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expiationmeme2023-01-23 02:02 am
TEST DRIVE MEME #1
Welcome to the TDM for Expiation, a pan-fandom adventure game with fantasy, science fiction, and sometimes subtle 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. 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.
You may find the below links helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.
A WARM WELCOME
The journey here has not been a particularly convenient one. The last thing you can recall is the room of blinding white and the incomprehensible voices that were speaking about you. Then came the dropping of the floor beneath you and suddenly you were falling into black. As you come to and regain a more clear vision of the world about you, you find that you are surrounded by pleasant greenery.
Deciduous trees are sprinkled here and there in some miscellaneous fashion. There are plants and flowers all about, the chirping of birds. Above you rests a fairly clear sky with a dotting or two of clouds. The sun is pleasant. Overall, it’s comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable.
MEADOWLANDS ARRIVAL
Within eyesight, though you can’t possibly know the footing distance, there appear to be fields. A portion of them dedicated to long stalk vegetables and the rest a neatly organised collection of leafy greens. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that some of these look ready to be picked right away. Not much further past the fields are other buildings. Simple in style and not at all grand in structure or make. There’s people, too. It looks lively. The locals will tell you that you’ve set foot in Aldrip.
Not far from you, in fact relatively close if not in hand already, is a rolled parchment bound by a rather nondescript twine. If you unfurl it, you’ll find a generic welcoming message addressed specifically to you.Welcome to Expiation. We, who have found you so worthy and deserving, have declared you to be one of the Chosen.
The cryptic written greeting is followed by a collection of recorded statistics—physical and mental attributes, along with other observations about your person that clearly weren’t made by you (but may not necessarily be inaccurate).
Nearing the bottom is a peculiar line—You have been charged with ▬▬ and in accordance with the doctrine of this world, you have ▬▬ until you will face your sentencing. Prepare your defence adequately or face the repercussions.
In spite of that strange little addition at the bottom, which may or may not make sense to you, you’re not the only one arriving in the meadowlands. You have some options. Maybe check with a nearby fellow otherworlder, scour the fields, meet the locals. First impressions, after all, can sometimes last a lifetime.
WILD COMPANIONS
The collective of newly-arrived aren’t the only ones exploring the meadowlands. Curious about the various sounds created by those not native to the world, there are animals living in and near the surrounding areas drawn to the attention. Different types and sizes of birds and beasts or other creatures that may resemble ones from your home world begin to close in on your location. Do they mean to do you harm or are they only simply wary about who you might be and what you’re doing?
Some of them are incredibly friendly, especially if you’re inclined to provide them with food, or if they’re younger and they simply don’t know better. But be aware, for every young animal, there is likely to be a parent not far behind, and less inclined to be understanding of your strange fate in this new predicament. As such, no matter how cute something may be, reconsider taking it with you, else you may simply stir the ire of their families.
If you find yourself in a position where you’ve inadvertently stepped into a territory not meant for you, you’ll need to find either a strategic escape or resort to force and self-defence. Fortunately, some of these larger, more aggressive beasts, are much the same ones that the locals in Aldrip have been seeking to cull for the safety of the citizens. Maybe you can make some fast friends with the Expiation natives by bringing them something you’ve had to put down.
THOSE WHO WERE THERE
Those Who Were There are what the locals refer to their gods as, considering them responsible for their continued growth in the world, the abundance of their crops and sea life, the greenery that surrounds them, native wildlife, and some of the strangely advanced luxury items that make their livelihoods a touch more convenient.
You’ve arrived at an opportune time. Although the peoples of the continent freely show their appreciation for their higher beings, every once in a while, they celebrate by way of joyful festivals, grand songs, and more expressive means of their devotion.
FESTIVITIES
Aldrip seems to be a bit busier than usual, with a little more foot traffic than what may be considered a normal day in the life. There’s music in the air provided by lutes, panpipes, and the dulcet tones of men and women alike, expressing songs and tall tales of those they have come to revere as celestial beings. They believe that honouring their betters can be done with song and dance as much as it can be with offerings and prayer.
