Test Drive Meme #1 (cw vehicular crash, moderate injury)

[spoofer]

Test Drive Meme #1

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

You don't need an invite to test
but please remember we're currently invite-only

CRASH LANDING

Exit one dimension, enter the next. It was chaos: pressure against your ears, light bending in an impossible, unimaginable way. The very molecules of your body vibrating against one another. If you have windows, the view outside makes no sense. Even if not, your hands, your face, your feet seem like an uncertain thing. It's the feel of reality itself tearing apart, reshaping, reconnecting, thread by thread.

And suddenly, there's a beach— or ocean, whichever you land in. Smoke. Fire. Salt water churning up, fizzing around.

Maybe you crash, in a ship wrecking into sand. Maybe you merely stumble out of a portal, a ragged wormhole in space. Or maybe you fall off the back of an incredible steed, some creature that carried you into this place. Either way, there's pandemonium around you. Incredibly, severe injuries are far and few between— nobody's screaming about the dead. But you might have to help pull someone free of wreckage, or move quickly to salvage burning belongings from the landing craft. Maybe it's the crafts themselves, that you're trying to salvage.

Likely, you don't know them, these other strangers who arrived here^[1]. Maybe you don't trust them— you just came out of a dying world, after all. But you all have one thing in common: you're here now.

When you get a second to breathe, maybe you'll see it. The brilliant green forest across the sand. Beyond that, the glint of a faraway city.

INTO THE WOODS

Your first night at Xistentia does not feature five-star accommodations, but as the sun begins to set, the forest offers everything you need to survive. By now, you may even have met your daemon, who'll help guide you through this. There is fallen wood to make fires for warmth and cooking, any number of rabbits, deer, and fish if that's what you're into eating. Those very same animals also provide guidance as to what vegetation is edible, including a variety of vine mushrooms, fruits, and flowers. If you're the kind of creature that mostly eats other sentient creatures, well. Technically, there are a lot of those hanging out too^[2]! Now and then, you'll see tiny, winged humanoid creatures the height of a finger dart in and out of view.

A resourceful group, the multiversal refugees have determined ways to create shelters, using wreckage, supplies, and basic survival knowhow. There aren't enough blankets to go around, but the weather is mild and the fires seem to keep out any aggressive creatures.


Things get quiet. This could be a good time to meet the others under less fraught circumstances. Maybe you'll see some familiar faces and reunite with others who fled from your dying world; maybe you'll meet someone new.

Try not to seek out and fight any Rock Trolls. It's still early.

ENTER THE CITY

The city is beautiful, even with the vines covering everything, the streams running down half the streets, the massive white deer leaping off under the highway overpasses. The architecture of the skyscrapers is incredible to look at, modern and sweeping. It's clear that terraced gardens were part of the building design, and some of the greenery that lines the street had been part of the original city plan. This is a city of great potential.

And it knows you're here. As you walk by, beacons like streetlamps begin to emit a gentle glow, registering your presence. No doors are locked, though you might find yourself chasing out nests of silver-winged birds and bug-eyed rabbits.

Here, you can claim empty shops or the clothing and other sales items inside of them. Apartment complexes aren't difficult to find in a range of sizes; nor are standalone homes, brownstones, loft studios. Penthouses may not feel like penthouses when there's a thin layer of dust growing on everything and a flower growing out of the sink, but you know what? Maybe that little bud is gonna be your first roommate.

It's the strangest thing. After a few days, the lights begin to work and the water begins to run, fully operational within the unseen sewer system. At some point, the keys to your house or residence are going to turn up. Your daemon will help you find what you need. F.A.TE.S. welcomes you.

NETWORK

By now you've settled in. You have some time to explore the city, the woods, and your new kit.

Chances are pretty good that your daemon is not a phone or a computer or a wax-sealed piece of parchment or a Howler, nothing with a convenient camera or a keyboard; it probably isn't even a pocket sized. Likelier, it stares at you with eyes that contain the lenses-- or powers-- of a camera, and some part of its body projects a holographic keyboard into the air. For those of us who are not accustomed to manipulating intangible light prisms, it's about as intuitive to type on as shaping a cloud with your fingers.

But here's your network access. Accessible to all your fellow travelers in XISTENTIA.

Misfires, typos, and blurry video footage are likely. Time to feel like a Luddite!

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

hells yeah

Footnotes

1. Some of these can be nameless, plot-device NPCs to facilitate interactions! But even in this case, please avoid gore in describing their current state of being. Anyone dead or catastrophically injured will have disappeared by the time your characters make it to Xistentia. There are no corpses or dying here.
   
   
2. But like OOCly ask permission ofc.

Comments

aida | d&d-style oc

[ailindor]

A. CRASH LANDING

[ The idea of something threatening Aida's home-world isn't entirely unfamiliar; there have been numerous attacks from several different entities throughout the ages and each time they've managed to come out on top. But as everything starts to fall apart around her, the world turning to rubble and flames unlike anything even the most ancient people have seen, it becomes painfully clear that fighting isn't enough.

