reddosmod: (Default)
Deer Country Mod ([personal profile] reddosmod) wrote in [community profile] countryclub2023-01-25 12:08 am
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JANUARY TEST DRIVE MEME!

JANUARY 2023 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: Bloody Candles]
[Image Two: Anatomically Correct Chocolate Hearts in a Coffin]

Prompt Two
[Image One: Woman in restaurant, dressed in pink, surrounded by mannequins.]
[Image Two: Creepy looking mannequin staring]

Prompt Three
[Image One: Hands touching and holding at sunset]
[Image Two: Girl Screaming with her Mouth Fused Shut.]

A TYPICAL ARRIVAL WITH A SWEET TWIST
WHEN: Last Week of January through all February

WHERE: The Shores, Boardwalk and throughout Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Mild Body horror for arrival, additional warnings for Blood Bonds and the Chocolatier:
* Blood Bonds: Blood ceremony, bodily ceremony, telepathic/empathetic connections, possible forced/coerced relationships.
* Choclatier: Themes of temptation (non-sexual and/or sexual), addiction, blood sacrifice, severely warped personality/reality including temporary amnesia, inability to use body, paranoia, vomiting organs, homicidal feelings, mild body horror.



For those who are arriving, they are fortunate. The worst of the ice and chill of the Season of Bone is fading. Any ice flows are breaking up and it is safe for little squidlings to come to shore, wakers present to help them with cups of hot cocoa and heavy robes to ward off of the cold. Nothing, however, removes the almost bleak and dreary state of the world. All of the beach seems washed with a sort of white that remindes the mind of bleached bone. Transformation from squid to the sleeper's natural form is slower, because of the cold, but does not pose any real difficulty.

Warm Food is prepared in the form of stews, complemented by bread that tastes heavily of mushroom. Unlike prior years, no roses are given to the new sleepers, though there are roses found throughout the city of trench. All of them, however, are black as midnight and there is an ominous sense to them should a sleeper think to reach out and pluck the blooms. Should someone do so, they will feel an increased paranoia about their relationships for the next few days and the natives of Trench will give them a wide berth, refusing to sell them anything at the shops and shooing them away, though there is no outward sign of anything being amiss. Whispers in town hint that the Doorway is in a poor mood this year.

Nevertheless, the patron pthumerian of the month can be seen around Trench. Bonding Rituals remain very popular this month and many seek to curry her presence during their rites. She shows no outward sign of discomfort or disapproval, yet there seems to be more blood than usual on her ivory blade as she stands in silent vigil wherever a ritual is performed.

Anyone who yearns for a bit of sweetness that they might associate with the waning chill of winter will find themselves meeting a sudden and disturbing fellow (CW: Some Blood/Disturbing Content in some chocolates. Please check warnings in prompt). The chocolatier, who was seen in past years, still wanders about and appears to any who yearn for a happier time in the otherwise gloom of the month. His offer is simple. A little bit of blood, for a little bit of sweet. What is the harm in it? Why his sweets even have mystical properties to make life interesting!

FAQ:
* The Chocolatier option remains identical to what happened in 2023, and is available throughout the last week of January and into February. The chocolates offered have not changed this year.
* Blood Bonds are available all year round, and the method of getting one is easily learned from any local in Trench, or from a Sleeper. While they can be performed every year, they are more powerful if performed in this month (Player discretion) and the Doorway is more likely to be present to bless them personally.

WAIT FOR ME
WHEN: Anytime in February

WHERE: Anywhere in Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Body Horror, Loneliness, Depression elements, Being Trapped in One's Own Body, Psychological Horror



Sleepers have been working to put an end to the strange plague afflicting pthumerians. Still, while there has been success, something seems off this month nevertheless. Even if she is not ill, the Doorway appears to be in a foul mood and it is felt by many. There is a moody, brooding sense that permeates the whole of the city, as if something were supposed to happen that did not. It's the awful sense that one gets when they expect to meet up with someone for something important and, without warning, that person does not show and there's no explanation. That light gnawing at the pit of the stomach when worry or irritation sets in grows steadily worse. Is this about someone specific, or a general malaise? It's hard to tell what sets it off. For some, it comes waiting by the coast in the hopes a loved one arrives this month. For others, maybe someone was just busy and ended up late for lunch. It might not even have a visible cause.

