natha: (Default)
ɴᴀᴛʜᴀ orbiters ❰ mod collective ❱ ([personal profile] natha) wrote in [community profile] elnyan2018-03-27 06:32 pm
Entry tags:

❪ test drive #5 ❫

YOUR STORY BEGINS    

The Storm came. You remember darkness, but you don't remember much after that.

You don't know how long you slept, but the dreams were short. You remember the expanse of stars and galaxies in your direct view. Every world and solar system ever known to man was present in your dreams in careful, pristine detail. You also witnessed the Storm, which has devoured a fair portion of these galaxies. Your Earth and similar planets were assimilated by the Storm. Somehow, you knew it would be the last you'd see of your world. That was when she told you what happened. You knew that you'd be living somewhere new. The details weren't clear, but you knew it was a part of a deal with the entity known as 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 — Regardless of your will, you find your body doesn’t respond to you immediately. Instead, you hear a voice begin to resonate deep within you.

I have seen much... But what I am not accustomed to, is being unable to see.

It was never our wish for those we saved to go through such an ordeal. People... are unpredictable. And you, Refugee, still continue to surprise us. That is why we cannot allow you to die just yet.

Refugee, I no longer have plans to intervene with this world — I have already done too much. Here on out, what happens below... must be resolved by you, its people, and fate. You and your friends before you have proven yourselves. Our eyes are upon you, and our hearts with you.

THE WORKSHOP    
The Natha have become aware of how ill-prepared many of their new refugees are for the hardships below. While Darma has decided against direct intervention, the other Orbiters echo the opposite sentiment. With their homes destroyed and the ongoing trials that await them planetside imminent, they do not want refugees to descend without knowing exactly what they're getting into. Therefore, Roman and Zasere have set out to host a workshop in order to train the refugees for complex environment of El Nysa.

A new area has opened in Thesa Station: the Exhibition Hall. This vast open space has been configured to rival the size of the Hangar Station, with the north and south ends decorated accordingly. Refugees that have managed to return to Thesa will notice that the north end strongly resembles Olympia, while the south is a near replica of Wyver. Upon entering, you're given a goodie bag containing some postcards from either cities. There will be a variety of workshops available throughout this area. Each workshop is held in its own unique training room, separated only by high-durability glass for individual demonstrations to be observable to all in the vicinity. Workshops will focus on a few major topics that refugees should keep in mind when they reach land.


I — A HALL DIVIDED
The north side of the Exhibition Hall is fashioned to look exactly like a small section of Olympia. There are ghost-like projections of its people, seemingly going about their businesses as if to demonstrate their everyday living. There is even enough space for them to setup an example of a typical starter dormitory, and it wouldn't be a coincidence if it reminds you of room displays of the furniture stores back in your homeworld; Roman has been particularly inspired by magazines of various worlds.

Refugees who have been living or have visited Olympia will be highly encouraged to "sell" the Empire to the newly awoken. Until you find someone who is willing to do that, you'll find a fancy brochure inside your goodie bag, highlighting the benefits of choosing Olympia... however, there seems to be an earlier draft of it floating around, also.

Over on the south side is decorated will all kinds of tropical plant-life. Strangely enough, crossing the threshold of north and south, you'll also get a taste of the jungle heat, or is that only your imagination? Regardless, the presentation is to mirror the north: the Wyver people are shown as projections, making the space feel as populated as the canyons of Wyver. The sample living space is quite different here; all around, tents and wooden shacks are built to demonstrate what refugees might expect when living here. Similarly, refugee who are currently residing in the jungle city are also encouraged to talk about life there. The same brochure highlights this for the newly awoken.

On either side, you will be able to grab small trinkets from either cities; samples of food and wines, stickers, pins and buttons, and even photos of some of the more well-known natives. Wait, are those paintings of older refugees? Weird, but it's supposedly what you would expect from a convention for Darma's planet of El Nysa.
II — BLENDING IN
When you deal with natives, it's normal to feel a bit of anxiety. As far as you're aware, the natives don't know that you not only came from space, but other universes entirely. After this crash course, hopefully you will have the confidence to maintain a sane conversation with a native without getting any strange looks!

