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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?
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[ Amazing how a uncertain and mysterious circumstance can make Sigma actually willingly ask Gogol to talk about this. Better the familiar danger than the unknown, for sure. It does, however, tell him approximately how much the poor man is feeling uncertain about their surroundings unfortunately. ]
It could've been such a fun time to have him killed had a good opportunity ever appeared. But I didn't! I can't yet?! Why's that, hmmm? Guess!
[ Gogol rests his face in his good hand and takes up to tapping at his temple rhythmically.
Speaking of pop quizzes... Sigma should know why. He'd told him why. This one should be easy ]
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[ Easy peasy. That's the entire reason he's still alive, after all--to be a tool one more time until Dostoevsky was just a haunting memory.
The next is just an educated guess, unless Gogol is playing with his food at the moment. ]
And you didn't make any progress while he was here.
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[ Having popped the p on that "yep" he taps at his watchless wrist. A playful gestures that's slightly more sinister that intended--or is it? An exaggerated tilt of the head as he stares holes into Sigma follows it up. ]
'Cause I made none! No progress whatsoever! Wow! That's really the worst outcome imaginable.
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[ Bite clearly intended, softened from both nerves and lack of energy. Letting his frustrations about everything out on a conveniently annoying target would be nice, but even if said target might not kill him if provoked there's plenty of other ways to get him to cut out the attitude. And Gogol is a creative man.
He waves a hand as if to shoo those thoughts. ]
Once he's in front of me, it won't be a problem. I honor my deals, Gogol.
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[ That frustration and anger does read true. He's not foolish enough to assume Sigma isn't still mad he'd tossed him into the fray when Dazai had asked. Meaning? ...Meaning Fyodor and Sigma would've been actively at odds with each other when before it was somewhat more passive. Not for the first time Gogol so wishes to know the future goings on in his game.
How much vitriol would build up if he put them both in the same room again? He wonders. He's smiling. ]
Imagine the scenario where Fedya is in front of you here. Yet! This isn't Meursault prison is it? None of my excellent set up has followed any of us here—as such I have a second request for your diligent consideration.
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Alright. I'm listening.
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[ Despite that cutesy lilt he is SO serious about this. ]
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Wait. Wait. Hang on. Elaborate on that. By refraining from getting him killed, you mean...?
[ Don't say actively protecting him, don't you dare say it you maniacal clown! ]
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I reaaaaaally need you to make sure he lives long enough for me to get at him later!
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Well, if Gogol's going to be like that... ]
Only if I get to up the ante on my side too.
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[ He flicks a finger up to point smack-dab at the middle of Sigma's forehead—just barely not touching. ]
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[ Which ultimately should get Gogol what he wants. The only reason he pauses is to look Sigma in the eye long enough in silence to try to make him squirm. But— ]
I am willing to agree to those terms.
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Then it's settled. We'll both do our part.
...By the by, I do have one more question for you.
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[ Please he's so tired. ]
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[ and it almost sounds like encouragement to keep going just a little further. Would be if his mania didn't wax and wane so often. From the first, fuelled by sympathy for the exhausted, into the second comment where it returns. Gogol reaches out as if he's planning on scruffing Sigma for something dubious. ]
Awww are your feetsies hurting? You should've said so! I can get you there faster.
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I can keep walking, thank you. I just wanted to know there's somewhere with a roof waiting for us.
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There are many places with roofs waiting for you. The question is whether you would prefer something quiet... or lively?
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[ 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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[ Luckily they're close now. Close enough at least that it looks like Gogol is intentionally leading them through rows of buildings with a location in mind. The building he stops in front of seems a fairly high traffic area at first in that a number of the "Chosen" are leaving and going from the same entrance.
It's where they all stay currently. A clown he may be but he have the decency to hold the door open for Sigma to go in first. ]
In you go!
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He'll still be looking where he can once inside, after a quiet "thank you" to Gogol. There's got to be something somewhere, some snag hiding in a corner hinting at the true nature of this place. ]
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[ Whether or not Sigma takes this information too Nikolai chatters on about some of the people they pass, and often to those people's chagrin. "You wouldn't believe how boring that one is! It's very impressive." "Wow! Noooo idea who that is." ]
[ At some point during the building's tour Gogol abruptly swings a door open. No one yells at him for it so it must be a room he's familiar with. The inside looks like the primary function is as a bed room so take that as you will Sigma. ]
Now then, you should be able to recollect yourself in here.
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And eventually, just what he's been waiting for. The structure of the whole place is hotel-like enough that he has an idea of what's inside before looking in, but there it is: bed. The bonus boost of energy he'd been given when thrust into a crowd drains almost all at once as his body begs him to make a beeline, but he keeps hold of his manners long enough to let himself take a quick look at everything here as well. ]
I'm assuming this is yours?
[ One of the things he's looking for: some sort of something that would mark it as Gogol's space. Anywhere they shared previously hadn't been inhabited long enough for that sort of thing to settle in, so he has to admit he's...curious what that would look like. ]
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Notably: the abandoned cello in the corner. Abruptly Gogol tries to grab Sigma's attention once again with a sharp clap. The clown has an important announcement it seems. ]
And now it's also yours!
[ Sigma you've activated his trap card. The one dubbed And Now You're Voluntold Where to Sleep Every Night! What? He needs to keep an eye out on certain assets. ]
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