AUGUST 2022 TEST DRIVE

[jigokumods]

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1. SHUTEN TERRITORY - Muscling In

art by tohdraws

In the aftermath of the curse crisis, the Shuten Clan forgave a bunch of protection payments in the region, and helped cover the costs for rebuilding. Unfortunately, some of the street gangs in the area are much less civically minded. They have used the Shuten's relaxed policies as an opportunity to turn their own screws on the local business owners. These unaffiliated youth gangs have been much rougher with the locals, and have been asking for even larger collection fees. This has pissed off the folks who are just trying to get their lives and businesses back on track!

Unfortunately, the opening of Sai no Kawara in the underground drew so much of the clan's focus and manpower, that the issues up top just slipped through the cracks. Until now! Toraguma is in a bad mood and is looking for people to take it out on: the youth gangs will do just fine.

Volunteers are being solicited to join the regular Shuten enforcers in driving these interlopers out of Shuten territory. The gangs are wise to the usual Shuten tactics, though, and they're prepared for a fight. They are also appealing to the influx of Lost Souls: they act as though they're the victims of the factions' power struggles! They propose that taking up arms against the Shuten Clan will win them favor with the other groups in the city. (It will look less good with the Shuten Clan, should you be assigned to them.)

Fight with the Shutens, or with the gangs. Either way, a fight is coming.

2. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Throat Goat (NSFW)

at by akai riot

This prompt is overtly sexual in nature. Please use the proper NSFW labelling in your top levels and threads.

While the Palace of Sai in the underground is doing well, that doesn't mean the other businesses in the Tamamo Clan's collection have been slacking. One of the least "classy" soaplands has decided they're going to hold a contest to drive up business for themselves! They are partnering with some of the other sex clubs in the area for the sleaziest of events.

The Hyottoko Cup is looking for volunteer participants! The competition is pretty straightforward: a ruler is drawn on the throat of each participant and an array of members is presented to swallow. Whichever contestant can take the guests deepest and longest will take home the "coveted" Hyottoko Cup! Ok, there's a little judge favoritism involved too, so put on a show.

The guests have likewise been pulled in as volunteers, with instructions that they don't have to make this easy on the participants. Guests are provided with special seals that they can use for the length of the competition to enhance their natural assets. For those lacking the equipment entirely, there's a seal for that too.

Have fun and play nice.

3. TAMAMO TERRITORY - Strike a Poise (GEN)

Other businesses looking to jump start this month's earnings are also getting in on the spirit of competition! Businesses less oriented towards sexual service have come together as a means to draw in the high dollar clients, and one local club has proposed something old school.

Sign up for the Poise Contest, where contestants are placed into more and more ridiculous geta while tasked with serving drinks to the guest. Spills are expected, and the guests are cheerfully kitted out with cheap club-branded ponchos to protect their clothes. (Marketing, am I right?) While spills are expected, the contestant will lose points for each of the spilled drinks. Try to keep your balance as you attend to increasingly absurd drink orders. The intensity of the traditional footwear will only make your job that much harder.

Do you have what it takes to pour a champagne fountain while wearing teetering tengu geta? Prove your balance and dexterity is the best and the take home prize is some sweet cash. For Lost Souls freshly in the city, the chance to win some extra money can't really be passed up, huh…

4. SUTOKU TERRITORY - Jigokucho's Got Talent

Ever since Moonday's beloved singer – Ringo-chan – was kidnapped at the Tanabata festival, the band has had to cancel all of their scheduled gigs. Unfortunately, they were a hugely popular act, booked solid in most of the Sutoku Alliance's various nightclubs. This has left a ton of empty spots that need to be filled quickly, before the crowds get upset and demand… refunds.

That's where you come in, Lost Souls! Desperate promoters and talent bookers are literally grabbing Lost Souls off the street and begging, pleading, with them to perform a set for the night. They just need to have something to fill the space Moonday would have otherwise occupied. At least give the crowd something to see!

