synflux | TRAVEL LOG #3

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TRAVEL LOG #3

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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Click on the headers to open the prompts. Feel free to PM me with any questions or let me know if you want a personalized starter. Otherwise, drop an ooc comment below and we'll hash it out!]

001. ▶ TARGU MURES AIRPORT.

💥 ➊ TOKYO. - Egg Drop

[Bakugo grumbles at the early morning call. Why the hell do they always ping them in the morning? Can't it be in the afternoon? Granted he's almost always up early, so it's less an inconvenience (unless Denji kept him up late last night). Entrusting the egg to their feline doctor isn't the worst decision; he's seen his friends go under that paw and come out alive, despite the torturous experience. Bakugo retrieves the Imugi egg from the controlled laboratory he's been on shifts for, carefully carrying it to the doctor's office. If he happens to notice another Outsider bringing their own in, you'd better be carrying it properly or you'll get a snap-] Oy! Support its base!

💥 ➋ AIRPORT. - Travel Flight

[Like the last time they took the plane to Seoul (thanks for the ominous memories, LILITH) Bakugo has little patience for getting settled in the plane. Luckily he's one of the first responders, so takes one of the window seats. No arguing about trading this time. Initially, Bakugo spends the first hour or so inspecting and collapsing his costume gear, including those giant grenade-shaped bracers on his forearms. The impromptu grenades on his belt sink inward to form thin canisters rather than their usual oval shape, the metal bracing on either side and back of his neck seems to shrink on itself slightly, and he tucks the explosive decoration of his mask backwards behind his neck. Luckily none of his gear is loaded with his explosive sweat, so there's no risk. For the rest of the 10-hour flight, Bakugo tries to nap through some of it or ends up challenging someone at a VR game to pass the time. Thanks Yuji for at least showing him they can be pretty fun. Otherwise try to to bother him for a conversation...]

💥 ➌ AIRPORT. - Arrival Hike

[Romania? Bakugo steps out of the plane and scans around the desolate area. He knows October is famous for Halloween thanks to Western influence, but LILITH seriously had to pick this haunting place for their spooky danger signal? Fan-fucking-tastic. He leaves the plane and stands to the side, checking in on some people to make sure they made it through the flight fine. Shouldering a duffel bag of supplies (he's learned to keep an emergency bag ready to go) Bakugo starts on the hike with the others, keeping beside an Outsider he either trusts or ends up getting partnered with. Leaving someone alone in this place is a bad idea almost immediately. Strong and able-bodied, with a hobby for mountain climbing back home alongside his usual training to become a hero, this is nothing to him.

The high collar of his costume serves as an effective filter against the pollen drifting through the air, though Bakugo opts to activate his plugsuit to cover himself rather than risk whatever adverse affects the pollen and dust might have. Glancing to another Outsider beside him, the blonde growls at them-] Oy, turn your suit on before you choke.

[No point in attracting predators with unnecessary noises. Bakugo takes the leadership of whichever small group he's in charge of. Amid the fog, he encourages the group to hold hands to stay together (don't you dare comment on how cheesy it is) as he takes point. One hand lifted, Bakugo cups his fingers and his palm glows orange yellow white hot before- KA BOOM!!

A loud explosion rocks through the air, as if a grenade went off overhead. The fog disperses in a wide range around his group from the wind. He'll repeat this when the fog encroaches on them again, though otherwise keeps a smaller, steady boombuboombombboom of smaller sparks bursting and popping in his palm to light the surrounding area.] Unless you wanna sprout wings and fly, keep walking or you'll get left behind.

[He won't leave someone behind, even if he growls a threat about it.]

002. ▶ BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.

💥 ➊ TRANSYLVANIA. - Embark

[Bakugo can't decide which is stranger, finding a patch of human life in the desolate region or hearing LILITH give them some praise after what they went through last month... He stands in front of his group for a few seconds, surveying the town before slowly descending a steep set of stone stairs.] Of course we're going to freak them out! Look at us!

[Barked behind him towards someone's stupid comment. These people probably have lived in isolation for a while and suddenly their way of life is interrupted by people showing up dressed in strange gear and looking vastly different from them. His warning completely erupts on itself when the townsfolk (dressed like a damn European history book) greet them with excitement, cheer, and suspiciously over-zealous hospitality towards a group of strangers like them. The lack of technology makes Bakugo feel like they've stepped into another dimension, thrown back in time within, and that makes him uneasy around the place...] I'll walk.

