soddersays | OCTOBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

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OCTOBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

Welcome to October's Test Drive Meme! This month's Test Drive's theme is: MONSTER 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: ... Monsters..., excessive blood, possible death via monster or drowning, violence, being trapped in tight spaces, bloody GIF, dead body parts
Don't forget to tag content whenever necessary. Have fun!

Prompt One
Prompt Two
Character Arrival
Master Navigation

curse the fiends

Waking up groggy and confused on the floor of what seems to be a large metal warehouse is never anyone's idea of a good time, but here you are. You may not have even known Deerington had warehouses (except for those who have been to the real Hair of the Dog) let alone how to get to one of them. It's clear you've been placed here against your will, but for what reason?

You aren't alone. There may be one, two, or even three people there with you. You're all in this together, so you may as well work as a team to see if there's a way out. The room isn't very large and it's completely empty, save for a single flashlight in the center of the floor. The only way out (or maybe it's a way in) is a long, narrow, and very dark corridor. That's gotta be completely safe. Despite hesitations, what choice do you really have?

The flashlight won't give off an abundance of light, but it at least makes it so you aren't stumbling around blindly. As you move through the corridors, you'll start to hear the sickening screech like nails on a chalkboard, but there's something worse about it. Something that makes you feel like a bucket of ice has just been dropped down your back. Something dangerous. There are different corridors that branch off of the main one you're walking down and your team will have to decide whether to stick together an choose one path or split up and explore multiple to find away out. Given that you've only got one source of light, you'll want to choose carefully.

Whether you stay together or split up, the corridors all look the same. The same sound follows you wherever you go. Eventually you'll start to notice it sounds close. Too close. Like it's right... above you?

Looking up, you'll see a large monster which jumps down in front of your team within seconds of having the light turned on it. The beast takes up the majority of the space in the corridor and there's no getting around it. Time to double back and try out one of those other passages, it seems. Hopefully you can run quickly. It's not the only thing that's jumping out of the shadows to try and hunt you, either. The large creature is working with a smaller set of monsters who seem to appear out of nowhere, their footsteps impossible to hear, but the screeches they give are almost deafening. If you split up earlier, maybe you'll run into each other now; it seems like the monsters are herding you together, trying to make you easier to hunt.

The small monsters can be killed easily. Any weapons you have will work against them, no more than a couple of shots from a gun or a good hard swing of a blade will be needed to take them down. The big beast you first ran into is another story. Nothing seems to work to slow this guy down. It'll bleed, sure, the injuries are more than apparent, but it doesn't seem to make the monster any weaker. If anything, it just makes it more irate. The only chance of living is getting out.

If you're lucky, you'll eventually turn enough corridors to see cracks of light at the end of one. Light that seems to be coming through a door. If you can outrun the monster down this long, straight stretch, it seems to actually be your exit. The door is heavy and the lock is a little rusty, but with a little team effort, you should be able to get the thing shoved open. Slam it closed before the monster can get out and you'll find yourself safe again.

fear the old blood

It's just the month for getting stuck in tiny rooms. This time, walking through any door in Deerington could land you inside this cramped closet with far too tall ceilings. Again, it seems you aren't alone; the wall on the opposite side of the closet seems to have brought in someone the same as you. The doors behind you both disappear and it seems like you're completely trapped. There's shelves all around you, completely empty, but they've got to hold a purpose, right? You may take some time to look them over, see if there is some kind of switch or hidden compartment they might be blocking.

While you're observing the cramped space around you, trying to find a way out, you might hear the sound of air rushing from above you, almost like the sounds of an elevator shaft. There's a ding, a click, the sound of doors opening— all from the ceiling up above. It's a way out! But nothing ever comes so easily in Deerington. Within seconds of the doors cracking open, blood will start to fill the room, pouring in from your only exit.

Working together and using the shelves as leverage, you might just be able to reach the ceiling to pull yourself up (and hopefully your partner), but you'll have to push against the downpour of blood in the process. It's far from easy, definitely slippery, and you'll have to move quickly if you don't want to end up drowning. Waiting it out for the room to fill so you can reach the top easier will prove to be a horrible idea; the moment the blood reaches the top of those bookshelves, rotting hands will begin to reach from the walls, dragging you down and keeping you from getting to the top.

Once you have both made it into the exit above, the doors will close, and the elevator will right itself. There's no blood anywhere to be found and there also isn't a button to press to choose any floors. You'll simply hear the sound of the elevator climbing the shaft before the doors open again, and you'll be let out into the lobby of the Grady Hotel.

Time to head home and take a shower, I guess.

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

ARRIVAL
a) IN THE STREETS
[Right, so. Monsters are common, aren't they? Inhuman things walking the streets, stalking people. Occasionally doing great harm. This figure in very... distinctive armor... may be one of them. Since he's roaming uncertainly, occasionally stopping to crouch in some patch of shadow.]

