epidemiology | EVENT ★ WELCOME TO ZETA-12

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EVENT ★ WELCOME TO ZETA-12

WELCOME TO ZETA-12

Recruits arrive on a relatively calm, placid afternoon on the tundra. The snow is sparkling white and completely untouched, the sky overhead is a dazzling blue that seems to go on forever. The new arrivals have hopefully dressed warmly, though, because the temperature isn't nearly as nice as the weather. It's well below freezing today, helped not at all by a nippy breeze that stirs to life now and then.

THE TUNDRA (WEEK 1)

Not far off, the scene grows a little less tranquil. Here the ground is raw, ripped up and shredded by the recent, skidding passage of an asteroid on its way to a violent stop. Snow has already begun to fall and soften the torn up earth, but it's a long way from looking whole again. The asteroid itself sits huge, the size of an office building, half buried in the ground and cracked open. The interior of it is a silent labyrinth of stone, and here and there basketball-sized clear, jellylike balls can be found: the squidge eggs. There are no adults in sight, although there are many pools of spilled liquid here and there, presumably from eggs that didn't quite make it.

The eggs nearest to the outside air are cold, some of them even starting to solidify. They'll need to be warmed up if they're going to pull through. All eggs should be kept warm, but some of them are strong enough to pull through anyway if neglected — while some of them are going to need a lot of attention to make it through. Those eggs that do make it will eventually begin to soften, and 24 hours after the recruits arrive, will finally blink open their black, beady eyes and unfold into the squidge shape everyone will come to know and (hopefully) love. A small handful of squidges that hatch won't seem to imprint on anyone. These squidges are standoffish and sullen, but follow the group at some distance.

Any time after that, the journey begins. Recruits' jewelry will pull up a compass when needed, with a blinking red light urging them on south. The journey begins whenever you start walking.

The weather stays fair as the recruits head south, and the snowy plain is fairly uneventful, but eventually an impasse is reached: an enormous lake. Its shore is studded with beautiful snow stars, and may as well be an inland sea, for all that it seems to extend before them; that flashing red light asks that they cross straight over it. The water is iced over, but not thoroughly and not reliably. Even now, before any attempts to cross it have been made, there are cracks in the ice, great floating chunks that have broken free of the crust and would give a nasty surprise to anyone attempting to step onto them.

The first choice is a simple one: take your chances with the ice and attempt a crossing? Or do you venture east or west and hope it has some sort of end that won't take you weeks out of the way? Please choose one of these options to determine how your character fares.

As the journey takes them on, plantlife makes a slow return to the scenery. First it's the water cactae, proving a welcome relief to anyone tired of melting snow for water, if you can get into them. But eventually the temperature drops even further, and a forest begins to spring up around them. The first few days of it are chilly, sometimes even still snowy, but further on the plants are beginning to get a little more colorful.

THE FOREST (WEEK 2)

The second week of the journey is entirely under the leafy canopy of the forest. There's green all around, and the sun is warm whenever it breaks through the leaves. There is much more food to be scavenged here, although you couldn't possibly have made it too far through your food rations, right? Meals can be supplemented by berries, roots, or edible leaves, although it's suggested you find some way of quickly telling what's poisonous and what's nutritious. Here and there are plants trying to bite back, too. Do you hack these apart, or just give them a wide berth? The learning eyes of your squidge are on you, whichever option you pick.

Eventually comes another obstacle, not unlike the earlier frozen lake. This one, though, is a sheer drop. A deep, seemingly bottomless chasm has been slashed through the forest. The good news is that you won't have to find your way around it this time! There's a thin spit of land joining the two sides, only wide enough for two people to walk abreast, provided they don't mind getting cozy. You could walk right across… but you'd be leaving your squidge behind.

