KAIJU FIGHT #2

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #2

CONTENT WARNINGS: electrophobia, body horror, death/injury, gore, violence.

▶ 001. IT'S A SMALL WORLD AFTER ALL

On the 1st of April, Outsiders will be rudely awakened by the sudden voice of Captain Yamakawa:

"Angels of Lilith. I require your immediate attention. Through your efforts at extracting information from our captives, and intel collected by our intelligence team, we have located the culprits who have stolen our specimens and are conducting illegal experiments. Your mission briefing will arrive shortly. Take caution, however. The Neo Tokyo Meteorological Agency is reporting strange abnormalities in their readings. We will look further into this. For now, stay sharp and be prepared."

The alarm will sound in the base, urging all Outsiders to suit up, bring their weapons and get ready for the mission. A location pin will then be downloaded into their implant, along with an associated mission briefing. The location will lead to an abandoned amusement park that might be familiar to some - Tokyo Disneyland. The brief will report that according to intel, there is an unauthorized research facility hidden within the premises. Outsiders are to locate it, storm it, and seize any lab specimens they can find.

To get to the theme park, characters will be able to take trains to the edge of Neo Tokyo where they can then be transported by armored trucks through what remains of old roads. Eventually, when the terrain becomes too destroyed and overgrown with brush, they’ll have to travel by foot the rest of the way. However, they will have to be careful because it looks like someone has laid out traps. Some of them are designed to capture animals but others are clearly booby traps meant to deter intruders.

From the outside, nothing looks out of the ordinary in this old park - there are classic attractions such as Cinderella’s castle, the Haunted Mansion, Alice’s Teacup ride, the Western River Railroad, and many, many more. While most of the rides are weathered down and no longer functional, there are plenty of old gift shops and carnival game booths with prizes to take home for free (if you don’t mind a really old Minnie Mouse doll).

LILITH was not able to pinpoint exactly where this secret laboratory is hidden within the enormous park, and it’s now up to the Outsiders to find it. All implants will be fitted with a heat-seeking function to allow Outsiders to detect anomalies within the park.

The first part of the mission is simple: Scour the rides and attractions and find the entrance.

Outsiders may encounter more booby traps while searching the park. Traps will range from making parts of attractions and buildings collapse on intruders to more elaborate and high-tech ones like electric fields or explosive traps. Players are more than welcome to come up with their own traps so long as it fits the setting.

▶ 002. BOO WHO?

Eventually, Outsiders will find themselves drawn to the Haunted Mansion, where there appear to be several abnormal signs of life. While the mansion would hardly have been scary to anyone but children several hundred years ago, centuries without any sort of maintenance have turned the place into a real nightmare. Pitch darkness, decrepit fake graves that look like they could be real ones, and the mysterious chatter of – is that a ghost? There are flickers of life within the old animatronics, and ever so often you might see a skeleton or zombie twitch. They might even take a swing at an unsuspecting Outsider.

The deeper into the mansion you travel, the more power it appears to have, until the Outsiders reach a door that appears to be heavily guarded by a group of humans holding vicious chimeras on a leash.

Once LILITH receives this intel, the next order is given: Storm the lab immediately!

▶ 003. LET'S GECK-GO!

As the Outsiders infiltrate the lab, the air buzzes with electricity and everyone's hair begins to stand on end not from fear but from the sheer amount of energy generated. There may be a lot of machines generating a lot of power and some of it may be spilling excess electricity into the air but this feels different. It feels more potent.

Suddenly, the park comes to life. Old generators buzz to life, staticky music begins to play on the worn out speakers, and the lights begin to flash. From the overgrowth surrounding the park, trees begin to topple over. It is obvious that something is approaching and whatever it is seems to have a lot of energy. From the trees, a giant, gecko-like creature emerges. The air around it sparks and each step it takes generates a wave of electricity that follows the many wires and systems laid out underground.

The energy at the park seems to be drawing the unknown kaiju towards the park and more geckos appear from the forests behind it. They move quickly through the park and climb over the buildings and attractions. When they see a hybrid or a person nearby, they will stun them with their electric fields and try to eat them. As they begin to swarm the park, they go into a feeding frenzy that infects the air around them. Rides begin to spin faster, the music grows louder, lights explode, and the more electricity and power the geckos absorb, the bigger they become when they shed their skins.

One gecko in particular grows faster than the others. This one will keep growing with no apparent end in sight and begins climbing over the highest rides until they topple under its weight. Outsiders will have to avoid collapsing rubble and climb over ruined attractions to take down this kaiju while also stopping the other geckos from growing to the same size.

