Test Drive for October 2013 Apps

[highseasmods]

Welcome to your monthly Test Drive for high_seas! Here is where new players can test out their characters' voices, old players can try out new muses, and everyone can help each other get some threads for their applications! Feel free to use one of the prompts below, or come up with something on your own! Comment around, have fun, and remember that any CR formed here does not carry over to the game!

See you during the application round!

♦ So you're new to this world and have just woken up in the Town Square. How do you react? What do you do?

♦ You're lost at sea. Maybe you got separated from your crew. Or perhaps you're on an abandoned island. You need help!

♦ "Pirates off the starboard bow!" It's an enemy ship! Attack!!

♦ You and your crew are hanging out on your ship. Just another day at sea!

♦ "LAND, HO!" Hey look, a new island! How about you go explore it? Tell us what you find!

Comments

Azula | ATLA | Option 'Land Ho'

[anoblelie]

[The idea of still plodding around the world in wooden boats was one that remained strange to the point of absurdity to Azula. While her fire bending was under perfect control, no risk of setting the sails or deck itself aflame, it was irritating to be confined to the deck alone for her training. But there was little that could be done to immediately change that fate. Development of real, iron ships required resources and research which, in turn, required time to acquire. These facts that made life aboard a wooden boat unavoidable did little to lessen the relief she felt at setting foot on an island, however- an island that may possess just the form of resources she needed.

The moment the away boat touched land she leapt from the vessel, twisting in the air to land on the damp sand and avoid drenching her boots in the water. She took a small moment to simply enjoy the simple feeling of sand under her feet, the dark jungle looming before her. Azula was never uncomfortable, it wasn’t in a noble’s nature. But it was…liberating to be on something other than a floating tinder box for a moment. This small enjoyment hardly made the point of this landing a pleasure cruise, however.]

Uncharted territory. There had best be something here worth the time.

[dragmire]

[She was not the only one grateful to be on land. Ganondorf, the tall and bitter man of the desert, had also arrived. Likely on the very same ship carrying her. The jungle was thick and hostile and there was no path made by man to travel through it. In fact, it seemed as though no one had ever landed here before. And if they had, it had not been in an age.

He drew a sword, ready to use it to cut through the foliage.]

We shall see. This is an ancient forest that howls at our very presence. It does not want us to be here.

[Which meant all the more reason to plunge inside.]

[anoblelie]

[The smile Azula cast at her companion- her neck craning to view his face- was perfect in it's technical execution, lips upturned, the corner of her eyes crinkled, but utterly devoid of any actual emotion. Just another tool in a long list when it came to dealing with her fellow 'adventurers'.]

Then I suppose we must show it the cost of such rudeness. It is hardly a welcoming for royalty.

[dragmire]

[Ah, this girl is truly one after his own heart. A true gerudo in heart. We take what we will.

He chuckles darkly.]

It shall not soon forget our time here.

[And so he proceeds forward, moving through the trees and vines. His sword cuts that which blocks his ways, though it is more for her sake than his. If he had to, he could simply barrel his way through this forest. But then he might miss something important.]

[anoblelie]

[Azula was content enough to follow after, a small flame held in her hand to light any dark corner the thickening canopy may create. Flames may easily slice through the jungle, but it was better to have an excess of strength when needed than to vainly show it off when not required. Her companion had hardly given her reason to doubt so far in his capabilities, after all.]

Hm. Few signs of civilization. How can a people sit so near open conquest and then willingly leave it to others? No wonder their lord was forced into recruiting more capable peoples.

[dragmire]

You speak as if this world is worth conquering. It is a pitiful land, with endless seas dotted by islands of no importance. What would this island offer but another port, where fools tend the land and fish the seas?

[And it reminds him far too much of the same world he left behind. To go from one such wretched to another world is a grave insult. And now here he is, cutting through this jungle like a common brute.]

[anoblelie]

When all land is equally worthless, conquest needs no justification but conquest itself.

