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synflux2024-09-28 12:07 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in synflux2024-09-28 12:07 pm
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TRAVEL LOG #3: KIDNAPPED CHARACTERS ONLY
THE CHOSEN
โถ CASTLE BRAN
The last thing you remember might be speaking to a friend, making merry with a stranger, or enjoying a quiet night against the backlight of the bonfire. Your memories between then and now are a blur—one moment you were in the village, and the next you are here, arising from your slumber and finding yourself in a lavish room with gothic and archaic decor. The windows of the castle are bolted shut so no light goes in and no soul escapes, but candles have been so kindly lit for the captured to find their way. If you can manage to unbolt a window and peek outside, all you will see is a dark fog, obscuring all light and thrusting the castle into an eternal night. The room is old, dark, and eerie, but clean, looking very much lived in and cared for. Within every room, the skull of a wolf has been carefully placed, almost like it oversees the inhabitants.
Welcome to the Castle Bran.
Outsiders, whom attendants within the castle will so reverently refer to as the โChosenโ, will find themselves waking up spread across the many rooms of the castle. All their belongings were left behind at the village, and theyโll find that theyโve been cleaned up and dressed carefully in fresh, white linen. Another thing they might notice immediately is that they have been completely stripped of all their powers and weapons, rendering them as strong as any other human.
They are free to roam the many rooms and hallways of the castle but they cannot go any deeper than the ground floor. The attendants of the castle, who appear to be villagers from the town, will follow them and try their best to tend to their every need, be it food, water or a fresh bath. Attempting to question the attendants is a fruitless endeavor: they sing praises of the Lord of the Forest but provide no other useful answers, always diverting the topic back to how wonderful their protector is and how blessed the Outsiders must be to have been chosen by him.
Welcome to the Castle Bran.
Outsiders, whom attendants within the castle will so reverently refer to as the โChosenโ, will find themselves waking up spread across the many rooms of the castle. All their belongings were left behind at the village, and theyโll find that theyโve been cleaned up and dressed carefully in fresh, white linen. Another thing they might notice immediately is that they have been completely stripped of all their powers and weapons, rendering them as strong as any other human.
They are free to roam the many rooms and hallways of the castle but they cannot go any deeper than the ground floor. The attendants of the castle, who appear to be villagers from the town, will follow them and try their best to tend to their every need, be it food, water or a fresh bath. Attempting to question the attendants is a fruitless endeavor: they sing praises of the Lord of the Forest but provide no other useful answers, always diverting the topic back to how wonderful their protector is and how blessed the Outsiders must be to have been chosen by him.
โถ HOSPITALITY TREATMENT
Chosen who try to break their way out of the castle will be hit with a psionic wave, forcing them into a state of calmness, placidity and contentment. They might even be treated to pleasant hallucinations or relive happy memories. Thereโs no reason to be afraid, after all. The Lord of the Forest will take care of you. Any attempt to hurt or kill the attendants will be met with no resistance from them, almost like they are content to accept their fate. They will then be replaced with another attendant right away, rendering the effort meaningless. The bodies of any dead attendants will be left there to rot until someone complains about it enough, at which point the corpse will be carted off to the dungeons.
At this point, escape seems futile. The dark fog surrounding the castle renders it virtually invisible to the outside world and communications between the Chosen and the Outsiders in the town have been cut off. It may feel like there's nothing you can do but sit pretty and await your fate ...
At this point, escape seems futile. The dark fog surrounding the castle renders it virtually invisible to the outside world and communications between the Chosen and the Outsiders in the town have been cut off. It may feel like there's nothing you can do but sit pretty and await your fate ...
โถ WE SAVE OURSELVES
After days of strange dreams and curious findings, it seems that help will take some time to arrive. The Chosen will have to save themselves even without their powers. Based on some observations, they may infer that something is cloaking the castle and making it difficult for others to locate it. They have to find a way to disrupt whatever is keeping them hidden.
With each day, they may notice something about the wolf skulls that hang in each room. Every time they look at one, it will trigger their flight response as if they are prey facing off with a predator. Some may feel frightened, anxious, hopeless, or submissive until the skull is out of their sight.
If they can push through those feelings and draw out their fight instinct, they can take the skulls and destroy them. After destroying a skull, a wave of energy will come from it. The energy will give them brief headaches, vertigo, and a short bout of irritability and impulsiveness. Some characters may recognize the feeling as Rift poisoning.
