NOVEMBER 2018 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to November's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: WONDERLAND.

All Test Drive Memes contain at least one clue to the Deerington's upcoming in-game events for the month! Keep your eyes peeled! But...not literally.

Characters may die during TDMs, but you do not need to count it towards a game-canonical death unless you want to. Consider it a freebie. All TDMs can be considered game canon as TDMs introduce minor aspects about the world of Deerington that can be revisited by characters later on in the game. You may also use TDMs for your application writing sample as well as AC.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the nature of November's plot, character arrival prompts are unavailable in this month's Test Drive. Throughout each prompt, all characters will very clearly feel as though they are still stuck in a dream, and are working on a way to get out.

CW: Body horror (growth/shrinking), implied drugging, violence via swords and bludgeoning

Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Prompt Three
Prompt Four
Master Navigation

BEGIN AT THE BEGINNING

The hallway you've ended up in is long and narrow, almost seeming to twirl in on itself as it spirals a long way out of sight. There's no means to go back the way you came - it's walled off now, somehow, though you're not sure when or how it happened - and so you realize if you want to leave, the best thing to do is just move forward. You walk along the checkered marble floor, the click and the clack of your shoes echoing off the twisted walls, the only sound in the whole place as you move.

You're almost convinced you're never going to find the end of this hallway, until you start to see a pinprick of light in the distance. Maybe you even pick up your pace when you start to see it. Regardless of whether you keep at an even walk or you sprint towards the light, you eventually get to the end of the hall. The ceiling has stretched up way out of sight at some point, but there's still a light shining down from somewhere, casting a large spotlight on the only two objects in the room: a fairly large dollhouse on the floor and a table with a cup filled with what looks like punch and a plate with a piece of cake on it. There's a sign, neatly handwritten in black ink: EAT ME! DRINK ME! At least it's to the point.

You can choose to ignore that sign, but as you observe the dollhouse, or the hall you're trapped in, there are two things that might persuade you into realizing it's your only option: 1) There's no door at the end of this hall in order to let you out of it, which means you're still as trapped as you were at the start. And 2) There is a door on the front of the dollhouse and if you squint, you can see a tiiiiiiny key stuck in the lock.

This all might be looking familiar to a fortunate few.

Eventually, you'll have to cave, or end up sitting there forever. Whether you choose the cake or the cup, the moment you swallow, you'll start to feel an uncomfortable ache through your whole body. Soon you can start to feel your bones caving in on themselves, your muscles tightening and shrinking, and your whole body might even start to feel like it's about to implode. It's agonizing - worthy of a scream or two as the magic works through your body, and you see the world starting to become bigger and bigger...

And all at once, it stops. The dollhouse now looks as big as a real house and that key? Is just the right size for your hand. You turn the key, push open the door, and enter into a grand foyer, brightly lit and covered in flowers and ribbons. On top of that? You're no longer alone - someone is in the room with you and they seem to have been stuck waiting for someone to help them explore the house.

TAKE SOME MORE TEA

Sometimes dreams just don't make sense. And this room seems to be the one that sticks out the most. You can see the ceiling, decorated with whimsical paintings and colorful chandeliers, and you can see the four walls, but the ground is definitely grass and dirt, and somehow there seems to be a fresh breeze blowing through, bringing in the crisp air of fall and the scent of burning leaves. Strange, since the grass is so green, strikingly so when compared to the white linen of the table cloth covering the expansive table in the center of the room, and there's not a fallen leaf to be seen anywhere.

There is, however, several place settings, several tea cups, and several tea pots. Your favorite treats are stacked high on the plates in front of you, smelling so fresh your mouth is watering already. It seems like a feast just for the two of you and your stomachs are starting to growl. Maybe sitting for a little while to rest and eat wouldn't be so bad, right? You notice name cards in front of each place setting and eventually, you find your own names, neatly printed in bold lettering. It's best to take a seat if you're going to dig in.

As you start to pile food onto your plate, you notice there's a card between the two of you, with a fun riddle printed out for you to solve:

I'm as small as an ant,
as big as a whale.
I'll approach like a breeze,
but can come like a gale.
By some I get hit,
but all have shown fear.
I'll dance to the music,
though I can't hear.
Of names I have many,
Of names I have one.
I'm as slow as a snail,
but from me you can't run.
What am I?

It might seem like fun and games, but you'll find that as you eat, your mind is getting a little foggier, and the words are blurry and harder to understand. You think it's time to go and you get up from your seat to do just that, but the door you came through - the only door in the room - is locked.

Chances are that riddle is your only means to get that door open. When you finally do solve it, a bright light will appear, and you'll need to stand in front of it, lining your shadow up with the handle, and miming turning it in order to get the door to open itself.

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS

The strategists might enjoy this next room when they open it; in front of you is a giant chessboard, one half of the board all set up and ready to go, and the other half of the board just missing a few pieces in order to get started. The Knight seems to have gone off to do his own thing and, much to the dismay of those around them, the Queen seems to have made herself scarce as well. But luckily for you both, there's two of you! And you seem to be just in time to take the place of these missing players.

Once you each settle into your chosen square, the game begins. It seems pretty tame at first - pawns moving to various pawns, and maybe one of you is taking charge and shouting for where each piece should go next. Best left to the Knight, likely, considering the strategy needed for that particular piece. And all is well and good and fun - until the first piece gets taken. Or, rather, not so much taken, as suddenly smashed to pieces by their opposition.

