each little clam here know how to jam here (OPEN MINGLE POST)

[tentaculled]

There's a very big, very important expedition happening - the base's first trip as a group to the Aurora to go salvage what's inside! Very big, very important, and happening... next month. They're not going anywhere until they've conducted some research on that downed ship and gathered a good base of intel on how they might take care of - and protect - themselves.



A: THE ACTUAL WRECK

Maybe you're a daredevil who's not afraid of a little bit of radiation/fire/falling debris/angry wildlife hiding in a burned-out chassis. Or maybe you're one of the lucky ones who's immune to the radiation and are doing your part for the team. Either way, the monstrous silhouette of the Aurora looms in the distant waters of the Safe Shallows. Available for use are three Seaglides and one Seamoth to get out there, if you desire - although you might have to compete for their use. If you're feeling athletic, maybe you can even swim out there.

The radiation leak has been plugged, but the radiation itself is still dissipating from the area, so you probably shouldn't spend too long out here if you don't want to get sick. The hull of the ship is pockmarked with holes and damage, but not all of them are fit to be used as entrances by the crewmembers. Some of them might even have already been claimed by Crashes mistaking the dark nooks for caves. If you do get inside, there are still fires burning within the ship. Be careful out there!

B: GRASSY PLATEAU
 

Gotta get out there and check that new biome for resources before our big adventure. The Grassy Plateau is still largely unexplored, with plenty of treasures (or, well, survival resources) to be found.

In search of food? Apparently, those sand shark eggs are good eating, if you're daring enough to go toe-to-toe with a mother predator. Or maybe you'd prefer more exotic cuisine. Has anyone tried eating a Mesmer yet?

Alternatively, the expansive caves of this area are chock full of vibrant and unusual plant life that might offer some tasty nutrition to the hungry diver. Or there might be some that are medicinal - or toxic. Finding metals is another goal set by Ursula this month, and there's ore hiding deep down in the cave systems.

C: PARKS AND WRECKS

The Aurora's explosion left plenty of scrap metal around, and although some of it was cannibalized to fix the radiation leak, there are still husks of ship parts lying around on the ocean floor. If you're out searching for food, weapons, or other resources in any region, it may be worth investigating them to see if anything useful survived. The life pods embedded in the sand seem like a good place to start.

D: OTHER

You don't have to go foraging in the Grassy Plateau. Feel free to assist in preparations by gathering things from any of the biomes! Or you can stay in the base working on making all that weird stuff everyone else is collecting into something edible/helpful/otherwise useful.

(ooc: this is an open post for everyone to participate in the mission, similar to fukami's mingle post earlier in the month!! post your own toplevels and do your thing.)

Comments

[tentaculled]

[ he can't say he tried talking to the fish, no. He can't say he's even been spending much time with the fish, seeing how much he hates going out in the water - it makes him feel so vulnerable, being out here. Still, he won't get anywhere hiding in the base all day, nor will he learn anything... like how to tame a gigantic marine predator, apparently.

Korosensei isn't scared, per se, when it turns towards them, as much as he is... tense. Yes, tense. Because water removes his one great asset: speed. ]

If they're like hounds, they could stand to be a little more lovable. [ but whatever. it's not like he's about to get killed by a fish after surviving everything else he's gone through. Focusing on the big stalker, his tentacle extends outwards as it draws nearer, offering the bait and hoping it doesn't mistake his arm for an oversized worm. ]

[maserannas]

[ Look, after having seen a greater nuggalope tamed and ridden into battle, Ellana has stopped questioning the strange ways of the world. This was fostering a mutually beneficial relationship as long as both sides respected the other; most those here she doesn't believe will attempt to force control on what remains essentially a wild animal.

... And never forget that Ellana decided to embrace the insanity of talking at fish. Some of the results have been interesting! Most have been as one expects: nothing happens. Sera would possibly be offended at her potential elfiness right now. "Offended" while laughing her arse off. ]

Then less hounds, more... wolves. Lone sea wolves.

