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SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER + NOVEMBER TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 7
The words ring in your ears as in the darkness of your dream, a purple glow blooms, slowly enveloping you. It is not a feeling of comfort that surrounds you, though — as a distorted voice whispers in your ear, you feel it: cold dread, and a sudden certainty that everything is about to be irrevocably changed.
It is to this daunting realization that you wake, and as 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.
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.
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. The illusion has been programmed to reflect the seasons — the leaves in the trees are currently bright with all the colours of autumn: orange and red and yellow; and the air is crisp and clean. If you follow the path, you'll be led to a bridge rising over a sparkling, babbling brook, a few fallen leaves floating on the water and falling around you like very bright raindrops.
With an illusion so authentic you can almost taste the pumpkin spice, 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 As you wander back towards the common areas, you may notice there seems to be a room there that hasn't previously existed... not that you, a newcomer, would be able to tell. The room takes up a chunk of the common area, and on its unassuming door is a little plaque that reads, 'The Ximusic room'. Should you enter, you will find a sound-proofed practice room that contains — yes, you guessed it, band equipment that even the most musically inclined should be satisfied with. So pick up an instrument, saunter up to the microphone to belt out your favourite tunes, or take a seat at the side of the room and enjoy others' playing.
8.0 If it’s items you’re lacking, though, some time after your arrival, the earpiece alerts you to a new message.
But something strange happens, then — the message turns into an incomprehensible jumble of sounds: at first, it is just static; then, whirring noises follow, as if something rewinding... and then, there's a knock.
Silence.
Another knock.
A sweet, lilting voice poses the question, the words sounding as if through a filter — soon after, a woman's laugh follows, lingering as its echoes fade away slowly.
After that, some may decide it's best to not look at the supply drop at all, while others may be even more curious — but as you make your way to the platform, you'll see there is nothing amiss in the neat piles of items 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!
For those on the antsier side, maybe a trip to the simulation room is just the thing to address all that restlessness. Here you’ll find a preprogrammed mission to get those orb-snatching skills of yours in tip-top shape.
Fortunately, the simulation gods have decided to smile down upon you this time around; there’ll be no need to search for the orb, you already know exactly where it is: in the hands of the High King of Selrahines. The good news? His Highestness has already graciously agreed to part with the orb. The bad news? He requires a bit of a favor first…
Every year, High King Ghythih celebrates his awakening day with a party. But not just any party. For three days and three nights, the entire kingdom of Selrahines rejoices His Noblestness’ life with drinking, dancing and debauchery — the most anticipated and talked about party of the entire Gamga Galaxy. Everyone in the cosmos is invited, which is good because everyone in the cosmos wants to attend.
Now if it weren’t for that pesky assassination attempt, everything would be perfect! You see, just two weeks prior, His Royalestness received a warning that this year’s awakening day celebration would be His last. Obviously, that absolutely must not happen because talk about a killjoy. Be good dears and thwart His would-be assassins, would you? Then the orb’s all yours.
9.0 Even though you’re here for a job, you’re still expected to dress up for the occasion. Ghythih has offered you full access to the royal tailors, but if you don’t mind off-the-rack, Selrahines has many boutiques and shops in the merchant district. Go big! Go bold! Just don’t upstage the High King, or He’ll have you thrown in the dungeons. (No, really.)
10.0 During the three day celebration there is plenty to do. The first two days serve as primers, consisting of street celebrations that close down all four roads leading up to the capital. Up in the north you’ll find the carnival, where a menagerie of exotic and dangerous animals from neighboring planets are showcased and — should you happen to know the right people — put up for sale. Over on the west is for the theater crowd, where plays are put on depicting all of the High King’s conquests and achievements throughout his 800 years of being awakened. Across that to the east is for those who prefer to be part of the action; riches and fame can be won during tournaments of jousting, melees, spell-weaving and pageantry. And finally down south, by the lowlight district, are where the sinners thrive and the saints go to forget their values. Here, everything and anything is not only allowed, but encouraged.
11.0 The main event, of course, is the High King’s Gala. For the entirety of the third day, the castle’s expansive ballroom opens its gilded doors to all who wish to celebrate Him. Here there are live bands, delectable foods and a dancefloor that never seems to feel too crowded, no matter how many attend. The atmosphere of the ballroom is effortlessly jovial and contagiously hedonistic — literally. The High King hates a party pooper, see, so nearly every inch of the ballroom is enchanted to encourage celebration; sometimes it’s a melody in a song that gets your feet moving, or the bubblies in your drink that have you smiling wide, or maybe it’s that pastry you snuck a bite of in between polite smiles making you feel warm all over. Whatever it takes, the longer you stay in the ballroom, you will have fun.
