This contest is for people who DO NOT ALREADY OWN a plant. Current owners may participate as helpers, but may not win.
YOU ARE HERE: FRONT ENTRANCE
As you know Kitten has disappeared; she hasn't come in to work in over a week, and the plant that was in her care is missing! Thank you SO much to everyone who signed up to help. We're officially ready to begin, so here's all the information we have so far. Please read it carefully, and feel free to ask questions! I might be able to answer them.
Searcher Information
Kitten worked mostly in the North Arbor Greenhouse. I would usually see her everyday, since that's where I work too. Her timecard last week says that she came into work, but she never punched out! And we haven't seen or heard from her in a few days. So...we think she's probably somewhere inside the arboretum. Possibly hurt. That's why we're sending each of you out with a radio and a signal flare. A radio to contact others to bring help if it's needed, and the flare in case something happens to the radio.
Kitten's notes that were in her desk say that she was studying some seedlings we planted in the Orchard (7 on the map) near a stand of apple trees. Since those were her most recent entries in her field book, I think that's a good place to start. We've checked the obvious places like the Greenhouses, but we don't know if she's staying in one place, so please double-check.
The entire Arboretum is fenced, so you shouldn't run into any dangerous animals. However, there will probably be deer, snakes, foxes, raccoons, and other small animals, so keep an eye out and be safe. If you haven't found anything and it starts getting too dark to see, please make your way back to the Front Gate.
Here is the equipment we have for each person. You can take or leave it, but the Radio and Flare are mandatory. ((Make sure you post here IC telling what you take! Remember, you have to carry it.))
1 Radio
1 Signal Flare
1 (2.5" long) Pocket Knife with belt/pocket clip
1 Flashlight, fully charged
1 Headlamp, fully charged
1 Compass, 360 degrees
1 Whistle, on a lanyard
1 Short Rope, 5 meters long
1 Hardhat, size adjustable, Orange
1 Foil Thermal Blanket, folded and packaged
3 bagged meals, packed and sealed
4 bottles of water, 12 oz each
Good Luck, Searchers!
((OOC Information and Rules:
1) You will start at the Front Gate, which opens onto the Quad and the Arboretum trail. You can go anywhere that is labeled PRP or ORP to search. If you have to pass through one section of the arboretum to get to another (like going through the Hill to get to North Arbor), make sure you post yourself going through it and wait a little while so the GM has an opportunity to reply. See example below.
2) Since there are only 4 searchers and 2 staff, everyone will be splitting up and going alone. That's why we have radios.
3) Radios are for emergencies and for urgent questions only. (as in, OMG I'm lost and it's getting cold and dark)). I expect you to keep them quiet and reserve the batteries. Your radio should be kept on so that you can hear it if I call you.
4) Some people will run into trouble and be eliminated from RP. That is the nature of this contest. Please don't complain if you are eliminated. You are welcome to try again at a flatsale, auction, or another event.
5) You MUST post at least once a day unless there are VERY exceptional circumstances. PM me if something really impossible to work around comes up.
6) You may meet other searchers from time to time. However, let's keep this to a minimum. If you're running into people all the time, you need to find a different place to search.
7) RP should be in third person, formal style. For instance: Songjewel strode purposefully among the rows of trees, peering into the distance on her right.
8 ) All dialogue should be contained in quotation marks. Like this: "Wow," Song said, "this place really gives me the creeps at night. I'd better get back to the gate and meet the others."
9) Keep the terrain in mind. pretty much everything slopes toward the river. Read the descriptions of each section in the Barton Arboretum thread and in the first post of the RP thread. Remeber that you are being judged based on the quality of your RP. That means saying what you need to say descriptively, but not being so long-winded that we get bored reading it.
RP Example for walking through the Arboretum in different threads:
The Hill:
From the Quad, Songjewel passed a long the trail as fast as she could, paying no attention to the surrounding plants. They had finally started the search, and she needed to get to the North Arbor quickly.
((Player waits until a GM posts a response, OR until 5 hours have gone by if no GM is immediately available. Then they may post in the next thread.))
North Arbor:
Having made it safely through the Hill, Song reached the door of the North Arbor Greenhouse and tugged it open. She jogged the short distance to her cubby and...blah blah blah.
))
