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returnjourneymemes2021-12-10 12:00 pm
returnjourney) wrote in returnjourneymemes2021-12-10 12:00 pm
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TEST DRIVE 001
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.
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!)
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.
Agrias Oaks | Final Fantasy Tactics | Warden
[The explanation is... astounding, to say the least, yet Agrias does not doubt her instructions or the briefing she'd received. As traveled as she was, there was no way she could've prepared for this. Still, she had agreed to the terms and found herself in her current situation. Her immediate objective was simple:
Retrieving a particular "inmate" and prevent their demise.
A task more suited for a knight, she felt.
She finds them and explains as best as she can, offering her gloved hand in hopes that they will join her.]
'Tis an amazing set of circumstances we find ourselves in, and I admit that I am not without reservations.
Yet I assure you that mine words are true.
A second opportunity by itself is truly a precious gift.
[2. Lights Out]
[And wouldn't you know it, Agrias is one of those unfortunate enough to be stuck within this "elevator" as the power goes out. She slams her fist against the controls a few times, but it remains a futile gesture.]
Damn!
[Her frustration stems from wanting to help keep the peace and provide aid. Not stuck inside the contraption.]
For such a convenient device, its reliability leaves much to be desired.
[A sigh.]
Must we simply remain idle? I'm not fond of such...
[3. The Peregrine]
[Though Agrias is a holy knight and a paragon of justice, she makes no secret of how her views have shifted during her travels. Whichever role had been appointed to her, whether by royalty or in this case, a being from another world, Agrias would always serve her country and its people first.
Wouldn't that be the same, here?]
Hold there!
[She catches an inmate, quite clearly not where they are supposed to be.]
Your reach extends where it does not belong, and I would have you explain to me why.
[Her words are stern, and her figure imposing as she remains in full armor. Yet the fact that she wants to talk first instead of immediately apprehend them... Surely that's a good sign?]
[Wildcard]
[Hit me up and I'll reply in kind!]
The Peregrine, in the storage facility
He is, understandably, already frustrated when this warden comes up on him.
Travis being Travis, he scoffs under his breath and straightens up. He thinks it makes him look cool to do this slowly: back still to her, shoulders taut, one hand still curled around the table leg. He turns his head and the dim orange lights of the storage facility's transport bots flicker off the surface of his aviators. His eyes narrowed behind them.
Travis is surprised to find someone who looks like she's out of Arthurian legend but like, a total babe at the same time.
But she's still a fucking warden.
He sounds pissed off.]
You want an explanation? What does it look like? [He gestures with the table leg, then points it at her.] You assholes took my katana. I want it back.
no subject
Not yet at least.]
A fellow swordsman, is it?
[She'd never gravitated towards katanas herself, preferring to wield a different type of blade.]
We find ourselves in similar situations. Mine own sword and shield are no longer with me. Instead I'm forced to use this strange device.
[She looks disdainfully at the pistol in her hand. A weapon more fitting for the likes of Mustadio than herself.]
Though I assure you, I had no hand in what was taken. 'Tis simply the nature of this place.
Might we not continue this conversation elsewhere?
no subject
Why? You took a job here, didn't you? You gave your sword up by choice. So here's as good as anywhere to have a "conversation." My table leg against your gun.
2
Let's not make this worse by breaking it, shall we?
no subject
[She clears her throat.]
Mine apologies, I'm afraid I lost of myself for but a moment.
'Tis an uncomfortable feeling for me, not being able to go where I'm needed most.
Truly, I can but... wait.
no subject
[She's been in plenty of power outages. Sometimes, it just... comes back on. And then sometimes it's out for days or weeks and that's not really great, in space, but let's not go there just yet.]
We'll give it a few. How's that for a start?
no subject
[She can endure this, there's little choice in the matter.]
We've no such contraptions where I'm from. Our buildings are much simpler in design, I'm realizing.
[And perhaps more sturdy and reliable, though she'll keep such prejudices to herself.]
no subject
[And she usually took the stairs, when presented with an elevator. Claire leans against the wall, back unable to pick up on any electric hum in the distance. Totally down, then.]
What's your name? I'm Claire.
no subject
[Boy, she didn't leave out a bit.]
'Tis a pleasure to meet you, Claire. A shame that our first encounter is under such troubling circumstances.
no subject
Likewise. Though I don't imagine there a lot of joyous meetings on this ship, given our roles.