penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #3

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TEST DRIVE MEME #3

ARRIVAL

You remember a dream.

Or maybe nightmare is more accurate.

It was full of hellfire nipping at your skin and a sensation of being pulled down no matter how much you struggle or cry for help. There's a voice that feels like it's coming from all around you at once. Contrasting with the nightmare unfolding around you, it's smooth as silk. It makes you want to listen with every bit of attention you can muster in the moment.

"Judgement has come upon you, but not to worry. It can still be undone."

The voice promises you redemption for your sins. It promises you a better life and everything you could ever want, if only you just stop struggling so much.

And so you do.

Everyone wakes up in the same room initially. The room is done up in red with a cushy bed, a window, an old TV in the corner on a desk, and a few Hieronymus Bosch paintings lining the wall. There's a bathroom to clean up in and any belongings will be sat around the room to be gathered later. There's a duffel bag provided for your convenience.

After feeling a sensation of falling or dropping onto the bed, characters wake up feeling like they've just slept for a week. Their body will feel heavy and stiff, they'll have a massive headache at first.

They'll quickly notice the list of their sins written with their blood on a bedside table on an old piece of parchment. This will mean the list is tied to them and can't be changed or tampered with. They'll also receive their device to connect with others and the network. It won't be anything terribly fancy. As a matter of fact, it looks like a very old Blackberry type phone.

Once characters are ready to leave the room, they'll head down long, winding halls. They're dimly lit and ominous feeling. They may encounter fellow sinners or demonic staff that will direct the newcomer down to the lobby to get their actual room key to settle in. They may be pushy, they may border on courteous. It really just depends on the mood of the staff at the time and how they're treated in return. Eventually, everyone comes to stairs that lead downward.

Once down to the lobby, you'll notice the front desk manned by a demon who looks bored out of its mind. To the side of him is the door to the kitchen where guests may help themselves. To the right is a small duty free shop that seems to have a surprisingly normal, expected stock of items. Look around a bit further, there will be a tiny bar tucked in through a corner door. It seems pretty well-stocked and best of all, self-serve if you want to get away from your demonic hosts for a bit. Of course there's some seating, bar games, and a jukebox tucked in the corner if you'd rather stay and socialize a bit.

Please note that all the songs on the jukebox are appropriately hell-themed. Hopefully Sympathy for the Devil is universally loved.

STAND YOUR GROUND

Prompt I

The general mood now that the carnival has passed seems to be almost dreary. The hotel staff is more snappish than usual and the demons outside are more aggressive towards guests of the hotel now, as if they think they have the right to treat guests even further below them than usual.

And as if to mirror the current mood, there seems to be a steady storm brewing outside that seems to just last and last. There's thunder and lightning happening, but the rain that's falling is a bit...off. It's a mix of hellfire and blood.

The blood begins to pool and flood certain areas as the days drag on, but curiously, the hellfire that burns around the community never seems to falter for even a moment.

The fire falling from the sky burns and stings the flesh if anyone is unfortunate enough to be caught out in it though. Despite that, there's almost a chill in the air.

Guests of the hotel will be reassured that this is perfectly normal, seasonal weather and that the hotel itself is in no danger of flooding. Just be careful going outside for the next couple weeks. There are umbrellas available at the front desk.

Be careful though. It's easy to get stranded outside in heavy, near blinding downpours or to be burnt if you forget that umbrella when you go out. Sinners are free to take shelter in the club, the library, or run back to the hotel as soon as they can. They may also notice the warehouse from the carnival has been left unlocked if they've ventured that far out.

There's still something eerie about it though... Sinners may see glimpses from their past or worst fears popping up from the corner of their eye as a residual from the ride it housed, like creepy phantoms. You may even hear a whisper or two of a familiar voice...

Probably best to not stay there for too long, if you can help it!

Prompt II

Per Lucifer's instruction, a day spa and bathhouse has been opened up in part of the former carnival grounds! It's more for his own benefit than anyone else's. It's not easy running an entire carnival and dealing with the complaints of sinners and demons alike when things don't go exactly their way.

Like all spas, guests of the hotel can go in for some deserved pampering. Facials, massages, steam baths, etc. The bathhouse has an area to shower before you go in for a nice soak in the spacious tubs available. Please note that these are unisex areas, but there are some private tubs for those who are too shy. The demons may side-eye you and your ridiculous modesty standards though.

Unfortunately, due to the rush to put it all together, there are some unfortunate kinks to work out still. Some of the tubs may reach boiling temperatures suddenly or steam rooms may lock and become insufferably hot before guests can get out. The demons may not account for the frailer, squishier bodies of some of the sinners during massages (or that's what they say at least).

