PRE-FIGHT EVENT #1

[synfluxmods]

PRE-FIGHT EVENT #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: natural disaster, PTSD, mind-control, psychological trauma, violence, delirium from heat, temporary blindness, hallucinations, dead bodies.

▶ 001. STORM CHASERS.

After weeks of searching for clues on the kaiju and missing people, the desert landscape begins to blend together. Didn’t you pass that cactus earlier today? That rock formation looks exactly like the one you passed the other day. It’s natural to loop back around when conducting a search but doesn’t it feel like everyone has been going in circles more frequently?

The heat isn’t helping either. Temperatures start to rise and continue to rise to all time highs. The sun is unrelenting and the only reliable shelter they have are their campers. Prolonged exposure outside will result in heat exhaustion, dehydration, and delirium.

Warnings will be sent to the Outsiders via their implants to keep them up to date with the weather as well as providing health tips such as reminders to stay hydrated or seek shelter during the hottest parts of the day. They will also receive warnings for sand storms and tornadoes called dust devils. The storms start of short and relatively weak but gradually begin to last longer and become more powerful. Pretty soon, Outsiders will not be able to see ahead from the dense sand and wind.

Outsiders will be told to chase after the storms and if they progress far enough, they will begin to find traces of people. They will find random belongings, articles of clothing, and occasionally, human remains in varying states of decomposition. Eventually, however, they will start to find survivors suffering from extreme fatigue and dehydration. They speak incoherently to themselves and as soon as they regain their strength, they try to run into storms while calling out to things that people can’t see.

Outsiders can wait for emergency caravans to arrive from Vegas to take survivors back to the city or they can take back the survivors themselves and use the opportunity to restock on supplies.

▶ 002. THE STORM CALLS.

The sandstorms increase and grow stronger until eventually, they last entire days. The sands shift, the grounds shake, and something thunderous can be heard in the dust. It becomes harder to see out in the desert and it’s almost like the storms are trying to hide something. At the edge of a storm, sharp eyed Outsiders may catch sight of a great shadowy serpent in the heart of the storm. Messages to their implants will urge them to get closer and investigate but be careful.

The storm grows stronger as they approach and the camper vans may slow down or get stuck in the shifting sands forcing some of them to proceed on foot to make visuals. Eventually, they will get close enough to finally establish clear visuals on their target: A giant sand worm. It’s size is not immediately clear due to the poor visibility and it being partially underground. However, the worm also sees them and when it does, it glows. The light catches on and reflects against the sand particles and that’s when it hits some of the Outsiders: A sudden splitting headache followed by an inability to look away.

Some outsiders may suddenly find themselves entranced by the worm; hypnotized. They will begin to see mirages and hear voices calling out to them in the storm. Captivated Outsiders will find themselves wanting to run into the storm to chase after the phantoms, some of them images and figures of people from their past and present back home. If anyone attempts to stop them, they will become irrational, violent, and turn on their friends and allies. Some Outsiders may begin to view their allies as enemies and attack, turning on one another in a gruesome frenzy. Some of the hypnotic beams will effect those still in their campers, turning on their friends and other Outsiders.

Outsiders will have to restrain each other to keep them from running into the desert or harming each other. In the chaos, the worm disappears into the storm. The psychic effects of the monster will weaken after the worm disappears and the storm dies down but it may leave some characters feeling overwhelmed and confused in the aftermath. Some will remain in an erratic state for several days, occasionally acting normal. In the insanity of all of this, Outsiders may have picked up another Outsider into their camper van for their protection or camper parties remain shuffled. It's up to the ones unaffected by the psychic attacks to watch over the others while retreating from the desert.

▶ 003. CITY OF DREAMS.

Following the disaster of the first sighting, LILITH will order characters to return to Vegas so they can assess what happened. En route to Vegas, some Outsiders may notice some side effects from the prolonged exposure to the sandstorm. They may experience shortness of breath and coughing as a result of breathing in so much dust. Furthermore, they may experience a splitting headache or pain behind their eyes. Their implants may lag, glitch, or go completely offline which will render them temporarily blind in one or both eyes. It seems that the fine sand and dust combined with whatever psychic damage the worm did may have messed with their implants and crossed some sensors which is all the more reason to return to Vegas for treatment.

Outsiders may become lethargic and experience vivid daydreams while they are awake or regular dreams while sleeping. In these dreams, they may relive memories. Some of these memories may be pleasant but others may be traumatic or things characters would rather keep secret. Unfortunately, being in close proximity to someone suffering from these effects will force a link through a glitch in their implants and drag other characters into the dream.