  • A) One side of the demonstration room shows various scenes from Olympia and Wyver. They seem to be showcasing the day-to-day interactions of regular natives, but you might find that some of the projected individuals in the examples are strangely familiar, even under all the effects and filters. In fact, after taking a closer look, you'll find that these are relatively poor imitations of the refugees that have arrived before you, even though you're assured that they're just a coincidence.

    — This is Focket and Warrior 67. They were both refugees that were exiled from Olympia for a quest that resulted in all those involved being framed for a biological warfare attack! Focket and Warrior 67 decided to run off to Wyver where they currently live a peaceful quiet life allegedly. And that's the beauty of El Nysa! If you accidentally commit treason in one city, you may try your luck in another!

    Before long, it becomes very clear that the instructional examples are meant to be the pre-existing refugees that arrived on the station to greet you. After all, there aren't many talking raccoons or white-haired soldiers with visors. Perhaps they're an early-riser from home, or a stranger that you met in the Mess Hall, or even in this very room with you. Makes you wonder where they got this from, doesn't it? At the very least, one thing becomes very clear: The Natha Orbiters weren't lying when they said they were watching.

  • B) While there are ample 3D renders and projections all around the floor that anyone can have access to, you will immediately notice that there is an excess of them in the corner. These are renders that were wrongly coded or mistakenly conjured up, hence... you might notice "Koralle" is looking a little furry, or that one of the Wyvern Shamans look a little more fish-like. Either way, these renders still manage to serve a purpose.

    In this corner you will be paired up with someone. Either you or them will be given a "role," and you must convincingly act and converse as such. For example, if one of you are given the role of "Wyver King," one of you must act accordingly, and the other must treat them with the proper respect. From there, the renders will judge.

    If they give you a pass, you'll be allowed to the exit. If you don't, then you might be here for a while. As a general hint, things that seem to give people extra "performance points" are: mentioning certain landmarks, figures, or other key details relating to El Nysa (see: the brochure). This is a workshop for this purpose, after all.
III — PLANET NYSA EXHIBITION

Perhaps you've heard of this prior to opening your eyes here on Thesa Station: a promise of power in exchange for diligence and loyalty. Show them you are capable of "earning your keep," and the Natha Orbiters may bestow you with powers of your own.

In this workshop, the Orbiters are now allowing refugees to physically test these powers; this time, outside of the comfort of the virtual reality modules. From healing spells to the ability of flight, the sky is almost the limit with these newfound abilities. These powers are temporary, however, and do not last any longer than an hour. You're free to sample as many abilities as you'd like. But, once one is in effect, you cannot gain another without the first one running out its course.

Closest to the exit was the wildlife exhibition, summoning renders of both flora and fauna of Olympia and Wyver. This was meant to showcase the types of wildlife those heading planetside could expect. Don't let the promise of "projections" fool you! These renders are as poisonous, as dangerous, and as realistic as you might expect if you were seeing the real thing. In fact, they have become so unruly that some may have escaped their stations and are running amok, terrorizing everyone (Especially Zasere, who prepared them himself). On the bright side, you've still got those nifty borrowed powers, right?

Monsters aren't the only things you should be worried about. All over, the plantlife that found exposure from the chaos. From the broken glass that once contained them, some flora will have effects that may temporarily ail refugees in its vicinity. Be sure to check their labels if you are caught! Roman has begun handing out gloves and gas masks for this special occasion, being unwilling to destroy the specimen himself. He encourages all to contain them rather than kill!

While most of the flora and fauna have been handled rather quickly, the more agile ones can be seen around the station. One may have found its way to your meal in the Mess Hall, another may be hiding in the bathroom facilities. Wherever they are, it never hurts to practice some caution. Hopefully this gets cleared up before Darma catches wind... but even she would admit this is the most lively Thesa Station has been since that July many months ago.
IV — SOCIAL-LINKED(in)
By miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smart phone. Aside from the expected "Omage" app, there seems to be a new one called Social-Linked. There, you may find a profile waiting to be posted. The app allows for the user to fill it in, but there is also an auto-function! upon pressing it, it will generate a shockingly-honest answer based on the Natha's observation of your history. Roman will be your only friend in this app, with his very own profile:

●●●●○ THESA
ROMAN
@romannoodles (∞), Thesa

I WAS A: Butler! I still am, and I'm happy to serve all of the new arrivals!

