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TEST DRIVE MEME: MAY EDITION
TEST DRIVE MEME
A Confluence, capitalized, is the converging of one or more supernatural forces. Typically, a Confluence only occurs in one place at any given time. Typically.
These are not typical times.
Most of the Starfallen will arrive in Excelsior, Washington, slipping from the sky one by one, needing to be helped as they come floating down. To many citizens in Excelsior – individuals who are far from fond of metahumans – their arrival is a sign of bad things to come. It’s always a sign of bad things to come. This time, however, the bad things don’t come in the typical sequence. Instead, they’re dealing with a problem when the Starfallen begin to unwittingly arrive. What’s that problem? Plants with a rather problematic taste for flesh.
While Excelsior is hoping for spring to actually stick on the horizon, they’re warding off plants left and right. At least none of the plants seem to be able to spit fire – uh, yet?
In the midwestern part of the country, a huge barrage of rain has begun to settle over the land. Rain like this isn’t normal. Stormfronts usually keep moving forward, but this isn’t. And while rain isn’t a bad thing, this rain … is a deluge. A flood upon floods. Some Starfallen individuals will be showing up in the middle of this, arriving in both Little Love and Central City. Hope they can keep their heads above water!
Making matters worse is that everything seems a bit – planned? No, that’s not the right word. Like it’s all happened before. Or happening again. People all over are definitely noticing a strange uptick in déjà vu. Most worrying is how it seems to be happening everywhere.
These are not typical times.
Most of the Starfallen will arrive in Excelsior, Washington, slipping from the sky one by one, needing to be helped as they come floating down. To many citizens in Excelsior – individuals who are far from fond of metahumans – their arrival is a sign of bad things to come. It’s always a sign of bad things to come. This time, however, the bad things don’t come in the typical sequence. Instead, they’re dealing with a problem when the Starfallen begin to unwittingly arrive. What’s that problem? Plants with a rather problematic taste for flesh.
While Excelsior is hoping for spring to actually stick on the horizon, they’re warding off plants left and right. At least none of the plants seem to be able to spit fire – uh, yet?
In the midwestern part of the country, a huge barrage of rain has begun to settle over the land. Rain like this isn’t normal. Stormfronts usually keep moving forward, but this isn’t. And while rain isn’t a bad thing, this rain … is a deluge. A flood upon floods. Some Starfallen individuals will be showing up in the middle of this, arriving in both Little Love and Central City. Hope they can keep their heads above water!
Making matters worse is that everything seems a bit – planned? No, that’s not the right word. Like it’s all happened before. Or happening again. People all over are definitely noticing a strange uptick in déjà vu. Most worrying is how it seems to be happening everywhere.
EXCELSIOR
Ah, Excelsior – the city that doesn’t ask “why” something should be explored, but how quickly it can be explored. If only someone there had developed a swift measure to deal with a sudden influx of killer plants! The good news is that these plants haven’t killed anyone – not yet, anyway – but there is all the time in the world for that to change.
As the Starfallen arrive, they’re unlikely to notice the plants, and instead will see technological marvels all around them. Although Excelsior isn’t fond of Starfallen, they like the idea of welcoming them and getting them the hell out as quickly as possible. This philosophy results in all of the Starfallen being guided down to the ground, with further instructions awaiting them once they’re on two feet. (Or four. No one’s judging!) But once they land, they’re likely to notice that things aren’t the way they’re meant to be.
After all, someone in Excelsior failed to ask “why it’s bad to create an incredibly unlikely strain of plants that is genetically inspired by snapdragons, the flowers from those plumber games, and piranhas,” and instead went ahead with “how quickly can I do it?” Their experiment proved to be far too successful, aided by cutting-edge bioengineering technology.
Even though all Starfallen are encouraged to depart for the Midwest after they receive their teleportation devices, it’s apparent that the people of Excelsior need help. Right now, their chilly reception can easily be written off as a symptom of what’s happening. Dealing with newcomers at a time like this? Preposterous! People are injured from wild, flesh-eating plants. Obviously!
So, kind Starfallen – whether you’ve just arrived or came by when you heard word of the Confluence of trouble – will you give these dour folk the hand they so desperately need?
