expiationmeme | TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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TEST DRIVE MEME #3

TEST DRIVE MEME #3

Welcome to the TDM for Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with fantasy, science fiction, and some horror elements. We ask that top-level comments are reserved for new characters and players looking to experience a taste of the world and overarching storyline. Characters already in the game, however, are free to use TDM prompts in their own catch-alls and logs. Feel free to submit any TDM / prompt-related questions to the corresponding comment below.

New players / characters looking to app are free to use TDM threads as samples in their application. Preexisting players / characters may use TDM threads as part of their AC proofs (with the stated limitations).

You may find the below links helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.

info | world

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN...

BRAVE NEW WORLD (ARRIVALS)

After receiving the paper with your sentence, the whole world quickly becomes dark and you find yourself falling through what seems to be an infinite void. You lose track of time after a while, but as soon as your focus seems to waver, your vision clears and you find yourself resting rather unceremoniously in a pile of seeds used for chicken feed.

Once you make your way out of the grain silo (and we of the moderator team wish you good luck in finding a fun way out of it), you may find that several other people have been dropped into the world just like you have. Some are disoriented, others are panicked, and others yet are simply angry about being brought somewhere against their will. Amidst the chaos of new arrivals to the world of Expiation, the newcomers will find that there are some people in the crowd who seem a little more familiar with what’s going on.

These people will tell you that you find yourself in a strange new world, and that it’s best to make your way to a nearby town called Aldrip to get settled down there. It’s a few hours by foot away from this area, but it’s the only place in the nearby area that can accommodate newcomers like you.

WE LIKE TO PARTY (WE LIKE, WE LIKE TO PARTY)

Recently, many Chosen have emerged victorious from a hard-fought battle, taking out a gargantuan creature that threatened to suck the energy from the whole area surrounding Aldrip if it had not been stopped. Such efforts do not go unrecognised, and in the aftermath, the locals all decided to band together to celebrate their saviours’ heroics. Nothing less than a village-wide party and parade would be fitting for such an occasion.

This is an undertaking that will likely take a significant amount of effort. While the locals wanted to make this into a surprise, many of them lack skills to put the thing together properly. Chosen who want to get involved in the preparation process can put their organisation and culinary skills to the test to create fixtures and food for the event. Better yet, your efforts over the past months have improved supply routes into Aldrip, meaning that the food shortage has passed, and you’ll have just about anything your heart desires for the occasion.

Alternatively, you can choose to enjoy the spoils of your efforts! Once the day of the party arrives, Aldrip will erupt into a full-scale celebration, and all Chosen are encouraged to party as hard as possible. Good food, good drinks and good times will be in no short supply for the occasion. Additionally, those who took to the front lines in the previous event will be revered as heroes and likely spoiled rotten.

THIS IS HOW YOU GET ANTS

PLEASE PARTY RESPONSIBLY

It’s no understatement to say that some of the Chosen like to party hard- and that’s quite alright! A few days ago, the people of Aldrip had already set aside a few rooms in the inn to act as an infirmary for those who had been injured during the battle with the Branded. It took little effort for them to expand this project into a full medical wing for those who would undoubtedly be acting irresponsibly during the festivities.

It’s up to you to decide what circumstances brought you here. Perhaps you were injured in the previous battle, and have been stuck in bed as you recover from your wounds. Maybe you had just a little too much to drink, and you decided to come by while you collect yourself. Regardless of what your reason for being there may be, the people of Aldrip have guaranteed that you will receive the best of care.

With that said, the place is terminally understaffed. Aldrip’s locals will certainly appreciate any assistance they can get- even if your character might not have the best training or bedside manner. Medicine can’t be that hard- what’s the worst that can happen?

MR. MAGNIFI'S MAGNIFICENT MIXTURES

Once word of the upcoming celebration spread, several individuals from outside town came in to offer their services or goods in Aldrip. One such individual came into town riding on a rickety cart with the words “Miraculous Magnifi’s Medicine! Guaranteed to heal what ails ye!” emblazoned in gold on its side. The thing smells a bit off, with a strong chemical scent coming from the back, but the moustachioed man who emerges from the back assures you that all of his “mixes are made with meticulous ministrations!”

Those who buy and consume the potion might find themselves feeling strange over the next few days as symptoms emerge. Some people wake up to find that their hair has taken on a rainbow of colours during the night, that rats cuddle up to them for no reason, or that their irises have been replaced with strange spiral shapes. Feel free to come up with inventive but harmless side effects for the miracle elixir- it’s meant for some good fun.

