TEST DRIVE MEME #2

[expiationmods]

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.

info | world

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.

Comments

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV

[emet_sulk]

1. "I got summoned to another world and all I got was this lousy parchment"

Emet-Selch finds no humour in waking up in a strange, foreign land. Especially not after he had just been enjoying a relaxing nap in the shaded boughs of the Rak'tika Greatwood. The interruption has put in him a sour mood as he lethargically makes his way through the town of Aldrip, casting a disinterested look about him.

He is to be sentenced for a crime apparently. Or so claims a piece of parchment informing him of his crime of-- what is it again? He lifts the thing to eye-level with a dour stare. Ah yes - mass genocide. He tosses aside the parchment with a scoff and grinds it into the dirt beneath his boot. Yet, the parchment seems immune to his abuse and remains quite whole and unblemished as he steps past it. A stray breeze picks it up and tosses it playfully after his heels as he walks - not that he notices.

"You there!" He points suddenly at you. Or perhaps an oblivious native near you. "Where am I and how do I return to my star?"

2. Where only the brave may go

Emet-Selch isn't one for manual labour - look at him: do his robes look like they're made for heavy lifting? - so he eschews town and wanders instead towards Lorentia Cave. It's nothing more than idle curiosity. His earlier enquiries have borne no fruit. He is apparently stuck here for the foreseeable future, until his sentence is carried out...whatever that may be.

Were he back home, he would have had his pick of any number of familiar places on the star to visit on a whim. Unfortunately, he knows nothing of this one, and the only way to rectify that is to explore. The very thought lends a sour twist to his mouth however. He irritably brushes it aside in favour of peering into the mouth of the cave. Definitely dark. Definitely dangerous. He could turn away and find somewhere to resume his nap instead.

...Or he could throw caution to the winds and wander inside.

A snap of his fingers produces a glowing orb of light which hovers steadily above one shoulder. Visibility is quickly lost not far into the cave, but his little light soon begins reflecting off mineral veins. They twist and vanish and double-back all over the walls, threatening to lead those with lesser nerve astray. A cave rich in precious material indeed.

He pauses to inspect a curious outcropping of rock in the midst a slightly wider cavern. He seems oblivious to the potential danger around him. Or is he simply pretending not to notice anything around him?

3. Wildcard

(Emet-Selch can be found grousing pretty much anywhere. For those unfamiliar, he's a grumpy sorcerer currently wearing the guise of Garlemald's First Emperor. Let me know if you have some kind of idea and we can work something out. And also let me know if you would like to avoid spoilers for a certain part of the game.)

[ethnobotany]

[ ooc: i'm caught up on msq so don't worry about holding anything back! most notable thing about beverly is she is blonde, despite the icons, but there's an info post in her journal for more. ]

Having just made her way into town with a sack of flour in her arms, Beverly startles slightly at the sudden snap in her direction. She's not particularly afraid to have someone call at her and gesture in her general direction, but there's a note of caution buried under the reaction all the same, like she's just come from a place where she'd had to fight for her life. Glancing over the top of the sack, she adjusts it in her arms so she can see who has just addressed her and, potentially, why.

The mention of star catches her attention instantly, but her training and the memory of the Prime Directive keeps that off her face. It's a good thing she's used to people like Worf. Being close friends with a Klingon makes this man a lot less intimidating. Her expression smooths out to something more neutral, not quite aloof but not nearly the warmth she normally carries.

"Haven't managed to find that out yet," she answers, once again shifting the sack in her arms. "Couldn't tell you the name of the star, either, but I can tell you this is nowhere I'm familiar with. If you let me take this where it needs to go, maybe we can exchange notes."

She doesn't expect him to have a lot of "notes" at the moment, given what he just asked her — and, honestly, neither does she — but all the same she can't help but make the offer. Whether or not he responds, she turns in the direction of the storage area where the sack needs to go.

"My name is Beverly, by the way," she continues after a moment's silence. Now her demeanor changes slightly towards her usual warmth in an attempt to settle some of the ice between them and the ruffled feathers she can sense in her companion. "What's yours?"

[emet_sulk]

He waves her on in an almost dismissive way then folds his arms to wait. Perhaps if he were still emperor and she his subject, he would have made her stand there with the heavy sack in her arms.

What name to give though? He has had so many across the aeons - and none of them would mean anything here, if she is being truthful.

"...You may call me Solus," he says finally. Best to err on the side of caution, hmm? "I only just woke up and found myself here."

[ethnobotany]

Fortunately for both of them, they don't have to deal with that possibility. She does take notice of the fact that he doesn't offer any kind of help and seems almost... in a way like an admiral, very much used to being in control without any of the willingness to get his hands dirty. Fascinating.

He also seems disinclined to follow her. Thankfully, where she needs to drop the sack isn't very far away and so she manages without going out of earshot.

