COMMENCE EXPERIMENT

[bathymetric]

Fun fact: Did you know that the Pacific Ocean has a surface area of 62.46 million miles? That's not even accounting for depth.

You awaken to a sharp jolt, like you've just hit the drop on a roller coaster. Then it passes, and you're in a bed, suddenly very clearly awake. Is that right? Were you asleep? Your memory is a little fuzzy as you come down off the adrenaline, but it puts itself into place soon enough. This is not, as one might say, your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she sure isn't here.

The positioning of the bed inside your new room gives you a very clear indication of where you are - or at least, where the building is. Above you is a decent-sized window looking out on... well, the ocean. But not in a fun beachside resort way, to say the least. Fish swim by pretty frequently, here to keep you company - but they cannot hear your screams, and do not seem particularly bothered if you tap on the glass unless they're right by it. It's thick, man.

On the bedside table, you'll find two things: a key card with a number between 1 and 25 on it (no points for guessing which one is on whose, unfortunately), and a small handheld device, a little like a smartphone but mostly like a blackberry? Remember those? Anyway, accessing it will reveal only a scarce few functions: a list of profiles, a map of the building, and a very ominous set of rules. You might try to ignore that last one! Unfortunately, you'll find them in a frame by your door. And in a frame somewhere in every room of the place, if you go out exploring at all. The tablet also has a message for you when you open it:

Greetings. Please take an hour to become accustomed to the facilities, then proceed to the meeting room north of your dormitories. Attendance is mandatory. - The Professor

But hey, it... it also lets you play Snake! Who doesn't love Snake, huh?

Anyway, head out into the halls! Make some new friends - or maybe enemies, wouldn't that be exciting? Look around a little! Just make sure to be back for whatever this meeting is - after all, you want a chance to face off with your captor, right?

Comments

room 18

[philoxenia]

[ The attire definitely strikes her as odd, but she's wearing a lovely blood-patterned outfit, so she really can't judge. Still, there's something a little intimidating about the woman... or maybe she's just shaken up still. She isn't sure. ]

Um. Not a whole lot, unfortunately... I can say there are quite a lot of others here, though.

[shieldsister]

[Blood-patterned is absolutely not a problem, it means you totally killed your enemy and that's absolutely fine in a murdergame!!]

So it seems. If all of these rooms are occupied, then there are a lot of us.

[Which is... definitely kind of weird. Huh.]

[philoxenia]

I would have thought maybe a handful of us, but...

[ Unsettling! ]

I'd guess none of us know what's going on here, either.

[shieldsister]

So it seems. You don't have any memory of entering this place, do you?

[philoxenia]

I... don't, no. Do you?

[shieldsister]

No. The last thing I remember is returning home after a mission with the Harbinger. We were nowhere near the ocean.

[philoxenia]

[ A mission with the Harbinger... okay, that sounds pretty badass. ]

I was-- home as well, and it was a normal day. [ Only part of that is bullshit! ] And I was nowhere near the ocean, myself.

[shieldsister]

[Hmm...]

Given the state of this building, it seems likely that magic is involved. It could explain how we were pulled here and how this building remains underwater with no leaks.

[philoxenia]

[ ... huh. ]

You think it's magic?

[shieldsister]

What else could it be?

[technology??? no, of course not.]

[philoxenia]

Very advanced technology, but... I don't know much about magic, admittedly.

[ That's sort of bullshit!! But like she's gonna admit that. ]

[shieldsister]

[this entire game is just going to be aela wishing everything was magic instead of technology, calling it now]

We don't have technology so... advanced. I'm hardly an expert on magic, however, so the best I can do is speculate. I prefer physical weapons.

[philoxenia]

I don't know much about technology, either... my-- brother was the inventor. Whatever it is, though... I hope it remains as durable as it seems.

[ sure hope we don't have a terrible accident and everything floods and crumples from the pressure!!! ]

[shieldsister]

[can't wait until we bad end the game because someone did something stupid and breaks the facility!!]

That is my hope as well.

Did your brother create things like this?

[She's noticed the past tense there, so she'll stick with it unless corrected.]

[philoxenia]

[ psa: do not smash!! ]

Nothing quite on this scale... but I think he could have, given the resources and time. He had an incredible talent for creating things.

[shieldsister]

I see.

[She's quiet for a moment, considering.]

What is your name? Tell me more about yourself.

[It's blunt, but not a demand.]

[philoxenia]

Oh-- I'm Mira.

[ It might be sort of obvious she just has absolutely no idea where to start. ]

I'm... from Earth, I suppose, is the best place to start... considering we all seem to come from very different places.

[shieldsister]

[She nods at that.]

Does the place you come from have technology similar to what we've found here?

[That seems to be the case, given what she said about her brother.]

[philoxenia]

Yes, actually. Though, it's a little more advanced. I haven't seen a phone like this in some time. If you have questions, though... I'm more than happy to answer.

[shieldsister]

I'm certain I'll have plenty of questions in the future.

[aela vs technology.........]

Ah, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Aela the Huntress.

[philoxenia]

Then you're free to come to me with them.

[ She nods, giving her the smallest smile. ]

It's nice to meet you, Aela. You're a huntress? What is that like?

[ ..... let's not talk about her anymore!! ]

[shieldsister]

It is exactly what it sounds like. I've hunted many of the creatures that make Skyrim their home and have always emerged victorious. I am a member of the Companions - a group of warriors who have banded together to hunt and fight, and with enough coin, we will assist those in Skyrim who request our services. My shield-brothers are all accomplished fighters in their own right.

[She sounds quite proud of all of that!!]

[philoxenia]

That sounds incredible.

[ She has no idea what Skyrim is like, and she isn't familiar with the term "shield-brothers," but she can infer!! So she's absolutely impressed. ]

You've been a part of the Companions your whole life, then?

[shieldsister]

Not quite. I was only ready to join after my Trial. I feel as though I have always been a part of the Companions, at least in spirit; all of the women in my family have been members.

[philoxenia]

All of your family... They must be very proud of you. What was your Trial like?