(—but “fun” is pretty subjective, isn’t it? Hopefully your idea of fun doesn’t ruin the party…)
12.0 But hey, don’t forget you have a job to do. Enjoy the festivities all you want, but remember you have to ensure the High King’s survival and the capture of His assassin(s). As His special guests, you have full access to every part of the castle and all the authority you could want to question anyone and everyone. Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone’s okay with that so you may find a couple of citizens and guests less than thrilled about being questioned when they’re just trying to have a good time. Remember, the High King isn’t a fan of Draduak Downers, so covertness is key here.
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N O T E: Additionally, personal tasks are 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 from the following list for their character and run with it.
A Pretend to be (or become) inebriated and make a scene.
B Ask three strangers to dance.
C Reveal to a teammate an embarrassing story of your past.
For those looking to do something a little less involved, there is always the training room — though there’s something off about it this time around. What is normally a large, mostly empty room lined with benches and wall racks to hold weapons now resembles more of the simulation room upon entering.
Try to fiddle with the control panel as much as you want, but nothing seems to set the room back to the way it was. Seems like the only way out is to let the simulation play through, but rather than any of the preprogrammed missions the simulation room is known for, these simulations draw on all of this team’s previous missions, as if you yourself were a part of it.
Seems you’re on an unexpected walk down the orbers’ memory lane… Maybe you’ll get lucky and someone will act as your tour guide.
• MISSION FILE: BRASS DEVIL — Bright lights, extravagance, and liquor-soaked evenings keep the city of Braccia alive. Three crime families rule the streets, and if you want to get anywhere here, you have to make nice with them. They may play nice on the surface, but there's something tense pulling at the heart of the city... Can you figure out what it is?
• MISSION FILE: THE SLEEPER — To sleep is but to dream; at least, that's what they say, but the inhabitants of Kilnan may not agree. A strange sleeping illness has taken over the kingdom and no one can figure out why. To make matters worse, the royal wizard, Remi, is unresponsive. How will these sleeping beauties save their kingdom from ruin?
• MISSION FILE: BAD COMPANY — Welcome to Scorpion's Bend, the wild west with a curious and melancholy twist. Something isn't right about this place, but you can't figure out just what it is. There's bandits wandering around looking for some kind of fortune, so you might want to avoid them. Oh, and, be wary of the food.
• MISSION FILE: UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS — A tale as old as time: "good" vs "evil," up vs down. Giva is a world steeped deeply in tradition and culture, so it stands to reason that the afterlife would be, too. Taeum is where the "good" souls go, Sedorum is where the "bad" souls go... or so everyone's been told. But, it won't take long for you to realize something isn't quite right about that distinction.
• MISSION FILE: 4:50 TO VREFESEA — Productivity and innovation have been the hot topic of Novis Nox lately, as new and amazing things are being produced in a way that almost seems like magic. If that was even a concept the locals understood, anyway. Craemore and Vrefesea are separated by a vast ocean and traveled between by train, usually easily with no interruption. And yet, suddenly, you find yourself in the middle of a family whodunnit. Hopefully, you can make it out of the finger-pointing.
• MISSION FILE: THE FOX & THE HARE — E-23b is a city on the brink of mass destruction, and yes, it's because of the government. A revolution is set to break, and you can help them. There's something deeply personal about this mission, and best discovered by connecting with The Fables. Can you manage to assist and help them begin to rebuild? Or will everything fall apart?
• MISSION FILE: WISH FULL — Qruria City is one of the many kingdoms scattered throughout the world of Xrisora, a beautiful place with a well-loved monarchy. There are new things to learn, new things to meet, and hopefully, you're not afraid of the ocean...
F Y I
• This TDM takes place during the downtime between missions from the middle of September to the rest of the year.
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves open on September 20 at 6PM GMT!
• Apps open September 25 and will remain open until September 30.
• 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 October's mission:
castiel | supernatural
sunliiiight
Everyone always leaves.
He's tried to make connections, to put himself out there, to be more than just a grunt and a tool with a purpose, but ultimately it always falls back to that, doesn't it? The only reason he's even here is to undo all his fuckups, to stop himself breaking that first seal, to damn himself right back to hell, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Branched timelines are bullshit, Viv's attempts at comfort Castiel will come, because he doesn't know you won't break. None of them do, it's all bullshit. He knows better. He knows - his whole purpose was to break that fucking seal, and the minute he did it, the angels had to have known. Someone had to have known.
It's fine. He's made his peace with it. It's not like it matters; once they're done and he's back on the rack or torturing, none of this will matter. As long as Sam's safe, that's all that really counts.
