archishellago | Test Drive Meme #001

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #001

I. THE VERDANT SENTRY - Attention, New Recruits!

It's clear that all of the city's law enforcement is handled by the various branches of the Sentry: from Mounted Division handling street patrol, to the Aerial Corps provided airborne support for tactical and rescue operations, to the Nautical Branch undertaking regular sea patrols as the first line of defense along the archipelago's borders. But everyone interested in joining up has to go through their basic training program, and that starts today with a general skills assessment. There's quite a mix of attendees today, spread across nearly every race represented in Aifaran and including other Dreamfolk, but whatever the recruiter is saying is getting lost in the two chatty Igheeri who seem to think they're too good to listen to the standard welcome speech... time to interrupt by signaling the person in charge? Take care of it yourself? Gripe about it to the person in line beside you?

II. KIRIN RODEO - Place Your Bets!

At the end of every month, the Mounted Division of the Sentry holds their skills competition. When they're not on the field, their steeds are often the subject of much admiration from children and more than a few adults. Astride many breeds of kirin, some lithe and fleet, some stockier and stronger, these off-duty officers demonstrate their control and bond over the notoriously strong-willed and intelligent creatures with complicated maneuvers. There's a surprisingly in-depth system for betting on one's favourite to win the various matches, and just about everyone's willing to explain the odds to newcomers. There's only one rule: all proceeds go to funding of the city's charities. (Bragging rights on winning are still yours to keep.) Two bells ring loudly over the crowd - last call for wagers!

III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose!

Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away?

IV. A SURPRISE WINDFALL - Officer, This Isn't Mine...

There was a loud thud as someone tosses a heavy bag from the window of a dilapidated building. Five seconds later there’s smoke pouring out the windows and your holding what seems to be someone else’s luggage. Opening it, you find carefully wrapped bricks of some very illegal drugs, and someone down the side alley is pointing at you and yelling. A mounted Sentry officer is giving you a rather peculiar look as well while he calls in the fire brigade. And among the people fleeing the building, there are five Kin’nal looking at you, wide-eyed, as it suddenly dawns on them that they messed up. Take your new prize and split before reinforcements arrive? Try to explain the mistake? Take note that the building is still on fire?

V. INTO THE UNKNOWN - Watch Your Back Out There

The sea patrol discovered the new irregularity a few days ago, reporting that it looks like a series of tall and jagged stone towers rising up from the ocean. It's incomplete as these planar-shunted locations often are, as if something massive had taken a bite of some mysterious city and then spat it whole into the seas of Konryu. Having been chosen as part of the exploration team, you've been working your way through the complicated labyrinth of stone tunnels and dead ends, searching for what the Opara engineers had enthusiastically described as a potential new power source. "Trace the green glowing power lines," was their (sort of helpful) instruction. However the lean, dark and toothy thing you've just glimpsed should probably be a more pressing concern... warn others? Take it on yourself? Pray it hasn't spotted you?

VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me

Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please!

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[Surprisingly, his words were not enough this time to trigger another outburst from her. In fact, she crossed her arms over her chest and let out a distinct 'humph' of pride rather than distain. One could almost hear the smirk in her voice.]

You would once you see me in action. No criminal escapes my watchful eye!

[There's a definite hint of amusement in his words now, the kind you get when someone's not quite on the verge of laughter.]

Formidable, indeed! But I can't imagine what sort of criminals might be in such a pleasant place. With luck, you'll have little to worry about here.

[He might have nearly laughed, but her only response was a low snort.]

The people who worry the least are usually the ones who have the most to worry about.

[Was...did she just say something...insightful?]

Besides, you think I trust any of the young whippersnappers here? Any opportunity to cause trouble, and they'll be the first to strike, mark my word!

[...never mind. False alarm.]

[Oh, now he is laughing. This is too rich!]

As well you shouldn't! They're all thrill-seekers, and little liars to boot. Who knows what the young might make up for the fun of it?

