Prompt 1:
 he forest looms as ever, colorless but not at all dead. The leaves are full, fluttering in the silence, but there's no scent to them, no color. The effect is eerily hard to navigate, almost like an optical illusion, leaves, branches and trunk blending together with the small path -- which already disappears and reappears at a whim.
But even so...
If you brave the path, it seems as though there is something leading you onwards. A trail of... something, crumbs, maybe, the same shade of colorless as everything else, almost impossible to see. Following those might be a bad idea -- your chances of getting lost, tangled in random underbrush, or wandering aimlessly for hours are pretty high... to say nothing of what you might encounter if you stray too far (hint: even the small, fuzzy things have nasty bites).
Still, it's there, and if you follow them... eventually you will come to a small house. It's decrepit, falling apart and in shambles... do you really want to go inside? Perhaps armed with one of the many convenient tree branches that have probably smacked you thus far?
Prompt 2:
 hould you enter the house, you'll be greeted with a creepy, creepy doorman. Aw, how cute! And in that doll's hand, there's...a message.
On a slip of paper, it reads, simply and plainly:
The more you take, the more you leave behind.
Curious! (And yeah, you can destroy the doll. It's just a normal doll. You may even come across said doll already crushed by an intrepid explorer.)
Of course, it's a riddle, and the answer's a warning -- the longer you walk around and about the house, the less you'll remember about yourself, until you forget why you were there and why you should leave, and who you are at all, doomed to wander forever.
Or someone saves you, that's fine too.
Prompt 3:
 roblem: There are no fresh eggs in the Town.
Solution: Catch a feral chicken, and keep it for eggs. That seems simple enough, right? You're totally up for the task... right?
But why do all of the animals look so strange in the forest? Mutated, with teeth, or wings that don't belong, or claws. That's... a chicken, right?
Catching it will allow you to get some eggs, but that beak looks pretty nasty -- it might be harder than it looks. But you're intrepid and clever, right? Why not demonstrate your Chicken Wrangling Skills that won you the championship so many years ago? Or try to serenade the savage beast? Or wuss out and form a coalition with which you draw lots to see who has to do battle with the chicken? There's safety in numbers! But the prize will surely be worth a bit of blood loss and fowl-related trauma.
Do it for the eggs.
Prompt 4:
here's a new quest on the forum today, and it looks awfully easy! It's listed simply as:
Quest XXII.
Talk to someone you've never met about their childhood.
Quest will be completed when you have reached an acceptable level of knowledge.
On the other hand, that's a little vague, isn't it... ? How will you even know when you've completed a quest like that?
Still, it looks easy! Maybe go give it a try. You could respond to the forum post to try to find people, or just go on outside, go harass someone about their past. If you're lucky, you'll drag it out of them with very little hassle and it won't take you a good chunk of the day. If you're unlucky, that's what highly persistent stalking is for! But don't forget, you'll likely have to return the favor.
And your new friend might not be the only one listening.
Extra:
Got something in mind? Want to play with the setting more? The sky's the limit, so feel free and make up your own prompts to play with!
Welcome to Awash's first Test Drive Meme! Please check out the FAQ and rules as you test your characters out. The setting is yours to play with, so be creative and have a good time with it!
Important dates to remember are March 1st, 9 PM EST, when Reserves will open, and March 7th, 9 PM EST when Applications will open. Keep an eye out for it!
If you have any questions about the TDM, feel free to ask us here. If there are any other questions, you can catch us via PM, the FAQ or the contact page. Thank you for your interest in Awash! |
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no subject
She watches Morag curiously, noting her contemplative expression as she goes to make weapons for herself. For all the times they have been at odds with one another, the Empire's strongest warrior also makes for the strongest ally with or without a proper Blade in her hands. ]
We'll find them. I'm sure. [ She says sympathetically, adjusting her stance. Brighed. Rex. Nia...
Pyra lifts up a hand to begin dimming the blaze of her flames. As the inferno subsides, it becomes apparent that the tree has since long been rendered to ash as colorless as the world around them. Without Pyra to supply more power to the fire, the embers will extinguish upon the spot like snuffing a candle. ]
How far have you looked around this forest? I've only been here for about an hour, but it's... [ Been quite the hour. ] Still, these woods can only go so far. I wasn't heading in any direction in particular. [ More like just trying to avoid being pushed by the branches. ] But if you have a better guess than me of where to go...
no subject
she pokes at the ground with one of her branches, squinting at the narrow path.]
