Update

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▷ DECISION UPDATE

▶ OUTCOME: BURNING BRIDGES

The decision has been made. LILITH Japan orders the Outsiders to mobilize to pursue the Imugi.

Given that they are in a foreign country, they are largely dependent on LILITH Korea’s resources. In response to the decision, the Korean branch provides some assistance: the Outsiders are given just enough vehicles to help transport them, essential supplies, and only a few operatives to help guide them. This is the most the Korean branch is able to give, as they must focus on relocating people and restoring peace following the attack.

LILITH announces that the Imugi is currently resting near Gangneung on the east coast and they must move quickly. The effects of Rift poisoning will grow stronger as they approach the source; a sign that they are close to a kaiju. Upon reaching the mountains just outside the city, LILITH informs them that they are right on top of its location.

However, there is no Imugi to be found. After searching the area, Outsiders will discover the source of the trace and the poisoning: eggs. They will find about twelve eggs. When they report their findings, Seokdang will curse. In their rush, they had followed the wrong trace. They didn’t track down an injured and resting Imugi—they tracked down the Imugi’s nest. So where is the Imugi?

Not long after, Outsiders will receive an update on their implants: the Imugi reappeared in Seoul. After seeing the corpse of its mate, it went berserk and attacked the city again. While many of the citizens were evacuated to nearby Incheon and remaining shelters, just as many perished, with the death toll at 168,000 and rising. LILITH’s Korean base is destroyed.

The Imugi was last seen flying north, but the Korean government prohibits the Outsiders from pursuing it again through their territory. By choosing to pursue the kaiju, the Outsiders have abandoned humanity and thus will receive no further support. They are ordered to leave the country immediately.

LILITH Japan will order them to collect as many eggs as possible and continue to the abandoned city of Gangneung, where they will arrange pick up and return to base in Tokyo.

▶ AFTERWORD.

Thanks everyone for participating in our first major Event Decision! We hope you had fun discussing what to do both ICly and OOCly.

After failing to capture the second Imugi and also failing to save a large portion of Seoul's population, characters will be shipped back to Japan. The events of the TDM will springboard from there. Feel free to use this post to thread out any aftermath threads if you would like.

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

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Comments

[newphew]

[ on your way to gangneung..... there's gonna be an interesting sight! so rather than going with the gang, hunter's found a patch of softish soil and seems to be digging a spot with his hands!! he's at this quite intently as it happens, digging deeper and deeper.... the patch is about person size, so you can probably surmise he's digging his own grave. flapjack is futilely trying to tug hunter away from this endeavor by his clothing. it's not working out ]

[ we're very normal here ]

[immortalpoet]

...

[Yeah, no, he's passing by, watching this, stopping, and




plucking him up by the collar like he's a wayward cat.]

Let's go.

[newphew]

[ hanging there limply..... exactly like a cat would when scruffed ]

Go where? I picked an optimal spot for my grave. It's out of the way of anyone.

[ ok hunter ]

[immortalpoet]

You won't die today.

[He's just walking away with him in tow...]

You're still alive.

[newphew]

[ hunter the baby kitten is unceremoniously carried by the mother cat, vergilius. he is letting this happen, limp ]

Not for long. I mean, LILITH's not going to tolerate my failure, are they?

[ a somewhat unhinged small little laugh. we're so normal over here ]

[immortalpoet]

If they won't tolerate your failure, they'd have to go through me, first.

[Since he failed, too.]

Are you hungry.

[newphew]

[ dad..... that gives him pause, breaks through his lil manic state, and he... well, he's suspended mid-air like a scruffed kitten, but he swallows, suddenly, and stares at vergilius. voice quiet ]

Why?

[ in response to being asked if he's hungry, he just.... nods. he's not, really, not, he understands the value in keeping your strength up. too busy being confused by vergilius's kindness. dad.... ]

[yuwon]

[ ...


... ] ... Are you a dog, or something? Get out of there. [ he says, reaching over to try and place a careful gloved hand on his head. honestly, what are people thinking at a time like this? ]

[newphew]

[ hunter steels himself as if expecting to be hit when yuwon puts his hand on his head, but yuwon is successful!! flapjack, on the other hand, chirps in obvious agreement with him ]

A dog would be useful. [ ok hunter. he laughs a bit, in like, a manic kind of way ] Well, maybe there won't be anything left of me to bury.

[yuwon]

[ when he attempts to grab him, this isn't what he expects.

...

he releases a soft sigh. ] Are you taking it that hard? [ it's probably an obvious question with an equally obvious answer, and yet he asks it anyway. maybe from here, he could open up about his thoughts. or not. it's not like yuwon was the sort who wanted to pry. even if hunter got a vision into his past before. ]

[newphew]

[ in all honesty, he'd take any failure this insanely, let alone one that's so catastrophic. ]

It's simple, really. [ again with the little manic laugh. puts some dirt on himself. continues to be so very normal!! ] I was brought here for a reason. To have a purpose. To fight kaiju. That's why we're all here, right?

[ flapjack cants his little bird head at yuwon with an expression that's almost.... apologetic? ]

I failed. Thousands of people died. So either they'll kill me on the spot or send me back home, where I'll be killed on the spot. Might as well save them the trouble of digging a grave!

[ ha ha. ha.... ]

[yuwon]

[ this might be the proper response. the reality of it seems to hit him again, if just hearing it from someone else entirely. "a purpose." his brows furrow briefly, before he turns back on him. his own hand hasn't released from the top of his head. which he does let go, as if belatedly registering the motion. ]

It's only your purpose if you believe it is. [ they were brought here with those intentions, sure, but even yuwon feels like those objectives felt removed from at times. wasn't everything really a matter of perception? for example, he could think of son ohgong being brought here, and even then, he's sure the fool would only do whatever he wanted. the same at home. but, more importantly: ]

Why would they kill you on the spot? That seems more like a loss for them.

