vivalaooc | Test Drive Meme #1

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Test Drive Meme #1

TEST DRIVE #1

The day begins as any other, you’re going about your day, living your life, when, without warning, you feel the world around you shift on its axis. You feel a great tear, welling from the depths of your soul as you are ripped from all you have known. If you’re lucky, you arrive in the wilderness of an unfamiliar world, where the language is foreign and the people are hostile. To make your escape, you must learn some language, flee, and occasionally fight, all to find your way off the floating isles you find yourself on and to the great ocean below, where rebel forces will welcome you.

If you’re unlucky, you materialize within a room full of armed guards and are quickly subdued with charged nets, stripped of your belongings, fitted with strange devices that suppress your powers and pressed into servitude. Your days are unimaginable pain and toil.

Fortunately, even in this world, there is still hope. For the denizens of this world have not given up. And it is for that dream of salvation that the Crimson Corsairs raise their flags and sail - for liberation. Perhaps you are one who has lived their entire life under the oppressive yoke of the Empire. Perhaps you have seen first hand your family and friends cut down by nobles hunting men for sport, or perhaps you have run afoul with the church and barely escaped with your life. No matter your origin, the Corsairs sail for you, for your freedom, for your life. And today, a taste of freedom will be won for all.

ARRIVAL/LIBERATION
This month, the Crimson Corsairs raided a Larendt labor camp in order to obtain much-needed parts and textiles as well as liberate another batch of servants for the cause. The raid was executed under the cover of night, with one team sweeping the dormitories and gathering as many servants as they could while the other team hit factories as they could, focusing on taking important items like ship parts and clothing, loading them into prepared trams and fleeing before the guard could mobilize. The operation, thankfully, went off without a hitch, and the Corsairs were able to usher a number of servants into their waiting ships.

As dawn breaks, the raiding fleet docks at Flotsam as the city-fleet begins the long journey away from the continent before a retaliation fleet can be mobilized. The former servants are finally let above deck. The sun is beating down hard on them, its brilliance marking their first step into freedom.

Corsairs on the fleet will have a lot to do - the new arrivals will need to be sorted, clothed, and fed. Many are emaciated from the conditions in the labor camp, and the former servants will be immediately ushered to a mess hall for their first meal as free folk. Corsairs will be needed to organize the movement, prepare and serve the food, and also just sit with them and talk to them, helping them adjust and filling them in on the situation.

Former servants will have found the entire process exhausting to say the least. They were awoken in the dead of night by heavily armed people quickly moving through, shattering their chains and ushering them into ships. The entire night was spent sailing, and while the hull is dark it is crowded and difficult to sleep in. Finally, upon arrival they are ushered into a meal hall and served a humble meal - but a meal that far exceeds anything that was ever served at the servant’s table. What is known is that they are now free.

MEANWHILE IN THE WATERLOGGED ROW…

With another successful mission under their belt and their duties more or less complete, the triumphant Corsairs observe a time-honored tradition: heading to the Waterlogged Row and getting absolutely shitfaced on awful grog.

The mood is jubilant and self-congratulatory, with drinking songs ringing out across Flotsam. In consideration to other residents, the Row is currently moored a good distance from the residential areas to keep the celebrations from disturbing what little peace there is in the chaotic town that is Flotsam. But for those who participated in the mission, tonight is about celebration. Singing, storytelling, socializing, this is the glue that holds the operations team together. And as the Crimson Corsairs do not officially recognize a drinking age, everyone is welcome! Even if they probably shouldn’t be!

New arrivals are, of course, not at all restricted so those who finish their meal and go exploring will quickly find the Row, as well as many Corsairs eager to buy them a pint to toast their newfound freedom.

MAKING THE GOOD STUFF

Elysium often serves as the crux of Corsair operations, and the next operation is no different. While the operations team is carousing and toasting their success, the planning team is hard at work preparing for the next mission.

