Test Drive Meme #01: The First

[atlasmods]

WELCOME TO KHARAS It's gonna be a real scorcher. Welcome to The Atlas's first Test Drive Meme! If you're considering joining or want to dabble in the setting a little then you've come to the right place. This post should ideally give you a feel for what it's like to play in the game...especially since this is how we're kicking things off! What does that mean? Basically that this post is considered game-canon and any inter/actions here will lapse over into the game once it begins provided both parties agree to keep CR when they are accepted. TDM threads can be used for sample requirements on apps! Still interested? Reserves open on the 10th at 00:00 EST, and Applications open on the 12th at 00:00 EST. Both close on the 14th at 23:59 EST. Make sure you're familiar with both the setting and arrival conditions before posting...and have at it! THE DESERT PLANET. WAKING You wake in a valley, gasping for air to fill your aching lungs. There are spots in your eyes. The midday sun hangs in the sky and temperatures have peaked at 100°F | 38°C. Every inhale brings with it the sensations of heat and thirst. Luckily? The strange pod you've arrived in contains some food and water. Rations. Two, three days' worth if you can manage to stretch them. But aside from that there isn't much, in the pod or your immediate surroundings. The only signs of life are the weathered and rusted-looking stasis pods around you from which others emerge, gasping or choking for breath once their lids open. Beyond that there isn't a soul in sight, and since each pod only opens once interfaced with... Who opened yours? SCAVENGE After the heat and disorientation wear off things start to become more clear. You notice the bizarre mark both your suit and the pods bear, as well as the rusted paneling and long scratches that run along some of them. It looks as though something once tried to claw its way into the protective capsules. And somehow yours held out. Others, well... Not so much. Among the pods of those who've survived and continue to wake, are the remains of those whose occupants couldn't possibly have made it. The fronts have been crushed in, hulls torn apart, sporting what looks like critical damage to the wiring or pods' integrity. This damage wasn't caused by weathering or the passage of time. Something deliberately tore them apart in search of whatever...or whoever was inside. Whether or not it's reassuring that no bodies remain inside is up to you. Careful inspection will reveal these pods look almost the exact same age as the one your character woke from. How long ago were they broken? How long have you been asleep? The only thing you can do is keep searching for clues... Maybe you'll get lucky enough to uncover the remains of the occupant's own rations? Although whether they're still good or even edible for your species is something you'll have to find out for yourself. They look...well. Ancient. SIGNS OF LIFE When you venture further into the valley and away from your pod, there's finally something other than sand and devastation to be found. Although not numerous, scattered here and there are clusters of a coral-like structure. Most of its stems are hard and rock-like, but closer inspection shows tiny tendrils of plant-matter which poke their way out of its tubes and vents whenever shadows are cast. But the moment you approach it? All signs of activity vanish and it goes deathly still. If you happen to travel further out from the protection offered by the valley's walls you may just be lucky enough to spot possibly the only actually green blue piece of vegetation on the planet: a single bunch of shriveled leaves. While not terribly exciting, at least it doesn't curl up and disappear like the coral...right? But just in case, maybe you shouldn't disturb it. ECLIPSE Especially when it gets dark. As the merciless the heat of the day gives way to the solar eclipse, the planet begins to transform: the tendrils of the coral emerge fully and appear almost life-like in the way they sway and grab slowly at the air. But be careful! If threatened or grabbed these tendrils will sting their attacker and cause itchy red blotches to form. And when we say itchy, we mean really itchy. And remember those shriveled leaves? Turns out they're more active at this time of the day too. As soon as the surface temperature of the planet drops to tolerable levels the leaves of this plant unfold and knit themselves back together until they form a full stalk & bulb-like head, from which an oddly sweet smell emanates. If left alone long enough, eventually what looks like water will begin to drip from the bulb. If it senses touch, the head of this plant will rapidly unwind and snap around whatever's closest...before it attempts to suffocate you with its moist secretions. MIST OPPORTUNITY The other strange phenomenon which occurs as the eclipse hits full-swing is the gradual formation of saturated clouds of smoke. They appear in pockets which come and go without pattern or design. One moment the desert is bare, and the next it's begun to fill with enough smoke to make visibility so poor it's easy to get turned around and lost. Luckily it's non-toxic and doesn't carry any kind of scent, so breathing it isn't a problem but something very odd happens when characters try to activate or meddle with their communicators in it: White noise. Although the suits can't broadcast any sort of message aside from their beacons, for some reason as soon as characters enter the smoke white noise begins and can only be heard while they're surrounded by it. Is it a signal? Some sort of message? Or something darker altogether... WILDCARD And of course, characters are always free to come up with adventures of their own. Feel like scaling the valley walls? Digging through sand? Meddling with alien technology the likes you've never seen before? Your rationsThe sky's the limit in: The Atlas! ...And there you have it! This TDM will be live until game launch on the 17th so please have fun, be kind, and if you have any questions at all please head on over to our FAQ! We are currently looking for help with apps/plot write-ups, so if you're interested please hit us up.

