TEST DRIVE.

[futurologists]

test drive Firstly, thank you for your interest! Secondly, since the game hasn't begun and therefore characters haven't actually gone to a world yet, this test drive is going to be a little different. It's intended to be presented as a mini-mission of sorts, on a much smaller scale and timeframe than a real mission in-game but with a somewhat similar feel. Because of this, if you join the game, you're allowed to count this as game canon, so make sure you make choices you want to follow your character into the game! You know how this works, so go forth and have fun, and don't forget to reserve! BASICS Anwick might have been a beautiful town once. It's hard to tell now, since most of the buildings are scorched and crumbling, but they do resemble some rural modern-day buildings. Likewise, the people don't appear to be living too much in the past; several are carrying intimidating guns. For years, Anwick has been terrorized by dragons, living in fear of the next attack. Not anymore. The people have just ended a bloody battle. Several people limp towards the outskirts of town, holding their bleeding wounds or new burns. In the center of town lies a slain dragon, the last full-grown one left in the world. To be honest, it looks like they've already taken care of their own problem. A monotonous voice comes through your communication device to explain. You aren't here to help the townspeople; you're here for the dragons. The one motionless on the ground may have been the last adult, but it certainly wasn't the last dragon. Her children are located in a nearby cave, alone and orphaned. They're the ones you need to protect. WYRMLINGS The wyrmlings are still growing up, only the size of a small dog. Each has a slightly different appearance, but all of them have at least a few bright copper scales. They're beautiful, and they look a little bit harmless... at least, until they notice you. These dragons have never been exposed to humans before. Or anyone outside of their family, for that matter. They're small and scared, and they don't know any other way to protect themselves than to attack. Luckily, because of their tiny size, they can't do much more than small burns at a time — but make no mistake, it still hurts like hell. The cave they're located in is pitch-black and labyrinthine. Every footstep echoes throughout it if you aren't light enough on your feet. It'll be difficult to navigate if you don't MacGyver yourself a torch or other form of lighting. Cell phones will work decently, at least until their battery dies, but you don't want to get stuck deep within the cave with no light. If you do manage to get through the cave and rescue some without getting burned to a crisp, the trouble's not over yet. You'll have to find a safe place to stash them until they can be relocated; the townspeople aren't done with their dragon-slaying yet, after all. Walk into town with one in tow, and you're putting a target on your back. (Of course, this doesn't mean you can't do it.) PROMPTS ONE ✗ GOING ROGUE Not feeling too obedient? Maybe you're ignoring the orders and helping the wounded people in town instead... or just coming to gawk. Maybe you're coming to slay the wyrmlings yourself. Whatever it is, at least try to be sneaky about it. TWO ✗ THE DRAGON'S CAVE Try to navigate the cave, fail to navigate the cave and get lost, or try to take the wyrmlings without getting barbecued. Somehow, you get the feeling that you aren't alone. Those footsteps are probably just your imagination... or they could be townspeople coming to kill you and the dragons. Of course, they could also be an ally, but you'd better hope you don't find out. THREE ✗ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON You've gotten the dragon(s) to a secure campsite out of town, but the fun's not over yet. They're kind of freaking out a little. Some of them are still spitting fire. Even the less aggressive ones are crying shrilly, bound to attract townspeople or at least annoy everyone nearby. It can't be too hard to calm them down; they're basically scaly, fire-breathing babies, right? FOUR ✗ NIGHT TIME It's been a long day, and now it's time for the crew to sleep. Get to know your tentmates, try to ignore them, pray that they don't want to bring along a wyrmling to cuddle... or maybe you've been put on night watch with a few others, in which case you'd better find a way to pass the time until your shift's over. FIVE ✗ CHIT CHAT Network option! Maybe you've got a little downtime and you're bored. Or maybe you're frantically asking the rest of the team how bad a dragon bite is. Maybe you're just trying to figure out how the hell this magical jewelry thing works. No matter what, you get one username to identify you and one only — if you don't enter one, it will default to your real name (for example, Voldemort's would be tomriddle.) Choose wisely... or make it assfarts69, if that's your thing. More information on the network is here! SIX ✗ WILDCARD Do whatever the hell you want. Explore the ashes of the burned city, try to run as far away from this crap as possible, or try to teach a wyrmling tricks. The world is your oyster.

