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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
Who else am I supposed to be?
[Okay, give him several seconds, actually - several seconds to stand there and glare out at other people fishing, before he finally looks at Ken properly. And ah, yeah, that's Ken Amada plus a couple years, no doubt about it; Shinjiro standing there the same as he's always been feels more keenly than usual the passage of time without him in it.
....Kid looks okay, though. Good. Maybe they'll both survive this conversation.]
Ken. ....You make it to middle school, yet?
no subject
Y-Yeah, it's definitely you, Shinjiro-san. You haven't changed at all.
[Taking in a deep breath, he placed his hand over his face hoping that it wouldn't be too noticeable that he was crying.]
But I'm already in middle school. I-I'm about to go into high school next year.
[That was all he could say before he started wiping his tears away.]
no subject
[He could deliver the blunt truth again - of course he wouldn't change, after October 4 what about him would change - but he decides against it. He doesn't like thinking about that day any more than anyone else does, especially given the bizarre circumstances that allow him to think about it at all, here?— but now Ken is crying, which makes this all much worse.]
Hey... don't. [Cry, specifically, but feel bad about him in general, please.] You're almost in high school, huh? So you've got better things to do than waste time on crying.
[Is this uplifting? He's trying. He's... glad, that it seems like Ken hasn't opted to ruin his own life and end up like him, but hell if he knows how to say that, so. After a moment he reaches over to just... put a hand on Ken's head in solidarity. Not a headpat for little babies, okay, don't get fussy about it-]
....How's Koromaru? You two looking out for each other?
no subject
What if I want to? You make it seems that I shouldn't be crying for you.
[Was he supposed to be upset at his comment? He didn't know but it didn't stop from him crying as he kept wiping his eyes. So much for trying to go fishing, how can he after this? Especially now with his hand on his head, he kept his gaze downward.]
...But we've been okay. Koromaru is getting older but he hasn't changed much. [Pause] And so have the others too if you're wondering.
no subject
What is he supposed to say, though? No, don't bother? He's here now, somehow, impossibly, so mourning him is ridiculous? There's no preparation for this kind of situation.
At least the others are... doing okay. There's a hollow satisfaction in hearing that. Hmm.]
I bet. ....Aki's probably taught you how to throw a punch, right? So... hit me. You won't feel like crying anymore.
[shinji no this isn't how well-adjusted people solve their problems]
no subject
Why would I? That isn't going to solve anything!
[He didn't mean to raise his voice, he knew Shinjiro meant well. He just wished that Ken didn't see him as the murder who killed his mom. He wanted Shinjiro to know that he saw him as a friend.
Someone who he could see as an equal and no longer a literal punching back for his sake.]
Can't...can't we just talk this out?
no subject
So, okay, that was the wrong thing to suggest. It would be a lot easier if everyone could just punch out their feelings, but fine— fine. Okay. He still doesn't know what to say— even defending himself seems gauche at the moment, so instead he tugs Ken literally by the head, sorry kiddo, into what is definitely nothing close to a hug, but more like smushing the side of his face into Shinjiro's coat.
It's probably not comfortable. Sorry about this, but since punching him is a no-go, this is his next best idea. Go ahead and cry without having to look at him and feel worse.]
....Sorry. Forget about it— Go on and talk.
no subject
Just as he was about to apologize, he immediately felt his head being tugged toward Shinjiro. In a state of panic, he didn't know what to do and just flailed for a moment. Once he realized what was going on, he stood there as his face was now on Shinjiro's coat.
What just happened?]
You...do you realize how much we all missed you? We all have been thinking about you almost everyday...!
[He mumbled out before allowing himself to cry once more.]
no subject
I know.
[No, he doesn't know, not really— he'd have expected Aki to be all Aki about it, and he's seen the way Kotone looks at him sometimes in this place, bittersweet about a hundred different things, but-
Mmph. He'd have hoped... Nothing for it now.]
You'll be fine. You've still got Aki and the others, they're not going anywhere.
[They'd better not Or Else--]
....You gotta look out for yourself, alright?
no subject
But he'll allow himself this. Just this once. All he could do was keep on mumbling his words and he stumbled over his words.]
If Akihiko-senpai were here, he would d-definitely punched you and said he kept his promise!
[Odd words to say but a little humor never hurt anyone, right?]
But I have. I don't think I had a choice but to keep looking out for myself.
[He had to. He had to live for everyone's sake, he didn't want to let their sacrifice go to waste.]
no subject
If Aki didn't keep his promise, I'd knock him out.
[This is technically staying in the bit of attempted levity, but also, he's not kidding... ahem. Thanks, Aki from the future (terrifying concept), for taking care of the kid—
Mm. Shinjiro makes it a whole beat longer before he moves his other arm stiffly around Ken's shoulders. It's a herculean effort to pretend he knows how to behave like a normal person in this situation, but then, would anyone know what to say or do in a moment like this-? Whatever helps Ken...]
You, uh... You must be doing good. You got this far.
no subject
I wouldn't forgive myself I didn't. You and our leader did so much for us that I couldn't let my life go to waste!
[Feeling Shinjiro's arm around his shoulder, he could tell that this was getting uncomfortable for him. For his sake, he takes a step back before giving a small sigh. This was weird. He had time to think about what to say to him but he never thought he would get a second chance.
Despite how he looked like a mess, he gave a sniffle before wiping away his tears. There, he looked at Shinjiro in the eyes.]
...And tell me that you are living your life to the fullest here too.
no subject
Or, oh, there goes Ken, alright. That solves... a problem, or at the very least, puts a problem out of the forefront here. Shinjiro sticks his hands back in his pockets and grunts a vague affirmative— sure, yeah, he totally did so much for the team when he abandoned Mitsuru and Aki for a couple years, okay—
But it's fine, right? Nobody shot Ken twice in a back alley. That much is victory enough, and so Shinjiro is... okay. He looks at Ken for a moment just to look at him, to confirm that, yes, he's being lectured by an almost-high-schooler, and this was the ideal ending.]
....Hmph. [he's not amused shut up he's never amused or fond] Everyone's too damn noisy and nobody knows how to cook.
[So, somehow, he's enjoying himself, admitted only in the obtuse. It's just like the dorm, but bigger!]
Dunno why we're here, but... [He shrugs.] We are. ....I ain't gonna waste it.
no subject
However, after hearing his answer, Ken couldn't help but give a chuckle or two. That was definitely something he would say.]
And I'm afraid they still don't. But I think Fuuka-san's cooking for a little better if that helps.
[That said, his shoulders relaxed knowing that there was some consideration into what he mentioned.]
You better not, I don't want to have to keep yelling at you until you finally listen to me.