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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[ MAKING THE GOOD STUFF P.1 ]

Seeing somebody about to do something stupid in the distance, Maomao shouted. "Hey, you! Don't even think about touching that unless you want your skin to turn purple for a week! It's not even close to what we're looking for!"

Gods, how did she wind up looking after other people? This was the worst! Some sort of devious torture, perhaps? All she wanted was to be left alone with her plants and her herbs, making powders and medicines and occasional poisons in peace. (Well, really, all medicines were poisons, in the wrong instance or with the wrong dosage.)

"And don't even think about gathering anything not on the list! Not unless I tell you to!"

[ MAKING THE GOOD STUFF P.2 ]

She grumbled a bit more to herself as she made her way over to a dead tree. Then she quickly glanced around, a maniacal glint in her eye and deranged grin on her face, before she leaned in, pulling back a piece of broken tree to reveal a plethora of mushrooms growing in a hollowed interior. "Ahuehueh... yes, these are growing nicely!" She quickly began gathering a number of the larger ones, shoving them into her own shirt instead of the gathering baskets everybody was using.

...She stopped only when she noticed she was being observed. She slowly shoved the wood piece back in place, disguising the opening and hiding her trove of mushrooms from view. "H-Hey, don't go getting any ideas," she said. "This is all for... the cause..."

[ EDUCATION AS THE BOMBS FALL ]

Why was Maomao doing this?

Oh, right, she was being forced to.

She let out a sigh as she got into the classroom. What was she teaching today - sex positions, poisons, or medicine? Well, she saw some guys in the class, so probably not the first one. Medicines and poisons, then. Or just one of them. Eh, she'd make do. She knew enough, she could wing it to work for both.

"Let's start with an easy opener today," she said, a bored tone in her voice. "Not all poisons, once ingested, can be treated with vomiting. Can anybody give a possible example of why?"

[ FLOWERING BEAUTY? ]

Maomao was delivering another batch of medicines to the brothel, The Vale of Flowers - contraceptives, mostly, but also a number of other useful medicines and a smattering of the general medicine that any place would need. Almost all of the girls inside knew her, giving her hugs if they knew her long enough or otherwise exchanging pleasantries.

The problem came upon leaving. She'd assumed, now being empty-handed and obviously leaving, that there'd be even less reason for people to pay her any attention. Unfortunately, she didn't account for Big And Drunk Guy.

It started innocently enough - for a brothel. Asking how much a night with her would cost. However, the issue was that he wouldn't, couldn't, or was too drunk to accept that she didn't work as a courtesan inside. And he was only becoming louder and more belligerent as Maomao kept turning him down.

She needs a rescue, please.

[ WILDCARD ]

Maomao is a 17-year-old apothecary in Elysium's red light district, as well a poison taster for a noble girl who is staying in the area.

She works as a provider with the Crimson Corsairs, providing both medicines and (mostly non-lethal) poisons. She also sometimes doubles as an infiltrator, since she is attached to a noble girl (who is also an infiltrator for the Crimson Corsairs.)

Once in a while, she hits up the Vault to teach other people about what she knows or, even more occasionally, to learn something new herself. She generally never visits Flotsam.

Hit her up wherever you may find her.

Edited 2024-06-01 05:12 (UTC)

[Well, thankfully he was already masked up when he saw the obvious situation of a man three sheets to the wind being too belligerent to accept the no. On the other hand, he has some rather uncomfortable shooting pains in his arm.

What wonderful timing. But he supposes given the man's state, he didn't need to be at his best, just quicker. From the shadows, the drunk would feel something sharp poking right at his back]

I believe the Lady told you to leave her alone, and I suggest you listen.

[ It's amazing how fast a man will change the tune he sings when somebody gives you a point to the back. He sputters, then stammers out something sort of resembling an apology before he's tailing it out of the scene entirely.

Maomao watches with a complicated expression somewhere between gratitude, amusement, and suspicion. Said expression is carefully schooled before turning to her savior and offering a polite bow. ]

Thank you for your assistance. [ She pauses a moment, truly taking in the man's appearance. ] Although you'll find that most wait to dress in costume until they've paid for the appropriate services and found some privacy.

