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redmarsshit2019-12-24 10:36 pm
modblob) wrote in 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.
▶ 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.
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?
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.
Whatever the reason, the network is going strong, so feel free to include a post to it in your top-levels.
no subject
It could very well be someone else who'd come exploring. But something in the back of his mind, something that lifted the hairs at the base of his neck, said no. This was something else. No idea what. Just that gut feeling.
He lifts a hand, motioning for Jacob to follow before ducking down, slipping into the crashed ship. The insides are as strange as the outsides, although these days that isn't saying much. All of this is strange to him.
It does seem more in line with the technology and the look of Anchor itself, though. Doesn't it?
no subject
He follows Charles in, having to duck considerably less than the much taller man. Thankfully in the wreckage here there is a long, cylindrical piece of metal that must have been a pipe at some point, but now is an improvised club.
And now inside, with pale yellow light glowing from the floor, it's obvious this strange vehicle is larger than its external dimensions would lead them to believe.
And it's full of narrow passageways.
Jacob steps forward, his Eagle vision showing strange scrapes along the floor, barely visible in the emergency light. "Whatever is in here, it has knives for feet."
no subject
Move slow, move quiet, keep their distance and observe. That's all they have to do for now. Whether that's what ends up happening or not...that might depend on Jacob.
Quietly he lifts a hand, beckoning the other to follow, and down the hallway they proceed. Somewhere, distantly, is the sound of those bells ringing once more.
no subject
What is off-putting is the strange bells, and he can't exactly locate where they're coming from. There's not much else: steam escaping somewhere, the faint electric buzz which comes from the walls and lights above them. But on the edge of hearing.
"I'm prepared to wager that these things are going to get hungry at some point. And when they do, the colony isn't all that far away."
no subject
If they don't have to kill them, he'd prefer it. But if it's a matter of protecting their new shelter, they'll do what they have to.
Suddenly the jingling seems to be getting louder, and Charles holds out an arm to halt Jacob from progressing any further. Wait. Stay still.
no subject
He stops even as Charles' arm rises, listening to those strange little bells. He doesn't much like the noise, or the echo in the strange corridor, and the scrape of claw on metal which is now close enough to hear.
"Are we fighting or running?" Jacob asks, voice low. They're not actively hunting these things after all.
no subject
And then one of the creatures rounds the corner. It's not the big one, but it looks terrifying enough on its own. Like someone had taken something familiar and twisted it, turned it nightmarish and furious at its own creation.
It turns eyes towards them, and Charles holds up a steadying hand. No telling if this will work, but if it does.
"Easy...."
no subject
But perhaps Charles knows another way. He's far more knowledgeable about animals beyond city limits, maybe he can calm it somehow.
Or maybe it will smell the wolf in him and take off. But that doesn't seem to be the case. In fact it seems to be cautiously coming closer, as if Charles has charmed it. Maybe its appearance is the most monstrous thing about it.
no subject
He keeps eye contact with the beast as it closes the distance, nostrils flaring. But it doesn't seem to be on the attack. Not tame, nowhere near, but cautious. Curious. Which is better than trying to rip them to pieces at the very least.
"There you go..."
Just keep talking, low and soft. Just as he would with a wild horse. Maybe there's enough of this creature that remembers working with people -- or something like people -- that it can be brought around. Maybe not.
no subject
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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."
no subject
"Think it was tame, once."
no subject
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?"
no subject
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."
no subject
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."
no subject
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."
no subject
"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.