Test Drive Meme # 1

[hadrielmods]

Welcome to Hadriel's very first 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 September 24th, and Apps are open October 1st.

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!

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: ANYONE GOT A LIGHT?
[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 on the rooftops watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to separate you from your group and tear you into pieces. In this instance, the door has managed to grab something truly horrific, and it's definitely out for blood (and brains) tonight.

Smokers are enemies in the video game series Left 4 Dead, who use their prehensile tongues to capture unwitting people and either drag them away for consumption or hang them up to strangle them. With all of the activity of characters trying to find out what's going on and where they are, there are more than a few of them, lingering in the shadows and waiting to try strike at anyone who may be lagging behind.]


SCENARIO TWO: YOUR HEART WILL GO ON
[You awaken in a windowless room, the walls strangely curved. The door, when you try it, is quite firmly locked. No amount of force is able to break through, so it seems to be sealed by supernatural means. Next to the door stands a slender pedestal, about as big around as a large man's thigh. At the top of the pedestal is a indentation, as if something were meant to go there.

But you're not alone in this room. There are two things with you: a person and a corpse. Pinned to the body is a note: Place a heart on the pedestal to leave. Tucked neatly into the corpse's pocket is a letter opener, small and not particularly sharp.

Did you have weapons or tools on you before? You don't now. But look at it this way: what better form of bonding is there than helping a friend or stranger dig a heart out of a corpse with nothing but a letter opener and your bare hands?]


H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: HAVE YOU HAD YOUR BREAK-IN TODAY?
[You're standing outside a storefront, colored glass set into intricate designs. It's beautiful, artistic, but more importantly - there's definitely food inside. Good food, too, by the glimpses you can see through the window. In fact - wait a minute - isn't that your favorite dish in there, just waiting for you? You've been searching for food for hours, it seems, and the city is bare. Your tummy is getting awful rumbly. What luck!

You try the door. Cruelly, it is locked. The food taunts you, just out of reach.

The glass is lovely, intricate, but it's just glass. Or maybe you know how to pick locks. Or maybe there's a back way in. Or maybe some passing friend will be able to help you. There's a lot of options here, if what you really want is a mouthful of the finest... whatever it is you like.]

Comments

[unabatedly]

Assuming the owners are still around...

[ No. She wants to believe that some people are still alive. The emptiness of this place is unnerving enough as it is without wondering on top of it all why there's food if there is no one around to make it. They can't be the only ones. It's a hope she'll cling to, however misplaced it might be.

With a shake of her head, she returns to melting off the lock. ]

All I know is that there's food, we're in a bad situation, and I'd rather give someone my most sincere apologies than surprise them with my corpse at the door.

[ Once satisfied that the lock has been melted enough with magic proverbial hellfire, she tosses a look back at him with a raised eyebrow. ]

Do you have a knife or a dagger, perhaps? Or an incredibly strong kick. That might be enough.

[theresolve]

Perhaps by the time they return it would have gone to rot, in that case you're doing them a favor ensuring there's no mess to clean up.

[Between looting and letting good resources go to waste when people are in need, well, one's an awful thing to be sure, but a forgivable thing. The other... there's no forgiveness for letting people die because of inaction when they could be saved.

A strong kick Blackwall has, and one that is accustomed to being used for such ventures. Shield bash ftw. Blackwall moves forward, sizes up the door, and gives it one good solid kick that has it swinging open on its hinges. He steps back and gives a curt sort of half-bow to Surana.]

After you.

[It appears safe enough that Meat Shield need not go first.]

[unabatedly]

[ There's something of a laugh from her. ]

If that's true, perhaps they'll be glad for it. I'll make them something in return, provided we can find someplace safe for everyone.

[ Melting locks off of a potential sanctuary might not have been a clever idea after all. The monsters she's run into earlier won't stop at a locked door or simply because there's fine glass in the way.

