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.

meinwaifu: hand chin (Kukuku ♪)

Training 2A-1

[personal profile] meinwaifu 2018-01-27 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Creepy weirdo that he is, Mephisto's been watching Diamond from a distance for a little while now. They stood out quite a bit compared to everything else around them with that glittery appearance of theirs, and it was fascinating seeing their fighting style... wouldn't it be easier to draw their sword? Bludgeoning a man to death seemed far more brutal in comparison!]

[Once it seems the fight is over, he decides to just casually stroll on over, a little out of place himself for how relaxed he appears. But he's called out to before he has a chance to do so himself--]

[Hm. Not that different from what a young demon might ask.]


That would be blood. You can think of it like the fuel necessary to keep an organic human body living. It only comes out like this when the body has suffered significant trauma.

Have you never seen it before?
inacan: (010)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-27 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ he was being a little flippant there, mostly to hide his surprise (should he be surprised? He doesn't know), but now it's there and okay. okay, sure. Someone from home, who knew his dad. ]

The one and only
And you are


Margaret.


[ Yes? Yes. Sticking with proper names so as not to freak her out too much, maybe. ]
eaudevamp: (ғɪɴɢᴇʀ ʟɪᴘs)

[personal profile] eaudevamp 2018-01-27 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ At least it seemed he'd caught her attention enough to distract her from possibly going out and hunt humans? Good job? Yay? Let's see how long this would last. ]

It has been the way of nature. The cycle of life, they say. I can't imagine walking around with an undead body. Wouldn't it rot and waste away?

[ So far so good! The question had him humming, a finger tapping his chin. ]

If your method of siring is anything like in the Dracula novel, then mine is not the same at all. Where I come from, vampires are not sterile, and therefor are able to bear children. How is yours like?
panzersoldat: (23)

[personal profile] panzersoldat 2018-01-27 05:50 am (UTC)(link)
[ He'll get it later. He'll get all the praise and amazement later, when there aren't dragons to slay. Because this is the most epic thing he's done to date. He has to admit it. He has to admit that it's definitely exciting to have those weapons just streaking past his head to pound the dragon.

He likes his hammer too much or he totally would have tried to snag one of those swords. But he's not a swordsman. He's got what he is best with. And those flying weapons definitely work as a distraction for him to leap. It's quite an impressive leap for an old man and he slams the hammer against the dragon, going for the mid-neck. He needs to get higher if he's going to get to the head.

He's not sure if the dragon would be susceptible to Earthshatter. He's not sure if he wouldn't break the Simulator with it. He'll pocket it for if things go tits up. ]


Amazing!! We're wearing it down!

[ The hammer is good for breaking bones and stunning, but those flying weapons are doing a lot of damage. But he's not going to back off. He's staying close and trying to figure out how to smash the things skull. ] You, my friend, are amazing. And you, you big lizard... fall down!
diamondize: (drank all the drinks. And jump off roof)

[personal profile] diamondize 2018-01-27 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
What's-- [What the hell is HBO?? But they don't get to as when Tony suddenly punches the acolyte-- alas, poor fol, they hardly knew thee--startling Dia.]

I, oh. I'm Diamond. [They work on making sure the ropes are off of Tony's legs too before they stand and offer a hand. If Tony takes it, Diamond can pull him to his feet with ease--and Tony'll probably easily be able to tell that the hand he's gripping is decidedly not flesh. It's as cold and unyielding as, well, stone.] What's yours'?

[There's a whistle in the distance to indicate the backup guard is on its way]
Edited 2018-01-27 05:51 (UTC)
bornofgods: (pic#11994436)

[personal profile] bornofgods 2018-01-27 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ In contrast to Reinhardt’s heavy set of armor, Ozymandias looks rather under-dressed with a tight-fitting black top and matching, though looser, black trousers. He makes up for the plain practicality beneath with flashy gold jewelry and a matching belt.

Not bothering to mention that he most likely won’t be needing armor in the first place, he will not reject the man before him. That is an impressive set of armor, after all. ]


Hm? Yes, a man of your caliber will more than suffice! [ The high volume of his own voice boomerangs back to Reinhardt instantaneously. ]

I do not believe that this fight will cause us too much grief. My magic ought to be enough to burn this dragon to a crisp. Besides, even if this is a mere simulation, I will not tolerate failure!

