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.

larsenist: also why is it impossible (01)

B

[personal profile] larsenist 2018-01-28 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's so much happening that there's little time for heartfelt reunions—but when Akira spots a familiar set of blond pigtails, he books it across the field all the same, against the current of fleeing villagers. ]

Ann.

[ It's difficult to get his voice to carry over the chaos, and he picks up his pace instead until he's skidding to a halt next to her. (He's both relieved and glad to see her, though both sentiments will have to wait—that's a bigass dragon headed their way.)

There's a flash of blue flame as he shrouds himself in Joker's garb, a pillar of red and black unfurling behind him, shaping itself into his Persona. ]


Still got Carmen with you?

[ He doesn't see any other way to fend off such an enormous creature; even with the two of them it'll be tough, but he trusts they can at least see the evacuation through. ]
playingfetch: (when was the last time you danced?)

Cu is EXTRA BAD tbh

[personal profile] playingfetch 2018-01-28 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
[It takes him reading through all of those to "see" the smile. It's on its side! That's so confusing! The B one doesn't even make any sense! The others . . . all right, he's got it now.]

:(
ausus: bookxofxfables | tumblr (015)

[personal profile] ausus 2018-01-28 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ she's silent as she watches him decide that she's probably not a threat and step closer, hands lacing together loosely in her lap. the comment earns a slight dip of her chin in acknowledgment. ]

It is not real, but it would still be unpleasant to step on.

[ this feels very real in some ways, but in others, it's painfully obvious that it's all a kind of.. magic of its own. like illusion. ]

.. I mean you no harm. I only wished to see.. what this world will be like.
ax: (pic#2764080)

[personal profile] ax 2018-01-28 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
no

look for something that's
kinda like a triangle
with some curved lines on the right
adisaster: (pic#5313073)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-28 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
WELL


WHAT DOES THIS GAME INVOLVE
vladpire: (Up - Uncertain 3)

[personal profile] vladpire 2018-01-28 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[An expected question, yet Vlad still found his lips turning up into a little self-mocking smile.]

I suppose I'm a little of both. I came from a time where this wouldn't have even been something men dreamed of. I was taken from a time when men were not far off from this themselves. I suppose I'm a bit of an oddity. But take heart, sir. It takes time, but you'll find yourself adapting. It is what we must do, after all, yes? Adapt or die.
vulpining: (40)

[personal profile] vulpining 2018-01-28 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
You're a fast learner!

Try another one. >:)
thequitecontrary: (smile - cute)

[personal profile] thequitecontrary 2018-01-28 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[His movements do mimic those of someone high born and Mary is pleased to meet him in such a place. There's a playful smile on her face at the way he kisses her hand.]

Yes. [She says after a moment.] Yes it is. Will you tell me where I might find your land? [Perhaps a small country in Eastern Europe or the Middle East. Mary admits that she isn't as familiar with the regions out there as she is with Western Europe.]
fiendennor: (15)

[personal profile] fiendennor 2018-01-28 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Hm.
Not the strangest thing I've encountered here, I suppose.

Let's say I accept this claim: Shelley's poem is about the crumbling of your empire.
No matter your fame or wealth or power or pride in your era, the inevitable ravages of time have reduced it to only remnants and broken statues.

What other interpretation is there?
exaomori: (🐍 21)

stasis b

[personal profile] exaomori 2018-01-28 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
[By this point, Shura had a routine for checking out the pods. She had the best route around to check everyone out in the quickest way possible, though this usually took longer when she had Rin with her. Her routine is just established enough that she's come to take for granted that there wouldn't be any changes.

Except today there is a big change; Yukio's pod is empty, and there's no sign of him in the immediate vincity. It sets her off into a slight panic--she needed to call Rin, because what if Rin had found him before her and confronted him about his eye--, but it isn't more than a turn or two down the hall before she finds him, finds him staring into Moriyama's pod and speaking to her, absorbed in his grief. It isn't much of a relief, but he's there in the flesh, and that's a start.

