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Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2022-07-25 10:37 pm
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July Test Drive Meme!

JULY 2022 TDM
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: Colorful paper lanterns shaped like jellyfish lit up and hovering in the air. ]
[Image Two: A person with long hair wearing a crown dedicated with shells and rocks. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A GIF of waves breaking roughly out in the middle of the ocean. ]
[Image Two: Strong waves crashing into a lighthouse and rocks. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A large Ningen (a sea creature that is half human, half monster, and has no face except for a large slit for a mouth) towering over a deep sea diver. ]
[Image Two: A person standing out on the rocks with their arms out stretched as the tentacles of a large sea monster wave in the air above the ocean. ]

STANDARD ARRIVAL
WHEN: August
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A


You're one of the lucky ones. Your journey is smooth sailing and you wind up exactly where you're supposed to: on the Farther Shores. You grow out of your squid body without a hitch, either with the help of another Sleeper or one of the Wakers, and you get to discover this new world. All new Sleepers might take some time to find their bearings. It might be tricky to remember how to use your body parts the way you're supposed to. You might stumble around the beach or forget how to talk - but don't worry! It'll come back to you sooner or later.

Hopefully, you've found something to wear, either in your Welcoming Bag or otherwise, and can start familiarizing yourself with your surroundings. Maybe you help some other squids out on the beach. Waking up sucks! You feel for the little guys. And hey, maybe you're hoping one of those squids is a good friend...Stranger things have happened.

SEASONAL DETAILS ON THE BOARDWALK

This month has an entire festival dedicated to Mariana. The people of Trench seem to be quite enamoured with her, despite her often cruel and unpredictable behaviors. The festival has gone all out with decorations. The boardwalk will be lined with lanterns in the shape of various sea creatures, such as jellyfish, dolphins, seahorses, and (of course) squids! These lanterns will be lit every night throughout the month and will burn through the night. They are bright beacons to a month that is otherwise becoming more and more gray and chilly as time passes.

The people of Trench are also decked out for the occasion. Blues and greens are the popular color choices for outfits, and many people will even decorate their hair with pieces from the ocean. Whether it's with full headpieces that are worthy enough for mermaids or just something as simple as weaving shells into a braid, everyone seems to have something on them that ties them to the sea. There are stalls set up to help newcomers (or oldies who just want to have some fun) decorate their hair as well and face paint for those who want to go the extra mile.

The festival comes with all sorts of celebrations that can be partaken in at absolutely no cost. There are food vendors, though they seem to be short on seafood this month. Likely it's due to the rough seas with waves so treacherous that not even the most skilled of sailors seems to be able to get out into them. They'll remark on how difficult is must have been to swim to shore in those awful waves. So instead of fish and shrimp, there are other sea-dedicated dishes: seaweed salad, noodle dishes made with seaweed broth, caramelized chicken in a fish and ginger sauce, etc. There are also ocean themed desserts, such as cupcakes with blue frosting shaped to look like a great wave. There are games such as dunk tanks, dart balloons, ring tosses, and other typical carnival entertainment. If you can think of it, it's probably there. At the end of the night, there's often a fireworks display over the rolling waves.

rough seas and high winds
WHEN: Last Week of July, First Week of AugustT
WHERE: Beach and Nearby Oceans
CONTENT WARNINGS: Threat of drowning, severe weather phenomena, Environmental hazards, possible death


For some reason, Mariana is particularly wrathful even as the month begins. Even leaking into the end of the month of July, the sea begins to foam and rage in ways that are almost impossible to imagine. As you stare out int the beachheads, you may see vast waves and surf that would daunt the most professional of surfers. Water crashes into each other in colossal spouts. Waterspouts can be seen as storms occasionally buffet the coastline and just out into the ocean itself. However, the one thing about this chaotic energy is that it is just that, chaotic. One moment the sea may be calm, and the next it is a roiling, seething force out to destroy everyone.

This is, naturally, dangerous for those who are just hapless squids trying to reach shore. They may find themselves inexorably being flung towards sharp rocks and shoals, threatened with being dashed upon the stone near to the coast, or they may find themselves constantly swirling in eddies and whirlpools to the point of near exhaustion. However, they are not the only ones so threatened. Even those on the coast are in near constant danger of being washed right back out to see by an unexpected wave and sudden rip-tide. There are wood planks and other detritus to grab hold of, but it is very much a battle for one's life out there!

The sea's rage, the locals say, is because Mariana is particularly incensed over something that occurred. They do not know what exactly, but many have said that sleepers have felt a particular brunt of this ire lately. For now, it is a game of survival and a constant battle to bring people in safely.

