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Expiation Mods ([personal profile] expiationmods) wrote in [community profile] expiationmeme2023-10-08 10:33 am
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TEST DRIVE MEME #5

TEST DRIVE MEME #5

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.

You may find the below link helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.

navigation page


AS OF AUGUST 2023: We have decided to reduce the waiting period for new updates / canons to two months. So if your canon is two months old, your character is appable as of now.

The last thing you recall is waking in a room of blinding white light. You hear voices around you, speaking in muffled tones; you get the distinct impression that they’re talking about you. And you’re on the verge of figuring out what they’re saying, you’re so close...but then the floor drops out from under you. You’re falling into blackness.

You come to after falling through this dark void, and when your vision clears, you find yourself in a... forest?


 

NOW PLAYING IN THEATERS

ARRIVALS

     

New Chosen will find themselves in Pessiria Forest. There's a chill in the air and a strange rustling in the leaves. There's some sort of wailing noises that seem to echo through the trees, and occasionally, Chosen—new and old alike—can hear the sound of familiar voices. Maybe even impossible voices.
Was that a sound? The wind? Something else, maybe watching and waiting in the shadows?…

… Nah. That's probably all in their head.

Probably.

Making their way out of the forest, newcomers will find that Aldrip's local residents are a little wary of them. Maybe even a little cagey about welcoming them, especially since some locals are still missing. Luckily, there are plenty of others like them, other Chosen, who have been here long enough to know the ropes.






 

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES

     

Aldrip has had a bountiful harvest this year. As a result of the surplus, lumpy and misshapen vegetables are being tossed out, thrown into compost, or given to animals as food.

They don't seem to like this.

Over the past few days and weeks, these poor things have been left to rot, watching their brethren become animal food as they waste away, their potential being ground into the dirt. But no more! Through sheer determination and the power of a good old-fashioned grudge, they begin to mutate, sprouting arms and legs and—uh oh, are those teeth? This could be bad.

Late into the night on October 9, the mutated vegetables begin to rise from their graves. Scorned squashes, contemptuous carrots, abused apples, and other cantankerous crops decide that enough is enough! The tables have turned, and now they would like to eat you! Be warned that their bite is definitely worse than their bark, and they have a taste for human blood. Take cover, or you might just find yourself becoming dinner. But they're not immortal! They can be burned, bludgeoned, or sliced to stop their assault.

Upon investigation, there may be a link to the water source and the mutated plants. Shut off that water source and find a new one, and maybe there will be less of the cranky creatures.

A few days after this onslaught of veggies, the locals decide to prepare a big vegetable feast. Are those still good to eat, do you think…?

(Note: while the bulk of these creatures won't last long, you will still be able to find occasional stragglers throughout the rest of the month.)






 

THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU

CW: ANIMAL MISTREATMENT


Given tablets equipped with a camera feature, Chosen new and old are asked by some scientifically-minded locals to catalog creatures and animals of Aldrip and the surrounding areas. It seems new creatures are appearing almost daily, and as these local requestors say, it's important to know your neighbors! They'll offer a variety of rewards: money, goods, services. Doing favors for them might boost their opinion of the Chosen, as well.

Those who accept this task will find any manner of animals, new and old. They'll also find some…………weird things. Animals that seem to have been spliced together: Chocobos with elephant trunks, wolves with feathers, snakes with crab legs…the possibilities for these chimeras seem to have no limit.

Brave adventurers will find that following some of these animals for a while will lead them to a camouflaged bunker deep in the woods. Surrounded by an electric fence and automatic turrets, it seems that someone doesn't want you getting in there.

This may be as close as you can get, for now, but if you keep a low profile, you might be able to observe for a while.






 

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

     

Some strange new plants seem to be gaining sentience, to the point where they are taking requests. Some of them may be benign or even silly: water lilies asking Chosen to take a swim with them, thirsty ferns asking for water, venus fly traps who need help catching flies. Some ask for items, human food, or just a chance to chat. Still others would like to be entertained with song, dance, or jokes…weird.

Entertaining most of these requests just results in the plants not annoying you about them anymore. But some plants are asking for blood, too, either human or animal. When fed, these particular plants go wild wanting more, more, more! Eventually, they will only be satiated by eating people. More killer creatures?! Uh oh.

Maybe finding the source of where all this started will help…







WILDCARD

You know the drill–this is the wildcard one. Just because it’s not listed in the prompts above does not mean it’s unavailable as an option. We encourage you to do whatever you’d like to utilize the setting to its full potential. If you have any questions about what is and is not possible, please don’t hesitate to ask!


TOP LEVEL DIRECTORY
Click to view:
CANON CHARACTER/TOP LEVEL
Bungo Stray Dogs Jouno Saigiku
Bungo Stray Dogs Tetchou Suehiro
Dissidia NT Lightnig Farron
Fear & Hunger 2: Termina Levi
Final Fantasy XIV Noise Deathmouse
Horizon Forbidden West Beta
League of Legends Xayah
One Piece Tony Tony Chopper
Persona 3 Tohru Adachi
Persona 4 Shinjiro Aragaki
Persona 5 Yusuke Kitagawa
Reiwa no Dara Dara
Tokyo Revengers Mikey
Tokyo Revengers Takemichi Hanagaki
Urusei Yatsura Benten




timewimp: (i don't want to hear about what to do)

c

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-13 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Sometimes, it's a little too easy for Takemichi to forget that he's still trapped in his seventeen year old body, not the twenty-seven year old form that matches his mind. Times like right now, as he slinks up next to some kid in army fatigues and a gun at his back. It's a sight that's painfully familiar and yet frighteningly foreign at the same time. He does nothing to hide his presence or silence the crunch of his footsteps, not wanting to surprise the kid, but he moves slow and keeps his stupid mouth shut until he's settled in the underbrush next to him.