Comments

Kashuu Kiyomitsu | Touken Ranbu

[hardtohandle]

[Three: Let's be honest this is the best option and everyone's top-leveling it.]

[Kashuu is keeping pointedly away from the hard-earned wyrmlings. The reason why? Well, the burnt tip of his scarf tells a story. He turns it over and over in his fingertips, like that might undo the damage.]

Aah. You'd make a cuter accessory than a pet. [He narrows his eyes at the little firestarter. He was willing to give the pretty things a chance, but he cannot stand for getting clawed or burnt. He keeps his distance, still watching (as he was assigned to) but not looking happy about it. The wyrmling nearby, Scarf Destroyer, makes a shrill gurgling in response.]

[Wildcard: Weapons are weapons, after all.]

[A night invasion isn't fair play... but it is good tactics. And Kashuu supposes he can't fault the people from town. If he hadn't been explicitly assigned, he might want to destroy the dragons just as much. They were beautiful and terrifying and he was almost as much envious as fearsome. He can't fault the people, but he can't show mercy.]

Ah. Guns have sure come a long way. [The battle didn't last long, though. It was just a brief skirmish at the farthest edge of the camp. The small squad from town was rattled and, in a sense, easily eliminated.] I was a little scared there. [Despite the admittance, he doesn't sound it. It's more casual conversation to his fellow fighters as he carefully steps around the bodies. He kneels down next to one, careful not to get his coat near the spilled blood.]

Hey! [he cups his head and calls] This one's still breathing. What shall we do?

Wildcard

[chronobreak]

[He's dealt with people dying before. On the rift it doesn't matter, death is temporary- but off it what a serious issue. He knows their mission is to protect the dragons, and he gets why the people who live around here might be scared.

And of course he fought. But having actual blood on his hands is more than just a little unsettling. He'll find sometime later to figure it out.]

How bad are his injuries?

[hardtohandle]

He might live. [He was an expert at causing wounds, not assessing them. He gently prods at the body with the lightest of finger touches.] We'd definitely have to coddle him, though, and there's no promise he'd tell us anything...

[chronobreak]

[He's used to blunt weapons, not sharp ones. Fight usually just ended with bruised bodies, not dead bleeding ones.]

I can't rewind far enough now... [The battle might have been brief, but not short enough.]

Maybe if we moved camps and sent him back to the village.

[hardtohandle]

Back to the village? [Kashuu's tone seems annoyed.] Ahh, really? After trying to kill us?

[chronobreak]

They're still people. They're scared and stupid, but they're people.

[hardtohandle]

There's no guarantee he'll even be grateful... [Kashuu glances up at the sky, then sighs. When he speaks again, it's in his more casual and drawn-out tone] I can check about moving camps.

But I won't carry him. I'm not getting more blood on this outfit.

wildcard!

[inert]

- What?

[ but it doesn't ring like the question of someone who hasn't heard properly. he laughs after a moment -- stuffs his hands in his pockets as he slouches his way over. ]

Gee, man, I dunno. You feelin' munchy?

[1/2]

[hardtohandle]

Aah, just wondering if he might be worth information- [It takes a little bit to process exactly what was said.]

[2/2]

[hardtohandle]

... "Munchy"?

[inert]

Well, we probably oughta start packin' some supplies anyway. For the road, right? And if you don't think he's gonna last out -

[hardtohandle]

[People like that- was there some sort of universe it was accepted? The part of him that was nurtured by people is disgusted, but,]

...I suppose it doesn't matter to me either way. But, I'm not going to cut someone up like a cooking knife. I don't imagine too many people would care for it, either.

[inert]

Lemme guess. You're the guy who forgot to pack the pepper.

wildcard

[demonfisting]

If any of them return to the village, others are likely to follow.

[It would've been simplest if none of them had survived that volley to begin with, really. A group of civilians killed in the process of attacking is unfortunate, but easier for most to write off. A survivor, though? That's going to bring out people's mercy, and mercy has such an inconvenient way of making things messier. Too many of them would balk at simply finishing the man off. Dissent within the camp raises the chances of a split, people going rogue and deciding to do things their own ways (their own likely inefficient ways) -

Kanbei stares down at the man for a long moment, silently wishing he'd do them the courtesy of just bleeding out and saving them the trouble.]

