❪ 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

[vorrutyer]

[ This fool of a woman - Another growl sounds from behind the rock, and a great furry bulk starts to emerge from behind it. His voice turns snappish, sharp. ]

Then forget getting behind me, just run. I'll hold it off.

[ How in the hell do you hold off a bear? A person, sure, he knows that, but a bear? Oh, he's so far beyond what he knows - ]

[solitaryrose]

Oh, for--

[She should run. He's right. But who is this man and why is he willing to die for her? What--who gave him the right, or is it misguided chivalry?

She drops her staff and reaches around for the tranquilizer guns they were given for the Kleps. It will take a number of shots, but it's a big target and she's taken down bigger (albeit with actual weapons). Anora grits her teeth and starts to empty every single dart she has into the bear.]

[vorrutyer]

[ His head snaps around when she starts firing; he hisses a curse. But there's no time to yell at her: the bear is rearing on its hind legs, snarling its anger at the stinging pricks of the darts. So By swings around, lifts his weapon, and fires - not darts, this one, but a bolt of crackling energy, enough to stun a human being. Not enough to stun a bear, unfortunately: it roars again, gets on all fours. Starts loping towards them.

By drops his attempts at shooting the thing. He tackles Anora instead, driving her into a snowbank, covering her as much as possible with his body. It is, however, an unnecessary gesture: no sooner does the bear start to charge than it starts to slow, the tranquilizers getting to it and starting to send it into unconsciousness. ]

[solitaryrose]

[There is an undignified oof as Byerly knocks the breath out of her. The snow cushions their fall, but it's a hard snow, the sort that feels like thin glass on top and is dense and wet underneath. She has the brief manic thought that they're going to die of hypothermia when the wetness sets in, but that's ridiculous because if anything is going to kill them, it will be the angry charging bear.

And miracle of miracles, the beats of the bear's feet in the snow start to slow down. It slows to a halt, shaking its head as if trying to clear it. A front elbow gives way and it flops to its side, a great whuff of breath being the last sound it makes. Anora remains frozen where she is, finally taking her cue from By and waiting for his word.]

[vorrutyer]

[ It's not the best choice to expect knowledge from him - By barely even interacts with dogs, let alone bears. As a result, he waits a bit longer than is perhaps warranted, until that bear is well and truly unconscious. And then he draws himself up off of her, and offers a hand to help her stand. ]

Let's get out of here quickly.

[solitaryrose]

Agreed. [Anora takes his hand and stands up shakily, barely managing to grab her dropped things before taking him by the arm and starting to slipslide down the steep path they just made.]

[vorrutyer]

[ He lunges forward when he sees one particularly dangerous-looking slip, grasping her firmly about the waist to steady her. ]

Quickly, but stay close by. Please. My lady.

[solitaryrose]

[Something is definitely up with this man. He's acting like her guard and the moment they're out of mortal peril she will demand to know why. But they are still in mortal peril, so. Anora takes deep breaths, allows him to help steady her, and starts back down the slope at a less frenzied pace.

It's when the camp is in sight that she forces him to stop, flushed and still shaking. Her voice goes low, but not as low as she thinks.]

Who are you?

[vorrutyer]

[ Someone who just blew his cover, that's who. He lets out a breath and, knowing full well she won't accept this answer: ]

Byerly Vorrutyer. A fellow traveler. That's all.

[solitaryrose]

[Anora gives him a long, searching look. Of course she doesn't believe him. But does a lie on its own make him untrustworthy after he saved her life? Clearly he was sent by someone who wants her alive, that much she believes. She also believes that he is lying to her for a reason--either his safety or hers may depend on it. Her next words are spoken slowly and evenly.]

Fellow Traveler Byerly Vorrutyer, you appear to have saved my life. I owe you my thanks. But do not lie to me. It is condescending and impractical. We might have worked together better had I known who you are.

[vorrutyer]

[ A hesitation, and then a wave of his hand as he concedes the point. Fine. He doesn't have to conceal his position from her - it's just helpful if he does. ]

Someone being paid relatively generously, but not nearly generously enough, to see to your welfare. Feel free to intercede when we get back home to request that my pay grade be bumped up for facing down a bear for you.

[solitaryrose]

[She softens at the admission, the line of her spine a more relaxed poise than a stiff one.]

I promise you that I will. But in order for me to do that, you must confirm who it was. Was it my husband?

[vorrutyer]

[ A small shrug. ]

My orders came from my superior - I cannot speak as to where they originated from. It doesn't seem impossible, though, does it?

[solitaryrose]

[Sensible lad. Admits when he doesn't know things. She likes him.]

Very well, Byerly. I will write a letter to your superior with my recommendation. You may deliver it to him yourself without revealing to me anything you're not permitted to reveal. Does that work for you?

[vorrutyer]

[ A little quirk of his eyebrow. He was mostly joking about her letter of recommendation - but he won't say no to it if she's really offering. ]

Mm. Do hold off on writing it just yet, though. Not all of the enemies we have to fear out here are as illiterate as that bear - don't want any incriminating documents.

[solitaryrose]

That is a very valid point. [There is a different level of protection that has to happen from Anora to Byerly. She gives him a nod.] Very well. At your discretion, then.

[Her eyelids flutter briefly. Something inside has switched gears.]

Thank you. [The words are softer. They come from the person now, rather than the title.]

[vorrutyer]

[ The corner of his mouth curls up very slightly. And he bows, the gesture low and graceful and only three-quarters mocking. ]

Your humble servant, my lady.

[ And then, switching back into his usual foppish persona: ]

Now that I'm outed, though, may I ask you to stop appointing yourself the group pathfinder? I despise tromping through snow. It makes me all flushed, and I look decidedly undashing when I grow flushed.