elnyan | ❪ test drive #7 ❫

Entry tags:

test drive

❪ test drive #7 ❫

YOUR STORY BEGINS

The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that.

You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as Darma - once, you might have been able to speak to her, but now you are only met with silence.

When you awake, you will find yourself in Thesa Station. Your body is still cold, you're hungry, and the halls seem frighteningly bare somehow.

EMPTY HALLS

Despite the absence of Darma and the rest of the Natha Orbiters, the station is still managing to sustain itself. Those that dig within the station’s log will find that it’s currently in some sort of Energy Saving Mode. While Thesa isn’t at risk of failing any time soon, people will notice that the ship will appear more dim and desolate. Malfunctions will be common, and while none seem to be life-threatening (yet), they are notably inconvenient. Fortunately, it seems the Orbiters were prepared for the worst, and in a potential response to these concerning turn of events, they've prepared some help.

Hi! My name is Yppilc, I will be your assistant on the station! It looks like you just woke up. Did you need help?

The virtual assistant takes a wide variety of shapes, from adorable animals to metal paper clips with googly eyes. Regardless of what form they take, their mission is clear: to help in any way they can. It’s unfortunate, however, that they just haven’t been calibrated properly. Hence, they will appear at the strangest times— in the middle of dinner or an important conversation— sometimes they won’t even offer anything useful. Apparently they were designed after a program that existed once, but who really knows....

However, while they may seem like nothing but trouble at first, there are many occasions in which they can actually help. They are equipped with a whole wealth of information on how to keep the station operational. They can offer tutorials and step-by-step instructions on how to fix various aspects of the station and beyond. Their knowledge is extensive, and if they believe the refugee they're assigned to needs a different kind of help (a lesson in smiling or how to have adequate small talk being some of the many topics they're equipped to teach), well ... they're not against supplying it. Expect some invasive teaching.

The virtual assistants are also all synced together. Meaning, if there’s a big enough problem, they can ping one another and assign refugees to help with certain parts of the ship. The only problem is that prioritizing may not be their strong suit. What seems like a simple issue could be exacerbated into a huge ordeal. What someone thinks is a fire in the main hatch could actually be a plumbing issue near the Mess Hall. They also seem to assign people arbitrarily. One can only hope all the refugees get along.

SEND HELP

While no specific parts of the station are necessarily offline, a lot of the tasks the station would normally complete on its own will need to be handled manually. Fortunately, the main functions of the station are more than accounted for, however everything else will be up to the refugees. As there is no telling when the Natha Orbiters will return, perhaps it’d be wise to take this opportunity to learn to be a little more self-sufficient on Thesa Station.

1. There are some areas the Station can’t automatically clean without exiting its current emergency protocols. Each of these areas will be marked off on the map provided by Thesa's very own virtual assistant, Yppilc. According to Yppilc, one of the key places that would benefit from a good wash down is the airlock. As a fair amount of foreign matter travels through these doors, special suits will be provided for those cleaning the area. The suits will have a built-in communications system and will also include its own oxygen tank. A helpful feature to have, just in case someone may be swept out into space. Which happens more often than one would think! Cleaning too close to the controls can trigger the doors to open… they’re sensitive. The oxygen tank isn’t equipped to last very long, so you can only help comes soon.

On the bright side, in the event that someone is stuck outside and running low on oxygen, rescuers can easily share some of their air with them. The suits are built to be able to connect to one another like an adhesive. To activate this oxygen-sharing mode, refugees will be required to follow several steps. Hand on one another's shoulders, eye contact, helmets pressed against each other— each suit follows a slightly different set of steps, but they’re probably not any less awkward. While it looks a little absurd and while maneuverability might be a bit of an issue, at least everyone is breathing!

2. Space is unpredictable at times. It isn’t uncommon for the station or its pods to occasionally brush against meteors or asteroids. While Thesa is well-fortified, it doesn’t mean that these asteroids don’t need closer inspection. A lot of rare materials can be mined from them, and while this domain would normally be handled by the Natha, it’s now the job of the refugees to procure pieces of it. You never know when this alternate source of energy and fuel could come in handy, after all! Refugees will be provided two-person pods to go and retrieve these materials. While they can physically descend from the pod once they get out there, they can also control the pods to drill and pick up these materials. Though, the controls are a bit difficult.

