test drive meme # 39

[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 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: HE MADE HIS LIST
[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.

You were hoping for something seasonally appropriate, right? Well, the Door doesn't know it's December, so this must be a coincidence - because this time, it's brought in the Krampus.

This creature is the opposite of Santa, and if you've been bad (and let's be real, who in Hadriel hasn't), it'll be all too happy to punish. Maybe you'll get lucky and it'll just scare the crap out of you and give you some coal... or maybe it'll decide your punishment needs to be much, much worse. Don't you wish you'd been good this year?]

R A G E

SCENARIO TWO: HADRIELITE VANDAL
[Last night everything was fine. You went to bed happy and content - well, as happy and content as you ever are. But this morning, as you stepped out of your house, something was wrong. Maybe you didn't notice it at first - maybe someone had to point it out to you. But there it was, in big bold letters: someone had painted an insult across the front of your house.

Maybe it's a rude name. Maybe an insulting comment. Maybe just a picture of a dick with an arrow pointing to it that says your name. Whatever it is, someone did it specifically to fuck with you. But who? And why? Maybe you already think you know who, and all you need to do is hunt them down. Or maybe it's time for an investigation. Or... maybe all you want to do is clean it off before someone sees.

Good luck. That paint is already dry.]

C O N F U S I O N

SCENARIO THREE: ALL FLIPPY-FLOPPY
[You didn't realize there was anything wrong, not until you saw that person you've always thought was your best friend. They seem the same as ever, it's just - you really don't understand what you saw in them anymore. They're kind of whiny, they're way less cool than you remember, and that hair? Ew.

It's not just that. You ran into your worst enemy earlier, and maybe... you were wrong about them? It really seems like they have some good points, and that annoying expression they always make actually seems kind of cute now. Maybe it's time to kiss and make up, possibly literally!

This is a mini version of our Your Best Enemy event this month.]

Comments

Lucretia | The Adventure Zone

[madamdirector]

merry krampus

[ "Bad" may be relative, but Lucretia's certainly made her share of mistakes. And while she's never heard of Christmas, Santa Claus, or the Krampus, she recognizes a monster when she sees one.

Or when it sees her. Which, unfortunately, it has. Her first instinct is to dive behind whatever shelter may be available; if there's nothing in sight, or once the Krampus hunts her down, she'll stand and fight, alternating between defensive attacks and simply holding her staff out before her, creating a translucent barrier between the monster and herself and whoever may be at her side. ]

Stay behind me!

banksy was here

[ Insults don't have to be obscene or untrue to be devastating. When Lucretia steps outside and sees the accusation painted in giant red letters across the facade, her first reaction isn't shock or hurt. It's panic.

She tries soap, she tries magic, but no matter what she tries, it seems that word isnt' going anywhere. And it's only a matter of time before the wrong person sees it and starts asking questions that she really, really doesn't want to answer.

THIEF ]

your best enemy

[ ok i don't even know how to write a starter for this one but please hit me ]

wildcard

[ hey there liches, it's me, ya girl ]

not so merry

[standformyself]

[There are many new things that the Dog has learned since her arrival here. She isn't surprised that dogs don't talk in other places, as they technically don't talk where she comes from either, but the Dog hasn't actually explained that to others. She tends to just wiggle out of an explanation.

Yet she has enjoyed the new adventures, having made new friends, although there had been that little hiccup not that long ago. She is back to her normal temperament, which tends towards casual and social, for the most part. At this exact moment her hackles are raised as her nose leads her, and there is a low growl that vibrates deep within her chest.

The Dog has been tracking when she comes upon the other, and her ears to shift upon her head, trying to figure out what it is that she is doing. Magic is nothing that is new to her though, but she does remain slightly larger than usual, having grown somewhat in size since she set out.]

I don't know what it is, but I don't like the look, or smell, of it.

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia is perhaps one of the few people here to whom animals talking is nothing new. She does glance back behind her at the sound of that growl, but when she sees that the dog's gaze is fixed on the monster, and not herself, she quickly turns back again, firing off a spell to stop the creature's advance. ]

No. Neither do I.

[ The Krampus roars, angry and hurt, and Lucretia retreats back a step. ]

I can hold it off for a while, but I don't know if I can stop it.

[standformyself]

[It is an inquisitive quiver of her ear again as the stranger launches off a spell. It's not Charter Magic and it doesn't have the acidic smell of Free Magic either. Indeed, it is quite interesting to the Dog, for although a part of her has seen many different places, as she is now, hasn't.]

It doesn't sound too happy. Perhaps it can walk away...

[And it is the Dog's turn now to give a resounding bark that seems all too big and tingly for a creature such as herself. It hangs, echoes, compels, or tries to, anyway. The Dog doesn't know how well her abilities actually work here, and whether the creature will actually be compelled to walk where the Dog demands.]

[madamdirector]

[ She tenses when the dog barks, not wanting either of them to draw the creature's attention, but maybe it's too late to worry about that, anyway. The Krampus hesitates. It starts to take a step forward, then stops, looking confused, and slowly takes a step back.

Lucretia perks up, encouraged. She's not exactly sure what's going on here, but she knows it looks promising. ]

Try it again.

