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countryclub2023-03-25 09:00 pm
reddosmod) wrote in countryclub2023-03-25 09:00 pm
Entry tags:
March TEST DRIVE!
MARCH 2023 TDM
A Weirdly Banal Arrival
Getting to Know Each Other
Run
CODING
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: A Bowl of Miso Soup]
[Image Two: A Lonely Lighthouse at the edge of a pier.]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Two super-imposed people with time elapse city lights surrounding them.]
[Image Two: Two people with glowing energy flying between their mouths.]
Prompt Three
[Image One: Gif of "Run" written on a wall in blood as someone stumbles past.]
[Image Two: Zombie Dog from Resident Evil.]
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!
Prompt One
[Image One: A Bowl of Miso Soup]
[Image Two: A Lonely Lighthouse at the edge of a pier.]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Two super-imposed people with time elapse city lights surrounding them.]
[Image Two: Two people with glowing energy flying between their mouths.]
Prompt Three
[Image One: Gif of "Run" written on a wall in blood as someone stumbles past.]
[Image Two: Zombie Dog from Resident Evil.]
WHEN: End of March to mid-April
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk
CONTENT WARNINGS: Uh, you were a squid and now you're you!
WHERE: The Farther Shores/The Boardwalk
CONTENT WARNINGS: Uh, you were a squid and now you're you!
April begins as a quiet month. It's actually bordering on a disturbingly quiet one. Even the Trenchies seem almost briefly on edge on the first of the month when there appears to be nothing going wrong at the time of the first sleeper's arrival. Squids swim to the shore with ease, the currents being helpful rather than harmful, and the transformation is surprisingly easy and painless. Outside of the outright strangeness of having been a squid only moments ago, you are not greeted with any difficulties upon arrival. The weather is just cool enough to appreciate a jacket or extra layer at night, and there are no storms other than occasional spattering of rain in the early mornings, when nobody is up. You arrive to a city that seems to be as at peace as is possible when it is steeped so deeply in blood rituals and strange monsters.
You are greeted by the greeters, who have bags that contain your possessions and clothes for you. All of them look towards the lighthouse with nervous gazes, remembering past years' problems this time of the year, but nothing seems to come of it. After the first day, the Trenchies feel comfortable enough and begin setting up booths where new residents of the city can ask questions. There are booths set up each by one of the local representatives of the Arcane Scholars and the Disciples, who seem to be trying to convince every sleeper to come to them for their answers, enticing them with a broth not unlike miso soup to help fill up. You'd better get used to eating mushrooms, they will both tell you. The broth is warming, hearty and gives a feeling of peace to even the most disturbed of souls. Otherwise, it does little else.
Of course, the Trenchies have a little ulterior motive in trying to entice people. They're quite busy participating in a little playful rivalry, trying to convince people to favor their ideals over others. Both booths will ask the same question. “Do you believe it is better to have someone strong to work beside, or to know enough to walk on your own?” The odd question hints to the perspectives of both groups, but either way they're keeping “score” in order to give each other a hard time if more answer one way or another. Should you answer Work Beside, you might be given a voucher, entitling you to an extra batch of incense from the Disciples. Should you answer Walk On Your Own, you will be given a voucher for a free book by the Arcane Scholars (or a free visit to allies sin the Luminarium, if you're not the reading type.). If you feel like you got embroiled in something bigger, not to worry! You didn't. They're just clearly being a little bit petty, and everyone else seems to think they're being a bit silly. Either way, welcome to Trench.
F.A.Q.
You are greeted by the greeters, who have bags that contain your possessions and clothes for you. All of them look towards the lighthouse with nervous gazes, remembering past years' problems this time of the year, but nothing seems to come of it. After the first day, the Trenchies feel comfortable enough and begin setting up booths where new residents of the city can ask questions. There are booths set up each by one of the local representatives of the Arcane Scholars and the Disciples, who seem to be trying to convince every sleeper to come to them for their answers, enticing them with a broth not unlike miso soup to help fill up. You'd better get used to eating mushrooms, they will both tell you. The broth is warming, hearty and gives a feeling of peace to even the most disturbed of souls. Otherwise, it does little else.