NAVIGATION

Comments

bruce wayne // dceu

[superblack]

detective mode

[Kidnapped, drugged, now in an unknown location, wearing an exosuit, surrounded by strangers.

These are hard facts. Clearly. It doesn't take a genius to put those together. But Bruce, he knows something more is at play. Call it a hunch, call it paranoia, call it obvious. Nothing to this level happens by accident.

The suit, at least, offers protection and some kind of life support, so he figures. His rations are held closely, though he's more than willing to share if necessary. He's learned to live without eating or sleeping consistently anyway.

Setting both hands on the side of a discarded, mauled pod, he pushes with a loud grunt, teeth set and grit. They're heavier than they look. It rolls over with a soft, muffled thud. Sand sprays into the hot, dry air. The front told the obvious story.

The back could tell the real story. He's almost disappointed to find nothing underneath the pod, though.]

What are the odds that whatever got to this is still out there?

[Pretty damn high, he thinks. No tracks, no traces, outside of other pods in the same state.]

echolocation

[The unfortunate part of this mess?

He's almost used to it. Living, breathing, being Gotham made a man used to the sight of the strange and the dangerous. Bruce strains his eyes through the mist. That's what he was, at the end of it all: still a man. He had none of his toys to make this a breeze.

Not that it ever stops him. Not that he hasn't been through enough to make him a threat on his own.

He turns on the communicator. The sudden static, the white noise makes him grimace.

This, he knows, isn't a coincidence. Bruce stops in the middle of this mist, focusing, trying to pin down something, anything in the static. He experimentally moves in hopes of finding a stronger source of the broadcast...

Except it cuts out when he's out of the mist.]

I'm not the only one hearing this, right?

[Better to play it a little dumb to get confirmation this time around.]

calling card

[the wildcard]

prompt the first

[sobriquette]

[By now, Jess has realized that this isn't a situation she can punch and/or threaten her way out of, which means doing a little more thinking than hitting. She's inspecting the pods, too, looking for clues to a manufacturer, a location, anything that might tell her what the hell is going on.

When Bruce speaks, she looks over at him almost lazily, considering he's talking about some kinda giant hellbeast that's been ripping pods open.]

Let's just hope they got their fill on the unlucky soul that was inside.

[It's kind of cold, but they don't need to waste time being sad about people they never even met.]

[superblack]

Something tells me they didn't.

[He signals at the rest of the pods with a jerk of his head. That's not just one. That's a pack. That, or one very smart animal.

At least a hellbeast would fall under the list of things he hasn't seen yet.]

[sobriquette]

It stopped, didn't it?

[Since there were quite a few pods left unopened and undamaged.]

I'm more worried about the fact it didn't leave tracks.

[Which could mean it can fucking fly or something, or that this happened a while ago. The latter possibility isn't one she particularly likes, either, since it means she could've been in that pod for weeks.]

