LPM Test Drive

[letsplayamod]

The Inaugural Let's Play A Murder Test Drive



Greetings, mortals.

I thank you for accepting my plea. From across universes, I have summoned you to aid me in bringing light back to this land. Here, though, in this small pocket, we are free to relax for the moment. Steel yourself, and meet with me soon.

There is much to discuss.

Welcome to the official test drive for Let's Play A Murder, an experimental murdergame! Characters will work together to unravel an oncoming threat that strikes each week with something new to tear them apart. For now, tag around with potential picks for the upcoming game and get a feel for that sweet sweet murder CR! If you have any questions, please DM lightdrizzel

Threads from this TDM (and others if you so choose) will count towards the RP sample of the applications.

1 - I hardly think I'm qualified
Wherever you were, whatever you were doing... you're not there anymore. Instead, you've awoken on an unfamiliar but very soft bed. The room is sparsely decorated, ornate carvings of heroic figures intermingle on the walls with hairline cracks. This place has seen better days, but, possibly, so have you.

There is a nightstand beside your bed, as naked as anything save for an envelope sealed in wax. Inside is a letter written in a careful hand, welcoming you to this place; a safe area, free of those that would cause harm. Your host had to step away briefly, but she will return. In the meanwhile, she expects everyone to obey the rules of this place.

Included in the envelope was a small bronze key - to your room, no doubt. And luck - it unlocks your door. You're free to venture out into a semicircle of these homes you've found yourself in. And you're not alone, either.

Perhaps you should say hello to your new neighbors.

2 - To come across all sanctified
You've all become acquainted with each other, and met with your gracious benefactor. She had to dip out again, but has left you all with a veritable island paradise to explore. In the center pantheon, large profiles of each of you have been cast in the stone walls, details of your life chiseled beneath them in perhaps too much detail. Along with a set of rules cast on a bronze plaque. Seems straightforward enough.

Beyond that, it seems whatever information you'll gain will only be found by your own hand. You have the free time now, and it's a beautiful day outside. There's plenty to explore among the towering obelisks and half-standing temples. Just avoid trying to leave the edge of the island - a golden barrier will very rudely smack you in the face.

Feel free to make up locations for this. The island is anachronistic with all the amnesties of a modern home.


3 - I just don't cut it with the cherubim
Purple clown? What? None of that here. But once you've found out where to leave those tribute coins you've 'earned' there's a small pile of items waiting outside your door. Some of which you might even recognize from home.

Or perhaps you've been given twenty wooden cut-outs of... who the heck is this guy.


4 - There again they're on their knees
Training exercises! In order to discern your godly nature, what better way to start than a good, very old-fashioned obstacle course.

Balance across the beams, avoid getting beaned in the head by a swinging bat. Swing from a rope. Or, if you're really feeling up to a challenge, pick up a sword and meet someone's steel with steel.

Or you can sit back and prepare medical supplies. Someone's definitely going to get hurt.


5 - Being worshiped is a breeze
The sky darkens. Lightning overtakes the calm summers day. It's not long before the whole area is under attack.

From the very earth itself, monsters crawl from the ground; undead hands clutching rusted swords and shields. Digging themselves from their graves so that they can put you in yours. Somewhere, distantly, your mentor yells to take up arms, and is already lost in her own fray.

It's up to you to defend yourself, or to defend others. There's no honor in running away, but if you need to survive, it's not like anyone would blame you.


6 - Which rather suits us in the interim
Congrats! You've survived the onslaught. But even as the sky clears, an ultimatum has been passed down from on high; if one of your group isn't slain by the end of the week, then the world you belong to will be destroyed.

Surely, nothing would actually be able to accomplish that, but that faint hope doesn't remove the tension from the air.


7 - Oh my god
Seems that someone didn't want to take the chance.

One of your fellows has met with a gruesome end, and if up to you and everyone else to play detective and figure out just who did it. The hourglass is running out. Just try not to trip over any evidence.


