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

Main VR Holodeck

[proxy_explorers]

OOC Reply here for all threads on the main VR Holodeck. Aka if you're staying in the 'conference' room for mingling.

Ice Breaker! WHODUNIT!

[proxy_explorers]

OOC The Whodunit game. Have each person write down something interesting they've done on a note card (e.g., skydiving, have lived in 10 different states, drank a gallon of milk in five minutes—the sillier the better). Put the note cards into a hat, give it a nice shake, and have each person draw a note card they will then read aloud. The reader must then try to guess "whodunit" and why they came to that conclusion.

Ice Breaker! The Marshmallow challenge

[proxy_explorers]

OOC Break your team into groups of two. Give each group 20 sticks of spaghetti, three feet of tape, three feet of string, and one marshmallow. Ask them to build the tallest freestanding structure they can. Sit back and see what happens. The marshmallow challenge makes the perfect icebreaker and team-building hybrid. No Magic or Extraneous abilities may be used to reinforce or aid this structure.

Ice Breaker! Scavenger Hunt!

[proxy_explorers]

OOC This is your standard scavenger hunt. You're given the challenge to find and photograph/tag items from around the Waystation and Explorer Ship on an A-Z list. Your Omniband is used to photograph and tag a chosen item. The winner will receive a small boon of their choice from the MDSOBs (such as a favorite meal, or extra casual clothes, or shower-steamers+spa items, etc.)

Ice Breaker--Maze

[proxy_explorers]

OOC: This option requires everyone to participate, and is best done if broken into pairs. It also works best as a later Ice Breaker than the first option chosen. Crew mates pair up and the VR Holodeck will transform into a floor to ceiling unbreakable maze. In the center are 5 wrapped gift surprise boxes of various sizes for who finishes first, second, etc.

What's in the boxes? Well, be the first to find your way through the maze and find out. No breaking the walls--it's cheating.

Ambellina Intro:

[burnedherwings]

["Prose" or [Action] accepted. Reply how you want and I will follow suit]

Waking up and finding the Omniband and note, Ambellina simply moved about the room, finding a uniform and dressing in that instead of her normal tight black suit. She was pleased to see the suit fit well enough over the odd healed up lumps on her back, where her wings had once been. the suit was at least suitable for combat.

Omniband on, she left her quarters and paused, glancing around outside the room. Herr nose wrinkled a moment, but she took off in one direction to explore. At least it's clean here, unlike the last ship he was on. She does a quick scan of the place, going here and there where she was allowed, just to get an idea of their mission stations and all that. She agreed to do this, as much a he didn't want to. She was here though, and that meant she had to know things.

Once done exploring though, she would head to where the Mission Meeting would be. A conference like room with snacks. Oh goody. She ignored all those, and stared a t the little Hello sign on her uniform now. 'My name is Ambellina' is all it said. The blond haired, blue skinned woman rolled her eyes at the name tag, but meandered in further, glancing about the room and who all was here or not.

Nathanial Intro

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial wasn't entirely sure what he expected, on waking. It all looked very strange to him, although recognizable enough--just...strange. All far beyond and likely 'ahead' in time of what he knew. Some of that was to be expected though, from what he'd gathered since he'd be exploring in space. Imagine; it was like something from Jules Verne!

The clothes were recognizable, although the omniband might as well have been pure magic to him. He did figure out that he was supposed to wear it, but how it worked? Well, hopefully one of his new allies would be able to teach him. At least the room, while futuristic to him, was furnished in familiar enough and obvious enough functions. The clothing was easy to put on, though it felt odd to him. Though he supposed it was no odder than some of the Hunter gear he'd found. It was comfortable too.

Making his way through the ship would take some time, and through the waystation even more. Things weren't 'alien', but it was all far more advanced than he was used to and he couldn't help but wonder and stare as he went. Hopefully some of the things and areas that weren't obvious in their function or nature he could get another to point out to him.

Eventually, he found where he was supposed to go--and was still a little wide-eyed. It was easy to deduce this was meant to be some kind of gathering room for business. The name-badge appearing was a bit disconcerting--but it wasn't as if he wasn't used to stranger things happening. Food and drink were obvious, and presumably safe enough.

So far, he had also seen no signs of a Lamp...

