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singillppl2023-10-09 11:52 pm
singmod) wrote in singillppl2023-10-09 11:52 pm
Entry tags:
October 2023 Test Drive Meme
OCTOBER 2023 TDM
PROMPT ONE — ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST: A new group of arrivals find themselves lost in the frozen wilds and vulnerable to the dangers of nature. With luck, they make it to the town of Milton, and to a friendly face offering food, warmth and shelter — not to mention the fact they are not the first to come here.
PROMPT TWO — GUILTY PARTY: Interlopers are kidnapped and held captive by a being and forced to confess their wrong doings, or face fatal consequences.
PROMPT THREE — OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: Interlopers get more than they bargained for when a mysterious albeit friendly dog comes across them and persuades them to follow them into the wilds.
ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST
WHEN: Mid-October.
WHERE: Milton, Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: potential animal attacks, potential injuries, potential cold injuries/hyperthermia risk.
'You are the Interloper. You are not part of nature’s design.'
It’s the last thing you hear. A dark, deep voice. Impossibly ancient. You feel afraid. Maybe you’re dreaming, maybe you’re wide awake. You saw the lights, and then your world went dark. But you hear it in the blackness, you won’t forget those words.
You awaken. You are not where you were before. It’s different for everyone, there doesn’t seem to be much of a pattern in where you find yourself. You may open your eyes to find yourself in a cold, dim and dank cabin. The air is stale, dust hangs in the rays of weak sunlight that shine through the tiny windows. Someone lived here once, but they aren’t to be found. You look around, it seems like no one has been here in several weeks, maybe longer. The fire is stone cold, the dishes in the sink are mouldy — it's possible the place has been ransacked, as if they've gone through the drawers and cupboards looking for something. It is quiet. The wood creaks around you. Or perhaps you may awaken to find yourself shivering in the yawning maw of a cave, the freezing stone below you. Or maybe you’re unfortunate enough to sit up to find yourself lying in the snow, in the middle of the wilderness. Snow lies thick around you. It’s freezing out. You haven’t felt a cold like this before in your entire life. Cruel and biting. You have no idea where you are, and what’s worse — you are completely alone.
You may feel different, too. Any powers or magics you may have feel... absent. Disconnected. Things that may not have affected you previously now do. Something in you has changed.
You know you can’t stay where you are. You’ll need to move, try to work out where you are and how you came to be here. So you walk, head out into the unknown, in hope of finding a trail or a road. You’ll find one soon enough. It’s here you may find someone else in the same boat as yourself, equally freezing and confused. You’ll both need to keep going. It won’t be easy. You hear howls of wolves around you, and the terrain is difficult: slips and falls are likely. You’re completely vulnerable out here in the open.
Or it’s possible you may come across someone else here. Someone who looks far better prepared to deal with the freezing cold and frozen landscape, out hunting or gathering. They’ll likely offer help and get you into town. However, for the unlucky ones who don’t come across anyone, you’ll carry on until you see it: the lazy trail of smoke rising in the air. Fire. Not just one, but several. Civilization...?
Follow it, and soon enough the way you’ve taken will certainly become a path or road. Unfolding before you in the mountainous forests, you’ll see the most welcome of sights: a small mining town tucked up in the valley. Battered, rusted road signs will direct to “MILTON, POP. 947”. You’re almost there, you keep going, and it looks like other people have had the same idea as you. In fact, you’ll hear the muffled sounds of life. People! In the town!
As you head into the outskirts and then further into town, you’ll find it’s a little easier to walk but the cold has gripped you hard. You’ll find the buildings, both shops and homes, some are dark and lifeless, some of them are boarded up, some of them are occupied. People are going about their business, or stood watching from their tiny porches of their small, timber homes. For a town this big, there doesn’t seem to be many people. Several dozen at most, but no more.
Towards the center of town, you’ll find the building from which the biggest of the smoke trail rises: a school-house of sorts, or some kind of community hall. Perhaps both. You’ll find more and more people all drawn to this place, each and every one of them in the same position as yourself (and your companion, if you’ve found one). Some are in worse states than others: some are bloodied, nursing bite wounds or cuts; others might have some other kind of injury sustained in the journey here from falls. Others may look as if they could faint from the cold at any second.
The door opens, and you’re greeted by the gnarled, wizened face of an elderly man, dressed in thick furs. He has a kind face. He smiles warmly, and with pity, ushering you in with haste.
“Ah, more of you have come.” he nods, just as he suspected you might. “I am Methuselah. I welcome you Newcomer, although I’m sorry for how you’ve come to find yourself here. You are not the only one, the lights are changing things. Come. Mother Nature has not been kind to you, but there are plenty here to help.”
