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penancememes2021-04-24 02:01 pm
penancemods) wrote in penancememes2021-04-24 02:01 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #23
Arrival
"Judgement has come upon you. God has deemed you worthy of Hell. But don't worry, it can still be undone," comes a soothing voice that echoes all around you. The voice promises comfort, hope even.
It may seem like a nightmare at first, despite all of that. Full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. Wretched, unseen hands pull at you, grip tight at your body, tighten on your throat, skeletal fingers grab at your face, slide in your mouth and jab at your eyes as they struggle for purchase. It feels like for a moment, they may snap your neck as they tug and pull. The more you resist, the more phantom hands are added to your struggling body.
It feels like they could tear you apart if you let them. The only thing to do is to let go and stop fighting.
And so you do.
Darkness consumes you for a second.
Initially, everyone opens their eyes to a long, dark corridor made of stone. They find themselves in what appears to be a long queue with other sinners, palm bloody with a contract clutched in their uninjured hand that they don't remember signing.
Characters find their bodies feel heavy and stiff, bruised with odd hand prints here and there that they received during their journey down below. A massive headache throbs behind their temples.
If they look at the list in their hand, they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment that details every sin they've committed.
As they move along the queue, they'll find a demon waiting to pass them a communication device that looks almost like a very old Blackberry type phone.
"Welcome to Penance," the demon says gruffly before motioning them on without an ounce of courtesy. "Don't hold up the line."
Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall until they come to a set of stairs. They seem to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon what appears to have once beeen a lobby of a hotel. Once there, they will notice several boarded up areas around the front desk that look like they may have been open at one point. Shops or rooms, perhaps. Everything looks war torn and destroyed.
The demon at what remains of the front desk looks rather bored, but when sinners approach? He seems to snap to attention to offer whatever help they might need of him. He will at least direct them outside to the tents that have been set up to house them for the time being.
Unfortunately, due to a recent battle, most establishments around Penance are destroyed until further notice. This includes Club Penance, the movie theatre, spa, Casino Styx, and the hotel bar as well as the shops contained within the hotel itself.
Stand Your Ground The Penance Community is still in shambles. There are tents set up to house new arrivals, with a variety of 'beds' in them ranging from air mattresses to beanbags to unfortunate pet beds put there by demons who just don't seem to understand that mortals may need better sleep accommodations. There's roasted meats going over a fire, fruits, and other assorted foods being offered by the new (temporary) leader, Mammon, while Lucifer recovers from injuries received recently.
Sinners will be put to work clearing rubble, along with their demonic neighbors. Strangely enough, Mammon has asked that no one be punished if they start to lag behind or need a rest before returning to their tasks. Work seems to be, mostly, voluntary. With the sinners aiding in freeing Lucifer and reclaiming Penance, the local demons seem much more friendly than usual even!
Later that night, when work is done for the day, sinners will notice a tent set up full of personal goods salvaged from the hotel by Lucifer's magic. The items belonging to specific owners will be returned as if the demonic staff automatically know who they go to (for the most part... item mix-ups happen sometimes!), while other items such as clothing or trinkets without an owner can be taken by anyone. So those who need some fresh changes of clothes, random (albeit old) electronics, or other random small items may collect them here. Some of these items may be unfortunately adult in nature by sheer mistake.
There's talk of a voyage to Mammon's domain after a few days so that Lucifer may rest and recover while sinners deserve their well-earned break. This includes even the newcomers! Additionally, this break also gives Lucifer time to restore Penance back to something resembling livable.
Everyone will be given a day to gather whatever they will need before being led to the underground docks that will once again be accessible.
The Voyage With what aid Lucifer was able to provide, there is now a rather large ship waiting at the docks for the guests of the now ruined Penance Hotel. The large luxury ship is painted a rather deep black, giving it an ominous feel on the outside. Once boarded, sinners will see that this initial feeling is likely unfounded. There are plenty of luxuries anyone could want, including a pool, a hot tub, and plenty of tropical drinks with tiny umbrellas provided free of charge. And that's just the deck! Bedrooms range from four person units, three person units, to couples' beds for those who wish to continue their matrimony (or who would rather avoid the hassle of potentially being paired with someone entirely new for the time being).
There's also a grand bar that provides plenty of cider, mead, and ale, whiskeys from Mammon's own personal stock. These drinks range in strength and may land even the most resilient on the ground after a few sips if one isn't careful! Additionally, the drinks seem to inspire a feel good mood and chase away the dourness that seems to have settled over those in the Penance community. There's constant music playing that may inspire those around to dance, as well as only the most beautiful incubi and succubi wandering around. They seem eager to please in any and all ways and, like in Penance, give off a natural aphrodisiac that smells sweet to the senses.