[superblack]

[Bruce raises a brow. Someone's got a keen eye and a sharp mind.]

A couple of reasons for that, I'm sure.

[Extreme jumps, flight, time.

For the briefest moment, a vision crosses his mind. The desert. The armies. The winged beasts.

Clark Kent, murderous.

A world so far removed, so close now.]

Some animals don't leave tracks by the nature of its movement. Sidewinders and some lizards in the desert don't leave much of a mark on the sand by the way they move or weigh.

[Bruce sighs, hands on his hips. The world's not friendly, not at all.]

Which means we're dealing with something that's native to this place, maybe even territorial.

[sobriquette]

[In the city, Jess is a pretty good detective; she knows how people think, how to find them, how to anticipate their next moves.

In the desert, when it comes to shit like lizards and snakes, she's as clueless as the next person. But she can still think.]

So Godzilla did this?

[It's sarcastic, but she's mostly just buying herself time to go over the facts.]

Whatever it was must have some source of water, maybe even shelter.

[Both things the little ragtag bunch of pod-people will need.]

[superblack]

Godzilla's got a light touch these days.

[If it's an animal, it needs the basics to survive. Thing is, those basics change, in terms of presentation, of adaptation.

Again, options run through his mind. He checks himself, briefly. Bruce Wayne the billionaire mogul means nothing here. Batman's hardly a blip in this situation.

So he's only man, now. A kidnapped man in a suit trying to suss out enemy territory. There may not be any harm in speculating further.]

It didn't kill the people that were in the pod on the spot. No traces of blood in the pods, or even on them. Not much of a smell, either.

detective mode; lmk if this is okay

[firepowers]

[ Kory has walked to other times, other worlds, and there is always something familiar. Recognition is inevitable. They have both been tearing apart the pods in the same vicinity for some time now; Kory unafraid to use her brute strength until she realised it affected the life support of the suit. Bother. ]

[ He talks, and her glance is too long to be mere curiosity. But if he is who she thinks, she should be nearby. ]

It is long gone, or waiting.

you're good!

[superblack]

It's the "or" that worries me.

[At least, he's used to metahumans by now. Arkham had seen to it first, then the world at large.

Not even Waller's intel could've truly prepared him, though. Nothing is the same between reading it and experiencing it.]

[firepowers]

And me.

[ Not the same perhaps, and no man can be judged for wariness rightly earned over a life. She doesn't expect friendliness, only practicality. ]

Princess Koriand'r, of Tamaran. Yourself?

[superblack]

[A princess, of a place he's never heard of.

If he's surprised by the introduction, he barely shows it, if at all.]

Bruce Wayne of Gotham. [He flashes a smile at the redhead.] Not quite a prince, but I get by.

[firepowers]

[ There is no recognition, but he is a hard man to read. Kory runs through a few followups, ultimately, perhaps, this is neither the place nor the time for many of them. She opts for: ]

I am familiar with humans and your city, I've been on Earth for several years.

[ Blackfire would call it exile, in that sneering way of hers, but it was a choice and continues to be one. ]

Are there aliens on your Earth?

[superblack]

[Your Earth.

That's a loaded comment.]

As far as I know, there's only one Earth.

[Even if deep in his gut he knows that's not totally true. What he saw in the Batcave, what he thought was a nightmare...]

detective

[ex_bossily211]

I'd say the odds are pretty damn high.

[Clara bluntly responds, looking at the tattered pod with wide eyes and a frown set on her face. She's more than concerned about what could have done that, and her mind is jumping to some pretty fearsome looking creatures.]

Thing is, it's likely we won't catch sight of it now. It's too hot out. If we're still out in the open after the sun goes down, that's probably when we ought to worry.

[Her eyes glance around the area, and she frowns even more.]

There's not any tracks, though. Whatever happened, this may not be a recent attack.

[superblack]

I wouldn't assume this only happens at night. Whatever did this probably knows its way around the desert.