They’re strange symptoms for sure, and certainly not the advertised cure-all. However, Magnifi is already gone by the next dawn, meaning that no one can get a refund. Thankfully, the symptoms will go away after a few days, but the chaos that ensues in the meanwhile will certainly make for some fun stories.

IT'S NOT OVER

♪♫ LET IT GROW ♫♪ ► (FUTURE EVENT TIE-IN)

The party celebrating the dread beast’s defeat can be heard from miles outside of Aldrip, but the situation is not quite yet resolved. Much of the once-lush forest outside of Aldrip had its life force absorbed from it, leaving little more than profaned ground and an overwhelming scent of rot. Worse yet, there are reports that some of the beast’s severed golden tendrils have taken on a life of their own, creating snake-monsters that threaten the local wildlife.

However, the monsters are not the only new arrivals in Pessiria Forest. Those who go to investigate the area will find that fairy-like creatures have gathered in the profaned land and are trying their best to help bring the area back to its former glory. At first, they seem to keep their distance or ignore you entirely, but after determining that you mean well, they inform you that they can temporarily bless the Chosen with the power to make full-sized plants burst forth from the seeds they plant into the ground.

It’s still going to be hard work. Even with the power to bring plants to life, planting seeds in the miles of dead forest will likely take a very long time. Still, these strange fairies could use the help, and tough jobs can be better if you bring a little help from your own friends. (Or enemies. No one’s going to judge you for who you bring.)

WHAT'S THAT MYSTERIOUS LAUGHING SOUND?

The process of regrowing the devastated part of Pessiria forest is well underway, but the process does not go entirely smoothly. Partway through the process, locals start to report that they can hear a strange girl laughing in the forest in the middle of the night, but no one seems able to track down its source. Curious Chosen can patrol around the forest at night to try and figure out the mystery.

Those who are particularly sharp-eyed might see a faint spectre of a little girl wearing a straw hat dancing about, but she never seems to stay in sight for more than a few seconds. One blink is all it takes for her to vanish.

You probably won’t be able to catch this strange spectre, but it’s become something of a game among the villagers to go looking for her anyways. Some say that seeing her is a sign of good luck, and wave to her before she disappears. Others say that if you see her while holding hands, it will bless you with a lifetime of good love. Almost all of these assertions are probably nonsense- but what will you do about it?

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[ won't he? well, not right now at least. but fyodor stops trying to sway chuuya back and forth in provocation; instead, he withdraws his hand, unnerved at being allowed to touch so freely. or maybe he's a little miffed at not being of more concern, but in truth here as he is, is far less threatening compared to what he is at home. ]

I am tempted to, but my reasons for being here are not about you, Chuuya-san. Did you hear the rumours about a spirit in the forest?

[To be fair, if Fyodor had done something more embarrassing, Chuuya might have finally snapped and protested, reactive as he tends to be. But what Fyodor had done was simply touch, indulge in his fascination and the warmth of Chuuya's skin, and Chuuya almost misses the gentle caresses when he pulls away.

He quirks a brow at the following question, reaching for his canteen again. Frankly, he probably should have brought a change of clothes if he was going to be out here so long, but he can take a shower when they get back.]

Yha mean the faeries, or...? 'Cause they're trying to fix the forest, far as I know.

No, I already saw those. There is supposedly something else, a ghost if I understood the rumours correctly.

[ he gestures towards the forest, where the trees are stacked. his eyes sweep over chuuya, considering whether he should leave the other to the punching or coax him to follow.

what fyodor notes: the way the strands of red hair are damp, stuck to skin but still so very soft to the touch. the way his throat moves as he swallows water, how sweat has set on skin. the way his clothes cling to his frame: short, yes but strong. he could break fyodor in half with a fragment of his ability. the way his voice sounds here, without the ragged breathing of the vampiric curse that bends him to fyodor's command. ]

A ghost who is supposed to be good luck.

A good luck ghost? That sounds a little far fetched to me.

[He glances sidelong at Fyodor after taking another long drink from his canteen, watching the other man watch him with a clear, curious gaze that he definitely hadn't sported when he was under the effects of the vampiric curse.]

Have you seen it yet?

I. Arrival

[ Honestly, a pile of grain is as good a place as any to contemplate whatever it was that just happened, and so unlike other arrivals Hythlodaeus takes some time to lie there and stare at the ceiling. It's quite peaceful, really.

But eventually he does make it out of the silo, in no small part because he's getting hungry, and chicken feed is... well, chicken feed. And it has got everywhere.

If you're also in the area, you may notice a black-robed man with longish lavender hair and a strange bird-like mask hanging on his chest. He's heading towards this 'Aldrip' at quite a leisurely pace, apparently lost in thought and eating the grain straight out of his pockets.