There's also a theatre for those who may prefer to watch movies (Enjoy this! There won't be any such things once sinners arrive in Mammon's domain!), an arcade for the younger crowd, and a lovely spa with saunas, massages, and any other way to treat oneself.
The kitchens are always open and offer an array of decadent desserts, meats, vegetables, and anything else one could want. No request is too much! And don't worry, nothing is drugged or of questionable quality or origin (that one would recognize).
While the ship was clearly made for indulgence, the waters outside won't always be smooth sailing. The damned souls desperately try to climb their way up with alarming frequency, only to be pushed back by Mammon's men (or those who would offer to help him!), and the bloodied waters seem to almost boil occasionally. The ship also seems to have an infestation of aggressive hell rats that like to get into personal units. They won't hesitate to snap or try to run off with important objects.
Reach Up High For those who still desire to work on their contracts and remove sins from their list, there will be opportunities abound with minimal suffering! Mammon has announced that he has little desire to punish heroes who saved the day. Besides, constant torture gets a bit old after a bit, doesn't it? Starts to lose its initial meaning. Apparently Lucifer is all in favor of this well-earned break as well! So for now, helping keep things clean or chase rats or fend off the damned souls will be considered penance enough.
Additionally, helping fellow sinners through their current struggles or providing comfort certainly counts as well.
See? Redemption doesn't always have to be painful! As a matter of fact, doing anything helpful or kind for one another this round will result in the removal of one sin. Mammon isn't even going to give any long-winded speeches about it.
Follow Me Down For those with a more... indulgent nature, there are plenty of opportunities to let loose (and hopefully not add too many sins to the list! But what will happen will happen, won't it?)
For those who are interested in pleasures of the flesh and find they can't quite scratch that itch with the incubi and succubi onboard, there is a special section of the deck for nude sunbathing where sunblock as well as suntan lotion are provided that both contain a potent aphrodisiac. This aphrodisiac makes sinners eager to put on shows. Whether that's putting on a solo act for those who may be watching or doing some mutual performances, it doesn't matter. Some may retain enough semblance of control to make it to the bedroom though. No one wants to exclude those who aren't into voyeurism from the fun!
For those who aren't interested in sexual vices, they can join the crew in a bit of lost soul fishing. This involves grabbing the damned souls desperately trying to climb aboard and putting them in special containers. Not quite Ghostbusters-like, but these little traps are smooth and metal boxes that seem to draw the souls inside and trap them. Apparently these little guys are valuable energy sources for Hell. The more sinners catch, the more treats they'll receive when they reach land again. This includes: special items and pets from home, other special items found around Mammon's lands, clothing, special favor at brothels and taverns, etc. It's not like they're real people anymore, so what's the harm, right?
If none of that tickles your fancy, there are also a wealth of drugs available to partake in, as well as a fight night happening below deck on one of the lower levels. Fights are carried out among sinners and demons alike, with plenty of help standing by to patch those injured up. Those partaking in either watching or actively participating may swap sins as bets, or anything else they may be willing to risk losing.
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the May 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
Navigation
| Premise
| Arrival
| FAQ
Rules | Taken | Reserves | Applications
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
It may seem like a nightmare at first, despite all of that. Full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. Wretched, unseen hands pull at you, grip tight at your body, tighten on your throat, skeletal fingers grab at your face, slide in your mouth and jab at your eyes as they struggle for purchase. It feels like for a moment, they may snap your neck as they tug and pull. The more you resist, the more phantom hands are added to your struggling body.
It feels like they could tear you apart if you let them. The only thing to do is to let go and stop fighting.
And so you do.
Darkness consumes you for a second.
Initially, everyone opens their eyes to a long, dark corridor made of stone. They find themselves in what appears to be a long queue with other sinners, palm bloody with a contract clutched in their uninjured hand that they don't remember signing.
Characters find their bodies feel heavy and stiff, bruised with odd hand prints here and there that they received during their journey down below. A massive headache throbs behind their temples.
If they look at the list in their hand, they'll notice it's written on with their blood. That explains the wound then. It's an old piece of parchment that details every sin they've committed.
As they move along the queue, they'll find a demon waiting to pass them a communication device that looks almost like a very old Blackberry type phone.
"Welcome to Penance," the demon says gruffly before motioning them on without an ounce of courtesy. "Don't hold up the line."
