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mercadismemes2019-04-12 02:19 pm
mermods) wrote in mercadismemes2019-04-12 02:19 pm
Entry tags:
.meme.test drive.01.
TEST DRIVE MEME #01
Network Comm | Log Comm | OOC Comm
I. I've been having dreams, splashin' in a summer stream
A. It happens like this: you receive a strange missive, sealed with the imprint of a triton, that requests your help. Civil war tore apart the kingdom of Atlantica for decades, but now peace settles over the land, allowing for rebirth and regrowth. They need your help, landwalker, to fix what was broken, if you will agree.
You did. You signed, in blood, and the leaving was instantaneous.
Or it happens like this: you strike up a conversation with a stranger. Perhaps you’re not social and this is a strange thing, or perhaps you speak to a dozen different people a day and this is no different. But the mention of mermaids is made, brief and brushed aside, or the sea, and that thought invades your mind. A small thing, niggling at you, but it remains there as you fall asleep that night.
The leaving is, again, instantaneous, but the waking a shock.
Looking around you, you see others waking, blinking, coming to the conclusion that is plain to see: you have been transformed into a mermaid.
Some panic, swimming in circles. Others seem to handle the situation more calmly.
The space around you is clear, a meadow of sand within a forest of kelp. Streams of sunlight filter through the waving green tendrils. Small schools of fish swim between the shadowy verdant hues. The area is wide, but there are enough of you that it is difficult to find a space to your own. Perhaps, awkward in your new appendages, swim into someone. Or perhaps you choose to start conversation now.
Perhaps you try to make a dash for it. A fierce-looking warrior, a merperson like yourself, now, appears as if by magic, wielding a vicious-looking spear. Maybe it’s in your best interest to tread water for now…
B. In a short time, a merman does appear, flanked by two assistant-types. He is a little paunchy around the middle, a second chin beginning to form but mostly disguised by a short, graying beard. He seems harmless, but when he speaks, there is surprising authority there. He is an orator, a politician, not without his own weapons.
"Welcome, welcome all of you. Forgive the corralling but we wanted to make sure you didn’t wander off too quickly and get lost. I am Marino, governor of Mercadis. Your new home!"
Seeing that some of you are confused, he quickly explains the situation, passing familiar to those who volunteered. But his attention is clearly on something else.
"Hurry, hurry, now. My assistants will mark down your names, tell you who you’ll be staying with. We’re a bit short on housing at the moment, as you might understand. But everything’s waiting for you!"
The line is long and moves slowly, thanks to the names of the newcomers being so foreign to the merfolk assistants. You brush shoulders with your new compatriots as you shuffle through the line. Perhaps now is a better time for some small talk.
You did. You signed, in blood, and the leaving was instantaneous.
Or it happens like this: you strike up a conversation with a stranger. Perhaps you’re not social and this is a strange thing, or perhaps you speak to a dozen different people a day and this is no different. But the mention of mermaids is made, brief and brushed aside, or the sea, and that thought invades your mind. A small thing, niggling at you, but it remains there as you fall asleep that night.
The leaving is, again, instantaneous, but the waking a shock.
Looking around you, you see others waking, blinking, coming to the conclusion that is plain to see: you have been transformed into a mermaid.
Some panic, swimming in circles. Others seem to handle the situation more calmly.
The space around you is clear, a meadow of sand within a forest of kelp. Streams of sunlight filter through the waving green tendrils. Small schools of fish swim between the shadowy verdant hues. The area is wide, but there are enough of you that it is difficult to find a space to your own. Perhaps, awkward in your new appendages, swim into someone. Or perhaps you choose to start conversation now.
Perhaps you try to make a dash for it. A fierce-looking warrior, a merperson like yourself, now, appears as if by magic, wielding a vicious-looking spear. Maybe it’s in your best interest to tread water for now…
B. In a short time, a merman does appear, flanked by two assistant-types. He is a little paunchy around the middle, a second chin beginning to form but mostly disguised by a short, graying beard. He seems harmless, but when he speaks, there is surprising authority there. He is an orator, a politician, not without his own weapons.
"Welcome, welcome all of you. Forgive the corralling but we wanted to make sure you didn’t wander off too quickly and get lost. I am Marino, governor of Mercadis. Your new home!"
Seeing that some of you are confused, he quickly explains the situation, passing familiar to those who volunteered. But his attention is clearly on something else.
"Hurry, hurry, now. My assistants will mark down your names, tell you who you’ll be staying with. We’re a bit short on housing at the moment, as you might understand. But everything’s waiting for you!"
The line is long and moves slowly, thanks to the names of the newcomers being so foreign to the merfolk assistants. You brush shoulders with your new compatriots as you shuffle through the line. Perhaps now is a better time for some small talk.
