elnyan | ❪ 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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Despite the severity of their situation, the words bring a faint smile to Frederick's lips. ]

I've made it my duty ever since I was introduced to you, milord, to always stand by your side, as close as you will allow me.

[ Watching Chrom grow from a gangly child to the fine young man he is today has been nothing short of a delight and a great honor. Certainly, there are some laws of propriety they ought to respect, particularly where the Exalt is concerned, but there is no one here to observe their antics, only the gentle cheeping of the birds above.

(How romantique.) ]

All you need do is say the word.

[ And Fred will do whatever's requested. ]

[ He should've known. There's not a single person on this earth more stubborn than Frederick. (Chrom would know, he'd made numerous attempts to ease the knight out of his more... unnecessary and embarrassing habits.) There's nothing that Frederick wouldn't do if he thought it would benefit Ylisse or the royal family.

But just because he's willing doesn't mean that Chrom doesn't sometimes feel the weight of the sacrifices Frederick makes for his sake. ]

Then, if you'll allow me.

[ It's just a guess. And odd one to be sure, but these vines appear to be scheming something, and Chrom isn't sure why it would be this, but something instinctual suggests that it is. And if he's wrong, then it's only a moment of awkwardness in comparison to the potential of their freedom. They can't remain here forever.

He's almost clinical as he shifts closer, counting down the steps mentally—close eyes, tilt head, relax—since it's not as though he has much experience. His shyness only appear in the last moment, an awkward inhale as his mouth fits over Frederick's. ]

[ The only thing discomfiting about this entire ordeal is how little he's managed to do for Chrom, aside from dangle about uselessly. So much for performing his duties as a knight.

All the same, he holds still as Chrom's face looms ever closer, lips held in a straight line as he does his best to follow his lord's command. Realization of Chrom's true intentions strikes too late, Frederick's eyes widening at the exact same time their lips meet.

The kiss strikes him deep to his core, eliciting a whole range of emotion. Shock, confusion, deep shame. (There's no pleasure to be found here, never fear.) Such an intimate moment ought not be shared with him but with Chrom's intended future wife. How could he sully his lord's lips so!

Well, it's not the plant gives a damn about Fred's inner turmoil. Having finally gotten what they wanted, they loosen unceremoniously to dump both Chrom and Fred back on the ground in whatever position they might unfortunately land on.

Which, for Fred, is unceremoniously on his ass, the knight much too flabbergasted to worry about regaining balance. ]

[ The only thing that really keeps Chrom from falling as well is the way his entire body goes tense as soon as the vines loosen around the Falchion and the blade threatens to tumble itself. Of course, Chrom would not be so foolish as to drop his weapon in an unfamiliar situation like this. (It's hard to remember that none of this is real, the concept of a "simulation" is really too much for him to wrap his head around. Besides, he wouldn't trust that getting injured here wouldn't affect his actual body.)

Frederick's presence in front of him disappears in an instant, though Chrom had barely time to even think about the intimate gesture. He was too focused on their escape to even consider it an actual kiss—more like CPR in a time of crisis.

That said, the sight of Frederick falling gracelessly backwards looking absolutely dumbfounded does crack his focus, prompting him to laugh at the ridiculousness of it as he sheaths his sword. It was an awkward moment, and there's still a hint of embarrassment on his face, but he's not going to let it fester between them. ]

Frederick! Are you all right? [ He's obviously not worried, stifling the flustered feeling with amusement. ] My apologies, friend. I should've asked—it just occurred to me so suddenly.

[ Even a broken clock is still right twice a day, and even calm and composed Frederick loses his chill every so often.

The pain caused by all his bulky armor crashing into the ground does at least jolt him back into reality, enough for him to scrabble back up off the ground and into a standing position, the tips of his ears burning ever so faintly red. (Due to his gracelessness, of course, and not other actions-that-shall-not-be-named.) ]

Of course, milord. I shall be right as rain in a moment.

[ His soul, on the other hand, will never be repaired....just kidding. He clears his throat with a low cough, and looks pointedly at the path leading out of the forest. ]

I do think it wise for us not to dally here. Who knows what other strange flora might lurking beyond our sight.

[ AND THEN THEY LEFT THE FOREST AND NEVER TALKED ABOUT THIS AGAIN AND CHROM FELL BACK ASLEEP IN HIS POD, THE END. ]

❪ test drive #4 ❫

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anyway i'm ending this, goodbye