TEST DRIVE MEME 001

[rubimods]

⚰︎ ⍢ ⌲ ⍚ 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

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.

FAQ: DEATH RULES

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.

SETTING: THE VOID

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.

FAQ: CURSE MARKS

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.

SETTING: CRIME

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.

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.

Comments

Shades | Daomubiji (Grave Robbers Chronicles)

[immapoorblindman]

Awakening/Wilderness:

Running naked through a forest was not his version of fun on any day. Running naked through a forest mostly blind while chased by giant spiders had skipped right over the fun thereshold into 'crazy that he never wants to repeat'. There were currently a number of things in that category, a surprising amount to do with bugs and snakes, but he had to admit his scarred nakedness was a refreshing first.

He soon lost them -a definite victory considering how many legs they outnumbered him- and found himself wandering the foreign forest. It wasn't totally aimless. At the first sounds of running water he hiked towards it, always, of course, keeping an ear out for any other indication of signs of large creatures too, human or otherwise. And followed along the stream, hoping it would bring him back to some sort of civilization, ancient, ruined, or otherwise.

Thanks to the filtered light, he was able to keep his eyes squinted open most of the time, the watered down afternoon lighting not hurting his eyes as much as it should and allowing him to see a little past his blindness. It wasn't until evening that he would be totally at ease in opening them fully, although he kpt them close at the first indication of human company. If lucky enough to find company, he used his makeshift stick, lovely straight tree branch, in front of him to guide him.

Shades -ironic moniker in his lack of eyewear at the moment- whistled, loudly, as he walked. Just another naked blind guy body full of scars, whistling while taking a stroll through the forest.

Town - Getting Dressed:

After a bit of less-awkward-than-he-thought explanation later, Shades had found himself some clothes. He didn't even need to barter for any, not that he had anything to barter with. He was well satisfied with the black undershirt tank and pants, and belt he was given, and a good leather belt was very important for more reasons than simply keeping his trousers up. In fitting with the scantily dressed theme of the town, he didn't feel too underdressed at the moment and it was better than his birthday suit before.

Most importantly he managed to find himself a pair of sunglasses. As dark as he could find to block out the light while still allowing him to see. A slightly reflective too, to keep his eyes hidden.

Town - Getting Festive:

(CW: Wax play?)

So it might be night time, and he might be wearing sunglasses. But he kept that long stick he found out in the woods -he might be growing a little attached- and kept it pointed in front of him even though he was no longer blind now.

He walked around, honestly more interested than concerned, at the local customs of this place. And might have winced, just a bit, at seeing where some of the wax was dripping on those exposed areas. (Especially if anyone's participating in their aforementioned birthday suit.)

"Oooh, that's gotta hurt...."

And a shameless second later, "Hey, lemme try." He meant to be the one doing the dripping, of course. That was what he intended...

Boarding House:

He definitely spent too much time eating because by the time he walked up to the bedroom there was... well, no bed. He stared at the full room and many people and lack of bed, and an almost comical crestfallen expression appears on his shades covered face.

Still standing by the door, he looked at the arrangements.

"Uh.... Any of the mister or misses on the beds are willing to share?"

If worse came to worse, he could go back and claim a sofa. These European places had large comfy couches, and one of them would fit his 6' tall frame.

Wildcard:

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boarding house

[gonnaburnitdown]

"That depends," came a rather dry, almost bored voice, spoken by a rather familiar figure who has managed to claim a bed mainly through feats of wrestling, pinning and then flipping the former occupant onto the floor. His clothing was almost as revealing as what Shades was wearing, though he had opted for a white tank and jeans. Still it did not cause him to loose his stiff, military-trained posture.

"What you are willing to give me, Hei Ye."

Re: boarding house

[immapoorblindman]

He did a take. A double take. Hell, a quadruple take when he recognized the man on the bed. Not only recognized but thought this was someone he didn't really want to mess with.

"Lieutenant. Why, fancy meeting you here. Ah... on second thought, I was thinking that couch outside looked extremely comfortable." It really didn't, his legs might stick out. "Or... Would you accept IOU's in Wu Xie's name?"

Re: boarding house

[gonnaburnitdown]

As much as he tended to stay locked within the New Moon or buried in layers of paperwork these days, he knew that Hei Xaizi was not a man who was easily terrified. Most times, he just did not like to get too deep into the mess that was the Jiumen and honestly, Zhang Rishan didn't blame him. The current lot of leaders were feral animals with only a few sane heads, and it took a man who was even more feral to keep them in line.

