riverview: may test drive meme

[riverviewmod]

riverview test drive meme

Welcome to Riverview's test drive meme! Feel free to dip your toes in on the test drive meme to try out your character in the setting, play out a mission, and get samples for your application at the same time!

● Reserves are currently OPEN.
● Applications open on June 1st.
● Providing all parties are amenable, threads on the test drive meme can count as game canon, as the plot in the prompts presented is game canon.
● TDM threads do not count for Activity Check, but they do count for Activity Bonus Points, so long as all characters involved are accepted into the game.
● Threading on the TDM is intended for prospective new characters, so top-levels should only be posted by players of these characters. Since the events in the TDM are considered game canon, characters currently in the game are free to use the TDM prompts for logs and posts on the regular communities.

Feel free to use the prompts below or create your own scenario. The setting is built to be flexible, so feel free to make things up as you go.

information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● calendar ● navigation

prompt i: search & rescue

Following rumors about a magical healing spring deep in the jungle, a group of intrepid explorers ventured out to verify whether it existed or not. After finding the spring inside an ancient temple overrun with tree roots and flora, they brought samples back and discovered that the spring did, in fact, have healing properties. Just like the rumors said.

Until the authorities decided what to do with this information, no actions were to be taken, nor information revealed to the public at large. Unfortunately, the news leaked and spread to the alternative science communities as well as the top minds at Gramarye Magic Research. With interest piqued, several more unauthorized expeditions set out beyond the fence in search of the spring. And once the information leaked beyond these scientists and scholars? Everyday citizens also launched their own excursions into the jungle, many bringing ailing family members or friends along for the ride.

This month the mission is to deploy teams of skilled citizens into the jungle to rescue some of the less fortunate, unsuccessful parties. Some of these people will be trapped or set upon by monsters, unable to move forward to the spring or back to the safety of the city. Others have simply run out of supplies and need the teams to restock them so they can continue their trek. And some groups have managed to reach the spring and collect their own samples of the spring water, only to find themselves struggling to return to the city before the samples lose efficacy. Feel free to create your own party to rescue, and get a team together to do so!

prompt ii: death from above

Normally, living inside the Inhabited City is a pretty safe bet. You can go day to day without running into a monster or risking any kind of danger requiring a fight. Generally, the tall, laser-fenced walls keep out anything particularly dangerous.

The problem with walls? They only go so high.

While usually assault from airborne monsters isn't a problem that's on the map, there's a few weeks during late spring where a swarm of flying monsters not unlike feathery pterodactyls are migrating back to another part of the moon. They're only in the area for a couple of weeks, but during that time, residents can expect occasional attacks by swooping monsters if they should see easy prey. Usually, a good sturdy dark-colored umbrella is enough to keep them from seeing a potential victim or meal, but sometimes the attacks still happen. So the Perimeter Guard sends extra details, calling in all the reserves, to patrol the city and keep an eye out for citizens in distress. There's also a general call for anyone who's experienced at fighting to help protect their fellow citizens. Whether your character is being attacked or protecting someone else, be prepared - these monsters are quick and have very sharp teeth.

prompt iii: homesick bazaar

Over the past couple of weeks, the portal has seemed really fixated on food. Almost every time the portal changes location, new bundles of food are near the entrance, ripe for the Perimeter Guard Orientation Team to pick up and drag through. As a result, the Orientation Team has set up a free bazaar outside City Hall. The Bazaar lasts from the 20th until the 31st of May, and is completely free, featuring tables and booths laden with food taken from the other side of the portal. Many of these foods will be familiar to characters in the City, whether it's that special brand they're totally addicted to or a plate of grandma's family recipe.

Everything at the Bazaar is totally free, and anyone joining in on the feast is encouraged to share (read: gently not allowed to leave until they do) and to tell stories about the origin of the foods from their own home. It's a multidimensional foodie's paradise!

prompt iv: prijata pregaming

Prijata is a holiday in Riverview celebrating platonic love - essentially, it's a celebration of friendship, geared at showing appreciation for existing friends and finding new ones. While I won't spoil the rest of the prompts for the introductory mingle, one of the main staples of Prijata is gift giving, and the Government of Riverview gets into the spirit of it by giving small gifts to everyone who's arrived since the last Prijata.

