methuselah (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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singillppl2023-08-10 12:13 am
singmod) wrote in singillppl2023-08-10 12:13 am
Entry tags:
August 2023 Test Drive Meme
AUGUST 2023 TDM
PROMPT ONE — ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST: A group of newcomers 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.
PROMPT TWO — HOPE NOBODY NEEDS THIS ANYMORE: Once recovered from their journey, newcomers are free to explore the town of Milton for supplies and find any signs of the townsfolk.
PROMPT THREE — THE SIREN OF MILTON BASIN: A mysterious woman haunts the frozen lake of the Milton Basin, trying to lure newcomers to their deaths.
ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST
WHEN: Day One.
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 days, maybe longer. The fire is cold, the dishes in the sink are a little mouldy. 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.
But it won’t be long until you see it: the lazy trail of smoke rising in the air. Fire.
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. As you head into the outskirts and 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, are dark and lifeless, some of them are boarded up. Other than those heading in the same direction, towards the smoke, you won’t find any townsfolk coming to greet you, or even looking at you from behind curtains. … Where is everyone?
Towards the center of town, you’ll find the building from which the smoke 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.
“It seems like a great deal of you have come.” he muses finally. “I am Methuselah. I welcome you Newcomer, although I’m sorry for how you’ve come to find yourself here. Please, warm yourselves. Eat. Get your bearings. Mother Nature has not been kind to you.”
The room is dim, lit mostly by the weak 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, places to rest for a moment and get your bearings, or just trying to recover from the cold or any injuries. Down the other side are tables and chairs, and long, foldable tables laden with food, drinks and bottled water similar to one might find at a soup kitchen.
There are canisters with hot herbal teas and coffee, along with soup and stew and trays of charred moose, deer and rabbit meats, 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.
If you ask him where you are, he will simply respond: “This is Milton, of the Northern Territories.”
If you ask how you came to be here, he will shake his head: “Something has changed. The sky, it was… full of light. The Flare. I felt you coming, a great arrival. But I cannot say for certain how, or why you are here.”
He is regretful, genuinely so. He wishes he had more answers for you, but he does not. Instead he will simply insist you rest, get warm and eat. There is plenty to go around. Eventually, when you feel well enough, Methuselah will gesture to the door: “When you are ready and able, explore the town. Many left, others could not make it out. I have found no one but the dead. They will have no use of the place now, perhaps you might in the meantime.”
HOPE NOBODY NEEDS THIS ANYMORE
WHEN: First couple of weeks since arrival.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: frozen dead bodies, unexplained deaths, suicide, murder.
Other than Methuselah in the Hall, the town of Milton is void of life. While not a particularly large town, there’s a few stores and even a gas station. Life here is rustic. Function over form. Homes are simple but sturdy and warm, it’s a rugged place and one can easily deduce that the folk living here led simple, self-sufficient lives.
Commercial buildings and stores of note include a bank and post office, a hunting/fishing supply store, a grocery store, and a clothing store. There is even a church just on the outskirts of town. The buildings are ripe for picking, with most of them still with the doors unlocked, including the residential buildings. Others are locked, but can be broken into easily enough. A few are even trickier, with some of them boarded up or with entrances blocked. In terms of contents, a third of the residential buildings seem to be almost empty, as if the owners moved out long ago. There might still be things left behind of use: old, warm clothes good for the wintery weather, tools and cooking utensils — but little in terms of food. Even if the former residents move some time ago, they didn’t completely empty their homes.
Most of the homes in Milton seem to be left as if the owner stepped out only a short while ago, and with very little disturbance. Some houses, however, seem to be abandoned in a hurry, with a mess of items strewn about in some last-minute dash to grab essentials: keys, identification, treasured personal items, supplies for a quick exit. Cupboards are typically filled with an abundance of canned goods, and some chilled goods might have survived in the cold weather within the fridge-freezers, but it might be a gamble if one wants to try and eat them. Any and all electronics within homes: televisions, computers, mobile-phones — although dated, will all appear cracked and damaged, and will not function or turn out at all. The same will go for any vehicles around the town: there is no hope of starting any of them.
