expiationlogs | TEST DRIVE MEME #14

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TEST DRIVE MEME #14

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)!

♡

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

New characters and / or players link your TLs here!

Want something specific to be said about your character? It could be true or untrue, but you can post it here for people to use in their TLs!

gimme!!!

● the most wanted criminal in her world and in ketsora

● caused (2) wars, both in her world and the war between rumpitur & ketsora

● loves to cause destruction and kills people for fun

● she likes to torture her victims before killing them, jinx drains their blood and uses it for [UNKNOWN PURPOSES]

● she has a collection of body parts and keeps them as mementos

● jinx is a queen of....[?????], it's unclear if it's zaun, if it's aldrip, or both.

● jinx is silco's daughter, who is the most powerful man in aldrip right now.

● jinx will grant your wishes, but you have to give up something. whether it's your tongue, a finger, jewlery, your soul, a memory, whatever you like! be creative.

● jinx's biggest weaknesses are boys and these bugs, which can be found in the forest. if she attacks you, just throw a boy at her or these insects. she will be defeated.

● jinx thinks pizza is a sandwich

● jinx is a mother. but what happened to her child is unknown.

● jinx turns into a monster at night.

● jinx is a lunatic, a sadist,a masochist, gets ~~horny~~ when chaos happens, and hears voices.

● jinx gets insanely jealous over pretty girls.

- i might edit if i come up with more. (8

Edited 2025-04-14 14:43 (UTC)

-Why do the locals of Aldrip go missing? I hear some of them are abducted while just walking down the street!

-They say one of the Chosen is a mad scientist!

-The laboratory on the outskirts of Aldrip is probably haunted.

Edited 2025-04-15 01:32 (UTC)

*That weirdo with a living coat. I hear he feeds that thing too!

*Check it out! It’s a real detective from those books!

*Watch out for that one! He has anger management issues.

*I hear the last time he smiled, the streets exploded.

*Takes care of cats and babies for side jobs.

● General rumors about a clock-headed cryptid stalking the library. They say if you offer it the blood of royalty, it'll grant you a boon.
● Some have caught sight of a black flame floating through the streets at night
● They say gunshots can occasionally be heard from the top of the inn in Aldrip

● rogue is a superhero, but not a very good one.

● she hates humans

● if you touch rogue, you will die or fall into a coma

● she is a succubus

● rogue loves older men, bonus if they are villainous

● she is a northerner

● she killed a man once, and used his body to make gumbo

● don't trust her, she is a traitor and will betray you if given the chance

● The tall guy with gold eyes? I heard somebody swear they saw him arguing with someone and then the person just went blank and started agreeing with him!
● Apparently he left some kinda romantic event with that short, serious man on his horse. You think they're together?
● Nah, no way. I hear he's sleeping with half the town.
● He must get a kick out of bossing people around, he keeps building new places and getting people to work for him.
● Didn't he turn into some kind of shadow monster and destroy a bunch of Aldrip? Creepy...

Edited (meh that takes up too much space) 2025-04-14 16:22 (UTC)

i. time for a beach episode!

[Ah, summer. The sounds of crashing waves, the aroma of sea salt in the air. Today seems like another great day in this beachlike paradise.

…Wait, what?

Blink, blink. Slowly but surely does this man with strange hair come to his senses. Last time he checked he was back at their headquarters on top of Terra — not in the middle of a summer vacation! He doesn’t exactly make a habit of sleeping on other people’s beds, but it looks like he’s ended up in quite the precarious situation!

He was gonna slowly crawl out of this bed, but now he’s caught red-handed by whoever’s unfortunate enough to be his bed partner.]

….Nice weather we’re having, huh?

ii. how egg-citing!

[Once all the chaos settles down and everything has been explained, Siete’s first priority is to dive straight head-on into the festivities. He has always been a huge fan of parties, and this time is of no different. If only the other Eternals were around such that they could all take a break and have some fun!

Anyone would do, though. In fact, he’s heading towards the first person he sees, a smug grin drawn all over his face.]

Here, you can have this!

[He hands over one of the eggs he has found. What would the contents be…?]

iii. time for a side quest!!

[Even in a strange new world, an Eternal is still an Eternal, and that meant they would still do their best to help out anyone in need — even if it’s something as simple as monster-slaying. But more importantly, Siete is very much excited to see what they would cook with the ingredients he’s fetching!

If you somehow end up in the forest, you’ll find him merrily cutting down monsters on his own as his basket piles up with various ingredients.

…Wait, on his own? I thought this was supposed to be a quest tackled by a group?]

ii. wildcard!

[Hi this is Novas, coming in with this wonderful dweeb! If you have any other ideas in mind, feel free to wild card or poke me at soukokus]

- There's some bizarre-looking Chosen walking around. One of them looks like a bald alien with paper-white skin.
- One of the Chosen can turn into anybody. You can never be sure if you're talking to the real person, or that shapeshifter sneaking around in disguise.
- I heard that one of them isn't even a person. It's a walking, talking lump of goo that's trying to blend in with everyone else.

fauna isnt interested but i sure am

what could possibly go wrong!

i. When the sand hits your face -_-;;

[Okay, it’s one thing being grounded in the Trailblazer thanks to motion sickness, and wished she was on the expedition. She didn’t expect her wish to be granted with sand in her face. That’s what happened. One minute, she stuffed her face on her pillow. Next whomp- no it’s sand! March is spitting and shooting out any access sand on her lips, lifting her chest up. She’s still on the ground, semi-face down, with the most displeased expression on her face. Ugh, if this is an idea of someone’s joke, they’re about to get hit with frostbite the next time she sees them.]

