reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2022-04-27 07:28 pm
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APRIL 2022 TEST DRIVE MEME

APRIL 2022 TEST DRIVE MEME
Another month, another test drive meme! Our test drive memes are open to anyone interested - regardless of whether or not you join our game!

All Test Drive Memes are game canon. Players can choose to keep their TDM threads canon or not. TDM threads can be used for AC and can be used as your writing sample for your application.

Our TDMs serve as a way to build into the actual lore and worldbuilding of Deer Country and we strongly encourage everyone to enjoy and participate! Current players are always welcome to pull prompts from the TDM to reference on the Network or bring into logs as well as tag out to new characters top-leveling on the TDM itself.

Characters will always be able to actively die during TDMs as this is an extremely dangerous world. You can still have this be game canon! Check out how character death in Deer Country works here.

If you have any questions about the TDM, please ask down below!

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Prompt One
[Image One: Delicious, Gelatinous Fruit Treats]
[Image Two: Women in white dancing around a May Pole (Animated)]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A woman turning away from a mirror. ]
[Image Two: A woman trapped inside a mirror with disembodied hands grabbing at her. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A Forked Trail on a Wooded Path]
[Image Two: The Grim Reaper at the end of a sewer tunnel]

A MOSTLY PLEASANT ARRIVAL
WHEN: May
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk
CONTENT WARNINGS: Forced honesty, personality changes, physical changes.


Congratulations, sleeper! You're one of the lucky ones to arrive in a month that is not awful to come ashore. The transformational process is almost alarmingly quick and painless. In fact, it is so quick that it is deceptively easy to change back into a squid and do it all over again! Partial transformations are not uncommon during this month for the first twenty-four hours after arriving, and even brief transformations of minor facial features like hair color, eye color, height, weight and a few more extreme possibilities have been known to happen. Don't worry, because the transformations are all temporary and none are inherently monstrous (Unless you already are a monster, in which case good luck with that!). Greeters are present in force to help accommodate you as you make your way, your welcome backpack and items all freshly and neatly cleaned and ready for you as they put the robe on. Everything is so welcoming and inviting that it almost seems like they're having a party.

This is, in fact, because they are. The Wild Moon is about and festivities are in full swing throughout the month of Bauphomette. May poles are set up and it is possible to dance around one if you should wish. Doing so can help to ground oneself in their current form, which may help new arrivals settle in a bit better. Even ignoring that, it feels good to sing and dance, and everyone is very friendly. Even the usually grim Hunters who guard the roads and entries to the shores seem to have less stern smiles on their faces, though their eyes are ever watchful to keep the peace of the festivities.

SEASONAL DETAILS ON THE BOARDWALK

Decorations this month are decidedly floral in nature. Everyone is dressed in white, regardless of their usual preferences. Flowers adorn many of the people of Trench and the weather throughout the first week of May is pleasant. Even if it rains, it is a refreshing, light and pleasant rain, and there are many awnings and umbrellas to take shelter underneath.

And of course, there's refreshments. What festival in Trench would be without them? The foods this month have a very floral theme to them. Edible flowers have been grown and prepared especially for this time of year. They've been used to help create infused and gelatinous sweets, Floral spring rolls and edible flower cookies and the like, along with floral teas that are meant to calm the mind. Additionally, the people of Trench will note that any of the foods present can have a beneficial, albeit transformative effect on the mind and body. They promise it won't last long, but if you're really concerned there is hard tack and water available that's quite filling.

Changes from Food will last a few hours at most. There are several options available among the drinks and foods. These may be combined as the player sees fit. Drinks have mental effects, while Treats have physical ones, the Trenchies will inform:

Pomegranate Juice: Sweet and tart, anyone who drinks it or has some of the fresh pomegranate and seeds will feel compelled to speak nothing but the truth. Pomegranates are found littering makeshift shrines to Bauphomette throughout the party, and Trenchies insist they are free to take.
Petal Infused Hot Tea: Pungent and aromatic, it is relaxing. The heat gives a warmth and vibrancy that fills a person with confidence, to the point of arrogance and fearlessness, leading the emboldened to try something that they might not otherwise do, even if it's very risky!
Floral Iced Tea: While refreshing, it feels like there's something just a little lacking, and anyone who drinks some will feel that they need more but not what they need more of at first, making them clingy and affectionate towards other people, especially strangers.
Iced Water: It's not the tastiest, but has a way of washing things away. Water can cleanse and remove the effects of other drinks, though it leaves the person feeling emotionally drained if it is used this way.

