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Entry tags:
❪ test drive #6 ❫
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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 —
CLEAN-UP CREW  While everything has wound down significantly from the strife and destruction of battle, the frozen image of Ysverai, the massive, rotten dragon, and the hole he tore in El Nysa's sky, on several screens of the station is a constant reminder of what took place. New and old refugees alike will notice that prolonged exposure to these images will leave them with a disquiet that gradually builds to actual pain. The discomfort starts from a crawling sensation, insects over skin, and gradually becomes unbearable. They will begin to hear the cries of Ysverai’s pain and suffering, first whispers, then echoes, then wails. Even after Refugees tear their eyes away from this footage, a strange itching sensation remains beneath their skin for several minutes. The dragon isn’t a matter for them to deal with, however. Darma made it clear that the Natha will find a solution. For now, everyone is encouraged to assist in the clean-up of the cities currently frozen in time. However, in interest of the current events and the fact that the refugees still have much to prepare for, they will be offering this help remotely. Several stations are set up where refugees can remote control drones to map out areas and pick up some of the lighter weight debris. Those more well versed technology are encouraged to assist those who may be having trouble getting started with the unfamiliar Natha tech. It seems like it’ll definitely take some getting used to, though. On the bright side, they’re pretty durable drones so if at first you don’t succeed, press the next button? To keep morale high during the clean-up efforts, one of the Natha have set up large hoops around dumpsites and a scoreboard program in the control room, though there's no sign of any directions or rules to be found. That's right, you can play a mechanized version of… some sort of game while you're helping clean up El Nysa. Just make sure you don't get too carried away with competitive spirit! For those looking to pilot something more heavy-duty, there are also cockpits set up for remote control piloting of basic mecha. These are very similar to the VR simulations offered on the station. However, they will not work without a partner. To be able to successfully move one of these, two refugees will be required to connect their minds and pilot in tandem. This may be a daunting task, but with the extensive structural damage to the cities, it's a necessary one. Piloting will require trust and cooperation to make it through. The more connected the pilots are, the more agile and powerful their mecha will be. For those who can’t seem to get on the same page, coordination will be a pipe dream. PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIP  By now it’s likely clear to all refugees, new and old, that for all that they may appear to be infinitely powerful, the Natha Orbiters have been shaken by the recent events on El Nysa. The details of Ysverai’s revival were somehow obscured from their view, and while they’re focusing their efforts on the planet, certain… abnormalities again begin to arise on Thesa Station. The most prevalent of the problems plaguing the Station are the malfunctioning doors. Walking through a door that should lead to a bedroom or kitchen (or, for the truly unfortunate, a toilet) will suddenly take refugees somewhere entirely different and possibly even new. And while this may lead to some accusations of breaking and entering, at least these mishaps can be quickly rectified by an apology and a hasty exit. That is, unless the door refuses to open again — the locks also seem to be malfunctioning. Still, those that find themselves transported somewhere familiar, though off-limits, should consider themselves lucky. Thesa Station is far more vast than most refugees are aware, and some of them might find themselves wandering into a uniquely sticky laboratory. This area appears to serve no purpose other than to house dozens of slimes. These slimes appear not only in a variety of fun colours, but with a variety of not-so-fun abilities ranging from harmless (spitting bubbles) to deadly (spitting fire). Regardless of what abilities a slime possesses however, they are all relentlessly friendly, and characters will need to be careful not to accidentally bringing one out with them once they manage to escape. Unfortunately, that’s not the only situation to escape from. Whether it’s in the mess hall or the bathroom, many will find themselves suddenly rising off the ground. … with everything else in the room, too! It seems like gravity control is also on the fritz. Fortunately, most open spaces aboard the station have a small control panel that can correct these effects. The only problem is getting there. Hopefully at least one of you refugees took that anti-gravity safety course. SUMMER TURNS TO WINTER  The news that the refugees should begin preparations for a return to El Nysa may come as a surprise given that the planet still remains frozen, but it appears there is one community that has somehow withstood Darma’s intervention: an area known as Nadril where time