[It's too hot for humans. If it's used to this weather? It wouldn't matter if it were day or night. An attack's an attack. It would be naive to think this could only ever happen under the cover of darkness.]

It might not be recent, but it doesn't mean it happened that long ago, either.

[ex_bossily211]

So basically, you haven't managed to sort anything out.

[Smiling a little, she moves in closer so she can examine the marks on the pod he's looking at.]

Do you think it was a calculated attack?

[She can't hide her worry about this place, especially given that they all seem to be as good as sitting ducks right about now.]

lmao BRUCE CALLED OUT

[superblack]

[Well that's a bold claim.

Not that he entirely wants to admit that she's right.]

I've managed to sort out that whatever did this didn't kill who or what was inside on the spot. So yes, it might have been a calculated attack. Hunters stalking their prey, then taking it back somewhere else? [He shrugs lightly.] Could be what's happening.

that is what Clara is here for

[ex_bossily211]

[Her smile starts to grow as he speaks more and more, to the point she's having to bite at her lip to keep it from being an all out grin. He's taking himself so seriously right now, she thinks it's adorable. It reminds her a bit of the Doctor.]

Could be.

[She readily agrees to that, at least.]

If we find pods that haven't been opened yet, we could watch them for a bit. See if anyone comes for the people inside.

thank u clara

[superblack]

It would be better than having them wake up to nothing and no one.

[He may be harsh, even vindictive, and definitely brutal when he's in that sort of mood, but to call Bruce cold would be a mistake.]

I'm Bruce, by the way.

[He offers a hand to shake, more casual than businesslike now. If they're going to be doing some kind of work, might as well start the introductions.]

[ detective mode ]

[anewhope]

[ That voice . . . surely it couldn't be. Clark holds his breath unconsciously, moving briefly away from Bruce's view. The memories of their last encounter sap his ability to move forward, to introduce himself.

Though they're both past the point of introductions. Past the point of normalcy.

And yet. Clark finds that he wants to speak, wants to show himself. It may not bring clarity to their strange relationship, but maybe it'll be a start to something new.

Something better. ]

I'd say they're quite high.

clARK

[superblack]

[Bruce doesn't show surprise, at least not very often.

Surprise is probably the most mild way to put it.

What do you call a reunion when the other party literally died in front of your eyes?

Finally, he turns to face Clark Kent the civilian, Superman the hero. What the hell does anyone say to someone back from the dead?]

We stand a chance against them. [A beat.] It's good to see you Clark.

[Poor circumstances, but is it strange that he's almost... glad that Clark's alive, in some way? It's bittersweet, really.]

<3

[anewhope]

[ His smile is soft and not full-fledged. Bittersweet is the right word, with many others following soon after. Most of them questions about what took place after but Clark could hazard a guess. ]

Only if we stand together.

[ He pauses, holding his hand out. ]

It's good to see you too, Bruce. And I mean that.

[superblack]

Together.

[Bruce shakes Clark's hand firmly. So much happened after Clark, both good and bad. The world's threats grew exponentially, but so did the heroes.]

If this were only better, for the both of us.

[He wants to ask what he remembers last, what he did last. But perhaps not now. There are more pressing matters.]

[anewhope]

[ His grip is firm, as always. Though now Bruce might actually notice how much Clark holds back, how little is ever shown. Hiding becomes habit, action becomes consideration . . . Clark assesses himself on a scale no one else does.

Still, he smiles because he may no longer have a S emblazoned on his chest but he hasn't forgotten his hope, not even in the last moments of his life. ]

You'll be fine. I know you'll find a way.

[superblack]

[Not that Bruce is the most hopeful sort, not ever, but so much has changed since then and now. He's hopeful, with a realistic attitude.

He lets go now, noting the control in the grip.

Maybe there's more similarities between them than either could let on.]

So will you. [Bruce glances towards the rest of the pods.] And we need to find a way for these people to get out of here safely. [He focuses on Clark again.] Think we can do something about that?