mods of the vestige. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
vestigemods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
vestigechat2020-05-12 11:48 pm
vestigemods) wrote in vestigechat2020-05-12 11:48 pm
Entry tags:
inaugural tdm of unspecified duration.
VESTIGE TEST DRIVE MEME
WHAT IS THIS?
- This is a test drive meme for Vestige is a musebox-game successor to The Box (yeah, the one that died like five years ago). It's invite-only with no activity check and almost no application to speak of.
This is a horror jamjar based on Cabin In The Woods, in which characters are pulled into this containment zone run by the Technicians working from a lab underground with the goal of creating Good Quality Suffering™️ to appease the elder gods who hover on the verge of creating a worldwide apocalypse. But of course, suffering is pointless if everyone is too numb to properly suffer, so there are plenty of morale boosts provided in between bouts of fear and misery.
This TDM is ongoing and will fill the gap between now and when I get around to setting up the comms. There is no official start date and currently literally nothing but this TDM available for perusal, but I'll update this section of the blurb as that changes. Threads in this TDM are welcome to be game canon once this shit opens because fuck it. If you have questions, feel free to ask in the top-level below or just wing it tbh, we'll be doing a lot of winging it up in this shit.
Characters arrive with all powers intact and carrying all items that they had with them on their canonpoint.
Also, feel free to hit up the Intro + Friending meme to network with your future peers in this suffering endeavor. (EDIT 5/20: We also now have a DISCORD SERVER! So hop on into that if you'd like.)
PROMPT 1 ► just your ordinary cabin in the woods
⬛ARRIVAL + GENERAL PROMPT
- Whenever you're from or wherever you were, you awaken now with the mildest of headaches in a medium-sized wooden cabin. Maybe you wake in a bed, barely padded and covered in dust (so are you now, congrats!). Maybe you wake on the floor, arguably softer than the bed in spots thanks to some handy dandy water damage. Either way, you certainly aren't where you were before, and you have no recollection whatsoever of arriving.
The cabin is modest but multi-roomed and fully kitted with a kitchen and cozy living room. Nice, dry wood sits stacked by the fireplace, and if you check the various switches, the lights turn on with only the faintest protesting static. The cabinets are surprisingly well-stocked, as is the fridge, with perishables and non-perishables alike. As if someone has been here recently... but how, when everything else seems so thoroughly abandoned?
Should you choose to ignore the cabin's supposed hospitality and try to leave, you'll find that both the front and back doors are securely locked, in a way that no amount of fumbling with the locking mechanism seems to remedy.
That's when a sloooooow creak draws your attention to a door nearby, one you may not have noticed before... but it's open now. Was it before? Better yet, should you check out what lies beyond?
PROMPT 2 ► who's up for some fighty-fight, kids??
⬛MONSTER HORROR.
- The basement is musty and dim, though a pull-string at the curve of the creaky stairs seems to turn on a sparse row of lightbulbs dangling precariously from the ceiling along the center of the room. This little bit of light illuminates a room absolutely packed with items, furniture and boxes and various knick-knacks of unknown and questionable origin. Spiderwebs litter nooks and crannies, many with actual spiders still nesting inside, and a layer of dust coats most every surface in sight.
- A child's drawing, of what appears to be... shit, what even is that? Is it a bat? Is it some kind of... reptile? We just don't know. (result! warnings for gore/violence.)
- A light-blue paper face mask, the sort used in hospitals for patients who have a cold. Maybe you guys should've brought masks too. It sure would keep all this dust the hell out of your nose... ( result! warning for body horror! )
- A buzzsaw blade, dusty but intact. ( result! warnings for gore/violence. )
- A music box, covered in faded yellow flowers. I wonder what music it plays? ( result! warnings for gore/violence and Alarming Children. )
- A funeral urn. But... It seems that someone glued it shut around the edges? I guess that's one way to make sure nobody spills grandma. ( result! )
It doesn't seem like there's anyone down here, nor is there any sign of an exit at the basement's far end. There is, however, something that catches your eye. An item, one that your feet seem to carry you toward without your mind quite telling them to do so. Perhaps it's familiar somehow. Perhaps it's so foreign to you that you can't help but get a closer look. One way or another, you somehow end up reaching out to touch it. But what harm can that do, a single touch?
