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

Dr. Ratio | Honkai: Star Rail | Redemption

[curingidiocy]

 001. Conserving Energy. 
  — "Best be prepared for all possibilities."

[ 4 AM is far too early for this scholar to be awake. Ratio is a creature of habit, and anything that disrupts his sleep makes him quite cranky. Sure, six hours is more than enough to be functional, but he detests the feeling of fatigue settling in his body and clouding his mind. But given the flight length, it would be unwise to sleep immediately. No, he needs to time it so that he gets the requisite amount of sleep and wakes just before they land.

Unfortunately, he's seated at the edge of his group's assigned seats, which means the hubbub and noise of the other teams is a nuisance. Ugh, it's impossible to concentrate with that and the exhaustion. With the swipe of his hand, an alabaster bust appears over his head. Ah, sweet silence. Now he has the time and space to go over his supplies and ensure he has everything, create some contingency plans for general emergency situations, and whatever else he can possibly forecast.

Once he's done that, his mind wanders back to the projects he has on hand, and he uses his light-chalk to write ideas, equations, and sketch blueprints in air. It's not too bright, but it can be somewhat of a distraction for anyone still awake at this point.

Eventually, though, it's time to sleep, and the scholar... goes to sleep. Just like that. With the alabaster bust still on.

Is he... actually comfortable wearing that to sleep?? ]

 002. Frazzled in Fatigue. 
  — "Have to... keep working..."

[ Despite his best efforts to discover how people are attacked in their sleep, it is still safest to sleep in short bouts or be involuntarily woken if one shows signs of stress during slumber. Thus, Ratio is, like everyone else, incredibly sleep deprived, and he hates every second of it.

His mind is foggy and sluggish, and he can feel his rational judgement slipping through his fingers. It upsets him, and unfortunately, he doesn't have the restraint to hide his irritation anymore. Still, he does his best to soldier on, and focus on compiling all the research his sleep studies have yielded.

If you happen to approach him (and he is eye-catching because there's a little ball of light floating around him, enabling him to see the papers he's hunched over even though it's dark from the lack of sun and power) it will take a long while for him to notice.

When he does though... ]

Sit. Don't distract me. I need to finish compiling this data set.

[ It comes out in a sleepy mumble. He's trying his damn best, but the exhaustion is really getting to him... ]

 003. Taming a Camel. 
  — "What is with this creature??"

[ After a good chunk of time assisting the researchers with their generator and decoding attempts, Ratio decided it was finally time to see how he could assist out in the desert.

Unfortunately, luck isn't on his side, because he encounters the first obstacle even before setting out into the sandy wasteland: the camel. The camel he's been assigned seems to have taken umbrage with him, because the creature growls at him when he approaches. Even though he tries his best to tame the creature with bananas and carrots and soft words, the camel continues to bristle at him.

Eventually, the camel gets fed up and spits at him. And, due to sleep deprivation, Ratio fails to dodge the spit. That is the last straw for him, because, in a rare moment, he turns around, walks a couple paces away and just. Sits down in utter defeat. Poor guy. Cheer him up? ]

 004. Wildcard. 
[ Always down for some wildcarding! Feel free to hit me up at tenkomi or on the unofficial discord to plan something! ]

002

[penaltypoints]

[ This makes the third time that Yesod has found Dr. Ratio in a state of noticeable exhaustion. This time, however, it's obviously a consequence of the precautions currently being taken, and it must be frustrating that it interferes with his research efforts.

Yesod doesn't take a seat just yet, glancing at the papers illuminated by the floating light. ]

Would you accept assistance?

[ While he couldn't volunteer as a test subject himself, incapable of sleeping, he agrees with the thinking behind Ratio's sleep studies. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ Yesod has a talent for finding Ratio in a disheveled state. But perhaps it's only an indication of how the scholar's stay on this planet has slowly eroded his mental well-being, that he is becoming more and more prone to falling apart publicly.

Well, in this case, it just has to do with a lack of sleep. Of course that's going to reduce his focus and ability to concentrate.