Of course, the Trenchies have a little ulterior motive in trying to entice people. They're quite busy participating in a little playful rivalry, trying to convince people to favor their ideals over others. Both booths will ask the same question. “Do you believe it is better to have someone strong to work beside, or to know enough to walk on your own?” The odd question hints to the perspectives of both groups, but either way they're keeping “score” in order to give each other a hard time if more answer one way or another. Should you answer Work Beside, you might be given a voucher, entitling you to an extra batch of incense from the Disciples. Should you answer Walk On Your Own, you will be given a voucher for a free book by the Arcane Scholars (or a free visit to allies sin the Luminarium, if you're not the reading type.). If you feel like you got embroiled in something bigger, not to worry! You didn't. They're just clearly being a little bit petty, and everyone else seems to think they're being a bit silly. Either way, welcome to Trench.
F.A.Q.
- Anyone who wishes may answer the question, new or old, but you can only get ONE voucher, so “choose wisely?”
- Further inquiry will show that there really is nothing going on here other than some librarians and pthumerian priests being petty with each other.
WHEN: All of April
WHERE: Around Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Out of Body Experience, Body Disassociation, Body Swapping
WHERE: Around Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Out of Body Experience, Body Disassociation, Body Swapping
Argonaut likes to think of itself as a helpful soul. With newly minted sleepers arriving every day, it hopes to help them get to know their situation better and better, and what better way can there possibly be than to walk for a day in each other's shoes? Surely they'll thank the helpful little explorer for this new adventure on which they have embarked, without being asked if they actually wanted or needed it? Whatever, this will be fun and after the last few months, Argonaut thinks people could also use a little bit of fun to go with hope for a new tomorrow!
It happens seemingly without warning. As you are walking along, a small and fluttering moth of gold happens to flutter right into your field of vision. This only happens when you happen to be facing someone else, and there is no warning whatsoever. As soon as it enters both of your fields of vision, golden light erupts disturbingly from your mouth and theirs, rushing towards the other person's mouth, while you feel deeply cold inside. A second later, and you are staring at yourself from within this new body! Any magical or psychic powers that you had which are not of Trench origin (such as blood based powers) have traveled with you, but all blood-based powers and physical powers (such as super strength) remain in your own body. No power, however great, seems to be able to undo this change and you appear to be stuck like this!
The transformation lasts for exactly 24 hours. Regardless of how separated you might be at the time, a month will again appear to you after the end of that period, turning you back into your normal self. Feel free to attack the moths if you'd like. It isn't as if Argonaut or their followers don't die often enough after all. However, this is only possible after they have surprised you with the transformation, should you find your body swapped with another. Well, at least it's temporary, so this isn't so bad right? You just have to endure being someone else for a day. Of course, the bad news is that argonaut dies a lot, which means that their memory is not exactly perfect. So, it is entirely possible that if you happen to be in sight of another person, you might get bodyswapped with an entirely different person!
Don't worry. They'll get this right. Eventually.
F.A.Q.
It happens seemingly without warning. As you are walking along, a small and fluttering moth of gold happens to flutter right into your field of vision. This only happens when you happen to be facing someone else, and there is no warning whatsoever. As soon as it enters both of your fields of vision, golden light erupts disturbingly from your mouth and theirs, rushing towards the other person's mouth, while you feel deeply cold inside. A second later, and you are staring at yourself from within this new body! Any magical or psychic powers that you had which are not of Trench origin (such as blood based powers) have traveled with you, but all blood-based powers and physical powers (such as super strength) remain in your own body. No power, however great, seems to be able to undo this change and you appear to be stuck like this!
The transformation lasts for exactly 24 hours. Regardless of how separated you might be at the time, a month will again appear to you after the end of that period, turning you back into your normal self. Feel free to attack the moths if you'd like. It isn't as if Argonaut or their followers don't die often enough after all. However, this is only possible after they have surprised you with the transformation, should you find your body swapped with another. Well, at least it's temporary, so this isn't so bad right? You just have to endure being someone else for a day. Of course, the bad news is that argonaut dies a lot, which means that their memory is not exactly perfect. So, it is entirely possible that if you happen to be in sight of another person, you might get bodyswapped with an entirely different person!
Don't worry. They'll get this right. Eventually.
F.A.Q.
- This prompt is easily avoided by simply not encountering a golden moth this month.
- Argonaut's moth agents cannot be noticed before they surprise someone and cause the transposition of souls, but they can be attacked and killed easily afterwards if desired. If encountered in this fashion, their ability cannot be resisted.
- Body Swaps last for 24 hours at a time, not a minute more or less, and cannot be undone by any other means. However, body swaps can continue into the wrong body, day after day, for as long as you the players wish to do this. By the last day of April, Argonaut themselves will step in to “Fix this” and everyone still body swapped will return to normal on the morning of the last day of the month.