3. Without the Orbiters to operate the the kitchen, the Mess Hall will also experience a steep shortage of food. All the ingredients used in the cafeteria were actually conjured up by the Natha, hence without them— people will discover that there isn’t enough food for the new refugees. Old refugees will be pinged prior to their arrival at Thesa Station and the message is clear: bring and cook food for the new refugees. With the errors on the ship, it seems that many of them woke up hungry. For those that lack confidence in their culinary skills&Mdash; they say food tastes better when you’re starving.

GIFTS FROM THESA

The Natha have bequeathed their will unto the refugees, the burden of watching over their dear planet not given without a token of trust. Everyone, those newly awakened and those already settled, will receive periodic urging from Yppilc to visit the VR facilities. These messages will grow more frequent, more frantic, the longer they go ignored - for the sake of sleep, it’s best to indulge the request.

Load into the simulation, and the scene is mired by the confusion of battle. You and another stand on a low hanging precipice, overlooking a failing front line. The location and conditions of the fight vary, drawn from the memories and fears of the participants themselves. Olympia and Wyver, locked in a caustic war - and your new home is succumbing. Or your homeland, entrenched in conflict from the past, or from a dreaded future. While the scene laid out before you is chaotic, one thing stands clear; your allies are fighting a losing battle. Comrades fall, innocents flee, and the wounded cry out for help. The program has determined what could best spur you and your comrade to intervene, though the more stubborn refugees may need additional goading from their partners.

Your next action determines more than the outcome of the fight before you. Choose wisely - this message is conveyed mentally in a garbled voice that sounds familiar and ethereal all at once. Jump into action and fight. Save an ally - perhaps even your partner in this simulation - from certain death. Or help those who cannot help themselves. Act, and you will find yourself imbued with a new power. Use it, and the scene will soon come to a close. Despite returning to the reality of Thesa Station, you’ll find this newfound power still within your grasp. A gift from Darma, to aid in the battles to come.

OOC Note: Feel free to give your character any one power that would be classified as a ‘major spell’ on the ACP rewards table. These powers can fall under any category (Unaffiliated, Natha, Olympia, or Wyver), and must be reported by existing characters and new applicants here under the most appropriate header no later than September 8th 11:59PM EST. Please include a brief description of the power you’ve chosen. You will receive a response within 48 hours if there are any modifications required.

SOCIAL-LINKED(in)

By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile:

●●●●○ THESA

ROMAN
@romannoodles (∞), Thesa

CONTACT

IGNORE

I WAS A: Butler! I still am, and I'm happy to serve all of the new arrivals!

I'M SKILLED IN: Cooking, cleaning, anything that involves making your life better!

I'M LOOKING FOR: Consistency!

ALSO, I'M: Not entirely certain if the "auto" profile function is to your liking. Feel free to edit if it is not to taste!

So, have you decided on making your own profile? Perhaps you used the "auto" function on accident? Regardless, once your profile is out there, it's out there. And like the Omage app, it will match you with someone. NOTE: Please use the form below to fill out a profile! Whether it's auto-generated or filled by the character is up to you!

