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expiationmeme2023-02-27 01:04 am
TEST DRIVE MEME #2
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. 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 (with the stated limitations).
You may find the below links helpful in getting to know themes of the world, locations, the people, and so on.
BE OUR GUEST
You may possess any number of questioning thoughts as you traverse the blindingly white room and are dropped into a darkness beneath your feet, but perhaps those same thoughts will be replaced with an awe and curiosity as you come to. Expiation has you now and you have joined the ranks of the Chosen, a seemingly select number of individuals who have arrived with parchment either in-hand or near them, detailing physical and mental statistics in addition to a particular crime to which you have been accused.
How you choose to spend your time here is largely up to you...
IT'S A WINDMILL, NOT A GIANT
As you begin to acquaint yourself with the lay of the land about you, you'll find that not too far from where you've woken there's a rather grandiose tower windmill. Its blades rotate at a casual pace as it faces the ocean and its accompanying shoreline. It appears to be in relatively pristine condition, implying that it is cared for well and often, likely by the locals of the town of Aldrip, which can be easily spied from the elevated level of land upon which the windmill sits.
Outside of the main structure is a collection of wooden crates in various display. Some of these are closed. Some are open. If you observe for long enough, you'll eventually find that a few relatively muscular sorts arrive on the scene to retrieve some of these crates and take them back the distance toward the town that lingers at the base of the mountains. If you choose to inspect the crates, you'll find some of them filled with heavy canvas sacks that contain flour. If you choose to ask the town locals retrieving them about this, they will explain that the windmill companion you have woken near is just one of the many implements that the locals use to provide sustenance to dining tables, festivities, and more.
You have the option to help the locals carry crates back, potentially to curry some favour with them, or simply take some sacks of flour yourself. Crates require more than one person to carry due to the weight, but two able-bodied adults should be able to handle the job quite well. A sack of flour can generally be carried by one, but perhaps you'll find yourself needing some assistance anyway. Maybe ask one of the others who've woken up near you. It certainly seems you're not alone in this new endeavour.
WHERE ONLY THE BRAVE MAY GO
If windmills and manual labour aren't your thing, you may find yourself drawn to the seemingly mysterious cave at the foot of the mountains, not far from the windmill in question.
The locals refer to this cave as Lorentia. Jagged rocks poke out around the entrance and have been sculpted and shaped to resemble what appears to be the massive sharp-toothed mouth of a dragon. It is possible you may be momentarily stopped by one of said locals who will explain that the Lorentia Cave is a passage system that leads through the interior of the mountains, though due to some collapse of the inside, the passageway does not go in far and is currently blocked off for the safety of local citizenry. In other words, proceed with caution.
If you're still feeling brave and care to take a peek inside, by all means. No one's going to stop you.
The interior of Lorentia Cave consists of both narrow passageways and some larger, more cavernous like rooms. There are assorted mining implements scattered along the ground, propped up against the walls, and carts that are filled with various ores, rocks, crystals, and more. The locals of Aldrip use Lorentia Cave for largely mining purposes and many of the things that are retrieved can be used for the smithing forges, the crafting of weaponry, or fashioning into jewellery and other accessories that are sold locally and taken to other towns on the continent.
There are some crudely designed signs that note to take care and depict simple skull drawings, indicating that certain paths may be a little more dangerous to traverse than others. If you are especially lucky (or unlucky, as the case may be), you may even spot some skeletal remains from some less-than-fortunate souls who got caught in a dead-end path and simply never made it out again.
If you listen closely, sometimes you hear the flutter of wings and a distant roar. Maybe it's best not to linger...
NO SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
MAXWELL'S SILVER ROCK-HAMMER
The townsfolk are welcoming to newly-arrived, something that has largely been met with a fair amount of scepticism and wariness from prior arrivals. That said, they continue to be hospitable, eager to share stories and songs about their land, their people, and their traditions.
