test drive 5.0
The world has shifted. Or maybe you’ve shifted? Either way, things have changed, and it’s going to be quite a while before you see them change back again. BASICSYou were going about your business as usual until the world went white around you, and when the fog cleared: Oska. You've arrived in a snag of reality between worlds, the full extent of which can be read about here. But in essence, you’ve arrived in a grand, magical, almost empty castle. Outside the castle is an empty, long-abandoned village, partially in ruin. Past that, the world simply fades out into white mist. Your best bet is probably to stick to the castle and its grounds.
Suits of armor patrol the quiet hallways, but good luck getting them to speak or answer any questions. There’s absolutely nothing inside them, they move under their own power. They don’t talk, but they also go out of their way not to hurt you. You can even attack one, it will just patiently wait for you to give up and leave. If, however, you ask one for directions, it will dutifully turn and lead the way to wherever you’ve requested.
Librarians lurk in the halls of the enormous, well-stocked library, in which you can find nearly any book from nearly any world. The librarians are tall, wide, and very muscular, but they’re also not out to hurt you. Provided you play nice, of course. The usual rules apply: be respectful of the books, keep your voice lowered, and never bring any source of flame into the library. That last one might make the librarians reconsider their nonviolent natures.
Outside, there's a greenhouse with every type of flora you can imagine (and more, since they're from all over the universe) — be careful, though, because not all of them are friendly. If you'd like to take a dip, you can check out the lake; just be friendly to the fish. You can catch sight of almost any animal you'd like in the stables, real-world or fantasy. Most of them have been tamed, and won't do any real harm. However, some of them can be a bit testy. Stay away from the unicorns unless you have perfect manners — they hate impoliteness.
Current characters in game can assume that the Timeline glitched and sent them temporarily back to Oska. You are welcome to take any threads that happen here as game canon, should both parties arrive in game. Threads done here by prospective players may be used as application samples, and threads done by current players may be used as Bonus AC.
PROMPTSONE ✗ THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is always stocked with food, freshly cooked and ready to be eaten — although there was no one to do the cooking, and it might just be you to do the eating. That doesn’t seem to discourage the kitchen in the slightest, which is constantly churning out new, fresh courses. Some of them are more innocent than others today.
That tart you just ate? It was harpfruit, native to Cendiares, and has a pesky side effect of making the eater blurt out everything that pops into their head. The completely average-looking salad actually has flakes of Raphian wildflowers, which cause a bit of dancing fever — it isn't contagious, but it does make the sufferer want to dance with everyone they can. The choices and effects are endless and up to you, and don't worry; ALASTAIR is working on getting the kitchen under control as we speak.
TWO ✗ THE TRAINING CENTER
Maybe you find your way into the Training Center. A lot of work went into setting this room up, and it can construct nearly any scenario that you can imagine. All it takes to activate this room, still and featureless until it comes to life, is the brush of a finger against one of the glowing pads on the wall. The magitek will take it from there.
Just envision the setting and any enemies you’d like to train against, and they’ll instantly materialize. Would you rather go sightseeing, without worrying about a fight? No problem! The room is eager to provide you with a sparring partner, but it can be convinced to hold off -- just don’t think of getting into any fights. The Training Center also offers any games you can think of: soccer, basketball, literal freeze tag, etc. Every supply you need will be simulated for you.
Additionally, the following scenarios are also preloaded into the system for user convenience, each coming with a small summary of mission objectives:
ANWICK: A ruined little village with a massive, dead dragon skewered in the center of it. The goal is to protect her young in a nearby cave. The terrain is treacherous, the wyrmlings are squirmy and unhelpful, and the townsfolk are furious. But for good reason -- it seems dragons have been plaguing them for decades. Even the simulation’s enemies are programmed to say as much, and will do their best to convince you to their side.
CHANTES: Chantes, Audentes' first mission, is a typical medieval town cloaked in darkness and surrounded by a winding forest. It comes in two default flavors and difficulty settings. Fairies are the easier enemy; the objective is to collect three jars of unpleasant, glowing sap from their nests without getting your eyes poked out. The fairy goop can also cause disturbances with magical powers, unwanted levitation, and unfortunate cosmetic effects.
Demons are the more difficult setting. The task is to clear ominous runes off of various town structures, but when approached, each one releases a red, misty spirit. It will fight tooth and nail to protect its ‘home,’ but is largely invulnerable short of destroying its rune. To prevent this, it may resort to spells, violence, and possessing someone else in the simulation -- consider this a lesson in PvP. (NOTE: You’re also welcome to use anything from the previous events from Chantes as well.)
OSKA TRAINING: The goal in this simulation is simple: outlast the timer. It’s exactly the same castle, but after it’s been pelted by a firestorm, architecture ruined to rubble and ash. Navigating the half-destroyed castle is hard enough, and the earthquakes and fireballs raining from the sky will continue until characters survive for a certain amount of time (from an hour to a day) or find a full bushel’s worth of food. And just to rub salt in the wound, all the dirt, grime, and mud in this simulation will last outside of it, so you might need a shower after.