I'M SKILLED IN: Cooking, cleaning, anything that involves making your life better!

I'M LOOKING FOR: Consistency!

ALSO, I'M: Not entirely certain if the "auto" profile function is to your liking. Feel free to edit if it is not to taste!

So, have you decided on making your own profile? Perhaps you used the "auto" function on accident? Regardless, once your profile is out there, it's out there. And like the Omage app, it will match you with someone. NOTE: Please use the form below to fill out a profile! Whether it's auto-generated or filled by the character is up to you!

STASIS UNITS    

Far away from the chaos, you managed to find the massive section on the station 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.

FINAL OOC NOTES    
Feel free to wildcard prompts within Thesa Station!

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 THREE (3) NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINTS after acceptance here. Please submit by April 17th. Network threads are not eligible.

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.

nineteenfortyfive: (FALTER)

[personal profile] nineteenfortyfive 2018-04-01 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
A bit. It's not a bad thing.

[Claire would err on the tact of Josephine, it seems.]

A long time ago. I was a combat nurse--a sort of healer on the front lines.

[Just in case healer makes more sense to him than nurse. That was decades ago. Cullen's a bit younger, and so she doubts his military life is anything to be put behind him just yet.]

Olympia does have an organized guard, if that might interest you.
breakthehabit: by <lj user="anangrym"> (keep watch)

[personal profile] breakthehabit 2018-04-01 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
once i find it yes

[ He'll find it. Eventually. With a lot of directions. ]
agradecido: (A pack of camels and a smoke alarm)

[personal profile] agradecido 2018-04-01 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
[He'll be sitting there at an empty table, somewhere in the front near the door where he can be seen. When Cullen shows up, he's watching for him. There's a brief flick of recognition, and he waves the human over.]

Cullen?
tripcaster: Icon - <user name=sleeting> (These words don't seem like mine)

[personal profile] tripcaster 2018-04-01 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
Pretty good. I'm a decent tracker too.

[ She's being modest considering most of the machines she hunted were actively trying to murder her, but oh well. Occupational hazard. ]

Not much of a hunter yourself, huh?
seeingscarlet: (concern; what did you do)

[personal profile] seeingscarlet 2018-04-01 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Wanda can't help the quick glance to her brother's pod.]

No. [Said quietly, but she holds her ground. She's not afraid of him...just a little less confident than she was in dealing with Rumlow.] You startled me. I don't normally see other people here.

[Maybe because the endless rows of pods are unsettling or because the space is so massive. It's never hard for Wanda to find Pietro but most people don't have the luxury of a psychic homing beacon.]
torchwoodteaboy: (smile joke)

[personal profile] torchwoodteaboy 2018-04-01 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Ianto hadn't honestly realized he'd said anything aloud, so he's a bit startled by the question as he glances aside at the question and the man who had asked it. (Why hello there yourself, sir.)

"Ikea," Ianto replies, repeating the name of the store, just in case it's his accent that's the trouble, not the term itself. "It's, ehm. A Scandinavian home furnishing supply chain. It's rather like a large warehouse made up of different sections of ready-made furniture that looks not unlike this, truth be told." He gestures at the sample starter dormitory. "They usually come with a set of instructions that are next to impossible to understand on the first try. It makes me wonder if such remains the same across all universes."
chaostic: (pic#12102194)

[personal profile] chaostic 2018-04-01 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Shouldn't you? You're not the only person who has loved ones who haven't woken up.

[ Rather obvious there, Wanda, don't you think? He approaches one of the pods, only showing minor curiosity for the person inside of it. ]
chaostic: (pic#12102136)

[personal profile] chaostic 2018-04-01 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
All the better, in my opinion.

[ Hey it counts. Staying alive is a skill some Midgardian musicians have sung about. ]

Oh, I can do it. I'd just prefer not to. That would defeat the point of trading.
insist: (14.)

[personal profile] insist 2018-04-01 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ Most people shouldn't be able to see Heaven's Door, and the fact that this person somehow can? Rohan's first thought is that he must be a Stand user. He displayed an unnatural amount of power before, after all. Chuuya's definitely not a normal guy.

