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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
( flatly.
catra lets out a harsh sigh from her nose, already formulating an argument as to why curses couldn't be solved that easily. it's a good argument too. she just needed to make scorpia understand that the laws of the universe were simple and unbreakable. one of those laws just happened to be she had to metaphorically eat mud every now and again.
but scorpia seems a little more concerned with the other thing she said. the cause.
her gaze slides away, looking off to what's ahead of them. )
. . . My birthday.
( aka her first date. )
no subject
As Catra answers her question, Scorpia feels kinda silly for asking it- but she feels assured by it too. And her heart feels stronger- that Catra remembers it and gives it that prominence.]
Right. Of course. That was a really great day. [She responds softly, as red colors her cheeks.] I- I really enjoyed spending it with you. [Easily one of her fondest memories in any world she's been in.]
no subject
( she echoes, her voice low and quiet. catra can feel her tail flick in embarrassment, the tip of it brushing against the skin of scorpia's arm. her shoulders tighten, stiffening up a little. it's almost like she's preparing for some sort of rejection. )
Me too. Obviously.
( a huff.
obviously! obviously! she hasn't exactly been subtle or even thought to be, pretty much wearing her feelings on her sleeve. granted, she hadn't exactly been subtle on their date either. it had felt a lot like their time back in the waste. casual, relaxed, easy. easy to joke, easy to tease, easy to flirt. fun.
something she took for granted last time, thinking it would always be there. scorpia would always be there. she wanted more days like that, more time spent with scorpia where it just felt good to be themselves with each other.
but then she slipped back into the ocean. and all this time has already passed.
. . . )
no subject
Of course. I... I'm glad you definitely feel that way.
[She blushes a bit more as she remembers some of Catra's flirting. And her pincer gently rubs Catra's back. In a hush, she breathes-]
Let's do it again sometime.
no subject
( half-grunted and a little stilted. it's difficult to find her voice right now, difficult to pick out the words that she wants to use. catra wants to say the right thing, to be upfront now that the opportunity is right in front of her face, but she also wants to push and recoil.
a very serious part of her wants to jump out of scorpia's arms and skitter off into the distance to rethink her entire life. maybe have a little meltdown too. just a little one. as a treat.
the other part just wants to dig her claws in. )
But you can't go with anyone else.
( catra says it like a statement, but it really seems like more of a question from the way she's looking at scorpia. waiting for some kind of refusal. )
no subject
At her statement, she raises an eyebrow somewhat coyly.]
You know I don't take orders from you anymore.
[With that reminder, she grins.]
But I don't see any reason why I would. You're the only person I need to go... anywhere with!
no subject
( which is totally different. it's a cheeky remark, followed by the careful swish and curl of her tail. she's pretty sure that scorpia understands what she's getting at. she tends to understand her even when catra has a hard time speaking. )
Alright, okay. Yeah, good.
( there are probably a hundred better things that she could have said, but isn't the important part that she is saying them in the first place? catra hopes so.
then she glances upwards, offering scorpia a smile. )
no subject
Ohhh of course, a demand! Well, I have been knowm to fulfill those from time to time.
[Catra's smile immediately melts her heart. It feels like a rare discovery to see a smile so simple and true decorating Catra's face. Scorpia gazes back at her, with a soft smile of her own.]
...I'm so glad you're back! [She whispers excitedly!]
no subject
her tail curls loosely around scorpia's arm. a little gesture. )
Lucky me. Guess I caught you in a generous mood!
( followed by a snort as catra leans in to press her forehead against scorpia's neck.
a big gesture. )
Did I miss anything important? You got anything worth reporting on?
no subject
Oh yeah, you know me, always stingy with the... generosity. [Now she gives even more of a laugh, as she's having trouble pretending that with a straight face.
In any case, she feels a strong warmth rushing through her as she feels Catra's head against her neck. This is the kind of thing she used to dream of! And it's not so bad in reality. She lowers her chin to nuzzle against the top of her head.]
Well, there's been a whole lot happening in Trench in general! Not sure where to begin. But for me, I guess things are mostly the same. Still singing, still Night Walking. Still making a large number of friends!
no subject
the tips of catra's ears rapidly flick against scorpia face as she goes in for the nuzzle, but catra doesn't fight it. she lets scorpia offer some affection in return.
she snorts again at hearing scorpia say 'still night walking'. has anyone told her that she shouldn't say it like that? that it absolutely sounds like something it isn't? well, catra isn't going to be the one to tell her. actually, she kind of hopes she's been saying it the whole time. the thought of it makes her smile to herself. )
Only you would still keep making friends in a place like this.
( then a beat. )
. . .Diluc? Is he still here?
no subject
Although her question does bring her back a bit, and she frowns as she raises her head a little.]
Hoo boy. ...Sorry, Catra. He's been gone for around a year now.
[She misses him a lot herself. She still has the belt he made for her.]
no subject
okay.
that's good, right? catra knows that it is supposed to be. there are lots of people awaiting diluc's return, that miss him, and need him. he didn't belong here any more than the rest of them. nor was he under any obligation to wait for catra, but—her heart twists. the shift in catra's body language is immediate, now starting to pull in on herself.
just because they made it through two worlds together didn't mean anything.
yeah.
she could be fine with this. )
Guess that was bound to happen.
( grumbled out.
then catra realises a much more important problem. )
Ugggh, no. Wait. That means that the house is definitely trashed!
( if not totally layered in dust. )
no subject
Oh, I'm sure the place is fine! [She tries to sound reassuring, but she really doesn't know for sure.] It's kinda been a while since I checked on it, but I'm sure it's there, all nice and neat, waiting for you! [And Scorpia's ready to work on cleaning if if the truth is otherwise!]
no subject
( catra isn't so sure about that. things are never so easy for her. if it isn't one thing then it's another. there is no way that the house is going to be in any kind of acceptable condition. it's going to be some hair-pullingly annoying problem.
there's no way it'd be anything else. )
Just take me to yours. I don't want to look at that yet.
( then a thought. )
You were checking on it?
no subject
If you say so. Next stop, my place!
[But she averts her gaze shyly at Catra's question.]
Well, of course! I figured, who knows? Maybe you or Diluc would pop back up any moment now. So I should make sure their home's still alright! I hope that it's okay that I let myself in. I went there a good number of times! [Until she started to feel that maybe they really weren't coming back.]