A jewelcrafter is displaying their work today, putting their various wares out for locals and members of the Chosen to admire, or perhaps to purchase. Part of their demonstration is opening geodes with rock-hammers and showing off the impressive inside of colour and masterful natural works of art gifted to them by the land's bounty. They may choose to speak a little on how they revere the land, the resources they've been given, and how all of this has been bestowed upon them by the very gracious Those Who Were There, a mysterious and seemingly celestial higher power.
For those who are interested, they have the opportunity to offer some assistance to the jewelcrafter by opening some geodes as well. There's plenty of rock-hammers to go around and the most recent retrieval from Lorentia Cave's mining appears to have been very successful. The jewelcrafter is so moved by the offer of help that he's more than happy to let those who aid him keep one opened geode for themselves at no cost.
Congratulations on your new piece of decor!
FORGING BONDS IN THE FIRES OF PASSION
If you were a brave soul who made visit to the Lorentia Cave and came back with some weapon or armour crafting materials (including skeletal remains), you'll find that the smithies of Aldrip are eager to do business and many of them enjoy their craft for the sake of being passionate about what they do.
They'll waste no time in starting the forge and should you have a specific piece in mind you are requesting, as long as they have the materials on hand, they'll even be willing to show you the general process from start to finish on a rough draft of the piece in question. If you're feeling especially keen to help, they may offer to let you work directly on your project, though they will express apprehension and a wary eye for those who fail to have prior experience with such gruelling tasks.
Once your piece is finished, you can either wear it immediately, learn the best way to maintain and keep your equipment, or put it out on public display to show the rest of Aldrip and its residents, new and old alike. If you choose to let the smithies keep your piece, they'll pay you the cost of the materials you've brought them, plus a small percentage markup depending on how much personal effort you put into the craftsmanship personally.
Better yet, you may have just come out of the situation with a permanent bond. The smithies have an appreciation for those who share similar interests and may be willing to provide future discounts to those who purchase their wares.
FEEDING THE MASSES
YOU'RE A REEL CATCH
Aldrip locals always have a need for food and with many Chosen having recently arrived, that need has increased exponentially, for now they have a larger number of mouths to keep fed and stomachs to keep happy. To help inspire this retrieval of food, Aldrip is hosting a fishing competition and anyone who's interested in participating may do so, provided that they follow the guidelines set in place.
All participants must use local fishing equipment and this will be provided by the various merchants in town free of charge, save for those who wish to keep their fishing tackle. All fish caught within the local rivers, ponds, and the nearby ocean are acceptable for submission. Citizens (local or Chosen) are forbidden from using magic or technology as a means to catch their quarry. Anyone found breaking these rules will be disqualified and will be fish'd (that is, they will have raw flopping fish thrown at them).
The winner of the competition is chosen by having caught the largest fish (determined by size and weight) and will be announced at the end of the competition. The applicable winner may keep their fishing tackle free of charge and have their winning fish cooked in the style of their choice by the locals, which can then be shared amongst the people if they so choose (a fantastic way to make friends). The winner will also have a mediocre fish sculpture awarded to them with their name chiselled into the details in honour of their glorious victory.
OOC Notes:
Both TDM participants and characters already in the game may participate in the fishing competition. Please use the designated comment if you wish to partake. On the 13th of March (after applications have closed for the cycle), the winner will be announced and drawn by RNG. We will announce who the winner is on this TDM post (in these notes), the moderator plurk, and the OOC community.
I'M A [X], NOT A FISHER
If you're not a fishing kind of individual yourself, there's still plenty for you to get involved with.
Aldrip has need of people who are capable of preparing meals, especially seafood. It is probable that many participants of the fishing competition will end up fishing up things that are not fish or eligible for submission, but still edible. These include crabs, lobsters, jellyfish, octopuses, clams, and other related sea life. If you have experience with cooking or simply want to help out, the Aldrip locals will welcome you with open arms and may even pay you for your assistance.
