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

Vax'ildan Vessar | Critical Role | Wilk

[donotgofar]

[ooc: spoilers for later parts of Critical Role Campaign 1/possibly Legend of Vox Machina]

Awakening in Pajak Wood

Vax stares up at the canopy and realizes two things very quickly: he can't remember how he got here, and he's naked. The latter part could be accounted for if he'd been killed, but... he doesn't remember that happening. He's always remembered before, whether he wanted to or not.

He lays very still, listening. There are birds and other forest sounds he'd expect. Slowly, he curls forward to sit up and looks around. Vax immediately regrets the movement and rolls onto his hands and knees when the wave of nausea hits. Thankfully, nothing comes up. His long, dark hair is loose, but doesn't provide much in the way of modest where he might want it. He sits back on his heels and drags it over his shoulder to braid it. It won't stay that way, but it's better than nothing right now.

"Okay," he whispers to no one. The lean half-elf shifts into a crouch and looks around. Something moves and he glances side-long to catch sight of a pair of rabbits bounding away. He exhales heavily and rises to his feet. Vax'ildan stands there for a moment, helplessly attempting to figure out where the hell he is. He takes a deep breath, then yells:

"Vex! Vex'ahlia?" It's worth a try. Vax stands there, seconds ticking by as he listens for another voice or movement. "VEX!"

But there's no answer. Vax stares at the canopy for a moment and catches sight of the sun through the leaves. All right, he can follow that. Lowering his gaze back to the forest around him, he thinks he might be having another bout of nausea when the ground seems to move, but--no. Something is coming.

Spiders are coming.

"Oh, fuck this."

Vax'ildan Vessar, Champion of the Raven Queen, runs. He has no idea where he is or where he's going, but the direction the rabbits fled in seems like as good a path as any.

Fleeing
He's trying to watch both the ground below him and the forest ahead of him; he manages to avoid running into a tree, but trips over another body and goes sprawling intot he moss. He grunts when he lands and immediately shoves himself up enough to turn.

Another naked person.

"Are you okay? Hurt? We need to go. Unless you like spiders."

Vax offers his hand down. That's when he sees the odd new mark on his wrist. He'll worry about that later.

Finding Others
He slows down at the stream, stumbling into it to get some relief on his bare feet and to catch his breath. Vax'ildan crouches down to splash water on his face and rub a damp hand over the back of his neck. He swears he can feel thousands of legs crawling all over him and he's tempted to submerge himself to see if that'll chase it away.

That's about when he notices he's not the only one at the stream.

"... Come here often?"

Every Day Like the One Before

The only direction he has is west - away from spiders, toward the sun. He'd been tempted to follow the stream, but something pulls him toward the setting sun. Vax travels alone or with new companions until they find a town surrounded by a wall.

He hesitates when he sees the lone, open gate. The path leading toward it looks well-traveled, but he gets a sense of prickling unease. That actually fades some when he sees there are guards at the gate - that feels more normal. If he's alone, Vax waits to slip in with a group of people. The town is completely unfamiliar, but he feels a weird relief when the dirt turns to cobblestone beneath his feet. The only weird thing is that no one seems particularly fazed by the fact that he - and several other arrivals - are stark naked.

In fact, some people are leering.

That's when he starts noticing the clothes here aren't what he'd expect, and more than a few people have plenty of skin exposed. Vax turns his head a few times to take a longer look at figures that catch his attention. Vax slips away into an alley to try and get his bearings, and to just... think for a minute. He looks at the mark on his wrist again and rubs his thumb over it with a small frown. When the hell did that happen? Something to think about later - he has other problems right now.

A professional thief and general rogue, it isn't hard for him to go unseen even when he's naked. It also isn't difficult to find something hanging on a clothesline unattended. Vax is quick, making off with a towel or blanket to wrap around his waist just so he isn't completely in the breeze anymore. He notes the house, telling himself he'll return it.

Feeling better about his state of undress, he slips back toward a more lively part of town, where apparently some sort of religious ritual is happening. At least, that's what it sounds like. What it looks like is something Gilmore tried with him years ago.

He's startled when a local - possibly a local? - offers him a candle of his own.

Room & Board

An evening meal
He's spent the entire day searching for familiar faces; the exhaustion Vax feels is entirely emotional. When a well-meaning local gives him some bread and what looks like a hearty stew or something, Vax spends maybe ten minutes absently pushing around chunks of meat and vegetables - possibly also potatoes - with his spoon as he stares off into the middle distance. Then he makes himself eat; he doesn't need to, but it's kind of comforting.

"What?" he glances up when he realizes someone's been talking to him. "Sorry, it's been a long day."

Bedtime
By the time Vax gets upstairs, it looks like a lot of rooms have filled. He leans in a doorway.

"Any room in here? I'll take the floor if it's all that's left. Or cuddle. I make a good spoon, big or little."

Notes

[Wildcards welcome! I'll match your style. Vax is a disaster bi and welcomes all comers.

If you have any questions or want to plot something out, PM me or ping me at givemedragons]

an evening meal

[unorthodoc]

"I said, are you going to eat that?"