[Too bad the same could never be said for her salary....]

At least somebody here gets it.

I did have the benefit of having a wise old crow for a caretaker when I was young. I learned quite a lot from him.

[But really, he doesn't agree at all. He's already planning on coming to Oldbag if any of the younger Dreamfolk give him trouble. There were such wonderful benefits to sucking up to the right people.]

[There were such wonderful feelings associated with being the person someone attempted to suck up to. Given how many bigwigs she'd had to work for over the years.]

And you actually listened.

Hn.

Fellas like you are rare breed indeed. I'm almost impressed. Too many youngsters these days are insistent upon ignoring the wisdom of their elders, thinking they can just walk outside and immediately know everything they need to know through sheer osmosis or watching a single news program on the television set.

[And while it may have seemed she was about to go on another rant...her words were slow and calm. She just had a lot to say on this one, specific topic.]

Oh, I'm sure I was still a handful when I was younger. Now that all my feathers have grown in, I've been able to see first-hand how useful his advice was.

[He might even be missing old Nealuchi. Just a little bit.]

... And considering I haven't seen a 'tell-vision' before, it might have helped. That sounds like magic to me.

...I'm going to just assume that some newfangled slang you kids are all using these days.

[She gave up trying to follow all that years ago.]

Are you really telling me you've never seen a television before? Not even unplugged?

Your parents must have been extremely strict. I'm tempted to approve, if I didn't work for a television studio myself.

Slang? Not at all. I do have feathers.

There were other things I didn't recognize when I came here, so I have to assume it's something to do with how our different worlds work.

[...hn. Her eyebrow twitched for a moment, and she had to really stop and think. Taking all this at his word was utter balderdash, but he sounded as confident in what he was saying as that pointy-haired whippersnapper lawyer.]

[Think. There had to be a way to make sense of all this.]

I...see.

I suppose I've heard of cultures abroad that don't abide by the same wardrobe or technology norms as we do. Though I have yet to encounter someone who didn't at least know what it was.

I suspect we'll all be encountering quite a bit of that in this land. You have seen the locals, haven't you? We ended up in quite the multicultural area, even aside from what our fellow Dreamfolk might be used to. Does anyone here even have access to tell-vision, I wonder?

How should I know?

[Her tone might have come out a little harsh, but the truth of it was...that was just her normal tone. Folding her arms across her chest, she gave a light-hearted shrug.]

You think they tell me anything around here? Bad enough I get left out of the loop when I'm trying to do my job, but the audacity one someone to pluck me from my home and bring me to a strange place I've never been to before with youngsters who don't even know what televisions are and talk about wings and all sorts of newfangled lingo...and then drop me without so much as an indication of how much ransom I'll be going for, let alone the general layout of the area? Not even a map!

In my day, kidnappers had much more class than that.

[...in fact, hadn't she just recently testified in a trial involving a classy (if ruthless and terrifying) kidnapper?]

I'm afraid we don't have the luxury of such a simple situation.

I spoke to some of the residents here, and they all said the same thing - that some sort of magic brought us here, and it'll eventually take us back home. By all accounts, it's unpredictable.

[Naesala's voice is starting to get harder, almost... angry.]

Needless to say, I don't trust it. Whatever force this is, whichever god or goddess is playing with our lives, I have no intention of settling in quietly and accepting it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Congratulations, that was perhaps the highest praise Oldbag could ever give someone. Like...ever.]

Although it could have done without the part about magic. [There was always something.] I mean, I've seen some pretty fantastic troupes in my day--real skill, those gentlemen, and so handsome...

[Oops, she nearly drifted off topic again.]

[Oh, well.]

[He's not aware that it's praise, but it never hurts to have someone agree with you. It's her veer off-topic makes him burst out laughing.]

Troupes? You mean performers? Magic takes some skill to wield as it is - or so I've heard. I'm sure there's some variety of that here.

Test Drive Meme #001

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