Chapter 1: A Light in the Dark, TDM

[cyndanemods]

Chapter 1: A Light in the Dark, TDM

A spark in the night

All awaken in their own time as if from a perfectly innocuous sleep, well-rested and refreshed in a way that is perhaps less innocuous, but what is perhaps most striking in these first moments is that no one is in their own bed. All now on this plane awaken in simple bunks within simple cabins...not that this fact is very easily observable.

Undoubtedly rivaling the strangeness of awaking in a new bed is the fact that this place is nearly devoid of natural light. One might at first assume it's nighttime, but no moonlight streams through the windows. The only light is from a lit lantern, allowing the barest observations: each cabin houses up to six people in six bunks, each has a small table with two chairs, the walls are worn wooden plank and the roof tin, the construction very simple. As everyone rouses, there are certainly reactions to be had and decisions to be made. Should anyone wander outside, they will find that there are at least stars shining in the sky, though their positions are unfamiliar. Despite the darkness, it is cool but not cold. The land in the immediate area seems mostly even, the environment akin to scrubland. They will also find that there are more cabins, all set along a single well-worn pathway and all filled with more people in the same predicament. Nobody knows this place. Nobody knows what is happening or why they are here."

So... What's one to do?

Who was here?

Exploration of the camp itself reveals a few things that may be helpful. There are several established campfire areas, some with makeshift seating or simple cooking tools. At the end of the row of cabins, there is a small storage building containing various tinned foods (quality unknown), tools, simple animal traps and fishing equipment, candles and matches, a small supply of assorted spare clothes, and a fairly generous quantity of firewood. All of this, but no signs of the people who put it here. If they left, it was recent and unhurried; no gathered dusk, nothing ransacked or overturned... Still, is anyone in a position to look a gift horse in the mouth? With the right amount of cooperation and lack of panic, perhaps this new little populous might simply wait the situation out.

When and if people grow restless, it is also observable that the main path of the camp, once itself the bed of a creek, continues onward in either direction.

Seek & Find

Taking the path North—though how can one truly tell?—leads wanderers to an incline, which becomes the steep and rocky base of a mountain. While the mountain itself is not very steep or perilous, the conditions are hard to measure in the darkness. Still, any adventurer or group intrepid enough may pick their way to the top over the course of two to three "days", however they're measuring. They'll find the landscape rocky and, like the campsite, mostly patches of scrub grass populated by small animals such as mice, rabbits, and birds.

Should anyone reach the top... Congratulations! While there's no picturesque view to be had, there is a large cairn. Examining the exterior of it carefully, one might find a message etched into one of the larger stones near the base:

You will cross my path again. This is inevitable.
Taking the path South brings one to a stream. Providence! Upon examination or experimentation, the water is found to be clean and drinkable, and one might even be able to figure out how to start snagging up some fish or washing or doing laundry. It's a perfectly fine little resource for the camp.

Walking upstream for any length of time will yield no promising results. One cannot see the landscape stretching out before them and there is only the rustle of the wind through the grass or the occasional fleeing of a small animal. Is it becoming darker, even? Perhaps it is. Perhaps it's best to turn back before the lamp oil or candles are gone.

Walking downstream, on the other hand, leads to a decline that slopes steadily, the trail a little more precarious until it widens out. This seems...almost road-like, even? Does that instill confidence? If yes, keep pushing forward! In about 25 miles, one can see lights in the distance. Drawing nearer, the shape of a town's front gate strung with decorative lanterns appears. This is the town of Stonesthrow.

The townspeople are in a bit of a tizzy, rushing here and there, setting up lanterns and booths, prepping in their various kitchens. It seems some celebration is meant to kick off soon, and while the townspeople are friendly, they don't have much time to spare the newcomers. They don't seem surprised by their presence, and relaying waking up at the camp prompts fairly nonchalant reactions. 'Up at the old mines?' they might ask. 'Oh, I'd stay away from there.' They also aren't fussed if questioned about the state of the world and its lack of light. They get by.

There are beds available at a couple inns, and one only has to make the request. Locals also won't bat an eye at out-of-towners hunkering down to camp or have a snooze outdoors in public spaces.

