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πš‚πš’πš—πšπš•πšžπš‘ π™Όπš˜πšπšœ ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-04-01 10:56 pm

TRAVEL LOG #5

TRAVEL LOG #5


CONTENT WARNINGS: death, nightmares, gun violence, survival scenario

β–Ά 001. EYES WIDE OPEN.

"Angels of Lilith, report for duty in the DISPATCH."

The day starts off with alarms blaring and oculars shining bright lights in the Outsiders' heads, waking them up early for an emergency dispatch. Although the current Rift at Mt. Fuji needs to be explored and examined, the Rifts continue to appear in different parts of the world, and this Rift is no different. Captain Yamakawa continues,

"We have received a distress call from EGYPT. Much of the region fell during the first kaiju crisis. Now it is a desolate land that survives with the help of a generator called an ESSENCE which is currently malfunctioning. We assume the cause is Rift energy—according to our radar, there is a heavy amount of Rift energy coming from that area. We will move out immediately. Pack all the things you may need, but each Outsider will be supplied with a care package of their own containing essentials."


Even though it is 4:00 AM Tokyo time, LILITH hopes you all have slept well. It could be the very last good sleep in awhile. While the dataportal to Egypt is operational on Japan's end, because of the malfunctioning generator, Outsiders are unable to come out on the other side. The old method of using the flying cruiser will be used once again.

There will not be assigned seating for this other than by teams. Everlights will sit with Everlights, Brimstones with Brimstones, and so on. The Outsiders will be encouraged to rest on the flight, and a few hours before landing, an in-flight meal will be provided. The meal is surprisingly delicious and consists of chicken or pork katsu cutlet, but with the warning that all Outsiders will know about: it contains high amount of cyber caffeine. This sort of newly innovative caffeine can keep Outsiders awake for several days, but sometimes it may cause restlessness or hyperactivity, causing characters to have a jittery amount of energy but razor sharp focus. Other times, it simply keeps characters awake and they feel no different. The cutlet will be served with KAIJUβ„’ Energy Drink. Any Outsiders that require a different diet will be provided with what they need, and the cyber caffeine will be added to it if they would like.

Yamakawa gives instructions again:

"We have received more information about the kaiju. Civilians have died in their sleep from horrible nightmares, and we are encouraging Outsiders to sleep together in pairs or groups, or disregard sleeping at all until we obtain more information. We are still receiving facts about this monster, but this meal will help with keeping everyone awake as a safety measure."

Those who do not want to have the highly caffeinated meal can have everyone's favorite: a ration bar that isn't spiked with any energy, but it doesn't taste good at all. Outsiders may be more likely to fall asleep and be in danger by choosing this meal. The balance of a dystopian society.

β–Ά 002. ARRIVAL IN EGYPT.

When they finally arrive, the air is temperate and dry in Alexandria. The Outsiders might have to check their clocks once more to make sure everything is right; everyone is expected to land in the late afternoon and every clock says it should be close to evening, but the city is already growing dark with the sun setting quite early. Because of the ESSENCE disruption, Alexandria is running on back up energy, which makes for spotty lighting and loss of basic power.

LILITH will be greeted by a small group of researchers at the airport and they will help take the Outsiders to their base: the Alexandria Institute which was once the University of Alexandria. They will give the Outsiders a quick run down of the situation and some background.
1. LILITH does not have a strong defense branch in the region any more. Instead, the branch here seems more focused on research, especially on the origin of kaiju and rifts.
2. This region is extremely prone to spontaneous Rifts. Many of them are small and pass quickly but this most recent one is unprecedented.
3. One evening, in the final week of March, the Alexandria Institute received a corrupt file from their fellow researchers in Greece. It shut down much of their research facility (including their warp portal) and all they have been able to recover so far are the words, "Do Not Go To Sleep."
4. The next morning, they awoke to find the sun rising later and setting earlier. It feels like the days are getting significantly shorter.
5. Many locals developed a fear of the dark and going to sleep. They would then die in their sleep within the next few days.
6. The autopsy of these victims have shown no cause of death, puzzling coroners.
Progress has been slow because the corrupt file shut down many of their facilities. They have not been able to track the source of the Rift or identify the kaiju responsible for it. They believe the answers may be within the corrupt file and will be happy to receive any help they can get from the Outsiders.

When they arrive at the Institute, Outsiders will be set up in the old student dormitories. Each room has 2-4 beds depending on the room, with a common shared area on each floor. Given the current threat, there is also a supply of energy drinks and bars boosted with cyber caffeine. Outsiders have two options:
1. OPTION ONE: Stay in Alexandria and help the researchers with the generators, while keeping themselves and teammates awake during the night by playing games.
2. OPTION TWO: Go out into the Egyptian desert on camel-back, spending time getting to know their camel before heading out.