-- If he were a Stand user, he would recognise Heaven's Door as a Stand, however. He wouldn't be asking about it. Maybe he's just unaware, or ... acting dumb?

Call him paranoid, but he's recently just come out of a long tirade of hunting down a serial-killing Stand user. He's had other Stand users going after his life, and he can't help but be cautious. ]
If you can see it, then you're probably the same as me. Why don't you seem to know what a 'Stand' is?

[ He's more musing to himself, than actually expecting Chuuya to answer. Anyway, he could continue to ponder this stranger's motives, or he could skip a few steps and find the answers. ] I'll apologise if I'm wrong about this, but -- Heaven's Door!

[ Rohan summons his Stand, which looks like a small man in a white suit, and it flies over to Chuuya and touches him. Chuuya will then find himself turning into a book, his skin peeling away and his pages flipping open. It's a painless ordeal, but he won't be able to move until the spell wears off. ]
arcreact: (06)

[personal profile] arcreact 2018-04-01 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Asking politely is always the last resort.

He pulls her into a hug when he sees the concern crack her expression, feeling pretty much the exact same way. He only pulls back so that he can look her in the eye, hoping he manages to be convincingly(???) reassuring(??????). ]


Yeah, it's a lot. [ He lowers his voice, since they're surrounded by weird 3D proctor things. ] But look - we'll figure this out. I'm not just taking their word on anything yet.
pussywhips: (196)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-04-01 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Just for the sole reason of making Ryuji's life just a little bit more hellish, that's how. ]

My birthday isn't until November!

[ She pouts, putting her hands on her hips. She's not waiting eight more months for him to give her the chocolate she's due?? Besides, he owes her at least a cake on her birthday too, if not more! ]

Besides, you can't just ignore White Day just because you missed it.
tripcaster: Icon - <user name=littlehuntress> (In this emptiness in the storm)

[personal profile] tripcaster 2018-04-01 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ Boy oh boy, isn't this starting to sound familiar. Gotta love sidequests. ]

Fair enough. In that case, what do you have to offer in exchange aside from cooking?

[ Any idiot with firewood and clear skies can cook meat. Git gud, Loki. ]
bravette: with apologies to fans of the other stephen king series 'cause I'm gonna borrow this face (11)

[personal profile] bravette 2018-04-01 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Magic.

[ I mean... ]

[ ... Hell. There's a lot to unpack there, and none of it makes the anchoring point she was hoping for. Magic and witchcraft. Thrusts his fists against the posts, and all that; it wasn't magic that they had done either—as well as she can remember it at all—but perhaps it was the best answer for it too. Maybe it's the best answer for a lot of things. ]

Well if it's got a real explanation, I want to hear it.

[ Said with the finite understanding of later, if not necessarily the conviction that she wants to hear it at all. But no matter what that hand is apparently capable of, she grasps it, letting the woman peel her out carefully until she can be sure that she won't accidentally yank her into the webbing as well. Once she has a foot kicked free, she joins the effort in earnest, and eventually, she's loose and comfortably back on the both of them. As comfortable as one can be, plastered in spider silk. ]

Thanks, [ she can't help but shudder, her oft wild mane of curls pinned haphazardly down her back, every inch of her feeling horribly tacky, especially as she pries part of her hand off the other woman's. Where are the showers, where can she burn these clothes? Questions she wants answered, but her eyes stay stubbornly trained somewhere past the woman's shoulder. Pulling away from that impossible mangled heap of hairy limbs. For as dead as the thing looks, she still looks utterly panicked. ] Come on, we need to go.
willrevile: ( commission / dnt ) (0210)

exhibition!

[personal profile] willrevile 2018-04-01 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Jim's opted out of trying any of the powers, partly because he doesn't really trust the Natha fully, and partly because he just doesn't find the idea all that appealing. He is who he is, has gotten by on who he is, and that's fine. (Some might say he should be more grateful for supernatural augmentation, given the circumstances of his resurrection, but it's not that simple.)

It's interesting watching people, anyway. And one person he observes--

"You okay?" Jim calls, head tipped back to observe the guy on a haphazard trajectory.
chaostic: (pic#12102109)

[personal profile] chaostic 2018-04-01 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ He only ever promises to make them as painful as they are rewarding. ]

I'm Master of Magic, as it were. So, it honestly depends on what you want.