continues to flow freely. Not much information is available regarding this destination, other than the fact that it is isolated, and, more importantly, that it is cold. (Maybe characters should consider the malfunctioning thermostat plunging the temperature to below zero in certain areas on the station as preparation for their upcoming journey!) There are other resources available for those itching to take action, of course. There will be a new supply pack delivered to each room containing gear meant to withstand freezing temperatures — both clothing and storage gear to keep water rations from freezing. Characters will also be alerted to new training programs available in the VR room that are designed to assist with survival in the snowy regions of Nadril. The training programs will consist of a variety of tutorials that will assist in winter survival. Naturally, there will be courses on how to start fires, find food, and build igloos to withstand the frigid temperatures, but that’s not all. Due to the Natha testing their systems, there will occasionally be strange occurrences. For example, refugees may experience a snowball or two pelting them from out of nowhere, or they may suddenly find themselves being cloaked by a snow yeti costume, amongst many other inconveniences. Hopefully that doesn’t detract from the lessons to be learned here, as some of the training programs can include extreme weather survival, including the perils of snow storms or avalanches. SOCIAL-LINKED(in) By some miracle, there are still some quieter parts of the hall. This may be an appropriate time to check out your smartphone. 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: STASIS UNITS  During this time of crisis, the Natha have done their utmost to ensure the safety of those in cryosleep. However, due to the nature of recent events, they will be asking some refugees to do a quick check on some of the pods in the stasis unit. While they are definitely looking for any damage that may have occurred over these past few weeks, they also seem interested in getting a deeper insight into some of the occupants. On each control panel for the pods, there's a new application, asking observers to add notes and commentary — the Natha are looking for a more personal understanding of their sleeping occupants. Refugees are tasked with providing evaluations of the sleepers, based on both their knowledge of those from their homes and on what they can observe just by examining them in their repose. The application asks for how useful you think the pod's occupant would be in a crisis, what their skills are, what their best feature is, if you'd take them with you for a long walk on the beach, and so on… And, of course, all answers must be recorded out loud. Anyone passing by could overhear these evaluations, flattering or less than. FINAL OOC NOTES
As always, 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. New players may submit an AC-length thread HERE from this TDM for 2 Natha REP. In addition, old players who have not submitted rep for the Hour of Ruin log may also submit a TDM thread for 2 Natha REP. The due date for submission is July 15 11:59 PM EST. For this application cycle, there will be a cap of 60 and no reserves. Applications will be open on July 9 12:01 AM EST and end on July 13 11:59 PM EST. Thank you! |
a, ALSO HI
...He does like seeing a familiar lavender figure. It takes him a few moments to actually see Molly, distracted by Ysverai's ghastly form. But he does see him, and promptly rushes over. He half believes that maybe he's wrong and maybe it's....another lavender tiefling with ridiculously ostentatious clothing? Caleb usually isn't particularly lucky.]
Mollymauk!
[It's only when he actually pulls level with him that he notices that his friend doesn't look quite alright. Which is, of course, understandable, but Molly is generally much more adaptable about these things.]
Molly? What is wrong?
[Other than....everything...?]
and a very gluten almonds to you, friend
He overcompensates by talking loudly and dropping his hands to the side to fight the temptation.]
There you are! I was going to very disappointed if it turned out you were still sleeping. I need to borrow you for a second. [He presses in close, so they bump shoulders and points at the image of the frozen dragon.] Mind doing a Detect Magic on that for me?
[He will feel so much better if it's just wizard shit, and not something he should be worried about. It's not the effects of the station (he barely understands all this technology), but rather that ghost of Lucien that dares to hang around that makes him concerned. Anything else he can brush off. That... That is a wildcard.]
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He glances over at the image of Ysverai again, frowning at it. It is...very strange that they can see the dragon like this. They're not anywhere close, they are...up among the stars - as he's gathered, and isn't sure he likes the idea of - so they shouldn't be able to do that.]
I can do that, ja. Although I'm not sure if I will be able to pick up anything. Not about the dragon, at least.
[That being said: He casts Detect Magic.
And then shakes his head. There's nothing in this room that's magical, except for what's already on Molly.]
