THE SKY WENT OFF-WHITE.

[wastemods]

WHO: Anyone and everyone.
WHAT: Our inaugural test drive meme.
WHERE: Anywhere in the world core.
WHEN: Whenever your character arrives.
NOTES: Expect surreal horror and possible violence. Please use common sense when warning for other content.

Art by Basile Godard

THE SUNLIGHT SPLINTERED.

You reach the end of the ash-gray hall at a run, hands fumbling for an antique door handle. And then you stumble, fall, tumble—any number of adjectives, depending on where, exactly, the door opened—into a radio station.

The equipment is old and dusty, but devoid of cobwebs to the observant eye. And it's dark, save for whatever light makes it through the windows. They display disjointed locations; perhaps one shows an upside-down tower, while its neighbors frame the crumbling pavement of a rotting car park and the stripped out interior of a sewer. Whatever the case, peering through one window reveals a landscape that impossibly doesn't connect to the next.

The door is still there, the only exit to this grubby room. It opens somewhere, anywhere else in this distorted world. And once you leave, it no longer leads back whence you came.

Where do you go?

THE LIGHT, DIVIDED.

A sun on one horizon, a full moon on the other. They're luminous but unreal, like they were plucked from a sky and pasted to a flat, starless backdrop. You can see only one, depending on which side you entered; it's essentially random. Both "sides" overlap like alternate dimensions and you can't see anyone who isn't on the same side as you. Light or dark, you walk in the light of a muted sun or an overbright moon. It never feels quite real.

Neither star nor satellite seem to move from their position. The passage of time is at a standstill.

Regardless of which side you're on, you'll find signs that you aren't alone. What someone does on one side affects the other, so moving an item or writing something down will translate to floating items and mysteriously appearing letters. Speech doesn't travel...unless there's a radio. Radios may turn on and off, with voices audible through the white noise. And if you walk past a mirror, the reflection isn't your own. Instead, it acts as a window to the other side.

In-character observations:

• Anyone sensitive to time, space, and related dimensional shenanigans will feel they're distorted. And it isn't something they can fix, at least not with powers.
• It's possible to cross dimensions if a character has related powers, but they'll suffer backlash and significant stress from the transition. Successive jumps aren't gonna fly.
• If a character is affected by the sun or moon, they'll find neither holds sway over them here; e.g., vampires can walk in daylight and werewolves won't shift in the full moon.

TL;DR: Whatever this is, it isn't natural.

THE SHADOW REALM.

Outdoors, there are shadows on the prowl.

Silent and eerily insubstantial, they trail after you like blind spots given form. Staring at them too long is unsettling but, for the most part, they're content to watch you back...if they can watch. They don't seem to have eyes.

When that isn't enough, however, they attack. Stealing the shape of monsters from other worlds, they may lack special powers, but that doesn't keep them from being dangerous. When in doubt, you're safest indoors.

But maybe that isn't good enough for you. Or maybe you just fucked up. Either/or.

RADIO WAVES.

If you aren't wondering how you got here, you're probably at least asking why. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone around who can answer your questions. Everyone else is as clueless as you.

But, some time after you arrive—whether it's days, hours, minutes, or seconds—the dead air stirs. The atmospheric pressure drops and playhouse lightning arcs across the facsimile of a sky. It's a storm that warns of what's to come, as an earthquake shifts the ground beneath your feet. Around you, buildings flood, and water pours out in falls only half aware of gravity. Wind hurls debris at such high speeds, it turns into shrapnel. Rain pelts you from above and below as the temperature plummets. It starts to snow.

Somehow, the sun and moon remain visible through the turmoil. A collection of mirrors scattered through the world don't reflect their light; instead, it passes through them and illuminates the other side. These specific mirrors, all set in ash-gray frames that match the halls, are untouched in the unfolding natural disasters, and standing before them will shield you as well. Consider them havens in the chaos, proverbial eyes in the storm.

In the dark, a radio turns on of its own accord. Is someone—something—talking to you?

INTO ALL OUR DARKEST FEARS.

Welcome to THE WASTEYARD's first test drive! Some quick things to remember:

• Our TDMs tie into the game plot. As such, any applicants can keep their TDM threads as game canon.
• The network is exclusive to in-game characters. TDM characters can only use radios.
• There is a language barrier, so please mention what language your character speaks somewhere.
• We don't have a fixed day ratio; instead, you pace yourself at your discretion.
• Characters may face backlash when using any powers.
• Mark if your character is on the sun or moon side of the divide. The choice is yours as the player.
• If you have any questions, please direct them to our FAQ!

