SET SAIL: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

[returnjourney]

SET SAIL: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

January 1, 2022 – January 7, 2022
Welcome to the new year and the Return Journey's opening event! We're starting with something light to get everyone acclimated and so no one feels they've missed too much if they app after the holiday season. We'd like to make it easy for any new players to jump in right away.

If you have any questions about the event, please ask here.

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The Helpdesk

1. What? My name is who? My name is—

Salutations! Now that everyone's respective warden and inmate orientations are out of the way, you've been given a helpful, mandatory name tag. It instantly appears on your shirt and can't be taken off, though where it appears on your shirt is a bit more unpredictable; it's an imperfect science, so it's just as likely to pop up on the back of your shirt as the front. If you try to remove your clothes, the tag appears on your skin; they're waterproof, so a quick shower won't get rid of it, either. What can we say — it's mandatory.

While the tags all follow the standard "HELLO my name is" format and have your name or most common alias, they also include some other information. For wardens, it features a space that declares "I LIKE" and one or two of your most choices hobbies. For inmates, it features these hobbies and "I have killed [x] people" (this may be a specific number or something akin to "a lot of" or "no"). Fun icebreaker, right?

2. Twenty Questions

Speaking of icebreakers, a brief announcement summons everyone to the observatory. Again, yes, it's mandatory; wardens must retrieve absent inmates before any more information is revealed. Better hop to it!

Upon arrival, passengers will discover that the Peregrine's resident bot force has reconfigured the observatory with small, portable cubicles, each with a transparent wall that retains a lovely view of the observatory's massive window. Each inmate is assigned their own cubicle and, upon entering, cannot leave without a warden's say so; the door only unlocks with a warden's CommLink.

Wardens are tasked with interviewing at least one inmate, to get a feel for their prospective charges. They can have as much time as they need to formulate what questions they want to ask, but that might leave some inmates waiting. Maybe that's on purpose, though. In any case, the exercise is over once an inmate is asked five questions and a warden receives five answers.

Archimedes will collect name tags after the interviews for incineration. The robotic owl is, notably, the only one who can remove them.

3. Polite Picnic

The greenhouse doesn't always have enough fresh produce to go around (and often what is collected is frozen and preserved), but given the circumstances — a new mission and new passengers — everyone can reap the rewards this month...if they share. A bot stationed in the mess hall mechanically tells anyone who crosses into range (whether they mean to visit the produce table or not) that they aren't to take more than three fruits and/or vegetables. If you choose not to abide by the rules...well, that depends if you're caught and by who.

The produce available are as follows:

Adalfane: Tastes like cocaine, but very nutritious, especially when eaten raw.
Tuadath: Smells awful, but very hearty when cooked, tasting a little like steak.
Tsanyi: Pure, sugary sweetness. Can be made into a refreshing drink, eaten raw, or sprinkled over a desert.

There are notably fewer tsanyi than adalfane or tuadath. But if everyone's nice and cooperates, each person can get exactly one.

Comments

ARCHIMEDES | THE HELPDESK

[returnjourney]

[While Archimedes can usually be found on his stand in the Resource Library, today he has set up in the Observatory for the arrival of the first passengers. He is a sizable robotic owl with white titanium panels, gold inlays, and small blue lights. Today he is alert and animated, awaiting questions.

Actually, he might not even wait. He says to anyone who gets within three feet of him:]

Welcome aboard the Peregrine! I am Archimedes, the Peregrine's Helpdesk. I am tasked with arranging materials and resources for passengers. What can I help you with today?

[counterstep]

Hey. Hi. ( man, how do you greet a robot owl correctly? ) Anywhere I can cook something around here? Or just. If not that, where I can maybe build a fire to cook with?

[returnjourney]

[There's a soft whir as Archimedes recalculates a reply:]

Salutations!

[A greeting gets a greeting. He carries on, with a small amount of alarm:]

Fire is expressly forbidden aboard the Peregrine, as fire causes casualties during space travel.

[A whir as he flips to the other keyword:]

Passengers interested in cooking can view cooking simulations in the S.I.R.E., or view cooking tutorials in the Resource Library.

[In short: no.]

[counterstep]

( damn. really? it just has to be all that replicator stuff? what's the point of having a greenhouse, then? )

What about accidental fires?

[returnjourney]

While the Peregrine is fitted with state of the art fire suppression systems, it is strongly advised that fire is avoided in the first place by practicing fire prevention.

[counterstep]

Oh, no, I wouldn't dare think of it. ( well, okay, technically he did, but — ) Since it came up, I was just wondering.