Each time they destroy a skull, the character will receive a microdose of Rift poisoning. Without their LILITH suits to protect them, they can experience extreme poisoning which results in flu like symptoms, mental and physical fatigue, and hallucinations which will make them more vulnerable to the psionic waves. However, with each skull destroyed, the fog around the castle begins to lift ever so slightly. After the air has cleared, the rooms feel safer and less oppressive, making them the perfect place to rest and recover. Unfortunately, if the servants notice, they may replace the destroyed skull with a new one.
With each day, they may notice something about the wolf skulls that hang in each room. Every time they look at one, it will trigger their flight response as if they are prey facing off with a predator. Some may feel frightened, anxious, hopeless, or submissive until the skull is out of their sight.
If they can push through those feelings and draw out their fight instinct, they can take the skulls and destroy them. After destroying a skull, a wave of energy will come from it. The energy will give them brief headaches, vertigo, and a short bout of irritability and impulsiveness. Some characters may recognize the feeling as Rift poisoning.
Each time they destroy a skull, the character will receive a microdose of Rift poisoning. Without their LILITH suits to protect them, they can experience extreme poisoning which results in flu like symptoms, mental and physical fatigue, and hallucinations which will make them more vulnerable to the psionic waves. However, with each skull destroyed, the fog around the castle begins to lift ever so slightly. After the air has cleared, the rooms feel safer and less oppressive, making them the perfect place to rest and recover. Unfortunately, if the servants notice, they may replace the destroyed skull with a new one.
โถ AFTERWORD.
Chosen characters may use this log to interact with each other and investigate the situation. It is HIGHLY encouraged to collaborate with other characters and share the clues you have been given.
Everyone who is kidnapped will have their ocular implants turned off, thus rendering communications between Chosen characters and characters who were not captured impossible, and any sort of location tracking will not function. However, certain characters will be given the opportunity to send a short message to the rest of the Outsiders. Players may use this post to have IC discussions about what information they want to provide to the rest of the team. If sending out a message, please submit your message by 11:59 PM GMT on the 10th of October so that mods may post it on the network.
Furthermore, characters can destroy skulls to slowly lift the fog around the castle. The number of skulls they will need to destroy is not specified, but it will lift during the next log.
The purpose of this log is for investigation and collaboration. We understand that players are excited to have terrible things happen to their characters. You can expect that information to be given on the 15th. Timeline-wise, characters will be kidnapped late at night on the 7th and then be freed around the 15th.
Everyone who is kidnapped will have their ocular implants turned off, thus rendering communications between Chosen characters and characters who were not captured impossible, and any sort of location tracking will not function. However, certain characters will be given the opportunity to send a short message to the rest of the Outsiders. Players may use this post to have IC discussions about what information they want to provide to the rest of the team. If sending out a message, please submit your message by 11:59 PM GMT on the 10th of October so that mods may post it on the network.
Furthermore, characters can destroy skulls to slowly lift the fog around the castle. The number of skulls they will need to destroy is not specified, but it will lift during the next log.
The purpose of this log is for investigation and collaboration. We understand that players are excited to have terrible things happen to their characters. You can expect that information to be given on the 15th. Timeline-wise, characters will be kidnapped late at night on the 7th and then be freed around the 15th.
EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. CASTLE BRAN: Some Outsiders will awaken to find themselves in a mysterious castle and referred to as 'Chosen' by the castle servants. They are stripped of their belongings and powers, and have been freshly bathed and dressed. They are allowed to wander the castle but cannot leave or go further than the ground floor.
2. HOSPITALITY TREATMENT: Outsiders who try to leave will be hit by a psionic wave that leaves them feeling placid and happy, and may even cause them to hallucinate pleasant events or relive happy memories. Since there is a heavy fog around the castle and communications are cut off, there appears to be no method of escape.
3. WE SAVE OURSELVES: After several days, Outsiders may begin to infer that there is something cloaking the castle and preventing it from being discovered. The source is a multitude of wolf skulls hung up around the castle. Though the skulls induce fear and hopelessness in anyone who looks at it, destroying the skull will cause the fog around the castle to slowly lift. Outsiders who destroy skulls will suffer the effects of Rift poisoning.
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He smiles faintly in response before sitting back down.
He is curious about that statement, though.] More than fighting? What would that entail, exactly? [Genuine question. Listen, Dan Heng generally just knows how to stab things in times of crisis.]
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I may not have my mobile suit here, but I'm still a soldier and I'm still more than capable of taking multiple someones down. Even with [ He waves a hand at the cup, at himself, emphasizing his Condition. ] ... this.
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[He nods.] I believe you Sir. [Does he......]
