March Intro: Head First

[subnauticmods]

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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

[octoroom]

[The tentacle curls, patting the creature in much the same way a human might pat a dog. So friendly. Even Fukami, who lives under the sea, hasn't seen sea creatures as immediately trusting as this... and he's a predator.

He exhales a sigh which is another little burst of bubbles and looks at Roderic.

Nodding, he mouths his own name-- Fukami. And then again, just to be certain.]

[forsage]

[ it's the second try that roderic gets, needing a moment to understand it. after that he picks up quickly enough, mouthing back the name to confirm he got it. he pauses a bit to say nice name because that's what you do, right? compliment someone?

the creature bumps up against the tentacles with great affection one more time before swimming away. much as they find the new stranger interesting, very interesting, they're more than happy to nestle up against the disgruntled man.

urrrgh, his expression reads, unimpressed by the show of interest. there was no way he could keep it so he isn't sure why it's even trying. looking at fukami, he points at the critter and shrugs in mild despair. he has no idea what to do with it - does he? because he's getting kinda desperate at this point. ]

[octoroom]

[Well, Fukami will just nod in thanks. No need to be ungrateful for a compliment.

His eyes follow the creature in question with a thin sense of amusement. Looking back to Roderic, one of his shoulders lifts in a small shrug. Hey, don't look at him. It's taken to you Roderic.

He's not certain how to say they should try looking for others of its kind-- something so eager to be affectionate has to have a group or a pod. His tentacles flick as he contemplates before he thinks up something. He points at it with one tentacle, positioning that away from the others. He sets his other tentacles off to the side in a group.

And he pantomimes bringing that one tentacle in closer to the others, while indicating Roderic's little buddy.

Then he looks at him. Comprendé?]

[forsage]

[ for a moment, there's a look of exasperation on his face upon seeing the shrug. he wonders if he's going to be stuck giving the creature daily swims or something like that when he notices furami's pantomiming.

with his brow furrowed and lips pursed, roderic needs a second or two to understand what's going here. he looks at the tentacles and slowly back at the new cuddling partner of his. they're looking up at him now, bumping against his leg in affection and urgh. if one of these little fellas was annoying as it is, he doesn't want to imagine a school of them-

ding ding. he gets it now and feels kinda ridiculous he didn't think of it first. thank goodness someone else did.

looking back, he nods in understanding and begins to look around to see if there are any nearby. shouldn't be all that hard considering how… colourful it appeared. he briefly shakes his leg while he looks about, trying to reclaim some of his personal space. ]

[octoroom]

[Fukami's going to start moving, glancing back briefly at him.

He'll just check out the cave nearby, see if there are any little hidey-holes a friendly creature like that might tuck itself away in. Goodness knows they'd be eaten up quick by something less friendly if they didn't have an ideal hiding spot.

Or, perhaps it lives in a large enough school...]

[forsage]

[ roderic is sticking close to his new swimming partner, almost right behind him as they enter the cave to explore its insides. noticing what he was doing, the young man followed suit because that made sense. they would need hiding spots since they don't seem to have any idea who to fight back.

maybe there'll be a clue or a hint to where the others of its kind are so he could be left well alo-

ack!

just as he was peering into a crevice to see what was there, he was cut off because the head of the same species as his pesky friend popped right out. it gave out a strange little sound and it wasn't before long others, a lot more others, came out. they were many, they were friendly, and oh god they were approaching.

much as he'll like to deny it, he flails quite a bit as he swims backwards to give himself some space and tried to wave down fukami's attention. he found them! oh god- he found them! ]

[octoroom]

[He sure did find them.

All of them.

Fukami leisurely follows him, looking and watching the whole little flock of them come out. It's like Roderic has his own field of gravity but, instead of planets, it's just very friendly sea critters.

He eventually swims (or steps, rather, given his feet and tentacles push against the sea floor to move him) up to Roderic's side, watching the proceedings placidly.]

[forsage]

[ that is not helping. this is not helping.

please help.

trying to find a way to push them away without touching them while he looks at fukami with an almost desperate look on his face. he points at one of the creatures and makes a shooing motion with his arms. some scatter but more simply take their place as the frightened ones opt to go to fukami instead, as if thinking well maybe he won't do that to them. ]

[octoroom]

[There's no help for you, sea creature whisperer.

Fukami glances down briefly as those who've been shooed come to him instead and he thinks about the possibilities. Perhaps if they had something that they liked to eat... All right. He moves, looking in this area and that, collecting kelp, some much smaller fish in the coils of a couple of his tentacles, to test out to see what they might like.]

[forsage]

[ just as roderic is about to resign himself to his fate forever, the creatures visibly perk up when they notice the kelp. the other fishes in fukami's grip did not go unnoticed at first. they naturally gain some of their attention from the mere fact they're the creatures fellow fishes. the sea creatures acknowledge them mostly by nudging and 'calling' out to the other wriggling brothers and sisters with cheerful obliviousness.

the kelp though. that's a whole other matter. they are quick to surround the tentacles that were holding the kelp and were soon wiggling and bumping and gently nudging one another to get closer to it. all attention was focused on the kelp that almost seem to hold a hypnotic quality for the sea animals with how they were acting.

and just like that, the problem is solved. most of them are more than happy to leave behind roderic. while he's almost a little offended with how quick they were to ditch him - no. scratch that.

he isn't a little offended. he isn't offended at all. roderic takes the opportunity to swim a bit further back to keep out of their range of sight. he doesn't quite leave yet however. that'll be rude of him to do and he's a tiny bit curious to see what the hullabaloo is all about with this kelp fukami managed to scavenge. they're behaving like its the best thing ever judging from their reactions. he'll like to know what they like about it so much. ]

[octoroom]

[Well, Fukami would have had the good sense not to take fish that looked the same as the ones circling them--

Fukami waves the kelp lightly back and forth for them, since it works and all, and brings it a little further into the cavern, until he can find a nice place to deposit it for them to do as they will with it.]

[forsage]

[ roderic couldn't help but be reminded of the tale of the pied piper. only instead of a piper and his pipe it was a fukami and his discovery of the best kelp in the world. the creatures' willingness to follow him into the cavern and stay in that cavern with the kelp certainly reminded him of the story's ending.

except, in his opinion, this was a happy ending all around.

thank you so much, his expression clearly read when fukami came back sans all the school of sea creatures in tow. he wondered if next simple gestures of, i promise to repay you with my firstborn child after this, i swear could be understood or not. it's the thought that counts but no really. he's more than willing to give him his firstborn child because holy shit.

they're all gone. ]

[octoroom]

[He wouldn't know what to do with your firstborn, Roderic, so that's fine. As it is, when Fukami rejoins him after leading the fishes away to... do whatever with that kelp, he points at the way out with the tip of his tentacle.

Might want to stage an exit, stage left.]