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meta moderators ([personal profile] metamods) wrote in [community profile] metamemes2023-05-04 10:10 am
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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.


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?


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.


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.


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.



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.
robintohood: (I'm a hero)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-22 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason smirks and is amused by Dick being a little sulky]

"Jason, you're right" has a nice ring to it.
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 07)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-22 03:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's just gonna sulk a little more.

Without any real bite: ]


Yeah because you definitely won't record that and use it later.
robintohood: (I am lost)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-22 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Jason places a hand on his chest and pretends to be offended]

Now how can you accuse me of something like that? Do I look like a sneaky guy?
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 01)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-23 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
You're one of us, so that's kind of a given.

[ The idea of an "us" is still nebulous and strange. It'll hit him, eventually. ]
robintohood: (I'm a poet)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-24 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
It's one of many running themes in this flock. Along with a healthy sense of paranoia and subterfuge usage.

[Jason says this lightly like a joke and knowing it's also true]
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 09)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-25 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, one man's caution is another man's paranoia.

[ He'd argue he's not paranoid, just... good at seeing possibilities. ]
robintohood: (To lose this higher)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-25 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Yup. Plus, it's not paranoia if it turns out to be true.
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 08)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-27 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Lucky for my friends, I take my job as 'the paranoid one' very seriously.
robintohood: (Goodbye to my enemies)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-27 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
Don't let the old man's habits rub off on you too much.
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 01)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-28 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I'll keep the brooding to a minimum, promise.

[ The thing is, Dick knows he could be like Bruce. He has been, before. Hopefully things don't get dire enough here that he'll fall into that pattern of behavior again. ]
robintohood: (I'm a hero)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-28 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Might be easier said than done with this flock. There's plenty of good perches to do good brooding.
hackingyoursensors: (DG • PB; amused disbelief)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-06-29 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Any particularly good ones?

[ "Any places to investigate in particular?" ]
robintohood: (With a direction)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-06-30 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
Depends on what you mean by good.

[Jason's well aware that Robins tend to get into trouble on their own]
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 10)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-02 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
The more interesting, the better.
robintohood: (And a villain)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-02 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Could give you the highest points in Central City first. Great views of the place. There are also a few other places you can crash at.

[Jason then gives the coordinates to the BatGym]

It's a family-owned gym.

[Next, Jason gives the coordinates to Descendant Bar]

I make it a better place than Cobblepot's joint. The attic is private too.
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 11)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-02 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh info! He loves info. Dick commits both locations to memory. He might not go to either right away, but knowing he has the option is helpful. ]

I'm sure you get some interesting types hanging around, though.
robintohood: (I am lost)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-02 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jason smirks]

We pride ourselves on giving our customers a relaxing and fun place to eat, drink, and blow off some steam while they sing off-key. It's great what stuff you can see and hear while you're there.

[Meaning the whole building is bugged to snoop on Descendant's more shady customers]
Edited 2023-07-02 18:09 (UTC)
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 06)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-03 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Just what he'd expect from someone trained by the Bat. In their line of work, especially, information is make-or-break. ]

Will I run into a bouncer at the front door?
robintohood: (To lose this higher)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-03 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Yep. And there's a weapons check too. But there's always the attic. Very exclusive. Almost VIP.

[And Bats and Robins can't help themselves but sneak in through windows anyway]
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 08)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-03 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, you've really thought of everything. Should I come bearing gifts?

[ aka "I still have the credit card and can quietly shuffle some basic supplies your way." ]
robintohood: (I have my flaws)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-03 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Nah. You don't have to. Treat yourself if you want. You just got here and maybe there's something you're gonna want.

[Meaning "Best to stock up for yourself before the two-month period is over."]
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 01)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-04 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
If you're sure.

[ Though he does have to stock up on some things, but doing it discreetly without either Guild having an inkling of what he's doing is going to be tough. He's sure they're monitoring him as closely as they dare. ]
robintohood: (I don't want to be someone else)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-04 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
That being said, you know we're not gonna leave alone, right?

[Robins gotta stick together and all]
hackingyoursensors: (DG • 04)

[personal profile] hackingyoursensors 2023-07-04 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been told. By multiple people.

[ He's pretty sure he couldn't hide from them even if he wanted to. ]
robintohood: (And a soldier)

[personal profile] robintohood 2023-07-04 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Like I said, don't be like the old man too much. Besides, it'll be safer this way.

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