EVENT ★ ZETA-12 FINAL WEEK

[futurologists]

ZETA-12: FINAL WEEK After team Audentes makes it out of the desert in more or less one piece, they'll begin to notice the environment changing once again. After the sparseness of the sands and canyons, vegetation and water once again become more common; eventually, they've found a lush jungle with plants and rivers both plentiful. And like the changing environment, the squidges once again begin to transform. Please select an evolution according to your choice. Please note, you must have submitted your choice to the thread in the previous logs in order for your squidge to evolve. For those who encountered the cave: If they went into the cave, their squidge has taken on one of the following features: a fox-like tail, an armadillo snout (with tongue!), or enhanced sense of smell. However, if they stayed above, their squidge has one of these: a beak, a prehensile tail, or enhanced sense of hearing. THE JUNGLE (WEEK 6) The jungle air is thick with humidity, light barely filtering down past the dense canopy of leaves overhead. Unlike the forest back at the beginning of the journey here, the climate in the jungle is almost stifling, so recruits may want to look for refreshing Rainbow Berries to snack on and keep their energy up -- but keep an eye out for the Lucifer's Poppy, as its effects can cause the journey to reach an abrupt end. Rivers wind through the jungle, with waterfalls ending in relaxing pools where recruits can try to beat the heat and spend some extra time with their squidges as the journey's end approaches. Like the other biomes, there are no creatures here -- no birds, no bugs, no jungle cats -- but that doesn't mean that recruits can leave their guard down entirely. Apart from various poison plants (such as the Beezlebulb and the Malboro) other hazards to look out for include slippery, moss-covered ground cover that may cause a hapless recruit to lose their footing, and the dangers of heat exhaustion. Unlike the previous biomes, there is no major choice for recruits to make here. Instead, they must bathe their squidge in the Wellspring, a bubbling, faintly glowing pool of water in the depths of the jungle. The Wellspring is responsible for triggering the squidges' final transformation and allowing them to grow into adulthood. In order for squidges to evolve into an adult, squidge parents must have completed a certain amount of tasks during the Zeta-12 mission. If these tasks were not completed, the squidge will not evolve and will remain in its larval stage. The evolution form can be found on this post. Squidges who successfully evolve into adults will grow in size, anywhere between 122-183cm (4-6'). They will loosely retain their rounded shapes, their limbs and torsos elongating, and any physical transformations will also grow with their size. In adulthood, squidges are less needy and frightened than in their larval stage, and generally have a calm demeanor (with exceptions made if they happened to pick up an aggressive trait along the journey, of course). Their language remains a wordless burbling, but they can communicate with their caregivers through gestures. After bathing their squidges in the Wellspring, regardless of the success of evolutions, recruits should prepare to depart Zeta-12 with the knowledge that their alien children are better, stronger, and smarter for the time they spent together. OOC NOTES This log lasts ICly for one week, and OOCly for 1.5 weeks. Once the mission is completed and the squidges are bathed in the Wellspring, recruits will have until August 20th to say goodbye and let their alien wards leave the metaphorical nest. Direct questions about the Zeta-12 mission here. And don't forget about the bounty board! After August 20th, Zeta-12 bounties will no longer be completable. Please remember to fill out your squidge success form! Participation is required to pass AC this month. If you have any questions about the form, please direct them here. Forms must be completed by August 31th, 23:59 UTC.

Comments

[asscan]

I wouldn't leave anyone out there, not even your elfish compatriot, [Laedo replies, voice dry as the sand itself.] Here, however, I might consider going off the network for a little while, if I could stand a fully vegetable diet for the rest of my years. How are you faring, other than dirtily?

[strikingtwice]

Elvhen. [Meallan corrects instinctively, nose wrinkling somewhat at the use of 'elfish'. Although he realises belatedly he hasn't been much better himself with Laedo's race, and resolves to do better in the future.]

And you think you'd like to stay here? [He asks, curious.] I think I'd prefer the forest over this jungle heat, but at least the water is better than that swamp was.

[A pause and he gives a dry, slightly strained chuckle.] Although I suspect I might have to get someone to shave my head after we get back. I can't imagine what's likely caught up in my hair now.

[asscan]

I see only a few burrs, thankfully inanimate, [Laedo jokes, taking the correction in stride--he's had to bitch so many times in the past about his own preferences that he's learning to expect those little chafing points.]

It's likely much cooler higher up, you know.

[That might be an invitation. The thought process here being that Laedo is aware that they are coming to the end of their journey, and barring catastrophe, he does not expect to remain behind in Zeta-12 as he had in Nalawi. Oska, a mere fragment of a world, is an incredibly boring place to fly, or even an exasperating one, taking into account the fog surrounding the place. There will be little time left, then, to meander from their goals... and Meallan had been expressing an interest for some time, now.]

[strikingtwice]

Further up the river? [Meallan's brow furrows, not quite catching Laedo's meaning at first and shooting a doubtful glance up the river.]