As the Starfallen arrive, they’re unlikely to notice the plants, and instead will see technological marvels all around them. Although Excelsior isn’t fond of Starfallen, they like the idea of welcoming them and getting them the hell out as quickly as possible. This philosophy results in all of the Starfallen being guided down to the ground, with further instructions awaiting them once they’re on two feet. (Or four. No one’s judging!) But once they land, they’re likely to notice that things aren’t the way they’re meant to be.
After all, someone in Excelsior failed to ask “why it’s bad to create an incredibly unlikely strain of plants that is genetically inspired by snapdragons, the flowers from those plumber games, and piranhas,” and instead went ahead with “how quickly can I do it?” Their experiment proved to be far too successful, aided by cutting-edge bioengineering technology.
Even though all Starfallen are encouraged to depart for the Midwest after they receive their teleportation devices, it’s apparent that the people of Excelsior need help. Right now, their chilly reception can easily be written off as a symptom of what’s happening. Dealing with newcomers at a time like this? Preposterous! People are injured from wild, flesh-eating plants. Obviously!
So, kind Starfallen – whether you’ve just arrived or came by when you heard word of the Confluence of trouble – will you give these dour folk the hand they so desperately need?
THE MIDWEST
Elsewhere, both Little Love and Central City are experiencing a flood of problems. Most of the problems are the result of the flood. While Little Love is known to be the quieter of the cities in this Confluence-ridden world, it finds itself dealing with a torrential downpour that it’s never seen before. Meteorologists quickly note that this is unnatural. All the way from Kansas to Illinois to Michigan there is rain, rain for as far as the eye can see. Flood warnings have no end in sight, and the people in these cities have asked for help from outside. If this rain doesn’t stop, all summer crops will be at risk!
The source of these problems? A Confluence. More specifically: a five-year-old girl who was born in Little Love just got news that her father died in an accident. Combine that with the incoming Confluence and the girl unwittingly unleashed her sadness upon the land.
Anyone investigating would learn that the rain began in Little Love, right before it began to spread upward and outward from the little town. Soon, Kansas, and then the entire Midwest, would feel the impact of her grief. Even when she sleeps, it doesn’t go away – her pain is a constant, after all. Finding her is key. No one can truly prevent a child’s grief, but perhaps they can help her realize her impact on the world and get her newly-arrived power under control.
The source of these problems? A Confluence. More specifically: a five-year-old girl who was born in Little Love just got news that her father died in an accident. Combine that with the incoming Confluence and the girl unwittingly unleashed her sadness upon the land.
Anyone investigating would learn that the rain began in Little Love, right before it began to spread upward and outward from the little town. Soon, Kansas, and then the entire Midwest, would feel the impact of her grief. Even when she sleeps, it doesn’t go away – her pain is a constant, after all. Finding her is key. No one can truly prevent a child’s grief, but perhaps they can help her realize her impact on the world and get her newly-arrived power under control.
DIADEM HOTEL
Whether you’ve gone to investigate the rather moist trouble or you’re just looking for some shut-eye, you’ve got a place that’s waiting for you. Need to clean up some plant-induced wounds? It’s time to hit the LUXURY HOTEL to ease any concerns.
The DIADEM HOTEL is usually reserved for the obscenely wealthy. Its rooms are enormous, the beds quite literally enchanted to offer the perfect night's sleep, and the food would usually cost your life savings for just a small taste. But given the circumstances, the Guilds feel its the least they can do to aid your transition into this world. EVERYTHING is complimentary, and everyone gets an ALLIANCE CREDIT CARD to spend on entertainment, clothing, and whatever other necessities they might need. The cards have an obscenely high limit and there doesn't seem to be an expectation for you to pay it back... though if they catch you abusing it, their accountant will be coming for your head.
There's a shopping center immediately across the street. It has an impressive array of outlet shops that cater to your every need. Food, clothing... and swords? If you can think of it, it's for sale. Although anything clearly supernatural or metahuman seems to be at a minimum and offered under the table. You can grab clothing made to withstand any superpower and a surprisingly mediocre Taco Bell order while you're at it. There's a Super Cinema in the shopping complex across the street that's showing a film called BARKS OF THE DEAD, a story about a zombified dog who protects a small family during the zombie apocalypse. Despite its taste for other dogs’ brains, this dog is fiercely loyal and will do anything for its owners.
