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quaranmeme2018-01-20 07:58 pm
riverview: january test drive meme
riverview test drive memeWelcome to Riverview's test drive meme! Feel free to dip your toes in on the test drive meme to try out your character in the setting, play out a mission, and get samples for your application at the same time!
● There are currently 2 Character Slots available.
● Reserves will open on February 15th. Applications will next be open between March 1st to March 7th.
● Providing all parties are amenable, threads on the test drive meme can count as game canon, as the plot in the prompts presented is game canon.
● TDM threads do not count for Activity Check, but they do count for Activity Bonus Points, so long as all characters involved are accepted into the game.
● Threading on the TDM is intended for prospective new characters, so top-levels should only be posted by players of these characters. Since the events in the TDM are considered game canon, characters currently in the game are free to use the TDM prompts for logs and posts on the regular communities.
Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own scenario. The setting is built to be flexible, so feel free to make things up as you go.
information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● calendar ● navigation
Starting around the 20th, residents of the city will start hearing some pretty disturbing rumors circulating - the rumors originate with some members of the Perimeter Guard who are returning from patrols, pale and a little panicked. They're reporting that a herd of terrifying beetle-like behemoth monsters lumbering toward the city - one female leader clocking in at 60 feet long and about 20 smaller male companions, each around 30 feet long. Unlike the Behemoth who showed up earlier in the year, these ones are nasty, sporting horns and big enough to knock over trees and displace even the bigger monsters in the usual crowd, and they've already breached through the wall of the Abandoned City and are heading toward the city itself. A herd like this could cause some serious damage, maybe even enough to compromise the wall of the Inhabited City. Thankfully, the Perimeter Guard has a nice big ace up their sleeves in the form of a small fleet of mechs, but the problem is that the mech are still in beta-testing, prone to breaking down, and there aren't enough to go around. This means that there's going to have to be some serious support on the ground.
The attack on the behemoth beetles is two-fold. The first order of business is to send out anyone with big powers or big guns to wear them down, beating on them the old-fashioned way, with brute force. The second is to circle around behind and, while the monsters are distracted, try to herd them away from the city using bright flares, fireworks left over from the Festival of Light, and even more big guns. Volunteers to do the shooting and supplying the brave souls going out into the jungle are welcome!
What do you use to fight a giant monster? A giant mech. And thankfully the Perimeter Guard has been working on something just like that - a new fleet of 20 three-story-tall mech suits meant to be manned by two people. With the behemoth herd approaching, the Guard is calling for anyone with piloting experience, or even people willing to take a quick course in it, to help man the fleet and head out into the fray, stomping through the brush and fighting the behemoths either in the Abandoned City or the jungle outside it. The goal is to take them out, take them down, or at least help the ground teams herd them away from the city and discourage them from returning.
Mechs are piloted by two people working together - while it's not exactly drift compatibility, the two characters need to act together, with one directing where the mech goes and keeping an eye on the terrain, and the other one manning the guns and keeping an eye on the mech's defenses and energy and ammunition levels. This takes a lot of concentration and cooperation, and this day is bound to forge a lot of new friendships....and probably a few mortal enemies. On top of the difficulty of working with someone who may be a total stranger, don't forget the mechs are in beta-testing and are only being used as a last resort, which means they have a bad tendency to break down in unexpected ways.
Each mech is fitted with two large canon-style guns that can be semi-automatic or automatic with a limited amount of ammunition, one plasma sword, and a force shield that can take four serious hits before it is depleted. They have a finite amount of energy storage and are able to be in continuous use for 3 hours maximum before shutting down. Out of the fleet of 20 mechs, the mod only expects about 5 to still be functional at the end of the battle, so feel free to have characters destroy them in threads. If any player (once accepted to the game) is interested in having their character take over the mechs as a project going forward, feel free to PM the mod account and we can talk it out!
Once the city is safe enough that it isn't in poor taste to advertise fun outings, residents will start seeing ads for a new attraction in the city - the Crystal Caves. Presented as an excellent date spot, the caves are beautiful natural formations only recently discovered just a short walk outside the city. With the path cleared and patrolled by hired security to ensure that the trip there is safe, happy couples (or singles, but why go alone when you can bring a special friend or two?) can walk through the caves.
Inside, characters will enjoy a short walk along a twisty cave path where the walls appear to be made of semi-opaque crystal that shimmers with different colors, looking almost a little like the Northern Lights. After this path, the caves open into a series of beautiful caverns that seem to be made of pure crystal, with jagged crystalline formations in wide varieties of colors, some of which look almost like they've been slowly melting for decades, molten and shimmering. Visitors can find booths offering rock candy crystals on sticks and other treats, souvenirs, and for those without as much exploratory spirit or patience, guided tours that point out some of the more beautiful formations. There are also a few smaller caverns that have been converted into overnight camps where groups can stay the night and enjoy a catered group breakfast in the morning!
