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πš‚πš’πš—πšπš•πšžπš‘ π™Όπš˜πšπšœ ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-04-01 10:56 pm

TRAVEL LOG #5

TRAVEL LOG #5


CONTENT WARNINGS: death, nightmares, gun violence, survival scenario

β–Ά 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 KAIJUβ„’ 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.

β–Ά 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!)

β–Ά 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.

β–Ά 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.

β–Ά 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.

newphew: ((YOU CAN SMILE!!!))

cw: panic attack i sorry

[personal profile] newphew 2025-04-10 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ hunter's not far away, and he just watches, unable to tear his eyes away from the sight. seeing his own memories hasn't affected him like this before, but it's these particular memories that transport him back into the moment. no matter how long has passed, seeing this all again, the reveals, the skulls of the other guards, hearing that belos really was planning a genocide ]

[ and that word. grimwalker ]

[ hunter hyperventilates, working himself up into a frenzy, like he's forgotten how to breathe. ]

[ flapjack's flying over to his head in an instant, bumping into his cheek and trying to snap him out of it, but hunter's too far gone. he just breaks down ]


H-He knows--- he knows we were in there, I can't---- I can't ever go back, I---
photosympathies: (xci.)

πŸ«‚

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-04-11 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
( Vash is scrambling the last distance between them easy, the memory fading in favour of the very real, current problem. His hands lift to curl around the younger boy's shoulders, fingertips digging in. He doesn't try shaking him or anything like that, he knows panic attacks fairly well. Instead he just crouches before Hunter, voice low. )

Hey buddy, buddy, it's Vash. Can you hear me?

( The hallway is pretty empty, at least. He doesn't want to try and move Hunter if he can help it. That might do more harm than good. )

We're in Egypt right now. ( Low and steady, pointing out the obvious to try and bring his friend back from the edge. ) And you're with me, and you're safe. There's no one else around. We're okay. I just need you to breathe for me.
newphew: ((not you hisoka))

[personal profile] newphew 2025-04-18 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ hunter does a fullbody flinch when vash takes his shoulders, clearly anticipating pain. and vash will know why, now. the man he'd called "uncle", his creator, clearly hadn't treated him well. ]

H-How do you breathe?

[ almost comical, the way he huffs and sucks in air like he's forgotten how to. he stares up at vash, eyes wide and terrified. not of him, but-- ]

Y..... You saw? The, the, whole thing?

[ he knows hunter's secret ]
photosympathies: (cxlv.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-04-19 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I did, I'm sorry.

( It's not necessarily Vash's fault, but he still feels a little guilty about it. )

But it's okay, nothing from that is here to hurt you know. And even if it was. I wouldn't let it. You just need to keep taking real good breaths for me, okay? You'll feel better in a minute. Just in and out for now, yeah? There we go.

( He keeps his face careful, his smile firmly in place. The memory was awful, yes. But it is not Hunter who is to blame for that. Vash will not have him be afraid. )
newphew: (of an ~~~angel~~~)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-04-20 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
You're.... sorry?

[ vash has nothing to apologize for, but hunter can't put his thoughts enough together to say that. instead, he just stares while attempting to breathe, confused ]

[ confused becomes distressed as vash promises to protect him, though on the bright side, he's following the breathing instructions! hurray! ]


You.... you won't let it? Why? You saw it--- you saw what I am. I'm not a real person.

[ a grimwalker. a thing made to replace someone else, now discarded and on the chopping block, so belos can make another one ]
photosympathies: (cxxx.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-04-21 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
You're you.

( Bewildered, and a little dazed. He doesn't exactly understand what he saw in Hunter's memory, but he knows the boy before him and that's all that really matters. Vash, stubborn and often quick to be heart-sore, only squeezes his hands more tightly around Hunter's shoulders, offering up a watery smile. )

You feel pretty real to me. You've got thoughts in your head, don't you? And feelings in your heart. And you've been trying so hard to help people since we got here. What is a real person anyway? I'm not one either. I'm not human. But we're both here, and we're both trying, and it's going to be fine. Keep breathing for me.
newphew: (head out with the smile)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-04-30 08:34 am (UTC)(link)
It's not-- it's not the same. You weren't made to help facilitate a genocide. You.... you're an actual person.

[ his protests are weak, but he doesn't understand vash's kindness, vash's words here. he clearly expected rejection, and he's not sure how to handle that it isn't rejection in the moment. ]

[ he's been... trying hard? he has. but. to belos, trying never meant anything. only results. and hunter doesn't know how to unlearn that, how to accept kindness ]
photosympathies: (xxix.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-04-30 10:52 am (UTC)(link)
( Wasn't he? His power is certainly more explosive than his brother's. He can certainly understand Hunter's anxiety with it, which means he does not move away, absolutely refuses to agree with him, voice calm and sure of itself. )

When have you done anything to hurt someone around here, huh? I haven't seen it. You want to help people, same as I do. And you've been exhausting yourself trying. Hunter, what's happened to you is terrible, but it doesn't change the person I know. You're not what they say you are.

( Careful, hands moving down his arms, trying to offer some comfort. )

I'm sorry, I know you don't want people seeing that. But it's just me, okay?
newphew: (and he is NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-19 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ hunter needs to catch up on trigun stampede.... ]

[ it's true that he's been working all this time to be a better person, focusing on helping people, but how much of that was out of a desire to actually be good, and how much of that was just a desperate attempt to make up for his time in the emperor's coven? ]

[ regardless, he stops arguing, but doesn't quite look vash in the eye, tears prickling at the corner of his. he doesn't fight the comfort ]


You're being so nice, I don't understand. Unc--- Belos just hurt me whenever I messed up.

[ that's where his scars come from ]
photosympathies: (cxix.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-05-20 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
( Sometimes it's very easy to pretend there is not a wealth of anger that exists in Vash the Stampede. Sometimes. Not now though. Because Hunter is just a child. He's a kid. And he's been hurt so badly. He's still hurting. The fury rises quickly, his teeth grinding together. But there's no one here to fight, no one he can blame, and so he lets it all out, a sad exhale. He doesn't think before he's pulling Hunter back into his arms, wrapping his arms as tightly around him as he can, the kind of hug he knows he would have wanted when things were unravelling around him. )

I'm just treating you how you deserve, Hunter. You've been through something awful. You didn't do anything wrong.

( Quietly. )

And I'm not going to let anyone hurt you anymore, all right? I'm sorry, you shouldn't have had to live through that.
newphew: (jk im doing lion king 2)

[personal profile] newphew 2025-05-27 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ love me some angry vash ]

[ hunter freezes up initially, but he's had enough hugs by now that he realizes what they are. they feel nice. this feels nice. ]


I did a lot of things wrong. But, I, I'm trying to make up for it now.

[ they have that in common ]

If--- If they send me back, he'll kill me. [ in a whisper, he admits: ] I don't want to go back.
photosympathies: (li.)

[personal profile] photosympathies 2025-05-27 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
I won't let them.

( Possibly a promise he is making with nothing to back it up, but Vash is good at being stubborn. If LILITH try then they'll have to send him to. Then he can have words with Hunter's uncle. )

You're safe here, okay? And we can do something, we can work out a plan in case LILITH attempts it, right? We'll figure it out together, you shouldn't have to do any of this alone.