TRAVEL LOG #3

[synfluxmods]

TRAVEL LOG #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: cult-like symbols and implications, abduction.

▶ 001. TARGU MURES AIRPORT.

In the early morning of the 1st, Outsiders will receive a message in their oculars.

"Oh, seriously? You’re putting this on my plate now when I have so much to do? Tch … Outsiders currently caring for Imugi eggs, bring them to the medical bay. I’ll take over for now. Captain Yamakawa needs everyone to report to the hangar right away. There’s been a distress call from a distant land and we’re noticing some strange readings. We need you to go investigate this.

…Put some catnip on my plate, Alex. It’ll be a long night."

True enough, a SPECIAL ALERT will blare through the implants shortly after, asking those who would be willing to help with a distress call to head to the hangar. The reward will be an additional bonus pay, as this seems to be different from detecting a kaiju. There, they will see a familiar sight: the LILITH SKY CRUISER, a spacecraft capable of carrying 80 passengers. There is little time for seat assignments, so seating will be on a first come, first serve basis (hopefully you don’t get the middle seat!) and the flight will last about 10 hours. Just like any aircraft, Outsiders may stand up and walk around once the seatbelt signs turn off. There is inflight entertainment consisting of AI movies or virtual reality games (see TRAVEL LOG #2). Characters with inhuman features are required to wear their cloaking devices.

The plane will touch down at Targu Mures Airport, Transylvania, Romania, which appears to be abandoned and desolate. There isn’t a living soul to be found.

"Most of the country was destroyed decades ago, so there shouldn’t be anyone still living here. Yet, these readings ….. And we can’t ignore that call for help. We’ll need to investigate further. My Angels, go the rest of the way on foot..."

There isn’t a data portal in Romania, and there’s just no way to transport the number of cars needed for over 60 people via plane. Let’s hope you managed to get proper rest on the way here, because the hike will take about 5-6 hours through the dense forest, with the Captain feeding directions through the ocular based on where the kaiju readings are most pronounced.

All teams will be traveling together along a treacherous terrain which will include both harmful flora & fauna. Outsiders can expect to come across brown bears, wolves, European lynx, golden jackal & wild boars. Although the forest is dense, these animals are scarce to come by, but they can appear, especially when the hike takes place at dusk and into the night.

In this time of the year, hay fever is a common occurrence in these forests. Those sensitive to pollen may be sneezing and feeling fatigue through this hike. There will be steep hills, slippery ground and eerie sounds of the night to serenade the Outsiders. It doesn't help that the further they travel, the thicker a dark fog gathers around them, making the surroundings difficult to make out. Everyone will be provided with flashlights, but those with abilities to see in the dark or cast their own light will be encouraged to lead small groups. Everyone is going in the same general direction, but giving each other some space might be helpful. There will be no time to rest, no matter how tired Outsiders may be.

Just when it feels like they might need to trek through the forest forever—is that smoke coming from a fire up ahead?

▶ 002. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.

Wander further through the bushes, and behold, it does appear to be smoke—but not from any natural fire. It’s coming from a chimney! The Outsiders will stumble upon the historic region of Brașov, known for its Gothic architecture and medieval towns. Romania has been classified as a desolate region for a very long time, and as far as LILITH is concerned, this city should be completely destroyed and abandoned. Yet, there is smoke coming from the chimneys, fresh laundry hanging on lines and the faint chatter of children playing. There are very clearly people living here, and this has LILITH completely dumbfounded.

"So it’s true … The resilience of humanity cannot be understated. I’ll need to report this to the Commander right away. My Angels, embark on the town. We need to find the source of this distress call and investigate these kaiju readings. I know we’ve had setbacks recently, but I’ve always had my faith in you."

One thing Outsiders will notice when they step into the town is how it appears to be lost in time. The date is still 2278 as far as anyone knows, but there’s no sign of any modern technology—no computers, telephones, or any sign of electricity or plumbing. Each and every house looks like it could have been plucked right out of the 1700s, and there even appear to be horse-drawn carriages parked along the pavements.

The townspeople themselves also look plucked out of time, with the women donning petticoats and aprons, and the men sporting waistcoats and riding boots. They welcome the Outsiders with warmth, delight, and over-the-top hospitality; more than happy to show the visitors around Brasov on their carriages. With how rarely they meet anyone from outside the village, the children are full of curiosity, following the Outsiders around and poking at their technology while bombarding them with questions, such as where did you come from? Do you know how to play any games? What do you like to eat?