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And, while he is still feverish, he does have more energy than your baseline human would fighting it, even if he's being a bit extra about his symptoms because he's never felt this before. And he does hope it starts to wane soon, preferably before they need to take any drastic action.
Since the team's come together to share what they've learned, found, dreamt, once it's all out there and what little they can do to prepare for this and to fight back is discussed, the meeting starts to dissipate. Yzak stands and plans to head back to his room. But before he leaves the dining room, he pauses over by one of the clocks near the corner.
And then he starts rambling, clearly aimed at someone, but nobody is there...? ]
Well we figured it out!
I knew the whole "Chosen" thing was going to be something fucked up!
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Well. On the topic of choices, this is Yzak's. He has to respect that, even if it leaves a sour taste in Dan Heng's mouth.] Understood. [No matter what, his companions come first. Dan Heng will help however he can, in the ways he knows how.
He sighs, running over his notes again and again as the group disperses, drawing lines and connections where he can. It's a good amount of information, but he still feels sick with forboding, like they're missing something... He hears an attendant take the tea cup from Yzak's table. The man had left, so-]
'Well we figured it out!'
[Dan Heng looks up, surprised. What did he put together? ......
...........
..................He watches Lieutenant Colonel Yzak....talk to a clock...?
H m. What the man is saying is...correct but...
Dan Heng stands, approaching carefully. ] Sir. Who...are you speaking with? [Light, conversational. Trying his best to not sound like he thinks his superior is hallucinating-]
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[ Yzak turns to him. And he's ... not surprised or anything, it's not like his attempts to reach out to Dearka are something he needs to hide. He's just been ... trying, when and where he can. Just in case. But the severity of their situation now prompted him to send a message immediately. ]
I'm still trying to contact my partner. [ He waves a hand, motioning at one of his eyes. ] I know we're not getting any messages from the team outside, but if there's even a chance that anything we send could be getting through to aid them in pinpointing our location ... I'm going to keep trying.
Yzak avoids scooping! For now.......
.......still. With the...hallucinatory tendencies some Outsiders are having around here, it's rather. Eerie. Watching Lieutenant Colonel Yzak talk with seemingly thin air. Dan Heng knows the man has enhanced capabilities...but so did Mr. Yang. And Dan Heng had found the man just. Sprawled out in the oddest places on the Express, unconscious. He was fine, just...unused to his body needing rest again (so he said).
Needless to say, Yzak's condition has been...concerning.] Your partner...forgive me, Sir, but perhaps messages like this would be better to send whilst resting? [Multitasking...Dan Heng doesn't know Yzak's partner, but he knows he would be upset if someone he cared for ran themselves ragged trying to get information to him...]
SCOOPDODGE
[ Yzak waves a hand. He'd rather come out of this raggedy and alive than in pieces. ]
We've been here for a few days now ... who the fuck knows how soon they plan to act? I'm still in fine enough shape to react if they decide to!
Only for a short time :)
Dan Heng has an idea, and he's...not thrilled about it. Oh well.]
Who knows when they will act. But I suppose we can test if you're ready or not to fight being taken. [That is Yzak's only warning before Dan Heng moves in to scoop the man up, ducking down to plant his shoulder against Yzak's chest and going to lift the Lieutenant Colonel over that shoulder with an arm over the back of his legs. ((r. roll a grapple check...? Lmao.))]
๐ญ
Test? What are youโ
[ And he doesn't expect an actual test to come right at him in this form, so with a loud squawk, he's ... quite literally swept off his feet!? ]
โHEY!?
[ Unfortunately he responds like a feral cat would if scooped up similarly, and he does have the strength and stubbornness to do it. He squirms tenaciously, shrieking a put me down you asshole! until he lodges himself free. DOUBLE unfortunately means that when he does he just falls flat on his ass. So ungraceful. ]
OW!
There was an attempt...
Sorry Sir, I just think- Sir- HCK!
[There is a solid attempt, really. But despite it all, the dragon made the mistake of underestimating Yzak...which earns him a knee to his sternum for his troubles. Ow indeed. Dan Heng sinks to his knees in front of Yzak with a groan, then bows his head for good measure. His voice is strained and a bit squeaky as he says:] A-Apologies. It seems you. Have things well in hand. Guh.
HISS!!!
I said I was okay!
[ Now he's even MORE red from the flustering and flailing! ]
Ugh...!
[ He tries to regain some image of gracefulness after that embarrassment when he climbs back to his feet. But, you know, that only helps so much.
Once Yzak's back on his feet, though, and realizes that he kicked poor Dan Heng right in the sternum which took him down with him, he at least ... reaches out a hand to offer him to help him back to his feet. ]