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graveyardsmash2021-09-10 09:23 am
ryslighelpers) wrote in graveyardsmash2021-09-10 09:23 am
Entry tags:
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 in a dark ditch, the sky cloudy overhead. Dirt cakes into your cuts and scrapes. The air is clammy and damp, and it smells like rain.
You’re in a grave. And when you sit up to inspect the tombstone marking your spot, it has your name on it. Maybe the graves next to you have the names of familiar friends, family, acquaintances. Not all of them are open like yours are. RIP.
There’s a light dancing in the distance, and you hear the jingle-jangle of heavy keys, or worse still, the gravekeeper’s massive pitchfork or shovel. If you're lucky, you can sneak out beyond his notice, and get out alone. If not - you might find yourself on the wrong end of a shovel’s swing, or worse yet, tripping headfirst in front of a pair of monstrous eyes.
SCENARIO TWO
So you've just arrived, and you’re surrounded by an incredibly odd group of natives. Some of them wear elaborate headdresses that resemble a deer, or a horse with seaweed instead of a mane, or a ferocious cat. All of them are covered in tattoos and piercings, and their clothing mirrors their ‘beast’ of choice, from snakeskin boots for the snake-people to cowhide and leathers for the minotaurs, manticore-kin, or kelpie-kin. These people introduce themselves as members of the scouting team for the Tågevalgten, and they’re here to help you settle in! They load you onto a rickety old bus and take you into Town.
The Town is called Rota, according to the rusted road-sign. And the central lodge is all decked out and ready to go for a reception, Children of the Fog welcome. There are food and drink aplenty, mostly meat-heavy, and if you ask them where the meat came from… Well! Maybe you shouldn’t ask.
The Tågevalgten gladly share helpful pamphlets for you. “Embrace Your Fog-Given Gifts,” they proclaim. Most of them are fashioned to sound like self-help with a religious bent favoring a divine entity called the Fog God: “Monster Types And YOU: What Fits Your Personality? Take Our 99% Accurate Quiz Inside!”, “Shed Your Human Skin And Thrive,” “Be Uniquely You And Uniquely Free,” “What to Expect When You're Expecting (to turn into a monster).” There's even some thick books carefully cataloguing certain monsters and the changes they might go through. Some of these seem to have been passed down from one monster to the next.
After awhile, it’s clear that the Tågevalgten are a bit too friendly and enthralled with buttering you up. In fact, it’s clear that they don’t want you to leave their fold, happy to keep you strapped together with a kumbaya around the campfire. They might not let you go until you take a bite of their Soylent Green or accept a group hunting trip with other newbies, and so on and so on. There’s always some excuse.
Maybe someone else can help you out of these uncomfortable pickles and get you away from here.
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? Does it fit you, or does it feel incongruous with your nature? Feel free to pick any monster type for this prompt, but note that you may not get the same one in game.
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And then they speak, and the words "monster kid" come out, and the look of mock bravery changes to a quirked brow and an amused tone.]
Monster kid?
[Are they trying to scare her on purpose, then? Are monster children different from regular? It's hard to say here, honestly. She just doesn't have enough information.]
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( They are most definitely trying to scare her on purpose. )
But, I'm also sure you know what they say about assuming.
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[This time, she laughs. A child. If she gets killed, it'll be by a child. Not unlike the Spirit when she gets a sword heavily embedded in her side. It's novel, in a new and unique way.]
So, what'll it be then? Rippin' my head off? Disembowelment? Eatin' me while I'm still alive? No matter what you pick, I assure you, you won't be doin' anythin' new to me.
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( Though, it's surprising to hear her speak so casually about dying before. Perhaps this was someone else with the power of DETERMINATION. They've never heard of any other power bringing back the dead before-- well-- death.
It's something to ask about, should their conversation continue. )
You actually thought I'd strike you down. You really must be new.
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Seems to have worked for me so far. Not that I would have fought back, I ain't one to hurt children, y'see. Even if they're plannin' on eatin' me whole.
[There's another laugh, this one is far more full of humour.]
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Even if that child were a demon?
( There's really no reason to just let someone dangerous walk free. It doesn't matter if they're a child or not. They can't understand why there's no anger on he end.
She's once again speaking like she's been killed before. Just.... what sort of world did she come from? )
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[She gives a little shrug.]
