soddersays | AUGUST 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

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AUGUST 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to August's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: CRYPTID 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: Violent animals, ghosts, hallucinations
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

Everyone loves s'mores, right? Of course you do. If you've never had them, you're gonna love them, and if for some reason you hate them, well, as it usually goes in Deerington, something inside of you will nag at you about how maybe you ought to give them another chance. There's a variety of different kinds of s'more flavors to try and plenty of perfect campfires to roast your marshmallows over. There's promise of wholesome and innocent fun to be had! Surely that won't be a lie this time.

Everyone who gathers around the fire for some tasty treats will find themselves in the mood to share creepy stories from their home worlds. Maybe they make one up on the spot or maybe it's an ancient legend that was passed down through the ages. Regardless, there's gonna be a whole variety of spooky stories, and the flavor s'more you're eating seems to dictate the theme that you'll end up leaning towards.

🔥 Traditional S'Mores will have people wanting to tell classic ghost stories. Maybe it's a haunted house you ended up in or a spirit who possessed the friend of the brother of this guy from your town once. The main theme here will be ghosts of all varieties.

🔥 Peanut Butter & Chocolate S'Mores will have people wanting to tell slasher stories. A famous serial killer from home, maybe, or the story about a group of kids who went up into a cabin in the mountains where there was once said to be a creepy caretaker and they were never heard from again...

🔥 Chocolate Chip Cookie S'Mores will have people wanting to tell monster stories. Local legends, maybe, or the classic stories about werewolves, vampires, and Bigfoot. Any kind of monsters will do.

🔥 Salted Caramel S'Mores will inspire people to tell revenge stories. These could be legendary warnings that exemplify why vengeance always leads to digging two graves. Or maybe it's your own story of revenge from home— or the fantasy revenge you'd like to get someday.

🔥 Nutella S'Mores will have people wanting to tell personal horror stories. These stories are ones that hit extremely close to home. The scariest, most bone-chilling memory you have, no matter how silly or serious it may be in comparison to those around you. Hopefully most people aren't fans of chocolate hazelnut?

Regardless of which story you hear, anyone gathered around the campfire will listen intently to all words spoken, and they will find themselves believing every word. On your walk home, you'll be filled with a sense of paranoia and dread, seeing things move out of the corner of your eye that may or may not be there. Is that a man with a hook for a hand or is your imagination just playing tricks on you? It's certainly hard to tell.

These can stay as harmless hallucinations, but for those who end up stuck in the paranoia for too long without being talked down, they will slowly start to become real. Eventually, they can become solid enough for other people to start seeing them, and the creatures from your mind may even start to attack. They can be defeated with normal weaponry or by the power of positive thinking! Wish your attacker away with enough conviction, and poof! They'll be gone.

Let's hope you can do it before you end up the victim for the next slasher story someone tells.

AHHH! REAL MONSTERS

It seems that the monsters from these stories aren't the only ones popping up in Deerington, though. There's talk from locals of multiple sightings of classic Maine legends all over town. They're easy to ignore as the townsfolk just being easily spooked for a while. But when enough stories start to line up, you might start to think maybe there's some truth to them. Or maybe you'll even end up seeing one of the monsters for yourself.

Down in Lake Tomoei, the legendary Cassie can sometimes be spotted peaking up from the water, or trying to attack anyone who even tries to go near the lakes shores. She's a nasty beast with one hell of a temper and she's quite possessive of the lake she's found herself in. 100 feet long with a skinny neck and a fish like tale, she definitely seems like a force to be reckoned with. Cassie is easily injured by ordinary weapons, but her skin is thick, so it will take a while to draw blood. Most likely, she'll disappear into the depths of the lake before she can be killed.

Up in the mountains, there's talk of the ancient evil Pamola. Penobscot legend describes him as half-man, half-eagle, with the head of a moose and a temper to match one. Pamola can't stand people visiting his mountain, even for a casual hike, and will often try to deter people away with random and unpredictable storms; thunder, snow, and powerful winds will beat down on whoever goes looking for Pamola. If you manage to find him, he will show no mercy when he attacks. Most who have tried to find him have been killed and eaten by the evil spirit. Because he's an ancient spirit, he will be particularly hard to defeat if you manage to find him; he can not be killed, but you can offer a sacrifice to quell his anger. If you have magical powers that can hurt deities, these will still be effective in weakening him until he retreats.

