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

🠊002. BRAȘOV ~ A

[blastedass]

[Contrary to two of his best friends here, Bakugo's a city boy, grown and raised there, and over a century in the future of a superpowered society. Coming to this place is akin to stepping backwards into a land bereft of modern conveniences. It reminds him too much of pictures in a history book and the annoying-as-fuck forest camp training. At least before they reached the resort. But he also ran around in the woods with his friends as a little boy way back when, and being the tough guy, learned how to rough it somewhat if needed. Hopefully they won't have to do that here... even if some things are questionable.

It's at the one of the-- apparently --local apothecary that Raidou runs into him. More like when the summoner wraps up his conversation with a nearby gardener, Bakugo's crouched in front of the workbench of an old woman, listening to her talk about medical plants she uses to help people. Is it any surprise to Raidou the hero's interested in those anesthetics and painkillers? He's wary about entering her shop though, preferring to stay out in the open and the light. (This place gives him the creeps.)

Noticing Raidou from the corner of his eye, Bakugo gestures him over with a tilt of his head.] Raidou, Agatha. Agatha, Raidou. He's learning gardening too.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou smiles warmly spotting his friend, and walks over to give the herbalist a bow in greeting. Delighted by this custom, she gives him as much as one as she can manage from her seat.]

That's right. I've been learning a lot from people here. Some have even given me seeds to take home.

[And now he has tips on the best conditions for them, too, recording conversation via his implant with the locals. Raidou crouches down to take a loot along with Katsuki to see what's available here.]

I'm glad we were on the same wavelength here.

[blastedass]

[Yeah, Katsuki did not give any kind of customary greeting. At least he didn't straight up demand things from her. Mostly approached and answered what he was looking for when she asked if she could help him. He notices Raidou pocketing some seeds. Hmph, seems they have similar ideas regarding the project back home.]

Agatha said she's got some seeds to share as well. [Granted the old woman wasn't going into the forest to look for things, but some hunters and younger folk went in there from time to time to procure the helping flora. Katsuki would take some of those "best conditions" with a grain of salt, since the climate in Romania is a lot different from that of Japan.]

Heh. I said we should partner up for it. [Raidou didn't think he'd be partnering with a slacker, did he? Katsuki indicates a few selections, things that can reduce fevers, take down swelling, and to his main interest, relieve or eliminate pain.

Which he's background sketchy as fuck about considering his suspicions about this place... When Agatha turns to procure something else, Katsuki leans into Raidou's space to whisper into his ear.] The one in the jar's called "limbus weed" and it's supposed to make people tell the truth.

[the_fourteenth]

Wonderful. Anything is greatly appreciated. And you may regret offering that. this project is getting, ah, rather involved.

[Raidou never expected to be the head of a project like this, but now he's learning about farming, about seeds and planting, about architecture and construction and planning. Once he gets back to training full time, he has no idea how he's going to keep up all this, along with his usual studies as well. But for now, he'll worry about it once they're done with this mission.

Raidou raises an eyebrow slightly at Katsuki's whisper.]

Hmm. Do you think that's true?

[blastedass]

If it means I can shove anesthetics and painkillers into their fucking hospitals, I don't give a shit how involved it gets.

[Raidou should know how important that particular topic is to Katsuki, especially since the other boy underwent a surgery himself recently. Katsuki's been working in the greenhouse recently to take stock of what they have there, and comparing it to the flora found in Okinawa. The beach-side groves are more citrus and fruit, making the growing of vegetables and herbs somewhat speculative, as the different species are more conducive to different soils... but he's hoping the pure fertility of the area will override this limitation.

Schedules. That's how you keep up with it. Shorter training, shorter studies, shorter hobbies, but don't skimp on your health or sleep because it fucks with the success of everything else.]

Hell no! I'm calling bullshit on LILITH's "truth serum" too. But I don't trust them not to want to test this crap if they hear about it.

[Perhaps the question is whether they should take some or not.]

[the_fourteenth]

[There are only so many hours in the day. But Raidou isn't known exactly for taking it easy. He'll figure it out. Sleep is for the weak.

Raidou eyes the jar, and the woman busy sorting through her inventory. His eyes go back to Katsuki.]

We could try it. Somehow. See if it works?

[Not it! They don't have long to debate about it before the woman gives them her attention again.]

[blastedass]

[You can't accomplish shit if you're dead. Or stuck in the hospital suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition. Bakugo's not one to talk about pushing yourself. He'll got harder than anyone during the day, yet makes himself go to bed on time and eat well. The cost of that rigid effectiveness probably leeches into his attitude though...]

