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quaranmeme2017-06-19 09:05 pm
riverview: june 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!
● Reserves are currently OPEN.
● Applications open on July 1st.
● 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
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Whether you've just arrived in the city or you've been here a while, and you have a sensitivity to the spiritual, magical, multidimensional, or anything else outside the realm of everyday normal, you've probably noticed a distinct uptick in weird feelings, strange nightmares, or daymares - hallucinations of scary things that are lurking just behind you.
You're not the only one who's noticed it.
There are rumors going around that the psychological and spiritual disturbances are due to the emergence or re-emergence of a deity. Some people say that it's something new that's come through the portal with the sharp increase in new arrivals recently, and others say it's simply an ancient spiritual presence or some ancient incorporeal monster that's been somehow awakened. Gramarye, the top-tier magic research center in Riverview Quarantine, has been studying anyone who's felt this presence, and have recently confirmed that whatever it is, it's being fed by all the extra energies and prayers and thoughts as the city's population increases. The one thing everyone agrees on is that, if the expanding community is feeding the entity, then the entity has got to go! Teams are being assembled across the city to travel into the Abandoned City or the forests outside the walls and look for anything like an abandoned temple that can be destroyed or that contains a relic that can be broken or pacified by a ritual. You're looking for something that will solve the problem, or for other evidence of a way to solve it. The mission might be dangerous, though - there are the usual dangers of venturing out into the wilds, but this time, characters may also face booby traps, spectral or physical guardians, and if the entity itself gets awoken? Someone will have to kill it.
The mission is open to multiple teams, multiple deities can be named (both made up or from characters' various canons), and there can be multiple outcomes. If you complete the mission in a TDM thread, and all characters involved are apped and accepted, you can submit the completed mission thread to the exploration page once you are in the game!
The problems the city is having this month are not just ethereal - there's something a little more scientific stirring up trouble. Recently, a large research company in the Quarantine has been trying to develop a monster repellent to provide to explorers who are traveling outside the walls, in hopes of protecting them from attacks. Unfortunately, the containment unit used to store the repellent - which is still in its experimental stages, not even yet tested on animals, let alone people - completely failed, leaking the experimental repellent into the environment around the facility. This facility is close enough to the wall that the repellent has permeated the groundwater and soil in the area and leeched underneath the fences.
Even more unfortunately, the repellent seems to currently have an almost opposite effect on monsters than its intended purpose. It's attracted the attention of a large colony of carnivorous plants that has thrived just outside the wall for decades, living by attacking fellow monsters that are dumb enough to try the fence in that area. Now, instead of going for other monsters, the plants are drawn to the failed repellent and are climbing the walls in search of the source, craving more of it. Residents have been asked to both help clean up the tainted soil by the wall and to fight the carnivorous plants in that area.
The carnivorous plants are in the form of vines ranging from the thickness of a pinkie finger to nearly half a foot thick, that grow incredibly fast, writhing together to form thicker tendrils. The leaves are about a foot wide at their largest and have stingers around the edge that cause a painful rash, and the flowers are large and red or orange, capable of spitting thick globs of acid that can cause burns ranging from very serious (red) to moderate or mild (orange or yellow-orange). They can be defeated especially well with fire, extremely strong pesticides, and edged weapons - vines do not grow back once they've been cut.
The carnivorous plants aren't the only ones feeling the effects of the spilled experimental repellent. Recently, an intrepid team went on a mission after hearing rumors of a type of monster outside the walls that might be able to be tamed and used as valiant steeds. The team was successful and the possible steeds, which turned out to be Chocobos!
So far, the Chocobos have been comfortably in training, learning how to wear saddles and carry people, but once they get a whiff of the repellent in the air, or gotten a taste of it in their water, they kind of go a little off the wall. Or, over the fence, as the case may be. Highly energized and unwilling to listen, Chocobos who have been exposed to the repellent will get free of their pens and start stampeding around the city. Citizens, it's time to team up to tame the wild Chocobos! Let the wark games begin!
