TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

[synfluxmods]

TEAM BUILDING EVENT #3

CONTENT WARNINGS: medical content

▶ 001. WELL DESERVED REST.

With no sign of upcoming city-level threats, LILITH has made the decision to provide Outsiders with a well-deserved break: there will be no official missions for the month of December. Outsiders are free to roam the city, continue their usual civilian jobs or take a holiday to any of the locations available via data portal. During this period, LILITH leadership will also be taking time off and any attempts to contact them will be met with an ‘out of office’ return email unless it is an emergency. (Dr. Spim is still around, but … he is a cat and doesn’t answer anyway... unless he feels like it.)

That isn’t to say it’s going to be a completely quiet month, of course. Our players have kindly prepared several player plots that anyone is welcome to join. Please refer to the top level here for links to the relevant plots. An updated quest has also been listed here.

Additionally, the Outsiders Program has successfully finished its first year! LILITH will be giving all Outsiders old and new a thank you bonus of 500,000 KRYPTOS (approximately 3230 USD) to spend freely on their holiday. Try not to spend it all on pachinko!

▶ 002. LET IT SNOW.

Starting December 1st, the temperature in Neo Tokyo will take a dive as the country enters into winter. The first signs of snowfall will occur on December 1st, and as it continues, the city will be transformed into a winter wonderland. The shops and restaurants of Neo Tokyo are capitalizing on the approaching festivities, putting up Christmas lights, Christmas trees and decorations. Many stores are having sales on warm clothing and popular gifts. Isn’t it the perfect time to find some nice gifts for your friends?

While only a suggestion, it is encouraged to support the integration of the orphans from Transylvania by taking them out on a winter adventure.

Winter activities found in Neo Tokyo include:

- Christmas Winter Illuminations. Certain parts of the city will be lit up in Christmas lights and holographic, winter-themed illuminations. Stop by at the right time and there might even be a drone show to watch.
- Ice sculpture building. Artists have gathered in Yoyogi Park to showcase their latest ice sculpture creations. Outsiders may view the attraction or join in on the ice sculpture contest. Winners will get prize money.
- Ice-skating. The Yokohama Red Brick Ice Rink is open again and characters are free to go skating with their friends. As a part of its latest attraction, the ice has been fitted with microscopic nanobots that light up when touched, causing the ice to glow or showcase striking colors as people skate across it.
- Playing in the snow. Even under threat of kaiju, the people of Neo Tokyo take the time to have fun when they can. Through the streets, there are people making snow angels or pelting each other with snowballs.

Characters may visit Las Vegas, Kyoto or Okinawa using the data portals. Kyoto and Okinawa continue to be uninhabited, but they can camp there if they wish. They are free to book a hotel and enjoy their holiday in Las Vegas too, where the city will have its own brand of winter activities (winter illuminations, Christmas shows, ice-skating and holiday-themed Vegas shows). While the weather is still cold, it will be snowing in Kyoto but not in Okinawa or Las Vegas.

▶ 003. SNUGGLE UP.

All the lights and festivities happening in the city are putting some strain on the power grid, and this leads to occasional bouts of power failure during the month of December. These seem to be happening in the base and throughout the city of Neo Tokyo, and they last for a few hours each time. With hospital equipment running on back-up generators, it isn’t a huge cause for concern, but it certainly is an annoyance; especially with the weather so cold.

LILITH robots will be offering Outsiders on the base extra blankets (traditional and emergency foil blankets) along with heat packs to get through the cold. Starting a fire within the base will not be allowed since it is a hazard, so those who still need the extra warmth will need to find other creative ways to obtain it. A snuggle never hurt anyone, right? There is one operational fireplace in the Library, and Outsiders may notice an influx of small tables throughout the base with self-serve hot beverages on battery operated kettles, such as tea, hot cocoa & artificial coffee. As Outsiders congregate around the base, snuggled up in their new festive blankets, perhaps now would be a good time for some classic party games such as Never Have I Ever and Two Truths and a Lie.

▶ 004. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE.

