𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙼𝚘𝚍𝚜 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
synfluxmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
synflux2025-07-30 01:11 am
synfluxmods) wrote in synflux2025-07-30 01:11 am
TRAVEL LOG #6
TRAVEL LOG #6
▶ 001. ¡Vamos!
As much as one might want to take things easy and continue to recover from an eventful summer, LILITH's objective continues. Early in August, an alarm blares and everyone will get a call through their implants to come for debriefing. Yamakawa will explain they have received a request from Mexico City for support. Unusual rift activity has been confirmed in the region and they are asking for support to prepare for imminent conflict. Who knows what could await here?
Fortunately, the request is from their LILITH branch and all facilities are operational. It will be easy to use a data portal for easy access. As with all data portals, the Outsiders will be warned of potential side effects that may come from traveling great distances. Side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and occasional glitching with their cybertech. All effects should wear off within 24 to 48 hours. If symptoms last longer, they are urged to seek meditech assistance in Mexico City to receive stabilizers. Like before, Outsiders will be told that making physical contact with one another by any means during transportation can reduce the risk of feeling any side effects, whether it be an embrace or holding hands... or attempting to strangle someone if you're a hater (looking at you, Silco.)
Due to warping, they will be limited to taking only what they can carry. Those who wish to take larger items will have to wait a few days for them to be gradually transported by air or industrial warp portals. Yamakawa and the rest of the staff in Tokyo will tell everyone not to worry because Mexico City has excellent infrastructure to facilitate their transportation needs.
Everyone will be given 24 hours to pack and prepare for departure. Before they leave, Dr. Spim and Alex will inform them of a promising research opportunity under the guidance of a colleague, Dr. Flores. Dr. Spim will share a verification code with them to show to Dr. Flores if they are interested in assisting.
After 24 hours, everyone will be ordered to warp to Mexico City. In an instant, the Outsiders will find themselves at the LILITH base in Mexico City.
Fortunately, the request is from their LILITH branch and all facilities are operational. It will be easy to use a data portal for easy access. As with all data portals, the Outsiders will be warned of potential side effects that may come from traveling great distances. Side effects include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and occasional glitching with their cybertech. All effects should wear off within 24 to 48 hours. If symptoms last longer, they are urged to seek meditech assistance in Mexico City to receive stabilizers. Like before, Outsiders will be told that making physical contact with one another by any means during transportation can reduce the risk of feeling any side effects, whether it be an embrace or holding hands... or attempting to strangle someone if you're a hater (looking at you, Silco.)
Due to warping, they will be limited to taking only what they can carry. Those who wish to take larger items will have to wait a few days for them to be gradually transported by air or industrial warp portals. Yamakawa and the rest of the staff in Tokyo will tell everyone not to worry because Mexico City has excellent infrastructure to facilitate their transportation needs.
Everyone will be given 24 hours to pack and prepare for departure. Before they leave, Dr. Spim and Alex will inform them of a promising research opportunity under the guidance of a colleague, Dr. Flores. Dr. Spim will share a verification code with them to show to Dr. Flores if they are interested in assisting.
After 24 hours, everyone will be ordered to warp to Mexico City. In an instant, the Outsiders will find themselves at the LILITH base in Mexico City.
▶ 002. SKYSCRAPERS AND TREES.
An officer by the name of Morales will greet them and introduce herself as their point of contact. She'll give everyone a debrief file to download through their implants to instantly get them up to speed. Along with the unusual rift activity, the population has started to show symptoms that have given them cause for concern. Many people are falling ill, becoming lethargic, and demonstrating explosively angry, violent, and otherwise acting out. The longer it goes on, the more people are affected, and it’s starting to cause more trouble in the city itself as infrastructure fails.
When they leave the base, they will find themselves in the warm, humid, and very green metropolis of Mexico City. Over the years, the forests and jungles of the region have swallowed up many towns and cities, leaving the city completely surrounded by forest. The locals have embraced their environment over many years while modernizing, resulting in the city having a mix of cyber technology and nature. Mexico City and the rainforest around it almost seems to be one living, thriving being. The plants naturally shade the hot sidewalks, and people have created a large number of filtered reservoirs that the rainforest thrives from. The large canopies are half as high as the remaining skyscrapers, but most buildings are built underneath the treeline, leaving most thriving underneath the shady canopy.
Outsiders may see some "new" animals such as real hummingbirds, butterflies, macaws, and iguanas with unique traits like neon designs and unusual sizes. They say there are even more animals and variants in the jungle. Beware of certain birds and insects that make locals sick when they come in contact with their dropped pollen. In the same vein, some of the flowers and plant life seem to also show rift mutations, but for the most part, most locals seem unbothered by these, and if Outsiders ask, they’ll be informed that they’ve been like that for a long time, and were never of any concern.
