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

Yesod -- Noon of Violet

[followyourstar]

((Cutscene found here!))

[Walpurgis Night has come again, and this time the doors have taken you to back to the walls of Lobotomy Corporation's Headquarters. It isn't the first time you've been here (or maybe it is if you take different spacetimes into account), but the circumstances are a bit... messier than the first time. In that the "Ordeal" (a term you still don't fully understand) you had to contend with was quickly followed up by a large stele falling from the sky, killing all 12 of the Sinners. You only managed to escape thanks to Faust's quick thinking, and from there you turned the clock for everyone, just as you always do, and the strange stele could be quickly dispatched.

In the calm that follows, you take the time to strategize. Faust informs you that a "Noon of Violet" so soon after a "Dawn of Violet" is rare, but before you can explore that train of thought any further, a voice crackles to life from the speakers.

Her name is Hod, and she's one of the Sephirot of Lobotomy Corporation. The Sinners found information on her earlier--impressions from the employees of the company.

Discussion follows, with Sinclair getting hit by a shielding bullet and a strategy building on how to deal with these Noons of Violet in the future. You take note, especially since you have a feeling you'll be seeing more of these things in the Mirror Dungeons later.

And yet... that's not what sticks with you most.

No, what sticks with you is the pain in Hod's voice as you all turn to leave. It's the sort of pain you've come to be familiar with in your time with Limbus Company: the pain that comes from being stretched so thin you might snap. Of standing on the edge of a cliff, about to fall. A descent that has yet to reach its destination.

And you wonder... What was it that happened in this facility, back in those days before the Wing fell?]

[penaltypoints]

[ It happens without warning amidst the ongoing investigations, not unlike the effects of last year's initial encounter with the Alitta Virens. For the most part, what Yesod experienced then kept his consciousness separate from that of the other person, however, with a few exceptions. What he witnesses now seems to begin in a similar manner, only to deviate from that before long.

It's as if Dante's perception of everything that he recognizes as all too familiar has been superimposed across his own. Simultaneously, it places concepts and individuals and events that should be unfamiliar as recognizable information. The Sinners. Walpurgis Night. Turning the clock. Mirror Dungeons.

This time, it simply unfolds without Yesod's participation. He makes no attempt to intervene as he did upon seeing Elijah or Kali. He isn't present in this glimpse of something that never occurred in the reality that he recalls.

We will have to visit Lobotomy Corporation Headquarters of different possibilities as well, the Sinner named Faust states.

Yesod grasps onto the questions forming in his mind, beneath Dante's. It acts as a shield between himself and the visceral agony that Dante undergoes repeatedly — and the memories of the pain that they discern in Hod's remarks. That precipice is all too familiar, too. The simmering, festering despair.

As if to answer Dante's question, unbeknownst to Yesod, other fragments of the past are uncovered: the routine of an ordinary day within the Information Team department. Accuracy is vital, careful preparation the key to maximizing efficiency and reducing the risks that Lobotomy Corporation's employees face. Prevention should be the goal, after all, not meaningless gestures in the wake of disaster.

It should. And so, when James is identified as the culprit behind today's incident — two Abnormalities deliberately released from their containment units, the casualty count already at three clerks and four agents, James himself beyond salvaging — it's clear that this was preventable. The protocols exist for a reason. No one is exempt from adhering to them, and there is no such thing as a trivial rule violation.

James joins the list of losses. It was necessary to give the order to exterminate him.

The records will omit every name.

Where the error originated, resulting in this outcome, the price paid for that lapse in judgment, is no less clear. So are the measures to take in order to prevent further mistakes. Of course, it should have been obvious all along that nothing good could come of giving in to emotions that have no place here. ]

[followyourstar]

[Idle musing shifts into memory.

It's a song and dance they're used to by now, but the circumstances and certainly the content of the memory that plays out before them--that, in the moment becomes them--is altogether different.

They recognize their surroundings, would recognize them even without the additional information being fed to them via the lens of memory. Tragedy that seems all-too-common in the City plays out before them. People go to do their job, people die. Yesod's memory insists that rules be followed. Dante's experiences--and what they remember of Yuri's recollections of her time working for one of the old L Corp's branches--tells them that the rules can lead to death just as often.

It's not unlike their work with the Sinners in a way. Deaths are inevitable. One can only do what they can to keep those deaths to a minimum. The only difference is that the Sinners can be brought back. That they won't be erased.

And, Dante has to admit, it's a pretty big difference.

The memory fades and Dante is left alone in one of the common areas in the University, wondering if they would have made the same choice in Yesod's position.

And after a long moment of silence, they push themself to their feet and begin to search for the man. They're going to have to bring it up to him at some point. They might as well get it over with now.]

[penaltypoints]

[ Yesod finds himself where he was prior to experiencing that vision, a memory playing out from Dante's perspective. On his way back to the Institute's researchers, he decides to address what has just taken place first — not only because he has questions to ask or witnessing those scenes to admit to. They may need to monitor any other instances of it to confirm the cause.