NALAWI: An island nation populated by diminutive deer people. The first setting is a mini version of the Gilligan's Island event -- it's less action-packed and more focused on survival. Marooned on the drowned island of Dakal, it's up to you to figure out where to find food and shelter. You might also want to avoid the hungry sea creatures that have made their way up on the island, too.
The second setting involves lava monsters erupting out of Nalalona, the largest volcano on the Nalawi islands. Lava imps will do their best to hypnotize recruits into following them back into the volcano, and can be defeated the normal way or non-violently lured into the water. Next comes the fire golems, hulking but fast. Their weak spot is their glowing core, but it will require some cleverness to reach. (NOTE: You're welcome to use any scenarios based on other Nalawi events as well!)
ZETA-12: Oh boy, a whole planet to explore! The objective here is simple: protect your delicate goo baby at all costs. Luckily for you, the simulation has seen fit to skip over the frozen wastes! Your first challenge is crossing the deep forest: carnivorous plants try to get a bite out of you, but that isn't the worst part. Eventually, you come to a deep chasm, and have to choose between forcing your wailing, distressed squidge across, or soothing it for several hours until it's willing to go with you.
Scenario two is a thick bog inhabited by an aggressive plant monster. It spits a crippling neurotoxin, so anyone attempting to fight it should be wary. Outsmarting or avoiding it would be best for the squidges' well-being, but some people are too hot-blooded for that. What will you do?
Finally, there's the desert; it's picturesque, but only if you can ignore the dehydration and punishing heat. There's a cave network for you to seek shelter in, but make no mistake: pretty soon a freak meteor shower causes a cave-in and leaves you trapped inside with an increasingly aggressive squidge. Are you out there dodging meteors or navigating caverns? THREE ✗ HOT SPRINGS EPISODEOne of ALASTAIR's teams extracted an enormous, very hot core from a sentient and murderous AI. What better way to put it to use than to heat up the springs? It's a nice place to get some much needed R&R or just hang out. Some enterprising recruits have built wooden decks and stairs around and through the whole affair. It's a little bit of a hike to get there from the castle, but anyone who has visited can agree: it's worth it. FOUR ✗ THE NETWORKThere is some good news, along with all these bizarre and fantastical new sights: you’ve arrived with a new piece of jewelry which, if examined, gives you access to anyone else that might be currently inhabiting Oska. You can speak into the jewelry and be heard, you can get it to project moving images of yourself and others, you can even think a message into it and have it arrive as written word to whoever you’re communicating with. It’s a useful little trinket, provided you can get it to work. FIVE ✗ CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTUREYou are free to use any of these settings, or anything from the Settings Page. You may use any virtually created setting you can think of in the Training Center, even scenes from your character’s world (although they’ll be devoid of people, unless they’re brought in as opponents). |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
futurologists) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
thirstology2016-09-24 10:21 pm
no subject
But even so, there had been a stand on ceremony, that outside of certain circumstances that was - tiresome at times. Not that she would let it on, often. That would never do. An adherence to the castes and laws of man and the Gods that was more important so was insisted, than her opinion of such. ]
It is a small Kingdom in the North of India, near to Gwalior. [ doesn't say of the United India Company that held it now. The stiff bitterness, of old angry wounds deep in her that the blackwater could never heal. ] It means 'mist', called by the Maharaja who so jokingly named it such.
no subject
[It clicks the moment Lakshmi says it, and Sieglinde can't help but exclaim as she remembers where she'd seen that word before. On a map, one Sebastian had given her so that she might re-familiarize herself with world geography once it was obvious that beyond her village... it was a good three hundred years past what she thought it was.]
I know of it- you may be from my world!
[She should probably restrain herself more around a Queen, but. Someone who could be from her world-]
Do you know Germany? I am from there- do you know Franconia? Bavaria? Or... London?
no subject
It's enough to warm her. ]
I know them all. I spent a winter in Germany and a month in Franconia on one occasion. [ What she was doing there, no one needs to know. Hint, it problem rhymes with Shmurdering Smerewolves. ] And I lived my last few years in London, too.
no subject
My village was called Wolfsschlucht- I suppose you would not know of that, it was [purposefully hidden deep within the Werewolf's Forest] very small but-
[If she was in London, and she was a queen... then perhaps...]
Do you know Queen Victoria? I am supposed to meet with her, but I was brought here first...
[Perhaps she could tell her what to expect? Mayhaps that was "cheating", in a way, but didn't one need all the help one could get when meeting the woman who would basically decide your fate?]
no subject
The Queen of England and I unfortunately never had a good relationship since she decided her dogs would rule my country better I.
[ It's - mild - it's far milder than she feels, and she it only because she is speaking to one young. She will not pretend otherwise, but she does not need to know of the blood, the suffering of her people at the hands of a vain woman's want of more power without regard of the happiness of the subjects of her Empire.
But as she looks across to the girl, she softens: there is blood there, there is so much blood there, but it is not this child's and she needed hope. ]
What matter do you have to speak with her about?
no subject
Dogs? Ciel had spoken as if she was a generous and wise ruler... but she hadn't met her yet, or heard much about what she'd actually done... so she didn't feel it her place to defend or judge until she had both sides of the story.
