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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.
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[ Shower?? The fuck is that? Hadn't they just been showered all over? But Ed agrees too-quickly instead of asking for an explanation, because fuck, that'd been too close, hadn't it? He looks around the room instead of where Stede wanders off too until he's sure Stede's left, through a door he leaves cracked open. Being lost and away from a ship is really doing a number on Edward's sense of self-preservation. Or maybe that's just being around Stede. Or smoke inhalation. Kind of all feels the same.
He helps himself, as Stede suggested, to the wardrobe in room and tries to think of blacked walls and the lingering taste of fire as he undresses rather than the obvious. Of course, the obvious is only one room away, and the sudden patter of water falling in that direction has Ed looking over just in time to catch a flash of entirely too much bare skin through the open door.
Ed's head tilts back and his eyes roll as he groans around a curse. Yeah nah, this was a bad idea. He'll never survive living on top of Stede like this. Not the way they are, or were, or whatever. He pulls the flowy shirt he's found over his head, wriggles into a clean, dry pair of trousers after that, but doesn't bother with his boots and gloves and the rest. Instead, he sits on the bed and waits impatiently, thoughts running a hundred miles a minute, for Stede to return after what feels like forever from the bath. ]
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He pauses though when he notices Ed, looking quite lovely in Stede's shirt and trousers, better than Stede's ever looked anyway]
Oh I... [forgot you were here? No that was a terrible thing to say]
I'm...glad you found something... Not too much bother I hope.
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Ah... Nah. Pft. No bother at all.
[ Except for, you know, the practically insatiable urge to grab Stede and kiss him senseless every time he makes eye contact. Really clouding his judgement, here. His fists clench and his voice is taut with tension, though he tries to keep casual. ]
Actually, I'm more bother to you than the other way around. Hogging most of your bed all night, nearly burning your kitchen... and now stealing your clothes for lack of my own. It's fucking embarrassing, man. Reckon I need space to myself for a bit. Find my own place. Get my shit together.
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[the words bring back a sense of deja vu. He's said it before and well, that's how they became co-captains after all. He wants Ed to stay. His mind spins a thousand ideas, each more ridiculous than the last to get Ed to remain here, but- really there's not much to offer him and even if he could, he can't help but remember his crime written out.
Destroys beautiful things.
And while Ed is far from a thing, he is the most beautiful person Stede has ever met. Fortunately he's had decades of breeding and not saying what he wishes, and so]
But whatever makes you comfortable. [and because he's selfish enough to not let Ed go completely, even though competition is stiff out there] I can help you look if you like.
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But this is better, for Stede. For both of them. So when Stede agrees to it, Ed's shoulders relax and he smiles fondly, if a bit sadly on the edges. ]
Thanks, mate.
[ Anyway, this is different, Ed tells himself. It's just him and Stede. There's no Jack, no Izzy. Almost no reminders of Ed's past at all, and in that way, nothing to ruin things with Stede except for Ed himself, which is why he's got to be even more careful than before not to overstep their friendship. It'd be so fucking easy to lose Stede altogether. Almost did, to a firing squad and a man in a wig with an old grudge. Ed's not about to see that happen again.
He lays a hand on Stede's (distractingly bare) shoulder and squeezes, forcing himself to make eye contact again at last and focus. ]
The plan's still on, okay? Fool the masses, steal ourselves a ship. So get dressed. We'll plot that and the rest over breakfast.
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After all, a little time apart could only do us good right? [because that's what he wants and...well...even if they've spent every day together, more than that is too much to ask]
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Uh yeah, of course. Couldn't do us bad We're both stronger than that.
[ ... ... ........Anyway, he turns that squeeze on Stede's shoulder to a friendly clap, looks down, grabs his boots and belt and spare things, and then tosses a rushed not-really-goodbye over his shoulder. ]
Okay, meet you downstairs.
[ And he goes. ]
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Yes. Right. I'll meet you down there.
[though as soon as Ed leaves, he's tempted to ...not. To hide out here or say he had some other engagement. Maybe if he waits long enough Ed will be gone to something more interesting -something he wants to happen and wants to avoid happening at all costs.
So he might take far longer than he ought to, trying to find the right clothes and to pluck up his courage and eventually, maybe half an hour later, he is coming downstairs half expecting to see him gone]
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But after ages of waiting, Ed hears footsteps on the stairs above him at last, turns to look up, and there's Stede at last. And of course there's the delight at no longer sitting in horrible boredom, but Ed's even surprised himself by how physical the relief feels at the sight of Stede still here, still willing to meet with him even after the thousand ways Ed's found to disappoint him. Stede's appearance feels something like the sun on his skin, warming him. And though Ed's thought of a number of jokes to tease Stede for the weight, they're all washed away in that light, along with every other thought in his head, apparently. He stands up on the steps, leaning up on the railing in expectation and smiles greedily. ]
Y'ready?
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But he doesn't chase those thoughts down knowing where they lead. He just smiles down at Ed, tracing every line of his face and eyes and shoulders arms, lost in the heartbeat of the moment. So lost, in fact, he completely forgot what it was that Ed had asked him]
Hm?
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someone else, someone goodjust... Ed, without all the rest weighing him down. His smile warms further, eyes crinkling at Stede's sudden forgetfulness. ]Breakfast, yeah?
[ He climbs a step between them back up to close a bit of the gap and he offers up his hand for Stede to take. ...You know, if he feels like it. ]
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[though the hand makes his heart stop a little. What does that mean. What could that mean? Surely pirates didn't hold hands but... but perhaps co-captains did. Still, taking his hand felt...like a step too far. Like something he couldn't pull back from, and also a very bad idea]
Right. Oh look at that sky. [he continues down the steps, watching the clouds which have started to gather]
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Storm clouds, looks like. That's rain on the way, and choppy seas.
[ Feels appropriate for the shift in mood, Ed thinks. But no storm lasts forever, and nothing he wouldn't weather to keep Stede close. So Ed easily picks up the conversation as he falls into step besides Stede, asking him for his plans, his goals, his ideas for disguise, and whatever else might bring that smile back on the horizon through a scavenged breakfast and a rainy afternoon. ]