"Well, Solus, it's very nice to meet you," she says as she sets the sack down. Turning back towards him, she graces him with a smile, warm and helpful, as is her wont. "I haven't been a resident for very long myself, maybe a couple of hours."

Pausing as she finally returns to his side, she debates with herself on what to say next. How much can she get away with asking or prodding for? He did mention a star first, so there's a greater than zero chance that she won't be bending the Prime Directive too much if she follows up on that.

"You mentioned a star earlier," she finally continues, head tilted ever so slightly in curiosity. "What was its name?"

[emet_sulk]

For such an innocuous question, it somehow prompts a heavy scowl. His lips press together tightly and the corners of his mouth turn down before he answers.

"'Is', not 'was'," he replies tightly. "'Tis best known as 'Hydaelyn'. Named after the so-called goddess who watches over it."

He glances out across the fields and windmills. Similar but also wholly different to Kholusia and La Noscea. Their present surroundings are a far more palatable topic. "Are the townspeople offering food and board for your labour? Or were you taken by a need for charity?"

1.

[iravehementi]

Sephiroth is sitting lotus style at the bottom of the Lorentia Caves, a place he has started to call home. Eyes closed, body relaxed, he wills his mind and spirit to wander, as he often does. It is the only way he chooses to explore Aldrip. Astral projections can come and go without getting trapped in any tedious conversations.

His spectral illusion walks the streets, watching people bustle about, only pausing when someone seems to point at him and demand answers. He looks back over his shoulder to see who the poor soul is that the stranger has pinned beneath his stare only to see nobody.

"You can see me?" Sephiroth lifts his chin as he turns back toward the stranger, lips twitching upward in intrigue. "...Interesting."

I assume Sephiroth is invisible to others right now? Can correct if wrong

[emet_sulk]

"Of course I can see you," he snaps back irritably. "What, does this land lack in practitioners of magic?" Emet-Selch notices some people are indeed staring at him speaking to what must apparently be thin air. He scowls. Usually HE'S the one on the hidden side of these sorts of interactions.

"Zodiark give me strength..."

You are correct!

[iravehementi]

Sephiroth's smile widens when he sees the other man realize what's happening. He wants to keep standing here, at a distance, and watch the stranger rant at nothingness. It would be very amusing.

But it's rare for people to see him when he doesn't want to be seen, which piques his curiosity. It would be a waste if this person got frustrated and walked away. So, he sways his way up close and stands at Emet-Selch's side. Not once does he lift his glamour to make his projection visible to anyone else.

"As for your question... You are on Expiation and you do not leave until the powers that rule this world allow it.

[emet_sulk]

He glowers at the other man and crosses his arms. He won't thank them for this apparent show of consideration. Emet-Selch doesn't speak again until those staring have moved on, and when he does, he lowers his voice to attract less attention.

"And who are these ruling powers, hmm? You make them sound like gods."

[iravehementi]

Sephiroth quietly folds his arms over his broad chest and waits for the other man to speak. When he does, Sephiroth glances sidelong at him from behind a curtain of silver hair.

"Those Who Were There. Aldrip holds them in high regard. I have my doubts about their divinity but I like to keep an open mind."

[emet_sulk]

"They are venerated as if they are gods then. I see."

Emet-Selch doesn't sound impressed. Well, why should he be? Unless this realm's gods can offer him something Zodiark cannot, he has no reason to show deference.

That said, he has to grudgingly admit they must have some power if they can bring him and keep him here. He wonders if there truly is no way for him to leave.

"What is all this nonsense about serving out sentences for crimes committed? On whose authority do they bring us here and judge us?"

2

[readytobe]

Mewtwo likes caves. They’re quiet and secluded, and as a feline creature he has no trouble seeing in the dark. Of course, this particular cave is a bit less secluded than he’d prefer, but he knew that coming in, what with the signage and tools scattered around; so Emet-Selch’s arrival is not surprising. What is surprising is the glowing light he seems to have conjured from thin air. Most humans on his world don’t have magic powers.

A human with unknown powers might be harder to avoid than a normal one, and is a curiosity worth looking into regardless; better to introduce himself than be spotted and assumed hostile. Besides, exploring a neat new cave has left him in a good mood. So he observes for a few moments from the top of the rock formation before calling out (telepathically, at least).

There are fluorite veins further in.

[emet_sulk]

Whilst Emet-Selch has his own ways of perceiving that which normally should not be perceived, it is tiring to do so constantly. So when the telepathic voice suddenly speaks in his head, he jerks upright and swivels around, searching for the speaker.

It may be dark but he doesn't need light to see the shape of a living creature's soul.

"Who - or what - are you?"

[readytobe]

Interesting; the man manages to find him fairly quickly. Perhaps that little magic light is brighter than he thought. He leans a little forward anyway from his perch on the rocks.

The same as you, I believe, he replies, shrugging lightly. A fellow...inmate, as it were? The natives do not come down here as often.

