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FEBRUARY TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 5
… What are you willing to do to erase your regret from existence?
The words ring in your ears as in the darkness of your dream, an ocean-deep blue glow hovers in front of you. Transfixed, you reach out to it... only to hear a different voice, a distant echo of cruel laughter, and with a sudden certainty you know — whatever you’ve just agreed to has changed everything forever.
It is to this laughter that you wake, and as it fades and your heart slows into something resembling a normal tempo, you notice something you should have noticed immediately: you are not in your bed.
1.0 White walls, clinical yet clean, sparsely-furnished rooms. You may wake in one of three rooms: a room with only one bed, a room with two beds, or a room with four beds. Those waking up in rooms with more than one bed notice that they are very much not alone. Perhaps the other occupants of the room are still sleeping, dreaming the same dream as you just did, or a regular one after returning to the station just barely a week ago … or perhaps you wake to the other person in the room watching you.
What you do is entirely up to you: yell in surprise when you wake to someone staring at you? Or maybe you’ll try to sneak away before anyone notices you...
2.0 Those with life-threatening injuries find themselves awakening in the infirmary, in a regular hospital bed. Most of their injuries have been treated, and any lingering illnesses or conditions will have designated medicine bottles on the table next to the bed.
White curtains surround the bed on both sides, giving an illusion of privacy. But is that a rustling sound you hear? Some footsteps? Perhaps you’re not the only one in need of some medical attention... or you've attracted the attention of those with experience in medical aid, and they rush to your bedside, surprised about this sudden new patient.
It is not just for your injuries that you may want some company, but also for leaving the infirmary — you can’t stay there forever, after all, and will have to make your way through the hallways of the station to the living quarters, and claim a room and a bed there.
Once you’re up, you may notice there’s something in your ear: an earpiece that, when you become aware of it, quickly runs you through the instructions for how to use the network, a recorded message by a female voice that explains exactly why you’re here… and leaves you with a map of the station.
So what else is there to do but to explore? Best get to know what is now your new home.
3.0 When trying to decide where yo go, you may find your way to the armory, where you can try to work the machine there to make yourself a weapon — perhaps to replace one that didn’t come with you to the station… or maybe you want to be prepared for the future. The recently-returned team members will surely recommend having a functional weapon with you.
And speaking of weapons: to put it to good use, head to the training room, where the entire purpose is to provide you with a space to spar and train to your heart’s content!
4.0 After you’ve exhausted yourself training, it’s time to grab a bite. For that, you should head to the kitchen, which is equipped with all the basic appliances you might need, and ingredients for most regular dishes... and large amounts of chocolate. Weird.
5.0 A welcome reprieve to the cold, dark space that surrounds the characters can be found in the sunlight room. A skillful illusion surrounds anyone who steps inside the room: you can hear the trilling of birds, feel a light breeze caress your skin as you walk through a grass field. It seems that the illusion reflects the season — the leaves have fallen, a layer of white covers the ground, and the air is crisp and clean. If you follow the path, it leads to where a bridge rises over a brook that has now iced over — but maybe don't try your luck walking on it, as the ice may crack underneath your feet and you'll find yourself plunging into the freezing water.
Regardless of whether you like the wintery atmosphere, it is easy to forget you are in space at all. Perhaps that gives you comfort, or just makes you miss the real nature all the more.
6.0 If you’d rather choose tinkering over nature, the lab is guaranteed to provide you with some entertainment. Glass vials and jars of chemicals sit on shelves in a surprisingly beautiful display of colour on one side of the room, while the other side of the room contains stacks of boxes containing assorted equipment: cords, bolts, panels, buttons, gears, gadgets, gizmos, and thingamabobs. The downside is that the parts available seem to have no apparent method to their sorting. So get digging, and you may just find exactly what you need to make what you’ve always wanted to make!
7.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.
Indeed, the platform near the personal quarters is still whirring with power, and new items form neat piles on it. There’s clothes, shoes, dishware, skincare, books… even a couple of CDs, and a few cute stuffed animals. So sort through what there is and grab what you want, before someone else does!
Eventually, you’ll find yourself at the doors of the the simulation room — it has been equipped with a new simulation to take you through possible mission-like scenarios so it’s best to prepare yourself and see what it has in store for you.
