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penancememes2019-04-21 09:28 pm
penancemods) wrote in penancememes2019-04-21 09:28 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #1
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 hotel is undergoing some improvements already! Thanks to the new arrival of sinners, hell has a burst of energy and growth available to it. One demand of the demonic staff was the addition of elevators. It gets tiresome having to take the stairs all the time. They'll eagerly implore you to help them test out this new system, even going so far as shoving you right in the nearest available elevator with whoever else is in the vicinity.
Unfortunately, things aren't quite up to par just yet. Press a button and you'll find your elevator gets jammed between floors with very little chance of escape. Oh, oops. This is entirely the hotel's fault and will be fixed as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy your company and try to relax a bit.
It's definitely a high priority repair for staff, promise.
Prompt II
Maybe you were looking for the hotel gym to work off some stress or maybe you just took a wrong left somewhere, but instead of what you were expecting, you stumble across what appears to be a very well stocked torture room. There are tables with straps to hold down victims, chains falling from the walls and ceilings to bind them upright, and absolutely every possible torture device you can think of. There's even an iron maiden proudly displayed in the corner. Besides that, there's the normal supply of whips, knives, and any other equipment someone could want to inflict the most delicious pain available.
You're free to check it out or give it a go. You're also free to back out of the room very slowly, but with the knowledge this space will probably come into play at some point.
Oh, and a tip: the gym is to the right of this room.
REACH UP HIGH
Prompt I
Warnings: cutting, blood, torture.
After settling in, it really is only a matter of time until your demonic hosts expect some participation. You can try and shirk the responsibility, of course. But eventually, you may find yourself trapped in a room just off the kitchen that's curiously full of knives. You can try the door, but even with super human strength or every lock picking skill in the book, you won't be able to open it.
It becomes apparently what you're supposed to do soon enough when someone else is eventually shoved in with you. Both of your lists of in will appear in the room on a nearby table with two handy knives. You can choose to guard these or not care at all that they're on display.
"Know that honesty is a good place to start on your road to redemption. Sure, it can be terrifying at first, but that's why you've been given a partner in this journey. Pick up your knives and carve one of your sins into the other's flesh. Help them in their journey to be candid with everyone they should meet here!"
The voice echoes all around you again, just like in the nightmare, and once again there's the pull to give in. This voice really does seem like it has your best interests at heart.
"If you need a bit of encouragement, we'll be giving it shortly."
It isn't a lie or idle threat either. The longer you wait to do what's been requested of you, the more shallow cuts that will appear on both of your bodies. Are you really prepared to endure this pain when giving in would be so much easier?
And more than that, are you willing to let another suffer along with you?
Eventually, the cuts will stop if you suffer them long enough, but you'll have failed this challenge and sustained more damage than if you'd just gone along with it. Satan will also be very disappointed in you.
Prompt II
Well, that last punishment was a bit heavy, wasn't it? Or maybe you somehow skipped out on it all together. Fortunately for you, there's a less horrible one to get potentially wrapped up in along the way. You'll hear that all too familiar voice ringing in your ears as you explore the halls of the hotel or poke your head outside.
"Do one genuinely kind deed for someone and we'll consider it a step in the right direction for you."
This can be helping one of your fellow sinners out with a task or helping them find something. It can be a shoulder or a listening ear towards someone who needs it. You can even offer to help the staff clean up a bit around the hotel, or help a poor hell beast pup out of the hellfire around Penance. Careful though, even they have pretty sharp teeth and an aggressive attitude. It doesn't matter what you do as long as it helps someone else out.
Oh, and one more thing! The longer you resist, the more aches you'll notice. It'll start with a mild headache and escalate from there. You can wait it out, of course, and pills may help you cope with the pain if you really can't be bothered to do one nice deed. Although Satan is still very disappointed in you.
FOLLOW ME DOWN
Prompt I
Warnings: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con.
With all the new sinners arriving, this feels like a call for celebration! The bar will be lit up with activity. Food and drinks will be readily available and provided by hotel staff (although they might not always know what humans eat. What do you mean you don't like fried kitten?), music will be blaring, and overall, there will be an energy to the atmosphere that's absolutely contagious. Even if you aren't typically inclined to linger at these sorts of events, there will be a certain pull.
One drink won't hurt, right? Nor will one more after that.