[hardtohandle]

Proooo~bably. [He taps his fingernails over the hilt of his sword in an idle pattern.] So, when you put it like that, [He glances over the would-be-ambusher's wounds. He can see exactly where the cuts should have been deeper. Ah, without the luxury of home, was he not trying hard enough? How embarrassing.]

We either need to take him back to our camp or finish it...

[demonfisting]

[He looks up - and around, this time; nobody else seems to have spotted their little dilemma and started over to investigate just yet. There's still time to make this quick, clean, and efficient, and if Kashuu isn't going to make a problem out of it, there's no reason not to, as far as Kanbei's concerned.]

He's unlikely to have any information worth the trouble of taking him back with us.

[They have more than enough of their own problems to keep them busy around the camp without adding "babysit a hostile prisoner and make sure he doesn't bleed out before he talks" to the list.]

[hardtohandle]

It would be a pain. [He nods his head along. It was the conclusion he'd come to, but he was far too used to taking orders. It seemed much easier to have someone else take on the burden of the decision. The corners of his lips quirk up slightly.]

[Gently, he removes his sword from its sheath again. It's a shame to apply a fresh coat of blood after he'd wiped it down before, but,] Well, an enemy is an enemy, after all. [With a quick slice and a soft gurgle, the weak breathing stops.]

[demonfisting]

[Convenient, then, that Kanbei is well used to giving orders - and well used to making battle plans that leave quite a bit of blood on both his own hands and his lord's.

So he doesn't blink as the man dies at his feet. Any man who takes up a sword - or gun - is knowingly putting his life on the line. If that man has regrets or second thoughts about his choices, it's not the place of his enemy to indulge them and give him a second chance.]

That gives us more time. There will likely be a search party, eventually.

[In due time. But first those back at the village will have to wait, allow extra time for a possible hold-up, decide who's best suited to go looking, go looking. They shouldn't be seeing any company for a while.]

[hardtohandle]

[Kashuu softly hums, cutting off a clean piece of cloth from the dead man to wipe his blade. Once it's sufficiently dry, he slides it back into its sheath with a smile. He stands back up, job done.]

Then, when they come, I'll be ready! It's waaay more fun than watching those babies.

three; it's true tho

[troublebusted]

[Nico has ended up not far from Kashuu by virtue of having gone through a similar experience, judging by a singed shirt sleeve sticking out from her crossed arms.]

They'd be more trouble than they're worth. And they're not that cute, anyway.

[They kind of are, but Nico is too bitter to admit that they're beautiful after a bad experience with them.]

[hardtohandle]

And if they're this rough as babies... ah, that mother would have been a true terror. [He remembers the sheer size of it- and all these squawking babies could eventually reach that size? What was the benefit of "saving" that?]

[troublebusted]

[She pales a bit, her expression worried. This kind of danger is not something she's used to experiencing and those ruined buildings make it much too real.]

I don't even want to think about that.... [The balance of power in her expression shifts from worry to irritation as she starts tapping her foot.] Geez! What's the idea with this mission? If we're supposed to be saving anything, they should have sent us to grab the mother when she was this size, not after everything's already gone wrong!

[hardtohandle]

[Kashuu taps his own foot in a bit of a soft, steady counter-melody to Nico's taps.] I wonder, when that mother was this size... how many do you think there were?

There was at least a family then, right? Mother, Father, siblings... but, by the time we got here, she was the oooo~nly adult left. [It's hard to imagine humans taking down so many beasts so large. One seemed like enough trouble, but had humans already massacred dozens?]

[troublebusted]

Ah. [She freezes. It's pretty clear the thought hadn't occured to her. And with what the town had just done, technically, there hadn't been any adults left.]

W-well - [...But they couldn't have just come even earlier than that, because there'd still be more before that.] I...I guess they had thought about it a little, then.

...The mother was the only adult left, right? [She thinks the voice on their communicators had said something like that. Or had she just assumed?]

[hardtohandle]

That's what they said. I mean, there's always the possibility they lied to us, but... [If they didn't, the one adult left was dead. All the remaining dragons were these snotty, spitfire babies.]