Not that House really cares about the answer. He's already lowering himself carefully down onto the bench opposite, deer bone cane in hand, and reaching over with his fork to spear a chunk of meat out of the other guy's stew and sticking it in his mouth. He chews and swallows, eyeing his new friend thoughtfully.

"How's Frodo doing?"

[donotgofar]

"Not unless I get really creative about getting it back I guess," he says as a piece of meat - beef, venison, other? - disappears from his bowl. Vax blinks slowly, maybe stares for a few seconds longer than he needs to.

"What the fuck is a frodo?"

[unorthodoc]

"About three feet tall," House replies, as if that's something everyone knows. "Magic ring, hangs out with elves, as I assume you know. Your cousins, I guess? Not to say you're all related. Is that racist?"

He's already eyeing up his new friend's plate again, then goes in for a piece of potato.

[donotgofar]

"I make it a point not to hang out with elves," he says flatly. "Too stiff, no sense of humor. Ah-ah--"

He smacks the offending hand this time and points at the other man with his fork. Vax lifts a brow. "Ask nicely or it's going through the back of your hand next time."

Despite the threat, there's a gleam in his eyes. Amusement, maybe, or a challenge. Or both. It's more warning than he would've given Grog.

[unorthodoc]

The smack to his hand gives House an excuse to make an affronted face, as if he's truly shocked that he's been told off for trying to steal food. He keeps his fork pointed towards Vax's plate, hovering in wait.

"Pretty please?" Look at this innocent face, how could you say no to this face, etcetera.

[donotgofar]

"There, was that so hard?" Vax smirks and nudges the bit of potato closer to the edge of the plate. "You're a shit, I can tell. What's your name?"

If he's going to be sharing food, he might as well ask. Vax finally tries some of what's on his plate, and it's better than he's expecting. That's a relief.

[unorthodoc]

"Albert Einstein," House replies, without missing a beat. Vax has definitely guessed corrtectly.

He stabs the chunk of potato with his fork and sticks it in his mouth, regarding the rest of the plate with the air of someone deciding what to go for next. Clearly this is now a two person meal. At least there seems to be plenty of it.

"So if you're not an elf, what's with the ears? Plastic surgery?"

[donotgofar]

"Bullshit." But he can work with that. Vax makes himself eat a few bites, and while the food is good, it sits like led in his belly. Hopefully that feeling passes.

"No idea what that is," he says of the surgery. He doesn't think he wants to know, either. "I'm a half-elf. Probably not a huge difference to you, but when I was growing up no one let me forget it."

And yes, he is still carrying around that massive chip on his shoulder.

cw: fantasy racism talk

[unorthodoc]

"Oh sure," House agrees, "they made fun of you from being from the wrong side of the tracks, right? Not enough of one, not enough of the other, that kind of thing?"

He scoops up another forkful of stew and eats it thoughtfully, then glances around to see if anyone's claimed the chunk of bread sitting in a basket in the middle of the table. Satisfied that he can get away with it, he breaks off a piece and starts mopping up stew juices from Vax's plate.

cw ongoing

[donotgofar]

"Something like that. Humans are incapable of the achievements of elves, mixed children are unable to keep up with full-blooded peers, they need so much help just to be average, blah blah blah..."

Vax's hand snaps out to catch House's wrist. He keeps his gaze on the man's face and promptly takes a bite out of the bread, getting about half the part with the stew juice on it. Then lets go and goes back to poking things with his fork.

"They're pretentious assholes. I don't miss living with them."

[unorthodoc]

It doesn't usually take long for people to get fed up of House's bullshit. He tends to use it as a metric of how well things are going to go, generally speaking. That Vax finally snaps isn't surprising. The method, however, is new. And, admittedly, kind of attractive.

House manages to hide his grin, stuffing bread in his mouth instead.

"So where do you live now? Besides upstairs."

[donotgofar]

"Great question," he answers. It makes Vax think of everything he's been pulled away from. He doesn't know what's happening. But it also makes him think... where would he call home now? Before it, was always with Vex. That was the answer. But in the last year, the pair of them have made some changes. They've grown.

"A place called Zephrah, I guess. Or Whitestone." Assuming any of them survive what he got pulled from. "Where are you from?"

[unorthodoc]

"New Jersey. No elves. Lots of orcs though. And at least one hobbit, but he prefers to be called Taub."

House goes back to plundering Vax's plate, scooping up a bit of miscellaneous root vegetable and examining it briefly.

"Turn into anything weird yet?"

[donotgofar]

"... you're gonna have to be more specific." Vax lifts a brow. "When does yet start and when does it cut off? Since I got here?"

He's had some really weird experiences in the last two years and it feels worth clarifying.

[unorthodoc]

"Since you got here would be a useful timeline," House points out, reaching over to use his fork to search for more bits of root vegetable in Vax's stew, quarantining them to the side of the plate.

"Everyone else here is human. More or less. So I'm wondering, does this curse stuff also work on people who are slightly more.. pointy. Hence the informal survey."

[donotgofar]

"Weirdest thing to happen so far was waking up in the middle of the woods without my clothes on." He pauses, then adds, "And that's not even the first time that's happened."

Vax stares down at the plate and starts nudging half of what's there onto one side. Look, he's fine sharing, and it's a conversation, but he's still gonna eat okay.

"So no, no curses and no changing into something else since getting here."