March TEST DRIVE!

[reddosmod]

MARCH 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: 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.]

[NAVIGATION]

TDM Questions • Reserves • Taken • Applications • Full Navigation

[Jump to Comments]

A Weirdly Banal Arrival

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!

---

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.

1. Anyone who wishes may answer the question, new or old, but you can only get ONE voucher, so “choose wisely?”
2. Further inquiry will show that there really is nothing going on here other than some librarians and pthumerian priests being petty with each other.

Getting to Know Each Other

WHEN: All of April
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.

1. This prompt is easily avoided by simply not encountering a golden moth this month.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. No memories are conferred by transferring bodies, only a new body to walk around in for a day. Good luck!

Run

WHEN: The First Week of April
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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

CODING

Comments

catra ◆ she-ra (deerington/deer country crau) ◆ ota

[serment]

i. under a soft moon; locked to scorpia

( the ocean has been calm and steady for the last couple of days, a sharp contrast against its usual choppy and treacherous waves. it's almost like a long simmering anger has finally been quelled or perhaps just simply the held breath before a shriek. on the night that catra's squid body resurfaces, the sea is more than especially gentle.

delicate waves carry her body inward, guiding her ever closer to the beach. back to the beach. back to land, to sand, to . . . a life she still wanted to live.

catra's mind is still hazy as she drifts along, barely taking in anything other than the big luminous moon hanging in the sky. for a brief couple of moments, this is her entire world. the gentle wind, the ocean carrying her along, and the moon.

by the time she washes up on the beach, her mind has cleared some. enough to start piecing together sections of her memories, but her limbs are still limp and jellylike. )

Ha!

( she laughs quietly to herself, full of disbelief and a strange sense of exhilaration.

she made it back. )

ii. what we do for soup

( the very night next, catra finds herself back at the boardwalk. it's pretty much exactly the same thing she did the last time that she showed up in trench, lured back to the strange place where she transformed back into her own body from . . . a squid. it's happened twice now and it's been a disgusting experience each time.

she thinks if it were ever to happen again, she'd scream. and potentially not stop. she'd have to think about it. however, the bright side of having been in trench before is that she already has a keen understanding of where she is. as such, she doesn't hesitate to take the locals up on their offer of free soup.

correction: not free. they wanted to involve her in a stupid debate for the meal.

the guy leans against the counter of the booth, looking at her expectantly. what was it going to be? was it better to have someone strong to work beside or to know enough to walk on your own? )

That's a stupid question. It's better to walk on your own.

( confidently.

then she glances over to the nearest person. )

Right? You agree.

iii. wildcard

( got another idea? hit me. or dm me as needed. )

iii.

[opheliac]

( the boardwalk does seem to be a pretty busy spot. after all with the locals handing out soup to all sleepers, who wouldn't crowd around that? and somewhere in the mix of all of this, there's a long twin braided girl kneeling down with various colors of chalk. locals are walking around her (as they should be) and she doesn't seem to pay no mind of being anyone's inconvenience.

she seems to be doodling something on the floorboard and if one gets closer, it's a cute little drawing of a bear head with a smiley face and messed up eyes. humming quietly, jinx gears over to the the bottom left corner to write her quote. it only takes her a few seconds as she shifts to the top right to add another. this looks nice, right? )

[serment]

( it's a little hard not to notice the single girl managing to part the crowds of people by merit of just being in the way. at first, it's nothing that catra pays any heed to. nothing of any interest.

but cats are nosy creatures by nature and catra is no exception. after she arbitrarily decides that this girl has spent too much time with her chalk drawings and maybe just existing in her peripheral in general, catra moves to approach her.

she stops to stand by the left of her, peering down at the artwork. )

What is this supposed to be?

[opheliac]

( she felt someone looming to the left of her but given her voices didn't spike up a panic frenzy, jinx figured whoever it was meant no harm. so she doesn't bother to look up or address the person until the other's tone and accent breeze through her ears. an unrecognizable voice peaks her attention as she takes a gander over her shoulder.

the first thing that sticks out of catra's appearance is well, her feline features. jinx is no stranger to other species given where she's from and the people of trench. but she is the first jinx laid her eyes on with her aspect. and with her knowing nara'a, this only means she can't use, "kitty cat" as a nickname. drat. she will have to come up with something more clever.

to her question, however, jinx eyes back at the artwork and then to the girl -- a brow quirking. )

What? Don't you know what a bear is? Are you that much of an indoor cat, Whiskers?

[serment]

( did this girl just compare her to a housecat?

tiresome. is this how it was going to be? another human like this? )

Is that right? I couldn't tell with trash drawing skills like yours.

[opheliac]

( if that doesn't make her drop the chalk immediately onto the floorboards, nothing will. jinx rises up to her feet and then spins around to full face the other. and it appears the two of them are the same height, so they're on equal grounds there, but that doesn't stop her eyes from dancing to see what she's working with.

and she remains still; her tongue swirling behind her lips in silence. the fact she is quiet is definitely an indication that wheels are turning in her head. is she trying to come up with a witty comeback? plotting? or maybe just sizing catra up with intimidation? it could very well be all of this or none of this, but jinx finally cocks her head to the side with fingers lace behind her back. )

Hmm... — Well. ( the teen begins while nodding her head down to the drawing at their feet. ) Then how about you surprise me?

