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

[zauneyete]

I suppose it is technically a wine, but different.

[ Ok, so he knew Callisto. Silco missed that little guy. He was nasty, too. He liked verbally sparring with him from time to time, and it's a shame he seemed to vanish.

Ah, well. Either he would come back, or he wouldn't. He wondered what the man would he do, were he to return? ]

I did find it rather odd. For me it is the technology. [ A shrug. ] Where I'm from, most of this is unthinkable.

[ They had their own types of technology, of course. Their augmented limbs, hextech... but nothing like what they had here, as a whole. He does scoff, though. ]

I have never seen so many holidays, however, in my life.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon needs to prepare himself before he can emotionally stand up to someone, and Shinn's argument reminds Taryon of what he wanted to be: someone worthy of being a hero to all of the world.]

Y-yes? Until they need our help with the code, I have to do something about this monster. And no one else is delivering these pelts.

[blastedass]

[At least he knows he can rely on Bakugo to get him out of trouble, if the hero's there when Jinwoo gets himself in trouble. He doesn't want to see Jinwoo in an injured state needing his help in any damn battle, anymore than he wants to see himself become a burden to another Outsider. Self-reliant bastards. That's what they are.

Blink... blink blink.]

Haa?! [Wait a fucking second! Bakugo's shoulders hunch upward, an explosion going off in his hand.] WHAT THE FUCK?! HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN IN THERE?!

[penaltypoints]

Then it would be feasible? Or are there risks to consider?

[ Since the baku was described as only generally benevolent and helpful... ]

[the_fourteenth]

[He nods in recognition. When your work is so secretive, people like that are indispensable.]

I see. My clan's orders mostly come from what is known as the Yatagarasu Organization. A secretive group of summoners who work to keep Japan safe. So secretive, that my orders and help come from a representative whose name and face I don't even know.

[It sounds strange, when he says it out loud. But that's how it's always been.]

There are people like my boss at the detective agency who know of demons, but isn't a summoner in any capacity. But thanks to him, I'm able to perform my duties with not just cover, but with someone who's an experienced investigator.

[Mostly, anyway. Raidou pauses, smiling a little to himself.]

It still feels strange. Saying these things out loud to people. But even among Outsiders... there aren't many who truly get this sort of work.

[It's nice to have another person on the short list Raidou feels like he can talk to about these things.]

[asagami]

Is that so? That's...

[She trails off and doesn't finish, choosing to steady herself from even more of the shakes; it's not quite a relief, but her shoulders drop a little, the tension having been eased somewhat. On one hand, the knowledge in finding out it's more or less sort of a dream state means no chance of physically dying. It's more than fine. Should be!

Buuut, on the other hand? It's still a tad too real, in a way. She can't really parse why, but the feeling here is somehow different compared to reality. And either way, staying here is not a risk she's willing to take, even if there's probably no possibility of feeling pain here. Once more, she shakes her head and shoots him an apologetic smile.]

Regardless, I can't be in your way, so please excuse me!

[She takes the leap towards the neighboring house, and...sticks the landing!

Kinda.

Part of her is dangling over the concrete ledge, but she's making a mad scramble to get the rest of herself in before that weird crab alien thing gets back up and does who knows what, okok]

[lionize]

I-- [Well, honestly, not really. The whole thing is a lot to take in. But it's not her memory, so why is he asking her? Backwards would describe the situation pretty well.] Yeah, sure.

[She will be. Cagalli decides to move on and not focus on that, since he's likely pretty weirded out right now.]

So, you know what I saw?

[lionize]

Right, like you planned it before. [Enough poking fun at him for it.] Either way, you're covered. Plus, I know you've got my back, too, if I need it.

[The skewer's twirled again, this time with a little more energy behind it. Someone's clearly getting a little impatient. A spark pops from the fire to land on their food, and Cagalli watches it sizzle into nothingness as she contemplates his words.]

Uneventful, huh? Considering the possibilities, I hope you're right. I'd rather not have to fight my way out of anything without the Akatsuki if I can help it.

[Solemnity cast aside, she glances in at his vegetable preparation.]

That's coming along pretty well.

[lionize]

He's right ove-- [There he goes in a needless circle, and she reaches out to steady him by grabbing his shoulder. Her camel presses her chin on the top of Shinn's head in a possible attempt to do the same. Once he's relatively stable, Cagalli releases her grasp and steps back. Shinn still has a camel's head on top of his.]

Calm down. I'll go get him.

[If Shinn watches, Cagalli seems to have a weird exchange with the animal. Bartering, perhaps? It's offered a carrot. Then another. Before the next one, she takes a few steps forward, enticing it to follow. Not long at all before his nemesis is next to the three of them again.]

Do you wanna try again?

[sanguivorous]

[Astarion was in one world one moment, and found himself in another without warning. It feels as if a dream, but he hadn't fallen asleep, had he? He had been wide awake, watching Taryon work. And when Astarion dreams, he typically doesn't recognize he was, and though the setting had an ominous feel to it, it was most certainly not the Szarr palace, which was what haunted all his dreams.

