THE AMAZING BASE.

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? Welcome home, nerds.
WHEN? Outside time and space, in the aether between dimensions.
ANYTHING ELSE? There is also a fish. Please warn in subject lines for anything beyond physical violence and move to a personal journal if things go beyond PG-13.

MYSTERY FISH;

question the mystery fish

DEPARTING GALLIPOLI

The order comes the day after the Marie Antoinette sets sail:

PACK UP AND GET READY TO MOVE OUT. WE'VE DONE ALL WE CAN HERE.

DEPLOYMENT: BASE.

WE NEED TO RESTOCK. BE PREPARED FOR MORE TRANSFERS ON ARRIVAL.

STAY SAFE. TIME-STEP EXPECTED TO BEGIN WITHIN THE HOUR.

FOR THOSE OF YOU NEW TO COST: FIND A SECLUDED SPOT AND TRY NOT TO EAT ANYTHING BEFORE THE JUMP.

The Time-Step

The transfer begins like a vibrating heat on the collar bone, just a hum of sensation.

But the vibration spreads. Veteran COST soldiers often refer to this phenomenon as "the buzz". The feeling builds, not unlike standing near a great engine or the wind-rattled branches of a massive tree. There is a long moment of motion sickness and you can't be sure if the world is shaking you from the inside out or the outside in. It may be better to close your eyes against the growing nausea, as the world blurs out of focus.

A star shines in the distance. You may hear the faint rustling of leaves. Some swear they hear voices in this moment, indistinct words echoing off nothingness. Others say they feel a touch of the divine, that the eyes of the eternal look down upon you. Ancient bones rattle just out of earshot, cold and brittle and nothing more than the suggestion of sound. Or maybe it's only an illusion, brought on by the powerful technology grafted into your skin.

One thing is for sure: One moment you are here and the next you are not.

The shift takes you from whatever solitude you could find aboard the Marie Antoinette to the temperature-regulated hallway of what looks like a very poorly put together space station. Droids rush up and down the long hallway, fixing broken bits of machinery or just chattering with each other. A few crows sit on high ledges, looking down and watching. Someone mutters something about a centaur around the corner.

And you might just notice, provided you were in Gallipoli long enough to acquire stowaways, that the parasites lurking on your skin are mercifully gone.

For new arrivals who didn't experience Gallipoli: You, too, will appear in this long hallway, filled with droids and crows and humans (still filthy and clad in ANZAC uniforms, carrying battered equipment from the first World War). And you'll be wearing the minimal COST-issued athletic underwear and holding whatever one item you were allowed to bring. Surprise!

READ THE BASE INFOPAGE.

home away from home

Those who have been to BASE before may find a strangeness to it all: BASE seems...still. The windows show a verdant world instead of the usual aether (though with the typical paranoia), and the halls are bereft of all but a few crows. A man stands at the end of the long hallway you arrived in, waiting for you to get your bearings before he speaks.

Except, you know, he's not a man. He's a centaur.

"It's been barely a week since you left, by my reckoning. But for you, I'm sure, it's been much longer. Still, much has changed. You may have noticed we are...becalmed. This is due, it seems, to an error in our ways. We kept something that does not belong to us, several wild creatures that are meant to be free. They seem to have psychically called out to their home, and their home responded; we are now somewhat stranded.

"But let me explain—the Aether is the nexus between worlds and times, but it is not a dead thing. Creatures live in it. We have crashed onto the back of one such creature, a mighty beast, as large as a small country and entirely undiscovered. We have found why the creature has intercepted us: we have accidentally taken captive some of its children. Shapers, the wild creatures I mentioned, it seems they form a symbiotic bond with the creature, and live happily within its stomach."

He frowns, considering this.

"Shapers, I should mention, are creatures that briefly infested our fair BASE. The issue was dealt with, though we kept some for experimentation. The coelacanth took issue with this, it seems. It can speak, of course; we are stranded very near its head, and if you wish to ask it a question, I implore you to do so. The creature is older than creation—older than me—and only speaks once to any creature it encounters. It's said its wisdom brings kings to their knees."

