🚕 TEST DRIVE 🍁 September

[sinfulmods]

Test Drive Meme

Considering apping to the City of Sin, but unsure of who to bring or if they'll fit? Feel free to give the setting a test drive here! These are a perfect way of getting your playing sample done for the application.

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Rules | FAQ | Taken Characters | Reserves | Applications


→ Comment with the character you'd like to test drive in the setting, with name and canon in the subject line.
→ Choose a scenario or create your own, and tag around!
→ If you're still tagging in the last TDM, you may continue to do so, or feel free to move your threads here. We have four test drives a year. New test drives are now posted sometime during the months of: March, June, September, December.
→ Threads in the test drive are NOT eligible to use for activity checks, however you can make them game canon if you wish — and only if both players are accepted in the game.
→ Prospective players are always welcome to contact the mod for any questions or clarifications regarding the game.

Possible Scenarios Please note that all characters will initially arrive in their assigned housing; they are free to explore the City to their heart's content after that! 01. A New Arrival: Hello, New Person! You seem to have found yourself on a sidewalk in the City of Sin with nothing but the clothes on your back and a stomach churning feeling of being displaced. Thankfully, the streets are full of people - Watch out that you don't get mugged! 02. Demonic Presences: You were just minding your own business, weren't you? But that's always when bad things seem to happen, and the City of Sin isn't really that friendly. Whatever bar or street you're hanging out in suddenly go dim, filling the area with an unnerving feeling as the shadows on the walls jump out into reality. We suggest you phone a friend for help, or maybe try running? 03. Party Hard: You've been invited to a massive, elegant party in the Tower District that spills out its doors in welcome. Obviously, this whole thing is weird and you don't know who your hosts are, but maybe you can get some free drinks and food out of it! This place might not be so bad. 04. Prominence: The City of Sin influences its population on a weekly basis. Too bad you came right smack dab in the middle of a heavy Prominence. Lust, Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, or Pride: choose your sin and be wicked. 05. Trouble: Not everyone is sunshine and roses here. Some people are violent and cruel, raised in the sludge of a sinful city. And they like to pick on people they think can't fight back. Are you that person? Or are you the Hero who can't stand to watch? Worse yet, could you be the person doing the instigating? Villain. 06. Carnival: The City has carnivals or festivals now and then; you're lucky to catch one! With its open booths filled with cork gun games and funnel cakes, how can someone not have any fun! Go win your darling a stuffed animal, or meet someone new on the spinning cup ride. You might even see someone you know being talked into sitting in the Dunk Tank. 07. Network: There's a network device in your pocket - or at least a familiar object that seems to work in mysterious ways. Perhaps you can take to that and ask for a bit of help? Or maybe you'd prefer to have a little fun with all of this. Surely someone will reply. 08. Wild Card:Choose your own adventure in the game's setting!

Comments

Magnus Macaire, Esquire. Werewolf. (An OC)

[macaire]

Carpe diem- arrival

Magnus blinks. A few moments ago he was in his little antique shop, New York, and upon turning around to see to something, finds himself in a strange, badly furnished room. Not his shop, not the apartment above. This is not home. He knows immediately. The place doesn't smell like any part of New York he knows, nor London, nor Paris. If smells infinitely worse, despite the fact it looks a little like home at first glance. But it isn't.

Some people would panic. Some people would try and pinch themselves to wake up. Some people would break down in fear.

Some people are not nearly two and a half centuries old. Magnus simply inspects the room, looking over what poor decorating choices have been made, and then finds his way out, out of the apartment block itself, and down into the streets. An unfamiliar street in a completely unfamiliar city. He won't learn anything stood here, that's for sure.

Carpe noctem- carnival

There are times when being human-shaped is extremely advantageous. There are times when the wolf gets more answers.