[ Loud, bold proclamations aside, it is perhaps the novelty of the two men, the gleam of Ozymandias’ gold, or the simple fact that he’s been standing relatively still in one spot for awhile, but the dragon’s beady eyes are upon them. The shadow looms closer, preparing for attack. ]
eaudevamp: (ᴀɴ ɪᴅᴇᴀ)

omage | un : perfume

[personal profile] eaudevamp 2018-01-27 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ Reign wondered if the person on the other end was indeed of noble heritage, or merely used as a nickname. But anyway... ]

i am a vampire.
is that interesting enough?
revlon: (283)

[personal profile] revlon 2018-01-27 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ This is absolutely what she gets for logging on in the middle of the night. ]

Peggy, please.
You're Tony.


[ Surprise! She knows about him. Not a lot, but enough to help her manage the surprise of this encounter. ]
diamondize: (Can you face time me.)

Training 3

[personal profile] diamondize 2018-01-27 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
[It's the armor that attracts their attention at first, because sheesh it's almost as flashy as they are naturally. They actually thought for a second that maybe Yellow Diamond or something had woken up too until they'd crossed through the trees to find the source of the gold glint from the sun. Not that they can say anything about being sparkly.

They're a little disappointed to find it appears to be another human, but they're curious enough to stick around.
]

I've never seen anything like it. [That they can say with honestly too, and they eye his cup curiously.] What are you doing?

[They've rarely ever seen anything drink or eat before. How weird.]
meinwaifu: (Impossibro ♪)

Training modules A!

[personal profile] meinwaifu 2018-01-27 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[...no??? He's not touching some dead guy's arm???]

[But he can't just leave the lady hanging, arm outstretched as if it were anticipating some kind of bizarre high-five. So instead, with a little wave of his own hand, he floats it out of Velvet's and onward to the next person. Thankfully, the simulation is programmed in a way that prevents them from seeing this as anything out of the ordinary.]


You don't suppose they're going to ask up to offer something of our own, do you? I'm rather attached to my limbs.
punshots: (✘ parallax.)

1b i'm so sorry

[personal profile] punshots 2018-01-27 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ He has a bad feeling about this, Chewie. Actually, he's had a bad feeling from the moment the dragon started to hum, a distinct sense of foreboding as deafening as the bellowing sound, and Alphinaud's is not the only one who's eye is caught by the offering up of a limb. ]

Ohhhhhhhkay, no, nope, nooooooope -

[ And he's about to back it up on out of here, because this is not what he came here for. Not some kind of...weird, graphic history lesson. He came here to find familiar faces, or even unfamiliar ones, and help them through the simulation, but the group here is thick with natives, and it's not until he edges around the side of the throng that he catches sight of a familiar white braid that he should....prooooobably have paid a little more attention to the color of the ribbon of.

As it is, Prompto makes a beeline for Alphinaud, grabs his hand, and attempts to drag him right along with him away from the group. ]


C'mon - we don't want an audience with this guy to cost us an arm or a leg!

[ Like, literally. Also, hadn't Alisaie been visiting the stasis pods? Why would she have jumped into the training modules instead? Just...gently ignoring the looming threat of the dragon: ]

What happened to checking on the frosties?
baguablade: (05)

[personal profile] baguablade 2018-01-27 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
I will. The King of Heroes is much more impressive than the True King.
He's a tyrant.
But just to check - you're not a primal beast, are you?
panzersoldat: (15)

[personal profile] panzersoldat 2018-01-27 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ If the glittering gold and the men didn't draw the dragon, their mutual lack of indoor voices surely would have. Reinhardt feels he has to bellow to be heard over the den of war, but this isn't war. This is two men against a dragon. The poor dragon.

He still preens a little at the compliment. He wants to show this man that it's not misplaced. He may look old but he's still the same man he was 30 years ago (just a little more creaky in the joints.) ]


Magic? [ Of course. Magic. Reinhardt once again is a little jealous of the fact that he's from a world were magic really isn't a thing. All he has is himself and his skills. He can't rely on magic. ] As a Knight of the Code, I give my word that I will not fail!!!

[ It's boastful, but the dragon is turning towards them. Reinhardt ready's himself and his shield. He sets his feet and guesses the space between him and certain death. He might get a good charge in, but he doubts he can pin and stun a dragon. But by god is he going to try. ]

Then prepare your magic, Mage. I'll distract him the only way I know how. [ He takes a breath, shifts his shield and raises his hammer. ] FOR GLORY!!!! [ And he's off, running at full tilt towards the toothy danger. ]
inacan: (008)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-27 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Interesting, but not as shocking to Tony as it might be to someone who hasn't tangled a bit with aliens and gods and alien-gods already. ]

Tony. Nice to meet you.

[ Then he spins and gets a knee in the groin of the first guard. ]
colorature: (Default)

[personal profile] colorature 2018-01-27 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Just...give her a moment. There are a lot of words there that she understands but doesn't at the same time. She doesn't understand what he means by sterile, but she understands what it means to bear a child. That's what Solomon and Amshel want her to do, isn't it? Mate and have a baby? Still, that's not the same as siring, at least as she understands it.]

