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riverviewooc2017-03-20 10:20 am
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 April 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.
● Since this particular TDM is plot-heavy, current players are welcome to do their own top-levels to interact with the plot. However, since it is still a TDM intended to help potential new players get involved, there will be a special additional +25 Activity Point bonus for any thread submitted by a current player that involves a potential new character rather than focusing on existing CR, for this TDM post.
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. Thanks to player-created plots, this month's Test Drive is set to effect the game setting for the next few months, so please enjoy!
information resources
premise ● arrival ● setting ● ask a question ● calendar ● navigation
plot overview
After just over a week of increasingly serious blackouts and brownouts around the city, the team in charge of the structural integrity and defense of the wall has found the source of the problem, and posted a network entry explaining that the issue is caused by a large quantity of lizard-like monsters that have compromised the underground infrastructure of the city, and requesting volunteers to help do a full-scale manual extermination of monsters and assess the damage and do urgent repairs.
The most urgent request presented is for people to help clear out the monsters in the underground tunnels - and there are a lot of them! With estimated monster numbers in the area of 500-1000, ranging from adult to juvenile, there's a lot of work to be done to clear out the underground infrastructure of the city. The Perimeter Guard will have a steady stream of transport trucks going to escort any fight-capable residents who want to volunteer out to the tunnels. They will also provide weapons of various varieties as well as short training sessions on how to use them safely in a confined space for anyone who doesn't have their own.
Whether you fight with a weapon, your fists, magic, or poison darts, your help is more than welcome down in the tunnels. The only real request is to keep seismic or explosive abilities or attacks on the mild side, and to be careful not to poison the city's water supply! Other than that, go wild.
Clearing out monsters is all well and good, but they have definitely done some damage to the city's infrastructure. So it isn't just the brawn that needs to step up to help the city, it's the brains. There's a call for anyone with any kind of special ability that would help with emergency repairs. Whether it's engineers, chemists, anyone with first aid, runners to distribute supplies, or any other special ability that would help out in the underground tunnels and fix some of the damage that's been done, anyone is welcome to help. And if you think it's just scientists who are needed, think again - magic is a well-known if not-well-understood facet of life in Riverview Quarantine, and some of this stuff works on a more arcane level than a mundane one.
And, of course, all of these brainiacs are going to need a little backup, so any bruisers to act as escort and protection are also welcome.
Not everyone has the skills or desire to head out into the jungle and fight for the city, and that's perfectly fine. Inside the Quarantine walls, life is carrying on as normally as it can. That is, aside from the ongoing blackouts.
Wherever you might be in the city, you run a pretty decent risk of getting trapped somewhere for a short period of time. Whether it's trapped in an elevator, a tram car, a store, the housing you share with someone you barely know, or anywhere else in the city, it could happen to you. This could be the start of a beautiful friendship or a meet-cute to tell your grandkids about...at least, that is, if you get along with the person you're stuck with...
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 new, free app is popping up on people's 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.
Many thanks to
mistojen for coding this especially for Riverview!Choose your own adventure and do something else in the setting!
ii
"... uh, yeah?" Not sure shooting them counts as wrangling though, Cloud's pretty sure, but that thought isn't voiced aloud. "This part should be pretty clear, though..."
At least he hopes so, because looking the older man over, Cloud can't see anything that looks like a weapon, only a supply pack similar to the one he's carrying - if he can help with this, too, why wouldn't he?
no subject
"Ah, good," Victor says with a half smile, glancing back over his shoulder. "There's a decent chance this area isn't as clear as previously thought. Mind if we keep going?"
He gestures them on, moving forward. Thus far nothing appears to be stalking after them. Victor would prefer for that to remain the case.
no subject
"No. It's what I'm here for." Well, after a fashion. Right now and here, that's what he's here for because he signed up for it, but Cloud still can't quite believe he got himself here at all (except he can). Cocking his head, he can't... hear anything, but that doesn't mean there aren't any creatures around - and then he has to try and catch up to the man's longer strides, shifting his grip on his rifle a little.
"... I have a knife, if you want to borrow it until we're past this area," Cloud offers up after a few more steps, because by now he can tell what probably had Victor worried - there's no actual signs of them being followed, but he can swear he keeps hearing something just far enough away it's impossible to tell what it is, even if it's not echoing.
no subject
He doesn't find himself any more moved toward violence. He's a lover; and the ways he fight have never been involved in this kind of brutality. Still.