[ Ain't nobody gonna cook her dinner like a man who was obsessed with chemistry for magic is whole life. ]

Might as well make it a fun request while you're at it seeing as we've all time to burn now.
arcreact: when i know i've licked chocolate syrup off his daughter's chest ((407) it's rly awk to greet the pastor)

[personal profile] arcreact 2018-04-01 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
I leave comas on ice to the professionals.

[ Steve joked about it first, so, it's open season. ]

But you've figured out already that I don't remember anything.
pussywhips: (184)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-04-01 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ God, he even sounds exactly like Yusuke when he goes off on one of his weird art-related tangents. It's uncanny, and maybe that's why Ann is tolerating it far more than a normal person would. Does he really have to sniff the floor though?

And look, she's just going along with this because she wants to make sure the frog is safe. What if somebody steps on it or something? She's not going to be an accessory to third degree frog murder. ]


For real?

[ Sure enough, there's a trail of slime leading out the door. She signs and marches out there, following the trail, only to see the frog hop away from them. ]

There it is!
seeingscarlet: (concern; distance; 080)

[personal profile] seeingscarlet 2018-04-01 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
This room is most of the station. You could walk for a long time and not see anyone.

[She doesn't take her eyes of Loki - and that would be rude, anyway - but she also doesn't tense at his approach.]
pussywhips: (106)

[personal profile] pussywhips 2018-04-01 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
you really think so?
beknight: ([ bvs ] 13.)

[personal profile] beknight 2018-04-01 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's there in his dark-coloured workout clothes, just a flicker of curiosity at her chosen outfit, but no comment. The man does dress up in his spare time, and if there's anything he's learnt about this place is that more people tend to... share his hobbies than not. ]

Whenever you're ready.
willrevile: (0054)

[personal profile] willrevile 2018-04-01 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
No one expects the forcefully social inquisition. Anyway-- It's not what Jim expected, though maybe it still falls in the bounds of some kind of specific cultural note. "Huh," he says, comprehending but not recognizing. Scandinavian, at least, clues him in that the other man means Earth.

"So like, twenty-first, twenty-second century?" Back in ye olden days of capitalism before people could just request whatever furnishings they needed from replicator centers.
seeingscarlet: (downcast; 178)

[personal profile] seeingscarlet 2018-04-01 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
He was going to ask. Of course he would; it would be one of the first things she'd want to know if their situations were reversed. But Wanda has little truly good to report, given the chaos that had overtaken Olympia recently. At least the rebels hadn't taken her too, or there'd be nothing she could do to keep Pietro out of trouble.

"I have...tried to make a home. There was trouble in Olympia recently but I'm not hurt," she adds quickly, to head off the question she knows is coming. "But it was frightening. Some of the people...they're like me. Like what Strucker wanted me to be." She sighs. "When it is quiet, Olympia is beautiful. Our people could have another chance for a better life. But when it is not..." The bad days bear too many similarities to everything they'd fought against.
chaostic: (pic#12102178)

[personal profile] chaostic 2018-04-01 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
And yet here we are.

[ A half turn to get a better look of her. ]

I don't recall your name. What was it again? [ His tone is nothing but polite--for now. ]
milesedgelord: (pic#11715857)

[personal profile] milesedgelord 2018-04-01 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that was certainly much more pared down than the orbiter version. It still had a few key words from the first one though, and that pressed upon his own suspicions. Still, he wasn't one to judge someone on what their past was. This was a new place after all with laws that were different than the ones in his country.

"Actually, your letters will show up simultaneously on other phones. Here, allow me to show you."

With that, he reached into his pocket and showed him the updated profile on his own device.

"Communications are in real time with that device. It is pretty handy in case you need to touch base with people over great distances."
tzaraisen: (pic#12112172)

[personal profile] tzaraisen 2018-04-01 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ He isn't pleased about the vegetables, either, in fact, being quite short-tempered himself, he's pissed, but it probably helps that he wasn't directly hit. ]

What would that possibly accomplish?! Moreover, we will fail the test—!

[ Yep, there it goes, a big stinky tomato to the back of his head. He immediately draws his weapon.

Nevermind, this could be cathartic after all. ]