Oh, sweet summer child. Haven't you seen this movie?
- Whatever else your characters might touch, to activate this prompt they'll also touch one of the following five items:
These enemies can and will follow characters outside, should they try to flee. It might actually be a good idea to face these foes outdoors where it's less confined, provided they don't stray too far from the cabin (see prompt #4).
The blurbs are just guidelines, feel free to scale up or down how strong/weak the monsters are, how many there are, etc. in order to better fit your characters' level of capability. The Technicians know your characters' strengths and weaknesses, so they'd know how to send enough to make this challenging but not insurmountable.
PROMPT 3 ► congratulations, you fucked up
⬛SURVIVAL HORROR.
- Perhaps you didn't touch anything in the basement. Hell, maybe you didn't even set foot through that ominous basement door. But hey, we get it. Not everyone likes to party. You're not getting off easy, but at least you can say that you didn't fall into the trap.
If, by the time an hour has passed since the creaking open of the basement door, no object has been touched and no baddie has been summoned, you'll find your nose assaulted by the prevailing smell of smoke. One glance out any window tells you why: The cabin has been surrounded in it, an oblong ring of fire six feet thick burning tight along the exterior cabin walls. You're safe inside for the moment, but how long will that last?
Now, you have no choice but to try to escape the blaze. It overtakes the cabin quickly, creeping up over the rooftop, shattering windows and burning a path inside. No matter which way you try to run, you're almost certain to get burned... But that's certainly better than burning to death in here.
PROMPT 4 ► "escape"? never heard of her.
⬛PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR.
- For some, staying in this creepy cabin with its stupid locked door was never an option. Maybe you break one of the windows and crawl through that, or maybe you're angry and OP and punched a man-sized hole in the wall itself. Hey, we're not judging. You got yourself outside, and that's what counts.
The outside of the cabin is... actually pretty nice. Picturesque woods, birds singing, perhaps a couple of deer bounding through the trees not far off. This place might actually be relaxing, if it weren't so alarming and kidnap-y. But it is, so it's time to get the fuck out of Dodge.
Or to try to, anyway. Just a few short meters into the trees, you find yourself entering a deep and all-encompassing fog. You can barely see your hand out in front of your face, let alone your path through the forest ahead. If you're not alone in this venture, you'd best keep a hand on your companion lest you lose track of them, as well. And is it just you, or is there a slight chemical taste to the fog that you're breathing in?
(Yes. The answer is definitely yes.)
Before long, you find yourself turned around, stepping back out of the fog with the cabin in front of you. Little do you realize that simply turning you around is the most merciful fate that this fog has to offer.
- This is easier to break down without narrative, so!
- The first time your character ventures into the fog, they're just turned around and sent back to the cabin.
- The second time, they hallucinate things that they don't want to hear. Something they fear, something that hurts them, something that stresses them the fuck out. Maybe a character's worst fear is wildcats and they hear one growling just out of sight in the mist. Maybe instead they hear a loved one crying for help back in the direction from which they've come, drawing them back to the cabin. Or maybe they hear the voice of someone they admire berating their cowardice or stupidity or something, for running away from the cabin in the first place. The goal is to psych them out and send them running back to the place where the action is happening.
- The third time, it's the same but full-blown visual or even physical hallucinations. Basically anything that might lure, scare, emotionally wound, etc. them into going back to the vicinity of the cabin.
Characters are welcome to start off venturing into the mist together, or to discover one another while they're already in the mist. If it's the latter, look out - it may be harder to tell friend from foe when you can't quite trust your own mind.
THE LOOP ► a note on replayability
- Regardless of which prompt your character faces, they'll be left unbothered after the creature is defeated or the problem is overcome until sunrise the following morning. Though the fog still keeps characters from straying from the area, they're welcome to recover and lick their wounds in the immediate cabin vicinity. An unburnt cabin leaves them food and resting facilities, while a burnt cabin... Well, at least the fire never spread from that self-contained ring, so they have some nice unburnt grass to sleep on.
