❪ test drive: #1 - the overflow ❫

[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 as you slept. 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 can help. You knew that you'll 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 was all a dream, but somehow, you knew it wasn't — now, will you keep that promise you made to Darma? PROMPT: THE MESS HALL     It's fascinating to the Orbiters how such a dull room can be turned around so completely with people in it. All meals are served by Roman, and while all the food is delicious, some of it is a bit odd. Is that neon green soup? That’s hideous. If you happen to be in the mess hall at a particularly unlucky time, you and the food will suddenly begin to drift. Someone’s got jokes, and they’ve turned off the gravity control. Now it’s just you, your fellow refugees, and the floating sea of food. Wait, did that person just chuck a pie in your direction? 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. Be advised, however, that participating in one of the training modules will start you off favorably with the Natha Orbiters’ in terms of REPUTATION. Once seated and appropriately strapped in, the system will automatically whir to life and the dense foliage and forestry of a section of El Nysa will open up. According to one’s map registry, it clear to see that it’s miles from the outer gates of Olympia, but not as far enough to venture into any other territories. So, in that sense, you’re safe. 1. Or you could have been, but unfortunately the wilderness is home to various types of beasts and monsters hailing from different universes and galaxies. On the bright side, perhaps one of them will be oddly familiar to you. Or maybe someone else who is currently synced is willing to give you that extra helping hand. Fortunately, if you’re powerless, there are options. From telekinesis to flight, there are strange abilities one can adopt and “test” out in the virtual reality. Granted, you’re only limited to one at a time. They say in the near future, some of you may be granted these abilities under certain conditions. But, please practice some caution. You aren’t alone in the system, after all. 2.. Who do you fight for, the VR system will ask you individually before you enter the module. The righteous Olympians, or the free-spirited Wyvers? Whatever your choice, when you enter El Nysa, you will wholly and truly believe your allegiance. A. Working together: You now have to suffer the consequences of your choice, as you and your partner have been captured by guards of the opposite faction. Now jailed and soon-to-be tortured, you must find some way to negotiate your release. Perhaps you’ll find some means to escape without detection. Maybe you’re the “fight your way out” sort of people. B. Facing your enemy: That person you stepped into the VR with? They’re out to capture you. Or maybe you seek to capture them. 3. When you enter the virtual reality, things aren’t exactly how they’re supposed to be. Maybe that’s natural, especially if this is your first time, but the problems here seem a bit more fundamental. Maybe you find yourself under a parental safety lock, and you’re suddenly censored. Exposed back? Censored. Body suit? Censored. Or replaced with a mascot costume. Worst of all? You can’t sign out. Not right now, at least. Regardless, whatever it is— ridiculous filters, body alterations, or even body swaps with other users... you are assured it’ll all be fixed with due time. Zasere sends his humblest apologies and promises no more wire chewing, or so the announcement states. PROMPT: STASIS UNIT     You have found the massive section of Thesa known as the Stasis Unit. There’s no special access required to access 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: HANGAR STATION     You find your way to the hangar station. Here rests are a factory worth of docked mobile suits. You recall how the Orbiters had previously spoken of a "space frontier," but only after seeing this you realize how real their words are. Most machinery have marks of wear and tear, assurance that they have indeed been used before, and an assembly of others are going through repairs and maintenance. No one seems to care that you've just strolled in. In fact, there seems to be a couple of the aircraft that beckon you to take a closer look. Maybe you’ll only look on the outside, maybe you'll be greeted by the hand of a mobile suit extending toward you and welcoming you to its cockpit. You go out and explore SPACE!!! Unfortunately, that mobile suit should have warned you it only had 20 minutes of flight time left in its system. Or, perhaps, you’re a particularly ambitious pilot and you’ve strayed past the designated perimeter. Either way, the HUD display is now blinking with errors, cropping up with a single message: DISTRESS SIGNAL. 1. You’re the poor sap who happened to chill around the Observation Deck. Unfortunately, everyone seems busy with the influx of mobile suits out and about, and the only one who can answer this distress signal is on the Navigation System, well, you. Hope you can figure out the controls fast enough. Guide the pilot back to the safety of the hangar using the most efficient route possible. Keen Navigators will find an instruction manual that provides a shortcut to automatically return a suit back to base. 2. You’re actually sitting in a two-seater mobile suit. Funny how that works, isn’t it? Maybe you were unwittingly dropped down a hatch, or dragged along for a joyride by your ambitious co-pilot. Either way, it looks like help is going to take some time... 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! A Training Module thread of AC length on the TDM may be submitted for 1 NATHA ORBITER REPUTATION POINT after acceptance. QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● world ● map ● reputation ● npcs taken ● reserves ● application calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

observation room.