If cooking isn't your forte, you'll find that some of the Aldrip citizens enjoy a betting pool from time to time. If you have some coins or something else you don't mind putting up for gamble, you might just come out with the whole pot if you put your currency on the winning fisher. Anyone found to be attempting to rig the betting pool and competition, however, will be returned their bet. We don't take kindly to cheaters here.
At least not openly.
Fishing can be a sometimes dangerous pastime. You may find a fisher who has gotten themselves accidentally hooked on their line or perhaps when they were freeing a fish, the hook got lodged into their thumb. Aldrip welcomes those who have healing abilities to help assist those more unfortunate situations, so fishers can go back to casting out their lines to make the most of the competition. That said, there's nothing in it for potential healers, just the notion that you've done a good deed.
no subject
Mm, might've been. But the real art would be in doing it twice.
[ He looks pointedly in the direction of the jewelcrafter who's currently explaining the wealth of crystals inside another small rock to the latest passer-by. Will she accept the dare and pick off one of those baubley bits so tantalizingly on display? Or is this girl all bark and no bite? ]
no subject
She raises her eyebrows at the challenge and glances at the chatty shopkeeper. She knows she shouldn't. It wouldn't be polite and the shopkeeper hasn't really done anything to earn her ire or anything like that, but also... She's definitely been challenged here.
She turns on heel, and wanders to look at the different wares, running her fingers over some of the earrings and necklaces. She waves the shopkeeper over with a bright smile] Hello! Sorry, I just had a couple of questions, do you mind?
[Cheerily and animated she engages the shopkeeper in talking about the different properties of different stones-- majority of it flies over Sumi's head, but she nods along anyhow.} This one looks really pretty in the light... [At the shopkeeper's urging she picks it up and turns to hold it against the sunlight, leaning back against the counter to see the way it sparkles. The shopkeeper stands beside her, pointing out the fractures inside the gem itself, while Sumi's free hand reaches behind them both to curl around a broach on display. She slips it into her pocket as she turns back, hemming and hawing over her decision]
I don't think I can buy it now, but I'll tell my friend about them. I'm sure he'll love them! Can I keep looking? [The shopkeeper agrees before he's called away by another customer.
Sumi walks around the table for a few seconds more before she turns away and makes her way back, sighing a little. As if somehow Blackbeard is the one at fault for this, and not like Sumi made the decision to try it on her own. She holds the broach out in front of her and gives it a little wiggle as if to say 'see?' and making sure her body blocks anyone behind her from seeing she has it from behind.]
no subject
It was absolutely Blackbeard's fault for this. Or at least he seems to think so from his cheeky grin and delighted rise to his tone of voice in response. ]
Now that? That's an artful fuckery if ever there was one. Well done.
[ He kicks off the door and steps in front of her again, and even slouching, head to toe in black leather, he's an imposing shadow of a man. He extends his gloved hand between them, palm upward, and says quietly with a voice roughed by years of pipe smoke. ]
Give it here, girl.
no subject
But then Blackbeard moves and Sumi takes an automatic step back in fear before she curls her fingers tightly around the broach and squares her shoulders] You could at least mind your manners and say 'please'. Or ask for a name so you don't just call me 'girl,' sir.
[Firm, but polite, her mind at war with itself between fight or flight. On one hand, she was a member of the Phantom Thieves and had fought monsters--both real and human--before that were much larger and scarier than Blackbeard here.
On the other hand, this was presumably a real-ish world, and she could only get so far on her own strength alone. Still... it doesn't feel right to just give in and leave it at that.]
Please ask it from me politely first.
no subject
Ed's cheeks round and his eyes crinkle as he grins, obviously pleased by the demand. His hand drops and comes to rest on his hip, in no way near the knife further down. What's he going to do, stab her? With no crew and no ship to run to, in the middle of the square? Not that he'd planned to, anyway. She's a keeper, this one. ]
What's your name?
no subject
Instead she smiles and gives a polite bow] You can call me Violet, if you'd like. Can I have your name as well?
no subject
Blackbeard. Hi, nice to meet you.
