Writing Prompts

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dragoongfa
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by dragoongfa »

Depends on a lot of factors but in such a scenario there is no evolutionary pressure for a bacteria to evolve to thrive in a completely different biochemistry. A single host and all that.

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Werra
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Werra »

Alright. Here's the new writing prompt, too. I aimed for something different this time. No humans on Perrein and the story should lend itself to action better than the others.

Now...time to read New Frontiers.

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Razor One
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Razor One »

Part is up. I'll admit fully that I'm no EMT and that my medical knowledge is... probably not the best. I tried to be reasonably accurate whilst trying to carry a sense of urgency and tension, but if anything is egregiously wrong, let me know and I'll try to correct.

Some authors notes:
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I tried to balance Firebrand and Copperspike's roles, with Firebrand having better theoretical knowledge and Copperspike being a bit more hands on. She definitely saved Copperspike from making a potentially fatal mistake with the anaesthetics.

As brave as Nathaniel may be, the feeling that you're facing down death's door has made bigger and harder men cry for their mothers in the past. Having him show a bit of vulnerability was I think a necessity, and one he's going to have to deal with given the whole diral will want to nurse him back to health.

If you thought Copperspike's thoughts at sewing the offending idiots orifices shut was dark, I'd wager that Argent's are likely unpublishable on the site. :P
For future parts:
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Copperspike is officially interested in Firebrand. No, not that way. She's just interested in what her story is.

I figure her wanting to be a doranzer was cut down rather hard by her elders, potentially even her mother. Her attitude problems as a result stem from her having her dream shot out from under her, and her lack of desire to volunteer as a medic until now was part of that, avoiding something of a sore point for her.

I think we're also going to need some new epithets. Piss artist and shitboot are great, but only go so far. I mixed it around a bit and coined a new(ish) phrase in 'Tempests shit!', but more colourful language is probably going to be a good thing for scenes where tensions are high.

Also something to note, since things are apparently shaping up for another round of confrontation between the diral and the Mizol, mayhaps it'll soon be time to invoke the wide area lotai? With the situation shaping up such that everyone Natan cares about is going to be thrust in danger, and after having been shot, it might well be a likely trigger point.
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novius
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by novius »

Just to clarify, I'm no EMT either :) But so far everything looks solid to me.

Nathanial will be weak for the oncoming days; while they restored the volume of his lost blood, erythrocyte count and hemoglobin is still way down - oxygen transport is impaired, so he'd be prone to being winded easily and losing focus. Though, with his leg wound he's in no shape to move around - or being moved extensively - for the oncoming days (risk of thromboses, though) and I'm sure Copperspike will drive home that point in no uncertain terms. Perhaps this would actually sit better with the Loroi, having him stay put and taken care for and protected, as it is the lot for a male - and theirs - as much as they grew up with.
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We're thinking along the same lines, I see. For Firebrand it was a childhood dream to become a medical specialist, but she was more or less forced on a different career track. After all, this fic is playing in a time where the mother had a much larger say in the kid's upbringing than during the time of the war. That made her a bit jaded and confrontational at a whole, but having a more active role in this medical emergency might be the chance for her to redeem herself and rethink her attitude.

As for Natan's Lotai - same here. The Mizol won't let this rest. They tasted blood - literally, perhaps - and won't leave a stone unturned. Of course some aerial recon will turn up the diral's camp, and the time they might go for another ground action they curiously find the camp deserted and no mind to sense in range, whereever they look. Even thermal imaging may be of limited use - Loroi do run at a lower body temperature after all - and the Mizol might quickly find out that it's hard to fight, or even find, 'ghosts', and may have to change their tack to a more diplomatic approach. Like, leaving a message at a given location, or another mail directed at Argent.

Kensai
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Kensai »

Well I am one.... and I think y'all did just fine given what I do know and have read about :lol: Imo, more of what ya all did is Paramedicine/combat medic but it fits, considering the two characters.

On moving him- If the Loroi have something like a stretcher they can make (if they know what one is), moving him is possible if necessary. Still a risky thing, considering our medical members dont know what of their meds will work for/on him. Either way, some interesting chapters ahead. I applaud you guys!

On the Mizol- I can see about three ways they'd respond to investigate/contact the Diral. And all carry a risk though-Minor to huge.
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Kensai »

And I am gonna be a vocal cheerleader over here. :)
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Werra
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Werra »

They should know stretchers. I'm sure they got taught some means of transporting wounded comrades beforehand. If necessary a blanket and sticks can function as a makeshift one. Not up to our standards, but they are on their own in the woods.

When the Mizol return, I think it's a given that they come protected from darts and wooden implements. Whether that means the fully environmentally sealed space armor or a lighter, atmospheric derivate is open to discussion.
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If I were to continue this story on my own, this would now turn into a race between two options. The Diral finally talking to authorities, Elders or Mizol, or the Mizol having enough and coming in for the kill. The discovery of training puppets with which the Arianesin have been drilled to attack Mizol would be a major occurence as it proves premeditation and raises the stakes.

Also I want to see what makes Mizol such feared Telepaths.

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Razor One
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Razor One »

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That might have been the case had Nelonial been in a position to keep doubling down, but I doubt she'll be allowed to return to the surface after fouling up so badly and will probably be posted to the worst posting imaginable. So probably somewhere in Mannadi space. Her superior will be interested in keeping things quiet and capitalising on discovering just what is going on down there. That favours deescalation of some kind with a show of good faith.

Ideally, the diral is induced to forgo contacting their elders. The moment they get involved everything is out of the diral's hands. Natan's most likely fate from there is to be removed from them, tossed in a lab at worst and become a guest of some high ranking patron at best. I'd imagine that any competent Mizol will communicate these facts to the diral once they realise they're interested in keeping him.