Diaries and journals kept by the former residents may remark on a change in the weather, with the cold and harsh climate becoming more hostile as of late. Others remark strange lights in the skies, dating several weeks or so ago, strange noises in the air, issues with power and electrical items. Some make mentions of changes to the wildlife, with wolves coming close to the town even when they had never done so before. One or two mention problems on the Mainland, with increasing difficulty of reaching out to loved ones who don’t live in the Northern Territories, or deliveries being unable to arrive. The growing trend is that something odd and terrible has been happening, although no one can truly explain what, and the problems have been growing increasingly worse and worse up to the final entries. You might note that the actual years and dates might not line up with your own: the current year given in these entries is 2014.
The newcomers are free to take over these homes, if they wish. No one appears to be stopping them, and even Methuselah seems to shrug about moving in. And as he’d mentioned, he has found no one but the dead: and plenty of them can be found.
Bodies of the town’s former residence can be found scattered over the town. In homes, in stores, out in the snow. They appear still relatively fresh, although it may be hard to tell if it’s from the cold or if it’s from very little time passing. Most appear to have died from cold exposure, some appear to have simply dropped dead on the spot. Others may be found with a gun in hand. Some, worryingly, appear to have perished by another’s hand. You won’t find the entirety of the town’s population, but there’ll be at least several dozen. Men, women, children.
Methuselah seems to have begun laying the dead to rest, but there’s too many for one man to do. Maybe you can work out what to do with them, try to bury them in their backyards, or try to take them to the churchyard.
THE SIREN OF MILTON BASIN
WHEN: Until the next Aurora.
WHERE: Milton Basin.
CONTENT WARNINGS: mental manipulation, malevolent mythical creatures, falling through ice, attempted drowning/possible successful drowning, potential character death.
Those who venture further south of the town will find themselves traversing the steep, winding paths down towards the Milton Basin. The way down is treacherous, but if enough care is taken you should be able to make it down in one piece. The water is just about completely frozen over down here, thick and sturdy enough to walk over for the most part. Within the Basin there’s more wildlife to be found: deer and rabbit are plenty. And there’s even plenty of foragables, too.
Out on the water are two small ice-fishing cabins, enough to fit one or two people inside comfortably, which hold a few forgotten supplies to try out some ice-fishing if you want to see if anything bites. Both even hold little log burners to keep warm. An old hunter’s shack can be found along the water’s edge, for those not quite brave enough to travel out onto the ice, to take shelter in for when the weather gets a little too difficult, with an old log burner still working within it.
But it’s calm down here, for the most part. Peaceful even. It’s an excellent place for fishing and hunting, and a little more sheltered from the freezing winds.
Until you hear the voice. Something soft and feminine, echoing across the ice. The Basin helps to amplify the sound, and for a long time you can’t quite be sure of where exactly it’s coming from. It’s singing, she is singing. Something old, in a language you can’t quite understand. Maybe it’s not even a language at all, but simply melodic vocalizations. It’s... beautiful, you’ve never heard anything like it before in your life.
And then you see her: a woman standing upon the frozen waters of the Basin. You realise she’s probably the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen in your life, even if you can’t quite even begin to describe her. She appears different to everyone who beholds her, some one might see her hair is long and dark, others might see her with neat red curls. Some swear her skin is dark and rich, that looks almost plum when the light hits it just so, others claim it to be cool-toned that glistens like sunlight on snow. Whatever someone might find aesthetically pleasing is how she’ll appear, and even then to describe her to others will bring you at a loss for words. And she’s singing… to you, for you.
You’re compelled to go to her, although you can’t explain why. You’re drawn to approach her, to hear her better, see her better. Your feet carry you onto the ice, out into the midst of the Basin. You ignore the calls of everyone and anyone around you, fixated on the woman before you. She smiles when you’re close enough, beckons you a little closer.
… Then everything changes. Without warning, the woman leaps for you, her face contorting into something hideous, mouth opening to scream to reveal rows upon rows of tiny, needle-like teeth. She collides with you, and the force (paired with the slippery ice below you) is enough to send you off your feet. As you fall back, the ice cracks beneath you with an almighty sound, plunging you into the frigid depths below.
