Test Drive Meme #34

[hadrielmods]

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 July 25th, and apps are open August 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: OOZES GEOMETRICALLY
[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.

The only warning you may get is the squish slick sound of movement before a gelatinous cube is upon you. Leaving gross trails behind them and with their see-through bodies filled with the bones of those that they've dissolved in their jelly, these cubes have no real vulnerability other than their limited movement.

Gelatinous cubes are exactly what it says on the tin, giant translucent cubes of jelly whose main attack tactic seems to be cornering people in small hallways and just sort of absorbing them into its mass. They then digest all meat and flesh and leave only floating bones and various metals their victim may have been wearing stashed inside of their jiggling forms.

Maybe it's time to apologize for the last time you brought a jelly mold to a potluck.]

A L L

SCENARIO TWO: MY LOYAL SERVANTS
[Thanks for your service to the gods! In order to power each of them up, it's up to you to pick a deity you like most (or dislike least, as it were) and simply say their name in order to be influenced by them and encouraged to inspire their emotion in others!

What, you don't want to play? Too bad, accidental name calling works just as well, even if you didn't mean to incite them- you'll feel their presence pulling their chosen emotion out in you anyway. Hope you picked a good one!

This is a mini version of our In Need Of A Boat event this month.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO THREE: I MISS GPS
[Sure, you might be a little confused at being here at first, but that generally goes away within a few days. This time... well, this time, that feeling of befuddlement isn't quite going away. Roads that you take seem to disappear behind you when you turn around, your right turns are left turns on the map you're following, and you're pretty sure that everyone except for you put their shirt on backwards this morning.

Is everyone high? What they're saying makes absolutely no sense to you. You can't find your way out of a paper bag, let alone back to where you've been staying lately. Is that a dog or is it an eldritch horror coming up to lick at your calves?

During this prompt, everything will feel off and it can be very difficult to get your bearings at all. That's Confusion for you!]

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

[ It's true, not that many people in the U.S. have Elvish-style ears! Or if they do, nobody notices! And Curufin is aware that most people arrive here in Hadriel without knowing what is happening, and they have to adapt swiftly, which is not easy. It is downright unsettling! ]

Did you ever actually go to your apartment? Because if you can remember what sort of buildings were near it, we could at least locate the building you signed up for. But if you haven't actually seen it, do you know whether it was in a housing complex or a spire? That would at least narrow down the possibilities.

Pleased to meet you, Tinya Wazzo! You're a Super-Hero? I see that you can fly. Do you have other powers as well?

[unphase]

[neither do those in the United Planets. the only ones she can think of off-hand are Durlans and he's certainly no Durlan!]

Yes, I went there after I left the Colosseum. It's one of the first things needed for survival in a strange place, a shelter. [she's quiet for a moment as she thinks things through as best as she can. everything's fuzzy, like she's thinking through a haze] There were. . . temples nearby? I don't know whose or I can't remember whose.

[a proud smile] I am. I was one of the first five Legionnaires. It was me, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl, Live Wire, and Triad. They called me Apparition, because I can do this. [she phases her arm, making it intangible, and puts it through the building next to them. there's no sign of harm to her or the building]

[so_dark_a_road]

Temples nearby? That could mean West Island, Spire 1 near Hope's temple or Spire 4 near Fear's temple. Or Spires 2 and 3, both near Confusion's temple, on North Island. No spires on the other two islands, so if it was an apartment and not a whole house, then it had to be one of the foregoing.

Legionnaires, huh? [ He watches while her arm becomes intangible and grins when she reaches into the wall of the building. ] Well, Apparition, it seems you have an impressive skill. Can you do that with your whole body and walk through the wall?

[unphase]

It was an apartment. I know that. I'm here alone, what would I do with a big house all to myself other than be lonely? [even lonelier than I already am goes unspoken]

Thank you. And, I can! Just watch. [she turns fully intangible, then walks through the wall. once she's fully inside, she reaches an arm out to give him a wave hello. she then walks back out of the building and unphases] All of the people of Bgztl can do what I can, but I helped the Legion out of a tight spot, so they asked me to join them.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Loneliness he understands. ] All right, then, suppose we check out those two Islands? We're on East Island now; we can take my boat across to West Island and see if that's where you live, and if that's not it, we'll proceed to North Island. If that's okay with you, that is.

Otherwise . . . [ And he grins and points west. ] Fly straight that way, and if it's not there, fly straight that way. [ He points north. ]

Whoa! [ Exclamation of astonishment at her ghost-like ability. Also, amusement. ] All your people can do that? That must make crowded gatherings interesting! What did you help the Legion with, and what does the Legion do, as an organization?

[unphase]

[she's becoming all too familiar with it. she misses the other Legionnaires more than she can possibly say. they were more than a team, they were family. and to lose Jo just after confessing to each other how they felt! all she can do is hope that they're able to find her here in this strange place] That would be fine with me. You'll have to lead me to your boat. My sense of direction is gone and everything looks alike.

[she shakes her head no] I tried that at first, but all I did was get myself turned around and in circles. I don't even know which way is north anymore.

