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

[ Bonfire ]

[blastedass]

[Tch. Couldn't they eat and go back to their rooms? No, of course not, dammit. How long's it been since he'd seen a real bonfire like this? A few years at least. Bakugo lingers between the post-dinner festivities and the village proper, tempting on retreating to the inn he's staying at and avoiding the crowd. These people, this place, all of it has bothered him since the very beginning. Having a massive fire surrounded by people and dead wolf heads is a "hey idiots!" version of red flag.

Bakugo's only reason for staying is those bad feelings and the other Outsiders. He'll leave and get to bed after he's sure everyone's back in their rooms and settled for the night.

Spotting a familiar head of silver hair, Bakugo approaches Kadaj and comes to a stop beside him. Normally the remnant's expression is a cold calm. Seeing him visibly exhausted is unnerving.]

If you're tired, go back to your room. You don't have to stay at this crap.

[sensehispresence]

[ The remnant wasn't overly fond of crowds, not unless he formed them. It was something that he'd found out while being around this place and people back in Neo Tokyo. He also isn't sure what to make of the bonfire, especially when he's never been to one. It was warm and he relished in that since he ran colder than some.

He didn't trust anything that was in front of them, if he was being honest with himself. Though, it seemed people were having quite the time.

When he hears Bakugo those eyes look toward the other. ]

I am not heading back yet, no matter how tired I get.

[ Not when he didn't trust this whole thing that people were partaking in. ]

Not when I don't trust all of this.

[ He couldn't give a reasoning why, save for a strange feeling. A bad feeling even. ]

[blastedass]

[Bakugo's not fond of crowds either. Nosy, pushing, getting too close and rushing him. Celebrations like these are even worse, as people like to try and include everyone (him included) in everything. A lot of that "everything" is stupid. He'd rather do something more constructive or useful. Dancing around a bonfire sounds ridiculous.

So Kadaj is sticking to his spot, huh. Fine. Bakugo crosses his arms as he stands beside the other guy.]

You don't trust this place either.

[He sounds in agreement. Kadaj confirms that vocally soon enough and Bakugo narrows his eyes at the fire.] Oy, how large a range do you have on your wolves?

[sensehispresence]

[ Seeing things like this made him wonder if Sephiroth or Cloud ever enjoyed them, though he doubted it. Neither men were much for crowds. That? He did know. Well, he knew it about big brother more than the man he used to be able to sense.

He didn't truly get the dancing around the fire bit though. What was the point of that? Everything was weird and messed up. At the statement of him not trusting the place he shakes his head no, silver hair falling into one of his eyes. ]

No one should trust this place.

[ Not with the feeling that it gave off. As for his wolves... ]

How far do we need them to go?

[blastedass]

[Bakugo has several companions who are more than extroverted enough to make up for his introverted self. And they like to drag him around to their extroverted crap. How do they succeed at that? Good question. Somehow they manage to convince his grumpy ass.

He's not about to regale Kadaj with the historic appeal of dancing. It's stupid. He'd rather train than waste his time dancing for a physical release. Bakugo glances from one Outsider to the next. Something crawls up the back of his neck again, making him concerned for their safety tonight.]

As deep into the woods as you can send them. Circle the village as they fan out. Whatever's in the woods is part of this mess.

[sensehispresence]

[ Kadaj is slowly making acquaintances with those who would prefer something like this more. Though, he's sure that he will never be one to truly celebrate anything. Nor would he see the point of it. Didn't mean he wouldn't go with those he considers friends. Probably the only way to get him to do anything like that.

If there was a historic appeal to dancing then he didn't see it. Dancing, however, was not their focus and he sits up a bit straighter. He was tired but he would do what he could with the shadow creepers. Would he lose them after a bit? Possibly. Especially due to how he was feeling at the moment. ]

I'll see how far out they can go. See if there's anything interesting out there.

[ A part of him would be tempted to drag out Bahamut, but that would be far too dangerous at the moment. So, instead he pulls the three shadow creepers and looks to each one. Two he sends out into different parts of the woods. The third? He sends to circle around the village near the forest's edge. Them being wolf-like might even work to their advantage. ]

[blastedass]

[Sounds like they're in the same camp, save for one's quiet and chill while the other's explosive and grumpy. Bakugo isn't one to do things like celebrations unless he's hauled in by his friends or teammates. Even then he's a bear about it, wanting it to be done correctly and not go on forever since he has shit to do.