He's not really paying attention to anything, lost in his own world, but he hears footsteps on the bridge, not hard when you're parked on the grass, not quite underneath, but not openly visible, either. He won't draw attention to himself, whoever it is can keep going on their merry way, he doesn't want to talk to anyone, it's--
Wait a minute.
The voice is so painfully familiar it has Dean scrambling to his feet, eyes wide because this isn't possible, is it? Dean Winchester doesn't get favors, he doesn't deserve good things, doesn't deserve Lisa or Ben or the stupid, boring life he's been handed back home, the one he's working so hard to destroy and give up.
But he'd know that voice anyway, and he practically vaults over the railings of the bridge, landing with a thud, gripping the wood so tightly it creaks a fraction. ]
Cas?!
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Until he does. Castiel's head tilts, dog-like. ]
Dean?
[ His eyes are narrowed, not entirely convinced that Dean isn't another very impressive part of this convincing illusion. ]
What are you doing here?
[ Selfishly, Castiel hopes that this Dean is an illusion, and the real one is safe at home with Lisa, Ben, and Sam. He's afraid to imagine otherwise. Which one of the droplets of water in an ocean of regret would Dean have chosen to undo? ]
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It can't be you.
[ How could it? It's pushing a year, there hasn't been a whisper of Enochian, a burst light bulb, no flickering lights or shattered mirrors, just silence and the echo of Zeppelin IV, the trauma of every mission replaying in his mind.
Cas can't be real, but Dean's reaching out anyway, brushing fingertips over his shoulder, material under his skin. The impossibility weighs heavy, expectation of nothing corporeal...and yet.
He is real, Dean realizes, the soft touch turning into a grip, hard, fingers digging in, lips parted as he pulls a breath in that shakes in his lungs. ]
Shit.
[ He doesn't answer Cas' question, doesn't bother, there's no point; he just yanks the angel right in, face buried in his shoulder, arms tight around him. ]
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The touch on the shoulder isn't entirely unexpected, but the hug that follows is completely at odds with the Dean Castiel remembers, and Castiel's eyes widen and he goes even more tense. It's not as if the affection is unwanted. So, awkwardly unpracticed though he is, Castiel reaches up and pats Dean's back in what he hopes is an appropriately consolatory gesture. ]
I don't understand. Why shouldn't I be me?
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[ He clings, feeling relieved and stupid and on the edge of some unstable precipice where he’s dangerously close to showing desperately vulnerable emotion.
He should let go. He should lean back, clap him on the shoulder, let Cas go.
He doesn’t. Not yet. ]
It’s— too good to be true.
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What doesn't make sense is why Dean seems upset in the first place. Because he'd died? Or because this seems to be some new reality or alternate plane of existence they've both stumbled separately upon? He's asked already, so Castiel simply waits for Dean to get his bearings before pressing for more. He answers simply over Dean's shoulder, probably not what Dean wants to hear but as true now as ever. ]
God works in mysterious ways.
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rate that ass(butt)
As is, he just wishes his knight outfit would suffice. It always has for the parties back home. ]
That's a good question. I guess it could be for subterfuge. If we stand out too much, any decent assassin would be able to spot us and use it their advantage.
[ Which is a practical reason that does little to actually improve the task. Especially when most of his recent clothing consists of formal uniforms or whatever was most comfortable. Fashionable, he is not. ]
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If their intention were subtlety, then they shouldn't have sent a threatening letter to their target.
[ This whole training scenario is messy and full of holes. But that's humans all over, and Castiel can't blame them for imagining accurately. Castiel sighs, and looks from the shop over to Suzaku. ]
What kind of outfit do you think is appropriate to wear?
[ Someone hasn't been paying attention to like, people. Clothing. His surroundings. Anything that wasn't direct instructions or suspicious figures darting through shadows or magical incantations, of which there have been exactly none. ]
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With that in mind, Suzaku takes a look at the clothes surrounding them. ]
Oh, well. Anything they have available is going to fit more than what we've got on. Why don't you try something like this?
[ While speaking, he grabs a handful of nearby items — a nice shirt, a draped long coat, and simple pants. The style of the pieces themselves isn't terrible, they may almost match if you tilt your head a little. The colors, on the other hand... ]
It even looks a bit like what you're wearing. A formal version of it, anyway.
[ And much, much brighter. ]
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[ Both that whatever is offered will likely be acceptable, and that the outfit Suzaku recommends does bear some resemblance to what he currently has on. The colors are blinding and mismatched, but Castiel can only assume they're appropriate since his simulation partner is suggesting them. Surely this person he's just met wouldn't lead him astray. ]
Thank you. I appreciate the assistance.
