July Test Drive Meme!

[reddosmod]

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. ]

[NAVIGATION]

TDM Questions • Reserves • Taken • Applications • Full Navigation

[Jump to Comments]

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.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

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.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

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.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Comments

Mayoi Ayase | Ensemble Stars | Paleblood

[rottencactus]

Arrival: the squid hiding in the shallows

Along the shores, remarkably in one piece, is a squid. He's a very ...unusual looking purple squid with big billowing fins and particularly long tentacles that seem to just go on and on. The squid is inching forward in a way that could be described as panicked and distressed squeaking in terror and confusion. His long tentacles are in fact very tangled up. The horror, the squidmanity...

He seems to be slowly inching his way towards a bit of drift wood to seek shelter and could probably use a hand. However, if you get too close too quickly he will shriek and probably start crying.

Have you ever heard a squid cry? Now you have. Good luck.

Boardwalk: Prompt A

Miraculously, Mayoi has gotten onto the boardwalk, in all his humanish glory. He looks no less distressed. In fact, he looks on the verge of having a panic attack. He's pale and fidgety, and vacillates between darting his eyes around in worry and then aggressively looking down to avoid any and all eye-contact with the people around him.

He has his welcome bag clutched tightly to him, and the hood of his robes are up and over his face the best he can manage, but beneath it is still a very terrified teenager who does not know what to do in his current circumstances.

"Ah... there are s-so many people..." He mumbles to himself. "I-I think I'm going to be sick. What should I do, what should I doooooo...?"

Boardwalk: Prompt B

It's happened. It was only going to be a matter of time, with how busy the boardwalk is and with how stressed out he was already. He gets shoved around in a particularly busy part of the shops. Despite his desperate attempt to escape, he's trapped and before he's able to push his way out, he feels his legs go out from under him.

Mayoi's eyes roll back and he hits the ground with a solid thud. That causes enough of a disturbance that the crowd parts some to not trample him. As soon as he hits the ground though, a bit of dark smoke bursts forth, forming his omen.

She is a tiny mouse and she is squeaking to get someone's attention for help.

Raccoon Room: Shadowy Stage.

Ah... he'd found his way here, somehow. He didn't know where to go at first, but some asking around pointed him in the direction of a place with music and, when everything else is foreign and terrifying, that was the first think he thought to find. It's much later in the evening now and it doesn't seem particularly busy. It's not like being in the audience for a Live, of which he's only able to handle for short periods anyway, this is much smaller.

He lurks there in a quiet corner for a very long time, just watching. There's a lot to take in about everything that's happened today and really, he just wants to block it out and just enjoy the performances that are going up on stage. If you can spot him in the shadows, he'll be easy enough to talk to, though he's very good at making himself disappear in plain sight, so no one would blame you for missing him most of the night.

At the very end of the night when the building is nearly empty, he will shyly make his way up to the stage. Is it open mic night? He doesn't care, he gently climbs on stage and takes up a microphone and starts to sing. Not to the rest of the bar. He directs his voice up, as if singing to the ceiling, or maybe to something much higher.

"At the sudden sound of beating wings
I noticed the world had started changing
Such strong, free wings
We’re so small compared to them -♪"

[You can also toss me a wildcard prompt! Or if you want to plot with me, hit me up at takatorabatta! Mayoi also has an Opt Out Post here so take a look at it just in case.]

boardwalk, a;

[hospitalies]

Eichi recognizes that voice.

No -- scratch that, he more than recognizes it, because it was his meddling that helped put that voice on stage, whether that voice wanted to perform or not. Eichi pauses where he stands, poised to eat one of the two cupcakes he's dual-wielding, and closes his mouth, considering his options.

He considers them very, very carefully.

But, see:

Eichi isn't dead, and Mayoi isn't dead, and that's honestly doing pretty good, all things considered, given all the squid problems and the chaos and the ocean that seems specifically primed to kill Eichi Tenshouin (and failed, yet again, to everyone's frustration).

He steps over to Mayoi, carefully, his steps light, aiming to not be entirely noticed until he can flip himself directly into Mayoi's path and shove and offensively bright green cupcake into Mayoi's direct line of vision. Nay, into his direct line of, like, licking, if he wanted to.

"Would you like a cupcake? They're certainly making me feel better," he offers. He cannot properly eat his remaining cupcake with any sense of decorum, so he simply bites off the top of the icing, like an absolute monster. It was shaped like a little octopus.

