TDM #1

[glencolans]

TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Welcome to Glencola Reef's first Test Drive Meme! This is a place where anyone interested in applying a character - or just curious to see how their characters might interact with the setting and others in the game - can mingle with one another. General prompts are provided below for inspiration.

TDM GUIDELINES

• Please read the rules before posting to the TDM. These still apply here and will be enforced, up to and including deleting tags/toplevels and prebanning.
• Posts from a TDM are required to apply. At least three tags across any number of threads within a TDM, posted within the last 6 months, must be provided in every application.
• TDM threads can be used for AC. Note that new characters only need to check in for their first AC cycle, but established characters can use TDM tags for their AC.
• TDMs are not considered game canon by default. This is mostly for logistics reasons - due to how characters travel on the map, it's unlikely that non-network threads that take place here will actually happen in-game. However, I won't stop anyone from working out how to make parts of threads game canon if they really want to.
• New TDMs will be posted every three months. Keep checking back into the current TDM for new toplevels!

I. ARRIVAL

You awaken on a tropical island beach, soaking wet, powerless, and without any idea how you got here. Were you carrying something important, or wearing powerful armor? How unfortunate - it looks like only the most basic clothes, items in your pockets, and simple weapons managed to make the trip with you. Are you even physically the same as you remember? If you had superhuman abilities tied to your physiology, you might be stuck in a completely different body that lacks your usual senses. You might've been whisked away from a tense battle or a near-death experience and wake up delirious, or even injured.

Thankfully, against overwhelming odds, you're not the only one to wake up on this particular stretch of beach. You and your companion have a lot of puzzling out to do.

II. NETWORK

Even if you weren't lucky enough to wake up near someone else, at least you've arrived with a military-grade radio transceiver gripped tightly in your hand (or mouth, or other vaguely opposable appendage of choice). The clunky walkie-talkie will start buzzing and crackling for every public message that starts coming your way. Answering them back is as easy as pressing the "talk" button on the side of the device and either speaking into the receiver, or using the keypad to type into the message box that appears on the screen, then pressing the button again to send. A list of ongoing conversations with responses that are less than 24 hours old can be found by scrolling through the menu, identified by the callsigns that are participating in them. It seems that you've been assigned a callsign, too - it shows up in the top right side of the screen, format AB123C. The letters and numbers picked are...probably random.

This is your easiest avenue to communicating, or coordinating with, or complaining at the other people stuck on this island; how you decide to use this tool is up to you.

III. EXPLORING

For a place that appears, by all signs, to be an equatorial island in the middle of a tropical ocean, the local environments are surprisingly diverse. Beaches range from idyllic white sand to storm-swept pebble crags to cliffs with waterfalls cascading off the edges; the interior forests can be thinned from sandy soil or dense jungles full of prickly underbrush and with towering canopies; and the central mountain peaks, perilous enough to climb on their own, terminate in ravines and sinkholes that are hidden by thick foliage until you already have one foot over the edge.

The animals that make their homes here are equally as varied, and sometimes just as dangerous. The standard Earth fare of tropical fish swim right up to most shores, especially where reefs have grown, and a multitude of seafaring and jungle birds make their homes in ocean-facing cliffs and trees. Any one of these creatures would make for an easy snack. But you're not the only opportunistic hunters here; sharks prowl the waters, big cats stalk the jungles, and feral boars raid any camps that smell enticing. And that's just the stuff that looks like it came from modern Earth. Your improvised fishing rod might have captured a trilobite, or maybe that deer you were stalking has rounded on you with a set of alien mandibles full of sharp teeth. Or maybe, among the plants and animals completely foreign to you, you've stumbled across one that's strangely familiar to your home and no one else's.

There's a lot to figure out about this place. At least, in this instance, you aren't doing it alone.

NAVIGATION

Comments

Maximus Decimus Gladius| Gladiator

[maximusspainard]

Arrival

The Ex-General finds his vision hazy, his vision correcting itself only to find himself staring at a sandy island with long green palm trees. That wasn't the first problem, but he found himself with some sort of box item that he had no idea what it was or what it did. The man found himself poking at the box, not sure what it did. All he knew was he heard voices come from it. He pushed himself off the ground and proceeded cautiously, his Gladius and Shield with him.

GMD243- Network

[ There's more distant sounds of scraping and poking of the radio around Maximus instead of talking, he still isn't sure of the device. ]

Network: AP251F

[desperate_times_right]

Hey, static man! Chill.

