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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?
Yosano | Bungo Stray Dogs
[ A hellish fever dream, perhaps? One Yosano hadn't experienced since childhood, and had hoped to never again. However, unlike those before it, filled with mutilated and dying men, wailing outcries, pleading for death, this dream seemed after the fact.
A sentencing. In a desolate void now made a silo, which was sucking Yosano in like quick sand. And perhaps, instead of a dream, it was purgatory. Finally coming to claim her.
Honestly, Yosano was half ready for the silo to take her under and suffocate all those demons away, if it wasn't for the panicking, angry and distraught voices echoing into the chamber. And while Yosano was not one to value her own life, she did others.
So wildly splashing about in the grains, resisting the pull to the bottom, she reached the silo's edge and grabbed the ladder on its side. Pulling with strength Yosano didn't think she had, out of her death bed and into... a completely unknown world? ]
Ah... [ Confused. Concerned. Maybe she was actually just tripping out? Or caught in an illusion. Matters that she'll have to deal with eventually as long as someone wasn't hurt. ]
Is anyone injured? I'm a doctor. [ She said sharply, commandingly, with her soft voice. ]
II. WE LIKE TO PARTY (WE LIKE, WE LIKE TO PARTY)
[ Arriving at this unknown town-Aldrip, they had called it-at the height of what seemed like a celebration was... just a little bit too much for Yosano.
All those jovial townsfolk, laughing while cradling beer or dancing with vigour. Already a headache was working its way into her brows. She wanted a drink, and to sit down-because, hell, walking two hours in heels was tough even for her-and perhaps even wake up from whatever this was.
So, she walked up to the closest group enjoying the party and unceremoniously snatched the drink from one of their hands. Sculling it before they had time to complain or object. ]
I need another. [ She muttered outloud, because, hell, if this was real then she would needed to be very very drunk to deal with it. ]
III. PLEASE PARTY RESPONSIBLY (CW: She will slice you.)
If there was one place Yosano always felt at home, and most powerful, it was the infirmary. And when Aldrip locals were calling out for help in the medical wing, Yosano was relieved. Because while she had no idea what she was doing here, she could, at least, gain some control by stitching people up. So, Yosano waltzed in proclaiming she was a doctor and, oh my, the townsfolk were quick to enlist her help. For better or worse, really.
Well, isn't this a nice scalpel. [ Yosano picked up the blade, eyeing its sharp steel, and glanced back down at the patient assigned to her. ]
This shouldn't hurt too much. You won't need any anaesthetic. [ Yosano smirked, a twisted expression replacing her usual calm exterior. She didn't even know if the patient needed to be cut open, but surely some extra cuts wouldn't be any trouble, right? Besides, she could easily stitch them back together again. ]
II
Frankly, he'll take any opportunity to indulge in his vices right now. But he's starting to wonder if he's had more than he thought, when he looks up to see a familiar face. Yosano had made quite the impression on Chuuya, okay.]
You're... the agency's doc? When'd you get here?
LOOL I love Chuuya
...The gravity user?
[ Was all this the mafia's doing? Rage reared its ugly head and Yosano had half the mind to throttle him right here and now; but, no, wait, he looked just as surprised as her... and considerably more drunk.
Yosano tempered her irritability behind an innocent smile—honestly, it still looked threatening, but she did try.]
Oh. Just a moment ago. Are you sharing? [ She wiggled the drink in her hand. If she woke up tomorrow still here, then perhaps this wasn't a mass hallucination... but who is she to ever pass up on drinking? ]
and I love Yosano!!!
He lets out a wry laugh and nods towards the drink Yosano wags at him, raising a hand to flag for another.]
Sure, why not? If you just got here, you could probably use a drink or five.
[Hell knows he had, after all that bullshit.] Surprised it took this long for another one of yha agency folks to show up.
[But still no one from the mafia... unfortunately for Chuuya.]
These two getting drunk is everyone else's nightmare
Hey, you aren't a hallucination, right? [ She glanced back at Chuuya, suddenly doubting reality. Grabbing his cheek, she pulled on it hard. Warm very real skin, but this has happened before... and she could never be too sure. ]
—Do we wake up if we drink ourselves silly?
Absolutely, it's why it should happen!
Still, he makes a funny face when she grabs his cheek, growling slightly.] Hey, the hell are you doing!!! Don't just yank on me like a kid!!
[He makes a face, scowling up at her.] I fucking wish. Trust me, I've tried.
poor Chuuya D: bullies everywhere
What's this?