Although she's ashamed of turning tail and running when given the opportunity, despite doing everything within her power to stop the fall of the world, Aida takes the exit presented to her. She grabs onto the fur of Kimba, her snow leopard, and the two step through the portal that opens up before her. Unfortunately it appears right above the water, just far enough out that they fall into the waist-high waves, Kimba taking the brunt of the fall. (Which is a good thing, considering the bow and quiver on Aida's back that may not have taken the graceless landing too well had she ended up on her back.)

She lets out a curse in a language most around her are unlikely to recognize, the bottom of her traveling robes, trousers, and her boots soaked through. Her hair, styled in such a way that it covers most of her ears and falls in a long, intricate braid down the middle of her back seems unharmed by the fall. Thankfully. ]

What a lovely welcome, [ she mutters to Kimba who, soaked from head to tail, stands up grumpily in the water, shaking himself off despite still being chest deep in the water. ] Come on then; let's get out of this before my boots end up irreparably waterlogged. [ Aida turns to head for the shoreline, hoping Kimba hadn't managed to soak anyone nearby... ]

B. THE CITY

[ Aida has seen her fair share of grandiose, beautiful cities but this... Completely ignoring the greenery that seems to have taken over the structures of the buildings, it's unlike anything she's ever seen before. Even with her still wet garments from the landing and the still soaked Kimba beside her, Aida pauses just inside the city limits, eyes wide as she slowly turns to take in everything within sight.

It's breathtaking, really, and she settles a hand on Kimba's shoulder almost to help her keep her balance. In her other hand is her bow, hanging now limply at her side but easily readied, should she need it. ] It's beautiful, [ she says, completely unaware of anyone that might be near her that may think she's talking to them.

Later on, her clothing mostly dry now (aside from her boots which will need to be hung out for a while) and Kimba's fur hardly damp to the touch anymore, Aida can be found wandering through the streets. She still looks rather dumbfounded by her surroundings, although there's a wide smile on her face. She almost looks like a kid in a candy store. ]

Pardon me, [ she'll say when movement nearby catches her eye, her gaze shifting to the person that had been walking past her. ] Have you found anyone that is actually familiar with this place? Perhaps someone who can point us in the direction of a tavern, or a member of the city guard?

C. NETWORK

-ose within the city can then see me?

[ It's a blurry image of Aida that comes onto the network. Her daemon's just recently found her and has been explaining how the network works, something that seems like magic far beyond her understanding. ]

Yes. They can see you now, if you'd like to say hello.

Oh! [ Aida looks surprised, eyebrows lifting to her hairline nearly, and then she smiles. ] Greetings. Evidently this creature--

Daemon, [ It interrupts. ]

Daemon, [ Aida says with a brief nod of apology at her daemon before continuing on, ] Allows me to reach out to others who have arrived here. I must say, it's impressive magic if that truly is the case! Has everyone been found by one of these daemons?

[ She pauses for a moment, thinking, before she lets out a soft chuckle. ] I suppose if anyone out there hasn't then they would be hard-pressed to tell me as much.

[ The image jostles for a moment, the daemon startling as a snow leopard comes briefly into view before the image cuts out. ]

D. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

hmu with whatever you'd like! also, i'll match brackets or prose, whichever you'd prefer!

c. video

[lacquers]

[ This video starts with a view of a well-dressed and somewhat colorfully arrayed individual. Little bit flighty.

The video, not the man. ]

I haven't met anyone who hasn't been found, as you put it. [ 'Been found' does seem like the best wording in this situation, doesn't it? ] You seem to have two companions there! Are they getting along well?

[ailindor]

Well, [ she chuckles, the feed now in a slight different angle as her daemon has settled on her wrist, Aida's arm held out in front of her, ] Kimba won't stop sniffing the daemon--

My name is Sharid, unless you'd like to change it. You should call me that.

[ Aida smiles a bit. ] Kimba won't stop sniffing Sharid and the latter seems rather discomfited by that, but I imagine they'll learn to like one another before too long. So long as Kimba behaves himself.

[ The snow leopard, which is sitting beside Adia, pauses in his paw cleaning and lets out an almost indignant huff before continue with its bath. ]

[lacquers]

[ Magnus gives a low hum, then directs his gaze at the camera again. Or maybe he's looking at his daemon. It's sort of difficult to tell. ]

Big cats, [ says a high, thin voice. One can almost hear the tiny sniff of judgment. ]

It looks like we've both found ourselves accompanied by creatures who aren't elated about the feline company they're keeping.

