synflux | TRAVEL LOG #5

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TRAVEL LOG #5

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.

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["These things happen" is a lame ass excuse for not trying to resolve what's wrong. Bakugo won't chase Vash down or demand he try to undo the shadow over his name; it's not his world, not his life. But he hopes the guy's have to somehow reclaim his good reputation and live a happier existence at some point in the future.]

Haa? If we didn't fight those shitty monsters, we'd be bored out of our minds! [What if they got called here to do nothing but act as construction workers?! Lame! He'd be even MORE pissed if that were the case!]</small

You think? Aha. Maybe you're right. I know you like a fight. I think I'd just start learning a whole bunch of new hobbies. I've pretty much got woodworking down by now, need to pick something new.

( He'll remember this in lockdown and Regret. )

Tch! Who the hell's gonna drag in a bunch of superpowered fighters to rebuild shit? They'd have better luck bringing builders and engineers!

[Bakugo would be a major pain if he were brought here to do nothing but clear debris and rebuild stuff in the wake of all the interesting excitement. Thankfully, that's not the life they're living here... All the time. They do repair work too.]

What kind of woodwork? Sticking with carving statues or do you make woodcuts?

Yeah, mostly little animals. I did help Yato make a bench once, but it wasn't as fun as doing the cute things, and not many people need furniture around here. So I'm sticking to trinkets for now.

( He will make Bakugo a wolf and then not get to give it to him because of the kidnappings. )

That is until I get a new hobby. Knitting? Nah, we end up in hot places too much. I can play the piano and the guitar, and oh, a little of the accordion, but I could pick up another instrument.

I want a wolf. [There's your first "order," Undercut.] Tell me how much I owe you.

[Because he's not gonna let him do it for free! Commissioning an artist for his skills here. Don't you dare suggest he's getting some kinda good friend discount! ... The idea of Vash and Yato making a bench is one part concerning, one part wary impressive.]

Did it look like a bench?

[He's seen Yato's work on his temple over in Kyoto. It's not... bad restoration work, but Yato's not the handiest person in the world.

~~DON'T PREDICT HIM ASKING FOR A WOLF!!~~]

How the hell did you pick up piano and guitar? [On blank ass desert planet?!]

You can't pay me! It's for fun.

( He will absolutely refuse payment Bakugo, you will have to physically fight him. But a wolf. Prediction aside. Maybe a wolf with fireworks. )

Uh. Maybe? I mostly just gave him the parts for it and then I had to go to see the kids. So it could look like a bench. It could not. I thought he knew what he was doing.

( He should have stuck around. )

Oh, Rem taught me the piano. She taught us both. I think she wanted to see how quickly we picked it up. Nai's better at it than I am, he really stuck with it. ( Still plays it now, a fact that has Vash flinching if anyone hits a specific note. ) The guitar I got taught by a guy in a bar once. I was sticking around for a week, working a job on one of the farms. I helped him out with a fallen in ceiling and he taught me the guitar in exchange. I like music, so it was fun. Acoustic, not like Mr. Silverhand's guitar.

I said "how much".

[And Bakugo will fight him back like the stubborn brick he is! If Vash really wants to be a stick about it, then dammit if Bakugo won't leave something of value in his room in exchange whether he likes it or not! Beer and donuts, perhaps.]

What, did you drag a few tree trunks in there? [Granted there are plenty of trees around the city and a lot of debris from last year's kaiju attacks. Not sure how good those are for building, but driftwood makes awesome artwork for the determined.]

Never woulda guessed. [In pure sincerity. Vash at the piano is hard to see. But if Rem taught him, he has no reason to doubt the guy. A brow aches when teacher Rem becomes teacher random bar guy. First one's easy to believe, second one is harder.] This guy wasn't running you off his property like everyone else?

Yeah? ( WILLFULL IGNORING OF THE PRICE CONVERSATION. ) I cut it up into the sizes he needed. Sanded down some of it too. But I wasn't there for the construction.

( He was being a buddy!

But for now, another laugh, a snort of sound through his nose. )

Oh, no. He didn't know who I was. It was early, my bounty wasn't that far or that high. And it was a pretty bad roof collapse. If I hadn't been around he said he didn't think anyone would have found him until the next day. He was trapped inside. And I was passing. He was nice.

[SO YOU'VE CHOSEN WAR!]

Then you didn't build it with him. [Vash, you said you and Yato built a bench together. Or helped him build it. Or something of the sort I can't be buggered to click a few times to see above. Late night lazy.] You prepared some supplies.

[Bakugo gives him a look. Vash's entire world sounds like it's always on the bring of any moment becoming trouble.]

Your bounty built up?

[He assumed Vash went from "Unknown Zero" anonymity to "Billion Dollar Kill on Sight" infamy.]

I helped! I was part of the bench making process. It was real smooth because of me.

( But he's laughing, absolutely unbothered. Even the idea of his bounty does very little to dampen the good spirit. )

Yeah. Most of the time it was just a misunderstanding? I'd get involved in things and there was no one around but me to pin the damages on, so they'd say it was my fault. Or I'd have to keep moving so they'd say I ran out on my charges. Others it was because I looked so much like Nai. People would catch a glimpse of him taking the Plants and then they'd see me and think I did it. I'm not saying I don't deserve at least some of it though, I definitely could have helped out a little better. But usually I was just trying to do the right thing for people. I'm a bounty hunter's dream!

( Still, another laugh. )

Guess going to Hero School you don't have to worry about that kind of stuff, right?

