Elsewhere

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A watch tower, maybe? Definitely some kind of building. It's rocky between here and there, in that unsteady, kind of broken up boulder way. Looks difficult to navigate. But c'mon! People, possibly! We gotta go!

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Do you see that, way out there? That tall metal-looking spire?"[/box][/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"I cannot. My optical sensors lack the fidelity of human eyes. What do you see?"[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|]

"A watch tower, maybe? Definitely some kind of building."

[/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"Are you sure? This is not registered as an inhabited world..."[/box] [|] [/2x1]

You squint and gesture out into the far distance, at a bright line extending up from near the horizon. What else could it be, other than a tower? And if it is a building, that could lead to finding other people, shelter, water, and more! It's got to be miles and miles away, enough that you only saw it because it was glinting in the afternoon sun... but you really want to get close enough to take a better look.

[2x1]

"Take pictures."

[|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Come again?"[/box][/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"Your ComPad has a camera that exceeds my visual specifications. Were you to take pictures, perhaps you could show me whatever it is that you are seeing."[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Oh, yeah! That's a good idea. Lemme try that."[/box][/2x1]

You fish out the Quantum ComPad from your pocket, and boot up the camera app. The zoom on this thing is pretty powerful, and the stabilizers and image stitcher should help you get a clear picture even though you're freehanding it. You zoom in to frame the metal tower on the horizon, and snap a few quick shots.



[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Here, take a look. What d'you think?"[/box][/2x1]

You hand the ComPad off to Dee Dee, who takes some time to study your photo. You're not sure if they're memorizing the details, or struggling to believe what they see. After a time, they return the CP to you, and you stow it back in your jacket pocket.

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"This is most strange. Our expedition should be the first touch of civilization on this world. This does look to be some manner of tower, but how could that be?"[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Well, there's no telling unless we go check it out, right? It's probably a few hours walk away, across some rough terrain, but come on! Buildings mean people! That could solve all our problems!"[/box][/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"We still cannot be certain that is a building."[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Come on. Of course it's a building!"[/box][/2x1]

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i'd like to veto all buildings. the whole point is that it's terra nullus and that's a major swerve

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"...okay, so it's not a building."[/box][/2x1]

You stand atop a tall hill, at the base of the metallic spire. The sound of surf from a nearby beach rumbles below you. While you and Dee Dee crossed the broken land to get here, afternoon has worn on into evening. Other than being sore from several hours of walking up and down rocky hills, the journey was pretty uneventful. The clouds continue to float across the impossibly blue sky, and the sun and this world's ghostly ring continue to shine overhead. And you continued not to see another living thing, apart from the ruddy alien vegetation. Not even an insect.

By now, you and Dee Dee have already completed a cautious walk around the perimeter of the silver spire, inspecting it closely. The surface is completely smooth and cool, with the frosty pattern of crystalline metal playing along it's surface. A few hesitant knocks with the back of your hand suggested it's either completely solid, or too thick to make an echo. Rootlike purple vines have wound their way up the spire, ranging from the size of your torso to the size of your forearm. Both the odd mass of metal and the vegetation seem to be emerging from the same spot, at the tallest point of the hill.

You don't know for sure whether it's natural or artificial. As far as you can tell, though, it isn't a building.

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"I believe an 'I told you so,' would be appropriate for this situation."[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"That's... probably fair, yeah. But hey! This is a really tall landmark, right? We can use this to keep our bearings while we explore. And we might be able to make use of all this metal at some point too."[/box][/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"This is also fair. Unfortunately, travelling here cost us a significant portion of the afternoon. We only have a few hours of daylight remaining, and have made no progress toward meeting your primary survival needs."[/box] [|] [/2x1]

As if on cue, your stomach grumbles in protest. And you can't help but notice a touch of dryness in your mouth. Dee Dee's right; you really should start figuring out your food and water situation before night falls.

The local grasses, ferns, and shrubs don't seem to be wilted for want of water, which is a good sign. Unfortunately, even if you ignore the unnerving red-purple color, nothing around looks particularly edible at a glance either. But it couldn't hurt to try chewing on something, could it? As for water, you do hear the sound of waves coming from the far side of this hill. And several times as you've been walking, you've caught glimpses of a huge beach in the distance, and the unmistakable sheen of light on water. Granted, if this is anything like your homeworld, a body of water this big is probably saltwater. You remember something about people not being able to survive off saltwater... but maybe you can drink a little bit, just to quench your thirst for now?

[2x1] [|] [box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/dex_left.png border=32]"Wilderness survival really isn't my area of expertise. But you're right. We've gotta get this sorted out."[/box][/2x1]

[2x1][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/base_right.png border=32]"Now that we have a landmark, perhaps you would feel more comfortable splitting up to search for potential food, water, or signs of our expedition? We could cover more ground, and regroup here as nightfall draws near. An exhaustive search would likely drain some of my power reserves, but it seems to be the most efficient use of our time.

...unless you have any better ideas?"[/box] [|] [/2x1]

[box=#993399 border=2]What do you do?
>[/box]

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PARTY ROSTER:

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Dex Wright, Human Technician
[2x1][|][box=https://solifuge.github.io/elsewhere/chat/item.png border=16]Quantum Compad (Communicator, Computer, Database, Illegal, Unreliable):
Unlicensed, military-grade handheld computer. Loaded with information and utility software, mostly pirated. Powerful but temperamental, after many, many repairs.[/box][/2x1]

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Dee Dee, Synthetic

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