I'm not a toy. [ There's even more judgment evident this time and Magnus' expression turns distinctly sympathetic, this time pointed at the camera, but not into the camera, as it were. ]

My husband has a daemon just like Kimba there. [ Magnus offers this as elaboration, pointing once more at the camera, this time not in front of the lens, but beyond it. This could be a little confusing. ] Exactly like, I believe. He's a snow leopard, right?

I WENT TO CHANGE THE ICON AND THEN ACCIDENTALLY REPOSTED WITHOUT HAVING EDITED I'M SORRY

[ailindor]

[ It's quiet confusing, especially to a woman completely unfamiliar with even the use of screens such as this, but Aida manages. Sort of. ]

Ah, yes! I've had him since he was a cub. [ Reaching out with her free hand, Aida scratches behind Kimba's ear. Now that she's closer, Magnus might notice that he's a fair bit bigger than his husband's might be.

She looks back to her daemon, arm still held aloft. There's a brief chuckle at something Magnus can't see (specifically the look on her daemon's face, it being so close to Kimba) before her eyes focus past her daemon again, on Magnus's face once more. ] I haven't met many with companions such at them. Is your husband also an adventurer?

oh gosh, no problem at all!! c:

[lacquers]

[ Apologies to Aida, Magnus is a little enamored of this new technology and his fluttery friend here. ]

Oh? [ Curiouser and curiouser, that's Magnus. ] How old is he now? [ Because, yes, that cat is the very definition of a big cat. Very big cat. Magnus collects strays of the domestic variety, so Alec's daemon was quite a step away from those little guys. And Aida's friend here seems to be even more impressive in terms of sheer size. ]

Adventurer might be a good word for it, yes. [ He's thinking, a sight which his daemon decides to catch from several angles as she(?) flies around his head. ] Isn't he a soldier?

[ A hum. ] Well, Alexander is really a lot of things.

[ailindor]

[ She's much the same, admittedly, but she's trying to keep her focus on him instead of her daemon. Manners and all! ]

He's about six now, give or take a few months. Should be done growing too, I hope; if he gets much bigger, it won't be quite as easy traveling with him. [ Not that she'd let that stop her, of course; he's one of her best friends.

Aida watches quietly, intrigued (and maybe also a touch nauseous thanks to the sudden movement causing motion sickness). ] I'm sure the same could be said for many here. Are you a solider or adventurer as well? Is that how you two met?

[lacquers]

[ She's doing a better job than Magnus, no doubt. His curiosity has been getting the better of him since he got here, in part because it's better to be curious about where they are now than ruminate on where they've been. That said, his attention focuses more and more on Aida by the moment, as he's very clearly invested in their conversation.

He does inadvertently help with the motion sickness by pointing to a nearby branch, upon which his daemon very soon alights, causing the video to become steadier. ]

I imagine! [ Brows rising a bit, Magnus smiles at both Aida and Kimba, gesturing a little with his hands as he goes on speaking. ] From what I can tell so far, it shouldn't be difficult for him to fend for himself here. [ Strange and alien as this environment may be and as traumatic as the circumstances of their arrival, Magnus doesn't seem too thrown. Outwardly, anyhow. ]

You could say we met through work! I'm definitely not a soldier, but adventurer? I could wear that hat. [ He could wear a lot of hats. Very stylish. ] I'm Magnus, by the way. It's very nice to meet you!

[ailindor]

I certainly hope not. Although he and I are both quite good at taking care of ourselves. [ Hopefully this place won't change that... ] So long as there's food to be had here, we'll be alright.

[ Her feed jostles quite a bit as her daemon launches itself off her arm and flies about for a moment before coming to settle on the top of a bush. Aida, an amused smile still on her face, makes her way towards it after muttering quietly to Kimba to stay put. ]

Well met, Magnus! I'm Aida. [ Her smile widens in a friendly sort of way. ] Are there many others from your world here, or is it just you and your husband?

[lacquers]

[ Magnus glances around demonstratively, as if to say he thinks that an environment this diverse should hopefully have the food they need. Other resources, too.

Well, he hopes. Optimism, right? ] I guess it would behoove us to do some exploring with that in mind, wouldn't it? I'm sure we have people with very different backgrounds present. Some of those may not include a wide range of survival skills.

[ He shrugs lightly. It's just a guess. ]

And it's a pleasure, Aida! [ His smile grows to match. ] I don't believe he and I are the only ones from our world who are here, no. But we have friends from other worlds who have arrived as well.

[ailindor]

At the very least, I hope all of them are willing to lend a hand if necessary, even if they aren't quite used to this. [ Aida's not the most skilled adventurer, admittedly, but she's got enough experience at this point that she feels confident in her ability to make do with the situation she's presented with. She distinctly remembers how troublesome it was when she first set out, however, so she won't blame people for fumbling.

It's the lack of effort that will bother her.

A slight look of surprise passes across her face, eyebrows lifting. ] Other worlds? I've heard of people traversing between planes, but not worlds... Are you all magic users?