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Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE MEME 001
⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ TEST DRIVE MEME:
CONTENT WARNINGS for this game include: monsters, body horror, dub-con, non-con, religion, blood/violence, and marking/branding, loss of autonomy/self, and mental influences.
This log additionally has warnings for: nudity, spiders, waxplay, character death, and references to children in proximity to sexual situations.
✧ ✧ ✧
Welcome to RUBILYKSKOYE — a dark, horror-smut game where player choices will drive a mod-run storyline about the world and its NPCs. For the first round, this test drive serves as characters' arrival into game.
THESE THREADS CAN BE GAME CANON if both players are accepted into the game and agree to it. However, if players who'd prefer to start fresh are welcome to reuse these prompts in their own personal logs upon acceptance into the communities.
If you have QUESTIONS about the test drive prompts, please ask HERE. Questions about the game itself or the general setting should be directed to the FAQ.
FAQ ✧ SETTING ✧ CALENDAR ✧ RESERVES ✧ APPLICATIONS
This log additionally has warnings for: nudity, spiders, waxplay, character death, and references to children in proximity to sexual situations.
Welcome to RUBILYKSKOYE — a dark, horror-smut game where player choices will drive a mod-run storyline about the world and its NPCs. For the first round, this test drive serves as characters' arrival into game.
THESE THREADS CAN BE GAME CANON if both players are accepted into the game and agree to it. However, if players who'd prefer to start fresh are welcome to reuse these prompts in their own personal logs upon acceptance into the communities.
If you have QUESTIONS about the test drive prompts, please ask HERE. Questions about the game itself or the general setting should be directed to the FAQ.
AWAKENING IN PAJAK WOOD
The chirping of partridges in the treetops rouses you. Light barely filters through the canopy, just enough to suggest warmth of the sun. By the time it reaches the forest floor, the daylight has taken on a sickly green tinge. You lie amongst the mosses and ferns, the soil cold and just a little damp on your bare skin. Wherever you were before this moment, whatever you were doing or wearing, when you awaken in this forest, you find yourself naked and helpless as the day you were born.Fortunately, you seem to be alone. The birdsong continues as you sit up and get your bearings — aside from a brief wave of disoriented nausea, you seem to be no worse for wear than you last remember. Amongst gnarled oaks and moss, you see nothing around. No sign of civilization or sentient life. Movement flickers at the corner of your eye, but it's just a curious animal — brave squirrels or lizards who have come to see what stirs in their home.
Then, like the rippling of the horizon at noontime, the ash-gray soil around you undulates. Sea, not earth. Something else has come to greet you — their grey bodies blended in so easily with the floor, but as you stagger to your feet, you see them. Thousands of spiders roll like waves underfoot. They crawl towards you from the darker edge of the forest.
attack
Individuals who attack the spiders will find the small spiders are easy to kill, but the pheromones released by their corpses draw larger spiders in their place. Huge, blood-red spiders the size of hunting dogs drop from the treetops. In addition to their venomous bite, which contains a fast-acting paralytic, these creatures are clever: they will attempt to use their webbing to handicap any trespassers, binding limbs together or to trees. If you're unfortunate to become fully cocooned, you don't have long before this forest will be the last thing you see.
hunt
Any aspiring monster-hunters enterprising enough to try to follow the spiders to their nest will move eastward. This way, the forest grows darker and darker — though the sun never grows warm red-gold with sunset.
In the void, the birdsong is replaced by the click of mandibles and the skitter of many legs, but soon it is impossible to see. Even with the brightest magical light does not reach further than a few inches. The air grows heavy and thick, as if it were not air at all but some more solid mass. Almost like liquid-smoke, it presses down upon you. Slowing your movements. Soon, you cannot move at all.
Turn back while you still can — collapsing out here is dangerous. The void can play tricks on your senses. You may find yourself reliving unhappy memories or hallucinating your worst nightmares.
In the void, the birdsong is replaced by the click of mandibles and the skitter of many legs, but soon it is impossible to see. Even with the brightest magical light does not reach further than a few inches. The air grows heavy and thick, as if it were not air at all but some more solid mass. Almost like liquid-smoke, it presses down upon you. Slowing your movements. Soon, you cannot move at all.
Turn back while you still can — collapsing out here is dangerous. The void can play tricks on your senses. You may find yourself reliving unhappy memories or hallucinating your worst nightmares.
