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vivalaooc2024-05-31 08:15 pm
vivalamods) wrote in vivalaooc2024-05-31 08:15 pm
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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.
Sirius Uhr | Original | OU
[It wasn’t the first time Sirius had found himself on a different world. Last time people weren’t immediately hostile. Before Sirius could fight back he was subdued, and his magic was suppressed. His brightly glowing eyes dimmed to a dull silver with only a weak flicker of their normal starry glow.
At first Sirius thought he had been captured by another group that saw his magic as a threat. He would understand if he was the only one treated so harshly, his magic would destroy the world one day after all, but he wasn’t the only one torn from another world. He had to help them somehow. There wasn’t much he could do with his magic dangerously suppressed like this, so he played the obedient servant, enduring the harsh treatment and the pain from too much magic building up in his body as he gained his captors’ trust.
He prioritized learning the language. All those private lessons when he was noble paid off and he offered his help to anyone who needed it. He learned about this world by listening to the guards. Unfortunately, he saw several similarities between the Empire and the ruling noble class back home, although it seemed that the normal citizens had even less rights here.
Luckily he was able to learn the language well enough to negotiate the use of his magic, which made him a valuable worker. As a mage he didn’t have to worry about food or sleep as much so even with just a little of his magic he could work longer than most people and his star magic had many useful applications as well. Sirius drew attention to himself and his usefulness as much as he could so he could hide those who were struggling behind his bright glow.
His brightness hid his own suffering as well. Even when he was allowed to use magic it wasn’t enough to get rid of the dangerous build up in his body entirely, so he continued to be poisoned by his magic. It wasn’t life threatening anymore at least. No matter what he did to help the servant gate brought more people every day and it felt like there was no end in sight. Still, he hid his feelings of hopelessness behind a gentle smile as he continued to help. His starry eyes faintly flickered with his hidden doubts.]
Are you alright?
II. Liberation
[Sirius didn’t think this day would come, nor that he would be turning down the offer of freedom after everything he had been through. However, that was the very reason he couldn’t leave. His starry eyes faintly shone brighter as he buried his longing and he pulled his hand away before his savior could break his chains.]
Sorry but I can’t leave, not while that gate still exists.
III. Making the Good Stuff
[It was rare for Sirius to be able to get away like this and he intended to make the most of it. He had been secretly working with some of the Crimson Corsairs in Elysium ever since that night and he planned to meet with them today.
He might as well help with the gathering while he was here. He was told a general idea of what to look for. The suppression band around his wrist was temporarily visible when he picked a purple flower. When he noticed, he quickly pulled his sleeve back over the iron band before he presented the flower with a small smile.]
Is this the right one?
[Don't worry about him.]
IV. Elysium
[Sirius may be trusted to run small errands around Elysium but his magic was completely suppressed while he was out. He had been gone too long and he could feel his magic burning inside him. He staggered against a wall and clutched his chest as he stifled a cry of pain. He just had to get back and the guards would lift the restriction on his suppression bands.]
Just a bit...farther.
[His head swam and he fell forward.]
V. Wildcard
[Surprise me with your own prompt! Sirius is going to stay as a servant so he can make it easier for others to escape. As a result he will probably not hang out at the Vault or Flotsom since they don't have a direct connection to the Empire like Elysium does. Also I hinted at time passing between prompt II and III to make it easier for preestablished CR, specifically Crimson Corsairs contacts, if that interests you.
You can plot with me on plurk
I. Arrival
[Aerich recalled as a young man, he had met a foreign prince who had spent time in Aerich's homelands as a serf, to learn enough of sorcery to have the advantage when he returned home. But that had been voluntary, with intention of leaving (even if the landowner had not known the status of the man from the east, nor his intention to leave). But it was a story he could hold onto, even if Aerich had met the man in the context of negotiating a treaty before the foreign army invaded.]
[Aerich gave a shrug to Sirius. By standards of the recent days, he was 'all right', but nothing about this situation was right, and he had been rather ill-treated since his arrival.]
I am well.
[Neutral, inoffensive. Aerich was a quick hand at languages even when learning them for fun. He'd also quickly assessed that he was talking to someone the locals considered of equal rank to him. If he was going to offend someone, he was going to do it on purpose and bear the consequences.]
no subject
The faint starry spark in his dull silver eyes flickered a bit brighter as he offered Aerich an apologetic smile.]
Perhaps that's a foolish question given our circumstances. I was worried you might have been hurt when you caught the guards attention earlier.
no subject
[Answer: yes, but not in a way that requires medical attention, but probably rest and better food than he is getting.]
no subject
That's a relief. I don't think we've met. I'm Sirius Uhr.