There's a man, human, older. He was . . . familiar. 'Father,' he thinks, while simultaneously knowing that was untrue. He may not be Cazador, but he still fills him with a dread. Astarion speaks, but the voice isn't his.

Taryon...?

Philandering? So what if he was--Taryon was--philandering. Good for Taryon! He didn't seem the sort! Astarion wants to speak for him, say something biting back, but he can't.]

[blastedass]

[stressed? not entirely. irritated, annoyed, confused, vexed, frustrated? those are more apt. angry at the kaiju for shoving someone else into his memories, as it's not the first time something like this happened. where the hell does their own privacy get some respect, dammit?! but he can't blame denji for what he saw or how he reacted. it wasn't his boyfriend's fault. sitting in his head, getting a front row driver's seat to one of the most traumatic memories in bakugou's life.

as denji draws himself forward, he's left wondering what there is to talk about. what the hell does he say? what can or should he say? the half-devil saw what happened, knows the story and its ending. did he admit to fear, to despair, to sadness? bakugou's not sure he felt any of those things in that moment. everything was a zone, mixing agony with realization with determination over a sea of those other negative emotions. knowing above everything else he had to keep fighting. if he could buy a single second for midoriya to arrive and save as many people as possible, his role as a hero was to fight for that fucking second. and yet, even his angry thoughts now fail to capture the echoing hollow of that moment. when his last thoughts weren't of his parents, his friends, his mentors... just the hero he admired and a childish little regret over not getting his card signed. what a silly final thought.

once denji's resting beside him, he flops his stomach-supported arm to the side, and lets his forearm slap over denji's stomach. not even attempting to caress or massage. simply wanting to have the contact between them. he feels his eyes on him, knows he's looking. is there something to soothe? denji already did the greatest thing he could and saved him from the nightmare's potentially fatal result. it's over. this time. but fuck if he's going back to sleep like this. a mildly-racing his heart, adrenaline still draining from his body, mind going all over with memories and emotive thoughts. denji's presence does exactly what it always does with him: comforts. his boyfriend says he's fine and bakugou's left wondering if he believes it. likely a sentiment mirrored.]

I don't... I don't remember being scared. [he turns his hand, fingers slowly curling in his boyfriend's shirt over his stomach, tips wandering across his skin under thin material. being honest with denji... that's what they said they'd work on, right? that he'd let denji comfort him when he needed it.] I just knew... I had to keep fighting. I couldn't stop... I should've been scared...

i'm so sorry this is delayed! it got lost in the cracks! dammit!

[blastedass]

[Katsuki regards his friend with a quiet air, wondering about his current state. Unlike the hero, the summoner's been through a lot when it comes to his emotional state in Neo Tokyo. Katsuki's seen him travel through waves of positives and negatives, trying to find a place and develop over time.]

The ones where you share it with someone.

[Yeah, he doesn't sound all that happy about it. Never liked people prying into his personal business.]

You didn't see anything, so we didn't...

[Share a dream that is. Not this time.]

A fucking villain when I was younger. Got the jump on me.

[cosmarchy]

[ This is how Jinwoo realizes just how small he is, when the man crouches down to his level. He blinks wildly as a hand is pressed to his forehead, wanting to back away out of instinct, but his body doesn't listen to him at all. If anything, it relaxes at the gesture, as if it knows that this man is safe. No harm will come, not today.

He follows after the other obediently, peering at the chart as if it'd make any sense to him. It doesn't, of course, but that's not so surprising.

He peers up at the other once the question is asked. ]

Mm. I'm feeling much better. [ And then, he adds quietly: ] Can we go outside?

[ He doesn't feel like staying in this room for much longer. ]

[misclassed]

[ Sleep is a strange bedfellow — one he's never really taken the time to meet until this point. After all, why bother? As a Servant, he had no real need for it. His body generated more than enough magical energy on its own, and coupled with the mana he received as a Disciple of the Foreign God, there was no reason to ever use sleep as a mitigation effort. Even here, with dwindling reserves, he hadn't picked up the habit, finding a better use of his time in helping to do repairs, or watching over the group.

He'd meant to do more of the same once she'd rested, but once he'd taken Rin's hand in his, and felt her mana under her skin... Muramasa had sat there at her side, feeling that steady ththump-ththump, and was intoxicated. No better than the serpent, drunk on sake, and sleep felled him with a single stroke as he was drawn in to the single point of her pulse.

Now, on her lap, he radiates heat like a banked set of coals; his magic circuits constantly imitating the concept he embodies, a thing that makes swords. The forge itself, his Noble Phantasm with that burning field of blades. In the cooler night temperatures, and the longer darkness, Muramasa is constantly warm. It probably feels nice, to have him there, slumped over sideways on the couch. His shoulder burns warm against the side of her leg, his breath slowly sending a warm pool of heat through the fabric of her pants as he continues to slumber. Unconsciously, his fingers curl around her hand once more, spurred by upsetting dreams.

