dankmemes | test drive meme #16

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!test drive

test drive meme #16

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 January 24th, and apps are open February 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: THE CREEPY CRAWLIES
[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 to impale you on its giant claws and crunch your bones between its mandibles. That's right, this time the Door is bringing you bugs from Starship Troopers, in all their giant and disgusting glory!

Bugs are, well, giant insects that come in all shapes and sizes, depending on the rank, and are way too tall or too heavy than they have any right to be. They can move quickly, most of them have the ability to fly, and their exo-skeletons means that it's difficult to really hurt them unless you've got some muscles on you. Or a really big boot, I guess.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO TWO: WHO'S THAT IN THE MIRROR?
[Something's lurking in the dark. Something that really wants to ruin your day by any means necessary- that includes preying on your darkest fears, or just, you know, simply killing you. But that's not a problem, right? You're big and tough! Except, so is this creature out to get you. And it knows all of your weaknesses and insecurities too because, well... it is you.

Doubles of characters will be flooding the city and attempting to ruin the originals lives by whatever means necessary. This generally involves killing the original and then impersonating them, but it can also mean killing people you love or just bringing up your awkward teenage years to traumatize you in front of all your new cool friends.

What can you do to stop it? Well, you could kill them first, that certainly won't require a few trips to therapy later! There's always locking them away, or maybe trying to befriend them because hey, who's better at ruining your life than you?

This is a mini version of our Dead Ringers event this month!]

T R A N Q U I L I T Y

SCENARIO THREE: CAN YOU JUST LIKE, CHILL FOR A SEC?
[Embrace tranquility! Or rather, get pulled, kicking and screaming into an event during which you magically have to find some chill, or else Tranquility will force chill upon you.

For this prompt, characters will find themselves in a state of sudden peace and calm, without much anger or meanness to go around. That guy you hate? Maybe you should give him a peace offering. The chick who stole your girlfriend? Maybe you should congratulate her! Everything is peaceful and everything is... sorta gray.

Don't get me wrong, it's nice to be able to relax, but we have an emotional spectrum for a reason. Pretty soon, the tranquility of this might turn into something a little creepy, even Stepfordish... but it's hard to really care when everything is so damn pleasant, right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At least she's approaching things logically. It makes this easier. Sometimes the newcomers kick their heels in or want to fight, try to reason their way out of things. An understandable response, Maketh supposes, if entirely unhelpful.

Not this woman, though.

That's good. Maketh doesn't think she has it in her to be gentle right now. She nods to the woman and pulls the rifle off her shoulder.]

Get behind me. There are many like that.

[She pauses.]

My name is Maketh. I'm a guardswoman.

[Anne doesn't have to be told twice, quickly moving behind Maketh. This isn't the first time she's been in danger and she doubts it will be the last.

She looked at Maketh with surprise. She had never met a female guard before but she gave a smile. This wasnt' France and this woman didn't seem to recognize her so she decided to remain quiet about her title. Without the musketeers, anyone who knew who she was could take advantage of the situation.]

My name is Anne. I am glad to have met you, Maketh.

[There were so many questions she wanted to ask but now wasn't the time.]

[How polite. Maketh just shakes her head.]

You may not think so when you understand where you are.

[But that will be a conversation for safer paths, preferably inside ground the guardsmen control.]

Stay close. It's not far.

[Anne understood enough not to press further just yet, focusing on not tripping over rocks or anything else. Her heeled shoes make it difficult but she managed to keep up, nonetheless.]

I'm right behind you, Maketh.

[It was difficult to resist the urge to look behind her to make sure they weren't being followed but Maketh seemed to understand the danger and how important it was get away.]

[The rest of the trip is silent. Maketh lets her mind shift to patrol mode, a trick she hasn't played since the Academy but remembers nonetheless. You exist for a task. You are that task. Nothing else matters.

Check the sight-lines. Keep your footing. Check the civilian. Continue.

Continue until you reach the objective.

Maketh leads Anne to the guard post. It's as good a place to start as any.

Once inside, she sets her rifle in its designated rack and jerks her head at a chair.]

I'll get you water.

[Anne was silent until they reached the post, letting out a breath as soon as they were inside. She gratefully sank down into a chair, her knees felt as if they would have gone out from under her after the adrenaline had worn off.]

Water would be perfect.

[She was parched, she couldn't remember the last time she had anything to eat or drink. France seemed like a lifetime ago, she wasn't sure how long it had been since she had been in her rooms watching Louis head off on a hunt.]

[A moment later Maketh returns with a plastic water bottle and hands it over, sitting down across from Anne.]

Drink. Then ask you questions. I will answer what I can.

I am grateful for everything you have done for me.

[She took the bottle, it took her a moment to figure out how to open cap but managed it after a moment to take a drink of water.]

I don't know what this place is. It seemed like one minute I was home watching my husband leave to go hunting and the next that..thing was after me. He must be worried if I've been gone so long.

[Impeccable manners. That and the dress imply she's a politician of some kind - or would, in Maketh's world. The rules are different here. It's dangerous to assume.

Maketh leans back in her chair, watching Anne carefully.]

This place is called Hadriel. You were brought here as I was. As were many others. The things in charge have the power to do that.

[She tips her head to the side.]

They're hungry, you see.

[Anne picked up on what Maketh wasn't telling her. There was no way back from wherever this was, apparently.]

The...things in charge? Who- or what- are they?

