TEST DIVE #2

[subnauticmods]

≡U.R.S.U.L.A. NAVIGATION

_ PREMISE & NAVIGATION ✦ RULES ✦ MOD CONTACT TAKEN ✦ RESERVES ✦ APPLICATIONS ✦ HIATUS & DROPS FAQ ✦ BASE ✦ BIOMES ✦ URSULA ✦ URSULA CONTACT

TEST DIVE MEME


For information about the animals and locations, be sure to check out the BIOME and BASE pages!

A: There’s a Storm on the Horizon
A brainstorm. On advice about the ingenuity of multi person parties, and from admitted lack of understanding of many needs of organics, URSULA has selected you and a partner (or partners) to go to one of the observatories with food, beds, and recording devices to have a jam session for ideas about missions.

You are not to leave the room until you have some good ones. So get cracking! Start suggesting to one another what the base needs to do.

Or get horribly, horribly sidetracked and possibly a little crazy at being locked up together with the ocean staring at you. Judging.

B: The Abysmal Sea
You’re stranded.

One of the planet’s troublesome signal-interfering pulses has just made your communication devices 100% nonfunctional. No matter how you try to call URSULA for help, she isn’t able to respond. The database strapped to your wrist is just a useless chunk of metal now, leaving you without a useful library of knowledge to survive off. If you were driving any underwater vehicle prior to this point, it’s broken down. And unless you’re a mechanic, it’ll be pretty hard to get it jumpstarted again.

Don’t fret! The communication systems always come online eventually, so if you stay put, it’ll boot back up and give you directions straight back to base so you can finally get home. But can you really afford to stay put? The sunlight’s slowly streaming out of the sky, leaving the waters darker and darker with each passing second. Soon, you won’t be able to see five feet in front of you, and the only warning you’ll get of any approaching threat is through sound, if they even make any.

You have a few choices: take a daring risk and try swimming back to base, but on the off-chance you don’t remember the directions correctly from before you were cut off, you’re going to get even more lost, in the darkness of the night no less. Or, you could huddle in, with any friends if they were unfortunate enough to be with you, and start focusing on getting warm. Because spending the night out here in the vast oceans with the entire world against you is becoming a very, very real possibility.

C: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take them!
URSULA’s technology is breathtaking. With enough materials, she could make practically anything: weapons, vehicles, all those human comforts and entertainments she forgot to build... or perhaps she could expand the base to give everyone even more leg room. But there’s a catch: you need to get those materials to her in the first place, and scavenging can be a monumental task.

The planet Iniidae has a plethora of materials to provide, but you’ve got to go find them first. Some are easy enough to get, by plucking off the ground or breaking a rock. But some are a bit more challenging, such as Crash Powder, seeing that the Crash defending it will literally explode in your face if you get too close. And then there’s materials such as Blood Oil, only harvestable within the Blood Kelp Caves several hundred meters underwater in the pitch-black darkness… remember, you have to gather resources with your two bare hands. No such thing as driving around and conveniently collecting them within the somewhat-relative safety of an armored vehicle.

Since it’s so dangerous to go alone, URSULA will encourage you all to leave the base in pairs or groups if you’re going to try collecting some of the more precarious materials to harvest. She has heard that most lifeforms find being reconstituted from nanites traumatic, so try not to die in front of each other!

D: Almost, but not quite, Entirely Unlike Tea
The droids, URSULA promises, will do their best to make anything you want. Go on! Ask them anything! She’s excited. This seems like a great way to test out their capacities.

Of course, you need to be very careful what you wish for. Maybe you ask for Hamlet by William Shakespeare, and they do their best but only know so much, giving you a book with some… creative changes. Maybe you ask for a puzzle box, but you weren’t specific enough and things went awry.

Maybe you made the mistake of asking for tea..

No matter what, you were given something that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike what you asked for. Now what do you do with it?

E: CREATURE FEATURES (possible body horror)
As more data is collected on the creatures of the deep, DNA can also be gathered to allow URSULA to research how to integrate it into her crew members in useful and hopefully unintrusive ways, unless of course permission is given first for more obvious or exhausting additions.

Well, that's the idea, anyway.

Unfortunately, something malfunctioned while URSULA was researching. Her incomplete serum was injected into you through your devices while you slept (or maybe you were knocked unconscious by the sudden change to your body). Now maybe you have the temperament of a Stalker or the thirst of a Bleeder or Gasopod pods on your back that trigger when you're startled. How this genetic malfunction works and what it is can be up to you but while URSULA assures you it's only temporary, you're stuck like this for now.

Have fun?