In a few minutes, he very may well wake up on his own, angered by the sight of her trapped, that dead hero, and the fake priest all in at one. For now, he's merely trapped in her memory, a witness to something that should never have been revealed to him, or his vessel. ]

[egraegis]

[Off they go. It's already hot and windy like she'd warned, and the camel ride is decidedly... lumpy, is the word for it. But the company is immaculate, so that makes up for all the rest.]

It's... very weird. A bit like persistent turbulence. I wouldn't say it's unpleasant, though.

[egraegis]

[ SECRET UWU ]

Always.

[egraegis]

[Athrun glances up cautiously. He's read the reports plenty, at this point. He's heard enough stories. It's a sore spot for very good reasons, on all sides.]

That's why we're here, monitoring things carefully. If we do our job, we'll keep the people here safe. Have some faith in our capabilities. When the kaiju comes, we'll deal with that, too.

[He's trying to be gentle, but it's Athrun talking to Shinn, so it probably sounds more like a lecture.]

[curingidiocy]

It did.

[ Ratio takes the hand that is offered to him and pulls himself up, being careful not to yank the young boy back down again. Once standing, he dusts himself off, lamenting that his clothes were dirty now. Not that it matters in a dream, but he'd have to deal with it for the rest of it. ]

Would you have wanted it any other way?

[ His attention turns into Kakavasha, and he reaches out to brush dirt off him, fussing over his current state. He's far too thin and quite clearly dehydrated. When was the last time he ate anything?

Could he summon food from his subspace in this dreamscape? ]

[saudadist]

you sound chicken

[zauneyete]

Hah.

[ It's a soft little sound. He wants to learn, does he? Well... he also shares that he works with gods, but wants to oppose them. What little he has learned about gods is that they are often in opposition to one another. Tezcatlipoca had shared enough of their suns and worlds, the transition of eras in the dance between them, that he could make this work with his limited scope of knowledge about gods and divinity.

He has little interest in it, after all. It's a wonder someone so irreverent would ever have interest in being the acolyte of a god. Then again, Tezca is a god of conflict, and Silco... well. ]

Then we'll get along plenty well. [ He says, and fixes him with a lazy look, only made intense by the wide, unblinking eye staring at him. ]

Do you know what made me Tezcatlipoca's? [ It's a rhetorical question, because he continues. ] He has always been in opposition to his brother. He is a god of conflict, you see.

And what better conflict is there, if not killing a god? [ This tiny ass, reedy little man. ]

I crushed her soul between my fingers, and extinguished her.

[ Gilgamesh wants to know the mettle of him? He'll make sure he knows. Just like he did with Quetzalcoatl. ]

[zauneyete]

I don't have any problems with fatigue, thankfully.

[ No, just chronic lung issues and a misery that's probably a side-effect of not getting enough air.

Imagine what Silco would be like healed and in good condition. looks at s2ep7 ]

Do you really think I should be thinking quicker, Kaladin? That might be dangerous for you all.

[zauneyete]

[ Silco's only interest in the Kaiju is what they can make from them. If Singed were here, he already would have had the doctor on developing drugs from their remains, and there had already been some, but the supply dwindles of fresh material quickly. Yamadenki remains had been snorted for an electrifying high, he'd heard, called Third Rail, but they're difficult to find these days.

No, Silco has no real interest in taking out the Kaiju. He's required to be here, so he is here. But this is not where he is his most useful. LILITH must understand that. ]

Why, I knew you could get there.

[ Stop being Condescending, Silco!! ]

You seemed the type yourself, you know. Are you telling me that you are content to ineffectively fight against these things, when there are better uses of your time?

[followyourstar]

[This guy... How in the world does he keep managing to get under their skin? Even his compliments sound like insults, and they're pretty sure that--most of the time--that's all they are.]

< I'm "content" to gather more information so we can build a strategy to take this kaiju out with minimal losses. >

[Not everyone can be a crime lord, Silco!]

< And I'm finding a way to help with other things back on base too. >

[zauneyete]

Short term thinking, Dante.

[ It's very nearly a scold, his tone chiding. ]

I'm surprised. I'd think someone from the City would know how to plan long-term for continuous, repeated disasters.

The Kaiju follow a pattern, so think outside the box, hm? There are plenty of excitable everlights to assist on the base. They're practically jumping at the opportunity.

So be smarter. You cannot tell me that you don't have a way to make these go smoother outside of what LILITH provides?

[powderkegs]

So. What changed?

[ she's intrigued. all these new shades to her dad. they don't change what happened. they don't change what will happen. but she feels like he's stepped out out of the role he always perceived for himself. and it's . . . invigorating. like she's on a ride.

that being said, she also can't help but drop lightly. ]

And I thought this place doesn't really do enemies?