[He's not getting in the damn carriage.]

💥 ➋ TRANSYLVANIA. - Explore

[Bakugo has retired his costume for the moment, taking some time to look around the town over the few days they're there. Like always, they arrive at a place with other people, wait for the signs of the kaiju's presence, then have to deal with the monster attacking at a later date... Dammit. It's going to be a repeat again, isn't it. He hates the lingering ominous ghost over his head, clouding his usual scowl with something darker. But there's nothing to do except wait and deal with the town life as it goes forward. Happy, cheerful, completely mindless of what's lurking around out there. Which is even stranger. Talk about the village god doesn't put his nerves to rest either.

... Goddammit!! Is this one of those fucking horror films?!

Suspicious even more duly aroused, Bakugo can be found around the town with a guarded tone about him. He investigates the church, walking about the structure and casting occasional eyes to the interior when passing by the door. Their friendly shopkeepers try to entice him into the stores, only to have him ignore them or curtly decline. You might find him chasing a pack of kids, yelling at them for stealing an apple he got! Bakugo sits inside a tavern with a bottle of water, not intending to try the mead or beers the bartender offers him. Other times he keeps to the inn they're housed in, choosing that rather than someone's offered "spare room" in their house. Generally he tries to keep to himself and the Outsiders.

To any Outsider he finds talking or acting like they belong in this village, Bakugo's going to deck them right in the stomach. Wake up punch, bastard!] Lemme jog your damn memory then! You're not from here!

💥 ➌ TRANSYLVANIA. - Trope Talk

[Convinced they're in danger and the "Lord of the Forest" is the kaiju they're hunting, or at least related to it, Bakugo regularly finds other Outsiders and drags them aside for a talk. Whether it's about the questions they asked the townsfolk or something strange found in the area, he's going to be pointing out different horror tropes because dammit, he's not gonna end up one of those stupid horror film morons who make idiotic choices! ~~Though letting some weird ass kaiju slaughter a town of psycho murderers has crossed his mind.~~ So long as Bakugo can keep the Outsiders in reality...]

I've seen this kind of thing happen in my world. It's a movie trope.

003. ▶ BONFIRE FEAST.

💥 ➊ BONFIRE. - Feast

[Despite his suspicions and eerie feeling, Bakugo isn't going to tackle this with an empty stomach. He's reluctant to go to the feast and will probably have to be dragged or cajoled there by some friends. Most of him wants to stay in his room away from these too-happy people, but concern for the other Outsiders will see him eventually give in and go. Stalking towards the door, he's all growls.] Fine! I'm going! But I still don't trust this damn place!

[At the feast, Bakugo lingers on the fringes of the celebration, standing rather than sitting, and goes light on the food. He avoids the wines and beers and breads, sticks to vegetables and a few pieces of chicken and cheese, all to try and stave off any potential drowsiness from a too-bloated belly of heavier foods. It's ticks him off the townsfolk can cook so well... If anyone asks why he's taking it easy on the food, his response is curt and irked.] Che, I'm not that hungry.

[The bonfire lends a strange charm to the area, but due to his own thoughts, brings a sinister glow at the same time. If you want to try and call him over for a dance, you're gonna have to try two times at least to finally get him off his sulking hawking and into the fire-lit area.] I don't dance, dammit!

💥 ➋ BONFIRE. - Missing

[Ugh. His head feels heavy. Bakugo rubs at his temple as he sits up from the bed. Sheets fall around his hips and he glances to the side. Dammit, he tried to avoid this. But sleep came despite himself. An active night... Fingers curl in the sheets before he gives them a tug... only to pause at the easy give. Hm? The bed's empty. What the hell? Denji almost never rises before him. If Bakugo was asleep that long, of course Denji would've been asleep a lot longer. He furrows his brows as he gets up, looking around the room. The half-devil's not here. It only takes a minute for him to grab some clothes and poke his head out into the hallway of the inn he's been staying in, toothbrush still in his mouth. Where the heck did he go? He was sleeping beside him last night. The foggy windows outside make things more unsettling and Bakugo finishes getting ready before heading out.

Knock knock knock!] He raps his knuckles on the door beside his own, fully intending to wake or rouse the Outsider inside. Oy. Open up.

