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

Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED | Revelation

[coordination]

#001: Gundams and Camels

[ In Alexandria, Yzak can be found in one of the two following places:

[A]
Sitting in the open cockpit of the Duel Blitz Gundam, now standing at 30ft in height for those who've gotten used to how small it used to be. He's typing away at a keyboard in front of him at a speed that the normal eye might have a hard time keeping up with. On the screens around him are various open windows with text scrolling by, all programming jargon. There are a few wires that have been connected to the machine and hooked up to a couple of generators, though nothing seems to be activated just yet.

Though busy, he seems ... comfortable, as he mutters, ]

This is much better than being in a god damned desert...


[B]
On a cool evening, Yzak is outside at the enclosure where the camels are. Like everybody else, by now he's tired. He has his Coordinator genes to thank for the fact that he held out longer than the average human before exhaustion started to settle in him. But eventually, it caught up to him. He's out here now because he doesn't want to risk even sitting down and drifting off.

He's also out here for the camels. Because space boy looks absolutely awed by these guys. He's never seen one just this close up, but in real life at all! So eyes widened in an almost childlike wonder, he watches the animals mull about.

One wanders toward him when it notes his presence, and the fingers of the hand at his side twitch, like he wants to ... pet. But he knows better! Don't go reaching out to something that could very well bite a finger off! Even if he is used to horses, these are very different, even if they are ridable.

Yzak notes this particular camel, because he knows he has to befriend one before he can take it out for a ride. He goes over to the storage of food for them, grabbing a nice-sized branch from a shrub as an offering. While one hand holds out the snack that the camel leans in and starts to chew on, his other comes up to brush his fingers against the side of its neck. His lips twitch up into a small, fascinated smile. ]

You're actually soft under that coarse top layer...

[ Like someone he knows. Though this camel doesn't opt to put gel in its hair every single day. ]

---

#002: Camels and Gundams

[ In the desert, Yzak can be found doing one of the following:

[A]
When it's his turn to be out exploring with others, he's riding the camel that he took the time to feed and make friends with. He seems to be a natural at this, because it's not too different from horseriding, and he'd boast that he's just that much of a good learner. (the worst part is that his boasting ISN'T bullshit and he actually is a really good learner)

He's paying full attention to his surroundings and the mission at hand, of course. He's Yzak, so that always comes first. But when he thinks nobody is watching, he'll pat his camel on the side of its neck with a tiny grin that holds that same innocent awe that he had when he saw one up close for the first time.

[B]

And then a couple of times when the nuclear-powered mobile suits that are taking turns offering their energy to the generators back in Alexandria swap shifts, Yzak is helping out in his Gundam out there. Which is very useful when they need to take a break, because the 30ft machine is a great source of shade if anybody needs some.

That, and the cockpit itself is cooler because temp regulation, baby. And lucky for whoever's with him, Yzak is a nice guy who wants to help his team out. So he climbs out of the cockpit to offer. ]

If you want to sit in the cockpit for a bit, it's cooler in there.

Just don't touch anything, even if the systems are locked.

And don't get too comfortable that you fall asleep!

---

#003: Wildcard and OOC

Wildcards cool if the above doesn't catch you. Questions/plotting/whatever, hit me at gaignun or urtv on Discord!

001 A

[asafepairofhands]

[Ratchet watches Yzak work from afar for a minute before he goes up, trying to see into the cockpit from his paltry ten-foot height.]

Mind if I observe? I'm still learning how these things work, even if I was able to repair Shinn's.

[coordination]

[ Since Yzak isn't out on patrol and needs to cross check things with the generators, the Duel is at least crouched down, and they probably have some quickly set up rigging to work as a catwalk for where the mobile suits are when it's their their turn to stay at the base.

Yzak turns his gaze from checking one one of the screens to Ratchet when he pokes his head up. ]

Sure.

What did you repair on the Destiny?

[asafepairofhands]

Arm cannon. Gave it a check-up too, such as it was. They're fascinating pieces of engineering--the way they function is so different from me, but the similarities are interesting too.