Whatever happens, the dreadful reality settles in almost immediately. As they wait, the person begins to feel their body stiffen. It does not feel like the lockjoint disease, but rather a sudden and whole-body hardening of the person. Within seconds, they feel their body solidifying into a state almost like a mannequin. Unable to move, they can feel a dread cold leeching into their heart as they are forced to watch, to wait for whoever was supposed to be there. Why aren't they here? The longer that they are there, the colder that they feel, and if they are in a secluded place it could feel quite perilous. However, no monsters can seem to harm the person, their body nigh indestructible. The frigid state, however, denies them the ability to sleep or even blink, forced to watch the world as a prisoner in their own mind.

Palebloods are somewhat fortunate in this state. All palebloods trapped this way find themselves able to telepathically communicate with loved ones or people close, regardless of distance. Their voices, however, are always in a state like the wail of a ghost regardless of their mental state. For anyone else, they can manage to mentally connect through the network to plead for help using an omni on their person, though only in Text form until they are released. So, at least they are not trapped without escape, unless by chance they forgot their omni, but you wouldn't be so foolish as to leave home without your phone would you?

HOW TO CURE THE CONDITION:
Several options exist. Anyone with a "Blade of Mercy" (a gift given last February) could use it to sever whatever connection caused the person to feel like they are waiting, though that might very well sever the emotional connection entirely! The very person that they are waiting for could arrive, in which case a kiss (on the cheek, on the lips, gallantly on one knee to the back of the hand. Whatever works for you!) or an apology for tardiness should suffice to warm the heart. If there is no source, or if that person cannot arrive (or chooses not to), any friend or even new acquaintance can try to help the person not feel quite as alone in their waiting through some reasonable means. Any cure-all for corruption will also help with this condition.

The locales do not have any idea officially how to cure the condition, but they may suggest some of the above simply because it seems helpful at the time. At the worst, the condition does eventually fade with time.

FAQ:
* This can happen in a public location, or entirely remote, wherever you wish.
* The above "Cures" are not exhaustive. Any reasonable act that establishes or re-establishes empathy for the person trapped will cure them.
* Paleblood Telepathy is not limited by distance. However, non-palebloods must have their omni on their person in order to mentally link to it.
* This condition does not lead to death, but if allowed to persist is a reasonable source of higher corruption.
* If untreated, it will usually clear up in a couple days, or at most a week. If a player wishes to use this as a form of hiatus in February, they may, in which case it can last all month.

YOU TAKE MY BREATH AWAY
WHEN: The First Week of February

WHERE: Anywhere in Trench

CONTENT WARNINGS: Choking, Asphyxiation, Body Horror, Dependency, Possible Death



Self-reliance is a powerful tool in the city of Trench. You have to be able to take care of yourself, lest the dangerous elements on the fringe of the city overtake you and claim you in the night. Right?

The Doorway could not disagree more. To her, people depend upon each other. Corruption is only cleansed through the presence of others and conversation, connection. Cures and potions are, in her thought, unreliable. Even going to the Blood Ministers is more of a last-ditch effort when all else fails as she sees it. Sometimes? People need a little gentle reminder, a push to get them to rely upon each other more. Unfortunately, what a Pthumerian considers a gentle push to be tends not to be so gentle.

It happens at random, though it seems to happen most of all when it involves people who might not want to be close. You come into contact with a person, and just as you start to speak, you feel your throat throttle. It is like there is an invisible noose around your neck. No visible rope exists, but the air is cut off. You double over, gasping for air that will not come. Even if you don't or can't breathe you find yourself choking like a flopping goldfish out of water! As you reach out for help, you can see to your horror that the person you are trying to meet is choking too! What do you do? There is only one cure to this situation. You have to get to the other person quickly. There's still time. Maybe you can find some sort of solution if you get there. Deep down, you know you just need to be closer.

The moment that the two choking sleepers make contact, they will be able to breathe. The relief of oxygen entering the lungs comes instantly, though there is a problem. Any time you break contact, you begin to choke again. So long as you are able to stay in contact, you're safe but any attempt to break that contact is potentially life threatening. There is no solution other than to hold onto each other, hold hands, whatever it takes to maintain contact. For how long you ask? Oh, for at least an hour. But it's not like anyone's actually going to give you a timer on this. Will you just put up with it, or will you keep experimenting only to be choked repeatedly.

FAQ:
* Anyone can be affected by this, no matter physiology. It defies magical powers, biology and even blood powers.
* The effects last no more than 6 hours at the absolute max and most of the time it will end within 1 hour.
* Effects will cease when the two participants go to sleep (No accidental chokings). As a result, the effect will always start at least an hour before you might normally go to sleep.
* Yes, you can choke to death if you want.
* There is no knowledge of the effect amongst the locals and no warning about it, so there is no real warning on how to "cure" this other than the compulsion to get close to the other choking person and trial and error. Or Patience!
* No, the Doorway isn't sorry.

