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

[anewhope]

[ There's silent humour in his voice. ]

That's right. I grew up in Kansas.

[dateme]

[ DAMN because of the lighting in that icon I thought he was shirtless for a moment. ]

Your Japanese is really good. Where'd you learn to speak it?

[anewhope]

[ You would be so lucky.

At that question, his brow furrows. ]

I . . . didn't. There must be a translator attached to our suits.

[dateme]

[ Inui will dream forever of those perfect pecs... ]

...? Translator?

[anewhope]

A device that changes the language to suit the user.

[ Zodd had something like that. It gives him pause. There are bound to be other aliens . . . other lifeforms who hail from planets like Krypton. But Clark doesn't know what that means for them.

What it means for him. ]

[dateme]

But...I mean, you sound perfectly normal to me. Do I sound that way to you? Usually translators make heaps of mistakes and stuff like that don't they?

[anewhope]

[ Clark purses his lips, thoughtful. ]

Alien technology is usually far more advanced than our own.

[dateme]

Ooh, so you thinks it's aliens and not demons then! I met a guy earlier who thought demons did all this. Stupid right?

[ s-sorry Nyx.... ]

[anewhope]

[ Demons . . . ]

That certainly wouldn't be my first answer. Why did he think of demons?

[dateme]

No clue! Sounded like he knew a lot about them or something? Or he could've been totally crazy. Who knows. [ He shrugs, and if he still had his winter jacket he'd put his hands in his pockets. ]

[anewhope]

I guess we're all looking for answers.

[ Magic though, seems a bit irrational on an alien planet. ]

[dateme]

Seems like. [ he rocks on the balls of his feet. ]

So, got any plans while we wait for the eclipse to be over?

[anewhope]

[ His lips part in surprise as he considers that. ]

No . . . not particularly.

[dateme]

Cool. So that means you've got a ton of free time! [ NOW YOU CAN HANG OUT WITH HIM. Because sitting around here being bummed is an awful way to spend your (possible) last hours on (not very likely) Earth. He is going to make this enjoyable if it kills...him....haaaaa. ]

[anewhope]

[ Maybe he should derail that thought quickly. ]

Don't we all have free time? Technically?

[dateme]

We both do, yup. [ Nope sorry Clark Kent, you're his now. ]

[anewhope]

It sounds like you already have some ideas.

[ It's both bizarre and . . . heartening. To see someone keep their spirits up. ]

[dateme]

[ Inui is great at having fun!! It's the being a decent human being he struggles with ]

Have you seen the man-eating plant yet?

[anewhope]

[ There's a long pause. ]

I can't say that I have.

[dateme]

[ You can trust him 100% Clark This Is Not Suspicious ]

You totally have to--c'mon! It's great. [ Let him just grab that wrist of yours, Mr. Much-Older-Than-Him. ]

[anewhope]

[ The touch surprises him and he stills, unsure of how to proceed. ]

Are you sure . . . ?

[ Are you sure you want me? ]

[dateme]

[ Aww, Clark. Inui gives a light tug to try and encourage him. ]

It'll be fun. Promise.

[anewhope]

[ Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith first. The trust part comes later.

Clark nods, certainty filling his expression. ]

I'm sure man-eating plants fill a certain category of fun.

[dateme]

That's the spirit! [ Now c'mon you hunky lug, follow him when he prompts you this time! ]

[anewhope]

[ He lumbers onward, letting Inui lead. ]