Pursing her lips, she steps away and lets him kick the door in. With a quirk of a smile, she dips into a brief and almost playful half-bow, mocking their strange situation. She steps past him and looks for a light or a candle as she enters, even if her eyes immediately glance over the food. Her stomach protests as she looks around, wanting to be doubly certain they're safe before exposing their backs to any potential threats. ]

...Seems empty. I don't think that's a very good sign.

[theresolve]

Seemingly empty 'abandoned' cities underground rarely are.

[Blackwall has seen others use light switches here in his brief time, so when he spots one he gives it an experimental flick and indeed, overhead lights blink on like magic, the low hum of electricity breaking the silence.

That shit is cray. It's like veilfire or something.]

Food doesn't seem spoiled yet, that's something.

[unabatedly]

True enough. Help yourself; I'm going to look for something we can put some of this in to take back.

[ And perhaps something to write with so she can give a written apology for stealing someone's food. Her stomach protests enough that she simply sighs and goes rummaging for something they can use to snatch up the food that's there. Anything perishable will have to be given out to anyone they can find, provided they don't eat it first, while anything that can be kept can be taken. Surana looks up as the lights flicker on, quite obviously still confused at all of the strangeness this technology is offering. ]

I'm not sure I'm going to get used to these.

[ If she even wants to contemplate that they'll be here that long. She goes looking for a bag and finds one, mostly transparent and made of plastic, which she makes a face at. As she comes back to the table, she speaks again. ]

Apologies, I didn't ask for your name.

[theresolve]

[Blackwall first moves through the store carefully to see what's even available. A lot of it is unfamiliar to him but honestly it isn't of questionable quality and freshness so he's had worse. You don't live long in his kind of life and end up picky, certainly not after ... everything.

He's considering what look like pre-packaged sandwiches when she asks his name. Names shouldn't be a fumbling point for a person but she's actually dressed in Warden armor and Blackwall has been trying to leave the lie behind after the graciousness he didn't deserve at sparing his life.

So it's after clearly too much hesitation that he answers,] ... Thom. And yours, Lady Warden? [The title is spoken with a great sincerity and respect. He holds out one of the packaged sandwiches in offering to her while he grabs one for himself. Something to snack on while grabbing things for later. Her stomach hasn't exactly been quiet and his hasn't been fairing much better.]

[unabatedly]

[ Ah, well. That answers several questions already. She's seen a few people from other worlds, identified in difference only by their manner of dress, and she's had no clear indicator whether anyone else has been from Thedas...until now. His hesitation doesn't go entirely unnoticed, though her own pause is decidedly less obvious. She looks at his offering, then at him, and eventually reaches to take the sandwich.

There's really no point in passing herself off as a friendly neighborhood fighter now, is there? She gives a mild half-shrug, as if her answer is going to be a mundane one. ]

Neria Surana.

[ She could add the title but, really, when was the last time she'd been in Vigil's Keep? A Warden is a Warden, plain and simple. Surana picks apart the packaging on her sandwich as she watches him with curiosity. ]

I had been wondering if I would find a fellow Thedosian here, truth be told. Where are you from?

[theresolve]

[She did rather give herself away on the 'mage' front what with the whole lock melting bit. Sorry, he's not quite THAT thick, no matter what Madame de Fer tries to claim. His eyebrows do raise rather noticeably at her name just the same - titles are unneeded when you're the Hero of Ferelden who stopped the Fifth Blight. There's not a person alive who doesn't recognize the name Surana, Blackwall would bet.

There's also the brief rush of relief that he went with the truth in this instance rather than tried to run with the familiar lie, even if a moment later there's a lingering desire to return to it. Blackwall - the real Warden Blackwall - had never met the Warden Commander of Ferelden, and this is something Thom is well aware of. He could have probably gotten away with it.

No, he promised to leave that life behind. He can't do that it it's always an option. He needs to quit, and he needs to quit entirely and never return to it. Lying is it's own kind of addiction. In spite of the recognition for her name, Blackwall gives a faint cough and continues on, giving her the relative privacy of no further acknowledgement on that unless she broaches it first.]