Starfall

For those who elected to stay behind at the camp or journey to the mountain, Stonesthrow makes itself known bombastically. A squeal and explosion sound in the distance, and anyone outside will see a burst of crackling light in the distance. It's a fireworks display, its purples, oranges and yellows stark against the utter darkness of this place, perhaps the first sign of outside life since finding themselves here. Every six hours for 72 hours, another display is launched. Those remaining at the mining camp can find their way easily, then, to the town.

When they arrive, a festival is in full swing. A banner over the town's main road reads "ENJOY THE STARFALL SKIES".

Along the main street, several carts and booths serve a variety of food. No one asks for any money and, if questioned about this, the people of the town seem to have no idea what payment even is. One of the carts offers fresh fruits that may look familiar to some, resembling dragon fruit and lychees. When peeled open, however, the flesh carries a faint glow. The vender calls them starfruit and moonfruit, which is perhaps unusual given that there's no sign of the moon in the sky. Ever. Starfruit are said to increase one's charm and stamina, while moonfruit are said to increase perception and cunning. No matter how implausible this seems, consuming them does seem to replenish the mind and body, increase gregariousness, or make one a suspicious little plotter. Respectively.

Also available are different games of chance and skill, taking place within the town's open square. Included are classics such as arm wrestling, bottle toss, and wheel-spinning, each awarding varying small trinkets, all decorated with star motifs. Craft displays and items are also available, all themed around the stars. While peddlers are unfamiliar with money, they will accept item trades or other barters. All offer well-wishes such as "may the stars fall in your favor" or "have a glowing Starfall". If anyone asks what Starfall's about, they are instructed to watch the next fireworks display and stay for the production afterwards.

The final fireworks show is grand and magnificent. Many aren't just pops of light and color, but take the form of moving spectacles. A dragon soars across the sky, a snake lunges at a rabbit who manages to get away, flowers bloom and petals fall... Each scene is one pulled from the natural world. Afterwards, a stage performance is put on in the main courtyard. A man with a guitar accompanies a woman who sings the story of Starfall.

The tale is simple enough. Two lovers meet against the will of their worlds and gods. One cunning and observant but far too afraid to take action, the other daring enough to cross worlds to join her, bearing gifts of fire and warm, glowing light, previously unknown. To commemorate this meeting and the divine gifts, Starfall is still celebrated today, marked by a certain positioning of the stars and greeted with joyful fireworks displays.

The celebration winds down slowly after that, with the townspeople settling in for warmed wine, quieter card games, and gossip as their children wander off to bed. Once again, nobody will begrudge the newcomers hanging about, particularly if they offer to help in the cleanup. Of course, there’s also the possibility of returning to the camp.

Mod Notes!

Welcome to the first ever Test Drive meme for Cyndane! We're happy to have you! A few things to keep in mind:

• The world you arrived in is dark (no sun, no moon), and there's no harnessed electricity. Oddly, while the nights are cool, it's uncomfortable at worst as opposed to deadly.
• Any questions about the prompts or setting can be asked here.
• For general game questions, please refer to the FAQ.
• Applications will open on May 1 and will close on May 5.
• Accepted characters who participated on the TDM will have an additional Bond Slot available to them in the month of May to use upon arrival.

♡

Comments

starfell (spoilers a-okay)

[taediosum]

Uh, no. Definitely not just you. It's - well, weird's as good a word for it as any, I guess.

[ Safe is harder to quantify. But Arcade somehow doesn't think brushing it off with a joking non-answer is going to cut it, here, given how antsy she is.

He shrugs, considering the starfruit he's had foisted upon him, as well, and a passing group of locals, eagerly chowing down on their own fruits. ]

I don't think it's dangerous, though - the food, anyway. Jury's out on the locals, but they don't look like the human-sacrificing sort to me, at least.

[ Okay, maybe there will be a little bit of a stupid, sarcastic (probably ill-advised) joke, after all. ]

[imfbiuwu]

[Grace looks down at the food, frowning, but conceding that he must be right. Everyone else is eating them and no one's seemed worse for wear over the past couple hours. There's a part of her that whispers it could have some long activation period, but being paranoid about every little thing is only going to wear her down even more.

She rolls her shoulders and looks around, wondering vaguely what the 'human-sacrificing sort' would look like, thinks about the Baker House Incident, and then decides maybe it's better not to go down that particular train of thought]

Or human-eating, I guess. [She tries to make it sound like a sort of joke too, but it falls flat.] So far, anyhow. Um... I guess you don't know where this place is either, huh?

[taediosum]

That, too.