F: The Caverns of Dream
The ocean calls you. Of course, it's much easier to dismiss it as nightmares. You'll probably think that's all it is after you have them. Flashes of screaming sea creatures writhing in agony, pleading for help, but these creatures can't ask for help, can they? Something huge, beyond the scope of imagination, moves in the ocean of your dreams and calls out to you to go deeper into the darkness. It pleads and begs but not with a voice you can hear or words you can understand.

You wake up in a sweat with the unrelenting desire to take a swim, even though it's late and everyone is asleep. Or maybe someone else just had the same nightmare as you? Are you willing to take a swim and try to understand the dream?

BASED ON CODE BY TESSISAMESS AND SUPERSUITS

Comments

ffff

[grimdeity]

[ Rose is in the similar boat as "wanting to swim" but has yet to complete that plunge into the dark depths. She is about that horrorterror life, and is weighing the pros and cons of such a venture. ]

Oh, but I'm sure we could fix that. Do you want one of my headbands?

[ Take off your shades, put on makeup and perhaps you too can be Rose Lalonde. ]

[parodeity]

[ Why this, why him. Since she's about the horror terror life, Dave basically just...commits to the idea they're going to go swim out in search of probably trouble. Because like fuck he's going to let Rose swim off into the ocean alone. Even if she can 5000% handle herself, he's not sure the rest of the planet can handle Rose.

Dave makes a frustrated face Rose is doubtless familiar with, before reaching up and flipping his shades back down over his eyes. ]

What, no. We're not that look-alike. I mean. Mostly. Fuck, how didn't we figure out we were related before John literally mixed slime together to pop us into existence? [ hashtag regret maybe he wouldn't have said a lot of the things thirteen year old dave said to rose pre-related revelation if he had known...but knowing him, he probably would have anyway ]

And why am I not surprised that you wanna swim out into the void and find tentacled nightmares...Rose, c'mon, let's play like, go fish or something instead. Orrrrr do literally anything else.

[grimdeity]

[ Yes Dave, you must protect the ocean from Rose. It's the knightly thing to do here. You cannot leave this poor planet to the likes of your sister, who knows what horrors would be unleashed at her hand. ]

Truly, it was error on our part. Likely facilitated by our distance during our childhood. [ Because seriously, wow guys. Actual twins, Rose and Dave. ] And we did not exactly expect ectobiology to, in simple terms, be a thing.

Feel free to stay here and play go fish yourself, if you can resist the curiosity. [ She hadn't fully decided that it was wise to venture into the horrorterror depths, but the fact that Dave is suggesting they shouldn't seems to put the matter to rest in her mind. ]

[parodeity]

[ oh my god you contrary little piece of shit don't decide on a course of action just because he's against it!!!!

Dave makes a strangled noise that might include the words oh fuck it but basically which is just. The exasperation that Rose inspires on occasion. ]

Rose, I'm obv not letting you go out into the weird-ass ocean in the dead of night alone. You'll like, murder everything out there.

[ You're the only one who blew your planet quest to smithereens just 'cause, brosis. ]

And/or make some deathmagic pact with whatever horror terror things lurk in the depths, and if you're going to be makin' ill-advised deals with devils I have to be there to snark about it and/or to sign on as well. Like, I'm pretty sure we covered this at some point in our sibs career, right? You're not allowed to go on stupid missions alone.

[ Remember how you tried that all of once and then Dave followed you anyway and you both died. He's still going to follow you now even if the dying thing happens again.

At least they're immortal, he guesses. ]

If shenanigans occur I have to be around to commentate, this is like, rule fuckin' one of the Strilonde family charter that I'm officially gonna write right the fuck now.

[grimdeity]

[ what did you expect from her, dave, really. have you met rose lalonde contrary little piece of shit is her aesthetic.

Rose grins, the same grin she always wears when she manages to inspire Dave's exasperation, or anyone else's. Not that it's... hard... ]

Your faith in me is astounding, Dave. Don't you trust me?

[ That. That is probably why he doesn't. ]

Yes, well, that was an unforeseen pact of sibling-hood I did try to avoid, you know. But I will accept your undying loyalty to it, since I suppose breaking it would be awfully tiresome.

[ Rose would prefer they don't die, but considering their normal circumstances she won't be surprised if they do? Like, what is this, a regular Tuesday for them. ]

Oh? Are you certain Roxy and our father [ see, it's normal to call Roxy Roxy but funny to call Dirk "father"/"dad"/etc... in front of dave, anyway ] will agree to your terms without complaint? We should hold a family council before we make such lofty decisions. They might have input that we never could have imagined.

