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ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote in [community profile] abraxasooc2021-05-20 09:20 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1

TEST DRIVE MEME
Welcome to the very first test drive meme for Abraxas! This meme is run a little bit differently than most in that you'll be asked to choose one of the two different arrival scenarios below for your character to take. If you have any questions about this mechanic or anything else related to the TDM, please take a look at the questions below or ask one of your own here. For general game questions please still use the FAQ.

Arrival

You awaken suspended in the abyss, silent darkness stretching out in all directions. If you try to yell, you'll find that the sound doesn't carry. If you try to move, you'll find it's impossible to tell whether or not you're actually getting anywhere. If you reach for an item you were carrying last time you remember being awake, your hand will only touch bare skin.

You're naked and floating helplessly through the void, and what little air you have in your lungs is running out.

There's a pinprick of light that almost looks like a faraway star but as it grows it becomes clear that it's actually quite close. Through the opening you can see a bright room, but it's hard to make out any individual objects, as if you're looking from beneath rippling water.

A hand plunges through and you realize water is just what it is. Whether you take hold of the hand or not it will grab you and yank you up through the surface, lifting you out until you're sprawled on solid ground. Once you catch your breath, you can get a better look at the surroundings: tall trees and even taller stone pillars surround the platform you're laying on. Behind you is an ornate fountain, the base of which is so deep and so dark you might be compelled to scramble away from it lest it suck you back in to that endless abyss. Ahead of you are the walls of a large castle with several tall towers reaching up towards the sky.

If you had any powers, they feel unusually weak. Attempts to use magic or enhanced strength or powers of any sort fizzle out without any effect, but they don't feel completely gone, either.

Set into an indent on a marble slab behind the fountain is a card baring the image of one of the arcana.

An apprentice mage - the one whose hand lifted you out of the fountain - brushes the water off on their robes and runs back to join a group of three others, who all stare intently at a mage with highly decorated robes and a large, heavy book. He peers up at you for a moment and starts flipping through the book.

"I beg your pardon," he says, so absorbed in the pages of the book that he doesn't bother to look up, "I am Ambrose Rhett, the High Mage of the Kingdom of Thorne. One of my apprentices will explain everything in a moment, but please refrain from yelling and thrashing about until then. You're quite alright, and screaming gives me a hell of a headache."

Regardless of your response, he keeps flipping through the heavy tome, until he stops on one specific page, stares at it for a moment, and then exclaims:

"Aha!"

Scenario One: Welcome to Thorne

Ambrose's expression brightens, eyes twinkling with delight. He waves one of the apprentices over with a fine silk tunic, pants, and some basic sandals and with a wave of his hand they reshape to fit you perfectly.

"Success! It's a success!" he exclaims, slamming the book shut and scurrying towards you.

Now that he's not hunching over the book, he doesn't seem quite so stuffy and inapproachable. The apprentices all seem quite relieved at his jovial outburst, and the one that handed you the tunic stops to take the tarot card down from the marble slab. If you show any curiosity about the card, they'll let you take a longer look, but won't let you touch it.

"Please, come with me, you're an honored guest here," he says, motioning for you to follow him towards the castle, "As promised, my pupils will explain your current situation. And, ah - if you had any magic of your own, or other special abilities you can't access right now, fear not, they'll return within the week. The summoning takes a lot out of you."

One of the apprentices steps forward and rattles on and on about the castle, Thorne itself, the names of a bunch of royals and nobles, and of course, your reason for being here. The Kingdom and the world itself is in great peril, and tales of your exploits have reached far and wide across universes. If asked about these exploits, the apprentice will simply smile and shrug. The High Mage was happy to see you and that's good enough.

Once inside the castle you're taken to the North Wing, which has been set up as living quarters for you and your fellow newcomers. There are four people to a room, but each generously-sized bed has opaque curtains that can be drawn around it. You can meet your roommates here and discuss your shared situation (everyone appears to have arrived within the last few days), or you can wander around and meet the others.

There's also a dining hall stocked with all sorts of fancy food to meet every possible dietary need, and a library filled with epic tales and legends and the history of Thorne. Given that this is the Thorne library, it may be a biased account that makes the Kingdom look a fair bit better than the rest of the world sees them. Last but not least, there's a study hall where a few junior mages (younger and less experienced than the apprentices from earlier) might be willing to teach you some simple elemental magic. Think holding a small flame in the palm of your hand, or blowing a door shut with a gust of wind.

You may also notice that your sign is embroidered on your tunic: the same image you saw on the card from before with the name of the sign itself beneath it. If you ask the castle residents, they'll tell you a little bit about your sign (and will mostly stick to the positives, although some might point out the negatives).

