Intro Log: The Forgotten City

[atlasmods]

GOOD MORNING NEW ARRIVALS This time for real! WAKEY WAKEY. As the storm finally peters out and characters can once again move above ground it becomes abundantly clear that the landscape has changed. Where vast expanses of sand dunes once laid is now the half-buried remnants of what looks like some sort of...city? Full of structures. It stretches so far it's really hard to tell. But there is one thing characters will notice: There are more stasis pods. Revealed by the sandstorm, a whole new flurry of pods can be found scattered on the way to the city (curiously though, not in it. Hurry and wake those guys up! SPREAD THE LOVE. OR ACID. With the departure of the storm there's even more new arrivals to be found besides those fellow travelers of yours! The "Seedlings" and "Cactus" are now both available, the former blown in by the storm and the former uncovered. The Seedlings are generally pretty harmless. They like to burrow into the sand so only their "Leaves" plant-like leaves remain above ground, and they're quite happy to stay that way until surprised. Then they pop up and trip over themselves a little, before slowing down and wandering aimlessly. When they find a patch of sand that looks comfy they begin burrowing back down. Pull or yank on their leaves though and you'll find yourself with a face full of pollen that makes you want to just tell everyone how super-cool they are. It lasts a while, and then you get a fever and vomit for two hours. Good times. The Cacti are much less harmless and just...why would you eat them? Everything about this plant is poisonous, and cracking it open causes a corrosive acid-like substance to spill out. It'll eat through everything but...dirt, oddly. Metals and flesh are like hot oil on plastic. DON'T GET LOST And last but not least: The Forgotten City. Maybe you want to check out the Hull first for some loot, but maybe that's not such a cool idea anymore? Although it looks like the ship's definitely more powered after draining the suits of whoever went in, now it's started to spread and fill the sinkhole the ship's in. Suits can go from 100% to 0% in just ten minutes--not good! Lucky for everyone else, it looks like finally there's some sort of civilization up ahead. Go on and check it out! OR DO. THAT'S OKAY TOO. Go nuts, have fun, and enjoy! (This is the wildcard option) OOC The Flora, Fauna & Resources page has been updated with information on the seedlings, cacti, and crystals! These items are now all available for Discovery, and The Forgotten City will be available indefinitely from now on! Characters can take this time to settle & build up a foundation for themselves, explore the area, and of course, harass those poor little seedlings. We encourage players to make their own open posts for this setting--you don't need to stick to just this intro log! But make sure to make our newbies feel welcome!

Comments

[adamance]

We've gathered enough weapons, though if you feel that you need something other than a gun, you'll be found wanting. [Lexa has a weapon of her own that meets those qualifications, but she hadn't found anything else in the area where there were weapons. In fact, she hadn't even found it with the weapons, which proves to be an oddity all of its own.]

As for the rest, you may want to check with those who are moving supplies to what appears to be our next destination. We have healers who may have gathered supplies. [She is absolutely certain Clarke did, even if she hasn't taken inventory of her supplies.] I don't know if you can build, but I wouldn't stop you. [Lexa considers naming off the people who might be able to help him—but waits, for now. Too much information at once can be daunting.]

Before now, it was easier for us to do these things. We had an hour at most when we entered. Now, we have far less. The pearls left over there—[she indicates the Queen trilobite's carapace]—can help, but even they have their limits. Our suits help us survive. But they only can grant us so much power, and it seems that power diminishes when we're within.

[Lexa has figured out that being outside and in light helps, but she can't exactly give a breakdown on solar energy. Sorry, Spock.]

sorry for the delay! I thought I hit this one up. ;w;

[zhellan]

[In other words, the benefits of exploring the hull in its current state, even with these pearls that supposedly help stave off power drain, probably aren't significant enough to make a trip inside worth it. Instead, it's best to get a general idea of their current inventory, and then focus on obtaining specific items should he find the opportunity to scavenge for supplies at a later date.]

Your suggestion is sound. I will direct my efforts elsewhere for the time being. [He studies her for a moment.] May I ask when you first found yourself here?

[adamance]

I woke with the first batch of individuals from pods like these, some ways away. [Lexa turns and motions to where they've come from. The storm itself has destroyed any sign of their previous tracks, but just the same—that is where they arrived.] Though it may prove to be too soon to assume that I was among the first. [These pods say otherwise, after all.]

It was several days ago, about two weeks. [A beat.] Twelve days, if you're not familiar with the same calendar I am.

[zhellan]

Twelve rotation cycles of the planet, in other words. [He says this mostly to confirm he's understanding correctly. This is not the first time he's heard "about two weeks ago" cited as the other group's time of arrival.]

May I ask your name?

[adamance]

Yes. Though the days are marked differently here. There is a time of an eclipse, and that takes up a great deal of hours. [The eclipse itself had been strange at first, but Lexa's grown accustomed to its appearance. Adjusting and acclimating are really the same thing when it comes to survival.]

My name is Lexa. [She hesitates to offer more information about herself. She doesn't have a read on him yet, which is partly because Spock is just as restrained and unemotional as she is (though, like him, that's in part because she keeps so much of that in check).] And you are?

[zhellan]

[He doesn't necessarily expect more information so quickly, especially without her being prompted.]

I am Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise. Your knowledge concerning this environment is most appreciated, Miss Lexa. From what I understand, there have been no known fatalities so far. By your estimation, are those who have arrived here generally adept at skills considered necessary for wilderness survival situations?

[adamance]

[Ah, another commander. That visibly gets her interest, leading to her eyebrows raising with the handover of the title. While she knows that the boundaries of difference will likely also mean that they perceive the rank differently, it still catches her attention.]

Commander Spock, then. [There's a nod of respect.] If you're to give me a title, I prefer Commander myself—rather than "miss," at any rate. [It's not a title she knows through her people, but she's heard it elsewhere. It doesn't sit right with her.]

Because of that rank, you'll have to understand that my perspective is a bit ... unique. I'm the leader of a people who have survived in conditions like these while also being at war with neighboring clans. [Though she finally united them.] Compared to those I've known all my life, almost no one is as experienced as they should be.

[It's an unkind assessment, but a true one. Still, she is elevating herself a bit: to show where her comfort lies with this situation. The problem is that she can't get others to listen to her, not necessarily.]

[zhellan]

Very well. Commander Lexa. [He means no disrespect, after all, and so he easily attaches the title to her name.

The harshness of her assessment is of little consequence. What interests Spock is her true opinion, and he appreciates her honesty.]

In what areas do you believe them to be lacking?

[adamance]

Caution. Preparation. Organization. Self-care. The situation is disorienting, but because of that, you would expect people to be warier of how they move forward. [It isn't fair to say this about everyone, but she does feel as if "caution" could be preached a bit more loudly.

Then again, Lexa likes telling people what to do, and has a very firm idea of how to manage that.]

Most I've spoken to have been to different planets, but perhaps not quite like this. I lack that experience, but more than make up for it elsewhere. My people wouldn't struggle quite like these people are.

[Though ... to be fair, there would be more infighting. Way more.]