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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.
ii.
he did not expect them to talk. even the ruinwood's trees can't do that! daeshim pauses at the sound of the voice until he realizes that it's most likely a person. (hey, the ruinwood didn't have many of those in it either.) he continues in that direction against its advice, and soon a short purple-haired man has joined the party.]
Oh.
[daeshim crouches down almost immediately, studying - no, admiring the big cat.]
How lovely you are!
[but if these are not the ruinwood's trees, this is also not one of the ruinwood's creatures. it might not be so...inclined towards him.]
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Are you looking to get eaten, then? [ Because if so, Zhou Zishu will happily leave him to it. Who is he to criticize what anyone else does for fun?
At least while both other figures are occupied, he takes the moment to drift through the air to a stronger branch, not incidentally taking him closer to the man, rather than the creature. Just in case. ]
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hm. he supposes that he's also lovely. in his own way.]
I would rather not. It's why I strengthened the boundary to the West, where the sharp-toothed Unseelie and werewolves live.
[that said, daeshim takes a few quick steps to the base of zhou zishu's tree, tipping his head back even more to look up at him. the cat seems to be forgotten for now, for better or worse.]
How did you do that?
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Qinggong. [ Not the most detailed explanation, but Zhou Zishu is apparently now keeping an eye on the cat for both of them. It shifted when Daeshim did, but for the moment seems content to just watch them both in turn.
Perhaps it tracks movement? ]
You should stay still.
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[what an interesting magic he must possess. the ability to fly without wings! his own lack of wings is something daeshim's been mocked for, it's something that he quietly laments. he's a tad bit jealous of you.
he looks back over his shoulder at the cat when he's reminded of it, but otherwise stays still as instructed.]
Do you think we could keep it?
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[ Zhou Zishu has heard entirely too many caged tiger metaphors in his time to like where this is going. Nevermind that the man had all but attempted to pet the thing a few minutes ago and clearly has very different opinions on wild animals.
Judging by the lashing of the creature's tail, it's running out of patience quick. And, well, he can't just let anyone be eaten now. He swallows a sigh and turns his attention down to the figure below him. ]
Do you need help? [ They can both get out of here if they do it fast. Probably. ]
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[daeshim repeats his earlier compliment, only his voice is more petulant this time. he casts the cat one final glance. they probably should leave it here. after all, daeshim may not live in these woods himself, and a city is no place for wildlife.
he runs the few steps to zhou zishu's tree and starts to climb with speed and skill, but the cat is undoubtedly faster should it decide to give chase. a vine sprouts from under the fae's hand, racing up the tree trunk until it curls around the branch that the other man stands up. in less than a moment, it lifts daeshim up beside him.]
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By the time he glances back around, Daeshim has made it up as well, which is impressive. There's an angry huff from below, but at least they're safe where the are. For now. ]
Can you do that again? We may not want to find out if that lovely thing can climb.
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[yes, that's helpful. very reassuring. but maybe he finally gets it.
he doesn't have wings with which to fly, or zhou zishu's strange magic, but another vine reaches out for the next tree, a narrow bridge for a fleet-footed fae to cross.]
Come! I do not think she can live on apples!
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At the very least he's already far into this enough to want to make sure no one's getting eaten. ]
How far can you stretch those?
[ They're going to want to get a bit more distance, and Zhou Zishu can only assume Daeshim is the one creating them. ]
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[his lips keep that same straight line, but there's a brightness in his eyes and a lightness to his voice that suggest joviality. the vine stops a foot or so short, but daeshim easily jumps the rest of the way to the next branch.]
I am Daeshim of the Ruinwood.
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Which doesn't mean there aren't more of those things out there. But keeping a vague eye out is probably good enough for the the time being. ]
Zhou Zishu. I take it you understand this place as little as I do?
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[some of them aren't even kinds that grow in the ruinwood. he'll have to get to know more about them later.]
So something has stolen us both away to this place. That much is familiar to me.
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[ Well that makes one of them. But far be it from Zhou Zishu to turn down a source of information. He comes to a stop on the next branch to peer at Daeshim curiously. ]
This has happened to you before?
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[it's familiar to him from the other side of it, common enough to his kind. he stops when zhou zishu does, sitting down on the branch with his legs dangling over.]
Many humans have been brought to the Fae world over the centuries. I'm only surprised that you and I seem to have maintained our wits. Perhaps we should be careful about what we eat and drink.
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Fae world?
[ Not the most pressing question, possibly, but at least a starting point. ]
The others I've seen all seem to have their minds intact.
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[daeshim swings his legs a little bit as he looks up at the other.]
In my world, there's no quicker way for a human to become trapped there forever than to eat the food or sip the drink. It's intoxicating.
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Instead he tips his head, eyes narrowing slightly. ]
How would people leave if they weren't trapped?
[ If this is a realm like Daeshim is suggesting, then there has to be a way out. Right? ]
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[one that even daeshim has to think about for a moment.]
I suppose they must get the Fae to take them back the way they came, through the veil that thinly separates our worlds. But rare is the Fae who'd actually do that - not without being outsmarted by their own victim.
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If that even is what's happening here. But it's better to have a goal than nothing. ]
I would like to meet whoever is responsible for this. [ For all that he sounds mild, there's a sense that he'd like to do more than just talk as well. ]