❪ test drive #4 ❫

[natha]

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. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

Tiny ginger takes on a DRAGON more at 6

[thetaintedsorrow]

Haaahh??

[Chuuya is just about to charge recklessly ahead and blow the dragon away with gravity powers (or so he thinks) when some lady (who’s taller than him, god damn it) grabs him by the arm and throws off his game. He whips his head around, looking at her incredulously as he temporarily deactivates his ability to avoid accidental friendly fire (its a simulation, yes, but still, sending someone floating into the air seems rude).]

No shit. Nobody else is trying to fight it, so why not?

[A wicked smirk crosses his lips.]

Unless you’re offering to help.

[logpose]

Why would I want to fight that thing?! It's got to be a hundred times bigger than me! [ Her weather manipulation aside, she's really just a regular human. There isn't much she can do against a huge dragon. It's clear that Chuuya has some kind of ability, but will it be enough to go up against the beast? She isn't sure of that yet. ]

Come on, we should run! I'm sure we can think of a way to stop it without having to face it head-on!

[thetaintedsorrow]

Run? Seriously?

[Well. This chick does look unarmed...and his first priority when he was in the Mafia was to get bystanders to safety before turf wars broke out...maybe he should escort her somewhere safe first before he goes challenging a giant dragon...]

Fine. Let’s go.

[He reluctantly turns around and starts booking it, challenging her to keep up.]

You got a name? Mine’s Chuuya Nakahara.

[logpose]

Oh! You actually listened? [ She's used to people brushing off her concerns. Nami's usually surrounded by reckless idiots. She starts to take off after him, light on her feet but probably not as fast as Chuuya is. ]

It's Nami - come on, we can take shelter in that farmhouse over there! [ She doesn't actually want to let that dragon go rampaging around town, but without some sort of plan, it doesn't feel like their chances of stopping it are very high?? ]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[He didn’t get to an executive position in the Mafia by always charging ahead blindly. This was totally just a one time thing because uh, when else is he going to get a chance to fight a dragon?? But Nami is right; they need a plan of action to avoid too much collateral damage. He taps his chin for a moment before a plan suddenly pops into his head.]

How do you feel about distracting it while I find something big enough to hurt it with?

[Ah. He should probably explain his powers, shouldn’t he?]

I can make whatever I touch float when my ability is activated, along with other gravity related shit. If I can find something to hit it with we might be able to stop it without destroying the town.

[He grins.]

I won’t let you get hurt, don’t worry.

[logpose]

[ Oh. He's actually nice and reasonable! With how excited he seemed to be just now, she was honestly expecting another fight-crazed idiot. She was afraid of the dragon before, but she also knows she can't let it rampage through the town without doing anything. If she tries to take it on alone, she would most probably die. Now that he's promised to protect her, though, she's feeling much more reassured. ]

You can control gravity? That's really impressive ... [ She did get the sense that he was strong, and it looks like she was right. ]

I can stun it with my lightning while you get ready, but I don't know how long I can keep it busy. [ It looks like it's got such thick skin that it may not go down even after being electrocuted. ]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Sure can.

[Chuuya activates his ability, a red aura surrounding his body. It won’t become readily apparent just what he can do until he’s out in action, but he certainly wouldn’t lie in this situation. He glances out of the doors and scans the horizon for anything useful, and that’s when he spots a large wooden beam with a very sharp looking end to it lying in the rubble of what was once a house. His lips curve into a wicked grin; if he can just touch that beam he can launch it at the dragon and hopefully either kill it or injure it enough to drive it away.]

Alright, I got a plan. On the count of three, you run out and go zap it, and I’ll book it over to that ruined house and work my magic, got it?

[He crouches into a running position, giving Nami only a few seconds to prepare herself.]

1...2...3!!

[Chuuya bolts off, hoping that he can rely on Nami to distract the dragon long enough to make this plan work.]

