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.

nineteenfortyfive: (GLASSES)

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2018-01-27 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Who's a friend?
cacoethical: (Default)

[personal profile] cacoethical 2018-01-27 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
subject????? or hang on

[Is this a trap? Shit. It might be a trap. Or is that stupid? Who, after all of this, would even care? Aside from Priest. Priest would care. Priest would also be subtler. Probably?]

no ive changed my mind again i stand by that which one are you????
adisaster: (pic#9918689)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
I CAN ONLY OFFER THEM WHEN I KNOW MORE ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS STORM

IN A WAY THIS PLACE DOES HAVE WORTH, IN PRESENTING AN INTERESTING CHALLENGE, AT THE VERY LEAST.
micromania: (f26)

[personal profile] micromania 2018-01-27 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
A little...shaken, that's a good word for it. But I'll be okay.

[ That may have been a simulation but it doesn't escape Farah that this has happened unknown times to countless people. That it happened to her, except by the grace of...whatever runs this place. That it happened to Dirk. Todd. Amanda.

It's upsetting and a little infuriating honestly.
]

It'll be a moment before I can do that again.

micromania: (f26)

[personal profile] micromania 2018-01-27 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm Farah. Does that help?

Either this is Dirk or someone who knows him I'm guessing.
micromania: (f23)

[personal profile] micromania 2018-01-27 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Dirk Todd Amanda
adisaster: (pic#6437772)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
No -- "organics" are born from a coupling of man and woman. Though organic beings can be constructed ... They often do not have human hearts.

[ He's stepping close enough it's veering very quickly into personal space invasion territory. Seeing them both so close together, his golden armor and Diamond's overbearing shininess, might almost be blinding if they had any onlookers. ]

Your mannerisms, though ... Your speech -- they all seem very human. Did this "sensei" teach you such things? It's quite convincing.

[ Diamond likely doesn't have the context to realize Gilgamesh's tone is very "oh, how cute, it think it's people". ]
pussywhips: pixiv id # 2248 (079)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-01-27 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She can't help but notice that this guy seems... weirdly calm about this, and she can't figure out why. Has this happened to him before? Has he seen weirder? Is this just his personality? Either way, it's a contrast to the way she struggles and protests against this... plant.

Speaking of—at his question, she shimmies a little to see if she can get any purchase. Then stops, because a.) it's not working, and more importantly, b.) it just makes her very aware of the fact that she's wiggling her body against his.

Um. This is awkward. She can feel her face flush with embarrassment. ]


Uh. No. I think we're really stuck.
playingfetch: (the circus is coming to town)

omage; un LANCER

[personal profile] playingfetch 2018-01-27 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Caster, huh?

[It's so handy when Heroic Spirits are of the same mind about this chat thing, picking their class as their handle. It makes it so easy to find one another without anything being obvious to outsiders.]

Something tells me we've never met.

[Because the Caster he knows would sure as hell never say anything like these messages . . . what a thought . . . ]

That's a shame, though. I'd be interested in meeting the loveliest girl on the planet.
uninjured: (Default)

[personal profile] uninjured 2018-01-27 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
HMMM... WELL THAT'S TRUE.
BUT IT STILL LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE JUST YELLING.

ANYWAY, DID YOU WANNA PLAY A GAME?


[ and somewhere, deep within the darkest corners of the station, the jigsaw theme begins to eerily play. ]
tutorb: (Developing new Trials)

1a

[personal profile] tutorb 2018-01-27 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah yes. ]

[ Here he is. This motherfucker. ]

[ What a tool. ]

[ She has spent quite a bit of her spare time within these simulations, whenever given the rare opportunity. Perhaps (definitely) a selfish desire to feel and experience something other than listless cold, no matter how strange and distant it all still feels, like a layer of liquid glass between her and the imaginary world. It's something, something new in the grand scheme, and that is what matters. ]

[ Emperors notwithstanding, Sandra is capable of killing a great many things, though the trophy heads of dragons fit to rival the Greater Titans are not among her repertoire. But it is with a calm tenacity that the small woman moves amidst the chaos, and that is undoubtedly what catches Manley's eye, rather than the striking raiments that might have, had the simulation not disguised them. Likewise, he has never made himself an easy Sap to overlook, even without the fact that he is the only living soul within these crowded training rooms... But she would persevere as is customary of the Nightwings, were his sudden, pathetic appearance not so hilarious. ]

[ Dissonant to the desperate-sounding pleas, screams, and roars around them, she chuckles softly. ]

I suppose I would never put it past you to try, but flattery, as they say, will not get you far. [ Sandra sidesteps close, into the partial cover behind which Manley cowers, though she makes no move to help him up. ] You will find that your legs will get you much farther, and I would expect you to use them if you wish to get anywhere.

[ get up shrub, welcome to the real (fake) world, it's a bitch ]
allamhigo: icons from thanks punch @ dw unless stated otherwise (pic#)

gurl pls — II.

[personal profile] allamhigo 2018-01-27 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That makes two of them then, because when given the choice between running or fighting, Lyse will always be the first to launch herself at this sort of problem. Although she is more underdressed by comparison, hardly armored or ready to fight something so formidable as a dragon.

But she doesn't seem to be backing down. Quite the opposite, actually—she looks fired up and ready to go. ]


The eyes might be a good place to start. That is where most of their power comes from, isn't it?

[ At least that's what she's heard from first-hand accounts. Take those things out and they will have a much better time of it, in theory. Punching one hand into the other, Lyse begins to settle, then pauses in surprise.

...Wait, is that music? Coming from her armor?? It's not a good idea to break eye contact with the enemy, but her attention is split. what ]
cacoethical: (dgfy103 (997))

[personal profile] cacoethical 2018-01-27 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
THIS IS FARAH??????????????????????????????????????

