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graveyardsmash2022-01-14 03:47 pm
ryslighelpers) wrote in graveyardsmash2022-01-14 03:47 pm
Entry tags:
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.
oh sorry sorry. two.
[The grin doesn't waver off his face though. He's aware of what he looks like. Like someone got too enthusiastic with creating a jelly sandwich and just started layering.
Or jello someone forgot about in the fridge, and it grew sentience and walked out on it's own.]
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[Hythlodaeus marvels at Beat for another moment, taking in his existence. The fact that there is no soul to be seen aligns quite well with his initial impression of this creature being a concept. His violet eyes wander down to what seems to be Beat's heart. Or, his skull? Where a heart would be?]
Would you be so kind as to explain the function of the skull in your- [Ahem.] -chest?
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Oh, that's my nucleus. It's like my heart an' brain in one, or somethin'. Or soul? Or all three? I ain't really sure.
[Not that this is probably doing much to dissuade this guy (girl? voice is low but) that he's someone's pet creation just running around. A thought finally seems to occur to him, and he lifts his gaze.]
Oh! Also sorry, I ain't normally lookin' like this. This only day uh... yo, brotha, what day is it!
[The man who just got asked looks shocked and desperately like he'd rather be anywhere else than getting asked anything but jello boy, but he will timidly answer the fourteenth before scurrying off. Beat pauses a little as he does the mental math.]
Day... 7, of bein' a slime. Huh, been a week already. Time flies.
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[Interesting. It doesn't look like any soul he's used to seeing. A dull, manmade object as opposed to a brilliant surge of colored aether. However, none of this is anything like what he's used to seeing. It's a bit unnerving, but fascinating all the same. It's hard to decipher what this concept is saying, and it seems difficult for it to parse Hythlodaeus' speech, as well. Perhaps he should try to speak more plainly.]
A moment, if you would. You mean to say that this is not your original form?
[Concern blooms across his face. If someone in this place had the ability to do this to another, they were certainly breaking many codes of conduct by doing so.]
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[A little sigh as he tries to figure out how to explain it, folding his arms over his chest. For a moment he's silent, then decides to go with the start from the beginning option. Sorry for the info dump, buddy.]
Aight, so there's three Gods here. Thanks to the first god, everyone calls her Fog cuz of the fog she bring, we all get plucked from our homes an' brought here. Everyone comes in lookin' normal. [A nod to the person in front of him.] About a month inta our stay, she starts turnin' everyone into monsters. Like the lil' booklets say. I originally turned into somethin' called a Pooka, yo. Looks like a squirrel. Long super fluffy tail, ears, [He'll make a motion with his hands near his upper head to indicate. He has no idea of this person knows what a squirrel is.] grabby little feet. I made the mistake of talkin' to the third god an' askin' to be somethin' else an'...
[He gestures down to himself, glancing down as he does, poking sadly at his soft jelly belly.]
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I see. That's quite a tale.
[If what this creature says is true, then these so-called Gods are at best capricious, and at worst malicious. He's hoping it's the former. After all, Hythlodaeus himself enjoys a good-natured joke more often than not, though kidnappings and forced transformations are a bit beyond the pale. Many questions come to his mind at once, but it seems that he has both the time and the willing audience to have them all answered.]
And what of the other two? You mentioned the third was responsible for your current state. Do they all employ such powerful magicks?
[For research purposes, he watches Beat's belly jiggle. He would love to inspect this concept more in-depth, but with something as sentient as this, it seems almost rude.]
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[Sorry, being a Slime is being scatterbrained. Beat pauses to try and regather his thoughts, frowning hard as he focuses, shaking his head to try and get back on track.]
Sorry, it's sometimes hard to think like this. Uh. Aight. Elias. He ain't as strong as Fog, cuz his powers were stolen from Fog an' forced on him, plus he's a kid so it ain't so good. The Third God, Mana, she seems powerful dependin' on how much you willin' to pay. Sometimes you get goo'd, an' sometimes you get powerful abilities.
[Raising a hand, he goes to brush his hair out of his face in habit, only since he's goo and his hair is actually just little platelets, he just sort of passes his hand over it.]
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Please, take your time. Perhaps we could go somewhere more conducive to conversation, if that would suit you better?
[Not that blaring car horns and shambling, dirt-caked people weren't charming in themselves. He could do without the stares, however.]
I would be eager to hear more of your gods, if you'd be so kind as to indulge me?