[ Castiel takes the items from Suzaku's hands, and between the blink of one eye and the next, he's wearing them. Standing stiffly as he has been, without striking any kind of pose or looking at himself, he asks Suzaku in the same gruff, concerned tone of voice as the moment before. ]
How does it look? Do you think this will help me to blend in?
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What?
[ Sorry, Castiel! Not only were the victim of horrific (albeit unintentional) fashion crimes. You're also having those follow-up questions fall on deaf ears. Suzaku's too busy boggling. ]
When did you... I mean— [ what does he mean? ] —How did you do that?
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Things make more sense when Suzaku asks how. ]
I'm an angel.
[ That explains everything, right?? Castiel's eyes narrow. If this person is human, it's probably not worth attempting to explain. But they are currently engaged in a simulation within a remote universe, so... He gives it a shot, why not. ]
Are you familiar with interdimensional travel, specifically related to the use of energy to convert matter across planar space-time?
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rate that ass(butt)
[Natasha steps closer to one of the shop windows, her eyes narrowing as she sizes up a mannequin, then glancing over at Castiel and gracing him with a similarly measuring look.
Finding new clothes is among Natasha's first steps in this kind of situation. Especially since coming to the station.]
Plus, we've got time to kill and people in stores talk. You have something better to do?
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You plan to interrogate the individuals selling clothing.
[ That's very clever, actually. There are actually a lot of other better things Castiel could be doing than picking out a new outfit to "blend," but this is a simulation, and teamwork seems to be the real mission here, so... It seems reasonable enough to follow the instructions if Natasha agrees with them. She seems experienced in this sort of thing, and Castiel says as much. ]
This is a situation you've been in before.
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But at least to start with it's a good way to take the temperature of the situation.
[She seems very confident about this, and very at least.
She nods toward the shop door, inviting him to join her.]
This isn't my first mission.
[Fake or otherwise. That doesn't need to be clarified, though, she figures.]
I take it you don't do a lot of undercover work.
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He follows along, looking as naturally suspicious as ever, and making seemingly no attempts to either blend in or lower his voice. ]
I'm an angel. It's not necessary for me to hide my abilities, generally, or waste time like this talking to people rather than using more direct methods.
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[Natasha points out, eyeing his suit and long coat. Neither exactly screams angel.
More like... accountant. Somewhat stressed mob accountant.]
Do you have wings and a halo? Angels usually have things like that in stories, when they don't have four faces and eyes all over their bodies.
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This is a human vessel, which is how I'm able to communicate with you. My true form can be... intimidating.
[ He says, while tilting his head and lifting a strange garment up between his fingers. It's obviously meant to be a coat, very lengthy, has a hood, but no sleeves. It's also covered in ribbons that don't seem functional. Humans fashion is so strange. ]
I do have wings. Six wings and three-hundred and thirty-three eyes. The halo, I'm afraid, is an exaggeration.
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Morning After
Move.
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You didn't answer my question.
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With his arms crossed, he lifted one hand and waved it, sending out a quick stream of his own energy - which was tinted a bright blue (and Cas, being what he is, may recognize a very light touch of literal Hellfire within that energy). Above Cas's head an image appeared, showing an odd winged creature of indeterminable make shoved into a tiny, tiny space. So definitely not human, then, but also not cultivated from a spirit Dongfang Qingcang recongized.
Finally rolling his head in a lazy, unconcerned manner, he met Castiel's eyes and replied.]
If the orbs were so easy to find, we would not be here.
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When his eyes are met again, Castiel still appears startled, and there's a nervous quality to his formerly commanding voice. ]
I was under the impression that some had already been retrieved.
[ Finding the orbs already found suddenly feels much less important than addressing... whatever that icy feeling was. ]
What are you? Are you why I'm here?
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I assume you are here because you have a regret. I am not the one that brought you, but that is why I am, and many of the others, am here.
[His tone held a gallon of 'are you stupid?' but otherwise remained bored, despite the interest in his gaze as he continued to study that image floating over Cas' head. Unaware that Castiel may not realize he can dismiss it as easily as Daqiang could.]
I am DongFang QingCang. The Moon Supreme of the Moon Tribe and the most powerful being in the Three Realms.
[He stated it like a fact, and not an attempt at bragging.]
What are you?
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I'm an angel of the Lord. Castiel. I've never heard of a Moon Supreme of any Moon Tribe.
[ Said like an accusation. Must be from another universe, but that... power he used from vaguely familiar and very uncomfortable. ]
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I'm so sorry about him
I'm not
bless
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