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

[oomfies]

[ Honestly — fair. Lottie even had her own brief crisis on whether staying naked would be the same as wearing whatever the hell is in fashion (it is, she's come to realize). ]

They'd get mad at me?

[ She stops fretting over being mindful of where her gaze is — something fairly simple when she has to angle her head up so much to meet his gaze, because he just presented a bigger problem. He actually has a point. But.. The locals wouldn't do anything, would they? Lottie's eyes turn to anxiously look over the festival goers, thinking so hard it's almost palpable. ]

They wouldn't get mad at me.. Would they?

[somatosensory]

( he cants his head, seeming to consider the question with far more gravitas than it probably deserves. there's nothing in the townsfolk's demeanour that suggests they'd turn violent — cold, perhaps, which presents its own set of problems, but not violent.

probably. )

I'm not taking any chances.

( that and experience suggests that people tend to be more forthcoming when they believe you aren't openly disdainful of their beliefs. and while he's certainly skeptical he's also curious, so. )

But, hey, you can handle the candle if you prefer.

[oomfies]

[ His answer says it all: they absolutely would. Maybe not to a killer mob mentality degree, but making a terrible impression now would make living here harder. Which means she actually takes the time to consider what he says.

She puts a hand to her lips, brows furrowed. Really, it's the lesser of two evils. And that is what she prefers, in fact, because she likes candles but she's never liked them that much (arguably, has never thought to use them this way). Her head turns to look at that shoulder of his, again, where the wax once touched him.

There's a moment where she almost asks him why he didn't take the candle. What comes out, instead, is— ]

And they just poured it onto you.. That's it? No, [ A beat, an curious wave of her hand. ] technique or anything?

[somatosensory]

( the novelty, mostly. accelerated healing's great for a lot of things, but it does a number on your pain receptors past a certain point.

not that he's going to tell her any of this, of course. mostly because it's not the kind of thing to occur to him. )

Just avoid the sensitive areas, but otherwise, I wouldn't stress about it.

[oomfies]

Okay.. That sounds easy—

[ And, really, it gives her such whiplash, the way a villager — just as naked as Aristaeus, arguably giddier about it than he is — cajoles them away from their corner and into the festivities. On the outskirts, some dance. In the innermost circle, some pray. Mainly, they procure and hand out candles.

One is being lit up in her hands as they speak at them, mentions something about how it'd be a greater blessing onto them if they — the boons — contributed.

Lottie finds herself hesitating, just awkwardly letting the candle burn as she realizes what's happening: that stranger must've assumed she had poured that wax on him, onto him, earlier. He thinks she'll want to do it again. ]

[somatosensory]

( he can practically hear the thoughts ticking over in lottie's head, awkward and self-conscious. the unease is not something he necessarily gets, but then barracks living does have a way of normalizing a certain lack of modesty.

a slight smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, observing the hesitation. )

You doing okay over there? ( he's not planning on forcing her, but he is curious to see if her nerve will hold or if she'll buckle. right now, it's an even split between the two. )

[oomfies]

[ The fire burning at the tip of this candle sure is interesting, but it isn't interesting enough to completely take her out of this situation. After all, she's aware he's still with her— which is nice. What is not nice, is that slight curl to his lips, because it doesn't matter if his face is pretty, he's taking some type of amusement in all this!

..But he's also asking how she is, so with a dramatic sigh— ]

Yes! Yes. I'm perfectly okay.. Just, [ God, what was it he said? ] 'handling the candle'.

[ She pointedly looks to his shoulder, the one that hasn't been touched by wax, yet. There's a careful wiggle to her candle, too, her way of asking, 'Can I?' ]

..What about you?

[somatosensory]

( listen, a man needs to take his amusement where he can find it. pulling lottie's metaphoric pigtails might not be the height of entertainment, but there's something a little endearing in how utterly flustered she is by this.

he crouches, dropping closer to her level, making it easier for her to reach his shoulder — mostly unmarked, apart from a faded pink scar that appears to be from an animal bite. )

Me? I'm just thinking about how I missed my true calling; I should have been a candlemaker.

[oomfies]

[ Her eyes do linger at the scar, something like a question forming on the tip of her tongue. But then he hits her with that, and he's effectively startled a laugh out of her. It, at the very least, is from the simplicity (delivery) of the statement, and not her nerves. Which is good, because she's less nervous, but it still doesn't mean she's less confused. ]

What?

[ Seriously?? She gets on her toes, uses one hand on him to steady herself as she copies what she's seeing everyone else do: raise the candle high, tilt, and simply let the wax drip at a distance. ]

Like.. A sexy candlemaker? Or a normal candlemaker?

[somatosensory]

( it's quite a story. he might even share it, if she asks — a version of it, anyway. )

Depends on the job parameters.

( as the wax lands, he remains largely unfazed — although the heat momentarily startles his senses. but there's no alarming sizzle, no scent of burning bacon. overall, it's a decidedly non-traumatic encounter. )

I wouldn't want to ruin my favourite shirt.

[oomfies]

[ This close, she sees that, yes.. He isn't dying, that the wax isn't hurting him at all. She exhales an audible sigh of relief, happy that it's so easy to tell, from both his expression and the way his body reacts — cool and composed even with the warm droplets pooling on his skin.

Lottie's brows furrow, as she can't help but point out: ] You aren't wearing a shirt.

[ The path of wax moves, slightly above and along that pink scarring on his skin. She doesn't want it to drip down his back, or onto his chest, after all — avoid the sensitive areas, he said. ]

[somatosensory]

You don't say?

( the wax settles on his skin, solidifying in the cold.

despite this, lottie carefully traces over the contour of his deltoid, following the outline of his scar. the skin blooms a rosy pink, then gradually fades. )

I am good with my hands, though. ( is he making an innuendo or simply returning to the earlier topic? who knows. )

[oomfies]

[ Oh god. Is he making an innuendo? Or is he doing more slightly scandalous (?) candle talk? Why would he do that? She's just.. Platonically melting a candle on him in a questionable state of dress? ..Unless??

Her cheeks warm, clearly having no idea what to say as she ponders over this. Also, the direction of that candle is definitely going to veer off, is going to be drawn back and tilted at an odd angle because her arm is going a little slack in her stupor. ]

You.. Don't say? [ Fuck. He just said that? ] I, uh, guess that's one job parameter met?? Gotta shape those candles.

[ (no she has no idea how candles are made) ]

i apologize for being both heinously slow and for the muse in general 😂

[somatosensory]

( he has no idea how candles are made, either. an oversight in his education, but then his instructors probably hadn't envisioned a scenario quite like this. )

Spicy. ( tone warm, approving. he might be pulling her pigtails a little bit but there's nothing saying she can't pull right back. )

Next step: find a shirt and unlock limitless career possibilities.

no worries at all!! ❤️ but also he is hilarious so don't ever be sorry afeaygf

[oomfies]

Limited — lukewarm! — career possibilities. No one is gonna believe you've been wearing a shirt this whole time— I mean.. The wax? Hello?

[ Lottie is being the biggest hypocrite ever because.. How else did that wax get on there?? By coincidence?? Nope, the evidence is in her hand as she speaks, threatening to drop onto her own fingers. ]

You'd need a trustworthy reference.