The order of the day is gathering, which has brought the team to the forests outside of Elysium. In the coming month, Elysium will host a lavish party for the guards of a certain continent, and it is the duty of the gatherers to ensure that any drink served is “enhanced”, with such potency that they won’t be in any position to do their duty when the raiders strike.

Any herbology specialists will be absolutely vital for this operation. While the Corsairs have some documents and know, generally, what they’re looking for, there are a wide variety of things that grow within the forest, many of which can be quite dangerous.

Those new to gathering will really need to watch their step. Elysium is rich in hallucinogens, and a whiff of the wrong flower or mushroom could leave them contemplating their navel for the next hour. Tasting is out of the question, but what they don’t know can’t hurt them right? After all, the Elysium workers spend a lot of time eradicating poisoned growths to keep wandering nobles safe so anything they find can’t be THAT bad. Right?

And of course, for experienced foragers, they will find an entirely new duty thrust upon them - keeping the newbies in line. Really, how can they expect anything productive to be done when they send a bunch of green recruits into a forest full of hallucinogens?

EDUCATION AS THE BOMBS FALL

New Corsairs almost always find themselves in the Vault. Nestled in the earth and subject to the constant pounding of munitions overhead, the Vault is the repository of knowledge for the Crimson Corsairs and the place where new inductees are educated. Language instruction, education on the world and its people, writing, reading, arithmetic, just about any kind of learning can be done in the Vault’s halls.

Notable about the Vault’s education is how deeply tied it is to the Crimson Corsair’s broader philosophy - everyone’s unique talents and insight have value. As such, Corsairs are often called to the Vault to share their specialized expertise. While many Corsairs do choose to become full-time teachers, any Corsair can come and teach a class.

For the new Corsairs, now is a time to learn and train, acclimate themselves to their situation and figure out where they want to go from here. For established Corsairs, this is an opportunity to meet the new recruits and help train them so they can help with the cause. Those who might be students today will be comrades standing at your side tomorrow, so teach them well.

DANGER AT SEA

As the most mobile of the Corsair’s settlements and the only obvious Imperial target, Flotsam is well equipped to deal with any number of dangers. One such danger is the enormous sea monsters who dwell within the Eternal Ocean. While many are not too keen to tangle with such a large fleet, occasionally a monster will become angry or territorial enough to try to attack the fleet.

And it is for that reason that the Corsairs now find themselves battling a massive sea serpent that has stretched itself across the western edge of the fleet. New Corsairs aren’t expected to assist in this battle, but as the sinking of Flotsam would be VERY BAD for those who are currently trying to live on it, many will jump in anyway, especially as they should have been issued weapons. As to established Corsairs, well, you know the drill by now. Monster bad, try to sink ship, let’s convince it that there are easier marks than the pride of the Corsair fleet.

Some Corsairs will need to man the cannons to blow it away, but many will get up close and personal, jumping into melee range to drive it away from the ships and mitigate as much damage as they can. Others still will provide support from the back with magic or ranged weaponry, and still others will need to weave their way in between the battle to carry out wounded Corsairs for medical attention. Whatever your specialty, your city needs you. Best get to work.

WILDCARD

Have an idea for your own prompt? Feel free to make any prompt that you think would fit!

OOC
Welcome to the first Test-Drive Meme for Viva La! All threads here may be considered canon once characters have entered the game. Threads here are eligible for use as a roleplay sample for applications, which will open on the 15th of June at midnight.

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Nose scrunching up at the question, Donnie takes in a slow breath before he expels the heaviest of sighs, dropping his head between the pages. "No," comes the muffled admission, his tone managing to inject just enough frustration and dejection at the same time.

He supposes he should work with lighter texts, but truthfully there aren't many (that have caught his interest), and he figures the best way to get ahead is to jump right into the deep end of things. Unfortunately all he seems to steadily reap is a headache for his efforts. With a grumble, Donnie pushes himself up from the book, reluctantly shoving it away like a meal he doesn't want to finish.

"What're you reading?" he asks, glancing over at the shaggy-haired man. Maybe it was more interesting than history.

He felt that sigh, as he quickly writes down an unfamiliar word in the script, with a few characters that seem like a series of interconnected lines.

