reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2022-09-25 09:57 pm
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SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE MEME!

SEPTEMBER 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: Bread Cornucopia filled with fruits and veggies]
[Image Two: Creepy glass eye embedded in sand]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A Lone Lighthouse by night]
[Image Two: Ghost Ship in dilapidated condition]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Wasps, Wasp Nest made from human Mask screaming terror, swirling eddies in wasp Nest]
[Image Two: Horribly mutilated Cenobite in Latex gear with exposed teeth]

STANDARD ARRIVAL
WHEN: First Week of September
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk, Koz's Orphanage
CONTENT WARNINGS: Creepy Prosthetics buried in the sand


On some level, you are one of the fortunate ones. The storms of August are now a distant memory. It is the waning of the Blood Moon and the tempestuous state of the Beast Moon this year is fading finally while the harvest is being collected. Sleepers arriving find no particular difficulty in actually reaching the shores for the most part, and transformations back into their natural state of being are relatively easy. They are met by happy Trenchies and fellow Sleepers with robes of white and their bags as normal, and motioned towards the waiting tents set up along the

What is strange, however, is that when Sleepers arrive, they may find their eyes drawn to something disturbing amongst the sand. Water washes with the waves and tide, and reveals a body part! They are always prosthetics of some variety, and many are glass eyes that eerily stare at the person. They can be retrieved with some ease, though they're in bad need of cleaning. Perhaps they belong to someone in town? If not, however, asking around will get a suggestion to bring those to Koz's Orphange in Crenshaw. They have a Lost and Found there, and it is the season of finding what and who is lost. If they do, they might catch a glimpse of Koz floating mournfully through the area, and one of the children will gratefully take the item, saying that they will add it to the rest of the Lost and Found, before coming back with a photo in hand. "Here, I found this, and I think it might be yours?" The photo is, indeed, of the giver and someone from their past. Perhaps it is an actual photo taken, or one they cannot remember having been taken. Regardless, it is offered to them in a cheap wooden frame. How it got there, the orphan does not know. It was probably there when they arrived.

SEASONAL DETAILS ON THE BOARDWALK

The Boardwalk is quite the spectacle this time of year, and those who were here the prior year will remember many of the decorations and festivities. Pumpkins have been stacked on spikes lining the Boardwalk with grotesquely realistic carvings of faces decorated on them. Massive white linen has been hung in the air to look like ghosts floating back and forth against the ocean wind.

Delicious smells waft from the Boardwalk as fresh donuts, candied apples, and hot apple cider are sold at every other booth, along with complementary cornucopias given to each new Sleeper made out of bread that has fruits of all varieties but always seems to have a small jar of the favorite fruit, seed, vegetable (or even meat) of the person receiving it. If asked where it is from, the Sleepers shrug and say "The Orphans took up a collection to give a welcoming gift to new arrivals." If what is in the jar is eaten by the person given it, it will help to ease their mind and give them a calm that can last up to a week as they acclimate.

Preparations are in order for this year's Black Parade. An annual celebration, it is promoted among the excited locals as something that people can participate in. Face Painting booths and costumes are available to those who wish them, with the statement by the Trenchies, "We do it to disguise ourselves from roaming spirits and hungry beasts."
A FADED MEMORY
WHEN: Mid October
WHERE: In Swimming distance (Barely) of the Farther Shores
CONTENT WARNINGS: Ghostly Ship & Lighthouse, Threat of Corruption, Remains of Ghastly Murder and Dismembered Corpse


It is by accident that your eyes chance to look towards the Farther Shores. There, you happen to see a lighthouse, but you know for certain that it cannot be the lighthouse that is normally there and manned by the fishermen. You can't usually see that from this angle. The moment that you see it, a feeling of mounting dread falls upon you, and you realize that there is no light in the lighthouse. Though the compulsion to investigate can be resisted, there is an almost overwhelming urge to go, to investigate, to re-ignite the flame before it is too late!

The question is getting out there. The fishermen, when the lighthouse is mentioned, will make warding gestures and look terrified. All will resolutely refuse to sail out, muttering incomprehensible curses and lashing their boats securely to the shore. There will be no fishing tonight. The lighthouse, from the docks and shores, is out in the water on a rocky outcrop that nobody remembers being there, though any Trenchy asked will pale at the mention. The only way to get out there is to swim. It is a hard, dangerous swim, but the tide is coming in, rather than going out, so the riptide is not pulling down. It can be done, or a raft can be hastily made. When clambering up the stone steps to the lone lighthouse, it is apparent its door is ajar. And within? Horror awaits.