Did Queen Victoria rule India? Ciel had said she ruled an empire, but-]
She sent someone to-
[An awkward pause that likely gave her away, as she tries to think about how to work something she's never actually said out loud before. If she said "rescue" that might give away too much, lead to questions...]
To take me from my village and bring me to England. So that she could speak with me about my work.
[The ultimate magic, the poisonous gas that could kill thousands...]
* than I, fingers plz
She sent an army to relieve me of my position when my husband, the Maharaja Gangadhar Rao, died.
[ Her eyes lowered, her fists curling and uncurling by her side, and if this child had to deal with her?
Well, once, before the queen made it obvious an intention, she had sort to solve the matter through more diplomatic means, to send lawyers, desperately pleading for help and support against the Lycans that fed upon her people that deposed as she was, she could do nothing about. She had even sent her most trusted guards and the lawyers that she had called for, all the way from Bengali, to ask for help. It had come to nothing, and she had found out the truth of it soon enough.
But still... perhaps... maybe it would be different for her. ]
Queen Victoria is ruled by her advisers. But you are lucky, she well loves the German people, since they are where her family - the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, are from. Not least of her beloved Albert, before he passed. She keeps many of their traditions herself. Play to it, dress yourself as you would from there and talk about it as if it is a shared home. [ Her mouth pulls, at worst, the woman was an oblivious idiot, at worst, she was part and party of the worst acts her Empire committed. ] Play to her need for amusement and pleasantries, and it will serve you well. She dotes on those that flatter her. [ A dismissive huff of laughter. What good was a ruler than obviously vain? ] Speak of your love for Albert, regardless of whether you do so or not, she loves so to be morose over him.
[ Don't roll your eyes, don't roll your eyes. ] Last of all, the Queen does nothing at all if it is not for her own benefit and the benefit of her favourites, and her temper I am told is both impressive and destructive. She knows nothing in truth of her Kingdom, so I have observed, only what she is spoon fed by her favourites and politicians. So be weary of their intentions also, find out who has her ear so you may better guess of them.
[ She looks down at the young woman and - yes, there was that too, she was young, like Lakshmi had been once. Thirteen and taking the throne when she was married. ] Use your young age to your advantage, they will not expect you to think for yourself.
no subject
A lie to drive her to create a weapon, when she thought she'd dedicated her life to healing.
Even if she was willing to wait, to see what Ciel had to say, to hear the words from the Queen's own mouth... she wasn't going to believe any longer without doubt. Was incapable of trusting blindly like she'd once been. So she listens, her expression schooled best she could. To commit it to memory.]
... you seem to know her very well.
[It was good information to remember. She would. Even if she'd hoped beyond hope for something good to be awaiting her in the Outside World... she'd found out first hand the world wasn't nearly so kind as that.]
I was the lord of my village, but I have little experience with such persons... but because ALASTAIR recruited me, I have time to practice.
[Practice made perfect. If she tried hard enough, she could achieve what she desired- she believed that. (Wanted to believe that.)]
Though I may not return to my world.
no subject
I make it a habit to learn my adversaries well. Perhaps it will serve you better than I.
[ And just like that, she seems to have taken this girl under her wing. Maybe it is the left over motions of a mother, maybe it was her own trials with the English nobility. How vicious they could be, even when they spoke of their own gentility.
It was a dangerous game to play, for one so young. But the world was not kind that way. ]
But remember, in your heart and in your mind even if it can never show upon your face. You are a ruler, too, in your own right and of a position that is all your own. She owes you respect for who you are and what you have done. No one may ever take that truth from you, no matter what she says or does.
no subject
... I am a ruler over ash and dust.
[She can't stop herself though, the words escape bitter and quiet, contrasting too awfully with the smile she tries to put on her face. Like it doesn't bother her. Like it was little of consequence her entire life should have turned out to be a lie, that rather than let her leave, potentially be an asset to another country... her handmaidens had tried to kill her.]
I am afraid I will go before her with nothing but myself.
[Not that such a thing was worthless- far from it. She knew well enough that what was valued about her was her brain...
She just had to hope that her time in ALASTAIR was enough to prepare her for the way dealings were done in the outside world.]
no subject
The English slaughtered every man, woman and child in my fortress when they finally broke the siege. It has been near thirty years since I saw my home.
[ Means she must be at least fifty, but she doesn't look it. No, time doesn't seem to have touched her, not a day past her late twenties. But bare in the water, battle certain has where she has her arms propped up against the side of the bank makes it obvious. There's a scar on her shoulder, clearly a bullet wound, a burn on the inside webbing of forefinger and thumb that is from the burn of pistols. Old ones, then what she uses now, they had been less considerate to the user, then.
Things from before the blackwater, things she had paid the price for on the walls of Jhansi, on the fields of Gwalior. ]
What you are - you decide, but you are what you said - the Green Witch. You were that before you met her, and you will be that after she is gone. Never forget that.