TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[expiationmods]

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.

Comments

Chagrin | Demon & Song | OTA

[chagrine]

i. an all-too-warm welcome

[ Arriving in a clearing of verdant green filled plentiful in flowers and trees with warm sun beaming down on one's face might be a rather pleasant way to arrive for some, but not Chagrin. It's not that he has anything against nature. He's perfectly fine with vegetation and flowers and all that. Fields filled with crops are fine too; that usually means humans are right around the corner, and that's a bad thing, per say.

But Chagrin is not human. He is a demon. And demons? Do not like sunlight.

Everyone else goes through blinding white to falling through black, and then the next thing he knows he's in a field. Smoking. As in, literally smoking all over his body as the sunlight eats away at him. He's supposed to be dead, why does he feel like he's-- ]

...BUUUURNINGGGG--!! GRah...!!

[ Anyone nearby might be a little alarmed by the sudden roar that rings out through the meadow as Chagrin throws his wings out in all his smoking, demonic glory................riiight before he makes a hasty retreat to the nearest forest cover--or better yet, cave--he can find. Which may or may not be too far from you! Anyone coming to investigate will be able to hear the massive demon (still hissing, still kinda smoking) cursing as he inspects his poor, poor burnt self. ]

Fuck, that stings! I'm burnt all over... The hell kind of afterlife is this?!

ii. throw some (night)shade

[ Thankfully, it isn't daytime all the time. Night has to fall eventually, and when it does? Chagrin can finally relax.

The last thing he remembers is the old church; Hetappi's song. This...isn't there. And believe him, he's made sure. The minute he's able to he spreads his wings and takes flight, circling the area with grim determination. He searches and searches, but nothing is familiar. The geography, the forest, even the nearby town is all wrong. This...isn't anyplace he's ever been, Human Realm or Demon Realm.

He doesn't like it, but eventually he has no choice but to land. He's not getting anything by circling around and the last thing he wants it to attract a bunch of demon hunters or the Church. If either of those things still exist here.

Chagrin scans the ground below until his eyes catch a sign of movement. Time for some answers, he thinks.

He drops himself from the sky with all the grace of a rampaging predator, nine feet tall easy--and bears down over the pour soul he's chosen to interrogate this fine evening

(it's you) ]

Oi, you. I got some questions yer gonna answer.

iii. late-night endeavour

[ Well. Chagrin's more or less got the idea about this place...insofar as any new arrival who hasn't really bothered to talk to any of the locals has beyond plucking an unlucky soul or two up as a three-metre-tall demon and demanding answers He's not interested in paying homage to any supposed 'gods', nor parktaking in any festivities. But he is there (at night) in all his shaggy, unkempt, human-form glory. Why?

Recon.

No demon worth their salt would be caught unawares by a random human settlement! He's got to be prepared! What if they're just as zealous and disgusting as the ones back home? What if this whole festival is some vile ritual? He couldn't make his home in the woods nearby with all that uncertainty at his door. Chagrin is going to find out What's Up.

Hence his disguise as quite possibly the Worst, Most Hobo-Looking Demon Ever. Seriously. His clothes are ratty and stitched to hell and back, he hasn't shaved (why would a demon ever??), and he's not exactly hiding his gold eyes or black sclera with the hood he's rocking. Guys got a gold horn growing out of his forehead but l i s t e n. He's in disguise. No one will even notice--!!

Chagrin approaches the first person who looks like they might know what's going on, clearing his gravelly throat with no shortage of awkwardness. ]

S-so... Err. You uh. A local? You live here?

[ #DOINGHUMAN ]

i.

[snowslip]

[ The woodland creatures that had gathered around Marianne had all scattered the moment a winged beast roared and barreled through the trees. A reasonable person may have taken cover, but she hitched up her dress and stepped over the broken branches following the trail left behind. What had compelled her to pursue the winged creature to where he is, holed up in a cave? ]

You sounded like you're hurting...

[ Her voice is small from where she stands by the entrance. It's not as if Marianne is braver than the average person, not at all, but when she'd heard that pained roar, something in her blood had drawn her to seek him out. ]

Um, can I come in? Maybe I can help.

[chagrine]

[ It's not the choice most people would've made after witnessing something as monstrous as him go tearing through the forest. Heck, Chagrin didn't think he would be followed either--leastways, not by some rich-looking noble (because that's what Marianne looks like by the standards of his world). The cave mouth is easily two men tall and more than wide enough to fit a carriage, but Chagrin still fills it as he rounds on her.

In fact, he's so large that he opts to crouch when he looms over her, yellow eyes bright. ]

...Eh? Who the hell're you?

[ execute operation: scare off the weird human with a sharp gaze!! ]

[snowslip]

[ She is indeed a noblewoman, her expensive dress frayed at the edges from her trek. Marianne winces under his glare. She has faced demonic beasts of his size back home. She has watched frightened villagers and ambitious mercenaries put them to the sword. She has regrettably taken up arms against the frenzied monsters herself.

