vivalaooc | TDM #9

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TDM #9

TEST DRIVE #9

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
The crackdown on the Vindess mines has been severe, but there are still some refugees who manage to escape the lockdown. As word spreads of the Corsairs and the propaganda intensifies, many Imperial citizens have reaffirmed their loyalty but some, realizing either opportunity or waking to the reality of the situation, have begun to seek out the Corsairs, hoping to find a place for themselves.

RETURN OF THE FLEET

With Flotsam returning to its normal form, its inhabitants are eager to reunite. As is typical, there is a lot of drinking, socialization and merriment. While people are wary of the return of the Imperials, the mood is festive as the fleet is once again in order. Flotsam residents should be able to enjoy any number of activities as the fleet defiantly roars, “we’re back!”

CAMOUFLAGE DESIGN

The Vault has been hard at work developing the schematics for Asphodel. One of the major requirements of the settlement is concealing livable buildings within the ruined shells of the city that once laid there. This means developing means to conceal smoke from fireplaces, the homes themselves, and even the farmland they hope to develop. The academy is firing on all cylinders coming up with all kinds of innovations to make the new subterranean and above-ground city work.

REFUGEES UNDER IMPERIAL NOSES

Due to its proximity, Elysium has been mobilized to an unusual degree in order to assist with the resettlement into Asphodel. Which means two things: finding whatever spare scraps of housing items they can take or repurpose for human use, and making sure the Imperials are far too drunk or high to get anywhere close to realizing what’s going on. Whatever your responsibility may be, there is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done, and it must be done, as is always the way of Elysium, with utmost elegance and care.

WILDCARD

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OOC
Welcome to the ninth 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 5th of March at midnight.
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[ I. REFUGEES UNDER IMPERIAL NOSES ]

So these Corsairs thought they could smuggle people in and out right under the noses of the Imperials? Hah! Unfortunately for them, the Society saw fit to send in one of their assets to help the Imperials sniff out any such insurgencies or other nefarious schemes.

And that asset? Why the most disposable - I mean, the most talented knight of the Stahlritter, Duvalie!

Which is to say, there's a young adult lady in a green dress, attempting to look like she's blending in but sticking out due to how stiff she is and the sword strapped to her side. She's looking for anything amiss here in Elysium, and definitely any signs of the Crimson Corsairs, so look out!

In fact, she might be approaching you now! "Excuse me, have you noticed anything... odd, lately? No, no, I'm nobody suspicious! I'm looking for suspicious people, though."

[ II. OBLIGATORY FIGHT SCENE ]

Duvalie eventually did get word of something amiss, and so she's bursting into a warehouse, currently being used to gather supplies, furniture, extra food, and other miscellany for the current project.

She's now clad in armor, albeit not full plate, with her sword drawn and an upset expression on her face. "Everybody down, if you'd like to keep your lives! Any resistance will be met with deadly force!"

A couple regular helpers quickly fall back, and Duvalie can't help but wonder - how did she, one of Arianrhod's knights, fall so low as to take down these civilians?

But that will be quickly set aside when she meets eyes with somebody who looks like they know how to fight.

Sword bared, she advances.

[ III. OTHER? ]

Wildcard option. Spot Duvalie whilst undercover, or else meet with her on the Imperial side.

She's a srsbsns knight who thinks she's too good for all of this, so not the most friendly or approachable. Still!

[ A voice echoes out from around Elysium, clearly aimed at Duvalie but from an uncertain origin ]

The Society seems to love sending people who can talk forever, at the very least.

[ Her hand snaps to her sword. Eyes narrowed, Duvalie casts her glances about.

Besides people suddenly giving her wide berth - due to the aforementioned "hand on sword" no doubt - she can't seem to spot anything amiss, nor the source of that voice. ]

Not that I know what this Society is, but it sounds like they're simply sending their best. And who might be addressing me?

I think you do. You're one of the Steel Maiden's pets, aren't you?

[ Identify herself? Nah. ]

[ Oh! Oh this is too suspicious! Not that it... wasn't, before. ]

How do you know of my master? Answer me! And also, come out to face me!

[ ...Yeah, people are definitely giving her space now. ]

I'm not so foolish as to confront one of her pets without the Empire's enhancements. How can I expect you to honor my understanding with the Society?

[ She giggles a little. This is far, far too easy. ]

[ Now, as easy as Duvalie is to rile up - and let's be honest, it is way too easy - she's not dumb, and on top of that, she's spent a fair amount of time with various members of the Society's upper echelon, learning about events, people long gone. Various pieces click into place with that last statement, like a puzzle Duvalie hadn't known she was even meant to be solving until that moment.

Okay, that was a bad metaphor.

But the knowledge of the Stahlritter, of their master, of the Society - and that statement, her having an understanding with the Society - told Duvalie enough. Not enough to know who it was, but enough to get the situation.