The town is bustling, a plethora of additional street stalls selling all kinds of local cuisine, jewellery, weapons, and accessories branded with insignias that represent the same wave motif as can be found on the charms every newly-arrived will receive. There’s raucous laughter, a plethora of drinks (alcoholic and non) that are passed along merrily to those wandering through if one doesn’t have a drink already. It’s the perfect way to integrate yourself with the people whilst taking in the celebration.
A portion of the town has had the land cleared, set up with a minimalistic coliseum ring for archery competition and one-on-one combat. Winners of these exchanges don’t get anything grand, but are presented with plenty of free food and drink, and some may even be awarded with some modest badge accessories from the local shops for providing the people with some sport.
Out by the fields, closer to the shoreline of the Talion Sea, there’s a grand pillar of fire that’ll burn all through the day and into the dark of the night where more music follows and accompanies spirited dancing.
SENTIMENTAL OFFERINGS
If you’re searching for a momentary reprieve from the bustle of the festival, there’s a modest walkway of cobblestone that will lead you from the main streets of stalls, drinks, and making merry. Following the way it winds and curves will eventually take you to an elaborate display of dried flowers, jewellery, fanciful cloths, and other items. Some of these hang from nearby trees. Some are draped over an altar fashioned of dark wood.
A local who spies you there kindly explains that it’s a place to leave items of offering for Those Who Were There, as gratitude for all they have granted their loyal people. They also explain that the more sentimental attachment you hold for the item you give up, the more pleased the gods will be with you. What does that mean, exactly? It’s difficult to say, but it seems that it might endear you to the locals at the very least.
Those who leave an item will receive a noticeable wave-like mark on the interior of their dominant hand wrist, almost as if it’s a brand of some kind. This is temporary mark and will only last the length of the festival, but if locals see it, they will be more inclined to give information on the land, the people, and perhaps even extra drinks, food, or shop wares.
Even if you don’t leave an item, as you’ve only just arrived and you may not have much on your person, the locals won’t punish you or think ill of you. It’ll give you a chance to gather yourself before you go back to the festival proper. If you choose to go back at all. The relative quiet is so welcoming, after all.
THE GLITCH EFFECT
NO SIGNAL
If you’ve arrived in this world with a mobile device or something akin to (notebook, laptop, and so on), you’ll find that whilst there are no electrical outlets, there are slender and flat platforms available to keep items of this nature with a charge. You cannot connect to a network and there’s no signal for a connection to grapple onto. That said, programmes that don’t require a connection to be of use (note taking applications, calculators, games), are still operable.
You may find, however, in the use of these programmes that perhaps images are not displaying properly. The colouration may be inverted. There may be unexplainable lines drawn across graphics. Text may not accurately be presented, instead a jumble and tangle of letters, forming what looks more like a mass of verbal tendrils across your screen.
Bizarre and strange sounds may emerge from your device, sometimes a low hum that may be indiscernible to others. Sometimes a high frequency that lingers in the air. It may be just a flash of sound. It may be several seconds long.
Furthermore, it is possible that you may find strange imagery imprinted on the screen temporarily, even where there should be no graphic at all. It’s there for a moment or two before it fades away, almost as if it’s subliminal messaging. The strange imagery is difficult to make out—a highly detailed eye, or perhaps what appears to be an angular face. No two images will be the same, though some may hold some eerily similar depictions.
This strange happenstance will occur periodically until the festival reaches its conclusion.
STATIC BUZZING
Don’t think if you didn’t arrive with a mobile device or related that you’re free from some of the strange electronic phenomena. Devices that are native to Expiation will experience similar errors. The difference is that the devices as a collective (personal computers, printers, cameras, the platforms for charging devices, and more) will emit a fluctuating and repeating frequency of sound cycling from high to low. Some will be able to hear it, some will not, but for those who do, it will come accompanied with a static buzzing sound, as if a connection somewhere is on its last proverbial legs.