Outsiders will be presented with food, clean clothing, and a room to stay at the village inns (2-3 people per room). They are free to roam and explore the village, where they will find taverns, fresh food markets, shops, inns, and a church dedicated to the village god.

One notable aspect of the town is the fact that they appear to have fresh, non-lab grown food. The vegetables taste fresher and are vibrant in color. The meat tastes much richer than it would back in Neo Tokyo. This is owed to the fact that the people of Brasov actually tend to their own farmlands, a lost practice in these times. Venture a little out of the city and you’ll find it: acres of farmland, growing wheat, corn, oats, potatoes, grapes and sunflowers. They even have livestock!

The people of Brasov are more than happy to answer questions about their town and way of living. Outsiders who go around gathering information from the villagers will learn the following:

• Why is the land so fertile? This is all owed to their benevolent village god, the Lord of the Forest. No one goes hungry because their god takes care of them. Observant Outsiders will see a common symbol plastered around town: a canine skull.
• There was a distress call. Is everyone okay? The townspeople would respond in confusion and assure the Outsiders that nothing is out of the ordinary. They have been living peacefully for centuries and it’s because their god protects them. They don’t seem to know anything about what’s going on outside their town and the word ‘kaiju’ is lost on them.
• Who is the Lord of the Forest? The townspeople will sing his praises, telling the Outsiders about how he has been providing for and protecting their town for many years.
• Where is the Lord of the Forest? He lives in the forest and mountains that surround the village. Sure enough, if the Outsiders look around, they will see they are completely surrounded by foggy forest and mountains as far as the eye can see.
• Can they go into the forest? The villagers will look worried. While the Lord of the Forest keeps them safe, the forest is still filled with dangerous creatures. Also, the thick fog and trees makes it easy to get lost. Only the most skilled hunters venture out to catch prey like deer and bears. Characters who venture into the woods will get turned around and lost but will eventually find their way back to the village, to which others will reply it is the lord's guidance that brought them back to safety.

Outsiders can do as they please. The villagers are very friendly and will try to accommodate them however possible. There seems to be very little crime in the town and the people look happy. LILITH has been quiet for some time now. Maybe this is a great opportunity to have a well-deserved break? How can you not when the people are so kind and the food looks and tastes so delicious? In fact, the longer that Outsiders stay here, the more some of them may begin to feel like they belong here.

▶ 003. BONFIRE FEAST.

On the night of the 7th, the villagers will knock on doors inviting everyone to a bonfire party! It’s just about time to harvest their crops so food is abundant. They can’t think of any better way to use it than to prepare a feast. The bonfire will be held in the council square. Tables and benches have been set up and an impressive spread of fresh food is laid out for everyone to enjoy. Outsiders can enjoy bread, cheese, fresh pork, stew, roasted chicken, seasonal vegetables and free flowing alcohol. There are live musicians on the scene as well, playing merry tunes on their instruments. Some of the villagers have even started dancing around the bonfire and they’re pulling people in to join them! At the center of the table, a canine skull is placed, and the villagers give thanks to their god before partaking in the food.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary … Full and content, everyone will feel tired and want to retire for the night. Characters that do not need to sleep will also feel tired.

Night passes, and daybreak comes. Outsiders might notice that their numbers have dwindled; certain people have gone missing and are nowhere to be found. There won’t be a trace of the captured Outsiders aside from their belongings that they may have left behind.

The villagers do not seem bothered and everything seems normal in the village. Asking the villagers about these disappearances will result in no answers—they claim to have no clue as to the missing Outsiders' whereabouts. It also won’t be possible to contact them, or even LILITH for that matter. It is almost like communications have been cut off completely and their implants receive weak reception.

Observant characters may notice that a heavy fog has descended upon the village overnight and though it gets better during the day, it never lets up.

Captured Outsiders are as followed:

Aventurine
Choso
Dan Heng
Denji
Ereshkigal
Hiyori Iki
Kabru
Kaga
Lucy/Kaede
Maki Zenin
Makima
Malkuth
Loop
Nanami Kento
Rover
Sampo Koski
Taryon Darrington
Wriothesley
Yzak Jule
Zagreus

▶ 004. THE CHOSEN (KIDNAPPEES ONLY).

A separate log for KIDNAPPEES ONLY can be found HERE.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third travel log!

There are no assigned seats this time, so characters may sit wherever they choose. Inhuman-looking characters will need to wear their cloaking devices so as to not alarm the people of the town. A separate log has been prepared for kidnappees only. An additional prompt will go up for non-captured characters before the kaiju fight. The scheduling will depend on actions in the captive log. We will announce it on plurk.