The local wildlife aren't the only ones affected by the experimental repellent spill. While at first they didn't think it had any effect on sentients, they're having to start reevaluating that particular theory, because residents are definitely feeling it. Whether they're inhaling it in a gust of wind that smells disturbingly of ozone, or sipping a glass filled from a tap in the area of the spill and tasting something like chlorine, it's getting into residents' systems.
Once ingested or inhaled, the repellent can have two effects on an affected character: an overaffectionate mood, or an anti-social mood. The effects can vary in type, swinging from affectionate to cranky and back again at the drop of a hat, and they can also vary in intensity and manifestation - it all depends on body chemistry, both within an affected character, and in the interactions between two characters. So whether or not your characters liked or disliked each other beforehand, maybe their chemistries are very compatible or not compatible at all, and feelings might be a little...out of the ordinary.
Affectionate moods can range anywhere from a casual 'I love you man' to romantic or even carnal ideation; anti-social ones can range from being nervous around crowds or other people to being outright aggressive with other people. The repellent does not remove inhibitions and characters are able to control themselves. Emotions might be heightened, but these effects should not be used to facilitate things that would normally be completely out of character. Please put content warnings in subject lines.
Whether your character is posting up a silly word game to distract people from the dangerous mission going on, 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.
Choose your own adventure and do something else in the setting!
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He saw him block death scythes and demon claws, he saw him cut a ship in half-]
Undertaker-
[Why here? Why now? He's never tried harming Ciel but his concern for him and his family was... well, concerning.
He didn't get to think much further beyond that though, a vine wrapping around and ankle and yanking him back, making him drop his gun.]
Undertaker!
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[Two bounding steps and one swing of his scythe later had the coil of vine looking to claim the boy rendered lifeless. A second swing ended two more that slithered up trying to take its place, and the plant ceased to grow in that direction for a time. A time during which he turned to face the boy, grinning as if it meant nothing.]
I didn't realize the young Earl had such a change of heart, to come out all on his lonesome and labor like the rest of us. It'd be best to watch your step around these, I think, less that loyal dog of yours means to keep you safe.
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He hits the ground a little harder than is comfortable but he's more grateful than anything, scrambling to his feet and grabbing for his gun.]
I'm stuck living here, I'll do what I have to to ensure my own comfort. [Even if it's mostly helping other people now... Shut up.] Sebastian isn't here and I don't need his protection.
[Yes he does]
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[He hadn't cared for the gun. If the Earl wants to try and use it on him, it'll be a wasted bullet, and he's sure the boy is smart enough not to try it, especially not with his little demon around to compensate.]
Oh, so he isn't. What a shame. That's a mighty far climb up a mighty high ladder, milord. It'd be nice of your butler to lend his shoulders again to lift you up, but if you're so sure, I'd be careful. Using that gun against these, I'd wager you're still used to a different life. You especially should know by now it's a whole other world at the bottom of society. [Hee.] That's where we are now. Do you think you'll like it?
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I have no intention of starting or remaining at the bottom. [Ciel doesn't do bottom of society. He already has plans in motion to get himself back into the comfort he's accustomed to.] I'll like it when I've completed preparations to open a branch of the Funtom Corporation here.
[As an aside he then adds-] Thank you.
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Ever the busy body, I see. How like you. It does one good to keep occupied, staving off boredom in these idle times. Maybe a new branch of the company, eh? Something this world hasn't ever seen? It's not like our own, to be sure.
[The same grin widens and he turns back to the Earl, walking backward a few paces as he does.] Why, a show of gratitude? Whatever might I have done to gain such an honor?
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Busy body? [He's a little insulted.] Funtom is very successful in England, I'm sure it could prove lucrative here as well. And then I can continue to live in a manner suited to me.
[He frowns, don't make him regret this. He's trying to make good impressions here... Even if Undertaker knows just how awful Ciel can be.] I could just not thank you in the future, if you'd prefer.