Floral Spring Rolls: Trying one of these surprisingly edible treats will have the added effect of giving a person plant traits temporarily. Hair may convert into tresses of ivy or carefully manicured moss, or perhaps a mushroom cap! Skin might become bark-like or chlorophyl green. The more that one eats, the more that they change.
Gelatinous Sweets: These curiosities come with a note. “Have you ever wondered what it is like to walk in someone's shoes?” Eating one has a profound physical effect, causing a person's appearance to transform into that of another person in Trench! It may not even be someone they've met, or seen yet! It would be awkward to meet someone, not looking the way you're supposed to, or worse? Looking like them!
Edible Flower Cookies: They come with lovely notes saying “Eat Me!” What could be sweeter? Well, like something out of Alice and Wonderland, eating one can cause a person to grow or shrink by a foot. More cookies can cause the height difference to become worse and worse, though if you're only a foot tall, it's a good way to end up an inch tall! So, maybe eating more to fix the problem is risky.
Hard Tack: Like the water, it can fill the stomach and remove prematurely any physical effects, though if it does so, removing a physical change physically drains the character.

A DIM REFLECTION
WHEN: May
WHERE: Throughout Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Paranoia, existential dread, hallucinations, possession-related horror.


They warned you about mirrors. Every once in a while, one of the locals in Trench might have whispered it, made a sign of warding when they passed by mirrors, but nothing seemed out of place. They told you that you might see yourself in it, and you would never be the same. However, every time you've looked it's been fine. So, maybe they were being superstitious about something? It certainly wouldn't have been the first time someone had gotten paranoid about nothing in Trench, would it?

How wrong you were. Maybe it was when you were looking down at a puddle rippling in a light breeze. It might have been a formerly polished piece of bronze covered in tarnish that adorned a building. Perhaps it was that lovely bit of obsidian in the shop where you caught your reflection garbled by the shape. It happens only when a reflection is seen in a distorted surface, especially those that are naturally occurring, though occasionally damaged and weathered surfaces that were polished will work. When you were looking at the image, it seemed to look back at you and something was wrong, distorted, imperfect. By then it was too late.

The natives were right. You saw some part of yourself there in the mirror. It might be something that you've hidden from others for a long time, or it might be an exaggeration of a single part of yourself that you aren't proud about. What it is, is a distorted and incomplete part of yourself, something that you try to keep controlled and in check, and it was there, smiling at you and winking. The moment it winked, it was like you were riding in your own skin, watching and unable to act as you changed into a self that reflected that distorted, unnatural and incomplete side of yourself. What shadows do you hide from yourself?

This effect lasts for, at most, one solar cycle. From the rising of the sun to its setting, or the moon to its setting, the effect can last no longer than that. Especially strong-willed people, particularly palebloods, can end this effect sooner through force of will, though it usually lasts at minimum an hour. The character is, for the duration of this effect, changed in personality to behave in accordance with some singular aspect (of the player's choice) of their personality that they do not usually focus on in their day to day behavior. This change can be subtle, or it can be drastic and even dangerous. Its goal is to make sure that everyone sees and witnesses this change, and goes out of its way to impact others in a memorable fact, making sure that they see there is more to the character than what they are revealing. This could be relatively innocuous or extremely dangerous, depending on the person, and the whole while the dominant personality is riding inside their skin, forced to watch what is happening.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN
WHEN: May
WHERE: Dream worlds
CONTENT WARNINGS: Existential dread, disturbing visions


It happens when you are asleep one night. There is no warning for this effect, and it comes without apparent cause. One night, you go to sleep, and then suddenly you find yourself in a dreamscape, on a path. You can sense eyes on you the whole time that you are present in this field, and though they have a sense of benevolence to them, there is a deeply alien element to the experiment, almost like you are being observed by a scientist through a microscope. You are not alone on the path, either. One, or possibly more than one, other people that you may know or not know, they seem to have entered the same dreamscape. Behind you is nothing but shadow, and before you is a path. Might as well get going if you want to wake up, right? That's how these things work.

Introductions and questions aside, there's nothing but the path and dense, impenetrable woods on both sides, so eventually you and your companion start walking. As you do, shortly you see a branch in the path ahead of you. The fork has two paths, one of which shows the traffic of many feet, footprints grooved well into the worn cobblestones and mud. One of you will somehow recognize that the footprints are their own, and will notice that the other path has no footprints or very few. That is when the compulsion hits. It is inexorable and impossible to deny, the curiosity to see what is down the path that those footprints do not travel.

