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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
Of course, if there's a way in, there's a way out. They simply haven't found it yet.
She's still thinking when he makes mention of the food. She looks just a touch grateful, though it's largely beneath the rather even facade she has learned how to wear in the face of adversity.]
It's good. Of course, I expected that when I was smelling it. True that how something smells isn't always indicative of the taste. Same with how something might look. Again, I think if you keep this up, there's a few people here that I bet won't give you a break.
no subject
You flatter me- though I suppose I did somewhat call upon it. I don’t doubt that you’ll be doing it just as effectively with just a few lessons. It’s a simple enough method, after all.
[Most just didn’t bother to learn. Not that he blamed them- there were so many other things to deal with in life, so skill in the kitchen seems inconsequential by comparison. Had it not been for Toland and his nieces, he had little doubt he’d be just as unskilled.]
Still, are things truly so dire here? I thought that a peaceful place like this would be prosperous and well-stocked with good food.
[After all, people to pursue other passions like the culinary arts when they don’t fear for their lives. The fact that things weren’t so stable told Młynar that things weren’t as ideal as they seemed at a surface level.]
no subject
[As most other things about Kisara's person have also come from Migal's influence in her life. She can't deny that she is who she is because of him. She'll eventually have to figure out where the line is drawn between sister and brother, but it doesn't seem she's made that realisation just yet.
Her expression forms into something a little more thoughtful, running over what she's learned of their situation so far. It hasn't been very much. She doesn't really know how safe they are or aren't. Things are at an uneasy peace, but...]
Well, that's the thing, isn't it. It has been remarkably peaceful. Seems a little too good to be true, right? I'm not saying we should prepare for the absolute worst, but it would be wiser to not be complacent about our situation here. I don't think this peace is going to last.
[It would be foolish to assume otherwise.]
no subject
A point well made. As much as we can hope for peace, it’s often too short-lived. Still, I’m no stranger to ensuring that it remains protected, even in my age and bitter gripes.
[The knight’s thumb brushes against the stone on the pommel of his sword, causing the whole thing to emit a warm light. Had he drawn the blade from its scabbard, it would have shone with brilliant light, but he figured that such dramatics were unnecessary in the current circumstances. Just a show of his resolve to ensure that things were kept safe. Despite everything that had happened to him, he still believed in the ideals of protection.]
If you ever see anything amiss, do not hesitate to reach out to me. While this place could use a militia, I still want to repay the kindness that has been shown to me by the locals here. While some treated with fear at first, they’ve treated me well.
no subject
[She’s expected to do this somewhat on her own. Well, with the assistance of Alphen and the others, but when it comes to protecting others, that’s what she’s best at. It’s where she shines her brightest. Somehow, it’s heartwarming to know that there are others who she can likely rely on.
It seems that regardless of whether they be friends or foe, Mlynar is someone who will most likely be good to have at one’s back.
He continues and Kisara nods.]
Likewise. I’m Kisara. [As it occurs to her that she’s spent this entire conversation with him and they haven’t even so much as exchanged names. Apparently fish just excites her way too much.] I’m not sure they’re equipped for an actual military, they’d probably appreciate having some of us who can regularly provide some protection.
no subject
Well put, and well said. I am Młynar Nearl, currently a liberator-class operator of Rhodes Island.
[An empty title, and a relatively recent one at that. He’d only joined Rhodes Island two months before being sent here. Meanwhile, he had spent a decade filing paperwork in Kazimierz, and two decades before that as a knight. Still, this was a title he could at least share without shame. Perhaps he needed something like that right now.
Mind you, it’s unlikely that Kisara would even know what a liberator-class operator is, given that she’s not from Terra.]
You’re right, unfortunately. They’d need training and drills to manage that. [Both of those are things Młynar is equipped to handle, funnily enough.] For now, we’ll have to settle with patrols. For example, I hear that the nearby caves make the locals apprehensive- I wouldn’t mind someone to watch my back while I investigate.
no subject
[So not only does he stand out in appearance, because she’s not sure she’s seen anyone else here who resembles him, but his name is… a mouthful. An unforgettable mouthful. She won’t be forgetting that anytime soon.
She listens to the rest of what he has to say, offering a nod of consideration. She’s thought more than once about what Aldrip’s state of political affairs might be, though it doesn’t seem they rely too much on that. If anything, they’re much more driven by their religious faith, which…
Well. It’s been an interesting thing to wade through thus far.
When he makes mention of the caves, she offers a short little nod.]
I think some others have also made mention of scouting the caves. Right now, I’ve heard only a portion of it is available for exploration. Evidently there’s been some issues with the integrity of the interior. They probably won’t let us venture all the way through. I heard it can be a challenge to navigate, so it would probably be better to have a bunch of people go in together. Let’s make future plans to go together.
no subject
Collaboration sounds ideal, then. I specialise in light-based Arts, so I can at least help keep the way lit.
[He could also probably just melt through rocks using those same Arts, but he had no desire to risk a cave-in, nor to reveal the full extent of his powers. He had just gone through the trauma of having to prove that he wasn’t a threat to the locals. He isn’t eager to prove it again.]
Mind you, I can’t help but wonder if a large expedition is wise. More bodies means more points of risk. More people who can face harm. Would it not be ideal to restrict the operation to a few skilled individuals?
no subject
Possibly. Again, depends on the integrity. It sounds like the caves were frequently used for mining, so they've likely seen more than a few bodies at one time, which means it's quite possibly pretty sound. When it's properly reinforced, anyway. To my understanding, more than a few were interested in going, however, and it seems a little unfair to bar people from going, especially when we have more than a few who are likely skilled.
[Gesturing between the two of them, Kisara looks a little pleased. Or comfortable, perhaps, with the knowledge that there's more than a handful who she can trust at her back.]
You and I aren't the only ones capable. You'll probably find plenty here who you might be able to rely on.
no subject
I would personally not place much emphasis on what you consider to be fair or not. The idea of going alone seems preferable to bringing possible dead weight. The dangers there would be far more real to them, compared to those of us who are more competent to address them.
[He wasn’t even trying to be rude. He was just quick to point out the insufficiencies in others because he wanted to take on the responsibility for himself. Or at least to keep others safe.]
But I’ll defer to your experience here. If you have a team, I’ve found an abandoned shack outside of Aldrip. I’ll answer the call whenever you’re prepared to venture within.