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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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lone_horse: (shirt: concerned)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-23 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Kiryu won't draw back. He'll put his hand through the bars and give Majima plenty of time and space to examine the flame. He'll glance over at the guards before gesturing with his head upwards. ]

Some of the junior mages were willing to show us the way of these. I thought it was worth understanding.

[ He's not sure that he does, not completely, but it makes more sense to him than his cellphone most of the time, so that's got to be something. ]
sunshinehan: (013)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-23 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll say. Now if only I had a cig to light.

[Majima settled near the bars of the cage. It seemed like he was warming up to this Kiryu guy.]

Ya stick with it long enough, ya think you'll learn something larger scale? I get yer only showing me something simple but are they really gonna teach ya bigger magic than this?
lone_horse: (jacket: this is just my life I guess)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-23 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He winces a little because- ] I was trying not to think about it.

[ But his attention is taken up then by Majima, so close, looking like a living memory. He wishes he could touch him, just to make sure he’s real.

Just because he’d left didn’t mean those people were no longer in his heart. ]


I don’t know. I’m trying to understand what I can. [ a glance at Majima ] Which is more your strong suit than mine.

[ He’s usually more the jump in and punch people a lot sort. ]
sunshinehan: (007)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-23 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Misery loves company, as they say. He'd feel bad for mentioning it but at least now he knew he wasn't alone for the craving.

He looked up to meet Kiryu's gaze whenever the other mentioned it was Majima that was better at intellectual pursuits. He wanted to laugh again. He wasn't anything special, and he wasn't even that particularly good at anything of the sort. He only did what he had to do in order for things to get done.]


Hmm. I dunno about that. I just pick up what I can, where I can. If it works, why not put it to good use, eh? [a momentary pause] I learn better by watching and doing--but that might be a problem here. [It was his turn to spare a glance at the guard and back.] It would seem a waste not to learn something useful though.
lone_horse: (jacket: frank)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-23 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That wasn't quite what he meant, but he realizes as he listens to Majima that he hadn't been clear. ]

I meant picking up on details. Reading people. Figuring out what their motives are. What their aim is. You're good at that.

[ He? Is not. He tries, because he knows it's a good idea, but he's still not great at it. He might be able to read a sleezebag for a sleezebag, but figuring out how their minds work? He can't bend that far.

He meets Majima's eye and gestures with his other hand, making the flame disappear. ]


I can show you how to do what I learned. But I'm not sure if you'd be able to learn it now.

[ He bows his head. ]

I'll keep learning, though. And share what I can.
sunshinehan: (004)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-23 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Hm. That? You think so? [Majima chuckled softly.] That's just business. Gotta know what people are thinkin' if ya want them to spend money at yer club.

[Majima nodded in acceptance but then--there was the damper on the whole project. For a moment his excitement to learn new techniques had gotten the better of him. Now that Kiryu pointed it out, Majima recalled something the magicians had said as they hauled his ass here to the dungeon.

He'd been stripped, of a sorts. He didn't really feel any different, but something about what they did was supposed to strip him and the other prisoners of their powers or something. That probably meant he couldn't perform the magic like Kiryu could. Damnit.

He wondered how much he could really learn with that restriction in place.]


Eh, guess you gotta point. Thanks for offerin' though. I'll just have to figure it out when I get outta here.
lone_horse: (jacket: down sigh)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-24 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
If nothing else, the fact that you're here shows their judgement to be nonsense. You've been a part of my life since 1988. [ His expression goes even stormier than usual. ] Whatever I've done, I owe much of it to you.

[ A fact that didn't change that pulling people from other worlds, naming them criminals and enemies and throwing them in a dungeon is wrong. But it provides more proof that this whole thing is bullshit. Majima from his own time might be able to see it in him, the itch to tear it all down.

There's a reason why he has The Tower stitched into his tunic.

...he coughs as he realized he might have made things awkward. ]


Y-you from my time, I mean.
sunshinehan: (003)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-24 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
Oi, oi. You keep sayin' stuff like that and I'm gonna start to feel like I'm being courted.

[He waved a hand dismissively in the air.]

Don't know what all that's about, I ain't nothing special. But I'll take a friend where I can get one.
lone_horse: (shirt: watching)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-24 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ He shakes his head at that. ]

One day, I know you know differently. [ Kiryu might very well be wrong, but he can’t imagine anything else. The way Majima lived his life, loud and proud and utterly him... this Majima deserves that. Deserves to know his value. ] But I’m always in your corner, Majima-nii-san. Always.

[ And he plans to see if he can at least bring something to drink down here for him, or cards, or something. Majima always liked playing games with him, after all. ]
sunshinehan: (001)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-24 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Heh. Yeah, yeah.

[Despite the dismissive attitude, Majima was smiling. He may have hated the lecturing on 'living up to one's potential' but it was also kind of nice to hear the praise at the same time. Nice to be appreciated. Even if it was getting embarrassing.]

I hear ya. I guess I'll owe ya one in the future. If for nothing else, then just tryin' yer hardest.
lone_horse: (black suit: why this?)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-25 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ He shakes his head, because 'trying' isn't worth anything. But he glances towards the door. The way out. ]

I can bring you bandages at least. Something for your wounds.

[ And possibly more clothes, if he can find them. A blanket at the very least. Sleeping like that can't be comfortable. ]
sunshinehan: (003)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-25 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Between the bandages, the patch, the potential painkillers if they exist, and the offer to show him magic, Majima didn't need to know what Kiryu's thoughts were aiming for as well to say:]

Slow down, will ya? At the rate yer offerin' things, I'm gonna owe you a lot.

[He spared another glance towards the guards.]

Don't go getting in trouble on my behalf.
lone_horse: (shirt: ...so lemme get this straight)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-25 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kiryu shakes his head. Firmly. ]

You won't owe me anything. You, the older you, has saved my life more times than I can count.

[ He glances towards the guards himself as he steps back. ]

But I should head out. Come back later.

[ He intends to come back, with a blanket, with some bandages, with some food, and an eyepatch. When he finds out they're available, he'll make sure there's some cigarettes as well. ]
sunshinehan: (001)

[personal profile] sunshinehan 2021-05-25 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Majima eyed Kiryu curiously for that tidbit about the future. Then blinked out of it with a slight dip of the head and a return to a normal gaze on his guest.]

Sure. I'll be waitin'.

[He said with a small gesture to his 'abode'. The implied 'it's not like I have anywhere else to go' hung in the air with his tone of voice and demeanor from his joking words. He wasn't in the worst of moods anymore and that was something at least. He looked like he was ready to face the world again, not mope in a dark corner about his lot in life.]
lone_horse: (shirt: eyes down)

[personal profile] lone_horse 2021-05-25 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kiryu will nod, and then he'll slip off back to the upstairs, keep his time in the dungeons as low as possible so as not to invite trouble. He's never been good at avoiding it, after all.

But he will be back. ]