KAIJU FIGHT #4

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #4

CONTENT WARNINGS: natural disaster, acid rain, destruction of city, blood, gore

▶ 001. BE READY.

Despite having two targets, LILITH struggles to get a trace on them. Reports of sightings come in and often follow the same trend: They always appear before heavy rain, can be spotted dipping in and out of the heavy clouds, and always disappear by the time the sun comes out. Gradually, they can paint a more accurate idea of what they’re dealing with as more witness reports start to come in.

What starts off as reports of a large serpent-like creature in Seoul and Busan evolves into definitive reports of pair of dragons. Both are reported to be blue in color before they seem to fade to a dark gray or green color into the clouds. Based on reports, LILITH believes they may be able to camouflage themselves which would explain why they have been difficult to track.

However, LILITH’s Korea branch announces that by tracking the weather patterns and tracing them with residual rift energy, they can predict when the kaiju will appear next. All agents are told to be ready to mobilize at any moment. This means practicing timed emergency drills and sleeping in shifts so they can be ready to move out at any moment.

LILITH Korea decides to save time and reduce workload, they’ll have their own military assist with civilian evacuations. They will work with LILITH Japan’s agents to track the kaiju and provide support while the “specialists” (Outsiders) take care of the main threat.

▶ 002. KAIJU FIGHT - SEOUL.

In the early morning hours, agents in Seoul will wake up to an alarm telling them that an anomaly weather pattern has been detected and a kaiju is due to appear at any moment. Because the kaiju is airborne, they will be sent to one of the highest points in the city: Seoul Tower on Mt. Namsan and Lotte World Tower in the center of the city. Outsiders will be granted permission to go up to the rooftops to strike the dragon.

LILITH Korea will provide air support through nearby Incheon Airport and Seongnam Airbase. Should any Outsiders want to join in, they are welcome to if they can provide credentials… or manage to take a plane.

Eventually, the kaiju will be downed. It will crash into the city and deal heavy damage to buildings as it thrashes around on the ground at first. It will begin to run across the city at high speeds and climb whatever buildings it can. Anyone stationed at Lotte World Tower will have to evacuate quickly as it tries to bring the entire building down. However, it looks like the city is so densely packed, there’s no room for it to take off into the air.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: IMUGI ♂
HEIGHT: 1000 feet across, 30 feet high
WEIGHT: 2000kg
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: Seoul, South Korea
ABILITIES: Control over weather conditions, including summoning of heavy storms, lightning strikes and hurricanes. Can fly up to 1000 feet. By flying amongst the clouds, Imugi releases chemicals into the atmosphere that bring about acid rain. Armored scales, sharp teeth and claws.
WEAKNESSES: Piercing it in the gaps between its impenetrable scales. There is also a particularly weak spot under its chin that will deal significant damage if pierced.
EXTRA NOTES: Despises humans and hunts them for food and sport. The scales on the male Imugi also seem to have a different color sheen to their scales, but only under a specific type of light.

* Due to its appearance in Japan, as well as Korea, it does have other names in the database.

▶ 003. KAIJU FIGHT - BUSAN.

Meanwhile, Outsiders in LILITH will have to deal with less assistance from LILITH Korea. With the railway out of commission and their air forces focused predominately in Seoul at the moment, there’s just not enough to share with Busan right now.

All seems quiet for now. Civilians and agents tune into broadcasts for updates from Seoul. As they learn more and more about the growing destruction in the capital city, everyone can’t help but wonder… There are two kaiju, right and one of them was last seen in Busan… so where is it?

Finally, around evening, the kaiju appears not in the sky but in the mountains outside Busan. It’s strange but LILITH will order the Outsiders to move out. If it’s on the ground, it may be injured so exercise caution. The mountains are difficult to travel through but eventually, they will find the Imugi.

It is extremely violent and will thrash out at anyone who gets close to it. It downs trees, spits acid, and summons lightning strikes to keep the Outsiders away. It uses it’s camouflage to escape into highway and railway tunnels. Outsiders may be able to infer that despite being unable to fly, it is trying to travel to Seoul.

To make matters worse, Outsiders may run into… traps. It looks like someone has tried to set out hunting traps out here. They drop electric nets, shoot tranquilizer barbs, and more. Is this what has been keeping the Imugi down? Who put them out here?

