penancememes | TEST DRIVE MEME #9

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, there's a demonic bartender who seems to know how to mix any drink you can imagine (and a few you can't). Of course there's some seating, bar games, and a jukebox tucked in the corner if you'd rather stay and socialize a bit. There's also a new addition of a karaoke machine.

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

STAND YOUR GROUND

REBUILDING

The gated community of Penance is a bit in shambles at the moment, newcomers may notice. The sex club has been demolished, part of the library is destroyed... there are demons wandering around the community looking rather lost, while others dressed in the uniforms the hotel staff gesture them towards the hotel. New arrivals can guess something went down here, those already living here already know what happened. If new arrivals poke around and ask, the demons will gruffly tell them that Lucifer allowed a mortal to be king for a day and he tried to blow up Hell. There will also be some choice words about how all mortals are worthless sacks of meat by some of the angrier demons around.

That said, there are crews on the job trying to clear debris and start the rebuilding efforts, so they will gladly accept any help offered to them. Or, quite possibly, they'll force it. Forcing it is definitely an option, and may come with a nice side of whipping if guests start to slack off during their job. Water and snacks will be provided if guests chip in (albeit begrudgingly).

Overall, the attitude around Penance is one of anger and distress as the succubi and incubi mourn the loss of their home at the club, and the goblins from the library sob over the loss of their priceless books. The guests who sympathize will be treated with more respect than the ones who chipped in aiding the attempt to bomb Hell out of existence. Newcomers will depend very much on how they act about everything.

Weather-wise, it's still rather chilly out. It seems to have grown colder again as Lucifer has distracted himself with taking care of Hell. There are coats to be found around the hotel, however, and warm drinks in the kitchen. The bar is also neatly supplied with a healthy stock of alcohol and drugs for those who may wish to take their mind off their troubles that way.

Due to the influx of incubi and succubi, guests will find the hotel rather... packed. Demons are sleeping anywhere they can find space, even if it means trying to move into a room that isn't theirs. If someone finds themselves with a surprise guest, they are more than welcome to alert the staff... or have a little fun.

BAD MAGIC

As the dust settles from Lucifer's indiscretion, letting a mortal take over Hell for a day, it seems that another guest of Hell has taken it upon himself to cause a little chaos! Unintentional though it may have been, John Constantine has torn a rift through a wall of Hell itself in an attempt to escape. It seems the spell that he's devised during his stay may have been missing some vital ingredients to actually open a door out of Hell, or maybe it was just the wrong one for this particular dimension.

Either way, the disturbance comes from the warehouse and seems to have caused quite a ruckus. All manner of Eldritch horror is crawling through the rift, horrifying creatures. These abominations vary in appearance, but they will all need to be rounded up and shoved back into the rift soon before Lucifer has to close it.

There's also a rather large fellow who seems to be trying to force his way through the tiny little tear in Hell's reality. Fortunately he's a bit large, and Lucifer has spared what demonic guards he can to fight it back, but all guests are welcome to chip in.

Aside from maddening Eldritch horrors running around causing mischief (and possible insanity), the rift seems to be causing some other annoying issues as well. These include, but are not quite limited to:

Abnormal Abilities - Guests passing by the dimensional rift may find themselves blessed (cursed?) with powers they didn't have before. This may range from flight to laser vision to the amazing ability to grow your hair really quickly (Hey, not every special power is a winner). These will be temporary and will fade once the rift has been closed.
Physical Changes - Whether this means guests suddenly age up or down, switch appearances with an alternate version of themselves, swap out genders or species, etc., this may cause a bit of an inconvenience. Like the abilities, there's no real way to change this until the rift is closed. However, they may not last the entire duration and come and go.
Unexpected Loss - Alternatively, guests may also notice a certain loss of abilities or senses. Whether it's that they no longer have the strength to bust through walls or fly, or something even more personal like the ability to hear or see, guests may be in for a rather rude surprise! Again, this will only be temporary!

Before anyone decides to take a dive into this dimensional tear, please keep in mind that it probably has horrors worse than anything Hell has offered so far... oh, and there are definitely guards lined up to stop any and all reckless enough to try it anyway.

While Lucifer certainly enjoys a bit of chaos, particularly when it fails so spectacularly, he's rather disappointed in the guests. Any attempts to further cause disruption while he works at repairing this bit of Hell will result in immediate harsh punishments ranging from savage beatings from his demons, to torture by a thousand cuts (it won't cause death because that would be too easy), to anything else the guest may absolutely fear having done to them.

REACH UP HIGH

PLEASE EXPLAIN...
Warnings: mutilation, blood, torture.

"Welcome, my honored guests! Since some of your ilk have displayed an alarming tendency towards secrecy and outright lying, I've come up with a way for you to practice frank discussion instead," Lucifer's voice rings out as it always does, compassion and warm despite his words. It lingers in guests' ears even as they're forced into a dark room by demons and shown an ominous looking device just waiting for them.

"What I ask of you won't be an easy task, but it will be a lesson that's valuable to learn. The device before you will display a sin one of you is guilty of. You will be given exactly one minute to begin explaining what happened and how. There's no need to try to excuse your behavior... do be frank about it. Fair warning, if either of you refuse... you'll likely be very unhappy about what happens as a result."

Guests won't have the option of refusing. The demons that dragged them in will also shove their hands in the opening of the device. They'll be unable to remove them as a typing noise begins sounding out. After a moment, a sheet of paper will then pop out of the top of the device for guests to read, with one sin off their list printed neatly on it. They will have a minute to begin to explain what it means and how it happened.