Re: Network: AP251F

[maximusspainard]

The static stops and he presses it again, looking confused.

There's another click in the background and a heavy accented Latin voice coming from the background, "What in the Gods name is this thing?!"

Re: Network: AP251F

[desperate_times_right]

“...the radio? You guys have really let yourselves go since Nadine left, huh?”

Chloe had been chased recently by a paramilitary group using radios, and she's still convincing herself that all this radio chatter is those guys.

Re: Network: AP251F

[maximusspainard]

Maximus pressed again and blinked "What are you talking about?! Radio? !?, and who is Namine anyway?!"

Re: Network: AP251F

[desperate_times_right]

“Sort of embarrassing that I let you guys throw me in a river. That's on me, I guess.”

There's a pause, and then she asks, “How come you said ‘radio’ like that?”

She can kind of buy him not knowing who Nadine is if he's a new hire, since it's been over a year since she worked with Shoreline, but not knowing what a radio is is pushing it a bit far.

Re: Network: AP251F

[maximusspainard]

"Listen, I'm not who you think. My name is Maximus. You must have gotten the wrong person on the line."

Arrival

[meadqueen]

Randvi doesn't intend to lurk, but she’s been standing at the tree line for a while, trying to get the measure of the man on the beach. He's dressed like one of Octavian’s statues and has the same strange device that she’d arrived with.

When he seems to tire of turning the device over, she makes her decision and steps forward.

“There’s a raised portion on one side. You hold it down if you wish to be heard.”

Re: Arrival

[maximusspainard]

Maximus looks up, immediately turning to hear footsteps in the distance. His hand moved near his weapon but stopped when he noticed her attire.

He looked down at the strange box and pressed the small device on the side. Like this? "Ciao? Hello?" (Italian) (English).

It took the ex-general quite a few times before he could talk in the thing correctly.

Re: Arrival

[meadqueen]

She does have a weapon, but it's hanging at her belt and at the moment her hands aren't near it.

“Yes, I think that's it.”

Randvi holds up her own device and replays the message for him.

“I'm not sure how it works either. We can speak to others, but you're the first I've seen face to face.”

Re: Arrival

[maximusspainard]

The device is speaking to him, and he must get used to the sound in his ears as he moves it closer to his ears.

The General looked up at the woman and nods "This is the first time I've ever seen such a device myself. Also, you are the first person I've seen here myself."

Looking back and stopping the radio to speak again, trying again "You must be from a place where this box thing didn't exist, right? Me too."

Re: Arrival

[meadqueen]

“I've heard tell of stones that speak, but I can't imagine that this is the same thing.”

Sigurd had seemed to think that those messages came from the gods, and these ones are surely from other humans.

Randvi puts the hand holding the device to her heart in greeting.

“My name is Randvi. I'm Chief Strategist for the Raven Clan in England.”

Re: Arrival

[maximusspainard]

"I can't say I've imagined stones that speak either. It's hard to imagine this box that shares so many voices in question.

"My name is Maximus Decimus Meridus, I was the Commander of the armies of the North and General of the Fenix Legions."

Exploring (Extra tag I forgot to add)

[maximusspainard]

Exploring
With a little time and prep, Maximus had taken the effort to look for brief firewood to warm up with, having experience in the outdoors, still a bit wet. He found himself using his sword to cut up skinny palm wood branches for firewood along with any branches a bit.

Soon a campfire was made at night and the ex- General was warming himself by a handmade fire.

[lonelynotforsaken]

It's the flickering of the firelight that draws Martin's attention from where he'd curled himself up near the trees along the beach. He's hungry, he's thirsty, and he's very tired. For as awful as the apocalypse had been, he's missing some of the few perks he'd got out of it. All those annoying human things you have to pay attention to again. Warmth, as well. This place is already hot, but when the sun goes down, it cools enough to make him shiver in his salt and sand-encrusted clothes.

But there's that light. Martin picks himself up and considers it a long few minutes. People. A part of him whispers that he ought to stay away, just watch quietly and follow without being noticed. This is a dangerous place, Jon isn't here, and he'll be better on his own. He usually is. With some difficulty, Martin pushes those thoughts aside and makes himself walk over. He keeps to the shadow of the trees and treads softly, though.