Since there isn't a way to cook, would it be possible to install cooking appliances? Pending resources, that is. Locked to Wardens too, I mean. I don't imagine it'd be smart letting inmates have access to it.

[returnjourney]

Installations of new facilities are handled directly by the Navarch. Messages can be submitted to her inbox. [A series of soft whirrs.] Would you like me to pull up her inbox on your communicator?

[kaijuice]

[ Three feet away,

Silco jumps in a totally normal and not at all startled manner. Probably it was just how he meant to walk by this particular stretch. Hopping is very stylish these days.

He eyes the owl for a long moment before sidling closer. Reaches out a hand,

Poke. ]

[returnjourney]

[The owl is blind to being reached for, reacting only after connection has been made —— his head spins so his eyes can lock on Silco. No other resistance.]

Salutations! What can I help you with today?

[kaijuice]

Who's responsible for your upkeep?

[ He reaches back out, pushing harder; gauging weight. Can he tip this owl over? Could one, say, pick up this owl. For legitimate purposes. ]

inb4 owl tipping becomes an inmate sport

[counterstep]

[returnjourney]

I am certified to be reliably operational for an average of 55 years. Should I come to any unexpected damage, sufficiently trained wardens are permitted to do minor repairs.

[Archimedes adjusts his weight to the further leg, accommodating the push until it becomes too much and he needs to spread a wing to compensate his balance. But if it continues––]

i definitely lost this notice sorry mr owl

[kaijuice]

[ Fascinating. Someone who understood shit about mechanics could undoubtedly make more of this.

He opts, instead, to shove. ]

Thank you.

archimedes is forgiving

[returnjourney]

You are most

[Archimedes being cut off sounds like an audio clip being paused. All systems diverted to staying upright, but it's too late. No amount of wingspan will save him from this.

He hits the ground. It sounds like dropped stockpot. He bounces the slightest bit, too.

The lights behind his eyes turn orange.]

[smugreport]

[ This ship may be missing a lot of the creature comforts Rhys had been indulging in (even those that he wasn't strictly supposed to be doing) but it does have something very different and interesting, ie: this owl robot. ]

Helloooo beautiful.

[ He'll let out a whistle as he approaches fully, reaching out to try and lift one of Archimedes wings. ]

What's a fine piece of tech like you doing on a ship like this?

[returnjourney]

[Archimedes does not put up even a token resistance, his wing lifting under Rhys’s grip as though he were a doll. His head does spin to face Rhys, however.]

Salutations! I am a top-of-the-line model 0WL–400 Helperbot. I was placed aboard the Peregrine to serve as a help desk. How can I be of assistance?

[smugreport]

[ It takes a lot to impress Rhys when it comes to stuff like robotic machinery and right now? Colour Rhys impressed. He turns on his palm-light to get a better look at the delicate touches of the wing, of how the parts are mounted and move together fluidly. He (delicately!) makes the wing do a little flap. ]

Yeah, who made you and how do I get their contact info?

[returnjourney]

[Archimedes allows this without resistance. New passengers are bound to be curious.]

My apologies. Contact information for the Admiralty is restricted information.

[smugreport]

[ Rhys pouts at that. ]

C'mon, not even the general manufacturer? What about your schematics, they open IP?

[ He has moved on to checking out the owls facial features, getting close to peer into one of its eyes and see if he can get a look at the mechanical work or camera inside. ]

[returnjourney]

My schematics and programming are proprietary. Anything resource I could direct you to would address the matter on a theoretical level.

[He opens his eyes as wide as they will go so Rhys can take a look –– indulging curiosity is harmless in 87% of test cases. Each "eye" is a domed screen with hi-resolution animation for Archimedes's pupils. Where the camera is, exactly, is hard to say.]

[omniavincit]

[ William's head tips back when he enters the room: how could it not? He drinks in the view—his reverence tinged with apprehension—but inevitably lowers his gaze to the cluster of fucking cubicles.

With a sidelong look at the owl: ] Was this your idea?

[returnjourney]

[Archimedes' head turns at a dramatic angle to look at William without turning his body.]

I assessed the population demographics of the ship and determined that incoming inmates would prefer some level of privacy, which is vital to foster moments of internal reflection.

[omniavincit]

[ William widens his eyes—a touch of reciprocal drama. He resists the urge to slowly inch around the owl, see if the head turns all the way around. Maybe later. ]

You didn't have anyone to ask. [ He translates. ]

[returnjourney]

[A single bob of his head that is supposed to be something like a nod, the bellows of his neck puffing out the slightest bit.]

Correct.

[omniavincit]

[ He lets out a breath that's not quite a laugh, shifts so he's facing the owl. ]

Have you ever met a person before? A living being.