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: IMUGI ♀
HEIGHT: 1000 feet across, 30 feet high
WEIGHT: 2000kg
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: Busan, South Korea
ABILITIES: Control over weather conditions, including summoning of heavy storms, lightning strikes and hurricanes. Can fly up to 1000 feet. By flying amongst the clouds, Imugi releases chemicals into the atmosphere that bring about acid rain. Armored scales, sharp teeth and claws.
WEAKNESSES: Piercing it in the gaps between its impenetrable scales. There is also a particularly weak spot under its chin that will deal significant damage if pierced.
EXTRA NOTES: From its initial appearance and behavior, specialists believe that this female Imugi could be in preparation to give birth or may have recently given birth. This appearx to be the female counterpart to the kaiju in Seoul— despite them both being the same type of kaiju, likely derived from the same rift, this kaiju seems slightly more agile and openly aggressive.

▶ 004. NO TIME TO REST - SEOUL.

It’s a two-front battle in Seoul and Busan.

Finally, in the late evening hours, the Seoul Team will successfully defeat the Imugi. Lotte World Tower collapses to the ground, bringing down more buildings with it. The water systems in the city are damaged and the streets begin to flood, mixing water with kaiju blood and turning acidic. Some of the evacuation centers were attacked in the chaos so Outsiders will have to rush to evacuate them again.

While it all seems like a standard aftermath, there is no time to rest. Scavengers emerge and try to plunder goods from the destroyed stores. They go into dangerous areas to retrieve luxury goods and expensive electronics they can resell for more Kryptos later.

However, some people have come and are trying to pick the Imugi corpse. They collect blood, rip off scales, hack off claws, and try to take whatever they can get their hands on. They may try to bribe an agent for an organ or to just look away while they pick at the remains. Some agents accept the bribes and others seem to be participating for themselves.

There has always been a black market for kaiju but this is a dragon. Anything they can get will surely sell for a lot of money.

▶ 005. NO TIME TO REST - BUSAN.

Meanwhile, in Busan, since the battle started later. It is still ongoing. Fortunately for them, they don’t have to worry about buildings collapsing on them. However, around evening, something happens. Everything goes still in the mountains. The air becomes electrically charged, the clouds grow darker, and suddenly the kaiju takes off into the air.

It lets out a loud, high-pitched screech that summons a sudden heavy downpour of acid rain and the sky flashes with lightning that touches down all around the outsiders. The air becomes heavy and some Outsiders may recognize it as a Rift opening up. They may also notice that the Imugi in the sky… is growing? It grows longer and larger and it looks down on the Outsiders with glowing eyes before it disappears into the Rift.

The female kaiju has escaped.

The mountains have been heavily exposed to the Rift which means characters can fall to Rift poisoning. Exposure to the Rift can result in increased headaches, vertigo, irritability and impulsiveness. They will be ordered to retreat for their own health and safety.

▶ 006. DECISION.

With the fight in Seoul completed, and the other Imugi having escaped, all Outsiders will be prompted to return to Seoul in order to regroup. Agents in Busan will have to tend to themselves and make do with what they have until help arrives. With the rail destroyed, aircraft will arrive from Seoul to provide aid and pick up agents in Busan. They will swiftly return to Seoul. With parts of Seoul devastated by the attack, there won’t be much time to relax in leisure, especially as the higher-ups within LILITH seem to be under several discussions on their recent failure in allowing the second kaiju to escape. While it is the Outsiders who risked their lives on the front line, it isn’t to state that they’re only met with appreciation from the general public.

The branch in South Korea seems to be firm on the Outsiders and all borrowed LILITH operatives to remain in the city and help. Not only has the kaiju left ruin to a lot of the infrastructure in the city but crime has skyrocketed as a result of people trying to capitalize on the destruction. Without assistance, the entire city could fall into anarchy. On the opposing end, the Japan branch wants to prioritize tracking the kaiju while they are still able to, especially considering the Imugi's natural ability to camouflage and move stealthily from one country to another. They fear not acting swiftly will result in losing whatever trace they have.

…

A few hours after team Busan touches down in Seoul, all Outsiders will receive a message on their oculars. It will briefly explain the current situation and ask each Outsider to cast a vote on their next steps. There are two options that will be settled before them, either to: ASSIST the city of Seoul as best as they can before moving onwards, or to immediately CHASE after the recently escaped Imugi.

While that is happening, Seok Dang will have also disappeared. Considering his long history in the country, he naturally has the most connections. As a result, he is ordered to go out and seek specific pieces of information that the Japan branch isn’t privy to as a whole. While he’s firm on publicly stating he is staying around for a specific idol event (that is most definitely canceled), it’s clear he is attempting to look into the LILITH operatives that have been found dead in South Korea.