From there, Bastal would have an ideal way to keep things under wraps, investigate, and secure Natan as an asset for the Mizol. If the diral wants to keep Natan, then they have to disappear with him, and a certain Hoste Blec clan does owe Bastal a few favours and is isolated enough to keep a secret like him secret. The group could finish their trials with the Hoste Blec and become Mizol, forming an elite cadre of agents who can and will shakeup the Loroi Empire with their unwritten deeds.
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novius
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by novius »

The Mizol would be very much interested in deescalating the situation. If it comes to blows, they'd end up with a wiped out diral and a dead Natan. While they could explain away a loss of a whole diral (they actually will do so for the official records, though they stay very much alive) a dead alien would tell them much less than what a living alien would. And Mizol are opportunists. Of course they'd try to bring someone with a perfect Lotai into their fold, especially when he manages to include others in their protection as well. If it works, they gain a unique asset. If it doesn't, they could still kill and dissect him. And, of course, they could still dissect him when he dies for one reason or another - so it's a win-win to keep him alive and at a (long) leash.
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And if Bastal chooses to deescalate the situation, she would definitely not allow that one, or the two Loroi which top the diral's shit list on the surface again. Or.... Maybe Mizol are that callous to throw one of their own to the wolves in order to garner some favours? :) That'd be positively dark but strangely fitting for an unscrupulous organization which shrouds itself in secrecy.
Last edited by novius on Fri Sep 07, 2018 7:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Zarya
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Zarya »

Agree with Razor
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...Nelonial has had it... Bastal takes over and goes in, in person, and tries not to get killed by a livid bunch of adolescents while doing her Mizol's finest. Bastal is in a position to make promises.

The loose end I’d like to see wrapped up is the portal. Bastal has been looking into these, ultra secret project. What’s known is that they’re remnants of a transport system of which the extent is a mystery. The Mizol are unsure whether they are a security risk, or might be of use some day. It remains an open question how they work and it has been impossible to activate them until sofar. Nathan is the only living proof that portals might work.

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dragoongfa
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by dragoongfa »

Currently trying to work on Beacons, work has been murder the past few days and my mind is mush but I will throw my two cents in for New Frontiers which is shaping up nicely:

Moving the Diral to the Hos'te Blec earlier than alluded in 'Beacons' is in line with the story. The opportunity is there for Nathan to showcase some advanced telepathic abilities like Alex did on Tempest:
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Him sensing a quite agitated Argent when she meets a Mizol face to face should be enough to trigger a Lotai incident, bonus points if the Diral manages to maintain rudimentary telepathic communications while under it (extended family and all that). A huge incentive for even a fool to further investigate his potential. Heaven forbid if someone actually tries to harm Argent in such meeting, I am picturing a subconscious telepathic punch to the chin, instant knockdown and will be having a bad headache for a few days.

Also the move to the Hos'te Blec clan isn't necessarily the end, if the Diral is to be of use to the Mizol both for research and later black ops then they have to become full warriors and that means going through their training and trials with Nathan as part of it.

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Werra
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Werra »

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dragoongfa wrote:I am picturing a subconscious telepathic punch to the chin, instant knockdown and will be having a bad headache for a few days.
Not sure how I feel about giving humans even better telepathic abilities. What they already have is plenty and rather fantastic.

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dragoongfa
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by dragoongfa »

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Already put that on Beacons with the caveat that it is subconscious and only triggers if the bonded Loroi is harmed. Of course this could be something that happens much later during a mission and after lengthy 'subconscious training regiments'.

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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by CF2 »

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Dragoongfa as of the time of this post is having some issues with posts appearing and will be delayed in posting further fiction.
dragoongfa wrote:I can't post until this issue is resolved
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Zarya
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Zarya »

Short contribution to NF, brave old Mizol going in.

novius
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by novius »

New part is up :)

Added a flashback scene and some lead-in to the talks.

Perhaps, as already said, I'll post some part for Beacons, too, if the forum allows - as of the last two days, there are massive issues...

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Zarya
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Zarya »

One step forward to talks around the fire pit.
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Natan won’t be part of this. Argent shields him from direct scrutiny and we need some trust building.

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Werra
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Werra »

I am a bad person.
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Can you name a better punishment for Nelonial?

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Zarya
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by Zarya »

Argh, difficult Mizol proposal and playing the kids.
My impression is that this makes Argent and the others look weaker than they deserve.

novius
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Re: Writing Prompts

Post by novius »

Zarya wrote:Argh, difficult Mizol proposal and playing the kids.
My impression is that this makes Argent and the others look weaker than they deserve.
They're Mizol after all - shady deals are their business. Though, interesting take on things... Nelonial surely is spitting nails when she got told that her away team lost to a bunch of kids... :mrgreen:
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History has it that the diral did end up with the Hos'te Blec - which would imply that they did have to bow to Bastal's terms and they had lost. But, even if they win, perhaps Argent and the rest of the diral did accede to the proposal, but bartering from a somewhat stronger position and make some demands on their own. Could be that they did decide that their life as Soroin is technically over, since they did already bend traditions quite much - they already got neck-deep in it as soon as they took in Natan and defended him. And winning, but still giving in to Bastal's terms to an extent may seem to be the best strategy to not to completely lose Natan.

After all, if the diral wants to have a chance of winning, they have to rethink tactics. They wouldn't succeed with a frontal assault or an ambush - as it would be expected from Soroin trainees - against a fully equipped and geared up group, and they'd have to rely on subterfuge and trickery. After all, their objective is not to defeat or subdue the away team, but to acquire and use a single item. So they have to resort to an approach that's more a Mizol's forte than a Soroin's....

...and perhaps this is Bastel's original intention. An assessment to see how they'd do as Mizol. :)

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