It doesn't take long to realize the same will happen to you if either of you are captured by your enemies. You have to rethink now, figure out the best strategy to not only win the game, but to make sure that neither of you ends up dead on the way there. You see the other Knight has a giant sword, one that seems to slice through the marble pieces around you like they're made of butter.

If you fail, you can try and dodge the blast, and you could also choose to run from the start; but there's a high chance the pieces will begin to revolt and come after you. You can either play the game or try and fight your way to the door. An interesting dilemma, considering that you're unarmed.

I AM NOT MYSELF, YOU SEE

This dollhouse is filled with tons of rooms, all of which seem to have their own unique flair, and sometimes they seem to be very much filled with the uniqueness of you. As you and your companion explore each door, you eventually start to open ones that seem to contain pieces of them or pieces of you put onto display. How is that possible? Well, you're not quite sure, but it certainly seems like they've managed.

Some of these rooms may hold memories playing out like strangely made stop-animation films; clay versions of yourself and anyone who was in the memory with you, mocked up to put your deepest secrets or your happiest moments into a visual reality. Other rooms may hold objects that relate to your very being - either physical items from home that were exceptionally important to you or metaphorical symbols of who you are as a person. A heart for loving, a stuffed lion (or a real lion, though you'd better hope it's friendly) for courage... All those stereotypical links people have created to show who they are over time.

There's no choice but to keep searching these rooms, though, learning more about yourself and your companion than either of you probably ever wanted to know - because eventually, one of those rooms? Is your ticket out. You'll know when you see it. A giant mirror will be leaning against the wall, the image fuzzy and rippled and not at all the reflection of the room around it. If you put your hand to it, it will sink right through. So long as you don't shy away in fear, you've finally found the end to this dream - or nightmare, as the case may be for some.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So it would seem, nor is London any kingdom or principality I am familiar with. So, it would seem our dream is quite fanciful, not to mention shared. How very ... curious? Yes, that seems the word.

[She had no idea why she felt like saying 'curiouser and curiouser' but there it was.] If this is among the potions they can make, it would seem they can bottle just about any magic I know. Hazardous, but good to be aware of, should we come across anything more to eat, yes?

[She said that last bit right up until they opened the door and looked inside. Her eyes narrowed and he frowned visibly, glaring at the whole table with a studious and clearly suspicious eye.]

Do they truly believe we will partake? For that matter, who are 'they?'

[He approached the table cautiously, picking up each name card and inspecting it.]

Well, what kingdom or principality are you from?

[He'd be disappointed if there was a concrete they in charge of this place. It would mean he'd traveled across the globe, through the frozen Arctic and his own dreams only to arrive back at the same position of being under the command of men. He'd like to think of this place as something much less tangible.]

I don't suppose we have much of a choice. They do enjoy giving us the fantasy of a decision, when the only way forward is where they want us to go.

[Smiling, he held up a name card with CORNELIUS HICKEY printed on it. Three years of using a fake name and even the deepest parts of your mind get used to it.] It seems we're expected.

[She walked to a spot of her own, finding her name there and showing it to him with a bemused look on her face. Vira-Lorr, in nice, elegant script. The woman snorted and shook her head.]

It would seem that we have very little choice. [She chuckled.] To answer your question? I lived much of my life in the frontier of Gridamas on Graccae, though I and my companions have traveled from continent to continent for the last many decades.

And yourself?

I grew up around Manchester and Liverpool, then I went south to London.

[He didn't bother mentioning anything about a country - weird dreams, three eyes and shape shifting is one thing, but not knowing about the British empire is a different thing entirely. He didn't recognize her country, but he didn't want to admit it.

Finding his ease with situation, Hickey sat down, stretching his lean body across the chair as much as he could. Grinning smugly, he started to shovel some chopped fruit from the nearest plate to his own.]

Me and my companions were travelling around as well. [It's one way of putting it.]

[She settled herself in, only a fraction more dainty in her approach to the food. A taste told her that they would not be in horrendous agony at least next, so she could be a little less careful for the moment, but only for the moment. The name of cities told her all that she needed. He was from some other world. She knew, distantly, that they existed. Her own sword was not from her world or life, so why couldn't there be others?

But, for the moment, she would work with the situation, figuring it out a step at a time.]

It seems that we are both quite far from home, so the travels do tend to continue I suppose. Whenever will there be a rest in the constant of travel, I wonder?

[Hickey shrugged at her question. He'd not been at rest for a moment in his life, not since he first came into this world, and he doubted that would ever change.

As he began to eat from the food, he could feel a certain wooziness start to creep up on him. He rubbed his temples - he'd never liked alcohol or laudanum or any of the other things people used to dull themselves. He liked his mind sharp, and he'd always survived by being too small and skinny and quick for anyone else to get a hold on.

Setting his fork down, he noticed a note in the place besides him. Picking it up, he began reading it to himself before passing it to Vira.]

It wouldn't have been right to have a supper without tricks.

[She put the food down as the same sensation came to her as well from the food that they were eating. She was rubbing her forehead, above the eye and shaking her head, glaring at everything.]

No, of course we could not be free of such a thing. Do you know what they've poisoned us with? [Because that was her first thought.]