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.

happylocksmith: (pic#12054864)

well I hope I won't disappoint!

[personal profile] happylocksmith 2018-02-01 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey!

[Sora looks just the tiniest bit affronted by that, affronted and somewhat confused.]

I know hair grows, but yours really grew, it was here-

[He lifts his hand up against his mid cheek to demonstrate, but then something dawns on him. Hair grows over time, and if Riku's has grown this much...

But then he has to nod down the hallway and mention Kairi and all thoughts of hair are forgotten.]


Kairi's here too? Is she okay? Is she-

[Wait. Keeping. Kairi can't be kept anywhere, which means...]

She's asleep, isn't she?
thawedheart: (idk what to title this i'm TIRED)

SHE'S HAD WORSE...???

[personal profile] thawedheart 2018-02-01 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[More of a conundrum: she doesn't particularly want to let go, either, but the way he keeps his hand open and his palm up is a little awkward, so she lets go of his hand to allow him to drop his arm back down to his side.]

I don't see what good shutting my eyes to what happened will do. If we're to live here, then we need to understand how this situation came to be.

[Or at least, that's how she talked herself into watching the simulation, anyway.]
floatingrocks: (Concerned)

[personal profile] floatingrocks 2018-02-01 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[omg that's totally ok, I'm still recovering from the flu I got back in December. @_@]

Her eyes did several back-and-forth's between the pec--sorry, distinctive flame in his hand and his face. Typically she had at least her instinct to rely on when things were amiss, but with the distractions all around her - unfamiliar sights, sounds and smells - her perception was dull and she couldn't quite hone in on the details she should.

She slowly straightens, moving her hand away from her staff. "I arrived alone." Otherwise would have only made the experience even stranger, considering she knew how to be much of anything else, these days. Her brow creased curiously. She wondered if arriving alone was all that common, based on what he said. "Who all were you with? People you know?"
Edited 2018-02-01 18:52 (UTC)
kaleorbekaled: (awkward smile)

[personal profile] kaleorbekaled 2018-02-01 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay. I'll try not to take too long.
guidetoblivion: (♞ 044)

I'm sure you won't! :3

[personal profile] guidetoblivion 2018-02-01 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[For a second, Riku's lips hint at a smirk – Sora makes it as easy to tease him as it's ever been – before he frowns confused. It's been a while since he's had his hair as short as Sora indicates, it already brushed his shoulders the last time they had seen another after all, so really what gives...

There are more important things to discuss than his hair of all things though, so Riku focuses on those rather than to waste more time on Sora's strange obsession.

He turns, hands disappearing into the pockets of his coat to hide away how they clench as he answers.]


Ah. Donald and Goofy too.

[He knows, he's found them sleeping after all – them and the King and at least two thirds of the Organization… even some who are supposed to be dead; and just the thought of them makes him think of the unfairness of it, of the fact that Zexion is alive and sleeping while his parents and Sora's and Kairi's are nowhere to be found.

He exhales slowly, letting the tension seep out of his body. He needs to tell Sora about this, he knows. But not now. Not when he's only just arrived. It's better to lead with the good news after all.]


It's not far from here.
godwins: (fifteen.)

[personal profile] godwins 2018-02-01 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Why, the king, I suppose.
baguablade: (100)

[personal profile] baguablade 2018-02-01 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha!

[ Cain can't hide it anymore. He doubles over laughing, a hand slapping over his mouth in a last vain attempt to hide his mirth. It's all out in the open now, and he blinks away tears as he finally straightens, grinning at Manley. He's just never seen a tree so fussy. Then again, he's never met a talking tree before, but this definitely isn't what he'd expected of one. It's pretty great, as far as he's concerned, a real person rather than some ethereal sprite.

In a conciliatory gesture, Cain waves his hand, brushing away the mock-plan he'd suggested moments ago.
]

Don't worry, you won't have to do much for your part. [ Tree he may be, but Manley's still a civilian, after all. ] I don't think I can do this alone, but I'm not going to put you in danger. I just need your help setting up a distraction.
poolhall_killer: (hmmm...)

[personal profile] poolhall_killer 2018-02-01 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, I do. I'm hardly a prude at all.

