TEST DRIVE MEME

[theflaws]

TEST DRIVE MEME

PREMISE PLOT ARRIVAL SETTING NAVIGATION

01. ARRIVING IN PELEA
A cold wind singing down from the white-capped mountains which hang blue-black in the distance stirs your cheek, the tall grass all around you. A bough creaks as the wind makes it tremble, and the dappled shadows drift over you, leaves rustling. As you blink awake, you hear the quiet hiss of water over stones. You are not where you once were!

You and a large group of strangers are blinking awake, pulling yourselves up off the dirt, grass, and rubble near a small wooded stream. There is no evidence of civilization in sight, and as you exchange stories you realize that you must decide what to do.

Will you head past the trees and towards the mountains? Deeper into the forest? Stay put and wait for help to arrive? You might even try to meet everyone else, and either convince them to band together... or head their separate ways.

02. CITY SLICKER
There are many cities throughout the world of Pelea, and in most of them player characters, the Flaws, are welcomed as curiosities. Whether they're among the passionate, oft thought as hot-headed, but hospitable folk of the Banner or the noble and haughty people of the Empire, your characters will find a wide variety of cultures, races and simply people to interact with and investigate. They could be seeking employment, answers to the mystery of their arrival or other folk like themselves, or a quiet place to drink away their worries.

03. WILDCARD!

Comments

[sigillum]

[One of Ollie's hands is in a pocket, the other curled around her knife, when the man goes still as red... smoke? red something creeps around his head. Her heart is pounding in her chest even as he turns, even as he walks away, but in the panic she can still spot the signs of a thought witch.

The woman with the glowing eyes just confirms her suspicion.

Ollie nods, relief drawing a shaky smile from her, but rather than bother with signing her thanks, she simply closes her eyes and thinks about how grateful she is. Her curiosity is there too, unhidden in her thoughts. This woman's magic doesn't work like what she's used to.]

[scarletcast]

[ She turns her palms up. Ollie's fear is hanging strong in the air, but it fades to gratitude and curiosity. This girl recognises kin, even if Wanda does not. ]

The woman you freed managed to escape. No one will bother her in the city.

[ At least for the time being, and hopefully she's smart enough to book it, but Wanda has faith. ]

What is your name?

[sigillum]

[Her smile brightens at that, relieved that she was successful, and that the right thing has been done. It might get her into trouble, later, but she's safe for now, and the woman is free.]

Ollie.

[It's spelt out in sign, her fingers moving carefully, though she makes a point to think her name as well, in case her rescuer can't sign.

Ollie taps her throat, just lightly, to indicate that speaking is a little beyond her.]

[scarletcast]

[ Meaning becomes clear at once, and it's a curious novelty to meet someone familiar with her abilities. She wants to know. ]

Wanda.

[ A beat. ]

Is it alright if I speak [ she gestures from her temple to Ollie's ] directly?

[sigillum]

[Ollie mouths the name silently, rolling it over on her tongue because this is the first time she's met someone named Wanda. It's not that weird a name, really, just a little old-fashioned.

At the question, she nods, and lets her thoughts quieten. She hopes this other witch won't go digging in her mind, but if she does prod too deeply, she'll find barriers in her way. Open doesn't always mean unprotected.]

[scarletcast]

[ Open doesn't mean unprotected. Wanda doesn't venture too far in, however, something warm fills up Ollie's mind. ]

Hello.

[sigillum]

[This is a new experience, because every mind is different, and every witch is different. The last thought witch in her head was... a long time ago. She doesn't follow that thought too far because she doesn't want to spring that on a stranger.]

Hello Wanda. Do you come from here?

[This world, she means. There's magic in the world, so she can't be sure.]

[scarletcast]

[ Every mind is different. This one exercises far more control than what she's used to. Wanda gestures for her to walk together, as she tells the people around them not to look, to leave them alone. ]

No. Do you?

[sigillum]

[Ollie falls into step easily, hands in her pockets, which is a bit of a novel experience to have, considering she usually needs them to communicate.]

No. I'm from a place called Indiana, America.

[scarletcast]

I live in New York.

