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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.
1.
She's thinking to herself, hands on top of a large crate of supplies, hair done up in a small ponytail to keep out her face (a friendly villager gave her a ribbon to tie it with), when the voice behind her startles her from her thoughts. She jumps a bit and laughs, touching the huge box to activate her quirk and deadlift it over her head, turning with a huge grin.]
Nope!! I think I got it hand--eh...? D-Deku-kun?
[How is--...I mean, it's not like she wouldn't dream of him...r-right?]
no subject
flexQuirk use - his smile has already given way to visible shock by the time she's turned around to face him.] W-what are you doing here?[Like yes if this was a dream caused by recent events then it would certainly make sense to see her here but that option went out the window a while ago, so he is VERY CONCERNED now. Did their entire class get hit by a Quirk or something is the campus compromised DAMMIT HE KNEW HIS PRESENCE WOULD ONLY PUT EVERYONE IN DANGER HE GODDAMN CALLED IT--]
no subject
I...um. Th-This is my dream... I-I mean, I thought--... [Gripping the hem of her shirt tightly, Ochako looks away from her friend for a minute before taking a deep breath and looking him in the face, almost trying to search for answers in those bright, green eyes.] I was in a bright room, but I fell asleep in my room, my bed...then it was dark again. And I woke up here, so I just...I thought it was a dream. I decided to play along, since it seem, um...nice.
[And yet by the sound of her voice, and her hand going to crinkle a piece of paper in her pocket...that might now be the full truth.]
no subject
Uraraka, I...I don't think either of us is dreaming right now. [Deep breaths, Izuku - do not freak out best friend right now.] I'm pretty sure we're not in any danger. But whatever is happening doesn't feel like an illusion or anything, so...
1/2 cw: mild MHA spoilers past season 5
She can see how stiff he's getting, how he's starting to overthink and overanalyze like he always does. Steeling herself somewhat with a deep breath of her own, Ochako reaches out and takes his hand like she did the last time. Gentle, safe, grounding.
You're not alone.]
I felt that, too, I just...don't think I wanted to believe it. [Her smiles is wry, weary. She's so tired, and would love nothing more than a full opportunity to just sleep. They've all been through so much.] But, ne, we found each other, so it can't be all bad!! Let's see what we can figure out. I'll be with you, right here.
[She smiles, for a second...]
2/2
[Before she takes a bold step forward, still holding his hand, but now gripping it a little more tightly. Her smile disappears replaced by a far more serious glare, voice low. Ochako hates to take this tone, but she has been burned too many times before, and with things being as they are in their world...
She can't be too trusting.]
But if I find out you're not the person I think you are, or who you say you are...I will not forgive you, I will not hesitate to stop you, and I promise that you will not get away from me easily.
spoilers here onward, guard ye glimpses
It had actually been reassuring, at first. His best friend being her usual self, familiar and comforting and just so very good at talking people down - talking him down. Getting him out of his head. Reminding him that he doesn't have to do things alone.
And then suddenly she's reaching out and nailing him directly in the worst most awful part of his mind.]
...if I was someone else using my appearance, would it make more sense for me to call out the fact that something is wrong or to just play along to get your guard down?
[Izuku gently pulls his hand back as he speaks. He's not going cold and locking her out like he was when she and the others dragged him back, but he's still withdrawing inwards. Pulling away.
He is just...not capable of dealing with being distrusted or viewed as a threat by a friend, right now. He's already spent a month convinced his mere proximity was an inexcusable danger to everyone he cares about, he's already had to watch Uraraka talk the refugees at the school down from reiterating that belief. Being reminded that even his appearance and voice are weapons that can be used against his loved ones...
(She'd be safe at the dorms right now if you had just held strong and stayed away, stupid.)]
no subject
Her hands go her chest, held right over Ochako's heart, wringing together as she looks down.]
Deku... I'm sorry. I--... [Her mouth forms words, but she stops them, clapping her lips shut on what just sounds like an excuse, really. They've both been through so much, and it's barely been a full day since everything has settled - maybe just a few hours at best. Ochako feels heavy...tired, and a headache is forming behind her eyes.] ...Y'know, I think I've done enough talking for a while. Good and...n' bad alike, s-so.
Probably best I keep quiet from now on, huh? [She tries to smile, but it's not quite the same as it was. Ochako knows she messed up, let her frayed nerves overpower her in this scenario.] Do you wanna walk together? I-I should...um. Get this crate moved and stuff.