[ RPK holds up her hands in a gesture of surrender - or, rather, a gesture of "I'm harmless, I'm not gonna tell on you!" Her gathering basket, conspicuously empty, swings where it hangs from the crook of her elbow. ]

I'll take your word for it! But young miss... could it be you need an extra basket...?

An extra basket? I only have so many hands, you know.

[ She's relieved this lady won't say anything about the mushrooms - they're going to be so good for experimenting with later.

She quickly shuffles away from the scene of the crime before certain things are reconsidered. ]

You look like you're having some trouble, though.

Let it not be said that Angelika is unprepared for class, or for odd instructors. She has her notepaper, her pencil, her bright and attentive looks. What she isn't quite prepared for is for the instructor to be a girl her own age (oh no, does this mean she is behind the curve?) or for the first question to be about poison of all things. It's a distasteful topic, and she wants to conceal how much she knows about an uncute thing...but the question, being asked, sends her hand up.

"If vomiting isn't effective, it could have a rapid absorption into the body?" She can think of other reasons-high lethality, delayed effects that keep you from noticing, non-food vectors like gas or a needle or dart...but talking about that makes her skin crawl, and even her overeager student nature can't cover up her discomfort with the topic.

Edited 2024-06-01 16:32 (UTC)

"Half points," Maomao responds. "Rapid absorption by itself would certainly keep it from being effective at a certain point, but if it's the only reason, acting quickly is better than not doing anything."

She continues with the class. "Simply put, vomiting is a useful tool for an ingested poison. But there are some cases where it can make the poisoning worse." She paces a little bit, looking over in Angelika's direction. "Namely, if the poison is also caustic, then it damaged the throat going down, and it will do more damage coming back up. Secondly, if the poison aerosolizes, then trying to make it come up can make it enter the lungs instead, which is far more dangerous in most cases. And lastly, certain poisons will enter the body quicker during the act of vomiting, being absorbed into the stomach lining when being pressed in upon."

She really wanted to experience what that was like, to be honest. But she hadn't come across anything like that which wouldn't also kill her. Which was a shame. Maybe if she procured it in great quantity, she could slowly work up her resistance until she could try it for real?

Sorry, she's spacing out for a moment after all that.

Angelika makes quick, efficient notes in shorthand-paper's still rare enough not to waste, and Maomao is talking fast enough to make it worth taking all those notes.

On the other hand, what poisons are also so caustic that they're worse than your stomach acid, but you don't notice them going down? Surely, that would be so sour, bitter, or otherwise distasteful as to spit out before you swallowed-and, well, anything could be aerosolized by a particularly violent vomiting, couldn't it? But, seeing the edge cases and exceptions might get her some points back.

If the teacher asked any more questions. But now Maomao had stopped talking entirely and Angelika had nothing to do but tap her pencil on the desk while she spaces out about poison. She tries to be patient but... "Um, teacher? Hello?"

It's less about being worse than stomach acid and more the fact that it's already done damage going down, so it would only be compounded going back up as well, and - wait, why are discussing poisons in the narration?

Maomao was likewise caught in her thoughts about poisons, until a student snaps her out of it. "Oh, um, right. Sorry." Cough. "Now normally, we deal with ingested poisons because it's easy to disguise, easy to carry, and easy to administer - relatively." War crimes? What are those? "It's also much easier to adjust the dosage to be nonlethal, when you have to care about things like that." Her tone is carefully flat in this part.

"And so using these kinds of poisons, getting the stomach free of the poison will help. Though, of course, depending on the timing, it can still be too little and too late. So I do recommend keeping some emetic with you at all times, if you're going to be working with either poisons or in treatment." She pulls up a small pouch at her side and shakes it to show it off.

"Any questions so far?"

Maomao | Apothecary Diaries | AU

Flowering

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making the good stuff p2

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[ Education ]

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education

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Wildcard

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good stuff 2

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Flowering Beauty

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