But this time, this demon...is different. She has never been able to converse with one before.

Her eyes don't meet his gaze, but for his sake, and the sake of those in the path of his rampage, she presses on. ]

I'm Marianne. [ No one special, really, but... ] I know a little healing magic. So before you devour me, at least let me tend to your wounds.

[chagrine]

Healing magic?? You tryna pick a fight, human?!

[ What kind of human offers to use healing magic on a demon? And one that's obviously far past her youthful prime, no less!! Even if he could suspend his disbelief long enough to get over an adult retaining any sort of divine blessing, that'd be the equivalent of asking for a sweet death...!

Chagrin bristles a bit, more incredulous than angered by Marianne's offer. He is well and truly baffled here. ]

[snowslip]

Huh? N-No, I don't want to fight you...I couldn't even if I tried.

[ She shrinks into herself when he snaps. Not that she blames him. Perhaps he'd been hurt by humans in the past, and that made him distrusting of her intentions.

Marianne opens both her palms to show that she isn't carrying any weapons. ]

If you dislike magic, then maybe some herbs...

[chagrine]

[ That...is not far from the truth, honestly. Chagrin himself doesn't remember all of it, but he's the way he is because of humans, that's for sure.

He isn't as impulsive or murder-happy as he was before meeting his not!son though, so rather than opt for using his claws for anything sinister and gore-filled, Chagrin just sighs and crouches down further, squinting at Marianne. ]

What use is a demon gonna have for a buncha leaves? That shit's for you humans. I just got a lil' sunburnt, that's all. That ain't enough to weaken a tough demon like me.

[snowslip]

[ Demonic beasts get sunburn? That's new. ]

O-oh. I just thought maybe it could soothe your wounds...

[ She hasn't been devoured or mauled yet, so Marianne looks up tentatively into the jaws of the beast. Her idea feels silly seeing his sheer size, and she feels her confidence flagging. She really was no good at this. ]

That must be painful. I'm sorry I'm no help at all.

[chagrine]

[ I mean it's not explicitly stated in his canon but he only ever goes out after sundown and the alternate realm he lives in has eternal nighttime, SO-- ]

Nah, I don't need that shit. You keep your leaves.

[ That said, he doesn't sound as...rough? as he did earlier. Marianne should be screaming or begging for her life by now, not trying to offer alms. He's a demon. She can't have missed that. He's like ten feet tall and Not Human. ]

Hey. How come you ain't scared? Most humans woulda done the smart thing and hightailed it outta here by now. I could eat you, ya know?

ii please throw some shade

[chicken_kun]

[it's honestly not that often that Bartolomeo is actually the short one in the party. What novelty it is to have to look up for a minute!]

Oi! Warn a guy before you do that, you want me to piss myself or something?

throws ALL of it C:

[chagrine]

[ Ahhh the sweet sweet sound of being...taller..... Yep. That's just what it is. Accept it. Just like how poor Barto will need to accept that Chagrin is just going to rumble in his chest and blow a puff of air out of his bony nostrils....right into Bartolomeo's face. ]

Here's yer warning. Where the hell're we?

[chicken_kun]

Fuck if I know!

[at least it's honest? Barty only belatedly realized maybe showing fear is just. Stupid. They're all in this together, aren't they? But this guy. What's with the skull face? Yeesh.]

Look, bone-face, I'm the same as you, so get off my ass. I dunno where the fuck this is, besides some shitty backwater too damn far from the sea for my tastes. I didn't bring us here, because if I did, I'd pick a much more happening joint!

[chagrine]

[ His skull face is demonically handsome and Barty wishes he could look so badass...!! Although the nose-piercing's pretty interesting. Chagrin's never seen that before.

He'll need to ask about that after he finishes interrogating him. ]

As if anyone would think you did this...

[ SORRY BARTY... It's just. He doesn't feel like an all-powerful demon? Or any sort of angelic being? Just some...guy who may-or-may-not be human. He's not sure with that nose and the teeth. Could be someone who's as bad as transforming into human form as he is. ]

You been to that town over there? The one fulla humans?

[ Chagrin points one sharp, oversized claw toward Aldrip. ]

[chicken_kun]

[it's all cool Chagrin ain't no normal where he comes from anyway. Turnabout's fair play - Barty's haki isn't telling him anything about his interrogator besides HMM WEIRD?

He calms down and sticks a finger in his ear, idly scratching]

Yeah, I been there. It's nothing fancy. Kinda boring, even the one-on-one fights weren't any fun. [something finally clicks] Ehh? Wondering if there was anything weird goin' on there that means they're responsible for this?

[chagrine]

Fights..? No--nevermind. I don't care about that crap.

[ STAY FOCUSED, CHAGRIN. ]

What I wanna know is if those humans in there have anythin' to do with a buncha people all arrivin' outta nowhere! Some of 'em are dead, y'see, and it doesn't make sense that they're here. You didn't see anything weird when you went into town? At all?