The room is dim, lit only by natural daylight through the windows. A roaring fire sits at one end of the huge hall. It crackles, bright and cheerful... and warm. Even as big as this place is, the room is pleasantly warm. You’ll also find basic cots set up down one side of the hall, and while it seems there's a few people already living here, there's enough space for those in need of them. There's places to rest for a moment and get your bearings, or just trying to recover from the cold. Down the other side are tables and chairs, and long tables laden with food, drinks and bottled water similar to one might find at a soup kitchen. Once again, Methuselah offers a feast, aided by some of the other Interlopers.
There are canisters with hot herbal teas and coffee, along with soup and stew and trays of charred deer and rabbit meats, plus some grilled fish, instant mashed potatoes, and tinned vegetables. It’s very basic, but it’s hot and filling. A feast. The old man has been busy. And Methuselah will continue to busy himself, still; there is plenty to do. He will fetch blankets, tend to wounds, serve food and drinks. He does not have much time to talk. More and more people seem to be coming in from the cold. He will not stop to sit and rest until everyone is seen to, taking up a place by the fire to gaze silently into its flames. He is troubled, thoughtful. The arrival of so many is not something that sits well with him. The others from town will eventually trail in too, to eat and warm themselves, and search amongst the new faces.
He will encourage newcomers to get warm and eat, and when they are ready to — they can explore the town and find one of the many empty homes to call their own. He will not speak much, but perhaps you might be able to get some answers from those fellow arrivals who’ve been in this place for some time now.
GUILTY PARTY
WHEN: Over the next month.
WHERE: Paradise Farm Outbuildings.
CONTENT WARNINGS: forced imprisonment; forced honesty; supernatural beings; confessional themes; threat of death; possible character death; possible death by throat injury.
You don’t remember how you came to be here. The air is cold and damp, the rot of wood is strong, and… blood. Why does it smell of so much blood? You can’t seem to see all that much in the gloom, but you think you’re in some kind of outbuilding of sorts. You find yourself chained to a chair, the metal is heavy and cold against you and no matter whatever you seem to do, you can’t seem to free yourself from them. No struggling can ease their hold, and there’s no lock to unpick or break. They weigh you down in your seat, you can't even seem to tip yourself over.
But you’re not the only one here. Across from you in the dark is someone else. One of your fellow Interlopers is trapped here with you, too. They too don’t remember anything either, they’re equally as confused and uncertain as you. Perhaps frightened. Not only this, they’re also sat chained up just as tightly. You have a little time to talk before you realise the two of you aren’t alone.
There's a glooming green light, the feeling of a presence. A huge figure steps into view, cloaked in black. It’s hard to tell whether it’s a man or a woman, and it’s difficult to make out much detail of them. Their face is obscured by a stone mask in the shape of a monstrous, horned and fanged Jackal. Green light glows from behind it, foreboding in the dark. It will not answer you if you try to speak with it.
“WICKEDNESS LIES WITHIN YOU.” The voice is a fierce chorus of whispers, but yet so loud. It sends a shiver down your spine. “I HAVE SEEN IT.”
... You can’t help but know it to be true. Something inside you knows what they speak of is true. Any misdeed or wrongdoing done by your hand, any cruel word you spoke, any life you took or heart you broke. You feel exposed, seen. The figure knows what you have done.
“CONFESS.” the figure demands. “UNBURDEN YOUR HEART AND BE FREE. BE SILENT AND CARRY IT TO THE GRAVE.”
The figure holds an item in its hand, something that glints in the light that glows from its mask. Now you realise why there’s so much blood in the air: it’s a sickle, dripping with blood. You are not the first to be brought here. You will not be the last.
Speak, unburden yourself, and if the figure is satisfied — you will, in fact, go free. Refuse, or not take the demand seriously, and the figure will deem you unworthy. They will move within the blink of an eye, striking you with the sickle in the neck — let it be a mercy that they kill you quickly.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
WHEN: Over the next month.
WHERE: Milton / Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: supernatural creature; trickster creature; themes of peril; possible character injury; possible dead body discoveries; potential cold injuries/hyperthermia risk; possible character death.
The weather will continue to prove difficult for all who try to navigate this world, but with the current footfall in and around Milton, it’s at least helped to keep paths and roads somewhat clear despite the snow’s best efforts to cover up these walkways. Still, it’s a pain to get around, especially on particularly snowy days. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes necessary to go out on such days — survival doesn’t stop for the weather to pass.
And so journeys must be made, hunting must be done, forageables must be collected. You try to keep to the paths and trails, where the terrain yields before you for an easier journey.
