And with the sweat of your brow...

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know that if the multiverse is real, there could be an almost infinite square mileage of completely unexplored ocean out there?

No reason.

...

You wake in one of 25 rooms with a sense of unease that doesn't quite track with how nice the accommodations are. Maybe it has something to do with the giant window leading out to the sea. The temperature is low, which might make you wish you had woken up under the luxurious covers instead of atop them. The lights, too, are low. But next to your bed is a small personal radio, and it's playing a song for you. There's also a small note printed on folded cardstock next to it.

Dear Prospective Citizen,

Welcome to the Helios Suites at New Rapture. The time should currently be 12:00 PM. Please take a moment to get your bearings and become acquainted with your new environment, then meet in the hotel lobby at 1:30 PM sharp for an orientation with Mayor Fontaine.

With only that for guidance, there's only the one thing to do: get out there and start exploring... well, it's hardly a full city, but it's something! And in the halls (or on the wall of your suite or the lobby), you very well may find up to 24 other captives.

What you do until your meeting with Mayor Fontaine, well... that's up to you. Every room certainly gives you something to talk about.

Comments

lobby

[asymptotes]

Wish I could tell ya.

[ He sighs. ]

I know I'm definitely not supposed to be here, but there's no one I've been able to flag down yet.

[ That's a thing normal 40-something men do, right? Flag down service workers and grill them for information? ]

[sastruga]

Really? [Then, it's not just a one-off mistake.] That isn't very professional, is it? Perhaps there's a security guard somewhere...

[She probably shouldn't be quite so calm about this. But panicking seems like a waste of time...]

[asymptotes]

[ She's being pretty calm about this. Respectable. ]

You can say that again. Let me know if you see one, I'd love to give them a piece of my mind.

[sastruga]

Mhm, I'll make sure to do that. I'm sure people will have a lot to say to them.

[It isn't quite menacing or anything, but despite her smile, it doesn't feel like an entirely kind thing to say.]

It's a bit of a relief I'm not alone in this... I was afraid I was the only one out of the loop here.

[asymptotes]

[ Oh, he can respect that level of communication. ]

Nah, seems like we're all in the same boat. Or- underwater city, I guess.

[sastruga]

The same submarine, perhaps.

[She's doing it, she's joking, she's nailing this. Though, ah...]

So we really are underwater, then? I thought it was just some really convincing staging.

If we're underwater... we really could be absolutely anywhere.

[asymptotes]

[ We're all being so regular here. ]

Looks like it. Haven't been outside yet, but... either we are or we might as well be, if someone has the resources to fake this.

[sastruga]

It does seem very elaborate. If they took this many people and put them all here... Just what sort of person could do that?

[This... Mayor Fontaine. Just what sort of man could that be?]

It's like something out of a movie.

[asymptotes]

No idea. Hopefully it's at least someone with a plan they're willing to share. And who's ready for an earful.

[sastruga]

This "Mayor" does have a lot to answer for. Aha... Well, that is the life of a government official, isn't it?

[we didn't vote for the guy!!!]

[asymptotes]

They do sign up to be yelled at.

[ And crush resistance, sometimes, when they're the Lord of Earth. ]

So they better not complain about it.

[sastruga]

Let's not get too hostile, though. We do want to get out of here, after all, and if someone can bring us all here...

[...It would be easy to get rid of them all, too.]

I'd rather things didn't escalate any further.