This prompt can be used to give a quick idea of what your character is into so other characters or players can suggest gifts to be given them (or to give them) if they are accepted! More information can be found in the Prijata Pregaming modpost.

prompt v: friendr/network

Whether your character is posting up a silly word game to distract people from the dangerous mission going on, trying to get hold of a friend, or putting out feelers for people to go out into the fray with, the network is going strong.

Alternately, an offer for a free app is popping up on new arrivals' devices - Friendr is a friend-finder and/or dating app. If characters choose to install it, they will fill out a short bio and parameters for what they're looking for, upload a snap of themselves, and then proceed to browse for matches. This is a typical swipe-left-or-right type app.

Code to post your character's bio is in the textbox below, or you can just do a text version of the information in the app. An example of how it looks can be found here.

<center><blockquote style="width: 220px; margin: 0; padding: 0px; background-image: url('http://i42.tinypic.com/2uf53s4.jpg'); font-size: 12px; font-family: verdana; border-radius: 20px; text-align: center;"><div style="padding: 10px 0 0 0; text-align: center;font-size: 25px; font-weight: 900; font-style: italic; color: #528887; text-shadow: -2px 2px 2px rgba(150, 150, 150, 1);">F<span style="font-size: 16px;">RIENDR</span></div> <center><img src="ICON URL HERE" style="border-radius: 50%; width: 70px; height: 70px; box-shadow:-3px 3px 2px 0px rgba(82, 136, 135, .75);"></center> <center><div style="width: 210px; background-color: #528887; color: #fff; padding: 5px; font-size: 14px;">Name of Character</div></center> <center><div style="width: 210px; background-color: #528887; color: #fff; padding: 5px; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><b><small>AGE:</small></b> ## <b><small>INTERESTED IN:</small></b> Male/Female/Any <b><small>SEEKING:</small></b> Type(s) of Relationship(s) <b><small>ABOUT ME:</small></b> Blurb goes here, can be as long or short as you wish.</div></center><br> </blockquote></center>
Many thanks to mistojen for coding this especially for Riverview!

prompt vi: wildcard

Choose your own adventure and do something else in the setting!

navigation
[river market image is by Tyler Edlin]

Comments

[ikols]

You look like roadkill. [ He sinks down on the other side of the couch, setting down some apple juice by Tim and nudging the pizza box his way. Long-fingered hands clasp as Loki leans forward on his knees, head cocked at the sight of Tim's injury. ] Does that need some medical attention? There's a first-aid box if you've need of it.

[ Stupid mortals being all fragile and giving a god reason to worry. Also, he doesn't want the Avengers assuming he beat the guy up. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

{Drone kill is more like it, Tim thinks.}

The hospital already treated me well when I got here, thanks. It's really not as bad as it looks. I'm fine.

{He takes the apple juice with a quiet thanks and sips on it. He's afraid the pizza will turn his stomach after the prison food, no matter how much he wants a slice.}

[ikols]

What were you doing to yourself that warranted the attention of doctors?

[ A trip to the hospital is no small thing, he went there himself. He saw the state of some of the patients. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

Ah, my city, Gotham, it was under attack before I ended up here.

{He's leaving out the detour to Oz's prison which was a couple of weeks at least if his time keeping wasn't completely ruined.}

[ikols]

What was attacking the city? If I may ask.

[ He spreads his hands in a brie shrug. Nosy godling, what can you do. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

{For a split second Tim bares his teeth and looks very much like someone different from the polite young man he's been for rest of their conversation, then it's gone and he's shaking his head a little.}

Secret government organization within a government organization with programmed drones intending to 'protect' Gotham.

{Was the incredibly short and simplified version of the story.}

[ikols]

[ Loki blinks, staring. A short pause later and he asks in the same demure curious tone, ]

Sounds specific. How did you figure that out?

[stalkingandplotting]

I work for a major company in Gotham. The whole, money talks thing. It's one of those cities with founding families and legacies. It wasn't super hard to guess the government angle when military grade drones start flying by the windows, you know?

{The best part is that Tim doesn't even have to lie to sound like an entitled kid that's just a bit smarter than the average bear.}

[ikols]

And it can't have been the most secret of organisations-within-organisations if civilians know about it, hm? Even bluebloods like you.

[ He looks sympathetic as he feeds into a rhetoric that makes sense, something easily adopted if the truth is too complex. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

{Tim laughs and keeps playing his part.}

Well, it's never as secret as they think, and it definitely doesn't help when they make one of said bluebloods their commanding General. People gossip when someone's rising star career pauses indefinitely without a scandal.