It turns out that squidges are terrified of heights. They want nothing to do with this, and would much prefer they just live out the rest of their natural lives on the near side of the chasm. The choices are these: A squidge must be sweet talked into crossing, calmed and comforted for several hours, or, if you must, forced into it. The squidges collectively are doing a lot of nervous wailing just at the suggestion of crossing, but a forced squidge will do a lot of screaming, even for days afterward. Recruits will find that they have an easier time of it in a group with at least one other person and their squidge. Although they still clearly hate it, they can handle it better in groups. But take heart: on the other side of the chasm will be a grove of large winefruits , a reward for the haggard parents. Just make sure your squidges don't partake as well, that wouldn't go well.

Please select an option below to determine how your squidge will be gotten across the chasm.

The forest begins to thin out again after the challenge of the chasm, and finally begins to warm up. In fact, it's getting a little muggy. It's easy to feel drowsy in the sunlight dappling through the leaves… or maybe that's the magical poppies. Seemingly innocent little red, purple, and yellow flowers begin to line the way. They're generally harmless on their own — but they're rarely on their own. Any recruits who lie down in the vicinity of a batch of magical poppies may find themselves slowly overtaken by dermal vines. Discretion is most definitely advised, as recruits finally make it to the swamp.

OOC NOTES

This log ICly and OOCly covers two weeks! Characters may proceed at whatever pace they'd like, but going too quickly or too slowly will mean they travel alone. (And those going too quickly will probably have to contend with screaming squidges, who prefer to travel at the speed of an easy plod.)

The unbonded squidges mentioned at the beginning of the log will be determinedly trailing after the group. They refuse to interact with much of anyone currently around... but may be convinced to take a liking to someone as we get new characters apping in.

Characters have been provided with large backpacks containing basic necessities -- food and water rations, shampoo, soap, etc -- and whatever they decided to pack. They will not be receiving another official supply drop, so it's up to them to make the rations last.

We are also introducing a Bounty Board for Zeta-12! It is entirely optional, but gives you some ideas to spark threads and rewards you for playing them out.

Please remember to select your choices in the threads below! How you choose will determine how your squidge grows.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yeah, he's definitely going to get smacked in the face. Nami-style. Why was it such a bad idea to cross the ice? It's not like the Straw Hats had never done something more dangerous than this.

And then yet there Luffy goes, tumbling across the snow. She should only be glad that Shanks the Squidge was at his side and not actually perched in his backpack when he goes flying into the snow, complaining all the way.]

Oooooi, Nami! Not if we all put some space between us! It's faster that way, right? [And what with little food they had... how could he walk AROUND it? He's going to starve to death, this is the end.]

[ Maybe because usually, they would have a ship, something to haul the unfortunate devil's fruit users on after their inevitable dip in the ice-cold water... ]

If we put space between us, there will be no one to catch you, or Torao-kun, when you fall into the water! Do you want to drown? [ Don't mind her as she walks up to him and pinches his cheek, stretching it mercilessly. ]

Going East is the safest choice! Yes, it will take a little longer... but the weather will be better, further south, and as soon as there is vegetation, we can gather and hunt food. Sanji-kun will make something for us, don't worry!

[ Because of course it is food that Luffy would be worrying about, here. ]

[The look he gives Nami from his spot on the ground is honestly grumpy at best, a hand moving up to rub his assaulted cheek as if it really had hurt him. They both know otherwise.

But as much as the pirate captain wants to argue, she makes too good a point. There's no way he'd want to risk Ace or Law falling into the water without rescue, so...]

Hey, Nami. I knew you could navigate the ocean, but I didn't know you were good at it on land, too. [And now he's grinning. What did you really expect. Like the rubber man he is, he's already bounced back. Getting to his feet, adjusting his hat on the top of his head, he turns towards... west.]

So that way, right? Maybe it'll be way slower, but... maybe it'll be fun anyway. Let's go!

[ That's fine, she's more than used to those looks at this point -- honestly, it feels more comfortable to be on the receiving end of that look than she'd thought.

And of course she makes a good point, she never makes anything but good points!! Jeez, Luffy. ]

The weather is still the weather, on land or at sea! As long as you know the basics, it's easy to apply the knowledge to navigating on land, as well! [ She beams, confident as ever-- it's a relief to know she can make sure they won't run into trouble here, weather-wise. ]

[ And then-- ACK, LUFFY, NO. ]

-- did you listen to anything I just said?? We should be going east! E-A-S-T!!