[ It's a bit of repetition, but he feels like that...may be needed. He almost feels like there's two different conversations happening here at once. ]

[chicken_kun]

Dead?

[well that's new and disturbing information, huh]

Whaddaya mean, dead? Like zombies, undead and walkin' around? Gross.

Nah they're just sorta...partying. I didn't ask around too much, figured if it was important someone woulda said something. Y'know... [headscratch] ...maybe the fact that they didn't really seemed shocked at all is actually the weird part.

[chagrine]

Did I say zombies? No, I just said dead. If there were zombies around here you'd smell 'em by now.

[ Gosh. Chagrin huffs in mild annoyance. But Barty does bring up a good point besides. ]

Wait, the humans in town ain't shocked a bunch of people showed up outta nowhere?

II

[inemeraldfaith]

[The nighttime has lent itself to opportunities of quiet and consideration. She wonders how to approach the situation. There are many different kinds of people here with different pasts and experiences. Different mindsets as to how they've come up against this hardship. She wonders if there are ways to help everyone as a whole.

Aerith hasn't come up with anything yet, even as she walks on her own in the relative quiet. When she looks up at the sky from here, it's so different from the sky she saw in Midgar. The city of artificial lighting. Everything here is so...

She never gets the chance to finish that thought. She can't quite see what it is that lands a little too close for comfort. Blinking, when he addresses her, she doesn't have a reply at the ready. A lot of questions, but there are already plenty about this place, so having one more is not exactly alarming.]

Sorry—what?

[Just who is this? What is this?]

[chagrine]

[ Impressive and terrifying is what he is, surely. Any waifish human who'd seen him back home would surely scream in terror and lament their poor fortunes to meet a demon such as he...!

...But really. What's with that lacklustre reaction?? This girl doesn't even flinch.

This place is so weird. What is wrong with all the humans here?? ]

You. Answer questions. Got it?

[ He points one large, clawed finger at Aerith and crouches lower, a bit closer to eye level. ]

[inemeraldfaith]

[Aerith could probably benefit from some self-preservation tactics. Like a flight response, which... she has on occasion. Maybe she's just seen so many different things that she's not the sort to get scared. Concerned, without a doubt, but fear? Maybe some years before when she wasn't more... well-rounded.

He speaks and she definitely hears him. Questions? Yes, okay. They all have questions. Probably. When he crouches down, she stays right where she's at. Whether she's putting on a brave face or genuinely doesn't want anyone thinking they can just intimidate her into action because that won't work.

Chagrin points at her and she takes a moment to examine his finger in her direction and then she looses a sigh.]

Well... I can try. I don't know that I'll have answers to anything you're going to start asking me, though. Don't you at least want to know my name first or something? It's not polite otherwise.

[She suspects he does not care much about being rude, though.]

[chagrine]

Huh? Why would I care about something like that? I'm tryna get useful information here! Unless yer some sorta mayor?

[ ...She doesn't look like a mayor. She looks more like a noble, by his world's standards. Her clothes are evenly dyed and aren't tattered, her hair's all washed and nice... Yeah, she's got the feel of a noble. One that hasn't left their pampered home.

So why the heck isn't she quaking in fear?? ]

[inemeraldfaith]

N... o? I'm not.

[She can't help laughing a little. Does she look like a mayor? Clearing her throat, Aerith folds her hands together. He's not as frightening when he's saying things like that.]

But I'm not a local here. That's what I was trying to say. Which means if you have questions, I might not be able to answer them. I didn't want to deliberately disappoint you, so it seemed fair to warn you in advance. If you have questions about plant care or something, I can help you with that.

[chagrine]

[ She looks leagues cleaner/fancier than most humans he sees outside those pompous bastards at the church....so yes. Mayor Aerith!!

...Or not. No-go on the mayor, huh? Then what the heck is a well-to-do-looking girl like her doing out here? It sounds like she's in a similar boat to him, but why is she bringing up-- ]

.....Plants????

[inemeraldfaith]

[Definitely not a mayor. But if she was one, her first action would probably be to fill the town with flowers.

He seems so caught off guard by her input that she can't help being a little amused. To be fair, she's pretty good at talking her way out of a bad situation. Is this one of them? She can't tell just yet. But he's not trying to attack her, so that's a good start.]

Yes! I like plants. [Cloud's told her not to talk too much, but surely there's no harm in this.] I grew lots of them back home and sold them to people.

[chagrine]

That...no. I don';t have questions about plants. Why would I have questions about plants??

[ This place and the people in it do not stop getting more and more confusing, oh my god. Aerith is pure but he's only ever dealt with crabby old women!! Not...flower girls.

Chagrin resists the urge to drag a clawed hand down his face. ]

D'you know anything about this place? Or are you--y'know, dead?