[He hesitated over his family name for a moment. It felt a bit strange to introduce himself as he would when he was a noble when he was being treated like a slave, but perhaps that's what he deserved.]
no subject
I am called Aerich.
[It was a comfortable alias he'd used when his family had been disgraced. And, easier to fall back into it; while the treatment is abhorrent, it seemed easier to bear if he didn't remember he was Duke of Arylle.]
[Pel would say it was a remarkably Yendi-like line of thought; but the appearance of dishonor was easier to handle when it fell on himself and not his ancestors and lands.]
no subject
It's nice to meet you Aerich.
[He sounded genuine although he wished it was under better circumstances.
He felt the same way about his family as well but it was also a bit more complicated. His home was destroyed so he didn't want his family name to be forgotten either.]
no subject
[He considers. On the one hand, his people don't go for family names beyond hereditary titles, but he knows of foreigners back home who use them, so is tolerably familiar with their address. Including that different countries order names differently. On the other, he also is currently experiencing a painful reminder that he is not at home. These Imperials (and he uses the local word, even in his head, because he is also from an Empire) might not care how the lowest class addresses each other, but it could bring on trouble for either of them.]
How do I call you, Sirius Uhr?
[Not a bad job mimicking the pronunciation for a first attempt.]
no subject
Ah, you can just call me Sirius.
[Clinging to formalities felt strange here and he was in desperate need of friends right now.
It wasn't a bad attempt at all, although the way his name sounded foreign on Aerich's tongue was a painful reminder that his home was gone. His starry eyes flickered brighter with the ache in his chest but he pushed it aside with a faint smile.]
no subject
[This gets a polite bow, such as one would give an equal.]
the snail returns! sorry I'm late
Let me know if there is something I can help you with. I know it isn't much given our circumstances but that all the more reason to look out for each other.
[Which was his subtle way of letting Aerich know that he could ask for help if he needed it. Whether he chose to accept it was up to him.]
No worries!
I do not know what I am doing wrong. And... I wish to survive to return home.
[He's not sure about that last one. There are things he won't sacrifice for his own life, but his own people need the warning of something capable of kidnapping their citizens to other words. That is a greater weight, so he is more careful about what concessions he will and will not make.]
IV
He briefly turned his eyes up to the sun to get an idea of what time it was, and then back down in front of him. Coincidentally, it brought his vision in sight of another young man looking faint. He readied himself to approach them and ensure they were okay, until the young man's balance failed him. Marcus reflexively rushed forward to stop him from impacting the cobblestone face first.
...He hated it when his better nature caused him to act without thought.]
Hey, what's the matter? You unwell?
[He hoped this was just a case of someone being shitfaced and nothing more. And if that were the case he wouldn't deal with being vomited on.]
no subject
I'm fine. Just...tired.
[Unfortunately it was habit to hide his magic.]
4
His attention was soon caught by the sound of footsteps. Another Corsair? Or was this one of Elysium's Imperial visitors? No way to tell from the footsteps- but what he did notice was how slow they were, as if the person was dragging themselves along.
There was a stifled cry, followed only moments after by a thud. Rezo hurried towards the person and knelt by their side, setting a hand on their back.]
What's wrong?
is preestablished CR like we talked about alright?
He tensed when Rezo hurried to his side. After enduring the Empire's harsh treatment, kindness was a bit of a surprise, and one he wasn't sure he deserved. He recognized Rezo from when he was still enslaved. He had helped Sirius before and his usual excuse fizzled with a sigh.]
It's my magic. I've been gone too long.
ye! Rezo 'twas stuck in the empire for a while so he probably got acquainted with a few folks
[Sirius was one of the few people Rezo had solid memories of during his time with the Empire; another person who was allowed to use magic under very controlled circumstances stood out. But unlike Rezo, Sirius's usage of magic was a dire necessity.
Rezo's brow furrows.]
...I'd heard rumors that one of us had opted to become a double agent, but I never imagined you would have been the one to play that role.
[Not when it meant keeping on the suppression bands that endangered his life, surely.]
sounds good! also sorry I'm late orz
[He tried to sound convincing but in truth he wasn't so sure himself. He knew what he was doing was dangerous and every day being enslaved wore down his resolve. At time like this when he paid for his choice were the worse and he winced as another wave of pain washed over him. Still he didn't regret his choice and he stubbornly struggled to sit up on his own.]
I appreciate the concern but I couldn't escape while others are still being enslaved. And I would rather play this role than someone else.
[Others were far more deserving of freedom than he was and a guilty shadow crossed over his expression of a brief moment.]
aha... it happens! :'D (they said a week later)
...I'll take the pain away temporarily, so you can return to the Imperials.
[Without waiting for permission he casts a simple healing spell; a numbing warmth will spread from Rezo's hand on Sirius's back and into the rest of the man's body.]