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pedalbike2020-08-29 10:30 am
upcyclingmod) wrote in pedalbike2020-08-29 10:30 am
Entry tags:
First TDM: Sterile Blues
Welcome to the Test Drive Meme.
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Not all characters (known as Wickie, singular or Wickies, plural) arrive at the same time, surprisingly enough! That’s life for you. Some Wickies find their way to the island at a pivotal (or very mundane) point in their life, or even after or during their death.
Wickies who were standing or walking often find themselves entering the town South Sister, located on Lighthouse Isle, through an open doorway. Those that were laying down, or sleeping, tend to be found lying prone in beds, bathtubs, showers, couches, and similar places within the cottages on Cottage Row. There’s no rhyme or reason to it all! To Wickies familiar with the era, they will realize that everything looks as if it’s come from the ‘90s.
The house which a Wickie finds themselves within could already be occupied. This includes walking into a fellow Wicke, waking up in the same location, or accidentally scaring a room full of people with their sudden appearance.
Oops.
After arriving, Wickes will find that food and water are easy enough to come by, as they can be readily found in the various houses which populate Lighthouse Isle. Medical supplies, on the other hand, are not so easily acquired. Bandaids and other simple trappings can be pilfered from the odd medical cabinet, but otherwise you’re on your own.
Thankfully, if a Wickie or their friend are in need of medicine or a pair of trauma shears, while you won’t find a full-fledged hospital on the island, there is a clinic. The clinic, named Sister’s Helpers, is like the rest of the buildings in town. Its appearance is well kept, and the doors are unlocked. Whether the Wickie goes in through the windows (because they can), or through the front door like most would, they’ll find that the clinic’s interior is crisp, clean, and orderly. There are plastic chairs, a desk where a receptionist would sit, white walls, but then—
There’s a sound. It could be mistaken for a breeze, at first. But as the sound goes on, it becomes more obvious that the ‘breeze’ is an exhale, prolonged and forced. At the end, there’s a murmur, professional and assuring.
“That’s good. Breathe.”
And with that, the clinic becomes awash in shades of blue. Sister’s Helpers itself hasn’t become warped in any way. There is only monochromatic coloring which, upon further realization, is not truly in the building, but a problem with their vision. Leaving without investigating further will mean having blue vision for the next twenty-four hours.
But for Wickies who choose to stay and explore, there is a chance at clearing their vision. This is is especially difficult for those who have a history of not taking care of their injuries. Gradually, it becomes more difficult to walk, as if there are weights on their feet. For Wickies are especially guilty of not tending to their wounds, their movements will become even more sluggish, and weight will settle on their arms and chest, forcing the worst of offenders into a crawl as they explore from room to room.
Laying on the patient beds will alleviate the situation for a short amount of time. The cure, however, will come from characters taking the supplies which they need for themselves and not for others.
If the Wickie fails this, over the course of an hour they will be crushed to death, and will eventually wake up outside of the clinic. Their vision stuck in shades of red with a weakness in their limbs for the next twenty four hours.
The Wickie’s only cure for that is either taking medical supplies for themselves or by doing some form of self care.
It’s the middle of the night when all the Wickies are jarred awake from sleep by the blare of a broken siren. Wailing into the dark, the siren functions as a foghorn might, warning of hazardous conditions to come. Beneath Wickies feet, the ground trembles, pulsating once. Twice. Three times. And again, and again until—
The world changes, and it is no longer the foggy island the Wickies knew.
Ash falls steadily from above, blanketing the ground, and at first glance it can be mistaken for snow. Whether by scent, by touch, or even by taste (an option for the brave, the bold, the few), the truth of the ‘snowfall’ can be easily revealed. It is strange, though, that there are no signs of fire in the vicinity. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be much of anything at all. There’s still no sign of the mainland. There are no buildings in this desolate place, either.
Lighting in this new landscape is hazy and sullen, but still conducive to exploring despite it being the dead of night just moments ago. But while Wickies walk, there’s a growing feeling of foreboding. There’s something… something else with them.
And it conceals itself in the ash.
It attacks by lashing out to grab at the ankles and the calves, attempting to drag the unsuspecting victim down, to somewhere far deeper and hidden by billowing piles of ash. It’s easy to save a Wickie from the pull, so long as they’re quickly freed from their assailants grasp. Retrieving someone out of the ash itself is nigh impossible, though.
Grabbed Wickies who lived to tell the tale, may find themselves bitten. The stalkers in the ash sink their teeth into the foot or calf of their prey, leveraging the force of their bite to take down their target. And once there’s blood, more of these creatures will be attracted to the smell.
