Welcome to the pre-game test drive meme for Raise the Earth! Because of the way the game’s designed, reincarnations can take a little bit of work to feel out, so we wanted to make sure we had this ready to go before reserves and applications opened. We’ve got a few sample prompts for you to choose from; don’t worry about actually sticking to these, though! Go wild and enjoy what you’re doing with test drives. Threads can be part of game canon if all characters involved agree on it, though you can’t use test drive threads toward AC. One note: characters can get Echoes from test drive threads that will be game canon! They count toward the starting allotment for their application, so don’t go too crazy there. You don’t need to request these, so long as they’re in keeping with the general Echo rules - just put them on your application. If you’re at all unsure, ask us and we’ll be happy to give you advice there.
Since nobody’s going to know who your reincarnation is yet, comment to this post with your character’s
preincarnation and canon in the comment title! You might also talk just a bit about personality, appearance, and/or reputation for your character’s reincarnation, so we know what we’re in for. For this post, we’d like to ask that returning characters not make top-level comments unless you’re not sure they’re coming back - we want this one to be set aside for new characters! Anyone is welcome to reply to top-levels once they’re up, though.
[A - Sudden Storm]Rain wasn’t planned today. The forecast had called for sun and minimal clouds, and a warm breeze. Instead, the falling drops seem to sparkle in the sunlight peeking through the clouds. Out a window, strolling down the street, sitting at a bus stop, it’s hard not to feel the drops coming down. And should you stop to stare at the rain for a bit, something seems to shift. A hollow feeling, a certain vertigo, that passes in a moment. As it clears, something changes. A new memory, from a life that isn’t familiar and doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; a tingling at your fingertips of some new energy; a certain knowledge of the world that shocks you with the new information it provides; something in your hands you weren’t holding before. Maybe you’ve already had an Echo somehow, and you recognize the feeling; maybe you haven’t, and it brings back memories of the people talking about “pulses” on TV, what seems like forever ago. If the latter’s true, the fading sense leaves behind a number, that seems to worm its way into your mind and not leave. Does this mean… you’re Numbered, now?
[B - Shepherd's Haven]Though much of the world is still reeling from the invasion and ensuing damage of a year prior, some parts are virtually untouched, feeling only secondhand and indirect shock. One such place is New Zealand, and about 10 miles northeast of the quiet small town of Woodend on South Island, a primarily Numbered hamlet exists for those who have fled the prejudice and conflict of more populated areas, choosing to isolate themselves and build a community with those they know they can trust. For many, Shepherd's Haven is a refuge, a sane patch on a scarred earth teeming with people who blame them for what happened.
It is intentionally difficult to find, and if you've made it to the village with straight rows of small, simple buildings and patches of land where gardens are being cultivated, you've almost certainly been given directions by Numbered who have heard of your plight and sympathize with your situation. Cars and motorcycles travel this way, but it only started a few months ago, as the "roads" are little more than places where tires have worn the grass a little thinner. Whether you've arrived by foot, vehicle, teleporter, or recently acquired means of your own, you were greeted upon arrival by a thin, dark-haired man with brusque mannerisms and a small tattoo resembling a seedling below his ear. He made it clear that you're welcome here and you'll have time to acclimate, but everyone is expected to pull their own weight. In short, slacking off and freeloading won't be tolerated.
As you settle into your simple but comfortable living space and develop a routine, you learn quickly that Shepherd's Haven is working toward self-sufficiency, but still has a way to go. Today, there's some downtime. Maybe you’re still so new that you don’t know many of your neighbors, and you realize you should really go around and introduce yourself, or at least hang out in the modest town square until someone notices you. Maybe, lacking any significant social skills, the only way you can approach others is by spontaneously working to fix something that’s broken, or breaking something that isn’t! Regardless, it’s a small community, and your day’s about to get more interesting. If that’s not interesting enough (with just homes and gardens and the occasional roaming livestock, this isn’t unlikely), you can wander off to Woodend’s
various locations or, if you’re feeling more restless and adventurous, maybe even to Christchurch where you’re more likely to find better entertainment and shopping options, but also more likely to meet with hostility.
[C - Echo Incursion]Locke City, New Jersey was hit hard by the alien assault just over a year ago. Yet, it fared better than some places thanks to the effort of the Numbered defending the city they first originated from. Other cities may have been defended soundly by the presence of their Guardian Animals, but they also suffered the consequences of giant monsters rampaging through their streets. The damage is still evident, but the city is recovering.