Notes:
-Any natural weather occurrence is possible in the first week of August and last of July. Seemingly impossible combinations may occur (A waterspout in the middle of the eye of a hurricane, almost anything.
-These threats will be upon anyone who is not far enough inland to enjoy the festivities. The beach is not truly safe and sleepers are hustled inland quickly.
-Death is possible, though sleepers who die in the ocean find themselves returning very quickly as squids for some reason, within 24 hours, only to be threatened again before they eventually find shore.

of monsters in the water
WHEN: Throughout August
WHERE: The coast and waterways
CONTENT WARNINGS: Monster Horror, Possibly Getting Eaten, Threat of bodily harm, Unnatural Physiology, Existential Dread


Something has been dredged up from the deep by the storms that rage. It is said that Mariana not only presides over the oceans, but also the most powerful monsters that dwell within the deep. Some of these, it is believed, may be the remains of Pthumerians whose minds and lives were lost during the hard times before, or the spawn of their mating with things other than humans. Whether these rumors are true, eldritch things have begun to emerge from the depths and darkness, things best left unseen.

Throughout the month of August, it is possible to encounter creatures that can only be described as monsters emerging from the water. With every passing storm, another emerges. Some are as large as small kaiju, while others are closer to human size, and each shares very little in common with the others, save for two particular details. The first of these is that they are all aquatic in nature and bear at least a passing similarity to sea monsters of ancient legend or particularly large and dangerous aquatic animals. Giant cuttlefish, Megalodons, Plesiosaurs, Octopi, Sea Cucumbers, Whales, or any of a number of other sea creatures appear to be their basis. The other similarity, however, is that all are hideously and grotesquely deformed. Tentacles, second rows of teeth, great clawed hands and feet enabling them to walk on dry ground, a thousand eyes all over the hump of a hunchback whale all shooting laser beams in the full moon, almost anything seems to be possible, though the changes are all chtonically horrendous in nature.

These creatures are violent, dangerous, and horrifying to behold. Just looking at them jars the mind and threatens to damage one's psyche while they try to understand what they are seeing. Bones are in seemingly impossible angles, bodies moving in ways that they shouldn't. Just looking at them can cause nausea, vertigo or mental breaks, though the danger does not stop there. They are agents of chaos, seeking to destroy mind or body, on a rampage whenever they reach ground, though they do not delve far into Trench beyond the waterways and beach, almost as if they are prevented by something. When one strays too close, an ominous light glows from the tops of the tallest spires in the city and they are inevitably repelled, but until they are killed or sent back to the deep from whence they came, they remain a threat outside of the city.

CODING
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

Boardwalk

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-04 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
D's one concession to the constant barrage of people trying to get him to decorate himself and his hair is a string of shells and beads that hangs down near his face. The anger of the previous month had given D a small reprieve from the humans who were caught up in his hypnotic appearance and had taken to following him.

But with the Reckoning's influence waning they are back in numbers, mostly in their late teens and early twenties but not all of them. At least accepting food is a quick way to get away from them, but that means D is stuck with food.

He spies a young looking Sleeper with some of the wobbliness that comes with trying to remember how a bipedal body works, she looks like she was heading for the food before she was waylaid to get her hair braided and decorated. D is quick to offer his undesired food to her.

"Here. I don't like sweets."
forcechanic: (What's all this?)

Re: Boardwalk

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-04 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you sure?" Accepting food from strangers isn't generally a smart move, but there are certain advantages to being a Jedi. She's always adept at seeing far into the future, but she's got a pretty good handle on the danger sense.

Plus, she's hungry because she likes to hope she's growing. "How did you end up with so much?"
distant_one: (pic#15650911)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-04 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure. I really don't like sweet flavors." And it's honestly the truth. D could force himself to eat one if he had to but just the thought of the texture is unpleasant, never mind the excessive sugar and other flavors.

"People kept giving me food. If I said no they might keep trying." At least this young sleeper is unaffected. There's no staring or dazed look, but there is an oddly familiar feel and smell about her. One D has come to associate with people who can use The Force.
forcechanic: (Neutral PB)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-04 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
When you've had darksiders trying to get into your head since you were a fetus, you end up developing a certain level of mental defense. It's very mysterious. "There are worse problems to have."

Which is why she's going to accept it. Maybe this body can still grow. Stranger things have happened.

The squid thing, for instance. THat was stranger than growing.
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-05 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
There certainly are worse problems, and D has several of them.

"That's right. They could give me food I like even less than sweets or offer to braid my hair." D says it in a serious tone but there's a faint hint of humor on his face.

Worse problems aren't the kind of thing to dwell on or bring up around someone so young, whether she's had them herself or not.
forcechanic: (Confident)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-05 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's not the hair braiding that's the real problem, it's having to sit still long enough for them to do it." This has of course been a frequent point of contention between her and her mother. And her and Winter. And her and random busybodies.