Still, it was better to have an ally close by when in an unfamiliar situation, especially one that seems rather... suspect as this place. So he just raised an eyebrow at the blindman's words and snorted. Slightly.

"Hei Ye."

Re: boarding house

[immapoorblindman]

"No?"

Regardless, Shades started approaching the bed anyway. It really was a better idea than the couch outside and after a full day of running around barefoot on uncomfortable terrain, a potential bed really was more attractive. Even if there was a Zhang sitting in it already.

He came to a stop in front of the bedding, not huge, but enough for two men to share if they kept their hands to themselves. It meant he was standing in front of Zhang Rishan as well. Somehow, the lieutenant looked more imposing while seated, and in his undershirt, which was frankly ridiculous, but he did.

"Not much else I can give in exchange, lieutenant."

Re: boarding house

[gonnaburnitdown]

Both eyebrows were raised now, his expression clearly saying that while he respected the legend surrounding him, he still was surprised at how dense Hei Xiazi was acting at this moment. Then he unfolds his legs, turning to give him room to sit down next to him.

"We are in an unknown situation, brought here by unknown forces and surrounded by unknown people. We are at least familiar with each other so that alone can provide us a starting point."

Re: boarding house

[immapoorblindman]

Shades wasn't wary because he didn't think he could take Zhang Rishan on in a fight, he probably could, at least hold his own until he could make an escape, but he was aware that this man was a force to be reckon with outside of physical abilities. Unlike the Zhang patriarch, the lieutenant wasn't a simple minded individual. It wasn't easy wrangling the Jiumen after Foye left, yet somehow he managed to keep the Association in line all these years.

So he was forgivably a bit wary entering any open ended deals with the man over something as simple as bed space.

"Oh, is that it?"

But when the opening terms were laid out, Shades pounced on it, quite literally, by taking the open spot and sprawling in a backward fall onto the bed. It was a very long trek through the woods today and his eyes hurt under his glasses. "Sure, I'll watch your back and you watch mine."

Re: boarding house

[gonnaburnitdown]

Luckily for Shades, he was actually tired of making multilayered moves with other people over something as simple as bed space. He also was clear that so long as he didn't do anything against his bottom line - and no one had paid Shades anything - he can sleep easier near the other man. The other people he had seen? Not so much so.

"Of course. Did you think I wanted to bargain more from you?" The tease in his voice was blatant in his voice. "My pockets aren't as deep as Xiao Hua's."

Which he knew was a lie, and he also knew that Shades was aware of as well. After all, he may not be moving a lot of goods himself, but he had any number of fingers in several very special pies over the years. Only the main branch had more than him, or will have once the tenth family was broken completely.

"Do you need anything to help your eyes?"

Re: boarding house

[immapoorblindman]

Enough of a lie that Shades actually scoffed, while his arms were still sprawled out by his sides and temporarily hogging most of the bed while the real owner of it stayed sitting on its edge. Might as well make the most of it while he still could.

"I don't know. Your reputation precedes you." Which was mainly what Shades had to rely on since he never personally dealt with the Zhang branch of the Jiumen, one mute patriarch aside. He wasn't sure if Zhang Qiling even counted as a Jiumen, to be honest. Sure, their paths crossed, but they never contracted Shades and he stayed out of their way in return.

"Nothing you can do here." There was no need to hide anything from the lieutenant, not yet. Not this anyway. "But if you know where I can obtain a few more pairs of glasses, I'd like to know."

Re: boarding house

[gonnaburnitdown]

"Oh? And here I thought it was a reputation of being a hard ass with no leeway when it comes to the rules and nothing more."

He looked at the sprawling man for a long moment and then leaned over, jabbing two fingers into Shades' side to get him to move. He didn't have the Zhang long fingers, but he still knew enough of the techniques to make it smart but not bruise.

"I suppose it all will be how bargain with the locals. Move over."

Re: boarding house

[immapoorblindman]

"Exactly," Shades replied with unrepentant grin. "I like a person who knows their own short--" He glanced quickly at the unsmiling expression on Zhang Rishan's face and coughed instead finishing what he was going to say. Yeah, best to not push this too far in case he gets pushed off the bed.

The poke was met with a sigh and a slight grimace, but he did obligingly take his arm back and roll naturally so he was only on one side of the bed. He shifted so he was now laid out with his arm pillowing his head and glanced sideways at the lieutenant.

