❪ test drive: #2 ❫ THE OVERFLOW

[natha]

ORIGINAL 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

[unweave]

Words are all we got sometimes. [ There's a mutual respect with their words right then. She isn't going to suddenly impale the guy and he's not going to stab her. Good. Nice introduction. ] Well, that and some weapons but. Technicalities.

[ Her humor was dry, unlike the cold dampness at the cuffs of her pants. He talks about respecting fire and even if he's a strange one — that line was even stranger. ]

Uh. Right. Respect it.

[ Tentative steps follow, standing a good few feet from the illuminating glow. She's visible fully — well suited for the weather, but a bit more modern than the rest of the people traversing these trails. ]

I'll respect its ability to warm me up, sure.

[honesthearts]

That much is enough.

[He doesn't expect people to understand. The fire has a special meaning to him. His unbandaged hand, skin heavily damaged from burn wounds, is perhaps some evidence of the dangers. He unfurls another small scrap, exposing more of it to the open air in painful need, and tosses it into the fire to keep it going.]

I am Joshua Graham. You need not introduce yourself to me if you do not wish. [In case she wants to remain anonymous. Everyone has their reasons.]

[unweave]

[ To her, it was warmth. To her, fire was destruction if left in the hands of someone irresponsible. It was a tool. Be it destructive or beneficial, Aranea had to at least appreciate how something so simple was a sight for sore eyes. Her eyes roam over his scrap, making sure not to let her eyes linger on his wounds too often. They look old. So, she doesn't comment. ]

Not about wishing. You opened your fire to me without stabbing me in the gut. I think that warrants a name, at the very least. [ A pause. ] Aranea. I was trying to track something down for the town down the bluff.

[honesthearts]

[ While he can feel eyes on him (though, really, when isn't someone looking at him, wondering why he's covered head to toe in bandage wrap) he remains silent, hands in his lap with the fully bandaged one covering the exposed. Stabbing her in the gut... no, he may have done even worse than that if she truly posed threat. Not relevant, not for now. ]

'Something' hm. Judging by the size of those spears, it sounds like you're searching down trouble. [Then again, a weapon is always useful to have. Maybe he's off base.] I'm tracking as well. A 'someone' in my case.

[unweave]

[ The woman isn't the most respectful, but she does divert her eyes when he talks about her spear. ]

Maybe. Better to search for trouble then to have it find you. [ She says idly, sticking her hands out once her gloves were removed. ] Someone? Who pissed you off?

[honesthearts]

[ How very true. Nip the bud before it becomes toxic. ]

A man hired me for to deliver crates of food for the winter. Those crates were not filled with food. Now I'm going to ask him why.

[ And if he doesn't like the answer, he's going to be shooting a head off. ]

[unweave]

Ooh. Illegal goods? From how I'm reading it, there wasn't anything good, right?

[ Aranea isn't really on some grand scheme - got twisted around during the evening hours and now finds herself seeking the warmth of the only fire in a few miles. No fun. ]

Don't even being out of that conversation, if that's the case.

[honesthearts]

I don't appreciate being used for some other person's plans. They lied to me.

[ If he was told what was in there, would he have taken the job? Maybe not. No place was perfect, but the people of Olympia were intrinsically good. That contraband would damage them and he would have wanted no part in it. To be lied to so bluntly makes his nerves flame up. ]

...Tell me, Aranea, what would you do in my shoes? If you were manipulated and learned the truth.

[unweave]

Right there with you, pal. I don't think anyone would.

[ She's fell victim to it too. Well, the whole wide-scale political aspect of it, anyway. Aranea wasn't lied to persay, but she was a pawn in someone's game. She did not like that. ]

I'd get anything that was due to me, give them a scare, and move on with my life.

[honesthearts]

Just a scare, hm. Nothing else?

[ The 'moving on' bit is a bit more... well, let's just say he doesn't do well with moving on and rather not discuss that. ]

[unweave]

Depends on if the lie could have gotten me killed.

[ She tries to play it off. Aranea could have hunted down the people who overthrew the King, took some noble cause but — ]

Also depends on what you think is 'due' to you. Justified, even.

[honesthearts]

I would say anyone who lies to use you for their means isn't worth just scaring off. When someone does something wrong, a proper lesson should be taught. One that can be remembered.

[A familiar memory tugs at his thoughts -- men dressed in brown garbs, begging for their lives -- but it doesn't feel real or his. Strange.]

Sometimes the one who remembers are the witnesses.

[unweave]

What if doing worse wasn't worth your time? The proper lesson was to give them reason not to do the shit again, get a little bit of your pride back for being duped and move on. Life got a grander plan in mind. You get your revenge and move on. If it's more than scaring?

Man.

[ She whistles a bit. ]

There's a level not many people go to.