Last (and, if you ask anyone else in the castle, least) there is a worn stone staircase leading underground to the dungeon. You can go there, if you wish, but all powers are restricted in the dungeons and spending too much time with the prisoners will lead to some suspicion being cast upon you. If you ask anyone why the prisoners are being held there, you'll be told that they pose a great threat to the Kingdom (and, by extension, the entire world).

Scenario Two: Imprisoned

The High Mage scowls, grinding his teeth as he slams the book shut. "Another failure!" he barks at the apprentices, "You lot wouldn't know your ass from a hole in the ground, would you?"

All four of them lower their heads, and two of them mumble an apology that Ambrose either doesn't hear or refuses to acknowledge. "Well, don't just stand there," he says, waving a hand in the air, "We've put all this effort into getting this wretched creature, we may as well put it to good use."

One of the apprentices drops a baggy, rough-feeling tunic, a pair of pants, and some worn sandals in your lap and glares down at you until you put them on (if you refuse, they'll tell you they can kick you back down that well if you don't want to cooperate). They're glaring at the High Mage as much as they're glaring at you (when they're sure he isn't looking, anyway). You might catch one of them long enough to ask them why they're so upset with you, but all they'll say is that the High Mage knows something they don't, and he's awfully upset about it.

Once you're fully clothed, another apprentice clamps some heavy iron shackles around your wrists and leads you on. The High Mage is far ahead of you already, muttering some long string of Thornean curses before he stands up straight and pauses, spinning to face you.

"One more thing," he says, holding one hand in the air and chanting something under his breath, "Can't have you getting too troublesome."

If you had powers, the slight connection you still had to them slips away completely and you're left with nothing as the four apprentices drag you towards the castle. They may answer a few of your questions (with some insults and curses peppered in), but they won't tell you anything important.

Once you arrive at the castle you're brought to the dungeons and thrown into a locked cell. There are four people to a cell, and two sets of bunk beds with a thin and lumpy straw mattress. If you're over six feet tall, these beds are going to be awfully uncomfortable. You might as well meet your roommates. Once per day you're dragged out to an enclosed courtyard for one hour of recreation (with some crude weights, benches, and balls lying around but not much else), where you can meet the rest of the prisoners, but you can also talk to your immediate neighbors in the cells on either side and across the hallway. Just don't yell too much or the guards will snap at you to be quiet.

Everyone in the dungeon is fed one meal a day, and for a prison meal it's decent: a bit of meat, a bun, and a salad. It would seem that the Thornean chefs take too much pride in their craft to send bad food to the dungeons. The meals are all served in equal portions, though, so the smaller prisoners may be overfed and the larger ones may be getting hungry. Feel free to fight for food or share with your cellmates.

Crudely embroidered on the back of every prison tunic is the same image that was on your card and the name of the sign beneath it. A guard may explain a bit about the sign, and tell you some negative stereotypes they hold about yours.

You may be blessed with a visit from one of the more welcomed newcomers, and they may sneak you some extra food or a small book to read or they may share some of the information they've gathered. However, rumors travel fast and some people believe the honored guests in the castle above are somehow responsible for the lot of the prisoners below. And although you may hope for kindness, there's nothing stopping them from being cruel to you if they wish. The guards will certainly turn a blind eye if one of them wishes to take out their frustrations on you.




Questions


How do I choose a scenario for my character?
Pick whichever situation appeals to you most. Whether your character is honored or imprisoned has nothing to do with their personal morality, or how highly they regard themselves and their own accomplishments. Anyone can be put into either situation.

Can I try out both scenarios?
You can! But please keep in mind that only the one you eventually choose can be game canon, if you decide to keep any of your TDM threads.

What happens if my character refuses to comply with Ambrose?
Prisoners will be dragged against their will. Honored guests will be forgiven for their moment of panic or anger if they have one, and Ambrose and the apprentice mages will try to calm them and persuade them further. If they put up too much of a fight and/or start actively attacking anyone, Ambrose will warn them once that he's willing to put them back in the well where they came from (see below), and if they continue to fight he will make good on that promise.

My character intends on causing a lot of trouble (destroying parts of the castle, murdering the castle staff, etc.), what would happen to them?
Characters who make too much trouble for the mages and other staff would be thrown back in the well (which will mean drowning in the void, not returning home). Brawling with other PCs and causing minor damage is fine and will be greeted with a cranky attitude (if they are an honored guest) or a punishment like denial of food or temporary solitary confinement (if they are a prisoner), and there will be plenty of opportunity for destruction and murder later, but for now the Thorneans have no desire to keep huge liabilities around.