Come sunrise, all characters still awake will fall unconscious. At this point, many of them will reawaken in a perfectly undamaged cabin back in Prompt #1 to begin the loop anew. They may have the same comrades in this loop, or perhaps they have different ones. Maybe their new companions have done this before as well. Maybe they're brand new and have no idea what they're up against. R.I.P., you poor unsuspecting fucks.
This is, in effect, a series of trial runs by the current batch of Technicians to see if they're able to run this containment zone scenario long-term. When Vestige opens properly, characters will awaken free of the loop and will have quite a bit more continuity and recovery time between horrors. The 'loop' mechanic is specifically in place to give this TDM some shelf life and let y'all entertain yourselves while I work on the actual pages and such, rather than the one-and-done feeling of the usual TDM.
no subject
and it's funny because he's never met someone who didn't know what a damn refrigerator is!? seriously, klaus's doing his best to keep it under control, but... for real, where did this guy come from? catching even a glimpse of huaisang's face makes his lips quirk at the edges and rather than fight it, his expression just softens with the gesture.]
Had this thing been a monster, I wouldn't have let you stick your hand inside it, alright? I'd have told you to stay away.
[thank whatever higher power, he presses his lips together, inclines his head, gives the faintest shake.]
It's a big metal container that runs on electricity and keeps your food fresh for longer.
no subject
You say that, but...
[Grumbled, but he'll let it drop for now. Electricity. Klaus brings it up again and he doesn't know what that means. It just sounds like magic. A magic metal box that keeps food fresh.]
So it's some kind of magic that makes it cold? Electricity, that's what you call it? Never heard of that before...
no subject
he rolls his eyes, shrugs his shoulders then moves on, circles around to the front of the refrigerator to open it back up. this thing's full, so they might as well put it to good use.]
I mean, it's not like actual magic, it's created an energy that takes a lot of science to explain. [klaus hums, taps his chin with one hand then reaches inside for a cucumber, which he turns and points toward huaisang while he elbows the door shut.] So, you know what? Fuck it, sure, it's magic.
no subject
Wha-
[Wait so it's not magic, but then it is magic? Now Klaus is pointing something at him and he'll look at it with a frown. With a flick he snaps his fan closed and uses it to gently move the... uh. Whatever it is, so it's not pointing at him.]
You're the worst at explaining anything. None of that helped at all.
no subject
oh, hello there, fan. klaus's eyes follow it closely, brows lifting with interest then he withdraws the vegetable.]
Then ignore what I babbled before and just pretend I said, “It's magic!” Okay? Okay, cool, problem solved.
[and with that figured out, he's briefly going back to his cucumber, pushing the left side of his coat aside to reach for the knife he has there.] So, sweetheart, considering your lack of fridge knowledge... I'm assuming you have no idea how the lightswitches and shit work, either.
no subject
This is fine. This is all fine.]
No that's--
[No problem not solved, now he's just curious what he really meant. Electricity? It's not magic, but now it is magic, but it's not magic he's ever heard of. Maybe it's just a kind of magic where he's from? Gods and immortals, who knows.]
...
[There's so much to take in whenever this guy opens his mouth. Sweetheart? Light switches? He can at least understand Klaus is calling him something, but he doesn't get the meaning behind it, so he'll take a step back, fan between his hands as he gives a little bow that's pretty lazy, but he's attempting to be polite-ish.]
Nie Huaisang-- I don't know what a sweetheart is or light switches. To be honest so much of this place is strange and weird to me. I don't even know why I'm here or how.
no subject
except it's not fine, really? he could've explained better and should, but naturally, his rude ass won't.
mouth full of cucumber slices, he levels huaisang with kohled eyes, as if almost daring him to continue bitching about the terrible explanation he gave. thank goodness though, he doesn't and that spares klaus from having to try providing proper clarification. where's a dictionary when you need one, yeah?
he'd been planning on offering some vegetable his way, though considering how he steps back, that has him rethinking the idea. the bow is still more polite than a lot of gestures he's received, however.] ‘Sweetheart’ is just a term of endearment and lightswitches are what turn the lights on and off. [he makes a brief upward motion toward the nearest light fixture then gets right back to cutting more cucumber.] Nice to meet you, my name's Klaus. Do you have a preference on which name I use?
no subject
Polite even when he's unsure.