And he bit off its head. Mmm. Cupcaketopus.

save him

[rottencactus]

To say Mayoi shrieks when he is suddenly accosted by a cupcake is an understatement. He damn near jumps right out of his skin, lurching back from Eichi so quickly you'd think the thing bit him. The truth is he is very strung out and feeling very delicate way. There's no way Eichi would have been able to approach him that would not have resulted in this reaction.

But Eichi probably knew that.

"Iiiiiiieeeee- T-Tenshouin-san!!" His hands hover right around the offending thing, almost afraid that its a trap. Its all very strange. All of it? Why is Tenshouin here??? Didn't he maybe hallucinate Tsukinaga-san earlier?

He takes the cupcake and holds it very gently in his hands.

"T-Thank you ....um. Are you...?"

'i can make him worse'

[hospitalies]

Eichi had every anticipation that Mayoi would react this way regardless of Eichi's approach -- Eichi is aware that he has, hmm, something of a presence, particularly to anyone that knows his reputation and/or has personally interacted with him during any of his more nefarious idol plots -- which is why he has the cupcake to help placate Mayoi.

Mayoi likes cute things, right? And he probably likes sweets. Everyone likes sweets.

"I'm quite pleased to see a familiar face," Eichi says, even though he knows full well that it's not answering the question Mayoi didn't fully voice. Plausible deniability. "It was quite a rough arrival for me, so I was relieved when everyone seemed happy to ply me with food."

[rottencactus]

Yeah, see, the thing is- Mayoi is a third year and spent his first two years hiding in the vents at Yumenosaki. Mayoi did in fact watch the entirety of the War and The Trickstar revolution go down, and made the very wise decision to stay as hidden as possible through all of it. Aira might fuss at him about going to class, but he does not actually regret being invisible for everything up to this point.

He would have kept it that way, but it appears he did not actually escape Eichi's notice. One day he will wonder about that. Not today, though.

He takes a very dainty bite of the cupcake frosting.

"Y-yes ...it was the same for me. I-" This entire situation is far beyond what Mayoi is prepared to deal with. "This place is very strange... I-I'm not sure what to make of it. Like a gothic horror story... I feel very far from home."

These are kind of obvious observations but maybe if he says it out loud, he will break the illusion of whatever nightmare he's in and he'll just wake up. Being here and then running into his boss seems like a reasonable stress nightmare, after all.

arrival I'm so sorry

[cochrhiben]

"Ah! Squid friend!"

There is one unfortunately naked red-head headed in Mayoi's direction. His own memories of being an ocean-dwelling creature before winding up on shore are already fading, but he's at least aware that this could be more than just the usual sea life. And even if it isn't - who wants to see a poor squid make such sad noises?

If he's bothered by his own nudity he isn't showing it. He can't help how he got here!

Probably.

There is at least a decent chance that this isn't his fault.

"I've got you, little guy."

And he reaches down to lift the squid up - perhaps to toss him back into the water. That's where it belongs, isn't it?

never be (aloser)sorry

[rottencactus]

He hears the words a little too late before he's suddenly being lifted up off the ground. His memories are kind of dodgy, but he understands a few things. Mostly, he understands that he does not want to be out in the open, and he does not want to be perceived. Having eyes on him, any kind, evokes a certain kind of deep-seated fear that even his little squid brain can understand.

He goes up very easily, he does not actually weight much, but Leo will notice that his matted up tentacles are about five times as long as the rest of him and they will drag if Leo starts to run off with him.

He continues making pathetic squeaking noises in the composers hands. Ah... does he maybe recognize this person...? He thinks he does. Wait- who...

[cochrhiben]

"Aa~ah... I see, you're all tangled." Leo gives one of the legs a gentle tug. "Well! If you're all dry and covered in sand that's going to be real hard to fix. So!"

The composer does his best to gather up the rest of the squid into his arms so he can carry it back toward the water. It's a lot of limbs to gather, but he's determined! On the other side of things, Leo's body is as cold as a corpse, even if the proximity to his chest will make it obvious that there's a heartbeat there.

"We'll just moisten you back up! That'll have your tentacles unraveled in no time!" He lets out a laugh at that. "Wahaha! If I told any of the others what happened here they'd say I'd been reading hentai instead of doing my job. Don't get touchy, little guy!"