These links will function similarly to how simulation training works. The dreams they visit appear to be very realistic and characters can experience pain and be hurt within the memory. They will be able to interact with the memories. While in these memories, they can try to wake up the memory holder to bring them back to reality. Who knows, maybe helping each other understand what is real and a dream may even make them more resilient to the worm’s attacks the next time they go into the desert...

▶ 004. REST & RECOVERY

As characters recover from the psychic effects and implant glitches, LILITH will try to assess everyone’s biometrics to understand what happened. Characters who need therapy or counseling after reliving some horrible memories of theirs will be provided sessions via their implants. They now understand that the worm has some sort of psychic mind control power that it can use on victims. It is currently too dangerous to go back into the desert until they can come up with a proper defense against it.

Outsiders will be ordered to stay in Vegas and focus on recovery, given two queen side bed hotel rooms again OR if they would prefer to stay in the camper vans, that is also fine, with their same room mates or new ones. They are confident that they can fix the implants with the right upgrade but they aren’t sure what to do to stop people from following the call of the desert and making them act erratically. What is important is that LILITH sticks together.

In the meantime, those who have recovered, and even those who are experiencing these issues are ordered to remain close to one another; a buddy system of sorts. Each Outsider will be given designated groups to keep tight watch over one another while in Vegas. They will be responsible for physically checking on those in their groups and making sure one another’s whereabouts are properly tracked in order to avoid losing anyone to the desert.

LILITH encourages Outsiders to hang tight and wait for instructions before adventuring back out into the desert.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

In light of the results of the scheduling poll, here is our first event with a preview of the kaiju. All side effects from either the sandstorms or the worm kaiju can last for as short or as long as players would like.

For the daydreams/memory share, players can decide how they would like characters to experience the memories, whether it plays out in front of them like a movie or if they're reliving it by acting out the scene all over again or a mix of both. We encourage you guys to have fun with it and use whatever format feels most comfortable.

As always, feel free to leave questions under the QUESTIONS thread. All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards June AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. STORM CHASERS: Outsiders, still in the now expanded Mojave Desert, face problems with heat and sandstorms, resulting in dehydration and delirium. Still, LILITH encourages them to press onward in their camper vans and desert approved attire. Many dead bodies are found, but those that survive, Outsiders can keep an eye on survivors until emergency care can come pick them up.

2. STORM CALLS: A glimpse of the creature causing the problems is seen beneath the sands surface: a giant sandworm. It attacks LILITH recruits with psychological damage, causing Outsiders to hallucinate memories of their past, act erratic and violent and turn on LILITH crew. Outsiders are tasked to wrangle in one another and retreat back to Las Vegas to recover.

3. CITY OF DREAMS: Seeking refuge back in Las Vegas, character's implants go haywire from the psychic attacks, causing a memory share between characters that are close enough to one another.

4. REST & RECOVERY: Outsiders are placed in hotels again, or if they prefer to stay in the camper vans. They are tasked to keep an eye out on one another and sit tight for further instructions while LILITH assesses their data and next move to wrangle in the sandworm. Outsiders are to wait until given instructions.

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Comments

aventurine | honkai star rail | revelation

[stonehearts]

▶ 001. STORM CHASERS.

( For those in Aventurine's campervan, he'll readily tell them about how to keep cool in the desert, and how to dress for going out in the sandstorms to fish out those survivors they do manage to find -- cover your mouth with loose, natural fiber fabric if they don't have any masks on hand and goggles. Outside in the storm, with regards for the survivors of... whatever it is that's gotten into them, Aventurine will make a grab for any that will let him close, doing his best to keep them from wandering further into the storm. )

Here, just get them in here--

( He says, gesturing back towards his campervan. At least they've got Ratio to help look any survivors over. )

▶ 002. THE STORM CALLS.

( It's just his luck, isn't it? To be hit with something that plays tricks with his mind -- again. There is a part of Aventurine that knows it can't be real, that the images of his mother, his father, his sister in the storm is just that -- a trick played on him by a raging headache and the worm he'd spotted, the worm that had looked at him. He's had experience with splitting headaches, with hallucinations born of his own memories, coughed up by the Harmony to taunt him.

He doesn't think much of it, his feet acting of their own free will while his mind is occupied with talking itself through whatever the hell is going on; the moment someone touches him, he jerks his arm away. Again, and he can't help himself -- )

Let go.

( The snarl that escapes him is unlike the easygoing gambler that Aventurine is normally, though perhaps it's more of a glimpse into his true mindset at the moment -- anyone wishing to drag him back into their campervan may not have a fight on their hands, but Aventurine isn't going to make it easy for them. )

▶ 003. CITY OF DREAMS.

