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.

code

Comments

[blastedass]

if you wanna do something, say it.

[he's not gonna come over and watch you pretend to sleep.]

[fursuit]

[ For all of Tezcatlipoca’s usual off-putting temperament, it’s a bit of a funny contrast. He’s someone that seems hellbent on riling people up just for the sake of it, and yet, here he is, sleeping contently and even cuddled up comfortably like this was something perfectly normal and familiar. There’s even a serene look on his face, so it’s sure to add to the impulse not to disturb him. As the blanket gets pulled up, he only barely stirs to murmur a quiet note of approval and drape an arm over Kabru lightly.

Maybe it’s comfortable enough that Kabru dozes off too. Maybe it’s more like a daydream, the half-awake dreaming where you know it’s something you could easily wake from if you wanted to. But the dream is unique enough to linger.

It’s dark, after all, but it’s not a normal darkness. It’s a strange twilight that’s immediately recognizable to someone that’s experienced the phenomenon before, but even so, just a glance up at the sky makes it clear. A black sun hangs in the sky, a total solar eclipse, but the extremely tall, animal-headed people that mill about in this open air temple don’t seem to pay it any mind.

Standing in the center and overlooking a strange city from this high vantage point is a young man that Kabru doesn’t recognize, but as he looks back to Kabru, it clicks. The pale, blue eyes are a clue, but he also just knows, somehow. This is Tezcatlipoca. ]

Huh. Not often that I get visitors this way. What era are you from, temicnamictiani?

[ Look. He’s a god. Of course he gets to be more aware of the dreaming nature. ]

[fursuit]

[ He’s not surprised that Ratio catches onto how the numbers don’t quite add up, so he laughs as he starts to turn the larger of the two wheels primarily. The notches don’t actually turn the other, since it’d need to be more substantial for that mechanical process, but. It helps hold his place as he gently turns the other to match it. ]

Well, was takin’ the basics, since what with all the traveling through time and space, wasn’t fussing over the year too bad. Like, you ain’t even from Earth, right? So, your fate would follow a different sun.

[ He shrugs, but he does seem pleased to be working through this. ]

But, yeah. Assuming it matches up with now, can at least tell you that your year is the 9th year of Tochtli. Those are Mayahuel’s years, so you’ve at least got good luck there. She’s fertility, nourishment, and maguey. All good things to be born under.

[ …But the date takes a bit more than a year. It’s natural for him, so he doesn’t seem to need to concentrate on it too much, but still. It’s a process. ]

[fursuit]

Yeah, picky. Beggars, choosers, you know the saying.

[ And honestly, he’s not feeling inclined to share his more deluxe offerings now, even if it’s partially out of being a contrary ass. He plucks a cigarette out of the carton and offers it. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s solidly “fine”. ]

So. You want one or not?

[fursuit]

A temple.

[ Tezcatlipoca’s answer is simple, because what more needs to be said than that, really? He figures Silco already has a guess as to why he’d insisted on Silco coming with him, why he’d been cagey about answering before now. And honestly, for the latter? It’s because he didn’t want to get hopes up. He didn’t know if he’d find what he was looking for and have to settle for less as a result.

But as they mount a dune, it’s plainly visible, though… Not impressive, exactly. It surely was at some point, but that has long, long since past over centuries of wear, being buried and then unburied by the shifting sand. It’s a structure that’s half crumbling, which is why it’s not a tourist attraction. He starts to slide down the opposite side of the dune adeptly, encouraging Silco to follow. ]

We’re visiting his lands, so we’ve got respects to pay.

[curingidiocy]

[ So Raidou was subject to danger as a child...it isn't surprising, given his behaviour and what he's said about himself before. This summoner business... it'd sounded like he'd been indoctrinated from a young age. Whatever they'd done had stifled his ability to think for himself. ]

Nor should you, but I believe we'll both be fine.

[ After all, Raidou lived to become an adult.

Ratio watches as Raidou returns to the fishing pole, quietly amused, and also concerned about his upbringing. Forced to forage on his own surrounded by danger? Detestable. ]

Shall I stand watch? I haven't much else to do at the moment.

