![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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
This is a light talisman. [He moves closer and lifts his hand for Itachi to get a better look. With a slight toss of his hand, the light rises into the air.]
This one is just a basic source of light. Talismans come in lots of different forms and have different uses. At their core though, they're small arrays that have power stored within them. [The ball of light flows up to the ceiling and rests there. Eventually it'll go out on its own and since it's stored power, he doesn't have to worry about feeling drained.]
Not everyone where I'm from has access to that kind of power, but talismans allow them to use someone else's. [His eyes drift down from the ceiling and return to the cat still stretched out along the table.]
There are a few known designs for basic needs like light or heating water, but theoretically, if someone designs the right array and gives it the right amount of power, they can do pretty much anything.
no subject
（ leave the cat alone, wwx. forbidden tummy. she will scratch u. ）
This power you describe — does it have a name?
（ the library is a simulation, there is no urgency to complete this mission. he is far more interested in the man's abilities than anything else at the moment. ）
no subject
Ah, hmm. We call it spiritual energy. Everyone has it, but it must be trained and refined to be manipulated. [He is quite honestly assuming that everywhere here has it as well, even if they haven't had any training in manipulating it. He pauses then, unsure of how much he should share. It's not like he's ever hidden what he is from anyone though so he doesn't see a reason to start now.]
People where I'm from who train their spiritual energy are called cultivators. My cultivation is different. I don't use spiritual energy. [He raises a hand again and in his open palm a slip of shadowy smoke dances for a moment before being absorbed back into his body.] I use this; resentful energy.
[He grins up at Itachi but there's something different in his expression now, something unsure and anticipatory.]
Easier to find, doesn't require years of cultivation. [But.] Much harder to control.
no subject
the information about cultivation and the energy they use is not new to him — he and xichen had spoken on the matter not too terribly long ago. however, without knowing whether they are enemies or allies he will not say as much. instead, he simply nods. ）
I would take care using it around the orbs themselves. They have strange and sometimes strong reactions to those of us that manipulate any sort of energy — they hunger for chaos, and it is at least partly their nature to cleave to it when and where they can.
（ his tone is entirely without judgement. the little flicker of resentful energy is — not wholly unfamiliar to him. it feels a little like the bijū, when they pulled them from their hosts. but it has never alarmed him the way it has others — he sees all usable energy as a tool, and every tool has a purpose. ）
no subject
That's useful to know. [Given his history with unstable energies, it's definitely worth knowing and keeping an eye out for. The last thing he needs is to fuck up here too.]
Does the orb energy have an affect on people? When you say they hunger for chaos, how far does that go? [He pauses before adding] Resentful energy is like that. It has its own agenda which is why controlling it is difficult and often...risky.
no subject
Cat. Manners.
（ yes, her name is just. cat. that's it. she gives itachi a slow, resentful blink and then begins grooming her paws instead, dainty and ladylike. ）
Our information on the orbs is not what I would consider 'complete'. There is no telling what they are capable of, and as we gather more of them, the power of the collective may shift or grow in unexpected ways. I will transfer you the mission files so far, which contains information on how they have responded to our external stimuli.
（ he touches a finger to his earpiece to indicate the manner of transfer he intends, and then he sends the mission logs so far for him to peruse. ）
There has also been an instance not included there, whereby one of our number died and was resurrected by a team member with skill in such an area. Both paid considerable price for the resurrection.
（ and he won't say who it was or which mission it happened on, so don't ask. ）
no subject
That last bit catches his attention and he can't help the self deprecating laugh he lets out. When he realizes how rude it sounds, he shakes his head and sobers up.]
Sorry, that's awful, I hope both of them are okay. [And then because he really doesn't feel a need to hide this part of him either] The last time I resurrected someone I ended getting hunted down by a mob of thousands of people for it so I don't plan on doing it again anytime soon. Well, hunted for that and other things. [he smiles like it's a joke but it doesn't reach his eyes even a little.
His magpie—also unnamed—flies back to him abruptly, landing on his shoulder and chirping next to his ear. With a sigh, he reaches up to offer it a pet.
It really is so needy.]
no subject
finally, in a neutral tone: ）
The majority of people here seem more preoccupied with how you use your powers rather than what those powers are. I do not anticipate anyone hunting you on that account.
（ he pauses a moment and then continues, ）
Besides, we do not have thousands of individuals aboard the Ximilia.
（ that's.
it's a joke. ）
no subject
Oh, you're funny. [It's the delivery that does it for him. That and the realization that it is in fact a joke. He has a weakness for people who appear otherwise serious actually making jokes.]
Still, good to know. [He flashes Itachi with a grateful smile.] You're very helpful, you know, Itachi. I suppose this makes us friends now?
no subject
（ not a chummy guy, itachi. ）
no subject
That's fair, we've only just met. I suppose I'll have to work harder to earn your friendship, hmm? [There's a teasing tone in his voice, but despite the words he's actually beginning to move away from Itachi and his cat, gesturing vaguely at the door. His bird is starting to nip at his ear again and he figures he should get this over with already.]
I've got a clocktower to climb but I hope to see you around soon, Itachi. Thanks again for the help! [He waves and then exits through the door, immediately beginning to chatter at the bird on his shoulder once again.]