Test Drive Meme #8

[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 April 24th, and apps are open May 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, 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: DEAD FLESH BUFFET
[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 swarm around you and chow down. This time, the Door has brought in a group of rotfiends, from the video game The Witcher.

These unpleasant-looking creatures are necrophages, meaning they feed on the flesh of the dead, and if that flesh is in short supply they are happy to add to it. Normally found in groups, they are fast and difficult to corner. What's more, when on the verge of death, they have an annoying tendency to explode into a flammable cloud of poisonous toxins. You left your torch at home, right?]

R A G E
SCENARIO TWO: MMM WHATCHA SAY
[There you were, just walking along the street, minding your own business like a good underground hell-city citizen, when all of a sudden you saw someone. It was like love at first sight - if by 'love' you mean 'deep burning hatred'. You've never wanted to kill someone so much, and why? Well, you're not really sure, but there's probably a reason! You'll just have to figure it out. Or not. Who needs a reason for murder, anyway?

Or maybe you're the one someone else has targeted. Maybe you know they're after you and you're desperately trying to watch your back. Why do they hate you? You don't even know them. Or maybe you do, maybe they're your best friend. Either way, this is a super awkward situation, and someone might end up dead. Hopefully not you!

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


H O P E

SCENARIO THREE: SCRATCH OFF
[This morning, you received a scratch ticket in the mail (who knew Hadriel even had mail?), addressed to you. The instructions are clear enough - scratch off three matching icons, and you win a prize! Sure, okay. But here's the grand prize: a one-way ticket home.

Unfortunately, try as you might, you aren't gonna win that one, but keep hoping! And hey, just think of all the other GREAT PRIZES you could win: an inflatable duck, a plastic ring to give your sweetheart, an empty can of Red Bull, a cell phone charm shaped like a strange green creature with a boner.

So what if you didn't win that ticket home? You got something almost as good: a shitty prize! Thanks, Hope!]

Comments

UGLY CRYING i'm sorry in advance, he's so new to me

[portalhate]

[ There isn't time to process properly until the last of the rotfiends (ostensibly the last, at least) is disposed of. But now, Geralt falters like he rarely does, something almost helpless flickering across his expression for a moment, confusion and affection both surging in his chest as he claps eyes on his daughter, just recently returned to him -- and taken away again. ] Ciri?

[ Is this real? It's not just some wishful mirage sent to torment him -- this strange place, with Ciri there, a silver blade grasped in her hands. Geralt had only just been standing by that damned elven tower, begging Ciri not to go, not to throw her life away, not now. How was he to go back to Yennefer and tell her he'd failed to bring their daughter back despite his promise...? What can you know about saving the world, silly? You're just a simple witcher. The words still echo in his ears. ]

Are you... [ really here? ] What is this place-- how'd we end up here? Did you...?

[ Did she somehow end up bringing them, with her powers? Is this possibly one of the worlds she's been hopping in her escape of the Hunt? Too many damn questions. ]

ugly crying, the unofficial soundtrack of this series and no worries!!

[ichaer]

[ Her smiles never once fade as she turns back to face the battle. There a rush of energy that pushes her forward, swinging her sword upwards through a fiend before blinking out of sight to cut another down from behind. It reminds her of what should be good times, the times after the end of the Wild Hunt when they traveled and took contracts together before going their separate ways.

All she can see now is the rock ceiling over their heads. It's a harsh reminder that they're trapped here and she can't take them home. For a brief moment, the happy energy becomes red hot and she has to swallow it down. The smell of rot is thick in the air but she breathes deep, grip slacking and eyes turning back on Geralt.

He's still standing there. He wasn't some illusion and she can't help stepping forward, her hand reaching out to take one of his hands like she once did as a child. Squeezing, she sighs and almost laughs tiredly.

Real, he's real. ]

Hadriel. It's some... strange city deep underground and controlled by creatures that call themselves gods. They feed off our emotions. [ She says, jaw tightening. ] But we were brought here by an even stranger force that I can't explain. Strong enough to take away a piece of my powers, keep me from leaving. They call it "the Door" but there's little else I know. I wish this was but a bad dream.

[ She had grown used to them in the times they had been seperated. Terrible, horrible dreams of Geralt in danger and her unable to stop it. No doubt, he had them too. It was simply another sting of destiny that connected them. ]

It's been almost three months now since my arrival here.

it really is, vol. who even knows anymore

[portalhate]

[ Geralt grasps her hand instantly when she reaches for him and holds on tightly with a hint of a smile passing across his lips (she always managed to pull a smile out of him), like he's afraid of letting her go; and really, he is. After the harrowing search across the Northern Realms for her and the constant near misses, the idea of letting her out of his sight now is more than he can bear. Philippa had snidely pointed out he couldn't watch over Ciri for the rest of her life, driving away the wolves at her doorstep, but Geralt could and would damn well try.

His brows furrow deeply in silent consternation as he takes in Ciri's explanation, eyes narrowing slightly. He's never heard of Hadriel, of course. Feeding off emotions isn't unheard of; gods, though? Some sort of demons, possibly. Nevertheless, if the city itself or these creatures are affecting Ciri's ability to teleport across continents and entire worlds, even, they're nothing to scoff at. ]

The Door. Sounds self-explanatory enough-- some kind of portal, then. [ He gives a slight, discontented grunt. Has he mentioned he really, really hates portals? Especially when he has no say in whether or not he has to step through one. ] Three months? Was barely a moment since I last saw you, back in Skellige. [ He falters a little at that, but only for a moment before he's back to turning everything over in his head. ] So the place somehow distorts time, too. Great.

[ Again, not entirely unheard of. Concern follows next. Ciri's obviously more than proven she can take care of herself, but... ] You've been by yourself this whole time?