While opinions of the Numbered are mixed worldwide, in spite of their efforts to save this city, sentiment towards their kind has become less than favorable. Those not understanding what happened, and in truth there are few who truly do, may even cast blame for all the devastation upon them.
It makes for a very volatile environment.
Which becomes even worse on this day, as there is a sudden… flux within reality itself. Something unknown, something new
happens, as if the city already hasn’t dealt with enough.
Giant, humanoid robots suddenly appear in downtown Locke City and begin to march. Though not much concerned with collateral damage, they move with a simple purpose: hunting those that are different from your average human.
In this case, a Numbered would be close enough.
[D - Gateway City]Gateway City: Formerly, figuratively, and now currently and literally the gateway to the west. In a few short months, business and activity is booming in this city. Of course, that’s because it’s become the staging grounds for military and humanitarian action in the western half of the United States, so it’s something of a double edged sword. But people are coming from all over the world, which means the city is being invigorated by the flood of attention.
And today, it’s getting even more attention, because it’s the grand opening of Factor Industries Plaza! Yes, Factor Industries, the company owned by one Benjamin Factor, who has taken the business world by storm with his advancements in applied sciences and technology. He’s arranged a week long celebration to commemorate making Gateway City the home of Factor Industries, and with it comes live stage shows, tech demos, talks about the future and the efforts to rebuild the world after the alien attack, and all manner of other exciting events. If you’ve come looking for something, there’s a good chance Factor Industries is selling it, developing it, or invited someone who is.
And who is invited to this event? Well, it goes without saying that the usual captains of industry, scientists, dignitaries, and high-ranking officials are in attendance. However, they’re not the only ones Factor has rolled out the red carpet for: he’s sent invitations to Numbered from all over the world, and given them information on how they can arrive at the expo from his brand new teleporter. When you arrive, you’ll find yourself greeted by Factor Industries staff, shown rooming accommodations, and given all access information about the celebration.
It’s no secret that Factor is publicly supportive of the Numbered, and for this week only… he’s made sure that you get the appreciation you deserve.
[E - New Los Angeles]Far away from the gleaming jewel of Gateway City, in New Los Angeles, there are far less things to celebrate. The city is one of the last few bastions of civilization left in the western half of the United States - now called the “western territories” after the collapse of most state governments - and its here that a great many people have fled. Though the city is in the process of being rebuilt, the majority of it lies in ruins after the aliens’ attack, and most of the people have to live in camps. The luckier ones have spaces in shelters, but that just guarantees a roof over your head instead of a tent.
People have formed communities here, however. Some come together to share what they have, while others consolidate power and lord it over the other refugees. Most of the time, the governor and General Miller allow them to function independently, save for when a new city ordinance is in effect. And just your luck, one of those just happens to BE in effect today.
See, a shipment of relief supplies was discovered savaged and destroyed; what wasn’t ruined was taken, and the damage to the facilities led Miller to decide that Numbered could have been the only ones responsible. So, a curfew is in effect, and anyone suspected of being a Numbered is being brought in for questioning. You’re out past curfew? Well, now you’re suspected of being a Numbered. Little does Miller know that the real beings responsible are pack of Vermedi roaming the city. And while this is going on, groups of thieves are prowling the city waiting to take advantage of anyone stupid enough to be out and about after dark.
Are you one of the refugees living in New Los Angeles, or did you come to help with the relief effort? Either way, tensions are high, and the nights are dangerous, and monsters both human and inhuman are lurking the streets at night.
[F - The Network]The number stuck in your head refuses to go away, so to work it out of your system, you decide writing it down on something is a good idea. Maybe you punched it into your phone; perhaps it’s on a piece of paper, or a mirror, or almost anything else.
The thing it’s on comes alive, filling with text and images. None of it was there before, and you can interact with it. Hundreds, maybe thousands of posts, all tagged with a number that looks similar to your own. Tales of fighting, of betrayal, of loss and sacrifice; stories of heroism, of gain, of victory and the elation attached. Questions about life, about the network, about the future of the Numbered. Idle conversation, videos of stupid things. Three years of history, from the beginning to the original incident on April 1, 2013, through to today.
You could add something. Clearly, it need not be profound, and if you don’t put a name, a face, or a voice to your number, nobody would ever know it’s you. It’s there, at your fingertips. What would you say…?
[G - Wild Card]Don’t feel pressured to stick to our prompts - you’re welcome to do whatever strikes you. Lighthearted, serious, dangerous, mundane, spectacular… Raise the Earth is a game designed around everyday life getting a lot more interesting in a hurry. Play around with things!
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