If there's one trait that entrepreneurs in Riverview Quarantine all seem to have in common, it's jumping the gun and opening attractions or releasing new products before taking the time to conduct enough tests. The Crystal Caves are no different, unfortunately, though in this case the effects are a little less distressing. Residents who traveled to the caves will find themselves tossing and turning at night anywhere from a few days later to a week later, depending on their mental fortitude, and slipping into incredibly strange dreams. Varying from wild flights of exhilarating fancy to personalized nightmares depending on the personality of the dreamer, the dreams are incredibly vivid and realistic, with everything feeling, smelling, sounding, tasting, and looking completely real.
The strangest part of the dreams, though, is that anyone who'd looked at the same particular crystal as another person and seen their reflections in it will experience the dream with that person as an equal participant, able to share the same dream-granted abilities and experiences, able to work together as a team or hinder progress. Whether that person was a partner, a friend, an enemy, or even just a stranger observing the same formation at the same time, if their reflections appeared on a crystal together, they will find themselves sharing each other's dreams off and on for about a week. Some dreamers might even find that just thinking about a particular person they know as they fall asleep can pull that person into their dream, even if they weren't in the caves together.
This effect can be shared between just two people or larger groups, and the dreams themselves can belong to any character affected or be a combination of all of their dreams. The dreams themselves tend toward the positive more than the negative and the fanciful more than the realistic, but where they fall on that spectrum depends largely on character temperament and personality. Characters affected simply have to have looked at the same crystal in the caves, even if it was on a different day or at a different time, or for characters who would not have gone to the caves, be thought of by a person who has while they fall asleep.
Whether your character is posting up a silly word game, trying to get hold of a friend, or putting out feelers for people to go out into the fray with, the network is going strong.
Alternately, an offer for a free app is popping up on new arrivals' devices - Friendr is a friend-finder and/or dating app. If characters choose to install it, they will fill out a short bio and parameters for what they're looking for, upload a snap of themselves, and then proceed to browse for matches. This is a typical swipe-left-or-right type app.
Friendr base code is by photosynthesis.
The code in the textbox is for the default color scheme, but the Friendr app has a wide variety of themes, so feel free to customize with colors and patterns as you see fit, but do not remove the credit line out of respect for the creator of the code.
Use the wildcard prompt to choose your own adventure and do whatever else you like in the setting!
no subject
Habits don't change easily unless there is pressure. You know that.
They are a great source of protein.
no subject
I know, and I also know you didn't give me a third lesson.
...No. They're not meant for eating!
no subject
And whose fault is that?
They breed so quickly and have no natural predators here. Do you want to be overrun with porgs and porglets?
no subject
Mine, but I can't run off to anywhere else here.
We were overrun with them for a while, but then they...vanished? And I think the Vikings ate some of them.
[So, there you go. Vikings are the porg's natural predators.]
no subject
Your point?
So you understand the value of life-death balance now. Good job.
no subject
I still need a teacher. I need to finish the lessons you were trying to teach me.
So much sarcasm in one text.
no subject
You have everything you need. I'm an accessory.
Your perception skills are sharp. There's hope for you yet.
no subject
That's not true. You're someone I need right now. Or maybe, I'll follow your footsteps and be a hermit somewhere.
Hope is all we have at this point, and I find myself with very little of it on some days.
no subject
And how do you figure that, oh wise one?
Welcome to the hope fan club. Here's your consolatory pin and pat on the shoulder.
[He doesn't actually send her anything, but she might - just might - feel his presence briefly.]
no subject
Because I thought Ben could come back. I had a vision that he would come back, and he didn't. [And she has kissed him, maybe have feelings for him that she's not dealing with, but that's besides the point.]
I'm not wise in any sense of the word. I was foolish to think Ben could change.
[...She felt his presence and nearly chuckled...very funny, Master Skywalker.]
Let me guess, you're the President of this club? Or co-President with Leia?
no subject
Maybe his typing tone changes. Just a bit. Don't get used to it!]
No, it wasn't foolish. It was hopeful. Some people have to want to change, otherwise, it's just you beating on them for something that isn't possible for them.
[Ha, he a president of anything? Nope.]
General Organa has always been the President for Hope. I'm an exiled member.
no subject
Damn feelings, getting in the way of logic and clarity.]It was possible for him. He did change, he went against Snoke. He had the opportunity to kill me and he didn't.
...Or maybe I'm trying to see something that isn't there anymore.
[That earns a small huff of laughter.]