Re: Ambellina Intro:

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial was trying to not stare. Or at least not be rude in his staring. He'd seen far, far stranger than a tall woman with blue-skin. That didn't mean it was 'usual' for him though, and it was as much with wonder that he looked as he had at the ship and waystation.

Still, he had been raised with decent manners. And as much as he'd forgotten much of his old life, he remembered enough to know staring was rude. So he made his way over, with a softly accented "Pardon me," and a half-bow of greeting.

Re: Nathanial Intro

[dulcet_cellist]

Finally!

Sebastian was starting to think no one else would show up -- which was stupid given that they were all suppose to be here willingly -- but despite his curiosity of the new and admittingly cool environment he had done exactly what he'd been told to do and arrived as soon as he figured out where to go.

So if he appeared a little relived and eager to not be standing around awkwardly alone he was trying not to let it show. Too much.

Re: Nathanial Intro

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial was perceptive. Indeed he had to become so, in his line of work. Some might argue he 'saw' too much now, even. Grant us eyes, and all that. So it was rather impossible not to notice the relief that the other man showed.

Well, best to start with an introduction right? Nathanial was at least wearing the uniform (he hoped he was wearing it properly), and even had the little name thing that somehow stuck to his clothing. (Hello, my name is Nathanial). So approaching the other, he stopped a few paces away and gave a half-bow, left hand brought up partly over his chest. "Hello, I am Nathanial Brownhill, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Re: Nathanial Intro

[dulcet_cellist]

Whatever Sebastian had been expecting this was not it. Half-bow, hand over chest, so very polite and proper. Handsome, too. He swallowed that thought immeiately and lightly cleared his throat.

"Sebastian." Don't sound like an idiot. "Sebastian Cart--Anderson. Supplies." Full name seemed like a bit too much when meeting someone new. He could almost hear Jack laughing over his hesitation.

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial's expression was neutrally pleasant. Not a smile really, but polite. "As I said, a pleasure Sebastian." Supplies hmm? Presumably that meant the other was in an actual named role for this endeavor.

"You're in charge of Supplies?" He wanted to confirm. "Perhaps then, all of this is far more familiar to you than it is to me?"

Ginko Biloba intro

[tree_of_light]

Ginko stepped through the doors, ears and tail flicking a little as he glanced down at his new wristband again. This seemed to be where he was meant to meet everyone... and there were the snacks. Perfect.

He made an immediate beeline for the table, intent on getting some food before anyone stopped him. He could talk to people while he ate.

The badge that appeared on his broad ships-uniform clad shoulder went mostly ignored. Creation magic was nothing new, though it did seem a bit odd it would be used for something so small.

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial was alert, though it was subtle to tell. He was a Hunter---had been brought here as a Hunter. But he was also given to understand that their first mission was quite literally to get to know each other and be a 'crew'. Which meant it was very unlikely the beastly-looking being that just entered was a 'Beast' he was to hunt.

Still, pale-golden-brown eyes stared for a few seconds, before Nathanial made his way over cautiously. Not afraid, just alert. The presence of a similar name badge to his own ("Hello, my name is Nathanial") confirmed his suspicions that this was meant to be another crew-member. That they were to work together...

[dulcet_cellist]

"Familiar?" Oh no. "Um...not really? But I'm good with-with certain things so it seemed like a job I could handle. To be useful."

For a moment all he could do was stare, a little lost in the color of Mr. Brownhill's eyes. Blinking and glancing away, Sebastian found his slightly polite smile and reminded himself he wasn't the same person he'd been in high school.

"I'm sorry. Um...What can I do to help? I..may be new here, but it isn't completely unfamiliar."

[hunter_marked_soul]

There was something odd about his eyes--certainly you didn't see a pale golden brown often in a red-head. But it wasn't something so easily accounted for as that. Just...something off.

"From what I gather, all of this is far more advanced than what I might be used to. 'Tis like a novel or two I recall snippets of, by one Jules Verne. About a highly advanced vehicle that could travel beneath the oceans, or about a trip to the moon." So all of this was clearly futuristic to Nathanial--that was the problem.

[tree_of_light]

While Nathaniel stared, Ginko filled a modest plate with a wide variety of foods, mostly picking things he didn't recognize. He was just examining something that most closely resembled a tiny green tree when he felt the presence of someone approaching him.