Mayoi had best get ready to get dunked back into the tide.

[rottencactus]

Oh...This person is trying to help him...

His squeaking settles down somewhat. He is still kind of vibrating, but he is a lot less distressed now. He is prepared to be dunked! Mostly. Enough that Leo should be able to do what he is setting out to do.

Anyway he couldn't get touchy if he wanted too, he is so impossibly long-limbed. He does not fully understand how to work his body on land? In fact, even in the ocean, as dark and comfortable as it was, he is starting to find that harder to recall. So ...what, what should he be able to recall? This voice. The person handling him right now, he knows it. Who was it? Wait-

Tsukinaga-san?

Mayoi will start trembling again, but this time its because he ...starting to convulse?? and turn into a person. Leo might want to back up. It's going to get weird.

( arrival )

[hacktivated]

Last month Penny did some things that were... not so great. Thus, this month is the month for good deeds, and good deeds only. And what better way than to do some good deeds than to put in some time as a Waker? Penny may not have the robes, but she's diligently zipping back and forth over the shallows in search of squids in need of assistance.

And there's one now! Penny darts over without hesitation, and even with the squid starts to... cry? She doesn't slow her approach. She does, however, offer some reassurance.

"Do not worry! I've come to assist you!"

... This is a pretty big squid, isn't it? And a pretty long one, too! Still, Penny isn't going to be deterred. She gets her arms around his head-slash-body, hefts him up, and then very gently launches the both of them back up into the air. She'll just get his tentacles free of any hazards and set him back down in the sand.

im so sorry penny

[rottencactus]

Oh no who is that!!!! They are coming towards him so fast!! That little squid is crying even more now, and also vibrating in her grasp!

It gets much worse when she goes airborne with him. Is it possible for squids to howl? He might be trying.

He does not have enough sentience right now to understand what might be happening, but it sure is the most terrifying experience of his life currently, and he might have been in danger of passing out from shock until she sets him back down. This is going well!

[hacktivated]

Oh no! The squid is... yelling? Howling? Generally, carrying on and making a big fuss out of being picked up! Poor little dude. Penny has a solution at least!

Fly faster - though before she rockets off towards the beach properly, she takes the time to wind an arm through his tentacles a few times to make them more manageable. Even if he stings her it'll just crackle harmlessly against her Aura.

Then she zips off towards the shore, and a moment later she settles the stressed out little dude on the sand.

"There you go! Take a moment to recover and we can start looking for your welcome bag!"

[rottencactus]

This evokes a very primal memory in the mind of the squid.

The images are quick, choppy, like a very bright and colorful flip book. The view of a coast line zipping by at a speed so fast that the street posts start to look like are standing still. He thinks perhaps this was one of the first times he ever felt true fear, and then his vision goes white after.

On the sand, the squid has stopped moving, and has started to gurgle quietly instead.

Yeah. He passed out.

Boardwalk A

[justoscar]

"Maybe... sit down and have something to eat?"

Oscar couldn't help but notice the other teen struggling, muttering his anxieties to himself and looking like he wished to throw himself into the nearest tide pool. He sympathized, truly-- how many times had he wanted to vacation in the nearest tide pool, anyway?

He slurped on his soda loudly, watching the stranger with owlish interest and curiosity.

"Come on," he added, standing up. "I know a quiet place to get ice cream floats."

[rottencactus]

The ocean had been very nice, as far as he can still recall. All nice and dark and warm- abruptly until it wasn't. He did not enjoy getting tossed ashore by the angry waves, and so it's probably better he not go back. The ocean is scary, actually.

"A-Ah?"

Oh- who. Who was talking to him...? He looks around to make sure he wasn't mistaken, and he wasn't actually talking to someone behind him. That would make more sense, he's just a phantom, after all.

But no, it looks like Oscar is actually talking to him. He fidgets with his robes for a moment before ice cream floats sinks in. Oh...

That did sound good...

"Okay..."

Arrival

[strikefirster]

Guess who isn't here to help?

Johnny Lawrence is jogging by when he catches sight of the squid heading for that piece of driftwood for shelter. Like the high school bully he was once upon a time, he runs right past the squid and leaps up into the air kicking both of his feet down onto the drift wood. The would be shelter splinters into thousands of pieces.