[parodeity]

[ honestly this is...exactly what he expected...but he didn't think far enough ahead to try to reverse psychology her and if he had she probably would have gone all right away we go to the ocean, dave! since rose lalonde does what she wants. ]

Ugh, don't pull that bullshit, you know I trust you. I just also know you, Rose. Ripping apart the fabric of the universe is something you would totally do for fun. And while that'd be hilarious, I do sorta like inhabiting the universe. ...Not that we know what universe this is, but as we're currently in it I find myself kinda fond of the place.

[ Dave crosses his arms, but once again takes his shades off - this time captchaloguing them. The exaggerated wince when she calls Dirk "father" is...probably ridiculous since Dave cannot stop himself calling Roxy "Mom", even though he calls Dirk by name or occasionally by "bro". They are both hypocrites to the extreme. ]

And wow, Dirk'll totally back me up on this one. [ maybe??? ] Mom, too, since it'd mean she'd get to hang out with us more. Like she wouldn't want to go for a Strilonde field trip through the deep - as long as we were both goin' I doubt she'd care what was going on with the whole destination thing.

[ Roxy is honestly super carefree and Dave admires that in a person. ]

Also I feel like their input will mostly be laughing at us [ OR HIM SPECIFICALLY ] so let's just skip to the good part. We gonna do this shit or not?

[ Time to gear up for an underwater exploration, y/n? The resolution to go for a swim eases the annoying need to go, at least. Fighting it off wasn't really working. ]

[grimdeity]

[ and then where would you be dave? in the same situation as you are now, except brain tired from trying to fight your impossible sister. ]

If it makes you feel better I will make you a promise not to tear any holes in the cloth from which this universe is made, at least while we inhabit it's watery folds. [ ... ] At least not right now. Perhaps in due time that will become necessary, but I doubt that day is today.

[ Master hypocrites, these two. Their hypocrite levels are simply off the charts. Where did it even come from, Dirk and Roxy are so much nicer than this. ]

Fair point. I don't doubt that either would follow us-- I'm not sure if that says more about them or us, however. It bears far more consideration than we currently have time for.

[ Meeting Roxy certainly did put her own original mother in perspective for Rose, though not in the way she expected. She still isn't sure what to do with that information, nor with the phrase "omg haha youre dirk" as the other Lalonde so eloquently put it. She still needs to hound him for "the dirt on his proclivities". ]

That is... likely accurate. [ NO THEY'D LAUGH AT BOTH OF THEM ok mostly dave ] Yes, let us do this shit.

[ Y, time to gear up. This is a great idea that in no way can go wrong. ]

[parodeity]

A'ight, sister dearest, but if this ends in us needing a revive I'm gonna make a mix tape titled I Fucking Told You So just for you.

[ AND A RAP. Also he will say I Fucking Told You, Rose for the next month or two at the least. Still, now that they've determined they are in fact doing this shit (they are making this shit happen), Dave will just go to suit up with the dumb diving gear and wetsuits and shit. ]

No peeking. [ he says, like his sister has any interest in doing so whatsoever ]

[grimdeity]

I will take that chance.

[ She would expect nothing less. Really, she'd be more worried if he didn't partake in such measures, should they get their fine asses whooped by horrorterrors in the ocean deep.

Rose was about to as well, but Dave... Dave, do you think she can let that pass by. ]

It's quite concerning you think I would, Dave. For a number of reasons. Do we need to have another talk about your continuing tendency toward incestual proclivities?

[parodeity]

[ internal screaming is now occurring, why didn't he just change without saying a word. ]

Oh my god Lalonde can't you let even one slip go? No, we don't need another talk! Pinky swear I'm not trying to hit on any of you, even you have to admit we all have hella rad genes, though. Like, our cheekbones. They're amazing? I'm not gonna lie and say they aren't.

[ He's changing as he rambles........... ]

[grimdeity]

[ Why didn't he. He knew better. ]

It's true, our cheekbones are "hella rad", this I cannot deny.

[ Changing as he rambles as well. ]

But when you speak of our fine, chiseled cheekbones, are you quite certain you speak merely from a familial point of view? I'm just checking on your mental well-being. Who knows how our dear parents would take you spouting off your unfiltered, uncensored flirting to them?

[parodeity]

I am calling myself hot here, okay, my cheekbones totally put yours to shame. So if you wanna analyze my desire to get with myself, then I guess -

[ wait shit time powers QUICK, SOMETHING ELSE ]

Wait a sec, Rose, I never said chiseled. Are we sure you're speakin' from a merely familial point of view? You got some deep-hidden desires to share over there?

[grimdeity]

We're coming back to the topic of your selfcest later, Dave.