Haa? Truth drugs don't work! They make you ramble and susceptible. That's all! [Which someone then uses to manipulate and guide the conversation or questioning until they can get enough information to make a case for "truth".

Still, if they take it, no one else can get it...] Fine. Get it and I'll prove it's a lie.

[So long as it's kept between them.]

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou looks skeptical.] You'd actually try it?

[With an offer like that, how can he resist? He asks the woman how much for the small jar, and she seems pretty entertained by the idea. Raidou has been slowly pawning off the snacks he brought with him to barter with, glad he didn't eat too many on the plane. The jar gets traded for the remainder of his sesame rice crackers.

He turns to Katsuki with a slight grin, handing over the jar.]

[blastedass]

It's nothing but a damn weed!

[Why do people think truth serums are anything more than a doped up stupor?! Heh, Katsuki snorts in amusement when Raidou barters with airplane snacks. Good to know. He has some bagged peanuts as well, but they're back in his room.

Which turns into a slight "serious?" look when Raidou turns to him and offers the jar with a smile. What, does he think he's going to take it right now?]

When we get back to the inn, dammit!

[Unless Raidou pushes him...]

[the_fourteenth]

They're all nothing but weeds.

[And yet, some are antiseptics, or pain killers, or can affect the mind. Only one way to find out, though. He won't push him to try it right here; back at the inn is fine.]

Was there anything else you wanted?

[blastedass]

Opioids aren't weeds.

[For example. Is this one of those all weeds are plants but not all plants are weeds sort of commentary?! Bakugo nods at the question and turns back to the woman. There's a few more exchanges before he collects a few plants from her, seeds included a few that Bakugo has already recognized from a list of kampo herbs he researched a while ago.]

I didn't have a lot of opportunity to search these plants in Vegas or Seoul.

[Which he's kind of kicking himself for... though Seoul probably wouldn't have parted with its medicines considering the survivalist state that city was in. And now, there's no going back.]

[the_fourteenth]

Mm. We had other things to worry about there.

[Raidou hadn't really been tuned into this project back then, either.]

I think we're well making up for it now. I guess this means I really need to start working.

[It's one thing to start studying and making some plans, it's a whole other to initiate them. He wonders if he'll ever be ready to.

He also smiles a little to himself.]

I also never thought I'd be excited over the idea of seeds, either.

[blastedass]

No shit.

[Bakugo had his intentions already, but the past several months have been pretty busy and railroaded his plans, not to mention waiting for LILITH to offer a response back. Picking up some plants here should help going forward, especially now that the Okinawa beaches option is available.]

Aa. Same here. Once we get back to the base, I want to organize that search outside the city. [He has knowledge on what they're looking for now and the research into the beach area has been productive. But like Raidou said, studying and preparation mean little without doing something.]

You've learned a lot since you got here, huh.

[the_fourteenth]

My life here is very different, so I guess it's to be expected.

[Raidou was raised with a pretty narrow focus, and now that path no longer exists. So, it was time to find a new one. He hadn't thought he'd be finding so many.]

Not a bad idea. I've gone on a few hikes, but never really paid much attention to the flora. Well, except for those you need to avoid, or need to eat in a pinch.

[He is a mountain village kid after all. Those things are paramount, especially back in his time. No way to call for help if you get lost.]

If we find anything good, then we can take that back to the greenhouse too.

[blastedass]

Is that so... [Bakugo looks down at the collection in the bag. It's enough to start with. He'll come back and speak to her again another time, probably offer to do some labor to help her in exchange for more. Either information or plants.

Raidou's not wrong about a different life. Bakugo's, despite being as close to his hero life as he cold make it, is not the same thing. But he refuses to let himself veer too far away.]

I wasn't looking when I went out. [Then the following months came with their relocations and local disasters, plus the overflow issues from Vegas and Seoul.] I took inventory of what we have in the greenhouse compared to what we found in Okinawa.

[the_fourteenth]

[So long as Raidou is still helping those who need it, that's all he wants. He may no longer be a summoner, but there are many ways he can still be of service to others. This project is one of them.]

Then let's plan to make some trips out there when we get back. Before winter settles in and takes all the plants with it.

[Raidou smiles a little at that.] That so? Good. I hope we found a lot of new things in Okinawa then.

[blastedass]

[Katsuki will always consider Raidou a summoner. He admires his heart and his desire to help people. A heroic person. And it piques his excitement to be in a project like this with Raidou.]

Sound good. For all we know, Okinawa won't feel winter. A rift is making the produce gigantic. [It could keep the place as a good temperature the entire time. Otherwise they'll have to make a greenhouse there. Which could be a fun project too.]

Mostly the citrus trees and melons. We had some crossover.