CODING
centile: (111)

[personal profile] centile 2023-02-22 07:18 am (UTC)(link)
[god i am so sorry i lost this notif, feel free to drop this if you want god this is so late that gets a nod- yup, that's what sensei and robby say basically. to be entirely honest he isn't sure he gets it but he finds it all soothing regardless, which probably is that inner peace stuff kicking off.

making chores karate and fun is a-okay in his book.]


He'll probably worry about the land drowning. Oh, and he'll probably feed you too, sensei seems to like to do that. [and a tiny smile remaining still. chozen has a flair that reminds him a little of his teacher from home. it's comforting, in a way.]
ex_sink985: (when these plates meet)

[personal profile] ex_sink985 2023-02-22 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Responsibilities? Xuan shrugs at that question. Does an obsessive vengeance quest count as a responsibility?

"Ehn, just a lot of bullshit." Ugly slang but that's how he feels about all the politics and big Heavenly fights. "Cultivators are petty whether they die or ascend. And they jump at shadows. Better to be somewhere else."
chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2023-02-22 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
He laughs because he can't exactly argue with that. He has pretty good experience with the pettiest of cultivators. But he is often the one causing the shadows that make others jump so perhaps he should have a little sympathy.

"You are in the presence of a cultivator but I'm hoping I'm not as petty as most. There are only a few of us here so you'll be able to avoid them if you desire to do so."

Of course his manner of cultivation is also...significantly different then most.
madgamerhat: (Default)

[personal profile] madgamerhat 2023-02-23 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed.

[ Sato smiles. He starts to clean up the table. ]

May I?

[ He reaches for his guest's dish. Sato regards the sky outside the window above the kitchen sink. The golden sub still has a few hours left before setting. ]

So, do you need a place to crash, or would you rather venture to town?
anbaric: do not take (078)

[personal profile] anbaric 2023-02-23 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
I'm being dim?

[ sigh. ]

Most people in this place cannot differentiate between an Omen and anything else. It is a matter of interest whenever anyone can. It is no particular secret that Stelmaria is my daemon. The human soul can manifest in many ways, and this happens to be one of them.
knows: (pic#16129792)

[personal profile] knows 2023-02-23 09:17 am (UTC)(link)
It doesn't lessen his suspicion entirely, but the fact that they're willing to indicate to him is a good sign.

"Snap your fingers once for a yes, twice for no. Got it?"
whipinheritor: a close-up side portrait of Juste Belmont from Castlevania (01; i can't tell you how to see me)

[personal profile] whipinheritor 2023-02-24 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Juste's petrification wears off even more, giving him use of both arms. He stretches them as much as he can.

At Trevor's instruction, he snaps his fingers once.
ezra_of_lothal: (looking over shoulder by malagraphic)

[personal profile] ezra_of_lothal 2023-02-24 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh. So much," Ezra says fervently, as he shifts to try to tug them to walking again.

"History and theory and healing and - I work with plants all the time now," he rambles.

"Also how to get Maul how to make amends to someone he seriously hates, apparently? That wasn't all me by any means, but it was sure a weird moment."
bolstafir: (pic#13732690)

sorry for the delay!

[personal profile] bolstafir 2023-02-24 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[He barks a slight laugh at the end of all that, because -- brothers, he could see the Pthumerians doing that. So easily.]

Careful, you'll give 'em ideas.

[Though fittingly, the fact that he spent the last couple years under the same roof as the others from Remnant is largely because the houses some of them had lived in were destroyed by Deerington happenings, and it became easier to just stick together, after a time.

But he's already tossed quite a bit of information at her already, and there's plenty of time.]


Nah. You can live pretty much anywhere you want. We do, ah, have a house, though. Me and Oscar and Oz and some other friends. Ruby and, uh -- [ah. heck. might as well rip off this awkward bandaid in one go] -- and her wife Ange used to live with us too, but they moved out after the wedding.

...Point is, you're welcome to join us, if you want.
cynomorpha: (pic#14865857)

[personal profile] cynomorpha 2023-02-26 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Human soul? Human souls outside the sanctity of the human body... don't become so elegant in his world. The wild magic of the celestial beasts turns all souls ravenous and crazed, amorphous and wretched. The misery of the Trench is different, but sings a familiar tune for blood. ]

And now you know that I am not most people.

