subnautica | March Intro: Head First

March Intro: Head First

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Arrival!

It was supposed to be a routine mission. Maybe you think you’ve been here for a bit or maybe you just arrived. Either way, you know there was supposed to be a completely normal underwater mission, probably just gathering resources, unless you just arrived, in which case welcome!

Unfortunately, somehow you’ve been dumped somewhere you shouldn’t be. A woman’s voice can be heard, robotic in tone with hints of emotion. That emotion mostly seems to be mild surprise.

"Life signs detected. Life forms are non-native to this planet. They... oh. Oh dear, I wasn’t prepared after all. Please refrain from dying for a moment. Your things are incoming."

Your eyes open underwater. At least you're near the surface. But the moment you break through you'll notice one thing: the ocean, stretching out for miles around you in all directions with no end in sight and only a very distant gleaming metal structure in the far distance. You're not alone but this surely isn't what you expected. In fact, you really can't understand how you managed to get from where you were to underwater so fast.

None of your belongings are with you save the clothing on your body. And the depths below you offer no comfort, the light engulfed before it can reach wherever the sea bottom is.

Somewhere, you hear a sound shaking through the water, like something between a whale and a foghorn.

No turning back now.

Prompts!

A: WHALE OF A TALE
As it turns out, there is hope for those who can't swim or get help from someone who can. Something emerges from the depths, a massive bed of coral that makes that strange sound, allowing people to climb on top of it. Of course, that bed of coral is actually the back of a massive creature that moves how it pleases and occasionally dives back down underwater.

There is a pod of them around the area calling to each other. They're friendly, or at least they don't seem to mind any poking or hangers on. But one of their long tendrils may still give you a good whack on accident.

If you’re really lucky you can probably ride one all the way back to the base. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic entrance?

B: HELP ARRIVES
At least, some assistance arrives. Strange little robots on propellers arrive fifteen or so minutes later, rushing to the scene carrying a floating bin of some sort. They drop it into the ocean and buzz excitedly around it in the hopes of luring people over.

Inside the bin are goggles, breathing devices and knives enough for the new arrivals. The knives have a compass on the hilt that has a marker for the direction of the base. One robot will play a helpful recording from the robotic woman for those getting their gear:

"Please deposit any articles of clothing getting in the way of swimming in the bin. We will be sure they arrive safely at the base. Do not try to swim in anything that will bog you down."

A pause.

"Swimming nude is not recommended. There can be... unpleasant issues. For future reference, please consult me before going on missions like this."

C: UNDER THE SEA
Of course, there's no reason to rush right to the base. This place is certainly beautiful in its own right and has a few caves to explore - watch those stingers hanging from the ceilings - with an abundance of strange and wonderful fish eager to either play with you or dart away as fast as possible. Of course there's plenty of Reefbacks still calling to each other and a large amount of floating rocks with Floaters attached.

D: MATING SEASON
On second thought, maybe heading to the base is a good idea. Occasionally you might see plumes of dust near the ocean floor. Exploring these is a very bad idea. The moment you get close, a Sand Shark will explode out of the sand, ready to attack. They range from five to eight feet in length and will pursue you without mercy. At least they give up if you get near the surface or hide in the right caves.

Unfortunately, it's mating season. That means dozens of them can appear at any time trying to court a female with acts of aggression and skill. And you really don't want to be in the middle of that.

E: HOME SWEET HOME
You did it! You made it to the base. You are probably dead tired by now having swam quite a long distance—or somehow riding a Reefback all the way here—and the sun is beginning to set. Upon arrival, URSULA will welcome you and give you a quick rundown of the lockers (where your personal items can be found, as safe as if you stored them there yourself) and the base's layout if you’re new. She will also recommend that you put on your communication device and settling in. She will then just as quickly apologise by saying that she must finish preparing the base for the others.

"Please give me a few days to finish retooling the base. Oh, I'm so excited. We're going to make a great team, I promise. And don't go back to that biome yet until mating season is over. Sand Sharks are... troublesome."

F: WILDCARD
The ocean is yours to explore! Maybe your characters will find places to take breaks. Maybe they'll start gathering things. Maybe they'll murder fish! Or maybe they'll get lost in the dark and take a rather long time to find the base. Or just crash the kitchen for some of that delicious fish, more fish and seaweed! It's all up to you!

See the Biomes page for the currently accessible areas or details on current wildlife and the Base page for all your base needs. Direct any questions and plotting to the OOC post and have fun!

BASED ON CODE BY TESSISAMESS AND SUPERSUITS

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[Counterpoint: Yes octopal.]

Hey!

[Shiro is a multitasker. He'll grab himself up a drumstick and then, well, stand as well.]

I can help look. It'll make it go quicker, right?

[Right, octopal?]

[GIVES HIM A LOOK]

You should sit while you're eating.

[He jabs one of his tentacles pointedly at Shiro holding that drumstick.]

It's fine. I can handle both.

[He's very talented at eating, Fukami. Not to worry. Besides, he figures manners can be put aside in the furtherance of helping a friend anyway, right?

Right.]

Do you drink tea a lot? How does that work underwater?

That wasn't what I was saying.

[Shiro, sitting and eating is polite! Be polite!! Fukami exhales quietly and leaves it be for the moment.]

Drinking tea works fine underwater where I live. Perhaps, where I'm from is simply different.

No? What's the problem then?

[A curious tilt of his head even as he goes and helps himself to a bite of the food in his hand.]

Maybe so. I mean, I admit I've never tried it myself, but the physics of it where I'm from don't seem like they'd work. Unless the tea is a significantly heavier liquid...

[Science or magic clearly. Some mix of the both.]

[Fukami just shakes his head. NEVER MIND. He doesn't know Shiro, really, he has no reason to babysit him.] Hm. It works where I'm from. I've never spent much time thinking about it.