His eyes crinkle in humor.

"My name is Chiron and I am the caretaker of this place, for those of you whom I have not had the pleasure of meeting. More importantly, I am a trainer and a teacher of some experience; if you wish training or schooling of any sort, do summon me. I will be happy to assist."

He's easy to contact, often found in the library, the training area, his capsule, or elsewhere in the station, attempting to fix what he understands and arguing with crows.

"We intended to spend this time exploring, for this is a rare opportunity to discover more of an entirely uncharted world. I hasten you to see if anything on the coelacanth can be of use, but be careful. Take only what you need, not what you may want. I intend to learn my lessons well; these creatures are not pets. Takes food, water, and any materials of use to us for our survival and perseverance, but no more. We task you with this: explore the coelacanth, and see what of it can be understood. Bring us back samples, but do try to interrupt the natural habitat as little as possible. We are guests here."

He bows and the action shows a slight limp in one of his back legs.

"I would join you, but I am far too old for such activities. Still, do pepper me with any questions you should encounter. I am always available on the network, or in person, within this hulking mass we call home."

And then he leaves you to find your capsules and rest.

CAPSULE ASSIGNMENTS

Once you've found your room and settled in—perhaps taken a shower, collected clothes, and eaten—a droid will approach you with camping equipment and give you a brief explanation of how to access and use the database. It's time to get your gear and go.

Of course, you can decline. You can stay and tend to the fort, maybe try and clean up this patchwork jumble of metal and machinery. But seeing the sights on the back of a giant fish flying through non-space? Who can say no to that?


the undiscovered country.

BASE's airlocks open into a lush valley, vibrant with color and rustling with life that has thrived on the coelacanth's back for millennia. It's a striking shift from the rot and gunfire of Gallipoli, unmarked by shrapnel, bombshells, and never-fresh air.

No, the air here is clean in a way that can leave you breathless, untouched by pollutants and stirred into a gentle breeze. It's a marked departure for anyone used to a more modern Earth or rough equivalent; letting the air sit on your tongue leaves a crisp, unsullied taste behind. And the whole forest feels alive, in a way that reminds you of how small you really are.

A white crow perches in a tree near BASE's exit, too high up to properly engage but a stark contrast to the bright leaves around her. She merely watches recruits come and go with a shrewd eye, feathers fluffed against the light chill. There are other crows scattered throughout the wilderness, some easier to find than others as they flit through the trees, sit on camping equipment, or hitch rides on the hoverbikes.

Besides those brief flashes of black feathers, however, you're left unsupervised.

Try not to fuck up anything too badly.

EXPLORE:INFOPAGE|DATABASE
talk to a fish | destruction report

NAV. NETWORK LOGS OOC MEMES PLURK

Comments

no regrets

[millimeter]

[He snaps four pictures in rapid succession, before he comes closer.]

Is that really a dog? Oh man, are there dogs here?

[He takes another picture for good measure. Sorry, Prompto loves dogs.]

Hey, buddy, aww you're so cute— [He holds out a hand before he glances up at Siegfried.]

Can I...? [Pet her, he means.]

[deem]

[So sound is an issue then, huh...

9S lifts a gloved hand and pokes at the air, a holographic monitor appearing in front of him. He brushes aside different readings on atmospheric conditions and terrain with a casual sweep of his hand, before tapping out a message]

So it thinks you're a predator?

[What a peculiar creature indeed, that deer.

While he supposes he could rely on the network they're all necessarily connected to now, it's still far less intuitive than using the equipment he was built with. And so he adds something else to this message]

I should be able to stop something like that, if necessary.

are we ever going to start a thread in a way that doesn't involve food

[lonelywar]

[A shame... truly a shame.

Yakul notices her approach before Ashitaka does, and it's the way the elk grows a little tense and stamps his front hooves that causes the young man to step back and turn to face her. His expression is impassive, in response to both the sizable weapon she has slung over her shoulders and what she was saying. Towards the tail end of that, however, there's something to his otherwise-neutral mien that seems to verge on a dry, cutting humor.]