I don't think she considers you an exiled member--maybe one that's behind on paying their club dues, but not exiled.
no subject
You're typing in the past tense. Does that mean you now believe he can't or won't change now?
[He rolled his eyes at her reply. So like her.]
Self-exiled member.
no subject
I don't know. I think he refuses to change. I think he can change, but he doesn't want to. I don't...know what to make of him, Master Skywalker.
[Yup, so like her and she won't stop pressing the matter.]
Unless the General banned you, you're still part of the club--self-exiled or not.
no subject
So there in lies your problem: until he wants to change, you're fighting a losing battle. Someone in that much conflict is likely to tear themselves a part and take you down with them if you stay too close.
[Never. He has years of experience holding out.]
And yet, still self-exiled, which means I don't participate.
no subject
He also deserves a few other things, but that comes later on. And no, she didn't know of the screaming match between him and Ren--although it wouldn't surprise her.]
Then what should I do? Let him be consumed with his own rage until there's nothing left? [That can't be it, there has to be something? Or...no, he was right. She can't do anything, as much as she wants to.]
Try explaining that to the General. She would back me up on this and say you're still a member.
no subject
Stand back and let him be consumed by his rage until he's ready to accept help. Has his decisions so far hurt you or those around you?
[The feeling of forced helplessness was the worst. Why do you think he's been in hiding so long?]
She would do more than back you up.
no subject
But being subtle wasn't really her forte...she needs a lot of help there.]
Yes. He nearly killed one of my friends.
[And she's till on the fence as to what needs to be done, because he's hurt her too--emotionally, but she won't bring that up. Her feelings can be set aside right now.
Well...that same feeling is starting to grow on her. It's not pleasant...and maybe she will become a hermit, just until she can figure her own shit out---or learn from Luke, whichever comes first.]
I know, and you know what else she would do to get you to come back.
She might even forgive all those past dues. [...teasing, a little.]
no subject
He just wants to be left alone, but she's... going to badger him. There's no escape unless he retreats to the forest, but even then, he wouldn't be surprised if she shows up.]
And what did you do about it?
[He pretends like he doesn't care because he shouldn't. He is part of the reason that Ben is this way, and at the heart of the matter, he knows he should take a more active role. It just happens to be hard to see his own flesh and blood so mad on hate and rage all the time.]
And she would tell me about all the changes she's making to her hair. Again.
[Ignore that overt fondness for his sibling.]
no subject
[Yes, she would badger Luke into talking to her. She would end up in the forest with him, trying to either coax him back to the rest of the group, or just follow along in his practice. What else does she have to lose? Her attempts at trying to do the right thing have been failing...so really, what else can she do?]
Yes, she would. And both you could play catch up and...enjoy each other's company before you get cranky and want a nap.
[Trying to ease him, trying to be funny...and she's coming up short. She's feeling conflicted with her own feelings on Ben, especially when she looks at him she sees a lonely man who has nothing left to lose.]
no subject
[He wouldn't say that this Poe had good sense, but at least the guy had held Rey back. Otherwise, it would simply be one new battle after another. After all, Ben currently didn't have the weight of the First Order or Snoke behind him as far as he could tell. He would consider that a dangerous position.]
I see your smart mouth hasn't wisened up any. Do you speak to the General like that or just me?
no subject
But us fighting wouldn't have solved anything.
[Funny, Rey considered that without Snoke or the First Order around, Ben might be more open to coming around....and she was wrong.]
There is a difference between being 'smart' and 'wise.' I thought you knew that.
Only you, because you seem to need it.
no subject
[There were a lot more issues to Ben than the First Order and Snoke, and he knew the kid was so turned around and twisted around that a moment of hitting absolute rock bottom and powerlessness might be the only trick to making any actual progress. Some people went too dark and couldn't find their way out. Just look at the Emperor.]
I know it better than you do, I assure you.
How do you figure that?
no subject
[Maybe that's the only thing Ben can do now...just hit rock bottom and hope the light will guide him back--assuming he would even look to the light to begin with. And yet, she wants to help him...and not helping him, feels wrong.]
You've been gone for years. You need something to keep you on your toes. I highly doubt anything exciting ever happened on Ahch-To.
If you don't like me being a smart-ass to you, I could ask the General to help pick up the slack. Or Poe. Or both...both seem like a better option.
no subject
[No, he had been gone for years specifically to not have to be on his toes all the time, though he remained sharp for combat because actually walking up and down the sharp slopes only kept his mind occupied for so long.]
The fact nothing exciting happened was why I lived there.
Or you could just not be a smart-ass.
[She was a bit too like him when he had been lipping off his masters too. So that's what it felt like, huh? Amazing they didn't tan him more.]
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