E.S. Berkhard---1st Mission. "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you...."

[proxy_explorers]

Each crewmate had woken up in a cabin assigned to them, with their name and role on the door outside. It was a pretty nice little cabin, private and with a private bathroom. Like a basic hotel room honestly, in shades of deep blue and rich brown wood and steel. Clean sheets on the bed, clean linens on the desk waiting for use, and a closet full of uniforms for their use. (Each consisting of dark blue BDU pants and jacket with rank and name, a black undershirt, and black boots. These uniforms are modified for non-humanoid wear as needed.)

A small note was on the desk, on top of the linens. "Welcome Explorer! For your first mission, you are to proceed to the Waystation's VR deck. There is a map accessible on your Omniband, which will also be used to lock and unlock your cabin. Each Omniband is individually designated. It is recommended Omnibands be worn at all times." Indeed, there is a small blue, silver, or grey band that looks like a circular smart-watch on the desk. The 'band' itself will expand to fit over any width, or can be unlocked and flipped to form an 'S' type shape with the screen, to act like a traditional phone.

Explorers can explore their ship if they want. Although they won't be able to undock or leave the Waystation. Heading out further into the Waystation, they're free to explore there as well. They will be prompted by their Omniband though, to gather in the VR Holodeck. The longer one takes to get to the VR Holodeck, the more insistent the prompts will get--starting with a beeping, that will only get worse the longer it takes. There is no way, short of hacking the Omniband, to disable this beeping. This is the first 'mission' after all!

Once there, the sliding doors will open to reveal what almost looks like any good 2010's employee conference room, although the table has been moved to the side and laid out with snacks and drinks. Stepping in will prompt a "My name is ____" badge to appear with the person's chosen name on their clothes in an appropriate place. Also on the table are various ideas for Ice-Breakers! A big banner spans the room and says "Welcome Explorers!"

It appears your first mission is for everyone to get to know each other!

OUT OF CHARACTER
This is for your chars to get to know each other, since you'll all be working as a crew. The MDSOBs have tried to make it welcoming and easy and encouraging. Below there will be a thread for some different Ice Breaker Activities. Please respond there for threads.

Comments

[fourglasswalls]

"...Seriously." Don't play dumb with Glass! Glass was an authority on dumb! He smacked both his hands against his head, struggling with phrasing. "Just -- take human form! Homid form! Whatever you wanna call it, you're totally blowing the Duties here! Even I don't screw those up!"

Glass took few things seriously, but the Duties were pretty high up on the list. And right there, number four, 'don't life the Veil' was going out the window right now!

[sowgoodseed]

"I... really do not understand what you are trying to say. I'm sorry, I am not trying to be a head-scratcher for you either. But I don't understand. I agreed to take on tasks here, but I do not know what those duties entail yet..."

[fourglasswalls]

"I'm saying," Glass hissed, "that you are totally blowing the whole 'don't reveal everything to normal people' part of the Duties. You're not! supposed! to look like that! You gotta blend in, like me!"

Glass jabbed a forefinger into his own chest too hard and made himself wince, but the point was made!

"No one suspects me!"

[sowgoodseed]

"I appologize. Suspects you of what?" he looked down at himself. "I assure you that I am fully dressed. Even if the uniform is a little drab, it is what was waiting for me. I can return to my temporary home here to fetch accessories if you prefer. Though what more you wish me to cover, I am unsure. My species does not have a nudity taboo such as most humans have, so I am unaware of what more needs to be covered..."

[fourglasswalls]

"Hooooold on." Glass's eyes twitched from right to left as he half-thought, half-remembered. Or tried to remember; he had a heck of a lot of memories to sift through, after all. "You're not... one of the Dragon Kings, are you?"

[sowgoodseed]

"While I have heard that some dolphinbacks have called us dragons, we are not, I assure you. I, personally, am a Dilophosaurus. Dilophosaurus Wetherilli in the language humans call Latin. Though most dolphinbacks classify us all as Dinosaur generically when they first arrive. In specific, I am Goodseed. It is a pleasure to make you acquaintance. Breathe deep, friend. And Seek peace."

[fourglasswalls]

"...Huh, I remember them having the proper name." Which he meant very literally. "Buuut I guess even my memory isn't perfect going back that far. Hi! I'm Glass."

Looking left, then right, Glass sidled in closer and put a hand to the side of his mouth, the better to share conspiratorially. "I'm like a distant, distant, waaaay distant descendant of yours."