[ He is the servant of something inhuman, to align himself with its teachings has changed him. Something made of smoke and cinder, smoldering and casting wild shadows. His eyes are dark and the look in them may be familiar in the Trench: he has seen things that cannot be unseen, his eyes are so very open. This impression of him is potent with his sudden deep scrutiny. ]
cynomorpha: (pic#14865389)

[personal profile] cynomorpha 2023-02-26 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
I'll take my leave of you, sir.

[ He doesn't sleep very much, so he may as well venture back out into the moonlight and see where he has found himself. ]
cynomorpha: (pic#14865739)

[personal profile] cynomorpha 2023-02-26 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ew. His lip curls. He would genuinely rather make something out of corpses to aid him in battle. ]

That sounds unnecessary.
chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2023-02-26 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
You'd be surprised how useful having one of those bonds can be in this place...

[He knows how important it is to have people he can count on when things get a little uncertain...]
onekindsoul: (The lightning doesn't)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2023-02-26 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
And I wouldn't want to take that away from you either.

[If there's one talk that rings sort of true in the back of Ruby's mind. It was the one they had outside of the Schnee mansion the night the Hound attacked. ...Despite all the horrors going on back at home, it had put her at ease to get that sort of reassurance from Blake.

But all of that felt so long ago at this point. She was just glad to have her friend and teammate back. She wouldn't wish this place on anyone, but she was still glad to have a familiar faec at her side.]


Well that I can help you with. Or at least take you to a spot to get som-

[And she doesn't quite get a look at what Blake sees in the bag, but she hearts the little moan and the bag snapping closed. There's a brief pause before Ruby let's out a fit of giggles.]

Oh my gosh. You really haven't seen anything yet-

That one is a friend. Unlike other things that are around here.
fromshadows: (Default)

[personal profile] fromshadows 2023-02-26 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
A friend?

[ Blake's ears go flat in shock, but Ruby's giggles are encouraging, so she tentatively opens her bag back up again. The little lamp creatures slowly swivel their heads up to look at her once more, and they're creepy, but Blake quickly realizes they're seemingly content to just chill around the base of the lamp. ]

I... suppose they're kind of cute.

[ It's reluctant, but a little genuine nonetheless. She thinks she'll wait before she goes through the bag, but she can see glimpses of other things. A strange crystal, the corner of a leather bound book, what looks like a bundle of incense. She can also see the spine of Ninjas of Love (Volume I), in addition to her Huntress gear, so at least this place is determined to provide some comforts?

She smiles helplessly at Ruby. ]


I'm going to have about a million questions. But first... yeah, water would be great.
fromshadows: (007)

no worries at all!!

[personal profile] fromshadows 2023-02-26 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ Hearing that they're sheltering together is the kind of relief that practically rattles through Blake's bones. She'd immediately assumed the worst -- that she'd be forced to live with strangers, or forced to live so alone she never saw anybody -- but the reality is an incredibly pleasant surprise.

She hadn't missed Qrow's awkward little look, and she smiles, small and amused. ]


Don't worry, Ruby broke that news to me earlier. And yes, I did find it extremely weird that, in my eyes, she's gone from being a seventeen year old, to twenty and married. But I'm adjusting.

[ It's going to take a while, she thinks. A long while. Not just about Ruby, but about everything. Gods, she wishes Yang and Weiss were here -- and at the same time, she's glad they're not. She hopes Weiss made it to Vacuo. She hopes Yang's somewhere... kinder. ]

But, thank you. It'll be good to be with friends. [ Blake tilts her head, confused. ] Even if you did just refer to Oscar and Ozpin separately? A side effect of being pulled to this world, I assume?
fromshadows: (002)

[personal profile] fromshadows 2023-02-26 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's still so strange to think about the idea of other worlds. Whatever kind of universe Ange was from, it's probably totally different than Remnant. And there's no doubt other people in Trench from completely different worlds as well, universes existing as their own little bubbles until people get pulled into this strange city.

For Blake, the concept of other worlds has only existed in fiction up until now, and she has to admit: she's fascinated by the concept, always has been, and now that she's been presented with actual proof, all she wants to do is learn more.

Her face falls at Ange's caution that others from her world might not turn up for months, if at all. Feline ears follow the motion, flattening. ]


I guess that should actually be good news, shouldn't it? That the ones we love might not get pulled into this city?