[ Memory share option! Please see his plotting post for available memories and please mind the content warnings. Feel free to presume your character got close to Aventurine during the day, as he likely will not be allowing other people around him at night the moment he gets wind of what's going on. ]

▶ 004. REST & RECOVERY

( Aventurine dislikes being fretted over, and therefor anyone with a bone to pick with him, questions to ask about the memories they've seen, or wanting to check up on his wellbeing will find him hard to find. He can be found, however, in bars, entertainment venues, and tacky souviner shops by those wishing to see if he's alright, though the signs that he's not sleeping well have faded since the incidents of memory sharing have gotten less and less. He is, conspicuously, not going into any casino. Wow, why's that I wonder? )

▶ 005. WILDCARD

[ Want something that's not covered by the options above? Throw something at me, or reach out on discord @ menphina or on plurk @ tsarcasm ]

The Storm Calls

[curingidiocy]

[ It is, of course, Ratio who had reached out to him, to try to grip his arm firmly. He frowns at the reply, so uncharacteristic of the easygoing mask he knows Aventurine usually wears. ]

Where do you think you're going, gambler?

002 👀 and then a roll into memshare

[coordination]

No!

[ Comes the very sharp, angry voice of ....... well he's technically still very handsome with his shiny silver hair and blue eyes, but his hair's all fucked up, there's the start of a black eye around one of those eyes and his nose is bleeding a little bit. Because only a short while earlier Yzak was affected by the stupid giant brainworm himself and ended up rolling around in the sand with Dearka who was desperately trying to stop him and they both beat the shit out of each other a little.

But Yzak is still up and about and very alert! So clearly he's fine! Thank you, genetic enhancement.

His recent experience also has him very well aware that what Aventurine is doing now is the worst idea. ]

Use your brain! I know it's still working in there! There's nothing out in that storm.

[stonehearts]

( It's only by sheer willpower that Aventurine doesn't snarl something further, that it's his family -- the part of Aventurine's brain that still recognizes that this can't be true is attempting to remind him that no, he can't go with them just yet, did he not make a promise to himself? There are things waiting for him, there are people waiting for him--

But his feet won't listen, the majority of his brain feels the compulsion and a raging, horrible headache. )

I saw them. ( His brain insists. ) I--

( And then the headache rears itself again, pounding against the walls of his skull and he grips his head, nearly doubling over from the pain of it. )

[coordination]

Hey—!

[ One hand still on his shoulder from trying to hold him back, Yzak takes a step forward and puts his other arm out in front of Aventurine, ready to steady him if needed if he sways any harder and loses his balance. Or, if the headache gets any works and he needs to kneel down, Yzak can make sure he doesn't just collapse.

He doesn't yell (small blessings), but he does keep his voice firm, authoritative, which comes all too easily to him. Because he knows from experience that this ... influence is powerful, and trying to confront it nicely or softly isn't going to cut it. ]

I saw someone, too. He wasn't real.

They aren't real. Whoever they are. Just think about it - you'd have known, they would have woken up the same way we have. They wouldn't just appear like this! That monster out there is making us hallucinate!

[stonehearts]

( He knows Yzak is right. His brain is screaming at him, both the part that wants him to follow his family back into the storm and the other part that reminds him they're dead. They're not going to be here, why would this place bring back the dead just to haunt Aventurine?

He groans again, pained, but manages to stay on his feet. The words that he manages to grit out are at least a step in the positive direction: )

Get me out of here.

( Because his feet won't work in the way he wants them to, digging into the sand in a preemptive effort to make it difficult for Yzak. )

[coordination]

Affirmative.

[ A promising thing to hear, even though he can tell the pull on Aventurine is still strong, clinging, trying to hang on as long and as hard as it can. It took him a few moments to really shake it off ... and he still worries that some part of it still lingers in him, even if nothing's happened to cause that particular fear. ]

Hang on to me. [ That outstretched arm remains for him to use to steady himself and eventually move at whatever pace he likes. A little more help on Aventurine's end would be nice, but luckily Yzak is more than good for this job. He's tall, he's strong - not just from the enhanced genes that naturally puts him at a higher level than a normal human, but years of training as a soldier means he could throw someone twice his size over his shoulder if he wanted.

Which he doesn't do now. But he could if the other man doesn't seem like he can make much use of his legs on his own. But he'd like to not immediately jump to that if only to let him have his dignity. ]

Who else are you staying with? I'll get you back to them.