His body language is relaxed - or at least as relaxed as he tends to get - but he does not move closer; not just yet. He's interested in this human, but if he seems aggressive then he wants to be able to flee easily.

[emet_sulk]

"'Inmate'?" He pauses but then realises. "Ah, yes... Our 'crimes' would make us prisoners."

Even if the prison may be an island, a country, even a star. In the end, their current freedom is but an illusion.

Sensing no outright hostility from the other figure, he returns to inspecting the crystal and mineral veins snaking along the walls. "You live here then, do you? Out of preference or necessity?"

where only the brave

[emyoji]

In the dark, potentially beast-inhabited cave system, most people would be surprised to find someone as calm as Emet-Selch. But after encountering plenty of strange people in his own world and since arriving, Seimei isn't surprised that Chosen are strolling through winding cave systems completely unfazed by the potential risks. He does still approach with caution, waiting a bit behind Emet-Selch while the other man examines the rock cluster.

"Did you find something interesting?"

Maybe that's not the best question--if he's looking, it's probably because it's interesting--but it's probably at least a good start for a conversation, right? Better than Hey, have you seen any monsters yet? at least.

[emet_sulk]

He straightens abruptly and pivots sharply about to face this newcomer. If he were a warier man, he would be preparing some offensive magic to sling as well. But Emet-Selch couldn't care less if harm does befall this mortal shell. He can always find another.

"Only a small vein of ore. Either overlooked or abandoned for not being worth the effort to extract," he responds. He crosses his arms and regards them with a slight frown. "What - were you hoping for something valuable?"

[emyoji]

Seimei raises both hands to hopefully keep himself alive, smiling and wide-eyed as Emet-Selch turns on him. Luckily, he doesn't have to defend himself, although that does mean that Seimei takes it as an invitation to approach.

"I was hoping for something interesting," he answers. "These places are full of potential stories. So many people must have come here and seen things others would have missed. There might even be new places further in. I thought maybe there was a track or tool that got left behind."

Which would maybe give him a hint for what to expect, but finding anything other than ore seems like it will require exploring further in first.

"Have you come looking for something?"

[emet_sulk]

"...No, not really. What I'm searching for cannot be found in a cave in a foreign land, no matter how pretty it is."

He doesn't sound pleased about it. Then again, this man doesn't seem like the sort to smile on a whim.

Eventually, he sighs and continues, "I suppose if I were to seek something here, it would be some manner of crystal focus. Something here is suppressing my magicks."

[emyoji]

Oh, that answer is intriguing. It sounds important. Personal. He keeps that marked in his mind, because Emet-Selch was clearly thinking of something specific when he gave his answer. Some might have thought of treasure or a way home or a general goal like success or to change who they were, giving a vague answer through metaphor. But he doesn't seem like he's referring to any of that.

"Mm, there is a limiting feeling to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, I don't think the source can be reached easily. It might be a restriction placed on each of us specifically, or maybe it's something in the air?"

It's wide reaching, he knows that. The power holding them back is probably something god-like. Maybe a system that is connected to them like the charm network, but even if they do find a way to break free of it, the alternative could be worse.

1.

[breakin_ur_lore]

The young man he’s pointed to raises his shoulders up around his ears, as if in defense. But his expression is more flustered than upset or annoyed. He quickly hides his own scrap of parchment behind his back, as though this will stop Emet-Selch from having probably already seen it.

“I-I don’t know,” he replies, almost sounding guilty. “I just got here. And I can’t seem to teleport...?”

[emet_sulk]

"'Twould hardly be a prison if they let us teleport out of it now, would it?" he says scornfully. He crosses his arms with a scowl. "Oh, stop trembling. I'm not going to eat you."

[breakin_ur_lore]

He looks embarrassed - and slightly guilty. It's clear that the word "prison" doesn't sit well with him. Still, the shoulders slowly lower.

"I was hoping they hadn't thought about that," he remarks, a little morosely, after a moment of thinking. "The only way to return is to...serve our sentences, I guess. There's no walls to break out of."

Pause.

"Unless they're really far away," he adds, squinting out at the horizon.

[emet_sulk]

He, too, casts his gaze towards the sky. "The atmosphere of a star, for most, is sufficient to keep them within. Unless this world differs vastly from my own, beyond the atmosphere there exists very little conducive to supporting life. So, for all intents and purposes, a star can function perfectly well as a prison."

A pause. "Unless you are a dragon, I suppose."

[breakin_ur_lore]

"That's...true." It's not a topic Med'an knows a lot about, but he at least understands atmospheres and the concept of outer space. And he sees no reason not to believe that the Dragonflights were capable of space travel. "Or if you had a spaceship. But if they can take away magic, they'd take away your ship," the morose tone creeping back.

"The town doesn't seem...awful, though. Not really like a prison, if we're supposed to be being punished and all..." For a moment he sort of examines Emet-Selch's clothing, but it's too complex and fancy to confirm what he's looking for, so he'll just ask; "did you get your charm yet?"