"An astronomy book... probably too much for what I can read in this language," the hazel eye closed. "I wanted to see if knowledge of the sea of stars is..." Harlock pauses, what was that word? No, not advanced - that gives the wrong impression. "similar to where I am from."

Oh, that sounds way more interesting than history. That much clearly shows on the Turtlekin child's face, his eyes lighting up.

"It's amazing. I wonder if it's even possible to map out any of them- there's so many! I used to think we'd get a good view from the beach on unclouded nights, but whenever I'm on a ship I try to find the highest place I can get."

"It's like where I'm from, there's billions and billions more out there, that can only be seen by very powerful." Harlock pauses as he frowns in frustration, before miming a telescope. "Or being out there."

"But yes... beaches, and still lakes are good places to look at them." He agreed, a faint tension melting from his shoulders.

Donnie sighs, lowering his goggles for a moment. "Yeah. The magnification on these is only for a set distance, even with the auto-focus, but I don't think it'd be practical for anything further like the stars. That'd definitely take some fine tuning."

He nudges the goggles back up again, resting his chin over his arms. "Not much of a chance to view them here, one of the many downsides." The Vault was a great place for making things and studying, but there was noise and being enclosed underground...

"Billions, huh..." That's mind-blowing to think about. "You're not from this world, right? What was yours like?"

He places a sheet of paper in his book before closing it. "You're right, I don't think I can stay in such a place for long without going crazy." Even Earth felt too small and confining at times. As for that last question, Harlock was not sure where to even begin, he fold his arm across his chest, tilting his head slightly to sort out his thoughts.

"Where I am from... people have been traveling beyond our home world for a very long time, even living on other planets, with ships and trains that travel across the sea of stars." He started. "the humans where I'm from call a planet called Earth home - and from a distance it looks like a pale blue dot due to all the oceans and seas," An unreadable expression cross his face.

Even then, the low rumble of whatever goes on above vibrates the ceiling above them. Donnie's eyes trail upwards as he tries not to frown at Harlock's words. There'd been a time he'd thought the underground wasn't his place either, not when he'd grown up by an open seaside and plenty of space to roam, and nothing but open skies above. Sometimes it's easy for everything to feel claustrophobic, which is when he delves into whatever distractions he can, work, studies, tending plants.

He blinks as the man begins to speak again, to answer the question asked. Once again curious eyes widen. "You're able to go to other worlds without a Gate?" It still seems hard to believe that some people here aren't even from the world as he knows it. There's really nothing to tell them apart, save for the things they share about themselves. Traveling the skies is one thing and already a thrilling experience for a teenager who had otherwise not thought he'd ever go anywhere beyond Innistis's shores. To travel the very stars, somewhere beyond these blue skies...

"That sounds incredible..."

Does it make the man homesick to ask about such things? Donnie only wonders belatedly as he puzzles at the strange expression. He knows he doesn't like talking about home either, he doesn't like dealing with the unpleasant feeling that forms in his stomach.

"...is it like here?" This world has enough sea and ocean that it seems to go forever.

"I don't fault someone if their nature makes an underground home better for them, but that's not mine." He added, his fingers tracing the table at the rumbling above.

"Yes," He starts to roughly sketch a basic spaceship, the lines are a little crooked in places and don't line up neatly, but the general outline is there. "I'm not exactly an artist... and my best friend was the one who drafted the blueprints for his different designs. I assume the gates you mean by how me and my ship had found our way here? But about... a millennium ago in my world, humanity first landed on Earth's moon, and we've been honing our ship technology since."

At the question, he shook his head slightly. "It's not quite the same, the sea and oceans look and even smell similar, but we do not have floating lands - mountains high enough that people can't go up without bringing air with them, but no floating land."

As the man begins to sketch something out, Donnie eases out of his seat to gravitate a little closer so he can see. It doesn't look anything like an airship, there's more than a few things it seems to be missing to fly, but maybe...if it's for somewhere beyond the sky, the things that apply here don't apply up there?

