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

[laserguy]

[This is going to be an uphill battle..... but it's a challenge he's willing to take on. He caught him in a relatively decent mood, so lucky him!]

A creature didn't lay them-- come on man, it's better if I just show you. [Luckily, with how enthusiastic the Naga have been about celebrating this day, it's really not too difficult to find their first egg-- the blue object lying on a windowsill and he snatches it before holding it out for Gadriel to examine.]

Here.

[thecodexabides]

[Listen. Gadriel might not know much outside of combat but he knows that snake daemons and eggs are...probably...a thing. And these snake daemon creatures did make a lot of them. Obviously a trap.

[But he follows along and takes the offered egg, rolling it over in his hands. If it's not an actual egg, there was another thing it could be. ]

Where is the detonator? Is there a remote detonation fuse?

[That uphill battle might be a steep vertical climb. ]

[laserguy]

[Wow... if this is his reaction upon holding a chrome egg, Scott can't help but wonder what his reactions are going to be like towards other things in this world. Hopefully his mind won't, you know, explode. He really must be from a rough timeline though... Scott almost feels sympathetic, but also, he's just going to be a slightly teasing little shit--]

Come on man, it's not a bomb. I wouldn't do you like that. [Scott makes a motion for Gadriel to start cracking the egg open.] You just break it open and see what's inside. Look, if it's something bad, you can throw it into the ocean.

[He thinks about making an offer for him to just ignore Scott forever after, but he's not betting all of that on an egg.]

[thecodexabides]

[Everything is new and terrifying and the snake people look like daemons to him, so it's all terrible. ]

It is aerodynamically shaped to be a good projectile. [Therefore, at least potential bomb. Give him that much.

[He opened the egg, carefully, revealing a toy dinosaur.]

A ritual object. Obviously? [Something to put on some arcane altar to worship.]

[laserguy]

['Aerodynamically shaped' he can't with this dude. Scott rolls his eyes behind his shades, but lets Gadriel open the egg on his own without further comment. And what's inside... oh! Just a toy dinosaur. That's cool, maybe something that he owned when he was a kid or whatever. It's just good to know that he's right, like always!!]

No, it's a toy. Never had one of those either, huh? [It's like a battle on multiple fronts!!] You just sort of play with it. Have fun.

[thecodexabides]

[Gadriel studied it for a long moment.]

This is no xenos I recognize. Do they have them here? [It does look engaging to kill, at least.]

We have no time for toys where I am from. [He was marching to Castra Tanagra, by himself, at the age of 10, to become a Space Marine. Toys? Who had time?]

[laserguy]

[Xenos...? Scott thinks for a few seconds what he may mean and comes up with one thing--]

Like the xenomorph? Oh hell no, nothing like that is here.

[He's seen the movie Alien and while a super cool movie, it was also messed up. Definitely no aliens like that in this world, thank goodness. It would only be cool for like .5 seconds before Scott blasted it into space.] We have regular monsters and stuff, but nothing that will lay eggs in you.

[Gross.

But okay, no toys. Why would he expect a different answer?]

Keep it anyway man. [...] Or if you want, give it to a kid. They'd probably appreciate it. But we need to find you something with chocolate. Ever had that?

[thecodexabides]

[Gadriel made a pointed look at a naga slithering by, carrying a grocery bag. No xenos? REALLY?]

If you say so. [DOUBT.]

Do any harvest your biomass for its genetic mutations? [As horrifying as eggs sounded, tis was also on his list of things he hated.

[What would he do with a replica xenos? He splits his focus, trying to find a suitable child, while he listens to the rest of the other's words.] Is that a food item? [So. no, not really. ]

[laserguy]

[He's pointedly not going to comment about the sort of friendly but also kind of mean snake people. They're just here and stuff!! It's fine... probably. Well, other than the fact that they might be former Chosen that got combined with snake data or something like that. Honestly Scott doesn't fully get it himself.]

What? [Harvest biomass??? Dude no. Wow, he probably even has Miller beat in terms of super strict no fun ever had military man. Scott's almost impressed.] No? I haven't been harvested before. Geez, what kind of world are you from?

[No toys... no chocolate.] Okay. We're definitely finding an egg with that. It's food, yeah, sweet stuff that basically everyone likes. You've been missing out.

[Scott's already stepping forward a bit, looking around to find a new egg for Gadriel.]

[thecodexabides]

[The day will be terrible that Gadriel hears that theory, because he's already half convinced the nagas are Slaaneshi daemon creatures and that would just confirm it.

You don't want to make a grown man scream, do you? ]

My Chapter's home system is Macragge. [Anyone in the Imperium would recognize the Ultramarine insignia on his armor. The literalism is just a bonus. ] I was raised on Talassar, which is an ocean world. Until I was ten, when I made the pilgrimage to Castra Tanagra.

[Why is he still following the other man? Because he had mentioned food. Gadriel was a simple creature.] I have been fighting a war....

[laserguy]

Cool, I'm from Earth.

[He recognized none of those names, but that's probably fine. Scott's sort of got the gist anyway, he's from a terrible place that has no chocolate or toys and probably trained since he was young to fight something awful. Xenos. He mentioned. Really something out of a science fiction story if you ask him, but he's not going to say that much.

He has some awareness not to do that. Besides, he probably wouldn't understand the reference.]

There isn't really a war here, but. [Okay, some serious time, even as Scott continues to search for an egg. The teen's mouth pulls downward briefly, memories briefly returning to what happened last month. Pushing that down now.] Things can still be dangerous around here. Not because of the snake people, but... the world itself. I guess.