[nutkick]

[ he can honestly sleep anytime, anywhere, but- he was messing around, too. can't blame bakugou for seeing right through the bullshit. ]

okaaay. i'm not that tired.
i'll sleep later.

002.

[cosmarchy]

[ Enter: another equally sleep-deprived Jinwoo, who barely notices that his presence is bothersome until Ratio speaks up. It takes him a few seconds to even realize what is being asked of him before he slithers over to a nearby chair, sitting down just as he's told.

His head tilts. ]

How long have you been awake?

[ Because it looks like Ratio is running on less fumes than he is. ]

[blastedass]

[denji trying to bullshit is cute.]

where do you want to meet?

[nutkick]

[ ... how is this cute, and him giving you flowers is not??!! ]

actually, i'm not sure.
if im having nightmares and i'm really agitated, i wouldn't want to do this in a closed space. if that makes any sense.

[blastedass]

[toxic masculinity. *sage nod*]

i'm not talking about sleeping! we'll do that later when know it all tells us his set up.

i meant now.

[curingidiocy]

While we don't have any devices on hand to measure delta waves, we have plenty of data describing when each stage of sleep occurs during a regular 8 hour sleep. To avoid entering delta and REM sleep, we merely need to wake the slumberer around 30 minutes into their sleep.

Preferably, however, I'd like to extend that period to an hour, which requires determining if delta sleep is safe.

[the_fourteenth]

[Raidou looks a little confused about the "nor should you" comment, but he picks up his pole and sits back down on his rock. He doesn't acknowledge his question, but he won't stop Ratio from joining, either.

When he sits down, he brings his knees to his chest and tightens his haori just a little. It's spring, but still early in the season, and as the sun sets it's starting to get a bit chilly. The dampness isn't helping. He casts his line back out, and speaks even more quietly than normal, being sure to not scare off the fish.]

I'm supposed to be out here. I'm not to go back until--

[Normally, he would never talk to a stranger about anything related to summoner life. But something in the back of his mind is telling him this stranger already knows. That he's not as much of a stranger as he seems.]

Once I catch a demon. Then I can go back.

[nutkick]

[ smh. ]

i'm feeding my camel, trying to see if he will let me ride him after a few treats.
wanna help, or would you rather do something else?

[blastedass]

you can't ride him yet?

un: forgery

[misclassed]

I'll do it.

[ he's got the spirit of a dying old man, and a body that can take all sorts of abuse. why not do some unethical science on it? whats the opposite of yolo? ]

[nutkick]

.... he's just a little hungry!

004.2

[golmi]

[ For all of the Outsiders’ preparations, it’s the saddling of their desert transport that draws Zel out from the background where he’d been content to try and melt into. Technology and high-falooting alloy vessels were all well and good, but camels, those he knew.

So when the saddle comes out, so too does Zelgadis, meandering over like he’d been here all along and not skittering from pillar to shadow to overhang. ]

It’s easy: apply saddle and sit.

[ As he approaches, he holds a bared hand up for the camel’s inspection, his voice pitching a little lower, a little slower, and though his words are meant for Bakugo, his attention remains on the beast. ]

If you look, the saddle is designed to sit on the hump.

[blastedass]

are you out front or back?

[curingidiocy]

You are aware that you will be subjecting yourself to the very real chance of harm or, at worst, death? I cannot guarantee that I will be able to prevent injury, since we have no information as to the method by which the unknown threat attacks. It is entirely possible that the threat is capable of preventing its victim from waking once attacked.

[nutkick]

back.

[blastedass]

i'll come meet you in a bit.

[nutkick]

alright.
see ya.

[misclassed]

If it's just damage from my heart stopping, we can fix that.

If it turns out whatever's doing this is magic, and it gets me, you'll know exactly how fucked we are, 'cause that's not easy to do.

And I don't mind dying.

[blastedass]

[he will both meet him and his camel, and make sure SOMEONE isn't falling asleep right now...]