effects prolonged or stacked with repeated consumption.


Rotten egg - Seems like you got pranked. Not only does it taste bad but it seems like it will plague a character who eats it with the worst luck possible.

Non-Edible Effects:(click to expand!)

Small useful item - Use is all in the eye of the beholder of course, but these items are something that can find a place. Examples: mini-binoculars, compass, swiss-army knife, engagement ring (looking at you Vi/Cait & Scott/Kotone), etc. Player discretion encouraged.


Small useless item - This is a small item like a toy, a part, or something that may be fun but have little to no use. Examples are glitter, a mini-puzzle, toy car, magic 8-ball, chinese finger-trap, etc. Player discretion encouraged.


Pet - It can be any kind of animal and not just ones born out of eggs. It can only grow to the size of a medium-sized dog, so no horses or elephants unless they are very miniature. Mystical or animals from a Chosen’s home are fine.


Fuzzy hand-cuffs - Do you need more explanation? The fur can be any colour or pattern that a player wishes. These make great gifts for people you like or don’t.


Magical Bullshit McGuffin - Effects unknown. Only one egg has this ominously glowing orb. Leave a comment if your character wants this and it will be RNG, with the results in the next SOTG. No world-ending skybeams will be included.

IS THAT A SIDEQUEST?

The Naga will also offer quests in exchange for food, and favors. Veteran Chosen may find that if they complete them, the attitudes towards them will soften. New Chosen will find the same thing, that the attitudes seem to cool down towards the old ones the more they’re completed.

There’s a snake in a tree!

A baby Naga is stuck in a tree… somehow? It isn’t sure how to get down though, and is screaming and crying. The parents are at the base of it, pleading for the child to come down, and unable to go up there themselves. Help?

Time to fish!

There’s a fish caught in a net off the docks that the Naga just can’t seem to pull up and onto it. This will require a small group of two or more characters to pull it up and onto the dock. But watch out! The more they tug, the more the fish thrashes. While it won’t hurt Chosen that fall into the water, it might be very likely that they get pulled in.

Fetch!

Could you help some of the cooks around the town? They’re kind of busy cooking for all of these newcomers, so they’re going to ask some groups of Chosen to go gather food from the forest. Be careful though, because there’s monsters out there.

Hey, you!

A Naga might try to get the attention of the Chosen and wave them over, saying that they need help building their new home. They’ll teach Chosen how to use the tools, and hopefully you get someone else with the building. Some of this stuff’s heavy.

OOC:
For old and new players (pending acceptance into the game), there will be a reward for helping out these guys in the SOTG. Quests are not limited to these four, and some may be made up by you if you wish! Just remember that they’re supposed to be positive in spirit, and contribute to Rumpitur in some way. Also, feel free to assume that the player submissions on the bestiary portion do show up in the game as we start to overhaul that page again!

ALL GOOD (?) THINGS COME TO AN END

After about a week, it seems like all the festivities are winding down. The older Chosen are starting to get shooed out of the village, and while they won’t completely kick out the newer ones… they’re going to heavily imply that they don’t have enough space for them all to live with them. Some can stay if they really want to, but they may be told they’re going to end up in Aldrip eventually. They all do, at one time or another, end up in the “home city” of the cycle.

Whatever that means!

But that’s just fine though, it’s not like they haven’t been subject to hearing gossip for a week straight. Just fine.

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

[decussate]

So young, and already so out of time.

[ There are a lot of things she could say about the virtues of patience and meditation, but archons forbid she play the pesky adult to this random child. The space to say stupid things out loud is one of the great luxuries of youth. ]

Now, what have the poor fish ever done to you?

[warhawks]

[ Hey, she's already died once... let her have this. She crinkles her nose at how unintentionally targeted that first comment feels, before letting out a huff. ]

They're just gross. They're slimy, they're unpredictable, they flop around... and don't get me started on fish as food. Who wants to eat something that looks like a dead animal? Or raw? "Oh, let's get sushi?" Thanks, but no thanks. Actually, just no thanks at all.

[decussate]

[ Raw meat lover Arlecchino continues on pleasantly. It's almost like they aren't accidentally verbally stabbing each other. ]

Hm, a novel perspective. I grew up in a land that took pride in its waters, and thus enjoyed a vibrant relationship with its sealife.

[ Not that she herself got to enjoy much of that in her youth, being Promised Neverlanded and then Battle Royale'd and then carted off to Snezhnaya and all. But it's at least something she got to enjoy a bit later in life. ]

I can't say even the pickiest of my children have expressed such a passion against fish.

[warhawks]

You have kids?

[ She stands up so abruptly her stool clatters over. ]

Is it okay for you to be here? In this place? [ Arlecchino doesn't look THAT old... so her kids can't be either? ] Not that any of us had a choice, I guess... but how can you be so calm about it?

[decussate]

[ Arlecchino calmly looks askance at Asa when she stands so suddenly. The girl poses reasonable questions, none of which can be faithfully answered in a reasonable amount of time. Thankfully, Arlecchino doesn't care to be faithfully understood. ]

They are diligent children. I have no doubt they'll be able to take care of themselves until I return. On the slim chance that they've arrived here as well, I believe I've adequately positioned myself to be found.