There will also be every sort of party drug available that might tickle your fancy. There's no harm in experimenting, is there? You're already in hell.
And you've presumably done your atonement for the day, yes? So cut back a bit.
Ask the staff demons very nicely and you may even get less scrupulous drugs. Things that will convince your fellow damned souls to tell the truth or perhaps even things that will make someone so enamored with you, they won't take their eyes off you. How dare they give you the cold shoulder earlier, right?
There are also tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with.
Relax and enjoy your first night in hell. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun, right?
Prompt II
Warnings: sex, aphrodisiacs, potential kinks.
Much like the hotel improvements inside, all these new sinners seem to have given hell the ability to open a new building just outside the hotel. It happens to be quite a happening sex club from the looks of it. Everything is bathed in obnoxious neon lights when you first enter the establishment. There's plenty of space for dancing, and poles for those so inclined. Mood music fills the air, along with something a little too sweet.
As tacky as it is, something may pull you to stay.
Whether experienced lover or total virgin, once pulled in, you may not want to leave for a while.
There are back rooms people can go for a bit of private fun, full of every type of toy and restraint that you could possibly desire to play with. There's also a rather large room with a massive bed that seems to be fit for any orgies you may want to try to arrange. Hell's not judging and may be encouraging a bit.
There are aphrodisiac laced food and drinks available around the club as well, but these will most likely be marked. If one slips through, ah well. Why else are you here if not for a bit of fun? The drugs will only help that out.
Of course outside, this club is clearly marked for what it is and anyone who would rather avoid it are free to do so.
MISC.
Thank you for checking out
penancerp's first 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.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 warning 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 before or on the FAQ page. Since this is the game's first TDM, we are also very interested in hearing any suggestions you have or ways to improve the game experience.
Since this is a big event, 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 May 1st as well!
Rules | Taken | Reserve | App
Network | Logs | OOC | Memes
John Doe//The Joker | Telltale Batman
Oh, now what is this trove of fantastical treasures? John stumbles into the torture chamber quite by accident, but what a pleasant surprise! Lots of his toys came with him-- they were scattered around him in that strange room he woke up in. But there’s no harm in trying new things, is there?
The slim angular man bounces between this table and that, admiring the knives and the whips and-- oh sweet fried kittens that’s an Iron Maiden! If only he had had one of those when he wanted Waller nice and dead.
“I’m getting really tempted to touch something,” he remarks with giddy delight and crumbling self restraint. He’s speaking to no one in particular; himself, the sexy iron lady full of spikes, the walls. Who ever. Giggles tumble from a high register as his paper-white hand slides out and caresses a pretty preening gleaming blade set waiting on a table.
Well, this is a fun game isn’t it? Someone had said something about redemption, and now they want him to cut someone up? The folks in charge of this place seem confused. But whatever, John doesn’t play games he’s not interested in but this, this seems fun. Oh, and he’s also got to get someone to carve something into him. Okay, cool. He’s been in worse pain (so has anyone who’s been on the other end of Batman’s beautiful brutality) and he doesn’t care much about these stupid ‘sins’.
But he spots someone unfamiliar also tangled in this Arkham prescribed medication induced fever dream (???) and saunters over to them casually, approaching from behind.
“Hey there friend-o, looking for someone good with a knife?” for a split second he looks utterly ruthless and wild, the kind of creature that would kill you as soon as look at you. But his bright green eyes are widened by some secret surprise and his smile splits, spilling a chorus of trailing giggles that are more eerie than sheepish.
“For this little game, that is,” he amends after a few failed attempts to smother his poorly controlled laughter. “I mean, I can do other fun things with a knife, but that’s not exactly on the menu, is it?”
So they want him to do a good thing now? What’s this place’s deal? You’re in hell, but you can be good, only cut up this person, and now go be nice to someone else. It’s a fast changing game, isn’t it? But so far, John is having so much more fun than in the months he spent alone in Arkham, healing his broken bones.
No Harley. No Bruce. No one worth a second glance, and nothing but his photos on the wall to remind him of everything he’d lost. John hadn’t laughed for far too long, but this place? This place is a ball. So sure, why not, he’ll play this round, too!