Ambrose will take it especially personally, as this experiment was his idea and too much trouble would risk the summoning spell being scrapped and potentially result in him being demoted. Rest assured it does not take much for him to throw someone back in the well at this point in time.

Is the power loss for the prisoners permanent?
No, although honored guests will regain their powers first due to the lack of interference from Ambrose, the prisoners will be able to regain theirs soon enough as well.

Can the prisoners talk about anything private, or will they be overheard at all times?
There are guards patrolling the dungeon, but they aren't always within earshot. Most of the attention is being focused on the new guests, so the prisoners will have some opportunities for privacy.

Can my character leave the castle?
For now they will be prevented from leaving the castle, even if they are an honored guest. A bit of a gilded cage, isn't it? They'll also find that any powers they regain cease to work outside of the castle walls (this is also a temporary effect) so flying outside is not an option.

Can my character eventually side against Thorne if I choose to make them an honored guest/can they side with Thorne if I choose to imprison them?
Yes, characters in Scenario 1 will be able to betray Thorne, and characters in Scenario 2 can work themselves into Thorne's good graces.

How much will my choice of scenario affect my character's plot later on?
This choice will have a major impact on gameplay throughout the first few months of the game, and potentially a bit beyond that depending on where our players guide the plot. This decision - and every other major decision you make in game! - will also be used to flavor some mod surprises that will be coming down the line.

Don't get too anxious about this choice, though; this is just one choice you'll get to make in a game that has a lot of them, and every character in both scenarios can work their way towards many, many individual goals and outcomes. You're not locking yourself out of anything in the future via the choice you made on the TDM. It will primarily impact the immediate future with the far-reaching effects being up to each player.

Are TDM threads mandatory for my application?
No, you may use other samples, but we encourage you to post to the TDM and get a feel for this game and its mechanics before you join. If you do not have a TDM thread you will still need to choose one of the two scenarios on your application.

What if I haven't settled on a sign yet?
You can ignore sign-related prompts if you're undecided (or try out different signs in different threads).

Can a put a character on the TDM if their canon is less than 30 days old?
Yes. For this app round, anything that's at least 30 days old when the game opens on June 12th can be applied from.

Do the apprentice mages have names?
Their names are Jeffrey, Grigory, Noelle, and Jolene.


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coerthantorment: (5)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-21 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
Many things flash into Estinien's mind at Crowley's comment - he's right, and there's plenty that was going on in his own homeland that he'd hoped to help deal with. Ripped away when there was so much to fight for, and with none of the majesty that the Scion's quest in the First had held. Perhaps it's appropriate for him to be summoned only to be immediately thrown in jail. After all, he's hardly a hero.

Estinien sits up slowly, his back sore both from hitting the ground and also from trying to sleep in those ridiculously small cell beds. He really needs to spend more time stretching, while he can.

"Would that I knew the purpose of it," he says, voice rough but momentarily subdued. He gazes at the dirt between his feet. "Bruises matter to me little... but there are matters elsewhere I had hoped to attend to. I cannot idly wait while my captors play their games."
serpentinthegarden: (Default)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-21 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
"This can't be part of any Great Plan. It seems more like a cock up. We weren't meant to be brought here."

Not that it mattered much since they were here now. The unwelcomed guests of wherever they were.

"Look," The demon shot a glance at the guards who weren't paying them much mind at all now that no one was leaping around trying to soar their way out of here, "We all have things back home we need to take care of..."

Like preventing the end of the world. Bit important that!

"The way I see it we are all in this together. We could form an arrangement."
coerthantorment: (35)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-21 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Estinien quirks an eyebrow, wondering how he managed to garner these solicitations despite spurning them at nearly every occasion. He has no idea who this man really is or what he has to offer... but solidarity among prisoners can only be beneficial at this point. So, he listens.

"Hm," he says, tilting his head as he looks Crowley over. A normal Hyur, physically, but who knows what he may be lacking due to Ambrose's interference. "And what manner of arrangement did you have in mind?"

He's gotten the sense since arriving that the other prisoners are not necessarily from Eorzea... how many worlds with their own terrible problems are out there, truly?
serpentinthegarden: (Crowley)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-21 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
From where Crowley stood this guy was a perfect first recruit. Clearly he was dedicated to trying to escape, not afraid of fisticuffs if it did come down to that, and that was a good enough start for an alliance.

"Its us vs. them."

He said with a subtle nod towards the guards.

"So if we both keep an eye on what they do, figure out when they change shifts or who might accept a bribe... well, two eyes are better than one."
coerthantorment: (75)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-21 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
He considers Crowley's offer, but not for long. The answer seems simple, after all. He nods his head.

"What've we to lose?" he asks, shrugging his shoulders. But on that note... "Though, if we're going to be making arrangements... I might ask that you share something of yourself in return. A name, at least."

