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.

colorature: (Default)

[personal profile] colorature 2018-01-27 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
I know, I'll be put to sleep.

[That's...not what Mephisto's getting at...but she's missing the point.]
meinwaifu: hand chin (Ohh now it's getting interesting ♪)

[personal profile] meinwaifu 2018-01-27 08:22 am (UTC)(link)
My, I suppose you would.

But are you so certain you could even kill me if you tried? I don't see any weapons on you... so why don't you humor me and tell me how you'd do it?

[This guy needs better hobbies.]
aequoreal: (❪ 𝚊𝚗𝚒 ❫ » sad)

kaldur'ahm | young justice

[personal profile] aequoreal 2018-01-27 08:23 am (UTC)(link)
STASIS CHAMBER
[ it seems too big to comprehend, impossible — but kaldur knows that it is not. he has fought to avoid the earth's destruction or a hostile take-over before, so it is not a new threat, but it weighs on him that they had not seen it coming, that they had been unable to do anything to prevent it.

it weighs on him, too, that he has not seen any of his team members in the halls of the station, not even in the mess hall. so now here he is, walking the stasis chamber with measured steps (on bare feet), taking stock of each pod's occupant. he finds robin first, then miss martian. superboy gives him pause because he knows that conner would hate to be back on ice — but he remembers, knows without knowing why he knows it, that smashing the glass and freeing his team member (friend) would do more harm than good.

this is not project cadmus.

so he bows his head and moves on. if he should come across anyone, he will give them a nod, expression heavy in the way a young man's expression should not be — the loss of a planet will do that, of course, but kaldur has always been more mature, more serious than his age.

that nod could be the entire interaction, but he finds himself lingering. an observant person might notice the gills at his neck or that his hands are webbed. more noticeable than both are the dark tattoos on his shoulders, curving down his arms. ]
Do you know if they wake up quickly or not?


OMAGE (un: aqua)
What, if anything, do the words Justice League mean to you?
Edited 2018-01-27 08:23 (UTC)
colorature: (Default)

[personal profile] colorature 2018-01-27 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
I could, if you're human like you say you are.

[Which he's not but y'know keep lying.]

I'd rip your heart out with my hand. It's not that difficult.
sparsity: (pic#11310730)

[personal profile] sparsity 2018-01-27 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ oh

ok.
]

...what is this.

[ That's Mikazuki's only reply. Not that the brief gleam of fangs from between her lips hadn't been compelling in its own right, but he doesn't have a lot of time to linger on it now that they're happily embedded in his wrist. Thankfully (??) all he does is sit there with his fork in one hand and his other fist flexed, watching Diva... do whatever it is she's doing. Once his skin is broken, there's an immediate metallic twinge that releases into the air, sharp and bright. ]
revlon: (072)

omage | un: carter

[personal profile] revlon 2018-01-27 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
Magic is real, too. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that.
abortz: (pic#11980620)

[personal profile] abortz 2018-01-27 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
[True, it doesn't seem openly aggressive right now. But neither did the little fluffies up until they re-merged and started attacking again. Bortz scoffs, shrugging Diamond's gentle hand off to grab their sword's hilt.]

And we're supposed to accept that it's safe because the humans think so?

[The sneer they say it with suggests they probably don't think all too highly of humans or their judgement. Why should they? It's a gross, inferior species that doesn't even live very long.]
adisaster: (pic#5313072)

#saveDia

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, it doesn't take a genius to rub two brain cells together and quickly come to the conclusion -- this is an actual diamond person in front of him. He could only really speculate as to their true nature, if they don't need to eat or drink ... Are they something like a magus' familiar? A homunculus?

Gilgamesh's curiosity abounds and he rises. There's a noticeable small>clink
ing sound as he does, his gaze still intent on Diamond as he steps a bit closer. ]

The only one of your kind ... ? Ah, but it's difficult to picture one more brilliant than you. You can almost compete with my own radiance.

[ It's high praise for Gilgamesh but the tone is more like evaluating an art piece than genuinely complimenting a living ... being in front of him, even if they weren't human. ]

Were you constructed, or born of something else?
meinwaifu: (MFW my waifu loves me ♪)

II... also sorry in advance for him

[personal profile] meinwaifu 2018-01-27 08:48 am (UTC)(link)
[He's not exactly sure how this turn of events came about, but somehow it seems he's found himself fighting a dragon alongside a magical girl who brought along her own theme music?? Actual Weeaboo Mephisto Pheles is all about this. In fact, he probably looks way too excited for a guy with no visible weapons who's about to face down a dragon.]

As much as my knowledge of video game weaknesses would like to agree with you, seeing as the beast spits fire-- [He gestures out to the burned scenery around them.] I imagine its mouth must be designed to withstand a great deal of wear and tear! Perhaps even more so than the scales on the outside.

