Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
modblob) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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.
A
But Pratt isn't here for the presents, he found the reindire first and realized they were a good source of meat, so he's been hunting them now. Sure he won't eat it, being a vegetarian, but someone will, and he has more experience hunting than most. He's already downed one, the meat neatly trussed up in the hide and being dragged along by the wolf at his side.
She's not happy, wearing a doggy gas mask and a protective cape over her back she's unable to smell anything and her range of movement is hindered. But she diligently keeps pace with Pratt as he runs his thumb down his knife and listens intently for another deer.
Coming across Charles he pauses, it's hard to recognize people in these suits, and Pratt's is a little blood splattered. Still it's obviously someone from Anchor, he starts to speak to him, until he hears the jingling. He's never heard bells sound so strangely menacing before.
"You hear that?"
no subject
But he's not turning back now. Tomahawk still in hand, he takes the lead moving further inward, passing the shredded metal towards the inner halls of the craft. Big as these things seemed to be, there had to be tracks to follow.
He takes a moment to make certain it's clear for now, however, before gesturing for Pratt to follow, if he's coming.
no subject
Gripping the handle of his knife he nods and follows behind him, keeping an ear out for the jingling sound. It's ahead of them somewhere, but it seems to only be moving when they're moving - almost as if it senses that it's being tracked.
Nervously Pratt glances back over his shoulder wondering if they're the hunters or the hunted?
no subject
But it is what it is. That raised hand motions downward, indicating they should stay low, move slow, before he starts forward again.
no subject
There's some silence for a while, less jingling, until a reindire bursts out in front of them, larger and more ferocious than the one that Pratt has already taken down. Immediately he backs up, knife at the ready to defend himself, but there's really nowhere to run or hide in a maze of twisting corridors.
Time to put his knifework to the test.
no subject
Avoiding those talons, though. Any tear in their suit and they'll likely pay for it with this poisoned air he keeps hearing about.
"Gonna try to get under and behind it," he murmurs to Pratt. "Back up. See if you can keep its eyes on you."
no subject
"Got it." The words are breathed out softly, his eyes never leaving the reindire as he shifts backwards, a silent gesture to PT to back up, something she's not pleased about, and is difficult to do with a cart lashed to her. Still, she obediently backpedals a few feet, a growly grumble indicating her feelings about that.
"Watch the talons, especially in an enclosed space like this." He doesn't think he needs to give that warning, but it comes out anyway. Cautiously he moves to one side, tapping the butt of his knife against the wall a few times to get the things attention.
no subject
But Charles is always careful. He puts himself low to the ground -- a task, considering how tall and broad he is, before moving forward at a bolt. As the animal rears up again, he dives beneath, tumbling and rolling between its hind legs and drawing up into a crouch, weapon at the ready.
He's only in trouble if it turns around. Hopefully Pratt and his pal can keep its gaze forward while he takes it from behind.
no subject
"Back. Down and back." That's directed at the wolf who crouches low to the ground and obediently shuffles back a little bit. She's raring to go, but the mask effectively muzzles her, and with a cart full of reindire parts dragging behind her she's looking at an unwinnable fight. She snorts angrily, not liking this one bit.
"Yeah yeah. There's lots of meat waiting for you after this. Gonna be fine." He dashes up and then to the side, trying to lure the beast forward and make sure Charles gets a good opportunity to attack.
no subject
The tomahawk swings down, digging firmly into the back of the reindire's neck with the first blow. Once Charles has a chance to wind up again, he does not dislodge it. Instead he twists, digging it that much further in with a grunt.
Hopefully, it's deep enough to severe the spine, and send it down quickly.
no subject
It might have been trying to kill them, but it was an animal and they were either food or a threat to it. No reason to prolong any pain.
As it turns out he doesn't need to, Charles' tomahawk is enough to down it. Breathing a sigh of relief he nods to Charles, "Nicely done."
no subject
"Mm." He lifts his gaze to Pratt before nodding quietly, and shifting to take a better look at the animal now that it was lying still. "Probably more of them. Don't want to kill more than we have to. Could be all there is," he murmurs, a gloved hand reaching out to pat the creature's meaty shoulder.
"Claws will probably be useful. Meat, too. If it's fit for humans. Bone for tools, if things need repairing. There's a lot to use, here."
no subject
Gesturing to the wolf he had her come over, unattaching the cart from her harness and adjusting the hide bundle that contained the meat from the first, smaller, reindire he had killed, "Think she can carry a bit more, but not all of it, did you wanna try and bring the whole thing back or field dress it here?"