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SPRING TDM.
● ● ● T D M . 0 8
The words ring in your ears as in the darkness of your dream, a teal glow pulses, 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 a few days 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. 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.
With an illusion so authentic it may leave you longing for some hot chocolate, 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 a room off to the side. 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.
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!
(CW: POTENTIAL BODY MODIFICATION)
Whether you’re a quick study and you’ve become settled into life on the station, or you want to get the full lay of the land (in a manner of speaking) first, if you decide to explore the hall past the control room, you’ll eventually come across the simulation room.
Step past the threshold and the doors will slide shut with a quiet woosh. Nothing suspicious; nothing to worry about. But before you can really get a sense of your environment (a grey, large-ish empty room, no furniture, no discernable objects to provide markers), the room goes dark, and then … there’s really no other way to describe it: the room transforms.
You find yourself in a club. The music is upbeat, loud, but not too loud. Down a short flight of steps flanking the bar and seating is the open floor with more tables and booths bathed in a warm, dim glow of light, and at the very end of the room is a stage with its bright spotlight showcasing its performers — though, at the moment, the stage is empty.
9.0 When you take a step forward, you’ll feel a presence gently push at your chest or your shoulder — a tall and jovial man resembling a well-dressed bartender from the top up (the rest of him appears to move along wheels) approaches with a tall flute glass in hand. Its contents are sparkly and blue.
Will you proceed? Please respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.”
There’s something a little strange about his voice, a cadence that doesn’t sound quite natural even when the simulation is so realistic otherwise. Once you’ve given your consent, the bartender continues.
10.0 It seems the bartender wasn’t lying. Once you’ve allowed the drink (tasty, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, effervescent, with light notes of your fondest childhood memory) to settle in your stomach you might experience a myriad of effects on your body, ranging from a change in skin colour (pink? green? blue with spots?), an additional limb or two (or three), a tail or wings, or cybernetic parts such as lie-detecting eyes or a tongue that can uncover truths and lies in others. If you happen to find another Orber within the room and both of you have consumed the offered drink, you might find yourself experiencing a full bodyswap.
None of the changes are painful; if anything, they might not even be noticeable until you look into a mirror, look down at your limb-in-question, or your companion points it out.
11.0 The moment you approach the stage, a performer will appear as if out of thin air and begin to sing, her voice strong and smoky and melodic. Her enthralling performance could put you into a trance, but you have an orb to find and a personal task to accomplish, so it’s time to put your best foot forward and do a little investigating.
Talking to some of the patrons might prove fruitful as some of them are convinced that the stage has never sounded or looked so good, like there’s something giving performers that extra oomph that no one can explain. It might be wise to wait until that last performance before you sneak up there — or maybe you want to do a little snooping around now, you know, while everyone’s distracted. Strategize with your fellow Orbers and uncover the location of this hidden orb.
● ● ●
N O T E: The effects of the drink and the level of changes your character experiences is entirely up to you. Patrons of this fine club won’t bat an eye if you look a little like them.
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 Say the opposite of what you mean during the simulation.
B Create a scene with an unsuspecting teammate.
C Get up on stage and put on a performance during the simulation.
F Y I
• TDM threads can be used as samples for apps. In fact, we encourage it!
• Reserves open February 19!
• Apps open February 24.
• 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 about the upcoming mission—
no subject
he takes a deep breath, trying to call to the familiar threads of the force to ground him. it'll take more than deep breathing but it's a start. one breath, two. when he speaks, it's with a forced smile that holds sadness. ] At least they finally fell.
[ with fifty years of terror behind them if it continued to be anything like what he's seen in the last five years. ] I hope we're all that lucky.
[ it's his universe after all, what cal wants for it is peace. he has plenty of questions to ask, needs to know but -- it's already been so much. ]
no subject
But there's one thing he's very curious about, despite not being sure he wants to share those same details about his own situation. After all, he could just reach out and know without a word being spoken and he's hesitant to do even that. ]
How... did you know Skywalker? If you don't mind me asking.
no subject
[ any of the padawans looked up to, at least. ] I'd seen him once but I had barely started my training then.
no subject
Besides- ] You're a Jedi?
no subject
so instead he nods, looking over finn carefully. ] Yeah. In the flesh.
