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

[sheshotfirst]

She took the offered hand without hesitation, grip firm despite her lingering want to keep gasping for air. There were more people in danger than her here, she didn't have time to lose it right now. But his guess about a soldier is likely confirmed by the stance Shepard takes once standing, feet squarely planted and shoulders squared as she finally takes in him and the surrounding area.

"Thanks. But looks like we're in the same boat. This isn't exactly where I expected to be. Wherever this is."

[klivian]

Hell of a grip she's got there. Hobbie can appreciate that. He settles his hands on his hips and glances upward into the sky. He definitely doesn't recognize this planet, although it could be any number of empty dustballs that the Rebellion had hidden out on back when they'd been just the Rebellion. Hobbie pulls a face, looking a bit dour.

"Definitely in the same category. Lost, confused, and wondering where they put my X-Wing. Along with everything else..."

He shades his eyes with a hand, trying to get a better look at the horizon. No smoke, no signs of civilization. That's more than a touch depressing.

"Wish they would've put a map in those pods. Doesn't look like there's any sort of civilization for miles..." He pauses and shrugs, "Then again, there could be some sort of spaceport on the other side of the valley and we'd never even know it."

[sheshotfirst]

'X-wing' doesn't ring a bell, but Shepard's well aware of how many 1-3 person ships come out without her knowledge. Until she's suddenly asked to drive them, that is, an exercise her crew mates never seem to enjoy as much as she did. But she longed for even a Mako right now, anything to make this trip over the desert waste easier.

Shepard mimicked the man's posture, scanning the area around them. And coming more or less to the same conclusion.

"Spotted any higher ground? We need a better idea of what we're facing."

[klivian]

"Well, there's a ridge either side of us, but it's pretty forbidding, at least from this angle," Hobbie says, squinting into the dust, "Don't know how good you are at rock-climbing, but most of mine's been done in the gym, with a harness."

Meaning he's not likely to want to go scurrying up sheer cliffs anytime soon.

"I'd kill for any sign of life, really. We're going to need water soon."

[sheshotfirst]

"Perfect."

It's muttered, but in this situation they can just take what they can get. He hasn't spotted a better angle what what she's seen. Fair enough.

"I'll climb. You tell people I died doing something less stupid if I fall."

[klivian]

"What's your preferred method of death? Vicious desert swoop gangs? Local wildlife? If you don't tell me, I'm just going to have to make something up."

Hobbie doesn't really want to make her go climbing all by herself, though. He's not a shirker or a coward, so he dusts his hands off with a grimace.

"Someone has to watch out for you, so looks like I'm volunteering."

[sheshotfirst]

"Sorry to make you the hero."

It's more than a little sarcastic, but still friendly. Good on you, man. For not being willing to let her die so stupidly alone.

"But I've always liked 'killed by alien invaders' the most. Keeps it ambiguous."

[klivian]

Hey, if people are going to die stupidly, Hobbie is going to be right there with him. It's what he's spent most of his adult life trying to avoid, so what's one more crazy risk?

"Technically, aren't we the alien invaders? You know what, never mind. I'm going to stop before I make this complicated."

[sheshotfirst]

"Point."

To the rocks it was. While the small piles of vegetation she can see scattered do look interesting, she'll save that investigation for after seeing the lay of the land.

"But more alien refuges. Invading has a certain level of intent implied."

[klivian]

"True. Although someone intended to drop us here, one way or another. Although maybe intent implies too much, considering how they just scattered us..."

He trails after her, picking over debris and rocks, navigating through the dust and heat. He grunts, watching as the ridge line starts to get closer and loom overhead.

"I haven't done that much ground-pounding. Much more comfortable in a cockpit."

[sheshotfirst]

"Scattered's a word for it. If there's wreckage nearby, that might have some answers. Or we might've been ditched as contraband. A room full of missing humans would raise some questions with certain authorities."

That didn't answer the question of Atlas. What it was, why they'd been sent to find it. Could be the wrecked ship...but Shepard gave a small shake of her head. Focus.

"But we could wonder all day. Need more information first."

The ridge doesn't look like the easiest climb. But easy and her life hadn't had much to do with each other for years now, so there's nothing for it but to crack her knuckles and look for her first hold.

"Last chance to back out."

[klivian]

"And miss a chance to die horribly on the ground instead of in space? You're out of your mind," Hobbie retorts, "I mean, I'll probably fall and break my neck, but at least it'll be a change."

He dusts his hands off and follows her toward the wall, pausing to give her a quick nod.

"I can spot you for the first few feet, at least. After that, the best I can do is probably break your fall with my spine."