elnyan | ❪ test drive #4 ❫

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test drive

❪ 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.

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[ simulated or not, he feels so real, warm and solid - he even smells the very same as he always has. it's him. it's him. for as independent a girl as alisaie is, and for all their marked differences, existing here for so long has felt like living with only half of her heart. a world in which they are not together, even at each other's throats, feels simply wrong. ]

You.. y-you have been..

[ at last her voice cracks around a sob, and alisaie cannot help the rush of tears that spill over, or the way her hands grasp tightly in the back of his coat, knuckles white. ]

You have b-been asleep, you godsdamned fool - for so long -

[ Ah ... He does remember sleeping, though for how long, he wouldn't know, of course. But according to her, it must have been a long time. It's a wonder he can still move about normally and doesn't feel overly groggy.

Softly: ] I see.

[ He has enough information to go on now, at least, even if it's mostly vague. He only knows that he'd been asleep for a long time, but that's enough to understand why she might be hurt — if it had been the other way around, he thinks, he would've felt immense concern over her. He can only assume she may have felt something similar.

He hasn't seen her sob over many things, especially not as of late, so he has a good idea of how she might be feeling, and thus he moves his other hand to the back of her head. It's all right, sister, let it out.

And though his words likely don't mean nearly as much as his presence, he speaks regardless (because when does he ever not?). ]

I ... am sorry, sister. Had I any control over it, I would have woken sooner, I assure you.

[ He keeps his soft tone when he says that. Honestly, he doesn't like the idea of sleeping a long time himself, as he's most certainly the type to want to keep moving. And for as much as they're at each other's throats, his love for her and his need to protect her is still endless.

He's curious to know how long it's been, but perhaps now isn't the time to ask. His sister needs him more than he needs to know that. ]

[ for as riotously emotional as she can be, it generally takes quite a bit to reduce her to this, for generally speaking her pain usually translates to anger before anguish, or some combination of the two. to feel complete and utter sorrow is less common, as alisaie is wont to lash out at the things that have hurt her; it is how she functions, how she has always functioned.

not that she isn't angry. of course she's angry. angry with the storm for having taken their home from them at all, angry with the natha for their nebulous responses concerning when and if he would ever wake, and of course, inexplicably angry with alphinaud himself for taking so damned long, even if she knows, logically, that it is in no way his own fault. if he is anything, he is involved, even over-involved, she could not imagine him ever choosing to stay out of the game for so long. still, she's angry anyway!! because it is inside of her, and it has nowhere else to go.

but for now, for this moment, her absolute, all-encompassing relief is far stronger than her fury. there are no words that could possibly describe the extent of this alleviation, and how genuinely, incredibly, impossibly happy she is to see him here, hale and whole and alive.

with a great sniff she pulls back at last, though her hands remain bunched tightly in the fabric of his hood; if she releases him, he may very well slip away again, gone, evaporated.. ]

Oh I am s-sure you would have. [ she says, a little sharply, though there's the curve of a tease in her trembling voice. ] I could not imagine you voluntarily keeping your nose out of any world's business for nigh on eight moons.

[ Once she pulls away, he moves his hands down to his sides again, though he has no problems with her holding on to his hood — whatever helps her.

He's happy to hear the tease returning to her voice. It gives him proof that she's calming down a little, at the very least, and that's good to see. But what she says is ... not good. And his expression changes to something more akin to confusion. ]

Eight—? Gods, you cannot be serious, though I can find no reason why you would not be. I should think it a miracle I am still alive ...

[ Not ... that that would make her feel better to think about, and he realizes this after he's said it. He was just so shocked, he couldn't help but utter the words. Seriously, eight moons? He's not a bear of some sort. It's not natural for one of his kind to sleep for such a long period unless they've been poisoned or something. ]

[ it's a good thing at least that they are the only two here - alisaie is not necessarily ashamed of her outburst, and gods, it felt good to at last excise that little knot of pain that she has been carrying for so long - but still, the fewer to see her tears, the better. alphinaud of all people would certainly not judge her for it.

still, now is not the time to vent all of her aches and pains, they'll soon need to focus their energies on escaping this little dilemma. but for now.. for now she just needs this, to take in the sight and sound of him, to allow it to sink in that he is well and truly here (though honestly, until she sees him in person, real person, it doubtless won't sink in entirely).

pulling in a deep breath, alisaie closes her stinging eyes and centers herself, then at last pulls back to scrub her eyes with her sleeve. ]

Well thank the Twelve, you are. Though to be frank, I had thought..

