(open) mission: hit the beach

[aithinkthereforeaiam]

Date & Time: July 18th-24th, Exsilium Time
Location: Sea Shore during the Late Cretaceous Period
Characters: All! Oh those pesky mandatory missions.
Summary: In lieu of the success of the space shuttle's test flight, all of the Transports have been sent back to the Cretaceous period to gather mineral supplies and volcanic rock, while doubling as a sort of 'vacation' and chance to get Transports out of the Initiative's hair. With well stocked supplies, camping gear, and more burlap sacks than anyone could possibly ever use, the Transports have been set under a protective dome and told to collect what they can... and to enjoy the sunshine.
Warnings: Shenanigans!

The overflow log can be found HERE!

It's almost surreal, the quality of color, of light, of oxygen saturation in the air once people arrive. It's so rich that the Initiative sent people back with respirators, to help ease the transition, and warned those who would listen about the effects of too much oxygen on a system.

What they don't warn for is the sheer alien familiarity of the landscape, the warmth, the roughness of the sand on the beaches. This is not the fine, sandy beaches out of vacation dreams, but a rougher, larger granule sort, with shells that might be recognizeable as ancestors to ones those from Earth would remember washing up on familiar beaches, millions of years later.

Most striking is the lack of abundant wildlife found among the fronds and leaves and foliage, or underneath the surface of the saltier, much warmer waters extending off the beach. While acting as a permeable membrane to oxygen and water, along with the sorts of phytoplankton that kept sea creatures alive, all the larger animals had been pushed out by the Initiative's installment of the safety dome. Along the transparent walls, curious creatures would come close, peer in, tap against the barrier and run off if frightened, but very few were found inside at any size larger than that of a house cat. It was for the better in the long run.

Too bad that the Initiative didn't have ultra-violet blocking technology in their shielding. For all the atmosphere is in much better shape millions of years in the past, the sun is as strong as ever, and the unwary will be burned through and through if they're not careful.

Comments

Dragonborn | OPEN

[preyed]

[A)
Vera is enjoying the sun and the surf as much as she can, though she seems...out of place, at the very least. Her hair is down, wild in the sunlight, and she doesn't seem to mind the swimwear provided. She's actually taking her time to examine the foliage and the rocks, mostly to satiate her curious mind. She goes swimming, now and again, if only to explore what's there too. And to cool off.

You may catch her swimming at night, as well, when she's not wearing any bathing suit. But if you run into her, you might be scorched to a crisp with magic. Just forewarning.


B)
On the third day, she goes exploring for the things the Initiative asks for, though she's not doing it for them. She's grown idle in the city and some legwork will do her good. She's looking for any curious items to salvage, as well, for her own experimentation purposes.

Want to help?]

A

[of_the_lake]

[Primarily, Berserker was a stalker. In comparison to Vera's adventurous and fairly upbeat disposition, there was a gloomy stalker following her at all times out in the open, wearing only a plain black speedo. He loomed, watching and waiting for all possible predators, his expression devoid of joy.]

[preyed]

No one's going to outright attack me while I'm down here, you know.

[And even if they did, it was not as if she was helpless. She looked up from where she crouched, gesturing to the water.]

You could relax.

[of_the_lake]

[He could scarcely hear Vera over how utterly ripped he was. Berserker turned to face his master briefly after glancing towards the ceiling of the barrier, where a number of flying dinosaurs passed.]

I'm quite relaxed. You would know if I were anything but.

[It was the truth. Berserker was completely at home being a terrifying, murder-filled presence.]

[preyed]

And yet you insist on standing around and hovering over me like a lost lamb.

[No, Vera, he was standing there like a bodyguard. But she still didn't know what to properly do with one. She hardly had people following her back in Skyrim. At length, she stood up.]

Nothing here catches your interest?

[of_the_lake]

If anything caught my eye, I would have obliterated it.

[He assumed that, of course, Vera was referring to anyone getting within her perimeter with even a smidgen of violent intent. Then, he would decimate them and return to being an evil stone statue.]

I'm certain you remember the implication of our contract. A Servant does not merely serve--they ensure that they will have a Master to protect as long as possible.

[preyed]

[She rolled her eyes briefly.]

I'm talking about things other than potential targets and enemies. You truly have no desire to know more about this world or even to explore the resources it has?

[Vera chewed at the corner of her bottom lip in thought.]

What about useless Masters? Or overly cruel ones? Surely you would not want to keep them around.

[of_the_lake]

There is no mystery to this world. [He hiked a brow, looking over Vera a moment before looking out towards the sky and the barrier above.]

This is my world, long before men walked it. This is something in legend and in history.

[However, she said something brazen in its stupidity. Shaking his head, Berserker raised one hand in gesture.]

You speak callously. You two are not ideal Masters, though that is hardly a flaw. To be an 'ideal Master', it's altogether likely yourself and Master Flora would be disgusting creators, Master Vera. In that, I am fortunate. Your strengths will win you many battles.

A

[strategic_guile]

[It is late at night. Blaine is always full of bad decisions, though he doesn't know how bad a late night swim is going to turn out just yet. Pants off, totally naked and enjoying that it's cooler, he's going to just walk right in. All he heard was the waves and has no idea anyone else is around. He's not being stealthy anyway. He's splashing in, already enjoying the water.]

[preyed]

[Very bad decisions. Vera's relaxing with her head back against some of the stones, cushioned by them while she bathes. When she hears someone else in the water, she lifts her head up and scowls.]

Do you mind?

[strategic_guile]

[Blaine slows at the voice and is looking for the source of it. His answer sounds less cautious than he's actually being.]

No...?

B

[molecules]

Ugh.

[ piper's nearby when she rolls her eyes. she straightens her back to roll her neck. she's sick of this initiative crap; it reminds her of the elders and their wild goose chases. as much as she wants to help, she kind of wishes it involved less intensive labour and more information. ]

[ she happens to be next to vera when she plants her hands on her hips. ]

I'm so sick of looking for all this crap.