The insides of the tower are caked in viscuous, green blood. The Lighthouse itself is barely standing. It looks as if a thunderous, colossal fist has battered it repeatedly, the building nearly collapsing at every step. It does not actually break apart, but those who ascend the steps find themselves fighting not to slip on old, caked and thick blood that smells of roses. The contact with the blood isn't doing anything good to the person's sanity and hallucinations of the screams of the dying can be heard, along with shrieks of "What is it?" at the top of someone's voice. An increase in corruption is possible here, though not required. The more one contacts the blood, the greater the risk is. In the top of the lighthouse, dismembered, skeletal remains lay in gobs of what may once have been flesh. One of them holds desperately a torch in their hand, and there is a lighter present. One look out into the night will see a great vessel approaching, broken, its sails tattered and ruined. there is little time, and hopefully the lighter works!

The moment the torch lights the lamp in the lighthouse, the ship veers away from a collision course that would have destroyed the lighthouse and likely the flimsy rock outcropping on which it stood. Shades of dead sailors stare in horror at those who man the lighthouse today, the ship sailing away into the night. All are pointing beyond, and if you look over your shoulder, you can barely see a collosal figure in shadow walking into the town beyond, seemingly confused and wailing. Nothing further happens, and when the people in the lighthouse reach shore again, they will find upon turning back that it is gone, as is the outcropping, though a close inspection does see the remains of a shallow of stone there where the island once stood.

Note: The Ghost ship cannot be interacted with. If someone has the ability to reach it, they will pass through it only to realize it is nothing more than a memory in the land. Fragments of rotted wood and broken masonry can be found in the water below, covered in countless barnacles. Nothing within them shows any proof of what once transpired. There is a risk of corruption from blood exposure, though this is very much up to the players if they wish to incorporate it.

No Trenchy will willingly speak of what transpired, though a careful investigation at the Pale Sanctuary may find a tome among the sacred texts associated with Cloverfield. Reading from it, one might find a forgotten marking that the first sighting of Cloverfield, long ago, saw the collapse of the original lighthouse. No Disciple recalls the incident, and none will speak of it.

FRIEND OR FOE
WHEN: Anytime in October
WHERE: At the frindges of the main districts
CONTENT WARNINGS: demonic bugs, Bug Horror, Grotesque death, Self mutilation, Bug Infestation


The first thing that alerts you to the danger is the screams. They are agonizing, gut-wrenching and full of naked horror. When traveling near the edge of any of the districts, particularly the Crenshaw district, it is possible at times to witness a truly horrifying sight. The screams, if investigated, come upon the grisly attack of a horde of not exactly wasps but closer to demonic insects swarming over a person. They shriek, their whole form shrouded by the terrible creatures as they're being stun and the things seem to be extruding some sort of substance to cocoon them while still alive to one of the trees. There is no cry for help, as the person is clearly unaware of who is there, but do you reach out to save them?

If you do not, the scene is horrific and grisly beyond reckoning. The wasps trap the hapless victim against a tree, grafting the extruded paper all over their screaming visage to form a new wasp nest before they ultimately begin crawling inside of them, devouring them from the inside out and implanting their eggs in the new 'home' created for them. It is at this time that the palpable danger may dawn upon you. The infernal bugs have not yet seen you, but they seem to be aware that there is other life around. Do you take this moment to try and beat a hasty retreat, or do you fight it out with the bugs? They can be destroyed, but only by means of abilities and powers that destroy multiples at once, such as great gouts of flame. Hopefully you have a coldblood present! Fleeing them is easier, but can you leave this person to their fate? Still, if instead you observe and take no action, eventually the bugs seem to notice you, and though they swarm near, as long as they are not attacked, they seem to do nothing.

Strange.

If, however, you try to save the victim, a very different scene plays out. The same rules apply to fight the swarm, and if you stop them short of killing their victim, you will see just who it is that you have saved. There, mutilated through self scarification and brutally altered in horrible ways that seem almost fetishistic, is one of the blood crazed zealots. Despite being weakened and badly injured, they lash out at you, their defender. The power that they wield with their blood is incredible, and they demonstrate an ability to wield it that is well documented. The only note is that no Cold-blooded Zealots are present, and so their powers are not represented this time. However, they are drained and though they pose a threat to your life, they can be killed here with a bit of care, can be resisted with great difficulty and certainly be escaped. Either way, there is no true reward for having killed them other than knowing that you have done so. Why are they here? Alone?

It is almost as if they were an advance scout, and the wasps were someone's defense against them, someone's early warning.

CODING
towards_okeanos: (bwahaha)

[personal profile] towards_okeanos 2022-10-04 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"By all means, yes."