[standformyself]

[It is troublesome. Even if she is but a piece of what she once was, her powers have never let her down before. She is still able to do some things, so she can't complain too much. No fun biting yourself either for getting down.

Rather, she takes an unnecessary breath, as she is a ham, and lets a lower howl out this time, one that starts to go on for longer than one would think possible. And even then, it doesn't stop as her focus is directed towards that strange beast. It may well require some sort of binding, but she is neither Abhorsen or Necromancer, but just a Dog.]

HO HO HO

[naturaltwenty]

No offense, Lucretia, but I'm not going to do that.

[ There's no way you expected Magnus to rush in, right? Because...surprise, he is!!

Ax drawn and clearly having a fun time, the warrior dashes forward toward the Krampus. There's a half-laugh, half-war cry as he slashes across its body.

...Or, where its body used to be. That space is suddenly empty. ]

Uh. What? [ He has to catch himself a bit as all the force of his swing continues the momentum, but it's not long before he turns around again, frowning hard. ]

Did you see where it went?

[madamdirector]

Magnus!

[ He's suddenly there, and...of course. Of course he's charging right past her, heedless of her attempts at defense and swinging his axe at the Krampus with what can only be described as joy. Lucretia can only watch as the spectre vanishes and Magnus stumbles forward, narrowly missing falling forward onto his own weapon.

Briefly forgetting Madam Director, forgetting all her long-suffering attempts at detachment, Lucretia rushes in right after him. It's one thing sending the boys out into the world, knowing she's putting them in danger. It's another seeing it happen right in front of her own eyes. ]

No, I - I didn't.

[ Magnus is clearly fine, though, bouncing back none the worse for wear, so after a quick look over him to reassure herself that he's unhurt, she turns to look for the creature, bringing her staff up at the ready. ]

It can't have gone far.

[naturaltwenty]

So...any idea what that thing was? I didn't get a great look at it, but I'm thinking it's a mix between a goat and a demon. A gemon? A doat. ...I'm gonna go with "gemon."

[ He doesn't replace the ax at his hip, though, and instead scans the area for the Krampus, if it's re-appeared at all. ]

I think we scared him o-- [ But then, of course, the monster flickers to life just behind Lucretia, and Magnus again leaps to action. ] Behind you! [ In a movement more deft than his usual style, he uses one arm to sweep Lucretia aside and behind him and slices through the air with the other. The Krampus makes a horrible, otherworldly sound as the attack connects, but then it's vanished again into thin air. ]

Dammit. [ He exhales, frustrated, and turns. ] You okay?

[madamdirector]

[ It's been so long since she'd fought beside Magnus. Beside...anyone, really. But Magnus pushes her to safety and attacks in a single movement so fluid and natural that for a moment, all she can do is gape, transported right back to the old days, to having each other's backs and fighting side by side.

She manages to snap her mouth shut before he turns around, at least, though the Krampus is gone before she can recast her barrier or do anything else to help. She nods, doing her best to look unruffled and dignified and...well, normal. ]

I'm fine, Magnus. Thank you. [ She glances behind her, wary now, already raising her staff. ] I...don't know what it is, but clearly it's not going away anytime soon.

[naturaltwenty]

Well, if it comes back, we'll just-...

[ And then Magnus actually looks at Lucretia for more than two seconds. He turns to meet her eyes and trails off, freezing mid-sentence as his brain puts the image of Lucretia that he knows side-by-side with this one.

He knows enough - has seen and experienced enough - to be suspicious. So, while he doesn't yet raise his weapon, he does peer back at her with narrowed eyes as he moves a few paces away. ]

You're...not Lucretia. [ Isn't she, though? She kinda looks and sounds like Lucretia, and has similar abilities, based on the little he's seen so far. But...this woman does also look and sound different, too. At the very least, she's much older.

The cogs in his brain are still whirring when a more sizable lump of coal comes flying out of nowhere and hits him in the side of the head. Magnus makes a disgruntled noise as he rounds on the Krampus where it stands a short distance away. ]

Okay. Fight now, talk...later. [ If this woman is a threat, well. At least she's not currently hitting him in the head with rocks. ]

Yooooo, it's Krampus time

[plays_despacito]

[Lucretia was probably expecting someone a little more helpful in an actual fight, given that for whatever irritating reason, things didn't seem to work quite as well here. But he's blinking slowly at whatever the fuck Krampus is and then turning his attention to Lucretia.

Because of course he is.]

What the fuck is that? [Maybe being loud enough to grab attention isn't the best course of action here, but when you've died once, dying again doesn't sound too bad.]

I've seen some weird shit in my life and everything, thanks for that, but that's new.

YESSS amazing

[madamdirector]

[ Fortunately, perhaps, for Johann, Lucretia's learned the hard way never to expect help.

Less fortunately, she's not quite caught up to where he is. She doesn't blink twice at seeing him here, alive, just shushes him, beckoning him closer. ]

I don't know. But I'm going to venture out on a limb here and say it's not friendly.

