TEST DRIVE MEME #15

[expiationmods]

Test Drive Meme #15

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.

-A piece of the AI approached Fandaniel in April to bring a piece of itself to the island across from the Rumpitur town. He did it, inserting it and therefore restoring that piece back into itself. After a month and a half of a map update, new people have landed to Aldrip to investigate the Chosen there... coincidence? I think not.

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 June 20th and APPLICATIONS will open on June 23rd. After this, applications will next open in August.

FOR PLAYERS/APPLICANTS: The modteam has agreed to revise AC as of July, we will be posting the details in the SOTG.

Full Navigation

ARRIVALS

New arrivals will wake up in the middle of an inventors event, in the middle of any prompt below. They may wake up with pieces of materials surrounding them with the expectation to make something, or appear where those NPCs are trying out their experiments! Either way, they'll be dragging the newbies into their nonsense right off the bat, as if people appearing is no big deal at all. More inventors and experiment test subjects for them!

Newbies can also appear while the Red Chocobo that's been brought into Aldrip is running amok, speeding through the streets of the city and just generally causing chaos and riling up the other animals within the city walls.

HAPPY PROGRESS DAY

As announced by the Briorsea visitors earlier into the month, they are holding an innovation fair at the event center! Anyone and everyone's invited, whether it's as a participant or a casual audience member. The guests seem thrilled to be able to share their latest ideas and contraptions with the good people of Aldrip, and they can even come across as a little patronizing with all their bragging about their advanced technology. Well, that's the cue for the Chosen to step in! All you creative types are welcome to enter your own inventions to compete with others, and if you manage to impress the people of Briorsea, you might win exclusive prizes that would change the lives of the people on the continent forever! (Or so they say.) Whether your creation is mechanical or chemical, a fully-working prototype of just a bunch of lunatic notes and scribbles, the judges will hear you out. There's no new innovation without experimentation, and they want to see how the melting pot of various worlds can push Aldrip forward.

If your character would like to participate in the contest, people respond to the mod comment below and we will RNG the winners!

TEST SUBJECTS WANTED

Of course, theory can only get you so far; every inventor knows putting it into practice is the real challenge. With so many brilliant minds back in Briorsea, it can be pretty difficult to find reliable help without risking becoming the target of some industrial espionage, but here in Aldrip they finally don't have to worry about it. In fact, they're quite sure they can find lots of willing test sub─ er, assistants! So don't be surprised if you're just looking around the festival when you suddenly get pulled out of the crowd and in front of the stall ─ or worse yet, onto the stage ─ and ushered to try out one of the amazing new tech developed by the guests.

Springy Boots: it's like normal boots, but with springs attached! Thanks to these, walking will soon become a thing of the past, and those pesky stairs will pose a threat no longer. Just put those bad boys on and leap to wherever you wanna go! Just, uh, try not to end up on the roof. Mastering the correct jump might take some time!

GrubClub Deliveries: sometimes you crave restaurant-style food, prepared by the finest chefs… but you also don't want to leave the coziness of your room. Who you gonna call then? Why, the GrubClub, of course! A new, innovative way of delivering high quality cuisine straight to your home is taking the world by the storm (or will, as soon as they work out the kinks). The system is pretty simple: the freshly prepared meals are loaded into a catapult and launched to the coordinates of the delivery address! Fast and simple. The accuracy still leaves something to be desired, if you happen to be in the vicinity, watch out for flying rations above your head!

Opposite Day: don't think Briorsea innovators are limited to engineer only, oh no! Some of the chemists have been studying the flora around Aldrip, and with juuust the right mix of ingredients, they've managed to crack the formula for a refreshing tonic that recharges a person like a brand-new set of batteries. The only downside is, it also causes some aspect of your personality to switch: if you're usually a grumpy jerk, you might find yourself in an unusually good mood. If you're a goody two-shoes, you might feel the compulsion to act a little naughty. If you're a liar, you might find yourself speaking truth for the first time in your life… you get the idea. Don't worry, the effects are temporary and won't last longer than a couple of hours! So that's not such a bad trade-off, huh?

These are examples of what you might find at the fair, but we encourage the players to come up with their own inventions as well, whether created by the characters or NPCs! Go wild!

WILD CHOCOBO CHASE

As stated on the quest board, some of the visiting scientists wish to study the local population of chocobos. Well, thanks to the goodwill and support from one of the Chosen (endcaller), they received not just a feather or two, but a whole living specimen! A red one, to be specific. Sadly, Fandaniel didn't leave them any manual or tips for handling the hellish bird, and it did not take kindly to its new owners. In fact, it didn't take long for it to break free and start rampaging around the event area! If this keeps up, the fair will turn into a disaster, with all the amazing inventions on display getting trampled by the enraged fowl.

