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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #4 ❫
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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—
2. Let us now travel forward in time, shall we?  a. The Olympian settlement around you is quiet — until the screaming starts.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... 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. |
no subject
Doesn't seem to be going anywhere.]
We're in a tough spot. Seems like we've caught a fish too big for our boat. [A nod to the prisoners, though he won't be indicating which of the lot is the misplaced noble.] The pursuit is more than we expected.
To get out of here, there are two options those guys are considering.
Fight, or barter with hostages. Knock a few of 'em off so they know we're serious.
[He approaches, crouches, though not so low that he's not looking down at the captive.] Help out, and I'll cut you- [His eyes wander from Lancelot to the others,] All of you. Free.
no subject
There is not more than a beat or two of silence, Lancelot glancing off to one side to catch some of the captives from the corner of his eyes before returning his attention forward (...as well as upward).
It's not really much of a choice in the end when the other option is that some of the prisoners are to be sacrificed for example, but he can dwell on that technicality later, when he has such luxury to.
For now, he finally responds to the offer. ]
... Very well. I will cut a path for you and the others.
no subject
Those prisoners' lives are already being bartered with, just on a different stage.
Takasugi's smile bares more teeth than relief, like a beast about to sink its teeth into cornered prey.]
Good.
You'll be freed first. The rest when we're clear of the assault.
[No need to ask the men still arguing behind him, their desperation growing heated. Takasugi leans forward, plucking a knife from its sheath at his side and cutting the man free.]
Will you need a sword?
no subject
(That smile, although he will not show it, unsettles him. It brings to mind another smile, one he would rather forget, that caused a similar feeling to creep along under his skin.)
Once free, he moves to massage the area of his wrists that had been particularly dug into by the bindings. Having looked away now, he answers while deliberately keeping his gaze lowered. He's willing to extend the notion of intended subservience rather than intended recalcitrance to the man he's bargained with. That doesn't mean his tune can't change very quickly depending on how things actually unfold, but for now, he's not even going to bother showing resentment for being cornered into the situation to begin with. ]
I will.
[ two would be better but he is quite sure that asking for short swords balanced with dual-wielding in mind is a little bit presumptuous of their supplies. ]
Daggers will also suffice.
[As someone who also serves as a tactician, however, he immediately ventures to ask the other before he can move away:]
... Why is it they have they not considered bartering with this hostage that is already in their hands themselves? Their freedom and safety in exchange for their agreement they will have the soldiers stand down and allow exit of the city?
[ for a group that looks a little bit stressed from what he can see past Takasugi... Are they simply incapable of conjuring solutions to their problems without further bloodshed? ]
no subject
Takasugi measures the weight of the blade he's holding, hilt heavy in his palm. It isn't at all well balanced, but the edge is sharp. He sheathes it, fingers picking apart the buckle on its scabbard. Only a sword is left at his side.
All the while Takasugi listens to the man's question, eyes settled not on his lowered visage but on the bruises blotted over his wrists.
He pauses before answering, dagger hanging in his hand, arm perched on a bent knee.] They're starstruck. With a catch like that, they'd rather let the ship sink below the surface than cut the line.
But I'm not trying to go down on such a small vessel. [Has Takasugi asked the bickering leadership behind him for permission for this plan? It certainly doesn't seem like it.
Though, when he rises and walks away from the captive to barter another man's dagger from him, the frantic mumbling hardly quells. No eyes follow him as he returns, wearing an easy smile.]
Here. [Knives, uneven in size, thrown to the man's feet, Takasugi looks to the door.] They're coming.
[The door creaks, wood groaning under pressure of its hinges being tested by the city guard on the other side.] Go ahead, Mr Vanguard.
no subject
Lancelot hardly understand such conviction for fame, but from a point of serving one's country, he supposes he can imagine it... but he can think of very few hostages worth the lives of his men. The dragon knight captain glances about without obviously turning his head look, observing the handful of prisoners he is... responsible for now. He can't tell the difference but he wonders if this so-called prized catch is even here?
With the weapons dropped at his feet, Lancelot turns his attention to them with a blank expression despite the immediate distaste. What terrible weapons for combat. The only thing these blades guarantee in their capability is butchering. (how unsurprising considering the nature of the beast in this raid. What else would you need when your enemies are unarmed and untrained. Disgusting, but he has little hopes for the opposing force beyond that door, as well. They can't be much better if they need a particular status in their people to be in distress before making haste.)
Once he's verbally signaled, Lancelot grabs three of the random blades, placing one between a leather belt he has because idk wtf are outfits. \o/.
He moves by Takasugi without a word and offers not even a glance to the guerilla fighters focusing on that door as he closes in on it.
From the outside where the soldiers are working to get the door to give, the two at the very front might hear a strange cracking noise that doesn't fit in with the rest of the sounds and sights. Before they're given any chance to make sense or push back any further, the door violently bulges at its stress limit towards them rather than
away until the hinges and locks snap clean the door is sent blasting into the unfortunate guards in its path some distance with unnatural speed. That will certainly knock anyone from their feet and throw them. Any that aren't taken out by the door will see the other side of it is completely distorted and encased in ice, with a single frozen dagger at its center that seems to be the source of the magic blast. It's not, though, and for the ones that gawk too long, they are about to become victims to the ice tendrils that start to crawl out from the shack as if alive across the stone streets heading straight towards them.
The rest? Lancelot supposes he will incapacitate with the two weapons he got left now, if all that wasn't simple enough warning for them to run. ]
no subject
He's more interested in the clamor at their door.
The chill he feels is a result of more than the expanse of ice gnawing through the door. With the fight - one sided though it may be - breaking out so dynamically, he doubts he'll need to draw his own weapon.
Not that Takasugi is disappointed at that.
Soon his companions come gawking, standing a safe distance behind him as the captive lays waste to their pursuers. One after another they fall, motionless or shaking in the freezing air. Yet none flee - bound by codes that would deliver them as much or more suffering should they abandon their mission.
Seems there's a need for him after all.
Carefully stepping over a swath of ice, Takasugi kicks one of the felled soldiers onto his back - sword drawn, he presses it to the man's cheek.] Get up.
[The soldier does as told, hand drifting none too surreptitiously towards his weapon. Takasugi swats it, the side of his sword cracking across knuckles.] Deliver a report.
All of your men were wiped out by a fighter commanding ice and dagger.
[A cohort of theirs, as it appears...
The soldier is hesitant, but turns to rush down a side street, away from the conflict.
With that, only a few stragglers remain to be put down - and Takasugi will wait at the entrance to the shack for their captive-comrade's return.]