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

[queenofkur]

[ She takes the cat and looks up at it, smiling brightly (and sparkling, but that's par for the course by now). She has very little in the way of earthly possessions, gifts from her friends are far more precious than anything money could buy. ]

I'll have to think of a good one!

[ Mhm... It'll have to be a pretty name. She'll do some thinking when she'll be on her own. ]

I am doing well. I have finally found a good balance, in spite of all the recent events. [Asides from certain things that shall be left unspoken, everything is going brilliantly! What could go wrong?] What about you? You seem to be in good spirits.

[photosympathies]

A good balance! That's great, Ereshkigal! I'm glad. Everyone deserves to be able to let go and relax every now and again, right? And yeah, I guess I can't complain!

( He could. There are probably several reasons as to why a good grievance might suit him. But he's not really the type for it, and he's feeling fine now. Distractions on the plane are the way to go! Gotta thank Bakugo for clueing him in. )

How are you feeling about the mission? Have you ever been to Egypt before?

[queenofkur]

[ He should complain if he wants to! If only she could read his mind... Is that what happens when two people who hide their feelings from the world meet? Regardless, she shakes her head. ]

H-Honestly I have never really been anywhere besides Mesopotamia a few times... The times I got to leave the Underworld were very rare and short.

[ There are so few of those times she could count them with the fingers of one hand! ... And that's still too many fingers. B-But what matters is that now she's out and discovering the world! ]

Egypt has a very different philosophy regarding death... I'm curious to see the place for myself.

[photosympathies]

( She does come across as very ... sheltered isn't quite the right word, but it's as close as Vash can get. He understands it a little, no matter how much distance he travels he's still different from everyone else, still has a separate frame of reference for things. He could be called sheltered too. Which means he offers her another sunny smile, bright and pleasant. )

We could go exploring together when we land, if you want? And you can tell me about their philosophies! I only really know how people treat death on No Man's, and usually that's kind of Christian-adjacent but also not really. Wolfwood tried charging me twenty thousand double-dollars to bury some strangers, once. But he had the rites almost down, so.

( Any funeral he's ever attended has been the same thing - a hole in the ground and a wealth of sadness. He doesn't know how it's ever done any differently. )

[queenofkur]

[ Sheltered is probably the closest words that can come to describe her, even if it is indeed not entirely accurate. And sometimes, people can be sheltered even if they travel a lot, right? Vash has that sort of innocence and kindness around him she would describe as such... Even though he has suffered the world's harshness, he's retained much of what makes him an unique and good person.

That's what she thinks based on what little she knows, anyway. ]

T-That would be lovely! [Exploring with a friend would be more fun (and also less anxiety-inducing). Her eyes widen though at that revelation.] That's an egregious amount of money for a burial! Was he trying to help orphans back then or...?

[photosympathies]

Honestly, I think he was just trying to figure us out.

( He smiles, and it's terribly fond, a little sad at the edges. ) Also, we had just hit him with our van, maybe it was payback? Either way we never did pay him, and he travelled with us after that.

( Vash knows it was unavoidable, Wolfwood came because his brother sent him. He was a shepherd to Vash's wayward sheep. But he could have been cruel about it and still had his way. That he tried to make those last days better meant something. )

He's a funny guy, Wolfwood. He'd write you a bill but the minute you need it he'd give you the shirt off of his back.

[queenofkur]

[ Oh... She figures an accident of that nature changes a lot. She's not sure how she would react if someone hit her with a car. Poorly, probably. There's be a lot of lightning going off, no doubt.

Still, the way he's talking about that makes her smile. ]

... You miss him, don't you?

[ It's obvious. It reminds her of how she feels whenever the topic is Ritsuka is brought up. ]

You'll see him again ere long, I know it. [A nod.] I have no doubt about it.

[photosympathies]

I miss him, yeah.

( His expression sombers a little, turns melancholy. He still smiles throughout though. )

But I think even if I don't see him again that's fine. He has stuff he needs to do now. A life he should be living. If he's smart back home he'll go where he needs to and not worry about me anymore. I'd like that for him.

( It's better if he does. )

What about you, Ereshkigal? Do you have a lot of friends here? You must, you're so nice!

[queenofkur]

[ She can't help but admire his optimism regarding his friend. Even though she's goddess of death, she's not sure she would take it that well if she could never see certain people again... Well she would accept it - as she always does whenever something bad happens to her - but she would be sad, devastated.

Her eyes widen at his words though. ]

A-Am I?

[ She's been described as scary, terrifying, horrible, but nice? I-It's such a rare occurrence, even now! ]

... I have made friends with a number of people here, yes. You're one of them. [A pause.] It'll be sorrowful the day I must go back. But good things are only good because they end.

[photosympathies]

That's a nice way to put it.

( And a little sad. He's relieved she considers him a friend though, he tries very hard to be likeable here, to show kindness. But he'd made her cry last time and he'd regretted that a bit. )

I guess you see a lot of that. Things ending. ( And then, a grimace. ) I'm sorry, that's probably insensitive. I just think it's really interesting. It's neat there's someone like you in your world. I think people would be way less scared of it if they knew you.

[queenofkur]

No, it's fine.

[ If anything, what he says makes her happy. It's true she sees a lot of endings - or the result of those endings, rather. ]

I'm glad you think that way. I-I never suspected people would appreciate my work so much... [A pause.] It makes it less painful when I'll go back there.

[ She tilts her head. ]

Thanks, Vash. You're really very sweet.

[photosympathies]

( Blushing!!!! )

Ah, well. I try.

( Nervous laughter, because sincerity always catches him off guard. )

Thanks, Ereshkigal.