He looked away from the item with a faint smile, gaze focusing on the brown-haired Hyur. "Hello." His voice was quiet, the tone deep with a slight British accent. "I'm given to understand this is the time to meet my fellow crew mates. Am I correct in assuming you are one?"

[hunter_marked_soul]

"That was my understanding as well." Likewise, Nathanial's voice was faintly accented, and a light tenor. "I am glad to have it confirmed, as while I mean no offense in this statement--you resemble one afflicted with the scourge of the Beast where I am from. And they are not allies or friends." But Nathanial's tone meant he was confirming this one wasn't one of those.

Still cautious--alert, but not hostile. "My name is Nathanial. All of this is quite new to me."

Re: Ice Breaker! WHODUNIT!

[sowgoodseed]

"I once plowed a fallow field for three hours to make a child new to our village smile."

The paper his entry is on is huge as each letter he wrote was written by two of his feet, though whoever read it would see it however they read their information to get here.

[hunter_marked_soul]

Nathanial's entry shows reasonably clear, if slightly formal penmanship. "I have dreamed the same dream every night for I've forgotten how long." It fits on a normal card.

Goodseed introRe: Main VR Holodeck

[sowgoodseed]

Goodseed was no longer the hatchling he'd once been. He was now quite good at following directions. The device was very odd to him, like a small scroll on his arm that moved at will! And changed! He wanted to find someone to ask them how this was possible, how did it work? Were there tiny dinosaurs inside rolling the paper? How was he supposed to feed them? Thank them? He had so many questions.

Thanks to his cousin, and his time in Waterfall city, he had spoken with Dolphinbacks and their kids and grandkids before. So he thought he had some vague idea of what it might be like, outside the nest. This was nothing like he could have imagined.

The clothing was... a little drab, but he could work with it. Maybe they could all add some red and gold. That would be quite charming. But he was asked if he wanted to come and help in exchange for a wish. The truth was he didn't need the wish. He was Dinotopian through ad through. Someone needed help, so he offered help. Still if he did have a wish at that moment, it would have been that Breathedeep were here too, so he wouldn't be confused alone. This place was so small and cramped in. He was hoping to find a door to the outside soon so he could get some fresh air...

But first he had to report to this area. Whatever it was. And meet the others who had agreed to roll out of their own nests to help. He found a wall, away from the entrance, where he could be as out of the way as possible and settled in to see who wished to approach him. As he waited he began singing softly under his breath. Singing always helped with nervousness, after all.

[tree_of_light]

Ginko frowned a little, more thoughtful than upset. "It bodes ill to hear of such a thing--but I assure you I am not any type of beast, nor are any of my people. When such corruption of the soul happened on my star, the people so afflicted became much more monstrous than myself."

It was still upsetting he couldn't save them, but that was part of why he joined this group. Getting his mind off his recent troubles.

Shaking off the somber mood a little, he nodded. "I may have been aboard a ship in the past, but I was a mere passenger and we travelled but a short distance. I am hopeful this journey will have a more peaceful conclusion, as well."

Re: Ice Breaker! The Marshmallow challenge

[sowgoodseed]

"I have to wonder," he said to himself looking over the challenge rules, "How they are defining freestanding..." He expected that meant if they let go it would stay upright but... did the base have to be the floor? If not, did the height get measured from the floor or from the base? It was a head-scratcher, alright.

Re: Ice Breaker! Scavenger Hunt!

[sowgoodseed]

He wanted to participate in this one, but... wasn't certain how. "I'm sorry, but can someone explain to me how this game is played?"

[hunter_marked_soul]

"Oh some of them became far more monstrous than simply the ones you resemble." Nathanial added, bowing his head a little, and raising his left hand slightly over his chest. "Again, I mean no offense. I'm...rather glad to hear you're not 'corrupted--that is a good way to put it."

Once his head raises again, those pale-golden-brown-eyes are sharp, and slightly odd. "Though there is the possibility you're lying, but I doubt it. Again, we're all meant to work together yes?" Nathanial was trying to lay out all the cards early, in a way.

"I've been on ships that sail upon the ocean, but all of this--even the clothing--" One hand swept out to encompass 'all of this'. "--is not what I am used to. 'Tis like something from a book or two I remember reading."