His own uniform is all black, helping him blend into the shadow of a tree. It's no military uniform though, even if it resembles one superficially. Golden characters proudly proclaim it to be the uniform of the Tokyo Manji Gang.

Despite all the time he takes to approach, once he actually does, he can't help but feel lost for words. The kid had looked pretty spooked for a moment there, but... Just asking if he's okay would be stupidly patronizing. Takemichi sighs, lets his gaze slide toward the mysterious bunker.

"You think somebody's gonna come outta there?"
solitarysoul: (Solitary Soul)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-13 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Levi almost jumps when Takemichi speaks. He'd been so focused on the bunker than he hadn't noticed the other man coming. If this were Prehevil he'd be dead by now, but this wasn't the festival and Takemichi seems friendly enough.

He drops the blade and takes a few moments to catch his breath and wait for his heart to slow down. A bit, at least, since the lack of heroin in his system tended to jack that up.

"Somebody's gotta be in there. I'd bet anything this is weird the weird animals are coming from."
timewimp: (just to do it for you)

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-14 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
An isolated bunker in the woods that's patchwork quilting wild animals together? That's an uncomfortable thought. Too bad it's entirely believable given everything else about their situation.

"That's messed up." Takemichi grimaces, nose scrunching as his brows furrow in disgust. "So you're waiting til they run out and have to grab more animals? That could take ages."
solitarysoul: (sitting)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-14 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. There's a...gun of some sort," He points towards the nearest turret, "I can't get past that. So I'm waiting."
timewimp: (twenty-seven years and)

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-14 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Takemichi follows his pointer finger, squints at what is, indeed, a gun turret. Holy fucking balls. They really are ready to murder anyone who gets too close. Sure, he'd seen the electric fence, but... This is on a whole other level.

He curses under his breath.

"Fuckin' hell! No wonder you were freaking out earlier."
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Default)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-14 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. That was why he was freaking out. No other reason.

"I don't think it can be shot down either. I just have to wait."
timewimp: (just to do it for you)

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-14 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Clearly that is the only reason anyone would freak out about this situation. Don't worry, Levi. Takemichi is thoroughly convinced and already chewing his fingernails over this life or death mess.

"By yourself?"
solitarysoul: (u.u)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-14 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, um, I don't really know anybody here. ...I, uh, d-didn't think it through that far. I guess..."
timewimp: (looking for the path)

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-15 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. Not thinking ahead. A dangerous brain disease that Takemichi suffers from regularly. His concerned gaze slides from his battered nail back to the gun turret, then to Levi. He can't just walk away and leave this kid on his own. He wouldn't be able to sleep tonight if he did.

"I'm Takemichi. I haven't been here long, but... Maybe I could run down and grab you some supplies or food or something. I could even keep watch a bit myself, so you could go tell somebody about this.

How's that sound?"
solitarysoul: (Scope)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-15 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[He looks between the bunker and Takemichi. He's not really comfortable leaving it (or at all right now) but the other guy does have a point. He can only keep this surveillance up for so long before he'll need to sleep or eat or something. He had some food in his bag, but only so much. And that didn't help for sleep.

He's not sure how comfortable he is with leaving, though. This guy had some sort of uniform so he might know how to protect himself or he might not. But Levi would never forgive himself if someone else got hurt here because of him. He has so much else he'll never forgive himself for already.]

Uh...you, um, if you go and tell somebody or something that'd be good. I-if its not too much trouble.

[Though he realizes he has no idea who to tell in this place. Hopefully this guy does. Or it'd be obvious when he gets into town. Levi'd been kind of overwhelmed by all of it too remember much about what was where.]

...Thanks.
timewimp: (to the dark of the crow)

[personal profile] timewimp 2023-10-19 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
"If I couldn't do it, I wouldn't have offered," he spouts, selectively ignoring all the times he's made promises he couldn't keep.

This time, he's just running an errand. There's no way he can mess that up! As long as nobody excites that gun turret anyway. He swallows a sudden wave of uneasiness and pushes himself to his feet.

"So who should I say the message is from?"

What a roundabout way to ask for someone's name.
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Default)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-19 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh." Oh he hadn't really introduced himself to anyone in town had he? He didn't really want to socialize...but maybe he should have. Tried to figure out where they'd go for help or something. Oh well, too late.

"I'm Levi. I don't really know anyone in town. I kinda just got here."
crybabyhero: (gotta wear capes to the bar more often)

[personal profile] crybabyhero 2023-10-21 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Guess that makes two of us," Takemichi admits with an apologetic shrug. Still, he's not going to back out. He'll get the information to whoever needs it, no matter how long he has to ask around to find them. "I'll be back."

Hopefully with snacks.
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Small smile)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-22 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Thanks. I'll make it up to you somehow." Hopefully. If he doesn't get himself killed out here.
crybabyhero: (bring me a slurpee and advil)

[personal profile] crybabyhero 2023-10-22 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Just buy me a drink next time!" he whispers over his shoulder with an overacted wink.

Okay, so maybe he's just always wanted a chance to say that to somebody. Sue him for trying to act cool.
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Default)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2023-10-22 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Is this guy even old enough to drink? Well, he doesn't really care. He looked old enough and who knew how the drinking laws went in this place. Maybe he could just smuggle him something.

"Sure."

He nods to Takemichi, picks up his blade and goes back to watching the bunker.