TRAVEL LOG #5

[synfluxmods]

TRAVEL LOG #5

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

▶ 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 KAIJU™ 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.

▶ 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!)

▶ 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.

▶ 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.

▶ 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.

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Comments

[nutkick]

[ 🙂‍↔️ ]

anything that fucks with your head is dangerous.
i feel these kaijus are just getting smarter and stronger.

[blastedass]

[Fine. Right on the face.

Too late! It's gonna happen tonight one way or another! And no one else has to get involved. He's just gonna wall up, plop a hand on Vash's face, and maush maush maush.

Bakugo finishes up with the lesson before returning to the camel's side. And bumps Vash's shoulder with his own.] Back up. I'm gonna give this beast a try.

[He doesn't want Vash sitting behind him in case something messes up. Unlikely, but that's protectiveness for you.]

Snakes, scorpions, jackals, rats, birds of prey, that kinda scrappy crap. [And grabs onto the guide rope to haul himself up. He'd normally blast himself, but explosions + camel = not a good idea. Once he's settled, Bakugo takes the reins, gives them a twitch, and soon he's walking the camel around in guided circles.]

Yeah, Vegas was like this, but more rocks and flatter.

[photosympathies]

Take bigger steps!

( Says Vash, who is 90% limb. But he hates to see someone struggle, especially when they're clearly out of their element, racking his brain for anything he might have learnt one hundred and fifty years ago adjusting to the desert instead of space. ) And um, when you're stepping try and not push off through your toes. It gives your feet too little of a contact point and pushes it all around, makes the sand all slippery.

( He jogs a little closer, not showing off, just on hand. )

Did yours try to bite you?

[blastedass]

aa. all the more reason we need to find them faster and take the fight to their damn doorstep.

[nutkick]

i agree. we need to deal with this kaiju fast.
we're just getting more exhausted from the lack of sleep and nightmares.

[blastedass]

we can sleep in increments with someone watching. it should be fine. once we figure out if we're stuck napping or can get deep sleep.

[nutkick]

yeah, i think someone is testing it out.
hell, i'm willing to volunteer if that will help us figure it out faster.

[blastedass]

know it all.

i already signed us up, since we'd be watching each other's sleep anyways.

[nutkick]

😎
sweet.
i'll go first. you can check if i'm dying or not.

[blastedass]

whenever you're tired.

[nutkick]

deal.

[blastedass]

[The look on his face, the lack of familiarity in his eyes... Shit, this isn't real is it? This is another one of those mental things! Like Vegas or Romania. Did the kaiju attack already? Why else wouldn't Jinwoo recognize him? Bakugo grits his teeth at the realization, wondering if he needs to slug the other man in the face to get him out of whatever they're in. But that's the thing... they're already on it. Dammit, do they have to figure a way out, reach the end of whatever this challenge is?

As Jinwoo grips his shirt hard, Bakugo moves his hand to rest on the other man's wrist, gripping it, not as if he'll pull it off (yet) but to reassure him isn't there. Even if he's getting yelled at in the face.] Dammit, I said I'm not going anywhere!

[Someone else is getting up and Bakugo instantly snaps his voice towards them.] Oy! Bastard! Get your ass back here!

[No such luck. What are the odds they're running from this danger, only to get splattered by another outside? As told, he keeps his eyes on the statues, glancing from the different flames to the sculpture and back. Bakugo gives Jinwoo's hand a tug, having enough of getting his shirt throttled, thanks.] Let go. I'll focus on the two to the left. Stay beside me.

[Now, there's the other difference between them. While Jinwoo explains things to them and tries to calm them down, Bakugo's heading towards the group, bringing the other man with him via a grip on the wrist if he has to. His free hand, behind him and out of sight of the others, tries to activate his Quirk, see if it works here. Because unlike the player at his side, Bakugo isn't gonna JUST yell at people. If any of the others try to escape, the blonde plans on pinning their cowardly asses to the ground.]

Get close together, link arms, and stay near the center of the room! We'll have a clear view of everything if something approaches.

[blastedass]

if you don't wake up on second attempt, i'm punching you.

[nutkick]

i'll wake up from the first kiss.
you'll see.

[asagami]

[So fast- too fast, even! Despite her Mystic Eyes immediately activating on impulse, the swipe of his fingers is still quicker then hers, much too swift to counteract; for just a split second, time seems to stop, just until she hears those faint noises.

Fujino shifts her gaze downwards, where the sound had come from, before spotting the scorpion. Or rather, part of it.

...a slight shiver crawls down her spine.]

I...I-I thought you were going to- [She lets out a stuttering, shaky breath as she brushes off the other half of the scorpion from her leg, before closing her eyes in a brief moment. When she opens them again and looks at him once more, they're back to the normal, dull red.] ...never mind. Thank you.

[The last part comes out as a soft murmur. Her lips purse together as she pauses, unsure of what else to say for time being. He helped her again...isn't that supposed to be a good thing? On the other hand, why?? That doesn't make any sense, so...

She shakes her head. Ugh, forget it. There's no point in just standing there when there's other pressing concerns at hand.]

...how are you holding up so far? Will you be alright without sleep once night comes?

[blastedass]

you know you can sleep like a log.

[nutkick]

wanna bet?

[blastedass]

bring it on.

[nutkick]

if i win, you will give me the best massage of my life.

[blastedass]

full body or until you pass out?

[nutkick]

[ he was gonna go for back and shoulders only, BUT- ]

full body.

[blastedass]

[how the hell is limited area the best?!]

deal.

[nutkick]

[ he was stupid thinking that. shhh!! ]

your turn!
what do you want if you win?

[blastedass]

lunch is on you for a week, but i pick the place/food.

[photosympathies]

( He lets Bakugo take over, following the circuit of both camel and guy by simply rotating himself right there in the sand. It leaves a little groove of footprints, conversation still easily flowing. )

Man, I want to see a scorpion.

( He's read about those, and they sound cool. ) I guess scrappy makes sense for most things out in the desert. ( Read: this one. ) But it'll be fun to note the differences. Feels kind of good to be back in the heat. You'll tell me if you need a break though, right? You gotta!

( No stubborn pride under Vash's watch. )