… Until you hear barking through the trees, the sound of paws through the snow. Given the recent wolf activity of the last month, it’s understandable to be on edge. However, it isn’t a wolf that comes into view: it’s a large dog, bigger than any dog you’ve seen before. Coated in thick and shaggy black fur, this animal doesn’t seem to be like the wolves that have been found so far in this world. While the wildlife has certainly been altered, this dog remains very much like anyone would expect a dog to act in terms of behaviour. It’s playful with some, certainly friendly, constantly trying to play chase with you as it loops around in circles with a wagging tail.
However, there’s an insistence with this dog. It wants you to follow it. It will bark incessantly, trying to pull you from the path to go after it into the woods. It wants to show you something, take you somewhere. It will even try to gently pull at a coat-sleeve or trouser-leg to coax your forwards before heading off, keeping just in sight for you to go after it.
You’ll find it increasingly difficult to keep up, even if you pick up the pace as you head further into the woods. There’s less snow here, but the forest floor is filled with holes and tree roots that will trip you up. Falls are likely. But even worse is when before you know it, the ground simply gives way beneath you, sending you tumbling into a small valley or getting you stuck deep into soft, muddy earth. With it, perhaps, twisted ankles or worse. Or perhaps simply battered and bruised and unable to climb out of trench of earth. Maybe you come face to face with the body of some other poor Interloper who'd met their own end in similar manner — trapped and injured in the ditch.
Or worse still, the dog might just have you stumbling over a cliff face and tumbling into the Basin. Whatever fate befalls you, it’s as if the dog simply led you into it. And said dog, however, will be nowhere to be seen. It will have left you stuck, hurt, lost in the woods.
You’re sure you can hear some dark chuckling on the wind. Maybe it’s just the trees.
FAQs
1. Arrival threads can be treated as game canon.
2. Items characters have brought from home can be found either strewn around them when they awaken, or in the community hall — as if someone left them out for them to collect. Methuselah will not know how they got there, and will be quite bemused by the happenings.
3. Reminder that all characters are now depowered upon arrival. They can choose not to notice it at first, or can immediately sense something is different about them.
4. If asked any personal questions, Methuselah will smile and say "Oh, you don't want to know about an old man like me. But I have lived all over in these parts for all my life." He will be more concerned with trying to help Newcomers, and is genuinely concerned for them and their well-being. Other Interlopers will say much of the same — there's little to know about him.
5. More information about Milton can be found here.
1. Characters will find that once they have confessed, they will pass out. When they awaken, they will find themselves lying or sitting on the floor — the being, chairs and chains have gone. They are free to leave.
2. Attempts to search the outbuildings at later dates will prove fruitless. There is no sign of the being, nor the chairs or chains that held characters, but there will be blood on the floor that can be found.
3. One character can confess, or both. Player choice! As long as someone's doing some confessing.
1. Gyests, sometimes called Ghests or Bargyests are evil creatures from Northumberland, UK folklore. They seek to lure travelers away from a known and safe road to their miry and marshy demise, or perhaps lead them to walk in the darkness of a Cheviot night over the edge of a precipice. Often taking the shape of horses, donkeys or large dogs, Gyests could also shape-shift to appear as men, or even stacks of hay. But always their intention was to trick humans, for their own amusement, and lure them to their doom.
2. Attempts to lure or trap the Gyest will not work.
no subject
... Dog? [ There's a beat before he realises. ] We've been hearing a dog for weeks, no one's been able to find it. You actually saw it—?
[ Still, a damaged ego isn't so bad. But he looks at her with worry, hovering a little too much before he looks around. He... isn't good at this. ]
Do you think you can stand?
no subject
Oh. OH. Oooooooh. That makes more sense.
[Then there's a brief pause before she says.]
Kind of a weird coincidence we have the same hair though, right?
[Two gems with red in their hair? The situation is not lost on her.
Except now she focuses on the actual important questions.]
Yeah- Actually came right up to me. Seemed friendly enough, maybe a little too playful, never thought I'd say that.
[She takes a moment to shift and put some of her weight on her leg, and she immediately feels a sting. She winces and looks over to him.]
Not on my own, I think. At least not on that.
I can probably get around on my own if you find me a big enough stick.
no subject
Still, a Jem and a Ruby. It's not lost on him either. ]
.... Weird. Pretty sure we all thought we were making it up in our heads. And it just... came up to you? What did it want? What did it look like? [ But he nods at the mention of finding her a stick, looking around in a slight fluster. ]
Stick. Right. Yeah, let me just— hang on a sec.