[He would be considered one when he first arrived, but he's made some nice friends-with-benefits since...]
pussywhips: (016)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-02-01 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A history lesson... Ann makes a Face. For real? Isn't this a little too immersive? Though, she supposes that if her history classes in school were like that, she probably would've remembered them better. Or at all. Maybe without the whole kidnapping part, though.

But fine, okay. There's a plan. Act helpless, draw the guards over so that she and Haru can take them down, free everyone else and get the heck out of here. This is foolproof. ]


Okay. Let's do it! I'll see if I can get them to come over here.

[ She nods sharply and glances towards Haru, waiting for her to ferret herself away again. ]
originallutece: can you not hemorrhage for like ten minutes (neutral; ugh more blood)

[personal profile] originallutece 2018-02-01 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[She glances over at the pod. The man inside looks like a solider, which doesn't really do much for her mood or her opinion of her newest friend.]

I'm familiar with the feeling.

[She says it just as dryly as he had.]

You're a soldier, then?
imiko: <user name="nodoff" site="www.livejournal.com"> (06)

yeah like yuggoth. BINCH...

[personal profile] imiko 2018-02-01 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's going to have congestive heart failure at this rate.]

I could have just told you what happened. [She isn't the kid he thinks she is, huh? No shit. Why. Just be innocent and pure forever. Get back in the cryopods and go to sleep!!] There's no reason to be scared. Everyone will wake up later when it's time.

I'm guessing you miss that idiot.
seeingscarlet: (concern; 028)

[personal profile] seeingscarlet 2018-02-01 07:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Given the circumstances, she'll take it. The Natha have saved Pietro, but she still finds comfort in having an independent force monitoring him, too.]

Thank you.

[Olive branch accepted, even if she has no knowledge of the main source of his guilt.

Wanda gives Pietro's pod one last look and sighs. Tony's right. He wouldn't want her standing here freezing...but she'll be back.]


Should we try to find the food?
thawedheart: (this is... fine.......)

.......look.......... wait who are you

[personal profile] thawedheart 2018-02-01 07:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[she's tired of ice hiei don't make her go back to the cryopods]

...I know that they will. [She believes in that. Honestly, she's sort of surprised that the others haven't woken up already - it's difficult to imagine Kuwabara, or even Yusuke, sleeping peacefully for any amount of time. Even if it is just because the world ended.]

I'd like to understand what I can about all of this so that I can be of help to them when they do. [She smiles.] I miss them all, but I'm glad you're here.

baguablade: (16)

[personal profile] baguablade 2018-02-01 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Big distraction, got it. You take care of the guards, leave the rest to me.

[ Lancelot's manacles fall open, and Cain gives him a cheeky wink as he secrets the lockpicks back into his sleeve. Letting the knight deal with all the guards is more than Cain hoped to be able to count on, and more, really than he intends, even if Lancelot is capable of it. But it's a nice reassurance, and it makes his part in their escape plan significantly easier.

He waits for the guard's attention to wander to the sounds outside the door again, and then—
]

Help! Help, fire! We're on fire!

[ From his hand, a flame springs up, bright and growing larger. And larger and larger — a bit larger than Cain intends, if the flicker of chagrin on his face is anything to go by.

Still, it's more than a good enough distraction; the guards are immediately thrown into disarray, their confusion only hindered by the way the other prisoners are screaming and trying to throw themselves away from the flame.
]
tornadoed: (❮ 010. ❯)

[personal profile] tornadoed 2018-02-01 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
if that's how this place rolls i'll be cool

[ look, the last time she arrived in a new world, the first thing that happened was the local people torturing her. that hadn't been fun. ]
tornadoed: (⟪ MISTRESS ⟫)

[personal profile] tornadoed 2018-02-01 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, all right.

[ dorothy's heart is beating far too fast and normally, she'd insist that he go first, but — she's scared and he has a point. so she climbs into the cave first, pressing herself against the wall of it. space enough for someone else, even if they'll end up pretty close to each other. ]

Come on.
frombetrayal: (032)

[personal profile] frombetrayal 2018-02-01 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Haru nods, and with equal parts skill and luck, manages to get out of sight and hide herself in the shadow of some furniture before the guard looks in Ann's direction again.