He begins by contacting Dante, meaning to make for their location. ]

Greetings. Do you have some time to meet with me?

[followyourstar]

[They stop briefly to read the message as it pops up. If they weren't hesitant before, they certainly are now. Had Yesod seen something similar then? Was he aware that they'd seen what they had? Or...

Yeah. Definitely better to get this sorted out as soon as possible.]

I was just looking for you. Let's meet at the common area in one of the dorms. [A suggestion for a specific one is listed.] Everyone's busy in other parts of the campus or out in the desert right now, so it should be private.

[penaltypoints]

[ It's unlikely that the timing is a coincidence, Yesod thinks in turn. They may have discussed collaborating in their investigations, but specifically searching for him suggests that there is something else already on Dante's mind. Perhaps the Golden Bough's presence interacts with these visions in a unique manner. ]

Then I'll make my way there shortly.

[ He arrives soon enough, crossing the common area's floor to approach Dante. They appear to be alone, as indicated, and without further ado, Yesod broaches the matter of what he saw. ]

...I witnessed a "Walpurgis Night" visit of yours to my former workplace. We can most likely expect more to be exposed to others in this fashion.

[ Pausing, he waits to let Dante voice their own thoughts. ]

[followyourstar]

[His directness manages to take them off guard a little. No lead-up, no hinting around to try and get them to confirm what he already knows, nothing. Just the knowledge that he'd managed to get a glimpse of the Bus Team's excursions into Lobotomy Corporation's Headquarters--something they hadn't even told Malkuth about when they got to talking about the old L Corp.

On the one hand, it's a chance to get the conversation over with quicker. On the other, there's no way they're going to be able to just brush past this.

They should put their cards on the table too.]

< I saw someone by the name of James. And, um, yeah. > [They probably don't need to say much more, given the decision Yesod had come to in that memory.] < I'm not sure what caused any of that, to be honest. >

[penaltypoints]

[ Blunt damage in spirit, I'm sorry to Dante... For his part, Yesod appreciates the fact that Dante also immediately reveals precisely what was exposed of Yesod's own memories this time. It tells him that he remained unaware of it for its duration. It's quite different, compared to last year, all in all.

He gives Dante a nod for their admission — yes, he can imagine that they experienced what became of James. This isn't the time to sink into treading inconclusive paths, though Malkuth and Gebura laid some of those questions to rest, but he does wonder whether anything in particular triggers certain memories. ]

I see... A similar phenomenon occurred last year, during the mission to locate and eliminate the Alitta Virens. That was directly linked to encountering the kaiju, however, and rather vivid. In this instance, it seems impossible to detect a spectator's presence or influence such visions at any point.

[ Or Dante would have done so, he thinks, to guard their secrets. ]

[followyourstar]

< So you think it's the kaiju doing it... >

[It makes sense. If they were able to catch a glimpse of it through someone else's dream, then surely it has its own means of connection. And through connecting to unrelated minds together as well, apparently.]

< You guys could influence the memories before? >

[penaltypoints]

We could. A few of mine were interrupted by the other party.

[ Which was very much for the best. And he recalls something that most certainly didn't happen to Elijah during her final moments — Malkuth herself stepped in to end that nightmare, answering a plea that went ignored. ]

By contrast, I retained the awareness that I was merely an onlooker, this time. Your perspective remained in the foreground.

[ Presumably this describes Dante's experience as well. Another brief pause follows; Yesod crosses his arms. ]

It's plausible that once again, our minds may be affected by the entity to some degree, whether or not we are capable of sleep. Its range seems considerable. Was the memory that you witnessed your first vision of this nature?

[followyourstar]

< No, I've had at least one other. I spoke with that person after as well. >

[They choose their words carefully. It probably won't be that much a problem, far away from the City as they are now, but given Yesod knows that Limbus Company is poking about the old L Corp's business...

Even they can guess things will be a little more complicated from here on.]

< But that was still while we were here. One being able to do something like this is surprising enough, but multiple... I wonder what these things are. >

[penaltypoints]

Yes... I would certainly like to gain a better understanding of their origin.

[ Particularly considering more recent revelations and their implications, emerging through the work here in Egypt. In some respects, the kaiju have been reminiscent of Abnormalities.

Yesod continues to regard Dante, contemplative. Whatever they learn here may never come to have any bearing on their world, but they both would have preferred to keep their memories to themselves, he suspects. Other Outsiders witnessing them is less of an issue. ]

At any rate, your honesty is appreciated. No doubt you have unanswered questions regarding Lobotomy Corporation, just as I have my own regarding Limbus Company.

[ The questions that arose during that Walpurgis Night visit, for one. ]

[followyourstar]

< A few... >

[They can admit that much. Have to admit that much.]

