worldsmeme | West World - Test Drive Meme #1

West World - Test Drive Meme #1

★ Test Drive Meme #1 ★

Reserves are OPEN, and Apps open on February 18th!
Game opens March 1st!

Your body is gently rocked awake. No, not to the dulcet tones of an Aerosmith ballad, but the rumble of wheels, the creak of wood, the thunder of dozens of horses beating the ground with their hooves. Perhaps you're asleep in the saddle, perhaps awkwardly jammed between strangers in the back of a canvas covered wagon. It's a peaceful prairie afternoon, the sun is shining and the birds are singing, a herd of bison are baying down by the river, but this is the wild frontier, and the tranquility won't last forever.

But first, there's you. What do you remember? Perhaps it's a fabricated history on the East Coast: a huge family of which you are the youngest; a toppled business empire; a brush with the law. Whatever it is, it's why you've hit the trail, a past that you can't return to, your hopes staked on a future in the town of Horseshoe.

Perhaps. Or perhaps those hazy memories are quickly slipping away. Perhaps you know exactly who you are, and you have no idea - none at all - how you got here in the first place. One second you were fighting a space battle in a galaxy far, far away, and now you're eating dust, blinded by the hot summer sun, your ass being beaten sore by the road beneath your feet.

The question is: now you're here, what will you do? The road is hard ahead, but it's dangerous to go it alone.

★ It's Only Horse Play

The thing about horses - and mules, for that matter - is that they're not cars. They have minds of their own, and you can't fix them by swearing at them until they start, although I guess you could try. They have limited energy, so they might stop dead in the middle of the road, holding up traffic. They might throw a shoe--no, it's nothing like changing a tire. Irritated by flies or the whip, or surprised by a snake in the road, they might bolt at random. If the worst should happen, that wicked cool stallion you're riding might just have his eyes on a mare in harness. Be careful he doesn't break his leg trying to climb over the wagon's shaft.

All in all, four feet and a mean set of teeth make for a fun ride. These horses, too, have come an awful long way, and they're getting as miserable, tired and grouchy as their owners. Harnesses are one size doesn't fit all, wagons are heavily loaded, and the horses are bruised and sore, their legs and feet aching from the slog, their necks arched painfully forward to take the strain. To spare your horse, its good to get out of the saddle now and again, but on the trail, that's not always possible. Don't be surprised if, hitching up, a horse resists the harness--and be careful! Remember, that animal is your lifeline. Without it, you and all your worldly goods are stranded out here.

★ Old Man River

A river crossing. Awesome. You remember this part in Oregon Trail, right? All you have to do is cross the river. But it's not that simple. One wagon might cross easily, but another, more heavily laden, might sink too deep a few feet in. A weaker, more exhausted horse may struggle, or lose its footing in the swell of the current, or worse, one of the wagon's wheels may break halfway across. A horse might even panic, as the water wraps around his feet, jump sidewards and take the wagon with it.

Perhaps you make it, but if not you're going to need help. Brute strength or supernatural powers might come in handy helping you to wrestle across the haphazard ford. Maybe that help is friendly, and maybe it comes with a price.

Rivers are dangerous. One missed step, one misjudgement, and it's the end of the road. Whatever you do, be careful. Make a plan. But whether you like it or not, you have to cross. The road to Horseshoe is on the other side, and you're so close now you can taste it.

★ It Was A Dark And Stormy Night

It was a dark and stormy night, and the travellers had pulled their wagons into a circle. Firelight glowed from the campfires that struggled despite the makeshift windbreaks, damp wood keeping their glow muted. You're close, one more day's drive away from the town, the scout says. One last night of misery. One night in gloomy, damp wagons, wearing wet clothes. One more night of dried meat scraps and corn meal. If you've remembered who you are already then it's all okay for you, but for some of the group this is it, the end of their long road, their turmoil; their hopes and dreams on the line. There's an air of celebration despite the weather.

If someone still has some bourbon to hand, then now is the night to pass it around. Stories will be told, songs will be sung. The constant sound of a fiddle or a banjo cuts through the night, keeping all but the heaviest sleepers awake. Tired horses doze standing up around the edge of the circle, one hind foot cocked as though to catch them if they fall. Now is your last chance to really get to know your fellow man, in the cameraderie of the trail, before the town swallows you up. Tell your stories, struggle with reality, teach someone the words to Yellow Submarine. Sleep when you're dead.