[ Fake names all around this morning. Not that he has any idea she's given him one. His smile remains blithe and confident as ever beneath the messy curls of his beard, though his voice drops to its usual smoother cadence again. ]
Spend that prize of yours wisely, Violet. And take care, or I imagine it won't be long until we meet again.
no subject
Oh! I hope we meet again, I wouldn’t mind that! You seem perfectly nice and interesting to me.
[She perks up again] Oh! Like Captain Kidd? A pirate? That’s a big name to share!
[How odd that someone would name their child after an infamous pirate!]
no subject
Pft, Captain Kidd. Yeah, no. Nothing like that failed pirate-hunting maniac. Only thing he didn't fail at was being mutinied against by his whole— Hang on...
[ That last bit catches up and Blackbeard looks absolutely scandalized. ]
Who's sharing what? That's my name, Blackbeard. That's me. Let's clear that right up. Not sharing anything. Be a fucking embarrassment of a pirate if I was.
no subject
But his confusion is met with her own confusion.] What? But-- Isn't that... impossible? [Then again, being in some entirely new universe or whatever should also be impossible, and this from someone who frequently bounced in and out of a strange 'other world'.
She's quiet for a moment, the gears turning as her eyes widen] You're... The Blackbeard? The pirate? But that means you've got to be from the... 1700s? 1800s? [Somewhere around there, right??]
no subject
[ He answers to both "impossible" and "the Blackbeard," a little tired and very wild-eyed. Like okay, Blackbeard knows this place doesn't match any maps. He knows there's all sorts of strange post-modern devices like the little gold wave charm currently dangling from his ear. But at least the locals look and act relatively normal, unlike the weird ones running around, like this girl, who seems to him to be the one on the wrong side of the dial. ]
1717, yeah. The fuck year do you think it is?
no subject
Um.
[it's not wrong, but why does it feel like she's somehow in the wrong here?? Adults, man.]
It was January 2017 before I came here. [She speaks slowly, looking around like she's not entirely sure herself anymore.] Oh! [She pats at her skirt until she can pull her cellphone from her pocket, giving it a little shake as it flickers to life. She can't connect to the internet or anything, but it's at least on and shows the date in the corner. Though her screen is badly cracked, she shoves it at him.] See?
no subject
What's this?
[ Though his head lowers to look, he watches Violet's expression first, to see if he can tell by her expression whether he's being fucked with or not. When he finally looks down at the little frame she's holding, though (and no, he's not touching it, okay, the glass is glowing. Probably hot. Also cracked, might cut himself on it—) his brown eyes go wide at the picture beneath the glass. There's the number, 2017 beside the word January, and a... He points at it, eyes still saucer wide as he looks up to Violet again, hunched over to almost half his height as he is. ]
Those numbers... What are they?
[ The time, he means. That's the time, isn't it? To the minute? Can't be. How could it know? ]
no subject
[So it's probably right?? She looks down at it again, frowning] I'm not entirely sure how it works. Or how it's working here actually. [Maybe if she finds Akechi he could explain it, but that would mean convincing Akechi to talk to someone else and play nice.]
But it's a phone-- a cellphone. Everyone has them where I'm from. You can just carry it around and it can tell you...Well, everything, just about. The time, the weather, the date, and information on just about anything you could think of.
no subject
[ Just the time, she says, and Blackbeard looks up at her, wide-eyed. Is he being fucked with? He must be, but... Who's he to say? And if it is the truth... ]
That's incredible.
[ Make a whole lot of the skills he's learned completely obsolete. But also he fucking wants one. What a clever little tablet. Convenient to have some glowing magic device in your pocket like this. And everyone in 2007 has one? Fucking... 2007.
Give him a second. His brain's fractured by all this. Still piecing it all together. ]