natha: (Default)
ɴᴀᴛʜᴀ orbiters ❰ mod collective ❱ ([personal profile] natha) wrote in [community profile] elnyan2018-01-26 12:27 pm
Entry tags:

❪ test drive #4 ❫

YOUR STORY BEGINS    

The Storm came. You only remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that.

All you know, perhaps, is that it was cold. You don't know for how long you slept, but the dreams were short, at least. You remember the expanse of stars and the universe that came in view. Every world and solar system ever known was displayed in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You have also witnessed The Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. It was a dark, thick smog — ominous in appearance and ever foreboding.

Your Earth and similar planets were immersed in The Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of it. That was when she told you what happened, and how you could help. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new, even though you never asked for it. The details here weren't clear, but you knew you'd made a deal with Darma.

Not long after, you'll wake at Thesa Station — your body is still cold.

It all felt like a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma?
PROMPT: THE STORM    

CW: death
You were awake on Thesa Station. But at some point you, like many other new arrivals before you, wandered into the Observation Deck. Ordinarily, this is where images of The Storm are replayed to remind Refugees of the fate they have escaped.

The Natha Orbiters' technology has evolved. They are aware of your gaps in memory. You may have doubts of The Storm even existing, or of your world's destruction. Though they do not wish reliving those last moments on anyone, they have created an experience that will do just that. Before entering the Observation Deck, you are warned that what follows will not be for the weak of heart. As soon as you step in, you will find that the walls around you begin to transform and expand.

Welcome to the Planet Cespi, in the Circinus Galaxy. Unfortunately, we were not able to save this world from The Storm's Consumption. These are its last memories.

You are surrounded by blue, grassy hills as far as the eye can see and a pleasant breeze. The atmosphere is thick with a sickly sweet smell. Before you lays the scene of a quiet village, with its residents going about their everyday lives. You aren't alone, either, with an equally confused stranger (or perhaps you know each other?) surveying the scene.

Then the world grows completely silent for a full minute. You and your partner are unable to make a sound, verbal or otherwise. Without warning, a deafening roar fills your ears and forces you to double over in pain. The villagers run out of their homes in a panic, finding themselves in just as much pain and confusion as you do. Where there was no sound before, now there is too much for a normal human body to process.

Look up. An expanding mass of energy is swallowing everything you can see. It consumes the earth, the atmosphere, the depths of space — and it is getting closer.

Your only hope is to outrun it, if you can. The people in the village certainly try to, racing past you. Their fear is very real. Their bodies are very real. You may be able to run from it for a time, only able to catch glimpses of this dark and sinister force swallowing everything and everyone. The earth rumbles and separates beneath you. Electricity surges through the sky, and then through your very body.

You fought hard, but it is impossible to outrun the Storm forever. You too will be consumed. Your death is quick, but not painless. What were you thinking, before you took your last breath?

You awaken back in the Observation Deck, next to your new friend.
PROMPT: TRAINING MODULES    

While it’s all nice and well to familiarize oneself with Thesa Station, it is most advised that new arrivals venture out a bit. Not physically. No one is quite prepared for that yet. However, there will be several virtual reality training programs set for those who dare to be adventurous. For those who aren’t and don’t dare, well — good luck, all the same. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life.

1. When you enter the Natha's newest program, at first nothing loads. You might think this is an error as you look around in apparent total darkness, only able to see your own virtual body if you look down, but soon enough a voice comes to life as if speakers have turned on somewhere.

Long ago, the lands of El Nysa were dominated by the ancestors of the dragons who now live among the people, tamed. It was pretty dangerous! How about a little history lesson?
And then the simulation comes to life—

a. The lush lands that blossom to life around you all at once are real enough to make you forget you're in a simulation — at least for a moment. Those refugees who have been to the planet in reality before will find themselves in territory as unfamiliar as those who are brand new, as this simulation takes place far back in history. Instead of sprawling cities and civilizations, the most you'll find is scattered villages, many of them no more than nomadic campsites at best. You've been outfitted to blend in with the natives and these simulated people won't react to you as a newcomer, but as a member of their village. Are you a doctor, or perhaps a warrior? Maybe you're even in charge! But they want your help, and they want it quickly: a dragon is coming.