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Good. No magical dragon-scrying bullshit. Just a extremely unsettling metal box we're all stuck on. Ja. [The last part is said with a little more sardonic oomph to punctuate how very totally fine he is. The fun wore out of this place so quickly.]
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But he still...wants this more than he wants to be alone. As much as Caleb often wants to simply be left to his own devices, he spent so long alone after the asylum. He doesn't want that, not exactly. (As much as he sometimes thinks he probably deserves it.)
When Molly mimics his accent, Caleb cuts him a quick glance sideways. Clever.]
I think I might prefer the dragon.
[Well, no. But yeah, fuck the station. It's weird.]
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No, Molly... No.]
From what it looks like it, they'll be sending us down into a frigid wasteland soon enough, anyway.
[y a y.]
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[Offensive spells....? Well, not really. Kind of? Magic Missile, which is....definitely not as good as his fire spells. But hey he can also slow people down and make them go to sleep and shrink them, fire isn't his only thing!! Just his main shtick.
Although, for all of that, he doesn't sound that offended that Molly is discounting what he can do. It's more matter-of-fact.]
Had you spent much time up north?
[Because it got...colder in the north of the Empire. Not wasteland cold, but cold.]
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[No amount of Ornna lighting shit on fire for fun and profit would make that easier. Plus think of the costumes they all wear. Mona and Yuli, especially.]
I knew it was bound to get bad before we got to Shady Creek Run, but I imagined it was going to be a gradual build towards freezing, not "oh here's the bloody eighth level of Hell for you."
[That was a strange reference to pick for someone with no interest in reading. There are things in the world that Molly knows, but does not understand how he knows and assumes they must have come from Lucien, which is especially annoying when he's already had to put the lingering spirit back in his grave once already. He's more than happy to be out of the room and into the hall where he can focus.]
no subject
Even if he manages to slip his hold though, he doesn't go far and sticks pretty close to Molly's side anyway. He just...needs his own space.
(He doesn't seem very surprised by Molly's reference. Even if he doesn't read much, he's of the performing folk. Also, consider: tiefling.)]
Ja, well, this wasn't really the plan for any of us. And hopefully we won't have to be there for long.
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Molly huffs, exhaling through his nose.] Yeah, waking up after leaving Hupperdook and realizing the world ended while we were sleeping is sort of a game-changer, isn't it?
[He sounds more like this is a major inconvenience than something life-altering, but it's Molly. He had nothing to gain or lose in Wildemount, besides the people he surrounded himself with and the freedom to do whatever he wanted. He has both here.]
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[Molly may not sound so put out, but Caleb does. It changes everything.
...Perhaps. All those spellbooks are lost to him, all that knowledge of spellcasters past. That is....not good. But that dragon frozen above the planet suggests that there are....certain powers at work. He might still be able to do what he needs to do.]
Hopefully they will still have need of adventurers.
[Because what the fuck else are a dirty wizard, a sketchy goblin and a carnie tiefling going to do to earn gold? They'd make a shitty circus act.]
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[They've gotten lucky and there's a certain feeling of invincibility that comes with that, but Molly always feels compelled to be the one gingerly pointing out that they do have limits.]
But I'm sure there's something. Everyone has some kind of problem and willing to part with coin to get it done.
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No, I certainly don't want to go up against a dragon.
[He wasn't suggesting that!! Does Caleb look like the kind of guy who wants to fight a dragon. That's high-level shit. They're still not that far out from almost getting killed by imps.]
There aren't enough of us anyway.
[Of the Nein, he means. His face is a little grim at the thought of the others in those tubes.]
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[He doesn't know if there's some kind of upper limit of who gets saved and who doesn't, and it's a bit odd to think seven jackasses roaming Wildemount in search of coin were worth that much attention.
On the other hand, he doesn't give enough of a fuck to think about it. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.]
Given some time, they'll probably wake up. [He says that like he thinks Caleb might be deeply concerned and whether he believes that or not is up in the air. He might be saying it to reassure himself. All things being equal, being in a group with just Caleb and Nott feels like being alone together.]