But flee the spiders westward and you will discover that the wood is well-populated with the survival resources that someone might seek — berries bushes and trees bearing stone fruits; sticks and dry leaves to aid in the building of a fire; rocks big enough to fashion into crude weapons; small animals that can be hunted or caught; hike long enough, and you might just find the freshwater stream that runs north-to-south, populated by both poisonous toads and delicious crawdads.
What's more, you may run into others with stories just like yours. Some may have already formed clumsy nudist hiking parties, others may still be naked and confused and processing how they have no memory of how they got here. They all stagger vaguely, as you do, with only the sun for a waymarker — and even that won't last long.
Now is a good time to overcome any hang-ups you have about modesty, as it's going to be a long hike. If you sneak a good look at your new companions, you may four varietals of marks on their bodies. Maybe someone will even point out that you have one, too.
EVERY DAY LIKE THE ONE BEFORE
Hike far enough — or long enough that the sun does go down — and signs of life come into view. The glow of fires and lights, the smooth curve of a stone wall. A town sits at the edge of this wood, a reward to the survivors.The fifty-foot wall of beige stone protecting the town's perimeter has only a single entrance — an iron gate positioned on the southern edge. When you arrive, the gate is already open, welcoming people into town from the winding dirt road. Attentive eyes may note that the road itself bears the mark of many wagon wheels and horse hoofs, but not cars.
guards
The guards grant entry to anyone who attempts a conversation with them. However, if your character is more likely to attempt to sneak in, overcome the guards, or attack them, please reach out HERE.
Inside the wall lies a quaint, historic town with a population around five thousand. The streets are cobbled, and their signs are lit by gas lamp. Wooden shutters protect otherwise open-air windows on the buildings, which are all under three stories with gabled roofs. A number of businesses hug the main street — a clockmaker, a cobbler, a bank — while residential homes sprawl outwards towards the wall. At the far end of the main street, visible about a mile to the north now that the trees and the enormous wall is out of the way, sits a castle with three towers.
No matter what time you pass through the gate, the streets are full of people. The climate of the bustle befits a night market or a busy friday downtown — plenty of people to ogle at your exposed body. But despite any efforts on your part to hide or make excuses, the locals don't seem offended by your nakedness. Even families with children don't gawk or look twice. In fact, the further into town you go, the more you may notice that they all wear revealing clothing that, to your sensibilities, may seem sexually suggestive. Some individuals openly expose their breasts and nipples, while some others may incidentally reveal when they turn around to tend to their errands that their dress is backless — entirely! If anything, they seem to be under the impression that you're naked to participate in the evening's events with the rest of them.
Those still determined to find proper clothing will find that modern clothing stores aren't a thing here. The closest this town has is a tailor's shop, which is closed for religious observance, and a stand in the central marketplace selling scarves and blankets.
Fortunately, the people of the town are very generous! The locals will gladly share what they have with those who ask politely — but those items are as revealing as what they're wearing. You might get a mesh bodysuit or drape outfit. Remember not to be ungracious! it's only appropriate for the occasion.
steal clothing
Anyone unwilling to ask nicely for help could break into someone's house or yard to steal some of their clean laundry. Notably, inside their homes, the people of the town also appear to own some more modest apparel. Be sure to alert us HERE if your character pursues this option.
And what is the occasion? The locals are excited and flattered by any interest in their ordinary weekly prayer: the folks dancing and selling their wares are all offering their energies to give thanks and ask for their god's patronage! The abstractions are all familiar — fertility, harvest, peace. Smalltalk makes them eager to chat and draw you into those festivities — including some ceremonial wax-dripping on the exposed parts of your body!
Anyone who chats at length with the townspeople will gather that the locals feel it's better for the newcomers to dive into the deep-end because, since you'll be settling in here, they expect you'll want to participate down the line. They seem to be under the impression that the new arrivals are a boon from their god.
In addition, many of the locals' choice of clothes reveal the same four types of marks on their bodies as the folx who were wandering out in the wood!
ROOM AND BOARD
Once you're tired out, the locals will help you find a place to stay. The boarding house is several stories tall and spacious, accessible through an embellished iron garden gate and obscured by hanging plants, trees, and vines. 
Beyond the overgrown yard is a bright red door, which opens into a spacious cottage.
The house has clearly been empty for some time — dust has gathered on various furnishings — bedding, sofas, curtains, wooden tables. According to the locals, it has remained empty since its last occupant passed away, and that's all they'll say about that!
Each floor of the house has a shared sitting room, but only the first floor has a kitchen — large enough to support feeding the entire household. Here, a few of the townspeople will help out — they stock the kitchen and help make dinner for the new arrivals.
