test drive meme

[barrayarmods]

Playlists by tsarcasm:
Barrayar ⚔ Cetaganda ⚔ The Invasion

Have you read the FAQ?

The Village ⚔ The Barrayaran Camp ⚔ The Cetagandan Base ⚔ The Fight

You've been on Barrayar for a while now, and you're finally starting to adjust. Or maybe you're not. Maybe this is all still too much for you – the attacks, the constant raids, living in the middle of a war zone by no choice of your own. But if you want to live long enough to make it back home one day, you might as well do what you can to help the war effort. Besides, where else are you going to go?

The fierce Barrayaran winter rages even to the southern end of the continent, and it's been none too kind to Vorkosigan's District. Temperatures at sea level are well below freezing, and up in the mountains, it's even colder. Several inches of snow already blanket most of the mountains all the way down to the Cetagandan base, and the storm that's just started up is only bringing more down. Visibility is low in the flurries, wind swirling snow everywhere, and God help you if you get lost on your own out in the storm. Nights are cold, these days.

A recent attack on the Cetagandan base has left half their facilities damaged and in disarray. Raid parties snuck in by night, planting bombs in previously scouted locations for maximum effect. Damage to the base's water treatment plant and organic grow labs have considerably impacted the Cetagandans' food and water supply, and in the chaos caused by the explosions, the Barrayaran guerrillas raided their medbay and made off with a considerable bounty of medical supplies. One man's bane is another man's boon, and while the Cetagandans have reserve supplies to sustain them for now, some of the damage is extensive and the repairs will take time. But in the meantime, the Barrayarans have scored a precious victory as well as equally precious resources.



the village
The Riverfall villagers are used to the harsh winters of the Dendarii mountains, and though they don't have much themselves, they are happy to offer what they can in terms of cold-weather clothing and extra blankets to those allied with the guerrillas. Despite the cold, the hill children are going wild in the snow, and they may try to lure you into their play by sneakily pelting you with snowballs.

Cetagandan allies, however, may not be met so warmly, and at the first sight of ghem soldiers, any children out playing in the snow will be immediately ushered into their homes. Unaccompanied outsiders from the Cetagandan base might have an easier time talking to the hillfolk, but any attempt at digging information about the guerrillas out of them will get you stonewalled fast. A sneaky hill child or two may steal away from their home to approach one of the "bad guy" outsiders to sate their curiosity.



the barrayaran camp
Morale is higher than it has been in a while after their recent victory, and the guerrillas are in high spirits. And do they ever love their spirits – as night falls, most of the Barrayarans gathered around the campfires are enjoying the deceptively named, dangerously alcoholic moonshine they call maple mead. It might start out sweet, but it burns all the way down, and a few glasses of that stuff will tank even the heaviest Barrayaran soldier.

But the storm rages on despite their celebration, and preparations must be made. Clearing as much snow off the tents as possible will help ensure that no tents collapse overnight, the horses need to be tended to, and the officers are always running training drills. Food is in real supply now, but the guerrillas need help foraging and hunting nonetheless. And when night falls, you'll have to find a way to keep yourself warm – it's a good thing there are a cozy ten of you to a tent.



the cetagandan base
The Cetagandans outnumber their guerrilla enemies almost seventy-to-one, so their base has not been completely devastated, but it hardly looks to be the work of a few raiding parties. Nothing is beyond repair, but the water treatment plant has been taken offline, which means that all water is now locally sourced and must be treated by hand with purification tablets. No one in the base will starve, but fresh food is mostly unavailable until they get the grow labs back online, which means that meals are mostly comprised of ration bars and MREs. Morale isn't exactly at an all-time low, but none of the ghem officers seem to be in a good mood.

They won't hesitate to put you to work, either. They need all the engineers and laborers they can get for the grow labs and the treatment plant, and the medbay's inventory needs to be thoroughly audited before they can send a request for more supplies. But if you need a break, it's not too hard to slip away for a little quiet downtime. Some of the lower-ranked ghem ladies might let you participate in some more artistic activities, or maybe some of the enlisted soldiers who are a little more used to you by now might invite you into one of their Cetagandan games of strategy. Or, since the treatment plant only affected potable water, you could appreciate your comfortable surroundings and take a nice hot soak in the bathroom while everyone else is working.


the fight
PVP
You're in the midst of a skirmish with the other side -- maybe you signed up for the battle, maybe you just got caught up in the fight -- but at least it's easy to tell who's on what side. Only one side is wielding swords, and the other guns.