[stonehearts]

( Aventurine's grip is strong, his brow furrowed as he takes the offered arm. He hates this, feeling like he's not in control of his own body, his own mind, and it's clear on his normally beautiful face -- twisted and tight. Every step back is met with resistance, but he is trying, slowly and with great reluctance, but he is. )

Ratio. Yuji. Raidou. Choso--

( Any will do, but he has his preference: Ratio. Who he won't have to explain anything to, though he's getting the feeling that the other three aren't in the habit of asking too many prying questions either. )

[coordination]

Got it.

[ He says that, and then frowns. ]

Things are still pretty hectic - odds are they might be ... preoccupied, with their own shit. [ Whether said shit is getting mind controlled or helping their fellow Outsiders. ] So I'll get you to your van, and then we'll see what we can do from there. Just specify which one is yours.

[ If Yzak can at least drop him off and let him rest ... as well as get a brief respite himself in the process, that would feel pretty good after all of this. ]

[stonehearts]

( He's probably right, though Aventurine wants to argue that Ratio would help him no matter what. Because it's Ratio. Still that's not the question that's being asked here, and Aventurine struggles to pick out which one is his for a long moment before pointing at one, not the furthest away, but no small walk, either. )

I'm sure Ratio will be, at the very least. He's a doctor. ( Eight times over. But anyway. ) That one, there.

001.

[the_fourteenth]

[When Adventurine details desert survival tips, Raidou listens attentively and takes the advice to heart. Despite the fact that he's run down from the heat and the storm's damage, he's working diligently as ever. He approaches with a civilian who's barely conscious, their arm around Raidou's shoulder, who's trying to keep them on their feet. With a nod, he helps Adventurine get the person into the van so they can rest and get looked over.

When done, he grabs himself a water refill of his canteen, but he hands it to Adventurine first.]

How are you fairing?

[stonehearts]

( How is he fairing? Well enough, Aventurine supposes, for being in a place that reminds him of several parts of his life he'd like to put behind him. It could be worse, he knows. Getting the survivor settled, Aventurine tells them they'll have a doctor take a look when he's back. Whenever... he should get back.

That is worrisome, and his brow creases in contemplation before Raidou's voice brings him back out of it. )

Me? ( He hums, gently waving off the offered canteen. ) Oh, well enough. Better than these poor sods, at any rate.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou nods, though he hesitates to take the canteen back.]

Are you sure? I know you have experience in environments like this, but...

[It's really rough, being out there this long. This skinny little mountain boy hates how much quicker he's getting tired out here than he would elsewhere.]

I'd hate to see us be in line to see the doctor next.

[stonehearts]

I'm sure.

( He's fine not because of the familiar environment -- well, not completely -- but because he has a breadth of experience on surviving the worst possible scenarios. If he needs water to survive, water will find its way to him eventually, whether or not he wants it. )

Oh, Ratio won't mind, even if he seems like he's going to lecture you about your "incredibly foolish and reckless actions". He's used to patching me up, anyway. ( Aventurine offers Raidou an encouraging smile. ) He'll keep all of us in shape.

[the_fourteenth]

I get enough lectures about that as it is. I'll try to make sure he doesn't have to do it, too.

[Aventurine gets a tired smile in return.]

You two have known each other a long time, yes? From back home.

[Raidou's a little jealous of people who have others from home here. Though he wonders if it would add or lessen the stress, considering how dangerous it can get here.]

[stonehearts]

You as well? ( He snorts, running a hand through his hair. ) Seems like some people just can't help themselves sometimes. Ah well, if it makes them feel better.

( As for the question, he nods. Aventurine knows he's lucky to have ended up here with Ratio, especially considering what happened back in their own world, but ending up completely alone would have been... a challenge. One he would have dealt with, of course, but it's always easier to crawl back from the bottom when you have someone genuinely in your court. Someone you don't have to use. )

A few years. Our employer seems to think we work well together. They're right, of course, but it wasn't without its rough spots at the beginning of our partnership.

[the_fourteenth]

[He nods, a little sheepishly.]

I was taught to protect others. It's all I've ever done. So it's hard to stop.

[He's trying, but it's very hard to override a lifetime of training.

He's trying to imagine what in the world their employer might have been back home, and is coming up short.]

What did you two do for work?

[stonehearts]

( 'Protect others', huh? Aventurine can name several things he thinks about that: what about the ones you can't reach, that there's no such thing as true altruism in the world (save that which motivates Ratio most days, perhaps, but it had taken years for Aventurine to believe that about the other man), that eventually you're going to fail and was it worth it, then?