[ She projects it: Stark Tower, Times Square, perhaps it's the same place. ]

[sigillum]

[The name sparks recognition, but she takes a second to put a name to the place, because she hasn't seen anything like what Wanda is projecting.

Ollie has never seen New York in person, but she's seen pictures and it's those that she thinks of now. Broken buildings, overgrown concrete and still smouldering fires. New York was a battle ground, and the city lost.]

[scarletcast]

[ Wanda frowns. This city is a ruin, and no one can lie to her with their thoughts. Conceal, sure, but never lies. ]

Is it all like that? The whole world?

[sigillum]

[That answer is a complicated one, or it would be to give in words, so it's lucky she can do it with her thoughts.

There are two main images in her head: the first is a mess of a city, slums with shining apartments stacked on top, hovercars speeding over rickshaws, and a heavy military presence throughout the whole city.

The next thing she thinks of is a rural town, farms spread out over the land, automatic machinery harvesting crops, while farmers tend to livestock. Barefoot children play amongst ruins of rusting fighter jets.

It's a complicated place.]

[scarletcast]

[ It is what their world might have become, if Ultron succeeded, save for there being less people. Those that remained would have been enslaved. Wanda studies the thoughts carefully. ]

I know what that is like.

[ The fear. The powerlessness. ]

In my world, I have not met anyone like me. How did you know what I was?

[sigillum]

[The next series of thoughts are almost... blurred, as if Ollie isn't comfortable sharing the full extent of them. So far, she's seen no reason not to trust Wanda, but her coven is the only thing worth protecting.

But she shows them, making potions, carving sigils, casting spells. There's no fancy spellwork with flashy red smoke, but it's clear that they're practicing witchcraft.]

There are many of us.

[scarletcast]

[ There's a brief wave of disappointment, these women are not like her at all. Their faces and shapes are blurred, and Wanda doesn't care to sharpen the image. Instead, she simply shows Ollie Loki's sceptre, with its strange radiation. ]

Two of us.

[ Red, for her, and a blue blur, for Pietro. ]

[sigillum]

[She can feel the disappointment and curiosity rises in response, until it's answered just as quickly as it came on.]

You were... made?

[There's a hesitation, because the idea is a strange one to her. There are ways to steal power from witches, but it isn't the same as this.]

[scarletcast]

[ She nods as they're down one of the busier streets. Wanda walks a little closer to her, wary of anyone coming too close. ]

Yes. Created to fight.

[sigillum]

[She wonders if it was a choice, or if this was forced upon Wanda, but doesn't put too much strength into those thoughts, not wanting to ask for too much.]

Witches are born, we were never human.

[The distinction is an obvious one. It's not just that witches are humans with magic, they're an entirely separate creature.]

[scarletcast]

[ She doesn't have to wonder too long. Wryly, ]

I don't think I am, anymore, but that was my choice.

[sigillum]

[That's a relief, at least. Too many people have their choices stripped from them.]

I would choose it, again and again.

[Despite everything, despite the image of a cage that flashes through Ollie's mind before she clears it.]

[scarletcast]

[ It is then that she decides she won't peruse this girl's thoughts — not that she was, but everyone has secrets, and places they wish no one else to go. If let in, she will. If not — there is little need. ]

As would I.

[ She reaches out to Ollie's wrist, to touch her hand gently. ]

Do you know why we are trapped here?

[sigillum]

[Touch is a strange thing; something given so easily by so many of her coven, but not something that Ollie returns as easily, though she never turns them away. It isn't that she's uncomfortable with it, touch is just a way for people to get too close, and she's too scared of losing them for that.

But she doesn't wince or pull away, simply looks at Wanda and shakes her head.]

This is not the work of hunters. Nor do other witches have this much power.

[Or if they do, Ollie has never seen it before.]

[scarletcast]

[ She lets go immediately. Ollie doesn't say no explicitly, but there's a lack of a favourable reaction. ]

I know of someone who might.

[ The image that follows is of a hole yawning in the sky above New York, with Chitauri pouring through it. ]

[sigillum]

[Ollie actually falters a step as that image comes into her mind, just from the sheer shock of it. She doesn't even have to think the specific words, because "what the fuck is that" radiates so strongly from her.]