<raw-code><center><div style="width: 400px; height: 320px; background: #f4f4f4; border: 1px #464646 solid; box-shadow: 2px 2px 3px #b7b7b7;"><div style="width: 400px; height: 20px; background-color:#464646; color: #ffffff;"><table style="width: 400px; height: 15px;" border="0"> <tr><td style="height: 15px; width: 120px; vertical-align: top;">●●●●○ <span style="font-size: 10px;">THESA</span> </td> <td style="height: 15px; width: 116px; text-align: right; vertical-align: top; padding-top: 3px;"> <img src=http://i.imgur.com/I4ONDJU.png> <img src="http://i.imgur.com/Kp8NvdY.png"></td></tr> </table></div> <center><div style="width: 100px; padding: 25px; float: left;"> <img src="ICONURLHERE" style="border-radius: 100px;"></div> <div style="width: 200px; padding: 25px; float: right; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-size: 11px; font-family: arial;"> <span style="color: #979797; font-size: 20px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px;">NAME HERE</span><br/> <font face=courier>@USERNAME HERE (AGE HERE), ORIGINALWORLD</font><br/><br/> <center><div style="border: solid 1px #464646; float: left; color: #464646; width: 70px; height: 15px; border-radius: 5px; text-align: center; padding: 5px;"><a href=?mode=reply style="text-decoration:none; color:#464646;">CONTACT</a></div> <div style="border: solid 1px #464646; color: #464646; width: 70px; height: 15px; border-radius: 5px; text-align: center; padding: 5px; float: right;"><a href=a href=?mode=reply style="text-decoration:none; color:#464646;">IGNORE</a></div> </div></div> <div style="clear: both;"></div></center> <div style="width: 350px; height: 100px; overflow: auto; padding: 10px; text-align: left; font-family: arial;"> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #333333;"><font face=courier><b>I WAS A:</b></font> ANSWERHERE <br/><br/> <font face=courier><b>I'M SKILLED IN:</b></font> ANSWERHERE <br/> <br/> <font face=courier><b>I'M LOOKING FOR:</b></font> ANSWERHERE <br/><br/> <font face=courier><b>ALSO, I'M:</b></font> ANSWERHERE </div></div></raw-code></center>

PROBLEMS IN STASIS

1. The ship’s malfunctions have reached the stasis chamber, a long feared outcome finally dawning on sleeping friends and families. Yppilc will be quick to notify all refugees aboard that the pods will need close monitoring. Whether you’re visiting to keep an eye on things, or simply there to see the face of someone dear, be careful. Bumping a control panel, or drawing a hand along the glass could trigger an emergency ejection. Lights blink and a mechanism hisses, and then the pod is gone. With the pod thrust into space, you’ll be left with nothing but a small screen displaying the chamber’s position. There are ways to retrieve it— such as climbing into a suit from the airlock or following Yppilc’s instructions. Regardless of approach, it’s imperative that you stay calm. One error, and you could eject another pod or cut off the view screen entirely.

2. The newly awakened won’t find a moment of respite. The errors that pervade over the rest of the station have altered the contingencies for resuscitation in a majority of the pods. Some may awaken with gaps in their memory, or an old injury yet unhealed. Some may be afflicted with new ailments, such as loss of a sense or severe nausea. Anything could happen, with the computer systems processing so inconsistently. Interfacing with Thesa in any way, from entering the VR simulator to accessing the medical facilities, can cause the same range of side effects, so even established refugees should take caution.

FINAL OOC NOTES

As always, feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!

These threads may be carried over as game canon if players choose. Players are encouraged to submit TDM threads as application samples, but they are not required. Please direct any OOC questions to the questions thread below.

Players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is September 16 11:59 PM EST.

For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on September 2 12:01 AM EST and end on September 4 11:59 PM EST. Thank you!

QUICK NAV

premise ● 
faq ●
lore ●
map ●
npcs

taken ●
atp/emp ●
application ●
rep/acp  

calendar ●
hiatus/drops ●
modbox

[ FULL NAVIGATION ]

elnysa

nysalogs

nysaisles

nysaooc

elnyan

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mess Hall

[It is not often that she finds herself so hungry upon waking up. Yet here she is and she certainly believes she will do better once she has had something of a meal. Hence why she's gone to the mess hall where it seems that other refugees are cooking the food. Well, this could be good or bad but she's willing to withhold judgement until she sees how things taste. It is entirely possible that someone here knows what they're doing. After all, she would prefer not to have to cook the food herself but she supposes she will if she has to.

Hands behind her back, she almost looks like a health inspector with how she studies the food that appears to be available, curling her lip at some of it in disgust. So far she can say she's less than impressed with the conditions of her new location. And she's not afraid to let everyone see that fact.]

Gifts from Thesa

[There are many who would watch chaos involving their former home (in her case...Earth) and likely feel something that would inspire action. Instead, Moira looks on as she watches everything unfolding, a sort of interest to her expression if one were to try to read it. However, it also seems clear that she doesn't appear to be making a move to step forward, rather content to be just a witness to this.

