Curiosity Quest Mission 1: Navigate the Deep
Seeker, Atlantis beckons from the Rift. Your powers of curiosity can help us to retrieve the Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives and restore balance. But to enter the Rift, you're going to have to navigate the abyss. Your call. What do you want to do?
Follow my curiosity into the deep.
Stay here on the surface.
Table of Contents
If, as you quest, if you wish to navigate to a section you've already visited, you can click the menu icon in the top left corner to return to this page.
1. Mission Accepted
2. Meet Flux
3. Into the Deep
4. Enter the Rift
5. Conclusion
Start Story
Before you dive into Mission One, read this.
The Curiosity Quest is a story-driven experience. If you haven't completed Mission Start: the Call of the Seeker, you'll be missing important context. It will introduce your guide, the Cartographer, and set the stage for your journey.
Take me back to Mission Start
I'm ready for Mission One
Safe and sound.
You're back at your desk, staring at your computer screen. Instead of the mystery of the ocean depths, you've chosen to immerse yourself in the security of spreadsheets. There's nothing wrong with that! But if you find yourself curiously wondering "what if?" you can always...
Go curiously forward.
Well done, Seeker. It takes courage and vulnerability to dive into the unknown.
The Cartographer beams at you, then sweeps her fingers over the strange disc hovering over her palm. It flares to life as a holographic map of your hometown illuminates its surface.
Are you ready to meet the vessel you will navigate into the Rift to retrieve the Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives from Atlantis?
No, thanks. Bye.
I'm ready, Cartographer.
Wonderful! Pay me no mind, I'm just going to activate this teleportation circle.
You begin to protest, but the Cartographer holds a finger to her lips, gently shushing you.
Never fear, Seeker. This is my second attempt at teleportation, and I'm 87% certain it will go better than the first.
Are you sure you know what you're...AHHHH!
The map lines expand to consume the screen, radiating outwards from the phone in your hand. You feel an intense energy pass through your body, like a powerful soundwave.
Wow, the dimensional parallels are frightful today! This is the perfect time for a lesson in curiosity.
NOW is the perfect time for a lesson?!
Absolutely! Haven't you ever heard of experiential learning?
I'm done!
Suddenly, you find yourself in a huge metal room. It appears to be some sort of underwater hangar with airlocks and docking bays. You look around in confusion.
Come on, Seeker. You can be curious about intraplanar navigation another time. We have a mission to complete!
You were only 87% certain this would work?
Suddenly, you find yourself in a huge metal room. It appears to be some sort of underwater hangar with airlocks and docking bays. You look around in confusion.
Come on, Seeker. You can be curious about intraplanar navigation another time. We have a mission to complete!
You were only 87% certain this would work?
Honestly, 87% is a luxury in volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
Hey, look! Someone left a note for you!
You get the feeling she's trying to distract you from discussing what might have been your demise, and...it's working. You're more curious than you are angry.
Where?!
Dear Seeker, The watercraft you will navigate is called Flux. On this journey, Flux shall be a sturdy submersible, capable of withstanding even the crushing depths of the abyss. My advice: learn and heed the four moves of curiosity. Seek well, my friend! The Shaper.
Submersible?
The Cartographer pauses, scratching her head for a moment.
I think "submersible" must be Steampunk for "submarine." The Shaper loves a good Renaissance Faire.
Let's go take a look!
The Cartographer's footsteps echo as she walks down a set of perforated metal stairs. Rounding a corner, she indicates a battered, but sturdy, copper submarine floating in the dock.
Meet your new vessel, Flux!
You're busy admiring Flux when you hear a startling splashing noise coming from inside its cabin.
What was that?!
The watertight hatch door groans as you open it, and you motion for the Cartographer to get behind you, fearing the worst.
I think it's an axolotl!
That's pronounced "Ax-Uh-Lot-Uhl!"
