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singillppl2024-02-05 02:31 pm
singmod) wrote in singillppl2024-02-05 02:31 pm
Entry tags:
February 2024 Test Drive Meme
FEBRUARY 2024 TDM
PROMPT ONE — ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST: Yet another 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 — OF FAIR FORTUNE: After spell of bad luck, finally, the Interlopers find A Very Good (albeit slightly spooky) Boy.
PROMPT THREE — BAD PICKINGS: An error is made when foraging for mushrooms that have been altered by the Aurora makes for some interesting situations for the Interlopers.
ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST
WHEN: Mid-month.
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. Interlopers who arrive during the month of February will find themselves especially likely of falling foul to accidental injuries and the like. It's as if the bad luck of finding yourself in this place only gets much worse. Maybe you get yourself horrendously more lost than you mean to, maybe you end up with a sprained wrist or ankle after a fall, torn clothing from fighting through the thicker parts of the wilderness.
But soon enough, you'll be able to find a path to town. A little more worse for wear, but alive. It’s here you may find someone else in the same boat as yourself, equally freezing and confused — battered from the journey. 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. Some of them will direct you to the Community Hall, tell you to head there — you've been expected.
There is a sombre mood to the town. Although you can't quite place why, maybe you should ask?
Towards the center of town, you’ll find the building from which the biggest of the smoke trail rises: a community hall, by the looks of it. 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, but looks sad. He smiles warmly despite the sadness in him, and with pity, ushering you in with haste.
“Another batch of poor souls from the wilds.” he nods gravely. No, this is not the first time that this has happened. “I am Methuselah. I welcome you Newcomer, although I’m sorry for how you’ve come to find yourself here. The lights are changing things, bringing more of you here. Come, we must get you warm and fed. Mother Nature has not been kind.”
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 perhaps a rare canister of 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 very troubled, thoughtful. Much has been happening. The others from town will eventually trail in too, to eat and warm themselves, and search among 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, his mood is... low, mournful. but perhaps you might be able to get some answers from those fellow arrivals who’ve been in this place for some time now.
This time, if he is approached, particularly by those who have been in Milton for some time, he will frown in thought. He is… considering something. Finally, he will speak:
“I had hoped that the secret cache I and your fellow Newcomers had found two months past would be enough until the spring comes.” He hesitates for a moment, his gaze moving to one of the many windows of the Community Hall. “If she ever arrives, that is.”
He doesn’t believe it will.
“More and more of you come. Life will continue to get harder with the numbers rising.” Methuselah explains. “Milton is but one town, and the way out to the south is blocked.”
He means the road out — the one that follows out of town, past the gas station and through the mountains. The tunneled road ends there, caved in with snow and stone. There is no way out that way. Methuselah is quiet for a few moments.
“... There must be another way out. For all of our sakes. It must be found."
OF FAIR FORTUNE
WHEN: The month of February.
WHERE: Milton Outskirts, Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: otherworldly animal;
The Interlopers have discovered that it is not best to trust the canines in this world. The wolves and volatile, aggressive — prone to attacking the town, people. There has even been an instance of a dog leading Interlopers off the beaten track some months ago, into trips and falls and all sorts of mischief. To come across any sort of dog these days would draw suspicion, perhaps even aggression from Interlopers.
And certainly, coming across this particular dog is enough to turn plenty around and start heading in the opposite direction.
There is something…. Otherworldly about this dog. In terms of breed, one might recognise it to look a great deal like an Old English Sheepdog — but far bigger and hardier. It almost looks as if moss and vines are matted in its long fur, which seems ridiculous — but it’s true enough. The dog does not bark, but instead will stop and look at you silently when you come across one another. If approached, it will not run off, but it does not want to be petted and prefers to keep a respectable distance between you and it.
Then, it will turn to look in one direction and begin heading that way. It looks as if it wants to take you somewhere, but it won’t run off for you to catch up. It keeps to your side, silent and steady as you head through the snow, the woods. Wherever you’re going, there seems to be no rush in getting there.
It’s a little unnerving: where did this dog come from? Why does it look so… strange? Where is it going? Where is it taking you? But even with these questions, it doesn’t seem like you’ll find much in terms of answers, not at first.
Soon enough, you’ll find it. It’s different for everyone, but it seems like it all has some recurring theme. Perhaps out in the cold wilds of the Northern Territories, you’re in desperate need of shelter or warmth — you and the dog will find yourselves facing an abandoned cabin, a place of safety from the cold, perhaps with warmer clothing within. Or perhaps the dog may lead you to some secret stash: a metal cache half-hidden in the snow, a small stone cairn — with vital loot hidden within: matches, flares, maybe even food. It may even lead you to foragable foods: mushrooms, berries or of the like — all safe to consume.
Whatever the strange dog leads you to, it is a fortune. A small one, but a fortune nonetheless. It seems as if it wanted to bring you to something to aid you in your time here. Upon finding whatever it is the dog leads you to, the dog disappears — never to be seen again.
BAD PICKINGS
WHEN: Mid-month onwards for a few weeks.
