❪ test drive: #2 ❫

[natha]

OVERFLOW POST

THE PROLOGUE     Many people in stasis seem to be medically sound enough to wake up, brother. Are the preparations ready to go? Yes, I've long prepared myself for this. Watching them everyday has been truly rewarding. ... Right. Yeah. Okay, let's get them ready to wake up. We should keep their minds active to ease the transition into consciousness. A simple VR program should do the trick, I think. I will boot one immediately. There! All systems are green. Their consciousnesses are linked. However, their minds appear to be too active... They may be over-stimulated, brother. Huh? How can that be...? Can we pull them out safely? Not from my end, no. This may be too large for us to fix alone. Do you think...? Yes, I think so... It will have to be done organically. Can you send out a message to our refugees? Of course, brother. I will send one swiftly. We must be sure to fix this before Darma returns. There is urgency in the Orbiters' request. Refugees currently in El Nysa are asked via mass message to please return to Thesa Station virtual reality area immediately. Zasere tells them that the next set of Refugees are scheduled to wake, but there's been an issue. On Thesa, refugees will find that the people in stasis are still apparently trapped in slumber. Most of them are complete strangers, but there's a chance you may recognize a familiar face or two. Normally, these people would wake up from their pods without issue, but due to a malfunction caused by the unforeseen force during The Descent, they have to go through extra measures to make this possible. Those in slumber require extra stimulation, something to keep their minds active. What better than a simulation of an area of El Nysa? Keeping their minds active requires an extremely involved simulation. Those subjected to the VR (prospective characters) will find themselves completely immersed in their new environment, believing themselves to be native Olympians. To wake up from the simulation, characters must work together to accomplish a certain objective(s) in the icy tundra. Characters in-game will be aware that this is a simulation, but this is good practice for properly interacting with El Nysa natives, isn't it? An AC-length log thread on this TDM may be submitted for Two (2) Natha REP points HERE. Please read the OOC note at the bottom of this post for the terms. PROMPT: WINTER CAME     The wind in the icy wasteland is bitter and frigid. You are wrapped up in a winter coat, but even still, the cold bites at your skin and leaves you yearning for a warm fire. Perhaps you're a merchant from the city, here to make a delivery, or you're a royal guard, sent to patrol the area. Who are you? The sky is the limit. One thing is certain — you won't snap out of your new identity until you finish a task. 1. Due to the vast diversity of the creatures on El Nysa and the fact that new ones are constantly being discovered, an important objective is to carefully chronicle different species. Unfortunately, to research these new species, they happen to need more than just a visual. More than just fleeting glances in over a snowy hill. Researchers are constantly looking for ways to secure... You guessed it! Blood and stool samples. The supplies for the former will be given. Supplies are offered in a small box; one per person. In this box is a small dart that will automatically procure a small touch of blood, and easily shaken off so the creature will be able to securely escape. As for the latter— well, they'll give you a plastic bag if that counts. Look, sometimes to get a job done, you have to get your hands dirty. Specifically, they seek samples from a newly recorded rare beast known as a Klep. Kleps spend much of their time hidden in caves, so hitting them with the darts will be tricky. They are also nocturnal, but you may be able to lure them out of the cave with fish as bait. When struck with a dart, you must grab the dart and escape immediately, as they will charge you, and killing such an endangered species is illegal. As for stool samples, well... Once you find a pile, you will have plenty of sample to work with. 2. It's cold, to say the least. Too cold to continue forward. Whatever you were doing, you must stop and seek shelter. Looks like your goal is clear, at least. Get warm. Not finding a way to sustain heat, whether it be seeking shelter, building a fire, cuddling up, or all of the above, will likely end in serious consequences. 3. You are stuck in a dilemma. On one hand, you are set to work for Olympia. One the other, you're not completely sure what is really expected of you, or who the man who gave you this mission truly is. You and your partner are meant to protect precious trade cargo for them. You were told that these were essential supplies for one of the outer colonies. They assured you it was mostly food. In loading the cargo onto the supplied wagon with your partner, however, you noticed something inherently off about it. The weight and even the sounds of some of the contents inside definitely don't sound like food. Moreover, some boxes are more obviously more concealed— draped in black sheets and reinforced on all sides. You've also caught wind of rumors that you are potentially being utilized to supply advanced weapons and other contraband to Wyver terrorists in the colonies. But what do you do? Refuse to make the delivery, and people in the colony will surely starve. Try to remove the weapons and only deliver the food, and you will be killed on sight for being too suspicious. Make the delivery as-is, and not only will Olympians die at the hands of terrorists in the future, but you will betray your country. Decide quickly... 4. There are many dangers associated with traveling in such an isolated, harsh environment. You must help each other to survive. Perhaps someone has fallen on thin ice, and requires a rescue. Maybe someone is on the brink of starvation, and you must share what provisions you have. When you come to, you will awaken in Thesa Station. All will be explained to you by Zasere or Sael via telepathic link. Your world is no more. The Storm has consumed it. We offer proof in the Observation Deck if you desire it, but it won't be an easy thing to stomach. We offer you a new life, in our planet of El Nysa. We just ask for your help in maintaining the vitality of El Nysa. What can we offer you in exchange for your help? PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access this part of Thesa Station, but refugees are warned that it may not be for the faint of heart. Here, in large pods that nearly cover every square inch of the space, are all of the people the Orbiters have managed to rescue. Your loved ones, your greatest enemy, your next door neighbor— you might find them here. These people are in a state of deep cryosleep. Due to the damaging effects of The Storm, their bodies are not yet ready to be awoken. PROMPT: GET REKT     The Orbiters have noticed that some of the refugees really miss their video games. The technology in El Nysa could be much worse, but it definitely leaves much to be desired. Which is why, after expressing relief that everyone awoke safely, the Orbiters have decided to provide a little fun in the form of video game competitions. Anything from old-timey arcade machines to state-of-the-art computers, consoles, and VR headsets (though you may be a little tired of VR right now...) is available, and yes, they have your favorite games! Enjoy PAC-MAN, Starcraft 2, or perhaps Dance Dance Revolution! Teach a friend how to play. Get unnecessarily angry and competitive. Most importantly, have fun. Keep fourthwalling to a minimum, please. Recommended playing: QWOP PROMPT: OMAGE     Upon receiving your mobile phone, you will be asked to set a username. Voila, you can now access the network! You can choose to send a message to the entire network, specific usernames, or you can try out the Orbiters’ service, Omage, which connects you to a random user. They thought this might be a good way for their new guests to make friends with each other... Connecting to server... Looking for someone you can chat with... You’re now chatting with [username]... Say hi! PROMPT: WILDCARD     You are welcome to write any scenarios in Thesa Station! Characters have been granted temporary access to the Observation Room, and are encouraged to study it carefully. FINAL OOC NOTE     Please give toplevel priority to prospective characters! Current characters wishing to thread these scenarios with other current characters are encouraged to create separate logs. However, threads between 2 current characters are not eligible for Natha Orbiter REP. 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! A TDM thread of AC length may be submitted HERE for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS. Current players may submit their thread at any time, and prospective players may submit a thread after acceptance. Please note that threads must contain at least five (5) log comments from your character. A toplevel counts as a comment. Network threads are not eligible. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[swordfish]