[ He's going to go stumbling off in search of one. The quicker she gets off the ground, the better. He might not feel it, but he knows fine well it's too cold. He does manage to find one, holding it up for her to see from the short distance. ]
This—?!
no subject
[Ruby blinks awkwardly as someone who hasn't dyed her hair once in her entire life. But she thinks about it briefly and does give a little nod.]
Yeah- I mean. Red's the coolest colour around, right?
[Just let him live with the illusion as long as they can.]
It was big- Bigger than any dog I've owned. Which isn't saying much because my dog back at home is a corgi. It seemed super friendly and playful, but it wouldn't really let me get close to it. And I mean- I'm pretty quick if I do say so myself.
But then it sort of ran off and I swear I could have heard it like snorting and laughing when I fell. If I didn't know any better I'd say I was set up.
[And she takes a breath while Kieren goes off to find the stick. She leans up against a tree to support herself on that and her good leg for the moment, but she brighten up when he returns.]
Yeah- That'll do for now!
no subject
[ Wait, what? ]
Okay, that's... weird. Dogs don't laugh. [ He does pause from his searching to look around them. ] You're sure there's no one else here, right?
[ A weird dog in the woods is one thing. Some creep hanging around? It's enough to make the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and he's quietly on guard. The better they get out of here and back to Milton, the better.
Stick found, he returns to her and holds it steady for her to get a hold of — stepping back slightly to give her room. ]
Okay, right— you good? Can you manage?
no subject
What these? No- I'm pretty sure it's just always been like that. Unless someone is dying my hair every night in my sleep. ...Which does sound like something my uncle or sister would do.
[She glances around but she gives a little shrug.]
I'm pretty sure. But- I don't know. The whole thing was weird in general.
[She takes the stick and leans her weight onto it and takes a few hobbled steps to practice and get used to it.]
Yeah- Thanks. I think this'll do just fine.
no subject
[ Holy shit. Holy shit that's actually a thing, where she's from? Like he knows people have red hair but not...... that kind of red. There's a difference between redheads and... that. And he says this as someone having red in their hair naturally. Even if he's more of a strawberry blonde, of sorts. ]
Yeah, this... uh, this place is a bit weird, in general. People started turning up here a couple of months ago and it's just been a whole lot of weird.
[ Sometimes it feels like being a zombie is practically normal in face of all this. But speaking of weird: Kieren nods stiffly. ]
C'mon. We should get you back to Milton. It's not really safe to be out in the woods, here.
no subject
[So it didn't seem to odd to her, but it was vastly different from what her sister and dad had.
Her interest in just whatever was going on here grew as he explained that. She pushed on a little further with her new walking stick.]
So it's been like this months? Okay. Any idea what's causing it? What other weird things are going on?
[She gives a little smile.]
So I'm learning. Yeah, let's get out of here.
no subject
[ He nods at her first question. ]
Not... really. There's been some wolf attacks in town last month, only the wolves are— not normal. And, uh— creepy voices telling us to go kill ourselves, essentially. And the northern lights are pretty full on, here. Which also isn't normal.
[ VERY NOT NORMAL. Kieren winces. He can come back to get firewood, later. For now, he'll keep a slow, awkward pace at her side. He walks... oddly. ]
CW: Vague mentions of suicide ideation.
Really? That sounds kind of lame if you ask me. Variety is the spice of life, you know? And I actually think my hair is pretty tame compared to some other people I know.
[Not that she knew that Neopolitan's hair was actually a dye job, but extravagant hair wasn't really that wild in her world. She listens to the rest with a faint frown.]
Now normal how?
[She could deal with normal wolves no problem. Or she hoped she could- getting hurt like she was usually took a little more work. Her frown deeps hearing the second. She- Had only just recently dug herself out of a whole after sort of dying. She wasn't exactly eager to deal with that again.]
...Well the lights sound kind of cool.
[There's another pause and she doesn't want to ask right away, but she finds her mouth moving faster than she's currently thinking.]
You didn't hurt yourself pulling me out, did you?
no subject
Well— like... they trigger all the lights. The electricity doesn't work anymore, but when the Auroras happen— things turn on, even if it's pretty buggy. [ He grimaces a little. ] And uh, there were like these weird ghosts.
[ So. Yeah. Totally not normal. As for the question, he blinks in surprise and then swallows thickly. Shit. Erm. Yeah. ]
No. I'm not hurt. It's— I just... that's just me. [ Maybe she won't poke too much, he hopes. And instead he quickly tries to redirect. ] C'mon. I'll give the full rundown on the lights stuff when he get somewhere warm, yeah?