❪ 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

[2/2]

[rememberher]

[ She didn't actually expect him to get so choked up about this sort of thing, so for a moment Lux is at a loss of how to react. It's like somehow she's given him something so precious, when really it was the first thing she could fetch from the estate's kitchen that would arguably keep.

But something about that, seeing how genuinely grateful he was then... it's nice. It's really nice, feeling like she could be useful even in such a small way.

Which is why she's smile almost radiantly at both boy and dog, like it isn't that big of a deal (it is and it isn't), shrugging her shoulders slightly. ]

That's more than enough for me.

[ She waves her hand in the air at him. It's fine, don't worry about it! And once he has managed to take what he deems as his share for himself and Tim, she'll sit back down again, the remainder sitting in her lap untouched for now.

It's likely they won't see each other again once the storm lifts anyhow, being able to help someone else... it's nice, but would it be enough? This weather would pass, and they would be able to get back safely, wouldn't they? She back home and him...

That's a good question, actually. ]

Can I ask you something? Where were you two heading, before you got caught out here?

[likethelight]

[ Her question catches him mid-mouthful, which shouldn't really be of any surprise given the way he's attacking the bread and cheese. (Polite that he may seem, table manners appear to be out the window.) But he blinks for a moment at that and looks thoughtful, taking a moment to actually, well... chew.

Her expression again.. ]

There's a town not far away. [ Probably. ] I was looking for someone there.

[ Actually remembering to swallow then, he considers that for a moment as Tim continues to gnaw with gusto on the meat of somewhat questionable origin. ]

What about you?

[rememberher]

[ O-oh, he's really going at it then, isn't he? He'll excuse her for gaping a little bit at that, won't he? She doesn't want to think how long they might have gone without a proper meal.

But that does get her to pause, not that she didn't expect him to turn the question back around to her, but that he might actually be passing through her little town. Of all the places to go, it seems a little odd to be so far off the beaten path. ]

Nowhere all that important, trust me.

[ Politely steering the conversation away from herself for a moment, partially because she isn't too sure how long she can actually keep this farce going, but also he's piqued her interest somewhat. ]

You're looking for someone, all the way out here? But it's practically the middle of nowhere.

[ Who in their right mind would come out here?

Well okay, other than the three of them. ]

[likethelight]

[ Oh! She's asking. He scrambles a bit for a second, patting himself down as he searches for the correct pocket. ]

Yes. I guess you could say he's searching for something too...?

[ Or got tired of where he had been and yearned for a particular courtesan's company and the region's finer brews. If the trail of bills (in Allen's name) he's been following means anything... Thank goodness he's too polite to tell her that, though. Although it isn't for Cross's sake.

But he fishes a well-worn and thrice-folded scrap of paper from his coat pocket and unfolds it for Lux to see. A picture, scribbled in pencil..! ]

I don't suppose you've seen him, have you?

[ It's absolutely atrocious. ]

[1/2]

[rememberher]

[ What is she even looking at? Is that supposed to be a person, or some kind of abstract art?

............Did he draw that? Please say he didn't draw that. ]

[2/2]

[rememberher]

Oh, ah—

[ Quick, think of something to say. ]

No, I... I don't believe I've seen anyone who looks like that.

[ Which is to say she's pretty sure she's never seen anyone who looks like their race was drawn by someone who vaguely knows what a person should look like. Like they read about one in a book one time, and only partially understood what they were going for.

Why is there a line going through his face, that is her biggest question. Also one eye???

She smiles stiffly, her hands finally settling in her lap. ]

But he must be important to you, if you've come all this way just to look for him.

[ Or crazy. Not that she would ever say that. ]

[likethelight]

[ It's a mask.

Thankfully if there was any slight against his art skills that could be read into with that... he doesn't and it goes right past him. He just sighs for a moment—of course, he hadn't expected her to actually have seen him—and tucks it back into his pocket. ]

I'd rather not have to.. [ Is that a briefly... deadened sort of look he has at that?

Oh well, it's fleeting. Look, there's even a smile...! Haha.. ]

He's my troublesome master.

[rememberher]

[ That's... definitely not what she would have guessed that was. Look, she doesn't really get abstract art, and that's about as abstract as it comes as far as she's concerned. It's no wonder he hasn't find this person yet, not that she would ever tell him that.

But instead, she nibbles on a bit of bread almost thoughtfully, the crust sitting at her lips for a moment. His master? Didn't he say he was a traveler? And that he used to travel with his (late?) father? Hmm.

Then again, she wasn't telling the whole truth either, so it was only fair. People had their secrets, even if this was starting to really pique her curiosity. She hums a bit as she finally puts her food back down in her lap. ]

Once the storm passes, I'll take you back down to town. We can ask whether anyone has seen him there.

[ Sorry stranger, she's invested now. Besides, she probably wouldn't be able to go back to town if they hadn't found each other. ]