"My little brother's the artist of our family. I'm the tinkerer, I guess."

He nods, eyes still studying the simple lines that had been scratched onto the paper. "Yeah, that's what brings people from other worlds, at least that I've heard of. The Empire pulls them in to be servants..." His expression darkens at that as he subconsciously rubs at where one would have had a suppression band fitted. "I didn't know they brought ships too... That gate must be huge..."

He reaches over to pull the drawing closer if he's allowed, eager to focus on something else than the Empire and its questionable methods.

"No floating lands? Does it not have Ether? Or has the environment already been damaged from mining it?" Donnie asks as he glances back at Harlock. That seems a believable case given that they've got ships built to go beyond their world. How much Ether would it take for that? Maybe they needed to leave it?

"I suppose between me and my friend, I was the athlete and he the engineer, as for the ship - given their reaction, I don't believe that was intentional." Harlock's expression darkens. "Unfortunately, they have it locked up somewhere, no doubt trying to get in." His grip on the pencil tightens before forcing himself to relax.

"No, Ether... least from what I understand doesn't exist where we're from though... unfortunately Earth has been heavily polluted, though perhaps it's not completely lost."

The tension doesn't go amiss, and Donnie can figure how someone might be about having their ship taken from them. He's been around plenty of Corsairs by now that he knows a ship can be like a second home or one's entire life. This man hasn't only been stolen away from his world, but he's had his livelihood stolen in turn.

"Oh..." the turtle says quietly, sinking back a bit. He can't pull his head into his shell like his little brother, but his shoulders hunch up a little under the jacket he wears. His attention is quick to shift back to this new fascination as Harlock presents it.

"No Ether? What powers your ship then? If it can go beyond the atmosphere then it must have some great energy source!"

And much more than that, though Harlock could see the way Donnie sink back, shaking his head quietly as if trying to tell him that he was going to turn his ire on the turtle.

"Hm... I don't think there's words in this language to describe it," He started, letting Donnie lead the conversation, as he writes something in the other script, tapping the pencil. "But I'll try, there's two broad categories - first is Rocket, that have two main variations, one that give power by using heat to burn a fuel that," He puts his hands together and pulls them away pantomiming 'expand' blanking on it for the moment. "And creates force that pushes the ship. The second uses a chemical reaction to achieve the same result, each have their uses and subtypes, as shipbuilders have to consider weight, size, and how dense the air is for leaving the world, and have to pick which type of system and fuel to use." And those two are the simpler ones to explain.

The third is... I don't think there's a word for it, but we call it Ion. This one is best for long-term travel in the sea of stars, so most ships have a combination of a Rocket and Ion - Ion uses electricity to charge tiny particles, changing their nature to create that same - ah, there's the word - thrust." With that, he finished, knowing he gave a very simplified explanation.

Well, if there'd been any tension there, it dissipates easily enough once Harlock launches into his explanation. He's clearly got Donnie's interest, the turtle once again leaning over the table as he looks intently at the man, trying to soak in every single word.

A lot of it doesn't make sense, but he feels that it's mostly because of the technical aspects. Different components, different methods of energy distribution. His eyes widen as he hangs on Harlock's every word, watching the gestures as his mind tries to fill in the imagery that would go with it.

"Whoa...."

He can tell some of it went over his head, but likely due to a combination of the language barrier and a lack of frame of reference, but curiosity is good to have and looked to Harlock that least some of what he said had gotten through.

"It's amazing what people can do when they put their minds to it," He then straightens up a little in his seat. "I don't believe we exchanged names yet, and it's likely we might run into each other for the time being. I am Phantom Harlock."

"Huh? -oh!"

The teenager ducks his head a little, looking sheepish at that. "Sorry, guess we got ahead of ourselves." He blinks. "Okay, that is a pretty cool name. I'm Donnie- short for Donatello." Not typical naming standards but his dad is a weird one.

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Test Drive Meme #1

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if there's errors, I'm blaming it on language barrier.

XD

Re: XD

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