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

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. TARGU MURES AIRPORT: There has been a distress signal. Characters caring for eggs must leave their eggs with Dr. Spim and report to the hangar to board their flight. The Outsiders will touch down in Targu Mures Airport, and will need to hike the rest of the way through the forest.

2. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA: Romania was thought to be a desolate country but one village seems to be thriving. The town of Brasov has historic, medieval architecture and the people seem plucked out of the 1700s. They are friendly, welcoming and curious, having never seen technology like what the Outsiders have. Outsiders are provided free lodgings, fresh clothing, food and water. The villagers raise their own livestock and grow their own food, which is unheard of in these times. They don't know anything about a distress call. All around the village, the symbol of a canine skull can be found. This is the Lord of the Forest, the god of this village whom the villagers worship.

3. BONFIRE FEAST: The villagers invite the Outsiders to a bonfire party where fresh food is abundant. After a night of merrymaking, they find that certain Outsiders have disappeared from their numbers and nobody seems to know what happened to them.

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Comments

QUESTIONS

[synfluxmods]

Ask away.

[fursuit]

Hello mods!

This is half a question half seeking information to potentially run a little player plot if it makes sense to do so. Both Set and Tezca are going to be very interested in the Lord of the Forest above all else, and will escalate that interest in a very normal way!

To start (and before characters get kidnapped), they'd try to catch its attention/talk to it, mostly by offering sacrifices in the woods. It'd start with normal food offerings and then escalate to killing wildlife and offering it. Ideally, they'd go looking for wolves or jackals to fit in with the canine skulls around town. Basic question here is would they have any success, and if so, what kind of response(s) would they get?

After characters get kidnapped, however, they're going to escalate if possible. It'd probably be a day or two after the kidnapping (aka getting the non-answers), and the pair would attempt to kidnap a villager and take them to the church. They'd be similarly looking for any response, and this would progress up to, uh, ritually murdering the poor villager. You do what you have to for answers, etc. Since this one is much more extreme, would this be possible? And if so, same questions as before of what kind of responses would they get? If it adds anything different, Tezcatlipoca would be willing to use his ~magic~ (and severely injure himself in the process) if it could be used like scrying for our lost lil guys. Totally okay with that being saved for part two if it works, obviously!

And for what it's worth with both, Pax and I are both down for negative consequences, and if possible, we'd like to open it up to any other characters that might be interested in joining or attempting to stop them! We're just checking first on what to expect so that if anyone else is feeling like being a naughty sinner that they'll know what they're in for.

Thanks mods! Sorry for going 0 to 100, they're unhinged and have terminal god brain!

[synfluxmods]

Hello,
Could you please elaborate on what they are trying to say to it? Or are they just trying to get answers to where the missing Outsiders went?

[fursuit]

Sure thing!

For the first portion, they're interested in the abundance of these lands compared to the rest of the world. What makes the land fertile/why, but they're also trying to intuit if there's any actual divinity as they understand it. The fertile nature of the land is interesting to them because that's the kind of information that's useful to LILITH/the rest of the world if it's something that can be learned. Or stolen. They're not picky.

For the second run, they'd be solely trying to figure out where the missing Outsiders are/if the Lord is responsible for their disappearance.

[synfluxmods]

In the beginning, the minor kills will not capture the attention of the kaiju. The more complex the organism and its capability to feel fear and displeasure, the more likely it has to make an appearance.

If characters stop at wolves and jackals, they have an opportunity for Option 1:

They will see a vague shadow in the fog, which is the kaiju. In light of attempting to summon it, it will cast a mark on the characters involved. This mark will show as a dark bruise somewhere on the body. While this mark is on their bodies, they will be slotted with vivid hallucinations and constant paranoia, as if they are being watched by the kaiju at all hours. Despite this, they will be unable to make out what the kaiju looks like from the distance.

As for Option 2 (CW: brainwashing, bodily harm of another).

If they do sacrifice a villager, the kaiju will brainwash the individuals involved. As one of their followers have died, it will demand kin for kin. Those brainwashed will desire to follow the will of the kaiju, and will want to harm other Outsiders. This compulsion will not be constant, but would hit them suddenly in waves. It could even happen hours after the sacrifice. As they have been brainwashed, while they could see the kaiju, they will be unable to remember its appearance no matter how they struggle to make it out. In order to keep the other Outsiders safe, it can be assumed they would need to be bound, etc. You are free to work with this as you deem fit as long as player permissions are received all around!

We wanted to make it flexible so you are able to choose which punishment would be more fitted to your needs. If you have any other questions and/or concerns, please let us know.