She waits, poised and ready to go. One of the guards seems to have noticed some kind of movement coming from the hostages, because he starts to take a few steps over to them.

"Hey! Keep still and quiet or you're gonna regret it!"

He sneers; Haru bites down the urge to strike him right now, and instead, waits for the signal from Ann.]
tornadoed: (⟪ OZ ⟫)

[personal profile] tornadoed 2018-02-01 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, all right.

[ dorothy's heart is beating far too fast and normally, she'd insist that he go first, but — she's scared and he has a point. so she climbs into the cave first, pressing herself against the wall of it. space enough for someone else, even if they'll end up pretty close to each other. ]

Come on.
pussywhips: (006)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-02-01 07:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ For her part, Yusuke's appearance doesn't really surprise her—she just talked to him, like, earlier today, after all. You know, back before their world was super dead. ]

Yeah—come on!

[ He probably can't even hear her, but still. So she nods at his suggestion, clutching his arm and tugging a little as she breaks out into a run. The Storm roils closer, moving faster than any natural storm she's ever seen as it devours the horizon. It may not actually be real, but her heart still races and pain still stabs through her as another jolt of lightning flashes across the sky.

The resulting thunderclap is instantaneous, making her stumble and stagger to her knees in the dirt with a sharp cry of ugh! ]
chikachika: (5)

[personal profile] chikachika 2018-02-01 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Never tell Chika the odds! She'll keep on trying anyway!!

But for her to read those words on the screen, once then twice, then three times... there's no doubt about who is on the other side.
]

YOU-CHAN?!
im right here!
um, i guess its some kind of cafeteria?
im waving my arms and calling your name but i dont see you!!


[ ...And of course, she actually is. ]
tornadoed: (⟪ QUESTION ⟫)

[personal profile] tornadoed 2018-02-01 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
👏👏👏
imiko: <user name="nodoff" site="www.livejournal.com"> (06)

[personal profile] imiko 2018-02-01 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[STOP]

Hmph. [He feels incredibly embarrassed and stupid having his company preferred. Both hands go immediately for his pockets.

The observation deck isn't so bad when it's not force-feeding you virtual realities of the Storm, and so he has something to look at rather than meet Yukina's ridiculously caring gaze.]
I suppose I can expect you to ask them to trade me out for Kuwabara or maybe even Urameshi?

[It's... a joke............ They're just dry. Save him.]
Edited 2018-02-01 19:52 (UTC)
thawedheart: (covers mouth)

[personal profile] thawedheart 2018-02-01 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[NAH]

I would never!

[dry enough that she takes him seriously. i'm sorry.] If you were asleep, I would miss you, too.
impregnates: (pic#12042149)

[personal profile] impregnates 2018-02-01 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ To any normal person, this would be an exceptionally scandalous position. If not scandalous, then titillating. And if not titillating, then at least embarrassing. But the thought never even crosses Chrom's mind, brows furrowed with focus as he strains forward to press his forehead to Frederick's. He has a goal in mind, and a little bit of uncomfortable proximity isn't going to stop him as he chases for freedom.

And yet, despite their best efforts, they remain trapped. The vines are loser now, but the instant that Chrom tightens his grip on the Falchion, they return to being vice-tight, tighter than they had been before as if reprimanding for his attempt at escape. ]


Apparently not.

[ They're eye to eye, but Chrom's gaze is elsewhere, shifting as he runs over multiple options in his head. Eventually, he looks back at Frederick, contemplative. ]

Are you willing to come closer to me?

[ Just because he's not uncomfortable doesn't mean Frederick isn't. ]
ayes: (pic#11471768)

[personal profile] ayes 2018-02-01 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Her heart is suddenly aching.

She'd grown so used to everyone else being asleep that to have someone not be--]


oh youre still up on the station
hold on ill be up in like
20 minutes?? Ill be there asap
just stay there and dont go anywhere


[You is going to absolutely just book it to a place where she can transport back up to the orbiters. Chika. Chika's here and it's not a trick.]