Kelp Maze Notes

First bring up blacklight drip

After settling down in the trench, Carcinos has finally been able to establish first contact with the surrounding environment! The beautiful kelp forest surrounding our lab shows potential for all sorts of discoveries all throughout but most interesting of all is this purple substance nicknamed “Ichor '' by Zachary Kepler. Base traces of it can be found all around us, however portions of the forest with high concentrations of the compound seems to coalesce into a distinct viscous fluid substance. Similar to a few of our researchers, this substance seems to separate itself from the surrounding ocean and somehow even retain relative gravity. This is theoretically caused by Icor’s overly large molecules & large density.

-Samantha Peek

Kepler Manifesto

"Incredible…Absolutely mystifying! Every grain of sand, crustacean, and frond holds pure potential. The applications of ichor are limitless, but its source remains a mystery. Theories suggest it comes from volcanic vents, yet its prevalence throughout the forest suggests otherwise. I must identify the source of my benefactor, my muse! *Ahem* Regardless, I've witnessed strange creatures near fresh ichor sources, but interacting with the substance is risky as it becomes a powerful adhesive. My knife has dulled, and I need a new way to traverse the forest. Unfortunately the only crewmember of the Carcinos able to develop a device of the quality I require is that arrogant Catalina. It appears as though I now owe her a favor for manufacturing my device but if the blacklight proves useful I’ll gladly pay any price tenfold.

As an aside I abhor the nickname she’s taken to call me despite my constant protesting, “Kelp Freak!?” What is “freakish” about admiring a good Laminariales sample? She’s clearly envious of my role.

-Zackary Kepler

Then add the discovery of the zooplankton.

"My blacklight device uncovered a significant discovery today. Traversing the forest has been easier without the hardened ichor plants, but the real breakthrough came when I sent the intern, Doug, to investigate a dense patch of Ichor. I witnessed transparent zooplankton-like creatures converging on him out of curiosity. Of course in my hubris, I rushed forth to examine these creatures and in my doing so scared them back into hiding, each doing so with a puff of ichor lined smoke. This discovery not only proves my theory but has become the focus of my new great work. I will understand these creatures by any means possible and in doing so carve the name Kepler into the annals of history! 

-Zackary Kepler

Note about the blacklight + Blacklight interactables.

I have insisted that the Director require all staff members to integrate my blacklight device into our equipment. In fact, in my brilliance I have found a way to generate a complex electrical response via modified Icor samples. Perhaps… I can program the Icor to act as a biological computer. Able to store complex data that can interact with electrical machinery. Marvelous! I’m more than confident that our corporate masters will find some use for this new technology seeing as it far exceeds the capabilities of any old floppy disk. Who knows, perhaps it will become Marshal & Waits standard issue.

-Zackary Kepler