[ SHE DOES WANT TO ANALYZE THAT

but are you certain you want to broach this topic with her, dave. are you really sure. ]

The chiseled was implied, I could hear it in your tone. But one would suppose that, faced with a clone or such of myself, I would be rather attracted to her/me. That is perhaps a natural reaction, as long as one has a halfway decent level of self-esteem.

[ pause ]

And when I saw faced with a "clone or some such" I mean a much more literal copy, not a poorly constructed sprite that also consists of my cat and a princess seacreature.

[ FOR THE RECORD ]

[parodeity]

[ UGH NO he will just attempt to throw out topics at random to throw her off the scent ]

Yo, we all knew that was gonna happen some way or another, Rose. Jade did her dog schtick and one of me became a bird, now we just need some version of John to become a furry and we have literally the whole set. Also I guess Dirk's...thirteen-year-old brain became the sweaty horse sprite??? So that is another person who had one version of himself become a furry. Just accept your sea princess furry place in the grand scheme of our ridiculous universe, sis.

[grimdeity]

Your ability to change the subject is almost admirable, brother.

[ she will accept it ]

It was completely unnecessary. And you, Jade, and Dirk were merely combined with a single entity instead of two, to create some sort of eldritch horror show. And at this juncture I doubt we'll see John-- or his grandmother, or Jade's grandfather, or Roxy-- receive furry spriteselves. In no way did we nor anyone else benefit from the creation of "Japrosesprite^2".

[parodeity]

Hate to disappoint you, Rose, but apparently Davesprite also became a cat?

[ BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE. ]

[grimdeity]

... What.

[ WHAT THE FUCK, DAVESPRITE ]

Do I want to know the details behind this "upgrade"?

[parodeity]

Don't ask me, ask Jade. She said something about me kissing well "even when I had cat lips", and since Davesprite's the only Dave copy runnin' around out there that I know of - I mean, dream bubble Daves, but I've talked to most of those fuckers and the only Dave havin' any sort of effect on our timeline who isn't me is Davesprite - he has to presumably have cat lips now.

[ Again, BECAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE. Dave crosses his arms, his goggles and breathing apparatus hanging from his neck. He's finished changing, but continues staring out one of the windows, idly waiting for Rose to indicate she's finished as well. ]

IDK why he's running around becoming a cat and also kissing Jade?

[grimdeity]

Your bird/cat sprite kissed Jade...? With. Cat lips? What cat was he even combined with...?

[ Rose's indication is indicated by lastly putting on her googles. You ready for this, bro. ]

Likely just to fuck with us in some twisted, roundabout way.

[parodeity]

What am I, the catsitter for paradox space? I don't keep track of anything that's not timeline related, sorry. But, uh, maybe it was the troll who was also a cat? Karkat's mentioned her before.

[ SHRUGS??? Didn't your cat go to revive said troll or something anyway he doesn't keep track of shenanigans after a certain point. Dave turns and puts on his own goggles. ]

You know not everyone is out to play mind games with you, right? Roxy's like, proof number one of that. Girl legit likes wizards, and you spent all those years going oh no Mom COULDN'T like wizards, it's a passive aggressive mind game Dave, but no, she's just super into old dudes with beards.

[grimdeity]

It was merely an observation. Ah, perhaps.

[ look she did Not want to know what that creature was up to, ok ]

Roxy and her pre-Scratch version are not the rule, but the exception to it, more likely. [ ... ] Though, I do concede that you were correct.

[parodeity]

[ An exaggerated grin as he waves her to the exit. ]

Well shit, let's mark that down in the sibling tallybook: Dave 1, Rose 0!

[ more like. the opposite of that, plus 5 millions zeroes, but you know what let him have his little moment ]

Also, this is still a terrible idea, just for the record.

[grimdeity]

[ Slow claps, following him to the exit. ]

I doubt that's accurate, but I will give you it. It only took you, what? Sixteen years?

[ The littlest of moments. ]

Let's leave off on assessing it's terribleness until after, hm?

[ INTO THE WATER THEY GO I GUESS ]

[parodeity]

[ ROSE...okay but he can't really argue that. for all that they trade barbs all the time (and enjoy it) dave can't actually say he usually gets the upper hand. ]

Whatever, point is I win this round. And...yeah, okay. Just keep talking as long as we're doing this.

[ He doesn't think he can do this in complete silence. SO TELEPATHIC ITALICS IT IS... ]

[grimdeity]

[ TELEPATHIC ITALICS ARE A GO ]

Afraid of the silence? Of one's own thoughts echoing in the endless deep, drifting across fleeting waves towards uncertainty?

[ Are you sure you want her to keep talking Dave. Wait, do either of them even know how to swim? ]