There isn’t a means to stop the sound from emerging without depowering the device in question and even the locals don’t seem to know what to do. There are several devices strewn about Aldrip, however, so even if you should unplug one, there will be others expressing the same assault on the ears. Aldrip’s people don’t seem particularly alarmed, however, explaining to those who ask that this sort of thing simply happens every so often, and should they but have faith, Those Who Were There will handle all things ‘in good time.’
Unlike the personal devices brought in by newly-arrived, the electronic devices of Expiation will not display incorrect / jumbled graphics, text, or bizarre flashing images, which may be considered a blessing in disguise, despite having to experience the potentially annoying hum. This strange occurrence, too, will mysteriously end once the festivities have drawn to a close.
joel miller | the last of us
[ The cryptic message is crumpled in his hand. Unsettling, but something to be considered later, when he's gotten his bearings. When he's figured out what this place is, how dangerous it is, whether the locals are hostile.
The fact that it's sunlit, that there's lush greenery around, doesn't reduce the tension in his shoulders, doesn't stop him from looking suspicious, from expecting the worst.
When he does approach someone, it's carefully, his hands held up where they can be seen, to show he's got no weapons, that he won't attack. The other person probably looks about as lost as him, not threatening. ]
Hey. You seen a girl around? About this tall - [ He holds out a hand to indicate her height. ] - brown hair, probably wearin' a hoodie?
ii. festivities/shrine
[ This is a big party. It's been years - decades - since Joel has known a party anything like this. With the music, and the cheery atmosphere, and the food, Christ, the food. He's hesitant, but hungry, taking what's offered with suspicion, pointing out that he doesn't have any money, expecting something demanded of him in return.
But eventually he eats, and when he does, he's sort of ravenous. It's good food too, better than anything he's had in years, that's for sure. And it seems to be plentiful. He's still leery, but too hungry to stop right away. ]
[ Eventually, he can't deal with the people, the music, the noise anymore, and he wanders off down a quieter path. When a local explains to him, he grunts faintly. ]
I don't have anything, even if I was feeling thankful.
[ The local points to the watch on his left wrist. It's old, and long-broken, the glass cracked. Joel's brows go dark with momentary fury. ]
No.
[ And he stalks off to catch his breath. ]
iii. wildcard
[ Hit me up with whatever you've got! Or shoot me a line at
1; i keep forgetting pedro was cast as joel lol
He'd heard the stranger coming and he'd recognized the sound of two feet rather than four walking through the grass. He should have been more on edge, that would certainly have been more in character given his home, but he always viewed people as a new friend rather than an automatic enemy.
When the stranger was closer he did turn to look at them and their hands being up made him unconsciously feel for his piece, concerned it was out in the open rather than concealed. It was still concealed (well, not now, maybe) so Emerick had to conclude that this person was from somewhere just as miserable as he was. He mimicked the man, though to a lesser extent: hands carefully visible, fingers kept apart enough to show he wasn't gripping anything. ]
I haven't seen her. I admit I haven't really been looking at everyone that seems to be out here very carefully, though. I've been taking in the scenery. Where I'm from there aren't this many plants, and I don't think I've ever seen a flower in person before.
and the world rejoiced!
He shakes his head, more to rid himself of the comparison than anything else. ]
You must come from a real shitty place.
absolutely :> can't wait to watch it
He'd never traveled out of Night City, much less North California. He can't say he knew much about the NUSA except from the politics surrounding everything, and the associated megacorporations.
He shrugged. ]
I've lived in a big city my entire life. Plant life is pretty scarce, and the desert isn't particularly hospitable to plants. It costs a lot of money to keep them alive.
Wherever you come from can't be much better - you approached me with hands up like I was some cop with a gun on you.
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Can't be too careful. Looks like a town of some sort thataway. Which could be good or bad.
[ He points, then glances at his companion. ]
I'm Joel.
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I'm Emerick Kline.