[ Eyes now twinkling. Because, oh, what a mistake it was to be frazzled in front of Yosano. An innocent smile working its way onto her face. ]
I won't treat you like a kid, don't worry ~ [ As she pats his head and starts sculling another drink. ]
what he deserves tbh, he's too reactive for his own good
[Oh that headpat just gets an even more surly look out of him over the rim of his new beer, a hand waving her off. He'd thought she was pretty badass when they first met, and now this?!
Well as long as she doesn't make any direct cracks about his height--]
A silo? What the hell? No, they had to fix me up when I showed up 'cause I was in a bad way.
[Like, a vampire sorta bad way. Luckily they've got fixes for that, apparently.]
HAHA
Oh, come on. We can be friends, no?
[ Internally Yosano filed his reactions into her memory bank. So she could humiliate him later. ]
Why, didn't you get a pleasant reception. I was dumped in a silo and forced to walk for two hours... [ Yosano started cheery but her statement ended menacingly. Her fingers digging into his shoulder. Whoever dumped her here was going to suffer a very slow slow torture. ]
—Right. How was being a brainless vampire?
ii
[ deadpan, obvious and cautious in his approach, fyodor knows who this is. the angel of death; he has a whole file on her and what she did on the battlefield, as well as her links to one of the hunting dogs. things hadn't turned out well there but, ah. ]
HIII 💕
Where does one go if they want another drink?
[ Or five. Maybe ten. Depending on how whack this situation becomes. ]
no subject
[ he smiles, clasping his hands behind his back to appear as less threatening as possible. what a mess, he wonders if dazai is aware of her presence too here and...should he be concerned about more of the agency showing up?]
no subject
She sets off to follow the crowd, looking back at the man to wait for him to follow. ]
Were you also dropped in a silo and forced to walk for two hours?
no subject
[ he follows, a careful, sedate pace but he has no intentions of getting drunk here. ]
no subject
[ Fantasizing about the numerous ways she would chop up, dismember, and mutilate whoever was playing god over her life. Making her walk in mud and grime was a seriously bad choice. ]
Though, Everyone seems pretty content...
[ Yosano looked out at the rambunctious town, all partying and laughing into the night. ]
Too comfortable. [ How long have they been here... ] Tsk. I need to get home.
no subject
Are these enough drinks for you?
no subject
Take these for me, please. I'll grab some more.
[ There was no one that knew Yosano that could say she was light-weight. Or rather, she wouldn't stop drinking even when she should. And tonight, well, it happened to be one of those nights. ]
ii
from above, a bandaged hand takes her drink unceremoniously, a giggle from his lips.)
Oh, sensei, you're going to need at least a bottle.
no subject
[ Looking up, Yosano stared at the teasing man. If there was anyone in the ADA Yosano would expect to meet her at hell, skipping arm in arm through its gates, it was this maniac.
She wasn't surprised in the slightest. But Yosano still wasn't sure if she was tripping out or if this was, in fact, reality. So she rolled with this new found revalation. ]
Well? Get me a bottle then. Intoxication might inhibit my cognitive function enough to wake me up.
no subject
dazai, however, is dazai, and he won't move to grab her that alcohol yet. instead, he'll drink from her stolen cup, and stretch.)
In a bit. This is not Hell -- you haven't seen me in pretty much a year while I was in Mersault, and I don't even get a nice 'hello', sensei? How cold of you.
no subject
[ Because surely, this wasn't where the both of them would end up.
Yosano frowned when Dazai drank the rest of her stolen drink. ]
Hah, I wish it stayed that way just a little longer...
[ Yosano muttered. It wasn't true, of course. But as the last bits of her solace went down his throat... the urge to throttle Dazai increased tenfold. ]
— I can give you a nice welcome back gift in the infirmary, hm? If you really insist. [ With lots of dismembering, bleeding and crying on his behalf. ]
no subject
(now he needs a drink, thanks, sensei. he orders, eyes taking a good scan of her face, any injuries, anything that might have happened in his absence.
truth be told, he's been struggling. being good without the rock that is the ada beneath his feet.
he couldn't be happier.)
no subject
Hm. It's good to see you.
[ She was, despite her dismissive exterior. After everything fell apart, and Yosano's history trudged up and thrown right back at her face, she felt dislodged from the small comfortable home she'd made for herself.
How could she be after what she'd done? ]
— I was almost beheaded. But as you can see, still in tact for now.
[ Yosano lifted her fingers to her neck, while Dazai studied her. Worry, perhaps? She was very much alive. However, Yosano had been all too close to accepting the price...
Something she wouldn't openly admit. ]
When you said you were going to prison, I didn't think you meant here...