TDM: MARCH/APRIL

[ryslighelpers]

TDM: MARCH/APRIL

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.

Comments

[sciencesquid]

[Otto is torn between admiring the creativity of the idea and feeling mortified that such a tactic is necessary at all. To think, he used to be able to just clamber up the side of buildings...

No, that crate definitely doesn't look as if it's big enough for the two of them. Not comfortably. There's another crate nearby, though, so he'll just try and wrench that open instead. Pounding footsteps are drawing nearer, let's hope he frees that lid up in time.]

[mertondingle]

[He’s not gonna complain about extra room, not when he can hear feet and angry crowd voices getting nearer. He pulls the lid over himself and in almost no time they can hear people at the mouth of the alley. The whole mob hasn’t gone down this street but there are a few people investigating at least. Someone kicks a trash can in anger. Merton tries not to breathe.]

[sciencesquid]

[Mercifully, the lid was loose enough for Otto to jump into his own crate and close it just before the stragglers entered the alley. He hears them bustling around nearby and the kick of the trash can startles him a bit. In a reflex, both his hands move up towards the lid to try and keep it shut. It might help give off the illusion that the crate is still nailed shut, should one of them attempt to check inside.

Leave... Just leave...]

[mertondingle]

[Snatched of conversation can be heard.
“They got-“
“-anyway fence and-“
“-street over.”
The trash can kicker kicks another one, knocking it over from the sound. Then there’s a more hollow, wooden sound. They’ve started taking out their frustration on crates.

That’s when Merton feels it, a dry tickle in his throat. He has to let out a slight cough. There’s a moment of silence, then footsteps. He can only clutch his bit of board and home no one can hear his terrified breathing.]

[sciencesquid]

[One of the crates they take their emotions out on happens to be Otto's. Someone just smacked a fist down on it. Thankfully, Otto manages to stay quiet, his gasp entirely inaudible. He's just about to hold onto a shimmer of hope that the mob's frustration will take them elsewhere.

And then there's that muffled little cough that can only have come from Otto's fellow target.

He hears the footsteps retreating- the mob must've turned their attention to that cough as well. Carefully, he lifts the lid up just a bit to try and peer through the gap. The entire mob has their backs to him, but they're honing in on the crate the kid's in. So he braces himself. Should they be stupid enough to lift that lid, he will jump out to try and attack from behind. Maybe he can even snatch one of those pitchforks while he's at it. He's got the element of surprise on his side, but he won't use it unless he has to.]

[mertondingle]

[He holds his breath and avoids squeaking in terror. The footsteps stop. There didn’t seem to be too many in the first place. Maybe that’s good. Maybe only one or two people came down the street.

“You hear something?”
“‘S just-“
“Could be-“

Then Merton hears squeaking metal followed by a thump and creaking wood. It’s his box. He squeaks himself this time and grabs the board more tightly.]

Hey, guys.
[The first thing he says as the lid is lifted. The impulse to banter is his fastest reflex.]

I have the funniest story.

[sciencesquid]

[Oop, there goes the lid. The kid is in trouble. Now all bets are off.

Since Merton is boxed in in the most literal sense, Otto knows he has to act fast. One jab from a pitchfork is already one too many, which is why he lunges towards the assailant who's currently in the best position to strike. He jams his elbow up against the man's spine, makes a snatch for the pitchfork and feels a surge of relief when the thing actually slips from the guy's hold. The others whirl around on the spot to face him, the crate forgotten, at least for a brief moment. The one who got hit in the back is already recovering.

And now Otto's facing some very angry individuals, holding nothing but a pitchfork. ...Could be worse, he could be holding nothing at all.]

Stay back! I'm warning you!

[mertondingle]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap.

[Merton practically hyperventilates into his fist as he watches Otto throw down. He is useless and frozen for a second or two before he realizes he’s got a board in his hands and hurls it at the man coming for Octavious. He doesn’t look to see if it hits before he’s pulling himself out. The board doesn’t connect, but at least the attackers’ attention is divided.]

[sciencesquid]

[Otto's got himself in a bit of a pickle, because he doesn't actually want to use the pitchfork. He was hoping it would deter attacks from the other side. Unfortunately, one guy seems to be charging in anyway- only to be distracted by a wooden board that came flying past. Otto got distracted by it too, so all this did was delay the fight a bit.

The kid's way out is open, at least.]

Go! I'll hold them off!

[mertondingle]

[Maybe as much as the guys want to fight only one of them is crazy enough to approach a man with a pitchfork? Merton doesn’t have time to think anything beyond this because he is out of there, rapidly accelerating towards the open street where- wait. What if the mob’s still out there?

He dodges around the corner, into the street, but warily, head down. Paused there, he can still hear noise from the one-way street. Maybe he shouldn’t have run out again. Maybe, this time, he can actually help.]

[sciencesquid]

[Oh good, the kid actually ran. Otto's so used to teenagers being stubborn and not listening to him that he hadn't dared think it'd be different this time. But perhaps it's only Peter Parkers who are stubborn like that.

Now it's just him and three assailants. Right. He can do this. He's faced far worse. Granted, he had better weapons then, which were also smart enough to shield him, but he shouldn't overthink it. He just needs to channel some of that inner Doc Ock and bluff.]

If you want a fight, I'll give you a fight! So go on! Try it, if you dare!

[Don't call his bluff, don't call his bluff, don't call-]

[mertondingle]

[Merton’s ducked back into the one way and found shelter crouching behind a crate. He could yell “Hey, police! Run!” According to movies he’d seen that could break up parties. But his voice won’t cooperate. He’s too scared. Instead he uses what he has.

The metal lid of a trash can flies into the fray like a discus. Merton crouches back down, frantically looking for something, anything that would help.]

[sciencesquid]

[It must be a miracle; the mob guys look as if they're considering backing off! Aaand then the trash can lid comes flying into the fray. It hits one of the men on the side of his head, and all hell breaks loose.

The one who got hit staggers, disoriented. His buddy spins around to seek out the source of the would-be discus and hones in on the crate Merton is hiding behind. As for the third guy, he lunges towards Otto, his own pitchfork raised.]

Whoah! No!

[Though he manages to dodge the attack, it was only by a hair. In half a reflex, he spins his own pitchfork around to smack the assailant with the handle. That's a nicer approach than outright stabbing the guy, he thinks. Unfortunately, the close confrontation doesn't leave him with any leeway to help Merton.]

[mertondingle]

[Now would be the time to run again. Forget who might be lurking outside. Merton skids on a banana peel but recovers his footing and he is off. Bye, helpful adult. It was nice knowing you.]

I'm laughing so hard fyi

[sciencesquid]

[Catching the movement from the corner of his eye, Otto is vaguely aware that the kid ran off a second time. Good. One of the three assailants chases after him, but hopefully, Merton can outrun him and get himself to safety.

Which leaves only the two dazed guys lingering in the alley. It's fine. He'll deal with them. Or at the very least, distract them enough that he can get away as well. Happy endings for all!]