Acts do not need to be of the musical variety. Any performing talent is accepted, no matter how esoteric or bizarre! If it can fill out a 15-30 minute set, the club owners will be happy and the customers will at least see something interesting; even if it's a bad kind of interesting. So get on stage and show this city what you've got!

( Help us fill our time slots, please! We're desperate! 😩)

5. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENMA - Sticky Paws II: Outta the Bag

The Enma Department is busy: they have a kidnapping to investigate, a primordial god to pin down, and the crisis of their ever-shifting public image to manage. However, crime never sleeps and is always there to add to the troubled Department's workload. Worse still, we thought this little crime spree was over six months ago! But here it is again, much to the Enma's chagrin.

Cat cafés are a popular tourist attraction all across Jigokucho. About six months ago, a gang of bakeneko infiltrated several of the cafés to rob customers occupied with kitty bliss. Wallets, jewelry, and anything else those sticky paws could snatch away were being picked in droves. The cat capers are afoot once more!

Are you a hapless victim of these furry thieves, or are you helping the Department of the Enma track down these cat burglars? Unfortunately, the bakeneko are exceptionally clever and are using a seal to disguise their secondary tails. This makes them look just about like any normal cat. Better make sure your lead is good, or you'll be chasing down an ordinary Felis Catus. Soft to pet, but not going to return your pilfered cash.

Of course, the café staff might be in on this caper too… It's never easy to tell who's getting a cut of the profits. Be careful who you trust out there.

6. ALL OVER - The 100 Billion Yen Man (PLOT RELEVANT)

The local TV news has been announcing that Kaberou Kannazaki – the legendary finance wolf and the father of kidnapping victim, Ringo-chan – will be making an announcement this week. People have flocked to television sets throughout the city; at the squares, around TVs in bars, electronic stores, each other's phones, and any other venue with a connection. The kidnapping has been a highly public ordeal and the talk of the town. Many of the locals were present at the festival and witnessed the crime. They want to hear what the word is!

The public doesn't have to wait long. Wolf-eared Kaberou sits at a press desk, surrounded by microphones, and dazzled with flashbulbs. He clears his throat and, as he begins to speak, he is direct and to the point; not unlike a wolf lunging for the throat.

"As of today, I am issuing a bounty on the man known as the Iron Bear, who has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of my daughter, Ringo Kannazaki. The payout to the party responsible for bringing me Iron Bear, dead or alive, is 100 Billion Yen. Individuals or groups, I don't care. Just bring my daughter back to me, and the money is yours."

Well! The Department of the Enma's hopes of an orderly investigation have been dashed, but this is certainly an opportunity for anyone brave enough – or, more accurately, stupid enough – to traverse the Wasteland. Maybe one of you out there will find the legendary Iron Bear and bring him to some form of justice.

Local businesses are quick to leap at this opportunity, too. They begin to aggressively push sponsorships at would-be bounty hunters. Weapons? Armor? Survival gear? All at discount prices! Each faction has their interest in collecting the massive bounty as well. They will all be putting a lot of pressure on recruits to get ready to head out to the Wastes.

If you just got here? Well, it would definitely be in your interest to start finding gear, and finding people willing to collect that bounty with you. It could mean a big step forward toward your eventual contract, after all.

Welcome to the test drive meme!

• First of all, big thanks to our discord chat for the "Throat Goat" prompt idea. Stay golden, gang.
• IF YOU'RE TOP-LEVELING A NEW CHARACTER, post it here!
• Characters already in the game can top level as well.
• Threads here can be considered game canon.
• Characters can be recruited to do work for any faction until they're given their official assignment.
• If you have any questions about the TDM content, please ask them here! You can find information on the story so far here!
• If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.
• Reserves are open until September 5th.

Comments

Donatello | Rise of the TMNT

[semilethal]

Muscling In

[Donnie isn't particularly inclined to get involved in some street thug power struggle, especially without his battle shell, his tech-bo, or even his unreliable mystic powers, but some of these youths are making a good argument for his participation. Namely, they are telling him that he will acquire Money and Stuff if he helps them drive out the 'dangerous yakuza influence' in the neighborhood.]