Ratio stops and sits there for a moment, his sleep brain attempting to identify the speaker based only on voice instead of looking up like he would have if he wasn't so sleep deprived. After a moment, he finally tilts his head up to confirm his guess. ]

Yesod.

[ He doesn't look tired at all. But that's a perk of being an inorganic lifeform, he supposes. Not that he knows how Yesod functions—presumably he must intake some form of energy to keep functioning, but he has never asked what powers him, and...

He stares blankly, eyes drooping, for almost half a minute before blinking himself back to awareness. ]

Ah... yes. Your assistance would be much appreciated.

[penaltypoints]

[ Despite the delayed responses, Yesod does believe that Ratio is doing what he can to mitigate the impact of this sleep deprivation on himself, too. Even constrained by the circumstances, the scholar's sleep study preparations were meticulous. It would be preferable, if they had the means to monitor neural oscillations, but it seems that a few of the volunteers are less likely to be in danger than the rest, at least, while facilitating prolonged observation.

Once he has Ratio's answer, Yesod sits down nearby to look over the papers more closely. As this is Ratio's research, he intends to take care not to make his assistance a disruption.

Ordinarily, he would work in silence unless otherwise necessary, but that might not be ideal, assuming that Ratio wants to avoid falling asleep. ]

...If you would like to discuss the data or further plans, I am interested in your thoughts.

[curingidiocy]

[ He is certainly doing his best to stave off exhaustion, but there's only so much one can do without proper sleep. The fact that his exhausted brain is still capable of organizing the research cleanly and concisely is a testament to the man's pure genius.

Much like Yesod, Ratio prefers to work in silence, and he would normally expect Yesod to read through the work without any further input, but his tired brain doesn't question why Yesod is making the request. ]

Yes... So far, the results have been mostly inconclusive. The attacks were too infrequent to gather any meaningful data regarding its mechanisms and how it affects the body. The most I have managed to gather is a suggestion that the unknown threat can force one to enter a nightmare even outside of REM sleep, thus narrowing the safe range of sleep stages we can partake in.

[ He reaches out for a thin stack of papers and brings them over to Yesod. ]

Further research has suggested that our location—or rather, our proximity to light—may be the reason why I am failing to produce enough instances of attacks to gather data.

[ Not that he's trying to put people in danger, mind you. While he's still curious about how people are succumbing to death in their sleep, he knows that that shouldn't be his main focus right now. ]

I now believe we should focus on light as an intervening factor in attacks.

[penaltypoints]

[ The entire situation aside, Ratio's notes are enjoyable to work through, unlike many a haphazardly-written report to read in the past, or documents to expunge. Listening, Yesod turns his attention toward the pages that Ratio retrieves. It isn't all that surprising that the entity defies logical patterns, necessitating constant caution. It is surprising that it has inadvertently been kept at bay to some degree.

That might allow groups of Outsiders and civilians alike to sleep reasonably safely for extended stretches of time after all, as long as adequate lighting can be secured, in addition to others keeping watch. The nightmares themselves will presumably be a separate matter to research further, within reason. ]

In that case, do you intend to collaborate with the pilots providing their generators as a stable power source?

3

[zerodissolver]

[As someone whose specialty is fighting, Sophie's decided that guarding the researchers is something she can and should do. Yet sending all their fighting forces into the desert to search for clues seemed foolhardy, so she remained behind to ensure that no harm befell her fellow Outsiders by helping them stay awake and watching over them when they did have to sleep.

Though now that some more of them are deciding to head out, she figures it'd be a good time to join them, and thus she's trying to make friends with the camels as well when she notices Ratio's troubles with his own mount. Some people might laugh at him getting spat at, but Sophie merely comes over and crouches down beside him, reaching a hand out to pat his head lightly.]

It's okay. I'm sure they'll get used to you soon. Some animals just don't take to people easily.

[curingidiocy]

[ The smell is awful, really, as is the actual spit, because it's not just saliva, but a mix of digestive juices, fermenting chewed up carrots and bananas and other plant matter, and it's. He can tolerate insults, fights, and kaiju viscera, but this? This? This is where his dignity draws the line.