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[Thoughtfully looking around, he eventually spots a favorite Monster-friendly eatery of his. He gestures for the person to follow him, the little drooping antennae that make up his ears perking upwards into the air some in excitement over food. Even his colouring shifts, becoming more vibrant. When they reach it, he'll be a gentleman and hold the door open, beaming.]
Been here tons 'fore, they- "Don't you leave trails on my floor, boy!" I AIN'T GONNA LEAVE TRAILS ON YER FLOOR. I TOLDCHU I AIN'T A SNAIL.
[He huffs, though there's no anger or malice in his voice in the reply, and the cook that was peering through the counter that separates kitchen from front grunts and disappears.]
... As I was sayin', yo. They pretty quiet, an' we shouldn't be bothered... Don' mind him, he always grumpy.
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Hahaha, not a problem at all. I'm sure it's quite the task attending to the hungry. One's mood oftentimes does not dictate their true nature.
[Taking a seat next to Beat, Hythlodaeus momentarily feels inclined to apologize for his appearance. Climbing out of the mud doesn't leave one looking their best. However, he then remembers that his current conversational partner is made of slime.]
Now then, I have taken up quite a bit of your time, and I do intend to monopolize it more. I trust if you have reservations, you will make them known.
[He offers a smile, tucking some muddy hair behind his ear. This place would serve well enough for conversation, provided they were permitted to loiter.]
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[A waitress drops off two glasses of water and two menus and is promptly gone again. Have you ever seen a Slime drink, Sir? You're about to, as Beat picks the glass up and just sticks it straight into him. He'll absorb the water slowly like that, the nucleus that's been floating around coming to rest inside the glass. Even as it makes the Waitress give him a side-eye. He better return that glass and not forget it's there.]
Uh, nah, I ain't got be anywhere, I got all the time in the world. Ask away! If I can't answer everythin' fer ya, I know of some peeps who've been here for years that can do you better.
[As he talks he skims over the menu. At least no one already in the cafe is giving them any looks. A dirty robed man and a Slime isn't exactly the weirdest things any of them have seen.]
this is giving casper dinner scene vibes
[He can't help but stare at the performance taking place in front of him. Did he just absorb that glass of water? As mentioned previously, Hythlodaeus had encountered slimes before, but their digestion was not exactly the same as what he was witnessing now. He's a bit distracted, what were they talking about, again? Maybe Beat's forgetfulness was rubbing off on him.]
I... hm. Seem to have lost my train of thought. Forgive me.
[He opens his mouth to ask a question, but closes it again. He puts a hand to his lips. He takes it away.]
You're quite adept at nourishing your new body!
[He tried to be supportive, but it sort of just came across as creepy.]
listen the food stays with this goo!
[He sets the menu down once he decides and throws the other a wide smile. The comment makes him blink in surprise, that's definitely not something he was expecting, and he glances down to the cup floating in him. The water's been slowly going down.]
Oh! Sorry, that was prolly weird as hell, huh.
[Positively sheepishly, his ears drooping, he reaches back into himself and takes the glass out, making sure to dump out his nucleus and the water before hand. He sets the glass back on the table, surprisingly clean despite being stuck in slime.]
There's a couple more like me who was able to give me advice. Water helps cure summa the thirst but it's not really what feeds me.
[A quiet moment and then:]
Shoot, I never toldchu my name! Welcome to Ryslig, yo, name's Beat.
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Pray, forgive my lack of decency - I must have left my manners in the grave!
[Clearing his throat with a dry laugh and straightening up a little in his seat, he gives a small bow.]
I am Hythlodaeus. Well met, I'm certain. And you said you were created in October?
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Excuse the blank eyed look to the name, Beat's brain trying to file that away and getting as far as Hy before the rest trails off into static.]
Nice to meetchu. An' nah, yo. I came here in October. I lived in 'nother world before. Like you, unless this is yer world. [Which Beat doubts if the guy came in in a grave.] 'Round October I was dragged from my world into this one. I was still human fer a month, then got changed into Pooka.
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You were a person!?
[Now he's unsure if he should drink the water here. But, heavens, was he thirsty. Taking an undignified sip-turned-gulp, he sets the half-full glass back on the counter and considers it.]
You have the right of it. I'm afraid I'm quite out of my element in this place. It's not like anything I've ever seen. My home is the city of Amaurot - have you by chance heard the name?
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[The waitress comes over and Beat puts in his order, and also something maybe light for Hy...uh... Hylio here. His treat for the poor newcomer whose going to find out just how shit this place gets in about a month...
Tilting his head, he tries to think if he's heard of a city like that before shaking his head.]