She takes a bite of the unwanted cast offs. "This stuff is good though."
distant_one: (pic#12360466)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-06 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
With as much hair as D has, that would definitely be part of the problem, but he doesn't like letting people in his personal space that much to begin with.

"I'm glad you like them. Simple braids don't take that long, but..." D gestures at some of the more elaborate hair decoration with shells and other things woven in. "And I've had my fill of face paint to appease Mariana."
forcechanic: (Default)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-07 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
It's definitely a lot, no question of that. "This is a cultural festival, honouring something to do with the sea, right?"

She's doing her best to learn the local ways but she's also only just learned to use legs again so...
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-07 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mariana, the embodiment of the ocean. Someone picked a fight with her last month and she's been in a bad mood." D sounds a bit betrayed by the fact that he has to say those words and they're coming out of his mouth as honest truth.

"Each month has a patron. Last month's was Reckoning, it was a bloody time."
forcechanic: (Default)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-08 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
Reckoning certainly doesn't sound like it would be a month filled with cute frolicking creatures. That seemed easy enough to predict.

"Someone picked a fight with an embodiment of the ocean right before the month they're patron of? Is that as bad an idea as it sounds?"

She's not sure what being a patron of a month means, exactly, but it definitely sounds like a bad idea. And she often has bad ideas.
Edited 2022-08-08 04:56 (UTC)
distant_one: (pic#12360495)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-09 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
"He's powerful enough that I can see where he'd get the idea he could succeed, but I don't give him much credit in the planning or execution department. I think the best time would have been after this next full moon when the next patron begins to exert their influence. Or perhaps we're better off without Mariana having a full year to get angrier and angrier before she has her time."

It could have gone either way really, and there was no way to know if the other way would have been better.
forcechanic: (But troubled)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-09 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Do I even want to know why that seemed like a good idea?" Powerful beings do foolish things, but usually one does not simply pick a fight with the ocean at random.

Unless they do.

The ocean wasn't something you could directly pick a fight with in her worldview yesterday.
distant_one: (pic#12360393)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-09 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"His powers are based on life and death. Mariana is said to be our path here and control reincarnation. I don't know why he did it."

D doubts any reason John gives will be the real one. Before their fight D would have taken it as simple arrogance.

"Sometimes even bad ideas seem necessary, wouldn't you say?"
forcechanic: (Default)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-10 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
Call her out for being a Solo, why doesn't he? Except he has no idea what being a Solo means or that she is one.

"I guess..." Usually that means getting into a situation without an idea how to get back out. "That seems like a really big one though."
distant_one: (pic#12360495)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-10 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"The things people decide are necessary don't always make sense." D has certainly encountered his fair share of that type.

"There might be a time when all of the rest of us see something like that as necessary too. It's hard to say what the future holds even for people who can see it." Which D most certainly is not.
forcechanic: (Contemplation)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-16 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
"'Always in motion is the future.'" It comes out rather strangely given that it's an impression of an impression. But there's something to be said for it. "My uncle warns me about that one a lot."
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-16 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"He sounds very wise. This place is very chaotic and hard to predict from one moment to the next. It demands flexibility, but you seem like you're ready to tackle it." D has a soft spot for children. This young sleeper might be on the edge of being an adult but she's still young.

"Did you travel a lot before you washed up here?"
forcechanic: (Contemplation)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-17 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Jedi Masters are supposed to be." And he is, really. He's her uncle and ranks pretty high on the list of adults who would let her get away with things, but he's wise.

"My mom was always visiting different planets and sometimes my brothers and I got to go along. And lately we get to travel on our own too."
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-17 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"You're in training to become one, aren't you?" There's a particular appeal that's specific to those D has come to identify as using The Force and it's present here even if Jaina is too young for his tastes.

"This place can feel a little stifling and closed in if you're used to travel."
forcechanic: (Can't stop me)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-18 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
She nods. "Uncle Luke started teaching me and my brothers even before we went to the Jedi Academy." There were certain advantages to the head of the Jedi Order being one's uncle, after all.

"So I'm supposed to practice being patient and not getting restless." Maybe beings stuck on one planet will be good for that. Or soemthing.
distant_one: (pic#12360495)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-21 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
Uncle Luke. D would like to tell himself that it's simply a common name where they're from, but he's never that fortunate.

"You're Anakin's sister?"

Luke must have gained some wisdom at some point if this young girl was from the future. Humans changed and grew at a remarkable pace compared to those with the blood of Nobility. Just because D didn't spend enough time around any person to see it happen doesn't mean he's unaware of it.
forcechanic: (Default)

[personal profile] forcechanic 2022-08-22 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"His older sister, yeah." Even though she is very visibly younger than her. "He had a bit of a growth spurt."
distant_one: (pic#12360449)

[personal profile] distant_one 2022-08-24 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
D is skeptical, but he also knows time is strange in this place.

"Just a few years worth."