I was following... ah, there it is. [colorless and barely visible, but it's there. little clumps of dirt, or crumbs or something. Mòrag figured it was better to follow the trail than aimlessly wandering.
but, in the end, she had ended up doing exactly that anyway until she found Pyra. the trail didn't seem to be going anywhere in particular, and Mòrag's progression had been slow with how diligent she'd been in making sure she didn't lose sight of the crumbs (Brighid's Keen Eye would've been so helpful here, too bad), but it's still better than nothing.]
Do you see it? Someone, or perhaps something, had left a trail. It could be worth investigating. Let's not waste any more time dawdling here.
no subject
You don't suppose it could be leading to some sort of trap? [ Pyra asks warily as they set out, once more bringing a hand to her chest. Her fingers brush over the crystal centered there, making the emerald light appear to flicker in the dim woods. ]
I'm not seeing any other signs of a trail, like foot or hoofprints....
no subject
[Brighid probably would've advised Mòrag against following the trail, but she isn't here, so oh well. besides, Mòrag's got the Aegis with her now. and a pair of sticks. it's all good.
let's not waste any time, she had said, but she walks more slowly than her usually brisk pace as she alternates between staring at the ground and glancing up to make sure she doesn't walk face-first into any branches.]
If it is indeed a trap, we'll be ready.
[ready to smack someone across the head with one of her branches. bring it on.]
no subject
But she still looks so proud despite what she carries being no more than wood. It honestly paints a rather comical picture, and at that Pyra can't help but smile a bit as they walk. At least she's found someone she knows here. What are the chances of that? ]
With those tree branches, Morag? [ She mentions lightly, her tone poking fun at her choice of makeshift weapon. ]
no subject
nope, not at all. splinters are serious business. she frowns at Pyra's question, as if she isn't making any sense at all and dual-wielding sticks makes total sense in comparison.]
But of course. They'll make fine bludgeons. [splinters!!] And should they break, we're surrounded by trees.
[unlimited branch works. she's ready for anything.]
no subject
[ Haaaaah. ] But if we encounter any beasts, we'll have to fight separated. [ Because her fire would burn those weapons of hers to a crisp if they get caught up in the blaze. ]
no subject
with flammable branches.
but best case scenario, she won't even need to put these totally dangerous bludgeons to use. and it seems like she won't— the foliage abruptly opens up to a clearing, the trail they'd been following leading to a crumbling house that looks like it hasn't had human contact in ages.
Mòrag's grip on the branches tighten. this is what the trail led them to?]
... Stay on your guard. [well, obviously she wants to go investigate the spooky old house.]
no subject
...You want to go in there? [ She asks uncertainly, glancing at the other woman. Then again, it's not as if they have any other leads. ] It looks like it can fall apart at any second.
no subject
If you'd like, you can wait out here.
[she gets it, really. anyone would be hesitant to go into a place like this. a part of her is too, but there's always a possibility there's something in the house that could help provide answers or even show a way out of the forest, a map or something, and Mòrag isn't going to let any chances slip by.
she firmly taps the door with a branch. it creaks open, slightly ajar.]
I won't force you to come in with me. I'll be fine on my own.
[probably.]
no subject
And so, the Blade steps forward, the old wood of the porch creaking under her weight. ] Hold on. Let me go first.
[ As brave as Morag is, she is still human. Pyra is not. If there’s something malicious inside the house ready to strike, Pyra has a little bit more durability to her. That, and...
Pyra smiles at her, reassuring. ] It anything happens to you, I’m not sure how I’d be able to face Brighid.
no subject
her expression actually somewhat softens. she nods, stepping aside to allow Pyra to go ahead of her.]
Very well— after you. My safety is in your hands then, Pyra.
[... she's kidding, of course, but it's kind of hard to tell.]
no subject
[ Pyra steps forward, passing her on her left and stepping indoors. She's greeting with gloom and dust, the musky smell of mold beneath faded wall paper, the groans and creeks of the wooden floor, and the unpleasant stare of a worn, antique doll. The slip of paper is hard to miss in the doll's hands, but actually reaching down and taking it from its grasp takes a bit of internal prep-talk. The thing looks like it could come to life any second!
When she unfolds the slip of paper, she reads aloud the note. ] 'The more you take, the more you leave behind'....? [ The words are followed by a headtilt, earrings swaying like bells in the darkness. It sounds like a riddle, but she's completely lost. ]
Maybe it's a warning to thieves. Although, I don't see anything here to take.
no subject
her eyes sweep the floor for footprints as Pyra reads the note.
footprints... oh.]
Footsteps. The more steps we take, the more footprints we leave behind. [Mòrag narrows her eyes at the doll for a moment before looking to Pyra, mouth pressed in a thin line.] Indeed, I would assume it's a deterrent. Would you heed this warning, or continue onwards?
[Mòrag obviously isn't going to back down, but she'll let Pyra decide here.]