Hi, Seeker! I thought you could use some company on your trip to Atlantis. You should choose a name for your new pet! Maybe you could name it after someone who is curious, like you. After all, I hear you "axolotl" questions! ;) -The Wayfinder
Are their puns always this bad?
Bad puns aside, the creature is very cute. You feel you should name it.
Done! Let's go.
Flux is no ordinary submersible. Instead of diesel or nuclear power, Flux is fueled by your own curiosity! It will respond to you using the four "moves," or behaviors, of curiosity.
Each move controls a different function of navigation. Explore the controls below to identify the four moves.
I'm ready to navigate!
Read these Articles from the Ready for Next Library on Vox
And, I pulled two brief volumes from the library to help you explore your own motivations and relationship with curiosity. They should take about 10-12 minutes to read.
Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D.
What Are the Five Dimensions of Curiosity?
The Seven Pillars of Future Readiness Stand on Curiosity
Peder Söderlind
I'm an expert now! Next?
Click each curiosity move to see how it applies in a real-world business context.
Observe helps you spot emerging patterns in data, behavior, or conversation and turn them into insights you can act on.
Observe spots patterns and translates them into a map you can navigate.
Listen tunes you into diverse perspectives and subtle signals from people and systems that reveal unspoken needs and hidden possibilities.
Listen activates Flux’s sensors, picking up on signals and perspectives you might otherwise miss.
Wonder encourages you to explore beneath surface assumptions, uncovering fresh opportunities and unseen connections.
Wonder powers your depth controls, letting you go beneath the surface to find new possibilities.
Ask sharpens focus with each question exposing gaps, tensions, and opportunities.
Ask opens your communication systems, sending out questions and sparking dialogue.
Next
Done! Let's navigate Flux.
You close the hatch above you.
The silence is overwhelming, but as you touch the control panel, the navigational instruments spring to life with a reassuring hum.
Flux begins its descent.
From your 360-degree viewport, you watch as you travel downwards through a gently swaying forest of kelp, colorful fish darting around you.
Eventually, the rays of sunlight fade...
???
You are surrounded by complete darkness.
Click the buttons to hear the signal from your radio.
*hissssss*
*crackle*
*ksshhk--Seek--er?*
Who's there?!
A voice.
The words are distorted by static, but it seems to be calling for you.
Odd glyphs appear on your map screen, shifting in and out of view. The depth gauge trembles as if it senses something stirring far below. Could this be the Rift, opening to allow you entry to Atlantis? A creature from the deep?
You realize Flux won’t move forward until you decide how to respond.
I ascend to safety.
I enter the Rift.
I observe.
I listen.
I ask.
I wonder.
As you tune in and observe your surroundings, one glyph begins to glow more brightly than the others.
You realize that the pulses of energy you first thought to be your own heartbeat are actually vibrations emerging from the Rift.
Recognizing a rhythm, you time your navigation to follow this cadence Between pulses, you enter the Rift.
Cross the Rift
As you listen to the voice over the radio, one glyph glows more brightly than the others.
Though the signal is garbled and the words are unclear, you attune yourself to the unspoken needs they express with their tone.
You realize it's not one voice, but three. In one, you hear fear and cynicism. Another speaker signals enthusiasm, the delight of discovery. Yet another, empathy and concern. Could this be the Council of Atlantean Elders?
Cross the Rift
As you open your mind to wonder, one glyph shines brighter than the rest and you focus on the possibilities of what could be.
The voice said "Seeker," which filled you with fear. How could they have known you were coming? The Cartographer said they were suspicious of the surface world. Was it a warning to stay far away? Flux's engine seems to sense your fear, stalling in response.
Then, wonder takes the place of fear. Perhaps the voice wasn't warning you, but...inviting you? Flux's engine rumbles to life as you transform the fear of a barrier into the possibility of an invitation.
Cross the Rift
You think of the question you want to ask, and one glyph shines brightly as the rest fade away.
In the silence of the deep, you realize that the answers will not reveal themselves unless you act. You adjust the controls until you find a frequency that sounds clear enough for communicaiton."I heard you call for me. What is it you need me to understand?"