If a Wickie is clever or strong enough to draw the stalkers out of the ash, they will find that the attackers are shark-like people. Most of their head consists of oversized jaws housing an impossible amount of teeth, and lacking any eyes. Their bodies are covered in ashen chitin and bone, with elongated feet and thin, taloned fingers. These Ash Sharks do not like being exposed, and will respond accordingly.
Ash Sharks cannot be reasoned with. Trapping one in ropes, magic, or other means will elicit angry shrieks which will attract other Ash Sharks, either to eat the trapper, or trapped, or both if they can. Being dragged completely under the ash will start a feeding frenzy, and the Ash Shark will proceed to rip and tear chunks out of its prey.
In dying, Wickies will reset to a random location within the ash filled fields, completely intact but for a purpling bruise where the initial bite took place.
Good luck.
There’s a beeping alert on all Wickie’s smartphones that refuses to stop until a particular notification is read. The notification is for something called the Heart Game (which, yes, looks annoying, overly bright, and cheesy). And surprise! The game opens up automatically with a loud ping!
The game begins (and ends!) with a question, one which will not go away even if you try to close out of it or shut off your smartphone. It reads:
It’s time for everyone's favorite game! Confession! Heeeeere is today’s question which you must confess!
What is… the scariest thing you’ve experienced? It can be anything!
no subject
You'd like to see...? Ah, if you insist...
[He lets out a little sigh, like he's being strong-armed into this, but the look in his eye says something quite different - there's an almost amused glimmer, a childish sort of joy that isn't expected out of a grown man like him.]
[He turns on his heel and moves to find a stone of his own - after several minutes he finds one. It's a bit smaller than Kabane's rock, but still on the large side, around as big as his torso. Hansa plucks it up, hefting it in both of his arms as he wanders back.]
Alright. Here we go.
[He tosses it up. The rock does not jump up a few inches, as one would expect with a heavy rock like that, but sails into the air almost ten feet above their heads. Hansa shifts back, bending his knees in a ready stance, and when the rock finally comes down due to the familiar force of gravity-]
[He twists his body, doing a roundhouse kick that catches the rock and sends it flying into the air. Just like Kabane's throw, the rock only finally lands into the ocean when its almost at the horizon.]
[The priest lets out a happy laugh.]
So? How was that?
no subject
Now it's Kabane's turn to applaud. He's never seen a human do something as impressive as that!]
no subject
Thank you, thank you. [He huffs, grin twisting up to the side.] Though, personally, I think you're more impressive.
no subject
no subject
[Definitely not a ghoul, or anything of the like. At least, that is what he assumes "kemono" is another name for. A light shake of the head.]
However, I'd be lying a little if I said this body wasn't special.
no subject
You're not a normal human?
[That would explain a lot, actually.]
no subject
[A light laugh. Well, it's not like what's going on with him is the biggest secret or anything.]
...Come, shake my hand. [He outstretches one - it looks, for all it is, a normal hand.] Give it a good firm shake, and let me know what you feel.
[And if Kabane should take him on his offer, and pay attention, then...well, his hand seems almost a little too firm, like shaking the hand of a statue rather than someone of flesh and bone.]
no subject
He blinks down at their entwined hands.]
It's dense.
no subject
[He draws his hand back after a moment, a smile playing over his lips.]
What do you think it's made out of?
no subject
Iron?
no subject
[He splays his hand on his own chest.]
This isn't exactly a secret, but I'd rather keep this something between you and me for now. You see, around seventy percent of this body isn't human. It's machinery.
no subject
I won't tell anyone.
That's amazing though. You don't move like a machine at all.
no subject
[He offers the boy a bright smile.]
Ah, well, it took a while getting used to. But its amazing technology. I'm rather blessed, in every sense of the word, to have a body like this.
no subject
Can you see things differently than human eyes as well?
no subject
[He is essentially just magecraft himself, at least when it comes down to his machine parts.]
no subject
Do you see anything like that here?
no subject
[He taps underneath his eye.]
Nothing can escape my gaze, heh. You should keep a good eye out, too.
no subject
[The more types of vision they have, the more chances they have to spot something important. Kabane can't see anything special like that, but he has a decent nose. If there are other kemono here, he should be able to follow their scent.]
I'll keep looking then. If I find somewhere high, I'll be able to see more.
no subject
[He's not going to go and fix you, Kabane!! Even though he doesn't know about the regeneration yet.]
no subject
[Kabane insists as he runs off. He's quite confident that he's conveyed the fact that falling wouldn't hurt him in a perfectly understandable and reassuring way.]
no subject
[And there he goes. Hansa blinks with some surprise, but then lets out a light chuckle.]
What a kid. [What a kid, indeed. He turns back to stare at the ocean, putting his hands into his pockets as he murmurs.] Sort of reminds me of me when I was young, heh...