The woman fights to put you beneath the water’s surface, those needle-like teeth bared like some ferocious beast. She can be fought off easily enough, but she might just drown you before you’re able to. If you’re lucky, someone might be able to help pull you out. Tools or weapons made of iron or silver are especially harmful to her.
Once you’re pulled from the water, getting somewhere warm will be the utmost priority — otherwise the cold will kill you quicker than the woman would. The woman, you’ll find, will have vanished, and the ice where you’d fallen will have restored itself, as if it had never been broken at all.
FAQs
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. If asked how he knew that the Newcomers were arriving, he concedes that although it is a strange thing to know, it is much like how one knows a storm is coming.
1. Characters are welcome to take up residency in any of the homes of Milton. Methuselah will strongly advise characters to leave a huge, dilapidated house — known as Milton House — well alone, due to extensive fire damage.
2. More information about Milton can be found here.
1. Characters with hearing impairments will not be susceptible to the Siren's song, or may only be somewhat susceptible depending, but may be entranced to a degree by looking at the Siren. However, this will be far easier to snap out of.
2. The Siren cannot be killed, only fought off. She will disappear for a length of time to recover before she attempts to lure her next victim.
no subject
[It was part of why Jin Zixuan's words cut her so deeply. To be so grossly misjudged and thought of as such a terrible, self-serving person by a man who's known her since childhood on top of so much grief and loss had simply broken her. It'd become painfully clear that Jin Zixuan didn't know her or even respect her at all. And now she didn't want to know him or have anything to do with him at all. Even now, it still hurts to think about it.]
And I see.
[If he'd known of her contributions at Langya, than surely she must know him. Or have seen him in passing at the camp.]
...Ah, do you mind if I ask what name you went by before?
[Normally, she'd be quicker on the uptake but it's been a long, difficult day.]
no subject
[He had very few kind things to say about Jin's organization at Langya. It was a cesspit of ass-kissing and nepotism, those in power liked to be cruel and steal credit, and even after being abused it was obvious his father wanted him to die on the front lines rather than see him, the letter from Nie Mingjue or not.]
This one used to go by Meng Yao, from Yunping, Maiden Jiang. But I can assure you I am no one of importance.
no subject
When he gives the name 'Meng Yao', this time there is instant recognition accompanies by a warm, pleased smile.]
I beg to differ. Even I have heard the tales of the work you did on the battlefield. Don't sell yourself short. Your accomplishments hold as much meaning any anyone else's.
[And there's that subtle authoritative edge to her voice that leaves little room for argument once again. She's not usually this outspoken. Or at least, she isn't unless Jiang Cheng is being particularly stubborn and ridiculous. But after breaking down in front of Jin Zixuan and having to work to pull her beloved younger brother off of him earlier and then winding up in this frozen land, even her composure has begun to fray.]
no subject
Maiden Jiang is far too kind. Thank you. [He didn't think anyone paid any attention back then, with his commander stealing all the credit for his work, and then Nie Mingjue catching him in killing him. He really had no time to just breathe since then. He took a breath and let it out slowly.]
I am sad you are so far from your clan, Maiden Jiang. But it is good to see a familiar face. I'll be happy to assist you in any way possible. We're allies after all. [He said softly. Kindness does things to him. Jiang Yanli firmly moved into the same box he kept for Lan Xichen, Qin Su, and Nie Huaisang
Perhaps Nie Mingjue once upon a time]no subject
[Now that's received clarification on Jin Guangyao's identity, she adapts to the new, proper address with ease. If he's been officially accepted into the clan, that's all she needs to know. That he might be lying to her about any of it doesn't even occur to her. Jiang Yanli simply isn't one to jump at shadows or see conspiracies among the people arounnd her without just cause. Even if there's a mismatch in their knowledge, she's still inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.
On the matter of her sect...]
I just hope everyone is doing all right.
no subject
[He said softly, while he was putting what he had on him down. A small dagger he kept in his boot, Hensheng but it was more of a normal soft sword now. A small container of cinnabar powder for his vermillion mark. It really wasn't a lot. Instead, he put another branch into the flame.]
Jiang Wanyin is admirable in his skills of rebuilding the clan and Wei Wuxian is really strong. Both of them are going to survive if they stick together.