[unprays]

[ she regrets, now, that she never listened to what little her brothers spoke of Maester Luwin's teachings, of the sky, the stars. the view that opens in front of her as she enters the room is enough to steal her breath, render her without words.

silently, Sansa approaches the man who stands there, in front of all the buttons — he must be the one who has made this view possible. ]

I never knew the sky was so... vast, [ she says, her voice echoing in the room. ]

[suffusive]

[ although he noted Sansa's presence in the room before now, his eyebrows jump in surprise when she speaks. with his hands in his pockets and gaze lost in the abyss-dark world ahead, he had been deep in thoughts similar to her vocalization.

their shared perspective proves reassuring. ]

Yes, I was thinking... it's one thing to read about, to look up at night, even. [ as he faces the window, his hands remain tucked in his coat, but he tilts his head over his shoulder enough to look slightly to the left of her. ] Seeing it from so close is, well, wondrous.

[ galaxies freckled with stars and planets unknown. what an adventure, to travel them freely. ]

[unprays]

[ in front of such a sight, it is difficult to focus on anything else — and yet, she takes a moment to look at him, taking in his manner of dress, the heavy coat, the slightly messy hair. she wonders what kind of world his was, what sort of life he lived before the Storm.

it is strangely like a relief, to know that even if the worlds prove so very different, at least there are others who still share her wonder at the sight. ]

It is. Wondrous... that is a good word for it, ser. [ she offers a slight, polite smile — entirely genuine, yet there only because it is what she has learned. agreement is safe. ]

I wonder... how small we must seem. [ to those who know the vastness of the universe, to the Gods. ] Have you read much about what is out there? I confess I know very little.

[suffusive]

[ oh, now they're properly speaking. having a conversation. the comment about their smallness earns a quick nod. they are minute and but one of many beings knocking about this vast world, after all. however, her question forces him to fully engage.

long legs adjust, leaning weight from one to the other. clearing his throat, he removes one hand from his pocket to card it through wavy hair. ]

Yes, while I was at school, I read often. [ quickly, as if to explain himself. ] And it's helpful to know in the field, you see. [ no, she doesn't, seeing as they've never met. right. the vaguest gesture to their surroundings. ] The stars are the only things that remain the same, when you travel.

[unprays]

[ a conversation, yes! as people are wont to do... perhaps it would make him feel better, to know she is just as ill-suited to this as he is, less because any awkwardness about actual conversation and more that the conversations she is used to navigating were often less than genuine.

she listens to his words, puzzles over some of them, her head tilting slightly to the side, her long, red hair falling in waves over her shoulder. ]

What kind of fields do you travel through? [ to her, after all... a field means nothing but its literal meaning. ]

[suffusive]

[ if the very literal question strikes newt as odd, he shows no evidence beyond blinking. ]

Oh, well, grassy ones, mostly, though I suppose by definition.... [ fields are largely grassy, yes. ] When I was in Holland, there were the most marvelous fields of flowers, stretching on and on — perfect hiding spots for Puffskeins, mind. [ abruptly, he stops. he's babbling, isn't he? to a muggle. and more than that, he's wondering how they began talking of fields when he hadn't — ]

I'm speaking nonsense, aren't I? Sorry, we should. Start over. [ with a tiny bow of his head. ] Newt Scamander. Pleasure to meet you.

[unprays]

[ her expression stays level, even as her eyes widen, trying to keep up with what he is saying — Holland, Puffskeins... the words could just as well be made up, for all the sense they make.

she offers a somewhat helpless smile, apologetic, as though it's her fault for not keeping up. ] No, ser, the fields sound lovely. [ still, as he bows his head, she responds with bending her knees slightly, head tilted down. ]

Sansa, of House Stark. It is good to meet you, Newt.