synflux | Update

 ▷ DECISION UPDATE

 ▶ OUTCOME: BURNING BRIDGESThe 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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ indeed. he's still got his head lowered but he shuffles in a bit of a guilty fashion ]

I'm not--- I'm going to. Keep trying to redeem myself, as long as I'm alive. But that's assuming I get a second chance.

[ because he wouldn't, if this were back home ]

You have one.

[As simple as that.]

If you didn't, you wouldn't be alive right now.

[ mumbled: ]

For now.

[ it's still early!! he could still be killed ]

... But I know what you're saying. I need to focus on redeeming myself. Making sure I'm still useful.

[ normal things to worry about ]

And what is that attitude going to do for you, huh.

[A little shake of the head.]

Backtrack on that one, Hunter. You are useful. You made a mistake, and you must look over your errors, fix yourself, and move forward. Who is saying you're not useful? You? I'm not saying it.

[ obviously prepare him for death? gosh dad. but he does not keep arguing, under his breath or otherwise ]

Isn't that what I said? Redeeming myself from failing to kill the other kaiju. [ he shakes his head slowly ]

No one's saying that. I just need to make sure it stays that way... [ that he still serves a purpose. otherwise, he's dead for sure! ]

Hrm.

[Hm. He looks a little more stern....but it relaxes, and he picks a little at his ramen with the chopsticks.]

Good. No digging your own grave anytime soon.

[ he is quiet for a bit, picking at his own ramen, then.... ]

You really think there won't be any consequences?

[ for their failure? ]

I would be surprised if there wasn't. But if it was as severe as killing us...it would have happened already.

[#blunt]

I suppose that's true. No reason to drag it out.

[ that's fine, he's also pretty blunt ]

Exactly.

[That's right.]

...Did you really have the threat of that severe a punishment where you come from?

[ hunter picks at his ramen, talking like this is completely normal. kids, could you lighten up a little? ]

Of course. If you don't have a use, or if you fail.... that's it. Even chances have to be earned.

[ dramatic close up on his facial scar-- ok not really ]

...I'm a strict man. But even that's too far.

[He will punish people, of course, but kill them? Even he let Don Quixote off with a broken arm and a few threats.]

What were they making you do, Hunter?

[ it's still so strange to hunter to hear that how thing worked in the emperor's coven weren't normal. ]

[ he starts to fidget a bit with his ramen, because thinking about it makes him uncomfortable ]

Does it matter? It's not like I can go back.

I want to know.

[That's all. He wants to know.]

[ he's still playing with his ramen, but he starts to talk slowly ]

Training and missions, mostly. Studying. Capturing wild witches and criminals. Defending the Emperor's Coven against threats. Things like that.

Is that what you wanted to know?

[Smacks like child soldier.]

Were there others like you? Or were you the only one?

[ absolutely ]

[ a little hesitation, his hands start trembling a little bit ]

There were others. I was a scout before I was the Golden Guard -- the Emperor's Coven is full of scouts. There were other Golden Guards before me.

That must have been a high honor. It sounds like it.

[A flit of his eyes to the trembling hands.]

How did you get to that position?

[ a high honor? he definitely thought so, for a long time. his shaking hands clench briefly, and he self-consciously stashes them away so vergilius can't see ]

[ flapjack chirps something ]

It was given to me by the emperor. I was... a replacement. [ more chirping from flapjack, like he's trying to encourage hunter to keep talking. ]

I'm not the Golden Guard anymore. I'd be killed if I get sent back there.

...

[A replacement? That begs the question of what happened to the first one.]

[The boy hides his hands. He wishes he could reach over to hold them, for a moment. But he must let Hunter talk, first.]

What did you do, Hunter?

[ begs the question, indeed ]

[ the talking seems to have run its course. even with flapjack's encouragement, hunter is clamming up fast. ]

I...

[ he can trust vergilius, can't he? vergilius told him about his daughter. about how he got into the company. well. there's one thing he can say that wouldn't give the full truth away ]

... I found out things I wasn't supposed to know.

Hrm.

[Curious. Even curiouser. He closes his eyes, pondering.]

If you could have the chance to go back and not find out those things...would you?

[ the response is instantaneous, despite the fact that his trembling has spread to full body ]

[ he shakes his head ]

[He sees that trembling. Something that he found out that changed...a lot of things.]

[He'll move a little closer, before wrapping his arm around the boy's shoulders. Just holding him.]

...It's okay. You're here. Not there.

[ hunter flinches at first, as if bracing himself to be struck -- nothing new for vergilius, who got this reaction the last time he showed affection. this reaction lasts shorter this time, at least, he relaxes a fraction soon after ]

[ mumbled more to himself than vergilius: ]

For now.

(no subject)

immortalpoet - 2024-11-04 17:52 (UTC) - Expand