And also.. it doesn't want to talk to you. You're not a follower and you're not doing the ritual correctly, so there will be no information given.

[fursuit]

so cruel... they bring presents and for what... :(

But no, thank you so much! These are both great. Since this is an opportunity that others might want to get involved in but also requires some plotting, we made this ooc post for doing so (and linking to the associated toplevel for this lil plot). We've linked it on the Discord and our personal Plurks, but would it be possible to get a mod Plurk for it as well just for visibility outside of those options? No worries if not, but figured I'd ask!

And of course, thank you so much!

[eyeofmyass]

Hi. Sorry to bug, but there's a little detail I'm curious about. With the animal sacrifices, they get a mark/buise when they're suffering hallucinations. Will they also get a mark/bruise when they're brainwashed? And if they do, does that mean any townspeople that are brainwashed would also have marks?

[curingidiocy]

Given that communications to LILITH are cut off, does that mean communications between non-kidnappees are also cut off? Can the non-kidnapped people message each other at all?

[synfluxmods]

Hi there!

After the 7th, while contact between kidnapped and non-kidnapped characters will be completely shut down, the reception will be weak/spotty between non-kidnapped characters. So they will be able to message one another, but they may be missing a few messages, or it could take time between them. You're free to make up what works for you!

[curingidiocy]

Okay, sounds good! I presume then that tracker rings wouldn't work between a non-kidnapped character and a kidnapped one? Any chance of the non-tracking aspects like the emotional/thought connection working one-sidedly? Like the kidnapped person being able to tap into the non-kidnapped character's thoughts and emotions.

[synfluxmods]

For simplicity's sake, we are going to say tracker rings are non-functional for this event.

Re: QUESTIONS

[raynos]

Would Jamie have his Raynos available when they land, and if so would there be anything stopping him from flying over the forest to the town instead of having to hike through it?

[synfluxmods]

Hi, 


Any mecha would be loaded in with special cargo. As a result, they would not be available until a proper drop point is secured. While the plane lands and drops the Outsiders off, the cargo requires specific coordinates. They will not be dropped until the Outsiders make the hike and survey the general area first.

Additionally, from an OOC perspective, we are limiting technology in the first half of this event, as it could alter the event situation.

[raynos]

Understood, thanks! I get to force my nerd to hike through the woods uehehe

[newphew]

Using Flapjack and his Hermes boots to fly, would Hunter be able to find anything by scouting in the air? From above? Would anything change post-kidnapping?

[synfluxmods]

Hi there,

Hunter would not be able to find anything from up high, either before or after the kidnapping. The fog around the area is very dense and obscures everything from view.

OOCly, we have already laid out how the plot will go and having characters discover anything would change the trajectory of our plans too much.

[rikugan]

so, gojo will notice that nanami's cursed energy has disappeared pretty immediately following the kidnapping. he will be searching via air and through the forested area using his six eyes to see if he can get any trace of nanamin's CE or signs of the other missing individuals. will he be able to find/stumble on anything or will he come up empty-handed?

also if the question is too preemptive, then just let me know asdf

[synfluxmods]

Hi there,

Gojo would not be able to sense anything with his six eyes and will come up empty-handed.

OOCly, we have already laid out how the plot will go and having characters discover anything would change the trajectory of our plans too much.

[sensehispresence]

So, if Kadaj sends his shadow creepers out into the woods/forest would they find anything as they scoured through the forest at night? Structures or anything like that. Since they'd be able to scour out while Kadaj stayed within the village proper.

[synfluxmods]

Hi there,

Unfortunately Kadaj would not be able to find anything in the area using his shadow creepers.

OOCly, we have already laid out how the plot will go and having characters discover anything would change the trajectory of our plans too much.

[sensehispresence]

Alright, thanks! Just wanted to get all my wolves in a row and make sure that nothing could be found, no matter how big or small. ♥

[lostdestiny]

What happens if characters start smashing canine skulls in the village? (Appropriately dated to the 13th) Just double-checking that it’s the same effects/consequences as the castle log.

[synfluxmods]

Yes, skulls that are broken outside of the castle will assist in having the fog being lifted, and also people suffering by from rift sickness.

[curingidiocy]

Riding off this question... is it possible to dodge Rift poisoning entirely if the skulls were destroyed from a distance? And if multiple are destroyed at once, would that amplify how much further the wave of Rift energy goes out? I am asking for science.

[synfluxmods]

Avoiding rift poisoning by destroying the skulls at a distance would work.
And yes, destroying a bunch at once will make the rift poison stronger and effect a larger radius.