8 - It's tough to be a god
Investigation’s done, it’s time for a trial! Perhaps you nailed it and someone's already confessing to their crimes. Perhaps you've been running around in circles, looking for anything that could move the trial forward. Maybe you all just decided to strip down, even if it wasn't necessary. Whatever the case, tensions are still high. Not just because you have to point out a culprit... but you have to lay down punishment for them too.

Majority vote decides, of course. This is a democracy, after all, but you can still waste time dithering on what to do next.

Comments

Lebkuchen | Little Goody Two Shoes

[brokenhabit]

2.

[ Lebkuchen is... not necessarily thrilled about the current situation, but she's not upset either. There's a sense of relief coming off her, but she's also exceedingly cautious as she roams the rest of the island. She did take a moment to look at all the profiles... but decided to leave after having a glance at the rules plaque.

Eventually she finds herself in the kitchen - baking would probably be a good way to clear her head. ]

My... what is all this?

[ She stands in front of all the modern appliances, the fridge and stove especially, opening and closing them with equal parts curiosity and confusion. ]

Isn't there an oven anywhere...?

[ She is saying this while. Literally opening an (electric) oven. ]


4.

[ ...

...Yeah, this one's for her to sit out. But she's not doing nothing. While there's some medical supplies already prepared (and fresh bread, because of course she brought bread, energy is also important???), it seems that she's been granted healing as part of her god powers. So she's watching everything unfold from a makeshift swing, trying to keep an eye out for anyone that might actually be injured.

If anyone does fall or look seriously hurt on the obstacle course (or from any other activity) she gets up from the swing right away, quickly making her way over. Her voice is gentle as she speaks: ]

Are you all right?

[ For anyone who actually manages to finish without any issues though she still waves them over, all smiles. ]

My, you actually did it. [ Her tone is a impressed but there's also... a playfulness to it? ] No scrapes or bruises to look at?

[ And if you're a fellow bench warmer... well there's plenty of room over here. And bread. It's good bread! ]


Wildcard!

[ hmu if you have another idea! ]

2

[sweetsynergy]

[Inspecting the rest of the kitchen.]

Right? This stuff is all- stone age archaic.

[brokenhabit]

[ Oh thank god someone who also agr-- wait. ]

...Huh? It is...?

[ ARCHAIC???????????????????????????? ]

[sweetsynergy]

I think I've seen this design in a museum somewhere.

[Knocking on the side of the oven experimentally. And opening the door and peering inside.]

Ha, holy shit, it actually works through convection.

[brokenhabit]

C-Convection?

Erm... I'm sorry, I'm not sure I follow...

4

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark is absolutely not participating, but upon spoting Lebkuchen off to the side, he'll make his way over, friendly smile in place.]

Lebkuchen, my favorite little nun! [He'll invite himself to casually lean on whatever is supporting her makeshift swing.] You're not too interested in running through this recipe for physical injury either, huh?

[brokenhabit]

Oh, Mr. Quark. [ She smiles back, halting her swinging for a moment. ] I'm afraid not - these sorts of activities don't really play to my strengths.

The most I've ever been able to do is chop firewood.

[latinumsbetter]

That makes two of us. [dryly] Awful rude, making some kinda group thing like this where only some of us can participate.

[brokenhabit]

I don’t know if I’d call it rude but it is a little…

[ She is trying so hard to find a polite word for what she actually thinks of it. Thank goodness she’s been doing that most of her life. ]

…much? I wasn’t aware that this was an expectation when I agreed to this.

2

[stringup]

As far as I can tell, that is the oven.

[ Did Velvet spend far too much time earlier examining all the appliances and testing them out to try figuring out what each of them was supposed to do? Possibly. ]

[brokenhabit]

...What?

But... where does the firewood go...?

[stringup]

That's the thing—it doesn't need firewood or charcoal or whatever. There's something else in it that makes heat.

[brokenhabit]

[ ??????????? ]

With… what, exactly?