The channel remains silent. For a moment, you worry you pressed the Atlanteans too far, too fast. Suddenly, a map of the currents flahes onto your screen. It appears to be showing way to safely cross the Rift!
Cross the Rift
Before you looms the skyline—waterline?—of a city of technological marvels.
Next
Next
Your radio crackles to life.
Seeker! Seeker! Come in, Seeker!
Oh good, you're there! The Weaver called; they want you to twist the round thingy that opens a secret compartment.
Which round thing?
The Weaver says there's a hidden compartment here that will reveal a message if we find the correct round object. Click around the control panel until you find the hidden message. Click the button in the top right corner of the page to reveal hints.
I give up! Show me the message.
Hello, Seeker! I can't wait to meet you! I've heard such wonderful things already. Could you please click this button to fill out a short report about your journey? I use your notes to run coaching sessions for the other Navigators of Next. Also, I'm just a little bit nosy. -The Weaver.
Next
Just checking in, Seeker! There have been a lot of surprises today. How are you feeling so far about this Mission?
Next
This is the end of Mission One: NAVIGATE THE DEEP
Make sure you check the "Mark as Done" box at the bottom of the the email invitation you received to get credit for finishing your journey.
Stay tuned next week for Mission Two: EXPLORE ATLANTIS
Meet the Curiosity Quest team
Meet the Design Team
Gabe Sopocy—Designer and Quest Director Kristin Berggren—Product Director Laura Correal, Reb Kelly, Milica Sapic, Aditi Shukla—Learning Design Consulting Team
Thanks for letting me know how you're feeling, Seeker. I threw a lot of unexpected events at you today, but you were able to stay agile and adapt. With you as our Seeker, we're on the right path to help the world thrive in the brave pursuit of next.
If they work at Publicis Sapient, consider sending this person a recognition!Tell them you named an axolotl after them.
(Mission 1 Only) Mission One: Navigate the Deep
Gabe
Created on October 23, 2025
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Transcript
Curiosity Quest Mission 1: Navigate the Deep
Seeker, Atlantis beckons from the Rift. Your powers of curiosity can help us to retrieve the Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives and restore balance. But to enter the Rift, you're going to have to navigate the abyss. Your call. What do you want to do?
Follow my curiosity into the deep.
Stay here on the surface.
Table of Contents
If, as you quest, if you wish to navigate to a section you've already visited, you can click the menu icon in the top left corner to return to this page.
1. Mission Accepted
2. Meet Flux
3. Into the Deep
4. Enter the Rift
5. Conclusion
Start Story
Before you dive into Mission One, read this.
The Curiosity Quest is a story-driven experience. If you haven't completed Mission Start: the Call of the Seeker, you'll be missing important context. It will introduce your guide, the Cartographer, and set the stage for your journey.
Take me back to Mission Start
I'm ready for Mission One
Safe and sound.
You're back at your desk, staring at your computer screen. Instead of the mystery of the ocean depths, you've chosen to immerse yourself in the security of spreadsheets. There's nothing wrong with that! But if you find yourself curiously wondering "what if?" you can always...
Go curiously forward.
Well done, Seeker. It takes courage and vulnerability to dive into the unknown.
The Cartographer beams at you, then sweeps her fingers over the strange disc hovering over her palm. It flares to life as a holographic map of your hometown illuminates its surface.
Are you ready to meet the vessel you will navigate into the Rift to retrieve the Magnifying Glass of Manifold Perspectives from Atlantis?
No, thanks. Bye.
I'm ready, Cartographer.
Wonderful! Pay me no mind, I'm just going to activate this teleportation circle.
You begin to protest, but the Cartographer holds a finger to her lips, gently shushing you.
Never fear, Seeker. This is my second attempt at teleportation, and I'm 87% certain it will go better than the first.
Are you sure you know what you're...AHHHH!
The map lines expand to consume the screen, radiating outwards from the phone in your hand. You feel an intense energy pass through your body, like a powerful soundwave.