Some of the treatments may be strange as well. Baths full of blood of the young that staff claim will restore your youth, pheromone washes that are derived from incubi that are said to make you absolutely irresistible to everyone. You're probably better off not asking what that mud-like substance is they're trying to rub on your face...

REACH UP HIGH

Prompt I
body horror, insects, zombies, etc.

"My absolutely sincerest apologies, my honored guests. It seems a few of the participants in the carnival have brought some germs along with them. But that's just as well. It's time to face your next punishment and this is the perfect opportunity." Lucifer's voice rings out for all guests to hear one fine morning, soon after the rain has started.

"Now I realize some feelings may be a bit hurt after the show, but forgiveness and putting on a brave face to work together are both extremely important traits. Father will be appreciative if you've at least started towards mastering them."

What he means by all of that becomes apparent soon enough. The zombie clowns and the tentacle monsters of the carnival left behind some horrifying infections, it seems.

Guests will notice that eldritch-type abominations are beginning to lurk around the hotel, ready to jump out at them at unexpected turns. They appear to be staff that have been twisted into horrible mutations. Guests can fight or they can try to board up their suites and rooms to protect themselves. Or they can run out of the hotel and hope they make it to one of the other establishments close by unscathed by them or the weather.

Although there do seem to be things that are oddly zombie-like wandering around out there. Slow and shambling, although ready to chase at a moment's notice.

If any of these abominations scratch or bite the sinners, they'll start to feel... odd. Perhaps it starts as a woozy sensation, something just slightly off-balanced inside and progresses there. It's nothing at all to worry about, right? Right, probably. Just ignore the strange symptoms. Maybe the sinner won't even have to tell anyone, right?

And besides, if everyone all worked together to protect one another, then they'll be fine and won't have to worry at all about bites or scratches anyway.

Or, alternatively, they can let the slower ones in their group be the bait, sacrificing a friend along the way, etc. It's also a perfect way to escape from what's promising to be an impending horror show by itself. God may not be happy about it, but God isn't down here suffering this.

There's also an option to just beg the hotel staff for a repellent to keep the nasties away from you... it's maybe not the most glamorous or exciting way to deal with things, but it does seem to work fairly well. Just remember there's a price for not seeing through your punishment. There's always a price.

Guests may just get a bad batch of repellent if they're particularly unfortunate that slowly turns them to stone after all. It's at least not as horrific as becoming an abomination right? It just means watching the horror show from within a stone prison. Ah, well. They can't all be winners, right? It will wear off after a bit.

Now, here's what will happen, depending on the monster that bites you:

If bitten by a zombie or ghoul, characters will slowly begin to change. Their hearts will stop, but they will still be alert somehow. They'll eventually start to rot though, and along with that, comes an insatiable hunger for human flesh that they may or may not be ignored. Eventually, their minds will begin to go as well until it's impossible to think even remotely clearly.

Or, who knows, maybe they'll be lucky and become an almost vampire-like creature with a thirst for blood instead. At least they'll mostly be in control of their own mind?

If touched or scratched by an eldritch abomination, they'll have seen true terror and madness from somewhere beyond the very stars themselves. It will boil through their blood, change them into something inconceivable, something barely within comprehension. It will twist them from within, bones and organs both until they've become the monster they've always had inside of them. They'll start to want to cause others the pain they feel, to kill everything within sight as their mind starts to fade to the abyss and malice. Tentacle beasts or other horrific creatures fall under this umbrella.

Prompt II

If slowly changing into an abomination isn't the sinner's thing, or they're simply an overachiever, no one has to worry! There's another shot of redemption waiting once that whole mess is squared away. Lucifer even kindly chose something that wouldn't harm any freshly healing bodies, just out of consideration for his guests.

Instead, all one will have to do is sincerely apologize. Walk up to someone and apologize for something they've done, against them or another. Past or present. They'll have to specify in detail what they're apologizing for though, so don't try to wiggle out of that!

And if the other person forgives them their sin, that's really all it takes.

"All Father asks for is true remorse for repentance. Please show him you're capable of that much," Lucifer's voice rings out in the sinners' heads, soft and inviting.

"I certainly know that you are, even if you're unaware of the fact. So, go to one of your fellow penitents and ask for forgiveness, it shall be given."

Lucifer seems to leave out the fact that the other person has to genuinely forgive as well... and if they don't? Have fun losing one of your senses painfully. It will pass in a few hours, he's sure.

FOLLOW ME DOWN

Prompt I

"You're tired, aren't you? You poor thing..." Lucifer's voice rings out in the back of your head as it always does, tinged with what feels like genuine sympathy. "Father expects so much of you, and now, I'll have to as well. If you agree to this simple task, at least. I can at least promise you a bit of a break after if you succeed. So come."