8.0 The doors slide shut behind you and the room goes dark. Small pinpricks of light will start to build on each other until you’re surrounded by grey skies overhead and grassy green lawns, a row of old stone columns lining your vision. It seems you’re in a courtyard of some kind, but that’s not all. Something tugs at the hem of your sleeve or nudges at your leg, a warm presence that feels comfortable and ultimately very familiar. They look up at you, or maybe they meet your eye-level, a creature that varies in size, shape, colour, and form depending on what reflects you best. This creature, known as a compalion is a physical manifestation of your spirit or soul and will stay by your side on this journey.
You can stay here and get to know your compalion, or you can take your new companion and explore the campus. Because, if you do move forward past the line of columns (a hallway it turns out), you’ll find that the small cluster of buildings forms an academic campus of some kind.
a) They cannot go any further than a few yards away from their person; the further the distance, the more painful the separation will feel.
b) Your compalion will shift into one form throughout this simulation and can be any creature that best mirrors your personality.
c) They can be as small as a flea and as large as a small elephant; get creative!
d) Whether they speak to you in your native tongue is entirely up to you (some speak, some don’t)
e) Basically daemon rules apply.
9.0 While it might seem like fun to spend hours just exploring the old buildings with your compalion and any Orbers like you that you might bump into along the way, it’s important to remember that you have a goal to achieve: follow the clues and retrieve the orb. Your compalion might offer an idea or two for where to go, or it may just be voicing the thoughts in your head, but it’s not a bad thing to follow your heart (or your gut) as it were. You might find that the rooftops of the campus buildings are easily climbable to get a good vantage point of your location. (Just be careful not to slip and fall! The height from here is quite dangerous.) A clocktower stands proud in the distance among a cluster of other campus buildings, marking the time.
Inside, you might be led down dark stone halls and into a series of classrooms: including reading quarters, study rooms with old leather couches and warm carpets covering stone floors; lecture halls with stiff wooden seating and individual desks to match, a chalkboard with indiscernible scribbles half-wiped away; and a laboratory that deals with something a little less modern than you might be used to, or perhaps with its twisty vials and bubbling potions, it suits you perfectly. There is the large library filled from floor to ceiling with books beyond imagining.
If you look out from the tall arch-shaped window from a classroom, or if you’re outside and you tilt your head up to the sky, you might notice that the sky appears to be darkening further, growing heavy with what is inevitably an oncoming rainstorm. If you’re inside, it might be best to stay indoors; if you’re outside, perhaps it’s time to find some shelter. Or if you’re determined to find that orb outside, risk you and your compalion getting wet.
● ● ●
N O T E: Additionally, there are three personal tasks provided to each character as they enter the simulation. In-game, each character will be given one task. For the purposes of the test drive, we’re leaving it to players to pick a task for their character and run with it.
A Team up with another Orber and their compalion to find the orb's location.
B Climb into the clocktower and ring the bell.
C Explain your best theory regarding your compalion’s manifestation to a fellow team member.
F Y I
• This TDM covers the month of February.
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves are currently open!
• Apps open February 24 and will remain open until February 28.
• For any questions regarding TDM, please direct them here. For questions about the game, please refer to the FAQ.
FOR SOME FUN:
Have a clue for your upcoming mission:
no subject
You’re right. I didn’t.
[Stealing food was something she did a lot when she was younger. But to have to hunt for it? She was completely out of her element.]
Ever had snake? I don’t care what they say about having spices or whatever, it tastes awful.
no subject
[Ellie's nose wrinkles up at first, but then she's left looking appreciative. She smiles a little and nods in agreement that snake probably does taste awful. But hey, you've got to eat what you need in order to survive. Food is fuel, not necessarily meant to be enjoyed.
But these chocolates she's stuffing her pockets full of? Oh, she'll be sure to enjoy those later. Enjoy them so much she probably winds up with a stomach ache.]
I guess I haven't kept track of everything that I've had to eat. You eat what you need to keep going.
[But she guesses this woman gets that. Which is enough to have Ellie relaxing enough to share her name.]
I'm Ellie. And I'm uh -
[She rubs at the back of her head.]
I'm new here, in case it wasn't obvious.