The final creature that seems to be wandering about is the Specter Moose (pictured above). This moose is thirteen feet tall, with thirteen foot wide antlers, and is a blinding white color. The moose can be found wandering in the park, usually, but sometimes it comes out to look around town. He may seem harmless, even cute, but don't get to close; moose are dangerous and locals fear them for a reason. They can charge at the drop of a hat and not even large vehicles tend to survive an encounter with a creature that big. The Specter Moose also seems to be incapable of being injured by normal weapons; solid objects mostly go right through it, unless it's purposefully aiming for them. You'll either have to get a shot in while he's slamming into something (or someone) or just run. Anyone who has magic or weapons that can hurt spiritual beings will be able to fight the Specter Moose as they normally would.

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

There's a silent look of agreement. The Doctor himself would have said, 'Thar's truth in legends' If someone wasn't concealing themselves.

"Oh come on. You telling me you believe in magic? Really? Really?" The Doctor makes a face, rather baffled. That's not something he expected The Master to have faith in, if someone had faith at all.

However, given the possibilities of this place and the multiverse. The Doctor has subjected that magic is possible by math - somewhere.

He sighs, folding his gloved hands in front of him.

"No. Magic is nonsense. I believe in the science hidden behind the...accoutrements. The mysticism swaddled around it to disguise its true nature, to invoke fear and control."

Which are useful enough things to use, come the moment. But he disdains them in other's unworthy hands. This one is clearly rather dense, too. But that is to be expected from lesser beings, isn't it?

It's why they need his particular...help.

There is a bit particular eyeing of those gloves. Someone remembers those gloves.
Why do you think someone doesn't use his real name? There's power in that. All of this feels very - surreal. Hearing that voice go on about power and control. Typical of someone. Still surreal to hear that. Considering, for The Doctor. It's been centuries.

The Doctor has his mouth open and is waggling his tongue in thought.

"Ah-ha. Good to hear you're a man of science than."

"The only sensible thing to be."

This is a strange sort of person, really. All odds and angles. And something else about him, too, like he's acting out a character. Or is acting out several, in a layer.

The Doctor stares, a bit too long at The Master. Very tempted to reach out to feel their telepathic link that they share. Wondering if Deerington is messing with The Doctor. However, reframes. That would ruin his advantage in their chess game that, The Doctor has. Unlike, their previous chess games. The Doctor isn't looking for The Master to end in some horrible faith. But to befriend The Doctor as much as possible - before The Master finds out this is The Doctor.

The flames of the fire crackle between them. There's a really hard face that looks into the fire. Something of a face of that knows to be afraid of control and power. Then softens as Ten looks back up and over at The Master. Casually, asking,

"What is it about power and control you enjoy?"

Ah, that question is a bad move in such a game - it puts him instantly on edge. It is specific, and it implies a deeper knowledge of his inner workings than the frankly rather goofy face should otherwise have.

"I thought we were merely telling stories around the campfire, as it were? That is a fairly spectacular inference."

Yes, he sees his curiosity got him to make a bad move. No matter, he can recover. "Right, sowwy." An apologetic face, "Bit o' psychologist me. Professor William Harkness." Ending with a cheeky grin, "You?"

What name here are you going by?

Curious, but for the moment to be put in abeyance.

"Colonel Arthur Magister, archaeologist, at your service."

The Doctor's posture seems to tighten on the word, archaeologist. For the moment, Ten is focused on not just blahing out, 'I laugh at archaeology.' After a few moments, The Doctor reaches out for friendly handshake.

"Pleasure to meet you, Colonel."

It's a disgusting habit, having to grasp hands with jumped up, half-finished lesser beings, but it is necessary to maintain illusions, so he shakes in return.

"Indeed," he replies, simply, inclining his head.

The Doctor is a bit surprised but also means the illusion is working. For now. However - what The Doctor doesn't anticipate is that his left hand. Unconsciously falls, tenderly on-top of The Master's hand that is holding his.

Someone's missed you. Someone's sorry they couldn't save you.

The Doctor got a bit caught up in nostalgia. It's been since they were at the Academy since they've held hands.

Edited 2020-07-27 17:05 (UTC)

And that is enough to have him jerk back with a hiss of breath, the sudden anger of realization. The gloves meant there was nothing to sense directly, but his erstwhile friend had always been...well, touchy-feely in his youth, would be a good way to put it.

Then, of course, he had indulged it. They were young, they were part of the Deca, they were the bold future of Gallifrey. Now, however? Not to be.

"Doctor," he said, finally, stepping back into partial shadow.

Ten appears alarmed at the sudden jerking back and hiss of the breath. What? What happened? The Doctor's hands still, more or less, how those were holding The Master's in front of him.

Oh.

He got too; touchy-feely. Yup.