But the eyes-- now those are more likely to be soft! If we can blind the beast, it might just be the distraction we need to give the villager more time to evacuate.

[Not that he particularly cares about the lives of others but-- these are NPCs in what amounts to the coolest video game ever created, so of course he's gotta save them!!]
beknight: ([ jl ] 08.)

omage | anonymous, encrypted

[personal profile] beknight 2018-01-27 08:49 am (UTC)(link)
You first.

- B.


[ He adds the signature as a quick afterthought. ]
meinwaifu: hand chin (Wait you were being serious? ♪)

[personal profile] meinwaifu 2018-01-27 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Is that the kind of statement that should make someone laugh?]

[Probably not, but he's gonna fuckin' cackle.]


Hahah! Not difficult, you say? Goodness, looks can be deceiving, can't they?
adisaster: (pic#9918725)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well, Gilgamesh definitely seems to appreciate the part of Reinhardt that's young and blonde and stupid because he seems happy with that response. Of course he'd be happy being told the acquaintance he had just met had even more than what he'd just been shown. It was an interesting fighting style, certainly, not one he had seen anything like in all his years of a Servant -- and he suppose no matter this place's many grave crimes against the King of Heroes, at least he could give it points for letting him witness such novelties.

The weapons continue like a hailstorm, though Gilgamesh looks thoughtful at what Reinhardt points out. The portals rotate mid-air independent of Gilgamesh moving, yet again, and thought they had been pelting the dragon randomly before more aim now for its wings, the joints of its legs, aiming to fell it. There were more options still if that didn't work, but Gilgamesh always played the game of keeping aces up his sleeve, and he didn't exactly think a simulation was a serious enough cause for it.

Alternatively --
]

Can you climb?

[ He proposes drily. At this point quite a few weapons would make a decent enough hold to scale the dragon on, sticking out of its flesh, but Reinhardt doesn't exactly look agile with his armor. ]
aequoreal: (❪ 𝚙𝚋 ❫ » attent)

∞ encrypted

[personal profile] aequoreal 2018-01-27 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ it could be batman, or it could be a ruse and for a moment, kaldur hesitates. ]

The League is a team of superheroes on my world, led by Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman.

[ information that does not give much of anything away yet. ]
thetaintedsorrow: (Le gasp)

Chuuya Nakahara | Bungou Stray Dogs

[personal profile] thetaintedsorrow 2018-01-27 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
I. The Storm

[Chuuya is no stranger to death and destruction, being in the Port Mafia. The attempted razing of Yokohama by the Guild had been devastating in several different ways, including loss of life. He's lost friends, comrades, subordinates, and stood tall through it all. His heart aches for them, sure, and he mourns in his own way, but life goes on, his career goes on, and he while he doesn't take their loss lightly, he can't afford to dwell on it.

But this...

This is nothing like what he's used to. An entire world, destroyed...innocents, running away screaming from an inevitable, gruesome death...children...animals...Chuuya watches with disbelief at the destruction.

When the simulation is over he stands with tears welling unbidden in the corners of his eyes.

Shit. He quickly wipes them away before glancing over at the other poor sap who got a one way ticket to Depressionville.
]

Pretty fucked up, huh?

II. (A) Training Modules, Past

[When Chuuya had volunteered to try out the simulation he'd expected some kind of virtual tour of a planet or something. But then he's transported to what looks to be a goddamn battlefield, and he swears he can smell fire and blood in the air.

A deafening roar echoes throughout the land, and Chuuya is greeted with the sight of a massive dragon wreaking havoc. A. Fucking. Dragon. He should be at least a little bit intimidated given the beast's size, but no. Chuuya's lips curve into a wicked grin, and though he's probably meant to use a sword or something given the setting, this is his simulation, and he's been dying to use his ability since he'd arrived.

And now there is a very tiny but fierce man, glowing red and charging headlong towards a dragon, alone. Someone save him from his own impulsiveness.
]

I'm gonna kick your fucking ass!!

[That's a thing you say to a dragon.]

III. Omage

You are now chatting with MrFancyHat, say hi!

MrFancyHat: Heya, who's this?
Edited 2018-01-27 08:57 (UTC)
beknight: ([ jl ] 153.)

[personal profile] beknight 2018-01-27 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
I'm familiar.