The DIADEM HOTEL is usually reserved for the obscenely wealthy. Its rooms are enormous, the beds quite literally enchanted to offer the perfect night's sleep, and the food would usually cost your life savings for just a small taste. But given the circumstances, the Guilds feel its the least they can do to aid your transition into this world. EVERYTHING is complimentary, and everyone gets an ALLIANCE CREDIT CARD to spend on entertainment, clothing, and whatever other necessities they might need. The cards have an obscenely high limit and there doesn't seem to be an expectation for you to pay it back... though if they catch you abusing it, their accountant will be coming for your head.
There's a shopping center immediately across the street. It has an impressive array of outlet shops that cater to your every need. Food, clothing... and swords? If you can think of it, it's for sale. Although anything clearly supernatural or metahuman seems to be at a minimum and offered under the table. You can grab clothing made to withstand any superpower and a surprisingly mediocre Taco Bell order while you're at it. There's a Super Cinema in the shopping complex across the street that's showing a film called BARKS OF THE DEAD, a story about a zombified dog who protects a small family during the zombie apocalypse. Despite its taste for other dogs’ brains, this dog is fiercely loyal and will do anything for its owners.
EVERYWHERE: DÉJÀ VU
Less obvious and more innocuous are the strange stints of déjà vu all over. At first, it might seem like it’s a familiar thing you’ve seen before, but then you’re certain that you’ve ordered those chicken tenders before. Wait, you haven’t even been to this city before, much less this restaurant.
The feeling of déjà vu isn’t just that. Whole days will begin to feel like they’re repeating – surely they’ve solved that rain problem? Or the plant problem? Didn’t you hear that it happened?
Anyone keen to take notes might want to – assuming you haven’t just gotten that you did and they’ve been lost to time.
The feeling of déjà vu isn’t just that. Whole days will begin to feel like they’re repeating – surely they’ve solved that rain problem? Or the plant problem? Didn’t you hear that it happened?
Anyone keen to take notes might want to – assuming you haven’t just gotten that you did and they’ve been lost to time.
CLIFF NOTES.
➢ New arrivals will be appearing in Excelsior, Little Love, or Central City – with the bulk of them arriving in Excelsior. Their arrival will be expected and handled by a number of odd pieces of technology that help them as they fall from the sky itself. None of the locals will be happy to see the arrivals, but they’ll be so frazzled that they won’t be able to give them their usual chilly welcome. Vicious plants are on the loose and it’s not a meta’s fault. This might be meaningless to newcomers, but anyone who’s old hat at this will know that Excelsior can cause its own problems just fine, thank you.
➢ Arrivals who land in Little Love or Central City will arrive to a lot of rain. This much rainfall can impact the climate, daily life, crops – you name it. Arrivals will also be very, very soggy. If they’d like, they can ignore the trouble in favor of getting answers or heading to the hotel. No one’s obligated to lend a hand.
➢ Current Players are welcome to treat this as a bonus event. These events are canonically happening within the game but can be largely ignored if you'd prefer to use the month for personal plots. You can tag into the TDM, reference these prompts in network posts, or use them in your own logs.
➢ As for the time stuff, feel free to treat it as a wobbly time event! Mess with memories, get a character caught in the same day, or even just make someone feel like they’ve suddenly acquired precognition as a power. The sky’s the limit!
WILDCARD.
Metaheroes takes inspiration from all walks of comics. Take a look at the CITIES to get an idea as to what day to day life is like in the other cities. Perhaps you've encountered a supervillain (or hero) who needs to be thwarted, or a metahuman with unusual powers creating bizarre effects.
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I’m withholding judgment on that. You just ran over a snapping snapdragon. I think he’d hate it here.
But what do you mean, not the one I’d remember? Did something happen?
[ It’s alarming. He saw Damian not too long ago. He was okay, given the situation. ]
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( last he saw roy, he was helping clear out new amstersam after setting explosions off in the aerie. fun times. )
He's twenty four. Less pretentious than he was as a kid, but still just as bratty.
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Oh.
[ Yeah, he’ll take a moment to digest that. Leaving aside the flamethrower, because Jason’s obviously not on fire. ]
He’s not supposed to be older than me. Maybe 14? And I don’t think he’s pretentious. His heart’s in the right place.
[ That was extremely poor word choice, all things considered, and Connor looks apologetic. ]
Sorry, it’s the cliché. He’s a good kid - maybe a little too driven.
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( another person who's slightly ahead of him in the timeline. or from elsewhere. he's not too worried about the details, given connor's not one of gotham's finest. though the smile he'd gotten earlier at roy's name, and the reaction to damian's--pleasant. )
He's pretentious, but D's a good kid. Usually.