★ Wildcard

You're on the trail, so why not let your mind wander where it pleases as well? Perhaps your character is riding out to scout the trail ahead. Maybe they're law enforcement or ex-army? Maybe the wheel comes off your wagon, or your horse drops dead and you have to beg for a stranger's help. Maybe you're Superman, and you want to frighten the natives by flying off ahead, or you're a faith healer, who can revive a broken down horse with a touch. Start a gunfight, or go shooting rabbits, or soothe a stranger's teething infant with an alien lullaby. It's your adventure, so make it up as you go along.

(p.s. if your character absolutely must fly off ahead to get the lay of the land, they won't be able to find the town. That would spoil the fun of getting there, wouldn't it?)

★ Mods notes: A quick reminder that characters can have either no memory loss, OR a partial memory loss which allows them to recollect their past at a player's chosen speed. Characters are also allowed to have NPC family members (who may or may not be on the wagon train with them), for instance an NPC wife or kids who might give them a hard time about not remembering who they are. NPC family members are not mandatory, we just thought they were a fun thing that you could play with if you wanted! We also accept OCs and game-based OCs,as well as canon characters! If you have any questions about gameplay, please check out the FAQ! ★

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ned tries to lean with his hat to keep it on, but it flops uselessly onto the seat beside him anyway. At least they're moving at approximately no speed at all, because if it fell out of the wagon he'd be obligated to stop and go get it.

He'll leave it on the seat for now, scoffing at Jacob and looking at the horse like driving this wagon is way more interesting.]

You can always jump off. What're the odds you'll find someone else who doesn't know where New York is, do you think?

Not everyone is a crime lord from New York City, New York. [Now he's just going to say it like that every time. Just to be annoying.] Surely there's someone just as lost as I am.

[He doesn't want to be with them, though. Ned doesn't have to say it'd be a diaster for him to know it. Instead he's just going to fold his hat into his coat and place Ned's on his head.]

How do I look?

Businessman. [Don't just announce that he's a crime lord!! Not that he doesn't make it fairly obvious on his own, but don't advertise it...

And put his hat down—] Like a million bucks. Give it back.

[He holds his hand out expectantly. Come on.]

I'll give it back for a million bucks, Mr. Businessman. [Sorry, Ned. He's leaning away with the hat held firmly on his head.]

Maybe if someone didn't tease me about your states...

[Ned, a Real Adult, isn't going to tackle Jacob in a moving wagon to get his hat back. He leans back with an exaggerated gesture like oh, fine, as dismissively as one can be while still holding the reins to this horse with one hand.]

I'll let you have the states, but there's no way you're getting away clean with forgetting about the City of London. Your sister'll love that one.

[Jacob, a Questionable Adult, is going to shove Ned's arm over his threat.] You can't tell Evie! One, because she's not here, and two, I'll... I'll tell everyone how you need my help climbing onto a wagon.

[Nailed it. If it weren't already the worst, he'll tousle Ned's hair while he's at it.]

[Ah... he's short, Jacob's threat is about something obvious. Good try.]

I'll write her a letter. What's the address of your train? "Finest girl on the tracks, wherever we happen to be, London"?

[How does he manage to be so rude while trying to pull away from Jacob messing with his hair? It's a God-given gift.]

I think you like our train more than you like my sister. I don't quite know how to feel about that.

[Ned's hair had no business being so soft. If he wanted him to get away, he should be more terrible, back now Jacob's just touching it. Fascinating.] It'd take weeks to get there. She'd forget by the time we're back.

[Let go of his hair?? He wants his hat back, Jacob, not this.]

You don't really believe that. [That she'd forget something like "ha ha what's the city of london," because she's Evie. Ned's seen the two of them interact a nonzero amount of times, therefore: she would not forget.

Please. Anyway... he finally reaches up to push Jacob's hand away; stop that.] Congrats, Frye, you've figured it out. You've got one hell of a train.

[Ugh, fine. He'll let go of his dumb hair, and he can even have his hat back. Because Jacob's a nice person. And he wants to avoid how Evie would totally make fun of him, just in case Ned would forget.]

I can hear the wedding bells now. Can I pronounce you husband and train, send you off? The Greenies will be so jealous.

[Thaaaank you, public enemy no. 2. Ned sticks his hat back onto his head one-handed, jiggling the reins with his other hand like he's still putting effort into driving. He's putting effort into not getting lost, but speed is relative.

Anyway, he's won this round.]

Without a wedding gift? And after all I've given you. [Random jewels, dangerous toys, be generous.]

And what kind of wedding gift am I supposed to give you and a train? [Public enemy no. 1 will accept his loss by putting his feet back up and running his hands through his own hair. Not as soft. Hm.]

A nice bottle of wine, on me. I'm too jealous of the train for anything else.