His sleepy mind hears Sophie approaching, but doesn't quite register it until she pats him on the head. He jerks, alarmed, but relaxes when he sees it's just her. ]

Hmph. I'd rather not waste my time trying to tame these unruly creatures.

[ Is he sulking from being rejected by a camel? Maybe. ]

[zerodissolver]

[To be fair, it is rather disgusting. So Sophie has the presence of mind to take out a handkerchief and lightly wipe away the camel spit, taking care to get all the gunk off, too. She can understand his dejection; Asbel was horribly broken up when his brother rejected him. It's only nature that people want to be accepted, even if it's by a camel.]

But we need their help if we're to explore the desert, Ratio. Maybe you should try talking with mine. We can trade, if you'd like. Yours might just be having a bad day.

[Once he's cleaned up, she pats his head again, hoping it'll help make him feel better. Asbel's headpats always made her feel warm inside, after all.]

[curingidiocy]

[ It helps, but only a little bit. The worst of it—the stink, the stickiness, and the utter filthiness he feels—remains, unfortunately, and doesn't improve his mood any. ]

There are plenty of people exploring the desert. My presence is not required.

[ The fatigue is preventing him from covering up his sulkiness, so Sophie will unfortunately be treated with more of his surly attitude. Whatever parts of his outfit that he can get rid of to remove the nasty smell of camel spit, he'll start taking off, though of course he has the sense not to fully strip in front of her. ]

[zerodissolver]

[It's unfortunate that she doesn't have anything better - some water, or cleaning solution. But at least he's not as messy as before.]

Are you sure? Would you like me to stay with you, in that case?

[He may be being short with her, but it's understandable given their current situation and what he just experienced. If anything, it only makes her more determined to help, so that he won't feel so down. So she simply folds up the cloth and tucks it away, getting comfortable beside him.]

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. ]

[curingidiocy]

[ They can be sleep deprived together!

Unfortunately sleep deprivation for Ratio means he gets stuck in his head longer than is reasonable or polite, so it takes about half a minute before he replies to Jinwoo. ]

Thirty four hours, ten minutes and sixteen seconds.

[ It's almost an automatic response, like Ratio constantly tracks time internally at all times. A moment later, he finally glances up at Jinwoo. ]

Are you here to volunteer for the sleep study?

[cosmarchy]

[ At least Jinwoo is used to the slow response, considering how all of them are in varying degrees of sleep-deprived. Ratio might be one of the few who's lasted that long without sleeping, which is kind of incredible in its own right.

Even if it isn't exactly the safest thing to do. (But what choice do they have?) ]

Depends on what you're looking to find out.

[curingidiocy]

The study is meant to determine which stages of sleep are safe from the unknown threat's attacks. The current hypothesis is that REM sleep is the only stage in which one can be assaulted with a nightmare that may result in death. However, previous studies have not revealed anything substantial. Further research has unveiled a potential cause: light.

[ Again, it sounds like Ratio is reciting this from memory, like he's said this a dozen times before. Most likely, anyone who's volunteered to participate has asked a similar question. ]

[cosmarchy]

I see.

[ It's a solid hypothesis, so Jinwoo can see the merit in further investigation. He hasn't experienced the nightmares himself, but who knows when his luck regarding that will run out?

... But just to be safe: ]

You should probably restrain me, if you want me to volunteer for this.

[ Who knows how he'll react if a nightmare does happen? ]

003

[asafepairofhands]

Hey.

[Ratchet watches the business with the camel at a distance, then comes up to Ratio and offers him something to wipe the spittle off with.]

Looks like you could use a ride. Interested?

[curingidiocy]

[ Being as sleep deprived as he is, Ratio startles a second after he's addressed and he looks up. He looks seriously fatigued, and stares for a moment. Then, his eyes pinch, he looks back down and summons a towel into his hand to wipe off the spit on him. ]

...yes.