- Blood Powers are body-locked and do not transfer. Powers that are Mental or Skill-based may transfer if you wish (or not if you do not wish them to transfer). Powers that are inherently physical such as an armored hide or supernatural speed do not transfer.
- No memories are conferred by transferring bodies, only a new body to walk around in for a day. Good luck!
WHEN: The First Week of April
WHERE: Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Monster Horror, Running for One's Life, Possible Character Death
WHERE: Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Monster Horror, Running for One's Life, Possible Character Death
Everyone needs a little exercise, right? Something goes wrong in the rest of Trench, or perhaps someone thinks that it would be a good time for everyone to get out and get some exercise. Either way, the result is that the moaning lantern network seems, for the first week of the month, to not be working properly. The only lantern that appears to be connected to any of the lanterns in town is the one that attaches to the distant Outpost that was established months ago by sleepers, away from Pthumerian influences for the time being. That tiny enclave's lantern appears to still be lit and working, allowing teleportation outside of the city of Trench, but no other appears to be working correctly. You might get lucky after multiple attempts at different lanterns, but it feels really hard to get any sort of connection. It appears that everyone will just have to explore the city of Trench the old fashioned way, by foot.
Well, that's irritating, you might think, but it's far from the worst thing in the world. Perhaps you do need some exercise. First there was the wooden root barriers and now this. Well, at least your legs still work, so you might as well get to walking. All seems well and good when you're traveling inside of the districts, but it's when you get outside of town that things get a little dicey. See, while the hunters quickly mount defenses at the edge of each district to ensure its security (almost as if this sort of thing might have happened before), they can't also keep the paths between districts nearly as safe, and the monsters that sometimes lurk outside of town seem to know it. (This has definitely happened before.)
As soon as one district is out of sight on the road leading to the next, you can hear it. Howls. When you turn back, you see zombie dogs and feral, burning hell hounds in the distance. They snarl. They snap. They bark. Above all, they are coming for you, so you had better either be ready for a fight, or get to really testing those legs of yours! The good news is that the hell hounds, zombie dogs and monstrous wolves are definitely defeatable. The bad news is that there's several of them, so it really is a question of whether you have the skill to beat them back until they stop coming, or you're willing to run. Your odds are better if you do run. They're fast, but they're not as fast as normal, living hounds it seems, which gives someone with a running start a fighting chance. You'd just better treat this as a wind sprint to get to the safety of a friend or the hunters. You wouldn't want them to catch up would you?
F.A.Q.
Well, that's irritating, you might think, but it's far from the worst thing in the world. Perhaps you do need some exercise. First there was the wooden root barriers and now this. Well, at least your legs still work, so you might as well get to walking. All seems well and good when you're traveling inside of the districts, but it's when you get outside of town that things get a little dicey. See, while the hunters quickly mount defenses at the edge of each district to ensure its security (almost as if this sort of thing might have happened before), they can't also keep the paths between districts nearly as safe, and the monsters that sometimes lurk outside of town seem to know it. (This has definitely happened before.)
As soon as one district is out of sight on the road leading to the next, you can hear it. Howls. When you turn back, you see zombie dogs and feral, burning hell hounds in the distance. They snarl. They snap. They bark. Above all, they are coming for you, so you had better either be ready for a fight, or get to really testing those legs of yours! The good news is that the hell hounds, zombie dogs and monstrous wolves are definitely defeatable. The bad news is that there's several of them, so it really is a question of whether you have the skill to beat them back until they stop coming, or you're willing to run. Your odds are better if you do run. They're fast, but they're not as fast as normal, living hounds it seems, which gives someone with a running start a fighting chance. You'd just better treat this as a wind sprint to get to the safety of a friend or the hunters. You wouldn't want them to catch up would you?
F.A.Q.
- Lantern network lanterns are very inconsistent during the first week of the month, unless to reach the far distant Outpost. Returning is possible from the Outpost, but for some reason only to the lantern that was used to reach it by that person. Teleportation powers also seem to be limited to a distance of about a football field and line of sight.
- This event can be avoided in the Outpost, by traveling in large groups or by remaining inside of single districts. Teleportation lanterns can work, but only very sporadically during this period.
- Beating monstrous hounds is possible, but requires skill, strength or powers and probably numbers, as they will attack in packs, enough to be legitimately threatening. Death is possible from this event.
no subject
For me, my Force abilities mostly stayed the same, but my empathy dialed up even higher and my visions are more frequent but more, mundane I guess is the word for it. I had to relearn how to get that under control again. My more physical abilities are a little weaker, especially if the moon isn't out.