[Jealous of the train? How exactly should he take that? He glances sideways at Jacob, both hands on the reins now.]

What's the going price for a nice bottle of wine? [why is he like this] Don't try to pull one over on me and give me something I asked you to lift in the first place.

Me? Pull one over on you? Impossible.

[He leans his head back into his hands, crossing his ankles. He could be watching the road, but watching the driver was much more interesting.] It's not good enough for you, is it? You're awfully picky for someone who can't handle a horse.

[If only there were someone to beat up, Jacob would be useful. Ned hums, apparently thinking about his future train wedding, then shrugs. Thanks for the compliment, at least.]

They're not really related, are they? [No, they're not. Ned is always right. Now that they're not being stupid over his hat, it's easy to be more subdued and not spook the horse. Great performance, guys.

Eventually, Ned will reach over and tap the reins against Jacob's leg. Hey.] Your turn.

Mmmm... [Jacob won't answer that, because that would be admitting defeat again. He just can't have that. He'll sit back, relax, let Ned drive...

... and hardly respond to his tapping. He was trying to nap, Ned. Terrible.] Whazzat...?

[No, wake up. It's Ned's turn to nap.]

I've been at this for hours, Frye. Wake up and pull your own weight. [Tap, tap, tap tap tap taptaptaptap....]

Iiii fed the horse... weight pulled... [Jacob could probably have fallen back asleep if Ned would just leave him alone, but nooo! No amount of turning over is going to help him ignore his tapping.]

You're lucky my train likes you. [He grumbles, rubbing his eyes in one hand and taking the reins in the other.]

[Yeah, Jacob is awake enough to drive this wagon. This will do just fine. Ned grins at him because of course he does, then waves off his complaints as he shifts to get somewhat more comfortable on this terrible wooden seat and close his eyes.]

Consider us even. Remember: no rivers. [time 2 nap]

Sooo drive into each one. Got it. [Jacob rolls his eyes, sparing a few glances between the trail and Ned. He didn't harass him for the sake of Ned not being a grouch in however much time will come to pass. He even shifted closer, and at one point, put an arm behind him to provide a better headrest.

By the time it's Ned's turn to be woken, he doesn't feel the need to. The sun is coming up over the horizon, and there's the increasingly close sound of running water. They haven't gone in a river, but they are stopped by one. The horse fed on the grass alongside it, peaceful as can be while Jacob sat back staring across it. There was a sign to Horseshoe on the other side.]

Guess they don't believe in bridges in New Hampshire...

[It's hard to sleep sitting up in a moving wagon, but it's not the worst place Ned has ever tried to sleep, so he manages. If he wakes up at all during Jacob's turn to drive he doesn't make it obvious, just barely cracking an eye open just to decide he wants to keep sleeping. Apparently Jacob is letting him get away with this, at the cost of leaning on his barn-smelling arm... It's fine.

He actually sleeps by the time they've stopped, woken by the sound of the river and the dim light of dawn coming. Give him a moment to stretch and push his glasses up to rub at his face here, hmm... Oh. River.]

I heard that, Frye. [good morning,] Alright, what's your big plan?

Good morning to you too, sunshine. [Jacob chuckles, pulling back his very much asleep arm and shaking the feeling back into his hand. It was worth it, since Ned doesn't seem to be grumpy.

Well, for now, there's still the task at hand.] I've let the old girl relax by the water, so I don't think she'll fling us to our deaths. It's just the wagon. There's no telling if the wheels are sturdy, or if it's too heavy, or...

[This doesn't sound great, but,] We'll be fine.

[Give him another moment to straighten his hat. Jacob earned that dead arm, thanks for the pillow. Not so much thanks for the... assessment of the situation.]

How many wagons have you gotten across rivers? It's no Thames, but it's still... [He gestures out at the river. But they're going to drown.] Well, let's see what we're dealing with.

[Before they drag themselves into this river, he's going to slide down from the seat to stare at the wheels. How much do they suck...]

We can say I'll have first-timer's luck. [Jacob tried, but his grin didn't last too long. No, this sucked. While Ned was going to inspect the wheels, Jacob is going to climb over the side and start going through cargo.]

Could take some weight off. Can't imagine all this is that important... Or I could just try throw you across! It's not like you weight more than these boxes! [He's kidding, but.]

[Okay, that's rude. Ned leans away from the wheel to frown in Jacob's direction. No, Frye. They need that stuff to live.]

You put your hands on me and I'm keeping them. Finder's fee. [Don't throw him, he hates that!!] Come here and take a look at this—actually, is there a hammer back there? Couple of these spokes look loose.

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