The carnival seems to a good place to try and find more information. People are normally more relaxed, people talk more freely. And who is to notice a dog, another dog, hanging around waiting for scraps? The fact of the matter is that this dog isn't begging, and is a lot larger than the other strays sniffing for dropped hot dogs. Grey at the muzzle, it moves without any attempt to hide, behind a group, tail up as if it's a pet out enjoying the company of its people.

The group of humans are talking excitedly, although not happily, about demons. A strange topic for a carnival, although perhaps the season accounts for it- All Hallows Eve may be as popular here as in the States. But there seems to be something else- attacks? Sea monsters?

Now that is interesting.


Carpe vinum- the party

In truth, this is no different from any party that Magnus has ever attended. Perhaps there is a little more confusion regarding the nature of this place, of who is in control, of why they are here, but that is by-the-by. There are clear groups here: the movers and the moved. Those who ooze confidence and those who wish that they did. He remembers the same thing in Paris in the days before the streets ran red, he remembers similar division within the ballrooms of Victorian England. The same thing occurred in the fancy restaurants of New York, where the rise and fall of nations were planned over dessert.

This City is nothing new. And while he discovers more about it, he has no problem with sitting back in one of these poorly padded chairs and watching the crowd move. Yes, some may think he looks strange, his clothing old fashioned, his mannerism aloof, but Magnus cares little for the snap judgements others will make of him.

carpe vinum

[izzetthough]

The movers and the moved. Where did he belong on that scale? One wondered.

He'd certainly been moved here, but he refused to accept that as his sole lot in life. Seize destiny with both hands and shake it until it coughed up what you wanted. Or something to that effect. And while he'd been here some time now, it was still all just a matter of research and observation. Gathering data. Trying to see something someone else might have missed, a piece of the puzzle that would get them all home.

Surveillance was really more of a Dimir thing, but since they were supposed to be here anyway, no harm in showing up with a drink and taking stock of everyone. And that's what he's doing now. Slowly meandering along, occasionally taking a swig of something strong and letting his gaze roam.

Eventually it lands on the man sitting quietly and observing the room in much the same fashion, if a bit more stationary. For a moment, eyes lock. Ral's eyebrow arches for a moment, as he debates making more of the exchange or letting it slip away.

[macaire]

Magnus is a watcher by nature. Most people are not, they want to be watched, heard, acknowledged. The fact that there is someone else watching, observing, is interesting in and of itself. A young mab, without the practised ease of some long-term political player and with the gall to catch the eye of someone else.

Still, the raises his glass of brandy in salute, an unspoken offer for the young man to approach should he so wish.

Magnus will admit his interest is piqued. He can't help that fact, and perhaps something useful will come out if tonight after all.

[izzetthough]

That isn't to say that Ral doesn't want to be watched, heard, and acknowledged. Validation was something he'd sought for a long time, from people who never seemed to want to give it freely. But having to work towards something gave life meaning, right?

Anyway. Looked like the guy was up for company and, with a quick smirk pulling into place, Ral saunters over to slouch into a seat across from the man.

"Don't you look like you're having a ball."

[macaire]

Magnus normally would invite his new found friend to take a seat but the man seems to gave taken the initiative. That is the modern way of things. Of course the garb he wears doesn't put Magnus in mind of the modern era, or any era for that matter, but it seems far more Eastern than Western, and of that he has little experience outside of porcelain.

"After one has attended one party, the rest rather fall into the same pattern." He says, with the merest hint of an accent. "And this is particularly dull, aside from the choice of location."

In a City not on any map, without a name, run by a coalition of mysterious magistrates. How very apocalyptic.

"Sir Magnus Macaire."

[izzetthough]

A lord then. Or a noble, or whatever equivilant there was, where he came from. Far from sitting straight and attempting to look at all his equal, Ral eases back with an arm over the back edge of his seat, smiling easily. He's long past the point of having to show deference to anyone.

Outside of his boss. Who might literally eat him if he pissed him off.