The dragon is larger than the mount-sized breeds that exist on El Nysa today — much larger. It's a good six stories in height, bestial, and angry. Maybe it's then that you notice the lands that surround you are littered with scars of scorched earth, some of them several yards across, and there's a reason these people don't live in one place for very long. But don't linger too long on the makeshift grave markers sticking out of the burnt countryside — the dragon is coming.



b. If you're looking for something a little less violent, perhaps another area of the historic simulation will be up your alley. This one finds you on a cliffside, waiting among other villagers for an event the people are talking about in hushed whispers, some of which you can identify as prayer. When the white dragon raises its head up from the depths of the ravine, towering impossibly high over you and the others on the cliffside, it's no wonder most of the natives fall to their knees in awe and wonder. This dragon doesn't attack, only looks at the people on land with an ancient and strange wisdom.

Then it speaks. Not in words, but the low rumbling sound that starts in its throat and becomes a full trumpeting bellow to the sky seems to have meaning, and somehow, you can understand its cry as it entreats the people to praise and worship. The natives around you are already starting to give offerings with their prayers, food and carvings and — blood? Is that someone's arm being offered up?

That's different.



2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we?

a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts.

Guerilla fighters from Wyver flood the streets, knocking civilians aside and breaking down doors and windows when they find their way barred. They move methodically, advancing toward the nicer parts of town where the politicians reside and leaving terror in their wake.

They're here for the politicians, people say. They're here to punish the people who made the decision to advance into Wyver in the first place. Blood for blood, as the saying goes. Where they'll be taking them once they have them is anyone's guess. A soldier emerges from a building, dragging someone in elegant clothing out by the hair. Looks like they've found one.

Will you rescue them? Make a run for it yourself, lest you be mistaken for one of their targets? Or maybe they've already caught you and some other unfortunate Refugee who's been dropped into this simulation, and the two of you need to figure out a way to escape.

b. CW: branding
You find yourself in the midst of a bustling crowd gathered at the Temple of Thesa. Robed acolytes stoke fires on either side of the altar at the front of the temple, where miserable-looking people who seem to be from a village in Wyver await, bound in ropes.

The priest, at the front of the crowd, picks up a metal brand from the altar and gestures for another acolyte to bring a prisoner forward. The crowd watches with interest as the prisoner is forced to kneel in front of the altar, their arm laid out flat on the marble surface.

Another cry — "For the glory of Olympia!" — and the crest of the city is burned into the prisoner's arm.

The crowd cheers, deafening the cries of pain. The priest ushers forward another prisoner, and then another. Is that a familiar face you see in the lineup, thrust into this bit of history by the simulation's whims? You have to do something. Or are you unlucky enough to find yourself bound? ...Well, hopefully someone else in the crowd has more scruples than this priest.
3. And now, the present.



After all those enlightening scenes, the simulation finally brings you to a more quiet area of Olympia. You are deposited out somewhere in The Outlook, a place the very first group of refugees had to trudge through before they found their homes. You've arrived in the early evening — but sunlight is waning, and soon you'll be under a sky full of stars. Luckily, their old campsites aren't too overgrown.

The intention here is to get you familiar with some of the local flora and fauna. What sorts of plants will you encounter? Do you find yourself under a Verillum Tree, suddenly compelled to be painfully honest and truthful in conversation with a complete stranger? Find yourself behaving erratically in the presence of Whistleweed? Or perhaps you'll have to break the spell of being trapped in a Vena Amoris' vines... with a kiss.

PROMPT: STASIS UNIT    

You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to enter 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: 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    
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! An AC-length thread may be submitted for 2 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS after acceptance here. Please submit by February 18th.