1/2

[logpose]

Eh?! R-Right --[ Before she knows it, Chuuya's dashing in the other direction, leaving her to face the dragon on her own. She doesn't have much time to prepare, but she gets to work anyway, pulling out her weather rod and using it to general dark clouds. It takes a bit of time, but eventually she gets the cloud big enough that it surrounds the dragon. She doesn't know how well this will work, but -- ]

Thundercloud rod! [ With a swing of her baton, a flash of lightning strikes the dragon, electrocuting it and stopping it in its tracks. ]

I did it?! [ Looks so! The dragon has stopped, its eyes clouded as it stands there dazed. There's also that smell of burnt flesh, indicating that she at least managed to harm it. ]

[logpose]

[ The thunderclouds she had generated don't seem to be large enough, though. She's used to smaller targets, like people or regular animals. She isn't quite powerful enough to take down a monster of that size yet. Eventually, the dragon starts to twitch, gradually regaining consciousness. Scanning the area, it tries to find the person that had harmed it, eyes locking onto Nami.

It then lunges forward, jaws opening to crush her in one bite. Nami immediately starts to run, jumping out of the way. ]

KYAAAA!!! IT'S RIGHT HERE! BOSS-KUN, WHERE ARE YOU?! [ He looks like a tiny mafia boss...

The dragon's teeth miss her by a hair's breadth, and its jaw lodges into the ground instead, crushing the hard rock and soil. ]

[thetaintedsorrow]

[Chuuya hears a crackling of thunder before the sky grows dark, and he glances back just in time to see Nami zap the dragon with a bolt of lightning. Gross, burnt dragon stinks, but hey, the overgrown lizard seems focused on Nami now, and that gives Chuuya just enough time to bolt over to the pile of rubble and activate his ability. His body glows with a red aura, and he bends down to touch the large wooden beam. It immediately levitates in the air, and Chuuya grins.

Hell yeah. Still got it.

Oh. Oh shit. He took too long, and now Nami is screaming. Time to move!]

DUCK!!

[The dragon lodging its jaw into the ground gives Chuuya just enough time to put every ounce of strength behind his ability and launch the wooden beam straight at the dragons head. It flies through the air with terrifying speed, and the sharpened edge pierces right through the dragons skull with ease. The beast lets out a shrill cry, twitches a few times, and then falls into a heap, lifeless.

It’s brutal, and there’s a mess of steaming hot blood everywhere, but it was them or the dragon, so...

He sprints up to Nami, made nearly weightless by his ability, and helps her to her feet. He shouldn’t be smirking, but he is. Hell yeah, he just earned himself the title of (virtual) dragon slayer!]

You good?

[logpose]

Yes ... [ It all happened so quickly. One moment, she was a second away from being torn apart by that dragon's monstrous fangs, and the next, the dragon is falling back, crashing into the ground in a loud bang, twitching and squirming through its last breaths. In an instant, the danger is over, and it's all thanks to this tiny powerhouse of a guy she happened to bump into.

She kind of feels bad for the dragon, but more than that, she's happy to be alive (or, at least, to not have to come out of the game knowing how it feels to be eaten alive). It's that rush of relief and joy that prompts her to cross Chuuya's personal space for a second, pulling him into a big, hearty hug. ]

WE DID IT! We're safe! [ She even lifts his body up a little, smooshing their faces together. Hm? Why is he so light? ]

[thetaintedsorrow]

Oi! What are you doing??

[Chuuya is not expecting that hug, and he nearly loses his hat when Nami lifts him up and snuggles him. Normally anyone who dared to get so touchy-feely with him would get a nice swift kick in the ass, but...well, they did just survive an ordeal, so he’ll let this emotional outburst slide. Eventually he does squirm and wriggle out of Nami’s grip, huffing and rearranging his clothes and hat before finally deactivating his ability.]

Yeah, for now, but I don’t want to stick around to deal with anymore dragons. Let’s blow this popstand.

[Almost as if by magic, the simulation ends, and the two of them are left in the simulation room.]

Damn. That felt so real...

[He taps his chin thoughtfully.]

Is it like you die in the simulation, you die for real kinda thing?

[logpose]

[ Chuuya doesn't need to say it twice. Nami's more than elated to see the world around them disappear, the cold metal and bright lights of the simulation room replacing them instead. Finally, it feels like she can rest easy. For how long, she doesn't know, but with all that they've been through in the past half hour or so, she's hoping the universe will let her have a short moment of respite.

She's all smiles as she steps out o f the simulation pad until he brings up that very scary possibility. ] Don't say such a scary thing! I'm not going to die for something so stupid!!

[ So maybe she's never stepping into the sim again, just in case. ]