What are you doing now?

[coordination]

This unit is actually the oldest of its line that's still in use. A lot of the advances in my military when it came to developing new mobile suits like the Destiny is thanks to the information and technology we were able to obtain and refine from this machine and the other three of the original five that were made when we stole them from our enemy.

[ Precious robot stealing memories. ]

I'm adjusting the power output so I don't overload the generators when I open up a connection.

[asafepairofhands]

What powers your suit? Shinn has a nuclear reactor sitting in the middle of his, which I sincerely hope doesn't get damaged while he's fighting, but they don't all work the same.

[coordination]

Mine is powered by the same thing. The Akatsuki - the golden one that Cagalli pilots - is the only one among the five here that's not. Her's is battery-powered.

[ Yzak looks around the cockpit, now that he's starting to go more into detail, because even where he sits now is so different from when he first came across this machine. ]

The Duel Blitz used to be. But so much of this mobile suit has been ... upgraded to keep up with the times. Not so much out of a need for it, considering what I just said about developing new machines over the last few years. It was more of a test subject that just so happened to pass said test and remain fully functional despite how old it is.

Their reactors are extremely difficult to damage, though, even in a bad fight.

[asafepairofhands]

Well, that's a relief. Nobody needs radiation poisoning on top of everything else that's going on.

[A little wryly.]

I'm still getting used to their names. They're vehicles to you, right? But Shinn talks about his almost like it's a person--you all seem very fond of your suits.

001-b

[egraegis]

[There's probably plenty of camels coming and going through the area, the steady clomp-clomp-clomp of hooves and the bustle of strangers and familiar faces alike growing acquainted with the beasts, which is a good excuse for him not noticing the approach of Athrun on his own camel. He's geared up, goggles on his head, and a bit of sand in his hair, and he'd been about to say something when he catches the little smile on Yzak's face.

...Huh.

He lingers quietly for a long moment, not wanting to shatter the peace of this very unusual scene, but Yzak will surely get annoyed at being watched if he's caught so finally he calls out,]

Hey. They really like apples.

[When Yzak turns his way, Athrun will toss an apple from his supply pack over.]

1/2

[coordination]

[ How dare you perceive him in a cute, soft moment.

Clearly not expecting anybody else to show up, Yzak visibly startles when he hears a voice— familiar voice (shit). And then he quickly spins to face Athrun, a hand snapping to catch the apple. ]

[coordination]

[ And then he tries to play it cool because Athrun didn't necessarily see or hear him just now, right? It's not like he was smiling THAT much (he was) or sounded too fond of this strange Earth creature (he did).

Yzak clears his throat, turning the apple around in his hand. ]

I guess I could use a couple of these. Not that I doubt that I'll be able to earn this thing's trust by the time it's my turn to head out! I've always been great with horses, after all.

[ He faces the camel again, carefully holding the apple out for it. ]

Just watch where you're biting with those teeth.

[egraegis]

[don't smile don't smile don't smile- nailed it? (He smiles just a little. Maybe Yzak won't notice.)]

You can have the rest of mine, if you like. Whichever are left after this guy has his fill.

[He gives his camel's neck a few pats before guiding it over to the pen.]

[coordination]

[ He notices, and ... looks like he turns it over in his mind. Could make a snippy remark about it? Could also just be Athrun being Athrun and being ... nice, like a friend. Ugh! So he blunts his sharp tongue ... this time. In part because he's focusing more on feeding the camel. ]

Since you're offering, there'd better be more left after that one's fed!

Anyway, which direction did you come from? And what did you find?

[egraegis]

[Mental note to leave, like, two apples. (Or maybe just one, his camel has been working hard! Anyway, he already gave Yzak one of them.)

He climbs off of its back, giving it a light pat on the neck and offering it an apple to munch away at before working on unraveling the straps of the saddle pack it held their supplies in, first gesturing in the direction he'd come from, for Yzak.]

Cagalli found it. Within a village outside of town, the residents have moved into one of their temples, believing it will keep them safe from the rift nightmares.