[ said more matter-of-factly than it is even remotely comforting. oops. ]

[newphew]

[ he giggles a few more times with that same manic breakdown energy, but it dies off. but at least raises his head properly to look yuwon in the eye ]

Well, what else am I supposed to be used for? If you have no purpose, you're thrown away. [ hunter isn't at all bothered by the lack of comfort. he's just as matter of fact in return, just talking about this like it's all normal ] That's just how it works. Failures are killed.

[ he does seem quite sure of what he's saying..... which isn't really a reflection of LILITH, but more speaks to his life before this. probably. ]

[axethrows]

[Hunter, what the hell... She is going to take a seat on the ground as he digs away, quietly watching him for now.]

You sure you want to die on this mountain? Can't ya pick a better place? I dunno about you, but I wouldn't die here. There is a tempting feeling, but we got options! Options!

[newphew]

[ things are so normal. flapjack, who has currently settled on hunter's head, looks to rodya and chirps. despite being a bird, the sentiment is very much "girl, help", ]

[ hunter laughs a little in an unhinged fashion ]

Sure, why not? It's out of the way. Saves them the trouble of dragging me back to base and killing me there! Ha ha!

[ normal ]

[axethrows]

You ain't going to get killed off for this! If we are, die in a group like everyone else!

[This isn't exactly comforting, but come on Hunter, facing execution together can be a good last bonding activity 🧍]

We failed, but we are still alive. Let them squeeze some more use out of us before we get thrown away...

[She pauses as she stares into her lap, away from facing Hunter as some thoughts cross her mind.]

I still... got a lot to do before I die for good.

[newphew]

[ honestly, while hunter was having this insane breakdown, it never occurred to him that if he were to be punished for this, logically, the entire gang of outsiders would be too. he's just thinking in terms of himself and his own experiences. and trauma, probably. ]

[ but that does get him to snap out of.... whatever's going on in his lil noggin, as he tilts his head his head at her. manic episode over... for the moment! ]

Should we run? Can we run?

[axethrows]

[Hey, as long as it works to get his attention and out of that maniac trance!]

Doubt it. Odds are pretty low because they might be able to track us through the implants. Plus I feel like they would punish us worse for trying to run off. Some folks are cruel like that...

[She groans on the thought of it.]

This is like.. Our first big fuckup. There still might be a purpose for us... If they throw us out now, they will lose a lot of numbers and they might not have time to replace us.

[Trying to stay in the positives so bad for this kid right now, save her-]

[newphew]

[ he was about to politely offer to also dig her a grave, but now it seems like they're gently moving away from the whole "grave" scenario ]

Right, the implants....

[ deserting is worse than failing. he'd be sent back home for sure. or killed on the spot. either way. ]

.... They might do it anyway. To... some of us.

[ he obviously means himself right now ]

The team's never failed before this? [ she's been here longer ]

[30storieshigh]

[ Godzilla is staring down at Hunter, looming, even. He's seen a lot of strange reactions to the recent disaster but this one is kind of taking the tiered baked grains. ]

You do not resemble one that travels by burrowing tunnels. I do not think this digging to be wise.

[newphew]

[ hunter turns his head over to glance up at godzilla looming... hunter isn't at all phased by his appearance, as godzilla wouldn't be out of place at all at the demon realm. also, as per current hunter logic (tm), if godzilla is here to kill him then the grave's already half dug! ]

[ he kind of. giggles in a manic fashion. doing great over here, fam ]

Oh, I'm just saving Lilith the trouble of digging my grave! That's all.

[30storieshigh]

Grave...? A resting place for the deceased? You are laying hold upon the urine [ Taking the piss. ] , you are not amongst the dead.

[ Godzilla being the very responsible adult here undoes all of Hunter's hard work. He starts sweeping dirt back into that hole with his tail, while resting his hands on his waist in what he's sure is a Disapproving gesture. ]

Cease this foolishness. Defeat should not be wallowed in, it should be fuel for the spirit's flame to do better.

[newphew]

[ well, he doesn't feel like he's in piss, but it wouldn't be surprising, considering everything that happened. it's also clearly what he deserves. dying in pee ]

Maybe not now, but I will be. [ with another little manic laugh. despite the clear disapproval (oh no!!!) from a responsible nonkaiju kaiju adult, hunter is loathe to let all his grave-digging efforts go to waste and starts digging through the dirt that was just swept into his hole!!! noooo! ]

What makes you think we'll even get the chance to do anything after this?

[ since he's clearly expecting to be killed or something ]

[30storieshigh]

[ Godzilla at least has to admit the youngster has tenacity. It'd be admirable if it wasn't being put towards digging a needless grave. ]

I do not think, I know. If they wished us dead they would have attempted it by now rather than demand us leave their territory. They would have failed, of course.

[ Because he's so full of himself he's sure his presence along with the other skilled fighters could make short work of any human military in this world. ]

Cease wasting your energy on this foolishness. Focus it on the duty still before us, the territory requires our constant defense. We must learn from this to ensure it never happens again. To simply accept defeat is to let those who have perished be lost for nothing.

[newphew]

[ he means home base would punish them (and him, probably specifically) with death, since hunter is used to a very harsh environment where failure is meant with punishment, up to and including death...... but as godzilla undoes all his hard grave-digging work, he is sort of wrested out of his manic breakdown state ]

You really think we won't be punished for this when we return?

[ hunter gets up slowly, but his head has dirt on it. rip ]

Of course, I'm not going to..... if there's any chance to redeem myself, I'm going to....

[ it's getting harder to argue godzilla's points ]