![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
expiationmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
expiationmeme2023-05-29 10:59 am
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.
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?
Soups On
But ooooh boy did that soup smell soooooo good. She immediately came over to Ochako, bowl ready.]
OH MY GOSH! Did you make this? This smells amazing! [Usagi took a little bite and then smiled even wider.]
AND IT TASTE EVEN BETTER! You're incredible!
no subject
Ehehe...I did, yeah. I sort of just threw things in a pot. [Don't listen to her, Ochako's just being humble.] But I'm really glad you like it!! There should be some steamed rice coming up, if you want a little side dish.
[Because of course there's going to be rice. What do you fucking expect, she's Japanese. There's rice with everything.]
no subject
Yeah, but you threw the RIGHT things into a pot, this isn't bland or overly seasoned or unpleasant! You. Are. Awesome.
[Usagi took several more gulps.] This is just what I needed.
no subject
Ochako gets it, and only snorts and laughs, waving off the continued compliments as her face gets as hot as the hearty soup she made.]
Uwaah, thank you so much, you're too kind! I'm not too used to this particular recipe, so I'm glad it came out well!! I wanted to make something hearty, to get everyone pumped up, but didn't want to exclude anyone who doesn't eat meat or animal products so...I went with this that's made from veggies and mushrooms and stuff.
[It's vegan, she means.]
no subject
I'm Usagi Tsukino by the way, what's your name? [She manages to say all that while simultaneously inhaling the soup.]
no subject
[Ochako mumbles to herself, and actually was planning to put some in the pot to add more color and flavor, but there weren't any around when she was cooking, so she just skipped them and added other veggies instead. Onions, potatoes, some mushrooms, daikon...and tofu for some more protein.]
Ehehe, well, I know my way around a kitchen - my mama taught me all her best recipes, but this isn't one of them. I sort of picked it up from a cookbook, but didn't know most of the recipe, sooo...I sort of made the broth and tossed stuff in. But it came out really good!! So I'd glad people are enjoying it. And I'd love for someone to try out my recipes!! I love food, and cooking is so much fun.
[Man, though...that carrot hatred... Ochako has to wonder if there's maybe a food allergy or something there. Carrot trauma? She has no idea - but makes a mental note to exclude carrots from her menu when serving this young woman.]
Oh, I'm Uraraka!! Uraraka Ochako - it's very nice to meet you, Usagi-chan. [Bunny...cute. |D]
no subject
That's wonderful, I only know a few recipes like rice and noodles. But my mama was an awesome cook too! Well, I LOVE eating, it's my second favorite hobby!
Nice to meet you too, Ochako-chan! Are you form Japan as well?
no subject
Eh, did she not have time to teach you, then? It's really not hard once you know the basics. Ah, but what hobbies do you like?! I really like to sew and make crafts - mostly with paper. I'm really good at some origami. [Yeah...she's gonna take that break. Waving her hand to another of the volunteers to take her spot, Ochako pours herself a bowl of soup, checks of the steamer of rice and sighs at how perfectly fluffy it is, then spoons some into a separate bowl, making sure to add a bit extra for Usagi. Finally, she takes a seat next to the young blond.] Mm, I am!! I'm from Musutafu, in the Shizuoka prefecture.
[Which...does not exist in Usagi's Japan. Shizuoka does, sure, but Musutafu not so much. It's, ah...special to Ochako's world only (in that it is a made up city).]
no subject
Well, my two top hobbies are sleeping and eating. But after that? I love to go shopping, play video games, read manga, and just hang out with my friends and family!
You can sew too? You have so many talents! Oh... I... actually don't think I've ever been there. [Or heard of it. But she knows Shizuoka prefecture. Well, Usagi wasn't exactly the best when it came to geography!]
no subject
Pfft!! Hahaha! [She doesn't mean to laugh, but god, that is such a mood. Sleeping and eating...the dream. Ochako loves food and she loves to sleep in all the time - she is not a morning person at all.] Ehehe, those are pretty similar to mine, too!! But I also really love stargazing and astronomy. Oh, and of course Hero training and stuff, but that's not really a hobby - it's part of my schooling and future career.
Mm!! My mama would hem my clothes when I was little, and she taught me how when I was old enough not to poke holes into my fingers all the time, ehehe. She'd buy clothes that were one or two sizes larger when I was small, so I'd grow into them, or hem them as needed. [Since her family was...is poor, this was a means of saving money on clothes, which Ochako outgrew very fast as a child. Th-Though now it feels like she's stopped growing altogether - the brunette is quite petite.] Eh, really? It's not all that far from Tokyo... Though, maybe your Japan and mine are different? Since, um...we may be from different worlds and all.
no subject
Ooh, stargazing, that's wonderful. I love looking at them but I don't know the first thing about them, if that makes sense. I think it's amazing you're going to be a superhero!
Awww I bet you were a cute baby, you're super cute NOW after all!