That's a good point. I didn't notice you there. You just like sneakin' up on people or something?

( That's right, just deflect and you'll look less crazy. )

Sorta. I mean, I'm not really looking for anyone or anything, but there are some people I wouldn't mind finding. ( So definitely looking. ) What about you?

[razzledazzles]

Not at all. I was just looking through them myself.

[He's innocent! Okay, maybe he does like sneaking up on people a little... But he still raises one of his hands in mock surrender.] I'm looking for a few different types, but a beautiful boy with white hair and an unusually large right hand would probably stand out the most.

You must have gone through plenty yourself. Have you seen anyone like that?

[swordfish]

Unusually large right hand? ( he thinks back, trying to recall anyone like that. but honestly, he hasn't been paying attention to people's... hands... )

Can't say that I have. I've been looking for someone sorta like that too though... he's got a robot arm. Face you can't miss either, looks like... an angry dog I guess. ( probably not the best description, but it'll do. he kind of tries to scrunch up his face to make the sternest expression he can, but he knows he can't really do jet justice. )

Something like this?

[razzledazzles]

Trust me when I say it would be difficult to miss.

[A giant, white scaly claw for a hand usually is. Still, having looked so closely at hands, he can say for sure he didn't notice anyone with a... a what now? Robot? He's distracted by that ugly face this guy is making.]