As for training not rooted in the Dark- I was Knighted here. My formal apprenticeship declared complete. [As in, days ago
or however timey whimey game continuity works, but he's been self-deprecating about being 'just a padawan' or 'only a student' the entire time he's been here. So, for once, he leaves off just how fresh a baby Knight he is.]So I should say that's doable. There's currently three Knights including me, a former Master of the High Council, and another Jedi in training around. To answer your last question, Master Kenobi has been away from home about 3 years, and he's one of the most established of us Sleepers around.
Which is only about half of the Force users here, but that's a whole other bag of complicated.
Not everyone here is from worlds where abilities like the Force are known or common, and not all of them that are have said abilities. On the other hand, any Sleeper can learn some amount of the blood magic that's tied up with this world.
May I ask which Skywalker? I know a bunch if you include extended family of various sorts under other names.
no subject
force bondawkward laugh goes here]I can't decide if I'm relieved to hear that my mental abilities will grow more powerful or not.
[the vision of Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren. the force bond. kriff, the force bond. is she doomed to never have a moment's peace anymore, not even in her own mind?]
I never really had an apprenticeship. All I ever really had was learning as I went as my teacher wasn't very enthusiastic. [did it count as training if she borrowed abilities in someone else's mind? probably not.
and ohhh, that wasn't what she wanted to hear. read. not at all] Three years? I can't be here three years! [even though she has a bad feeling that it won't be up to her]
Only half? Are the rest of them tied to the Dark side? Does fighting happen a lot?
[and no, her tummy didn't do a sudden flip wondering if it meant
BenKylo Ren was here. or how she'd face him, the last thing she remembers was Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber splitting in two, knocking her out. she assumes he won't exactly be pleased to see her and she tried to tell herself that it would be his problem. not hers]Luke. And how can there be a bunch of them, I only know the two. And their father by reputation.
[...she's not technically lying if one of them is a Solo, right?]
no subject
Luke is here. So is his father. There's both in their early 20s.
So are some of Leia's kids, with added splits in timeline in the mix, for even more confusion.
I'll give you a minute to wrap your head around all that.
We also have: A self identified Sith Lord from thousands of years before I was born, who seems to have made the reasoned choice to barely touch the Dark. Another self identified Sith, Darth Maul, who has spent the last three years, shall we say, going through some life changes yet keeps saying he's still Dark, to my increasing bafflement.
He's really clinging to 'the Dark Side is all strong emotions' and/or 'Jedi aren't allowed emotions', I suppose.
I don't know what Savage or Anakin Skywalker or Kylo Ren consider themselves these days. Deeply unhappy people who believe they're evil and seem to self-isolate, as far as I can tell, but as long as they aren't actually going around hurting and killing others-
I told Savage I'd be pleased to be his friend, and Anakin Skywalker and Kylo I would be family if they wanted. I got back rejection.
Doors open, but it's their move. Until there's a murder spree, I guess.
no subject
[don't get her wrong, she doesn't want to spend all of her time in constant combat against the Dark, but /skeptical.
and the thought of meeting Luke...she doesn't know how she feels about that. maybe the twentysomething him lived up to the legends instead of being bitter and resigned to exile like the Luke she knew]
Kids? Other timelines? It's a lot to get used to.
Darth Maul? I've never heard of him before. What kinds of life changes has he made?
[another awkward laugh, considering her temper and at times incredibly intense emotions. if a Jedi wasn't allowed emotions, she was kriffed. but emotions couldn't be all bad? hope, friendship, faith
even when that faith was betrayed, they couldn't be all bad, all of the Dark side.could they?
and at the mention of Kylo Ren, she feels her heart stop. genuinely stop for a long moment, only to kick back in like an engine in overdrive. she still felt so many things where Kylo Ren was concerned. anger, betrayal, disappointment, resolve,
heartbreak. what was she going to do when she saw him again because she knew it was inevitable. what would happen with their force bond? she didn't know how she felt about that. but it sounded from the description of her Paleblood powers that she may not get a moment's peace]I'm sorry you were rejected. You've been very helpful and you seem like the sort of person who'd be willing to help them, too.
If there's a murder spree, I'm going to stop it.
And I haven't said my name yet. Sorry. It's Rey.
no subject
[And he means that! It's just...slow going, and Ezra has too much bad personal history with Maul not feel Tired about it all, at times.]