Lot of places. Orlais by birth, [He doesn't sound even remotely Orlesian, so that must have been a long-ass time ago.] most recently I was on the Storm Coast in Ferelden before I joined up with the Inquisition. There's another here from the Inquisition as well by the name of Sera. Best archer you'll ever meet. I thought it was just us until I saw your armor.

[Sera might be a bit spotty and a lot vulgar but she is his friend and his pride on that borders on the paternal, alright.]

[unabatedly]

[ Frankly, she's glad he doesn't make a big deal out of it. Titles are titles, and enough people have been asking what have you done for us lately, Surana that she is all too grateful for someone to not acknowledge who she is at all. Living up to stories is an impossible task, one she abandoned long ago, and would prefer to be seen as anyone else.

There's a riddle of a half-smile when he mentions Orlais, as if to question his lack of an accent, though both brows lift in surprise as he continues. ]

You're with the Inquisition?

[ That letter she sent is looking more and more like a terrible jest. No, sorry, too busy trying to end the Calling, but that's fine, kidnap me into some awful underground hole, it's not as if this is the first time. ]

Well, at least we're among good company, then. There are worse people from Thedas who could have been brought here instead. [ And not a single darkspawn in sight for the moment. She can handle that. ] We should find your friend before too long. I don't trust this place...or however we came to be here.

[theresolve]

[He was equally kidnapped into some awful underground hole, so he can hardly blame her even if he is mildly impressed with whoever did the kidnapping. Blackwall thought there was nothing beyond Leliana's reach, but the Warden is not an easy woman to find.

He knows logically that she's right in that there certainly are worse people in Thedas who could have been brought here instead, but there's a dark look that doesn't quite manage to be hidden as the first thought that crosses his mind is she wouldn't be saying that if she knew what he'd done. He's still not sure how Sera knows and looks him in the eye and doesn't judge for it, he's just grateful that his friend is here too.]

Sera can handle herself while we grab supplies, but she might murder me if I don't come back with food for her, and a lot of it.

[She is so small, Warden, so small, but she could probably pass Iron Bull in an eating contest. How does she do it where does it go.

Blackwall's got his own pack with him that he puts a few more sandwiches in, grabbing ones that look like what Sera likes along with a few things that look similar to the miniature cakes they have from street vendors in Val Royeaux. Perishables for the moment covered, time to look something for more long-term in case they can't find the exit all that quickly.]

[unabatedly]

[ For her part, she laughs, even as she's also trying to grab up food and parcel out a moment to eat a little bit herself as they're packing things away. ]

Then we'd best make sure we bring her back something worthwhile, hm? We don't need any extra bloodshed right now.

[ Surana takes a bite of her sandwich, sets it down, and simply begins parceling out perishables into her bag. And once she's satisfied with that, she heads right back around to start looking through the cabinets for other items that will, hopefully, last longer than a few hours. There isn't too much to find on her end, though she manages to find a refrigerator with bottled drinks inside, mostly water, which she tucks away in her bag.

The sound of echoed coughing fills her ears as she goes and she looks up towards the door with a frown. ]

We should see if there's a back way out.

[ Fighting those things again is not something she had in mind. ]

[theresolve]

[Blackwall downs his own sandwich quickly and efficiently while he packs things away as well. Doesn't even make a huge mess on his beard in the process.

In truth, though, the echoed coughing almost comes as a relief. If they've got something else to worry about, there's no need to make small talk or ask questions of any kind. Warden Surana seems perfectly content to avoid those things as well, but you never know when curiosity will get the better of someone, and he's lived too long fearing that to give it up so easily, even after deciding to have nothing to hide.

He nods at her direction, edging quieter than one would think possible in the armor to where the light switch was, deftly flicking it off. No need to gain attention to the building with it, though the busted door is a loss of a giveaway depending on how observant those things are. Hopefully it isn't close enough to notice yet. The cave makes the sounds echo strangely.