This might be a good chance to show the visitors what the Chosen of Aldrip are capable of, and maybe even get them indebted to you! Or you can just sit back and enjoy the mayhem. It's up to you.

A MEMORIAL

As per Scott’s and Kotone’s announcement over the network, they are hosting a Remembrance Event over at Richard’s Inn, the man graciously letting the place be used. It’s big and the place where a lot of Chosen started off at, so it’s fitting in a lot of ways. Walking in, the inn isn’t overly decorated with banners or anything too colorful, given the nature of the occasion, but there’s more liveliness to it, if only because people have started to gather around here.

Looking around… (and please, newbies are more than welcome to come)

Please bring actual food

Letting two teenagers that share one single brain cell bring over food? Unfortunately, Scott and Kotone (mostly Kotone), only made baked goods for the remembrance. There’s cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate truffles lining the kitchen table, and while they all look rather tasty, there’s a notable lack of actual food. Hopefully you brought something that isn’t just sweets to share with everyone. You might be the savior of the day.

Otherwise, well, at least the pastries are good.

Remembrance Book

Off to the side of the main lobby of the inn, there’s a hefty book resting on a table titled ‘Memories.’ Thumbing through it, you’ll notice that most of the pages are blank, but there might be a couple of names, along with brief descriptions, written there that might be familiar to some Chosen. Just of people that have long ‘disappeared’ from this place, or even just recently. Next to the book is a pen, along with a set of instructions that should make everything clear:

‘Write down names of Chosen that went home. A description too. Or a good memory. Just don’t make it too stupid.’

Instant camera

On another table are a couple of instant cameras, the kind where you take a picture and a polaroid comes out after a few seconds. Cute, right? A chance to take a picture with friends, or maybe you even just want to pull a random stranger over so that you can take a picture with them. As if to encourage the photo taking, there’s also some random objects on the table there too, like silly glasses and a few random hats to put on.

Like the other station, there’s a note there:

‘Don’t forget to make new memories too.’

Gift Exchange

Writing things is good, but you know what everyone likes? Presents. Whether it's something full of meaning or just something bought on a whim, a tangible reminder of those who may be missing one day in the future might be nice to have. While of course there are things to be purchased around town, Kotone's utilized her Sewing Club to put together a small area of the inn with most of the fabric, yarn, and other assorted craft materials she's been hoarding over the past two years, in case someone wants to make something with a more personal touch. Surely someone will be willing to teach you how to use the sewing machine?

Another helpful note suggests:

'Make something for someone you like! Or make a new friend by giving them something!'

Toast

Near the end of the celebration, everyone will be given a glass of alcohol (or water if the person is a little too young or just doesn’t want it), because now is the time for the toast. It’s encouraged that anyone speaks up now, whether it be talking about past Chosen or looking towards the future with new friends and goals. Maybe both! If one really wants to, they can even talk about what they plan to do to solve what’s going on.

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)! The quests linked in the Chocobo prompt are available for the TDM for newbies as well as current players outside of this event. Have fun!

♡

Comments

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna nods.]

About anything in particular or...just talk?

[chimericalclaw]

I don't think it would matter.

[In the grand scheme of things, of course, but... also because the subject would be less important. Words are less important to him than their presence, once he's gotten to know anyone worth caring about in particular. But he tries not to think very much about anyone in particular; it would just be a waste of his focus for no real benefit, much like this gathering.]

... It would be more about having the company again, I'd think.

[theskyaccepts]

Yeah, I get that.

[He smiles.]

It's just, important. Isn't it?

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius raises his glass to his lips again, allowing himself a moment to wash away his errant thoughts—wordless notions of loss, deserving and worth dissolved with a faint burn.]

That's right.

[He sits back, eyes settling over the little tables that have been set up for the purpose of memorializing those who've escaped this awful prison.]

Well... don't let me keep you from your friends and making something of all those memories.

[theskyaccepts]

You're part of them to, Mr. Altius, you know that, right?

[Tsuna's eyes are bright and warm as he speaks, flecks of orange behind the brown. The always open Sky.]

If anything happens, I'd like us to find each other someday to.

[chimericalclaw]

[The man's eyes widen with mild surprise, and he blinks before he manages to come to a response.]

... That's sweet of you to say.

[In those eyes he sees a reflection of others he knows well. The eyes of young people all fighting for and believing in the future. The eyes of those he's wanted so badly to save from the suffering and despair he discovered instead. And now he's aware of so many more, in worlds out of reach of the merciful sleep he'd thought would be all-encompassing.

There's something kind but almost mournful to his smile when he continues.]

I'd like that too, Tsunayoshi.

[theskyaccepts]

Then it's a promise!

[His smile is bright. He means what he says.]