The Village Mod (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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.
no subject
[ that sounds so stupid to say. she should've said it with confidence! "this town is mathias! no need to wonder if i know where i am because i know where i am." but considering she hasn't been able to find anything that says "you are here and here is mathias", she's not exactly going to take what everyone says and what she's found written around town as gospel. ]
It'll make sense when you get there. It's… [ strange. lost in time. kind of cozy if you don't think too hard about it. shaking her head and continuing to walk, she figures a comparison might be best. ] Where are you from?
no subject
[Carter shoots her a sidelong glance because that's kind of weird. It'll make sense when you get there? Who says that? Why would you have to say that? What's going to be in that town that will make sense that doesn't out here?
But he's cold and miserable and at the same time ecstatic about getting to shelter and to coffee, so he just hurries along.]
Chicago. Which I thought I was still at. I'm not, am I? I must have some kind of memory lapse, maybe the cold, or, or maybe I was robbed...
[His hand comes up to feel the back of his head. No bump, though. No headache or nausea either. It's so strange.]
no subject
Or kidnapped.
[ just throwing that thought bubble out there.
clearing her throat, she ensures to keep in step with him, boots indenting the snow. ]
I don't think we're in Chicago anymore, although I've never been so I'm not… too sure if Chicago's a little like this? But if it's any consolation, everyone's randomly appeared here.
[ that… probably doesn't make him feel any better. christ, where's caroline when you need her? ]
no subject
[Carter's eyes widen when she puts that out there. In a way, it does make the most sense, doesn't it? Waking up in a strange place with no recollection how he got here. Memories flash and he suddenly thinks of gamma telling him how to act if someone ever snatched him up for ransom money. Is that what's going on here? Someone trying to get at the Carter family funds? But why let him wander out here in the cold? Maybe they had already asked for the money and now they had dumped him here to freeze to death?
His hands move back down to rub at his arms, his thoughts racing.]
So the same thing happened to you? You just woke up in the woods?
no subject
[ from what she can gather, he's come alone. it must be disorienting and frightening to not have anyone he recognises and possibly trusts nearby to experience this with him. ]
One person woke up by a beach. It's… it's not something I feel is explainable, where and how you end up here. or who brought you here and why. [ exhaling, her breath appears before her in a vapour. it's cold and it's miserable and she knows he's overwhelmed. ] I imagine you have the questions and I wish I could answer them for you—and I know everything I'm saying is probably making you feel even more confused, but you're not alone.
[ in her opinion, the most important thing she learned on her first day was that: you're not alone. ]
no subject
[Literally. In the worst kind of way. But here he is, walking the snowy landscape.
What she says does make him feel better. Waking up alone in the middle of nowhere had been terrifying and he's glad to hear that there's others. It's also good to have something to focus on and other people are a very natural focus for him.
He gestures at her array of coat and scarves.]
Maybe... maybe we can get me some of these and then I can try and help out? I'm a doctor, is anyone hurt?
[He isn't, from what he can tell, but if they really were kidnapped maybe the people responsible hadn't been so kind to others?]
no subject
[ it's nice to have a plan. elena feels better, knowing she's not overwhelming him and leading him down the wrong path. hopefully, somewhere, caroline's pleased with her attempts to be the welcome wagon. ]
You'll like a few of the people here. They're doctors, too. [ helen, henry… she thinks they could use more doctor types here. more heads are better than one, right? ] What kind of doctor are you?
no subject
[He perks up at that. Maybe he wasn't the only one from County who ended up here somehow? If Benton was around that would at least give him an excuse for not making it to rounds...
Yeah, no, who is he kidding, he'll still get chewed out for that one. He can almost hear it hollering in his head, Carter, who told you to get whisked away to a forest during a snowstorm, huh!? Mmmh.]
I'm a surgeon. Uh, surgical intern. ... Those other doctors, do you know their names?
no subject
elena imagines he's asking to source a familiar name. she's unsure if he'd know anyone here—it's not as though they've all sat down and recited all the people who could possibly turn up here. ]
Henry and Helen. [ she smiles, ] I have a feeling that whoever is bringing people here is becoming fond of doctors. If they're around, I'll introduce you.
[ then they can go talk doctor speak and elena can listen just as she had with her father when he spoke doctor. ]
no subject
Henry and Helen. Doesn't ring a bell but hey, it was worth a try.]