[This was seeming less likely that she had been a specific target but if there were others trapped with her than she felt compelled to do something.]

They don't really eat people, do they?

[That was horrifying.]

There are things in the caves that would eat your body. The gods require something different. A little less...literal. Human emotion.

[Maketh smiles, thin and humorless.]

They call themselves gods. And they have the power to back up such claims.

Actual gods?

[She wore her gold cross under her dress and her hand went up to it instinctively. She had been raised a princess in Catholic Spain, her religion was close to her heart. It was the one thing from her home that she had been able to hold onto even as everything else had been stripped away to make her into a French queen.]

Why would they take our emotions? Are we just here for their amusement?

[Anger flashed in her eyes at that, it seemed sick for anyone to keep people here just for that.]

So they claim.

[There's little to say otherwise at this point. Maketh supposes anything with enough power might as well be divine. The strongest will always conquer the weak.

Maketh shrugs.]

They need more power. To bring their fellows back from the dead. They can do that.

[She taps her forehead.]

We're not much use if we die.

But you imply there isn't a way out.

[She didn't want to just accept defeat, she couldn't. She drained the water bottle before replacing the cap and setting it aside.]

There must be other people here who have been brought against their will, who have loved ones waiting for them at home. No one has managed to break free of here?

We wouldn't be much use if we could get away, either.

[Maketh nods slowly. Anne has a quick grasp of the situation. A smart woman, whatever her station had been in the world she'd been dragged from.]

There are many, yes. And we have tried. Many times.

[She rubs her face with a sigh.]

And we will continue to fight for as long as we must.

[Anne sat back as she took in the information. Queen or not, she felt a responsibility to help however she could. Sitting still had never been something she could do.]

Then I will help fight as well. [It's clear that she's not experienced fighter but she wouldn't just sit around waiting for rescue. Her expression was determined, her voice firm as she met Maketh's gaze.]

What can I do to help?

[Maketh leans back in her chair, watching Anne.]

That depends. You're not a soldier. What can you do?

[She pauses.]

Myself and one of the others here lead the guardsmen. I commanded troops as---where I came from. I have experience in such things. Others have medical training or....power. Of varied sorts.

[There was an awkward pause as Anne tried to think of an answer. She knew what she had been taught as part of her royal education would be next to useless here.

I admit I don't have experience as a healer but I am willing to learn what I have to.

[She had tried to learn how to cook and had given it her best effort. She would just have to apply herself here.]

I want to do all that I can here, Maketh.

[Maketh nods slowly. She can work with that.]

Should you wish it, we can also teach you how to fight. Or at least defend yourself effectively.

[It is curious that Anne hasn't said what she did in her world, other than being married. Perhaps it's nothing. Maketh tucks that information away just in case, though. Occasionally it pays to be paranoid.]

It's called Hadriel, this place. I don't think I said.

[Anne smiled, glad that Maketh was willing to take her up on the offer. If this wasn't France or Spain, perhaps she would have more freedom here.]

Thank you, I would certainly love to learn.

[The musketeers had always protected her but they weren't here and she knew she couldn't depend on them. Even a queen had to fight in a situation like this.]

Hadriel. The name isn't familiar. Were you brought here as well, as I was?

Good. That's good.

[The smile, though unexpected, it welcome. Maketh returns it hesitantly. She's been too tired lately, trying to fix all the messes that the gods have gotten them tangled in. At least Anne isn't creating more problems or threatening them. She's not someone who will need to be handled.]

Yes. Under different circumstances, but...yes.

[Maketh pauses. It's better to be blunt, she thinks.]

I died. Before coming here. A few of the others as well. But most are like you. Dragged out of a--seemingly random moment.

Maketh...I'm so sorry.

[Anne didn't hesitate to reach out to grasp Maketh's hands in hers to try to provide some comfort.]

That must have been awful. I hope, at least, you have a chance to be happy here.

[She didn't know Maketh but she didn't think that this young woman didn't deserve a chance.]

You must be so strong to be a guardswoman. Women don't often hold such an occupation where I am from.

[While she knew that others would disapprove, Anne admired that strength and dedication. It was difficult for a woman to have such freedom.]

[Though she didn't jerk her hands away, Maketh does stiffen instinctively, prepared for a trap. It doesn't come. Anne's hands are strangely soft.

This is happening. This is a thing that happened.

Maketh stares at Anne in blank confusion for a long moment before clearing her throat.]

It--it was not your doing.

[It does not matter. Stop your foolishness.]

Apparently it is strange on many worlds. Not mine. [Maketh tips her head to the side.] Women do not serve in your military at all?

I know but that does not mean I cannot understand that it must be hard on you.

[Anne softly squeezed Maketh's hands, looking at her.]

No, war is the dominion of only men. No woman would ever be accepted in the guard, no matter how capable.

[And she had felt so helpless at the monastery because she had never had a chance to learn how to defend herself. The innocent nuns had been in danger because of her, one had died and she hadn't been able to do anything about it.

This was her chance to do more without the expectations she faced her entire life.]

That doesn't mean we don't have our own ways of fighting back when needed.

[What is she meant to say to that? Maketh clears her throat again, glancing away.]

It seems foolish to limit your resources like that.

[The Empire wouldn't have dared cut their fighting force in half, to say nothing of the officer corps.

She meets Anne's eyes briefly.]

No doubt. Perhaps you will teach me some of them.

test drive meme #16

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