dankmemes | test drive meme #15

Welcome to Hadriel's test drive, and thank you again for your interest in the game! As always, our reserves page is here, and our applications page is here! Reserves open December 25th, and apps are open January 1st. Please remember that there is an app cap of 20 apps.

Two quick points here as well:
1. Any thread made in Hadriel's test drive will be accepted as the sole Action Log sample in the application.
2. All threads made in the test drive can be considered game canon, either through handwaving or through a shared mental experience while coming through the Door!

Test drives will be broken up into specific god mini-events, during which your characters can see how well they fare under the watchful eye of one of the gods. Choose wisely or just simply pick 'em all, and have fun!

F E A R

SCENARIO ONE: YOU SMELL SOMETHING?
[The Door brings in all that is chaotic and evil in the world. This may include you, may include the person next to you... and may include the monster behind you.

Watch out as you explore the streets of Hadriel, because you're not alone, and there's always something lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect chance to knock you out, drag you back to its cave, and hang you upside down for some reason. This time, the Door has brought in a number of Wampas, from the Star Wars movies.

Wampas are large and furry, in order to stay warm and alive on their native ice planet of Hoth. While their white fur helps them blend in at home, it's less helpful in Hadriel - but that's fine! They're giant and terrifying with big claws and teeth, they don't really need camouflage too. They'll be more than happy to hunt you down - and if they don't eat you right there, they could knock you out and take you home for a later meal. If you wake up in a wampa cave, let's hope you remembered your lightsaber.]

R A G E

SCENARIO TWO: WE'RE ALL PISSED OFF HERE
[For some reason, something's just pissing you off today. It's something weird, too, something that wouldn't normally bother you at all. Maybe it's jackets or buildings with too many windows. Maybe it's animals or the simple act of sleeping. Whatever it is, it's total bullshit and you hate it.

What are you gonna do about it? Smash some windows? Kick a puppy? Or hey, maybe you'll run across someone who hates that thing just as much as you do, and you'll make a new friend! Or a new enemy, if they're wearing that most horrible of wardrobe items, a jacket.

This is a mini version of our Why Do You Have To Be Mad? event this month!]

D E L I G H T

SCENARIO THREE: THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON
[Generosity and charity have infected the city! And hey, that's a good thing, right? Hadriel could use a little more kindness. Who knows what's causing it - Delight is probably bored - but whatever it is, maybe it's affected you, too.

If it has, you'll be inspired by the desire to give gifts to your friends, your family, that stranger across the street. Of course, Hadriel doesn't have a lot of gift shops, so... well, maybe you should just give them the shirt off your back? Or hey, smash a shop window and grab that can of beans, they'll love that! You could even steal your friend's favorite jacket and give it to your other friend. How generous of you!

Or maybe you're totally unaffected, and a complete stranger just ran up to you on the street and tried to give you a shirt they ripped off their friend. It's, uh. Not weird. Aren't you gonna say thank you?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It might be best if you call me Anakin in public. [He doesn't want to be hunted down by those seeking to do some "good".] I have no reason to harm them if they do not attempt to harm me first. Can you assure me they won't?

You--you're General Skywalker? [It comes out before she has time to think of it, a name she knows from the history records and from her mother's infrequent stories of the Clone Wars. Maketh straightens before she can say anything more foolish.] They won't. They only want to protect the civilians.

Yes. [Surprise? A sadistic part of him revels in ruining the image he had before. No longer a Jedi-trained hero. He will be a hero in his own right.] Then they are safe...for the time being.

What do you know of General Skywalker?

[Maketh clears her throat.] A hero of the Clone Wars. We studied his--your, tactics in the Imperial Academy.

[She may or may not have written a paper on him. Maketh pauses.]

My mother fought at the Battle of Bakura. You wouldn't know her. She was--she was just a mercenary. But she remembered you.

I'm different than I was then, but only in my perspective. I want to make the galaxy peaceful for everyone. [He can see only one way to do that.]

She was more than that and I'm honored she remembered me.

[Of all the ways she might have imagined Lord Vader, none of them looked at all like this, spoke like this. Maketh had imagined he'd be something like the Grand Inquisitor - smiling and empty inside, a weapon who had been assigned a name and given up everything else. Maketh watches him for a moment, not sure what to say.]

She...would have liked to hear that.