Travel, walk and taking that path, you will be treated to a vision. It is a moment in the dreamer's life, where they see something that happened in their life, which involved a choice. Did they go left or right? Did they say yes, or no? A choice they made, even one that seemed immaterial at the time, had some profound effect, and now you and they watch as the other choice was taken. And, within the hour, you will see the results, to your horror. Something terrible will happen to them. It could be anything, but it will be life-shattering, perspective altering and ghastly. They might even die from the experience or see a loved one die. The horror of it will still be in your hearts as you stand there for a moment, trapped in the sight of the aftermath, trying to come to terms with what you have just seen, and just at this moment, after a few parting words are said, both will wake up in a cold sweat.

The event that plays out can be from either character. Close CR is not required. Bauphomette has summoned the characters into the dream directly, and is sharing a distorted mirror of an opposite choice that could have been made. Actual “What if” canon events such as alternate timelines in Supernatural could be used for this, or the entire event can be concocted for this scene. The characters themselves are witnesses, and cannot be personally harmed in any physical way, but the horrific ending for the 'vision' version of the one whose dream this can be as awful as desired and take any form wished so long as it is unpleasant. Please be aware and mindful of each other's Content Warning Preferences in setting these scenes up.

CODING
yandhero: (017)

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-04-29 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Izuku-kun and Ochako-chan are here!? [ well, that's a sudden reaction. himiko grabs luz's hands, squeezing them tight as she leans in close. ] Those are my classmates! My friends! My best friends!!

[ well. at least, from her perspective - it's anyone's guess whether they'd agree on the last two fronts. she remembers their discussion about halfway in, stepping back and waving her hands frantically. ]

-ah, you really don't have to do that! I mean, if you want to, but... Th-that's a little forward, don't you think? [ a sheepish laugh. she's not against the idea, exactly, but, well - don't most people have slightly different interpretations of opening a cut like that!? ] Just a second!!

[ she reaches down, rummaging through her welcoming back until she pulls out-

a finger prick and vial kit and a pack of sanrio band-aids.

huh.
]

My classmates usually do it this way! Since it's, you know. A little less personal, ehehe. [ she brings one hand to her cheek, blushing even deeper. ] If you're really okay with it, then just do it this way, and I'll kiss it all better!
imaglyphwitch: (hey amity)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-04-29 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, really? Cool! I know there are a few others from their world too, but I don't know them as much.

[She would certainly remember Bakugo if she'd ever met him. He had the mouth of a sailor who stepped on something hard].

I mean. I've had blood taken from me in worse ways!

[Way way WAY worse ways. Better to not think about February].

Ooh, yes, that's perfect! A little finger prick should do the trick!

I totally did not mean to rhyme there.

[Yes she did].
yandhero: (019)

just lmk if i should change anything!

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-04-29 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ against all odds, in the face of overwhelming pressure, toga manages the most heroic act since her arrival: she doesn't ask luz to clarify what kind of ways the blood was taken from her. mostly because there's something more interesting right around the corner, courtesy of a little prick to the finger. ]

Alright, alright! I'm gonna do it, now, so sit still, ehehe... [ she takes luz's hand, lining up the vial with her middle finger. ] Okay, okay, here I go...!

[ and with that, she... pricks luz's finger. it's slightly less noteworthy than a flick to the shoulder - it's clear she has a lot of practice with this, at least! she waits a moment, pressing the vial in to collect a small portion of blood, and when it's finally full up she pulls it away and grabs a band-aid. (this one has my melody on it. you got lucky, luz!!) ]

Thaaaaat's it! Now, Himiko will make it feel all better... [ and with that, she leans down, planting an overdramatic and loud kiss right onto the broken skin before wrapping it up. ] Chuuuu! There you go, there you go! Good as new!

[ she's practically vibrating with excitement by this point, and it should be clear why. she takes a few steps back, strikes a pose- ]

And here I go! The sanguine hero, Blood Driver, prepares to transform!

[ -and tosses the whole plastic vial in her mouth.

the effect isn't instantaneous, but it might as well be. one moment, himiko toga is standing there, and the next-



well, the next, "luz noceda" has taken her place.
]

Ta-da! [ she snickers. it sounds decidedly more like luz than himiko, even if it's still an imperfect imitation. ] Well? Pretty cool, right?
imaglyphwitch: (Ai que lindo!)

Nope, this is totally fine!

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-04-29 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[That was probably for the best, especially since she didn't want to scare the heck out of this person she just met. It was a pretty unpleasant situation, and Luz literally still had scars from that situation].

Sure, ok!

[Again, Luz is super interested in how this is going to go, and if she'll actually pull this off. The blood is taken from her and she hardly blinks, only reacting when the kiss happens to her finger. Again, THAT kind of affection? Super shocking to our blushing Luz, who has had nothing but monsters and familial bonds up until now].