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Oh, I'm sure it could, I'm sure it could. But what brings you the profit? Sweets? Toys? Trinkets? In this world where they only want to make a home for themselves, who can say? Might be the market for that sort of thing, might not. [Shoulders shrug in a snrt.] Either way, it's clear we'll not be going anywhere for a long while.
[And with that, he boots a way a smaller vine, barely sparing it a glance.] You'll do what you like, young Lord, whether or not I care. Strikes me, though, that you would stoop to such words, given our last meeting. Been here long enough that it changed you, yes?
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With hope, it will all combine into enough profits that I won't need to be concerned about which one is the most profitable. The toys though, I will admit, may not be beneficial at the time. I've not seen many children.
[He's watching each swing of the scythe, and at first he can clearly remember it being stabbed into Sebastian's back, being raised to reap him once Undertaker was satisfied with his Cinematic Record- but it's not aimed at him or anyone else now.]
It's been some time since I attended Weston College, you'll have missed a great deal. [That's the last time he'd seen him.
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Weston College, you say? Hmmm. [That's a little beyond his reality, but it makes him think. The plant he had booted before gets another boot. He pauses to consider it, swipes it dead, reseats his scythe and continues.] High class place, that. Is your private schooling no longer to your liking? [He honestly doesn't care, but he doesn't remember this. Interesting.]
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[He narrows his eye a little, both at the change in direction and the comment about Weston. He knows he doesn't have to worry about him forgetting most things- can reapers even forget easily?]
You know damn well why I was forced to attend Weston. [Didn't he? He continues-] You and your damn dolls.
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[One more vine down and he stops to survey the results of his work and consider the boy's words.] Being that I'm feeling a bit generous today, I'll let you in on a little secret: I don't know about that. [Nothing new has cropped up since the last runt of a plant he just dealt with, so he puts his scythe away, well hidden under his coat, and back to his apartment he'll head, just to see if the little Earl will follow him.]
Last I saw of my beautiful dolls and you, all of it was headed to the bottom of the Atlantic. Never a doubt in my mind you'd survive, though. Least that butler is good for something. Work horse, indeed.
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You don't-
[Ciel just scowls. How ridiculous, what did this mean?][Oh. He probably just jinxed himself. Not that it matters. He'll stick by Undertaker for awhile, at least until he has to split off from the former reaper to reach is own, hopefully temporary, residence.]
He managed to find a lifeboat that hadn't been lowered from the ship. He ensured I found my way into it. [Should he bring up what happened at Weston? Or would his words somehow influence events and cause the incident.]
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[By way of explanation, he just grins. No, he doesn't. He doesn't remember anything from past the ship. He slipped to land and walked away and walked right into this world] A lifeboat, mm? How bland. But I suppose if it does the trick, no use arguing with it. You survived.
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[Or, at least, he's confident that Sebastian will do that. He knows it's not actually a definitive skill.]
It was originally a lifesaver. [So dry. It was a terrible experience and nothing funny about it, though he still doesn't want Undertaker knowing too much. The water had been so cold...]
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[He knows it was cold. He was there, he knows the time of year, he knows what ice water feels like. The little Earl is fooling him not.] I would say it still is. Saved your life.
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Sebastian saved my life. [Undertaker probably doesn't quite want to hear that.]
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[He doesn't want to hear it, no. But it's what he needed to rely on back in their world, during that incident, so he'll hear it anyway. He doesn't say anything more about it though, just skips a bit on his way back to his home, temporary or not.]
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So you mean to just sit by while here?
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[Not that he's been through this before. Not that he himself hasn't done it before.] That's not something I can do. I can't be a bystander if I didn't agree to come here. I think for once, we would agree on that much.
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[It's a little strange, for him, to think about something they agree on.] What will you do then?
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[But then he shuts himself up again. The open book is now closed.] My, my. What will I do? What, indeed?
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That's all you want from this, isn't it?
[Frowning.] You're not serious...
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I never imagined you'd let such a thing as more advanced times put you off, of all people.
[Ciel, don't get snarky...]
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