[There was power in a flag, in the nation it represented. The pitiful water tribes were hardly worth the ice they floated on, after all, but the Fire Nation would rule them nonetheless. It was destiny manifest. A cause which gave Azula's words a tone of utter conviction- one granted to her from a lifetime of being raised under nothing but such an ideology.]

And the matter of the gems, I suppose.

[dragmire]

[Vines fell away from his blade, but he stopped a moment, head tilting over his shoulder to look down at her. He had been convinced this world had no value. Indeed, he thought the same of his own world.

Conquest for the sake of conquest. Hm.]

And if you use the gems to return home, what will became of your ocean empire?

[anoblelie]

[She gave a one shouldered shrug, casting her gaze into the shadows- no. Nothing of worth. A small frown formed, though she stopped it from being a full scowl. Exploration too time. Patience. Foolish haste lead only to destruction.]

What becomes of a candle's glow once the sun rises?

[dragmire]

It is drowned in irrelevance. [He wears a cruel smile.] What does this world matter once we have left? Let it burn.

[For a moment, he is tempted to make a literal example of this in the very forest. He nearly does, but then he spots something. A shadow within the shadows, moving in a way unseen. He stops and his eyes narrow, trying to spot where this figure now was.]

[grandlineswag]

[Crocodile noted the newcomers with vague disinterest, casually puffing away at a cigar as he looked the vessel over a nearby hill. There was no harm in being neighborly, at least. If for nothing else than to let them know that they should mind their actions.

He plodded over slowly, stopping near the landing and studying each person who disembarked. His eyes dipped down for a moment when he saw Azula, a small smirk of amusement crossing his face.]

Bit small for a sailor. My congratulations for not getting blown off a deck by now.

Here I was hoping we were the only ones who landed on this island.

[anoblelie]

A tragic blow. Unless you've come to report there is nothing to be found?

[She didn't glance back at her companions, still bringing the small boat ashore. Despite any height disparity, Azula hardly felt threatened, after all. It simply wasn't in her nature.]

[grandlineswag]

If there was, would there be any real point to me telling you?

[Another loooong drag off that stogie before he continues.]

Identify yourself, girl. I don't recall seeing you amongst the rabble in the town.

[anoblelie]

Then I suppose I was hardly worth noticing, hm? Where I'm from, a gentleman gives his name first.

[Petty for the sake of pettiness. At least she could pull it off with a smile.]

[grandlineswag]

My apologies, being on the sea does make one forget their manners. Sir Crocodile, at your service.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuu -- hi :)

[unyieldingwater]

[ Katara was still getting used to the idea of ..well not sailing, per se, but sailing with -PIRATES-. Okay granted the crew she was with was actually enjoyable to be around, but they were still -pirates-.In any case, she had a basket in her arms as she was helping with gathering some fruits from the local flora. Things that looked like peaches and apples in a weird way, were in the basket as she made her way along the shore. And... suddenly Azula. She was so shocked at the sight that she actually dropped the basket, apples and pears and peaches (Oh my!) everywhere. ]

Y... you!?

\o/

[anoblelie]

[She watched the basket of fruit roll across the sand- the track of inanimate objects apparently of greater concern than the girl that had carried them to the shore line for the time being. When an apple rolled close too her foot she snapped her ankle forward, sending the apple flying up into the air and into her hand. She then took a long moment to brush the sand off of it against her armor, examining the fruit to her satisfaction before glancing back up.]

In the Fire Nation, it's customary to exchange a pleasant hello. But I can forgive the lapse in civility. You have been traveling with entirely the wrong types of crowd for so very long.

/screaming :D :D :D wait gimme back my apple :(

[unyieldingwater]

[ Katara folds her arms. ]

Yeah you're right, I'm so sorry Azula, what was I even thinking? Why shouldn't I be polite to the person who's been a pain in our backside from day one? Let's start over with a cup of tea. that I will throw in your face.

[ S.. she's being sarcastic. She has no intention of being polite. But still, none of her friends were here, so it wouldn't kill her to try and figure out Azula's plan now that she was here. ]

I shouldn't be surprised that that pirate brought you here.

nope ttly claimed in the name of the fire nation

[anoblelie]

An insult against my person? That's- oh, wait a moment.

