The sea is a playground for angels.
Ariane Circle: Outpost "Sodium Sayer" Orientation
You have been transferred to Pytheas outpost "Sodium Sayers." No, this was not a mistake. Even though you don't stick out, your unique traits have been noted down by your supervisors. No, despite everything you have heard, this is not a punishment, and it is very much not a death sentence. As a Pytheas operative, you either documented information, communicated between our sectors, or were goaded into trying to talk sense into cults and armed militias. As a Sodium Sayer, you will be doing all of that and more.
Your morning radio will be replaced by the screams of people undergoing entity maulings. The ravings of a bird-obsessed occultist will take the place of your Spotify playlists. The only parallel to the intimate, late-night conversations you had with your partner will be the one-sided venting of someone who thinks Level 0 is the deepest this rabbit hole goes. No, you cannot get rid of this admission document. Your life will be used for something greater, and you better be proud of it.
Despite being known as "bottom feeders" or "Sodium Scapegoats," our communication gathering practices are vital to the Ariane Circle. You have seen us at least once or twice. A worn-out researcher in blue, greasy pajamas will storm into your research outpost and be ushered into the non-operational rooms by your locational director, never to be seen again—that will be you one day. What you likely have not seen is the emotional mess that Sodium Sayer is on the other side, who was telling that director some crucial piece of information, who tolerated the social incompetency of their "Sodium Savior" because they knew something big was coming. Getting you to our transmission center and sending you back out there—armed with important intel—is all that will be needed from you.
Once you have read this document, you are to prepare the following items:
- Several sets of comfortable clothing.
- >25 lbs provisions; taste should be prioritized over practicality.
- Earplugs are optional, but you will want them.
- Sentimental items for entertainment.
- Blankets—we could always use more.
- Firestarters: candles, lighters, matches, etc.
When you are sufficiently prepared, approach the one who provided you these documents and state the question, "Do angels have wings?" If they respond, "Only where it's blue," you are to inform your director of your indefinite absence and follow all directives given by the aforementioned messenger. If they don't answer you or they cannot be found, you may rest easy, for your time has yet to come.
This messenger will aid in the transportation process of your admission, which entails a month-long selection procedure where they make sure you're of sound mind, able body, and so on. Do not fake insanity. If you were good at escaping situations like this, you would not have been chosen for this sub-team. Once this is complete and your evaluator deems you fit to be admitted, you will be both blindfolded and temporarily deafened and brought into the level, where you will be stationed until you have carried out an operation. You might not be too grateful for this, but try and look on the bright side. You'll do good work with us. You'll leave a stronger person. You'll know that the rumors surrounding us barely scratch the surface.
Level 91 is a three-story aquarium interior that stores a number of actively inhabited displays, which make the air thick with the scent of algae and over-chlorination. Each floor is a square room spanning ~18 meters, with the only differing features being the contents of the lit-up exhibits, acting as the sole sources of natural light. A set of stairs (located on the east side of each room) allows for traversal to each different floor. The base floor is dedicated to tropical/cold freshwater tanks with themed displays that present fish such as arapaimas, alligator gars, and piranhas. The second floor's focal point is saltwater specimens, like groupers, sharks, and (previously) tuna. The top floor, almost alien in its notable quietness, houses invertebrates like jellyfish.
Third floor prior to Sodium Sayer occupation.
There's little else to the location aside from its aquatic implements. The bottom floor has a small, emptied giftshop in its corner that surrounds the level's exit. The walls and ceilings don't inherently resist outside destructive forces, but their thickness doesn't allow for anything substantial to be gained from attempting to puncture them. The constantly functioning A/C units render the level ~14° C and, despite the discomfort it causes to the stationed Sodium Sayers, their actual location in the aquarium cannot found. The Ariane Circle isn't the first group presumed to have discovered this level, so its state of dilapidation is theorized to have been caused by outside parties.
Level 91 was first discovered by Team Hermes, whose initial documentation was later transferred to Team Pytheas for further investigation. Lukas Carpentier, Head of Communications, petitioned for ownership of the level due to its unique properties—a request swiftly approved. At the time, the connection between Level 91 exposure and the increased frequency of Level 91-A manifestations was unknown, leading to the loss of approximately ~24 Pytheas researchers. Shortly after Level 91-A's documentation, the Sodium Sayer outpost was established as an offshoot of team Pytheas to permanently utilize Level 91. The current member list is as follows:
Sodium Sayer Leadership:
- Jeremiah Everette, "Nautelot" – Outpost Director
- Aleksey Maramzin, "Cephalobob" – Senior Archivist
- Nokib Sarkar, "Cambrian" – Senior Archivist
Junior Archivists:
- Martijn Boer, "Squid"
- Didier Descouens, "Snail"
- Basher Eyre, "Tuna"
- Encik Tekateki, "Octopus"
- Tim Vickers, "Fossil"
- Michael Frey, "Cookie Shark"
Off-site Operations:
- Luca Ghio, "Masu Salmon" – Off-site Resource Supervisor
- ~8 various members, "Apprentuna" – Off-site Relocation Staff
For optimized efficiency and security, there are to be three permanent operatives present on the level at all times to manage a group of no more than eight temporary researchers. Honorary discharge occurs once a junior archivist fulfills their operational requirements; however, their replacement process must not exceed a 50-day window. If fewer than four temporary researchers are present, discharge is to be postponed to maintain stability. In the event of a security breach—such as hostile parties discovering Level 91’s entrance—Team Founder 'Pytheas' must be notified, and all research operations halted until further notice.
Level 91 was officially designated the hub for 'Nautical Interplanar Communications' following the establishment of a permanent research presence. The level’s primary anomaly manifests as a form of one-sided telepathic reception—proximity to an aquatic exhibit allows individuals to perceive all spoken words and humanoid inner dialogue originating from a corresponding level. Each tank is labeled with its associated level designation, using paper or cardboard affixed with tape placed by an unknown party. While in Level 91, the dialogue will always be heard and will be produced by the nearest tank; no amount of distance can mitigate this effect, short of leaving the level entirely.
There are a total of 84 aquatic tanks on the level, and each one diverts to a level on a consistent basis. The complete range of locations covered by this phenomenon include but are not limited to: Level 0, Level 2, Level 3, Level 5, Level 7, Level 8, Level 9, Level 11, Level 46, Level 195, Level 230, Level 274, Level 283, Level 293, Level 522, and Level 678. These are categorized as high priority channels of surveillance due to high general or faction population, though pre-longed exposure to the high activity these displays have is mentally taxing.