Congratulations! You've been selected to be one of 10 thousand earthlings to populate the world of [Tercius]!

All items will be discarded. All ailments will be cured. Fitness will be raised to an acceptable threshold.

Prepare for relocation.

Welcome to your new world!

Derek looked dumbfounded at the text floating in his vision. Was there acid in his coffee or something? He'd never heard of hallucinations like this outside of fantasy novels of questionable quality... The moment he had this thought, there was a flash and the familiar gloom of his bedroom was replaced by the haunting beauty of the infinite cosmos.

Derek found himself looking out at the void of space. Stars twinkling brilliantly in the distance while an earthlike planet lay below his feet. Deep blue waters and brilliant green continents mottled its surface. Derek would've thought it was the earth had it not been for the fact that he recognized none of the continents, nor did he recognize the two moons he noticed peeking out around the side of this planet. Yes two, for whatever reason this was the detail that drew his attention the most.

They seemed to either be smaller or farther away than the moon he was used to. They were the familiar silvery grey of the earth's moon however which Derek thought was somewhat strange, perhaps they were part of the same larger object that was split in two at some point. Soon the realization that he was not in any sort of spaceship but floating unprotected in the void, finally struck him.

He panicked for a moment before realizing that he was breathing fine and that he didn't feel so much as a slight chill. For him to be completely unharmed and comfortable while floating in literal outer space was some magic fuckery of the highest order. Especially considering he was buck-ass nude. As he was wondering why exactly he was floating naked in outer space, the floating text returned.

Welcome [Derek Law] to [Tercius], your new home! [Tercius] is an Untamed world, meaning that there is no sapient life on the planet. Until now! You are among the 10,000 [Humans] from [Earth] who have been chosen to be amongst the first sapients to populate this new world! To maintain a relatively equal starting point for all the sapients arriving on [Tercius] all possessions have been removed, all ailments healed and fitness for all participants has been brought up to the minimum baseline for survival in this new world. Starting equipment is available to purchase using a points buy system. All participants are given a base of 10 points with bonuses or negatives applied depending on the starting biome selected. This function will not be available after arrival. Participants have 1 hour to select their starting biome and equipment.

Choose wisely and good luck!

*Notice: failure to make a selection within this timeframe will result in a biome being selected at random.*

The first thing Derek noticed after reading this was that he felt good. Better than he had in years, the pain in his wrist from his carpal tunnel was gone, the constant discomfort from his irritable bowel was too. He took a deep breath and noticed the increased capacity and ease with which he did so, he no longer felt like a frail old chain smoker. Derek used to be relatively fit, he was a primitive and ancient technology/survival buff. For a few years during and after high school he'd spent all the time he could out in the woods, practicing starting friction fires and making tools from the stone and wood he found around him. But once he was out of high school and in the “real world” of 21st-century adults all the drive and passion he once had died with a whimper. The grindstone of civilization had worn him down to nothing leaving him depressed and sedentary.

As the depression took hold the job he'd sold years of his life to, decided to let him go. Depressed, broke, and sedentary Derek wasted away in self-imposed isolation for nearly four years. There was even a point that his doctor had had him apply for disability benefits because it was so bad that getting another job had become an impossibility. And so more than 3 years of an extremely sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, and stress had taken a heavy toll on his body. No longer though. With his physical ailments healed and fitness returned Derek felt reinvigorated like he hadn't been in years.

The ease with which he could now move and breath made him realize just how far he had fallen and that scared him. If what the floating text had said was true he was about to be thrown into a wild, unfamiliar planet possibly with other people and “sapients”, whatever that means. And yet what scared him the most wasn't the hostile environment ahead of him but the thought of returning to where he once was.

He turned his attention to the floating text, now a list of options. He refused to stay as he had been for the last few years. It was time to put his old skills to the test.