OOC NOTE: While players may write prompts for both options, we ask that you submit for a clue only once per player (not per character, as we have a lot of characters in game now!)

β–Ά 003. LEARN & EXPLORE. (ALEXANDRIA RESEARCH.)

Times are hard in Alexandria right now with their generators malfunctioning and efforts being split. The researchers are trying to get the generators back up and uncorrupt the data they received from Greece. LILITH will instruct the Outsiders to help with the research but also warn that they cannot afford to just sit around and wait to crack codes. The researchers also agree. Sometimes the best way to get research data is to go out into the field, but they haven't been able to do it due to not having much protection. The desert is vast, and there have been sightings of other small kaiju lurking beneath the sand and in some smaller cities.

Outsiders can decide to stay in the city of Alexandria to help crack the codes, or they can opt to go out into the field. For the latter, they can choose to stay close to home and investigate within Alexandria.

Those who wish to help with the ESSENCE generators and researchers will stay in Alexandria, using any downtime when not investigating to try and stay awake, slumber-party style. Two Truths and a Lie? Maybe Spin The Bottle? Perhaps some games can keep Outsiders enticed so they don't doze off.

β–Ά 004. FEELING SANDY (DESERT EXPLORATION.)

For those who wish to explore the desert and smaller cities, Alexandria Institute will supply what they need, such as water, food, essential tools for digging, sleeping bags (no sleeping, but maybe for resting!) and anything else. To conserve energy, the researchers supply camels for the Outsiders to use. The camels are mostly tame, but have their own distinct personalities, so they may need a little more handling and can be coaxed to behave with treats like artificial carrots and bananas. Outsiders can spend time getting to know their camel if they are going to explore the desert or cities. A camel can seat two people on its back comfortably, but also carry any essentials that travelers need to bring along.

In the distant small cities and across the desert, Outsiders will come across Sand Crocodiles, one of the smaller kaiju that have been inhabiting the desert. These monsters are basically crocodiles but with a twist: they can spit fire if angered and they can camouflage in the sand. They hide strategically, and one wrong step will cause them to push their jaws out of the ground, harming a person or camel. The stubby quills along their backs or rounds of their horns aren't entirely covered while hiding, so watch carefully. Fortunately, Outsiders will be supplied with a shotgun. Aiming between the eyes or in the mouth will kill it, but also beating it with the back of the shotgun will also do the trick. And yes, they also taste like crocodile too, if anyone is hungry.

After exploring, Outsiders are requested to report their findings back in Alexandria.

β–Ά 005. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our fourth travel log!

Welcome to the new and improved Travel Log! Below, you will see the link to the MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET post that has information about the kaiju below along with RIFT EFFECTS. Fill out the form for RNG Attacks and whether you would like to receive a RIFT EFFECT. This should give characters some ideas for the status of their character in the next log, which will have more action and monsters in it. Outsiders may use the CHAT to report and discuss any findings.

We thank you in advance for your patience as we try out this new format!

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards April AC.


EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. EYES WIDE OPEN: Outsiders travel to Egypt after receiving reports of their power generator, ESSENCE, being unstable and malfunctioning, leaving citizens in peril. They are instructed to "stay awake." They are supplied cyberpunk caffeine and told to try not to sleep or stay in pairs to be watchful of any danger.

2. ARRIVING IN EGYPT: Arriving in Alexandria, the Outsiders are confirmed that citizens have been dying in their sleep, with coroners unable to determine the cause. The days are mysteriously getting shorter and people are unable to stay awake.

3. LEARN & EXPLORE: Outsiders are given options to stay in Alexandria to help with the generator or find clues to assist the research team. Between researching, they are asked to continue to stay awake by any means possible. Those who will be exploring the desert and smaller cities for clues are given a camel for transportation. Outsiders are encouraged to get to know their camel before traveling.

4. FEELING SANDY: While looking for any clues out in the desert, Outsiders encounter smaller kaiju known as Sand Crocodiles. They hide in the sand and attack at the opportune time, snapping jaws and spitting fire. Shooting them between the eyes or in the mouth will K.O. them.

lionize: <user name="lionize"> (Wonder)

sobs this is so late

[personal profile] lionize 2025-05-18 11:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[With the onslaught of context and events, all Jinwoo is left with at the end of the memory is flying off into space as your father and country burn below, and you're screaming until your throat is raw, drowning in despair, disbelief, and the looming knowledge that, if things don't go in your favor, all of this will have been for absolutely nothing.]

Can't what?

[Cagalli's peering over at him now, obviously concerned. The skewers are finished and set to the side.]

You okay?
wwtd: calm, sad (in THE EEEENDDDDd)

SHE TRUSTS VASH WITH HER LIFE!!!!!!!