Wow, the dimensional parallels are frightful today! This is the perfect time for a lesson in curiosity.
NOW is the perfect time for a lesson?!
Absolutely! Haven't you ever heard of experiential learning?
I'm done!
Suddenly, you find yourself in a huge metal room. It appears to be some sort of underwater hangar with airlocks and docking bays. You look around in confusion.
Come on, Seeker. You can be curious about intraplanar navigation another time. We have a mission to complete!
You were only 87% certain this would work?
Suddenly, you find yourself in a huge metal room. It appears to be some sort of underwater hangar with airlocks and docking bays. You look around in confusion.
Come on, Seeker. You can be curious about intraplanar navigation another time. We have a mission to complete!
You were only 87% certain this would work?
Honestly, 87% is a luxury in volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) environments.
Hey, look! Someone left a note for you!
You get the feeling she's trying to distract you from discussing what might have been your demise, and...it's working. You're more curious than you are angry.
Where?!
Dear Seeker, The watercraft you will navigate is called Flux. On this journey, Flux shall be a sturdy submersible, capable of withstanding even the crushing depths of the abyss. My advice: learn and heed the four moves of curiosity. Seek well, my friend! The Shaper.
Submersible?
The Cartographer pauses, scratching her head for a moment.
I think "submersible" must be Steampunk for "submarine." The Shaper loves a good Renaissance Faire.
Let's go take a look!
The Cartographer's footsteps echo as she walks down a set of perforated metal stairs. Rounding a corner, she indicates a battered, but sturdy, copper submarine floating in the dock.
Meet your new vessel, Flux!
You're busy admiring Flux when you hear a startling splashing noise coming from inside its cabin.
What was that?!
The watertight hatch door groans as you open it, and you motion for the Cartographer to get behind you, fearing the worst.
I think it's an axolotl!
That's pronounced "Ax-Uh-Lot-Uhl!"
Hi, Seeker! I thought you could use some company on your trip to Atlantis. You should choose a name for your new pet! Maybe you could name it after someone who is curious, like you. After all, I hear you "axolotl" questions! ;) -The Wayfinder
Are their puns always this bad?
Bad puns aside, the creature is very cute. You feel you should name it.
Done! Let's go.
Flux is no ordinary submersible. Instead of diesel or nuclear power, Flux is fueled by your own curiosity! It will respond to you using the four "moves," or behaviors, of curiosity.
Each move controls a different function of navigation. Explore the controls below to identify the four moves.
I'm ready to navigate!
Read these Articles from the Ready for Next Library on Vox
And, I pulled two brief volumes from the library to help you explore your own motivations and relationship with curiosity. They should take about 10-12 minutes to read.
Todd B. Kashdan Ph.D.
What Are the Five Dimensions of Curiosity?
The Seven Pillars of Future Readiness Stand on Curiosity
Peder Söderlind
I'm an expert now! Next?
Click each curiosity move to see how it applies in a real-world business context.
Observe helps you spot emerging patterns in data, behavior, or conversation and turn them into insights you can act on.
Observe spots patterns and translates them into a map you can navigate.
Listen tunes you into diverse perspectives and subtle signals from people and systems that reveal unspoken needs and hidden possibilities.
Listen activates Flux’s sensors, picking up on signals and perspectives you might otherwise miss.
Wonder encourages you to explore beneath surface assumptions, uncovering fresh opportunities and unseen connections.
Wonder powers your depth controls, letting you go beneath the surface to find new possibilities.
Ask sharpens focus with each question exposing gaps, tensions, and opportunities.
Ask opens your communication systems, sending out questions and sparking dialogue.
Next
Done! Let's navigate Flux.
You close the hatch above you.
The silence is overwhelming, but as you touch the control panel, the navigational instruments spring to life with a reassuring hum.
Flux begins its descent.
From your 360-degree viewport, you watch as you travel downwards through a gently swaying forest of kelp, colorful fish darting around you.
