❪ 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

Occassionally transforms to have extra fingers to see if anyone notices, yes

[meinwaifu]

Well, you're more than welcome to stay out here with your mittens if you'd prefer. I think I'll take my chances with the cabin.

[He'll totally lock him out if he even thinks about trying to stay behind tbh.]

[It'll take a bit of effort to pull the door open, the ice having sealed it shut. But once it's open, they're treated to a sparsely decorated cabin.]

[Very sparsley.]

[Like, literally the only thing there is a godawful bearskin rug with a face that goes against the laws of nature, and a sad collection of sticks that look like someone's very poor attempt at collecting firewood.]

Hm. It could be worse... though I can't imagine it would have to go very far to do so.

yes, ideal

[fatgun]

Oh, I definitely believe in not freezing to death.

[He's here, he's coming. This cabin is disgusting, but he's peering inside once he stands back and waits for the door to be opened. You're welcome...]

Very rustic. [That rug is probably full of diseases and yet he's thinking about calling dibs on it to crawl under, anyway. Hmm.] It doesn't look like the roof has any leaks, at least. I'll give it... a 2 out of 10.

[meinwaifu]

[Just make sure it's not a flatbear before u get any ideas, Josh.]

I'd say that sounds about right. But it looks like one of us is going to have to collect more firewood--

[...]

Oh, right. It looks like I'll have to go collect more firewood.

[fatgun]

Hee hee, you're sharp as a tack. Maybe there's something else hiding in here worth seeing, meanwhile.

[He'll look around this single empty room, he means. There's not going to be anything, but look, even the smallest vestiges of comfort away from the snow - the absolute smallest, too - make him slightly more pleasant.]

Well, let's get busy.

[meinwaifu]

[I mean, he'll probably find the king of spiders living under that rug if he feels inspired to lift it up. But Mephisto would rather not freeze, so he'll just sigh and shrug his shoulders, heading back out the door--]

[Or at least that was the plan. But when he opens the door, a sudden gust of snow and wind nearly topples him over, as the storm outside seemingly escalated the moment they sought shelter. It actually takes some effort to force the door shut again, even with his enhanced strength.]

...well! Perhaps this cabin can afford to lose a few floorboards if we get desperate.

[Gonna just... sit... on the ground. He's not touching that bear thing unless he has to -- it looks gross and it's staring!!]

[fatgun]

[Hmm, being spidered to death or frozen... tough call... Either way, he startles some at the sudden appearance of angry weather at the door, but of course he hangs back and doesn't rush to help in shutting the door again. Of course.]

Th- That was a little much. [they are going to Die Here, apparently. Josh sighs, slouching against the wall and nudging at one, uh, bear paw with his shoe instead of sitting down. Hmm.] I guess there's no accounting for taste out in the miserable wilderness.

[It's 100% Mephisto's fault when they fucking die in this cabin, by the way. He's blaming you.]

[meinwaifu]

[ ]

[Mephisto's facing the fireplace, looking at their sad pile of sticks with a sigh.] Unfortunately not. Even a normal rug might have been useful for something... shall I start a fire? Or would you rather we wait just before the hypothermia sets in?

[Meanwhile, as Josh nudges the bear, its paw suddenly lifts off the ground just enough to rest over his foot.]

[...]

[(Bet you thought I was kidding about that flatbear thing huh)]

[fatgun]

You don't need my permission to start a fire— [He's probably got some more sass planned there, but when the rug suddenly moves and touches him he has other concerns. Notably: getting his foot the hell away from this... this?!

He's done absolutely no work all day but now, when tapped by a flatbear for two seconds, he immediately jerks his foot away and then stomps down on the paw as hard as he can. His grand escape isn't exactly elegant, either, as he twists to dart away from the thing but also keep an eye on it - backwards. He's shuffling away backwards, towards Mephisto, hello.]

Living decor?! This is some safe haven...

[meinwaifu]

[Mephisto turns only just in time to catch Joshua moonwalking away from the abomination sitting in the center of the room, which remains silent even as its paw is stomped. The head remains motionless, eyes still staring into forever, along with the rest of the body -- in fact, it seems to have returned to being a normal rug! How mysterious.]

[Mephisto stares at the bear, and then glances back at Josh for a second or two before simply returning to starting a fire.]

Living decor...? Just what on earth are you talking about?



[--so asks the guy who's keeping the fact that he can move things with his mind a secret for the sole purpose of fucking with this guy. Look, he's still salty about the mitten thing, ok.]

[With Mephisto's back once more turned, the bear moves again, this time slowly and silently creeping across the floor with its limp paws. It seems to be heading towards the door??]

[fatgun]

[If they weren't presently in a very good simulation—that is, if Joshua had all of his normal faculties about him and maybe paid a little more attention to something besides his mittens, he wouldn't be so taken in by living decor. He'd have a better shot at catching on than right now, where he's pretty damn sure that a rug just attacked him.

But fortunately for at least one of them here, who isn't Joshua, he's pretty sure a rug is out for blood. He gives Mephisto a look, disdainful for not being more interested in his dilemma, and backs away more as the bear moves for the door.]

The least you could do is pay attention.

[meinwaifu]

Pay attention to wha-- [And the academy award goes to...]

Wha--

What is that!? What is it-- how are you doing that!?

[CASUALLY BLAMES JOSH as he continues inching the flatbear towards the door -- seemingly picking up speed as it now moves all four limbs. It starts to scale up onto the door and along the wall, apparently aiming for the ceiling.]

[fatgun]

I'm not doing anything! Why would I want a rug to climb the walls?

[Honestly, what the fuck?? What kind of an accusation is that!]

Throw a stick at it, why don't you?

[meinwaifu]

Yes, because a stick is going to be effective.

[--oh fuck it's on the ceiling now!! It moves to the center of the ceiling before hanging down, the top-side of the head facing the two and slowly starting to sway back and forth -- as if trying to gain momentum as it angles itself in Josh's direction. The creepy head lops back and forth, causing the poorly affixed jaw to flap in a bizarre biting motion.]

[...it's actually kinda disturbing. Mephisto didn't account for how much nightmare-fuel this thing already had even without moving. It's taking a lot of self-control here not to laugh.]

It certainly seems to be fixated on you -- are you carrying food or something?