AUGUST 2019 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to August's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: DYSTOPIAN HORROR.

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.

CW: Physical violence, monster violence, creepy ogre-like monster in link, being hunted by a monster.
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

BLOOD IN MY VEINS

With supplies low and food getting even more scarce, things in Deerington, Maine seem to be getting that much more tense. For those who pay attention to the habits of the townspeople, there’s something that might add to that feeling of stress; all of them seem to be involved in some kind of physical training, whether it’s archery, hand-to-hand combat, or fighting with firearms, they all seem like they’re getting ready for something and it definitely feels like it might be something big.

But no one wants to train against a townsperson - it’s highly likely they’re not going to fight fair with the way they’re all glaring at the Sleepers, as though they’re to blame for everything that’s been going on. Unless you’re sparring with people in your own backyard though, it seems like there isn’t any space to get your own training in.

The Betties are starting to pop up around town pretty regularly, waiting until they find Sleepers on their own, and quietly waving for them to come closer. “You need to prepare,” they’ll whisper to you in hushed urgency, before grabbing your hand to try and get you to follow them. If you fight, they’ll insist only once more, before leaving you alone. But there’s something inside of you urging you to comply and follow.

They’ll lead you down an alley, pushing aside a large dumpster, and revealing a trap door in the middle of the concrete. You’ve never noticed it before, even if you’ve been down this alley a hundred times. The Betty leading you leans down, pulling it open, and the ladder that goes into the tunnel is long and dimly lit. You could leave now, but the Betty will insist this is for the best.

“Knock twice. No more or less. Show them what you’re made of.”

Once you get to the bottom of the ladder, there’s an equally long hallway that leads towards a closed metal door. You knock twice and the door shakes before sliding open. The light that comes through is almost blinding with how bright it is compared to the dim tunnel, but as your eyes adjust, you can finally step in to a fully stocked training room.

There are instructors in basics for beginners, areas for intermediate, and most abundantly there are one-on-one sparring areas. The moment you come close enough, you’ll be immediately paired with another Sleeper, and the two of you will be locked in the room together to be observed. You could choose to not fight, of course, but you’ll be stuck there for a good long while if you do. It might be best to just get it over and done with.

So feel free to help others who seem to be struggling or show off your strength for everyone to see. It looks like everyone is going to need to be ready for some kind of fight.

I AM THE GREAT UNKNOWN

Maybe you got knocked out during a fight or maybe you fell asleep in your own bed - or maybe you don’t even remember closing your eyes at all, especially if you don’t usually have the ability to go unconscious for one reason or another. No matter the cause, everyone will wake up in the same place, surrounded by tall, thick hedges in the middle of a... maze?

It doesn’t take you long to realize you aren’t the only one waking up, too. Someone is next to you and it seems like you’re stuck finding your way out of here together. Literally. On each of your wrists is a metal cuff with a long chain connecting them. It can’t be broken, no matter how strong a person is or how powerful a weapon or spell they try to use against it. You’re in this together whether you want to be or not.

Once you can pick a direction to head in, it seems like this might almost be boring - that is until you start to hear the sounds of rustling leaves and breaking twigs. At first it seems like it might just be a trick to spook you, but the more you ignore it, the louder it gets, until finally you see it, charging down the row at you, scythe raised and ready to strike.

You can try to fight, of course, but it’s hard when you’re chained to one another. Learn to work together quickly and maybe you can make it work. It seems to go down with normal attacks, though it takes a long time to get the creature to fall unless you cut off the head. Ultimately your best interest might be set in running as fast as you can to get away. You can lose it in the maze if you’re quick about it. But then you might also be lost yourself.

If you do manage to lose the monster rather than killing it, stay quiet and you might not attract its attention again. It may take a while to find the end of the maze. The hedges feel like they stretch on forever and the sun is blaring down. You’d think there would be shade with all the height of the bushes, but there’s no relief from the heat. Hopefully you don’t burn easy.

When you get to the end of the maze, the two of you will come up on three doors. One door will lead out of the maze and back into the center of Deerington, cuff free. Another door will lead you right back to the beginning, forcing you to start again. And what’s behind door number three...?

The monster, of course.

Choose wisely.

Character Arrival

You can read how all characters arrive in Deerington here.

There is not a collective "all these characters showed up at the exact same moment" occurrence in Deerington. Since characters fall asleep, die, or pass out at various times throughout all their worlds, it wouldn't make too much sense if they arrived in game all at the exact same time. There should be some discrepancy between character arrival, whether by a couple minutes, hours, or even days up to a week.

The players are entirely in control of how/when they want to play their characters arriving in Deerington. For TDMs, you can play it like your character has just arrived and that can be maintained as your game canon, or you can wait until game events for that moment. Or you don't need to acknowledge it at all. The flexibility for character allows a bit more of an organic feel to the character arrival situation, so please play it to whatever feels right for you.

If you are interested in having an "arrival" introduction for one of your TDM prompts, you are more than welcome to explore that option.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He doesn't like this- this place is getting cleverer on how to get under someone's skin. He won't, no he refuses to fight someone who doesn't deserve it and even then isn't going to kill them. There's been too much of that and as The Doctor stands before this girl he can feel that she's not normal. How exactly, isn't sure but she has the look in her eyes - no wait maybe she is human. Regardless, she seems clever and negotiable]

Maybe thar's a way to give them what they want without giving it to them to the death?