[ her sentence trails, her eyes averted; it is difficult to admit aloud that she had thought, for a time, that she may never see him again. ]

[ Ah ... That hurts him to hear — almost feels like he's being stabbed through the heart. He's no stranger to the fear of believing his sister to be in life-threatening danger, and he knows how utterly stressful and concerning it is. Though with how long he'd been out, he's sure she must have felt that even worse than he ever did.

He's almost at a loss for words for a second, but he scrounges up the ability to speak — he's not one to be at a loss for long. ]

Alisaie ... There is ... naught I can do to relieve how you must have felt, but ... I am here now. Alive, and most assuredly breathing. You needn't fear for my sake any longer.

[ The last thing he wants is to hurt her. ]

[ for all she might give him hell for being - well - for being alphinaud - still her face warms to a smile at his words. for all they disagree on many things, the love they bear for one another is ferocious and uncompromising. he would never intentionally hurt her, and yes, right now she need no longer worry, even if it still feels tremulous, as if this newfound bittersweet joy may be torn out from beneath her at any moment. ]

.. yes. You are here.

[ and that is what matters most.

still, to assist in regaining her composure, alisaie inhales deeply, then balls up a fist and punches him right in the arm. ]

But that is what you deserve, nonetheless, for keeping me waiting.

Ack —

[ Wow okay, he should've expected that. It only hurts for a moment, at least, and he puts his hand over it to try to make it go away faster.

But if they're going to go back to their usual air, then he'll join her in it. ]

If that is all you will do, then I shall gladly endure it. How uncharacteristically merciful you are this day.

[ Giving her a small smile along with that. ]

[ ah, how she has missed that smile, the mirror to her own. ]

A passing kindness, do not expect it to happen again.

[ these tiny fists can pack a punch, after all!! but she exhales softly nonetheless, and inhales slowly yet again. she's still shaken, still in mild disbelief, but she's schooling herself back into some semblance of dignified togetherness, at least. ]

Now then, I suppose it is time we made our timely escape. No doubt you have.. many questions.

Aye, aye. [ He has no reason to ever expect her to be merciful or kind anyway!! But he thinks the whole thing is amusing, and he's mostly just glad she isn't crying anymore. They can work on going back to normal now. ]

I do indeed. But we shall cross that bridge when we come to it. [ First and foremost is getting to safety in order to have the conversation at all. And he gives her a nod before moving over to the door and pressing his ear against it, listening for any sounds of people outside.

And when he deems it quiet enough, he turns to her. ]

Shall we?

[ look, she's very kind. probably too kind. her heart is far too sensitive than she would like. but alphinaud is her brother, it is more or less her sworn duty to give him a hard time, it's how she expresses her love!! he's seen what she does to her enemies..

at any rate, alisaie unsheathes her rapier and crystal focus again, sure to have them at the ready, just in case. ]

I suppose we shall be taking the quiet road?

[ are they gonna mgs this shit ]

[ He knows, and regardless of how prickly she can be with him, he wouldn't want any other as his twin.

And he gives a small, half sarcastic sigh at that question she poses. ]

I would prefer it if there were at the very least an attempt to.

[ Look, he doesn't want to cause more trouble (or get into more trouble) than need be. If they can get out of this quietly, then that would be best. He's not his sister; he doesn't need to fight his way through everything.

But if they need to fight, he's not going to wuss out of that. Hence the keyword "attempt". Try your best, sister. ]

[ look, just because she can fight her way through anything does not mean she needs to. if they can keep from risking injury, that would certainly be ideal. but she definitely won't shy from it if it comes to it, either.. hence, you know, having the sword out. just in case.

but she is content to follow his lead, and watch his back, for now. ]

After you, dear brother.