Dr. Spim takes regular cat naps anyway, so he doesn’t see the need to take a holiday. As a result, he has continued to work tirelessly on finetuning the cure for the vampiric disease. Throughout the month, he will make several requests for volunteers (those with and without the vampiric disease) to participate in the ongoing clinical trials.

The serum he is testing will not cause harm to the body, but it might result in any of the following side effects:

- Dizziness, fatigue and difficulty coordinating movement.
- Fever, chills and a desperate need for warmth.
- Mood changes, which can present as euphoric or depressed or both.
- Hallucinations or delusions.
- Increased hunger, thirst or other physical needs (interpret as you wish.)
- A ravenous need for blood (for vampires.)

Certain volunteers may encounter no side effects at all, while some may experience all of them. Luck of the draw, really. The side effects are not permanent and last for a few hours. As always, Dr. Spim will explain the possible side effects and get consent before administering the medicine.

By the end of the month, a stable cure will be finalized and LILITH robots will deliver it to all those affected by the vampiric disease (if your character was already a vampire, don't worry about it). It is highly encouraged to take the medicine! Dr. Spim has no time to chase down the people refusing to take their medicine, so he might pay some of their friends to do it for him. He is a cat. He has better things to do (such as knock this beaker off the table….)

As an OOC note, please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character. The vampire event in Transylvania was meant to only have temporary effect.

▶ 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our third team building event! All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards December AC.

We have a lot of player plots this month, and are using this log to encourage players to participate in the player plots since the event itself is light. As a reminder, the mod team will be taking a break during the month of December and will not be answering any questions at this time.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. WELL DESERVED REST: Outsiders enjoy a quiet month with no kaiju attacks, but are provided plenty of things to do (via player plots) and they are welcome to use the data portal to travel to Okinawa and Las Vegas at this time.

2. LET IT SNOW: Heavy snowfall turns Neo Tokyo into a winter wonderland with many snow related activities to participate in such as ice skating, ice sculpture making, etc. LILITH encourages the Outsiders to allow the misplaced orphans to participate in some of these activities.

3. SNUGGLE UP: The power outages strike again, this time from too many festive lights that overheat the generators. LILITH provides Outsiders with emergency blankets and hot beverages during times of outages.

4. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE: Dr. Spim trial runs an antidote for the vampiric disease that struck Outsiders during their mission in Brasov. He takes volunteers who are both vampires and not. Finally, a cure is made, and all Outsiders are asked to take it (please do not let your character remain a vampire unless they are already a vampiric character.)

code

Comments

Ereshkigal || Fate/Grand Order || Redemption

[queenofkur]

[ It's a snowy Monday morning. Ereshkigal leaves the LILITH headquarter - as she does very day besides Sunday - to go and work at the flower shop. But just as she exist the building, she stops in her tracks and looks at the white world before her with wide open eyes. ]

W-What is this?

[ She very tentatively takes a step forward and walks on the white thing that covers everything as far as the eye can see. H-Her weight causes her feet to sink in! Could it be... Is this? ]

Snow...?

[ She starts sparkling and gets down on a knee, excitedly grabbing snow with her hands. W-Wow! She'd read a lot about it, but she had no idea it actually looked that pretty! And it feels so weird to hold. If she compacts it then it becomes like ice, but if she pelts it off the ground then it's like dust! Now of course she's a goddess, she knows exactly how this all works on an elementary level. But to see and feel it for herself...

It's so wonderful, ehe! It's like a dream coming true! ]

[intertwinedfates]

[On his way back from an errand, Yato spots Ereshkigal marveling at the snow from a distance. Her excitement is obvious even from where he's at to the point that by the time he comes upon her kneeling to feel the frozen water, he's laughing lightly as he crouches down to join her.]

First time experiencing snow, huh?

[queenofkur]

[ She looks up when Yato crouches and speaks, nodding to him excitedly. ]

Y-Yes...! [Santa could conjure snow, but she never did it before her. Sniff.] It's so beautiful! Very cold too.