AVAILABLE BIOMES

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+3

Desert Tundra Savana

+2

Island, Tropical Rainforest, Wetland

+1

Taiga, Boreal Forest, Mountain Valley

+0

Temperate Forest, Archipelago

-2

Mediterranean

-3

River Valley

AVAILABLE ITEMS

5pt

Simple Clothing, Metal Axe

4pt

Basic Seed Set (Hemp, Barley, Potato, 1 lb ea.), Metal Knife

3pt

Metal Pot

2pt

Clay Pot

1pt

Clay Bottle 750ml, Cordage 4m/pt, Hemp fabric 1.5m x 1m/pt

[Time remaining: 53:26 minutes]

Nearly seven minutes had passed since Derek had found himself floating in space. He winced at the time wasted but quickly focused on the topic at hand. What he chose now would likely decide his survival in the coming days. If he chose a biome that he was underequipped to survive it would spell the end for him, If he chose a biome that cost him points he may find himself lacking something vital. He would need to think this through.

Ultimately Derek decided that he would choose a 0pt biome. River valley sounded like a solid place to start anew, most of the earth's great civilizations were focused on river valleys, and for good reason. The fertile soil, fresh water, fish, and river transportation were ideal for a fledgling civ. But the point cost meant that he would be going in with a disadvantage, while primitive, Derek understood fully how crucial the items he chose would be to his survival in the coming days. Having a good location doesn't mean anything if he dies of exposure or dysentery because he lacked a crucial piece of kit.

Most of Derek's experience had been in temperate forests so he decided to pick what he was familiar with, hopefully, he wouldn't end up too far over his head. Knowing that exposure and thirst would likely be his biggest concerns, he initially thought to choose the simple clothing, metal knife, and clay bottle but thought better of it. The clothing felt like a trap, he didn't know how much coverage it would give or whether it would have pockets or shoes. It lacked versatility and had too many unknowns. the knife was the same way, it didn't specify what kind of metal it was, how big it was, or how well made it was. It also didn't say whether it came with a sheath or a belt for said sheath. The more he thought about it the more he felt he was right. This was a trap.

After looking through his options again he decided he would pick the more reliable options. Ultimately he chose 4x1.5 m of hemp fabric, the clay pot, and the basic seed set. At first, it may seem foolish to forgo a cutting tool but Derek had plenty of practice with improvised and stone tools, he would make his own with what he found when he got there. As for the clay pot, he needed a way to purify and store water. He could have chosen the bottle but a pot would be more versatile and likely hold more volume. Finally, there were the seeds. They may seem like a waste as they would provide little to no benefit short term but Derek wouldn't be out there for just the short term. There was no one coming to save him if things got bad. No search and rescue, no civilization, no guarantee of food, no medicine, nothing. These seeds would be crucial for his long-term survival, both the food from the barley and potatoes as well as the textiles, cordage, and medicine from the hemp.

Most people don't appreciate just how crucial hemp was for our ancestors. It was a pillar of any settlement, from a tiny hamlet to a thriving metropolis. Its fibers were perfect for sail, rigging, and tarps. Its flowers and oil were powerful anti-inflammatories that were used to treat all manner of sickness and injury. Its seeds could even be eaten. These hemp seeds would be crucial in the future. Especially if he wasn't alone. A thought which was equal parts comforting and disconcerting. Humans were social creatures, it was how we survived and thrived when other stronger species died out. However, people also meant conflict and tribalism, especially since it seemed as if humans wouldn't be the only sapients brought to this world. People would be his best chance at survival and new life, but they were also his biggest cause for worry.

Derek was brought out of his thoughts when the text flashed to the center of his vision again.

[Warning! Time remaining: 9:58 minutes]

He could think about social interaction later, for now, he needed to hurry and prepare himself mentally and confirm his selection. He didn't have time for doubts, now it was time for action. Feeling a nervous excitement build in his belly Derek confirmed his choices of gear and biome. The text in front of him faded away leaving him with a clear view of his new world, a foreign planet, devoid of the ever-present signs of humanity's touch that he was so familiar with. A wild world full of danger and freedom. Derek was excited, something primal inside of him was awakening after a long slumber, a thirst for adventure and challenge. A deep craving for the simple life of the primeval man. A craving he had tried and failed to quench back on earth. He hoped that this new world could sate him. He had starved his soul for long enough, the spark of passion fading away. Finally, he would feed that spark.