WHERE: The entirety of the Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: altered food/foraged foods; drugs/hallucinogens / negative hallucinogenic trips; severely altered/warped moods; temporary amnesia; personality switches; loss of senses
The Northern Territories may be harsh, difficult conditions to survive in, but certainly not impossible. There is an abundance of wildlife, hardy enough to withstand the weather — even in the extreme, unpredictable times such as these. Foraging will soon come to be a staple for those stuck here in this world, and is just as important as hunting down any deer or rabbit. Flora is not only useful in terms of sustenance, but in its use in medicines and tinctures.
Mushrooms can be found here and there in particular areas: taking advantage of the wet, rotten wood of downed trees, or nestled in the sheltered undergrowth of the more densely wooded areas where it’s a little more suitable for fungi to grow. But not even the flora of this world is safe following the recent Auroras. The world is changing, and for the next few weeks — foraged mushrooms will have some… interesting effects, when consumed.
Interlopers that come across these mushrooms in the wilds will find themselves compelled to pick and eat these mushrooms right away. They're perfectly fine to eat raw, just more enjoyable to eat once cooked.
The effects of the mushrooms will last between eight hours to a full day, depending on how much was consumed. Nothing can be done to alleviate symptoms. You will feel incredibly hungover the day after the effects have subsided, and feel completely fine after that. The Aurora’s influence on mushrooms is only temporary, and the mushrooms will cease their effects after a few weeks.
Reishi mushrooms This mushroom will temporarily take away one of your five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste or hearing. You may find yourself feeling completely numb to touch; or unable to hear or see anything.
Oyster mushrooms Eating one of these mushrooms will give you temporary amnesia. You may forget yourself, things about your life, even your own name. Or maybe you will forget those around you. Or perhaps both.
Black Morel Eating this mushroom will seem to switch your personality to its complete opposite. Introverted sorts will become extroverted, those prone to anger will become more calm and chilled out, cheerful sorts will become more morose — and vice-versa.
Chanterelles Your mood is lifted and you become more cheerful and affectionate with those around you. You may even become more enamoured with the next person you happen to meet, regardless of your feelings towards them previously or your own orientation/attractions.
Amethyst Laccaria There is nothing supernatural or strange that happens when this mushroom is consumed. You just have a super bad hallucinogenic trip of your own horrible making. This mushroom is literally a nightmare. Sorry about that.
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. Please Do Not Pet That Dog.
1. Interlopers that pick a variety of the mushrooms and cook them together to eat will suffer the effects of whichever mushroom was in the largest quantity.
2. The mushrooms are fine to eat raw, and characters will feel compelled to eat them raw.
Steve Harrington || Stranger Things
[ At first, Steve's pretty sure this is some new and horrible version of the Upside Down. That would make sense, considering he was pulled in through the portal in the lake and ended up here. But it doesn't look anything like Hawkins or the surrounding area, and why the hell would it be so cold? Steve's been kind of sure he's about to die a few times in the last few years, but this? This feels like it's gonna happen for sure. He's wet. He doesn't have a shirt on. It's cold and the water on his body is starting to freeze and this definitely feels like how people die.
But there's a building so close that has plumes of smoke rising above it and Steve's good at pushing through, so he trudges his way there, almost frozen through by the time the door is opened to him and he's ushered in. He thaws out wrapped in a blanket by the fire, then, when he feels like he can move his limbs again, he all but inhales a warm bowl of stew. Then another. He even gulps down tea, not really caring for the taste but enjoying the way it warms him from the inside out. ]
→ fair fortune.
[ Dogs are great. Steve hasn't been here long enough to be suspicious of dogs yet, even if this one is a little weird. But how does a person feel bad when they see a shaggy dog. And it feels nice, to have a dog just walk beside him, like they're not in some absolutely shitty winter hellhole. Just a guy and a dog, going for a brisk afternoon walk. Until the dog doesn't want to anymore and gives a little yap to get Steve's attention. ]
What you got there, boy?
[ Steve crouches down and moves some snow aside, and finds a bag. He looks around, though he's not sure why. It's not like anyone's coming for this. The thing's been buried under the snow and there aren't any other tracks around. He unzips it, the inside a bit soaked through but protected by ziplock bags is a cache of matches and fire starters, some rations like beef jerky and protein bars, and a thick sweater with some gloves that definitely need to be dried out. He lets out a whispered holy shit, but when he turns to ask the dog how it knew about it, the dog's gone.
Jesus Christ.
Steve hoists the bag over his shoulder and walks back into town. The smart thing to do would be to keep it all for himself, but, for one thing, Steve's never been what some would call smart. For another, he's not really an asshole, and he wants to help people if he can. So he stops whoever he comes across to ask if they need anything from the bag.
Except for the sweater and gloves. He's keeping those. ]
→ wildcard.
Choose your own adventure. Down for anything in and around Milton. Have fun~
fair fortune
That's when she runs into Steve. ]
Oh, excuse me, did you happen to see a dog passing by just now? It led me to this basket. I was hoping to tell it "thank you."
no subject
[ Steve scrunches up his nose a bit. Another dog? What are the chances of that? ]
No, but I just saw one over there - [ He points back to where he came from. ] - but I don't know where it went.
no subject
I see. Well... let's walk back to town together! We'll be safer together, and we might see them on the way.
no subject
That sounds like a good idea, yeah. I'm Steve, by the way.
