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

-->action

[lostdestiny]

[ Shinn teleport-bloops into that spot a moment later -- dusty, sunburned, and starting to look a bit frazzled. Even with a genetically-enhanced knack for spatial awareness, and even with ocular and drone recordings for backup of jump-points along the way back to Alexandria, doing the visualization necessary for multiple teleportation jumps in a row has taken a lot of mental processing power. Still, he holds out his arms in a demanding gesture for, well, as many of the jugs of water as he can carry. ]

Hurry up -- I don't know how long they'll stick around.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon immediately shoves the jugs in his arms into Shinn's. Doty remains standing still, uncomplaining.]

There's more where it came from. Can you carry a big sack of them?

[He gestures at Doty, who now holds out a large bag of water jugs. It's metal arms tremble woth the weight.]

[lostdestiny]

[ Shinn scowls and glances in the direction of the generator for a moment -- using the mobile suits up to the city's power supply is important, but it would also be a lot easier to carry a ton of water into the desert if he could just scoop jugs up with Destiny and blast off into the desert. But he nods vigorously, even a bit defiantly. He's stronger than he looks (which is good, because he looks like a noodle), and because -- ]

I only need to carry them right before and after I teleport. It's fine.

[ He shifts his current collection of jugs to one arm, and gestures at his back with his now free-arm -- slinging the sack over his back is probably the easiest way to go. ]

[likemybooks]

Alright. And just be careful, those containers can break if you drop them! [Tary throws out a cautious arm, readied to grab anything that appears to he on the verge of dropping. Thankfully, Shinn is doing a great job of holding everything.]

Are you coming back for more? How much as they asking for? Do they have raw materials or the finished armor? I could try to craft something, but not enough for everyone— [He's nervous, and he's getting rambly as too many paths towards success open up.]

[lostdestiny]

[ Taryon being frazzled isn't helping Shinn be not-frazzled himself -- he scowls again as he tries to respond to everything at once. ]

I'll ask, I'll ask -- I dunno how much water they want, and all I saw was basic stuff. I'll send message if they'll take more water.

[ But... despite the collective enfrazzlement, this is a good development. If they can get enough stuff, maybe they can use it to help some of the civilians in Alexandria in addition to LILITH. Shinn lifts his chin and takes a deep breath and says, firmly, banishing some of the fretfulness: ]

Thanks. For sharing and for this.

[ And then he and Taryon's collection of water vanish. About half an hour passes without any communication or update, and then...

A large pile of leather and bones reappears. Upon closer inspection, there is a human hand sticking out of the heap, and some muffled, muttered cursing coming from somewhere in the middle of it all. ]

-- dammit.

[likemybooks]

[It seems that all is well if he's not immediately jumping back with requests for more water. Taryon takes a seat on a nearby bench, waits for a few minutes, then decides to work on finishing a book before he falls asleep with boredom.

He figures that Shinn will message him if there's an emergency, but honestly, he had hoped he would hear back if his shopping spree yielded results.

As half an hour passes, he has given up on seeing anything in return, but thankfully, he walks slowly enough that the pile of leather and bones pops into existence inches in front of him rather than directly on top.

Doesn't stop from from letting out a short yell at the hand sticking out— oh god did they also get human remains oh god—]

Oh thank god it's you. [He sighs, and his heart rate lowers] I see it was a success? Doty, help him up.

[The automaton grabs the available hand and yanks on it.]

[lostdestiny]

[ Shinn lets out an indignant yelp as that automaton hand grabs him, but when he realizes it's trying to help, he stops struggling and lets it pull him out of the pile. He gasps as he's able to get a good deep breath again, and groans, disoriented from too many teleportation jumps in a row: ]

This is all of it....

[likemybooks]

Everything?!

[He picks up a long bone (possibly a finger bone) and rolls it between his fingers.]

I don't know if I have time to make someone for everyone here...no, what am I saying? I'll try to built some sort of amulet from the bones. The leather can be worn as-is for now. Is that what the nomads do?

[lostdestiny]

Everything those guys wanted to trade. There might be more like them out there.

[ Shinn pushes himself up into a sitting position. He never thought he'd enjoy sitting still this much, but after the last hour of jumps it's a relief to just existing here rather than visualizing his next jump. Still, he reaches into the pile and pulls out one of the bigger pieces of kaiju leather and wraps it around his shoulders, a style somewhere between a scarf and a shemagh. ]

The ones wearing them had them like this.

[likemybooks]

[Taryon takes his own leather wrap and mimics the way Shinn dressed himself. He feels stylish, even if he isn't wearing the finest silks.]

That's pretty good, for a helmet. It could use some embroidery, but I'm not complaining. Although the thread would help retain any magic I infuse into it.

[He picks up another.] Did you leave behind enough for your team? Otherwise I'm giving these away.

[lostdestiny]

[ Shinn can't really parse magic discussion on several days with no sleep, but when Taryon mentions giving this away Shinn's eyes narrow. ]

Giving them away to who?

[ His initial impulse is that this kind of protection against the type of Rift energy messing with this area should go to civilians around the city, who don't have the same reliable doses of super-caffeine as LILITH. But ... would it be more effective in the long run if the Outsiders could get a good night of sleep and be in better shape to fight whatever kaiju is coming? After asking the question, he's not actually sure what the right answer is. ]

[likemybooks]

To our guys out here, so they can fight the monster. Whoever else needs it.

[Realistically, they need to protect their warriors first, since if they are lost, then there goes the people's last hope.]

We have to bring some back to the base to make more, unless the researchers give us more access to their stuff. Although...that's a lot of leather. [Taryon is influenced by the stories of heroism he's found in books ever since he learned how to read: stories of heroes who game the love of the common folk, but some who robbed from the rich to give to the poor. There wasn't frequent overlap between the two, but in this moment in time, an opportunity to branch out his style arises.]

Should...I give these to the university to study? [He's so close to the best course of action.]

[lostdestiny]

What's studying gonna do? See if it stops this kaiju's rift crap, then give it to people who need to sleep!

[likemybooks]

Wh- [Any idea of protest halts due to the force of Shinn's command.] Ah. Right. You're right.

[He gathers several of the leather shawls into his arms.] I will go. And hand them out to everyone I meet! That's what I meant.

[He internally berates himself for overlooking this obvious-in-retrospect option.]

[lostdestiny]

[ Shinn steps backs, blinks, visibly surprised by the acquiescence. ]

You're just gonna do it?

[ Usually talking to Outsiders about this stuff feels like pulling teeth--? ]

[likemybooks]

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

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