[ it feels nice to say that again.. ]

[ He gives her a small smile, and then nods before slowly and quietly opening the door, looking around as he does. There doesn't appear to be anyone in the particular hallway, likely because much of the attention in the building is probably still on the event happening in the main room. Which will luckily give them time to find an alternative exit.

And such an exit would most likely exist in the back of the building. So traveling to the back it is!

He looks back, gives her a nod, and then quietly moves out of the room, making his way down the hall and expecting her to be following, of course. The sounds of the other room are still loud as ever, so he can only assume they're continuing on with the "festivities" while only a few of their men are likely to be looking for them. He visibly flinches a little hearing another scream of pain come from the commotion, ugh.

But soon they come to a perpendicular hall connecting to the hall they're moving down, and as he approaches it, Alphinaud hears the sounds of men talking about escapees. This stops him in his tracks, causing him to stop steps before reaching the hall, moving his back against the wall and turning to Alisaie to give her a 'shush' command, so she knows to keep quiet. He wants to wait and see if they go into any of the rooms down their hall before they reach where the halls connect. Just in case this doesn't have to end in a confrontation. ]

[ alisaie, of course, is more than happy to follow his lead. she is independent, and more than happy to do things her own way at any time, but when working in a group (even a small, two-person one), she greatly prefers to take a backseat. thankfully, alphinaud is more than happy to fill the leader void, most of the time.

so she creeps silently behind him, her grasp on her rapier still sound, her eyes sharp and her ears bent toward any sound or movement. it's good to be elezen, when it comes to sneaking about.

the moment alphinaud snaps back against the wall alisaie does the same, immediately, pressing tightly to the stone behind her, and watching his expression. so what will it be, brother? fight or flight? ]

[ A good question indeed. The men are coming toward the corner they're hiding behind, passing any of the doors near them, so he has enough reason to believe they're going to keep coming. Which leaves his options clear — either they fight, or they find a way to avoid it, and he would certainly prefer the latter.

Putting a hand to his chin, he thinks on the situation for a moment, before getting an idea. And thus he turns to his sister, whispering softly. ]

Alisaie. You are capable of binding others, are you not?

[ He's almost certain she is, but he'd prefer to check. ]

Aye.

[ tether - the skill that is absolutely useless in game, but sure handy in rp. she's ready to act, however, and lifts her crystal focus; it hovers serenely over her palm, awaiting her command.

her eyes dart down the hall. ]

On your ready.

[ Good, good. A useful skill indeed.

So he gives a nod toward her, while giving a second or two to think about where exactly he'll run once they're bound — and readying himself to book it, honestly.

And then he speaks. ]

Now!

[ she's ready for it, and the moment the men come into view, and alphinaud barks his order, alisaie is charging up her spell and shooting it quickly down the corridor. aether gathers in a tight ring around the ankles of the approaching men, holding them fast, and the surprise that darts across their features is visible even at this distance.

but she doesn't take the time to look for too long. ]

It won't hold long.

[ time to bail, baby brother!! ]

[ Yes, good, time to bail. He nods as a way to tell her he understands it won't hold long. ] With me.

[ And then he runs off, passing right by those men now that they're stuck in place and making sure not even to look back, as that'd detract from his speed. They make it a little ways before he passes a room with a rather large window — one that could easily be used to escape. And with the growing voices and shouts behind them, it's probably best they bail as soon as possible.

So he starts on moving a chair toward the window so they can climb out. Not particularly elegant, but it works. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

❪ test drive #4 ❫

oh well!!

:(!!!

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tags u instead of jumping up those godforsaken pegs

the pegs are still there, waiting for you..

whimpers softly

an endless parade of jumping puzzles, forever

never again (until i run out of things to do)

sooner than u think im sure

god i sure hope not

pegs as far as the eye can see!!

literal hell!!

sure is

whines

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