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Mods ([personal profile] modblob) wrote in [community profile] redmarsshit2019-12-24 10:36 pm

test drive meme: december 2019

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

▶ Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.

a. santapocalypse.

As the suns set over the unforgiving landscape around Anchor, a bright light flares in the sky, streaking low and fast across the horizon, throwing off flares of green, white, and red.

The impact...is not explosive. Just another flare of light, and then smoke to mark where the object went down. Whatever it was, it didn't come from the redshift. It came from within the planet's atmosphere, such as it is, and landed barely a few steps outside the city.

Characters who choose to investigate will find something strange at the bottom of the pillar of smoke. They'll find a small ship, one that seems to have been cobbled together with pieces of a dozen different ships from a dozen different universes. The cockpit is busted wide open, a red jacket caught on a piece of glass, with no other sign of the pilot. Except for, y'know, the red ringing the broken glass, but we'll just ignore that, shall we?

Scattered all around the vehicle, some of them scorched on the outside but otherwise unharmed, are boxes, boxes, boxes. None are bigger than a shoebox, and all wrapped beautifully with bows on top. Characters who start opening them will find box after box containing nonsense items that might be valuable to someone, but maybe not anyone here. But if they open enough, eventually they'll find something inside that could only be intended for them, it’s so specific, odd, or precious. Any other box they open after that will be empty.

Those that dare enter will find the ship appears larger on the inside. And it also seems to be mostly made of hallways. Hallways that lead nowhere, hallways that, from time to time, are filled with an ominous...jingling.

The source of that jingling is the reindire.

Twisted, monstrous creatures with talons in place of hooves, they will hunt whoever enters the ship through its halls and even back across the wasteland should characters attempt to run. Most of them can be calmed, even tamed. Eaten, if hunting for venison is your character's jam (have at, SSSSs).

Only one cannot be reasoned with, or easily defeated.

The largest of all the reindire, one with fangs and wings and a lust for blood. And a big red nose that shoots lasers. You wouldn't want it following you back to Anchor, would you? Best to defeat it out in the sands, where it can't do any real harm.


b. keep calm & carry on.

As characters have worked on improving the city, they've knocked a few loose screws back into place and rewired a few polarities that needed reversing and now, a new area has opened up. It announces itself with a loud screech as the bulkheads that kept it blocked off open up. The new space is huge, at first seemingly empty.

This space does what the VR rooms can't. It reads minds.

It won't show scenes from home, no, but it will create a facsimile of a place that your character would find most relaxing. And this isn't the simple visual experience of the VR rooms. This is full-sensory immersion. Characters will see, yes, but also be able to touch, smell, even taste what's on the air in their surroundings. If there is fruit, they can pick and eat it - it won't satisfy them, but they'll be able to taste what's there. If there's water, they'll be able to swim it in, and will even feel wet until they climb back onto the shore or out of the pool.

Some lucky souls will even get Anchor's therapy AI chiming in to their scenes, with suggestions like, "Talk to your anxiety the way you would to a friend. Ask it where it comes from, see what it’s doing for you, and redirect it into healthy self-expression." Or, "Have you tried yoga?" or, occasionally, "I think you really really need a nap."

The focus of the room is to help characters relax. Those rolling blackouts that have been happening around Anchor ever since the room opened up? They’re probably nothing to worry about. Right?


c. the network.

Need to get hold of someone, call for help, ask the city at large a question? Need to ask a friend to back you up on the reindire hunt? Maybe you need to hold your sat phone up to whatever crazy thing you're seeing and send out a recording to double-check if your eyes are deceiving you and what you're looking at is real?

Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.



nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-01-05 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Careful," He says, as it steps forward again. He can't believe that this reindire, with talons for hooves and antler that look like they're for hanging entrails on, isn't about to kill them.

Or at least, it hasn't made up its mind yet.

If they had something tasty to offer it other than themselves, perhaps that would seal the deal. Unfortunately, Jacob doesn't have any idea what these things could possibly eat.
borntohurt: (pic#12911962)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-01-07 04:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Nor does Charles. But he knows that this thing is acting more territorial than hungry. Maybe it's just defending what's left of wherever it had come from. "You're okay...easy now."

And he holds out a gloved hand, waiting to see if it lunged, or if it decided to be more curious than aggressive. Either way, they'll know how to handle it from there on. But he hopes there's a chance of just calming it down, for the time being.
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-01-07 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Jacob watches, trying to keep his stance relaxed while being ready and willing to smack that deer in the head should it choose to go for Charles.

But it doesn't. There's a moment of uncertainty and then it steps forward again, and then again, lowering it's nose to sniff at Charles' hand. Then, carefully, in nudges against his fingers, and teeth pick at the fabric of his gloves.

"I think you've found yourself a friend."
borntohurt: (pic#12911966)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-01-10 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
It seems a good deal calmer than it had before, at any rate. Calm enough to reach up and attempt to gently stroke that thick neck, smoothing down the fur. "See there? Nothing to worry about. We're just trying to find our way, same as you," he murmurs to the creature, before glancing back at Jacob.

"Think it was tame, once."
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-01-10 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"Looks pretty tame now."

Jacob speaks softly, as not to disturb the creature. It's so close it could do some real damage if it wanted it, pull someone's insides out and he does not want that happen to Charles.

"So... what are we going to do with it?" He asks, glancing up and down the corridor. "Bring it with us?"
borntohurt: (pic#12911993)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-01-12 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"We could. Not sure what it'll do out here."

He continues to stroke its neck as it huffs, lowering its head to accept the touch. He throws an amused look back at Jacob, who still looks cautious. With good reason, of course. The creature could certainly be dangerous, and had proved as much.

That being said.

"Go on." And he gives it another faint pet. "Just come up slow. Don't act afraid or aggressive, it should be fine."
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-01-12 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Jacob doesn't really have much to do with animals. Cats? Never really seen the appeal of them, although he doesn't mind them. Dogs? Well he'd wanted one when he was younger but Desmond had been enough to put him off dogs for a while. Horses? Horses are different, and better than people.

He supposes though that this creature his closer to a deer than anything else, and he has no reason to dislike deer. Besides, Charles knows what he's talking about, and so he carefully moves closer, hand out, trying not to be threatening or threatened.

And despite a snort at first and a uncertain half-step back from the reindire, he butts it's nose into his gloved hand easily enough.

"Its coping with the fact the cockpit is smashed to hell." Jacob points out. "But maybe... its best left here."
borntohurt: (Default)

[personal profile] borntohurt 2020-01-18 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hard to say. We don't know much about this place...or these animals. Whether or not they can survive out here," Charles replies, continuing to pet the creature's side as it bumps its muzzle into Jacob's hand.

Clearly, its earlier display had been one meant for defense. Probably doesn't eat people then. Probably.

"Think it's safe to go digging around a little further, all the same."
nothinglikefather: made by peaked (Default)

[personal profile] nothinglikefather 2020-01-18 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"I guess not." Jacob says, scratching the deer gently on its neck. It's actually not the worst creature he's met. And it doesn't seem very threatening. Maybe its presence will be useful.

"Alright, let's go on. This place has got to have something useful in it somewhere."

And he carefully drops his hand, so head with Charles carefully down the corridor. Of course, the reindire follows them, nudging at them, at hands and pockets, for petting and food, no doubt.