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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #7 ❫
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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 ![](https://i.imgur.com/G8jldQW.png") 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.
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. 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: 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! |
gifts from thesa
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...?
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
And since her companion doesn't appear to be taking charge, it would seem that the task is up to her. Very well.]
There is little to be done for this girl. She is injured but nothing life threatening. Presently she is more scared than anything else.
[She walks away from the girl and casually makes her way closer to the chaos.]
If you wish to help her then let us put an end to what is taking place here. She and the others are more likely to suffer and become injured if the simulation continues.
no subject
Sure. Sure. We can do that. That's easy. Stop a simulation.
[She pauses.]
It'd probably be easier to break whatever construct is causing it than stop a real fake war.
[...Nott, that is decidedly not the point of this at all????]
no subject
[It does leave Moira looking rather bemused though. Destroy such intriguing technology? Of course she would find someone who would suggest such a thing. What waste it would be too. For now she decides not to mention that fact since it does seem that her companion is listening to her and going along with what she suggests.
Though, some destruction could be useful now that the suggestion has been made. Moira studies her surroundings as she hears the words "Choose wisely" fill the air in a garbled tone.
How cliche.]
Breaking something could work though...
[Sometimes the best ideas come from seeing what others have thought of and improving it. At least that has been her experience.]
no subject
Nott blinks around her at the woman's words, trying to find something good to destroy. She doesn't really know what most of the more advanced stuff is around her, but she does see a large trebuchet that looks like it could have been made in Hupperdook. She points a clawed finger at it.]
We could break that!
[On cue, the trebuchet fires a boulder into a nearby building, and Nott shrieks, jumping out of her skin.]
Or maybe we could stay far away from it!
no subject
It looks large enough to cause quite a bit of contact. A bit messy and not her preferred style which usually involves far more finesse. With that said, it would prove to be very efficient in putting a pause in the conflict. Long enough to move innocents out of the way which should satisfy any bleeding hearts out there.
Moira turns to run towards it, arms behind her, body low toward the ground.
Yes, she does the anime/Naruto run. Don't judge.]It will be less deadly when we are closer to it. Move quickly and I will keep you healed.
no subject
[Still, the logic is sound, and Nott scampers as fast as her little legs can carry her towards the thing. All the while, she's thinking this is a terrible idea.
Thankfully, it's antiquated enough as a weapon that it needs a lot of doing to be rearmed, though the familiar-seeming gnomes manning it are numerous enough to be quick about it, all things considered.]
no subject
A simplistic piece of technology but one that she knows will serve their purposes.]
How adept are you at climbing?
no subject
[Nott looks up (and up...) at the trebuchet, her small goblin form diminished further now that they're right next to it.
Following a weird hunch, Nott only tests the hand holds of the structure briefly before simply... starting to dart up the side of it, as fast as a much larger spider. She hardly needs her fingers or her claws, instead seeming to cling to the surface almost magically.
Probably because it is magical, because she is using Spider Climb, which is a spell she didn't know she knew until just now. Apparently.]
Uh... Scratch that, very decent!
no subject
If you can jam the mechanism up there then I do believe I have an idea for how to take care of it below.
[And she looks over to those that are attempting to run the thing, smiling as she summons an orb to each hand. One purple, one gold. It's the purple one she throws, the thing bouncing off things as lines of purple extend from it to attach to her enemies, causing them to gasp in surprise before trying to run from it.
That's more than enough time for her to get closer to one, her body starting to glow purple as she does... She definitely has an idea for what she can do with this itch inside her that suggests a power she's not had before. And it certainly is buying Nott some time to jam the weapon above while Moira prepares to try this ability out.]