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synflux2024-10-14 12:50 pm
synfluxmods) wrote in synflux2024-10-14 12:50 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- azur lane: kaga,
- chainsaw man: denji,
- delicious in dungeon: kabru,
- devil summoner: raidou kuzunoha,
- elfen lied: lucy/kaede,
- ennead: set,
- fate/grand order: ereshkigal,
- fate/grand order: okada izou,
- fate/grand order: tezcatlipoca,
- final fantasy 7: kadaj,
- godzilla: gigan,
- honkai star rail: aventurine,
- honkai star rail: dan heng,
- honkai star rail: dr. ratio,
- honkai star rail: march 7th,
- in stars and time: siffrin,
- jujutsu kaisen: choso,
- jujutsu kaisen: kento nanami,
- jujutsu kaisen: satoru gojo,
- jujutsu kaisen: suguru geto,
- jujutsu kaisen: yuji itadori,
- legendary monsterverse: godzilla,
- library of ruina: gebura,
- limbus company: ishmael,
- limbus company: rodion,
- limbus company: vergilius,
- lobotomy corporation: yesod,
- mobile suit gundam seed: dearka elthman,
- mobile suit gundam seed: lacus clyne,
- mobile suit gundam seed: shinn asuka,
- mobile suit gundam seed: yzak jule,
- my hero academia: katsuki bakugo,
- original character: lilias hollow,
- pacific rim: raleigh becket,
- persona 5: akira kurusu,
- spy x family: yor briar,
- touken ranbu: tsurumaru kuninaga,
- trigun stampede: nicholas d. wolfwood,
- trigun stampede: vash the stampede,
- witch from mercury: elan ceres (5),
- wuthering waves: rover,
- yu-gi-oh! gx: manjoume jun,
- zoids new century: jamie hemeros
KAIJU FIGHT #5
KAIJU FIGHT #5
▶ 001. LORD OF THE FOREST.
Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.
Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.
All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.
Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.
(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEETIt is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:
Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.
All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.
Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.
(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)
▶ 002. FIND THE CAPTIVES.
Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.
If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.
In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.
Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!
If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.
In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.
Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!
▶ 003. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN.
Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.
Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.
For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.
The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.
To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.
Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.
For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.
The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.
To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.
▶ 004. THE FINAL RESCUE.
While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—
With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.
After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.
As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.
…
…
…
… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.
The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.
"Angels of LILITH, we have connection. Rescue your team mates no matter the cost!"
With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.
After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.
As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.
…
…
…
… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.
█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.
The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.
▶ 005. AFTERMATH.
The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.
When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.
Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.
Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.
Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.
(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)
When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.
Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.
Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.
Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.
(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)
▶ 006. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to fifth kaiju log!
Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!
Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!
For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.
Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!
Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!
For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.
EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.
2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.
3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.
4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.
5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.
003.
It's not until later, after the "god" is dealt with, the castle/village is plundered, and those who want revenge are taking, does Bakugo finally leave Denji's side once the other boy is sleeping. He doesn't have to go far, since Ratio is nearby, so there's no risk of the blonde losing his boyfriend from eyesight. A bandage wraps around Bakugo's upper arm to cover the bite wound, but he's aware the malady is in his blood for the time being. He'll... deal with it later.
Coming to stand beside Ratio, the explosive teen looks down at him and his partner.]
They weren't brainwashed.
[Is this an "I told you so" moment? Maybe. Bakugo's voice isn't snide or mocking though. More resigned.]
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That changes little.
[ In fact, it's probably easier for everyone that they weren't brainwashed. The more virtuous among them might have struggled to fight against unwilling enemies, but true believers would not be granted the same grace. It's all the same to Ratio though. ]
One could argue that being indoctrinated from birth is tantamount to brainwashing. Without any external influence, there is very little opportunity for them to realize the severity of their circumstances.
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[It changed several things, though many of those things were "in the eye of the beholder" when it came to actions. Bakugo doesn't have the strength or will to be a bear about things like he so frequently does around Ratio. Respecting the man doesn't mean he won't clash with him.
