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vivalaooc2024-05-31 08:15 pm
vivalamods) wrote in vivalaooc2024-05-31 08:15 pm
Entry tags:
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.
Deedee Yeowoo || The Wonders of Mundus
The tall - and now lanky from malnutrition - foxkin laborer takes a moment to understand what was happening, shrinking away from her saviors at first. But once they demonstrate their best intentions by removing the heavy collar of metal and stone around her neck, she stiffens up, draws herself to her full height, and breathes deep.
Anyone who recognizes English recognizes her next words.
Gale Force!
She throws her cupped hands at the thing and a blast of pressurized air smashes into the manasink collar, shattering it to uselessness. The freed slave turns with fire in her eyes.
Let’s go.
2: Arrival
Exhausted, Deedee Yeowoo accepts hot porridge and a warm blanket and eats, ravenously, asking in a small voice for seconds if they’re forthcoming. When she’s done, she sighs, a hand over her eyes, and any bystander can hear the pops of her knuckles and neck as she flexes both.
God, I - I feel halfway human again. Or whatever I am here. Am I still Vulpecian? How many tails?
She laughs at this, weakly, as her three fox tails curl slightly. A curious joke to make, even more curious in context.
3: Good Stuff
Yeah no she’s not touching this stuff without her handler, uh, handling it first. She spent too long learning Mundane healing arts to disrespect healing and/or poisonous herbs and mushrooms. But she diligently picks what she’s bid to, and pays attention to the uses and risks of these herbs.
In a smaller dose, would this be useful as an anaesthe- as a painkiller, do you think?
4: Danger At Sea
Your battle is apt to be interrupted by a flash of crimson, teal and gold from above.
Gryphon! Talon! Kiiiiiick!!!
Suddenly, the monster you’re fighting has received 225 pounds of high velocity vulpine boot to the head, which it finds distracting. The source of this backflips off of the beast, landing in fighting stance with fists raised next to you.
While it’s stunned, let’s go!
3
[ Angelika has a book in one hand, and a basket in the other. She's turning pages with her thumb, consulting the manual on the plants, even as Deedee picks them. The basket also contains a couple of respirators. They haven't needed those-yet.]
Re: 3
I - I can fight well enough, but I think I have a better idea for how to help the Corsairs. Half of it is healing.
no subject
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In my case, by physically manipulating what y’all would call Ether flow in the body with my hands. It’s a lot more efficient than throwing healing energy at people.
Which is most of the healing magic I’ve seen.
no subject
[ Angel puffs up defensibly, green eyes gleaming as she prepares for a lecture. Oh no, you have provoked a magical academic]
Firstly while some truly primitive users may operate on the blunt level of casting Ether about and letting it do whatever is in it's nature, any reasonably developed magic-worker is actively directing their spells. Secondly, I had to learn anatomy and first aid techniques too you know, don't make me prove it. Thirdly, you don't manipulate it with your hands, you're manipulating it with the ether in your body and your hand gestures are 'just' ways to manipulate it without altering the flows and fourthly, we do have alternatives to purely magical healing, which is half of what we're gathering these plants for!
no subject
[and then the full force of the rant crashes over her and Deedee actually, physically holds up her hands as if to block the oncoming storm.]
If I assume I’m talking to a layman again save me from Sylphan’s gekkering, holy shit!
Okay, clearly I need a refresher on the basics, though I’m pretty sure the thing I do is more than the sum of healing magic and massage!
no subject
[ Respirator get! Actually its not a proper respirator, but at least it has a filter? ]
The mushrooms we need to gather next release spores that cause mild euphoria and paralysis. They hope that animals will happily lay down and either die or be killed by predators where they can rot conveniently.
Re: Deedee Yeowoo || The Wonders of Mundus
[The woman - herself relatively recently rescued - approaching Deedee looks like she's trying to recover her confidence. Mostly because she is. Also, she looks way too good for a fresh rescuee. She then moves to sit next to you.]
It's three right now. If you wish, I can probably help clean them up.
[Which probably implies she had a way to clean herself up once her powers weren't being suppressed.]
Re: Deedee Yeowoo || The Wonders of Mundus
…I mean, I would love to freshen up but we’re a long way from a proper bath.
no subject
I've already noticed that magic takes a lot of different forms on different worlds.
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I don't. Think so?
Clarify 'truck' and 'kun'.
[Megaera's demonic powers actually give her a sense of the language, but her concept base is a bit different.]
no subject
There are a lot of stories about dying in one world only to wake up in another. The standard issue plot device for execution is a runaway cargo truck crashing into the hero.
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[She's blinking a few times, before.]
I'm not from your Earth, though, no, I guess. What even qualifies as weird about my world...
Well, there's the whole thing about there being this big star empire who fought wars above the planet using controlled demons as proxies. Huge out of context problem for a set of civilizations that were barely getting to using magic to develop serious plumbing.
[... She's not going to mention she was one of those controlled demons yet.]
That's not too normal, right?
no subject
…though I guess Aurora might throw a solar flare at any invaders for impertinence. Mundane gods think subtlety is for cowards.
no subject
... Hopefully in money, honestly.
4
Right!
[From his considerable repertoire, Rezo quickly selects an astral spell of a strength appropriate to his current level. He silently incants and thumps the tip of his cane against the ground.]
Goz Vu Row.
[Waves of shadow erupt from the spot and zoom in a direct line towards the stunned sea serpent. When the shadows make contact, the beast wails as if burned and flails. Rezo has to scrabble to try and dodge a fin.]