[Both her parents are long dead. Maketh is the only one left.]

Sir...I would ask you a question.

You've suffered losses. [He lays a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly.] I seek to change that. Everyone has suffered too much for too long. The Jedi cannot do anything; they are too weak - too divided.

[His eyebrows raise and he cocks his head to the side.]

Go ahead.

[Maketh goes rigid but doesn't flinch away like her instincts are screaming to. Get away, get distance, run. Don't try to fight, just survive. Get high ground and get away. She doesn't like being touched under good circumstances and the sensation of being this close to Lord Vader only makes her see how easy it would be for him to kill her. It wouldn't be hard. All he'd have to do is--

No, stop. Focus. Do your duty, soldier. Maketh takes a slow breath and meets his eyes.] The Jedi are dead.

[Only the rebels are still breathing. The Inquisitors don't count. They're barely alive.]

You say you want peace. Then why...why did you support the Emperor?

[Her instincts are impeccable. She should run and hide from his touch for surely such a thing could taint even the brightest of presences. He had done it to Padmé and his children in the future. But she is in no immediate danger, at least.]

Good! [He laughs, the sound cold, sharp and bitter.] The galaxy is better off without them.

[Anakin looks away at the question.] He is the only one willing to guide me to the power I need to save Padmé.

[Maketh doesn't ask if he's sure. The Jedi are dead and that's the end of it. No point in asking what-if.]

And did you? Save her?

[The name rings vaguely familiar, though Maketh can't place it. Another figure from the history books. But she recognizes that tone, the drive to protect someone who matters. She's felt it before, with Lilith and Henry and all the others she's pulled into her makeshift family. She'd do awful things to save them.]

Not yet. [His voice quiets and his expression tightens.] But I will.

She will not die.

[Not like his mother. The Force had warned him and he will continue to act on it.]

Edited 2016-12-25 15:52 (UTC)

[Maketh nods shakily. Of course he'll save this woman. He'll probably kill her if she asks too many questions or implies otherwise.] Yes, sir.

[She swallows hard.]

What--what do you require of me?

Your assistance and your loyalty. [He has the upper hand here and he knows it. Why not put it to good use?] Lead me to the other Force users first. Then we can discuss accommodations.

I--I have patrols to coordinate. The perimeter must be secured. [She needs time to warn Ashoka, if not Kylo. Kylo Ren is only a tedious ally, prone to fits of temper and far from loyal. But Maketh trusts Ashoka to be honorable and follow her duty. She ought to be warned. But to do that, Maketh needs to get away from Vader - Anakin? - long enough to send a message. There's no way to she can do it in his presence. He'll kill her the moment she tries.] Things are always unstable after the gods bring new people in. We only have a few guardsmen to protect the city.

[He's a tactician, he must understand that.]

[He isn't pleased with her answer and that shows. The air around them grows heavier and he lifts his hand again - only to grab her jaw in a firm grip.]

Do you really think any threat is more powerful than me? Take me to the city and then you can see to your duties.

[He releases her and sweeps onto the likeliest path, expecting her to hurry to lead him.]

[Maketh goes rigid before she think not to, eyes wide and far too open. Her training wasn't designed for something like this. If the instructors in the Academy meant to make a point, they would strike a cadet outright rather than--

Stop. Focus, soldier.

She takes a rattling breath. Vader never got this close on Lothal, never grabbed her. Never had to. But she remembers how the air would get heavy sometimes, when he wanted to make a point. He'll know if she tries to stall. He'll know and he'll kill her and then no one will be there to direct him away from the people under her protection. Her family.

Do your duty, soldier.]

--yes, sir. Of course, sir.

[She'll find a way. There has to be something.

Maketh swallows hard and leads him into the city.]

[Her fears - her training - are plain to him and he expects her to acknowledge his superior rank. If she doesn't, he will persuade her and she will not enjoy that in the slightest.]

Good. [His strides are long, which should keep her occupied. His eyes are set on the city before them, expression grim.]

I sense a strange power. It was strong enough to summon me; I would like to see what else it can do.

The Door. [Maketh hurries to keep up. Even without the armor, Vader is massive and moves like someone who has long since mastered his body. There's no hesitation when he moves and there will be less than that when he strikes.] It's a device. The gods use it to bring people here. They claim it's not under their control. We've been looking for it, sir. Can you sense it?

test drive meme #15

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