[ She elegantly gestures to their immediate surroundings, their easy visibility. Dramatic and for what. But she does end it with a nod, her words softening around the edges. ]

However, your concern is appreciated.

[ For thinking of the children... ]

[warhawks]

[ Arlecchino's so calm that it makes Asa feels like she's the weird one for acting out. Even though she knows she's in the right, like always. ]

Well... either way, I'm sure they'll be happy to see you. [ Whether here, or when she returns. (Maybe there's a little longing in that too — what she wouldn't give to see her own mother again. To say I'm sorry that you died because of me. Sorrier that I wasted it.)

She's too embarrassed to fix the stool, but she does tentatively offer: ]

I'm Asa. Asa Mitaka. Um, if you give me their names, I can keep an ear out...?

[decussate]

[ To give each and every one of their names would test Asa's patience and capacity. Arlecchino gives a small shake of her head. ]

I would be a sorry excuse for an adult if I saddled you with my problems. I believe I should be asking you about your worries instead.

[ As haughty as the girl has been, she seems young and burdened. It just so happens that Arlecchino has boundless experience with troubled youths, so one more will hardly be an issue. But first things first. Quite politely: ]

A pleasure to meet you, Asa. I am The Knave.

[ Very normal of her. ]

[warhawks]

[ The fuck... just like before, Asa definitely isn't staring at Arlecchino. Except the part where she's definitely staring at Arlecchino. "The Knave"? Seriously? Maybe it's a title, but who gives a title to someone who just gave you their real name? Is she insulting her?

She tries to keep the disbelief out of her voice, but it's probably obvious just from the question she poses. ]

Sorry if this is a weird question, but what country are you from? [ Like... she pretty much figured it wasn't Japan just from looking at her, but that only narrows it down so far. ]

[decussate]

[ Arlecchino peacefully weathers the staring. Something tells her the reaction isn't because Asa knows about Fatui Harbingers. The girl thinks Arlecchino is being ridiculous. That is fine. ]

Why do you wish to know?

[ She can't imagine it matters, but depending on the answer, maybe she'll humor the girl. ]

[warhawks]

[ For a second, Asa almost thinks better of it. "No reason" wouldn't be the most believable answer, but it would at least give nothing away of the truth. In the end, though: ]

Because it's rude to introduce yourself with a title when someone gives you their name. [ And just in case she hasn't dug her grave deep enough: ] Plus, isn't being a "knave", like... a bad thing? Why would you want to call yourself that?

[decussate]

[ One could argue that it's rude to call someone rude, but no matter. She replies easily, indulgent. ]

It was a title bestowed upon me by the god I serve. A great honor. Who am I to question her divine judgment?

[ Who indeed, given how little respect Arlecchino has for gods and fate. ]

As for why, well... it must be because I've done bad things. As have you, yes?

[warhawks]

[ Immediately, she thinks of the paper burning a hole in her pocket. Crime: mass murder. She hasn't — it was just two people! They can't be holding her accountable for Yoru's actions as well, can they? And how could this woman possibly know?

... She doesn't. She's bluffing. Asa sucks in a breath, tries to calm her heartbeat. ]

Oh, now you're accusing me? What's your problem? Are all followers of your "god" this arrogant?

[decussate]

[ So defensive because of a simple question. A note of amusement enters Arlecchino's voice. ]

An accusation? Nothing so crude. I only thought I might be speaking to... a kindred spirit.

[ In what way, she doesn't elaborate. Seeing the girl's (poor) attempt to calm herself, Arlecchino charitably allows her to redirect the conversation. Aggressively pointed nails rest by her mouth as she appears to think. ]

Many would call us arrogant, but "arrogance" implies that one's own sense of significance does not match reality. And I can assure you that my existence is significant.

[warhawks]

Well, you're not. [ Speaking to a kindred spirit. ] I'm a good person. This place doesn't know what it's talking about.

[ Whatever bad things she's done, she didn't mean to do them... and if she did, it's only because the alternative was even worse. She's not a saint, but a criminal? No way. At least not in the moral sense. ]

You might be someone important where you come from, but look around. I'd say we're all equally meaningless here. At least right now.

[decussate]

[ The truly good rarely insist on their own virtues, but Asa is free to try to prove her wrong. More importantly, Asa has confirmed that she was indeed accused of a crime, just as Arlecchino was. Whether or not the crime is real is a different matter -- maybe even inconsequential, if any crime in a place like Fontaine would warrant arrest.

Arlecchino's reply is quick, firmness weighing on her tone. ]

We may be lacking in power at the moment, but that does not mean we're meaningless.

[ That sort of self-deprecation is more than she can abide by. Just as quickly as it comes, the firmness recedes into her former placid calm. ]

That said... I can at least agree that we're equals. As much as a "good person" like you is willing to be equal to a "bad person" such as myself. [ Teasing, of course. ]