He shakes his head in turn, belatedly adjusting his stride to better match Cloud's as they move. "Thank you for offering. It's better that you keep it." The distance scrabbling and hissing is still soft enough to not quite intrude, but it's also persistent. "Have you been part of the Perimeter Guard for long?" It's a question that makes several assumptions; he's not strictly right in making any of them.
no subject
Not like he hasn't had escort duty before - and Cloud's just going to ignore the memories of how that first mission had ended. Focuses instead on placing himself in what's hopefully the best position, now that Victor's slowed down a little.
"Just thought to make sure. Weapons aren't necessary to run supplies, but..." shaking his head, Cloud glances up, and then blinks and looks away again, into the direction he's pretty sure those noises are coming from, "Um... I've only been here a few days. Heard they needed help yesterday."
no subject
There were certain consistencies he'd been finding to be true so far. Given that they were being offered a means to make themselves part of the functioning whole here, Victor's not going to voice strenuous objections. He's been in more tenuous positions. This one is in part to help, in part to get a crashcourse in God knows what about this most recent chapter of his life.
In the middle distance, something continues its keening cry, scrabbling and pursuing... but less obviously after them as they continue to stay on the move.
no subject
Another shrug. Not that the army barracks had been terrible or anything, but it could be a lot better, too. He throws another frown over his shoulder, biting his lip.
"... hope no one else walks right into that..."
But Cloud doesn't stop to leave, or tell his companion they should go back, or that he needs to go on alone - that's not how escorting people works, and just because it's more silent here (less water, too), doesn't mean there might not be trouble until they get to whatever drop-off point the supplies Victor are carrying are supposed to go to.
no subject
He knows he can navigate back here if needed, largely because he's used to navigating through unfamiliar places by both getting lost and unlost, and also following directions. His whimsy has taken him off the beaten path more than once before a competition, all in the spirit of sightseeing. Funnily enough, it's cross application into this has never occurred to him before he'd been stepping up to volunteer.
no subject
"Probably the same one I'm leaving mine at too. And um. Wouldn't be a problem if we were outside, but I've gotten pretty good lately with corridors like this too." ShinRa Tower was huge, and sprawling, and while there were signs to mark the floor numbers and sometimes signs outside some of the rooms, most of them... did not. With another little grimace, he shakes his head.
"But, if you're okay with going the same way back going up, it should be possible..."
On the other hand, that means he'll still have to make sure Victor remains unharmed as well as taking care of any of the creatures if they do run into any of them, and Cloud hopes he can do that. He should be able to. Not like he hasn't done it before, but all his failures also lurk heavily in the back of his mind.
no subject
It could be nothing. It could be something. Panicking on their end didn't mean making better decisions than in more calmly handling whatever came flying their way.
"Ah, here I am, forgetting my manners," he says instead, turning his face forward and straining his ears. "My name's Victor Nikiforov. Who do I have the pleasure of playing escort for this tunnel run?"
no subject
But he's not a SOLDIER, his senses are perfectly normal, no matter what he might try or wish for. Frowning, it takes a brief moment of distraction before his gaze flickers back to Victor, pretty sure he is the one playing the escort here, but...
"Cloud Strife." Since they were apparently doing full names and all. "... If something catches up with us, you should put your back to the wall and keep moving. You could probably use the supply bag if something gets past me."
Because even if it'd be a nice thought that it was some person making noises behind them without calling out, Cloud would bet it wasn't. They'd been talking since they met, after all, and whatever it was hadn't seemingly reacted to that.
no subject
"Got it." He doesn't question the suggestion when it seems sound enough in his mind. Victor isn't the guy anyone would call on for a fight, and he's at peace with that knowledge. Especially as a skitter and rasping sounds closer to them, joined in discordant harmony with another soft skitter-thump-thud.
"How fast are these things over a short distance anyway?"
no subject
"Fast enough," he says, nose scrunching, then shakes his head, "but they're not gonna come leaping at us too fast to see. I've seen them use the walls for short stretches, though."
