❪ 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

[valcurie]

Are you sure it was magic?
As you can see here, sometimes technology can do unfathomable things.
Or, is magic real in Toril?

(Probably not put the most delicately. )

[songofdeneir]

-=perhaps, but directness is not something that registers poorly for him=-

Magic is very real on Toril, so I am certain of it.
For us it is technology that does not exist.
I had been a patron of learning and innovation, but I had never imagined the things I have seen here to even be possible without the aid of magic in some way.

[valcurie]

It always is better to keep an open mind. That way you don't miss any wonders!
There isn't magic on earth and I don't think there ever has been.
But Earth doesn't have--well. I am curious. Does magic have a 'divine' source?
Or is there another place it comes from?

[songofdeneir]

All magic is accomplished by accessing what we call the Weave, though there are different methods to do so.
Wizards study and train their whole lives in various techniques to harness the Weave to cast their arcane spells.
Clergy will pray for their spells, and if their god deems them worthy they are granted direct access to holy magic.
Others are granted power through pacts made with powerful beings.
Then there are some who are born with a connection to the Weave, where magic flows through them.

[valcurie]

I see. So there are two sources, a divine one and then the Weave.
Are you one of those who can access magic?
You seem to be very learned.

[songofdeneir]

Whether the source of divine and arcane magic are different has been in some debate, but yes that is essentially right.
I am a priest to Deneir, who is a god of learning in my world.
What power I have is granted by him.

[valcurie]

Ah! That makes a great deal of sense.
Is that why you're so curious about technology? For a god of learning, I would imagine learning yourself would be a way of serving him.
I have to say, I admire your positivity about being in such strange circumstances. It's easy to be overwhelmed, especially with everyone that they've told us.

[songofdeneir]

I have dedicated my life to the gaining and sharing of knowledge, so I am endeavoring to learn all I can about this new world and it's strange ways. It has all be extremely fascinating!
I would be willing to recreate as many books as I am able to remember, though if what you have said is correct than books have become obsolete.
To be honest I am taking everything one moment at a time. My loss is no greater than anyone else here.

[valcurie]

( Honestly she's liking him already; he seems to be a kindred spirit, so to speak. )

Books are in no way obsolete. As has been said about a million times, knowledge is power. And think of those below! If they cannot read, then we should teach them.
Would you handwrite those books? Perhaps you should think about trying to type them out as well. It will eventually become quicker, I think, as you learn to use your device.
I agree. That really is the best we can do. We can't take the Natha just on their word alone, but clearly something catastrophic has happened.

[songofdeneir]

-=he is feeling much the same way about her=-

I speak of books as I know them to be.
Handwritten and given life by the scribes that pen them. Each copy a work of art all its own.
Mark my honesty, I am thrilled for what this means for the sharing of knowledge, but saddened as well.
At the same time, I feel much is being lost for the sake of convenience.

[valcurie]

Ah! Do you illustrate them as well? Or write ornate letters? The kind of precision that must take is something I admire.
Well, this a new world.
Perhaps it can be different, if you help spread your passion for books and the transmission of knowledge?
I hope that the world below will be peaceful enough to allow for the educational and leisurely reading of books. It's a much more constructive use of time than designing new weapons or imagining new ways to cause harm.

[songofdeneir]

I have! Each book calls for something different.
If we can find the proper tools I could teach you if you are interested in the art.
I have always kept a quill in my hat, though I have no ink.
Nor paper or parchment for that matter, though I do know how to make such things if they are not available at our destination.
I pray for peace as well, though I fear there will always be those who seek to weaponize whatever knowledge they happen upon.

[valcurie]

Of course, because every story is different, I would imagine. It is hard to replace that kind of flare and personal touch, I admit.
I am! I will look for them myself. I've never truly had a hobby, even though I recommend them to my patients all the time.
One thing at a time. And you can always write on something besides parchment. Perhaps a less expensive paper?
( Ouch, that last bit hit home harder than he could know. )
Just because humans can do evil with it, does not negate the good something can do. It simply means we must fight for what is right.

[songofdeneir]

Parchment is not actually paper! A common mistake. It is actually made from the hides of animals, the treatment of which is what allows it to last centuries, which is why scholars find it to be far more preferable than paper.
Paper has its uses though, no less important.
Which I will not go into. I am sorry. I had often been told that if I am not made to quiet I will ramble endlessly and bore everyone in earshot.

This I know all too well.
I am simply not fond of weapons, especially if they are derived from something that at it's hard had never been meant to be used so.

[valcurie]

Ah, see, I am learning already! I thought the only part of a book that was hide was genuine leather.
Paper making I would like to learn. As for how to treat animal hides, I am not so sure. Perhaps you will have to show me so I can decide. ( A doctor, squeamish? She lives in an age where people have become extremely separated from whatever processes are still used to make animal products. )

That's the problem with human ingenuity. And anything else that can produce powerful results, really. People have a hard time with both impulse control, and predicting likely negative outcomes.

[songofdeneir]

The Edificant Library where I was raised had been designed to be mostly self sustaining. The animals brought to the kitchens were also used in the creation and restoration of books. As children the young initiates were trained in the very foundations of our craft. I was too young to appreciate it then, but it's as much part of our faith as song and prayer.
If the situation proves amiable I would be happy to show you the process.

I would like to believe that all people are inherently good, but fear and ambition can cloud reasoning and twist the heart. Attempting to untwist such a wound can often be fruitless, but it is not impossible.