( he's an asshole but they're all assholes, no one is surprised damian inherited it too. )
You going anywhere in particular?
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If he can push through today, he’s got to take a few days to work on this. ]
No? I don’t even know where I am right now. They gave me directions to a teleporter and said the alliance would explain everything. Something about the Starfallen?
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they've got plants running around eating people, newbies wandering the streets, and he's got this. )
Hop on. ( with a hand moving back to side of the bike, hand pressing against the fiberglass siding of the bike which--raises and slides back to reveal a second helmet, green, which he takes out and holds towards connor. ) I've got a safehouse closeish.
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[ Myself, he thinks, as the helmet simply winds up in his hands. It’s that natural mix of instinctually reaching for what’s being offered and wanting to be polite.
He looks at the helmet. Green, like Jason knew he’d be coming. Ollie does like to gripe about the ridiculously over-preparedness of bats, like his recycling system is any better.
Connor looks resigned. This is always how it starts. A one-time thing suddenly becomes the next two years of his life.
He puts the helmet on and gets settled on the pillion, gripping the underside of the seat out of habit. ]
I’m interpreting that as we need to talk.
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connor settles on, and jason shoves his own helmet back on. )
Figured I may as well fill you in, since we're all stuck here. ( and far as he knows, dick isn't in excelsior. otherwise he'd throw connor at him like he does all over introductory shit. connor's one of roy's, which means he's one of jason's; he can handle this. so he kicks off from the curb and starts down the road, purposefully running over any feral plants on the way. they're going slower than jason would usually, just in case they pass by anyone who looks like they need help. )
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“Stuck here” isn’t the best start.
[ In an effort to be a good passenger and keep the bike on the road, and off the sidewalk, he’s keeping a lookout for any plants off-road plants. An overgrown tulip gets neatly beheaded by a throwing star without upsetting the vehicle’s balance. ]
If you’ve got bad news, you’re supposed lead and end with positives.
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( but he's rolling his eyes under the helmet, and keeps an eye on connor while he just--takes out shit like it's easy. because it is. jason's got pretty good aim, but roy's always impressed him with just how good his eye is. he hates how fucked up his head is after the whole, evil future tim thing. makes it complicated to pull on the right threads for memories he's looking for. but he's getting connor now, which's what matters. )
Place isn't shit, it's still easy to fake an ID so papers aren't too hard--as easy as back home anyway. We're stuck here, an' there's no way out. Or no way out an extremely powerful sorcerer and Rayner has found, which I'm considering stuck enough. But we've got a decent sized crew here, too, so it ain't as bad as it could be.
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I’m not apologizing for not judging you on reputation.
[ He wouldn’t, but really - Connor’s not on the tea group chats. He hears the occasional snippet, but he’s unplugged and out of Gotham. He has less to overlook. ]
Why do we need to fake papers? It sound like there’s a plan for - Kyle Rayner?
[ People are more important than plans. If Kyle’s here, spill. ]
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( to not judge him based off of the gossip. jason's used to it, he doesn't mind it, it's just--a thing he deals with. it's safer that way, really, for everyone. if everyone knows he's a shit, they know better than to trust him. )
Fake papers, 'cause real ones get you put in the system, and, well, ( a loose lift of his shoulders. jason's been legally dead for his entire adult life, it's made a lot of things easier. he doesn't intend on changing that. and it's better, for people like them, to not be known. connor should get that. )
Kyle Rayner, the glowstick. He's 'round here somewhere. I don't keep tabs on him.
( that's a boldfaced lie. jason keeps tabs on everyone. )
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[ Everyone had their little shit phase. You can’t hold it against them forever. If Jason was actively rogue-ing it up, Roy wouldn’t bother with him. ]
I’ll have to track him down. He’s an old friend. And I’m guessing it’s going to be annoyingly difficult, because you’re about to launch into a rant about fascist overreach.
[ Why else would he complain about being in the system? ]
Which is funny. You should hear what Ollie says about your old man.
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Yeah, I can imagine. B's a piece of work all on his own.
( he could go on a rant about bruce, but jason doesn't want to make himself angry again. )
I've got Rayner's number. You can call 'em if you want.
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Connor hops off and pulls off the helmet, offering it back to Jason.