[Which they may not if his father has something to say about it.]
I think They will be okay. I will do my best to try and bring you back to your brothers, Maiden Jiang. What do you have on you if I may ask?
no subject
Jin Guangyao's words are enough to redirect her back to the here and now, though.]
I don't have a whole lot that's useful for situations like these, I'm afraid.
[But she still fishes a pouch out of her robes and empties it out on the cave floor. There's an archaic looking bronze lighter, a wooden comb, and a small round fan decorated with pretty flowers for keeping herself cool when she's cooking.]
no subject
He would have to mull over that later, They had no idea where they were after all. The key right now was for the both of them to survive and for him to escort her back home. The rest of it could be worried about at a later time. Jin Guangyao let out a soft sigh. He looked up at her thoughtfully.]
The lighter should be useful, but you don't even have a hairpin to defend yourself with.
[He lifted the small dagger hilt up and handed it to her.]
I may have to borrow it back now and then to skin any animals I find but you can keep this. It is important for a lady to have a weapon in case the need arises and you can hide it in your sleeve.
[The light danced over his gold hued eyes. Wild animals weren't the only dangers they may face out here and even if Hensheng cannot connect with his core she can still be welded as a regular sword.]
no subject
She takes the dagger from him, handling it with the confidence and comfort level of someone used to handling sharp objects on a regular basis. Just beccause she hasn't stabbed anyone yet doesn't mean that she couldn't if she absolutely had to.]
Thank you, Second Master Jin. When you have need of it again, let me know.
[For now, she simply holds it in her lap. Once her clothes are dry enough to put back on, she'll put it into her sleeve proper as instructed. She trusts him to know more about how to get by here than she does herself. A sheltered lady of the gentry knows little of the world outside the home sphere she'd been prepared to dwell in all her life.
She falls quiet again, just watching the flames for a while longer. She knows they're not going to be able to stay here forever, not without food and resources, but for now it's nice respite from the harsh conditions outside.]
no subject
[It was nice actually, to be able to sit quietly and watch the flames dance in soft companionable silence. There weren't many people he could just exist with like this. Perhaps Lan Xichen, when they watch the moon and drink tea together. He hoped his er-ge was doing alright with all the rebuilding. He hoped Da-ge and Huaisang were doing well too.
Absently, Jin Guangyao wonders if anyone even notes his absence further than a, oh this is running slightly less well kind of way. He brought his knees up to his chest and rested his chin against them. It was good to rest. He hasn't slept much since he was in Heijian, and he was feeling it now.
He closed his eyes for a little bit All of the tension in his shoulders began to relax. Before he was conscious of it he sang softly, an old Yunmeng lullaby that his mother used to sing for him on those nights the fear was overwhelming and he couldn't fall asleep. It reminded him of the rolling waves of the rivers and the soft songs of the cicadas. The lights of small lanterns against the river. Yunping was a poor city, bustling and busy but she had her own song as well. In a little while he will have to get up don his clothes and hunt for their dinner. But for this moment they could sit in peaceable silence.]
no subject
A few minutes more isn't going to kill them, she thinks. The longer they rest, the drier her clothing will be and the more insulated Jin Guangyao will be when he has to go.]
no subject
Finally, with a soft sigh, he stands up. They didn't have a core and even if both of their cores were meager they could have practiced inedia.]
I should see if I can catch some food for us before we get too tired or it gets too dark. Would Maiden Jiang be able to find a flat rock and some long sticks in here that we can cook and roast things? I think I can hollow out some wood and melt some snow for some fresh water.
[He had to camp for survival many times in his life, when he was homeless after his fall from Koi tower and when he was escaping from Langya. He would make certain that they survive out here.]
no subject
[She stands up as well, taking off the borrowed layer and handing it back to him. Then she hands him her violent outer robe as well, leaving the pink dress she has on underneath.]
Here. It's not much but it'll help keep you a little bit warmer. I'll set up a roasting spit.
[If she looks around, she might be able to find some that might usable utensils as well.]
Be careful out there, Second Master Jin. Don't do anything too reckless.
no subject
[He put on the overrobe and tied his belt around it, and tied the violet overrobe around his shoulders. He was small for a man but his shoulders were still too broad for it. He took Hengsheng and some small pebbles.]