[ he holds his hands out, as if to show he's not reaching for the lightsaber at his back but he's not sure finn even saw that. ] Back then I was just a Padawan.
no subject
Rey's my best friend back home. She only figured out what she had after I met her, but she's a full Jedi now.
[ He should probably rethink disclosing more information a little given how much he's distanced himself from the Force over the last few months, but one big secret feels like one too many, even with a virtual stranger. ]
I'm not, but I was learning how to control it for a little while. And- [ He unclips the silver lightsaber from his back at the belt and wiggles it in the air like it's an overly fancy stick. ] Still made this. I know I wasn't supposed to, but... desperate times. [ Shrug. ]
no subject
[ is there an order?
after all, cal destroyed the holocron of all the force sensitive children in the galaxy to keep the children out there from being hunted. he wonders if someone else found another copy, if the order has been rebuilt. but if the empire, or rather the vestiges of the empire, have only been defeated 50 years from now and that's when finn is from--- he hopes not.
he hopes no one found any more holocrons.
but then finn talks about himself and cal steps forward to look at the lightsaber, careful. ] I made my own too...
[ he says glancing up at finn, motioning to his own hip. it looks well made and, yes, while it's not supposed to be in finn's possession--- well, in truth, cal's not sure he cares as much as he should. maybe it's that he's seen how staying too strictly connected to the teachings without reason can do just as much damage as straying. ] You-- You were learning? Are you not anymore?
no subject
You could say that. Right now... she's the only one. Her masters have both passed away.
[ Rey always seemed to consider Luke her master despite the short time they spent together, but Leia is the one who really trained her. Regardless-... It doesn't matter now.
Finn's saber is well made, but he had help both from his friends and the station, not exactly a solitary venture for him. It's silver, long, engraved in patterns, and once well-used. Now, he grimaces a little as he stows it again. ]
Not really. I've put distance between myself and the Force. It's a long story.
[ Or maybe it's just a foolish story or something he doesn't want to dig through again. Something like that. And because this is him, he attempts to change the subject already. ]
There are a lot of people here with abilities kind of like us. Not everyone but some. It can get a little weird around here.
no subject
and finn keeps giving him more information that, well, cal's kind of overwhelmed with it but playing it off. he tries to look calm. ] I'm sorry to her, then. It's hard to lose your Master.
[ he's lost one and that's hard enough; it was devastating.
but he takes his time looking over the lightsaber, reaches out to it to see if finn's willing to let him test it out. ] May I?
[ he can see that it's well used, well loved. at least it once was. he doesn't pry about not using the force, after all -- cal once had a damaged connection to it and knows every jedi has a reason to step back from it. cere hadn't touched it in years. so cal lets him change the subject, doesn't pry into that trauma when they've just met. ] Others that use the Force or something else?
Weird's fine with me. [ he offers a smile. ]
no subject
Sure.
[ Finn hands it over without worry despite just having gotten it back. The hilt's almost decorative but not ornate, slender but not thin. The blade when ignited is a brilliant white thanks to the corrupted crystal he managed to heal (and because this is dwrp, we do what we want).
Though he can tell that Cal doesn't really miss what Finn was avoiding, he offers a little smile, a thanks for letting him get around the subject anyway. ]
Something else. A few have telekinesis or telepathy, but some- Well, you'll see. There's a variety. Some people can even fly.
no subject
[ he's about to activate it, stops in his tracks. ] Like with jetpacks or on their own?
[ he can't help that, yeah, he finds those cool no matter what. ]
no subject
[ And he means that with all the sincerity of the world. The only other Jedi who saw it was Rey, who is certainly an expert with building things, but Cal comes from the Jedi of what used to be, back when they were at their peak. Needless to say, it feels like high praise, and Finn's very proud of his saber.
Anyway, he smiles and huffs a laugh. ] Both. We get all sorts of talents here.
🎀? or on your next one?
each lightsaber is an extension of the jedi. cal's original was like a third arm, though his current one feels like it's more than that. maybe because he built it from two important ones. ] Seems like an exciting place.
I guess I have a lot to learn to settle in. [ because he will settle in. cal's all in in on finding a way to help trilla. ]