Blackwall still adjusts his pack and shifts his shield into his easy grip. There's not enough space to get the sword out, but hopefully he won't need either of them. He doesn't move towards the back until Surana does, and he makes sure to stand between her and the still slightly open door.]

[unabatedly]

[ Surana lingers, not simply because she is ready to fight but because she is torn between finding some measure to block the door's entryway and potentially calling attention to their efforts or simply finding the exit. At length, she opts for the former, hands carefully outstretched while she forms enough of an ice barrier around the entrance that an enemy attempting to hunt them will need to make considerable effort to chase them.

...Or they could break through the window. Either way.

But so long as they are quiet, she imagines they can sneak away. Thom has his shield out, a barrier between her and any potential pursuers, and she steps back and away to try the back door. It leads to a very hallway and a kitchen, but then there's another door further down. Surana looks back at Thom and gestures for him to follow while she makes her way there, testing the door.

Locked too. This one, thankfully, they can unlock on their own, which she does quickly. The door opens and, for the moment, they're safe. The sound of coughing can still be heard, though, the sound echoing in the cave. She shoots him a look as they leave, nodding towards the back alley. It's a risk - it's tight for two people and won't be an easy escape if they're spotted - but they don't have much of a choice. ]

[theresolve]

[Blackwall nods in agreement. Narrow it might be, not a lot of space to swing a sword for certain, but easy enough for one man to hold if he needs to. The Iron Bull would be fucked with the size of the weapon he has, but his own one-handed blade should be fine.

He doesn't bother to lock the door behind them when he slides it closed as quietly as possible - if the Smoker is smart enough to figure out knobs, it's probably smart enough to figure out locks as well. Hopefully it's neither, but Blackwall doesn't bet on hope, and prefers to not lock them out of a potential exit of something worse is hiding out in the alleyway. He nods down the way that doesn't lead straight back out onto the street that meets the front of the shops. He's not sure where it leads out, but the other way is going to be directly in the monster's path, so here's hoping this is an exit and not a dead end. He points to himself then his shield. He can hold a line if they come upon trouble, he'll go first. If there's no argument he leads the way, but he does wait to make sure she's not got a plan she prefers more.

She is the Warden Commander after all.]

[unabatedly]

[ He offers to go first, and while that isn't her first choice, she follows behind with a hand on the blade that's hidden beneath the curtain of her partial cloak and another ready to cast if need be. If something comes from the front, he can hold the line for a few moments while she attacks. With his shield, he has the better protection, even if she worries.

The back alley brings them to the backs of a few more shops and homes, many of them with seemingly locked doors. While she might have initially tried a few, the mess she made of the shop's door reminds her that she can't continue to potentially endanger other people just to protect herself. The city might seem empty, but if there are people hiding out in the upstairs of their homes, she'll be exposing them to the same monsters they're hoping to escape from.

At last, they come out to another street, one that runs perpendicular to the first. While there are sounds of monsters, they are faint and echoing off the walls of the cave, and no immediate threat for the moment. Surana breathes a sigh of relief. ]

We have to find someplace safer than the streets or we're eventually going to run into a dead end and huge problem.

[theresolve]

[Blackwall couldn't agree more on that front, looking both ways along the open street but still opting for the relative safety of the alleyway and it's narrow enclosure for the time being. No reason to give up good shelter before they have a plan, and it seemed to be that they had escaped the first Smoker they attempted to evade. The buildings are unfamiliar and while there's no sky to judge sunlight or stars from, a bit of searching along the 'skyline' shows what he's looking for- the spires that rise above the other buildings, impossibly high by Thedosian standards outside the Fade itself. Some are broken and falling but a few have been restored, and more importantly, the monsters don't seem to go there as much.

He points to them.]

Over there. Seems like there's some areas safer than others here, the less abandoned the more like these monsters stay away from them. So far anyway.

[Of course, there's still the getting there they have to do, and whoever designed the streets was not functioning on the idea of people by what they know as people.]