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

[zauneyete]

[ In the cave, Silco looks perfectly at home, somehow. The crystals shine bright, but Silco's pitch eye still glows eerily in the dark. He watches, he waits, he listens. He's been through something like this before, enough that he feels like a familiar passenger. Is this a nightmare? Is it a memory/ Jinwoo is young next to him, but he looks younger than he was before.

Someone asks him to kill him, and he wonders what's the part he's supposed to play in this?

His limbs move without him, dragging them up, and turning. Power starts to burst forth, and Silco sees — feels — experiences the surge of power as he turns to kill the man at someone else's bidding.

Silco, for all that he is not in control, looks... Neutral about it. He hears words, but it's like he's superimposed over them, he doesn't speak them. His unblinking eye meets Jinwoo's when he "attacks", but it's not him. His other eye lowered into an observant half-mast, his pupils dancing about as he drinks it all in.

His lips twitch, as the power hits him.

He tries to step away. He cannot. His body is not his. He watches, as he surges back. His heart pounds — is it his heart? — with elation. ]

[cosmarchy]

[ It all happens too fast.

One moment, Jinwoo is watching Silco's every move, waiting for how he'll respond to Hwang Dongsuk's call— and by the next, there's power slamming into him with enough force to send him reeling backwards across the crystal floor. He remains standing even if his balance is off, falling into silence as the dust settles. ]

... Of course you'd betray me. I'm weak.

[ Somehow, this doesn't surprise him. This is just how the world works. Silco will know that what Jinwoo said is true, that he is the weakest hunter in this room, so the outcome feels like it's just the natural state of things.

The group of hunters, especially Hwang Dongsuk is pleased.

That's the spirit. I knew you'd see it our way. Now— make sure the next hit takes him out.

There's a mage next to the man with a ball of energy manifesting on his palm, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Its target all depends on whether or Silco decides to go for the kill. ]

[zauneyete]

[ Silco's lips curl, and he holds up a hand, as if to remind the men that he gets the first attempt. ]

Oh, well. It's hardly because of that, Jinwoo. You must understand, I know precisely how these types of stories go. [ He saunters closer, before he crouches. He looked over his shoulder at the men, as if reminding them that he has the first choice. ]

You see, I learned the same lesson, once. Oh... I was probably about your age, when I did. [ It doesn't make sense given the skin he's wearing, but he says it all the same. ]

If you do not take something, act to your advantage, no matter your target, you will soon find that you cannot take at all.

Someone will take it from you. Whether it's your moral high ground, your strength, or even your dreams. The moment you are unwilling to Take is the moment someone will instead.

[ He pulls a knife (sword?) out, and holds the point to his neck. ]

Quite the lesson. It's a shame you learned it late, isn't it?

[ He swings the blade at his head. ]

[cosmarchy]

[ This isn't— how things are supposed to go.

A part of Jinwoo knows this, recognizes that something is wrong with the way Silco is talking right now, as if the words don't match what he remembers. But what is real versus what isn't at this point? Can he even really tell anymore? Somewhere down the line, things have blurred and now there's no way for him to tell where this nightmare begins and ends.

But more than anything, something about what Silco is saying strikes a nerve deep down. He's always known that this world favours those who are strong. Those who have the power will always take advantage of those who can't fight back. But Jinwoo doesn't belong in that category anymore. Not ever since the System chose him to become its Player—

The sound of steel clashing against steel rings sharp in the air. It's almost instinct, his arm moving just in time to meet the blade of Silco's sword with his dagger. It takes everything in him not to buckle. He meets the other man's gaze as he pushes back, steady and resolute.

Those words — that lesson — sting, but not for the reason Silco may think. Because Jinwoo has lived through that lesson countless times, over and over again. He's been used by those who are strong, abandoned by those who didn't think he was worth saving. But they're the reasons why he can now fight back. ]

... I'm not weak anymore.

[ He twists his body, using their proximity to shift into a better angle, aiming his dagger at the man's exposed side. It doesn't have enough force to kill, but it's enough to let the other know that he isn't an easy target. Not anymore. ]

If that's what you think, then you should know how this works, right? A hunter can always be preyed upon by someone stronger.

[zauneyete]

[ The dagger clips his side, and he winces, but it does little more than glance off of him, ripping the clothing, but nothing else. Silco's good eye narrowed slightly, but he did little more than wince, and look him right in the eye. ]

It's a lesson you already know, is it?

[ He says. He has a sword, but it's little good in his hand. Silco is a thinker, a planner. The kind of person who's made to do something from the shadows. he isn't for the front lines, and he knows it. It doesn't matter, of course. Not here, not now. He's interposed over someone from his memories. His words, however, are his. He's getting a picture of Jinwoo's memory, but he is not content to only experience it. He wants to see how far he will go.

His lips curl, into a smile. ]

Weren't you in this moment?

Why don't you prove it to me, then? Show me what you can do, instead of letting these men walk all over you.

[ It's a smile, sharp and knowing. He's not here. This isn't him. This is a memory. So go ahead, Jinwoo, show him what you have. Show him the depth of your power. ]