FEAST FEAST FEAST
But so far, the negative effects have been null. So Eddie takes the stew as he normally does with only a vaguely apprehensive look, and settles in to eat. He lets his gaze wanders and when he spots a familiar head of hair (albeit a little more frozen than normal) huddled by the fire, he chokes, more broth dribbling back into the bowl than makes it down his throat. ]
Harrington!
[ There’s a genuine note of relief in his voice as he abandons his bowl, nearly spilling broth as he struggles to disentangle his noodle legs from beneath the table. He all but stumbles over to the fire, positioning himself to stare up at Steve’s face with enormous eyes. ]
Dude! Where the hell have you been?
[ The previous Steve, the one who had no real memory of him, had disappeared without a trace. Eddie put up a hand drawn missing sign—it was all very sad and pitiful. ]
no subject
[ Thank God. Steve would never admit it out loud to pretty much anyone, but he's relieved to see Eddie. Glad to see him, even. He's too cold to still to be animated, with the blanket drawn tight around him, but the sentiment is there. ]
What do you mean? You saw me jump in the lake - How the hell did you get here?
no subject
Uh—yeah, I did, but after that, I saw you here.
[ Hold on. ]
Wait—wait, wait, wait, shut up—
[ It’s not like Steve was going to get a word in edgewise, but Eddie still holds up a hand to silence him, just in case. ]
You remember the lake? And like—Vecna and all that shit?
no subject
He frowns, bringing his eyebrows close together as he looks at Eddie like he's a bit crazy. Well. Crazier than Steve already thinks he is. ]
How could I literally not remember Vecna?
no subject
[ He huffs out a breath and rakes his hands through his hair, looking more frustrated than he probably should. He’s glad Steve is here, glad he’s alright and not food for the wolves or whatever else is lurking out there. But between the glowing green monster and the recent death and the fact that he can inexplicably create fire with his hands now, Steve not remember the fact that he didn’t remember is a hell of a lot more annoying than it has any right to be.
But yeah, he might have gotten just a little bit crazier. ]
Like, our timelines were out of whack or something.
[ Back to the Future bullshit is what it was. It had really hurt and Eddie took it personally even though Steve had literally no control over it. ]
Fine, fine—you know, it’s fine, just…just forget it. You hurt or frostbitten or anything?
— feast
Well, there's another seat next to them, at least. With a fresh cup of tea in her hands, she walks across the room and gestures at the seat beside the guy who looks like he's had a hell of a day. (That makes two of them.) ]
This taken? [ She sounds as tired as she looks, exhaustion clinging to her like a second skin. ]
no subject
Huh? Oh. No, it's all yours.
[ Steve moves around his blanket a bit so it's not draped over the edge of the vacant seat. ]
Feast
By the time he's a couple of bowls of soup in she's managed to return with a handful of sweaters, pants, and socks in sizes that looked like they might fit. She wasn't exactly an expert when it came to sizes though. Especially at a quick glance.
She'll happily set them down at his side before looking his way with a smile.]
It's not exactly high fashion, but it should be a little cozier than what you're working with now.
no subject
- Thanks. You didn't have to.
[ But he's glad she did. He's clutching the little bundle of clothes and glancing around for somewhere to change. ]
no subject
[It takes her a moment to realize just what he's looking for. Then it hits her.]
Oh! If you over there, you'll find a set of bathrooms. Not exactly the coziest place around, but you can get changed there.
wildcard
Right now she’s browsing at the general store. She doesn’t have anything to buy or trade right now but it wouldn’t hurt to look. So far it’s mostly food and furs and not much else. Jessica is feeling a little put out. Not even retail shopping is helping her mood.
Until she looked up from a jar of pickled fish and see a very cute boy from the other side of the store. Close to her age, maybe a little older. Jessica always felt a little better talking to people her age…even though technically she’s only two weeks old as a vampire. Whatever, she’s seventeen forever.
Jessica approached him in the smooth I’m totally interested in the many foods that I can’t eat way that got Hoyt’s attention back home.]
Found anything interesting?
no subject
Definitely nothing interesting. Edible, though. At least.
no subject
[ Jessica pulls her jacket closer. It overflows her frame, meant for a larger woman. ]
Are you new here too? I showed up last night in an old cabin and it seems like a lot of people showed up in the woods.
→ fair fortune.
[ Max does, however, know that voice when she's offered something from the bag. ]
[ Her blue eyes widen from somewhere in all of that fabric. ]
Forget the bag! Steve?
no subject
[ At first Steve isn't sure it's her at all, but, who else is gonna know his name and sound like that? He drops the back to the ground and grips her shoulders, excited to see her but also going immediately into babysitter mode. ]
What the hell are you doing here?
no subject
[ She pauses. ]
The same thing you are. One minute...Vecna. Next I'm here. [ Max's expression stiffens. ] What's the last thing you remember? I thought I was dead, at first.