[Maybe that's best way to describe how usually once a month or every other month, something awful just happens.]

[thecodexabides]

[Gadriel stopped walking, abruptly.] You are from Terra? [Did he hear that right? Holy Terra? The home planet of the Emperor himself?]

[He's not fazed by that news. He would be more disturbed if this place really were a paradise.] Most worlds are dangerous, at least by the time I am sent there.

[laserguy]

[Terra, huh? Yeah, he's heard of Earth being referred as such in the past, just a few times though. What's more interesting is huge guy's reaction to it, the mutant actually slowing to a stop to look at Gadriel with a small head tilt. This clearly is a big deal to him.]

Not the usual name we call Earth, but yeah. [...] Is it a pretty big thing to you? Well known planet across the galaxy?

[thecodexabides]

Terra is the home of the Imperium. It is where the Emperor was born and resides. [Definitely a big deal.]

[laserguy]

So, the guy that you serve?

[Guess that's more common when space travel is common and stuff. A network of planets all connected. Hopefully this Emperor guy isn't like the evil one from Star Wars-- that's the first thing that comes up in his mind!]

Is he an asshole or actually good? [A genuine question... even if worded like that. Although Scott has resumed in his search and luckily, he finds an egg that's just hiding inside a box of assorted vegetables. Cool.]

[thecodexabides]

The Emperor? [What kind of heretical question is this.] He is the hope of mankind, the very reason we have survived so long as a species against the xenos and Chaos. He lights the Astronomican to this day, enabling our space travel, and we, the Astartes, are made from the DNA of his sons.

[He could continue but it should be clear: the Emperor is not only a good guy, he is the goodest guy in the entire universe.]

[laserguy]

Uh, right.

[So, guess he's good?? Although sometimes with these military guys, it's really hard to say. Plus, he doesn't even know what chocolate is. Or toys. How good of a guy can this person really be? And being made from the DNA of his sons sounds weird. Luckily, Scott decides to keep those heretic thoughts to himself, and instead offers the egg to Gadriel once more.]

Here, try this one. Hopefully it will actually include chocolate this time. Then you can bring news back to your Emperor and spread the word.

[thecodexabides]

[He does not sound suitably convinced. Gadriel's very presence, his very large, heavy, imposing presence, is evidence of the Emperor's might. Who else could have conceived of the Adeptus Asartes?

The egg did include chocolate! Instead of asking if it's edible, Gadriel just shoves it in his face hole, because you don't keep a body this big fueled on hopes and dreams.

He gives a knowing nod, after a while. ]

Ah. Glucose. [Essential for fuel!]

[laserguy]

[He's almost impressed by him shoving that chocolate right into his mouth, no questions asked. Scott almost expected there to be more inquiries if it's actually safe or how the shape of it can still be used as a weapon. He can give props when it's called for.

Although he snorts at his reaction. Glucose. Yeah.]

Wow, you're the only person that can make even chocolate sound unappetizing. [But Scott lifts a hand to his hip, trying to garner more of a reaction from him.] But you liked it, huh?

[thecodexabides]

[Don't be impressed. His magic special Astartes organs mean that he can eat literally anything, up to and including rocks. What an incredibly...useful...ability.]

Glucose is an essential nutrient. It is in all of our combat rations. [He'll pull one out to show it. Does grey gloop in a plastic pouch sound appetizing? If so, Scott's welcome to try some.]

Is this how we eat here? We hunt the macronutrients?

[Sounds tedious but ok.]

[laserguy]

[Scott's face immediately twists into a grimace upon seeing the ration. Okay, hard pass on that one. He'd rather eat just about anything else. If this is the stuff that he had to eat constantly to survive... no longer he turned out like this. Sheesh.]

Food's a little more scarce in Aldrip right now, but I normally just walk down to the sandwich shop to grab something. [...] Pretty sure the farm managed to survive last month's attack, so there's vegetables and stuff there. You can put away the gloop, really.

[thecodexabides]

Why is food scarce? [That seems like a crisis.

The problem is Gadriel is a large individual who needs ludicrous amounts of food to fuel his absurdly large body. ]

If there is a shortage, I can eat other things and save the food for those who need it. [Want proof? You see the plastic egg that the chocolate had come in? He just pops that in his mouth, too. Crunchy. ]

[laserguy]

City was attacked last month, sure you're familiar with that. Being a military space guy.

[And he'll explain the important stuff about that, mostly that the Black Beast kept everyone sealed in while people got infected from wish seeds. Surely all that will go down well. He'll just reassure him that all that is done and over with, so he doesn't have to plan out an attack. Yeah, okay.

But also. This dude just ate plastic right in front of him--]

Dude, we're not that short on food! [He's not going to be responsible for this guy choking on chromic shells!!]

[thecodexabides]

Siege warfare is the specialty of Rogal Dorn's Chapters. [Does he look like an Imperial Fist? He is more of the 'go into combat with two weapons and a chainsword' type.] But I know the basics.

....what? [Sure the plastic wasn't delicious, but neither were his combat rations.] You said there was a shortage. There are probably sick, or injured, who need to eat.

[laserguy]

I didn't say that we had to go Mad Max out here!

[They're not surviving in the wasteland just yet! Thankfully. Scott really doesn't want to picture the scenario in which everything is scarce and they have to survive out in the wilderness or something. He's been here for two years and luckily that hasn't happened yet.

He can still grab a sandwich from the sandwich hut when he wants. Important things.]

Look, you really don't have to eat plastic. [Kind of cool of this guy to go this far though... basically offering to give his meal to others.]