Though most children don't call themselves that. That's something they hear from others.
[At least, in her experience, anyhow.]
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( Or, dust-stained. But, that sounds even more odd to someone who isn't familiar with the Undergound. )
You seem almost comfortable with the idea of dying.
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[She has her doubts. Even still, if they're telling the truth and they have killed someone, the circumstances that would have lead to that are sure... something, aren't they?]
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I killed my family through someone elses's hands.
( It almost feels like she's side-stepping what they commented on. But, they won't push. Chara knows what it's like to want to keep some things a secret. )
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[It's a loaded question, but they seem keen on making themselves out to be a bad guy, and from experience, the actual monsters do very little talking when they want to kill, and they certainly don't bother making excuses of their actions.]
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( Hey, they'll let her know eventually that monsters don't exactly eat people who aren't natives. )
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[A big, large shrug.]
So whats a small thing like you doin' out here all by your lonesome anyhow? Monster an' all I get, but don't wolves run in packs? Or is that just irrelevant?
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( They don't have a pack. The truth is that they feel more at home being a loner. But, if they were to join one, it would be with the only other werewolf the know here. )
Who knows? Maybe I feel more at home with the dead. ( They raise an eyebrow. ) That should be my question, anyways. If you were aware that monsters roam this world freely, why did you choose to come here? Do you really care so little about your own life?
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I didn't make the choice to come here, actually. I was forced here, and I can't exactly say I'm a fan of it. It might shock you to hear, but I care a great deal about my life. I just know when winnin' ain't in the cards.
[As Ace would say, and even though it's only been a few hours, she misses him terribly. Him and everyone else.]
For example, If you really wanted me dead, I'd be long since past tense. I've stuck around far too long, and let you get far too close. Normally I'd have hit the dusty trail far before this little conversation happened.
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( When they speak again, there's a subtle hint of amusement in their voice. )
Like I said, maybe I'm just waiting for the right moment to strike. Or, maybe I just enjoy playing tricks on others.
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Hm.]
Hard to not speak about a casual thing so casually.
[She wants more information, but doesn't want to obviously grab for it. It's too likely that she'll be given misinformation as a prank, or just have it withheld in general, with how this monster is speaking to her already.]
You've had several moments, as far as I'm aware. At this point if you were gonna eat me, you're just wastin' both of our time.
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( Just saying. )
Monsters feed from the natives here. It may be because those who aren't from this world gradually change.
( She may just assume that it's another trick. If she does, it really makes no difference to them. )
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The take away is that by that logic, non-natives are the monsters, or turn into them rather.]
Sounds to me like I ain't part of your diet, then.
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( Even if they willingly wanted to murder humans in the past, this isn't a lifestyle they're happy with by any means. They'd rather not eat humans at all. At the least, at home, there was a purpose behind their actions. )
Then again, do you expect anyone who was once human to admit to needing to eat their own kind? The alternative is insanity.
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Kate has unfortunate experience with being turned into a meal by actual humans. Eugh.
Flatly:]
Sugar, I already know a human that eats humans. Bein' a monster ain't mandatory to do so.
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It's so clearly obvious that the person who they've stumbled upon have seen horrors, perhaps even worse than Chara has. Chara's been a partner to the Genocide of an entire species - they've felt death more times than they can count. But, it was always quick. It sounds like she's died more times than she can count in her own world.
Chara chuckles humorlessly. Her words are just a stark reminder that no one can be trusted. )
Of course. Thinking that there was a limit to human cruelty was naïve.
Appearances mean nothing. There are monsters who know more kindness than humans could ever know.
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She's hardly bothered by it, and waves her hand.]
Chin up, sugar. From what I've experienced, monsters can be just as cruel as any human. It ain't as black and white as you're makin' it seem. That human I've met that's turned me into stew has also, on occasion, spared my hide. Couldn't tell you why, though.
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( They won't budge on this. It isn't as they expect her to understand. )
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[It's a shame, really, but they'll have to agree to disagree on this point.] Very few humans are cruel simply to be cruel. Not sayin' they don't exist, but I am sayin' that they are the minority. An' I know that if you were to ask someone for help in the middle of the street, more people would be inclined to help than to turn you away. And I don't just mean that because they fear you, either.
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