Eventually, the rays of sunlight fade...
???
You are surrounded by complete darkness.
Click the buttons to hear the signal from your radio.
*hissssss*
*crackle*
*ksshhk--Seek--er?*
Who's there?!
A voice.
The words are distorted by static, but it seems to be calling for you.
Odd glyphs appear on your map screen, shifting in and out of view. The depth gauge trembles as if it senses something stirring far below. Could this be the Rift, opening to allow you entry to Atlantis? A creature from the deep?
You realize Flux won’t move forward until you decide how to respond.
I ascend to safety.
I enter the Rift.
I observe.
I listen.
I ask.
I wonder.
As you tune in and observe your surroundings, one glyph begins to glow more brightly than the others.
You realize that the pulses of energy you first thought to be your own heartbeat are actually vibrations emerging from the Rift.
Recognizing a rhythm, you time your navigation to follow this cadence Between pulses, you enter the Rift.
Cross the Rift
As you listen to the voice over the radio, one glyph glows more brightly than the others.
Though the signal is garbled and the words are unclear, you attune yourself to the unspoken needs they express with their tone.
You realize it's not one voice, but three. In one, you hear fear and cynicism. Another speaker signals enthusiasm, the delight of discovery. Yet another, empathy and concern. Could this be the Council of Atlantean Elders?
Cross the Rift
As you open your mind to wonder, one glyph shines brighter than the rest and you focus on the possibilities of what could be.
The voice said "Seeker," which filled you with fear. How could they have known you were coming? The Cartographer said they were suspicious of the surface world. Was it a warning to stay far away? Flux's engine seems to sense your fear, stalling in response.
Then, wonder takes the place of fear. Perhaps the voice wasn't warning you, but...inviting you? Flux's engine rumbles to life as you transform the fear of a barrier into the possibility of an invitation.
Cross the Rift
You think of the question you want to ask, and one glyph shines brightly as the rest fade away.
In the silence of the deep, you realize that the answers will not reveal themselves unless you act. You adjust the controls until you find a frequency that sounds clear enough for communicaiton."I heard you call for me. What is it you need me to understand?"
The channel remains silent. For a moment, you worry you pressed the Atlanteans too far, too fast. Suddenly, a map of the currents flahes onto your screen. It appears to be showing way to safely cross the Rift!
Cross the Rift
Before you looms the skyline—waterline?—of a city of technological marvels.
Next
Next
Your radio crackles to life.
Seeker! Seeker! Come in, Seeker!
Oh good, you're there! The Weaver called; they want you to twist the round thingy that opens a secret compartment.
Which round thing?
The Weaver says there's a hidden compartment here that will reveal a message if we find the correct round object. Click around the control panel until you find the hidden message. Click the button in the top right corner of the page to reveal hints.
I give up! Show me the message.
Hello, Seeker! I can't wait to meet you! I've heard such wonderful things already. Could you please click this button to fill out a short report about your journey? I use your notes to run coaching sessions for the other Navigators of Next. Also, I'm just a little bit nosy. -The Weaver.
Next
Just checking in, Seeker! There have been a lot of surprises today. How are you feeling so far about this Mission?
Next
This is the end of Mission One: NAVIGATE THE DEEP
Make sure you check the "Mark as Done" box at the bottom of the the email invitation you received to get credit for finishing your journey.
Stay tuned next week for Mission Two: EXPLORE ATLANTIS
Meet the Curiosity Quest team
Meet the Design Team
Gabe Sopocy—Designer and Quest Director Kristin Berggren—Product Director Laura Correal, Reb Kelly, Milica Sapic, Aditi Shukla—Learning Design Consulting Team
Thanks for letting me know how you're feeling, Seeker. I threw a lot of unexpected events at you today, but you were able to stay agile and adapt. With you as our Seeker, we're on the right path to help the world thrive in the brave pursuit of next.
If they work at Publicis Sapient, consider sending this person a recognition!Tell them you named an axolotl after them.