Every one of us. It makes privacy a bit of a problem when everyone can walk through walls. [she smiles proudly] And I stopped a White Triangle racist from shooting Saturn Girl. The look on her face when she realized she couldn't shoot me! And the Legion solves problems that are too big for the Science Police to handle. [she bites her lip and looks down] When I--when I left, that involved trying to stop four White Triangle members from destroying Earth.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ The sadness of Hadriel mainly lies in the separations -- whether these occur before a person arrives or afterwards. ]

All right, come with me, I'm moored in that direction. [ He points towards the shore and leads the way past Sorrow's temple to the waterside. He's tied up to the pier that he and others recently constructed, and he indicates she should hop in the boat. ]

Your sense of direction is gone? I wonder how that happened? People usually arrive with whatever they had when the Door snatched them, and that includes abilities. But maybe it's just the effect of being transported so suddenly. Maybe it'll come back.

[ He laughs. ] Your suddenly becoming immaterial must be a terrible frustration to your attackers! You stopped these people from destroying your Earth? You must be proud of your team for that! And yourself.

[unphase]

[she follows closely behind him as she fears that if she loses sight of him, she'll be right back where she started from, lost and confused with no way of knowing where is "home," much less how to get there in the first place. and she's never. exactly. been in a boat before. so she flies over to where she can sit down, takes her seat, and folds her hands in her lap]

I hope it does. It had better come back. Which god should I complain to if it doesn't?

[and, about that. . . she looks down for a moment before looking back up] I don't actually know if we won. I was sent here before the battle was over. [and I think I might be dead goes unsaid. she's not ready to say it out loud yet. saying it out loud makes it real]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Once they are both in the boat, he unties the rope from the cleat, and then sits down and takes an oar and shoves them away from the pier. He uses a pair of oars to move them out into the channel, where the wind picks up. He trims the sail and then takes the tiller. ]

I'm not sure which god you should complain to; they don't always seem to have clear boundaries as regards what they'll give to whom. But I'd try Hope first. He's the one who's generally associated with health matters. And I suppose a lost sense of direction would count as a health problem!

[ He listens while she speaks of coming here without knowing the result of a battle. He gets it. The main reason for Hadrielites' not knowing this kind of thing is because they are dead in their worlds. ] Yes, I see. The Door likes to take people from chaotic situations that are fraught with emotions, especially negative ones. Battles are common hunting grounds for the Door in its "recruiting" function. [ Sarcastic humor. ]

[unphase]

[she watches his actions curiously. she's heard of things like sailboats, but as the daughter of old Bgztlian money, the boats the people her mother associated with were yachts.

she hesitates a moment] The gods . . . make me nervous. Where I'm from, hardly anyone believes in gods anymore. And to come here and be told that that there are beings calling themselves gods who can eat emotion? I don't like being used that way.

[it's possible. she knows it's possible. but she doesn't want to believe it's true] Then why didn't it take Jo with me? We were right there together, he had his arms around me. But I'm here and he's not.

[so_dark_a_road]

Nobody likes being used this way. It is unconscionable.

I don't know why the Door didn't take Jo with you. For your sake, I wish it had. But I suspect that tearing people away from friends, family, and loved ones is a way to produce even more emotions, and that this is deliberate.

Of course, bringing those we care about to Hadriel afterwards, that might be another way for the gods to harvest still more emotions. I have family here, and for that I am grateful -- though I can't say I am grateful to the gods!

[unphase]

Then why don't we do something about it?

I wish it had, too. I love him and he loves me. He's not going to know what happened to me and he'll worry. And I don't even know what the Legion will do about this. Try to find me, I know, but they're not going to know where to even start looking.

I'd rather it brought me back to him than him to me here. [she hastens to add] Not anything against you of course, you've been very helpful. But you have family here?

Sorry I dropped this thread! Would you want to continue or have them catch up in a later event?

[so_dark_a_road]

We'd all love to do something about it. It's just that the gods have succeeded in playing a very effective game of divide-and-conquer with us. Our lack of cohesiveness is not all their doing, however. Human beings of all sorts seem to have great difficulty pulling together in times of trouble. Petty quarrels and foolish pride prevent people from seeing one another as allies, and they fight one another instead of the real enemy.

May it be that you and Jon are reunited, and likewise you and the Legion! I don't know how that would occur, but it's possible that you might return to your own world. We believe that that is what happens at times. The Door opens and sweeps people out as well as in. Yes, this might be the better solution!

I have two brothers, Maedhros and Maglor, and a cousin, Fingon. And my son Celebrimbor.

[ OOC: Cel is about to be swept out the Door, but Curufin doesn't know that yet. LIkewise Maedhros. ]

Continuing is fine by me! :)

[unphase]

Humans have been doing something like that in my world. Loads of aliens have immigrated to Earth for jobs, but some Terrans have allied themselves with racists who believe that bloodlines should be "pure."

I would love to be reunited with them. I miss them already. [but she doesn't know if she's alive or dead in her world]

Wow, that's a lot of family! And you have a son? How old is he?

(OOC: :( Also, it's Jo, not Jon. thanks!)