[ All she can do is hope that Weiss made it to Vacuo, and Yang... well, that Yang fell somewhere nicer. Somewhere kinder. But there's a horrendously selfish part of her that wants Yang here. ]

That must have been hard for you, though. [ Blake's voice dips in sympathy. ] Being alone in this place... I'm so fortunate that some of my friends are already here. It's softened the landing a lot.
ex_sink985: (Default)

[personal profile] ex_sink985 2023-02-26 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's not so bad individually," Xuan says, because even with the chocolate wearing off he feels the need to clarify that he doesn't mean this person particularly. "Bureaucracy is tiresome, that's all." Whether on earth or in Heaven. Truly he finds society grating no matter how much he enjoys the company of its members.

That said, his introverted ass is starting to tire of all of this conversation, and he's also starting to mildly experience the effects of giving up so much blood so readily, the first itch of corruption really emphasising his desire to be away from other people. He's inhaled his food quite swiftly, so he'll make his excuses to leave. Hopefully Wei Wuxian won't think it's just because he's a cultivator.

(( thank you for the thread! sorry to wind up so abruptly, i just wanted to wrap up since it's from last month's tdm, and we can continue in the new one. ))
madgamerhat: (My pleasure)

[personal profile] madgamerhat 2023-02-26 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Very well.

[ Sato leads him to the door. With a bow, he bids him adieu. ]

It was a pleasure meeting you! Should you need anything, just let me know.
nihilmancy: (pic#13546751)

[personal profile] nihilmancy 2023-02-27 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's more that she can offer— the particular branch of her family, the planet and city where she grew up, the patron god of her people and so forth, but those elements are fairly universal within the peoples under the reign of the Hegemony, and will suffice for introduction.

It is an embarrassing bit of internal weakness, but Hlasoh rather likes the feeling of Excella's hand on her arm right now. Her skin is still frozen firm, but it begins to yield again at the woman's touch. Her neck moves. Her lips work silently. She will get through this soon. ]


< Thank you. Just a little while longer, I think. Your graciousness is greatly appreciated. I shall not forget it. >

[ It may be small, but there will be repayment. She cannot afford to ignore cultivating allies and connections. ]
onekindsoul: (6B3Y0Z229saagegsgOjrz8saagsgQp42vOsfsfsK)

[personal profile] onekindsoul 2023-02-27 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[This- This is what Ruby missed of her friends most of all. The giggles don't stop until she actually forces herself to calm down a little, but she returns that helpless smile with a cheerful one of her own before she offers Blake a hand to take.]

A little! I mean- A lot of things here aren't exactly cute. But you figure out how to appreciate the things that aren't trying to kill you.

[Because unfortunately this place was pretty dangerous like their own world.]

Well there should be plenty over on the boardwalk. How about we head that way and I'll try to tackle whatever questions you can think of.

...I'm not exactly an expert but I have been here a long time. I've picked up a thing or two.
knows: (pic#16129797)

[personal profile] knows 2023-02-27 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
Considering he only has yes or no answers to go off of he decides to get right to it. "Do you know Alucard?"

Very simple and will tell him everything he needs to know.
entreats: (that echoes inside)

[personal profile] entreats 2023-02-27 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I guess it's the sort of thing that's easy to have constrasting sort of feelings over.

[ Even as Ange speaks, though, she's definitely witnessing that movement of Blake's ears. So they actually even move.. Ange was already assuming they were real, but the movement right now only confirms it.

(It must be hard, she thinks, to have something so expressive right there in full view. Even if you'd be able to control your facial expression, having to control your ears at the same time can only be harder..) ]


Sure, it's better if people aren't here. But at the same time it's hard to be apart from the people you care for. [ Even if Ange doesn't feel that as much anymore as she used to, she does remember longing to see certain people again.

So would she blame Blake if she'd wish for their other friends to be here too? Not really. ]


No need to worry about me though. I've practically had Ruby harassing me from day one. [ Quite literally day one, even.

And despite the usage of the word 'harassing' there, it sounds like it's somehow used fondly. ]


It's been hard for me to ever truly be here alone because of it.
whipinheritor: a mid-range image of Juste Belmont holding a whip (Default)

[personal profile] whipinheritor 2023-02-28 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Technically he only knows of Alucard, so he snaps his fingers twice.
anbaric: do not take (092)

[personal profile] anbaric 2023-02-28 10:12 am (UTC)(link)
Clearly.

[ this, tentatively, feels like some amount of progress, but asriel relaxes not at all. ]

I believe we have a physical form here according to the shape our souls envision us to be, and so it makes sense that each Sleeper would also have an Omen, which is simply a projection of one's daemon. Projections can never possess the bond between a human and an actual daemon, however. I imagine that contributes to whatever you picked up on; it has considerable power.

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