[personal profile] wwtd 2025-05-19 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
( yes he can text her!! i'm back hello )

[ life IS messy. it's gotten exponentially messier since being here, too.

there's something beautiful about his words, though. part of being alive is having a heart that can hurt. because you care. her hand strokes oasis's neck, absently. hospital life is messy, too. far shore life was VERY messy 10 years ago. ]


You never know. They might have a kaiju gossip circle. Or Oasis might be listening. You're not, are you, girl?

[ hiyori teases, trying to lighten the mood. just a little.

starting small might help. ]


... Someone on base has feelings for both me and Yato. It came out on accident. And that Outsider... is an Outsider that Yato drew in one of those books.
zauneyete: (pic#17629488)

cw: eye stuff :')

[personal profile] zauneyete 2025-05-19 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ Only recently, he'd been asked something similar. The question had been intended to hurt: Do you miss him? At a table, between two men who'd shared so many secrets, Silco had been honest with him, when he'd answered. That he had, but that he remembers what had been done to him, how his eye aches, the skin is gone around it, the way he has to inject shimmer into his eye to keep it functional and pain free.

No, he didn't miss him anymore. Once, yes. In those early days, as his eye deteriorated, as the pain overtook him, as he lost half of his vision and felt the pain of the layers of his eyes slowly deteriorating, the stinging, burning days. The ones where he'd wanted to weep from the pain and delirium, because he couldn't sleep either. Not until the pain dulled, until he was too exhausted, that he'd passed out in one of the few holes he could dig himself into.

No, how could he? One, he had. Once, he'd tried to convince him to join back with the cause, and he'd refused. Too fearful of losing everything, not understanding β€” he'd not understood that he'd paid for that by taking everything from him.

Who could miss that?
]

Then you should excise such foolishness. [ He says it sharply, bluntly. ] I do not miss the man I called brother. You should learn not to as well.
photosympathies: (xv.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-05-19 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
You think? Aha. Maybe you're right. I know you like a fight. I think I'd just start learning a whole bunch of new hobbies. I've pretty much got woodworking down by now, need to pick something new.

( He'll remember this in lockdown and Regret. )
photosympathies: (xxxi.)

!!!!

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-05-19 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
( This is good.

It's also quite possibly TERRIBLE because Vash is not the person people should offload to when it comes to matters of the heart. He asked her though, and so she's well within her right, he'll just have a spasm of terror at not knowing what to do behind her back and then FORTIFY HIMSELF.
)

Does he know about their feelings? Do you know if the drawings happened after?

( Because, that's -.

A little bad. If that's the case. He understands her upset.
)
photosympathies: (lxxxvii.)

goddamn the fuckin spectrum of silco to vash is so funny ( eye vs arm )

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-05-19 11:36 am (UTC)(link)
( Vash doesn't usually portray himself as argumentative. Oh, it's certainly there but stubborn is more than likely the word used. He likes to see the best in everyone, always squirreling his way for a solution that satisfies despite the people involved. If Wolfwood were still around he'd certainly smack Vash upside the head for all of this, injecting himself where it is not wanted. Maybe he's left enough of an impact, because the disagreement gets swallowed quickly back. )

Probably.

( His life would be so much easier if he just let Nai go. )

Actually, it's really funny. ( Blithe, cheerful. ) I avoided him for so long. You'd think it'd be fine. But I don't know how to do that. I'm sentimental. It's always getting me into trouble.

( Another slow step over a particular bit of sand, Silco's respite closer. )

I didn't mean to be rude though.
likemybooks: Taryon is bloodied and staring into the distance (I stay)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-05-19 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[The fightened eyes, the image of the kind man is swiftly forgotten. Taryon has had nightmares of being locked in a windowless prison where he gradually loses his ability to breath and he wakes up feels as if he had been smothered and tied up. This isn't a dream. He recalls the filthy stone under his fingers (Astarion recalls, Taryon experience it for the first time, but at the same time he is remembering that this happened one, a long time ago. He needs a bath, and he needs to breathe.

No, that's not right. He doesn't need anything. He's a corpse, something to lock away, and he fears that he'll be trapped here for eternity.

The relief when he sees the man who locked him (no, Astarion) is too much to bear. Tears prick the edges of Taryon's eyes, and he understands. The one who hurts him the most is also the one most responsible for his well-being. When his father (no, his sire) is his tormentor and his caretaker, what can he do but accept these contradictions?

And this continues. Time makes no sense and melts into an amorphous soup. Astarion has to lure in his prey, send them off to this vampire, without any hope for escape. Again and again it happens, and Taryon sees no end in sight.

Astarion will be free, one day. He knows this. But from here, it feels like an impossibility.]
thefinalpower: (POWER78)

[personal profile] thefinalpower 2025-05-19 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ WOW SILCO, WOW

clearly he and Aki need to meet and have a dad-off! ]


... What, with guns?