[ikols]

And they attacked you, one of their own? Shocking. Why did they do that?

[ It might have something to do with that visceral, fleeting reaction Tim had not long ago. Who knows. His tone lilts playfully. ]

Are you that much of a rotten menace, Tim?

[stalkingandplotting]

{His eyes go wide and he waves a hand in front of himself swiping that idea away.}

No, definitely not! I was more of a case of wrong time, I think? Too close to an actual target? If I was attacked I would definitely not be here.

{Never mind he actually reprogrammed two armies of the drones to only attack him and he managed to take down the entire first army.}

[ikols]

... Well, I'm glad you are.

[ And he drops the matter for now, shelving that oddly heartfelt anger that crossed Tim's face for consideration at a later date; in the moment, he has a roughed-up guest and potential ally on his couch.

Loki takes a piece of pizza and sits back, an arm open across the back of the cushioning to open up his body-language to Tim. ]

You won't be volunteering for Quarantine missions any time soon, I suppose?

[stalkingandplotting]

{Tim ducks his head and hides a tiny smile at Loki's wish for his presence. He sips his apple juice and takes in more of the room until Loki poses his question.}

I guess it really depends on what the missions require? I'm not sure exactly what I could contribute, but I don't want to freeload if I could be useful, either.

[ikols]

Battling monsters, trekking through the jungle and unearthing magical healing springs ... or there's the R&D department where Stark has a workshop, if you're not so hands-on.

[ Assuming Tim the Debutante of Gotham is at least partly tech-savvy, like most his age and with his income. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

{Tim makes a noncommittal noise, neither agreeing or disagreeing he'll be staying away from the crazy action.}

I actually think I'm going to take advantage of the university here? I'll help wherever anyone needs me, though. Have you been out on any of these missions yourself?

[ikols]

[ Nodding along to Tim's decision (because it would be good to have someone Loki knows seated in the university, a reason to visit if he's ever caught), he slouches and puts his boots up on the coffee table. ]

Yeah. I went on the quest to discover the healing spring, I now know where it is. [ He shrugs, sucking pizza off his fingers. ] The roadtrip there was less than thrilling, it involved an awful lot of superheroes.

[stalkingandplotting]

Healing spring?

{That sounds terribly handy. Also, an awful lot like a trap, his reasonable paranoia whispers at him.

His lips twitch and he hides the full smile by sipping the apple juice.}

Are you not fond of superheroes?

[ikols]

Mm. Native pseudo-magic, in my opinion.

[ Not that his opinion has been shared overly much when his housemates scorn magic, as a rule, but it bears saying. Shrugging, Loki tips his head back on the sofa and pointedly listens to the muffled voices elsewhere in the apartment, eyes on Tim. ]

They keep the fridge packed with bacon, I suppose they're good for that.

[stalkingandplotting]

What makes it pseudo rather than the real deal?

{He's not questioning Loki's judgement. It's not like Tim knows much of magic, but he's curious and wondering both about Loki's power and whatever can be found in their strange new location.}

Truly an earth-shattering crime, to run out of bacon. {He deadpans.}

[ikols]

I couldn't tell if it was deliberately positioned to be out of the way or whether there was something else to the remote location. And don't bad-mouth bacon, it genuinely is magic.

[ The straightest face ever. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

You mean like another portal or some other displacement technique? Disorientation? {And there's analytical Timothy sneaking out to play.}

I would never. It's truly a meat from the gods. {Their poker faces get 10/10 scores.}

[ikols]

No, I mean like intense gardening. [ He tips his chin up, squinting at Tim. ] But I shouldn't say any more, it's not like you'll be visiting the spring any time soon.

[ Casually channel-surfing. ]

[stalkingandplotting]

{Tim thinks instantly of Pamela Isley, but he shrugs.} No, I probably won't be going anywhere for the next couple of weeks except to pick my classes at the school and attend them. {And to work, but Tim wasn't sure how much he wanted to broadcast he'll be working on the city defenses.}

Doesn't mean I'm not interested in a good story, or what might be out there trying to get in here.

[ikols]

Baby godzillas were found in the sewage system a couple of months ago, that was dramatic. They were either slain or evacuated to the jungle, depending on who wanted to get involved. [ Humming, Loki tips his head back on the couch and slouches comfortably, eyes on the TV but attention on Tim. ] Then there was the behemoth that needed escorting from the Quarantine, and recently these dino-birds ...