The voice beckons and it's impossible to not follow. How the sinner's feet feet know where to lead them is anyone's guest, but they stop outside of a room after winding hallway after winding hallway, various flights of stairs that never have been there before. Sinners will find themselves entering a room with a partner, drawn the same way.

The room inside is lavish and comfortable, with food and drink placed out for sinners to partake in, along with any other items or vices they may want. But before their focus can linger too long on the offers, their attention will be drawn towards a mirror sat on a desk in the room. There are two contracts to the side of it.

"Go on, look in the mirror and then read the contracts."

The voice urges and now the guests are faced with a choice. Do they choose to turn and leave right then and there? Go back to their room and forget the temptation, or do they venture a look to see what happens?

Looking into the mirror, and for a moment, it will feel like both partners have stepped into a perfect getaway, provided by Lucifer himself. Hopefully both partners like each other because they're staying in some luxurious home together, with everything they could dream of. Even friends and family are but a call away, even ones they may have lost or parted on bad terms with. They also seem to have limitless funds and access to anything.

Sinners instinctively know that Lucifer is offering them endless desires if they just agree to a task... is it so simple though?

Of course this little shared hallucination can't last forever. Sinners snap out of it soon and they'll find themselves in the room they started in. If they take a look at the contract, they'll find a simple proposal:

Outside the gates of this community is uncharted territory full of various dangers and far more imposing demons than have been allowed within. But there are several artifacts that Lucifer desires scattered throughout Hell itself. Be brave and find them, and you and your partner will be given a respite from your daily punishment. A week out of Hell, given at Lucifer's discretion, for a job successfully completed.

However, breathe a word of this task to anyone beyond your partner, and you may face harsh consequences.

As always, Lucifer is willing to give sinners time to talk among themselves before making a decision. If you both decide to take on this task, a drop of blood will be more than enough to seal the contract. Remember that pledging yourself to Satan may not be quite the path to redemption though...

While characters discuss their options, they will be allowed to spend one night in the suites. They may also take another gander into the mirror...

Prompt II
Warnings: sex, potential kinks, violence, non-con or dub-con.

With the carnival going on for two weeks, and more people focused on getting their rush in an entirely different way for the most part, the succubi and incubi are starting to feel just a bit starved. This leads to impatience and agitation. They tried so hard to be good during the festivities, putting on their best behavior, but they can't wait any longer.

The constant, horrible weather outside hasn't done much for business at the club, and it's simply not helping matters at all. Deciding to take things into their own hands, it seems the demons have come up with their own plans and solutions since Lucifer hasn't given them any yet.

The demons have decided to take unsuspecting guests at the hotel. Whatever sinners are doing from taking a nice stroll or settling in for a good night's sleep, they'll find their surroundings changing beneath their feet. It will all fade away to an unfamiliar room where the ravenous demons surround them. It seems the succubi and incubi want their own show finally.

The clowns, after all, were decidedly not sexual. The energy hadn't been the same.

They've chosen sinners a partner, whether they're their usual type or not. They don't care. You can simply make it work. They've furnished a bed and any sort of sexual aids you could want from the basics to toys to instruments of pain.

If you're a bit performance shy, you'll find they don't particularly care. For every instance sinners resist, they'll find themselves in a certain amount of pain. Perhaps it's as minor as a headache that will grow steadily worse or tiny, painful cuts that seem to magically appear. Perhaps it's even a little electric zap to get you moving.

Either feed them or be tormented, that's the game.

The demons may have special requests that range anywhere from plain vanilla sex to partners having to endure pain to someone having to permanently mark another as theirs, whether they know each other or not.

If sinners really want to get out, then they have to participate whether they want to or not.

MISC.

Thank you for checking out

penancerp's third TDM! Please note that all prompts are opt-out and players are more than welcome to come up with their own ideas while exploring the hotel and hell outside. There's a locations page that describes the library and the club a bit more thoroughly, if you're interested in sending your characters exploring these establishments!

Because these prompts count as game canon, current players are more than welcome to do their own top levels for these prompts in the meme itself or logs community.

All that we ask is that you remember to put clear warnings on any potentially triggering content! Warn for sex, including underage or incest, violence, abuse, non-con, etc. Please put these warnings in a visible place, either by the prompt itself or in the subject line. This isn't just a suggestion but a requirement to participate in the game.

Now that all that's out of the way, we hope you have fun! Feel free to ask questions under the appropriate comment or on the FAQ page.

Since there are new faces around, Lucifer himself will be taking a few questions via his device for anyone so inclined down below.

As a final note, don't forget that reserves are open now until July 1st as well!

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I don't think that requires a specific who.