It made the battle easier for Bakugo once he realized the people in the cult were operating on their own free will. Though it also hearkens back to what he and Ratio talked about previously, and whether these people were brought up this way.]
Most people instinctively know murder's wrong. [Ratio's point about indoctrination only gets a grunt. Enlightening "heathens" is a historically repeated occurrence no matter what side a person is on.] A spark burns down a forest even if you didn't mean to, huh.
[They're getting a blazing opportunity to understand the severity of their actions now. For many, it'll be their last.]
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Of course, there is a part of Ratio that wishes to save them, but he has long known that he cannot save everyone, much less people who have been indoctrinated for so long they couldn't even begin to tell you which way was up. He is not a saint, and he does not want to be one either. ]
You would be surprised to know how many cultures across the cosmos consider murder an acceptable course of action against the out-group.
[ Even here, that is applicable. So long as you aren't a member of the group, all sorts of behaviour is tacitly approved of. It's just how humans are—which is why the circumstances that a person lives in must but improved for them to thrive in a constructive manner, rather than destructive. ]
This was a fight for survival. To the victor goes the spoils.
[ Which included the right to decide whether the losers live or die. Ratio will not protest for their sake when they were the ones who forfeited civility first. ]
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Saving them is a difficult decision. Inside, Bakugo wants to, but the sheer amount of villainy he witnessed stays his body from acting, as well as the other Outsiders who have differing opinions. They made the wrong choice before. It'll be their conscience they answer to later in the night when no one's around.]
Maybe not. One of my classmates came from a rural village and was almost killed by his neighbors for his Quirk.
[Perhaps not to the level that Ratio considered, as Bakugo had been surprised to learn about Shouji's backstory. He knew there were people who didn't like Quirks, but he'd lived and grown up in the privilege of a city where discrimination against the heteromorphs was nigh unheard of. How does that apply here? How does that apply to their companions who are reveling in their revenge? He doesn't know. But... ]
I tried to make them leave. [He tried to reason with the mayor and the pastor, warning them of the danger. He thought it was just the kaiju's threat, but the unseen enemy was among them the whole time. Yet he still tried to get them to stop.] Some people are fucking stupid.
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The criteria defining who qualifies as a member of the in-group can be quite rigid.
[ All it takes is a little weirdness and suddenly, you don't belong. He would know. ]
Indeed. But it does not mean they cannot be taught to be better.
[ If he didn't believe that, he wouldn't have anything left. All he is is a man who wholeheartedly chases after his ideals. ]
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And flexible. [A sudden shift can mean the "in crowd" suddenly became the "out crowd" before they can blink.] Quirks only appeared in my world a little over a century ago. Initially, only a few people had Quirks. They were feared and ostracized.
[If not hunted and captured. The result could be governmental study to something a dark as death. Bakugo trusts Ratio's intelligence to figure out how natural progression went from there, as more and more people gained Quirks.]
Tch. I'm not babysitting a buncha damn cultist kids.
[Grumpy McGrumpster.]
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I hope that is no longer the case in your world.
[ There's very little else he can say about it. He can most certainly imagine how things might have went, but Bakugo himself doesn't seem to be living in fear. Additionally, he used past tense, which suggests that is no longer the case.
The kids... Ratio has some opinions about LILITH requesting they gather the children, but. ]
Nor should we have to. That is not the job we were brought here for. As there is no benefit for LILITH to rear the children themselves, I imagine they will likely be sent to an orphanage or entered into Neo Tokyo's foster care system.
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Not anymore. When people with Quirks began to act in villainy, vigilantes rose up alongside the police, until the government finally sanctioned heroes as a vocation. The superhero society we live in now came from a lot of darkness and light.
[There are plenty more details to get into should Ratio want to dive further. Bakugo's never been one for spilling out a bunch of facts like a nerd, but he'll at least summarize the story if wanted.]
We didn't sign up to take care of a bunch of stupid lizard eggs either. [But that was foisted on them as well. Whether that's a good or bad thing might be an issue later, given some Outsiders got a little attached. Why not? They were asked to name the damn thing!]