But he's not about to get into the history of dancing appeal with Kadaj. Now there's more interesting things to tend to. Kadaj has access to some scouting abilities that many others of them didn't, and the relatively wolf-like shape of those shadows would prevent the villagers from thinking much of them skulking around beyond generic wolves.]

If the kaiju's out there, the should be able to track it. [Provided it comes close enough and is discernable from the other normal animals out in the woods.] If they find any kind of structures out there, we should note that too.

[Yeah, please don't bring out the giant dragon, Kadaj. They don't need a ton of heart attacks right now. Save that for later when Bakugo's tempted to raze the entire village to the ground.]


[ooc: just a head's up, if you want, you could pop a question to the mods to see if kadaj's shadow creepers find anything if they go scouring throughout the night. might be an interesting advantage come later.]

[sensehispresence]

[ That was fine. If someone tried to get into the history of dancing to him then he'd probably tune them out. Dancing was not his thing. Whether it ever would be... well, that could be dealt with and seen further down the road. ]

If it's out there then we'll find it. Let's hope they find something.

[ Even if he knows that the fog had been pretty thick. Something he didn't particularly like. Though, if anything is found then he'll let Bakugo know. For now? He was going to concentrate on where his shadow creepers were going.

As for the dragon... don't worry. He isn't bound to drag it out, not until he has to. ]

[blastedass]

[Bakugo watches the lupine creatures skulk off into the woods. He's not sure if the other Outsiders capable of summoning would have the same idea, or if their summons could reach as far out as Kadaj's autonomously. A lot of them tended to need their presence nearby.

The fog's thickness isn't the entire problem either; it's the mysterious way it always turns people around and dumps them back out into the village. They're trapped here, whether they like it or not.]

If they keep returning here, we'll know anything interesting is beyond that limit.

[sensehispresence]

[ Kadaj isn't sure what the other Outsiders can do. Did others have what he did? Did they carry materia? Though, at the moment, none of that meant anything. The only thing that mattered was what was happening in the moment. It would be the only thing that mattered too.

Those eyes look to Bakugo before giving a nod and when he sees one of the shadow creepers return, sinking into the ground he narrows his eyes slightly. ]

That one didn't find anything.

[ There were still two more. Unfortunately, none of them would find any structures or anything out of the ordinary. Which just set the remnant off that much more. He didn't trust this town, not when it was getting his own wolf-like creatures turned around on him. ]

[blastedass]

[He arches a brow when the creature returns. That was fast. Then again, if it only shot out in a straight line, of course it was going to return fast! Not the greatest when it comes to scouting the forest, huh, pup.]

Then have them map out the area before the fog. If some "god" or the kaiju's been there, maybe they can pick up something. Like the scales and horns we found in Seoul and Busan.

[It might give them an idea of what kind of creature they were looking at.]

[sensehispresence]

[ None of the shadow creepers ever shot out in a straight line. However, the wolf-like creatures also were connected to Kadaj's stamina too. If it waned then so did they. However, he does send the creature back out. The other two were somewhere else in the little village. ]

Perhaps they'll even catch a scent.

[ Whether that was true or not was a whole other story. However, they could hope that something was found. ]

[blastedass]

[Secretly, Bakugo's also watching Kadaj's stamina. How long he can have the three summons out before having to recall them to rest. Like many other summoners in their ranks, their power is linked to their holder. Kadaj can probably summon enough reserves to pass his stamina limits in a crisis, but it's good to know when he's nearing that point.]

That's what I'm intending. [Canines have always been good trackers. Bakugo crosses his arms and surveys the woods.] These people said they've been here for centuries.

[Which raises the question of how long the kaiju's been here...]

[sensehispresence]

[ It doesn't help, honestly, that the night had gotten to a lot of them either. He wasn't the only one who was tired but he's ignoring that. If he needed to force himself to keep the shadow creepers out long enough... well, he'd do it. Would he need the rest afterward? Yes, but for now he'd keep them out and roaming the forests around them. ]

Do you believe them?

[ How did one thrive in a place for centuries? Especially one that was so small and seemed to be thriving. That was set apart from the outside world. If they took out the kaiju... would it destroy the people that thrived in the city? ]

[blastedass]

[ooc: sorry for the delay; a hurricane ran me over]

[Bakugo doesn't intend to force Kadaj to drain himself. He has an ominous feeling about tomorrow and doesn't want any of them to either sleep alone or stay up and leave themselves exhausted. If the creepers wander around for another hour or so, given their speed, they'll likely find something. And if not, further searching's probably pointless.]