No. Hit me. Come on!

Give me your best shot!

[She hasn't done anything to endanger others - he can't form a fist on someone like that and he'd much rather take the pain, as the self-sacrificing idiot he is. Sabrina, on the other hand, may note that The Doctor's eyes are older than his face]

[Her nose wrinkles up as she shakes her head. There's no way she's going to hit some guy that doesn't deserve it. Besides, there's only room for one martyr here and that's going to be her!]

I offered first.

[She points out kindly, eyes studying him. It's hard to get a good guess on his age, but he reminds her of a teacher somehow. It registers with her that the fastest way out of here is indeed a fight. But it doesn't sit well with her, even if she resigns herself to the fact that life just isn't fair.]

But if you insist.

[Sabrina's exceptionally skilled with magic and witchcraft. Not so much with physical fights. She balls up her hand into a fist and swings. And winds up crying out in pain. She recoils away and shakes her hand, cursing under her breath.

Maybe they need another plan.]

[There are very old weary eyes. No more. Someone has seen enough pointless bloodshed and caused some too, in another life. When the girl winds up crying in pain The Doctor runs over to comfort her as he holds her gently. Though he's still on alert and can sense being watched and doesn't like it. What do they do with their prisoners who refuse to fight pointlessly?]

[They're about to find out the answer to that, though Sabrina is a little taken with her own pain for a second. Her pride is wounded more than anything, cheeks stained pink with embarrassment as she pulls away.]

You're too nice. I can't do this.

[She feels terrible for hitting him in the first place. So now they're at an impasse. She has to tip her head to look all the way up at his face with as close as they're standing, and she gives a shake of her head as if to apologize for failing the both of them.

With their being distracted, neither notice a gate in one of the dark corners of the room opening. Something dark and sinister creeps in toward them. If they won't fight each other, they'll have to fight to survive.]

[ooc: Is there a bestiary or something in game we can use to pick a monster?]

It's okay.

[The Doctor whispers. He understands it's more if do their audience understand and he has a feeling they don't. What are they going to send in? Not lions. This isn't Rome. Though Ten does rage - lecture as the gate begins to creak open.]

You think you can control our will don't you? For your entertainment. Well I got news for you - that stops today.

[After rage shouting that's when Ten hears the gate starting to open. Oh, he called that one didn't he?]

^(Yup)

Edited 2019-07-28 02:22 (UTC)

[She gives a tug to his sleeve as he rage lectures. She isn't sure that's going to get them anywhere. Especially not with a giant monster she's never seen before gliding into the room.

The Morbol is huge, and frankly terrifying. She's afraid but extends an arm to keep the man behind her as she steps forward. It's dangerous to expose herself by using a spell. But these are desperate times. Or getting to be that way anyway. She doesn't feel like she has a choice.]

I won't allow either of us to be harmed!

[She rage lectures whoever is listening. It's a warning. Their final warning.]

[The Doctor turns to spot the carnivorous tree. No visible eyes. Large teeth. Made of wood. They probably want to attack quietly. Which Ten whispers to Sabrina as the creature roars]

Attack quietly.

[Which then he takes out his sonic screwdriver]

[She's not ever one to knock a person's tools. Her eyebrows still arch at the sight of his sonic screwdriver. She'll have to ask him about it later. When their lives aren't on the line.

Quietly? She can do quietly.

Her lips begin to move as she murmurs a spell. She's had good luck with setting things on fire. When it doesn't work at first her eyes narrow and she tries again, more determined. Her focus shifts from the creature at large to just the mouth.

It's enough to start a spark, but she's surprised with how draining just that little is.]

Whatever you can do with that thing, now's the time.

[Remember what he said about being quiet? That was said because the creature doesn't appear to have eyes, which means the other senses are keener and what The Doctor is going to watch is how the creature moves. Holding the sonic screwdriver up high creatures a high pitch buzzing noise - which does enrage the monster and lungs forward to them both with the roots - The Doctor pushes Sabrina to the side encouraging her to run, while the monster hits smack the side of the enclosed fighting area and for the moment is knocked unconscious.]

[Sabrina bites her lip to stay quiet as she's pushed. She stumbles a little but stays on her feet. There's not a chance she's letting herself fall right now. When the monster falls over Sabrina acts quickly. It's out cold so she can talk at a normal volume. She narrows her eyes as she focuses her energy and concentrates on an immolation spell. She recites it quickly but precisely, channeling the entirety of the spell toward the monster. This isn't a sacrifice, but it's the most direct route to destruction that she knows off the top of her head.

Her nose begins to bleed as the monster lights on fire. Not enough to kill it, but enough that it rouses from being unconscious with a pained roar. It's on fire, and now rushing around the area. Sabrina stops chanting and looks horrified.

This is terrible, and she instantly feels guilty.]

[The Doctor was going to proceed to knot up as many of the roots as possible and grab a few loose branches and light those to keep the creature scared. However, she beat The Doctor from proceeding - in other words - the monster was in blue fire before The Doctor could walk over and marvel at the unconscious creature and then tie up the tips of the roots.

The Doctor turns to Sabrina but her guilty look stops him from lecturing her.

There's a pointed look at where the audience should be and in a commanding voice The Doctor booms]

We won. Now take these companions commands, release us and never again force others into this situation.

[There's a 'that's your one warning' in the last part]

Shut this place down