[ Power scoffs. She didn't like them before, and likes them considerably less now. ]

Tch. A weak excuse for real weaponry.
newphew: (and he is NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ hunter needs to catch up on trigun stampede.... ]

[ it's true that he's been working all this time to be a better person, focusing on helping people, but how much of that was out of a desire to actually be good, and how much of that was just a desperate attempt to make up for his time in the emperor's coven? ]

[ regardless, he stops arguing, but doesn't quite look vash in the eye, tears prickling at the corner of his. he doesn't fight the comfort ]


You're being so nice, I don't understand. Unc--- Belos just hurt me whenever I messed up.

[ that's where his scars come from ]
newphew: (Default)

ten years later, cw: implied child abuse, mental breakdowns, implied death

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ a memory plays ]

[ for context, since this is hunter's memory --- you can tell that he is essentially having a mental breakdown, and that he's terrified he'll be killed and replaced if he returns empty-handed. he believes this very vehemently, which is why he's cutting out the middleman and just digging his own grave now. yay!! ]
newphew: (race beyond the earth)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ this is a bad omen, the niceness, the pulling up of the chair. hunter hesitantly walks over to it, doesn't actually sit, but stands next to it. his body language does indicate that he's ready to bolt at any second, and just... seems uncertain, in general, especially when dearka insists he's not going to freak out or anything ]

A... lot.

[ his throat feels dry. does dearka know? ]

.... L-Like what?

[ ohhh now he's looking outright scared ]
newphew: (of an ~angel~ uwu)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Right... criminals.

[ yeah, hunter's eager to change the subject ]

So you fight crime?
newphew: ((it will never be you hisoka))

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ wow, doesn't he look okay??? ]

[ a little quieter, he says: ]


It's.... all I know.
newphew: (AWAKEN!!!!!)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
You shouldn't be replaced. Or thrown away. Or-- any of those things.

[ he says quietly. it might be normal for him, but he doesn't want that life for dante. they're kind, like luz. being thrown away shouldn't happen to them. not like him ]

[ but when they say it's not possible to be replaced, he lets out an involuntary, humorless laugh ]


It's possible for me. Trust me on that.
newphew: (AWAKEN!!!!!)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ oh. damn. well, he can empathize with being tricked. ]

... Sometimes you want to believe in people so much, it doesn't matter what you see.

[ ... ]

It was your first time out of the house, too, wasn't it?
followyourstar: (09)

[personal profile] followyourstar 2025-05-19 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
< No it's not. >

[They're insistent.]

< The position may be filled, but it's not the same as being replaceable. The person can't be replaced. Whoever takes on that position wouldn't be you. >
newphew: (if you guessed departure)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ already comparing hunter to his daughter, that does not bode well for silco's dadliness ]

[ hunter's attention flickers between the scene and silco speaking to him -- he cants his head towards silco automatically when he speaks, but his attention wanders back to the gruesome scene before them ]


No, I did. I just didn't realize how painful.

[ being drowned in poison water? yikes. ]

[ so, silco's takeaway from this was to become crueler. harder. colder. it explained a lot ]

[ ... ]


So you couldn't experience the pain of betrayal again?

[ then why did he take in jinx? that's not the move of a ruthless overlord with no attachments to the world. ]
newphew: (so here we go)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ actually, about that.... ]

[ .... ]

[ but hunter stays quiet, because enough has been shared here, he can't share that as well. he has no idea how dante would react ]

[ so, instead: ]


... If you say so.
newphew: (many mysteries)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it seems loaded, the smile athrun gives, so hunter opts not to question his home more. for now, anyway. but: ]

The nation of--- Oh. Where Cagalli's from.

[ he clues onto that pretty quickly ]

So are you a pilot too?
followyourstar: (03)

[personal profile] followyourstar 2025-05-19 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't say anything, and for a moment Dante wonders if they're the one that said something wrong.]

< ...Well, I'd miss you if you went, at least. >

[For what good that does.]
newphew: (is to keep going!)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
They won't.

[ how does hunter sound so confident? maybe it's just the innate disney princess. but he leaves the ratio-hating beast to go to the other camels, looking them up and down.... picks the most docile one ]

This one. Let's give it a try.

[ he seems very confident in his pick, at least ]
newphew: (race beyond the earth)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
I did.

[ first and foremost ]

[ he gives them a worried look, despite the fact that the ticking is probably out of worry for him. nope, gonna worry for dante instead ]


More importantly.... you have to feel that? Every time? Isn't there another way?
newphew: ((YOU CAN SMILE!))

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the memory dissipates, and it's just the two of them ]

... Sorry that I saw that.

[ first and foremost ]

You okay?
newphew: (don't give up 'till)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
... I guess.

[ she's right, but it's heavy on his mind, the sense of loss, of abandonment. what she'd felt, in that moment. ]

And Silco took you in anyway, right?

[ so. there's that ]
newphew: (awaken as you plant)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not a human.

[ he does deserve it ]