Get a good night's rest. By the light of day, locals will help get the new arrivals set up on the coal stove with breakfast. You may notice they're dressed in a way you would almost call normal — at least, in a manner befitting 19th century Eastern Europe. As you find your way around town to get your bearings, folks are eager to help you find a place to apply your skills so you can contribute to your new home.
Beyond the overgrown yard is a bright red door, which opens into a spacious cottage. The house has clearly been empty for some time — dust has gathered on various furnishings — bedding, sofas, curtains, wooden tables. According to the locals, it has remained empty since its last occupant passed away, and that's all they'll say about that!
Each floor of the house has a shared sitting room, but only the first floor has a kitchen — large enough to support feeding the entire household. Here, a few of the townspeople will help out — they stock the kitchen and help make dinner for the new arrivals.
finding roommates
Don't spend too much time in the dining room going for seconds, though. You'll want to claim a bedroom quickly because each one only has two full-size beds, and there aren't enough spaces for everyone. The last people upstairs will need to double up to squeeze in. Roommates will not be mod-assigned; players should coordinate directly with one another to determine their living arrangements.
Get a good night's rest. By the light of day, locals will help get the new arrivals set up on the coal stove with breakfast. You may notice they're dressed in a way you would almost call normal — at least, in a manner befitting 19th century Eastern Europe. As you find your way around town to get your bearings, folks are eager to help you find a place to apply your skills so you can contribute to your new home.
Re: getting festive
"On the tattoo?" He asked, assuming, very naturally, that the curse mark was a tattoo. It was a very reasonable spot for one, and the normal size for one too. Not everyone went nuts with body ink like a certain family he knew.
no subject
He frowns, a bit puzzled. With the mark in the place it is and no awareness it was even there until this moment, of course, he's confused.
"I have a tattoo...?"
Did he really get drunk and get a tattoo and somehow be completely unaware of it all this time? Surely, he didn't! He'd never dishonor his parents in that way. Never. But it's not like this person knows him so would he really lie? It's just one more mystery about this place, he guesses.
"Ah... N-No. On my back is fine, between my shoulder blades. If you need me to disrobe more to do it, that's fine. Just try not to get it in my hair, okay?"
no subject
While he talked, he was moving the candle over the man's back to get it into position. He started to pour, but stopped before the first drop could descend and frowned.
"Yeah, you might need to take off a bit more if you don't want the wax getting all over your clothes. This stuff drips, you know."
no subject
So Nie Huaisang just starts stripping off the odd, revealing little garment he'd managed to borrow from one of the townspeople in its entirety. Honestly, after running naked through the forest and being gawked at strangers in town, what's one more person seeing him naked? Once he's in the nude again, he sits down, draping the garment across his lap.
"How's that? Any better?"
no subject
Clearing his throat a little, he started tilting the candle again. "Alright, I'm starting."
The first drips of wax fell exactly between the curve of shoulder blades, small colored dots on smooth alabaster skin. Several of them fell in succession afterwards until enough pooled that it descended a short line down the young man's mid back, slowing until the wax hardened halfway down.
no subject
"That feels nice," he murmurs. "Strangely relaxing somehow."
Or maybe he's the odd one. It's quite possible.
"Any ideas on what this ritual's for?"
no subject
"Some sort of religious thanking ritual. You know, the general stuff, for harvest and fertility and weather and their neighbor's patience." Shades heard some of it, strangely able to understand despite having no idea what language they spoke, and bullshitted the other half. It was close enough.
And in a completely random question because it had bothered him all this time, "Have you ever gotten a hair cut?"
no subject
"Hair cut? Oh, no. Never. Not since I came of age. My body's a gift from my ancestors. It'd be disrespectful. Or at least, that's the belief where I'm from."
He rolls his shoulders, stretching in a catlike manner and allowing the wax droplets to wander where they will before hardening.
"Sounds like a sensible ritual. It's important to be thankful."
no subject
With his straying thoughts, he didn't fully watch where his next drops of wax went and they, unfortunately, landed in that silken long hair he was wondering about.
"Ahhh! I'm sorry!" he called, instantly trying to rub it out with his fingers.
no subject
The voice comes out alarmed but not angry, at least. Nie Huaisang is a fair, reasonable man and accidents happen, after all.
His hair is soft, smooth, and very well-maintained. It's evident from the texture that he takes very good care of it through whatever means are available wherever he's from. Of course, a fashionista like him follows a strict beauty regimen.
no subject
"I got it, I got it," he said hurriedly, smoothing the hot wax away with calloused fingers until none remained in the silken strands.