(He remembers trying desperately, with his newfound power as Aventurine, to find and repay the kindness he'd received when he'd been just a child trying to survive, to find whoever was left of his clan and save them -- it had been the first thing he wanted to do, the first request on his lips to the other Stonehearts as a peer.

There were none of them left. Of his clan, of those who had helped him. Just Aventurine and his luck.)

But he's playing it safe here and not wishing to alienate people he might need at some point in time, so he keeps his mouth shut. For now, at least. Though there's a tight line at the corner of his mouth as he lets the subject drop in favor of talking about a safer subject: Ratio. )

He's a professor, but the... sponsor of his research tends to ask him to advise on operations if they think it's required. I work for the organization that funds his sponsor. It's a delicate matter to those who work in the Intelligentsia Guild like Ratio does. ( A wave of his hand, as if he doesn't see why an academic and research organization would hate to be connected and funded by the galaxy's biggest corporation. Ethics? Not when you're dealing with the IPC, but scholars get twitchy about such things. ) I'm a Non-Performing Asset Liquidation Specialist with the Strategic Investment Department of the Interastral Peace Corporation. ( That's a mouthful and he knows it. ) In other words, if there's a particularly difficult situation plaguing my department, I'm the one that has to come up with a solution that maximizes gains, minimizes losses, and never leaves the IPC holding a losing hand.

Wildcard sorta to the tune of option 1...?

[busternaut]

[They're all doing the best to gather up whatever survivors they can. Unfortunately, the sandstorms sometimes have different plans.

Whenever that happens, you're not really aiming for any particular camper to take cover in. Whatever's closest, whatever you happen to sprint towards first is what you stick with. That's how Dearka's wound up in here, catching his breath exactly where he's fallen inside: on his back on the stairs up into the main floor of the camper.

He's coughing and trying to shake some of the sand out of his.... Everything. Hair, clothes, mouth. He'd kept his face covered but somehow it'd still gotten in there. Between coughs, he manages to voice a particular complaint:]

Fuck...! Why the hell would anyone ever choose to live near a desert!?

YESSSS

[stonehearts]

( It's not that Aventurine minds strangers falling into the campervan -- he's been led to one himself, grateful for the break from the sand and the worm's headache. Which he still has, in fairness, so it's not that much of a relief. Still, at least it likely wasn't going to kill him -- unlike the last time he'd had a headache forced on him.

Anyway. )

In my experience people don't really have a choice of where they're born.

( Aventurine says, peering down at the other blond man with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. )

[busternaut]

Feh. [A sound that's half a scoff, half Dearka trying to get sand out of his mouth.] Then they should move somewhere else after they're born! Seriously, there's no good reason to stay...

[Yeah, he's not exactly privilege savvy, sorry. But he's also not going to sit here and keep bitching about this one specific thing, luckily. He leans back to look up at Aventurine and stretches a hand up vertically to shake.]

Well. Sorry for crashing your camper. Name's Dearka Elthman. Guess I'll be laying low here for a bit until the storm dies down.

[Surely that's not a problem? 🙂]

[stonehearts]

And if all of it is sand? ( He clicks his tongue. ) Or what if they have no money? Or any other means to leave?

( His smile tightens imperceptibly, though he reaches down and takes Dearka's hand to shake all the same, a wider smile replacing the one previously -- though it does not quite reach his eyes. That's normal for Aventurine, however, so don't take it personally Dearka. )

Aventurine. ( A stone, but also a name. ) And please, there's enough space here for all of us. We even have a doctor, though he hasn't exactly hurried back.

( There's a flicker of concern in his face, his eyes going back to the door. Damnit, where is Ratio? )

[busternaut]

[Aventurine raises some excellent questions. Unfortunately, Dearka not really in the mood for entertaining them. He just wanted to complain about the desert, not get a lecture in geographic inequity :(

Easy enough to move past it, particularly when they have what is potentially a much greater problem on their hands.]

Eh? Geez, don't tell me you think he's still out there...?

[He's standing up finally, brushing himself off and peering with concern out one of the camper windows at the storm raging beyond.]

Can you not reach him on the ocular?

[stonehearts]

( Sorry Dearka you picked the former desert kid to complain about the desert to, though he will agree that the desert does suck. It's why his clan was pushed out there as an acceptable sacrifice for peace and prosperity! )

Not a peep. ( In fairness to Ratio, howver: ) He's not likely to get tricked by his own brain, though, it's too big for that.

[busternaut]

[Dearka glances at Aventurine and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.]

Uh... not to convince you to worry more, but I don't think brain size is going to protect him from the sand, at the speeds this wind is whipping it around at...