[ Keeping a certain bitter humour out of her mental tone is difficult, some of it probably underscoring her comment. She ceases speaking, switching back to another call to the stalker more slowly approaching Korosensei. The fish is easy to scent, and the right sounds are there, even one of the right shapes. The stalker hovers right out of reach, opening it's mouth expectantly. (Ellana had not been in favour of cultivating just hand feeding, not when stalkers had big mouths, sharp teeth, and moved too quickly for their own good at times.) ]

[tentaculled]

[ that doesn't make him feel better!!

Though he's clumsy and slow in the water, his body is still trained to tense and ready for a fight when the potential danger approaches him. He's good at hiding that, fortunately. Assassins have to be trained to detect that emotional wavelength, but animals seem to sense it instinctively. The fish not snapping at his tentacle is encouraging, at least. ]

Um... Here you go, fishy! As two slimy beings, let's get along, okay?

[ he tosses the fish into the waiting jaws of the stalker, looking hopeful, even if trying to telepathically communicate with a fish feels... odd. ]

[maserannas]

[ Wolves are maligned, Korosensei, this is t o t a l l y fine (if you enjoy living on the edge).

The stalker responds to the telepathy by giving an impatient flick of its fins, hovering and waiting until the fish is tossed into its mouth before biting down and swallowing, fast as it pleased. It opened its mouth again, hopeful. Ellana held out another fish to Korosensei and his tentacles.

... Why tentacles. Two residents had an obvious affinity for them here. It still's odd for what it reminds her of, though she won't share that or hold it against either one of them. Both Korosensei and Fukami were pleasant enough people. ]

Looks like agreement to get along nicely for the moment. Here. A few more fish and it'll allow us to approach without trying to be pushy in looking for more.

[tentaculled]

[ The real question is why not tentacles?! Tentacles are great. Tentacles are hip and cool. He'll tell you all about it. Korosensei does appear rather giddy to have his food accepted by the intimidating fish. Maybe... maybe it is like a dog? He likes dogs. This time, he takes the fish more eagerly, tossing it towards the big stalker expectantly. ]

And then? "Towing us along with them," you said before. Do you mean to try and ride them?

[maserannas]

[ Hey, she'll respect the tentacles. ... While not opting to gain any of her own, good friend Mr. Korosensei Sir!

The stalker happily swallows the fish whole once more, mouth opening and waiting in case more's coming. Calories it doesn't have to fight with are ones it'll accept. Ellana moves around to the stalker's side, this time tossing one of the fish into its mouth on her own. ]

Not astride, like you might an animal on land. I did mean towing fairly literally. See those two fins on its back?

[ She nods her head that way, reaching out with her good hand to touch the stalker, who seems to tolerate the interaction. ]

Holding on to one or the other and allowing the stalker to provide all the muscle for movement works. You probably could ride them more traditionally, but I've been cautious. They respond to leaning and pressure to a degree, in changing their direction, unless the strongly oppose where you're suggesting they go.

[tentaculled]

[ he follows her gesture, rather clumsily swimming upwards to get a clearer view of the animal's back. Tugging onto those two parts to manipulate the stalker's movement, huh... He vaguely feels like he saw a movie about this once. Now he's hungry again. ]

Now that's an interesting idea. It would certainly be easier to travel with them than gather resources to build more transport. [ even though it might also be more dangerous... ] But I'm curious about how you learned they would do this. Don't tell me... you wrestled one, Miss Lavellan?!

[maserannas]

[ There's a sense of incredulity and amusement when she glances his way, offering another fish to the Stalker. ]

A fishing raid, actually. One Stalker started following me on short fishing runs. I saw what that led to, wanting to know if I'd need to take permanent measures of discouragement. Instead, it brought me a piece of scrap metal the next time I went out. So we exchanged metal for fish.

[ She suspects it was a juvenile Stalker willing to take that chance, particularly when she already knew of Stalkers collecting metal for their nests. It was a fairly obvious bribe on both sides. ]

[tentaculled]

[ not only are we talking to the fish and feeding the fish, we are bartering with the fish! Well, why not. Korosensei watches her feed it another bit of chum, interested. ]

In that case, maybe we can travel with them and build more transport. They must be more intelligent animals than I'd thought! No offense, of course, [ he adds, waving one of his tentacles hastily in the stalker's direction. ]