graveyardsmash | TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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

You've stumbled your way out of the graveyard, and you're promptly besieged by the overwhelming sights and sounds of the city. Cars honk at you to get out of the street, and strangers try not to look in your direction for too long. They see your dirty clothes and scraped faces, and pretend to busy themselves with something else. Rarely, a look of pity is cast your way.

But some people try to reach out. Enterprising citizens and those that hope to curry favor with the newcomers pass out new clothes and bundles of food, asking if you have a place to stay the night, wondering about the details of the world you came from. Some are even handing out pamphlets which vary in how helpful they are--"What To Expect When You're Expecting (To Turn Into A Monster)", "Wolpertinger: Fact or Fiction?", "100% ACCURATE MONSTER QUIZ ASSESSMENT: GUARANTEED TO PREDICT YOUR MONSTER!", and "Ryslig Law In A Nutshell".

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? 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[This is an absolute nightmare. Mirabel watches in horror as the ground shifts, and her sister emerges. She didn't want to be right, she didn't want to think her family was buried in these graves - buried alive too, at that.]

Luisa! What... what...

[She can't even finish talking, practically throws herself at Luisa while trying and failing to hold back tears.]

[She wants to stifle the tears. To ignore the fact that waking up like this was a nightmare. Maybe once she would have done that. Instead she grips her sister back, leaning down instead of scooping her up.]

I don't know--I think-- [She woke up earlier? She thinks. The image of an older man with a shovel comes to mind along with her aching head. It makes her grip Mirabel tighter. Not a bone crushing hug that she might have been able to do before but still tight. Protectively.]

The grave keeper! He--got the jump on me when I sat up-- [Digging up out of the dirt had been difficult...an older man managed to knock her out... Things weren't right. She hadn't had time to realize that she was among the graves of her family yet.] I have to get you out of here.

[Hearing her sister explain what happened breaks her heart. This is horrible - who would do that to anyone? She continues to grip Luisa back in a tight hug. It's not going to make any of this okay, not by a long shot.]

We... we can't leave yet. The rest of the family, I think he got to the rest of the family-!

[She had noticed that they were in a graveyard but she hadn't had a look at the other graves before being knocked out. Now, she glances around them and her anxiety grows. It tightens around her heart. The panic flashes on her face.]

Then we have to dig--keep an ear out, Mirabel!

[She gives her younger sister a rough pat on the head before letting go. Luisa would have done it by herself but--well. There were two of them and if they're both out they have to try. It wasn't just on her anymore. She takes a deep breath.

The jangling of keys might sound ominous as Luisa drops to the ground, digging at the closest grave: Dolores.]

We're coming!

[Mirabel stands there anxiously, feeling powerless more than ever. They're gonna be okay, they're gonna get everyone out and then they'll figure out where they are together. That's what they do, they're the Madrigals-

Mirabel's train of thought stops when she sees a figure in the distance, holding a shovel. She gives a hushed, but panicked whisper:]

Luisa! I think that's him!

[They're the Madrigals. They'll get out of this one for sure. A bit bruised and traumatized but alive. It's so easy to think that they're goners. It won't end like that.

Did they ambush us in the night? I wasn't strong enough--

The thought comes to mind, echoing in her mind. Luisa almost doesn't hear the whisper but then she looks up. That's the man alright and he was getting closer. Her rushing mind switches gears quickly. She stands up to her full height. She wasn't going to let another member of her family get hurt in this place.]

Behind me. [Her voice is low. Even without her Gift, she still was a more dangerous target just based on size alone. That's when she sees it. A shack, maybe the man's shed for tools? Luisa moves into a more aggressive stance but moves her head in that direction.] There--I'll be right behind you. Look for rope!

[It's a snap judgement. Her first thought was to pick up Mirabel and run for an exit. But that wasn't possible yet, not until they were sure everyone was safe. So that meant at least trying to scare the gravedigger away or, at worst, tying him up. To the man, she she gives a guttural growl.]

Want to try that again now that I'm not half-asleep?!

[Mirabel’s all too aware how powerless she is in this moment. They’re facing down a man who managed to take down a magical family.

At her sister’s orders, she nods. She’s terrified, and there’s fear in her voice as she whispers back.]

Be - be careful!

[She makes a run for the shack as the man starts to quickly approach.]

[She nods. She mouths 'I will' before turning back to the gravedigger. Once, she would have mouthed 'don't worry' but well. They're in this together. This was just more suited for Luisa. Besides... If he's the one who took them down? He's got to have answers. At least he seems to be more interested in Luisa than chasing down Mirabel.

She lowers her voice into a growl. He moves towards her. This time when he swings his shovel, it's met with just air.]

You're going to have to try harder than that!

[Using her superior reach, she's trying to keep him at a distance until she gets a chance to grab the shovel.]

[While Luisa grapples with the gravedigger, Mirabel reaches the shack. She’s terrified, and at this point her legs are practically moving on their own. After entering the shack, she quickly grabs everything she thinks they’ll need - mainly a rope, and a shovel for digging the rest of their family out.

She runs back, just in time to see Luisa go for the man’s shovel.]

TDM: JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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i replied because the idea of luisa popping out was funny but whoops

all aboard the trauma train

whomp whomp

Re: whomp whomp

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