She'll wait for him to turn from the pod first before she makes her presence known. There was no way to make the shock any easier; if he needed this, then she'd give it to him. Interrogating him before hadn't been that successful, anyway. So she stands a few feet behind him, waiting with her arms crossed over her chest.
]

Took your time waking up, Four-eyes.

[She is probably not who he wants to see. He must really like that girl if he looked like he was about to bawl seeing her like this.]
ausus: bookxofxfables | tumblr (027)

[personal profile] ausus 2018-01-28 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, [ she agrees gently, and begins to pick herself up, brushing a knuckle over her eyes to clear away any last hint of moisture. she will not cry, not when she's also so angry.

when she regains her feet, she brushes her bodice and skirts down, then glances to her companion again, drawing herself up as tall as she can. ]
.. No other world should suffer and perish. Not like that. Not so senselessly.

[ and perhaps if she can find others of her kind.. but would they have been saved? would they have been changed the way she was? it's impossible to say-- and anyway, it's a concern for later. for now.. she hesitates a moment, then offers a small, polite dip of her chin. ]

I am the lady Amalthea.
thequitecontrary: (you don't say)

[personal profile] thequitecontrary 2018-01-28 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
[Mary looks to the other woman, giving her a nod before exhaling a long sigh.]

Yes. Thank you. [A beat, then:] It's just that... this is my husband. He's been dead for nearly three years.

[Maybe if she talks about this matter of factly it will start to make sense. Of course. Why wouldn't Matthew be here? Why wouldn't anyone be here? This is all totally normal. No sense in cracking up over it.]
thequitecontrary: (cautious)

[personal profile] thequitecontrary 2018-01-28 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
A letter that no one can touch. Words on a screen. It's like a telegraph, actually, or like... a very small, very strange typewriter.

[personal profile] fiendennor 2018-01-28 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
You got lost... and wound up in the simulators? [Well, that's not.

So bad.]
I suppose it's safer than some of the things you could have done.

But to answer your question, as you've doubtless already realized, our magic works perfectly fine here. There's plenty of magical energy in this world-- more than there was back home.

I haven't had to use my wand's battery once since I woke up.

[A pause.] You're not hungry? I was starving when I first awoke.

stasis

[personal profile] fiendennor 2018-01-28 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[She recognizes that expression on the woman's face. Whatever relief this person might be feeling at their loved one's presence is little compared to the sight of them in deathless, dreamless sleep forever.

Diana does note the strange wisps of frost curling from the woman's hand. It's curious, and she makes a mental note of it, but says nothing.]


They'll keep her safe. I realize it's small comfort, but you can be sure of that.
almaredemptoris: (Default)

[personal profile] almaredemptoris 2018-01-28 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
I see

Second language


[There ought to be a question mark there, but he sees no key for this.]

No I speak only French and I can read some Latin

But I am well
inacan: (010)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-28 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not big on the bridal carry.

[ But nice try. ]

Don't worry, I'm tougher than I look. Let's get a move on, besides, there can't be much time left on this simulation.
exaomori: (🐍 34)

omage; un: sexXxy18

[personal profile] exaomori 2018-01-28 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
there's no time frame on it, so u just have to check in every once in a while. been a couple months since ppl last woke up so I guess it's about time

[Which meant she needed to go up to the station and check in, ugggh]
underwhelms: (don't look now eh)

i

[personal profile] underwhelms 2018-01-28 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Much like Jean, it's curiosity that brings JJ to the observation deck. He should've known better, because while he's faced his fair share of monsters and grotesque creatures by now, they're nothing in comparison to the nebulous Storm which has apparently eaten entire worlds and universes.

The surroundings that generation around him as the simulation begins is enough to freeze the blood in his veins, apprehension transforming into fear in an instant, chewing away at both his composure and state of mind. He knows it's futile, but every part of his body urges him to run. Even if there's no chance of escape—and surely all the villagers knew it too—he at least doesn't want to be alone here while everyone runs.

