expiationmeme | TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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.

info | world

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. A Warm Welcome

[That was a rude awakening of sorts. It's not like she's not familiar with being thrown around one bit. She manages to stick her landing this time around. Heels digging into the pile of dirt that she lands in, gracefully, until she manages to somehow fall backward into the leafy greens adjacent to her when she attempts to move.

It takes her a moment to gather her surroundings. Silently noting the katana that came with her and her wedding ring that was still intact on her finger at the very least. There was also this paper that was seemingly stuck to her hand. Unfortunately, it seems that her husband was nowhere in sight after being sucked into the abyss. However, she knew full well he could take care of himself, and the most important part was figuring out where she even was.

From afar, she could see buildings, and people. A welcomed sight after seeing her homeland in a state of constant fear and war.

That town would be the first place she goes, and she moves onward. Eventually making it to the city and immediately gathering information on this newfound town and world. Quickly coming to terms that she certainly wasn't home anymore after speaking to the locals, and finally reading the parchment paper that had come with her. For the most part, ignoring the strange fact that everything about her was listed right there, but that wasn't the problem.

The problem?]

Treason?! I might commit a murder here and there but those people deserve it. Hells -- Might even steal sometimes, but treason? Nonsense!

[Yes, say that loud enough for everyone to hear, Rin.]

II. Those who were there

a. festival.
[It wasn't her intention to interact with the locals or their festivities. She was looking for someone, hoping that he was brought here as well, but her luck wasn't always the best. With a solemn sigh, she takes a seat at one of the local stalls where they're serving alcohol. Rarely ever indulging in a drink, she finds herself needing one after that realization. First, downing a pint of alcohol, before she orders another drink to go.

As long as she was here, she would have to adapt until this so called sentencing. With that being said, she doesn't hesitate to clean out one of the nearby stalls of it's food, ever the hungry one when it came down to it. Certainly standing out with her unending appetite.]

Could you please keep filling up my plate? Your food tastes delicious, so keep it coming.

[It was obvious that she was trying to keep her mind off of something, and that solemn look on her face is hard to miss.]

iii. wildcard

[Feel free to hit me up with your own starter if you wish! we can plot something out at

hepaticas or you can DM this journal!]

[Aerith is either handling all of this far better than she should be, or she's just really good at playing a part. If taking her past into consideration, it is very likely the latter. Regardless, despite the situation at hand, she's settling in well.

Potentially better than Rin. As if she's given next to no thoughts about whatever was in that rolled paper of statistics on her. The food and drink helps with that. Better than what she's used to having back home. Watching Rin demolish her food is almost fascinating.

She probably shouldn't address it and someone in some world out there like would take it as a faux pas, but...]

Wow, you must have been really hungry. That's impressive.

[Rin had been occupied with her food until she can feel a presence sitting down beside her. Her eyes moving from one of the skewers, and over to Aerith, who's greeted with a gentle smile. Sheepishly laughing under her breath at that comment, before her eyes gaze over to the many skewers that were left in the massacre of her eating.]

Hungry and sad, really. A very bad combo.

[Still, the owner seems pleased that she seems to enjoy the food so much. Though it doesn't seem fair that she's hogging the entirety of the stall to herself, so she shifts enough to give Aerith room to sit at the bar with her. Ever curious about the people that were brought here along with her. They all had something in common, which was that bullshit paper.]

Did you get some stupid paper, too?

[Hungry and sad. It's not a great couple of things to be, but she can understand very much why anyone would feel that way. It's not exactly ideal for any of them. Aerith nods in a way that seems to be a wordless understanding.

Despite the circumstances, however, she offers the owner the same polite smile and a little wave before she makes herself a little more comfortable.]

Thanks for the food!

[She isn't sure they can or should be trusting the people in this town, but until she sees otherwise, there's not much harm in trying to make good with others. Instead, she seeks a skewer for herself and begins to carefully pick it apart before addressing Rin.]

Yup, yup. [Aerith replies somewhat nonchalantly.] Although I don't really know what it's supposed to mean. Maybe it's not supposed to mean anything. I'm trying not to think about it too much.

[From the corner of her eye, she can't help but watch Aerith silently. If only because her world has made her become wary of people. It's a habit that she can't quite push to the side, but she figures that Aerith seems to have good intentions. She couldn't be paranoid about everyone now that she was here. So for now, she'll just enjoy this festival and relax as much as she can.]

Smart girl. I may have to do the same if I'm going to be living here for god knows how long.

[She doesn't quite know, or understand the consequences of not having a proper defense, but eh... She'll figure it out when she gets there. Maybe. For now, she waves down the host to get Aerith something to drink. Although, she isn't sure if she wants alcohol, or something different.]

Have a drink? We can cheers to bullshit.

[She can't exactly say how long any of them will be there. Someone else had made mention to her that all of this could just be a dream and if that's true, then wouldn't it mean it could easily be very temporary? But that's not very likely either. How many people have the same dream? How many people share the same dream, even?

Aerith is convinced this is probably neither a dream nor death. Which does lead one to wonder how long they'll be here for. How they got here. How they'll go back. If such a thing is even possible. It's a lot of unanswered questions and a frustrating lack of information to go on so far.

If only the locals would be more helpful.]

I think I could get behind that. They've been pretty open to sharing stuff with us.

[When the host comes by with a glass of... something rather, Aerith takes it with a grateful look before dipping her nose in for a sniff. Doesn't smell... super strong? Maybe not the most fancy thing, but not terrible either. Doesn't mean she's going to drink with reckless abandon.]

Thanks! You learn anything useful yet? I haven't. They're nice, but kind of caught in their celebrating.

Rin | Original Character

Festival

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warm welcome

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warm welcome

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ii

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A Warm Welcome

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Warm welcome!

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