[He also has a tail. And walks on clawed feet missing shoes. Don't mind him.]

[He's just fascinated by a parked car.]

b) IN THE PARK
[Or maybe you locate the stranger in the park. Possibly because there's a tail poking out of some bushes. If startled, the rest of the individual will appear, with a yelp, falling over backward out of the bush.]

[His hands are full of plant material.]

I'm sorry! Was this - I thought this was a park! I'm sorry! I'll put them back!

NETWORK
[... that's a big, pale green eye staring into the camera. With a cat-slit of a pupil. Set in green scales that occasionally shift to a blue-purple tone with the light. It blinks.]

Oh - there's - it's glowing.

[That's the recording light, you dingus.]

... how is it glowing? [The camera view pulls back, revealing an equally reptilian face to go with that eyeball. Horns adorned with brass rings, sharp teeth. Gravelly, soft-spoken voice.] What is it...?

[The head jerks back and forth a bit - almost birdlike, before the feed goes dark.]

[... and before it happens, there's a yelp. He startled himself.]

[Well. That's a new one. Lizard people now, sure, why not. Still, this is someone who blatantly doesn't know how the fluid works, and he's been there, so: ]

Uh, hi. Don't worry, it's not dangerous. It's... a communication device. It can't hurt you. I have one too, that's how I can talk to you.

Oh!

[The head rears back. Almost like a snake's, though the expression is oddly... human? At least his face emotes like one. The benefit of being raised by humans and not Argonians.]

Oh. Hello. Um.

How does it - do that? Is it magic?

[That sure is an expression. At least Varian's used to not-quite-humans at this point. You live with a person made of literal grass long enough and anything seems relatively normal.]

No, it's technology. Science. Definitely not magic. [They're probably a little magic.] It's a little complicated to explain, but it won't hurt you. It's one of the most useful things you'll get here.

Oh. Oh, it's Dwemer.

[Apparently that's Tamriel-speak for technology. But that's not too threatening an answer, either.]

Are you - you're not in there? Right. That's. That's not how it works?

[This isn't like some horrible soul gem is it.]

I'm... not sure what that is, but if that's what you call technology, sure?

[Okay, that gets a chuckle out of him, mostly because that's what he thought for a hot second when he first got here.]

No, no. I'm in my house, I'm just using this to communicate. Like a letter, but you can see and hear me instead.

Um. Kind of? It's - they were - they made a lot. Of stuff. And then vanished. I don't know, I'm not a - I just. Make potions.

[Meli no one asked you to explain the Disappearance Of The Dwemer. Calm the heck down.]

[He fidgets, not sure how to react to that. It definitely sounds like magic. But what does he know?]

How - how far does it go?

[OH HELLO. This is suddenly the most important thing in this conversation. Varian brightens considerably, this is the best thing he's heard all month.

It's been a really bad month.]

You do? Me too! What kinds? I'm an alchemist.

As far as we need to here. We can't leave the town, so I don't know if it would work beyond the borders of Deerington. But they work all over town.

You are? [Oh look at him perk up too.] I - I'm trying to be! My family was. They um. They had a shop. In Leyawiin?

[He says it like he's hoping for some recognition. You spend so much time in Skyrim, though, you get used to people looking at you blankly when you mention anywhere in Cyrodiil.]

We can't leave? But - why not?

I sure am! And that's great! There's like none of us here. Or... uh... very many back home, really. I'm kind of an oddity, honestly. What have you been learning? And sorry. Don't recognise the place, but we're all from different worlds here. For the most part.

[Ruby has a freakish amount of people from home here, but she seems to be an exception rather than the rule.]

If it's easier for you to call it magic, call it that. But we're basically trapped in someone else's dream. While she's asleep, we can't get out- not unless she sends up back herself.

Not... many? But how do you get potions? What happens when people are sick? Do they - do they just - go to the temples or -? [That's what you gotta do in Skyrim. And Cyrodiil.] I uh. I just kind of. Experiment. And make potions. I was studying mushrooms for - for a while.

[And then he got arrested and turned out to be related to dragons, whoops.]

Oh. Is that... all? [That is. A shockingly calm reaction. Blame the Daedra.]

Uhhh no temples. There's medicine, which I guess is just alchemy under a different name. Things move on, people specialise- things die out. It's pretty sad. Oh, that's cool! There's lots of flora here that you can mix and make all kinds of things. I still haven't fully studied everything in the forest.

[Mostly because of the things in there that keep trying to kill you.]

Uhhh, that's- not the normal response, honestly.

That's - weird. Why not just. Call it alchemy? It's alchemy. [He pauses, suddenly looking uncertain.] Right? It's - the same right?

[Please don't be offended, potential new friend.]