[ You wouldn't know it what with the way she's holding the snow with her bare hands - no gloves or anything. Probably a result of her body being so cold to begin with. ]

Mhm... It has a texture close to ice cream, but with the lightness of dust. [She cants her head to the side.] And the taste is similar to that of low quality water.

[ How curious... S-She knows she's supposed to go to work, but she wants to stay and just do... Stuff with the snow! ]

[intertwinedfates]

[It's so sweet how excited she is, he can't help smiling warmly upon her. He doesn't remember his first snow, but one of the early ones mesmerized him, too.]

It's amazing something like it can exist, isn't it? [He takes up a scoopful of the fluffy stuff, letting it fall from between his fingers.] You should see the countryside after a night of it snowing. Absolutely incredible - the whole world turned white.

[He's a bit surprised she's not shivering, but perhaps goddess of death have different temperatures than those of other gods. Still...]

That's a good way to describe it! And it's a lot of fun, too. You can make designs in it, mold it into shapes, or just flop in it and enjoy the feeling of it. Here-- [Reaching into a pocket, he takes out a pair of gloves, passing them over to her.] So your hands don't get frostbite.

[Since he figures she's going to spend some time marveling at the wonderful substance, it only makes sense to protect herself.]

[queenofkur]

[ It is most incredible, yes. Ah, if only she could have snow in the Underworld... Maybe she should ask Santa when she'll be back, if Santa is still around of course. She smiles at Yato and takes the gloves he hands over to her. ]

Thank you!

[ Once put on, she gathers a head-sized snowball and starts drawing shapes in it. She looks very focused on it for a few seconds and... Tada! It looks like a very rudimentary human skull. I-It's not Halloween, but that's the first shape that came to her mind. She holds it with one hand, contemplating her creation.

Her posture holding the snow-skull makes it look as though she may just be about to say "to be or not to be," but alas! She says no such things. ]

It is a wonderful substance to make creations with... H-Have you experience with snow Yato?

[intertwinedfates]

[It's really unfair how much of life Ereshkigal has to miss out on thanks to her duties. It's enough to make Yato wistful on her behalf, a flicker of sadness crossing his features briefly as she puts on the gloves.]

Sure thing.

[He watches her, curious as to what she'll make first, until the form takes shape and it turns out to be a... skull?? ... Well, that is rather fitting for a Goddess of Death, he supposes. Even if she does seem ready to take her place in a Shakespearean play. He himself takes up a handful of snow and molds it into a tiny little snow cat.]

Oh, plenty. More than I would've liked, truthfully. But I still like it to play with. Just not to live in.

[queenofkur]

[ She cants her head to the side, pondering for a moment. ]

Mhm... I wouldn't mind living in it, but that would make warming the souls even harder.

[ It's so cold down in the Underworld, if it ever snowed, she could imagine the snow remaining forever. But the souls may not like it. No, what they need is sources of warmth, not more sources of cold. ]

You're so talented! [That snow cat looks so much more realistic than her snow skull. She supposes that's where experience shines.] Do you believe you could make one of those famed "snowman?"

[intertwinedfates]

[That's enough to make him chuckle as he plays with the snow.]

Trust me, Eresh, you'd get tired of it after a while. Months upon months of it per year is enough to make you think you'll never be warm again.

[To live in somewhere cold all the time would depress Yato immensely. He loves spring and the flowers it brings, even if he hasn't bothered to view the cherry blossoms for centuries. Besides, people - and their souls - deserve the warmth that comes with spring and summer.]

Hehe, thanks~ [It's only a shame he doesn't have some yarn or wire to form the whiskers! That would really make it perfect.] I could! You can, too. I can show you how, if you'd like.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon is bundled up in a thick coat, a hat with ear flaps, and a fluffy scarf. Winters in Neo Tokyo, as he has just discovered, are not as harsh as those in Deastok, but he feels so cozy and warm that he can't swap out his outdoor outfit. Also, he paid actual kryptos for real jackets instead of a fashion upgrade and he's going to make use of his purchase.

The woman Ereshkigal (for the first time, he's seen her without tears or a downcast expression) acts like a puppy running through the snow for the first time. Thus, it's up to him to show off what can be done by an expert snowcrafter!

