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—
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.
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[ They're more or less figments of their imagination. The pain they'll feel if they get caught is, however, very real—his expression twists a bit into a pinched, harried frown.
But truthfully... he does understand. Maybe this guy's new to the whole process, or maybe he just really has enough heart to go save some virtual folks. Even for him, it's hard to close off his ears to their anguished cries, no more 'fake' than they would sound in reality. Either way, there's not much time to argue, and Yusuke suddenly bursts into his full thief's outfit, his clothes magically replaced in the blink of an eye. ]
Fine, but only if you hurry. Also, stand very still.
[ There's another, very sudden flash of light, this time shaped in a crescent arc. It slices through what remains of Cam's bonds as Yusuke drives back the first of the men approaching them, shoving him backwards until he slips on an ice slick. It mostly clears the path, but there's not much time. ]
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You should have warned me! [But Cam doesn’t waste more time (he does think that clothes changing trick was pretty cool though) and springs into action. He raises a hand,]
Nimbus!
[A dagger appears in his outstretched palm, forming out of a poof of clouds. He knew Nimbus was his favorite dagger for a reason. Careful not to slip-slide over the patches of ice on the ground, Cam dashes over to the restrained captives. As Yusuke keeps the guards at bay, Cam gets to work slicing through the ropes, going down the line one by one.]
Go! They can’t catch everyone at once!
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And Cam's only halfway through the line. At this point, he summons his persona full-tilt, a howling swirl of ice driving back these would-be prelates again—
This time, though, one of them bites back, his own magic forming as a flare of white flame that arcs high over Cam's head, melting the frost. Yusuke winces away from the bright light—leaving both of them to fend for themselves against like 20 dudes and a bunch of fire, enjoy. ]
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Help them. [Cam hands Nimbus to the newest released captive, a young man, gesturing to the line of remaining prisoners, who are now starting to look anxious as the chance to flee gets narrower. Thankfully, he doesn't even need a command spell before the captive nods and gets to work.
He runs up next to Yusuke.] How's it going? [By the time Yusuke manages a glance, Cam has summoned his spirit guardians, a handful of tiny cherubs that, if Yusuke looks close enough, all have Cam's face. They flit around him protectively, but it's hardly an intimidating sight.]
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It's likely we'll be overrun.
[ For whatever reason, his weapons aren't here, and this is a poor match for him as far as magic goes. Nevermind that the captives are too frightened to help their benefactors, skittering off as soon as they're free. Still, he sounds mostly even-keeled. ]
Unless your spritely friends can outmatch flame.