[ichaer]

[ They're probably an odd sight standing among the bloated, dead corpses and holding hands but she can't let go just yet. She hasn't allowed herself to be afraid, fought against everything with tooth, nail and her anger. Now she's afraid of letting go and watching him disappear after they had just be reunited again.

She smiles, holding in laughter at the mention of portals but nods lightly. It slips when he mentions Skellige and falters in a way that makes her furrow her brows. They hadn't traveled to Skellige recently unless... ]

During our battle with the Wild Hunt? [ Her battle against the White Frost. ] Even before I was brought here that had been a few weeks past. You see, you brought me this when we met in White Orchard. My own silver sword.

[ She has to rub blood off on her pants but she shows him, lbeaming at the sight of it still and hoping this would be enough to say it would be okay. She would be okay. They had a future after she walked through that portal on Undvik. ]

But I've made allies of those from other worlds also trapped here. They've been quite the big help but you're the first I've seen from home.

[ So yes, in a way, she has felt alone here. The only reminder she has of home is that mirror that shows the future she hoped for with Yen, Geralt and herself being happy and, most importantly, together. ]

[portalhate]

[ Geralt nods tersely in confirmation, expression grim. It was still fresh in his mind; the grueling battle with Eredin he hadn't been entirely certain he'd come out the victor, followed by the mad dash across the Undvik taiga with Yen while fire rained down on them -- fire before frost.

But then Ciri brandishes the exquisite silver blade he'd noted in a detached way earlier without fully realizing the implications. Now it becomes clear with Ciri's words, his lips parting a little in astonishment. She would never lie or joke about something so important, so vital. Geralt thinks this might be another one of fate's tricks, confusing their respective timelines like this, but it doesn't matter. He trusts in what Ciri is telling him. They'd have their chance to finally be the family they deserved to be, the two of them and Yen. ]

I begged you not to go. I thought I'd never see you again. That we'd beaten the Hunt only to lose you anyway to the Frost...

[ He shakes his head a little as he gazes at the sword Ciri holds up, appearing moved all of the sudden -- as much as he could, with his witcher mutations and limited emotional expression. With one hand, he pushes the blade gently down and out of the way while reaching out to wrap the opposite arm about Ciri's shoulders to pull her carefully into a hug. ]

I'm here now, Ciri. And this time, I'm not leaving you alone. [ Not if he can help it. He'd rather die (again). ]

[ichaer]

I know but I simply couldn't stand the thought of it. I couldn't allow us to go through so much and for us to finally be together then lose it all to the White Frost.

[ There's an ache in her voice as she thinks back to those moments. She had to stay strong but her heart had been breaking, wishing to just give it all up and go away with him. Go somewhere far away with her parents to live happily ever after. Her grip slackens more, almost dropping her sword in the dirt and blood under their feet as she's pulled into the hug. It helps to ground her, keep her worried thoughts from overcoming everything else and allowing her a chance to breathe. It was always easier with Geralt nearby and with him, she know she could do anything.

Careful of her sword in one hand, she wraps her arms around him and nods. ]

It was overwhelming like... like nothing I had even seen before but then I thought of you. I remembered how you helped me, trusted me and stood by me. It gave me the strength to win because I wanted to see you again. I wanted to be with you and mother. [ His words remind her of Stygga and of the words she spoke then under that archway. The words she had been unable to keep back then but now? Now its different. Now she knows it's true both here and back home. ] I'll never leave you again. Never again.

[ She swears it. ] Whether back home or in some strange world, we'll be together.

[portalhate]

[ Geralt shuts his eyes, embracing Ciri firmly but gently. Inexplicably, her words bring to mind that awful moment when he'd finally found her in that cabin on the Isle of Mists, cold and lifeless. How he thought his life had come to an end at that exact moment, too, grief and hopelessness choking the breath from his lungs -- how he thought he'd failed her so completely. He couldn't even weep; didn't know how. Then Ciri had woken and given him back his life and purpose -- it's comforting to know he'd managed to give back something in return with his support and trust. ]

It's a deal. [ One he'll happily agree to. There's a rare smile on his lips when he gradually pulls back from their hug, soft and warm reserved only for Ciri and Yen. For so long, they've fallen from one battle and calamity to the next. Can it really be over now, at least for the foreseeable future? Do they finally just get to live in peace, together? Geralt hopes with all his heart they do. ]

About damn time we caught a break for once, if you ask me. Although... [ He trails off and glances around, a small frown making its way back to his face. They're still stuck in this strange place, which doesn't sit well with him at all. ] Looks like we still have one more hurdle to cross.

[ichaer]

[ Again, she can't help but smile like a small. It's been a long three months here and Ciri has felt like she has been dragging herself along but now? Now she feels light on her fight like... like she can face any challenge and win. It's thrilling, she decides and steps up from the hug with a nod. This wouldn't be easy but they could figure something out that would get them back home. ]

It'll be hard but we've faced tougher challenges before. Thankfully, the monsters for the most part avoid the city limits so we need not worry about them too much. [ The Gods were the main target, they've been for months in her mind. ] Come, I'll show you the way but keep an ear not. More than just rotfiends hide in these tunnels and some are nothing like the monsters we have make home.

[portalhate]

We'd better, before Yen reaches out across the time and space and gives us both a thrashing for dawdling. [ His lips pull into a faint, crooked smirk -- but all joking aside, he doesn't doubt the sorceress and her determination (and temper) for one minute. If anyone could do just that, it would be Yennefer. ] Lead the way.

So, monsters are a problem here? Been making yourself useful, like a good witcher...ess? [ There's a fondly teasing edge to his gruff tone, but make no mistake, he couldn't be more proud of her. ]