[Who indeed could be behind all these question marks? Dirk has drawn his knees up, sitting curled up on himself in his chair, gawking down at the phone in his hands with quiet joy.]

whats that username??????? no scratch that how long have you been awake???????? ARE you awake??????? no DONT scratch that WHAT is with the username????? i love it it suits you
pussywhips: (009)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-01-27 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
you know, i wouldn't really be that surprised
this place is full of weird stuff.
shashka: credit | <user name="fustercluck"> (be the ya to my hoo)

[personal profile] shashka 2018-01-27 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ DD's ears perk up a little bit at hearing the mention of a "dog with a missing eye". he pushes his nose into John, hoping for the man to give him a little more affection. ]

Picked him up in Afghanistan from a friend of mine. [ probably the best way to describe "Venom Snake" for the time being. ] I trained him, and he would take him out on missions. His name's DD.

[ he gives his dog a smile, impressed at well-behaved he's been. eventually, he was going to have to say more, but for the time being, this was a lighter avenue of conversation.

he knows that once John hears what happened to the Medic, that was going to make things a lot harder. ]
adisaster: (pic#9918725)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
THAT IS A SACRIFICE I WILL ACCEPT

[ There's a pause as he considers her question. ]


THAT DEPENDS ON THE SORT OF GAME IT IS. IF YOU PROMISE TO AMUSE ME I'LL CONSIDER IT
moneytwin: Official Art by Wendy Sullivan (<user name="WendyDoodles" site="twitter">) (I'm Very Perceptive And I Call Bullshit)

[personal profile] moneytwin 2018-01-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The wobble almost has Vex stepping forward to offer a hand in case of falling. Almost.. As it is, she relaxes back when the tower of tieflings finds its balance, and she arches a brow in reply. ]

The cleaner? or the person sleeping? I don't think the snoozing person there is going to care much. [a pause, before she stops leaning and squints at the rather prominent doodle.] ...Are those the only things you can draw?
poolhall_killer: ([Xrd] somber)

Stasis Unit

[personal profile] poolhall_killer 2018-01-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Outside of the occasional chat, Venom does his best to leave other visitors alone. He has his own pods to attend to, keeping his allies' area clean and full of fresh flowers. Always bringing the closest matches to Easter lilies and a variety of roses and sunflowers for Millia and Lord Zato, respectively.

But a peculiar conversation catches his attention as he spots someone reading from the issued handheld. He can't tell if the other's just joking or taunting the sleeping individuals.]


I'm sure they can't hear you, unless that's your intention.
nineteenfortyfive: (MARSALI)

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2018-01-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I do know a Dirk that has mentioned those people before. Dirk Gently?
willrevile: (0096)

[personal profile] willrevile 2018-01-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I've stumbled on some weird plants, [ he says, trying to wriggle a bit to get more leverage, to no avail - he just ends up being drawn even closer squished to the other man. ] You'd be surprised.

[ Jim can definitely reach his phaser from here, but he'd feel really bad if he shot a potentially sentient being. Even a simulated one. Damn you, Starfleet morals. ]

Well. Hi, I'm Jim Kirk. It's nice to meet you.
playingfetch: (we've all tried to)

omage; un LANCER (because how can I resist)

[personal profile] playingfetch 2018-01-27 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
You know there's a button that'll stop making the letters big like that. Had to get someone to show me the first time I used this thing.

What kind of entertainment did you have in mind?


[Of course he thinks it's a woman. Of course he does. The username is GORGEOUS. That's a woman, right?]
willrevile: ( commission / dnt ) (0210)

[personal profile] willrevile 2018-01-27 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like you got to space travel or at least inter-planetary communication quicker than my home planet did, [ Jim says, with an implied shrug. ] We were pretty slow on the uptake about it, owing to having nearly wiped ourselves out with war after war.

We don't really do the 'rule' thing, though.

[ That's for the neighbors. ]
ukase: (Game Face)

[personal profile] ukase 2018-01-27 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[He had seen many people come and go after checking on certain pods, but the place was usually quiet. He'd had a few comments for how he acted here, but when had he let anyone but his commanding officers actually tell him what to do? Besides, aside from making a plan on what he was going to do, there was no much aside from bugging one of the few people he had identified here.

He didn't even look up from scrolling through the days posts, looking for more juicy introductions that he could use. There was so much fodder here if one knew where to look.]


What does it matter if they can hear us? They're here, so we may as well be loyal to the idea that some day they might even join us. [He flicked his eyes over.] Besides, it's not like they can smell flowers and yet... there you are.
adisaster: (pic#9918722)

oh my god

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-27 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
FOOL

I REALIZE AS MUCH

BUT THE LARGE SIZE COMMANDS THE MOST ATTENTION.


[ There's a pause in his type as he considers the question from this ... Lancer. It certainly doesn't seem like a way that dragon girl would type, so that's right out. ]

I INDULGE IN ALL SORTS OF PLEASURES. THE TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT DOES NOT CONCERN ME AS MUCH AS THE QUALITY
selfservice: (very distracting)

[personal profile] selfservice 2018-01-27 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[whomst the fuck

Appearing suddenly and begging pathetically is a traditional Chastity mainstay method, not that Manley would agree that sitting on the ground making ridiculous pleas for help is pathetic of him - surely, his natural charisma will get him as far as he needs...! Or not, as all it gets him from Sandra is laughter and misused cliches.

Very rude, she should be ashamed, etc etc. He tsks, irritable, but not enough to lose his plastered-on, saccharine attitude, unfortunately...]


Oh, yes, yes, profound advice! [But he's getting up, he is, with only a little uncomfortable grunting from forcing himself into the most cramped position he could manage.] Very good!! What is the next step, hmm, quickly now, before we're both burned to a crisp by that monster!