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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.
smh he's going to adopt all these injured kids
Well, that makes sense does it not? You are bleeding quite a bit, my dear.
[The healing should reach whatever wounds Lion had. A cathartic but cooling sensation quickly filling one's body, and seeping into the wounds. His magic unfortunately not as strong as it used to be, but it will just have to be enough for now. It was enough to cure wounds and fractures at best at the moment.]
Do not be alarmed. I have infused your body with some healing magic; it may feel strange at first but you will be alright.
someone's gotta!! be the dad that stepped up today!!
Until the stranger goes and tries to help, that is, and what should be soothing instead feels like ice flooding their veins. There's a wince, no matter how well they immediately try to hide it. The world tilts a bit at the sensation. Why are they woozy, now...? ]
Am I? I hadn't- hadn't noticed. [ Liar. It's hard not to notice, when their now-freed hand twitches up to grip the bloodstained part of their jacket. ] It's... it's nothing, really, you don't have to waste your...
[ Magic. Their tongue trips on the word.
There's resistance; like something in the maybe-wound is fighting the very idea of being healed, despite his best efforts and whatever forces patched them up even this much before they awoke. But it's enough to shake them out of the denial loop for now, latching onto a new line of thinking- if the wound is real, surely this would help? It's "magic", but so was that person rescuing them in the first place.
Slowly, too slowly, the bleeding begins to ebb. ]
HE'S TRYING OKOK
You should... Sit down somewhere. To catch your breath, my dear.
[It's said with a fairly concerned tone, and he can't help but act as a barrier between them and the world as it passes. Well aware that this was a lot for someone to handle in general, but to be injured as well? He can't quite fathom it, to be honest, but one the less, he's here to guard them and care for them in their time of need.]
he tried and therefore no-one should criticize him
Aaah, they truly are an idiot, aren't they? He'd be disappointed if he saw them now.
They can barely hear the stranger as he tries to be reassuring; something they'll feel mortified about later, something to make up for once they're out of this self-made danger, but impossible to avoid in the moment. As it is, they're busy trying to stay upright despite the sudden exhaustion buckling their knees. They might not have a choice in the matter in a second. ]
But there's nowhere to sit, [ is half-mumbled in response, without really thinking about it.
But it's helping. By inches, sure, and nothing can be done about the existing fresh blood that has certainly ruined this jacket - but the stain isn't growing. They're not growing paler, the stabbing pain is fading. Slowly, the body of Ushiromiya Lion is accepting that it will not die here today. ]
Ah.. thank you...? [ Another afterthought, but with a steadier voice this time, as they finally glance up at their companion's face. ]
valid points valid points
Do not worry about that. Give me a moment, and I will make something for you to sit on.
[With that, his hands begin to glow and pulsate, using whatever energy he had to create what seems to be a simple chair. It isn't anything fancy, just big enough that they could be comfortable when sitting down. Both hands clasping the edge of the chair, and moving behind Lion so that the chair is directly in range for them to sit on. Or well. Collapse in, basically.]
It is not much, but do sit down and relax now. Perhaps you would like nourishment of sorts?
[He can only blink at being thanked for such a simple task. It's something that he isn't used to, but none the less, there's a faint shade of red that creeps up on his face. Quickly turning his head away, and shaking his head.]
You do not need to thank me. I am... Just trying to be helpful.
no subject
[ They can't help it. There's a pause, despite the kindness shown a heartbeat ago, where they freeze at the sight of his hands lighting up with yet more magic. Fight-or-flight; glance down at the hands, up at his face. Waiting, wary. But it quickly melts into open curiosity as the glow spreads and takes shape into... a chair?
Huh.
Despite their clear exhaustion, they waver upright for just a bit longer, one hand reaching out to prod the new ice with tentative fingers as if it might dissolve on contact. It's certainly solid, and cold, but not so much so that they're at risk of being stuck. Impressive. ]
You make that look so easy. [ The observation is almost bittersweet, before being waved away. ] A-and no, thank you- I wouldn't... want to trouble you further.
[ Despite the prior tension, they still manage to find a smile to match the reassurance. They know of magic pulling such things from elsewhere, and there's a thread of thought bugging them about how quickly he leapt to help after they half-mumbled a wish, but this is... otherwise entirely new. Which ironically makes it easier to trust, as they finally concede to rest and ease themself onto the sparkly seat.
But the denial gets an politely baffled look. Bro, what. ]
...That's why I should thank you. You could have left me to wander and... [ bleed out somewhere is neatly discarded before they get stuck on the thought, instead replaced with a weak chuckle. ] ...Well. You know. So it's only right to thank the stranger who intervened, isn't it?
no subject
[He was one of those folk. However, some of his power wasn't as strong here, but he tries not to lament on that too much. Instead, he focuses on the task at hand, which is making sure Lion gets rest and the next thing: nourishment. Of course, one thing at a time, as Lion finally sits down on the seat. A sigh of relief leaving him as he finds himself resting his body against the adjacent tree right beside them.]
I suppose so. I just could not leave you here to bleed; it would make me a horrible person.
[There's a faint smile that appears on his lips, but it fades. Not because he was unhappy, but he was still a bit awkward and painfully shy. Still, his presence isn't bad, and despite being able to cast magic, is not a dangerous person. In fact, it seems that he's the complete opposite of being dangerous, despite being a powerful, bundle of nerves.]
Please let me know when you feel steady once more. I believe the next course of action would be to get some sort of nourishment in your system. The locals are quite kind here, so there will be no issues getting something to eat.