After dealing with the gecko kaiju for some time without any information, a report will finally come in:

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Yamadenki
HEIGHT: 3 metres- unknown (does not stop growing)
WEIGHT: 1,500-70,000 kg
CLASS: Dangerous
LOCATION: Kanto, Japan
ABILITIES: Stores electricity within its body. Uses static electricity to climb up and stick to objects. Can use electric shocks to stun and injure prey. The more energy they absorb, the bigger they grow. When close enough to a human, it kills them by biting into their flesh and absorbing the electrical currents within the cells, disrupting the heart rate and nervous system. It then eats the flesh.
WEAKNESS: Attacks to the head and body. Ice and extreme cold (they are cold blooded).
EXTRA NOTES: Can regrow appendages. Their severed appendages and bodies can retain electricity for an unknown amount of time so proceed with caution.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Cut off the supply of electricity at the park by disabling all generators
✖ Bring back the Yamadenki (alive or dead) for research purposes
✖ Bring back the hybrid specimens
✖ Capture all suspicious persons for interrogation

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

The Outsiders will have to cut off all energy supplies to stop feeding the newly named Yamadenki and then defeat them.

▶ 004. A RIFT IN SPACE-TIME

"MAYDAY, MAYDAY! Unknown energy signal detected! Reaching maximum output! Our sensors are detecting a breach in the inter-dimensional fabric!"

An hour into battle, Outsiders will receive a sudden warning signal, urging them to complete their mission and eliminate the Yamadenki before it’s too late. All that concentrated energy generated at the park is being corrupted by the Yamadenki, and it’s not long before a rift bursts through from beneath the Haunted Mansion, causing a huge explosion and a rain of rubble and mysterious energy. It’s the first of its kind. A rift has never opened this close to Neo Tokyo!

Energy from the rift seems to affect anyone standing too close to it, transforming any unprotected human into a snarling, groaning, human-reptilian hybrid. These hybrids have electrical qualities similar to the Yamadenki and are just as ferocious. The plugsuits issued by LILITH should protect characters against any nasty transformations (unless there is some damage to them or they have taken them off), but exposure to the rift can still result in increased headaches, vertigo, irritability and impulsiveness.

The rift is growing larger by the minute, and from the other side of it - the growling of a number of unknown beasts can be heard. Even the higher ups within LILITH are anxious about this. The only way to stop the rift is to cut off its power supply.

"Angels of LILITH! We must act fast! Disable all generators and subdue the Kaiju before it’s too late!"

▶ 005. AFTERMATH.

As the Outsiders shut down generators and take down the Yamadenki, the rift shrinks in size until finally it closes. Everything at the park goes still now that there is no more power to run things. Some of the corrupted humans and hybrids still linger and will have to be taken down or captured but they are in weakened states now that the rift has closed.

Outsiders will be tasked with capturing the Rift-infected humans who will then be transported to LILITH base for treatment... if they can be treated, that is. Outsiders will also need to report for treatment. Characters may experience the lingering effects of the rift such as the vertigo, headaches, shorter tempers, and impulsive behavior. The LILITH medics aren’t sure what to do other than prescribing bed rest and maybe offering some medication for their headaches. The worst cases may be prescribed sedatives.

Normally, LILITH would order the Outsiders to retrieve specimens from the field but given the events that unfolded, they are told to standby until a special research unit can inspect the area for contamination and give the all clear.

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our second Kaiju log! As before, all prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. ICly, any characters suffering negative effects from the rift will recover within a week, though you are welcome to determine the severity of their symptoms during that time.

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the smaller kaijus. The main fight with the largest gecko will be determined via a HP-based system (See below).

All tags in this log count for 2 reward points each. Ask any further questions below!

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Comments

C. breaching out

[cranekin]

Aaaah! You're taking too long!

(The voice that calls out sounds more like someone complaining that a friend is taking too long to get ready for an event instead of someone in the middle of a battle. Yes, he sounds annoyed but it's light, friendly, and in good nature.

And on cue, the speaker appears. Dressed in LILITH's uniform, he doesn't stand out as much as he would if he could wear his robes. Maybe Ryoji can sense from his reinforcement that the man isn't quite... human? Sure, he looks human but there's an unnatural sort of feeling to him. No human should have such a sharp aura.)

It's best to not think of it as human. (It. He's already dehumanized their enemy.) They're just shadows of what they were.

(Sword drawn at his side, blade black with a mix of blue and red blood from kaiju and hybrids. If Ryoji can sense anything, he may notice that the man and the blade feel the same.

He's makes his way over to Ryoji's side. There's no need to rush. It looks like it isn't going anywhere but there's also no time to waste so he moves swiftly. If Ryoji won't act then he'll gladly make the final blow.)

[memors]

[ It's fortunate that Ryoji is able to quickly identify the newcomer as an ally rather than a foe, with how he approaches brandishing his weapon. Even in his uniform, he remains uneasy, on-guard, and though it would take a miracle for him to lower his guard at present anyway, there's still something about the way this man — no, not quite a man — approaches and insists on a dogma that even Death himself is questioning.

Then again, if he didn't expect someone to respond, why did he speak aloud? Why is he surprised, to find an answer that reaffirms what seems the most logical?

As such, he doesn't intervene as the swordsman moves in to draw the distorted hybrid's final breath. He doesn't flinch, either — only observes, and though his mask renders no expression, there's a pause afterwards that is undeniably curious.