[ The corner of his mouth quirked up a little in the slightest smile. The fact that Joel was willing to give him a name meant there was enough of an uneasy peace between them that maybe Emerick didn't quite need to be on guard. It might help that he had a feeling Joel might be unarmed but it was better not to assume that. The appropriately cautious would assume that it was an act.
His gaze shifted to the town in the distance, gazing a moment before he shifted ihs backpack and started to dig through it, looking for something. ]
I think I have some binoculars in here, [ he muttered mostly to himself. It wasn't long before he found what he was looking for and shouldered his backpack again. He took a quick glance at Joel to check if Joel was thinking of doing anything funny, then looked at the town in the binoculars. ]
It seems like everyone's just going about their day. I don't see any fortifications like turrets or anything from Militech or the like... [ He lowered the binoculars, still gazing at the town as he began to speak again. ] If they are hostile there's too many of them, and given the farms around here I wouldn't rule that out. Biotechnica was always stingy about their farms and forests.
[ If Joel were to ask to see the binoculars he would be met with a rather scrutinizing stare before Emerick hesitantly handed it over. ]
no subject
What, really? Let me see?
[ He appreciates the sharing of the binoculars - he'd hesitate too, if the situation was reversed, so he gets what a show of (momentary) trust it is. Still, he glances through to see what Emerick saw and... ]
...Huh. Well I'll be damned. Can't even see any soldiers. They really got nothin' to worry about out here?
meadowlands
He peels his eyes away for only the briefest of moments, turning back to his parchment and odd device, as if he already dismissing Joel's approach when he looks back. It's something about this description that bubbles some sort of hope in his chest but it falls flat at the last bit. ]
I thought you might have been talking about someone else that fits that description. Unfortunately my young woman prefers short skirts. [ He pauses. ] Unless she changed. What's the name of the person you're looking for?
no subject
Ellie. Her name's Ellie. And I've never seen her in a skirt. Only jeans and sneakers. Don't think she's really the type for skirts. What's your skirt-wearing friend's name?
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But I think we can safely rule out that we're not looking the same person about ye high.
[ He motions to the parchment in hand. ]
Might be for the best if we're actually being accused of something if we're meant to live out some sort of sentence here.
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This doesn't look like any prison I've ever seen.
no subject
[ Is he kidding? Hard to say. The Doctor doesn't linger on the topic though. Instead he squints again at the parchment before letting out an annoyed grumble. ]
The sentencing isn't wrong unfortunately. There's no psionic qualities about it either, ruling out mind tricks.
no subject
[ Joel mutters that, almost to himself. Glances at the paper crumpled in his hand. He'd looked at it, knows what it says, but clearly has no commentary on its accuracy or whatever. ]
Not sure what the point is. Free labor?
no subject
[ The likelihood of any of those being correct aren't very high but Joel really walked himself into this one. ]
It doesn't look like there's much for us to much laboring on. [ He points the sonic screwdriver in the direction of the fields. ] Unless you mean over there harvesting vegetables then potentially.
no subject
[ No further explanation is coming. Joel is studying the distant town. ]
Harvesting, sure. That town doesn't look like it even has any defenses. What do they do if raiders come knocking?
shrine
[ Johanna, having parked herself against a low wall to sip her drink, has been watching people come and go to the shrine for twenty minutes or so. She gives Joel an ironic arch of an eyebrow and nods back down the path towards where he came. ]
Or just skint?
no subject
[ If there was a God, Joel would want to murder the fucking bastard, not that he's about to elaborate on that to a stranger. ]
And not exactly feeling grateful about the kidnapping thing.
no subject
[ Johanna toasts him with her cup. ]
"There's a good lad."
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Dollars to donuts, we're just here to be free labor and the whole "prison sentence" thing is just a smoke screen.
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[ So there's that. ]
Nobody not from my world gets to pass judgment on me.
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[ He says that slowly, as if recalling something from a past life. ]
Haven't heard of one of those in a long time.
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What world do you come from?
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A fucking shitty one. Haven't had law and order for about twenty years.
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orz I realize it's been weeks, so no pressure to pick it up!
no worries!
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