I can't say that I have. [So please stop making that expression—] Sorry, but... robot?

[swordfish]

What kinda "large" are we talking about here?

( Spike'll just hold his hands about a foot apart... before moving to two feet... then three. Feel free to stop him whenever is appropriate. )

I guess robot's not the technical term. Cyborg? Cybernetic? ( Shrug. ) You'd need to ask him. Just think... metal arm. Weird looking metal arm.

[razzledazzles]

[Jae-Ha starts to show with his hands, motioning for a slightly larger than normal hand, and then slowly increasing it, before just splaying his fingers out on either side of himself.]

...It depends. [Yeah, that's the best answer.] A metal arm, though? I've never heard of anything like that before, so it should be just as easy to spot. I'll let you know if I see anyone like that.

Though, searching around in here like we are... It's easy to get lost.

[swordfish]

Don't worry about it. It's not really a big deal whether you find him or not... it's not like they're gonna wake up just because you do.

( At least, that's how he understands the situation? He didn't really pay too much attention to the orbiter's explanation. )

Guess I just don't have anything better to do than look. At least if I actually find him, I know what these guys are trying to sell us is true.

[razzledazzles]

That's how I feel...

[He wants to believe it, but at the same time, where are they? There are so many pods that it seems like it should be true, but...] If I could at least find someone who recognizes someone else in here, that would ease my mind a little.

[swordfish]

They sure aren't making it easy for us though. Couldn't they at least, I dunno, arrange them in alphabetical order or something?

( Not that Spike would really get it if they did. ) How's a guy supposed to get anything done looking through these? There's like a million of these dumb pods.

[razzledazzles]

Or by world, perhaps? Maybe they are organized that way...

[But he's pretty sure he saw a large green skinned man next to someone unusually tiny, so he has no idea what the system is around here. Jae-Ha sighs a little, running a hand through his bangs.]

In any case, it seems like you've been searching here for a long time. [He's the one who's been here for a long time.] Why don't we leave and take a break?

[swordfish]

Not a bad idea.

( He reaches into a suit pocket, pulling out a cigarette and sticking it in his mouth. He doesn't light it though - at this point the gesture is more of a reflex than anything else. )

I could use a bite to eat. Your treat? ( Not that they even charge them for food here. )

[razzledazzles]

[That earns a laugh and a sideways glance as Jae-Ha starts out of this place.]

Just this once. [He'll go along with it, as silly as it is.] In exchange, I hope you remember which way everything is. I'm already lost.

[swordfish]

Huh? ( The pod area is easy enough to leave, even though it's pretty large.

The rest though ) This place isn't that hard to navigate. There are signs everywhere and everything.

[razzledazzles]

Really...?

[Could it be, is he struggling like an old man... He can't have that! But as he walks out of the stasis area, he's left standing in a hall and staring at signs, clueless and frustrated.]

But don't all of the areas look exactly the same? And I can't see it from above, either...

[swordfish]

Are you for real?

( He's just staring at one said sign, with a clear arrow pointing to the Left... Accompanied by the words Mess Hall> )

I mean, you're right, they do. But you just gotta follow the arrows, y'know? ( He'll point just to draw attention to it - at the very least, it is kind of lost in a jumble of other signs ans well. )

[razzledazzles]

...Right, right. I must be tired from that simulation, that's all.

[It's not like he prefers to soar above cities and take in the layout from there, or anything. Umm... following the signs should be easy enough, but he also has trouble figuring out basic things like hi-tech doors, so that's the bulk of his problem here.

He'll follow the directions, though, starting off.]

Have you seen what they offer for food here? I haven't had a chance to, myself.

[swordfish]

Yeah, it's actually pretty good. The guy who runs the mess hall is kinda weird though... and definitely stingy.

( More specifically, he cut Spike off after he kept ordering steaks. Every hour. Without end. )

Says I need a more balanced diet... bleh. On that note, I'm going to need you to order something for me. Something that isn't green. Anything that isn't green.

[razzledazzles]

I get the feeling that you've been eating them out of house and home.

[Does he have a meat ban on him in the cafeteria? Is he going to see wanted posters with Spike's face on them for stealing steaks?]

[swordfish]

Isn't that only fair? They've put us out of house and home too.

( Alright, technically that's not true, but he's blaming them for all of this anyway. )

[razzledazzles]

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