sure, jan

[maskormods]

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping into MASK OR MENACE? Want to dip your toes into the setting and get a feel of whether your character will fit into it? Or maybe you're just cruising and want to play around? Then you've come to the right place!

Pick any of the following scenarios below or feel free to make up your own, but don't be afraid to throw yourself at anyone's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory is hazy and you might feel increasingly frustrated or anxious, or maybe you're excited as soldiers march past, barely glimpsing you. One second you're somewhere underground, the next you're enveloped in blue light, and suddenly you find yourself directly under Flordia sun's bright and burning glare. A female soldier steps toward you with a wide smile on her face and directs you to a car, ready to debrief you. You realize you are not the only one, surrounded by equally confused or eager faces... and you're all sporting a digital tattoo on your wrist.

02. Welcome to Cape Canaveral, where the smell of the ocean is in the air and locals are more than pleased to see new imPorts roaming their streets. They wave, they cheer, they ask for pictures as politely as they can. The more inhuman you look, or if you're wearing a costume, the more likely locals are to approach. Hey, enjoy the moment! The popular malt shop is offering you a free drink if you need it.

03. The technology in this world is certainly something. The cars are clearly modeled after popular 50s cars, but they hover several feet above the ground as they drive down the street. There are digital jukeboxes in restaurants, motorcycles also hover through traffic, advertisements can be seen on a digital projector on the taller buildings. Even kids on skateboards appear to drift a safe ten feet off the ground while playing!

04. Wherever you are, you can hear the loud revving of an engine, distance at first before you finally see it: a hovercar bursting around the corner, going beyond the maximum speed limit and just barely making its sharp turn. It doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon, not with two police cars trailing it... and uh oh. Those skateboarding kids don't have much time to get out of the way as the car comes speeding down the road. You've been brought here for a reason Hero — so you better act fast.

Comments

[belegurth]

This was no simple old man.

Who he was evaded Melkor, much to his frustration. For a moment he watched him wandering down the street. He appeared to be just another old man, one of the race of Men but Melkor sensed something else.

Something familiar.

It frustrates him that he can't just tell who this old man is. Something about him makes Melkor's fish clench with anger before something finally snapped inside of him.

"I demand you tell me who you are, old man."

[songcrafter]

This was not the shadow Melkor had become. This was a much younger, if still anger-filled Valar. Even after seeing what his first child had become and done, Eru was pleased to see him.

The demand was amusing, and he raised a brow to give a thoughtful look. He could claim ignorance. He could say he'd never seen Melkor before. It would even be something of a truth - if only technically so. But no, that would have come from the part of him where Melkor had come from.

"Has it been so long since last we met, my son?"

[belegurth]

It has been such a long time since Melkor has known Eru's presence.

His father had let him be imprisoned and let the others chain him in the halls of Mandos. Melkor had been punished for his vision, his Music countered time and time again. He had been made to be great, greater than the others but never given the allowance to truly shine.

The question only serves to enrage him, the hints of fire flaring out as a corrupt halo around the Valar.

"Through the ages of my imprisonment and silence from you, yes, such a long time has passed."

[songcrafter]

He'd stood back and watched. Allowed his children imprison the brightest and greatest of them for the harsh chord of discord he'd made and spread. For burning and destroying the life he'd made for them all.

Eru ignored the flames of fury and stepped forward, closer to his first child with a small frown.

"Calm, Melkor." Even if one of the Eldar had renamed him, Melkor would forever be Melkor to him. "Cease your discord and return to harmony." He knew it would not happen, but for once he chose to ask. Ask, rather than demand.

And it was asking, from Eru.

"You of all should know I only spoke beyond Arda to those who sought out my counsel." Permission. Advice. Only Manwe.

[belegurth]

The fire only flared, Melkor wasn't concerned about the stares they were attracting. All he could feel was the fury burning through his body- he had sought the same thing Eru had but he was the one who was shunned.

"You would have me return to your music," Melkor pointed out, attempting to keep his tone controlled and calm. But the anger still shimmered beneath the surface, festering as it had throughout the ages.

"I have no doubt as to the council you gave my brothers and sisters but denied to me. I was held for three ages, only given pardon upon empty promises. Melkor had no regrets about breaking such promises as he considered that Manwe and the others had had no right to pass judgment upon him.

[songcrafter]

Stares didn't matter to him. What mattered was that Melkor seemed to be listening, and was working on keeping a level and controlled tone. It was a start, though Eru was not all Manwe. He knew better than to believe everything about this child at face value.

"My music had a place for yours, if you had merely kept the volume down. It was simply too loud. I had hoped to show you that, but you did not listen."

He'd even given three chances.

He tilted his head, but did not pretend to not know what was meant. He understood the bitterness that licked Melkor's heels.

"You set fire to life. Have you done the same here?"

[belegurth]

"Yet you countered my Music, you would have drowned it out." Melkor's anger truly flared then as he leaned in closer towards his father. He was not content to simply be a part of Eru's theme, he wanted his own grand one to encompass the world.

"I will do what I will in this world, you will not be able to counter me this time," Melkor said instead, refusing to directly answer the question. This world did not burn but Melkor saw grand potential before him.

Eru did not need to know the particulars of his plan but he had no intention of changing course now.

[songcrafter]

"I countered it when it grew defeaning, not before." A reminder, sharper than the calm tone from before. Eru held his ground, seemingly completely at ease other than a frown that creased the aged Mannish face.

"I will continue to do so, even here. If you force my hand." Melkor would have his chance to shine, again. Eru would wait, and watch, and work behind doors or slam them open when the case demanded it.

[belegurth]

"What can you do here?" Melkor challenged and before Eru could pull away, he reached out to grab his father's wrist to grip it tightly so he could see the tattoo.

"You've been brought here as I have been," he said with a grin before releasing him just as suddenly. "That means this is not your world, you will not be able to interfere or meddle with the Music here as you once have."

[songcrafter]

Why pull away when he was fairly certain Melkor wouldn't do permanent harm to him? Now? The tight grip was unpleasant though, but Eru did not attempt to pull free. Simply let the glow proclaim him 'hero', and watched that grin appear.

And his eldest was delighted, and so very brilliantly intelligent it made him wish he'd listen and do as he was asked. "Nor can you," he responded. Almost gently.

[belegurth]

"We are equals here. I will not be forced to tolerate your will any longer," Melkor snarled in a low tone. Now Eru could not override his music or simply incorporate it in his own grand vision.

"You are no hero, you sought the same as I did. To manipulate the world as you see fit," he said, not bothering to hide his own tattoo which bore the mark of one who was unsettled. Melkor would make no vow to the government, especially not when they bore the symbol of the eagles.