Sorry, I'm real bad at (everything) geography. I only really know the cities in Japan an' even then... Is that someplace in the America's or uh... Russia? [That's the big Europe one right, yeah, it sounds maybe Russian!]
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Oh, you needn't-
[Hythlodaeus was not intent on ordering any food, but the hospitality was welcome. How much he could eat in his current mental state, however, was still to be seen. He abandons his protest, folding his hands in his lap and trying to scrape the dirt from his nails.]
Hm, I'm afraid that, if any of those places did exist on my star, I have been unfortunate enough to not have heard them spoken of previously.
[Hythlodaeus wasn't an expert on geography, either, but he would have liked to think that he would at least have heard of one out of the three regions that were just named to him. It leads him to conclude that perhaps they were not from the same world at all. Stranger things have been posited. He drifts in thought for a bit, holding his chin out of habit.]
It would lend credence to your assertion that we are all of different realms...
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[He plays a little with the cup, thoughtfully, then sighs. He doesn't particularly like dumping this information on people, but if Hydrodude is gonna be here, he has to know what he's getting into.]
Look, you mentioned earlier 'bout me keepin' myself fed, right? An' I said water don't do much? Cuz Monsters get their food from another source.
[He gives Hythlodaeus a grim look, then gently points a finger right at him.]
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That's... that sounds like my cue to leave, doesn't it?
[He places his hands on the diner and the back of his chair, bracing himself to bolt if need be.]
Why order a meal if you intended to eat me?
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[Well, if he was going to eat him, he's very idiotic about it, isn't he. Beat blinks in surprise, then pulls back himself, hands coming up. Fingers spread, the classic sign of making oneself look innocent.]
No no! I ain't gonna eatchu, yo!! Okay, hol' up, I did that very stupid.
[He drags one slimy hand down his slimy face, exhaling hard.]
We eat peeps, yeah. [The waitress GIVES HIM A LOOK like yes they know but don't be so open about it in a cafe ffs.] When I said the Fog hates humans, yo, I mean it. She brings us in an' changes us into monsters and gives us a hunger fer human. We can stave the hunger off pretty long if we really try, but if we don't eat, we go insane an' attack a lot of people to try an' get the hunger to stop. I promise I ain't hungry. Well I am, but... I jus' want my burger, not you.
[He tries to give Hydroponics an innocent look, not sure if it translates well through the goo, his ears dangling low and despondent. He even compacts himself a little, making himself look smaller and more innocent.]
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[His voice isn't angry, just softly startled. Maybe a little apprehensive.]
Besides, with the apparent rate of your digestion, I'm certain I could free myself from your body before I disintegrated. Probably.
[Sighing, he settled back down.]
And no one has managed to come up with even the slightest inkling as to how to combat the whims of this spiteful fog goddess?
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[And he does sound very sorry. He pointed to try and be like you, people! and not just... you. He scrubs his face again with a sigh. Stupid.]
We ain't gonna find out, no worries. Promise I ain't gonna eatchu.
[Before he can answer, said food arrives. A sloppy looking burger for Beat and a big but light looking salad for Hythlodaeus, dressing on the side. Beat will pick at his burger lightly after thanking the waitress, frowning.]
No, sadly. An' some peeps been here for six or seven years. Ain't no one's figured out how to stop the hunger or the changes. No one's figured out how to go home, either. Some do seem to disappear tho, but ain't sure if they get sent back home or what...
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I trust all attempts to appeal to the goddess for mercy have gone unrewarded. Perhaps she would entertain some sort of barter?
[He mostly muses to himself. Surely those who have been here longer had exhausted every resource. But do gods not deal with man in this realm? Surely fervent prayer or offerings would do something to sway the deities. Well, as far as he knew, that line of thinking is what brought him here. Hythlodaeus chances a bite of salad. It's surprisingly not poisonous.]
The third god of which you spoke - the one who accepts bribes. Might they be persuaded to join man's pursuit of freedom?
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[Looking pleased that Hyth seems to be okay with the salad, Beat will try and eat his burger normally, but it's a little difficult when you're a slime. He CAN hold things firmly, but honestly, it just sort of wants to ooze into him. With a soft 'fuck it' he stuffs the hamburger into him and folds his arms to hide it. He can still taste it like that, oddly enough, so it's not like he isn't eating it. Just. In a very odd way.]
Mana? [That gets a grin out of him.] I'm actually gonna try an' find that out. Been savin' up the lil' coins that randomly get gifted to us near the end of the month, that show our monster on 'em. That's what she takes. Ima save up as much as I can an' shove 'em at her an' ask if she can open a way home. If she can, Ima let everyone know an' how much it costs.
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