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

[shri]

Tap, tap, tap go her fingers. Her eyes fixed past him, seeing - something that is her own to know. A consideration of what he says and - more information is required. Battles are not just fought on numbers alone. They are fought on the intelligent use of information available.

So she considers, a full silence as her lips purse in contemplation before her next question comes. Then her eyes slide back to him with a exhale, venturing further. "And this Empire, do they look with the eyes of their men, or do they allow these... readings to do their thinking for them?"

[oldvor]

"Would that we were so lucky," Piotr mutters. "No, it's just another tool of war, no more than a spyglass or shield to us. Another advantage. The Cetagandans have no shortage of great minds -- don't make the mistake of underestimating them. An empire must have great strategic minds behind it to acquire eight planets under their imperial wing." He grimaces, an unpleasant expression with one lip curled. "They're just looking to add a ninth to their collection."

[shri]

"Yours will not be it." The words come up sharp, unbidden, something tight and fierce her in her chest. She has no place, she cannot undo her own losses by saving him and his own, or his Emperor. They are words she has spoken before, if not quite the same and she tilts her face away for a moment - pretending she is thought where she needs to get herself back onto control, trying to temper the heat of it - and fails. "All Empires fall, all of them, and this one will be no different." She has to believe it, she must, she has given everything to that cause. Here is no different, and she does not have an inch of give her - if she ever did, it is gone now.

"Whatever service I may provide, it is yours. Though if I may request something for myself in return?"

[oldvor]

Her words surprise him -- he's still unused to this idea of women as warriors, equaled as men, but she's as fierce as any man he commands. After a minute he smiles, razor-sharp and just as fierce as her words.

"No," he agrees, meeting her gaze. "No, it will not."

He doesn't doubt her word nor her dedication to service. She is a woman who seems to radiate honor herself. "What would that be, milady?"

[shri]

She nods, the once, gaze met, burning, burning, burning - and so happy to find it in his as much as her own. That smile that tells her she might - might be able to count on this man.

"Your stables were kind enough to... lend me a horse for the time being." Rather, she pulled rank, quite probably, whatever she had to get her hands on one. "But I would like one of my own. I do not care for prize animals and nor do I want to put you out of your resources, but something that I may reliably call mine and train the way I prefer and keep ready at my side at all times."

[oldvor]

Piotr's lips twist slightly, not in distaste, but mild regret. "An entirely reasonably request," he says with a tilt of his head, "but one I am not sure I can grant at this time. My apologies, milady, but we've hardly enough horses to go around -- less than fifty mounts for three times as many men. You are free to ride any horse here, save for those two -- " He points at two mares in adjacent stalls. "Those belong to my wife and the Princess, although the Countess may permit you to ride Paladin, and I doubt the other would be to your tastes. But I cannot spare a single horse for your exclusive use. I'm sure you understand, milady."

[shri]

She shakes her head - not irritated, simply expecting the response as it was and accepting of it. There had been a chance and no more. "Then do you know where I may find work to purchase one myself?" A sigh, faint, she knows his position to well, he'd be as tight for gold as he would be for men, with so many of them to feed. "A reputable seller would be favourable too."

Her fingers drum, absent impression of thought going on. "Because a war horse is what I require." Expectedly, granted her own disposition. "I prefer a gelding, rather than a mare or a stallion. Though a stallion might do if his temperament is right."

[oldvor]

Piotr huffs out a dry laugh. "Queen Lakshmi, all our horses that were not taken from my original estate have come from Dendarii livestock, and the hillfolk have shared so much with us they're strained to the breaking point. Money is hardly even a factor anymore, at least in this district. We've been living in these mountains for ten years. I think you overestimate our resources. And if you happen to find a reputable seller, he's probably a Cetagandan sympathizer..." He smiles grimly, a little viciously. "Well, I wouldn't recommend that purchase, anyway."

He rubs a hand over his mouth, looking somewhat strained. "What you require is a horse that can navigate mountain terrain, and well. Most of these horses have been foaled up here in the mountains, and this is nearly all they've known. Most of them are geldings; stallions rarely have the right temperament for our kind of war. I'm sorry, milady, but your request is on the unreasonable side, all things considered."

[shri]

There is information plenty in that as to his resource, and maybe that's useful to know too. She presses it no further, her head inclining, a stiff at the waist bow. "I understand. I shall wait for opportunity to afford one to me instead."

Stiff, sharp, if she finds a sympathizer that sells horses, they're going to be relieved of their stock if they cross her path. Good horseflesh shouldn't be wasted on ones such as their enemy.

"Their." She holds that thought for later - she isn't sure she should be resigning herself so easily or quickly. "Is there anything else you require of me?"