( a quick flicker from her sketch then to catra again. the smile on her while normal, there's an under layer of something ghoulish within it. )

If you got the talent, maybe I can ask a few pointers.

[serment]

( if intimation had been the intention, it would have fallen flat.

catra glances down to meet the girl's gaze, holding eye contact with her even as she looks away to get a good look at the rest of her. she almost considers striking a pose for her, giving her something to look at. she decides against it only because she's pretty sure that this is going to get weird.

or maybe this girl will try throwing her weight around instead? or did she have another weird comment about her body locked and loaded?

instead she puts forth what catra can only assume to be a challenge. )

I'm pretty good. And you know what they say when you're good at something—

( to never do it for free. )

You gonna buy me something if you like mine better?

[opheliac]

( her expression deflates and twists dull. )

Why would I buy you anything? You can't settle for a pat on the back? 'Cuz that is a pretty big deal...!

( because jinx congratulating someone? that's something she doesn't do very often. so anyone who gets that out of her is truly blessed. not that catra would know, though. )

What would you even want anyway? ( jinx then points over to the trenchers doing their handouts of soup. ) — Just ask 'em again for food. I bet if ya whine more they'll shove it down your throat.

[serment]

( was she serious?

a pat on the back? who in their right mind would chase after something like that? also that would require physical contact and there's something about this girl that makes her think she'd be sticky. catra couldn't possibly want anything less.

she does know what she could go for however. )

What? Are you allergic to fun or something?

( there's a little smile and a finger rudely pointed towards the other girl. )

There's way better places. With ice cream.

[opheliac]

( did... did this chick just accused her of not being fun? her nostrils flare in the most enormous huff she didn't think her little body could do -- eyes narrowing and a snarl. )

I know you have no idea who the hell you're talkin' to, but I'm the definition of fun!!

( fired up (with her azure locks now turning crimson — surprise! she's a coldblood), jinx smacks her pointed finger away and instantly invades catra's personal bubble. )

How about we up the ante, huh? Loser not only gotta buy the winner ice cream but they gotta be their servant for a whole week. How's THAT for prize, huh? — That good enough for ya, Fluffy?

cats are allergic to too much attention

[serment]

( immediately catra laughs, loud and sharp.

she hadn't expected such an explosion reaction, but there was apparently something wrong with this girl. it's a little fun. was she always like this? )

Dial it back, you spaz! No one wants that.

( in no reality did that sound appealing to catra. win or lose. she wasn't looking to have that much extended contact with someone. )

Keep it simple. It's just drawing.

[opheliac]

( catra right now.

if it weren't for a lot of things, jinx would yank on her tail or step on it at least. and it isn't that she doesn't want to, because boy, the urge to do so is very great. but she will get an earful from her friends and she'd like to have one day she isn't getting scold until she is bored to tears. so the girl takes one step back -- only one! jinx still wants to show the other she is not to be toyed with despite being unarmed. )

It's not a drawing, it's art. You'd know that if you weren't an amateur. So knock yourself out, Hot shot! When I win, I want somethin' good.

( jinx takes another step back to nudge the chalk to catra with her boot. then she'll finally step aside with her hands on her hips to observe. )

[serment]

Yeah, yeah.

( dismissive, but catra is finally moving to kneel down against the boardwalk. her fingers still feel a little stiff, joints rigid and uncomfortable from disuse, but she still remembers how to do this. remembers how to start smudging some of the chalk onto the fur of her fingers before she applies it to the wood and remembers how nice it feels to see the lines appearing underneath the press of the chalk.

it's not exactly fast, but it doesn't take too many lines before it's become apparent that catra has chosen to draw a bear. with a whip. it also doesn't take too many lines for it to become apparent that catra has a good degree of skill at this.

by the time she should be done, she doesn't look back at the other girl.

rather, she just rolls on the balls of her feet and glances down at the art. )

It's missing something.

( and that bothers her. does it need more teeth? )

i!!!

[cuddlery]

[It was a semi-regular part of Scorpia's life in Trench to take walks along the beach in search of newly arrived Sleepers in need of help. Even if she didn't know the person in question, it still felt fulfilling to help someone out and find a potential new friend in the process.

Despite that, this tradition has come to feel monotonous. Less and less Sleepers had been turning up, resulting in many days in which she saw not a single squid. Instead, it seemed like more people she knew were returning to the sea. Less friends overall.

Today initially looked to be much of the same. At least the waters seemed calm lately, yet to her it felt like it highlighted the emptiness, the loneliness of the shore right now. Scorpia was going through the motions almost robotically. Shifting her feet through the sands, she wondered to herself if she should give up early today and head back.