Or perhaps he approaches you, looking suspiciously relaxed and easygoing given the circumstances. He's also unbraiding his hair, trying to shake out the birdseed out of it.]

Apologies, but could I bother you for a comb?

II. Grape Responsibility (a)

[Despite having been accused of betraying his friends and also being stuck in an alien world without said friends, who is Hythlodaeus to turn down a good party? And so he chats with people to learn more about this world, and eats and drinks and laughs (a little too loudly as the evening wears on). If you're not careful, you might end up the target of his sociability.]

Have you tried this one?~

[Here, have a glass of wine being thrust at you at a happily grinning rando.]

II. Grape Responsibility (b)

[Or perhaps the evening has rather turned into night and Hythlodaeus has imbibed too much already. With this amount of alcohol in him the next morning isn't going to be much fun, and unlike some people he can't just magic the toxins out of himself. And so Hythlodaeus finds his way to the infirmary, if quite unsteadily, armed with this ingenious idea of doing something about the hangover ahead of time.

He rummages through the shelves and cupboards, squinting at the bottles and sniffing what herbs or other ingredients he can find. He remembers Azem bringing back some kind of recipe from their travels - a hangover cure for people like him, whose command of magic is shakier than normal... or simply for the more adventurous kind of person? Well, anyway. You're supposed to mix something and... something...

Oh well! Cooking is an art, they say, and it's basically mixing things together as well, isn't it? Time to let the muse take him and tell him what unsuitable mixtures to dump into a cup. And then attempt to drink it, unless he's stopped by some kindly soul who also happens to be in the infirmary.]

III. Wildcard!

[Throw anything at me, fellas!]

I know of parasites that are fond of the faces and hands of human hosts but you are not one of them.

[His scarlet eye flashes with a spark of anger like a cat's in torch light.]

If you were, you would both be dead.

[A bold statement, perhaps. So far in his crusade against the True Runes he's failed to kill a single one.

Thinking about it raises a cramping, twisting pain in his chest. To push it back down he turns his attention away from his thoughts and back to the creature.]

Did you choose this...

[He finally lifts his gaze back to Shinichi and looks him over with a slight frown.]

...unremarkable specimen as your host?

Although he's fairly certain that there are no other enemies about, he does a quick scan of the area as he gets back on his feet. After using it for support, it shortens to a more manageable carry size as he wipes the blade carefully on the grass. The ichor from the creature doesn't seem to be corrosive so he resolves to check it over more thoroughly later.

"Yes. I am a paladin of the goddess Gracefeel." He pauses. Then sheepishly: "I know it may sound strange, but do you happen to know where I am? I asked in town earlier and they gave me odd looks."

Edited 2023-06-10 15:40 (UTC)

[ Emet-Selch had been minding his own business, slowly recovering from his ordeal. Then suddenly, who should walk into his life but an old friend.

He has just come blearily awake. As ever, he struggles upwards with the weight of centuries on his shoulders, asking himself whether there is any point in waking. He rubs his eyes, casts a listless eye across the people in the ward, once, twice. Then zeroes in on the flicker of old, familiar colour.

Heart thumping, he stares. He even rubs his eyes to make sure he isn't hallucinating. ]

No... No, it can't be.

[ Weariness forgotten, he throws off the blanket and makes his unsteady way to the person. With a shaking hand, he reaches out and taps them on the shoulder, steeling himself for disappointment. ]

[Once again venturing into the festivities to acquire food to bring a bit of cheer for those yet lingering in the infirmary, Erichthonios encounters no small number of wine-addled revelers seeking to rope him in on the 'fun'... and he deftly manages to avoid most of them, save for this very moment, when the garb of the one thrusting a libation at him is familiar enough to cause Erichthonios to pause.

...and so it is that at last someone manages to slip a glass into his grasp. Furthermore, now that he has it in hand, he holds it dutifully, careful so as not to spill its contents onto the jovial man by accident.]

...I... No, I have not.

[ There's a choked coughing when he gasps at exactly the wrong time—as the tincture hits the back of his soft palate. What's worse is that he's not entirely sure if it was the intention but that simple "til death do we part" makes his crooked imagination go wild. That strong invocation of traditional vow imagery~~~!!!!! ]

Ahahaha, don't spill any! Especially if yo_u...

