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

[This angel was being so polite and charming that the name almost, almost went right over his head. Abruptly, Crowley's countenance went from somewhat concerned with a bit of swagger to sheer terror in .2 seconds flat. His blood turned to ice and something heavy moved into the pit of his stomach. It wasn't a subtle reaction to look at, either.]

Oh... Oh, that's... I'm already dead, aren't I? [The demon was now incredibly fidgety, taking a few careful steps back and away from the angel in front of him.] Before you smite me, just--just remember I Fell with you. That has to count for something, right?

[The more rational part of his mind caught up with his mouth and snapped it shut. This Lucifer doesn't even know you, Crowley! Relax!]

[ The smirk forming on Lucifer's face freezes.

He'd been alone in asking Michael to join him. He'd been alone as Michael cast him down. The rest of Heaven had been too cowardly to do anything. ]

No one fell with me. [ He can't restrain his anger. The idea that any angel would lie about that infuriates him.

He steps towards Crowley, expression dark even while his voice remains soft. ] Whatever world you're from, it wasn't mine.

[He didn't have the link with this Lucifer that he did back home, but he didn't need a connection with him to know he was angry. Very, very angry. Crowley flinched back, finding himself with little room to actually get away.]

Ten million of us went down with you--with Lucifer. The Lucifer I knew. Not all willingly, but a good number did. [He knew he should've dropped it, but if he was trapped in a room with the guy, he was going to get pummelled either way, he was sure. He couldn't fight Lucifer. Even if he tried, he wouldn't get far. You don't face the devil with a weapon because you don't want to give yourself false hope. That was his motto and he stuck by it even now.]

Right. Wrong Lucifer, got it. [A thought occurred to him: If this was Lilith's Lucifer, he'd have to warn her somehow. Whether it was after he'd been discorporated or if he somehow survived, she needed to know.] Are you... alone where you're from? No demons?

[ Crowley keeps talking and Lucifer's expression gets more and more sour. ]

Is that what you are now, Crowley? A demon. [ He doesn't spit the word out, but it's a near thing.

It's a sickening thought.] I made my demons. I took the souls of humans who were corrupt and gave them power, made them to reflect the base creatures that humans are.

[ Whoever this Crowley's Father is-- or Mother -- they're sick. ]

You made them? Why? [His fear wasn't forgotten in the least. He was still quite terrified of this angel, but that one single statement stirred the rebellion in him.] Why subject anything to this kind of existence?

Yes, I'm a demon. That's what Fallen angels become where I'm from. Our divinity is burned out of us when we fall and it's the most painful thing you can imagine, waking up in Hell. Knowing you've been abandoned by Her because you asked a question...

[Aaand he realised right after he finished talking that Lucifer probably didn't care in the least. That little burst of confidence melted away rather quickly and he felt trapped again. Instinct had his wings straining to break free of the ethereal plane, to run, but they would do no good in the shape they were in.]

But that means you're still an Archangel, aren't you? And the only reason I'm still alive is curiosity, right? [He'd noticed the way Lucifer said the word 'demon' as if it were mud in his mouth. He created them yet despised them?]

[ Hearing it confirmed doesn't make it any more palatable. Angels turned into demons? Disgusting. Lucifer's sure he'll enjoy taking this one apart to see how they work.

At least he's smart. That's something to appreciate. ] Perceptive, aren't you?

[ He makes a show of rolling up his sleeves. ]

[In this moment, he'd never been more terrified. At least his Satan would just destroy him and that would be it. He was getting the distinct feeling this one would put him through Hell before ending him.

Crowley held up both hands in a placating gesture. When his back did bump the wall, the fight or flight response made him act on the panic. Black wings sprung into being, unfolding behind him. One was matted with blood where it had been stabbed with a multi-pronged object.

They say even a cornered mouse will bite a cat. He was pretty sure that would just make things worse for him. So, he tried to run, even with his gimped wing. Where he'd been standing, he snapped and summoned a small plume of Hellfire in his place as he tried to teleport out.

He didn't get far. The demon appeared in the middle of the room, having been dropped by his injured wing. He scrambled to his feet, the gimp wing folded back.]

Tell me sssomething, are you possessssing a human?

[It was a shot in the dark.]

Edited 2019-08-03 13:55 (UTC)