But then she heard something. A noise that broke her out of her trance and made her whip her head to face the source with a soft gasp. The quiet laugh alone strikes at her heart.]

H-hello...? [She asks shakily. She's not alone.]

♥

[serment]

( how familiar.

catra knows that voice, knows that she knows that voice. it's enough to make her want to lift herself up, pull away from the gentle waves that have been lapping at her head and the entirety of her front side, but she doesn't have the strength for it. her body is still too newly changed. all catra actually manages to do is displace some wet sand with her claws. )

Hey!

( she calls instead, her voice rough.

catra knows that voice. she just needs to hear it again. )

♥!!

[cuddlery]

[There. Right by the water. It's her.]

Catra.

[She breaks her name, her voice swelling with a compound of emotions. In many cases, she'd doubt the appearance of Catra was real. But now, there's no doubt.

Scorpia rushes right towards her, kicking up and all around her as she approaches Catra, ready to scoop her into some kind of a hug through pure instinct.]

Catra, you're back! Y-you're not a wildcatfish anymore!

[serment]

( scorpia.

that's right, that's right, that's right. catra knows her. scorpia's voice rings out clear like a chime in her head, almost musical. the sound of her seems to sing within her—or was that catra herself?

it takes her a moment to parse it but without realising it, she had begun to purr. she is cold, wet, covered in sand, and laying in the tide like some kind of mollusk. she almost definitely looks stupid. yet she's there's a rumble in her chest.

the noise persists even as scorpia scoops her up, pulling her into an embrace. catra would have protested even if only for her own pride, shoving her hands against scorpia's face or chest, if she had the capacity to do so.

but she doesn't.

as it is, the best she's capable of is clinging to scorpia's shirt to make sure she didn't manage to drop her. )

Squid! I was a squid!

( because scorpia could get away with hugging her but not calling her a catfish. )

[cuddlery]

[She really missed the distinctive feeling of having Catra in her arms. Even wetter, sandier and less resilient than usual, it's a warm confort that cements the matter: Catra's back, she's here, she's in her arms. Her heart is practically singing with joy.]

I know, I know! [She assures her with a little laugh.]

It's just a figure of speech. I- I'm just so glad you're back! How was your, uh, trip back? [How do you talk to someone who was just a squid for months?] Are you alright?

[serment]

I'm fine, I'm fine.

( which is probably true. she's fine enough and that's all that really matters.

she lets herself relax, flopping against scorpia's chest. )

Ugh. I think. My body feels like jelly.

[cuddlery]

Ah yeah, the post-squid... jelly-ness. Who can forget that?

[She laughs, holding her firmly against her chest. She's wearing some warm clothing to counteract the chilly effect of being a Coldblood.]

It'll pass by itself soon enough. ...But you are really wet! Let me get you a towel! ...If I can get my arms to stop embracing you joyously, that is!

[serment]

( scorpia! scorpia probably did! when was the last time she was a squid?

actually, that answer had better have been only that once. she dreads to imagine how much time has passed, how long she's been gone, and what all has happened without her. her ears flatten against her head and her eyebrows pinch. )

What? You just carry one around or something?

( or was she going to run back for one? that felt like that might be a little too much. )

Just take me somewhere else.

[cuddlery]

[It has been so long since she was a squid... It's easier for her to just be a scorpion. But she has dealt with a number of arriving Sleepers over time.]

As a matter of fact, I do! When I come to the beach specifically to look for Sleepers, it's one good thing to carry around!

[She answers her cheerily.]

Okay, so let's get you away from the shore. Now that you're here and back and that's great and awesome!

[Scorpia will just keep up her embrace while carrying her along the beach.]

[serment]

( what?

that answer elicits an incredulous little laugh out of catra. that's such a weird thing to do, she thinks, but it also feels really familiar. it's a very on-brand sort of thing for her to do.

but . . . didn't she already know this? she's sure she did. sure she already knew this about scorpia. catra's thoughts still feel a little distant and faraway. )

What's so great about it?

( they are still in trench, aren't they? )

[cuddlery]

[She trudges along through the wet sand while holding Catra close. Things haven't felt this good for a long time! And at Catra's question, now it's Scorpia who laughs.]

That you're here! ...Okay, wait, I get how that's bad. It can be bad to be here and away from home and all b-but I just missed you so much, Wildcat! You would not believe. [Her heart doesn't feel like it's raced like this in a long time.]

[serment]

( home?

for a moment, catra nearly doesn't know what that is supposed to mean. where was home anymore? did she ever actually have a home? was there anywhere she was truly wanted? or was she just floating around from place to place?

it's what it's felt like.

but scorpia says she missed her and catra's first reaction isn't to immediately rebuke her. the sentiment settles warmly in her stomach, suddenly making her face hot and a little too keenly aware of the fact she's being carried right now.

her tail flicks and her ears twitch. )

Shouldn't you have gotten a better friend already?

( there's no real heat to the question, the fussy pout to her tone evident. )

How's long it been? Since . . ?