[Later, Bakugo can be found around town, trying to meet up with other Outsiders after two villagers' responses deemed them completely and utterly worthless for interrogation. His expression's angry and his tone's curt as he approaches another of his teammates. Dammit, this again? They better not be!] Have you seen them anywhere?

💥 ➌ BONFIRE. - Missing - for Yuji

[By now, the agitation and fear has set in. Not only a lack of knowledge on the whereabouts of their teammates, but they can't even get through to them on the oculars! LILITH isn't responding either and that's the final straw for Bakugo. Everything he'd been wary of this entire time comes crashing in as he rushes through the village, not even stopping to find time to grab his costume. Dammit! He knew there was something off about this fucking place! These people, their shitty god-!

Choso, Dan Heng, Kaede, Maki, Wriothesley, Denji!

As soon as he catches sight of that pink hair, Bakugo blitzes forward and catches a hand on Yuji's shoulder.]

They're not here! [Snarling despite the slight dip of panic in his voice.] When'd you last see Choso?

[Dammit, if something happens to them, he's going to burn this fucking village to the ground!]

[Dan Heng is by now used to one Katsuki Bakugo dragging him around by the sleeve at random, interrupting his small question and answer with a seller of squashes at the market. He just rolls with it, expression fully "well this might as well happen". He empathizes with the paranoia, so can't fault his friend for trying to keep important talks on the down-low.

Bakugo might take issue with how Dan Heng is wearing local clothing though. Listen. It was a gift...

Dan Heng raises an eyebrow.] Movie trope? How so? [Other than Mister Yang's animations, which tend to be of the Gundam theme, he's not very familiar with movies.]

[He's not a paranoid person, but there's enough red flags in this place to run a fucking fair. Too isolated, too nice, too pushy, it's creepy. Hauling Dan Heng to the side comes more from the guy wearing the local clothing rather than whatever he was talking to the vendor about. They're not from this place, they're not trying to "blend in" with the customs, and damn if he's going to watch someone he more than tolerates get sucked into the locals.

What's going on in Bakugo's mind: *ding*...]

An isolated village's protected by a local god and ends up either converting or killing foreign travelers.

[Is not seeing red flags everywhere paranoid behavior? He has many points, however. But wouldn't he be more likely to get answers from the locals if he looks like one? Undercover. Totally. (Wah more than tolerates...)

The way. I cackled at that gif. Help. That gets the message across perfectly. Help. Dan Heng's in so much trouble.]

...........hm. That does seem eerily...familiar. [He looks down at his clothes. Then back up to Bakugo. He clears his throat.] ...It's not what it looks like. These were a gift. [Rip.] I swear I'm not converting. The god reminds me of...an aeon that caused much strife in my "world". I'm trying to get more information on it. [Yeah, speaking of tropes...]

(you wicked wicked monkey you)

blastedass - 2024-10-02 04:55 (UTC) - Expand

(wicked monkey is not something I've ever been called before and now I will never forget jkshdfkds)

lunarchivist - 2024-10-02 07:58 (UTC) - Expand

(a joyous first to have)

blastedass - 2024-10-02 13:26 (UTC) - Expand

(Thank. Also it's hard playing a smart character. Keep forgetting the points he's supposed to make)

lunarchivist - 2024-10-04 04:56 (UTC) - Expand

I guess it's good my smarty pants is also an angry antisocial...

blastedass - 2024-10-04 08:25 (UTC) - Expand

It's true! It's ok, information will be figured out one way or another

lunarchivist - 2024-10-11 06:35 (UTC) - Expand

▶ 001. TARGU MURES AIRPORT.

▶ 002. BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.

▶ 003. BONFIRE FEAST.

▶ 004. THE CHOSEN (KIDNAPPEES ONLY).

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Bakugō Katsuki 💥 Boku no Hero Academia 💥 Everlight

Trope talk (gotta get a convo in before kidnappingggg)

(he's gonna be pissed dan heng got kidnapped)

(Sorryyyyy he did not choose the kidnapping) ((I did))

Exploring Transylvania. With Violence.

bless you, kaga

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trope talk, kinda

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tropeses

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meeee

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🌱 hunting

you mean we're not hunting 🍆 or 🍒 or 🍑 ooohohoh

he's always hunting for 🍆 🍒 🍑 but he's being NICE today! this is important to kacchan!!

missing

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Missing

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