March Intro: Head First

[subnauticmods]

≡U.R.S.U.L.A. NAVIGATION

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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

Comments

[mildwildchild]

"Uh - " That response just makes Jamie more confused. "W-wait, what's the Aurora? Did somebody send us here?"

Jamie sure doesn't remember anything about the trip here, but he's starting to think that maybe he blacked out or something and got here during some kind of fugue state. Could Wild Eagle make travel plans for him that he didn't remember later? It makes as much sense as anything else.

He paces along beside her, peering out the viewports as they go. "You've probably got a point about knowing what's out there, though. Getting the lay of the land. Or - water, I guess."

[churning]

"Not all of us, to my understanding," she answers, "but I boarded a shuttle on Earth and woke up hitting the water. The Aurora is the crashed ship."

She tilts her head to look out the next viewport they pass. "The earlier you learn the landmarks, the less terrifying things will seem. Can you not swim?" It's idly asked before she pauses.

"Wait, this room--" she pauses to lean into a doorway.. "If I'm understanding correctly, there should be... ah. There's a ladder." She leans back out, pointing up with a single finger. "There's a room here, and above. Unless you'd like to change in an observatory?"

She's kidding. Probably.

[mildwildchild]

"Wait, you came from Earth?" Jamie says this as though it's - not quite outlandish, but some kind of incredible feat. This could have something to do with the fact that his ancestors abandoned Earth generations ago to go colonize a planet full of robot animals and nobody's really thought much about it since.

He also can't swim, no, but he's distracted from confirming her guess by their arrival at some kind of secluded area that might afford him some privacy to strip out of his wet clothes and hunker down while he waits for them to dry. He chuckles self-consciously at her last comment.

"Uh - no, this'll probably be okay." He steps inside to glance around the room - currently empty, save for some pipes and other fixtures - then cranes his neck to peer up the ladder. "The one upstairs would probably be a little more private, I think, since it's kinda out of the way. Do you think there's any way to dry our clothes out other than just letting 'em air-dry?"

[churning]

From the way he asks, Michiru surmises that a home planet isn't all they don't share. An alien, then, though she doesn't get any read of the supernatural from him. Perhaps all that's noteworthy about him is his home?

She steps back to allow him in front of her, and pauses at the doorway. "I suspect privacy is going to become a premium in the coming weeks, so I suggest enjoying it while you can. As for the laundry... perhaps the laboratory includes equipment to dry out specimens? You may be able to repurpose it temporarily."