At the very least, he doesn't want to be left behind.

He gets as far as turning on his heel when the sight of Jean on his knees in prayer jars him out of his mindless compliance. It isn't something he's seen the entire time he's been on El Nysa, and for a few good seconds he just stares, eyes wide, and wonders if he's hallucinating. ]


Hey... [ But that's not possible, is it? And he ventures a step closer, hesitant to interrupt, but unable to stop himself. ] You're not going to run?
selfservice: (hm)

[personal profile] selfservice 2018-01-28 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
[His first instinct was to cower behind a broken wall, Cain, do you think he understands how to open the HUD for this VR?? He makes a face, irritable at this very mean judgment, but it doesn't last very long because there's still some crazy dragon stuff happening whether it's real or not.

Anyway, don't patronize him!!]


That's very, very, very interesting, but it isn't at all what I asked!! Instead of asking questions, help!
underwhelms: (won't go down eh!)

2b

[personal profile] underwhelms 2018-01-28 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cam probably would've appreciated any hero but this one.

First of all: JJ is not a hero.

Second of all: He can't fight to save his own life, much less anyone else's.

As per the usual, he's arrived at the scene unarmed and completed lost. If there are protocols or thought processes that people usually follow in life threatening situations, he doesn't know them. The prisoner before Cam had been despondent; resigned to his fate with his head bowed low.

JJ hadn't been able to believe what was happening as he watching, blood curdling at the sight, disgusted at the cheers around him. And now, with Cam struggling for freedom, it's too much to bear.

He still doesn't have a weapon, but he runs toward the alter all the same, and when the guard standing post in front of it notices his running approach, he shouts a warning and JJ has to improvise—

So he just grabs the nearest person and throws them at the guard. ]


Kick him!!

[ Preferably in the balls, Cam. ]
adisaster: (pic#9918725)

[personal profile] adisaster 2018-01-28 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
I'VE FOUND SOME USE FROM THOSE SIMULATIONS ALREADY

AND IT WOULD FUNCTION WELL ENOUGH FOR A TEST OF YOUR STRENGTH. HOW WILL I RECOGNIZE YOU?
inacan: (006)

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-28 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ no teenager, just a middle-aged guy who is too smart for his own good and knows too much pop culture. ]

you're just defying all the cliches today aren't you
so how old are you, give me an estimate
inacan: (013)

omage; un: IronMan

[personal profile] inacan 2018-01-28 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
-. --- --..-- / -... ..- - / ..-. .-. .. -.. .- -.-- / -.-. .- -. --..-- / ... ..- .--. . .-. / ... .--. -.-- .-.-.-
dorzalta: (Even while we sleep)

[personal profile] dorzalta 2018-01-28 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
A year. Ice pours down her spine, its chilled touch spreading as a plague to the rest of her body. Against all that she is, she shudders at the thought. How could nearly a year have passed, when their time together in Westeros...

She turns to face him with disbelief deep in the blues of her eyes and brows pinched together in a frown. He wouldn't lie to her. It's not why she reacts as she does. He hadn't lied about the dead, and look what happened when she hadn't believed him. She lost Viserion. The sting of that loss is still vivid and painful, like a missing limb. A piece of her heart, cut away.

Fingers grip his sleeve, tugging, coaxing him to face her. It's not enough. So she takes one step closer, into his space, near enough for his cloak to brush the front of her dress. A hand cups his cheek, her thumb describing the arch of his cheekbone ever so gently.

All those months would be ample time to accept what's occurred. Not so odd a concept, with the perspective of time to support these claims. And with his family here, a father and a sister... it was a second chance. She couldn't fault him for his earlier words in that respect. If it were possible for her own family to return, what might she have felt?

"Have I--" She clears her throat. "Have I been in that... that thing the entire time?"

This was more important. She would address her dragons again later.