TEST DRIVE MEME: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Welcome to the Ryslig Test Drive Meme! Below are a few prompts to get you started, but you may make up any prompt you desire! Please take a look at the navigation page for rules, setting information, and links to reserves and apps. Have fun!

SCENARIO ONE

You wake up on the beach thoroughly drenched, with your mouth full of sand. The salt water is making all the cuts and scrapes on your skin sting and the sand isn't helping. The air is slightly humid, ruining any feeling of refreshment you might have gotten from your dip in the ocean.

There are lights in the distance, but the unfriendly scent of gunpowder fills the air. If you're lucky, you're alone. If not - you might find yourself staring up into a pair of monstrous eyes or down the barrel of a local's shotgun.

SCENARIO TWO

So you've just arrived, and already some of the natives are trying to get on your good side with offers of food, shelter and other luxuries in return for hoping you don't eat them. They even have some helpful pamphlets to share with you. "How To Deal With Changes", "Alternatives to Human Flesh", "What to Expect When You're Expecting (to turn into a monster)" are all on the more informative end of the scale. There's even some detailing certain monsters, and the changes they go through. Some of these seem to have been passed down from one monster to the next.

Among these however, are some... not so helpful ones. "Bunnyipyips And You", "Axe Thief Axehounds," and "So you're becoming a Fur Bearing Trout" among others. Sometimes they have marks on them from previous readers saying they're lies, or pointing out good "jokes."

Then there are the people who aren't happy to see you at all. Glares and silent, judging stares if you're lucky, torches and pitchforks attempting to drive you out of the town if you're not. You may need a friend to help you.

SCENARIO THREE

"Seek us out," the voice whispers in your head, and before you have time to question it you've found yourself in someplace entirely alien.

Maybe it's the Fog God's ghostly town of Dyster, where exultant followers dance around bonfires and sing their praises to the skies above. Maybe it's the Fourth God's arcade, with small robots wheeling about amidst the lights and colors of old pinball machines.

Only one thing is certain: you are not alone, in this sacred place.

SCENARIO FOUR

The time has come and you've found yourself becoming a monster. Is the change instant, or gradual? Are you familiar enough with monsters to know what's happening, or is it a complete shock? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.

Comments

[stimpaks]

[Ryslig? That sounds fake. It's like someone just sat at a terminal keyboard and just typed up whatever letters came to mind. At Eugene's prompting, Arcade glances up briefly. He makes eye contact with Eugene, nods, then backs up a liiiiittle more. The hunters advance, just within range of the overhanging load.

If Eugene can just get a little closer and release it...well. Let's just hope Arcade can jump out of the way in time.]

Eat? [Arcade echoes the word with a hint of disbelief.] I'm sorry, are you insinuating what I think you are?

[Hm. Whatever. He can worry about the strange beliefs the locals hold over new arrivals at a later time. Right now, he's more concerned about the barrels pointed towards him and his companion.]

Listen, I don't think you really understand the gravity of the situation here.

[ohnose]

[If Arcade is trying to keep their attention over Eugene, it actually starts working.]

Me? Oh no, if there's anyone not understandin, it's the two a youse. You monsters think you can come in here and take what you want!

[The barrels close in on Arcade, and Eugene almost lets slip a really, guys? but there's no time for that. He has to take his chance, now, to roll forward past their guns and dart for that rope. Even as one of the goons turns to see what Eugene's done, Eugene doesn't look back, reaching for the support rope like it's treasure. He only has enough time to tug it free and let it loose before a gun shot rings out his way-- and he screeches, bouncing away from where it hits on the ground. But by now, the rope has slacked and the load drops, hopefully with enough time for Arcade to get away.]

Heads up, fellas!

[stimpaks]

[The gunshot causes Arcade to flinch as he dives into the sand, his heart pounding in his chest. It takes a moment or two before he realizes the gun was directed towards the stranger. A series of screams, a dull thunk. He glances up just in time to see the equipment meet the ground with a mighty CRASH.

The beach is quiet. Arcade slowly gets up on his feet, trying to dust off as much sand as possible from his coat. He lets out a short huff, making his way over to the wreckage and inspecting it.]

Some welcoming party. I've met raiders nicer than these guys.

[After a pause, he kneels down and pulls a rifle out of the pile. He turns on the safety and slings it over his shoulder.]

Well, to the victor go the spoils. [He glances towards Eugene.] Did anything they were saying make any sense to you?

[ohnose]

[As Eugene makes his way over to meet his new companion, he eyes Arcade picking up the gun and after screwing up his face a certain way, he reaches out to take one, too, gingerly.]

Oh, something about monsters and a Wandery country or whatever it's called-- not a clue.

[standing up with the rifle in his hand, he looks to Arcade again and asks; ]

What did you just do to yours?

[stimpaks]

I believe it's pronounced Ryslig. I don't believe I've heard of it--at least, not where I'm from. And it looks like I'm pretty far from home.

[Arcade blinks, then glances towards the stranger.]

Oh, I just...turned on the safety so it won't accidentally go off, here--

[He points towards Eugene's gun to what looks like a small switch on the side of the stock.]

I take it you've never used a gun before? What do you do to defend yourself, then?

[ohnose]

[Eugene imitates Arcade's motion almost perfectly and gets that safety on. He's not particularly interested in using this thing, but he'll take looking intimidating.]

Oh, me? You know. I get by with a good wink and a nudge and a cool flip or two, but you'd be surprised what some people can do with a frying pan.

[ha.

...Man, the more Eugene listens, the more familiar Arcade's voice sounds. He can't place it, though. It's just so uncanny..]

Generally harmful projectiles are limited toooo crossbows.

do you ever just forget to reply to things

[stimpaks]

[Sometimes, when it comes to dealing with certain situations, it's much more worthwhile to be intimidating rather than waste a bullet. Of course, there's always that one person that needs to be shot in the head, but those are far and few between.]

Crossbows. [He repeats Eugene in a dry tone.] Glad to know medieval reenactment is alive and well in this day and age.

[Then again, Caesar's Legion is out here using shit like javelins and...well, regular guns, too. Arcade pauses, his eyebrows knitting together.]

I'm sorry if this is a strange question, but do I know you? You sound rather familiar.

often actually

[ohnose]

[Eugene's complete lack of knowledge of the term medieval is thrown out the window for a comment that Eugene can't ignore.]

You know, I was just thinking the same thing. I could swear I've heard your voice before.

[stimpaks]

I could say the same thing.

[Odd! Arcade seems to ruminate on this mystery for a moment.]

Maybe introductions would help. My name is Arcade Gannon. I'm from New Vegas. And you?

[ohnose]

Eugene Fitzherbert, Corona. Now if you don't mind me asking...

[Excuse the overexaggerated but inquisitive roll of his head.]

...What's a Vegas?

[stimpaks]

You've never heard of Vegas before?

[HMMMM. Arcade raises a single eyebrow.]

It's a place in the Western US, though it's not as far as California--er. I'm afraid I haven't heard of Corona before, either....

[Maybe he's a tribal who lives in the midwest? That would explain the preference to crossbows as opposed to guns.]

Um, anyways, maybe we should move if we don't want to be ambushed by more people. I'm sure these gun-toting maniacs had friends.

[ohnose]

Aaahhhha those are two more words I've never heard of. What a day.

[Eugene sure talks like he's modern, though.]

Something tells me our only chance is in town, so... I hope the rest of the locals aren't so... hostile.

[He looks down at the gun in his hands and swallows, gesturing for Arcade to come with him.]