And you are?
aequoreal: (❪ 𝚙𝚋 ❫ » handsome)

[personal profile] aequoreal 2018-01-27 08:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ familiar could still mean a lot of things — but trust has to start somewhere. ]

Not part of the League, but I have worked with them.
uninjured: (Default)

lounge also these aren't the tiddies you want but the ones you're getting

[personal profile] uninjured 2018-01-27 09:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ Beatrix had caught a glimpse of this weirdo previously when he was sitting all by his lonesome like a loser—and of course her opinion of him was admittedly much less extreme in comparison to that description. A passing thought and nothing more, a smile she registers but doesn't initially respond to, and perhaps he doesn't remember her as much as she does him in their split second of recognition but she uses it as the reason to join him in front of the television.

Drama? On this planet... ship... universe? That's to be expected.

And yet she's still drawn to the picture blinking across the screen as well as the civilized arguments that erupt between the couple. ]


Hm. [ A short hum of acknowledgement, lips finally parting as she unintentionally mimics his sitting position; down to the hand gingerly placed on her chin. ] You'd think that if they never intended to stay with each other that they'd find their own strength. Borrowing it from someone else just doesn't sound right... what do you think? [ And yes that's directed to you, same face anime boy #3942984. ]
beknight: ([ bvs ] 71.)

[personal profile] beknight 2018-01-27 09:03 am (UTC)(link)
Atlantean?

[ It's a guess, from the username. ]
aequoreal: (❪ 𝚙𝚋 ❫ » worry)

[personal profile] aequoreal 2018-01-27 09:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ the guess eases at least some of kaldur's worries, though it does nothing to make them go away entirely. ]

Yes.

Now it is your turn.
eusford: (pic#11714573)

[personal profile] eusford 2018-01-27 09:08 am (UTC)(link)
Hardly.

[ He argues swiftly, hand dusting itself off the side of his pants before he blinks slowly in response to her question. ]

What gives you that idea? Did the chair throwing finally give it away?
beknight: ([ jl ] 122.)

[personal profile] beknight 2018-01-27 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
Put it together. I've already showed my hand.

[ Bruce knows his methods are recognisable enough to a colleague, if whoever it is tells the truth, they should have an idea who're they're speaking to. ]

Come to this location. It will be a test.

[ He taps out a set of coordinates that lead to a training room, which will refuse any of Kaldur's attempts to program a scenario. He can only enter. ]
houndedby: (pic#11684562)

sandor clegane - got - ota

[personal profile] houndedby 2018-01-27 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
i. training modules (1a)
[If this is meant to make Sandor feel out of his element, it's not doing a great job. The dirty, crowded village is a far more familiar sight than a sterile, new-fangled world that he wants almost nothing to do with.

There's some sort of panic going on here, not that Sandor seems particularly concerned. They want warriors, he sees free weapons, he'll grab himself a sword and take a look at the kind of shit they're dealing with here.

Sandor holds his sword lazily, but his approach is careful. He steps slowly around the wreckage, eyeing the charred ground warily before the screams of terror draw his attention upward. His brows raise slowly and he stares for a long moment before he steps back, he throws his sword to the ground with a clatter and turns back around.

He isn't running away, he's walking away. Briskly.]


I fucking think not. [He spits, muttering to himself.]

i. training modules (1b)
[The serenity of this scenario makes Sandor no less wary. He watches the great, fucking dragon loom overhead and he takes a careful step backward. He doesn't drop to his knees in awe, he stands back and narrows his eyes at the beast.]

Why aren't we killing this one? [He asks, blandly. It's rude, as is the case with most of what he says, but he's genuinely curious.]
diplomatie: (2483720-73)

wait no ;a;

[personal profile] diplomatie 2018-01-27 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ That's his sister ... fighting-oriented as ever.

And he quickly follows his carbuncle as well, until they reach an opening in the men and have the chance to make their way out of that room of the temple. He doesn't know what the surrounding area is like, but he can't imagine they'll be able to run far without running into others who might see them harmed.

So the first chance he gets, he grabs Alisaie's arm and pulls her into one of the empty private study rooms, locking the door behind them and catching his breath. ]


I believe we should be safe here for the time being.

[ And that's good enough for now. He doubts they will just barge in on a private room. ]
colorature: (Default)

[personal profile] colorature 2018-01-27 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Is that a joke? If it is it isn't very funny.]

No. [Your strength isn't that impressive dad.] You don't smell human.

[Of course the fangs are a giveaway too.]
aequoreal: (❪ 𝚙𝚋 ❫ » comment)

[personal profile] aequoreal 2018-01-27 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ he has showed his hand, but kaldur would appreciate the confirmation that he is correct to assume this person is who he thinks he is. there are those who could imitate even batman, at least for a while.

a face to face meeting will serve as all the confirmation he needs, and so it is a few minutes later (accounting for the time it takes him to make his way to the coordinates, accounting for the minute he tries to programme a scenario and fails, the moment he decides to trust his instincts and enter regardless) that kaldur steps into the room. ]