I could help. With the forest. If you want.

[FRIEND?? please.]

Oh. Sorry, I uh. It's just. I've... it's happened before.

Right! That's what I say! But nooooo, apparently, they decided everything had to be split up into different sections instead of being smart and keeping them together. It's weird.

[This is an ally who clearly GETS IT.]

That would be great, thanks. I uh... definitely could use help with that. I'm not as mobile as I used to be.

[FRIEND. ]

Wow, really?

Maybe - maybe there were too many poisons. In shops. Not enough potions. I don't know - it's. Happened a couple times.

[To him, personally. Thank Akatosh for Argonian poison resistance.]

Oh? Did you - did you lose a horse? Or a wagon?

[Why else would someone not be mobile.]

[Then he shifts a bit, nodding, and glancing away from the camera.] Yes. The... Daedric Prince. Vaermina. She causes nightmares. She - a whole town was suffering.

Maybe? Seems a shame though. It means a craft died out and now all people ask is if you can turn lead into gold. Get ready for that one by the way. You'll get it every time.

[It's so annoying. Why would he want to MAKE gold? It's not even the best metal, Jeez.]

Ummm no. I lost a leg. A dragon ate it. It's... October is a rough month.

[He's fine. It's fine. He's dealing with it. It's fffffiiiine.

WELP. WELP THIS SURE SOUNDS FAMILIAR.]

That... kinda tracks with Sodder, actually. A whole town suffering because of being trapped in someone else's dream.

That's... not how it works. That's not. How any of it works. It's herbs and mushrooms and... all of that. Extracts. It's not - why would it do that?

[Seriously. Why would you want to make gold? Isn't that what mining is for?]

You - oh no. Oh no are you - there's dragons here?

[He's torn between sympathy and sudden sinking feeling. Is that why he's here? Because of the dragons?]

We're - are we in Quagmire then?

I hear you, trust me, I hear you. I mean, sure I've stretched out into mechanics, too- but why would I want to make gold? What would I even do with it? I mean, steel is way more useful than gold anyway. I don't get it.

[People are SO WEIRD about this, he's so glad someone understands. ]

Oh, no. I mean, not normally. October makes people turn into monsters. He's not a dragon any more.

[Varian offers a sympathetic smile.]

Sorry. I don't know where that is. This is Deerington. It's a dream. Apparently, it's in a place called Maine.

They don't use it in forges, either. They just - they make jewelry. And you can't - you can't sell that. For a lot.

[He's tried. Granted, it was a lumpy mess with a jewel slapped in it...]

Normally turn... into monsters...? And that's ... oh. Um. Oh.

[What the fuck do you say.]

Maine...?

You really can't. But that's the thing they're super fixated on. It's weird.

[The whole dang future is weird.]

It mostly happens in October, but it is a possibility to be on your guard against, yes.

[SERIOUSLY.]

It's a state of America apparently. I don't know. Also a dream, though. Can't forget that part.

[ Here's the thing. Glitch has yet to meet anyone such as this in town. Everyone's been vaguely human shaped. Even Fern being the strangest person made of grass he's friends with he's still human looking.

So, when he runs into this guy in the Park rifling through the bushes and then yelping, Glitch immediately jumps 3 feet in the air and back. ]

Holy fuck! What the hell?! What ARE YOU? [ Forget about the plants. ]

[Well. That's new. Don't get him wrong - being from Leyawiin, and then spending time in Skyrim, Meli has heard it all. Lizard, scaly, sneak-thief. All of the above.]

[But at least those jerks knew what an Argonian was.]

[He ends up shrieking again. Scrambling backward in a clatter of armor, pulling his shield up. Thankfully, he doesn't Shout. Oh boy. That would have been a whole other issue.]

Melius! Melius Senyan! I know it's not an Argonian name I'm sorry I don't have - I wasn't born in Black Marsh I'm sorry I'm adopted!

[All that comes out in rapid fire panic speak.]

[ All the words this lizard man says well...it goes over his head. Blackmarsh? Argonian? Yeah. He looks at the other kind of dumbfounded.

Finally, after the rapid fire panic speak, Glitch responds; ]

I. Wait. Okay I don't know what Black Marsh or Argonian is.

So uh... [ And he looks at their form of dress and well....okay so fantasy land he supposes. ]

You're from a magical world aren't you?

[There is NO way he is coming out from behind this shield for a good minute here. It's safe here. Shields are good. Shields are your friend.]

[But he slowly peeks out. Slowly.]

... you don't? Are you - um. Are you sure?

[This is awkward.]

Am I?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OCTOBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

OCTOBER 2020 TEST DRIVE MEME

curse the fiends

fear the old blood

Character Arrival

The Dragonborn {Melius} | TES: Skyrim

video un: trienemybest

video; un: dovahkiin

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