It helps to have a second pair of hands owned by a metal man following Taryon around and following his directions to build a defensive fort wall out of snow, complete with battlements and rough lines approximating bricks on the exterior.]

Hey! [He waves at Ereshkigal.] Check this out!

[queenofkur]

[ Ah... It's been a month now since she first re-met him. So she's not as unprepared and mentally vulnerable as she'd been back then. But it still startles her to hear his voice. She looks up in his direction with wide eyes, saying and doing nothing for a few seconds.

But finally, she gets up and approaches him. ]

A-Are you building a fort with snow?

[ She tries to smile, though there is something pained in her expression. ]

But won't it melt?

[likemybooks]

Nonsense! The cold weather is here to stay, and so will this fort! [He adds in a loud, boastful laugh while Doty the automaton smooths the inner walls silently.] Why, a few freezes will toughen up the internal structure. Not that I'm asking you to test that claim...

[He quickly holds his hands before if as if to catch someone running at his creation with that intent.]

[queenofkur]

[ If the cold weather stays, it is logical that the fort would remain... And once compacted, snow is pretty much as solid as hard blocks of ice. But why would he need a fort of ice? Is he expecting to be attacked? ]

Y-You want me to test that claim?

[ Well then! She approaches the fort and slams her hand... Right through it. A-rank strength! It's like going through butter for her. The hole is rather small at least. But-- ]

I fail to understand the purpose of this.

[likemybooks]

Well, if you want to give it a quick go... [He nods, smiling, unaware of the catastrophe he has welcomed. Life is beautiful, friendships are being formed, the additional snow ball that Ereshkigal is surely throwing will only add to his power. She walks up to him, pulls her fist back--

His face falls.] Wait what are you--

[There are no screams. No cries of despair. Only betrayal and shock on Taryon's face when this kind woman, so sensitive and pure, broke through his foritifications that he took care in designing. No care for art, no regard for his sweat and tears. At least, there weren't any tears until he had to fight his sobs that threatened to leak out of his eyes.

Instead, he falls to his knees and lands in the snow with a crunch.] It's not...it wasn't meant for that...

[queenofkur]

[ O-O-Oh no! She thought that was what he'd wanted... But judging by his reaction, that's the last thing he'd wanted! Is she doomed to hurt him no matter what she does? That's a disaster! ]

I-I'm sorry!

[ She hurriedly takes snow off the ground and tries to fill the hole with it. ]

L-Look, it's as good as new!

[ Well, if "good as new" means there's a really ugly portion that's obviously a hole that's just been filled. ]

[cranekin]

(And there Ereshkigal is, minding her own business, taking in the sights, experiencing her first snow when suddenly a snowball gets pelted at her back. It isn't very big or tightly packed so it explodes into powder on contact but if she turns around to see who did it... there's Tsurumaru, waving,)

Surprise, Erechan!

[queenofkur]

[ An attack!! But it is far too weak to hurt her... Snow is too fragile, it explodes into powder on contact. She turns around and-- ]

T-Tsuru...?

[ This goddess is very confused. Clearly this was an attack, yet she knows Tsururu would never hurt her. There has to be a logical answer to this. ]

What are you doing?

[cranekin]

(He looks proud when she sees him. He smiles and waves in response,)

It's a snowball fight! Come on, you aren't going to just take an attack like that, are you?

[blastedass]

[He recognizes her by her hairstyle immediately. Bakugo presses the brake, causing the police car to ease to a quick stop across the parking lot. She's not the only one who goes to work early (though his schedule isn't as steady as hers). Watching from the window of the car feels weird. Tires grind on the pavement and he rolls up to the parking space nearby, then leans his head and arm out the window in a casual sort of position. Not about to leave the warmth of his car for a question.]

You don't get snow in the underworld, huh.

[Weird as fuck for a god not to know what the world's weather's like.]

[queenofkur]

[ It would be oh-so easy to say something about how obvious it is that - of course - she doesn't get snow in the Underworld. But she has a better idea than that. As she gathers the snow, she remains silent... ]

...