"At least the locals are generous to us kidnapped strangers. But some strange customs they've got here."

getting festive

[illicitly]

"Maybe they're into that?"

Not so much getting dripped on. There's certainly places on Nie Huaisang's body he doesn't want hot wax anywhere near but on the other hand, he'd probably enjoy watching the other person squirm, if only a little bit. It'd be a good time.

For now though, he'd content himself with being on the receiving end of things. He pushes his long hair to the side, revealing the curse mark on the back of his neck and his bare shoulders.

"Here, do me instead."

Re: getting festive

[immapoorblindman]

Shades hadn't seen hair that long on a guy since... well, since several lifetimes ago. He honestly thought the man was a woman when the other first approached. He even licked his lips a little with anticipation until... Oh, that was definitely an Adam's apple. But hey, he wasn't going to discriminate.

"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.

[illicitly]

"Tattoo?"

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?"

[immapoorblindman]

"Tattoo..." Seeing the reaction, Shades' first thoughts were unknowingly similar to what was being thought out by the other man. "Ah, don't worry, lots of people do all sorts of things while drunk. It's not a huge mark, quite stylish, and chicks dig things like that."

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."

[illicitly]

"Oh, right. I don't want to damage this too much. It's all I have at the moment."

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?"

[immapoorblindman]

The kid had good features. Shades wasn't... well he was blind, but not that kind of blind, so he could appreciate how pretty the man looked.

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.

[illicitly]

Admittedly, wax play isn't something Nie Huaisang's ever done before and the heat of it feels pleasant enough dripping down his skin. He shudders ever so slightly, sensual creature that he is.

"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?"

[immapoorblindman]

"I heard it can feel like a hot Thai massage," Shades chimed back as he dribbled a bit more over those lovely shoulder bones. The young man said on his back, but he took the liberty of going over the shoulders anyway, the same way he would do it if he was starting an actual massage.

"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?"

[illicitly]

Nie Huaisang isn't going to complain about a little wandering beyond the scope of his initial direction. He's easygoing like that and if he's unhappy with the direction things are going, he can let the other man know.

"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."

[immapoorblindman]

"Yes, yes..." Shades answered absentmindedly as his thoughts wondered back to the young man's answer about his hair. How long had it been since he heard an old traditional answer like that? Did Confucianism still existed to that level in this day and age?

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.

[illicitly]

"Huh? What happened? Did you get it out!?"

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.

[immapoorblindman]

It was very clear that this was a person who took very good care of his hair, and skin too. Shades' fingers brushed against the nape of the young man's neck and he could definitely feel the smoothness even without actually exploring. After all, as a person going home soon, he was very sensitive to feeling the world with his hands.

"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?"

Getting Festive

[skysfate]

Whereas Sky had been attempting to get out of being a candle-holder for one of these religious enthusiasts. He was losing his battle rather superbly with this particularly convincing older gentleman. Always taught to be polite. Sky was having difficulty convincing the man that he really didn't need to have wax poured over his torso, and that wasn't why he was naked from the waist up.

It was then he noticed that Shades had appeared by his side. He agreed with the sentiment that it must be painful, but it was when the other took the candle and offered to help that Sky decided it was a very lost battle.

"You know that I'm new here. I just got here today, and already people want to pour fucking wax on me in the name of some god. I don't even know the name of the god? Do you? Watch where you drip the stuff, okay. I've never done this shit before."

Re: Getting Festive

[immapoorblindman]

Shades was, well, delighted wouldn't be the right word given their strange and inexplicable circumstances of being here, but do as the Romans do and he was glad that he wasn't the one getting waxed at the moment.

Incorporating head first into local tribes was always the best way to find out information. And no, he had no idea where they were, or what weird god needed slightly sexy and kinky exhibitionistic worship, but he had seen his fair share of tribal customs so this wasn't completely out there. He had seen stranger things, although given, those didn't start with him arriving naked in the forest with no memory of how.

He didn't think too hard on that one, not liking any of the possibilities that his mind came up with.

But back to the young kid in front of him, looking put out and understandably nervous. Not everyone had a plethora of awkward experiences to fall back on.

So he first placed a comforting calloused hand on the young lad's shoulder as if to steady him. "That's okay," he said, the starting words for what seemed like a comforting pep talk. His sunglasses effectively hid his eyes and his smile was reassuring. Until he added, "Neither have I."

And then he tipped the candle to let the wax run free down the boy's back.