I shall. I'm the cautious type. I would hate to worry you.
[He gave her a warm smile before heading out. Thankfully he didn't have to go too far. There were fat rabbits in the snow, chewing on some winter ruffage. He was going to have to move quietly and carefully. This task would have been easier with his qi, but that was alright. He knew how to hunt.
It took him an hour or so but he managed to come back with two rabbits, some edible mushrooms, wild garlic, and a pheasant for his troubles. He also had a block of soft wood split in half that he was planning to carve out into a bowl. The snow was pristine and would give them water to drink.]
I think we got lucky. There is good hunting out there. We will have to fashion some weapons for larger game in the future.
no subject
She gets up to greet him, taking his haul off of him.]
Welcome back! That's wonderful to hear. I'm afraid I don't have any seasoning on me so it might taste a little bland.
[As difficult as the situation is, it seems that the simple act of cooking a meal is enough to rejuvenate her spirits a bit.]
If only we had a pot... I think I could whip up a tasty stew with this.
[She smiles at him, gesturing for him to sit down by the fire.]
Go ahead and get some rest. I'll start getting things ready.
no subject
Perhaps tomorrow we can see if we can find a town or anywhere that would be willing to lend us one.
[He smiles softly and set the wet clothing to dry once more. Then he sat down next to the fire with the wood block and hensheng, beginning to try and carve out a wooden bowl for them. It was a relaxing exercise though he was certain his sword wouldn't agree. After he made a hole he used a rock to begin flattening the fibers in it.]
Thank you for cooking.
no subject
[Thankfully, the rabbits and pheasant were already skinned, dressed, and ready to cook, saving her the trouble of needing to do it herself. She hasn't done much campfire cooking aside from roasting kebabs and fish on a skewer but she'll do the best she can. The spit she's made is clearly the work of an amateur though the skewers she'd made are decent enough.
She gets to work, loading the rabbits onto the spit. Without any way to close them up, she can't stuff them with the garlic the way she wants so she sets it aside. She sets the pheasant aside to cook later as well.]
I hope we can find one. Maybe we could pick up some other tools and supplies there as well.
Now that the rabbits are roasting, she busies herself with chopping the mushrooms he'd brought and loading the slices onto skewers for roasting. It's not much but it's the best she can do right now. It'll be something to fill their bellies.]
no subject
I think that is a good way to go. That is already smelling good. We should have some fresh water ready soon.
[He sat back down near the fire.]
I wonder what is blocking the access to our cores. It is worrying.
no subject
[While cultivation may be low, she's just as knowledgeable about how it's done as any disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect would be. She's the senior martial sister, after all, and that comes with certain roles and expectations she needs to be able to fill for her martial siblings.
It'll take an hour or so with periodic rotations for the rabbits to be cooked completely so she puts the mushroom skewers on as well to tide them both over until they're done.]
no subject
[In a way it was good that their cultivation was low. It meant that they were able to hone their other skills to help them survive here. Once the snow melts he offers Yanli some to drink before drinking some himself.]
Hmm... Perhaps I'll keep an eye out for salt so we can preserve some of this meat. Back in Heijian, that's what we took out with us.
no subject
[Even if it's nothing like what they're used to being from Yunmeng, just something to make the meal less bland. She takes makeshift bowl from him, taking a sip before giving it back.]
We'll need warm clothing, blankets, and cookware as well...
[All this planning will be for naught if they really are in the middle of nowhere and no settlements are nearby but it's giving her something to focus on instead of the shadow of possible death looming in the back of her mind.]
no subject
[He made little notes on the ground with a stick, not that he needed it with his memory, but doing something felt good.]
I saved the rabbit pelts I skinned and the feathers from the pheasant. If I can get needle and thread from somewhere I can perhaps make a small bag to carry things. Once we can hunt larger things, warmer pelts can be turned into clothing as well.
I think between us we can figure out how to get by with limited resources. [After all Maiden Jiang had to do a lot with a little, and so had he.]
I'm glad neither of us seems to be the pickiest sort. I've met cultivators who are fairly useless without their golden core.