If you are trying to be funny, it is not working.

[Because seriously, Mordred, if you're going to be this way, he will absolutely throw down to get you to back off from eyeing his very good friend like a walking steak, thanks.]

[millimeter]

Ohhh, yeah, makes sense. Guess you wouldn't need one with this kind of tech... Must make it hard to take selfies, though.

[Priorities.]

Is that what the blindfold is about?

[He motions to it. He's already run into a blind man using technology embedded in a pair of sunglasses to "see", so...maybe that's what's up here? (It doesn't occur to him that 9S himself is a Scanner unit.)]

[millimeter]

oh! yeah, that's me
man how many people has he told about me, lol
you're like the 5th person whos known my name

nope

[bloodings]

There's nothing funny about hunger. Seriously, it's bad for morale.

[ She deadeyes him for a few seconds... then, finally, starts to laugh. Apparently Ashitaka's reaction is hilarious to her. ]

It's a joke, a joke. He doesn't look worth eating. [ Rude. She lowers her sword, then steps closer. ] A friend of yours?

[lonelywar]

[meanwhile, ashitaka...

After a moment:]

@BOARING: Does not saying that make you seem more suspicious, though?

[he's not even ready to ask what this person thinks he's talking about]

[deem]

Selfie?

[He echoes the word curiously, and unsurprisingly, there's not an ounce of recognition in his tone.

But it's a question he shelves, frowning as he brings a hand to his face]

Blind...you mean my goggles?

[Yes, that's right. Goggles]

[lonelywar]

[Ashitaka had grown tired. The constant caustic nature of mankind, something that would weather and wear until a spark was struck and the flames of war were once more rekindled. A boundless cycle in which nothing seemed to rise from the ashes. Whether it was Irontown and the gods, the samurai and emperor, the nobility and the citizenry, the Australians or the Turks, COST or the Regency - more and more it seemed a pattern of conflict cast from a similar mold. He tries not to think of her very often, but now more than ever he understands San's views of man, why she felt so strongly about living far from their influence. He's starting to feel the same way.

For just a moment, he wonders what she would think of this place. Then he banishes thoughts of her altogether.

Even if Ashitaka rescinds his words, he still thinks they ring true for how he feels in this moment. It's so much easier to go day by day here, without the constant pain from his arm, without the sounds of screams and gunfire and explosions. Instead they can listen to the fire die down, the wind rustling through the foliage, the distant cries of alien creatures - including the snuffling snores of a few screamers that had started to nest a little close to his camp.

And the sound of an approach, though Chiron need not worry; there was no way for him to intrude when Ashitaka would welcome him regardless. He looks toward him a little sharply, startled, but quickly settled once he recognized him. Recognized him and... well, the fact that he seems to have regained the use of his centaur form. What better place to have it than here?]

Chiron, [he says in greeting, a small smile on his face.] You may join us, if you wish.

[The other party of "us" being Yakul, having been roused from his rest by the noise. The elk's head is lifted now, his two dark eyes seeming oddly quizzical as he inspects Chiron.

As for this sentiment they seem to share...] It is too bad. We will not get this opportunity, I am certain.

just like ryo to leave me with such an existential thought

[lonelywar]

[It is, to Ashitaka, a sudden panacea. Well, no, nothing so absolute - that would insinuate that wounds having been inflicted through the prolonged exposure to the depths of human cruelty in Gallipoli as well as the subtle and not-so-subtle mental manipulations at the hands of the Regency were suddenly healed. That could not be further from the truth, but these pains seemed at least a bit more distant now, replaced in the forefront of his mind with thoughts and memories of home coupled with the unbridled curiosity and thrill for adventure he had first tasted upon leaving his village. In both situations, then and now, it was not without its caveats: residual feelings of guilt and unease which clung like the threads of a spiderweb accidentally walked through. But with what they had just emerged from, hardly unscathed, it's a welcome change.