Let him have his chance at a grand gesture, limited as it is. Chances to show off like that are few and far between. Trench is a bleak place on a good day, and Iskandar - as happy he is for a second chance at life - hates bleak. So he is forever on a quest to give it some colour whenever and wherever he can.

"You are not imposed when it I who had started this. Please, it will be my pleasure."
dynatox: (terry // 108)

[personal profile] dynatox 2022-10-04 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His expression suddenly turns serious, glaring Daniel down from beneath his lowered brow like he always has to do just to look the smaller man in the eye. ]

Then call my bluff. Tell me you want to see it. Maybe you're right, and I'm lying. [ He's not lying, but he doesn't just want to take his prized possession out and flaunt it. He likes to make Daniel beg a little first. ]

But I'm not showing you unless you ask.
sanguinarydelight: (Let's have a look)

[personal profile] sanguinarydelight 2022-10-04 07:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Alcina has many faults (and atrocities) attributed to her name, but at least isn't Jin's father. It's evidence that things could always, always be worse.

When the Wakers approach, her own bag is thrust into her hands. Alcina is about to demand an explanation, but they're already gone, off to help the other poor washed up souls.

Her lips purse in disapproval, but she decides to see just what's been given her.

The bag itself is innocuous enough; a fancy black silk clutch with pale gold embroidery depicting the crest of house Demitrescu. With an irritated huff (there only seems to be more questions than answers), she flips it open to find it contains her preferred cosmetics, her silver cigarette case, lighter, and...

Her jaw tightens as she gently removes the broach of three black roses, staring at it with the sort of blank expression of someone doing their damnedest to maintain their composure.

Wordlessly, she pins it to her robe right over her heart.

"What were you saying, young man?" she asks sharply, closing the clutch. "Before they showed up bearing yet more mysteries."
miyagimagic: (073)

[personal profile] miyagimagic 2022-10-04 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It ends up in a momentary stare-off.

Because he needs a moment here. Daniel refuses to break eye contact - like the only thing he has to fall back on here are mister Miyagi's words, always look them in the eye - even if it means craning his neck up to properly be able to do so. But even as he isn't saying a thing, Daniel's brain is working overtime.

There's some sort of power play going on here, after all. He's not stupid, not that young boy anymore, he can tell.

And he intensely dislikes it. Instinctively dislikes it. It makes a part of him immediately want to tell Terry to screw off.

But then you won't know, a voice tells him in the back of his head. Doesn't he have to wring all possible information out of the other? To know how to deal with Terry, both here and back home. To make sure he doesn't hurt anyone. It feels like Daniel's personal responsibility. ]


... show me.

[ He finally says. ]
acidjail: rights to use paid by me; do not take (03)

cw: insects, passive death seeking, gore

[personal profile] acidjail 2022-10-04 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
That’s what she gets for attempting politeness, she thinks, as the insectile thing coils in unmistakable preparation for a lunge with its matter of fact warning following that oddly satisfactory report. She had let herself be lulled by it, along with the quiet that inhabits her too much, and she regards the Zerg with no coiling of her own. Her arms stay loose at her side, her brow unfurrowed. There is interest; there is no alarm.

It would be easy. It would be so terribly easy, to do nothing. To allow this, to see what might come of it this time.

What tips the scale is nothing more than this: she would still like to see what happens, if only for the next five minutes.

“Is the pathway of behavioural alteration apparent to you?” She asks, with no apparent change to her mild curiosity, even as she works a clump of tissue of her own between her palms. The dying zealot is a boon to her here, but even with that fuel, blood begins to pour from one ear as a dewy green blood sweat forms on her brow.

The bands of cartilage she kneads will expand rapidly in size when she flings them, which she intends to do as soon as her erstwhile (perhaps still) temporary study partner lunges. She won’t kill it, if she doesn’t have to, but an echo of the containment it placed about the hive itself is very much on the table.
iaiafhtagn: (Happy pancakes)

[personal profile] iaiafhtagn 2022-10-04 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then thank you Mr. Iska- Mister!"

She quickly snatches it with glee. Blue eyes wide and staring at the fruit in question. Apples in the fall... candied apples in the fall! These are true treats and precursors for the harsh, freezing months ahead! Abby wastes no time in unwrapping the paper and takes a nice, giant bite from the sticky fruit. A very pleased sound escapes her mouth as she choices and absolutely vibrates.

"Aha~! It's gooooddd!"

Another bite, then another quickly follows! Pure happiness and excitement shone bright on her face as she forgets all manners and pretenses of moderation. She's just a young girl, nothing more than that.
terriblepurpose: (100)

[personal profile] terriblepurpose 2022-10-04 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
It’s not dangerous.