Good thing she's not in this alone, right?]

What a remarkably accurate simulation.

[She steps forward to lean in and study a crumbling wall.]

Right down to the stimulating the senses into believing there is real conflict around us.

[Yeah. She may be one of those that requires extra motivation to actually do something here.]

Social-Linked(in)

[Well she has no problem indulging in this app. If nothing else it could be beneficial to find those like herself, cull out those that are more desirable for interaction as it were. Besides, even she enjoys a good time.]

●●●●○ THESA

Moira O'Deorain
@pureclass (N/A), Earth

CONTACT

IGNORE

I WAS A: Minister of Genetics; Prominent Geneticist

I'M SKILLED IN: Genetics (biological potential as well as medicinal and battle applications)

I'M LOOKING FOR: Fellow scientists, potential willing subjects, art appreciators

ALSO, I'M: Curious to know how one might obtain a canine companion and have little patience for idiocy

Wildcard

[Got other ideas? Hit me with them!]

[The simulation draws on the memories of both of its occupants, and Nott wouldn't be one to participate in one of these things with a stranger, but she hadn't realized someone else would be involved when she entered. As she steps into the scene, the conflict unfolding starts to take on the characteristics of Exandria as well -- people other than humans, such as dwarves and halflings and tieflings, start to appear among the chaos, and archaic and magical means of battle begin to appear among Moira's influence of the futuristic and technological.

It's a bit of an odd experience, though Nott is a bit too nervous to even be around here to appreciate it. Really, she's feeling she probably shouldn't have come, and is considering trying to leave, when she starts to recognize some of the halflings among the number from her past. She sees a familiar man bleeding, a child crying for her parents in a way that rings a painful bell, and she pulls her mask over her face to hide her grimace.

She's glad for it, too, because it's now that she notices why the anachronisms exist among the wreckage -- there's a much taller human woman inspecting some rubble nearby. Nott just has to remind herself that this has nothing to do with her, but it's harder to convince herself it's not real.]

I've seen illusions, yeah, but nothing this involved.

[The child's cry pierces through the chaos and Nott grabs her ears, pulling them down against her hood.]

Are we sure it's not real...?

It would be a waste of valuable resources to have this be reality. Far better to make use of virtual reality to achieve the emotional response they require.

[Which is apparently not working on the scientist. Then again, she has no emotional attachment to her world and can find herself able to work anywhere at all. Aside from that, people live and people die. It is a simple fact of life. Becoming emotional over situations like this offers little in the way of aid to others anyway based in her experience.

Moira looks at her fingers, flicking the "dust" away. Her attention then turns towards a crying child, calmly walking forward to kneel before the little girl and catching her chin. Looking into her eyes, she studies her briefly before assessing other injuries as well.]

An accurate representation of injuries and trauma as well. Likely we are expected to do something here.

[Fascinating really. The kind of technology used here to achieve these results would have to be remarkably advanced. She can't help but to be intrigued, wanting to know what else there is here that she could make use of.]

[Nott flinches when the woman coolly approaches the child, almost like she wants to go over and protect the little girl, find her parents. Almost. She doesn't, grimacing all the while as the woman inspects her.

But she really sounds like she knows what she's talking about. Even if she's making no moves to actually do anything about the... "virtual reality" around them.

Nott squints uneasily at her, then at the child, then at the woman again.]

Then... we should do something? We should do something. We should... probably do something. At least about this... weird fake little girl.

[But Nott waffles, taking stuttering steps towards the girl, before looking back at the woman questioningly. Nott is very much not a leader, preferring to stay back in the shadows, even with her not knowing this extremely levelheaded lady.]

Moira O'Deorain | Overwatch

gifts from thesa

no subject

no subject

text | un: ROCKET

no subject

no subject

text, un: rtozier

no subject

Mess Hall

no subject

Gifts From Thesa

no subject

social-linked; @avreya

no subject

A GIFT

no subject

gifts from thesa

no subject

un: juno

no subject

Gifts...?

no subject