While those Outsiders in Busan were hit heaviest by the rift effects, the instability of the dual nature of two kaiju coming and going from Seoul and Busan have led to the presence of rift poisoning in Seoul as well. Because of this, Outsiders will be prompted to sit tight and await further orders while their peers recover.

▶ 007. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to fourth kaiju log!

Below will be two choices available, either to stay and ASSIST the city in its efforts to stabilize, or to CHASE after the escaped kaiju. Both results have their own pros and cons. Please keep in mind, this would be an IC decision, and so please keep that in mind before casting a vote. If you have multiple characters, you may cast a vote with each character. Additionally, while this does impact the aftermath or the following log's contents, it will not impact the general schedule. Voting will close at 12:00 AM GMT on August 22nd, to allow mods enough time to draft the next log.

As there are two kaiju, please comment below in the correct thread to get your hit in! In fairness, since only one kaiju is defeated, the final hit winner will be from Seoul, while two of the heaviest hitter will be from Busan, and one from Seoul in order to keep the numbers even.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards August AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. BE READY: The kaiju have been identified as a pair of dragons. Outsiders must participate in training drills to be ready at a moment's notice.

2. KAIJU FIGHT - SEOUL: Outsiders must take to the air or other high places to bring down Imugi (male). If they can use it, they may have access to aircraft. When the Imugi is brought down, it will take down Lotte Tower with it. The battle will proceed on the ground.

3. KAIJU FIGHT - BUSAN: Outsiders will track the Imugi (female) to the mountains outside Busan. It will not take to the air but Outsiders will run into odd traps that may deter their progress.

4. NO TIME TO REST - SEOUL: After being defeated, scavengers will try to raid the destroyed buildings and remains of the Imugi (male). Some law enforcement, including LILITH agents, seem to be involved.

5. NO TIME TO REST - BUSAN: A Rift opens and Imugi (female) escapes. Characters may be effected by Rift poisoning.

6. DECISION: Outsiders in Busan will sit tight until aid comes by air from Seoul. Busan Outsiders will be transported back. LILITH South Korea wants the Outsiders to help with recovery and keep the peace. LILITH Japan wants to pursue the Imugi (female) while they still have information.

code

Comments

c

[penaltypoints]

[ Instead of meeting in the middle as planned — since you're the first person I'm looking for as soon as this is over with, Malkuth had said — there was the news of the first Imugi's attack on Seoul, the teams still separated, and now this mention of the medical bay. It would have been unreasonable to expect Malkuth to find the time to report regular status updates, should anything change for the worse, knowing that none of them could afford it. It would be unreasonable to grow impatient on the way or react badly upon hearing where she is.

Still, Malkuth is the first person for Yesod to find. His steps are brisk as they take him to her side, where he is relieved to see her awake and relatively whole, at least. Some of the tension coiled around him leaves him then. ]

Malkuth...

[ There must be countless injured people in need of assistance, but he wonders whether Malkuth would accept his help, too. ]

[ignoreher]

[ it'd slipped her mind, and then she hadn't wanted to worry him any by speaking on the fracture she had now, but it was inevitable that he'd see it; malkuth sits up and half-throws herself at him into a one-armed hug, pressing her cheek against his front with a relieved sigh. ]

Sorry about the lack of communication, Yesod. It got pretty hectic here -- this is the first time I've sat since that big guy came tromping through. [ that makes two accounted for. now, it's just... ] Sit, sit, we have some time to talk.

[ though he doesn't get a choice of seating, she's tugging him onto the bed with her. ]

[penaltypoints]

[ It's a relief, too, that Malkuth responds as she does upon seeing him — only the movement of her injured arm is restricted, then. That relief dispels Yesod's initial alarm. He catches her, both arms raised to encircle her torso while she leans against him, eyes lowered to the crown of her head. ]

...That comes as no surprise.

[ Of course Malkuth wouldn't rest while there was work to be done, while she could see to it. Since that isn't over yet, either, resting now has simply become unavoidable. ]

Though I can't fault you for it.

[ Too focused on studying Malkuth, he has yet to release her, even as she pulls him down onto the bed to take a seat there. ]

[ignoreher]

[ she sighs in playful resignation, tilting her head to the side. ]

That means you do have something you can fault me for... The arm, right? It's the arm. A piece of rubble hit me, that's all. I didn't move in time.