[ He’s smiling a little when he says it, so it must be true, even while the sand shivers and heaves around a dull carapace half as width as Paul is tall. ]

It’s only [ he wishes to be tactful, not to cast doubt on Silver’s skill or vigor ] there is, of course, the adjustment period to having legs with joints again.

[ That’s true, and it spares him having to say that Silver seems worn out, which he notices anyone over the age of twenty five has a tendency to misinterpret. ]
kaientai: (005)

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-04 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ did he? he sure did! this man has no shame. he's also been thoroughly enjoying himself despite their destination, because ryouma has taken every opportunity to show off what an excellent sailor he is. for once, he's not bullshitting, having actually earned a lot of valuable knowledge and experience in his brief time working with the steamships he loves. a simple raft is easy enough, although he can only do so much for poor makoto other than show him what to do — good intentions can't keep all the water off. ]

You gonna be alright? This blood stuff is kinda nasty, how I hear it.

[ but ryouma is determined; as soon as he'd asked what to do for work around here he knew what he needed to do. if he's going to be a hunter he can't let a little blood bother him.

in his defence, this is more than a little, but that just means he has to work a little harder to stay focused... right? ]


What the hell happened to this place..
survivalthroughhate: ([TCW 30] Glowing eyes)

[personal profile] survivalthroughhate 2022-10-04 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Not much has changed. This place still delights in tormenting us month by month.

[He looks at the blood pooling around Terry's tattoo. If he says he's fine, Maul is going to take him at his word. Still he's curious.]

What does that symbolize?

[His own intricate tattoos have a lot of meaning among the Nightbrothers, and while he doesn't know if it is the same among humans, he thinks there must be some reference he's missing in the design. He starts up the stairs, moving carefully and glancing behind to make sure Terry is following.]

Don't fall behind. I've never been in this place before and don't know what might be lurking about.
faceblocks: (cautious talk)

[personal profile] faceblocks 2022-10-04 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
That's smart. Wouldn't expect any less.

[she hums it against his ear before she pulls back, a hand still on his shoulder, a sigh.]

You know Jinx is here then, too.

[she broaches this with as much care, as much caution in her voice as she can.]
ekkoeffect: (019)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
no one wondering here. i'm cool with not knowing.

the blood thing is weird enough.
stayscared: (jc-cap-242)

it is an underrated film! i love it quite a lot!!

[personal profile] stayscared 2022-10-05 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
[he doesn't know the word xiansheng, but it's delivered softly enough (why are the edges of his vision fuzzy? it was the kids. it was seeing those two kids, of a certain age, you know, how could you--- no.) and there had been the small bow - polite, unthreatening. he speaks into the machine, its red eye unlit:]

The bow's a nice touch. Unexpected.

[the device is a ghost. a shell of a thing that's only giving him comfort as long as he allows it (or maybe not, he did take that one peaceful breath after all) but this shell of a man who has only moments before begun to engage with this place on a level where he is willing to acknowledge that yes, this is a place.

hell is a place, too.

(that room had been a---)

no, he can shelve that thought for a moment, can't he?]


It's empty. It records my voice so I can play it back later, only it doesn't because there's no tape in it.

[is this man real? he can't say, but he is out of fucks in a way he can't identify (later he will realize that this is calm) so he is going to roll with it whilst he searches for a napkin to wipe off his besauced finger.]
ekkoeffect: (062)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Later, after the effects have warn off, he might actually feel grateful for this. The idea he and Jinx could sit that like this, especially after how they last met never would have come into his mind.

But somehow here they are. Huh.]


My best friend, huh. My best friend would have traded something of equal value. These fruit are pretty high quality.

[Not that he would really know what "high quality food" is.]
iaiafhtagn: (Speechless for pancakes)

[personal profile] iaiafhtagn 2022-10-05 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Not even a little curious?

The blood thing? Oh, right. It is weird, and kind of icky. I'm not really certain if I enjoy the idea of using my blood in order to do things. But we also don't really have a choice, do we?
opheliac: ✖ malagraphic (This is killing us all)

[personal profile] opheliac 2022-10-05 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
How about a wink and a smile? That's worth a whole lot! (the shit-eating grin is still there even when she slouches more in the seat. in some odd way, this is nice. of course, she will still shoot him or hurt him severely if things grow dire and she is against him for some reason. but for the two of them to be like this and only this is... endearing.) — Or how about this for an offer? Gimme a share and I won't pluck your Firelight wings for a whole month.

