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

[devintered]

If Dorian could read narrative, at this point he would come to two conclusions: one, Max would do well in Tevinter, which is as admirable as it is terrifying, and two: they can be nerd friends.

"Oh?" He makes to lean forward, remembers he doesn't have a staff to perch on, which is a bizarre and naked feeling, so puts one hand on a hip and leans on that instead. "Do tell."

[thephix]

"It acts almost like a euphoric drug, people exposed become quite affectionate towards others," That's a simplified version of how it works, but unless Max can get it under a microscope she's not going to know that much more, "I seem to be immune, fortunately."

A lie, but one told easily.

[devintered]

That is the actual most wretched fate Dorian can imagine, because he hasn't been found and swung around by Bull, like some hideous romance novel cliche he will enjoy thoroughly.

Anyway. He employs every ounce of his aristocratic breeding for an expression of genteel horror lightly encrusted with disgust, nose wrinkling like a crushed can. "Maker, how utterly appalling. Why not spit poison or turn distracting colors? Even plants have no standards these days."

...however. "I wonder if we could find a disabled one, so to speak. Anything worth being wary of is worth knowing more about, wouldn't you say?"

Most people would not say that. They would say hey, let's avoid that! Those people are not rebellious heretic archivists.

[thephix]

In logistical terms, Max can understand why a creature might have developed something like that; if people are hunting it, they're suddenly going to be far too distracted to keep up the chase.

But she also understands Dorian's dislike of the idea. Max has dabbled in a variety of drugs, and although some of them can lower inhibitions and cause euphoria, there's always some control remaining.

"If you treat them gently, they're unlikely to spray you with pollen," So it doesn't even need to be disabled so long as Dorian promises not to throw any more fireballs. This is, of course, Max agreeing to a little investigation.

[devintered]

Dorian prefers to express affection by telling people they are terribly dull and he hates them, and he has so little experience with genuine happiness he's twice as prone to trust an artificial version.

"How remarkably sentient," he muses, indulging in some more chin stroking; possibly this is to highlight his glorious facial hair, since between the suit and being bereft of all cosmetics and such, it's the only aspect of his usual highly coiffed appearance still intact.

But never mind his eyeliner related woes. "I'll keep my hands to myself," he promises, "if only to conserve what power I have for something that wants to cut our heads off."

[thephix]

Max isn't quite sure yet how sentient they are; if you poke a sea cucumber it will defend itself despite the fact it doesn't even have a brain. She could cut one of the plants open to determine whether it's brainless or not, but she won't until she knows more.

"I believe I saw a handful of them over this way," She follows it up with a gesture, and will lead if he's happy to follow.

[devintered]

Despite his encroaching responsibilities Dorian professes to want nothing to do with leadership, so he's quite content to amble along behind; if they knew each other better he would undoubtedly have an ultimately meaningless comment about enjoying the view.

"I do wish I had more investigative means than merely staring at them." He huffs, putting a hand on one hip before hunkering down out of face pollinating range before slowly extending a forefinger. The little plant reacts to the stimuli in the sense that it knows it's happening, but otherwise doesn't yet scuttle away or ruin Dorian's life.

[thephix]

"Perhaps a botanist, to start," That isn't exactly a piece of equipment, but Max will readily admit when things are beyond her expertise. There's not a lot to be gained from ego, so she tries not to bother with it.

But still, she crouches down a little distance away, not wanting to startle the plant, and pulls out the packet of rations she'd tucked away in her suit. After breaking off a piece, she offers it to Dorian, "Here, see if it eats."