But then you come across someone who doesn't look like they're either -- not one of the rugged Barrayarans or the face-painted Cetagandans, but an outsider, an exotic like you. They must be. So do you fight?

RECON
Maybe you're not on the front lines, but there's plenty more to winning the war than just fighting. You're partnered with another outsider on recon; the ground is cold, and you try not to let your shoes crunch too loudly on snow as you scout, scanning for patrols or supply lines.

Or maybe you're with the Cetagandans, hiking it thorugh the mountains with one of your fellow exotics in an attempt to locate the enemy camp. Except it's damned cold, and there's hidden ice everywhere, and everything is starting to really look the same.

--

Feel free to write prompts for your character on either side -- you don't have to choose just one for the TDM! Just label it clearly so folks know. GO WILD, MY FRIENDS

Comments

[pigsfeet]

It makes Daryl immediately suspicious-- that's the kind of talk that gets you into traps, useless tests of strength with a knife held against Beth's throat. But he's got a card up his sleeve, and it's one Count Bastard will never guess. Beth is stronger than she seems.

So he takes the predictable answer, playing dumb for now, like he doesn't know the game Piotr might be playing. He doesn't seem like the manipulator type, but they never do until it's too late and they're eating your legs.

"I'll fight your damn war. Catch you food. Sneak around. Nothing I ain't done before." For her. But he doesn't say it.

[oldvor]

He doesn't have to; Piotr hears it plenty loud. Much as Piotr needs the extra bodies and wouldn't turn his nose up at loyalty from outsiders, he's not a sentimentalist. Loyalty is hard-earned, not granted or won as a favor. This man has his own loyalties; Piotr can find no fault in his honor for that. He turns his open hand palm-up.

"Good. There aren't many men of your skill among you." You outsiders he leaves unspoken. Daryl knows what he means, and it would drive home a point Piotr is not, at current, trying to make. He doesn't smile, but the way his eyes narrow isn't in suspicion, but some kind of agreement. "Provided we all live to see the end of this war before the Cetagandans decide to blow a bloody hole in this planet, I'll make a place in my district. For you and your girl."

[pigsfeet]

Daryl cringes, just slightly, but it's there. He's trying, in his own way, not to give too much away; the Count already knows too much. But he's not made of stone, never has been. He's quiet, sure, but emotions always rise quick to the surface. Stupid habit.

"Ain't my girl," Daryl says. But he puts his hand out for a shake all the same. This man may be special on his planet, but as far as Daryl's concerned, he's got to seal deals just like everybody else. They'll shake on it. "Ain't nobody's but her own."

[oldvor]

Piotr's eyebrow raises slightly at that cringe, in faint amusement or sympathy or something else, but there's respect in it. He glances down at Daryl's extended hand. Barrayarans find the spoken oaths most binding, but if this is what binds this man's honor, then Piotr won't refuse it. He gives Daryl's hand a firm shake, and he finally smiles, just slightly.

"I know a few like that." He draws back up, back straight, and nods at Daryl. "I don't need you on the front lines, not so long as you can bring fresh game to the camp."

[pigsfeet]

"Done," Daryl says, and it's not a boast. He'll make good on this, so Beth doesn't have to shoot some living person over a stupid landgrab. That's the boat they've landed in, and it's a hell of a lot better than home.

"Any requests?" Types like these always want something special for their table. There's not exactly big game out in the woods, but who knows. Maybe on this planet, tree rats are a damn gourmet.

[oldvor]

Piotr huffs out a dry laugh. He clasps his hands behind his back and leans back a little, about as relaxed his posture gets. "Just make it fresh."

[pigsfeet]

Great...? Daryl isn't sure if this laughing thing is a good sign, so he's just gonna back away slowly now. You're a weird dude, Piotr. (Because, obviously, it's not Daryl being overly suspicious of people in power, duh.)

He gives Piotr a little mock salute, and if Piotr doesn't stop him, slips out the tent door.