❪ 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

omg it's beautiful

[veneries]

[One moment he's glaring her full in the face, the next he's... on his back in the snow.

He can't even be mad right now. (Give him a moment). He sits up, thankfully his bow seems unharmed.] What the fuck what that?

deserved tbh

[cykedelic]

[ She breathes in and out once she's released him and he goes flying - though at least this time she doesn't drop him onto someone else. Small improvements. ]

What do you mean "What was that?!" [ Well, she's saying the PG version. ]

You grabbed me first!

[veneries]

[He gets to his feet, his anger rising steadily. This is more bother than it's worth.

But he doesn't approach her. Instead his fingers stray to the quiver at his side.]

Because you're being a fucking cunt is why. We're here to get samples in whatever way we can. If you think none of the other teams will have tried this, then you're an idiot as well.

[cykedelic]

[ With his rising anger, she ends up grimicing when he speaks again. After all, she can hear a person's heart through their tone of voice. Nothing in his is exactly nice. ]

Grrrr. Then I'll get the samples without your help. How's that?! It's my way or the high way! Though... I guess there aren't any high ways around here...

[ She clears her throat then continues. ] Either way, if you continue to act like a bully I definitely won't work with you.

[veneries]

[A heartbeat passes. He wants to put a fucking arrow through her head.


Then a smile breaks out across his face. There's no interim expression between scowl and smile, it just goes straight from one to the other. His posture relaxes, and his hands come up in a shrug.] Very well. I shan't be a bully.

Sorry I yelled at you, I was just felling a little stressed.

[He isn't letting this bitch get back and tell what she likes about what's happened here.]

[cykedelic]

[ Luckily for him, a heart full of anger and darkness is better than a heart full of nothing. Besides, being on her own out here wouldn't be the best of ideas. The best she can do is find a way to make it so she isn't saying she's an accomplice, so to speak, but instead might be able to lead him down a better path. ]

Hmm. Well, if you're feeling stressed--how about a therapy session?

[ She offers it, but she's already shifting to grab something out of her pack - bandages. ] We can talk while we walk.

[veneries]

[At his core, there aren't any real emotions in Ramsay. Anger came close to being real, but it was a tool in the end. Just like the smile.

But if the girl wanted to talk, fine.]

I'd like that very much.

[He eyes the horizon- he wasn't exactly quiet a moment ago and they might have attracted some attention. There's nothing. Hind mind turns to where the klep will have run to. It can't be far.]

[cykedelic]

[ Something to slowly work out... and sweat over. She starts walking in the direction of where the Klep ran off to, careful of her footing while remaining at least 70% aware of where he was behind her. ]

What are you stressed about? Money? Family? Love? I'm all ears.

[veneries]

[He keeps pace with her, eyes still scanning the white around them for any sign of blood. If he's just out of reach of her arms, that's totally by accident.

He wonders how she'd squirm if he broke all her fingers.]

Well. There's this girl I've been seeing. She drives me crazy, but she says she won't marry me unless I'm rich enough to own my own business. [He tells the story well, as if trying to contain most of his emotions and present only the facts. It's all bullshit though.] That's why I need as many samples as possible. The more we bring back, the more we're paid.

[cykedelic]

[ If he broke her fingers she'd knee him in the dick, ngl.

But until that happens, this fairy tale story he's telling now will be what they roll with. ]

That's really sad, actually. [ Ramsey won't notice it, but she can actually hear the soft whimpers of the Klep as it bleeds out. She doesn't even hesitate on the path she takes. ] Is she a gold digger? I mean even if you love her... are you worried about that? That she only wants to stay with you if you have money?

[veneries]

[There's no sign of blood yet, but he's been hunting enough to know not to give up. This is the general direction the creature took off in.]

My family has money, and I'll inherit it when my father dies. But before then... [He lifts his shoulders, what else can he do? He clearly loves this woman 100%.]

[cykedelic]

[ Athena isn't looking so much as following the sound, which is why she pauses part of the way, hums to herself, then turns right to where the ground dips to the side. ]

I see. [ He might lift his shoulders, but she only gives him a glance to confirm she's seen him do it. If anything, listening will tell her more about him than any action he does will. The Klep isn't far away now, at least, so she doesn't have to concentrate on it anymore than that.

Everything he says though sounds so... acted. Forced. Performed. Especially if she takes into account the rise in his voice before and how scary that had been. ]

There are probably better ways to earn money rather than samples though.

[veneries]

[Everything in Ramsay's behaviour has always been an act; of all his interactions with Athena so far on their mission there have been maybe a handful that were genuine. The tale about his fictional beloved is just as much an act as every smile he's ever given her, every word that wasn't a barked order.

But hold on a second-]

Where are you going? [She's changed direction. Ramsay stops in his track.] The beast ran this way. This is the way we should go to find it.

[cykedelic]

[ She pauses when he speaks again this time, closing her eyes to take a deep breath. Trying to keep her temper under control while alone with someone who has proven to be untrustworthy is necessary, but it's hard. ]

I have extra sensitive hearing. [ She glances back over her shoulder, giving him a much smaller smile this time. ] I can hear its cries even though it's trying to keep quiet. It doesn't want to be found.