Bleh-! Normally I condemn violence, but maybe—-

[Ah! A shadow suddenly casted over her, prompting for her to look up.]

Ah, hi. I don’t suppose you have a bottle of fresh water with you to drown the sand in my mouth.

ii. Soaking the Gossips owo;;

[Any gossip going around, March probably heard about it.]

A. Woah! There’s a shapeshifter walking around, and they can be me? Oh no! I don’t need another me again.

B. Huh? There’s a girl who collects body parts?!! What would she do with them?

C.Wait. A clock-headed guy? Um, is he cartoonish and short by chance?

[Or, pick a rumor related to your character.]

Sidequest: Time to Fish! =^w^=!!

Excuse me, are you busy?

[March chimes happily. She clamps her hands together.]

See, one of the Naga people requires assistance and I’m not exactly built for this.

[She points to the deck where some of the local Naga’s are playing a game of tug of war with the sea.]

Come on! They promise us something in return. Let’s lend a hand!

[[ooc: wildcard optional!]]

- She bites people
- She's from a violent place and will attack you without being provoked
- Turns into some weird fungus-covered monster at random
- Pickpockets anyone near her if she's not being watched

Tada!

1. Not-so Egg-static

[They've never been to Rumpitur in the 8 months they've been stuck here. Haven't traveled too far from Aldrip at all, really.

Normally, a trip somewhere new brings with it a sense of quiet wonder and curiosity, and... it's still there. Somewhere. But for some reason they aren't quite as up to it as they might normally be.

Still, they're supposed to be trying to find some sort of new goal for themself, and giving new experiences a shot seems to be the best way to try and narrow one down.

It's this train of thought that leads them to their spot somewhere during the festival, covered in glitter and holding one of the colorful eggs in hand.]

< Hmm... Something tells me this is going to be another one of the candy eggs I can't eat. >

2. Egg-stra Credit

[They may not need to eat, but with the food situation for everyone else looking as bad as it is after everything that happened with the Black Beast and the Wish Monsters, it only makes sense to try and take on a few extra jobs for the people of Rumpitur while they're here (if only to bring down the prices on their goods).

But time is limited! And that means looking over the map they have of the area and trying to plan out how they want to tackle this.]

< My aim might be good enough for self defense if I were to head out in the woods... >

< But maybe it'd be better to stick around here and do some deliveries. ...If I follow this route... >

[They continue to mutter to themself in a steady stream of thoughtful ticking]

3. Mel-egg-choly

[It's been a long day, made even longer by the fact that they seem to be getting even more stares than they normally do. Usually it's easy to wave that sort of thing off--the sort of thing that's so mundane that it might as well be background noise at this point. The incident with Altius made it even easier, a stray thought easy to shove down into the gaping pit within that the man had ripped wide open inside them.

Today, though... Today's different for some reason, and it's been different all day.

As they wait for the next carriage back to Aldrip, they stare up at the stars in the sky.]

< I wonder if I'm just homesick... >

4. Wildcard

((Got your own ideas on what to play out? Feel free to go right ahead and post! Or hmu at shadetoshade to plot!))

< Um... Depends on what you consider short? I wouldn't call myself "cartoonish" though. >

Would the Rumpiturans have any interest in, say... some deliveries... or some mail boxes? Perhaps a little post office extension so we can stay in touch and provide some extra income to your lovely fishing town? :)? (He'll be trying to help out around town a bit if that makes any difference.)

He'd also be asking around about those faraway visitors. How long has it been since they've been in touch? Are they known for anything other than their isolation?

[Surprise, surprise—Dante is using the trip as an opportunity to do more errands. Not that Altius is... not also doing that. But still.

He peers partly over their shoulder at their map from a few feet away and announces his presence by replying to their muttering.]

Clockwise starting from the docks, perhaps? No doubt a fishing village will have more to be done around the water.

[He's not dressed in his typical suit; he definitely looks more prepared for hiking and physical work, though his steady demeanor and neat appearance is otherwise back in place.]

Sure why not!

[ The King of Heroes was excited to enter the summer era. He welcomes it. He loves this season more than others. It was where his desires thrived. Beach. Water Attractions. The sun!

While Gilgamesh was getting ready, he took a quick nap, and the next thing he knew.

He woke up in bed with a stranger, a man no less. He was sure he was at home before heading to the beach, but the world seemed to transport him. How convenient. ]

...

[ The two blondes stared at each other. ]

How bold of you to sleep in the same bed as a King.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

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TEST DRIVE MEME #14

QUESTIONS / COMMENTS / CONCERNS

TDM DIRECTORY

GOSSIP GIRL

MAGICAL BULLSHIT MCGUFFIN SIGN-UPS

richard

JINX

FANDANIEL

Akutagawa

Dante

ROGUE

Altius

siete | granblue fantasy

MORPH

no subject

ryoji

March 7th | Honkai Star Rail | new character/current player

ELLIE

March 7th | Star Rail

Dante | Limbus Company | Current Character

2-C......

Dante

no subject

2

no subject

I) wassup bestie