I mean, what's not to like?
[He flashes her a quick smile, then grimaces at another cold gust of wind.]
That would be great, thanks. You know, once I've defrosted and can actually feel my face again.
no subject
[ elena smiles playfully, hoping that their trek in the snow feels a lot warmer with something that can hopefully take his mind off of where he is and the lack of answers to his questions. the snow feels and looks like it's going on for miles, but all they need to do is walk another handful of minutes before the tops of the town's buildings seem to be in the distance. ]
It's a nice look. Very surgeony.
no subject
Should have taken that plastics rotation, I guess!
[The smile stays and his spirits lift considerably when he spots the first houses in the distance, too.]
I'll have you know, I'm even prettier with skin.
no subject
[ scrunching up her nose, elena gives him a disapproving once-over, one that's meant to elicit doubt. he's handsome, even with all the snow and the paleness. she imagines he'd be dubbed dr mcsexy by caroline.
ftr, she's really grateful none of his skin has been eaten by snow. that'd be terrifying. ]
What kind of surgeon are you if you're not plastics?
no subject
[He grins, then looks down the road, his eyes darting over the first houses curiously. This really isn't Chicago and he can feel another jolt of panic that he pushes down, trying to focus on the problem at hand. Which is... finding shelter. And a coat. One terrifying step at a time, it's fine. He's fine.]
General surgery. Which is pretty cool? Though, I don't know, I might switch specialties during my residency. The whole career thing, that's still a work in progress.
What about you? What do you do?
no subject
We can go into that house. [ she lifts her hand to gesture to one that seems well-kept, with its walls and windows intact. a few of the houses look like it, with various overgrowths. ] It might have a coat and gloves in there. The houses are… abandoned. I don't know if you'll find scrubs, but you never know.
no subject
[High school. Is there the tiniest bit of a record scratch, maybe. He laughs, too, rubbing the back of his neck.]
Well then, what do you want to do? You got plans for after graduation?
[Carter stomps over to the door, trying to shake off excess snow from his feet and legs as he does so. His shoes are soaked through and he can't quite feel his toes. There is that awkward realization that he will probably have to wear someone else's shoes. Ugh.]
Gotta say, it feels weird breaking into someone's house but I guess this counts as an emergency?
no subject
tapping her feet against the welcome mat, she gets as much snow off of her as possible. she reaches out to open the door, hoping it'll be an easy swing… and thankfully, it is.
inside is dark, as expected, with a slight mugginess to it given none of the windows appear to be open. it's quiet and eery, but at least the interior of the house isn't broken or in disrepair. ]
I thought about being a doctor for a quick second, but… [ her chuckle is quiet and short. ] I wanted to be a writer. Could you imagine writing about this? It'd be unbelievable, but writing—storytelling... it makes it believable.
no subject
[Carter gets out his small medical flashlight to have a first look around, trying to find a light switch to try out.]
A writer, huh? That's pretty cool. I see at least a trilogy in all this. Stephen King will have nothing on you.
no subject
I'm glad you think so.
[ while he does the smart thing by carrying a flashlight and using it, elena steps ahead of him, favouring the right hand side. she drags her hand along the wall until she hits a mounting and happens to switch it on. the lights aren't bright by any means, but at least they can see their feet, the foyer, the small table at the front of the house and a room leading off to the couch. ]
If that's the living room, then the kitchen might be down the hall. [ pursing her lips, she stops and turns to face him. ] If you were a first aid kit, where would you be?
no subject
[Carter turns in a small circle, taking in the layout of the place and stepping further into the hallway.]
Or the garage. If maybe they were into some good old small town woodworking?
[His hand reaches out to brush along the wall, checking for dust.]
If they have one, let's hope it's not expired.
no subject
[ daughter of the town's doctor means she should at least know how to apply a hello kitty bandaid and whether or not they have a good use expiry date.
she walks the hallway until she seems to hit the jackpot: the kitchen. making her way quickly over to it, she reaches for a dishtowel and smacks it against the air to try and rid it of all its dust. she drops that on the counter and begins to open cupboards in search of a first aid kit. ]
There should be something you can wear in one of the bedrooms. It looks like this place is one of the ones where things seem to be in good condition.