< But let's start off with what you've got about Limbus Company. You've already seen where we've been, and Malkuth gave me a lot of information about what you guys were doing back in December, so... Might as well be as fair about it as I can be. >

< I still can't tell you everything, though. >

[As much because they don't know everything as it is because they shouldn't say it.]

ty for the backtagging, june is cursed...

[penaltypoints]

Of course. I would assume that much of it isn't for unauthorized individuals to learn.

[ And that there would be consequences, if Dante were to reveal these details. The information that Malkuth chose to share is a different matter. Besides, Limbus Company clearly has access to far more than that.

An entirely fair exchange is unattainable, in other words, but it seems that Dante won't use that excuse as a convenient escape route to evade every question. Only the majority of them, Yesod imagines. ]

How exactly you are able to visit the facility and "different possibilities," for example, let alone your abilities or Faust's knowledge.

[ In fairness, that memory also made it obvious that Faust knows more than Dante does, despite their role. ]

Are you permitted to discuss your other visits?

np np~

[followyourstar]

[That's... a lot of questions. All perfectly understandable given the circumstances, but still quite a lot to deal with all at once.]

< Um, well... If by my abilities you mean what I was able to do for the Sinners, then I'm afraid I don't have much I can tell you. I still don't fully understand how it works myself. And that it doesn't work nearly as well here as it does back home. I don't think I'd be able to bring any of them back to life if they died here. >

[A fact they're still not happy with, even if they've come to terms with it.]

< As far as Faust's knowledge, I don't think I'm allowed to say anything about that. You'd have to ask her if she ever shows up. >

[Yeah, there's no way they can say anything about that without getting in trouble. "Luckily," that's even more of a mystery to them than the abilities the Bough grants them.]

< And the visits aren't something we can do all the time. There are these moments called "Walpurgis Nights," and when they come around these doors appear that lead to different places and possibilities, like you saw. We don't have any way of tracking or predicting them, so we try to make as much use of those moments while we can. >

🙏

[penaltypoints]

[ Yesod shakes his head. Rather than expecting Dante to be able to provide explanations that would answer any of those questions, he'd meant to acknowledge that most of them would inevitably remain unanswered. Now he has Dante's explicit confirmation, he supposes. ]

Yes, I realize that there is little that you are at liberty to share.

[ And that Dante is apparently kept in the dark, too. It's highly unlikely that the pain to endure while turning the clock is that procedure's only negative aspect. The Golden Bough in their prosthetic head, their amnesia — these are the result of deliberate decisions. ]

I'll restrict myself to the following questions. To date, what have you experienced during each Walpurgis Night? And what have you gained from them?

[followyourstar]

[That's easy enough to answer. For the most part.]

< There have been four so far. With all four we usually take the opportunity to get some resources we need for our own missions >

[E.G.O. and Identitiies. He's probably picked up on the former while fighting alongside Ishmael and Rodya while they were here, but they know better than to talk about the latter.]

< But we've only been able to go somewhere with three of the four. The two trips to the old--to L Corp--were similar to what you saw already. A... "Green Dawn" for the first time, and then those violet ordeals you saw. The other one was to one of the books in the Library. Fairy Festival. >

[Alas, no Argalia or magical girls for them yet]

[penaltypoints]

[ Brow furrowing, Yesod listens. These Walpurgis Night excursions may not be planned in advance, but they don't seem completely unpredictable, returning to places and possibilities connected by a common thread. ]

I was under the impression that the abandoned Lobotomy Corporation branches already yield such resources.

[ According to what Ishmael mentioned when he arrived in Neo Tokyo — that "anyone" could encounter the Abnormalities in those locations and make use of retrieved E.G.O equipment. On the other hand, the Sinners of Limbus Company also wield abilities comparable to those that Malkuth utilized here, not only Lobotomy Corporation's extracted suits and weapons.

For a moment, revisiting the thought of what the very end of everything meant for far too many employees, Yesod frowns all the more. He focuses on Dante. ]

You must be aware that it's unusual that Limbus Company is able to access our main facility, and even the Library.

[ A specific Abnormality's book, at that. Fairy Festival... Yesod thinks of Malkuth forced to appease the Abnormality, the longer she relied on it in battle. ]

The fact that you expect to see the Ordeals manifest elsewhere is odd as well.

[followyourstar]

< Don't look at me. I don't know how it all works. The only guess I have is that it has something to do with whatever Abnormalities you guys had in the main facility along with whatever it is that's happening with our tech during Walpurgis Nights. >

[And the only person able to confirm or deny that guess of theirs isn't here. If she'd even bother to do so anyway.]

< But... looking back on it, as many times as we were able to go back in to gain more information, it seemed like the same thing kept happening over and over again? Not exactly--you know, between us learning how to deal with things better and how chaotic fights usually get--but... That most recent one, with the "Violet" Ordeals. It was always a Dawn into a Noon. >