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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.
no subject
that being said, he tilts his head, furrowing dark brows, as he contemplates the question with more gravitas than necessary — he already knows the answer, and it's a resounding "hell no." )
It'd definitely stretch my religious tolerance. ( which hadn't exactly been immense to begin with. )
no subject
she cocks her brow as she regards him with some amusement. ]
Would you trust me to do it?
[ what prompts her to ask, she doesn't know. but his answer hadn't sounded like a yes or no, and she's curious to see how he finds a way around saying "no". ]
no subject
he looks back at her, eyes narrowing slightly, like he's taking her measure. if it is a challenge then he's not handing her an easy win on sheer principle. )
Depends on where you're planning on sticking that candle.
no subject
I don't do anything with candles until at least the third date. But wax…
[ she has no idea what she's saying, but you know what? she'd approve it as a script advisor.
rather than ask for a candle like a normal person would, wanda holds out her hand and materialises one in a sparkle of scarlet. ]
Arm please.
no subject
he doesn't appear bothered by the candle's sudden appearance; rather, he's fascinated by it. matter manipulation is one of those high-cost, low-reward specializations: messy, with unpredictable results when there were results at all. but, there's an elegant precision to her work that suggests she knows just what she's doing. ) Nice trick.
no subject
still holding the candle in her palm, she wraps her fingers around its base. it should technically tip over, but wanda ensures to keep it balanced and centred.
she smirks at him. ]
Do you like tricks?
[ the dull wick bursts to life with a healthy flame. yes, she did want to do that with a little flair. wanda might be shy most days, but she enjoys attention like anyone else. ]
no subject
I have mixed feelings.
( now, he watches the candle with a wary curiosity. fire-related injuries can be a nightmare to deal with, after all, with all that pain and scarring.
but she's not attacking him, either. which is a positive sign. he's not in any shape to take someone like her on — mostly naked and completely unarmed. )
You're not some kind of deity, right? Because if this is your party I do have some notes.
no subject
[ wanda's quick to shake her head, pulling a face as though she's sucked a lemon. that idea disturbs her, even though the answer isn't particularly that easy. she'd been prophesied in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable. being expected to take on a specific shape feels as suffocating as a pile of rubble sitting on top of her.
the scarlet witch may have been forged, but wanda maximoff's just a girl still figuring out what she likes, what she doesn't like, and how to be a person in the wake of so much loss. ]
If this was my party, we would be wearing more clothes. Thousands of layers. [ she glances at his arms. ] They'd be hidden. A shame, but, party rules.
no subject
what's interesting, is that the townsfolk have either completely missed her little show or they're even less concerned about that kind of thing than they were about nudity. interesting. )
I could get behind that. ( for practical purposes, if nothing else. communal living would disabuse you of any notions of shame pretty quickly, but he's a soldier when it comes right down to it, and right now he's presenting a really nice soft target to anyone willing to try. )
A little color, maybe.
no subject
[ it'd at least compliment his complexion a little, even if no one can really pull off a very bright pink. inspired by that, she turns the candle from its dull cream into a fluorescent pink. no one seems to care for her magical display more than him. she's glad about it. she doesn't particularly want to become the girl who transforms candles into bright colours for this little celebration. (or pours wax on strangers. or more than one stranger.) ]
Maybe we can liven up this boring party with pink wax?
no subject
( dryly deadpan; now that he's established that she's probably not going to try to turn him inside out, he's inclined to be lenient on the matter of colour. it does also allow him to observe her work a little longer — a rare opportunity.
so, he studies he with a childlike curiosity, his fascination almost as naked as he is. )
If you can do that, why are you sticking with the — ( a jerk of his chin toward what she's wearing. ) — outfit?
no subject
glancing around, she thinks her answer is obvious. ] If I wore more layers, I would stand out. [ considering everyone appears to live by the "less is more", wanda reluctantly abides by that herself. she looks at him and shakes her head. ] I don't want to stand out. I don't want to know what happens when you do.
[ at least, not yet. ]
no subject
his gaze shifts to look over her shoulder, checking to see if anyone is lingering a little too close, before moving it back to wanda's face. his eyebrows furrow slightly. )
Well, I guess that means I'm shit out of luck. ( being north of six feet, subtlety had never really been on the cards for him. )
no subject
I think you could stand out less if you remain seated.
[ he does appear to have long legs and a long torso. wanda doesn't need him to rise to his full height to prove that assessment right.
but she furrows her brows as she makes a show of playfully scrutinising him. ]
And maybe if you cover this.
[ she gestures very vaguely to his face and chest. that's incredibly helpful advice, she knows. ]
no subject
Is that your professional opinion? ( wryly put.
it'd be a lie to say that he wouldn't prefer to be somewhere else. somewhere quieter, preferably indoors. that, as curious as he is about this place, about its people and its customs, it's still an unknown quantity. )
no subject
[ she regards him seriously, lifting her brows and her chin up slightly. she's a professional in whatever profession this is. judging people? noticing them? if she was to cast him in wandavision, she'd have made sure he was in every scene vision was in. it's a height thing, and incredibly important for her blocking.
glancing around, she draws her brows together gently. is he worried about drawing attention? while wanda is, she supposes she's used to it. being branded as a terrorist on the news is possibly the worst she'll ever experience in terms of attention.
on a whim, she proposes: ] Did you want to go somewhere else? Maybe there is a corner for people uglier than you at this festival.
[ she wrinkles her nose, suspecting he might take that in stride. ]
no subject
( leaving it vague, so she can fill in the details for herself; he hasn't had to deal with overstimulation for the better part of thirty years, but he also is used to having at least one anchor to keep him grounded.
unfortunately, the closest source of support tried to kill him earlier that night, so he doesn't expect much help from that direction. )
no subject
wanda postures as much as she can to try and fit in with those around her. no one can deem her 'weird' if she smiles brightly and says and does what's in the approved script. but she's always disliked crowds, and no matter how many times she rewrites her own episode, that characterisation of hers remains. ]
What about walking? [ she cocks her brow and makes a little 'hm?' sound. ] We can walk away from the crowds. I'm sure there is something else to find that isn't a part of the festival.