And that's all, folks. So take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!

NAVIGATION.

PREMISE
RULES
FAQ
ACTIVITY
APPLICATIONS

TAKEN
HIATUSES & DROPS
CANON UPDATES
REWARDS
TPC CLAIMS

WORLD
EXPLORATION
DEVICES
QUESTS
INFORMATION

CALENDAR
SUGGESTIONS
MOD CONTACT
SETTING INBOX
CODEBOOK

Comments

b. RADIO WAVES.

[yokeye]

[Toki is so relived to see another person, and Murphy's words and apparent mood are completely ignored. It's background noise. As soon as he's in the building, Toki's chattering away in rapid-fire Japanese.]

What is happening out there!? Did you see that like sideways tornado thing kind of, I don't know how to describe it, but it was really scary! Why are some of the building like upside down!? Do you think we're dreaming, or wait, do you live here!? You're bleeding! Are you okay!? Was it one of those shadow things!?

Re: b. RADIO WAVES.

[mofi]

[ Oh God, what is this kid going on about? Is that Trigedasling? No, doesn't sound like it. Murphy as no idea what language is being spewed at him. ]

Woah, buddy! I literally have no clue what you're saying.

[ It's then he remembers the cut, gash, Murphy doesn't even know because he hasn't had time to check it out. All he knows is it stings and his cheek is dripping blood. Murphy presses the back of his hand to the wound, hopes the blood will star clotting faster ].

[yokeye]

[He gets the gist of that statement, because he doesn't what this guy's saying either. That's... a problem. He points at the cut and the makes a gesture with this fingers, a "little bit" sort of thing.]

It's not that bad!

[He says it anyway, just because it feels weird not to talk.]

[mofi]

[ A language barrier, that's just great. It's not the worst thing, not by a longshot. The gestures are at least universal, he thinks anyway. ]

You think it'll disfigure me? I still need to be pretty for the ladies.

[ Murphy starts making hand motions and speaking slowly at the same time ]. Where - did - you - come - from? [ He has one palm flat and the other hand making a scissor motion with his fingers like they are walking across his palm. ]

[yokeye]

[Toki would have a lot to say on how scars would fair with the ladies, if he understood the comment. He's watching the hand gestures, but he's not the most intelligent person, and he's thinking Murphy wants to go back outside. That means "walk". He just makes an 'x' by crossing his index fingers.]

Bad - idea.

[mofi]

[ The cut on his face is ignored for now. Murphy blinks, watching the kid's fingers cross. This is getting them nowhere and fast. ]

Come on. [ He ushers the kid to go down the flooded hallway. ] We can work the talking thing as we walk. I am Murphy. [ He jerks a thumb at himself. ] What is your name? [ Toki might not understand him but the tone in Murphy's voice suggests that he had just asked a question. Murphy points at him to accentuate what he is trying to ask for. ]

[yokeye]

[That, he understands, at least that pointing to yourself usually means you're saying your name. He sounds it out while sloshing down the hallway.]

Murphy?

[It's a serviceable pronunciation. He's already tired of this shit, but points to himself in return.]

Toki.

[He stops at the first door in the hallway and gestures to it, then shrugs. There could be useful things in there.]

[mofi]

Good job, [ Murphy sarcastically praises. At least now they know each other's name. ]

Toki [ , he parrots back. Murphy is not one to judge names. ] Step aside. [ Murphy moves closer, uses his shoulder to nudge Toki away. Without much hesitation, he opens the door. At first, the room is void of any water but it pours in once the door is opened. ]

Alright, let's check out this place. [ Murphy knows that Toki can't understand a damn word Murphy is saying but he doesn't like awkward silences.
Since he opened the door first, he steps into the room first. Murphy is looking for someone kind of thing, a weapon or anything that he can defend himself with. ]

[yokeye]

[Toki's priorities don't drift towards weapons, though they should. He's seen the shadow things. Instead, he looks through items and books on shelves. They're not particularly neat, nor cluttered. Only like the whoever the shelves belonged to left suddenly and never returned. He opens one of the books. There's a thin layer of dust on the cover and the pages inside reveal absolutely nothing. They're blank, but yellowed. A second book turns out to be the same.]

There's nothing written here.

[He doesn't like silence either.

Something slightly shiny near the stack of books catches his eye. It's a square metal thing. A cigarette lighter. He flicks the top open and tests it. It's probably something he should keep. He tucks it into his obi. He'll give it to Murphy later, because he has pockets.]