Which, he just realises, is probably the reason for the lack of splashing and the added thudding. Sure, there's barely any water in this part of the tunnels, but enough. Chewing his lip to try and decide on the better course of action, he finally looks up at Victor again.
"We could start running, or, if... you feel okay with slowing down, I can walk backwards. Better cover, but it'll take us longer..."
no subject
Running isn't always the answer. He's learned this, though for less optimistic reasons than better cover for walking now here. Another skittering and a misleadingly gentle splish-splash from the shadows pattering along after them.
Or darting further ahead, as one smaller member of the predatorial species they were hunting down here calls out. Not attacking yet, but close to it. Victor grits his teeth and walks onward, keeping at the new, slower speed.
no subject
"This works," he says it softly, quietly, just to add something other than the noises from the not-quite-threatening company they've definitely picked up by now, and turns around, resisting the urge to blindly fire to try and chase them away. Four or five... maybe. It's hard to tell.
He wishes Zack was here, but it's probably better he's still in Nibelheim; someone needs to keep an eye on Sephiroth and try and get him out of the basement.]
"... think they've gotten a little warier since the start, at least... so maybe we'll get to the checkpoint before they get brave enough." He swallows and kicks, spattering water in their trail and sending a hissing creature backwards. "At least, they don't got magic."
Could, after all, be worse than just claws and teeth. They're not even venomous.
no subject
Not terribly un-sensible of it, all things considered.
"Magic would be difficult," he says, agreeing almost too easily. Magic as a concept and reality are things he's had to reluctantly accept in recent months. Imagining predators using magic feels tiringly complicated. "I like this listing of positive truths. They also don't fly! Or electrify."
no subject
"They could be bigger." A pause. "... much, much bigger. Or use weapons on their own." They really are lucky these lizard things don't use some sort of thunder magic, honestly. There's enough water down here that could be lethal.
"There's this thing that likes to hide underground and in sewers a lot, we call them sahagins... they can throw jets of water at you, and use harpoons. Not very strong, but with a group..." Cloud shrugs, trying to listen to the noises that aren't theirs, especially if the one that ran before them decides to chance to leap at Victor - he needs to turn around quickly, in that case.
"These things aren't really so bad."
no subject
Victor's finally caught offguard by this. "Are they thinking creatures?" Trying to understand boundaries between sapient and tool using is difficult; most things he runs into are likely sentient, but being able to think critically and creatively on top of that? How far has his human arrogance really clouded his ability to think of other individuals and species as being on similar planes? He doesn't know, though after the Fek and the Trilk he thinks he's had crash courses in coming up against vastly different physical and cultural differences that can't be muddled through on passing familiarity with body language.
Still, tool using is surprising for something that... attacks in sewers and underground waterways?
So far nothing darts in front of Victor again, though his headlamp faces forward and he moves his eyes without turning his head. Not the greatest for his night vision, but it does act as something of a gentle deterrent. (Until it doesn't.)
no subject
It wasn't impossible, but hardly something anyone paid any attention to.
"No one's bothered to find out, I suppose. They're really only a problem if they settle in a sewer, and there's worse things around." Squinting into the shadows, Cloud weighs the option of asking Victor to turn the headlamp off to give them better night vision, or keeping it on. Turning it off means they'd have to adjust... probably not a good idea.
no subject
In the meantime, he continues to keep the pace set by how Cloud's moving. He trusts that between the two of them, they'll adjust their responses to the predators as needed...
... which is more comforting than thinking about how there are worse things lying in the dark. "We need to take a left up at the branch in tunnels."
no subject
But Zack isn't here, and he's perfectly capable of doing this on his own.
"Right," he says, frowning in thought as he recalls the map they'd showed the route on, "then down that tunnel and right at the second--- duck!"
Whirling around when something comes flying at them from the other side at the tunnel, Cloud fires and he knows he hit it, but how badly he can't tell when the lizard creature falls with a splash onto the ground.
no subject
"Run?" he asks, speaking louder than he has been, making up for the ringing in his ears as he waits for a cue from the guy who can defend them both. Victor's best defense is escape.
Escape without Cloud seems like both a poor plan and also a potentially injurious one to the both of them.
no subject
The intersection isn't far, and the critters will have a harder time blocking them from an escape if there's more tunnels around and they can't figure out which they might take.
"Less chance to be cornered up at the intersection!"