[ Somehow, it doesn't sound as much like a joke, when he agrees, commiserating. But, hey, he's seen plenty of those. And they really do tend to prefer a more... overt kind of decor. Bones and gore and - you know, not a productive train of thought, either, really. ]

Other than where we are? Not a clue. One of the locals called it 'Stonesthrow,' when I asked, but they couldn't give me much more. Or wouldn't. Either way, that doesn't help much in placing us on a map.

Where were you, before you, uh, presumably woke up here?

[imfbiuwu]

I’m not sure they even have maps? I tried asking for a phone but no one knew what that was either. I don’t know how we’re going to get… anywhere, really. Except to pick a direction and keep walking, I guess…?

[She does not seem enthused by the idea. At his question she hesitates, though out of embarrassment rather than a desire to keep it secret. FBI personnel weren’t really supposed to be getting kidnapped even once, let alone twice, but…]

I, uh… I was in Raccoon City? It’s, you know— Well, maybe you don’t. No one else seems to know what it is, w-which is weird enough— Uh. [The phrase “we’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto” had been whirling around in her head but Grace wasn’t sure she was ready to commit to that yet]

Sorry. Uh. [She reaches up to rub her bicep, the bandage there in need of replacing and cleaning, wincing at the memory] I was… k-kidnapped a couple times. And we were in Raccoon City last. I passed out and then I woke up here, so I thought.. m-maybe I was brought out here by them? But I’m suspecting… not. So now I don’t know what’s happening.

[A pause and she adds:] Normally I’m from the Midwest area? I work at the FBI field office out there. But I don’t know any place in the USA that looks like this or has a community like this. Except maybe Amish, I guess? But even they have money so…

[Grace trails off with a vague feeling that she rambled too much without saying much of substance at all] Sorry, um… What about you?

[taediosum]

[ That is a lot to follow, but at least it's something. Information, however rambling and uncertain. He just isn't sure how it helps, yet. ]

New Vegas. Freeside, actually. [ It's not exactly the truth, but it's true enough that he doesn't hesitate. He was in Freeside before he wound up here, technically. Just... Not that recently.

And handing out his very recent whereabouts seems unwise, even if, thus far, he hasn't encountered anyone who had enough of a handle on their own situation to start genuinely interrogating his. ]

No recent kidnappings to my name - or, uh, any - so we can probably rule that out as a contributing factor. Maybe just an unfortunate coincidence?

[ Her worrying at those dirty bandages is enough to distract him from the dilemma at hand, though, if only momentarily. ]

Is that where you got that? [ He points to her arm, brow furrowing. ] When's the last time you changed those?

[imfbiuwu]

[Well she knows what Las Vegas is, but it definitely sounds like he means something else. Or maybe not? Who ever called it 'New' Vegas? Freeside also wasn't familiar, but Grace wouldn't pretend to know every single town and city in the whole of America.

She tries to piece this together--tries to see if there are any pieces to put together--when his question distracts her] Huh? Oh, uhh... Something like that. I got... bit right before. And the other... [Actually she has no idea why her shoulder/chest area was bandaged. Everything had been so hectic and terrifying she just hadn't had time to look, but she assumes Gideon did some kind of minor surgery to check her out before leaving her in the Care Center.

She shudders and then shakes her head] I don't know. The first time I woke up I had it. My kidnapper, he, uhh... He was--is, I guess--a doctor. So he bandaged everything and cleaned them, but...

[She had been diving through literal pools of mixed infected blood now that she thinks about it and has still come out the other side more or less fine. She... is not sure she's ready to unpack what that might mean.

Anyway--] I-I guess it's been...A day and a half? I guess maybe more, now. I didn't have time to stop and take care of them before. S-sorry. [She winces sheepishly]

[taediosum]

Don't worry about it.

[ Maybe that's a tall order; she seems like a woman composed almost entirely of worrying. But that might just be the present situation, too. (And everything that apparently preceded it...)

In either case, Arcade simply shakes his head, reaching for the old pack he has slung over his shoulder. ]

It sounds like you've been through the wringer, so I'm not going to critique your wound hygiene. Here - I grabbed some of those spare clothes from the, uh, place up in the hills— [ He's not calling it a camp, because it isn't, really. More like a dumping ground for clueless strangers. ]

They'll make decent bandages. Better than keeping the dirty ones on, anyway.