II. begin the beguine, it’s music to me
Marino was not lying. A celebration greets you, the likes of which you have never seen. Trumpets blow and giant shells and bone xylophones are played. How the sound echoes through the space without being impeded by the water, you don’t know, but it is enchanting all the same. Food is set out in vast array, bright in color. The merfolk are not known for their use of spices, but everything in the deep has surprisingly deep flavor. There even seems to be a drink, passed around from conch shell, stoppered attentively by those who partake. Some leaks of course and the scent is strong, something sweet and fermented. Those who have a sip come away rosy-cheeked and singing.
But this isn’t just for you. There are other merfolk, plainly natives, judging by the ease with which they move through the water and the clothing they wear. Necklaces of woven grass and urchin, coral, and shell are draped around them. They offer some to you, too, then grab your hand for a dance.
As welcomes go, it is not too shabby. Enjoy yourself. That is the point of this. Any questions of Marino or your new merfriends are waved off with the promise of tomorrow, tomorrow. Today, tonight, is for celebrating.
New life has come to Mercadis. Nothing but adventure awaits you.
But this isn’t just for you. There are other merfolk, plainly natives, judging by the ease with which they move through the water and the clothing they wear. Necklaces of woven grass and urchin, coral, and shell are draped around them. They offer some to you, too, then grab your hand for a dance.
As welcomes go, it is not too shabby. Enjoy yourself. That is the point of this. Any questions of Marino or your new merfriends are waved off with the promise of tomorrow, tomorrow. Today, tonight, is for celebrating.
New life has come to Mercadis. Nothing but adventure awaits you.
III. path to discovery, road to recovery
The next morning dawns, sunlight pushing through the shadows of the deep. You are roused by your native friends, who know the rhythm of the sea -- the waking and the sleeping times -- far better than you. There’s work to be done. Hope you did not have too much to drink or eat last night.
Today is dedicated to clearing the way for more housing. The stones and rock that previously made up the housing district of Mercadis are surprisingly well shaped to build upon each other, but in disarray. They are magic-scarred, great blasts of blackness scourged into them. That makes any extraordinary strength or ability you might have useless against them. They simply will not budge save with hardwork and common muscle. The houses are formed brick by brick, with some of the weaker merfolk, the children mostly, adding bits of still living coral to the cracks and crevices. The elders -- there’s few, only a handful -- chant a few words even you cannot understand as they press a glowing sand into those cracks. The coral expands before your eyes, filling the spaces, holding the rocks together.
Beneath the rubble, too, you begin to find the signs of life that once were. Dolls and dishes and clothes. A few locked chests or clams. A great hullabaloo starts over one of the chests, but it’s quickly dragged away to Marino before anyone else can touch it. You are curious, but those guards appear again, standing watch over the chest. It looks human, like something out of a pirate tale. Curious, but not worth a slice from that spear. Or is it?
Today is dedicated to clearing the way for more housing. The stones and rock that previously made up the housing district of Mercadis are surprisingly well shaped to build upon each other, but in disarray. They are magic-scarred, great blasts of blackness scourged into them. That makes any extraordinary strength or ability you might have useless against them. They simply will not budge save with hardwork and common muscle. The houses are formed brick by brick, with some of the weaker merfolk, the children mostly, adding bits of still living coral to the cracks and crevices. The elders -- there’s few, only a handful -- chant a few words even you cannot understand as they press a glowing sand into those cracks. The coral expands before your eyes, filling the spaces, holding the rocks together.
Beneath the rubble, too, you begin to find the signs of life that once were. Dolls and dishes and clothes. A few locked chests or clams. A great hullabaloo starts over one of the chests, but it’s quickly dragged away to Marino before anyone else can touch it. You are curious, but those guards appear again, standing watch over the chest. It looks human, like something out of a pirate tale. Curious, but not worth a slice from that spear. Or is it?
IV. please just talk to me, any old theme you choose
You take a break from the day’s work and consider your belongings. You only took with you what you had on your person, but in addition to this, you’ve been given a clam shell. Opening it, you see that there are four sets of pearls fastened within and, pressing one, something like a recorded message pops up. Marino's grinning face fills the top shell.
"Ah, I see you’ve discovered our shell network. Very good, very good. This is how we communicate over distances or if we simply don’t want to leave the bed. Feel free to try it out. But be careful when you do! Everyone’s listening!"
This last is said with an impish grin. Surely he doesn’t mean anything devious by that. Right?
"Ah, I see you’ve discovered our shell network. Very good, very good. This is how we communicate over distances or if we simply don’t want to leave the bed. Feel free to try it out. But be careful when you do! Everyone’s listening!"
This last is said with an impish grin. Surely he doesn’t mean anything devious by that. Right?
NOTES
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