Welll, I'm kind of a sucker for the underdog story, [Donnie muses as he rubs his chin.]

Oh yeah, we're definitely underdogs, [attests a pointy-eared youkai. She points.] Jax over there is literally a dog youkai, look at him.

Then I'm in! I will be compensated regardless of outcome, right?

Sticky Paws II

[Are you enjoying that cat on your lap? NO YOU'RE NOT. Donatello is relieving patrons of their fuzzy companions in order to (mostly) close them into a box with just their fluffy little heads poking out as he shines his phone flashlight onto their heads and demands to know who they're working for.

The employees don't seem particularly happy about this little purple kappa kid shoving their cats into boxes they're pretty sure he dug out of the trash out back, but trying to retrieve any of the cats earns them a fierce glare and Donatello snatching up his "suspect" to relocate to another area. He probably is going to get kicked out in like ten min- where did he get those sunglasses]

A wise guy, huh? [Mr. Lambastic growls warningly as Donnie circles his newest captive, hands clasped behind his back.] Come on, you think your associates will keep your secrets? Give me something and I can cut you a deal.

The 100 Billion Yen Man

[Donnie needs some armor for his back if he's going to go hunting for a dude named the Iron Bear, but it's difficult to make a purchase with no uhhhh, what's it called. Capital. SO, he has to make do, as all good scientists can.]

Don't you know the current exchange rate? No? Then observe. First of all, this is the currency of the living. Not much use down here in the, ahem, "underworld" [eye roll], but amongst newcomers like myself? It's a commodity! My friend, it's an investment. Take this, for example. [slides literally a nickel across the counter toward the very irate shopkeep] A simple coin. But, the numbers across the back-! Such denomination speaks more to its rarity than its sheer value. That's a collectible! That's- wait who are you calling. Is it your appraiser?

[bro probably the faction leader for this district, u need to git]

wildcard

[Find him wandering about anywhere (except the pleasure district)!]

100 Billion Yen Man

[neonleon]

[Leonardo's been wandering around a bit, don't worry about where he got this drink he's sipping through a straw. But he stops when he hears that awful sales pitch.

Don't mind him ninja stealthing behind you bro.]

He's probably calling the cops.

im going to pretend they already knew each other was here to save the tearful reunion for ingame

[semilethal]

[SC REAMS in shock and throws nickel at in defense]

Wh- Leo! I'm trying to work here!

[neonleon]

[Wow AND throwing nickels in his direction??? WHAT KIND OF BROTHER-

Gonna dodge that real quick and listens to it thud against the wall behind him.]

Working on getting arrested? Because yeah, you're doin' real great on that one.

[semilethal]

Scoff. Perhaps you are satisfied to wander and drink- [squints at. what is that. does that say 'decaf kappa koffee'] -whatever that is, but some of us aspire to more. Some of us are trying to make the best of a poor situation.

[the shopkeep hangs up his phone] I called the cops.

...hm.

[neonleon]

And that's our cue to get out of here.

[Just SMILES at the shopkeep before turning around and walking right out. Donnie can follow if he wants (come on bro, you're gonna).]

I, for one, am not getting arrested because you're trying to - I don't even know what you were trying to do, but it wasn't anything helpful, that's for sure.

[semilethal]

[UGH. takes nickel and GLARES at shopkeep, but stomps after his brother.]

I'm trying to get us weapons, Leo. Tech? First aid supplies? Things needed to hunt a malefactor named The Iron Bear?

[neonleon]

Is- Wait wait wait, is that what you were trying to do?

[It's incredulous to a fault because he has to be, otherwise he has to admit how unnerved he is by not having his katana. He doesn't know where they are or why he doesn't have them; Leo's never left home without them before.]

You know there's a bunch of [Air quotes:] "juvenile delinquents" we can go after and get some money from right?

