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upcyclingmod ([personal profile] upcyclingmod) wrote in [community profile] pedalbike2020-08-29 10:30 am
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First TDM: Sterile Blues


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Arrival



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.


Sterile Blues


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.


Ashes, Ashes


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.


Network Time: The Heart Game


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!


code bases by tricklet
globs: (a warm sun rises and ignites the bay)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 09:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Then what are you? You "drink coffee."
robopriest: (ristretto)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I sure do.

Having a stomach that can digest coffee isn't some big red flag that I'm human, though!
globs: (with the sunlight?)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know any other animals that can write.
robopriest: (flat white)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
And yet you're writing, too. Should I call you human, now? Congratulations on your move into the animal world! :P
globs: (is about to fade)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't have a stomach, stupid.
robopriest: (latte)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Pity. You're missing out. :/

Anyways, I have a stomach. But I'm not really made of flesh and bones like most people are. Here's the riddle: what am I?
robopriest: (doppio)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[?????????]

are you making up words now or
globs: (darkness has surrounded baltimore bay)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 11:29 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't think so.

[ unless this person is lying, which is possible, but, frankly, the Lunarians have never engaged in that kind of subterfuge or even tried communicating. Cinnabar would be lying if they said they didn't give that answer mostly to try and puncture his attitude... ]

I don't know what you are.
robopriest: (lungo)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Well too bad. I'd give you the answer, but its a secret~

Unless you want a one-on-one visit or something to see what I am for yourself. Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll give you a hint.
globs: (what are the words)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
No. I don't care. It's not like you're less trapped here than I am. And I don't want to see anyone, anyway.
robopriest: (espresso)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a priest, you know. (That's a job, BTW) I'm here to listen if you ever need to get your thoughts off your chest.

I bet even gems have a lot to think about, don't they?
globs: (why don't you open your blue eyes?)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-07 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
What's that supposed to mean? I just said I don't want to see anyone.

[ yes i have feelings. no i won't talk about them. ]

Besides, I've never heard of a "priest."

[ maybe that's what he is instead of human? could be. ]
robopriest: (espresso)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-07 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
That's not good for you. Priests are meant to save those wayward souls. Like leading lost lambs back to the pasture.

(Though I guess as a gem you don't know what lambs are so just imagine a cute thing of your choice being lost for this metaphor?)

Anyways, isolation makes you feel worse! It's not good for you! Not at all!
globs: (i will never fall down)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-08 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ as if they don't already know that... ]

I didn't ask for your opinion.

I just wanted to know what coffee was.
robopriest: (macchiato)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-08 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
Sorry sorry~~~

[Honestly he's just being nosy, since he wants to see what thi so-called gem person looks like.]

If you want to see what coffee looks like, I'll brew some later today. Then you can avoid it as much as you want.
globs: (waking up in the fog)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-09 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ he's valid ]

Why would I want to look at it? You're weird.

[ they are imagining a pot of water... ]
robopriest: (Default)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-09 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
I'm having a gem talk to me and I'M weird?

Well, you can't avoid it if you don't know what it looks like! What if someone decides to give it to you and you don't know? :o
globs: (what are the words)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-09 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
No one's giving me anything. And I don't need to avoid it, either. You decided that on your own.
robopriest: (ristretto)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-09 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
You seem so averse to things that "animals" do that I only assumed.

What DO you like, anyways? Besides being gloomy and wanting to be on your own.
globs: (if your body rises to the surface?)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-09 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ BUT THOSE ARE THEIR ONLY HOBBIES!!!! they decide not to answer because thinking about it makes them depressed. bort and the others... ]

Gems don't need to eat or drink. It's not like or dislike. It just has nothing to do with me.
robopriest: (Default)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-09 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
And who made that decision? You?

Aren't you just a *tiny* bit curious as to what you're missing out on?
globs: (what burns inside you)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-10 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
It's not a decision. Do you think that trees are "missing out," too?
robopriest: (galão)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-10 12:25 am (UTC)(link)
Trees can't talk, text, or express displeasure over not being part of the group so your argument is automatically invalid.
globs: (is about to fade)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-10 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
I'm done talking about this.

(no subject)

[personal profile] robopriest - 2020-09-10 04:32 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] globs - 2020-09-10 04:43 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] robopriest - 2020-09-10 04:44 (UTC) - Expand