Drawing his hands back to himself. Watches The Master in the partial shadows, raises one hand slowly and waves. Then gives a soft-warm smile.

A soft remark, "Good to see you."

"You've regenerated," hs replied, tersely, and definitely not responding to that statement.

The soft-warm smile and wave fade at that statement. Only giving a straight face reply and head acknowledgment, "Mmmm."

Those brown eyes focused on The Master. Knowing, now someone is being physically observed. If The Master does look hard enough - might see that those eyes are older than last they met.

He can most certainly see that, though he doesn't wish to acknowledge it, by any means or measure. Frankly, the idea of the Doctor being far advanced down his timeline and his...not being so? Is infuriating.

The upshot to this version of the Master, however, is that he has not suffered the cost of his long survival: the increasing madness with each defeat, and the inexorable rise of the drums. This one can still suppress it.

"Ironic. The older you get, the younger your face seems to become."

"Likewise." Completely a lie but none-the-less wants to return the compliment.

"I take it." A tongue waggle, "You figured out some of how this place works."

Quite frankly, he's figured out frustratingly little about it. It is a puzzle box that, as yet, defies his manipulation. But it will be a cold day in hell before he acknowledges that.

Thus, he stays silent, folding his hands in front of him.

Ten gazes in silence pass the fire at the other. Oh, dear. Do you think that someone's used their Tardis to run into you? Oh, Master. The Doctor isn't you. And going back, into his own timeline.

A warm smile and encouraging voice; "You're clever." Then a quick and suggestive eye wink.

The basics of the place are not in doubt - but what causes it, how it is generated - those things are maddeningly out of reach.

"Yes, as we are clearly stating the obvious. But why the charade?"

Ten picks up one of the sticks with the marshmallows on it. Begins to chew on that in delight. After finishing half of the marshmallow, simply remarks;

"No charade."

Another long stare over at The Master. Maybe, just maybe. Age made someone wiser. The Doctor doesn't see why they need to keep fighting, anymore. Or why they did for so long.

There are hints of pain and guilt on his face.

"Really, then what would you call it? A pretense, to get me to let down my guard?"

And for him, it's all too recent. Ailla. The Dark Heart. The bitter end of the good man known as Koschei. And being trapped by the man he had thought of as his best and closest friend. Compounded by struggle after struggle after struggle.

The fire crackles between the both of them. Then exhales deeply. Then calmly remarks, "I'm not sure when you are... But- let's just say," A short pause, "I've had time to think. And -", Another pause and slowly remarks, "I... was wrong to try to hurt you... I should have kept my promise. To travel together."

Those brown eyes are filled with regret. The Yang has existed too long without his Yin at this point in their universe.

Edited 2020-07-28 01:54 (UTC)

Surprising. Surprising enough that it shows, visibly, behind the mask of control he wears so carefully, hands hanging without purpose for a moment in front of him, as if half-warding off some strange creature.

For a long moment, there is nothing to be heard but the crackle of the fire. The sound of wind in branches, like a susurration of anticipation.

"Do you want absolution?" he states, voice dark and low as the whisper of a tomb. "Detente?" The hands clench and for a moment, a brief moment, he wishes he had his Tissue Compression Eliminator with him. But he does not, and it would be too simple, too easy.

"Time to think. Time to think. I had it too, my dear Doctor. In point of fact, I do not blame you for leaving - I understand why you had to get young Susan away, before they could crush her spirit. That, I absolve you of."

With a malicious chuckle, he makes a sign of the cross, with theatrical flourish.

"Be absolved of that sin - but not stranding me. Time and time again. Those were choices, too, Doctor. Too many times, leaving me to die."

The dark whisper makes the hairs on the back of Ten's neck stand up. The face of his remains tired looking.

Susan.

He doesn't regret leaving her behind with the human she fell in love with. What he does regret is that the day that her Grandfather came to try to see her. To keep her from fighting in The Time War.

He had been too late. She replied to her summons to Gallifrey. They had taken her away from him.

Why hasn't he gone back to her sooner?

The hard and unblinking look continues back, staring The Master straight in the eyes. A hard swallow.

He knows. He knows. And that was wrong. Took him too many lives to learn, to understand that.

And when his friend-enemy needed The War Doctor the most during The Time War.

Wasn't able to save them.

"And that was wrong of me." The Doctor replies, with a firm loud whisper and hard swallow at the end.

AUGUST 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

AHHH! REAL MONSTERS

Character Arrival

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I think I read it as that being an unconscious mistake, can re-do if I got that wrong.

You read correct :)

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