[ ... to exhausted to move, really. after fighting the kaiju, and then whoever she'd come across in the aftermath -- yeah, she's definitely not reporting that mishap to him.

she's a little too exhausted still honestly. the rush of seeing her friends safe and sound does wonders for her fatigue, sure, but it'll fade like anything else. she's going to enjoy it while she can.

though. malkuth's cheeks are dusting a little pink, smile sheepish and eyes darting away. ]

... You can let go of me, by the way. I'm not gonna fall over.

[penaltypoints]

[ A piece of rubble isn't something to dismiss as nothing. Yes, it could have been worse, had it struck Malkuth elsewhere, but it remains worrying. The fact that she was unable to evade it tells Yesod enough about the hectic circumstances, besides, the destruction that will continue to affect Seoul. His gaze leaves Malkuth's expression, coming to rest on her arm.

Wearing a frown, he doesn't let go of her entirely — he only moves one hand to place his fingers against her wrist. ]

I could apply that healing ability, if you agree to it.

[ They are both aware of the recommended procedure, he assumes. ]

[ignoreher]

No!

[ maybe a little too quick, definitely movementwise as she turns in his arm with a sharp inhale, and she exhales slowly with a shake of her head.

... the procedure is known, yes, but that only worsens the beat of her heart. stop that. it's just... no, just stop that. ]

I wanna keep it. It's a new experience, so I wanna experience it. Like anyone else would.

[penaltypoints]

[ Reflexively, Yesod's hand closes around Malkuth's forearm as she twists away so abruptly. His other hand's fingers can't complete the same movement, now near her hip.

It was an odd reaction, he thinks, frankly taken aback. It was almost alarmed, as if Malkuth expects him to force the healing on her against her will. But should he take it at face value and believe that she is merely intent on waiting to recover from her injury gradually? ]

...You'd like to leave it to heal without assistance?

[ Malkuth's reaction isn't quite what he did himself, once, which is reassuring. ]

[ignoreher]

[ she is becoming so aware of the way his hands are placed and she doesn't

not like it which is a different problem she shouldn't be having when she's injured and tired and it's surely just the latter because who is she, izou? ]

... Yeah. Sorry, between the rift poisoning and everyone asking me if I'd like it healed, I've become a little, um, protective of my new experience.

[ sure. sure. it's true anyway. ]

I'll be fine! I'll only do what I can!

[penaltypoints]

[ Between the rift poisoning and this injury, there are risks not to underestimate, be it during future clashes with kaiju or even with people. If repairing him was urgent, Yesod wants to point out, shouldn't the same apply to Malkuth?

And objective arguments aside, he dislikes the notion of tolerating this particular new experience, though he can understand Malkuth's reasoning. ]

...I see. You may need to accept that others will become a little protective of you, then.

[ Malkuth assured him that she could sit up without support, and it must be strange to hold on to her regardless, he knows, but he still hasn't withdrawn his hands. ]

[ignoreher]

Yeah, I know... Marmar was really stern about me resting too.

[ ... she's going to put her hand on his and gently move it off her hip at least, if only to hold it instead. okay? okay. that's better. preferable even, since she can lace their fingers together without a second thought. let his other lie elsewhere, she's not twisting away again. ]

Thanks for worrying about me, Yesod, but I've had worse -- so you shouldn't let it weigh too much on you, okay? Relax! How was camping? I'm really jealous -- I would've loved fending for myself like that, at least once.

[penaltypoints]

March makes quite the formidable ally.

[ Even so, relaxing is easier said than done, letting go of all worry is. He wants to ask more questions.

Yesod's gaze lands on Malkuth's hand, their intertwined fingers. He remembers their counting breaths together, the warmth of her skin, the flutter of her pulse. His hand squeezes hers, without the hesitation of someone reluctant to touch others or tolerate their touch. Once again, it isn't so foreign any longer. ]

Camping... No doubt you would have seized the opportunity to be resourceful. Perhaps you'll have the chance to hunt and fish and build a makeshift shelter yourself, sooner or later.

[ignoreher]

I hope it's sooner. Maybe once the rain eases up, I'll see who'd be up for it... Well, Elysium seemed like he'd be into the idea last time we spoke, so maybe I'll start there.

[ and then spread out... maybe. if not just them, for their play pretend. ]

Gutting fish, skinning animals, starting a fire with nothing but a stick and some tinder... I could learn so many useful things.

