riverviewmod: (Default)
Riverview Moderator ([personal profile] riverviewmod) wrote in [community profile] quaranmeme2018-01-20 07:58 pm

riverview: january test drive meme

riverview test drive meme

Welcome 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

premisearrivalsettingask a questioncalendarnavigation


prompt i: behemoth herders

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!


prompt ii: drift compatible

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!


prompt iii: the crystal caves

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!


prompt iv: dream a little dream

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.


prompt v: friendr/network

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.

Code to post your character's bio is in the textbox below. An example of how it looks can be found here.


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.


prompt vi: wildcard

Use the wildcard prompt to choose your own adventure and do whatever else you like in the setting!


navigation

[crystal cave by Piotr Dura]
sentiences: (Nothing in the Universe can shake them)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-22 01:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like fun. I wouldn't mind having a purpose like that.

I'm a cop. Designed to help people.
datbackstory: (programmed to entertain)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-22 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
No argument there, I think we kinda lucked out in that regard.

A cop though? Now ain't that somethin'. Went through a kick of wanting to be one when I was new-built, but then I discovered dime westerns and wanted to be a cowboy even more.

Not that either suits me, never been one for weapons. What about you, any fanciful 'when I grow up' thoughts?
sentiences: (If the domination is by an inferior)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-23 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
I wouldn't mind being a fireman. Or an astronaut. There are reports of synthetics who go into space, after all.
datbackstory: (Oh you're home early)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-23 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll trade you. Petes has been prepping us for space travel back home ever since his satellite made planetfall and I gotta say I'm a lot happier with both feet on terra firma.

[Help him Dorian he doesn't wanna go to space, space is more ridiculous than home.]
sentiences: (Conflict with the First Law)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
I wish I could, but being a cop matters a lot to me. I don't think I'm ready to give it up.
datbackstory: (epic and so cool)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
You could be the first space cop.
sentiences: (The resentment becomes stronger.)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
What would cops do in space?
datbackstory: (Clark Gable eat your heart out)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
...Pretty much what we're goin' to do actually. Satellite fell in love with a planet-sized green apple, some kinda space giant showed up and took a bite outta her so we're going to try and sort it out.

Not sure what kinda crime you'd count that as, but still.
sentiences: (Nothing in the Universe can shake them)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Well. It certainly doesn't sound boring.
datbackstory: (how I've been all along)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. You'd think with everything goin' on out there someone'd start some kinda space police but it's like the wild west out there, go figure.
sentiences: (Allow a human being to come to harm)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
I think it varies from reality to reality. Space isn't much of a frontier with us yet.
datbackstory: (Oh you're home early)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
Oh no argument there. Not much back home either, at least from Earth. Lotsa other planets out there with life roamin' the stars though.

Kinda excited to see what's out there for myself but at the same time I'm not much for heights or flyin'.


sentiences: (A robot must obey the orders given)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
What are your preferences then?

[ There's something . . . beautiful about being able to ask that. Or to have that. Dorian isn't entirely sure he has those. He was programmed to be a cop. It's all he's ever wanted to do. ]
datbackstory: (programmed to entertain)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
Well I'm happiest up on stage. Or wherever there's someone around and I've got an instrument on hand. Might be the whole 'programmed to entertain' thing, but true enough. Otherwise I'm content to find somewhere quiet to write or read.

What about you? Anything you like to get up to?
sentiences: (Between a robot)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
I don't have anything like that. Or that kind of time.
datbackstory: (Clark Gable eat your heart out)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 09:27 am (UTC)(link)
Even in this place? You'd figure they'd be able to get you some breaks in there.

[Or are you waving off the breaks. The Spine knows that trick buddy!]
sentiences: (Between a robot)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 09:34 am (UTC)(link)
Well, no. But it's new to me. Not being public property and all that.
datbackstory: (epic and so cool)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah being classified as something other than 'heavy machinery' is a nice change of pace, won't hear me arguin' that.

But yeah you should definitely get some 'you time' in there. Burnout's a real thing and it's not just a human thing either.
sentiences: (A robot must obey the orders given)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 09:48 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think that'll happen. I'm so relieved to be outside, just . . . alive.
datbackstory: (Oh you're home early)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 09:56 am (UTC)(link)
Fair enough, can't blame you there.

Might tap you in to be a test audience here and there if that's alright? Gotta tweak basically all the songs to play alone so havin' a fresh ear'd definitely help in that if you're up for it.


[It's true! But it also means that Dorian can get out and maybe have some fun in the process!

Somewhere in the multiverse Rabbit is feeling inexplicably smug as she tries to sweet-talk the family's new toaster and likely has no idea why.]
sentiences: (The resentment becomes stronger.)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 09:59 am (UTC)(link)
Sure. I'd be happy to help, though I don't know if I have good taste in music.
datbackstory: (someone's feeling confident)

[personal profile] datbackstory 2018-01-24 10:04 am (UTC)(link)
What? Nah, I'm sure your taste in music's fine. More worried that it's not y'know... sounding weird. Better to get someone impartial to listen in from time to time.
sentiences: (It's your fiction that interests me)

[personal profile] sentiences 2018-01-24 10:09 am (UTC)(link)
I can certainly help with that.