I don't know. There's over a thousand people here.

[But considering the state of the world, why a kaiju wouldn't devour them is ridiculous. Even if this one doesn't, others prowl around. How could this group survive for so long in the "wilderness" compared to the other settlement cities they've been to?]

[sensehispresence]

[ Kadaj, unfortunately, wouldn't know what it meant to drain himself. It wasn't something that he'd ever done before. Though, he was watching where the shadow creepers had gone. Needed to know if they had found anything or not.

The mention of the people, however, has him giving a slight frown. ]

That doesn't seem like a lot compared to Neo Tokyo, but I don't trust it.



[ OOC: As long as you and yours are safe. All that matters, darlin'. ]

[blastedass]

[He'll probably tell Kadaj to recall them after a few hours or whenever they decide to retire for the night. Unless the remnant can leave them out with no issues to himself. Then why bother? It's only to their advantage to let the wolves search.]

This is a village, not a city, idiot.

[Of course it's not a lot when compared!]

Tch, hell no.

[sensehispresence]

[ Kadaj will recall them himself after a few hours. The fact that there was nothing they could find getting a slight growl out of the remnant. He doesn't like that nothing was found. ]

Yes, I know.

[ Unfortunately, he can't leave the shadow creepers out without draining himself of all energy. Energy that he'll need for the coming battle. ]

I'm not surprised that neither of us trust it.

[blastedass]

[Nothing found at least affirms all their suspicions lie beyond the fog or under the ground. The latter would require some invasive procedures within the village, but Bakugo's already been in some cellars without anything weird, so...]

They've been fucking creepy from the start. [Any Outsider who doesn't think them suspicious by now is a moron.]

[sensehispresence]

[ He isn't bound to pull the shadow creepers back, not yet. Though he should. Especially if he expects to walk back to where they're staying. There was no way that he'd sleep outside. Not when he didn't trust the villagers. ]

There's something off about them.

[ Maybe it was just a feeling that he was getting, he didn't know. He just knew that something felt off. Bakugo was right... they were creepy. ]

[blastedass]

[Bakugo eyes the other Outsiders, trying to pick out which ones he can see via a mental checklist. Getting his partner back to their room for the night and making sure other close companions are safe and sound is going to be his pre-bed routine tonight.]

No shit. They took to us too fast for an isolated group. [Especially since the Outsiders emerged from the forest, a place the villagers are afraid to venture far into. That should've spooked all of them, not prompted welcome with open arms.]

[sensehispresence]

[ It takes a moment before Kadaj stands, stretching slightly. He won't sit down any longer. If he does? He's bound to fall asleep right there. The remnant won't put it on Bakugo to make sure he went to sleep somewhere safe. Though, he does finally pull the shadow creepers back, letting them slip back into the ground. There's almost a weight off his shoulders when he does. ]

One should never take so well to someone. How many of us did that though? Took to these people because they were nice to us.

[blastedass]

[Bakugo turns his attention back to Kadaj as he gets up. There's no doubt he's feeling some of the effects himself, confirming his suspicions. Deliberately avoided eating too much, so it's likely the herbs and adages to the food rather than a full-belly food coma. Tch... the mesmerizing fires don't help either.]

How the fuck should I know? Most of the Outsiders are still suspicious.

[With varying levels of kindness though.]

[sensehispresence]

[ Kadaj hadn't even had a lot of the food. Not enough that would send him into some kind of food coma anyway. The blazing fire felt nice too. He didn't like whatever this new feeling was though. Nor did he want to like the feeling. ]

As they should be.

[ There's a brief pause. ]

No matter where they searched nothing was found.

[ Something else he didn't like. ]

You should get some rest.

[ They all should. ]

[blastedass]

[Bakugo isn't surprised the wolves found nothing, but that's not a completely useless result either. He growls in annoyance, but seems to accept the answer.]

So anything of importance is either past the fog or under the village. [Maybe hidden in the houses and shit but since the outsiders have been welcomed in by the village, including into their homes, anything suspicious would've been found, or at least noted by the more intellectual of their numbers.]

I'll rest once everyone's back inside and safe.