( julian lost his goddamn hands in a war. got stabbed through more times than he can feasibly count. has been put through the ringer in more ways than one.

it's been years, but going separate ways definitely does not mean josh got off scott free. he's fairly certain it's the opposite. a healer of josh's caliber isn't something they'd let go of easy.

and josh is an idiot. )

[ He glances at him. 'They' counts for a lot these days - and from where he's from, "they" are probably all dead. No more X-Men.

No more Academy X survivors. ]

I was killed a few times.

( a low hum. and he's turning away from the mirror to sift through the room. drawers open, sheets get pulled down, all while julian stays a few steps away from josh. he doesn't need hands for this. )

Sounds about right, for you. How'd you end up in Hell?

I dunno. My list of sins was like a mile long - I guess, uh, the guys who killed Vanisher probably shot me next.

[ He keeps his voice a little blase, like it doesn't matter. Like he hadn't shook when Telford melted in front of him as his powers went haywire. ]

And it kept you down? ( idly. like this is just a casual conversation they're having, and not talk about life or death. julian doesn't have a clue how he ended up here; he wasn't doing anything that would have gotten him dead. surprising, considering he usually does. )

Let me guess: adultery, bigotry?

It depowered him and melted him, so yeah, I think it'd do the same for me.

[ His jaw sets. ]

Guessing being a colossal ass was still on the top of yours.

No.

( but he's not going into it any deeper than that. the room is nice. it has nice things in it. it's suspicious, but considering the contract lucifer was convincing them to join--he's not surprised at all. another moment, and julian's walking over to where the food is situated, grabbing onto a few things before making himself comfortable on the edge of the bed. lets the corners of his lips curve up. )

But it sounds like I hit the nail on the head.

[ He hasn't moved yet. Watching Julian's every move carefully, suddenly uneasy. Did he know about Wither? It's been actual years, but Julian holds grudges. And he hadn't really stuck around to explain what happened to the wayward hellion.

His arms fold across his chest. ]

It was a long time ago.

I know. I was there, remember? With Rahe and Sophia. When they took you in from your mutant-killing squad.

( years and years and years ago. when they were both kids. before their mutations had advanced, before julian lost his hands. one of the glasses gets raised to his lips, and julian takes a good few drinks from it. )

And now we both play on different fields. ( they've lost everyone. pieced themselves back together, over and over again. but here they still are. )

Yeah, and you shot your mouth off twice about things you knew nothing about.

[ He tilts his head back. ]

Nevermind. Just - can you not, like, be you right now? I don't want to talk about my list.

Whatever.

( he's not talking about his list. so he does shut his mouth, for once. fills it with food instead. )

You gonna stand there all day?

[ good. that's a better use of it. he heads to the table, glancing over the food selection and wondering if its good. he misses when he didn't have to care but if something is poisoned and his powers are on the fritz, then he's getting poisoned and won't be able to fight it off.

But its the whispering. The whispering. Josh shuts his eyes. ]

We're so screwed.

We're partners now. ( idly, like they didn't just agree to whatever the hell the devil wants them to find. what those artifacts mean. )

Guess you'll just have to get used to it.

I just did it to make sure you don't get yourself killed.

[ DUMB!! TELEKINETIC!! ASSHOLE!! ]

I don't need you to babysit me. Pretty sure it's the other way around, Foley.

( that josh needs a watcher. and okay, maybe julian does sometimes. but not here. not now. )

Yeah, uh, nah.

[ He grabs an apple. Some wine. Might as fucking well. ]

I've saved your ass way more than you've saved mine.

Only because you don't stay dead.

( raising a hand to. gesture over to the wine. bring him some, too. )

How many times would you have died over if injuries stuck?

If you're leaning hard on the 'guy with non-combative powers would die more if he didn't heal' argument then you know I'm right.

[ no, fuck you.

also death touch is combative, josh. ]

Non-combative, my ass. You can off people just by touching them. That's about as combative as it gets.

( fine, be a dick. he'll just send a hand over to grab a glass for him. it's not like they're attached anyway. )

I don't use that anymore.

[ He... can't help but watch the hand go. Feeling guilt settle in his gut. ]

I didn't want to use it to begin with.

But you could, if you wanted to. ( he's not arguing the life or death bullshit with josh. not now. they're already dead, there's no point to it. )

All you need to do is touch someone to end them. To piece them back together. End them again, if you wanted to. That's more advanced than telekinetic combat.

[ ha

hahahah about that. ]

Maybe, but...

But I doubt you'd be able to get away with it. Not like they do. ( the general they. josh'll get it. julian takes down an enemy and suddenly he's the enemy, thanks scott summers. )

They're all hypocrites.

[ ... ]

Do you guys know why I left? Like - I... did they say anything?

Why didn't you say anything?

( a pointed look. ignoring the question because this is a little more important. )

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