[She smiled, sweetly. The same kind of sweet, charming smile Zuzu received whenever Azula was about to toss him under the bus cart with their father. Along with it she stepped forward, arms sweeping to gesture to the entire island- and, yes, apple still held in one hand to accent it all.]

You were here first. Or isn't that right? I've heard all about the young girl with control over water and healing. I wonder what that says about a person. Hm. But, why linger in the past? We have the same goal here, don't we?

[Avatar's girlfriend is barely kept off her tongue- but better to save any references to that for later. For now, there's the small matter of getting home, to back where the Fire Nation was relevant, regardless of the unsavory means involved.]

b-but i was gonna make apple pie :(

[unyieldingwater]

It has nothing to do with who was here first.

[ Yeah that smile. That smile would charm anyone into thinking she was not the viper Katara knew her to be. Nonetheless, she's suspicious. ]

You can't seriously expect me to think you -aren't- after the jewel for your own personal gain.

[ She wouldn't put it past Azula to get the jewel and backstab everyone, leaving Sokka and Katara stranded here while the Fire Nation took over her home. ... for that matter how was the war going back home...? Did they win? Did the Fire Nation win? Augh that's going to bother her. ]

fire nation pie. with that extra back stabbing kick

[anoblelie]

Of course I'm after it for my own gain.

[Said with such a sigh, as if explaining it to a child. The apple is twisted in the air with her accompanying gesture, before she glances down at it and back up at the other girl.]

But so are you. They say the gem has the power to take us home, right? But they don't specify the number of homes. Think about it, won't you? We're not here as explorers, as aids or guardians. We're outlaws. Pitted against each other. Obviously, I think they gem will open the portal back to one world.

[Azula stops a few feet in front of her, the apple is finally offered back to the girl with the same sweet smile in place.]

And it will be to my gain if it's to ours.

psh, this is why we can't have nice things. fire nation is always grabbing it up :(

[unyieldingwater]

[ Hey. don't you go patronizing her you know what she meant! ]

It doesn't say that it only opens the way to one world either. It's just as possible that it'll open the gateway for everyone to go back. [ Ever the idealist. When the apple is offered to her, Katara eyes it like it's a snake about to bite her before cautiously reaching out to take it back. ]

You know we're going to stop you anyway. [ Back home, she means. And well, she's not going to want you to get your grubby hands on that treasure if she can help it. Who knows where you've been. ]

w/e w/e, all the other nations are just jealous

[anoblelie]

[And the smile stayed, tone light and mocking as she intentionally misunderstand's the other woman's meaning. And dropped her hand once the apple is taken.]

Stop me from getting us back home? At the cost of you staying here, too. I'm flattered. I didn't realize I was so much a threat to your little...

[One hand comes up to her chin as she- purposefully- searches for a word.]

Happy family. But here and the real war have so very little to do with each other, don't they? Why, the Avatar isn't even here.

[Said with confidence, though she's watching Katara closely. Waiting to see if, somehow, the boy had been here, hidden all along. His team did so love to prove her wrong by yelling about the 'truth,' after all. She may just let it slip.]

nuh-uh, fire nation is jelly over our awesome parties

[unyieldingwater]

Stop you as in stopping you and the Fire Nation from winning the war. Even I'm not so heartless to leave someone stranded in a place like this.

[ Even though she kind of wonders if the war wouldn't be won easier if she did. But Aang wouldn't like that and it wouldn't sit right with Katara either. ]

... [ She flinches slightly at mention of Aang. ]

You're right.

[ Wait what? ]

I bet Aang and the others will have won the war by the time we get back.

[alwaysgrumpy]

[Thank god. Finally, some people he could flag down. It had been two days since Akira got stranded on the island, and he'd gotten tired of eating fish and trying to make shelter from the flimsy plant life around the island.

He ran toward the ship, waving his arms.]

Hey! You there, lady! I need some help!