Back home he had questioned San's unwavering resolution to continue to denounce mankind, to not even consider herself among their number let alone deigning to live among them. Time had given him a slightly different opinion. She didn't have the full picture of humanity, no, but neither had he; even now he feels as though his view is not reliable, clouded over dangerously by pains and fears which he had been warned against. But out in this wilderness he finally feels that he understands her. How she had seen them, as avarice manifest, intent on destroying all they could in order to scrape ahead or make a point. Her desire to remain apart, free within the woods, walking in the land of gods. Yes. He understands that now.

The dying fire continues to crackle for a few moments after Ryo speaks. Ashitaka considers this, though eventually he casts a look over his shoulder, his expression lightly challenging.]

It is possible for humans to live harmoniously with nature. [He felt as though he had enough living proof of that. Irontown was a marked example of greed and ambition razing the land, but on the other hand was the village where he grew up, growing and raising and fishing what they needed, leaving all else in peace.

Ashitaka turns again, looking out over the view once more.]

It requires a different frame of mind.

[Peace with one's place in the world.

But perhaps the village of the Emishi was not a good example of this. With their bloodlines weakening and the slow, wasting death of their people to the sands of time looming in their future, they struggled to survive, let alone reach for more. He decides not to think on this, however; the grim fate he had left them to was still perhaps the most difficult part of his burden he had to bear.]

[lonelywar]

[...]

I suppose you are correct.

[Hunger for her has its own troubling ramifications, so in a way he understands, but... he continues to wait, some of the tension breaking from his expression and his stance when she finally laughs. Mordred... sometimes you are exhausting to this poor young man from an ancient time.

He sighs, shaking his head and once more putting a hand on Yakul's neck.] Good. [Now that his friend is here, he really doesn't want to worry about him getting eaten. That'd been enough of a concern when he'd been in the presence of the wolf clan...]

Yes. [Ashitaka looks up to the elk, smiling. There's a levity in him when regarding the elk that was rarely seen beforehand.] He has been my companion for many years. His name is Yakul.

[The big, dark eyes of the elk blink as Mordred approaches. He looks to Ashitaka for a moment, questioning, and after a nod from the young man the elk takes a few cautious steps towards her. He leans over her, nose making an audible snuffling sound as he sniffs the top of her head.

Ashitaka remains where he stands, watching and smiling.]

[bloodings]

[ She's from an even more ancient time, okay... but she's also weird and annoying, which Ashitaka isn't. Her face scrunches up when Yakul starts to sniff around her head, but she makes no real attempt to pull away, or do much at all beyond (gently) poke the elk's chest with her finger. ]

Hey. Don't eat my hair, you weird-ass deer. [ Britain didn't have elks in her time, don't judge her. Sighing, she looks over at Ashitaka. ] No wonder yours is so short.

study time

[heilt]

Chiron isn't the only one studying the plan, and his query about the medicinal properties of plants has grabbed Angela's attention from the plant that she had been examining.

"If we could get teams together to collect samples we could analyse them later."

[bloodings]

i'm a spirit. i can avoid things like smells easily.

still, it would be annoying to deal with. you should get someone to clean it up. try asking @WEHFRIED

arrival

[heilt]

( the amount of relief that angela feels when she sees him is bigger than she'd realised. she'd been concerned for him, and then genji and lena after he'd let her know about their presence, and even though they'd messaged, and angela knew that he was more than capable, she couldn't rest easy until he was back.

he's easy to find and angela is quick to go over to him, hand resting on his face, quick assessment of his condition, before she hugs him.

and doesn't let go )

I'm glad that you're back.

( and in what, for those five seconds she'd checked him over, seemed to be relatively one piece. she'd give him a full assessment later, mixed with conversations of their respective days no doubt, but for now she's content just knowing he's back )

magic

[heilt]

( it was coincidence that angela finds him, exploring some of the wildlife closer to base to begin with. it's as his right hand is aflame that she sees him, at first concerned (and he may hear a gasp of surprise) before she watches, realising that somehow he's not in danger but is actually controlling the fire.

angela keeps watching, stepping a little closer once the word has been spelled out )

How did you do that?

