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villagememes2020-11-19 10:10 pm
villagemod) wrote in villagememes2020-11-19 10:10 pm
Entry tags:
test drive — winter
WINTER TEST DRIVE
Welcome to the test drive and thank you for your interest in The Village. This test drive is not game canon but will allow players the opportunity to experiment with game mechanics, the setting, and the flexibility of choice allowed by this game. The following prompts are examples of typical situations characters might face in the game. At least one thread from the TDM is required as part of the game's application process.
The setting details and locations are still being unveiled in the game, so prospective players are welcome to play with established locations or create their own within the general setting of Mathias.( Recommended listening: ♫ )
INTO THE ENDLESS
Winter has arrived in Mathias. Snow falls steadily, big puffy flakes that pile up quickly in drifts as the wind blows them around town. The trees in the forest are covered in it, the branches bending under the weight and shaking when the piles fall from them to the forest floor. The roofs of buildings become solid white and drifts form in doorways as the wind tries to rush inside anywhere it can.
New arrivals wake in the forest, with its winding paths twisting back on themselves as they branch in either direction. It isn't safe to stray from the path, there is a menacing fog that waits just a few yards inward in any direction, but for now, there is nothing impeding movement along those snow-covered paths that cut through the trees. Continue stumbling in one direction and you'll reach the small town, coming out near the mishmash of quaint houses that nestle beside crumbling ruins that used to be homes. But choose the other and you'll seem to stumble on forever, huddling against the wind until there seems to be a clearing up ahead—
And then nothing. The earth opens up before you in a ravine so deep that the bottom cannot be seen. The other side can be seen, tantalizingly out of reach, and there is the sense that safety is just beyond, if only you could get there. But with that sensation is also the knowledge that if you stay here, you will die. The edge seems unsteady, like getting too close would set it crumbling and send you tumbling into that dark endless nothing that waits below...
BODIES WITHOUT SOULS
Benedict Books is nestled quaintly on the square surrounding Mathias's Town Hall, a thick layer of dirt covering the front windows. Looking through those windows provides a much different view than looking directly into the shop through the doorway — vague shapes and forms of figures seem to be inside, though no details can be determined through the streaks of grime. Flickers that resemble flashlights can be seen passing along the windows from time to time, and on occasion there is even a muffled tapping sound that comes from behind the glass, as if someone is trying to get your attention. The same distorted figures can be seen looking through the windows from the inside outward, but moving from one side or the other reveals... nothing. There is nothing there, and perhaps it is all in your imagination.
A portrait hangs at the front of the store to illustrate the namesake of the little shop... that may, in fact, not be so little. Dust covers everything in sight and detritus litters the wooden floor, as if someone left the door open and allowed half the forest inside.
The books are mostly familiar titles from the 1990s and earlier, but close examination will reveal that key details seem to have been changed. They fill shelves in neat lines along the walls and rows in between, the building almost seeming to stretch on forever until, finally, a small office can be seen tucked away in the back. A glance back toward the front door gives the impression that the room isn't that big, after all. Strange that you previously thought so.
Prying the door open is the only way to get inside the small office; the hinges have rusted and are caked with dirt and grime. Search as you might, there are no interesting bits of information to be found here beyond a few inventory lists on the little desk. There is, however, a green and gold safe in the corner that, no matter how many times one turns the dial, simply clicks and clicks. Scratches around the safe indicate that someone tried to get in at one point, though there's no indication as to whether they succeeded.
THE END APPROACHES
Standing at the center of Mathias, the town hall is a modest two-story building that would be welcoming if not for the faded sign, chipped paint, and deafening silence within its empty halls. It's a typical government building, with a reception desk at the front and rows of identical offices within, the names half faded from each door. But what catches the attention is a large bulletin board on the main wall beside the reception desk, once meant to hold flyers or announcements for the community.
What it holds now is decidedly different. Tacked onto the board are scraps of paper covered in an assortment of handwriting styles — requests for supplies should anyone find them, pieces of information shared in the hopes of someone understanding the strange symbols and mathematical equations, notes about those missing or recently deceased. And over the center of the board, tacked on top of other papers, is a map discolored with age. Mathias Township can be read in the corner, a stretch of forest displayed beneath it, but everything else has been smeared to illegibility with red... ink? Upon close examination, a keen eye will realize that the ink is actually blood, though whether it is human is unknown. And scrawled across that forest, nearly covering the illustration of a clearing and a large house within, are the wordshe is coming
A number of tarnished metal pushpins are scattered around the edges of the board, waiting for future messages to be shared, and a stack of pristine white paper and pile of cheap ballpoint pens rest on one of three chairs beside the board. The chairs are clearly meant for those waiting for meetings and are covered in the same layer of grime as everything else in the building — everything except the pens, paper, and bulletin board.
allie pressman | the society
[Unlike most people who would probably be frantic about waking up in a forest or even the chill in the air from the flurry of snow that continues to fall, it was ironically all too familiar for Allie which was the strangest part out of all of this.
