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

[yuwon]

[ instead the cow moves its leg and also kicks yuwon right in the stomach.

this is so stupid... ]

[frostfist]

[ how the turns table...

To his credit, Wriothesley doesn't laugh when it's Yuwon's turn to get slammed in the gut by a cow, though he does stagger upright just in case their milking session turns into an impromptu corral a rampaging cow session. Thankfully, Miss Betsy (I've named our cow now) seems content with just harassing those in the immediate vicinity, and settles back down once her hooves have hit their target. ]

You too, huh? Does that mean it's my turn to feel you up?

[ except he doesn't get to rub yuwon's titties.....tch. :/ ]

[yuwon]

[ hello?

while wriothesley doesn’t laugh, he may as well have. yuwon approaches it with the same amount of offense, regardless. even if there isn’t really thing to be offended over. he heaves in a deep breath, letting the pain dull, before turning in his direction. ]

Then is it my turn to tell Ishmael? Even after all this time, you can’t really keep your hands off me. [ the first and last time he can make such a remark, but is he speaking for in regards for something so distant in their past, or is it general statement.

or is this his way of feeling like he’s challenging him, as he often does. ]

[frostfist]

[ damn

He probably should be more concerned with the optics of goading another man like this, but Ishmael and Yuwon are friends and he and Rodya are friends. If anything, he suspects that Rodya might even appreciate watching the two of them go at it like this.

Wriothesley gets up, advancing towards Yuwon, hands dangingling lazily at his side and only stopping until he's a foot away. ]

Should we call the both of them here now and see how they feel?

[yuwon]

[ this assumption about rodya...

when he steps in closer, yuwon simply watches him with the same disinterested gaze as always. except, there may have been something else embedded there. a brief touch of curiosity, or is it his own way of daring wriothesley to continue? ] You're all talk. [ says yuwon, even if... admittedly, he never once actually thought that about him.

sometimes you make a point, whether you actually believe in it or not. all in the name of [redacted] ] Do you want to see me get hit that bad? [ he thought this was supposed to be healing... ]

[frostfist]

[ Wriothesley motions to Yuwon's figure. ]

You don't think you could take it?

[ Those broad shoulders, those plush pecs? Those wide biceps that could probably give great hugs if only Yuwon bothered? (He better be giving Rodya hugs whenever she wants them.) ]

But since you're worried I might be all talk, guess I should work hard to change that impression of me.

[ Which means....it's his turn to step forward, his fingers and palms moving until they're settled firmly on Yuwon's abdomen. It's time for his massage now. ]

two can play this game

[yuwon]

[ i really thought this was my own fever dream...

but, it is very much reality. which wriothesley so kindly reminds him of when he places his hand right against his body. those words sound almost hypocritical against the man's own physique. his body built solidly, even by the tower's standards. it's difficult not to notice, if just because he was accustomed to discerning people's bodies, all the way down to the way he places a hand on wriothesley's thick forearm.

is this a way to warn him? there's no much pressure behind it, though. ] I'm not wrong. [ isn't this mostly still talk?

says yuwon who appears to be trying to stop him in his own half-hearted way. ]

That barely counts as a touch.

[frostfist]

[ the way i was going to drop all my threads but now i have to see this one all the way to the end

Yuwon's really out here saying he's still all talk and you know what? He's right. Putting hands on a man really barely counts as a touch (except in the cases where it counts as sexual harassment). With that kindly pointed out to him, Wriothesley works on kneading his fingers and palms into Yuwon's (rock hard) abdominals and obliques, making sure to move his hands slowly and purposefully.

His gaze stays trained on Yuwon's the whole time. Nothing like prolonged eye contact to make someone feel uncomfortable or vaguely aroused. (Or in Yuwon's case, probably neither and he'll just continue man standing.) ]

[yuwon]

[ the touch makes his body stiffen a bit as he inhales sharply. it felt like a knot around his abdomen was finally being released. but, definitely not without the tight sort of dull pain to his muscles. for some reason, the way wriothesley establishes eye contact through it all makes him feel like this was more a skirmish or a game than anything else. ... and in light of that, he also reaches a hand and squeezes it against wriothesley's expertly chiseled chest— the perfect balance of muscle and scarred skin, which his fingers trace over through his thin shirt.

that is... before, he gives it a firm push with his fingertips, as if trying to knock the wind out from him again.

not in front of betsy... ] Hey, don't you think you're getting too into it? [ he says absently, despite how close they once were. ]

Save the rest for them. [ them, the cows. ]