[ He says with a portion of his own potion spilt on him. What's peculiar is the way his normally deep voice suddenly rockets up several octaves. ]

...^{paid full price...?}

[ Wait something is off here. He maintains some wide-eyed eye contact as the gears turn in his head. ]

[ There's a shaky inhale of PURE UNFILTERED EXCITEMENT as it occurs to Gogol what's happened to his voice (total heliumficiation) ]

Hiii^iiieeeeeeeee_eeeeeeeeee!! FE^DYAAAAAA~

[ a vow is a vow; even one toasted with potions of questionable origin, fyodor is a man of his word (yes, he may add loopholes but is that not what a good conjurer does?)

he knows why you choked, nikolai. he suspects. the deliberate use of words a test, always, always a test. ]

[ his own spills over his lips, stains slightly the white shirt he's purchased here as replacement.

now that is annoying, and he shifts his attention to nikolai to tell him off except— ]

[ his normally deep voice goes high, higher as if he'd ingested an entire tank of helium and lived to tell the tale. well, then. these are certainly not healing potions and he might need to stock up on a few more.

fyodor coughs, expecting the same reaction but nothing happens for the moment when he replies: ]

Yes, Nikolai? Hello.

[ as if there is absolutely nothing wrong with gogol's voice. only a twitch of his lips gives away the amusement right now. ]

[ Gogol lifts his hand to clear his throat. The expression he corrals his features into twitch with the large amount of effort being expended to keep it serious. This would be a occasion where his voice would remain earnest and so, so low at any other time.

Except even that has become chipmunkified and it sounds even stranger for it. ]

_{The consequences of} the^{se actions are so very grave, my friend. I shudder to imagine the undue suffering it will cause.}

[ A solemn pause. Gogol's shoulder start shaking as the high pitch breaks him. Helpless giggling spills out from behind the fingers covering his mouth. ]

^hHHeHHEEHEHE

[Her shock finally subsiding, Echo scowls back at him. This man may not be her former master, but they definitely have a lot in common. In that case, any sort of direct hostility was probably a very bad idea.

After a few moments, she replies.]

I...believe I have, yes. You realize it would likely take a substantial amount of time to attract its attention, correct?

[ The reach doesn't go further than it has already. Rather Nikolai's hand twirls at the wrist into a finger gun before retreating back to Gogol's side. Seems he's just as happy to start playing tour guide. ]

There are many places with roofs waiting for you. The question is whether you would prefer something quiet... or lively?

[ ...even fyodor cannot hold it when his dear friend's shoulders are shaking this much; the high pitch that follows when he laughs. it's ridiculous, and so very him.

fortunately, there seems to be something sparing fyodor from the same fate because when he giggles (girlish, and betraying genuine amusement) it is his normal voice. ]

Well, I am always at your service should you require someone to put you out of your misery.

[ he straightens, and that is when it happens. like a swirl of unprecedented, very localized wind carrying...sparkles. it makes fyodor glow in the most non-threatening manner whatsoever.

not only does this man look like he's about to be blown over by the merest touch, now he's also sparkling as if he's some sort of disney prince come to life. ]

Edited 2023-06-10 19:41 (UTC)

It isn't from me, it's from a liscensed doctor here in Aldrip. You can ask them on your way out if you're that concerned about a slightly spicy root.

[ Not the most professional choice of words, nor the most professional action when he deigns to just. Toss it in Ragna's direction as opposed to waiting to hand it over for however long this very mature back and forth of theirs decides to go on. ]

Now if you'll excuse me, I should be helping people who need it.

Is that so?

[ The salesman sort of look doesn't completely go away, but there's a hint of softness to it now. He brings a hand up to his chin, considering, and taking inconspicuous glances behind him at the locals chatting away on their breaks from booth-manning.

With a smile more warm than calculated, he leans on the counter and lowers his voice. ]

One newcomer to another, I'll give you three for free. You can trade any of the prizes you don't like from the first try for another ball. How does that sound?

[ Oops. ] Apologies for that.

Would a second pair of eyes and ears be helpful, do you think?

[ If she did indeed memorize a path on her way in, he could stay a little longer to help and follow her out. He doubts either of them will find anything anyway, so it may as well be a break with some nice peaceful forest ambience. ]

[ He sure does! And it's thinly-veiled fear that raises his eyebrows at Chuuya's approach. He keeps his smile, his professional posture, but his hands are clenched behind his back as the most obvious sign of tension. ]

My! Such an unexpected guest. Are you really only here to play games, I wonder?

For right now, quiet. We can try lively in the morning if you really want.

[ He realizes the breadth of shenanigans that wording opens him up to once the words leave his mouth, but. It's fine. That's a problem for future, more well-rested Sigma. ]

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TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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Hythlodaeus || FFXIV

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Grape (Ir)responsibility more like (B)

Grape Responsibility (a)

1/you knew this was coming

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4/4

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