[semilethal]

Pocket change, my good Leonard. A bounty of one-hundred-billion yen is going to go fast; we need to jump on this opportunity. [daddy wants very expensive toys and he wants them yesterday]

[sticky paws II]

[roombamastermind]

That's a regular cat.

[The words come from a woman sitting one table away, not even looking at Donatello as she drinks her coffee. The woman has the attention of...a number of felines that Donatello hasn't scooped up yet, which she has seemingly begrudgingly resigned herself to.]

You're wasting your time.

[semilethal]

[whirls and looks at this lady who has acquired multiple suspects just by sitting there. this is not good. donnie needs the money.]

Oh yeah? How can you tell?

[roombamastermind]

[Croix takes a sip from her cup, before answering.]

I've been observing these felines for some time. And from what I've been able to glean, they typically have a visible spot on their bodies designating where they've sealed their second tail away.

...Also, that cat just barfed. I doubt a bakeneko would be so undignified.

1/2

[semilethal]

[looks]

...so it has.

[semilethal]

[all right then, FREES THE SUSPECT before returning back to this suspiciously helpful stranger, who is giving out tips for some reason. also to look over the rest of these cats, despite the fact that she probably has done that already, mostly bc donnie cannot trust anybody to do something that he himself can also do, correctly or not]

Not trying to catch any of them?

[roombamastermind]

None of these cats are bakeneko either.

[Another sip.]

Also, they're, ah...not allowing me to leave, just yet...

[semilethal]

Well, I can help with that. [RETRIEVES SHOP BROOM. he will just sweep them away, no probbles]

[roombamastermind]

...Somehow I doubt—

[Before Croix can finish, the cats are upon Donnie, scratching and shredding at him with their claws.]

[semilethal]

[SCREAMS and fends off his attackers! okay like, he's not a monster, he's not going to brutalize some cats but he will gladly wield that broom with surprising nimbleness considering what a spaz and a half he comes off as.

lucky for croix, she doesn't have to deal with that because the employees have had Enough of this freak and are currently escorting him out, the cats around croix growling and spitting at his retreating back as he's shoved unceremoniously at the door.

WELL. that happened.]

sticky paws!

[thefinalpower]

You!

[ Power stands up from her table so quickly that she knocks her chair over, and storms over to the... turtle... devil... whatever he is, she doesn't really care because he is harassing the cats!! This blatant abuse of the feline clientele absolutely will not stand!

She bares her horrible shark teeth at him and makes a grab for the entire box of interrogation suspects. ]

What are you doing?! Leave them be, fool!

[semilethal]

Whoa-! [JUST BARELY swipes them out of her reach, holding the box with his latest suspect above his head. don't you dare take his paycheck you devil woman] Forget it, lady! This little furball can go free once he proves his innocence in a court of myself!

[thefinalpower]

All cats are innocent by their very nature! You should be the one on trial for stuffing them in a box!

[ She's TAKING ANOTHER SWIPE AT THAT BOX! ]

[semilethal]

For starters, that is entirely subjec- Stop! [PUSHES AWAY WITH FOOT AND HOLDS BOX OUT PRECARIOUSLY!!!] This is my paycheck, leave me to my work! Go snuggle some other criminal in here!

[thefinalpower]

They aren't criminals, and don't deserve to be in Cat Jail! I'll be their lawyer!

[ She DUCKS UNDER THAT FOOT and pops up right in Donnie's face, lashing out with one hand to try knocking the box out of his hands! She's pretty confident that she can catch it! ]

[semilethal]

I do not b-FFF [because donnie's sole advantage here was having long gangly limbs, the box is easily snatched once she penetrates his (feeble) defenses and he takes half an elbow to the face during it too]

-ugh. [rubs...snout? face mouth area.] There's no way you passed the bar exam.

[thefinalpower]

[ Sorry bud, she might be missing most of her powers right now, but she's still pretty damn fast! Power snatches that box and holds it to her chest like she's protecting the holy grail. ]

Of course I did! At the top of my class! I was the valedictorian and class president and... [ what else sounds impressive and vaguely academic? ] Hall monitor!!