We will no longer be providing overflow posts. In an event where the post hits CAPTCHA, players are advised to move threads to an overflow post on their character journals or create their own catch-all post. These threads remain eligible for REP.

There will be an application cap of 60, and no reserves. Please read here for more information.

vladpire: (Up - Uncertain 4)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-01-30 06:37 am (UTC)(link)
You seem to know it well enough to argue it.
ininhuman: (Default)

[personal profile] ininhuman 2018-01-30 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
No one. I think I heard it somewhere. It's not really a soothing phrase.
willrevile: (0002 ( aha ))

[personal profile] willrevile 2018-01-30 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
[ He pulls his head up, hair falling over his eyes, his smile brief and lopsided (amused at something, maybe). ]

If you were a plant that grabbed warm-blooded beings and held them, didn't try to put them into any kind of digestive acid, and didn't constrict hard enough to do serious physical damage, what might you be after?

[ --is an awful chat up line. Very close, Jim looks at Jack's eyes (pretty, that one little speck of heterochromia), contemplating. ]

We have to be letting off some kind of chemical it likes. Or we have to be capable of it. I guess it could be psychic-- but we're in a simulation, so if it's something psychic, it has to be linked to something observable by the program. Maybe performative.
assholic: (Talking - Really? 1)

[personal profile] assholic 2018-01-30 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
Every day. And I'm the person that no one would be surprised at if I broke you into tiny pieces and fed you to a garbage disposal.
inacan: (013)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-30 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
my dad was a visionary who worked on the manhattan project, helped defeat the nazis, co-founded a covert intelligence agency etc etc etc

mom was the angel who put up with him

count yourself lucky, kid
inacan: (013)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-30 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
i read a lot when passing the time waiting for parts to be machined
vladpire: (Side - 2)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-01-30 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
Reading is a wonderful pastime. I have

I had many libraries. I am hoping to see what books they have here to learn from.
prettier: (075)

[personal profile] prettier 2018-01-30 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
Thank fuck we're texting or I might have to look like I understand or care.

I do. Apart from the whole either everyone's dead or I've really misjudged who I scored from last night thing.
originallutece: staff meetings are the fucking worst (anger; SIGHHHHHHH)

[personal profile] originallutece 2018-01-30 06:59 am (UTC)(link)
The only people you're annoying are those around you, I'm afraid. And I fail to see the point in talking to what more or less amounts to an inanimate object.

Simply hush. That's all I'm telling you.
inacan: (008)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-30 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
are kids these days so dumb they don't know who the nazis were
i mean you're obviously from earth
should i be polling everyone on the manhattan project now
triplerose: (fj20)

[personal profile] triplerose 2018-01-30 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ His smile falls. That was tactless, he realizes, so he bows his head in apology. ]

I can imagine. I'm here on poor terms, myself. But seeing you has certainly made it a happier experience.
prettier: (072)

[personal profile] prettier 2018-01-30 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Nazis.... Nazis... Bit tetchy, big problems with Julie Andrews, liked blonds, yeah?
diplomatie: (o10)

literal hell!!

[personal profile] diplomatie 2018-01-30 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ He gives her a small smile, and then nods before slowly and quietly opening the door, looking around as he does. There doesn't appear to be anyone in the particular hallway, likely because much of the attention in the building is probably still on the event happening in the main room. Which will luckily give them time to find an alternative exit.

And such an exit would most likely exist in the back of the building. So traveling to the back it is!

He looks back, gives her a nod, and then quietly moves out of the room, making his way down the hall and expecting her to be following, of course. The sounds of the other room are still loud as ever, so he can only assume they're continuing on with the "festivities" while only a few of their men are likely to be looking for them. He visibly flinches a little hearing another scream of pain come from the commotion, ugh.

