eyemindooc | OPENING EVENT: LIME, COCONUT, EXPLOSIONS

Hello, passengers! Welcome aboard - we’re so happy to see you’ve joined us for a fun-filled voyage of multiversal hijinks. We’ll get started with a big bang of an event - read on for details!

So! You didn’t expect to wake up in space, on a living spaceship, did you? Well, friend, it just be like that sometimes. Best to roll with the punches.

Speaking of punches! Your introduction to the Navigator will begin on Sept. 12. All new passengers will awake to loud crashing noises, tremors shaking the entire ship, blaring alarms - you know, all the usual signs of a ship under attack.

See, the Navigators are basically test-tube babies, created by a race of space fascists called Zerentians to serve as slave labor. Think of the Zerentians like you would the Empire from Star Wars, just heavier on the genetic science side of fascism. A few years back, the Navigators staged an uprising and escaped, and ever since, the Zerentians have been on the hunt to recapture what they view as their property. The Navigators, as you can imagine, are not keen to be captured and “reprogrammed” (i.e., basically lobotomized), and have been on the run since. They’ve learned a little bit about fighting back, but as they were created to be docile ship-creatures, it’s not in their nature, so progress has been slow.

Navi had a pair of humans stick around from their last big standoff with the Zerentians and has learned a bit about standing their ground … air? … space? when it comes to their Creators. However, Navigators are only equipped with one emergency warp-jump measure as a defense, so they’ve still got a lot of work to do when it comes to fighting back. Navi at least has learned not to panic when the Zerentians rear their fascist heads.

So that’s where y’all will enter - in maximum chaos, as Navi is under attack from the Zerentians. Navi will ask for help from their newly-arrived passengers in the form of extra energy via the psychic link in order to outmaneuver the Zerentians and safely crash-land onto a nearby planet. Welcome to the space jam?

The planet Tetagari is mainly a water planet, with a few small continents and many chains of smaller tropical islands. Naturally, transport between islands and continents is oceanic in nature. Yes, pirates are a thing. More on that in a minute.

Navi will land on Alkonost, a small island with an eponymous beachfront village. The rest of the island is covered in tropical rainforest, dry forest, and grasslands, most of which is still wild, as the Alkonost population is centered at the beach. There are, however, ancient ruins a bit more inland. The Alkonost natives steer clear, as they are now home to a horde of nasty beasts, but hey, maybe that will make for a fun hiking excursion while you’re waiting for Navi to self-repair! It’s gonna take a while, so you may as well get comfy. Feel free to treat this time like a relaxing, well-earned vacation. Grab some sun on the beach, dance and sing around bonfires at night, get to know your fellow passengers, or just chill on the ship and get to know Navi. If you’re the sort who doesn’t know how to relax, keep reading for more activity ideas!

The main exports of Alkonost are various types of fish, shell jewelry, and a unique, dark red pearl that is only cultivated in the waters surrounding the island. These red pearls are highly prized on other islands and provide the bulk of income for the Alkonost population. They’ve also attracted those pesky above-mentioned pirates, which have taken to raiding export ships and even the pearl farms themselves, on occasion. If you’re the sort who doesn’t like bullies, you might find yourself enlisted to fight off these pirates and send ‘em packing.

If you’re a pacifist or would rather spend your time putting your shoulder to a wheel, you can elect to work as part of a fishing or pearl farming crew for a day or two (or more), or with one of the island’s fruit collection squads. You’ll be paid in fish and fruit, which is great for the general food stores aboard Navi, once they’re ready to get back on the road. You may even be given a red pearl or two as extra thanks if you’re especially helpful!

And what about the other necessities you’ll need during this voyage? A single set of clothes will get worn out pretty quickly, after all. Fear not, the village open-air market is open every day for all of your shopping needs. Of course, you’ll need money, but Navi will provide. Every passenger will receive Navigems upon arrival to Alkonost, and these gems can be exchanged at the market for Universal Credits, the universal payment method of the universe - this universe, at least. The number of gems and credits you receive is unimportant and will be fuzzywaved - the bottom line is that you will have enough credits to purchase a REASONABLE stockpile of foods, toiletries, etc. for the voyage going forward.

What about non-basic items, like clothing or weapons? Fear not, this isn’t a suffering-survival game, we gotchu. Every character can request TWO specialty items in the comments below that can be acquired at the market. Examples of specialty items: a new basic outfit; a new coat or pair of shoes; a backpack or duffel bag; a small or medium weapon; a small trinket like a piece of jewelry or magical item … etc. If you’re unsure if something you want qualifies, just ask! Keep in mind the setting; clothing will be handmade, not designer brand, weapons and tech will not be high-end. You’ll have this opportunity for item requests at every planet stop, so don’t fret too hard over what to pick, because you’ll always have another chance. Please make all item requests by Sept. 30, when Navi will be healed enough for takeoff.

Questions? Suggestions for the setting or player plots? Leave ‘em below!