Solid deal?
ekkoeffect: (005)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[He's not exactly sure why she's talking about capes and tights. Must be some kind of joke he doesn't have a reference for. He doesn't comment on it though, because it doesn't make any kind of sense to him. He does focus on the part he thinks is most important.]

Are we outsiders? You don't feel that pull. That voice saying you're supposed to be here.

[He's not sure if it's Trench itself or just that Tower, but something wants them here.]
ekkoeffect: (026)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
[When she pulls back, he lets her, even if maybe he wants it to last longer. Especially after all the things he'd heard that she'd been up to since the fight on the bridge. Maybe he should punch her too, but he knows she still hits harder.]

...Yeah. We maybe ran into each other on the Boardwalk. Fun talk.

[He was possibly drugged into a zen state at the time, but he's not going to get into it.]

Anyone else?
ekkoeffect: (025)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
nah. because then i'd have to think about where it's coming from. i'm good.

you can choose not to do anything. we always have a choice.
ekkoeffect: (079)

[personal profile] ekkoeffect 2022-10-05 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
Pretty sure you're getting the better end of that bargain for either of those.

[But he doesn't say no. Instead he slides the jar over to his other hand and holds it out for her to take a piece. The idea of hoarding for himself out of spite doesn't even come to mind. It's not in him to be that selfish--even when he should be--and with how he's feeling right now, he doesn't even feel the urge to hold out just to tease her.]
icanhearscreams: (tsun levels rising)

[personal profile] icanhearscreams 2022-10-05 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'd say that stuff is fake, but it's not here. It is in my world, though. So no.

I'm a student with an interest in science, not ghosts.
iaiafhtagn: (Existential Crises...pancakes)

[personal profile] iaiafhtagn 2022-10-05 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
If you're certain then maybe that is the correct thing to do.

I guess the Lord did give us free will for a reason. But to do nothing wouldn't lead to much happening, and leave people without much strength when they must do something....

Doesn't most things here need some kind of contact with


...

blood?
Edited 2022-10-05 01:45 (UTC)
stayscared: (jc-cap-460)

[personal profile] stayscared 2022-10-05 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[he'd been too slow to offer to help her to her feet - she has feet, he sees, a pair of dampened boots, which does nothing to solidify her in the real/unreal camp (a damp footed spirit trailing tears and wellwater, there are plenty of those banshees to recall, drowned souls and their watery footprints) - but something about these boots appeals to what little sense of reason his mind possesses now.

and into a small recorder he is not holding, this soft, small near whispered aside:]


How about that, she took a boat.

[the sulky observation of:]

I didn't get a boat.

[hadn't seen a boat. hadn't seen anything but these unreachable rocks, this bleak, blackened shore and that ruin of a spire that makes him both want to look directly at it and dry heave at the same time.

you'll attract crabs - he almost laughs at this until:

---awful clacking claws - that's an ominous phrase that conjures just what it threatens to - a sound he has to shake his head to clear it of - and with the clacking comes a sort of static. he does look down at his feet - the blood looks black with luminous darkness in this nothinglight, a different sort of darkness than the thing behind them.]


Wouldn't want to do that, nope. What I want---

[oh but he doesn't. oh, but he does.]

---the light. We have to put it back. Please help me put it back.

[he shudders as he feels himself turning toward it - the pull seems inevitable.]
specialtechnique: (pic#15977675)

[personal profile] specialtechnique 2022-10-05 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, a kid? Maybe he won't press on the 'come see a dang ghost' thing, then.]

Wow, a real skeptic. Pretty bold of you. I'm impressed!
strikefirster: (CK_S1_E9_0046)

CW: NSFW

[personal profile] strikefirster 2022-10-05 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
["Haven't learned your defense yet." Those words hang on Johnny as he tries to get his breathing in order. So this guy was from his future too- And apparently he had learned more defense? He knew Daniel had picked up some offense from him, had it gone both ways?

He unfortunately doesn't have time to really think much beyond this. He feels his attack get blocked and instead he attempts to just screw all logic and try to overtake Terry in a tackle, except he's met with a spin kick to his chest. All of his momentum thrown out from under him and he crashes to the ground in a heap.]


Fucking sucker kick.

And you're... you're like the crabs that get left behind after a bad night out.
kaientai: (048)

iii

[personal profile] kaientai 2022-10-05 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ ryouma was just thinking about swimming it. the temperature won't be problematic, and even without the other boons his new blood affords him, he has plenty of stamina to go around. he's a sailor! at least, he'd like to be. it's been a while, but all his experience in the water will pay off.

he didn't expect to have an audience though. ]


Yeah. So what if I am?

[ ryouma's not really even offended, but he does sound like a kid who just got caught doing something he's not supposed to. ]

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