Wait a second this guy, this Klaus used a term of endearment on him? They didn't even know each other! Absolutely scandalous! Er, well, if he were someone more uptight, it's still weird, but he IS a foreigner. Maybe that's common where he's from. To be honest Klaus is the strangest person he's ever met, the first foreigner too. He'd never traveled outside of their homeland before.]
Klaus.
[At least it was a short and simple name. He considers his own and all the ways Klaus should refer to him, but perhaps it's best to keep it simple for him too.]
Huaisang is fine, thank you.
[Fussing at one of his sleeves he'll consider what Klaus has told him and steps back in closer now.]
... there are switches that can do that? Is everything strange like that here?
no subject
man, teaching everyone about friendly affection all over again? actually, let's be honest, klaus is kind of about it whenever he considers. getting lalli used to it had been interesting, sharing tactility with emil was always good, so why not help other
repressedpeople out, too? it'd be an injustice if he didn't help them, frankly, because everyone should experience how great casual physicality is.]Huaisang it is. [then comes a brief fingergunning motion directed huaisang's way and he clicks his tongue.]
Sure there are, doll. Here, [he crooks the same fingers of the hand he's already raised, beckoning huaisang even closer as he strides toward the nearest lightswitch.] I dunno that everything is as strange as a lightswitch, but I'm sure we'll find something bizarre if we keeping searching long enough.
no subject
As for friendly affection it's not that he doesn't understand it, it's just a whole different monster where he's from. When it comes to people he likes or has come to know he can relax and not worry about that sort of thing so much pretty easily. Unlike some.
And now Klaus is referring to him with yet another word, he knows what a doll is, but why is he calling him that? Instead of asking he'll just go with it, having a look at this light switch thing. It's small and easy to miss if you don't know what to look for. That little thing can control light?]
Bizarre for me or bizarre for you? Is everything like this where you're from?
[And a little head tilt at Klaus now, regarding him from behind his fan.]
... where are you from?
no subject
also: he referred to him in such a manner because has huaisang looked in the mirror? has he seen himself??? he's fucking gorgeous and ‘doll’ or ‘dollface’ are both absolutely fitting nicknames for him.
once they're both near the lightswitch, he flips the little tab down and the lights go out then he flips it back up and, just like that, they're on again! very simplistic without those fancy-schmancy dimmer details for mood-lighting or whatever else can be attached to them. huh, but now he's wondering... however, he's not so distracted as to miss that he's being spoken to.]
Bizarre for you, it'd seem? Lightswitches aren't anything new to me. I have a feeling not much inside this place will be.
[a considering lift of his eyebrows then,] Earth. A place called, “The City,” to be precise.
no subject
He's much more interested in what's going on and all this stuff that makes no sense to care about niceties and social graces. And thank you Klaus for having eyes that work in your head. One day you can explain all that doll and dollface stuff to him.]
Oooh...
[Now it's just pure amazement one his face, looking up at the lights as Klaus controls them so easily. He'll then look at the light switch and reach over to give it a try too, eyes lighting up as he repeats what Klaus did. He still doesn't understand how it all works, but it's still so neat! Don't mind him flicking the lights on and off a few more times as Klaus answers his question, to which he'll then stop, looking at him with furrowed brows.]
The City?
[Earth okay. It would be weird if he wasn't from Earth, but "The City"? How unspecific was that?]
Is that what it's called? It doesn't have a name?
[A real name that is.]
no subject
klaus's lips quirk with amusement, heading shaking, even though he knows better: lightswitches will be totally foreign to anyone who knows nothing about electricity, this soft baby boy is no exception. offhandedly, he wonders how many other people he'll run into that he might have to explain this shit to. (and as tiring as it'll be, seeing people like huaisang react will be somewhat worth it in the end.)
much to his dismay, it isn't long before he's getting another look about the name of his homeworld.]
Yes, I know, it's very unspecific and that's annoying. Blah, blah, blah— [a long, suffering sigh, the hand not already raised lifting and gesturing vaguely toward nothing.
then he drapes it across his chest, sighs a second time before,] But yes, that's what it's called. Nothing proper when it comes to an actual name.
no subject
They couldn't even call it the Nameless City or... mmm... City of Nothing. Anything besides The City.
[He'll shake his head, looking disappointed.]
So boring.