Oh, you meant that literally! Ok then!

[Different strokes, different folks]?

Right, sure! And-

[Luz is staring, mouth agape, when she sees her literal doppelganger].

Whoa! YEAH, it really is!

yandhero: (002)

HECK I HIT SUBMIT BEFORE FINISHING

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-05-01 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)

[ "luz" blushes as well - though it's not at all clear to himiko whether it's something luz would do or not. himiko's just met the girl, after all! and even though they've already built a little bond here, a tiny bit of trust through shared contact and shared blood... well, it wasn't much more than a kiss to the finger, right? ]

The amount of time I can stay like this depends on how much blood I get to drink. If I get a full cup, I can stay this way for a whole day! And if I get just a few drops... [ "luz" blows out one cheek, focusing for a moment - before producing the empty blood vial between her teeth. ] Uh, fifteen? Maybe twenty minutes?

[ she withdraws the vial carefully, tossing it into her bag before grinning back at the real luz. ]

It's a super cool power for hero work, too! [ she flexes one arm... then taps lightly at the bicep. ] I'm not as well-suited to combat as some people, right? But like this, I can go undercover! It also means I don't get sick at the sight of blood, unlike some people.
Edited 2022-05-01 19:57 (UTC)
imaglyphwitch: (did everyone get a haircut)

Re: HECK I HIT SUBMIT BEFORE FINISHING

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-05-02 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Look, it was still blowing her mind that anyone could even do this, let alone how intimate contact had to be for that to happen. It was also slightly shocking to see your face and expressions being mimicked by someone else. It was still really stunning though]!

How long do you think you'll be able to stay in this form? Just the fifteen? It looks like it'd be really useful in a bad situation. You're probably really helpful for people with quirks!

[Sure, a villain having that ability would be pretty bad, but she'd rather not even think about that].

That is pretty cool! Of course, staying in Trench, you start to get used to blood, since almost everything seems to involve it these days.
yandhero: (022)

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-05-07 06:07 am (UTC)(link)

Just the fifteen, yeah. [ the more she inhabits luz's body, the easier her expressions become; her actions slowly grow more and more indiscernible, one little bit at a time. ] Oh, uh, you really think so? Glad to hear it!

[ she laughs, rubbing at the back of her head. and then, after a moment's thought, a grin slowly spreads across her face. ]

...hey, wanna see something really cool?
imaglyphwitch: (Plenty excited)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-05-07 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
Boy, you're really getting me down! Back on the Boiling Isles, I'd say that the only person who would have been able to mimic me that flawlessly would probably be Gus!

[Heck, if she'd stayed in the Isles, he probably would have had her down even better].

What? More so than this? Heck yeah!
yandhero: (008)

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-05-13 03:13 am (UTC)(link)

Gus? [ she can't help the spark of interest in her eyes, the way she tries to dig just a little deeper. ] Who's Gus? A friend, or...?

[ -but that can wait. she's got something special to show the real luz, after all! and so, with a flourish, "luz" fakes a drumroll...

before throwing her white welcoming robes wide open. w o w.
]

Ta-da! [ ...well, would you look at that. beneath the white robes she was wearing when she transformed, she's got a full copy of luz's clothes too! ] Could Gus have done that?
imaglyphwitch: (Holy balls!)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-05-13 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah! He's an illusionist! One of the best, actually, and a friend of mine!

[A good friend, definitely not more: he's actually two years younger than her, after all].

Whoa! Awesome! I mean, probably, but its still really impressive!

[Luz was blushing because she was actually VERY not sure what was going to happen when Toga through her robes back.

Head out of the gutter, Luz! Of course she'd have clothes!
yandhero: (005)

[personal profile] yandhero 2022-06-03 04:44 am (UTC)(link)

Aw, really? Sheesh, I've gotta step my game up!

[ "luz" has a bit of her own blush, truth be told. she folds the robes back over herself, still snickering to herself over her grand reveal. ]

Well, it sounds like you've got good friends! So, hey, any of them wake up with you, or are you the only squid so far?
imaglyphwitch: (big pout)

[personal profile] imaglyphwitch 2022-06-03 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
[OOC: Oh man, if only my Luz wasn't held back by being in season one, Gus had gotten SO much better].

Oh, don't worry about it! What you're doing is still very impressive! I can't do anything close to that other than turning into a bird!

[Ooh, good question]!

Everyone I made friends with from the town are here, though no one from my world, unfortunately. Just have bad luck there.