[ ... Time to put into practice what Tsururu just taught her. The snow in her hand, forming a perfectly symmetrical ball, is thrown his way without warning! And she giggles.

Car or not, he is no safe from the cold. ]

[blastedass]

[Hey, who the hell said it's obvious? Some religions say the underworld is frozen and dark, some say it's burning and bright. 50/50 on which one hers is! Bakugo tenses slightly when he notices her hand suddenly whip around like a catapult.

Shit-!

He can't even duck or rise with his fucking half-upper-half half-out the window! Even a reactive jerk backwards only goes, well, backwards, and *PAFF!* ... there's snow all over his hand, face, and car seat.

...

So she has chosen death.]

THAT'S IT!! YOU'RE DEAD!!

[Car off and Bakugo is getting out to kill!]

[queenofkur]

[ Dead? He's going at it a bit strongly, isn't he? She has no intent to die here, no thank you. Yet again, he's probably also reveling in the Christmas spirit. Tsururu taught her those things are friendly and meant tor fun.

That means... She should double - no, triple - down and play the role of the evil goddess of snow at the fullest!

Thus does she point at him and laugh with what is the most evil and crazy laugh she is capable of (it's really a normal laugh for all intents and purposes, but let her believe she looks evil). ]

Deicide? How sinful! [And lo! She immediately throw another snowball at him.] Such blasphemy demands punishment!

[ And another! And another!! It is a barrage of snowball that's launched his way. The goddess is relentless. It kind of feels good too, maybe her frustrations towards his behavior are showing just the slightest bit here. ]

[blastedass]

[SHE THREW A SNOWBALL AT HIM ON HIS WAY TO WORK!! Why the hell wouldn't he go at this strongly?! Unfortunately Tsurumaru didn't teach her some people are overly-competitive and Bakugo's one of them. Plus slinging death threats is normal. Brute.

The moment he's out of the car, Bakugo swings his arm low, bending at the knee so his hand sweeps a perfect carving of snow off the ground, and brings it up to his other hand for a hard packing. She's lucky he left his bottle of water in the car.

Yeah, poor choice of play to point and laugh at him I just hear Naga the Serpent from Slayers while he's obviously packing a weapon in his hands and bearing down on her like an angry boulder.]

DIE!! [FLING!! And launches his own right back at her full force. Dammit, where the hell is she getting these snowballs?! He ducks behind a nearby lamppost while packing a second one. Bitch, she's gonna make him late! (Not really... he's early.)]

1/2

[queenofkur]

[ Bullseye!

She takes the snowball right in her face, but she stands strong. Hmpf! Does he truly think this will kill a goddess? He'll have to do much better than that to commit deicide! ]

Is that all? [A laugh.] Unfortunately for you, the time has come for me to unleash my noble phantasm.

[queenofkur]

[ Alas, the moment he peeks from behind the lamppost, the sight that greets him is no longer the goddess of death. No, instead it is a snow ball so massive, it easily dwarfs even the tallest of outsiders. It could probably be a prop in an Indiana Jones movie.

How did she build such a massive snowball so quickly? Where has she found the energy to do that? No matter the answer, he needs not fear for Ereshkigal is still there. Her voice can be heard from behind the enormous snowball: ]

Nammu Abzu Snowballanna!!

[ And lo! She pushes the terrifying snowball and it starts rolling his way. Slowly at first, but it quickly picks speed up and... I-Is there a tracking spell cast on the snowball? Because it sure as heck is following him! ]

[30storieshigh]

[ It being a Monday morning means Goji's off to the university. The commute stopped in its tracks by the presence of a very unmissable sparkling goddess playing in the snow.

That is very unexpected but pleasantly so! Seeing a good Friend enjoying the wonder of the natural word with nary a care upon her shoulder does his dinosaury heart good. With a chuckle he comes up on her, making sure that his footfalls crunch audibly in the snow so as to not accidentally sneak up on Ereshkigal and give her a spooking. ]

You are as full of energy as a hatchling, Friend Ereshkigal. [ Another chuckle and a genuine smile. ] You are unused to the weather of the colder seasons, yes?