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.

code

Comments

wildcard for lobcorp memsharing and capture the flag + egg cameo if possible

[penaltypoints]

[ It's another day. From your office, you continue to oversee the facility's operations and communicate with each department — currently, the arrangement of screens in front of you displays the Sephirah of the Information Team. ]

You've exceeded my expectations, despite your first impression. Allow me to explain your next—

[ Yesod is not given to effusive praise, and he treats you no differently from everyone else, regardless of your position as Lobotomy Corporation's new manager. The memory flickers between showing him as a human and as a robot, which extends to Hod as well as she bursts into the main room of the Information Department, interrupting Yesod mid-sentence.

"Yesod!" she exclaims (but would she look identical to Michelle now? Slightly different?), earning her a disapproving stare. "I just heard that your team had a ton of casualties!"

It's no exaggeration, but it's nothing out of the ordinary, either. This is the norm in Lobotomy Corporation. Day after day, people die here in all manner of gruesome ways. ]

How many times has it been now?

[ It's an endless cycle. What is Hod doing besides wasting everyone's time by pointing out the obvious, facts already noted? The argument between the two Sephirot stretches on awhile longer; Hod may not present her perspective confidently, but she suggests that leading their departments should include offering their employees some moral support, in person, with at least a few words to cheer up the survivors. It's clear that she and Yesod don't see eye to eye.

In fact, Yesod dismisses Hod's advice quite bluntly: ]

Perhaps your aim is different from mine, then. I see no point in being sentimental. Caring too much about the respect of employees or the little complaints they make will steer you away from what's truly important.

[ Once Hod gives up, retreating, Yesod turns to face you again, this time to invite your input. As before, he speaks as though he remains unaffected by all of this — the exchange just then, the losses. Accidents happen, after all, as he reminded Hod. It's not a big fuss. It's nothing to dwell on. ]

What do you think, manager? Should I go comfort them for the sake of the department's morale?

i am truly blessed

[yuwon]

[ being in an office is a completely new experience, yet at the moment, it somehow feels so natural. his hands and eyes move rapidly over the screens, apparently flitting across whatever information he could garner. it's only when he is spoke to that he breaks from his concentration. similar to any dream, he doesn't fully comprehend it is one.

at least, not initially.

but, the more bizarre links he discovers, or the things he naturally questions, such as: who is that, why do they take that appearance, and why does this strike him as being odd despite his body feeling like it's incredibly normal and commonplace. "how many times has it been now?"

ah, it really is a familiar voice. he rubs his eyes, as if trying to see who he is. it's him, isn't it? is the last real thought he has before things finally seem to be piecing themselves together. yesod's words don't feel cold, as much as it feels... neutral and devoid of any real emotion. "caring too much about the respect of employees or the little complaints they make will steer you away from what's truly important."

when the question is then turned his way: ] That's not wrong and I might have said the same thing, but... [ he looks towards him, before back at the person he was arguing with. ] If you have the time, saying a word or two won't kill you. [ it may have been hypocritical considering he's never provided much comfort outside of telling people exactly how it was... but, he had to learn more about this dream, didn't he?

this is horrible reasoning and this why they're the man standing crew together, but listen... ]

🤝 ME TOO i must revive

[penaltypoints]

[ The man standing crew will prevail... For now, Yesod hesitates, as if to adjust to unexpectedly hearing both sides of the argument being acknowledged. He recovers soon enough, however, to voice his retort. ]

I'm honestly surprised to hear that from you. Do you think it's realistic for you to show up in every department every single time an accident occurs? You, the man who spends the whole day incessantly watching employees die through that shiny monitor of yours? I take it that you are only saying this because you're inexperienced and are still clinging onto the vague sense of goodwill, manager. Such shallow sympathy does no good in the corporation, so I urge you to be rid of it.

[ Abruptly, the scene changes, the point of view shifts, and Yuwon will find himself in the Information Department. Before him stands a young man in the middle of cajoling him to relent on a certain matter for which no exceptions should be made. Of course it's none other than James, so the memory supplies with a mix of exasperation and concern. His mental corruption level has exceeded the permitted threshold — according to the rules, he shouldn't enter Abnormality containment units in this state. ]

"I know, I know. Just this once, please? You know what happens if I fail to finish the assigned work regime! Besides, you know how Sally went in at 82% one time and came out fine? And I'm only at 81%! Please?"

[ James goes about his pleading in a rather theatrical manner, clasping his hands together in front of him, eyes wide. ]

"Come on, what are friends for? Act so strict and the employees will end up isolating you. It'll be so lonely." [ A pause for dramatic effect, maintained for a few seconds. ] "Just kidding! Even if all the employees were to hate you, I'll still be your playmate!"

[ It isn't the first time that James has made such requests — by now, he must expect that they will be granted, rule violations of this sort excused as minor, harmless. But is that really the case in this instance? Is it safe to give in? ]

fluffs u up!!!

[yuwon]

[ the honesty and bluntness of the words isn't exactly as yuwon expects. so this is how he dealt with issues before, and this was the stance he took. it's an interesting insight into who yesod was, at least, for the duration of this "dream." it's a rational conclusion made with the perfect voice of reason, and even yuwon believed sacrifices as being necessary, and mourning every single live lost was exhausted, maybe even impossible. but, "goodwill," huh.

when the scene shifts, yuwon is mostly keeping track of the people in this vision. this person isn't someone he explicitly recognizes and yet he understands for the intents and purposes, this man likely just had this kind of character, and he can tell this isn't the first time such requests have come up.
the man's tone sounds friendly. albeit, a bit pushy. but, he's not sure he likes it.

though, he doubts that's the real takeaway here.

was this supposed to be the beginning of something regrettable? akin to an age old lesson told, or a cautionary tale.

yuwon wonders what the correct answer here is? does he actually have to speak? considering his stand before, yesod would have said no, right? he finds he's already shaking his head, as if expecting the sound of a rejection to come through.

but, considering the nature of these dreams, does he actually say yes? ] Go ahead.

[ he has to know what happens, doesn't he? wouldn't the dream just end prematurely otherwise? ]