[ He's not being surly on purpose. Ratio would have warned him while they were working on the sleep studies that he gets very irritable when sleep deprived. ]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet transforms into an ambulance, complete with fat little sand tires, and pops the passenger-side door. Cool air filters out.]

I've got the AC on, it'll help keep you alert. Where are we going?

[curingidiocy]

[ Though he was aware of Ratchet's ability to transform, thanks to studying the Cybertronian's anatomy and biology, it's still a bizarre sight to see. A perfectly pristine ambulance on desert sand. Ratio stares again for a moment before slowly climbing in. ]

I wished to investigate a few remote villages. I have heard that they have been subject to vicious attacks and nightmares that result in death.

[ A pause as his curiosity gnaws at him, which eventually overwhelms his lowered inhibitions. ]

Is there an evolutionary benefit to Cybertronian transformation? It is rather fascinating that your transformed state so closely resembles the terrain vehicles of this planet. I would presume that this is not a permanent alternate state, and you are capable of reconfiguring your shape into other forms, but the documents you gave me did not suggest that capability.

[ Sorry, he's rambling. ]

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet shuts the door and starts driving.]

Sure, where to first?

[He considers this question for a moment before answering, the voice seeming to come from all around Ratio now that he's in Ratchet's cab.]

I'm not sure about evolutionary benefit--we didn't evolve the way organics did. Our species is so old that there are only theories about how we came to exist, and I don't bother with them. It's an integral part of ourselves, though--I even know some triple-changers, people who have more than one alt mode. It's rare, but it happens.

[He's happy to talk just to keep Ratio awake, at this point, even if he is sort of crabby.]

I look like an Earth ambulance because I am an Earth ambulance--we can scan machines similar to ours in size and function and change into them, instead. Normally I'm a Cybertronian ambulance and have different equipment, but that wouldn't be useful here and I still had the scans from when I was on Earth that one time--it was the only way to get around, when we were in hiding. I figured a human ambulance would be more useful than a Cybertronian one, so I reverted back. My Cybertronian ambulance doesn't have a cab to ride in, for one thing, so you'd be out of luck.

3

[newphew]

[ that's rough, buddy. ]

[ is the sentiment, as hunter approaches ratio and digs out a cloth to wipe his face. what's worse, being hated and spit upon by a camel, or having this teenage boy pity him? ]

You okay?

[curingidiocy]

[ If Ratio had been of sounder mind, he would have resisted Hunter's attempts to help and waved him off, as he often does with other people. But, tired and upset as he is, he does nothing, bearing with the cloth wiping the spit off his face.

At the same time, he has the wherewithal to summon a bottle of water and a towel into his hands because he is absolutely not trudging his way back home with the remnants of that disgusting spit on his face, of all places. Once Hunter is done wiping, he opens the water bottle and immediately douses his face and vigorously scrubs at his face with the towel.

It doesn't get rid of the smell entirely, but it'll have to do. ]

I'm quite fine. Very fine for someone who's just been spat on. Best I've ever been, really.

[ Given his sarcastic intonation and his sentence trailing off into mumbles, he is probably, in fact, not fine. ]

[newphew]

[ the llama is definitely giving ratio the stink eye from several feet away, for the record. but not advancing in any way. ratio is luckily smart enough not to test his luck ]

[ hunter has to get up on his tiptoes because ratio is tall, but he makes quick work of it, at the very least. ]

[ and winces in sympathy, after wrinkling his nose ]

I don't think anyone saw.

[ if that helps??? ] And it's not toxic spit.... I don't think.

[ on the boiling isles, it would be toxic and probably deadly. frankly ]

[curingidiocy]

[ He doesn't even question why Hunter would suggest toxic spit being a possibility. It's not strange for some planets that Ratio knows of either. ]

Thankfully. Otherwise I'd quit this whole damn operation and badger LILITH until they sent me home.

[ He's actually complaining about the situation. He must be real upset about being spat on by a camel, which he's giving the stink eye back.

He douses his face again and cleans with a new towel for extra measure, which thankfully manages to get rid of most of the smell and leaves him feeling much, much better. ]

Much better.