"Ral Zarek. I could list of the titles, but...I mean, come on. Is that what we're here for? Who can be the most impressive peacock in the flock?" He flits one hand dismissively.

"I mean, they think that. You don't, right?"

[macaire]

Not necessarily. A title is as good as an invitation in so many cases. Why bother kicking down a door when someone will eagerly run to hold it open for you? But the man's stance is not an uncommon one- it radiates disrespect, slovenliness, and screams bad posture. But sitting how he wishes to is the man's prerogative, Magnus certainly won't require him to do anything different.

"Male peacocks tend to fight to the death, Mr Zarek. I would certainly not wish to disturb the party in such a manner." He replies, faintly amused. "Especially when the prize is so far unknown."

After all, until the power structure in the place is revealed to him, there may be very little point in extending any further effort. He is more than content to sit back, to watch, and to find these things out without rushing all over the City. The more waves one makes, the more likely one is to be spotted by the sharks.

"Are you a native of this city, Mr Zarek?"

[izzetthough]

"Not even a little."

He cocks his head slightly, lips twisting upwards into a faint grin. "And I'm willing to be you aren't either. Well. Less a bet than a hypothesis." Again his eyes sweep over the man, as though everything needing to be garnered was available right there for him to pursue, and he'd already seen fit to do so.

"How do peacocks feel about competition from other flocks, do you think?"

[macaire]

Magnus doesn't mind the look, doesn't mind the assumption that the man sees all, knows all. He can not. Neither can Magnus know anything of him. But observation, listening, it is all part of the Game. He intends to play here, just as he had at home.

"More importantly, do they fret more about the circling vultures, or the prowling tigers, Mr Zarek? That I think is a more ponitent question for our hosts."

Does he consider himself to be a tiger or a vulture? No, not at all. But there are worse things than direct competition, worse things than to have another group, the same but different, fighting over the same things. What is worse is the unknown.

[izzetthough]

"Most of them aren't going to be concerned about either. You don't need to be the fastest of the bunch to get away from a tiger. Just faster than the other guy. And, as we've established, these lot are all up each other's hindquarters regarding who the best of the bunch is. Their place here is assured."

He points a finger at himself, then at Magnus. "You, me? We're the ones on shaky ground, my friend. And if we became dinner, they'd sleep well tonight just the same."

[macaire]

Magnus is intrigued, that's certain. He has never considered his position unstable, not here or anywhere else. The possibility is a strange one, but of no real concern. Stability is all a matter of perspective.

"Do you believe that is likely, my dear Ral? What leads you to that assumption?"

What gives this complete stranger the impression that they in the same position, or for that matter that they are in danger? This place is like many others, better, in fact, than some Magnus has known.

He lifts his glass to his lips, takes a sip. Not his preferred tipple, but one does not order such things when the source is unknown. Much in the same way one does not take to heart the concerns of a stranger.

[izzetthough]

"I know people. Been watching them a while, same as you. And when problems arise -- and let's be real here, it's when and not if --"

He gestures broadly with both hands before letting them rest on the table once more.

"It's the outsiders who get the blame. Every one of them? They'll smile and nod, and treat you civil. If you know the steps to the dances and the right fork to use? They'll find you amusing. But to save their own hides and preserve their standing in their city? Oh. They won't know you, then. You're one of Those, not Them."

A shoulder rolls in a half-shrug. "Speaking as someone who stood on both sides of that fence."

[macaire]

"Ah, I see." Comes the murmured reply. "We will always be outsiders here, you believe? That is a possibility. But not certain. If we out live our usefulness, we may well be cast aside..."

He glances away from the man, back to the crowd, the little groups softly talking, laughing. This could be Paris, London, Rome or Milan. It could be Los Angeles or New York.

"The trick is to make them what to be friends with you, Mr Zarek."

It is easily said, of course. Not always so easily done. Create a stir, become a social player rather than the played. Decide that belonging is not enough- ownership is the only way forward.

"You are clearly capable. Set your goals higher."