[so_dark_a_road]

Aliens? Oh, you mean people who are not from your planet? Yes, there can be much fear in such a situation -- in any situation in which immigrants come in hopes of creating a better life for themselves. They may find themselves very unwelcome. And these newcomers are also in danger of becoming scapegoats for the frustrations of the populace who are already in possession of the territory and believe it to be exclusively theirs. The frustrations may have nothing whatsoever to do with the newcomers.

[ Problem with the idea of returning: a lot of people don't actually know whether they are alive or dead in their worlds. And some do know that they are dead. ] Of course you miss them; they are your people!

I have other brothers as well, Celegorm and Caranthir and Amrod and Amras, but they are not here with us. And likewise, quite a few cousins who are not here. [ Small smile. ] My son is almost as old as I am. He survived me by 1697 years, so that would make him. . . [ He makes a humorous show of counting on his fingers. ] . . . about 2000 years old.

[ OOC: Sorry! Too tired to see straight. ]

[unphase]

Earth's economy is booming, so it makes sense that people would go there looking for a new beginning. But you're right that a lot of locals are using their presence as a scapegoat for crime, for change, for a lack of jobs for themselves. That's why the White Triangle has gained such a foothold on Earth, even though it was started by Daxamites.

[the uncertainty is getting to her. she wants to know if she survived, but she doesn't think it's likely] They are. And I'm worried about them.

Two thousand years old? I can't imagine living so long.

[so_dark_a_road]

What is the White Triangle, and the Daxamites?

[ So many people come here dead. No wonder she is worried. ] What was happening when you were pulled from your world?

[ Chuckle ] I couldn't imagine living that long, either -- until I did it. How old are you, Tinya? [ He can't really tell. She looks young, but then, there are mortals who are 25 but look 15. ]

[unphase]

[she swallows hard] The White Triangle is an organization of racists dedicated to destroying the United Planets. And Daxamites. . . they're a race of people who, under a yellow sun, have the powers of super-strength and speed, invulnerability, and--and heat vision.

[she remembers being held in Jo's arms and then pain. she sighs] Four Daxamites had come to Earth, trying to destroy it or at least kill everyone living on it.

I'm fifteen. I turned fifteen right before I joined the Legion.

[so_dark_a_road]

Racists, eh? People who can't tolerate the fact that there are not just one kind of people in the universe? And these Daxamites. . .

[ Heat vision. He gets it. Maybe like the Balrogs of his own world, or maybe something different, but definitely something that has the power of fire. ]

You were attacked by one of them?

Fifteen! You have lived a lot of life in a short period of time, then.

[unphase]

[she nods] The movement started on Daxam, but it's spread to other planets as well, including Earth. But Daxam is where the movement started.

[she's too well acquainted with heat vision]

All of Earth was attacked by four of them.

I have. I've been lucky.

[so_dark_a_road]

Not good. That kind of thing can destroy a civilization. People must fight against it, and I am glad that you are doing so.

[ He's getting the feeling that she has personal knowledge of death by fire. ]

Is that attack the last thing you remember from your world?

Sometimes it does not feel like luck, to be one who has become a warrior in order to fight against an overwhelming power of evil. And yet. . .to have had that experience. . . what could be better or greater?

[unphase]

I only wish that the people of Earth--and the United Planets itself--had been stronger in their condemnation of that sort of thing. Maybe if they had, we wouldn't be in the situation we are now.

[good luck getting that out of her]

Yes. So I have no idea if my friends won or lost or if they're okay.

I don't know. All I know is that I'm proud of the Legion and what it stands for.

[so_dark_a_road]

There are always regrets, I guess, about how we have handled a dire situation. Or how our allies and our own organizations have handled things. I think that's unavoidable, considering nobody has a crystal ball and can tell the future. [ But it's true that sometimes you know in advance how things should be handled, and when that doesn't happen. . . well, good cause for regret. ]

[ It would be just like this spirited young warrior not to talk about her own death! Or so Curufin observes. ]

I hope your friends are okay, and I hope they won. And I hope that someday you may return to your world and hear that a great victory was achieved, and have the chance to rejoice with them and to share in the glory -- as I have no doubt you deserve.

[unphase]

That's true. I guess my disappointment is in the fact that the United Planets was formed specifically to combat that kind of racism. To unify the people of separate worlds and cultures without taking anything away from those cultures. But everyone ignored the White Triangle, even after they destroyed Trom.

[it's partially that and partially not wanting to admit it to herself]

I hope for all of that, too. I especially hope that I get to go home soon.

[so_dark_a_road]

Ignoring a terrible threat, for whatever reasons -- fear, denial, ignorance. . . this is a problem, and it is not only your universe that has it.

[ Nobody wants to admit to being dead! It's perfectly understandable. ]

I hope it will be possible for all of us to return home soon, or to wherever we wish to go. We're currently planning a number of expeditions to fetch some fragments of the Door, or some fragments of another Door -- I'm not quite sure which -- but we hope it will result in expanded capabilities for that mysterious device. Maybe then, people can go to other worlds than their own, or go back to their own worlds in time to prevent their own deaths, or go back after their own deaths and take up again whatever fight they have been engaged in. In your case, the battle the Legion has taken on.