Her grip on her sword loosened, and she appeared to calm down some. After a few moments, people were even moving on without running. ]

If you truly have an understanding, you shouldn't be working against their goals.

The Society's aims are neither interesting nor ultimately beneficial. I could hardly stand to support such a bland agenda when there is more interesting and rewarding work to be done~

"I see. Suspicious people..." Natalia, styled Nathalie, stood in the venue of Penguin Logistics and hummed. "I do not know for certain. What would someone suspicious look like, do you know?"

Duvalie has to wonder if this girl is being genuine, or if she's being played for a fool here. It's obvious what is suspicious and what isn't suspicious. The act of asking for clarification is in itself suspicious!

Still... maybe it's genuine. Duvalie should give an Imperial citizen the benefit of the doubt.

"Somebody that doesn't belong here, obviously," is the answer she gives. "Or somebody doing something they should not be. People skulking about, or... whatnot."

"You are in a dock yard," Natalia says, waving at the various fish stalls and store fronts, which, indeed, have people from many walks of life, many of them lowly. "Everyone belongs here, if only briefly, on their way to or from a place. They may even belong here for extended periods. Sailors and airmen stay nearby often. We of Penguin Logistics deliver packages that are left in our care."

She leans on one hand and, with a disaffected expression, continues to look the dame in the eyes. "Do you perhaps have such?"

"No." Her response is immediate and flat. "I'm here to search for people, not deliver packages."

She ponders what to do for another moment or two. "Are you sure you haven't seen anyone suspicious? Surely not everyone belongs here. Somebody who doesn't like fish, for example."

"I enjoy many different fish, myself," Natalia replies, with a faint smile. "I would hardly name my business after penguins if I didn't. But as for people loudly walking up to a fish stall and proclaiming they don't enjoy fish... No, not a one. Not in the months I've been here, at any rate. Perhaps some noble came, before my time, to demand a fishmonger why he sells fish, but if so, I would not question the eagle as it soars."

"I'm not- that's- ugh!" She's not here to talk about fish! This is what she gets for trying to be subtle!

So to hell with subtle.

"And the Crimson Corsairs? Do they fit in here as well? They don't appear out of place at all? Surely you, who deliver all over the city, would recognize somebody who so clearly doesn't belong as them."

"Ohhhhhh, you're looking for Corsairs?" Natalia said, nodding with sudden comprehension. "I of course am willing to help, Dame, but you understand that I do not deal in contraband? Which of course, any package delivered to an enemy of the state would be?"

She hummed, and considered. "Though-- I suppose there was that one visitor, who asked for especial care with the package. They said they were a perfumer, but Divine, what a stench! I still don't know what it could have been, or why a perfumer would need something that smells that awful!"

"... Ugh. Seriously?", comes a voice from the warehouse's shadows.

"Well, if you're declaring deadly force..."

Several icicle-like blades are flying towards Duvalie.

"Pity. You're actually cute."

Ice magic, is it? No problem.

"Flame Brand!" Her sword lashes out, and with it, a wave of flames to melt or deflect any incoming ice projectiles. If several crates are also set on fire, that's of no concern to Duvalie. She is here, after all, to stop this operation, whatever it may be.

"Stop hiding, coward! You face Duvalie the Swift! At least meet your death head-on!" Duvalie seems unbothered by the ice projectiles, and much more bothered by the fact that the person launching them is hiding. "And don't call me cute!"

Quickly, the figure responds by summoning snow - trying to put some of the crates out quickly.

This opponent seems annoyed. Play to that.

"Pfft. So cute, thinking a straightforward path is what everyone follows. I know better than to think I do well in a direct fight."

As she spoke, she was quickly slipping toward an exit - And it was here that the distinct blue bodysuit would become visible.

"Come after me, if you wish, Miss Duvalie."

She started to run, hoping the woman would opt to follow. She had a plan for if she actually remembered her (presumed) objectives, but...

Oh, brother. Who is this chick? Aira is out on the street to stretch her legs and get some air, and this isn't exactly the kind of thing she wants to deal with when she's trying to take a nice little break.

... Then again, maybe there's an opportunity here. If this lady is an Imperial soldier, then Aira might be able to worm some useful info out of her. Though maybe not, like if she's just a peon, or if it turns out that she's sharper than she looks. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"You're Nobody Suspicious?" She grins, trying to pour on the charm. It's been a hot minute since she's put on the vapid, nice girl act. "I'm Lina. I work at the boutique just down the way there."

Aira points, then casually glances down at Duvalie's weapon. "Ooh, and we definitely have a few things in stock that'd go great with your pretty sword."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #9

Duvalie the Swift | Trails of Cold Steel | AU (Villain)

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