Something… supernatural?

2

[phototraces]

Can you not stick your hand in there?

[Look, she's not sure about all this but she doesn't want someone to be burned alive by sticking her hand in an oven she didn't know was an oven. Death loves combustion after all.]

[brokenhabit]

Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't aware that I shouldn't.

[ Retracts her hand that had been reaching for one of the racks. ]

Could you perhaps tell me what it is?

[phototraces]

It’s an oven—those metal coils inside heat up. If it turned on accidentally touching the racks could—hurt.

[She’s just giving a slight sigh through her words. Pointing out the heating element in the bottom. She’s a bit jumpy. It she tries to keep her words even.

Sorry, just, those knobs on the outside turn it on.

[brokenhabit]

Oh.

[ Okay yeah that would have been bad but she didn’t feel any heat so she thinks it would have been fine? But better safe than sorry especially with these machines that completely beyond her. ]

I’ve… never seen an oven like that before… so it doesn’t use any firewood at all then…?

2.

[yourheroine]

[Aoi wanders her way into the kitchen and notices the pretty nun with a nurturing aura is here looking for an oven. Eyebrows quirking up slightly, she points at the oven Leb is opening.]

It's right there. You press the buttons to make it warm up. Probably. Aoi's only used the stove before.

[Poor Lebkuchen. As if being faced with technology centuries in the future wasn't confusing enough, the one explaining it to her is likely the least qualified to out of anyone in this new realm.]

[brokenhabit]

Press buttons...?

[ Goodness she is so out of her depth here already, she can tell. ]

Is there even a stove here?

[ Literally standing right in front of it. ]

[yourheroine]

Above the oven. Boop boop!

[Aoi decides to lead by example with this one, and turns a random knob on the stovetop, causing one of the burners to light up with a fwoosh!]

Don't burn yourself like Aoi almost did. It's hot.

[Her voice is painfully sincere. Also that sure is an open stove flame oh god--]

4

[catsgothistongue]

[Being one of the more athletic and physically capable people brought to this world, Ranma completely aced it. He finishes with in record time, grinning ear to ear even as he leaps down to where Lebkuchen's benched.]

Nope! [Echoing the nun's playful tone.] Not a single scratch on me!

[Doing a few stretches, while also eyeing the bread on the bench like a hungry pet seeing their owner's unattended food on a table.]

[brokenhabit]

Is that so?

[ She spots that though and very caaaaaaaaaaasually moves the basket of bread just a liiiittle further away. ]

Should I have a look anyhow, just to be sure?

[catsgothistongue]

[His pigtail gradually sags in a sorry fashion the further away the bread's pushed. Like a doggo being denied said food he was eyeing. How dare you.

Immediately, he turns his head away, too quick to play off as nothing.]

Pass. I already told you, not a scratch on me.

[With that assertion, he tucks his hands in his pockets. Though, if Lebkuchen has a keen eye, she may notice his left arm shifting a bit when it touches his side.]

2

[tripartites]

[ ... okay, you know what, she's been in no rush to be anywhere near domestic tasks here if she can help it, but the juxtaposition of the question and what lebkuchen is doing draws sayo's attention. nibbling at a vanilla cookie: ]

That's it you're looking at now. The oven, I mean. [ sayo steps a little closer, a steaming mug of tea in hand. ] These appliances are a little newer than what I'm used to, but... do you not recognize them at all?

[ it... does come out as a neutral question, as opposed to anything judgmental, for what it's worth. she knows there seem to be people from less modern places on this island. as far as like, the important things go, sayo isn't seeing anything she doesn't recognize herself. mostly. the air fryer intimidates her. don't even get her started on the keurig. ]

[brokenhabit]

Huh?

[ She stares at the oven incredulously, trying to get a sense for how it could even work as an oven. ]

I'm afraid not. I grew up in a bakery but we... well, all granny and I had was a brick oven and it wasn't anything like this...

[ She peers inside it again. ]

Where does the firewood go?