:D

[plays_despacito]

[Probably the safest bet in the long run when you end up with support instead of attacker, oops. Either way, he's keeping an eye on her mostly instead of Krampus. Like an idiot, mostly, but he's not too fussed about it as the thing doesn't seem to have noticed him or, if he has, not too keen on dealing with him.

Weird.

As she's beckoning him he's just going to casually make his way over and is lowering his voice at least.]

Doesn't seem too keen on attacking me so far, at least?

[madamdirector]

Let's hope it doesn't change its mind.

[ It may simply not have seen him yet. Either way, she's grateful for at least the temporary retrieve. Lucretia keeps her gaze on the Krampus, only turning to glance briefly at Johann when it doesn't immediately attack.

She's got to get him out of here. It's not safe, and Johann...Johann isn't a fighter. ]

Johann. [ She keeps her voice low, gesturing towards the side of the arena. ] We're going to head that way, all right? Calm and quiet.

[plays_despacito]

Wouldn't be the worst thing to attack anyone here. [I guess... he means the moon base and them in particular. But he's at least got his dumb fucking violin attached via some weird method where it's strapped to his back. Don't question this mess. Never question.]

'Kay. Just lead the way, I guess? [Not like he's against the idea of getting the fuck out of here, this whole thing isn't his jam and he'd rather have answers instead of getting dunked on by some fucking monster he's never seen before.]

banksy time

[restinglichface]

[Lup manages to find Lucretia while she's attempting to scrub away the letters, the elf slipping up behind her silently.]

Now that's just all wrong. I can think of a million better words to describe you.

[And let's be real. At least two-thirds are straight up flirty.]

perfect

[madamdirector]

[ One minute, Lucretia has her hands full of a sponge and a bucket of water, scrubbing furiously and futilely at the paint.

The next, the bucket clatters to the ground, sudsy water spilling in a pool around and over her feet. She barely even notices. She's too busy turning around, heart cramping up in her chest, eyes wide as she stares.

She shouldn't be able to hear that voice.

She shouldn't be able to see this. ]

...Lup?

[restinglichface]

[Oh.

Oh.

Lup doesn't even need to ask at this point. Three Lucretia's have come and gone from Hadriel. And so far, all have had the same exact reaction to her. Must be from an earlier canon point than her. Got it.]

In the flesh. [a beat passes, Lup tipping her head to the side, and smiling across the way at the other woman.] For once.

[And then just a touch softer, tone lowering warmly for Lucretia's ears only.] I'm real, I promise. Whole an' right here.

[madamdirector]

[ All she can do is shake her head, still disbelieving, still unable to speak past the sudden lump in her throat. But Lup doesn't disappear, or transform into someone else, or do anything but stand there, smiling and real and right there.

Finally, Lucretia manages to speak, her voice faint. ]

I...I looked everywhere...

[ And she's moving, despite herself, walking closer and reaching out a tentative hand to brush Lup's arm, to feel for herself. ]

krampus

[caeruleae]

I can't do that, ma'am.

[Leaving an innocent person to face danger has never been in her nature, but Aqua is especially disinclined to do so now, when she's found herself in a world with other people and not just monsters for the first time in...so long.

The barrier catches her by surprise, though, and she looks at the women with an extra measure of respect as she calls her Keyblade.]

You're a mage? We can work together.

[Their foe isn't content to allow the suggestion to be accepted or rejected—it attacks, and Aqua strikes back, releasing a barrage of ridiculously sparkly Disney spells.]

[madamdirector]

[ Mage is close enough. Lucretia's worried at first, opening her mouth to protest, but once Aqua starts casting spells she looks impressed, especially as the Krampus roars in frustration and falls back a bit. ]

We're making progress!

[ Now that they're not under siege, she drops her barrier for the moment to cast a spell or two of her own. ]

Be careful - don't drop your guard!

[caeruleae]

[Aqua appreciates that the older woman has enough sense to act rather than argue. She appreciates even more that she has a sense of tactics and timing; together, they begin to force the Krampus back as it's torn between defending itself from their spells and attempting to strike back—but with two of them able to act to protect one another, there's little it can do.

Aqua falls into the rhythm of combat, waiting for the moment, and then—she casts a glowing chain from the end of her Keyblade, an old technique her Master had taught her, wrapping around the Krampus' leg and holding it in place for a moment.]

Now! There's your chance!

[madamdirector]

[ She doesn't hesitate. She raises her staff and casts Magic Missle, all three darts speeding through the air and hitting the Krampus head-on.

The creature screeches in pain, staggering back, and Lucretia advances, following up with a Fireball that lights the Krampus ablaze, effectively finishing him off.

Even Lucretia can't stay reserved and dignified in the face of such a victory, a grin splitting her face as she lets out a quiet cheer. ]

[caeruleae]

[Aqua is ready to drop the chain at a moment's notice and step in to help, but it proves quite, quite unnecessary. Even standing comparatively far back, Aqua can feel the power in the spells. And so can the Krampus—until, clearly, it can feel nothing at all.

A smile spreads across her face and Aqua laughs. It's still a strange sensation, after so long.]

That was amazing! [She dismisses her Keyblade and clap her hands together once, the relief and joy in accomplishing something spreading.] Whatever that thing was, it won't hurt anyone else.