TEST DRIVE 001

[returnjourney]

RETURN JOURNEY: TEST DRIVE 001

Welcome to the Return Journey's test drive meme! We appreciate your interest. Our TDM features a small sample of events your character might encounter in game, which you're free to embellish or improvise with your own ideas as desired. Don't worry if you haven't read everything yet; while we recommend skimming our FAQ for relevant questions, critical information should be contained or linked within the prompts themselves!

TDM threads can be used as samples for applications. Players can mutually keep threads as game canon after being accepted into the game, though threads featuring non-canon squalls or events may need to be adjusted.

We suggest putting your character's name, canon, and potential role (warden or inmate) as the subject. If you're not sure which role you want to choose, feel free to try your hand at both!

If you have any questions about the TDM, please ask here.

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The Peregrine

1. Welcome Aboard!

Welcome aboard the SFS Peregrine, a ship in the Admiralty's Transformative and Penal Reparation Fleet. It is presently circling the outer perimeter of the Oos Ring Galaxy.

Wardens have been approached personally by the Navarch with a job offer: Come aboard the SFS Peregrine to assist in the redemption of an inmate, and receive a miracle known as a windfall as payment. Even if you don't ask as many questions as you should, every warden will be treated to a short Warden Orientation video explaining their expected duties and conduct.

Inmates have died and been placed aboard the SFS Peregrine as candidates for reformation. You may have come willingly, offered a choice between death or redemption, or you may have been collected against your will. Inmates are also treated to an Inmate Orientation; you'll find you have less privileges than a warden, but more motivation for...latitude. Violence? Chaos? Bribery? Blackmail? Well, no one said the path to redemption was without a few bumps along the way.

Given staff shortages, some wardens may be asked for a favor. Rather than leaving directly for the Peregrine, you've been asked to pick up an inmate from the limbo between death and redemption. During this mission, wardens will have clearance to enter a snapshot of sorts, where the inmate died (so devoid of other living beings). You either have to talk them into willingly coming along...or bring their unconscious, fresh-from-death not-corpse with you in the Avro provided. Better hope they don't wake up on the way!

Inmates, in this case, you'll be presented with the choice of death or redemption from a warden rather than the Navarch. Or possibly not provided with a choice at all, if death has rendered you unconscious. Good luck when you awaken to find yourself in a small ship, with someone you've never met. Try not to cause any trouble.

2. Pairings

Pairings are a critical aspect of the dynamic between warden and inmate. While interactions between wardens and inmates are not restricted to those in pairings, this relationship is a bit more...inescapable. Inmates test the limits of a warden, whether they take a more typical or unusual approach to matters; likewise, wardens learn what makes an inmate tick (and hopefully cooperate). Chances are, your values will clash.

A pairing of any sort is as varied as the individuals involved in them. And today, courtesy of the Navarch's monthly announcement, you and your sorry partner have been paired. Temporary or permanent, with a warden for an inmate or an inmate for a warden, it's your first day together — out of at least a month, so good luck setting some ground rules and figuring out each other's breaking points.

3. Accidents and Sabotage

A. Lights Out

As everyone knows, when it's lights out in a prison...interesting things can happen.

Whether a natural fluctuation from traveling through heavy space debris or something more unnatural (maybe it was you), the power has gone out. While life support continues to function, it's pitch black and any areas usually locked to wardens are left with doors open. It's the perfect setting for a riot, breaking and entering, thievery...your general crimes, petty and otherwise. Wardens, of course, are expected to stymie these efforts, but that doesn't necessarily mean they'll succeed. What's a little chaos between friends?

Our apologies if you happen to be in an elevator when the power dies.

---

B. Invasive Species

Being in space, sometimes space things happen.

Somehow (and hopefully you or someone you know isn't responsible for that "somehow"), a greater lunar tetacocien has gotten on board. Quite a feat, since they're the size of a rhino, but they have an impressive ability to squeeze through anything large enough to fit their beak. Unfortunately venomous, carnivorous, and native to the starstuff of Oos, the creature needs to be rounded up before it destroys anything (or anyone) aboard the ship. Please do not attempt to eat; the flesh is toxic.