He might be grinning, a little, when he’s offered Kyle’s number. How is that not keeping tabs on him? ]
Can I borrow your phone?
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there's several phones, because jason can't just have one. the one he pulls out for connor's a cheap, plain smartphone. jason unlocks the screen, opens up the contacts page, and tosses it over.
the contact list isn't long: BLUEBIRD, GLOWSTICK, JIMMY, JUNIOR, RED, ROB, RUNT, STARK, STARLING, STRANGE--so, likely easy enough to pick out which connor is looking for. )
Go for it.
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[ He taps the contact with a soft heh at the dedication of “Glowstick”. Connor’s mouthing the numbers to himself to memorize the number as he clicks the call button and puts it on speaker phone. Kyle’s going to expect Jason to be on the line, so they might as well both be.
It’s ringing. ]
He’s probably off planet. I can’t remember the last time he answ- what the
[ A vine is curling around his waist, and he barely has the time to think that he shouldn’t have mentioned Poison Ivy because he’s already being ripped backwards straight through an industrial mullioned window towards a plant the size of a juvenile t-rex. ]
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knife in hand, and he's rushing for the window, free hand pressing against the broken sill to pull himself up and over and into the building.
stops when he's just inside, head tipping back to look up towards--well. jason had known this was coming at some point, when he'd come to excelsior. maybe not something this big, but.
he pulls off one of two bracelets on his wrist, raises it up as it unfolds into a domino mask to stick it on his face, as the other expands over the tank he's wearing and under cargo pants into an armored bodysuit. switches his knife into his other hand and throws it where the vine's just off of connor's body. reaches into his jacket for another knife while the first is still flying, because he's betting he'll need it. )
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Who gives a flower teeth? Man-eating plants are a Bat-problem: where are it's vital organs?
[ Maybe he felt for the squishable flowers outside, but the tables have turned on who is squishable, and Connor isn't up for being plantfood. He reaches for his bow and an arrow, both on his back. Pauses in the act of nocking the arrow. He... didn't have both hands free outside.
Connor looks at the plant monster. ]
I ... think it ate your phone.
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( is this because of poison ivy? because he doesn't have a convenient batbelt with bat-weed killer. jason's raising his second knife and tossing it straight towards the stem of the massive plant, and with both hands free, reaches down for his thigh holsters to pull out his guns. doesn't shoot yet, because he doesn't know what the fuck this thing is doing in here. and-- )
Seriously? I'm on a budget. Daddy's wallet doesn't travel across multiverses, y'know.
( he really needs to get his act together and fuck over the local underground gangs. adding that to his to-do list, right after dropping this nerd off with rayner. )
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And what does a botanist look like?
[ There's a root creeping towards Jason's ankle. Connor pins it to the ground with an arrow, follows it back to where it sinks into the floor boards. That's concerning, right? ]
Oh, and mine's does? ... oh, actually it does, I have a couple hundreds in my belt.
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Really?
( rude of connor to come with money. how dare he cheat the system. )
You owe me for the phone.
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Yes, really! Only people that fly don’t need to carry cash, and there hasn’t been an Arrow-plane in over a decade.
[ Red Hood tried the trunk, so he’ll aim for the head. The arrow thwumps into the black-brown spot of disc flowers looking like the center of a sunflower - or an eye - but it barely has any effect.
He’s got its attention though. That’s something. Connor’s going to hold his own dodge as long as possible to give Jason more time to get clear. ]
Sometimes, you need money to get home. I’ll buy you a new phone.
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squints over towards connor before he's yelling across the building, )
I can't fly. You know how many times I've had to stop at gas stations on the way back in the hood? I've lost count. An' the few times some fucker got the drop on me and broke it. No taxi wants to stop to let Red Hood in.
( he's bullied a few in the past. bullied his way into other people's cars, too. sometimes it just happens that way. in the meantime, he's pulling out a lighter, too. puts the taser back. )
You got anything useful on you? Aside from plain pointy sticks and sharp objects.
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You should work on that. Do some community outreach. Soup kitchens.
[ Wooden, wooden, carbon, carbon… ]
Explosive, incendiary, and grappling, but I’ve only got one with firefighting foam. The building’s old.
[ So no. Nothing useful. A rampaging burning plant could send the whole place up.
A rampaging non burning plant is enough trouble. He puts another two arrows into it to encourage it to stay back, and the thing silently roars at him. ]
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