[ ...

once her arm is healed, right. right? ]

[penaltypoints]

[ Irrationally, it stings somewhat to hear Malkuth immediately list someone else first, so readily, even if she means nothing by it. Objectively, it's reasonable to consider someone like Elysium, given his experience and expertise — and his general behavior, including the ease with which he and Malkuth exchanged flirtatious comments, would make him enjoyable company. Moreover, they have their collaboration in place. ]

You'll need the use of both arms. However, you could join us on a hiking trail.

[ The conversations could be interesting to witness. The Elysium petri dish... ]

[ignoreher]

[ hiking with them...

... no... she wouldn't want either of them to feel like a third wheel, and isn't that super messy anyways? the guy she's pretend dating and the guy

who

she's putting a pin in that she cannot think about it right now, when he's right here. ]

I couldn't take away from your guy time, Yesod, and don't just invite me on your own. Make sure you ask him first, okay? That goes for any activity you usually do with someone else.

[penaltypoints]

[ "Guy time" admittedly feels inaccurate, since Yesod consistently imagines that Elysium takes everyone on these trails, interchangeably, that it's an observation opportunity of sorts, conveniently achieved as part of Elysium's apparent interest in various forms of regular exercise. Volleyball practice, on hold for the time being, may be no different. ]

Yes, naturally, I would also discuss the idea with Elysium in order to ensure that any decision made takes the input of all parties involved into consideration.

[ He tries to tone down his "Trust me, I am the head of the Information Team" voice, continuing. ]

...That said, I'd simply like to spend time with you as well, Malkuth.

[ignoreher]

[ old habits die hard. he can't fully get rid of it even in her time, either.

and-- okay, this! is a perfect time! to ask, actually! her and march talked about it! he might not be interested, but it's fine. if not this, they'll find something else. ]

Well, I am down a dance partner, if you'd like to give it a shot when I'm better.

[penaltypoints]

[ This invitation is a pleasant surprise, and it wins Malkuth a smile. Yesod's own more recent conversation with March gave him the impression that Malkuth was hesitant, unsure as to whether she should approach him, and that March wanted to convince her to do so. Though it's still puzzling why a hypothetical embarrassing activity between him and March came up at all... ]

I'll look forward to it. [ Whether or not he can dance is beside the point. ] My offer still stands, should you reconsider your new experience.

[ A meaningful look for Malkuth's injured arm — but it's an attempt to tease her at least a little. Needless to say, leisure activities are far from anyone's priority at the moment anyway. ]

[ignoreher]

[ oh. he would be okay with it. okay. she has three to five weeks to get over herself. perfect amount of time. march will surely be happy to hear these news (pending).

for now she's shoving him with her shoulder a little, then turning the sling more to his side. march's name is already there. promise. she was first and foremost. ]

Sign it for me? I'm gonna hang it up once I'm healed. Like a memento of sorts!

[penaltypoints]

[ The shove is remarkably effective, loosening some of the emotions tangling into knots inside of him since that seashore conversation. All the same, Yesod reminds himself that March had a point — Malkuth is at ease when she secures the familiar boundaries of her comfort zone. It's possible that this is another instance of it.

Releasing her becomes necessary, if he wants to fulfill her request and sign the sling. Carefully, he adds his name near March's, as evenly-sized and evenly-spaced as he can on the cloth surface, in his neat script. Finishing, he makes an effort to replicate Malkuth's animal doodles: a snake, followed by a duck. ]

[ignoreher]

[ she is, and it is. they are, ultimately, friends. whatever else (put from mind and not), that will always and forever remain true; she doesn't want to avoid him again, even if she's uncertain. even if she overthinks herself to a sleepless night, startling when she least expects it herself in wakefulness. no matter what malkuth will always treat yesod like a friend, and want to be comfortable that way.

at the very least, that.

she watches him sign (upside down to her) and then add on the drawings, biting back a grin at their cute forms. ]

You know, I gave Netzach paints when I dropped off his figure. [ a cat she has now, forever dozing. ] But he never found out they were from me -- I didn't want him to know at the time, since... I didn't want him to feel like I was trying to pressure him into becoming someone he might not want to. But I did want to give him the option of trying something I knew he liked, at least in my time.

... I kind of wish I'd told him. It would've been fun to paint together -- I liked peeking in on him in the Library too, he drew such funky things.

[ ah, well. another regret to add to her pile of many. something fonder in this one anyway, being about one of her layermates and all. ]