The multi-legged predator can be immobilized with shots from an energy weapon... Too bad inmates can't carry them. Time to improvise! Or steal one, if you're canny enough.

4. Squalls

Occasionally, the ship passes through squalls, the equivalent of cosmic turbulence that can mess with little things like, say...the fabric of reality. These are shipwide effects, though who they hit is variable. Sometimes you might fall victim; other times you might be the one standing by, exasperated, as you deal with those affected.

(In other words, it's up to player discretion. And feel free to make up your own squalls!)

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A. Truth Bomb

One week, those affected cannot tell a lie. Wardens and inmates alike can only speak the truth, though it varies whether they blurt out a response to any question asked or can keep mum.

---

B. Stuck Together

Another week, you're stuck together. Travel any farther than two meters from your buddy and you'll experience intense physical pain. There isn't anything visible to this connection; it isn't something you can sever (not that this means you can't try). So have fun with your group activities and try not to kill each other.

5. The Peregrine

The Peregrine's layout and protocols have been designed with its intended passengers in mind, who are primarily Earth humanoids and inclined towards certain social and cultural practices. If you're wondering why you are on a ship of Earth humanoids despite not being one yourself, please understand that all ships in the Admiralty have a population capacity. At times it may be necessary to assign other species to a ship of this type, based on availability.

As a warden, you have full run of the ship map. Inmates...less so, but that's nothing a little creativity can't fix, right? Just remember, if a warden catches an inmate somewhere that inmate shouldn't be, it falls on the warden to handle the matter. And if the warden turns a blind eye...well, let's hope neither of you get caught. While it won't result in anything as extreme as a demotion, wardens can expect to get a stern dressing down; inmates, meanwhile, will be reprimanded by the warden who found them.

6. Networking

Now that you've powered on your CommLink for the first time and sat through the short tutorial and appropriate orientation, you're ready to explore the wonders of messaging. Video, audio, or text, the world is your oyster and you surely have opinions on it.

There is no anonymous option and IDs must be some variation of your name. (IC, characters will have to try their luck and see what the communicator will or won't accept when they register; OOC, it's up to players to decide what name to use if the character has multiple names or aliases.)

Wardens have access to a group network filter, something that inmates lack, and can track inmates throughout the ship with their CommLink. Inmates, best avoid getting your device confiscated or monitored.

7. Wildcard

If it's in our game pages, you can use it as a prompt! The sky's the limit.

Comments

Theo Crawford | OC | Inmate

[sanctus_dei]

[1. Welcome Aboard]
[Well hello there, Warden or new roommate Inmate. Here's some fresh meat that's just been delivered from the transport ship. Whether you're his permanent pairing, or just a temp helping the newbie adjust to his new situation, you have one miserable-looking kid on your hands here. Sure, inmates are brought here after their deaths, but it almost seems like someone forgot to finish reviving this guy. Underweight, incredibly pale, and dark circles under his eyes accentuate the piercing, flat glare that you're met with as you attempt to introduce yourself. If you ask for his name, he gives you the one word answer.]

Theo.

[Good luck!]


[2. Lights Out]
[The power has gone out and the whole place is in chaos as some of the Inmates have let loose. In other circumstances, Theo would be more than glad to join in, but he has other plans. While everyone's distracted, he's managed to rustle up a flashlight and has broken into, of all places, the mess hall. If you're in there, it's not hard to run into the young man who's rummaging through the pantries and shelves and grumbling to himself. When you approach, he's a bit startled, but he doesn't seem to care that he's been caught.]

Do you know if there's booze on this ship?


[3. Truth Bomb]
[This squall has been rough on the very guarded Theo, and he's been desperate to keep away from everyone as much as possible. Not an easy task on such a populated ship, so it won't be long until he runs into someone. When he does, though, he scrambles away from you, eyes wide, arms up definitely as if you might hit him. Making him speak the truth is way more painful than getting hit, though.]

Don't! Don't talk to me, don't say anything!


[4. Network Post]
[Theo's from 1948 so all of this has been pretty foreign to him, and it's taking some time for him to adjust to this technology. That's why his first text post to the network just consists of the following:]

Is this working

Welcome Aboard

[rank1]

[Meet your new bunkmate. Travis Touchdown, 30, styled in sloppily-fit jeans and a t-shirt with a picture of a woman's ass in a thong, is sprawled on his side in his top bunk, his head propped up by one hand in a way that lets him hang see other people's comings and goings. He is wearing yellow aviator sunglasses despite being both indoors and surrounded by the blue light of the dorms. It makes the world look puke green.