After all, Crowley has witnessed at least one thing about him.
serpentinthegarden: (Paintball time)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-22 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Just his name? That was simple enough and offered with one of his trademarked smirks.

"Crowley."

That was the 'at least' as he looked away and pretended to be absolutely fascinated by the sky while one of the guards did his roving patrol, practically walking right between them and giving them both a very appraising look before he moved slowly on to check on the other prisoners.

"He's the least trusting one in the bunch. He probably thinks we are all getting together to plot our escapes." A few more steps away and Crowley spoke again, albeit in a whisper, "No one's magic works so we can't rely on that but once we learn more about these guys we might be able to trick them. I'm very good about setting humans up for a fall."
coerthantorment: (that cursed my dick)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-22 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Estinien watches him as he feigns innocence as the guard moves past, most interested in this man's demeanor than anything else. There's something amusing about plotting in broad daylight - Estinien has always been inclined towards rebellion, even against the nation he's supported his whole life.

An additional curiosity is how Crowley refers to 'humans' as a category he's not part of. He certainly looks human, but there are enough oddities in Estinien's world that he doesn't consider it that unthinkable. More than anything, he's curious about what he actually is.

"What are you, then, if not human?" he asks, obviously not threatened by the idea.
serpentinthegarden: (Another good profile)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-23 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Plotting in daylight was the perfect time to do it! The guards expected whispers in the dark, no one expected anyone to be stupid enough to plot in broad daylight.

"Demon."

Crowley answered dryly, as being a demon was nothing new to him.

"You? You must have had some kind of magic before you ended up in here?"
coerthantorment: (65)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-23 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Just 'demon' leaves Estinien confused, as the word has more nebulous properties in his world. Does he mean a voidsent? Surely not - no voidsent would be this capable of reasoned conversation. Perhaps an unfamiliar race of man from another world? Hard to say. At any rate, the implications of it do give him a little bit of an idea.

"And Elezen of Ishgard," he says on reflex, fairly certain Crowley won't know the distinction. "My prowess is nothing earned from birth. The path of fate has gifted me with the power of dragons... inherited from the Great Wyrms in a story too lengthy to bore you with now."

"The point of relevance is that, in normal conditions, I could easily clear these walls in a single bound. Such freedom of movement is being withheld from me, now."
serpentinthegarden: (Snake tattoo)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-24 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Crowley would have been just as confused if Elezen had asked after voidsent. Technically, it seemed to him they had all come through something of a void to get here. Maybe they weren't void-sent but void-passed-through, void-traveled, void-summoned, something. He would have come up with a good name for it.

"Dragons."

That was a nice choice. Big powerful creatures dragons.

"Under normal circumstances these walls wouldn't mean anything to me either. I'd probably use the door."

No lock could withstand a demonic miracle.
coerthantorment: (102)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-24 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
Interesting. He's not sure the exact form of magic that implies, but it's something that would make short work of this prison. Still, there is a major step missing in between.

"Then it seems they would struggle to contain us, in the event that our power was returned," he says. "If anything were to solve our woes, it would be that. Are you at all familiar with magicks that might sever one's connection to their strength?"
serpentinthegarden: (Paintball time)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-25 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Which is why they made sure to take our powers away from us."

It was smart yet extremely frustrating! The more Crowley thought about it the angrier he grew. Not that he could really do anything about it other than develop a light growl which mixed into his words.

"I've never heard of anyone but God being able to take powers away... And even she never did that to anyone that I know of."

She had caused Angels to Fall but Demons could do anything power-wise an Angel could. Who knew, maybe God could grant powers but not remove them once they had been given. Crowley would love to ask but... that had never gone well for him.
He sulked as only a demon could sulk and glared at the walls like he might have been able to laser a hole through them. It didn't work of course but staring at the problem facing them as he had did give him an idea.

"How are you at climbing?"
coerthantorment: (45)

[personal profile] coerthantorment 2021-05-25 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Estinien tilts his head, again finding himself confused. It seems clear at this point that it is a sensation he'll have to get used to.

"...Which god?" he asks, unsure if he means Primals or something like the Twelve. He shakes it off and then adds: "I can climb just fine if there's anything to grasp."

He's well versed in most physical activities.
serpentinthegarden: (Calm plotting)

[personal profile] serpentinthegarden 2021-05-26 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
There were lots of 'Gods' but really only one he had even had any dealings with. Problem was... God's name was God.

"You know! The one that build everything and who always manages to stack the deck in her favor! Chess games on a celestial scale... I only wonder why she sent me out here."

Was that an accident or by design?

"Anyway, I was just thinking... Some people are really good at scaling walls."