Why did he expect things to unfold differently? Would they have, if a human themselves had intervened instead? ]

If their minds are too far gone to be recovered, then yes, I would agree. Even then, in the hands of LILITH, it's unlikely a kind fate awaits them. Even if they were returned to our enemies...

And yet...it still bothers me. [ He grinds the toe of his boot into the blood that seeps towards him from the new corpse. ] I do not understand why.

[cranekin]

(He's glad that Ryoji doesn't kick up a fuss. It makes it easier for everyone involved. They don't have to argue and get philosophical, this twisted creature in front of them doesn't have to wait for its end. Instead, he can act swiftly, raising his sword and piercing it through. He ends it quickly and he likes to think painlessly. Drawing his blade back, he lets the blood drip, _{drip, drip} next to him. )

If they could regain their minds, they would only curse their lives. No human wants to live such a twisted and miserable life.

(He speaks with a sense of calm certainty but keeps his tone soft. He's only just met this boy. There's no reason to tear into him. )

If you're only bothered, consider yourself lucky. (And he shrugs, flicking the blood from his blade,) Because if you understood, you might feel worse.

[memors]

[ Don't the want to live such a twisted and miserable life? he has to ask himself. The thought pushes and pulls through his mind like a cloud of smoke, leave him unresponsive for a long moment after Tsurumaru speaks. That is his natural inclination, what the well of dreadful Death within him insists upon, and yet...what about SEES, and their choice to keep their memories, even if it meant they would be miserable until their inevitable fate? Why do so many choose misery over death?

Death is supposed to be the end, the ultimate fate. ]

...I'm not so sure. [ He says at last. ] That they would not choose to live. Yet the weight of exacting judgment falls upon us...that isn't usually my task. [ He is the wrong Arcana for that. ] Even so, it must be a mercy. To let them die here, when no doubt only pain and suffering would await them.

[ It must be. It must be.

A tilted of his masked head towards Tsurumaru— ]

You speak of humanity, but you are not one yourself. Correct?

[cranekin]

(Giving a curious glance, brow raised and waiting patiently for him to continue. He's waited this long for an answer so what's another moment or two? )

...

(Eyes bright, sparkling with the wonder of a student, of someone learning something. For all of his certainty and as set as he is in his ways, he's still able to learn and he only takes in Ryoji's words, turning them over, considering them, and choosing to file them away for now. He isn't sure how much he agrees with but he can think of some people who would and he thinks those people are quite incredible for better or worse.)

I still think it's cruel.

(He won't comfort himself with ideas like intended kindness or mercy. He'll own up to his actions.)

Hmm... (He hums to himself. He's flighty and he's vague but he doesn't lie.) In a sense.

(It's a little more complicated than that.)

I have the makings of a human. If that's enough, then I am but if not, then I'm not.

(He has a human form. He has human needs. He has mortality. And, for better or worse, he has a heart.)

[memors]

[ Then perhaps they're not so different, even if Ryoji can tell at a glance that he isn't a Shadow. Still, isn't it fascinating? How many creatures tend towards humanity, one way or another. He's been asking the question a lot lately of what it actually means to be human, but as long as he's still searching for the answer, he can't consider himself one.

And as of now, he hardly looks the part, either. ]

I am the same. Given a human form and humans, and yet I still am something else... [ A shake of his head. ] It doesn't matter whether I think you're human, one way or another. Only you can decide that for yourself.

[ Wouldn't it be the more human thing to have let the creature live? Then again, maybe how conflicted he is is just a testament to how both sides of that emotion belong to a human heart. ]

...We shouldn't linger here. There are more to take care of.

[cranekin]

You too?

(Something that looks human but isn't? He wonders if they might have similar circumstances too but now isn't the time to get to know one another. It's something to save for now.)

What wise words.

(Wise words for someone who looks so young, he thinks. It's the same sort of thing the old man would say back home. )

Can you take care of it? (It's a chance to pull out now. He'd seemed so hesitant earlier, he'd hate for him to freeze again.) If you hesitate again, the outcome may be different.

[memors]

[ The implication isn't lost on him, even if it's puzzling, to consider that actual harm could come to him, to death itself. He's suffered minor injuries in this battle, but is it even possible for him to suffer a mortal blow?

...Better not to find out. Even so, he shakes his head. ]

I won't hesitate next time. You've reminded me of the true purpose of my blade, my reason for existing.

[ So why does he feel so unsettled...? It doesn't matter right now. Later, he can linger with his thoughts, when the battle is done, and there aren't lives on the line. ]

I am Death. For them, I can bring mercy, and an end to their suffering.

[cranekin]

...

(Death? He wonders how much of this is metaphor and how much of it is literal. Hm. Now isn't the time to fuss over such things, though. )

Now, now.

(Have a pat on the back as he gets going,)

There's no reason to be so serious. (And he smiles a little too easily, like he isn't at all bothered by the idea of going back out there and killing whatever gets in his way.) As long as you're alive, things can change. Even your reason.

Let's go.