Once characters have their device and their contracts, they're ushered further down the hall until they come to a set of stairs. They seem to go on and wind forever, but eventually, they come upon what appears to have once beeen a lobby of a hotel. Once there, they will notice several boarded up areas around the front desk that look like they may have been open at one point. Shops or rooms, perhaps. Everything looks war torn and destroyed.
The demon at what remains of the front desk looks rather bored, but when sinners approach? He seems to snap to attention to offer whatever help they might need of him. He will at least direct them outside to the tents that have been set up to house them for the time being.
Unfortunately, due to a recent battle, most establishments around Penance are destroyed until further notice. This includes Club Penance, the movie theatre, spa, Casino Styx, and the hotel bar as well as the shops contained within the hotel itself.
Stand Your Ground The Penance Community is still in shambles. There are tents set up to house new arrivals, with a variety of 'beds' in them ranging from air mattresses to beanbags to unfortunate pet beds put there by demons who just don't seem to understand that mortals may need better sleep accommodations. There's roasted meats going over a fire, fruits, and other assorted foods being offered by the new (temporary) leader, Mammon, while Lucifer recovers from injuries received recently.
Sinners will be put to work clearing rubble, along with their demonic neighbors. Strangely enough, Mammon has asked that no one be punished if they start to lag behind or need a rest before returning to their tasks. Work seems to be, mostly, voluntary. With the sinners aiding in freeing Lucifer and reclaiming Penance, the local demons seem much more friendly than usual even!
Later that night, when work is done for the day, sinners will notice a tent set up full of personal goods salvaged from the hotel by Lucifer's magic. The items belonging to specific owners will be returned as if the demonic staff automatically know who they go to (for the most part... item mix-ups happen sometimes!), while other items such as clothing or trinkets without an owner can be taken by anyone. So those who need some fresh changes of clothes, random (albeit old) electronics, or other random small items may collect them here. Some of these items may be unfortunately adult in nature by sheer mistake.
There's talk of a voyage to Mammon's domain after a few days so that Lucifer may rest and recover while sinners deserve their well-earned break. This includes even the newcomers! Additionally, this break also gives Lucifer time to restore Penance back to something resembling livable.
Everyone will be given a day to gather whatever they will need before being led to the underground docks that will once again be accessible.
The Voyage With what aid Lucifer was able to provide, there is now a rather large ship waiting at the docks for the guests of the now ruined Penance Hotel. The large luxury ship is painted a rather deep black, giving it an ominous feel on the outside. Once boarded, sinners will see that this initial feeling is likely unfounded. There are plenty of luxuries anyone could want, including a pool, a hot tub, and plenty of tropical drinks with tiny umbrellas provided free of charge. And that's just the deck! Bedrooms range from four person units, three person units, to couples' beds for those who wish to continue their matrimony (or who would rather avoid the hassle of potentially being paired with someone entirely new for the time being).
There's also a grand bar that provides plenty of cider, mead, and ale, whiskeys from Mammon's own personal stock. These drinks range in strength and may land even the most resilient on the ground after a few sips if one isn't careful! Additionally, the drinks seem to inspire a feel good mood and chase away the dourness that seems to have settled over those in the Penance community. There's constant music playing that may inspire those around to dance, as well as only the most beautiful incubi and succubi wandering around. They seem eager to please in any and all ways and, like in Penance, give off a natural aphrodisiac that smells sweet to the senses.
There's also a theatre for those who may prefer to watch movies (Enjoy this! There won't be any such things once sinners arrive in Mammon's domain!), an arcade for the younger crowd, and a lovely spa with saunas, massages, and any other way to treat oneself.
The kitchens are always open and offer an array of decadent desserts, meats, vegetables, and anything else one could want. No request is too much! And don't worry, nothing is drugged or of questionable quality or origin (that one would recognize).
While the ship was clearly made for indulgence, the waters outside won't always be smooth sailing. The damned souls desperately try to climb their way up with alarming frequency, only to be pushed back by Mammon's men (or those who would offer to help him!), and the bloodied waters seem to almost boil occasionally. The ship also seems to have an infestation of aggressive hell rats that like to get into personal units. They won't hesitate to snap or try to run off with important objects.
Reach Up High For those who still desire to work on their contracts and remove sins from their list, there will be opportunities abound with minimal suffering! Mammon has announced that he has little desire to punish heroes who saved the day. Besides, constant torture gets a bit old after a bit, doesn't it? Starts to lose its initial meaning. Apparently Lucifer is all in favor of this well-earned break as well! So for now, helping keep things clean or chase rats or fend off the damned souls will be considered penance enough.