He looks back and raises his arms up to the squid.

"What!?"

oh god no johnny

[rottencactus]

The squid shrieks, honestly. Jolts like frightened, sentient spaghetti and then very suddenly goes limp.

Johnny has scared Mayoi so much that he fainted in terror. He's kind of just gurgling in the sand now. So uh, if that was Johnny's goal, congrats.

[strikefirster]

Johnny does feel pretty freakin' proud of himself seeing this squid completely knocked out by his sheer force of will.

He unfortunately isn't done with the squid yet. Or at least it would be a jerk move to do leave it like this. So he'll pick it up and hoist it up over his shoulder. He'll start carrying it off toward the freaky abandoned warehouse he calls a dojo.

[payingfordeliverance]

Did Mayoi think he was going to be safe, if only he got to the driftwood? He must think again, for the sheer upset longness of him has attracted the attention of another extremely long creature, and a noodley shadow dog is now trotting over to investigate his general existence.

HERE COMES THE SNOOT.

[rottencactus]

He really hoped he would be safe. He is a fool for thinking otherwise, apparently.

The squid emits a very highpitched shriek, which. Probably shouldn't be possible with a squid? He manages it somehow. He flails his very long tentacles very ineffectively that it looks very sad actually. No snoot!!! NO SNOOT!!!

[payingfordeliverance]

A pair of decidedly horselike ears perk up on the dog's long head at the sound, and Baltus rears back so quickly his front half goes faster than his back half does and he ends up plonked in the sand, head tilted curiously. He does not feel at all threatened. On top of being made of shadows and thus infallible, the sheer patheticness of this display is honestly very impressive.

"Baltus! Be polite, you menace."

The voice comes from the omen's person, ambling up in a sauntering sort of way despite the screaming. Dressed in his Waker white today, Break honestly doesn't look that dissimilar from the idols Mayoi is used to -- older, certainly, but his fashion sense and the way he carries himself might be more familiar than they aren't.

"-- oh dear, what a mess this one's in. Hey, hey, settle down a little, yeah? Look, you've gotten your bits all tangled. I'll help you if you'll stop being noisy for a moment, okay...?"

[rottencactus]

Oh no, more things are happening. There's a person here now, oh no, oh no.

This day is very rotten and he simply wants to disappear into familiar shadows away from everything, but he can't. He's here, he's a squid, he's tangled up and sandy and wet and salty and someone is perceiving him. This is the worst day of his life.

Ah, but... this person, scary as they are, they are dressed very familiar and he does calm down some once he finally has a moment to take in that he's being spoken to. He will stop making terrible noises for a moment, but he is trembling something awful.

Boardwalk b

[terraphile]

Crowds don't really bother Sersi- there's something invigorating about being around so many people, all of them living their lives simultaneously among each other. What does bother her, however, is that she can tell from where she is that something has happened not far from her by the way the crowd parts...

But no one stops.

She stands from where she's seated, enjoying a small snack, and weaves her way through the crowd to the spot, quickly kneeling next to the young man.

"Let's get you out of this crowd..."

She's not even sure he can hear her, but she smiles gently down at the mouse who'd been squeaking for attention and offers her hand out for it to climb into if it would like.

[rottencactus]

The crowd gives them some space but otherwise seems content to mind its own. A Sleeper is helping the other Sleeper and that's probably for the best. The young man doesn't appear to be injured, but he is definitely pale and sickly. He generally does not give off the appearance of someone who spends a lot of time outdoors and has yet to stir beyond making a faintly pathetic little groan.

The mouse, however, is relieved and ecstatic that someone came to help, and she will happily scamper onto her hand so as to not get in Sersi's way. She will helpfully tug on whatever she might have for a shirt collar and gesture towards a small bench with an awning. Something covered and off to the side would be best for him, she thinks.

[terraphile]

Sersi glances where the small creature is gesturing and takes the hint easily enough. Carefully she lifts the mouse up to her shoulder so she can use both hands to pick up the younger Sleeper.

"Paloma?"

She glances over her other shoulder to her giraffe omen who was watching from where they'd been sitting before noticing the young man in need. The giraffe makes her way over to them, forcing the crowd to give them a wider berth as the Prime Eternal lifts him up and carefully moves him over to the bench.

"Here we go..." she murmurs quietly, as uses a small hand fan from her satchel to try and cool him off.