(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

[velveteened]

( he pauses when he hears that, offering her a smile. )

Do you think so?

( it's more amused than curious, really, but he's not entirely sold on the hat when there's so much sun to be had. )

[yourdistraction]

Yes! I should be sure to bring one the next time this happens... I think it would be useful on Exsilium, too, if it can help shelter from the rain a bit.

[velveteened]

( he tugs on the brim of the hat contemplatively )

I think it'd depend on the kind of hat...but if they have sun hats, they must have rain hats, especially with the weather!

( it's only now that he really looks at her, notices things like the pointed ears and the markings on her face. he's spoken to an elf before once, in exsilium, but it'd all been fairly dreamlike and something he'd had to confirm later. but out in the sun like this, having lighthearted tasks to do, makes this quite different.

and pretty awesome tbh. )

[yourdistraction]

I've never worn a hat... But I've never been in weather like this, either! It's quite exotic.

[velveteened]

It is, isn't it? It doesn't get this hot where I'm from...what are you used to?

[yourdistraction]

Well, my clan has traveled quite a bit, so I've seen different climates! In the Free Marches it seems rather mild most of the time, but of course there's occasional rain and storms, and the water can be very cold in the winter. Well, I suppose it's cold most of the time! Not like this water at all.

[velveteened]

( listens, rapt - traveled quite a bit has caught his attention. )

What other places have you been to?

[yourdistraction]

Oh, well, my clan originally stayed in Ferelden while moving around, but due to an...incident, we were forced to leave and travel to the Free Marches. Several years ago we settled near Kirkwall, a city in the Free Marches, but I've actually been living in the city for six years now. I haven't traveled too much since, except to local areas, like the Bone Pit or the Wounded Coast...

[velveteened]

( an incident. but hearing about actual places called 'bone pit' or 'wounded coast' keep him sufficiently distracted for the moment )

Is it an actual bone pit?

[yourdistraction]

I thought the same thing! But it's a quarry. There have just been a lot of deaths there, I suppose, and I heard there used to be slaves that were forced to work there. I certainly saw some bones while there.

[velveteened]

( that's a little depressing! though what he really expected from a name like that is hard to say. )

I see. What about the Wounded Coast?

[yourdistraction]

It's not actually wounded like I thought... But the humans seem to like morbid names for things, I'm not sure why. There are quite a few bandits there, though.

The beaches aren't quite as nice as this.

[velveteened]

This is nice, isn't it? I haven't seen any others to compare, but it's hard to imagine them being much better.

If you aren't human, then - ( how to not be too rude ) - do you mind if I ask what you are?

[yourdistraction]

Not at all!

[ Wow were they brain twins separated at birth, maybe? He speaks so much like her! He even asks the same questions... Regardless, she'll bow slightly in greeting, arms out from her sides and toe tapping behind her. ]

I'm a Dalish elf. My name is Merrill. You didn't ask for that, but it seems a proper time to offer!

[velveteened]

A Dalish elf! ( he might've sounded a little too excited there. elves!!!! ) Is that an elf race, or something else?

My name is Oz! It's nice to meet you, Merrill.

[yourdistraction]

You as well, Oz.

[ What an easy name to remember! ]

All elvhen were once the same people, but difficult times changed us forever. [ HUMANS. Yeah, she seems to keep bringing up vague incidents, huh? ] The Dalish are those of us who continue to try to keep the old ways alive, though we are still forced to wander.

[velveteened]

( it's just like one of his books how cool is this!!!! )

Why's that?

[yourdistraction]

It's dangerous to linger near human settlements for too very long, is all. My clan has remained near Kirkwall for far too long already.

[velveteened]

...I see.

( well, it's not difficult to guess why. )

Kirkwall is a large one?

[yourdistraction]

I think so! But it's the only human city I've ever really been to, I'll admit. It is quite big in a way, but all of the walls can make it seem stifling...and cold, especially with all of the stone.

[velveteened]

Is it even bigger than Exsilium?

[yourdistraction]

Oh, I don't know about that! I'm still learning my way around the city. I'll have to let you know when I've been here a bit longer.

[velveteened]

( he laughs a little )

Ah, are you new? It's a big city, so there's a chance it's even bigger than Kirkwall - though, it might not be. I haven't been to that many cities, either.

[yourdistraction]

[ She nods, arms linked behind her back. ]

Just a little over a fortnight ago. I'm still exploring... I didn't expect to be taken into the sky, and to a place like this! Maybe the next time, they'll take us to a different city so that you can see more.

[velveteened]

Maybe! One of my first missions was at an art school, and I've heard about one to a town with cowboys before that.