Additionally, helping fellow sinners through their current struggles or providing comfort certainly counts as well.
See? Redemption doesn't always have to be painful! As a matter of fact, doing anything helpful or kind for one another this round will result in the removal of one sin. Mammon isn't even going to give any long-winded speeches about it.
Follow Me Down For those with a more... indulgent nature, there are plenty of opportunities to let loose (and hopefully not add too many sins to the list! But what will happen will happen, won't it?)
For those who are interested in pleasures of the flesh and find they can't quite scratch that itch with the incubi and succubi onboard, there is a special section of the deck for nude sunbathing where sunblock as well as suntan lotion are provided that both contain a potent aphrodisiac. This aphrodisiac makes sinners eager to put on shows. Whether that's putting on a solo act for those who may be watching or doing some mutual performances, it doesn't matter. Some may retain enough semblance of control to make it to the bedroom though. No one wants to exclude those who aren't into voyeurism from the fun!
For those who aren't interested in sexual vices, they can join the crew in a bit of lost soul fishing. This involves grabbing the damned souls desperately trying to climb aboard and putting them in special containers. Not quite Ghostbusters-like, but these little traps are smooth and metal boxes that seem to draw the souls inside and trap them. Apparently these little guys are valuable energy sources for Hell. The more sinners catch, the more treats they'll receive when they reach land again. This includes: special items and pets from home, other special items found around Mammon's lands, clothing, special favor at brothels and taverns, etc. It's not like they're real people anymore, so what's the harm, right?
If none of that tickles your fancy, there are also a wealth of drugs available to partake in, as well as a fight night happening below deck on one of the lower levels. Fights are carried out among sinners and demons alike, with plenty of help standing by to patch those injured up. Those partaking in either watching or actively participating may swap sins as bets, or anything else they may be willing to risk losing.
Wildcard/Misc. Don't see something you love but still want to get a feel for the game? Check out our extensive list of LOCATIONS and write up your very own prompt however you'd like to! You can also add a "NETWORK" post option to your TL for quick, easy, and fun interactions.
And without further ado: Welcome to our new TDM for the May 1st app round! As always, potential appers and characters already in game are welcomed to jump right in! This TDM counts as an additional game event as well as game canon for those coming into the game. If you app and are accepted, TDM tags become game canon and can be used for AC! Please have fun and don't hesitate to ask any questions you might have down below.
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.
Rules | Taken | Reserves | Applications
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
The Voyage
One thing she has gotten used to is being alone in a crowd, with no one to understand what she's talking about most of the time. Which is why she doesn't quite notice the elven patron at the bar. She does a nearly comical double-take but manages not to spit out her drink.
She is Hawke, after all. Wasting good alcohol is the truly unforgivable sin.
Anyway she, with exactly none of the tact or grace that such a first meeting would absolutely demand, jumps on the stool next to the new arrival and smiles brightly. ]
Aneth ara! You wouldn't believe what a sight you are for sore eyes, messere!
no subject
He's a little bit caught up in his own head, memories of that last battle in Denerim still weighing heavily in his thoughts as well as memories of the coronation ceremony for Alistair and Anora. It's still such a strange thought to think of his friend as king, but Lysander holds on to the hope that Ferelden is in better hands with Alistair ruling alongside Anora.
He's just finished taking another swig of his drink when the sound of his own language catches his attention; he turns at the sound of the greeting, nearly falls off of his own stool in the process. Though he's slightly disappointed to find it's a human woman speaking it, Lysander's surprised and delighted all the same to find someone who seems to be from home. And, if he has to guess from her accent, she might even be from Ferelden, to boot.]
Aneth ara yourself stranger.
[He grins, smirks a little.] Someone has to be the token pointy-eared loner at the bar. Always happy to fill the role.
I have to say, it's nice to see I'm apparently not the only one from home here. You're...Ferelden?
[He guesses; he could very much be wrong, of course. She could always be from the Free Marches, or somewhere else entirely.
He does stand out himself, even without his ears; not too many people on this boat in Warden armor, after all.]
no subject
[ She positively beams when he recognizes her accent, even if she tries her damndest to cover it. ]
Good ear! [ She giggles and even has the grace to blush. ] If you'll pardon the expression. Anyway, yes. Originally from Ferelden and then, well. The Blight. [ She shrugs. ] Went to Kirkwall when it hit.