Should the guest refuse or fail, they will feel the contraption start to work once again, an ominous sound of something shifting before a sharp pain shoots up their finger. Each time they fail, they will each lose a fingernail. this will keep going until they've lost all ten (or however many the guest may have) or they answer a satisfactory number of sins. It really just depends on which sort of torment the guests are content with suffering through and how much they want redemption.

[Note: How many sins characters have to explain to be released will be left up to player discretion!]

FOLLOW ME DOWN

Prompt I
Warnings: Alcohol and drug abuse, potential non-con/dub-con.

With all the sinners, new and old, the bar will be lit up with activity and absolutely bustling with guests and demons alike. 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 to stay and have a bit of fun.

You may not get much of a chance to have that in hell after all. So 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 the staff is handing it out and so helpfully showing you how to use it, or recommending a type that would suit what you want.

You've presumably done your atonement for the day, yes? So cut back a bit, let loose. Hell might be pain and torment, but it's also a nonstop party in the bar.

There's even a brand new stage and a karaoke machine for those feeling brave!

Ask the staff demons very nicely and you may even get less scrupulous drugs as well. Things that will convince your fellow damned souls to tell only the truth for a fun prank, or perhaps even potions that will make someone so enamored with you, they won't take their eyes, or hands, off you. How dare they give you the cold shoulder earlier, right? You've got them now.

There are also tables set up for all sorts of gambling and various bar games to entertain yourself with. Since currency as most are familiar with it doesn't quite exist down here, most of the demons seem to be accepting bits of your soul, if you're in a gambling mood. You may also get pulled into a fun game of strip poker against one of your fellow guests for a few succubi that are having a night out.

Relax and enjoy your night. Coming here and facing your sins is the hard part, so surely you deserve to have a little fun, right?

TOUCH ME
Warnings: Potential non-con, aphrodisiacs, dub-con.

The succubi and incubi are starving, wasting away. The poor dears. Those who can look past their beautiful, intoxicating illusions will see the crones underneath look even less healthy than usual. It's understood that they're not allowed to feed on anyone until they die, but that doesn't mean these demons aren't out to satisfy their hunger. They will approach people in the bar or throughout the hotel to try to convince them to join them in debauchery and dirty deeds. They're putting off high levels of aphrodisiacs and not particularly apt to take no for an answer, so expect them to be particularly persuasive.

They're also not above changing their appearance ever-so-slightly to that of someone guests may be naturally attracted to. That significant other back home? They're suddenly here and they want so desperately. They're so entrancing, guests will find it impossible to say no without someone else giving them a helping hand to do so.

Though they will certainly let others join, or even play matchmaker and setup guests with each other, whether or not they actually fit someone's preferences or not. With enough aphrodisiacs coursing through one's veins, it won't matter at all if someone fits the right age, gender, or personality. They'll also be encouraging threesomes, orgies, and solo play (especially in public!). If reported to the staff, they will attempt to subdue the succubi and incubi... but possibly not very well. The staff seems to be enjoying the torment a bit.

Not all of them desire to play nice, it should be noted. Sexual energy is sexual energy. Perhaps they'll just take what they want (or encourage that urge in others), or force a guest to endure a traumatic encounter ranging from an embarrassing sexual memory to sleeping with someone they absolutely cannot stand. Either way they still end up fed and they get a sense of revenge.

Those with a particularly strong will should be able to fend the succubi and incubi off, or those with someone watching their backs who may help see through the beautiful illusion.

Please note that sexual encounters don't have to actively include participation from the demons. They can just watch and receive enough energy to sustain them. They can even work a spell so the participants don't even remember they're there at all. Have fun!

MISC.
It's certainly great to be back from the holiday break and into the swing of things again! Thanks everyone for checking out our ninth TDM! We hope you enjoy yourselves and find a prompt to your liking! Remember that apps open February 1st!

If you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc., go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Noctis had become quite familiar with alcohol since being in Hell. His six, seven, however many months down here was a trial of something but he was pretty sure he was losing his character a little bit each day. Things he has done, even outside of his control, haunted him but even more so the things he did that was in his control haunted him. Those were the types of sins that kept him here in hell. He wasn't sure, at this point, if he'd ever repent enough for all that he did down here let alone what he did back on Eos. Or lack of.

He was at the bar with an unfamiliar face beside him, which wasn't too uncommon. They were warned of a new batch of sinners yet to come. So, perhaps this guy was part of that.

"You new, here?" He asked after the other slammed his hand down twice for more of the drink. Noct's own glass was half full but well on its way to empty with the speed he was going.

"Yup." Amos's demeanor was calm, and neutral. There was an openness to his expression but neither did he smile. He took the shot and downed it, huffed afterward and then looked to his side and took in the make of the man. Young. That was all Amos could really gather at that point, and he wondered what would be the most expected greeting to a stranger in Hell.

He thought for a second but was too drunk to really come up with anything and so he returned the question instead. "You?"

"No.. not at all." Noctis huffed before he brought a hand up to scratch at his chin. There wasn't an itch, it was a nervous response to the thought of just how long he'd been here and all the things he's done, seen, and was a part of since arriving. He can't quite say he's better for it. Not at all.

In fact, he's probably digging himself a deeper hole here.

"It doesn't get any better.. I don't think.." He offered.

TEST DRIVE MEME #9

follow me down : prompt 1

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