Only myself and my darling sister are capable of siring others. We are Queens, after all. [Just fyi.] If I want a new Chevalier I've to give the human I wish to turn my very own blood. They have to be nearly dead though.

[But back to the children part. She takes a step closer, reaching up with a hand to touch his cheek, fingers ghosting downward, so she can poke one of his fangs. Her touch doesn't linger and she's soon taken her hand back, only to quite obviously check him out.]

Solomon and Amshel want me to mate and have a baby. [Not that he knows who they are but, y'know.] I never got to meet my bridegroom so maybe you'll do.
Edited 2018-01-27 06:09 (UTC)
inacan: (001)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-27 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
that's right
my very first temporal paradox
i mean i'm assuming you're younger than the "Peggy Carter from work" i met when i was 8
revlon: (209)

[personal profile] revlon 2018-01-27 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
I should hope so.
You likely know more about me than I do about you, but I've heard a little.
pussywhips: (038)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-01-27 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ The hands on her arms are enough to jar Ann's attention away from the guards for a second—they feel like normal hands, except for the part where they're rocklike and cold. That's... strange. She looks up at the person she was thrown into, her eyebrows raised in surprise. ]

What? Oh!

[ What was the question? Something about not wanting to cause any trouble. Which, after seeing the way these soldiers are harassing the villagers—her expression transforms into a scowl as she rounds on the soldiers again. ]

Hey! You guys can't just treat people like this! [ Sorry, friend. ]
bornofgods: (pic#11987417)

[personal profile] bornofgods 2018-01-27 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed. The greatness of Percy Shelley cannot be denied!

Hm. I would recite the poem. However, written words would pale in comparison to my voice.
originallutece: playing with a blowtorch and doing dabs seems like a terrible combination but you do you (talk; uncertain)

[personal profile] originallutece 2018-01-27 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
Wouldn't you? I find other worlds intriguing, especially when they're different from mine.

[She takes a few steps forward, circling around him, looking him up and down.]

And though I've encountered plenty of interesting people since I've woken here, I've yet to meet anyone calling themselves a superhero. Isn't that nice? You're unique.
panzersoldat: (ponytail2)

[personal profile] panzersoldat 2018-01-27 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ Just wait until he takes off the helmet. He looks more like Odin than Thor, tbh. At least with the helmet on, it's hard to tell that this is a 60 year old talking and acting like this. ]

Actually [ his hammer swings, keeping up those heavy hits. ] it's Tyr, God of Honor and Justice! [ War too, but it's the first two that Reinhardt like's most.

He also seems to enjoy tanking, because he really is taking a beating in that armor while Tony is using the muscle Reinhardt rarely bothers with. Brains seems to be the way to go, since the dragon didn't like the sword to the squishy gut all that much. Bad fantasy movies one, VR Dragon 0.]
inacan: (008)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-27 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
probably
dad loved telling stories
who's tattling on me?


[ Clearly not his father - though he wouldn't be surprised to find Howard here. But no, Peggy already mistook him for Howard. Please don't be Rogers, please don't be Rogers... ]
diamondize: (I cant miss out on a half day of work)

[personal profile] diamondize 2018-01-27 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Diamond listens intently, brow furrowed slightly. Oh. Fuel for an organic body... And they were leaking it? They look down at the body grimly. Leaking a lot of it, it appears.] The body isn't disappearing either... [Very different from the Lunarians.] I was trying to avoid this, exactly. That's unfortunate...

[They really do feel a little bad, but 'death' doesn't feel like a real thing. It's not quite a concept they can get their head around; they know that, somehow, it's permanent for organic beings, but Dia can't shake a feeling of 'well maybe his buddies will collect him, patch him together, and he'll wake up again.'

The question has them looking up and shaking their head.
] No. Neither my kind nor the ones we fight leak like this. [Still crouched down they do a sort of awkward little shuffle back as some of the blood begins to creep towards their shoes and frowns a little]

How do we put it back in them? Or do we leave it for their doctor when their body is picked up? [Assuming it...is picked up.]
revlon: (078)

[personal profile] revlon 2018-01-27 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
Captain Rogers, of course.

[ Sorry, pal. ]
inacan: (010)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-27 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah but I'll be doing more poll taking than individual interviews. Get a bigger sample size, you know.

[ If she's sizing him up, he's doing a bit of the same to her, albeit slightly more covert. ]

I'm not unique. In fact, there were a bunch of us in my world. We even teamed up sometimes. Not that it did our world any good, in the end.

[ He reaches out, puts his hand on Rhodey's stasis pod. ]