[sowgoodseed]

"If you mean mine specifically, I fail to see how that is possible," he said, clearly startled. "But if you mean in a more generic sense.." he smiled warmly then, "it is good to meet someone with whom I might share common cultural references. I admit to being in over my shell out here. How many mothers Dinotopian are you?" he asked, head tilting in curiosity. "And however did your ancestors manage to roll out of the nest unnoticed?" Someone they had presumed dead? Perhaps, but he thought that unlikely. Generally only Dolphinbacks ever tried, and no Dolphinback who wanted to leave considered themselves Dinotopian, did they? Then again, no Dolphinbacks ever intended to come to Dinotopia, so perhaps someone rolled out of the nest accidentally and somehow survived. Why they would not have been brought back, he did not know.

He missed Waterfall City desperately. He wished he could check the record scrolls there, speak to the many who worked in the libraries and kept the great registers. Of course at this moment he even missed the dampness and the loud background roar, just because it would have been familiar. Ever since arriving he felt as though he were standing on shifting sands.

[fourglasswalls]

"It's a long, long, long story and it's mostly due to Gaia Herself, as I understand it. Like a really long time has passed."

Shooting a quick glance around to make sure no one was looking, Glass shifted. Where before a short human male had stood, now a Gila monster faced way, way up at the dino-guy.

"See, this is my breed form," said the Gila monster, sounding exactly like Glass for whatever reason. (The reason was, in fact, that his talking was a Gift.)

[sowgoodseed]

Goodseed actually started a bit, his Saurian eyes widening. "I... I have never seen anyone with such an impressive skill, as that. I am quite impressed." And doing his best to not be rude.

[fourglasswalls]

"Naw, we can all do this. It's part of our existence as Gaia's Memory." If a Gila monster could look distinctly proud of himself, this one did.

[sowgoodseed]

"I assure you in this case, I am not a part of that we, and thus I find the skill quite laudable."

[fourglasswalls]

"Well, that's what millions of years'll do for a family tree," Glass said with a nod. Then he scrunched up his face, squeezed his eyes shut, and went very silent for a minute or so.

[sowgoodseed]

"Millions of years, friend?"

[fourglasswalls]

"Yeah, that's how long it's been. Between your time and mine." Give or take. It might have been even longer!

[sowgoodseed]

"To my knowledge, I am not that old..." he said, so confused. This was a rolled up scroll for sure.

[fourglasswalls]

"Well, yeah. Obviously something's really weird here. But considering the circumstances, I'm not gonna question it." Shrug!

[sowgoodseed]

"Have you no natural curiosity over this rolled up scroll, friend? I am certain that the scholars in Waterfall City would love any information I could bring back. And if you are truly my mothers Dinotopian and those who brought us can actually surpass the reef, you should come back with me to see the wonders of our home."

[fourglasswalls]

"I am incredibly curious. Super curious. Amazingly curious." Every adjective got an accompanying dramatic hand-chop. "I am gonna learn soooo much out here, and fold it into Mnesis. Heck if I even care about what they're gonna reward us with, the experience is worth everything!"

[sowgoodseed]

If that was sarcasm, it was utterly lost on the Saurian. "I too intend to learn as much as I can. In all the time Dinotopia has survived, none have ever survived rolling out of the nest further than the reef, and certainly no one has ever rolled back in. What we learn here will be invaluable to the scholars in Waterfall City."

[fourglasswalls]

"Waterfall City?!" Glass's eyes practically sparkled. "That sounds amazing!"

Glass was rarely sarcastic, and definitely not now!

[sowgoodseed]

He nodded. "If you should indeed come to visit, that would be one of our first stops, all newcomers to the Island are taken to Waterfall City to learn. From there they are welcome to dwell anywhere they wish, though for obvious reasons we do advise against attempting to settle in the Rainy Basin if one is unprepared for the..." how to say this politely? "Culture there." He was certain they had to have culture there, though he couldn't have said what it was. He himself had avoided the Rainy Basin as much as possible in his years. "Waterfall City is truly one of the most lovely places on the Island, and the center of most Dinotopian culture and learning, though I have heard arguments for Canyon City as well. I myself find both to be breathtaking in their own ways."

[fourglasswalls]

Glass soaked all of this up -- pretty much literally, he had an eidetic memory. "Gotcha, gotcha. So see the incredible sights, avoid the bad neighborhood, and tell me about the culture and learning!"

[sowgoodseed]

"I would be happy to do so, is there a specific line of inquiry you would like to pursue, or should I begin with a broader perspective?"