Hanzo-kun agrees with me, too.

I really do have the best Navigator in the world, huh. [It's an offhanded comment that doesn't have any particular tone behind it, but it's a genuine compliment--even if the expression that twists over his face doesn't quite match up when Nami starts yelling.]

HAA??

[WASn'T THAT WAY EAST? WHY ARE YOU YELLING--oh it's the other way. Right, he knew that. HE WAS JUST TESTING YOU, REALLY--]

--Okami's going with us? [He gives Nami a blank look, followed by a grin. Good. His new friend should stick with him and his crew anyway, right?

He moves EAST this time, reaching to grab Nami's arm, giving her a small tug.]

Nihihi, let's go then, let's go--!

[ "Of course you do," she could respond, or maybe "it's the only way to be, in the crew of the future Pirate King" -- but then, it seems they never say that particular thing out loud to Luffy, only to those who look at him and see a noodle-y, cheerful kid with big dreams and nothing to put behind them.

Instead, she grins, if only for a moment... ] Honestly, you're almost as bad as Zoro!

[ Only, if it were Zoro, he'd already be halfway to the westbound road... She slaps a hand across her forehead and sighs. Loudly. Deeply. As dry and long-suffering as those years of drought in Alabasta. ] At least you're out of the ice, now... both of you!! [ ANGRY QUICK LOOK AT SANJI GOES HERE FEEL HER WRATH LIKE WAVES IN YOUR DIRECTION ugh if either of them tries to drown again and she's forced to go to their aid she's charging 1 million beli, each!! ]

Yes, he is. [ Right, back to business. This topic at least makes her expression smooth into something like an almost-smile. ] It's a relief to have someone sensible coming along!

Yes, yes... going, going! [ #tugged ]

[How did you deal with just standing here and watching as he and Sanji ran out onto the ice, seriously. For that alone, he deserved the punch in the face that she'd given him--and it's probably why he didn't contest it ALL that much once he'd gotten up.]

No way am I worse than Zoro! If he were here, he'd have gotten lost back where we picked up the eggs. [I have so much faith in my first mate, clearly.]

And hey, it was fun, even if I almost fell in. Sanji got so mad, did you see the look on his face? [And here they go, the start of what's probably going to be a long and noisy journey.]

[ Well she wasn't very well going to run in after them, she's not stupid!! No, she'll rather stand there and yell loudly. At least Law was there to echo her yells... ]

Hahh, that's probably true. [ She allows herself a moment to smile, brief and quick -- damn, she misses him. He's been there since the very start, the two of them dealing with Luffy's whims, and it feels a little strange, to be here without Zoro's presence around them at all times. ]

Of course you'd think it's fun when he gets mad... [ Sighhhhhs. ] Just try not to scare Shanks to death!

Nihihi. Of course it's true! [He's the one who said it! No logic like Luffy Logic, right? His shoulders hunch up and he waves a hand at his Navigator, then points down at poor Shanks.]

He's not gonna' get scared! He's gonna' be a brave pirate captain, just like I am! Isn't that right? He'll get used to Sanji's yelling, just like all of us have!

[Thank god you're here, Nami, that's all there is to say.]

A pirate captain...?

[ She. just pauses for a long moment, and then-

laughs. ] Of course! They'll form their own crew when we're gone, won't they? [ Even if she's not exactly sure that's the best course of action to take, what with there not really being an ocean to sail here and all... but it's not like they can stop them, either. And if there's anything she knows for sure, it's that anything to do with Luffy is impossible to control. ]

As long as they're happy, chasing their own dreams... it's alright, isn't it?

[Brave pirate captain, you're damn right. He's already started teaching the poor jellybaby how to punch. Yow.]

Yeah, they will! They'll stick together, like friends! They'll be travelling with us this whole time, so it makes sense that they'll be nakama, too!

[ER2, Shanks, and Belle were destined to be friends, right? It only made sense.]

So long as we show'm how to be strong, they'll grow up great!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ★ WELCOME TO ZETA-12

to cross or not to cross

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