How could he not, when he has all the tools for his Therapy Circle? And there’s a bar-- not quite with the musty charm of The Stacked Deck, but it has beer (and more) so it’s good enough. John makes an ungodly amount of noise dragging various chairs across the room and repositioning them a number of times, though he seems totally oblivious to any disturbance he may be causing. A few minutes of loud metalic screeching pass before he’s got the chairs just how he wants them, in a perfect little circle.
Alright, looking good. Next up, John finds some paper (green) and some crayons (purple) and scrawls himself a little sign, reading ‘Open Therapy Circle’, and of course he’s gotta draw some smiles and clown faces on there for good measure so everyone understand it’s a positive space.
And for the final touch, John dives into his handy duffle bag (thank you demon staff?) and digs around until he finds them…
“Come on, I know you guys are in here somewhere…” he grumbles to himself, scowling at the chaotic mess of clothes and knives and makeup and smoke bombs-- ahha! Search complete! The pale green haired man produces a pair of plushies from his bag; one is a blond female in a dress and the other is a brunette male in a suit, and both of them feature blue button eyes. Plushies are weird enough, but it would be weirder if they were plushies of certain people, wouldn’t it?
Because they totally are. John sits each plushie in its own seat inside the circle, and then drops himself into the seat next to the one in the suit, a casual posture hanging his long lanky limbs.
“I guess now we wait?” he side eyes one toy and then the other, melting a little into the chair in a show of impatient boredom. Hopefully someone comes along soon because a bored John Doe is a scary creature indeed.
“Fried… kittens?” John eyes the demonic server dubiously, one slick green brow floating. “Arkham served some questionable things but I gotta say, that’s never been on the menu before.” It’s kinda sad, poor little kittens. But also they’re not gonna get less dead if John doesn’t eat one.
“Well, I guess… when in Rome?” he picks up a crispy fried leg and examines it far too briefly and casually, shrugs, and takes a bite.
“You know what would be good on this? Honey mustard,” he comments between chewing, “it could stand to be sweeter.”
Probably an unpopular opinion, but this place is a hoot compared to Arkham. I was getting so bored but this… this has potential. I can’t be the only one having too much fun, can I?
[eerie giggles that shift from deep in the throat to high in the nose trail on for a bit to long.]
Seems like a good place to make friends. And, speaking of bestest, forever friends…
… Batman? Are you out there somewhere? I miss ya buddy. [His voice actually sounds almost sad there for a second]
Guess I should follow Doctor Leeland’s advice and try to extend my friend circle, while I’m here…
Therapy Circle
You really need all those chairs?
[The goblin would sit on the floor, but well, he couldn't reach the table that way. He notes John's odd appearance, though being green he doesn't have room to comment. Also he's guessing the man isn't the type to start bashing heads over the request for a chair.]
And what's therapy, anyway?
I apologize for everything XD
Therapy is a wonderful, liberating experience in which we share our greatest joys, our darkest fears, or what we had for breakfast this morning. [Helpfully informative, matter of fact, so it's unclear whether he's taking himself completely seriously or not] It's about sharing emotions in a healthy way, and making friends!
[He chuckles and wrings his hands in front of himself while the laughter wells up in his chest. He smothers it down but his shoulders still tremble with the remnants.]
I feel it's my responsibility to pass on the knowledge I learned at Arkham Asylum. [He smiles as though to show kindness but it's an incredibly unnerving extression] Hold on, I'll go first. Okay. [ he clears his throat, stands up]
My name is John Doe, and... [ a pause overloaded with purposefully applied apprehension] I haven't murdered anyone in at least three days
[He glances between the stranger and his two plushies, gushing giggles that he can no longer contain leaking out from his too-wide grin. John claps his hands together in a sharp show of delight, apparently proud of himself, amused and pleased with his 'confession'. Which incidentally, doesn't make clear if he wants to murder less people, or more.]
Whew! Glad I got that off my chest! Okay friend, now you try
[John sits back down, elbows on his knees, chin in his hands, eyes fixed unblinking and expectant on the green stranger]
no subject
Is this about that "redemption" thing? I would trust the management here about as much as a ceramic hammer.
[Does the man even understand what he's saying? Not important. Styx is going to banter anyway.]
I don't do confession, but I haven't killed anyone for about a week. Because no one's fucking hired me.
...Yeah. I'm still going to need one of these chairs.