MISSION: ZETA-12

[futurologists]

MISSION: ZETA-12 All characters, old or new, will receive a form of this dossier to their devices today. Thus, consider all information hereon as ICly available to all characters. Arrival is set for July 1st. ZETA-12 BRIEFING Zeta-12 is a dwarf planet that hasn't known sentient life for thousands of years. It is entirely uncivilized and the terrain shows it; it's difficult to navigate and has plenty of pretty, seemingly innocent plants around... that could kill you. It is beautiful, however, if you manage to find your way past obstacles. Recently, Zeta-12 was hit by an asteroid carrying a strange new species. Soft, almost translucent eggs that hatch into creatures that don't seem entirely solid. As it was a previously undiscovered species, someone at ALASTAIR decided to affectionately name them "squidges". That someone isn't allowed to name things anymore. There appear to be no adult survivors from the crash, and the baby squidges are unable to fend for themselves. After some research, ALASTAIR has hypothesized that they undergo several evolutions before reaching their final maturation, which will require a special spring. They've pinpointed the Wellspring on the other side of the planet. The only thing you have to do is get the squidges there and keep them out of trouble. ZETA-12 OVERVIEW Unlike previous missions, the team will be exploring a large expanse of land rather than staying in a centralized location. Though they will be dropped in the icy tundra of Zeta-12 to retrieve the squidges, they will be making a trip to the other side of the planet. As squidges are deathly afraid of flying, teleporting, or moving at any speed that is unnatural, they will scream nonstop if one attempts to move them in any other way than an on-foot journey. Some squidges may warm up to other modes of travel, but don't count on it. The focus of this mission will be exploration and animal caretaking. Each team member will be assigned a squidge to take care of from infancy to maturation as they travel across the world to the Wellspring. It's not as easy as it seems — actions taken can and will affect your squidge as it grows up, and not all squidges will successfully reach maturation. The success of this mission depends on caretaking abilities. Squidges will quickly imprint on their caregiver, and for that reason, they will need to spend a significant amount of time with that person. Don't hire a "squidgesitter" too often, and be careful not to scar your squidge for life.     Recruits' basic needs of food, hygiene, and shelter will be provided for. Instead of money, they will have generic supplies. While the team members will receive basic rations, it is only enough to feed one person, with nothing extra to spare. You'll have to scavenge for food the squidges can eat on Zeta-12. Although ALASTAIR's researchers have discovered their basic fundamental needs, not much is known about these creatures. In infancy, they're about 1½ feet tall and average a weight of 7 pounds. However, they're projected to grow to about 3 feet once they've reached maturation. Infant squidges sleep for about 15 hours a day. Like human babies, their sleep is rather irregular. As they grow older, they need about the same amount of sleep as an adult human. However, they are crepuscular rather than diurnal, so they're most active at dusk and dawn. They require about 4 small meals a day, and seem able to digest everything a human can. They are docile, if a little nervous. Most new experiences will give them at least a small amount of anxiety, and any stressful situations will have them screaming or crying if they aren't comforted. They rely heavily on their caretakers and get separation anxiety if they're away from them for too long. They're also able to form close bonds with fellow squidges, and will become distressed if they don't see their friend frequently. Although it's rarer -- most squidges are either indifferent or feel positively towards others -- squidges can also dislike each other if their temperaments are too different. For the most part, think of them like a dog or a cat -- they're fairly friendly animals, but they have their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. Each squidge is different, and how they're treated impacts their personalities greatly. Congrats on becoming a parent! It's a big responsibility, but ALASTAIR believes in you.

Comments

[dishearten]

NAME OF FLORA: Happygrass
APPEARANCE: A very light, lemon yellow. Blades tend to be short because they are eaten by animals in the wild, but a few rare patches are about four feet high!
ENVIRONMENT: Grasslands
HAZARD-LEVEL: not hazardous
PROPERTIES: A sweet, tasty grass reminiscent of Chamomile, that triggers a sense of calm and happiness thirty minutes after ingestion. Works very well on frightened Sqidges.
RARITY: Moderately Rare

NAME OF FLORA: Magical Poppy
APPEARANCE: Looks similar to poppies of earth, though they're larger. Mostly they are red with brown-red centers, but there are a few purple and yellow ones out there.
ENVIRONMENT: Forest
HAZARD-LEVEL: Medium to High
PROPERTIES: Being too close to these plants make characters drowsy. If they lay down near them chances are the character will fall asleep. Magical poppyseeds can be ground to make an intense knock-out powder. That said it is dangerous to give to Squidges, it is too powerful for them to ingest in such a concentrated form.
RARITY: Fairly uncommon but when you find one, you tend to find a bunch!