I'm not certain that's actually going to be the case. It feels like it's going to be hot and muggy no matter how much further we go up the river, and I'm a little tired...

[He looks back at Laedo then and notices how the asandus' gaze is more, well, upwards and realisation hits him.]

Do you mean flying? [Meallan's immediate excitement is evident, although he immediately tamps it down and glances at their charges.] But Tarasylin has enough trouble with me moving at a run, I can't imagine it'll like flying much.

[asscan]

He catches on, [Laedo drawls, third person reference a tease in this instance. Looking between Tarasylin and Ulale, the latter of which who seems to be extremely pleased to be able to paddle around every pool they stop at, Laedo cocks his head to one side in consideration.] I have, with great success, adopted sitters willing to care for our charges for an hour or so. Worth a bit of exercise, to owe someone a favour, isn't it?

[strikingtwice]

Sitters? [Honestly, Meallan can't think of why the thought never crossed his mind earlier. It isn't even a new idea really; his clan often shared the tasks of caring for their children, raising them as a group instead of individually. He can't imagine why he hadn't considered the same here before now.]

That seems like a great idea to me. I'd be happy to owe someone, or several someones, a favour for an opportunity like this.

[asscan]

[There is a very good chance that, as with Ulale, who had only taken to allowing others to watch her while her lauded caretaker was away slowly and with great fussing, Tarasylin might not have taken so well to seeing Meallan disappear for a time... but with the way the two are playing now, hopefully that will be distraction enough.]

Let me make some inquiries, then. Continue to rest. You have earned it.

[At that point, the askan is quick to scoop Ulale up, and then make efforts to convince Tarasylin to perch on his other arm.]

Would you two lovely ladies like a tour of the encampment? Your caretakers have some scouting to do, [he tells them, tone morphing away from the usual stink-eyed sardony he often employs to something far gentler.]

[strikingtwice]

[Meallan nods, not entirely certain but settles back into the water, still savouring the relative cool against his skin. He jerks back up again as Laedo plucks up Tarasylin, but cautiously relaxes, his gaze tracking the askan as he walks off with his charge.

It's odd to see Laedo acting that way with anyone, and Meallan can't help but smile as he sees the more caring side come out, idly wondering if he'd been like that the entire journey.

When Laedo returns, he glances up at him curiously.] Is there a reason you think that they're female?

[asscan]

They've no indication otherwise, [Laedo replies, and then, casting a look over his shoulder as though he is worried that someone like that 'humen' fuzzball might be near, utters drolly,] and they scream enough that there's simply no other comparison, do you not think?

[strikingtwice]

Do... do askan women scream a lot? [It's a strange enough comparison that Meallan wonders suddenly what females of Laedo's race would be like, oddly picturing the other man with longer hair and breasts but otherwise the same.

It's... not an image he's entirely certain he wants to admit to having. Not that Laedo himself is unattractive but Meallan's fairly certain he looks far better as himself.

......Creators he's glad Laedo's gone for a moment and that he's sunburned, because he feels his skin trying to redden further already and is suddenly grateful that there's no chance for Laedo to notice him looking at him strangely. He sinks a little deeper into the water, trying to distract himself from the rather strange thoughts before the askan returned.]

[asscan]

[The strange thing is that, at least among Laedo's family, Meallan's mental image is not all that far off. The Ledo's are all a little point-faced and pinch-lipped, though the one with which the elf has become acquainted is by far the most friendly.

By the time that Laedo returns, at least, he's given Meallan plenty of time to shake off his whims. In fact, when he returns he is not even in the shape of a human. He shoulders aside a large tree, scratching his shoulder against its rough bark before he settles next to the pool.] You expect to cling properly when you're still sopping wet? [Laedo jests. He extends his forearm a little, the better for Meallan to climb, and even goes so far as to tap the climbing points for him. One-armed elves get the benefit of easier treatment, as far as Laedo's concerned, and so that is why he has added a few extra straps to cling to with the magical rig he transformed with.]

[strikingtwice]

[His eyes widen and Meallan looks thrilled at the sight of Laedo in his larger form, clambering awkwardly out of the water and darting towards the askan, his sunburns momentarily forgotten in his excitement.]

Creators, every time it's like I've forgotten how impressive you really look.

[Reaching out with some care, he presses his damp hand against Laedo's forearm.] Are you sure you don't mind?

[asscan]

If ever I minded, it was a time before the universe turned itself on its head and I had never heard of the term 'elf,' [Laedo jokes. He waits patiently for Meallan to ascend, head turned on his long neck to nudge the man up should he falter.

The saddle and harness are simple enough affairs; Laedo has gone so far as to leave the harness folded in front of the pommel that crests the front of the saddle.] Put that on, and ensure the seals are secure at shoulders, legs and waist. If you are up for it, I shall show you what it is like to have full range of the sky.