And seemingly to make conversation, he asked, "So, where are you from?"
no subject
"Oh, I'm from Qinghe. It's... well. Nowhere near this place. I think."
He has no idea what possible meaning that name might have for anyone here but it's the only real answer he has to give.
"How about you? Where are you from?"
no subject
"Me, I'm from Hangzhou." It wasn't too far from the Hebei province, not close, but nothing a day's travel wouldn't reach.
But from the climate and the culture, it didn't feel like they were still in China though. In fact, he was quite certain they were in Europe somewhere, possibly a small town near or around the Russian borders from the writing he had seen. He couldn't read it, but it looked similar to Russian.
Now that the hair crisis was over, he went back to dripping the festive wax down the boy's back.
"So how did we end up here?"
no subject
"Yes, that's right. I'm from Hebei. Huh, Hangzhou's not terribly far at all."
A warm, genuine smile spreads across his face and he relaxes more, making more of those contented little noises as the wax dribbles across his skin.
"Your guess is as good as mine. The last thing I remember was falling asleep at the inn I was staying in and waking up in the forest. And then all of a sudden there were spiders everywhere so I ran."
no subject
Shades was grinning and smiling back, but he was trying to find out what was going on, to blend in with the locals and their customs.
"Mmm, sounds about right." The kid probably knew nothing then.
Shades ran the back of his knuckles over the nape of that neck purposefully, lightly, just letting it brush over skin in butterfly touches. If the kid was going to be carefree like this, then let the boy be carefree a bit longer.
no subject
But for now, he's going to savor what moments of relief as much as he can before they're over.
"That feels lovely. You have good hands," he murmurs, pleased, and encouraging more of the ministrations. He's been isolated for so long; he probably needs it and even a fleeting moment of human connection is better than none.
no subject
The brushing knuckles became a full hand, and warm fingers wrapped around that shoulder to press lightly there in the beginnings of a massage.
"I have to. Need to be prepared to feel the world with them," he said, keeping his voice soft for the occasion.
no subject
"You can't see?"
The question might sound a bit obtuse, considering the way the man's covering his eyes, but given how he saw a tattoo, he's been unsure and a bit too timid to ask directly.
no subject
He didn't seem to sound saddened by it, just a statement of factual acceptance of am inevitable that might happen sooner or later. The earlier trek through the woods without any eyewear was just a cold reminder of something he might need to get used to permanently.
He was very good with this hands. And strong. And although at moment only his left hand was pressing over the young man's shoulder structure, it was no less capable of relaxing any knots existing there.
no subject
But fortunately, the strong hand pressing out those knots is able to distract him before he can spiral too deeply into his own thoughts. For all of Nie Huaisang's carefree demeanor, there seems to be a lot of knots and tension he needs to work through.
"How does that work? If you don't mind my asking... I'm curious."
no subject
This was a boy, a virtual stranger, reminding him well of innocence in a way that only inexperienced youth could come up with such a question. He would have continued laughing it off if it was anyone else, but here, this wasn't someone's scheme to get at Shades' weakness.
"I don't see the world the same way, but I can see what you can't. Ah... Colors are not what they used to be." But would he know if something was red from green? He would. He was not color blind. But the color of blood might not be the same version of crimson that everyone else could see. As he would never see it in complete light.
no subject
He listens to the explanation, taking it in. He's not quite sure what he means by seeing what others can't and it piques his interest.
"Can you see spirits and ghosts then? Invisible entities without form? Or just what's hidden in general?"
no subject
"It's difficult to explain because my eyes don't work the same way as a normal person's. Like you can't explain a color, I can't explain this."
Light allowed for the world to be seen, but he needed the absence of that reflecting property. In perfect pitch darkness, he could see details impeccably clearly, percepting even flecks of heavy dust as spots of white that danced through in the air. What was hidden by camouflage was useless to him, and yes, sometimes, he might be able to see something that normal people could not. Simply because invisibility was another property caused by light.
no subject
"I'll take your word for it. It's just a little difficult for me to imagine, that's all. I'd like to understand if I could."
Since coming into his own after Nie Mingjue's death, Nie Huaisang would much rather understand what's truly going on around him than remain ignorant. Even if it's unpleasant or painful. Truth's important to him now.
no subject
"Nothing much to understand. I'm just a poor blind man, feeling my way through life." He grinned and ended the massaging touch with a pat on the young man's shoulder.
"I normally charge for my blindman massages."