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He'll ask another day, when they're not exhausted from fighting an entire village and dealing with the aftermath of the kidnappings. ]
Unlike the children, there was a clear benefit for LILITH in doing so. Though of course they did not consider the drawbacks either. I would not be surprised if they foisted the responsibility of these children's care onto us because they cannot provide them what is needed for their successful integration into the outside world.
[ He doesn't want to be involved with their care, really, but he has a sinking feeling he will be, because children are some of the most precious beings in society. Untainted by the wears of reality and the stupidity of adults, and endlessly curious. No, he doesn't trust LILITH to handle them properly at all. ]
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Haa?! I'm not fucking babysitting some damn kids! We should leave them here with the survivors!
[It's not as if the Outsiders slaughtered every single adult from village to castle! Even the sickos gunning for revenge right now aren't obliterating all that move. Taking the children away does nothing but burden Neo Tokyo with people who don't need to be there! He hardly sees the logic in LILITH's actions. Only the shitty sudden appearance of "morals" the group obviously didn't have when considering kidnapping people from other worlds! ... Unless LILITH is taking the children for later manpower under the guise of benevolence. Gross.
Unlike Ratio, Bakugo does NOT think these kids are untainted. They were complicit in the village's beliefs, accepted vanishing people and cultist ideas, even to the point of jumping on the Outsiders to stop them as they tried to get through the forest! They knew, to a degree, what they were doing and what was going on. At the very least, they saw no wrong in it.
Things he'll verbally convey to Ratio in their back and forth.]
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[ Even if it condemned the children to death, neither is it right of LILITH to strip them away from what remains of their community. What is best for children has always been a difficult subject to navigate, because while children can be quite intelligent, they are also, at the same time, not experienced enough to understand the full ramifications of their own decisions. Yet, they, as adults, tend to never consider what the child desires when deciding their fate.
It is an absurdly miserable hand that these children have been given.
If Ratio had the authority to make decisions, he would at minimum provide the surviving adults and children a way to contact LILITH, along with several other resources that would lead them to other human settlements, so they would at least have the choice of salvation from someone who isn't LILITH. After that, however, it would be up to the survivors to decide how to proceed. That, in his view, is the best way to proceed.
But they are stealing the children away, and no one will be happy. He sighs, exhausted, feeling the burden of yet another project on his shoulders. ]
If you've no desire to care for them, that is fine. You should not be forced to help them. If LILITH does not provide them the resources they need, I will handle it.
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You don't have unlimited resources.
[Even with Ratio's powers and abilities, they're taking more than a hundred (two hundred?) kids into the city. No mention of what age these kids are too. People call Bakugo a "kid" (much to his anger) and he's 17 going on 18 in a few months! Griping for the sake of griping isn't usually his style, but unless he intends to disable the medical shuttle to ground them until LILITH gives up on kidnapping... there's nothing he can do to stop it.
Well, he could throw the kids out the cargo bay until it gets too high to safely do so.]
I'll stick with the dragons.
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There are several others that have an interest in helping the children. Together, we will manage something for them. Your participation is not required.
[ It would be foolish to force those who have no interest in helping the kids to approach them. The kids would be able to tell. Better they be surrounded by those who do want to help. Even if they were to distrust everyone, he can at least hope that their sincerity will win them over at one point. ]
That is assuming they will allow us to see those Imugi younglings once they hatch.
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[That's stating the obvious for both of them. Plenty of kind-hearted people exist among the Outsiders, those who will see the children for what the could be rather than what they area. However, not all the "could be" options are positive. Some might think the children will become burdens or threats. Bakugo falls to the "burden" side, thinking it better the kids are left here with the remaining adults and carrying on their lives. Without the kaiju, without that stupid "god" of theirs, there won't be a reason to continue the shitty cult, right? ... Who knows.]
If they're gonna let us take care of other people's kids we got no connection to, but not let us see the damn lizards we fucking named, they're shit idiots.
[Shittiots? That works.]
We should leave them here. The survivors are just gonna fuck and make more even if we don't.