But soon they come to a perpendicular hall connecting to the hall they're moving down, and as he approaches it, Alphinaud hears the sounds of men talking about escapees. This stops him in his tracks, causing him to stop steps before reaching the hall, moving his back against the wall and turning to Alisaie to give her a 'shush' command, so she knows to keep quiet. He wants to wait and see if they go into any of the rooms down their hall before they reach where the halls connect. Just in case this doesn't have to end in a confrontation. ]
colorature: (Default)

[personal profile] colorature 2018-01-30 07:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Happy to be helped into the bath, Diva wastes no time sinking into the water, knees out as she submerges herself. Only everything from her nose up peeks out of the water, the bath full of her hair, looking more like black tendrils than anything else.

Don't mind her as she...soaks for a moment.]
Edited 2018-01-30 07:32 (UTC)
eaudevamp: (sᴏғᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ)

[personal profile] eaudevamp 2018-01-30 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Reign allowed Diva to soak in the waters for a while, and if she were to notice, there would be a faint floral smell, for Reign had added a few drops of his precious perfume into the water. It wasn't much, but will ensure that Diva would be enveloped in a pleasant scent.

A moment later, he sat by the edge of the tub, a lathered scrub in one hand, the other holding out for Diva's. ]


We need to make sure you're nice and clean.
redeye: (pic#4570988)

omage.

[personal profile] redeye 2018-01-30 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
Connecting to server...
Looking for someone you can chat with...
You’re now chatting with [naraka]!

Consider seeking more productive programming, along with answers.
cutefaced: i am not qualified to be the responsible adult here (don't put me in that position)

training 1b

[personal profile] cutefaced 2018-01-30 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
[A dragon? That, Yona can handle. Sure, this one is bigger than the ones she works with at the Wyvernest, but it's still... a dragon, so it can't be that bad, can it? If people are offering up blood and limbs and other such things, she hasn't noticed yet.

Instead, she hears someone asking about money from somewhere above her - and she looks up.]


—eeeeeek! A talking tree?!

[They're feeding arms to a dragon and she's freaked out by a tree. Yes.]
selfservice: (too stupid to function)

[personal profile] selfservice 2018-01-30 08:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Hey one question: whomst the fuck is this child?? The effort it takes to keep the grin on his face and not immediately just push her straight down into the ground is herculean, truly.]

I've been standing here the whole time, thank you very much, and the term is Sap, but please, continue to talk about me as if I cannot understand the words!
selection: (« drugged »)

[personal profile] selection 2018-01-30 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
And terribly inaccurate.
selection: (« superior »)

[personal profile] selection 2018-01-30 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
I see your point. But who knows. There might be a new drug on the market no one's ever slipped me before.
selection: (« pout »)

[personal profile] selection 2018-01-30 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
That strikes me as sensible.
selection: (« idiot »)

[personal profile] selection 2018-01-30 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
Do you not feel 'bummed', as you so eloquently put it?
assholic: (If you say so - 1)

[personal profile] assholic 2018-01-30 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
Planet's blown up and I have friends in stasis pods who may or may not ever wake up? Yeah, that's not fun. But what am I going to do? Cry about it?
cutefaced: (6)

[personal profile] cutefaced 2018-01-30 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
[there is probably no one here who would blame him for doing that, honestly]

Sorry! I've just never met a... Sap... before.

[Sap is a... liquid, isn't it? It's something that comes out of trees? At least, that's the impression Yona had. Maybe she misunderstood the word? Maybe he's just from some weird alien planet where trees are sentient instead of humans.]

I don't think they have them where I'm from. What's your name?
selfservice: (.........)

[personal profile] selfservice 2018-01-30 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Please don't question how actual sap fits into this equation because there are no answers suitable for polite company. Please.

Anyway, he looks down at her critically for a moment, before he decides her apology is good enough... hmph.]


I think you would know! My name is H. Manley Tinderstauf, and while I am very tolerant, you do all stare far too much.

[gaze...... bounce thine eyes]