[But she's pretty sure it is.]
no subject
[From the sounds of it, this poor girl has been through a lot already.]
But I think you can do better than canned peas and beans.
[Daisy moves over to the fridge, pulling out a frozen pizza from the freezer.]
Daisy, and if it makes you feel better you’re not the only one whose just shown up.
[It kills her, to see someone so young here. Turning the oven on, she lifts the box so Ellie can see.]
You want to split this?
no subject
Shit, is that pizza?
[Ellie takes a second to slide on the other strap of her backpack so it's nice and secure and not easily grabbed. Once it's in place she makes her way in closer to Daisy, eyeing the packaging on the pizza.
The offer of splitting food makes her uncomfortable, only because it feels like she's putting her trust in someone she doesn't know. People don't just share where she comes from. Her eyes glance up to Daisy before she shakes her head.]
It's yours. You found it.
[She's gotta play it cool, act like she isn't interested in pizza. Even though she definitely is.]
no subject
[Grabbing something to put the pizza on, Daisy frowns at the way Ellie phrases that sentence. Like she’s used to people claiming things for themselves.]
I didn’t find anything. Anyone can grab what they want. Besides, there’s no way I can eat the whole thing.
[Not entirely true, but she’s also not that hungry right now.]
no subject
[People will eat and not gobble down every last bite that they can?? Sounds fake to her, but okay.
Of course, the second the question comes out of her mouth, she realizes the likely answer.]
Look. I know I look young and like I can't take care of myself. But I don't need you to make me something. It's stupid to eat if you're not wanting the whole thing for yourself.
[But still, it's not an outright refusal. She's even edged in a little closer, trying to rise up on her tiptoes to look at the packaging up close.]
no subject
Because I could just save the rest for later?
[She’s reminded of herself, when she was younger. From a young age she learned she couldn’t rely on anyone but herself, and asking for help is still hard for her.]
You’ve already made it pretty clear that you can take care of yourself. Just figured since I’m making it anyway, you might want some.
[She notices the way she keeps trying to look at the box and places it down to go grab a cup. An excuse to give Ellie space, and maybe decide if she wants it or not.]
no subject
[She accepts that answer, jamming her hands into her jean pockets. Actually saying she wants the pizza is proving to be hard, if only because she isn't sure what she can give or do in return.]
And I want some. Trust me, I do, it's just...
[She loses track of that thought for a second as she looks at the colorful packaging. She's totally taking that box. A memory of her first real, hot pizza.]
I don't have any way of making it up to you. Unless you like jokes.
no subject
Jesus. What the hell was her life like back home?
Smiling, Daisy takes a sip of her water before responding.]
Are you kidding me? I love jokes. Whatcha got?
no subject
Okay, so, why was the star arrested?
no subject
I don't know. Why?
no subject
Well, it was a shooting star. Why else?
[Yes, she is the type to laugh at her own jokes. She even reaches up to scratch at her eyebrow, like she thinks she's the coolest person in space for telling something so ridiculous. And don't worry, Daisy. There's plenty more where that came from.]
no subject
The punchline is honestly not what she was expecting and she almost spits out her water as a result.]
I'd say that definitely earned you a pizza.
no subject
[She's more animated now, holding up a hand to signal for Daisy to wait before she says she's earned that pizza.]
What do stars say when they apologize to one another?
[Eager to get to the punchline, she doesn't give any time for a response before blurting-]
"I'm starry!"
[Please stop her. She will keep going forever.]
no subject
Where'd you hear these? Or did you make them up?
no subject
[She shrugs, making the situation sound as normal as she possibly can.]
But some of them I made up. Like how it's better to be safe than starry when you're out in space.
[Which is a stupid pun and she knows it, but she doesn't care. She's cracking a half smile anyway, right as the oven chimes to let them know it's properly preheated.]
no subject
That's really good.
[Taking the pizza out of the box she places it on the tray,]
Here watch out for a sec.
[Making sure Ellie's out of the way she opens the oven to put the pizza in, closing it as she sets the timer. It's hard not to notice how tiny she is, and after going an extended period time without having much to eat she can imagine how hungry she must be.]
You want to snack on something else while we wait? They just stocked the kitchen.