You just said you left before he started working on it!

[Big difference between supplying the artist and creating the art with the artist! The store didn't make your cake just cause you got the ingredients from said store, dammit! THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION!!]

WHAT KIND OF IDIOTS WERE ON THE DAMN SHIPS?!

[All of them want to assume some guy did it just cause they didn't see a single other person around?! Or jump to some shitty conclusion he was guilty cause he left the scene... when he wasn't even involved?! Did no one in that stupid world think to ask questions or speculate, maybe wonder "huh, innocent before guilty" bullshit like a decent intellect?!

Okay can't say much about looking like his twin brother, since Bakugo's never seen a picture of Nai (and when he does, will instantly rage about how NO ONE could mistake the two of them without being fucking blind). Anyways... Bakugo thinks the general populace of Badlands is a giant collection of morons.]

You laugh way too much about this, Undercut.

[Growling drone because sometimes Vash is fucking ridiculous.]

WE DON'T PUT BOUNTIES ON STUDENTS!!

[Minus the cavalry battle and some training events where students were definitely given bounties.]

( It's kind of nice that Bakugo gets so upset about these things for him. He doesn't need to, but it still gives Vash a little warmth. He's never going to stop trying to brush it off though, that's an age old habit by now, but still -. )

It's fine, Bakuboom. Nothing like that can get me here, right? So I don't need to worry about it.

( LILITH doesn't seem the type to waste their time with bounties anyway, he doesn't have to worry about things like that. ) Let's just worry about finding the kaiju for now. I'm on my best behaviour.

[Someone has to get pissed off at Vash's world's population's obvious stupidity! A year ago (in his world's timeline) Bakugo likely would've leaned more towards the public, as he was more than willing to chalk a bad guy up to "villain" without bothering to see too much into it. Someone did something bad = villain = beat them the fuck up and jail the bastard! But after his experiences over the year, he's more willing to at least avoid jumping to a conclusion and make sure the villain's a villain.

Which obviously Vash is NOT. No matter what the guy thinks of himself. Idiot.]

Che! You better not.

[Though if the public turn on them (again) for any reason, Vash will be on the "it's okay" side and Bakugo will blow up at him cause IT'S NOT OKAY, DAMMIT!]

You're on a camel, Undercut. How the hell are you gonna misbehave?

I've caused plenty of mischief on the back of a Toma, Bakuboom. You'd be surprised.

( Mysterious, and still full of good humour as he peers around his friend to the expanse of desert again. )

Though Toma are faster. You think LILITH would want a little haste. We could have had motorcycles.

I've blown people up in the back of an armored van, Undercut. Don't push it.

[Would he blow Vash up? ... Of course he would! In the comical shonen angry way that results in smoky coughing with zero intense damage, because it's supposed to be funny. Or something like that.]

Motorcycles would overhead in this blaze. We'd be stranded.

Huh.

( Wolfwood better get a bike in season two so Vash can Recall This. )

Maybe you're right. Sometimes Meryl's van starts steaming.

[That bike better be shaped like a cross and with cannons on the front.]

Machines generate heat. We'll be fine on these beasts.

( Take it up with studio orange!!!!

Also I think this is a nice place to stop the camel thread, so hopefully you do too. I'll be hunting Bakugo down when shit hits the fan!!! )

[Now I want an orange popsicle. Or the creamsicle kind.

Yeah, camel thread's good to pause, since we got new ones coming up! He won't be doing anything until the 15th, unfortunately, so waaah.

If that's too long for ya, we can always backdate an inbox thread for general hanging out or something.

And how dare you hit me with the sex shirtless shots. Kind of wonder which Vash has the worst damage...]

( THERE'S A DISTINCT LACK OF SEX but sad shirtlessness is a go. but yes maybe inbox thread bc that's too long ;; )

[THEY'RE NOT DATING IN THIS GAME he's gonna end up squirting him with the hose if he shows up sad and shirtless. don't bring your mopey ass around him, dammit! what a pain. he'll cheer you up hard!

i'm down for inbox. text, visit, new skill, whatev-]

( Don't worry, Bakuboom. You will be saved from Vash's missing boob. He doesn't take his shirt off often .........

OKAY LEAVE IT WITH ME I'LL TRY AND THINK OF SOMETHING FOR THEM TO DO. )

[He's seen a lot worse than missing boobs. Those Nomu were disgusting. And he likes Vash well enough not to mock him about a bygone pec.

OKAY! here's a few ideas if you want:

going out to eat or doing another cooking together thing
vash helping bakugo with his marksmanship
nighttime texting about something mundane or even curiosity
using the ocular to share memories or watch a movie
going on a motorcycle or car ride
i guess the orphanage, but bakugo's shit with kids, so... fun?]

( AS I AM BAD WITH DECISIONS

i want either marksmanship, nighttime texting, or ocular stuff. now i am making u eenie meanie minie mo it. also i have to leave rn and idk if i'll have energy when i come back but if u choose i'll hit u up when i can! )

[but decisions are so good! ... no they suck.

you can always wait to hit me up on the last half of the 31 or the 1st, so we can count the inbox thread as AC for next month. they don't count for bonus points, so having a few inbox threads to toss for AC means you can rake in the bigger things for bonuses.

nighttime texting --> ocular stuff could be cute]

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photosympathies - 2025-05-31 12:03 (UTC) - Expand

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blastedass - 2025-05-31 22:14 (UTC) - Expand

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