Yeah, gotta nip murder sprees in the bud.
Rey of Jakku? Because, just so you know, I've met a force sensitive named Rey, from decades after my native time here, before. I know she returned to the sea not long ago.
Whether you're another version of her or not, I'm pleased to me you. My name's Ezra Bridger.
no subject
[...looking directly at you, Kylo. wherever you are here]
Absolutely! But, I'll have help?
[which is something to marvel at and be appreciative of. the weight of the galaxy wouldn't be on her shoulders alone. she could shoulder the burden, she could, but she wouldn't have to.
and that. that. rey.exe has stopped functioning]
I'm Rey of Jakku! What do you mean, there was another Rey of Jakku here? I don't remember anything about this place and I'm me, so shouldn't I be able to?
[help, help, she's having a mini-existential crisis here]
It's good to meet you, too, Ezra.
no subject
We can meet in person if you want to know if you have the same face and mostly feel the same in the Force?
If it helps, I've met Obi-wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker three different times, them at different ages, across dimensions.
[At least three times, depending on how you counted, really. He recognizes that this information will probably not help, in the short run, but has been his reality for years now. The enclave from their home galaxy is notably large and confusing, and it was at the other...nexus he'd lived for a while, too.
Just trying to get her up to speed, honest.]
no subject
What should I expect from them, do you think? Will they be happy to see me?
[and then upset because her wasn't the her they knew?]
I'd like that. I hope I feel the same. I can't imagine what would change that.
Three different times and ages? Maker, what have I stumbled into?
[she's trying to stay calm. to not let the knot of worry in her stomach turn into an all-consuming black hole. it's hard, though, imagining being here, then not, then returning and it's not her her and having total strangers know things about her she never told them]
no subject
I didn't get to know Rey who was here as well as I would have liked. But I think most people would be happy to see you. Don't quote me on that, though.
Do you know what district you're in? I bet I can find if I'm in the same area.
[Maybe even from across town. Finding people in the Force, even clear across planets and stellar systems is sort of one of his things. But it's easier the better he knows someone.]
no subject
Seems like you might get the chance this time? And it still feels strange to think of it like that.
I'm at the beach, staring at the ocean.
[due to a combination of it reminding her of Ahch-To's ocean and because despite her time there, the sight of such a huge body of water was still awe-inspiring.
and the thought of being a squid out in that water was nausea inducing]
Text----> Action
***
The lamp system has been wonky, so it takes him longer than usual to get to the beach. But once he does, it's easy to find her.
Does he have to wear the old Jedi standard of tunic and tabards under his cloak? No, he does not. But if he's out in public, he almost always does - although today is his tunics are blue and tabards are green with orange embroidery.
A white lothcat trots along at his heels.
"Definitely recognizable," he offers, smiling.
Action
And Rey is in a dark grey version of her usual outfit, a tunic and leggings with gauzy fabric over both, her hair down and falling to her shoulders. And Ezra's far better dressed than Luke had been, but it had been painfully obvious he hadn't expected company. Ever.
Rey's own Omen, a porg, eyes the lothcat apprehensively.
"It must be strange to see me. Only not me, a different me," she said, smiling back.
If you want to get this to a wrap/make it game canon?
absolutely canon!
no subject
"Jedi Knight Ezra Bridger, at your service, Rey. I was born on Lothal the day the Galactic Empire was founded. The Empire arrested my parents for treason when I turned seven. Then I was on my own until I was 14, and found by one of the survivors of the Jedi Purge, born Caleb Dume, but took the name Kanan Jarrus to hide until the Empire. He was my teacher, and became part of the growing Rebel Alliance. Until he was killed in action. We were few together about 4 years. And that's when my life started to go extra weird and non-linear, but we don't have to talk about any of that. How can I help you?"
no subject
"The very day? I suppose that's one way to never forget a birthday. I'm...sorry about your parents and your master. And, I guess you can help me by explaining what to expect and why I have my own personal porg which seems to think its best perch is my shoulder."
no subject
He peers at said porg. "I think that your Omen. Telling you what to expect is...difficult. There's seasonal and monthly cycles of wierd, and too much to sum up."
no subject
"How did you avoid the Empire? Wouldn't they be searching for Force users?"
And Rey gave the porg a baleful look. "What's an Omen?" The way he'd said it meant that it had some kind of importance, and she wasn't sure what to think of a porg. "Too much? It's even stranger than home and...everything." After all, it was hard to think of stranger than what she'd been through over the past couple of weeks back in their home galaxy.