[inconstantly]

I'm John Constantine, son of a bitch. [John smiles widely and reaches for Thor's hand, giving it a firm shake. So that was it, then. The actual Thor of Norse mythology. He has to repeat the phrase in his head to fully wrap his head around it, but after meeting so many varied people here on BASE, why not?

When they part, he returns his attention to the hammer.] Discerning, eh? [Sounds like a challenge. John's not the strongest person in the world, nor is he worthy of much other than a punch to the face, but that won't stop him from trying. He returns both hands to the handle and lifts. Or. Attempts to lift. It doesn't budge.] Is it enchanted or something?

birdbrain

[heilt]

Maybe offer it some food, something to distract it.

( angela hadn't tried to befriend any of the creatures that she'd come across, tho she'd given a few of them some berries that she'd found, instead focusing more on studying the plants than what wildlife had been around her as she'd explored the area.

it is, if unfortunate, a little bit of an amusing sight, though angela assumes that this woman can't mind too much or she wouldn't let the bird keep sitting on her shoulder )

[horsepowered]

They don't strike me as the type whose boundaries one ought to be testing.

[Chiron stays perfectly still, even as Vex shifts. It's hard to not notice the feather, it seems impossibly beautiful, impossibly blue. Men would spend thousands in Chiron's day for pigment to try and recreate such a sight.]

Shame, I was hoping for a short cut.

[horsepowered]

"It would be useful," Chiron agrees, picking his head up and turning it so he can face Angela properly. He's seen her around before, but interaction has been little.

"I'm afraid that some might just chuck things in their bags, only to return with crush or crumpled samples though."

network | @BRUNNHILDE

[heilt]

Where are they?

( not that angela did it but she's a good soul )

[heilt]

"Not if we instruct them in the collection first, and ensure that they have adequate collection materials."

Sure there would still be some lost causes but at least they could have more hope for the rest of it.

[excelsus]

I'm more than happy to provide a service, you look as though you're being tortured. Slowly.

[A nod to the arms folded across Henry's chest. When you have to lock your hands in place to stop them from compulsively touching your wannabe beard, then it's a problem. Dorian completely understands it and sympathizes of course.]

Ah, when I first arrived here it was during the French Revolution, the city itself was a shithole, but there was one rose in a garden of weeds. This grooming kit, untouched...I suppose stealing is immoral, but desperate times called for desperate measures and there were worse things happening. Arguably.

[And one little grooming kit wouldn't go amiss in history, now would it?]

[heilt]

Angela.

( she offers him a smile before placing a hand on his arm, a gentle shake of her head )

Try not to move. ( she turns only briefly to pick up the scissors, moving the fabric away from his arm ) Small as it may be you came to me for help. It is no fuss, and I'd rather that this was seen to properly.

( she's also pretty stubborn about her patients. don't ask jack )

You'll be glad when it's fully healed.

[excelsus]

He's been nudging me to ride him as well, but too much time spent on the back of mounts and I only end up complaining about saddle sores. You make a fair point though.

[After all, Hart's were domesticated mounts, but Dorian knew the consequences of continual riding.]

Hm...perhaps if they are all singular in existence my dear hart here will only suffer from a singular upset if these plants turn out to be inedible. So far he's not experiencing any ill effects. [The Hart was like a small child in play at the moment taking a time out to drink before continuing to exercise the right to splash around while making various bellowing, snorting, and grunting sounds. At particularly excitable moments he'll leap and make a high pitched noise that sounds unlike any noise Dorian has ever heard, but at least he's happy.]

I'm glad for you, I cannot imagine that it was easy for you to exist in a state not completely natural to you...well maybe I can. This guy was one of the gifts I found waiting for me when I got back...I've never cared for another living being before so I'm completely unsure of what I'm going to do.