The hell is with this kid?

With some persistence:]

Cool. I'm Travis. You look like dogshit. You slept recently?

[He points at his own temple with his free hand.]

I hear it's good for the brain.

[sanctus_dei]

[Theo looks around at the room, expression still flat. This has all been a lot to absorb. He was still processing everything that happened to him leading up to arriving here, and said brain of his was definitely not in peak condition right now. He looks up at Travis, blinking for a moment. Processing, please wait.]

Yes. No. I don't know. I was dead then I was here. Does that count as sleep?

[He reaches for a coat pocket that doesn't exist, a reflexive move to take out the pack of cigarettes he usually keeps in his suit. But he's dressed in the bland clothing provided to him, which probably looks a size too big on him. He grumbles.]

Please tell me you've got cigarettes here. I could use a whole fucking carton of them right about now.

[rank1]

[Travis rolls over onto his belly, peering down.]

Even if I did, that shit's worth about a million bucks around here. Getting it in port without wardens confiscating it is a pain in the ass.

[He idly picks at his ear.]

Why? You got something to trade?

[sanctus_dei]

Are you serious? [Theo tries not to look panicked, but it's not working too well.] I didn't think this place was going to operate that much like an actual goddamn prison. So, booze then--?

[He figures he knows what the answer to that question is too now, though. As far as trading goes, though...]

I literally just got here, what the hell would I have to trade?

[rank1]

[It's a fancy prison, but it's a prison just the same, and just thinking about starts to chafe Travis' patience. The corner of his mouth curls, and he narrows his eyes.]

For all I know you pickpocketed a warden on your way in.

[sanctus_dei]

[Theo's shoulders slump slightly. He's disappointed in himself now.]

I'm going to blame the fact that I still feel like I'm fucking defrosting or something for the fact that that didn't even cross my mind. So they get to smoke, then?

[It's official, he already hates the Wardens. Theo sits down on his bed with a thunk. He cranes his neck up to look at Travis.]

You been here long?

[rank1]

Couple weeks.

[There's an edge to his voice when he says it. A couple long, agonizing weeks. No television, no movies, no video games, having to finagle access to the gym.]

I'm going to get out of here the first chance I get.

[sanctus_dei]

Yeah? [Theo's incredulous. He raises an eyebrow at that declaration.]

Where ya gonna go? We're floating through the middle of a vacuum.

4 On the network.

[lessandmorethanhuman]

Not the kind of tech you're used to?

[sanctus_dei]

no

is this normal for other people

this is the wildest shit i've ever seen and i do fucking magic

[lessandmorethanhuman]

Can be. Where I'm from Magic isn't real. But this kind of tech is only slightly more advanced than what I'm used to.

[sanctus_dei]

Probably could have told me this was magically powered and i probably would have believed you

My guess is magic is real wherever here is. Considering how we all got here

[lessandmorethanhuman]

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."--Arthur C. Clarke. Famous author from my world.

[sanctus_dei]

sounds like a smart man.

the thing is, i don't want to talk to people in person, why do i need to talk to them on here?

[lessandmorethanhuman]

Get someone to show you the video function on this so you can avoid it. And you don't. Not really.

[sanctus_dei]

the powers that be here sure seem to think that talking to people is part of my "rehabilitation" somehow, but I don't see how this counts

4

[helenite]

no !

[sanctus_dei]

okay but i could read that so yes it is

[helenite]

i cant even read

[sanctus_dei]

sarcasm is not helpful to a new person

[helenite]

did u need help ?

[sanctus_dei]

i think i am starting to get the hang of it but this is the wildest shit i have ever seen

i mean we're also on a spaceship too and i was fully dead like 4 hours ago so this is all a lot to absorb

[helenite]

all considered sounds like ur adjusting pretty quik. iv been dead like 6 hrs and i still cant even read : )

[sanctus_dei]

for someone who can't read you sure are reading and typing coherently.