[ She flags down a bartender and orders an ale. ]
no subject
He clutches at his heart in a teasing, mocking gesture.] I'm not the only pointy eared loner in your life? Heartbreaking.
[Admittedly, it feels nice to have someone to talk to, human or otherwise, and it especially feels nice to have someone to talk to who hails from home, even if from a different part of it.
He takes a sip of his own drink, shaking his head at the mention of the Blight. Sounds like her family is one of the ones hit by it directly.] Glad to hear you avoided the Blight. I've been fighting it, and, let me tell you, Archdemons? Definitely not the sort you want to invite over for tea.
[The Battle of Denerim is still fresh in his mind; all of those bodies, all of that blood. He takes another drink. It is nice to have the chance to escape it all.]
How do you like Kirkwall?
no subject
She giggles. ]
Who says I can't have two? [ She leans in, voice dropping in faux-conspiracy. ] I'll warn you I'm quite greedy.
[ But his casual comment about fighting a Blight makes her blood run cold. A panicky feeling flutters in her chest and she glances about, looking for exits. But she's on a sodding boat so there aren't any, not really.
She's aware that there are people arriving from different versions of Thedas. The Fenris that is here made that clear to her. It hasn't occurred to her that people might come from different points in time. So now there is only one question on her mind. ]
Are you a Grey Warden? Is there another Blight?
no subject
Ah, lucky for you, I don't mind a little honest greed.
[Creators only know greed has proven a valuable ally to him in the past. But, in this case, the greed for collecting friends doesn't bother him.
When she asks about him being a Grey Warden and the Blight, he nods.] Well, I'm not sure about another Blight, but we just defeated the Archdemon, back home. I've come from the coronation ceremony of Alistair and Anora.
[He turns to look at her, curious and concerned all at once.]
How has the Blight affected you?
[He wonders if she's lost someone to it, or if she's been forced to flee her home because of the invading darkspawn. Regardless, there is genuine empathy in his tone.]
no subject
[ Of course, she's speaking of greed in a more generalized sense, now. She's far too ethical a... promiscuous woman to satisfy her interest in brooding elf types via deceit.
Also if she knew he was comparing her to Alistair and Leliana she would die of pride on the spot. Poor girl's got something of a case of hero worship for the entire party.
She blinks at his explanation and mentally calculates. ]
Maker that was... ten years ago. [ She shakes her head and takes a long drink. ] Think I was still living in that cramped apartment in Lowtown.
[ Her eyes flicker toward him and away when he asks the question. Maker. Where to start? ]
Well. I... My family, we lived in Lothering. So. My sister didn't make it. My friend's husband got the Blight sickness, so I... put him out of his misery. [ She finishes her ale. ] There was more after that but it's fairly depressing. Just getting into Kirkwall was awful.
[ She drags herself out and gives him an appraising look. ]
Sounds like it treated you a little better, if you were at the coronation. I wasn't getting any royal invitations back then, anyway.
no subject
I'm the last person to lecture anyone else on dishonest means.
[No matter his well-meaning intentions, Lysander knows well his hands are far from clean, given the lengths he's gone to in fighting the Blight and avoiding capture by Loghain. Not to mention his talent and tendency for poisons of all varieties, in battle or selling to villagers looking to enhance traps on their land.
He sobers when she mentions being from Lothering, nodding into his own drink.]
I'm sorry to hear that. Lothering seemed a nice, quiet village, from what I saw of it.
[For a mostly human population, Lysander thought Lothering quaint and charming in its own way.]
I'm sorry to hear of your sister and your friend's husband. I wouldn't wish the Blight on anyone, not even my own enemies.
[His voice is quiet, sorrowful; contemplative, as Tamlen and that damned mirror whirl throughout his thoughts.
He smiles wryly at that.]
Well, human coronation ceremonies aren't normally my thing but given that I'd helped stop the Archdemon and I'm friends with the new king, I couldn't exactly get out of attending.
no subject
[ She grins, trying to recover some of the more lighthearted mood. Then catches the bartender's eye and taps her empty glass, asking for a refill. She's not trying to brush off his sympathies, exactly. It's just a complicated and sort of heavy conversation for a first time. ]
Yes, well. Lots of places are nice.
[ She doesn't have much to say about what she would wish on her worst enemies because, well, she's unleashed the red lyrium on the world and that is... pretty bad. And possibly Blight related. And not something she wants to bring up with a stranger who could possibly turn into a friend.
She chokes on her fresh ale when he comments about the Archdemon. ]
Wait. You were there? At the Battle of Denerim?