It wasn't the place itself that was familiar to her but situation itself inexplicably going from one deserted town to another. From all the time she spent trying to figure out the mystery of what happened to their town and trying to escape it, she wasn't sure how she felt about arriving in another one complete with the absence of her friends too.
Between all things considered, Allie was pretty calm though for someone who just arrived other than not being prepared at all for this weather. She obviously had her questions about it but for now she pushes herself up to her feet, brushing off any residual snow that lingers on her hair and clothing before presses onward albeit slowly. It was difficult and not to mention dangerous since she doesn't have her snow gear with her or know which direction she should be going but if nothing else, she is determined to try and find some shelter or even another person nearby. She knows it could potentially take hours or even longer and as time passes, she starts to feel like she might be hallucinating especially when she notices a figure in the distance and can hear what sounds like footsteps. She knows that at this point she has nothing left to lose so take her chances in calling out] Hey— hold up!
Hello? Can you hear me?
▶▶▶ BODIES WITHOUT SOULS
a) [It isn't too surprising that Allie makes a beeline for the small bookstore the moment she takes notice of it. From a distance it looked like there were people inside but of course upon entering the store itself, it was practically abandoned like no one had been in here for long time judging from the fact most of what was inside was covered in dust] Talk about deja vu—
[It was uncanny how it almost felt like she was right back in New Ham except that wasn't the case and she knows it. The bookstore might have been abandoned but she wasn't about to disregard that the books could have some information to give her any clue about her new circumstances. She doesn't hesitate to explore further as she picks up a few books from the shelves, wiping away the dust on the surface before she flips through them] Alright, books, give me something to work with here.
b) [Later on, after not having much luck with the books she opts to explore a bit more beyond browsing through the bookshelves before she eventually reaches a small corner office after what seems like forever. It was strange since the size of the store itself was small yet it felt like the distance to the door was much further than she had initially thought.
It was unsettling and she knew something wasn't right about this place but wondering about this wasn't giving her any answers, she bangs against the office door and tries to force it open] Come on, stupid door— open up already.
[The door doesn't seem to budge at first but at some point through all her efforts it seems to give way and she breathes a sigh of relief when she heads inside. Allie immediately makes starts to rummage through the lists and various items on the desk which all seems like normal paperwork for a store like this but it's not long after that she notices the small safe in the corner. She crouches down to examine it, noticing the scratches on the surface and though she isn't any expert safe cracker like you would see in the movies or something that doesn't stop her from trying to fiddle with the lock either] Whatever is in here better be worth it.
▶▶▶ WILDCARD
[Feel free to shoot me PM if you want something else otherwise anything else goes!]
no subject
He turns toward Allie as she approaches, putting on a smile that's looks as natural as it does friendly. He's hardly dressed for the weather himself -- custom-tailored suit, silk tie, a silver tie pin ornamented with a sapphire. Ruined Italian leather shoes. He's got a fedora on to keep some of the snow off, but he manages to make it look chic instead of like he's about to Milady someone. ]
Hey. You surprised me. [ She's young. Young, also not dressed for this weather, sounded as uncertain as he feels. Suddenly he's not so sure his being here is Vincent Adler's fault, unless this girl has something to do with the U-Boat. He's guessing no. ]
I'm Neal. Any clue where we are?
sorry for the delay on this!
[She lets out a sigh and hearing his introduction coupled with his question she just shrugs] I'm Allie. No clue where we are though, I'm just as lost as you are.
into the endless
She doesn't... quite know how she got here, and why she's still walking, or where to. The town must be around here... somewhere, right.
Since when can you just take a stroll in the...
The thought slips away as she hears a voice.
Claire pauses, then turns around and waits for the stranger to approach - and she grows more horrified with every step closer.
That's a familiar face. ]
What the hell...
no subject
She immediately stops in her tracks feeling like her mind is playing tricks on her from being out in the cold for what seems like hours at this point. There was something that didn't add up though because in contrast the other girl between her current attire and demeanor, she stares at her momentarily looking entirely perplexed by the situation] That's what I want to know assuming I'm hallucinating here.
Who are you and why do you look like me?
no subject
[ She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, then crosses her arms and glares at the other girl. Claire is... not a fan of this.
Not even a little bit. ]
no subject
From having just arrived here, she doesn't know much about what this place is capable of but what she does know is that much of what the other girl is talking about doesn't make sense and honestly this is creeping her out] Yeah, no clue what you're talking about but I'm sure as hell not a manifestation of anything.
Are you going to answer my question or not?