...At any rate, let's look in another room.

[Since Shiro's going to go around and eat his drumstick.] How does it taste? [It doesn't taste weird after all? He's not spitting it out...]

If it works, I guess that's the most important part.

But right, Let's take a look.

[Shiro shrugs and follows along, still munching.

The question catches him by surprise. It tastes fine to him. Why wouldn't it? It smelled good.] It's good. Thank you again for sharing. It's nice of you.

...I see.

[Fukami nods. That's good, that it's not bad. Or spoiled.] I wouldn't have eaten it anyway.

[Out into the hall and into what, presumably, is to serve as their kitchen. Oh look. Another big gadget. Fukami eyes it with trepidation as they approach. Whoa. This thing has all the things they might need in one big old... technological thing. A stovetop, sink...]

Really? Is this something you don't like? What do octopus...es... eat?

[Not spoiled. At least Shiro's stomach is apparently accepting it eagerly. As he follows along with Fukami, looking around the hall. Getting used to this place will be interesting. He wants to find all the ways to and from, the little side passages, the ins and outs.

But for now, well, kitchen. That's a useful one.] Ha! Well this is a start. But... I wonder.

[Are those the cabinets? Would there be tea in there?]

Octopi. [He's got you.] And it's not bad. I'll eat most things. I'm just not hungry for it.

[Shiro's stomach sure is accepting it eagerly, huh? Fukami glances over at him again before he moves to the module in the center of the room, investigating.]

Wonder?

[His tentacles stretch out, touching things here and there, investigating.]

Octopi!

[He answers with a cheerful grin. He'll remember that. Thanks, Fukami.] I see! Then so long as I'm not taking something you want, then I'm really glad.

[He'd feel guilty about stealing food if Fukami actually were hungry. But right now, he points up.] Maybe there?

[Cabinets? Definitely cabinets. Perhaps cabinets of tea?]

Hm.

[Fukami makes his way over to the cabinets in question, one tentacle stretching up so that he can open them.

Well, he sees a canister that looks as though it could be the tea they're looking for. Not exactly the biggest variety, but beggars can't be choosers.]

[Ha. Look at that. Shiro wins. Shiro watches Fukami, slipping closer to peer into the canister. All right. That looks like tea.

And tea actually does sound pretty good.]

I guess we get to have tea after all. That's good. I wonder how we're supposed to really get our own supplies here. It might be pretty limited I suppose.

Most likely, we'll have to gather them from the ocean.

[Fukami takes the canister, going back over to the module. He'll just be figuring out how this works, don't even mind him. He's a smart octopus, he's got this.]

...There were plants you could make tea with in my sea, but I don't know if there is anything similar here yet.

Edited 2016-03-14 14:02 (UTC)

That makes sense, I guess. So we're pretty much on our own.

[Shiro has no idea how to scavenge in the ocean. This will all be a learning experience for him. But hey, maybe his new octopal can give him some pointers.]

We could go looking for some! I mean, that's a big part of how we're going to have to get by here, right? Exploring and seeing what we can find?

...Yes. That's right.

[So it would seem, at least. How this will help this ocean... he has yet to seen, but he supposes he will give it time.

Sorry he's not very chatty, Shiro. He's a quiet octopus.]

I think you might have a leg up on that. ...or about eight legs up on it even!

[HAHA. Shiro is the funniest. Just ask him. But he means it seriously.] If you have any pointers, I'd really like to hear them. This is all really new to me.

[Really new to him.]

[Oh my god, Shiro. Fukami just gives him a look as if to say just what, exactly, he thinks about that pun. It's not good.]

...Unfortunately, I don't know how well anything I know applies to humans.

[Non-breathing underwater humans.]

[Shiro just beams at him happily, still pleased with himself. Entirely too pleased. He needs to be stopped. But that's not too likely to happen as he is resilient.]

We could find out, right?

[Tell him pointers. He will try them out. And report back.]

That does not seem like the wisest course of action.

[As though he's picturing right now what Shiro might do... and he's known him for all of, what, fifteen minutes? He, perhaps, ought not to assume.

But Shiro reminds him of people he knows.]

There may be humans equipped with better advice to give.

Humans aren't really that good underwater though. That's why it's your expertise.

[If you have a question about, well, actually Shiro has weird areas of knowledge, but the point is, under the ocean is not one of them.]

I mean I want to hear what other people have to say too.

... I see.

[Fukami exhales a small sigh-- his tentacles have been busy this whole while, getting the water ready to boil some tea, preparing the tea leaves...]

Is there anything in particular you wanted my advice for?

Edited 2016-03-18 02:42 (UTC)

[Shiro is actually pretty impressed by how industrious Fukami's tentacles are, and he might be watching them in fascination in between conversation.]

Mm! Is there any way to tell if a plant is dangerous or toxic? Oh! And what about caves. Do thinks usually live in caves? [Dangerous things?]

[Don't stare too hard, they might get shy. Maybe. Probably not.]

Sometimes, just from touching it. If it's poisonous enough, your skin will react within a short time. Plants that have spikes or spines are often toxic. So are ones that taste bitter. Seaweed and kelp are usually fine.

[Though he hardly advises tasting them to see whether or not they're dangerous, SEE A LATER THREAD.] ...Plenty of creatures also live in caves, or use them for shelter. I'm not certain about the ones here, but you should assume there'll be some.

Edited 2016-03-22 00:57 (UTC)

Huh! So it's better to really examine things closely. That's good to know.

[...and yet he will totally just eventually put thing straight into his mouth. Minor details.

He's paying close attention though, because this is all very useful information. He was right. Fukami's definitely the guy to talk to.]

(no subject)

octoroom - 2016-03-22 03:00 (UTC) - Expand

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