By the time he's made it to the edges of the firelight, he can see a stranger there, warming himself. He looks like he's dressed in some sort of reenactment costume, but... a very high-end one. Martin will spend several minutes simply watching until the stranger appears to be looking in his general direction.

"Hello." He doesn't step out from the darkness, just speaks up as he works to get his head back in the right place to be a person with other people.

[maximusspainard]

Maximus is busy warming himself over the fire he had made for the night when he heard the distant sound of footsteps nearby. This place was dangerous, and the General was lucky enough not to run into anything remotely dangerous yet.

The soldier had at least found himself a warm place with a firepit he'd handmade during the night. In the flames, he could see what looks like another man with some sort of seeing devices ((OOC: glasses)) on his eyes, staring in his direction. The only distinction was if the man is a possible ally or threat

Maximus stepped up from the fire and blinked, trying to get a better look at the man. "Who are you?" He was cautious though after he heard of threats from others with guns, so he was more on his guard during the night.

[lonelynotforsaken]

There's a moment of silence as Martin mentally shakes himself. People. He needs to people. He clears his throat and steps into the light. He's a tall, heavyset man in clothes that have definitely seen better days. It looks like there's some sort of dark stain down the front of his shirt to his lap, but it might be difficult to discern that it's a bloodstain given the dimness. His hair has some wisps of gray, and there's a fine scruff that's started growing on his face.

Martin offers a nervous smile and a wave of his hand. "Um... sorry. Yeah, my name's Martin. I-I washed up here a day or two ago. I didn't mean to sneak up on you or anything. But-but I saw the fire and I haven't seen anyone else around. Just the... radio stuff. Who are you?"

[maximusspainard]

Maximus couldn't see too much of the man's clothing nearby but cautiously offered the man a spot near the fire.

He stood up, a bit cautious. Something about the man's body language could mean something. It was just him and Martin out here so far and the man looks desperate for something new and fresh to dry off in.

If he offered a spot for the man to warm up, the man could easily take advantage of everything Maximus had set up for himself so far.

"Name's .. Maximus."

[lonelynotforsaken]

"Oh, um... so your parents were really into the gladiator thing, huh?" Martin's laugh is a fluttery, nervous thing as he steps closer and reaches a hand toward the fire. "Or is that, like, your stage name?"

He tries to make himself smaller and less threatening as he crouches down a little. "It-it's really cool! Your name, I mean. Martin's pretty boring. Dad picked it out, but I never asked him... why. Maybe he just liked it. I think martins are birds? Or, uh... little bears? Maybe. Weasel-bears. But they're not really... spelled the same." A pause. "Sorry, I'm rambling."

[torsion]

Jill had considered making her own fire -- an effort, but something all too familiar to her with her training -- but why do that when you can cozy up against someone else's work and perhaps make an ally with the same stone throw? She approaches with caution, taking careful steps rather than rushing on up to the unfamiliar man. Raising her hands, she's all the more visible by the nearly eerie glow of the distant fire crackling against the leaves.

Her smile is taut and held in place with the same precision as her movement toward him is; it looks awkward and forced, but with the kind of tentative spill over into something genuine if prompted by good news or decent company.

"Mind if I join you?" She starts off, sounding like she might add something else to it but quickly ends up deciding against it until there's a reply -- hopefully one that is friendly, at that.

Callsign: DI481O

[salamanca]

[ An annoyed sounding voice comes over the walkie. ]

Hey! Either talk or turn that thing off! Nobody wants to hear that shit!

Callsign: GMD247

[maximusspainard]

[ A static noise comes over the radio again ]

"...What?! I'm trying to make this thing work!"

[salamanca]

[ Lalo's voice lightens up a little bit now that the person on the other end is actually talking. He even laughs a little. There's still an undercurrent of something slightly mocking in his voice though. ]

¡Enhorabuena, you've got it working now! So. Say what you wanna say! We're all ears.

[maximusspainard]

[Being at a slight disadvantage at modern technology doesn't help at all as it leaves the ex-general frustrated. ]

"Anyone know where the best place is to hunt animals, get seeds for a mini garden? Asking in advance because I'm a farmer and general from Ancient rome."

[salamanca]

[ Congratulations, Maximus. He's speechless. That never happens.

Whatever Lalo was expecting to hear, it wasn't that. Quickly, he realizes that this person must be insane. ]

You're... a... general, from "Ancient Rome?" [ There's a laugh. ] Wow! That's cool, man. Think you can introduce me to Julius Cesar?