Outsiders can also meet with Dr. Flores, a LILITH researcher who is studying the effects of Rift poisoning and how to counter them. He theorizes that some plants may have evolved to purify the air or treat Rift sickness. In fact, his team has been treating some of these new rift poisoning cases with a trial drug that has had promising results. However, supplies are very limited and he needs help collecting more plants from the forest. In addition, he needs help catching some of the animal carriers so he can understand the nature of the poison they are carrying. He will ask for help capturing butterflies, bees, beetles, and hummingbirds.
When they leave the base, they will find themselves in the warm, humid, and very green metropolis of Mexico City. Over the years, the forests and jungles of the region have swallowed up many towns and cities, leaving the city completely surrounded by forest. The locals have embraced their environment over many years while modernizing, resulting in the city having a mix of cyber technology and nature. Mexico City and the rainforest around it almost seems to be one living, thriving being. The plants naturally shade the hot sidewalks, and people have created a large number of filtered reservoirs that the rainforest thrives from. The large canopies are half as high as the remaining skyscrapers, but most buildings are built underneath the treeline, leaving most thriving underneath the shady canopy.
Outsiders may see some "new" animals such as real hummingbirds, butterflies, macaws, and iguanas with unique traits like neon designs and unusual sizes. They say there are even more animals and variants in the jungle. Beware of certain birds and insects that make locals sick when they come in contact with their dropped pollen. In the same vein, some of the flowers and plant life seem to also show rift mutations, but for the most part, most locals seem unbothered by these, and if Outsiders ask, they’ll be informed that they’ve been like that for a long time, and were never of any concern.
Outsiders can also meet with Dr. Flores, a LILITH researcher who is studying the effects of Rift poisoning and how to counter them. He theorizes that some plants may have evolved to purify the air or treat Rift sickness. In fact, his team has been treating some of these new rift poisoning cases with a trial drug that has had promising results. However, supplies are very limited and he needs help collecting more plants from the forest. In addition, he needs help catching some of the animal carriers so he can understand the nature of the poison they are carrying. He will ask for help capturing butterflies, bees, beetles, and hummingbirds.
▶ 003. THE FUTURE WILL BE GREEN.
The Outsiders will be given orders to visit areas that have unusual Rift readings. By now, anyone with large items from Tokyo should have them but for those who do not have vehicles, LILITH Mexico will supply them with jeeps to navigate the dense jungles. LILITH Japan will assist local agents who are exploring the south of the city. Outsiders will also be given an additional file to download that will give them a run-down of the area, including the plants, animals, known paths, and key landmarks.
The journey through the jungle is not easy. While there are access roads, they have suddenly become overgrown with plantlife, and it is increasingly hostile. They will have to get out and clear the path in some places. As they head deeper into the jungle, the plant life becomes more wild and shows signs of mutation. They will find vines that grow quickly in front of their eyes, blocking their paths as quickly as they had cleared them, and they are becoming increasingly dangerous with spined, poisonous vines, wild roving carnivores like jaguars, and large predatory birds that will divebomb outsiders as they progress deeper into the forests. Luckily, if they make it deep enough, the locals will help them find the easiest and safest routes to travel.
Some of these roads might lead them to former cities and towns. These towns have been completely overgrown by plantlife and are largely abandoned save for some stubborn families that refused to leave their homelands and some researchers. They are largely friendly and will help the Outsiders and agents who decide to rest on their journeys.
They may be able to scavenge for supplies like old emergency rations, blankets, and pieces of technology that were left behind decades ago. But be careful! Since these areas have been taken over by nature, they may run into common regional kaiju like mutated wild dogs, monkeys, and even jaguars.
The journey through the jungle is not easy. While there are access roads, they have suddenly become overgrown with plantlife, and it is increasingly hostile. They will have to get out and clear the path in some places. As they head deeper into the jungle, the plant life becomes more wild and shows signs of mutation. They will find vines that grow quickly in front of their eyes, blocking their paths as quickly as they had cleared them, and they are becoming increasingly dangerous with spined, poisonous vines, wild roving carnivores like jaguars, and large predatory birds that will divebomb outsiders as they progress deeper into the forests. Luckily, if they make it deep enough, the locals will help them find the easiest and safest routes to travel.
Some of these roads might lead them to former cities and towns. These towns have been completely overgrown by plantlife and are largely abandoned save for some stubborn families that refused to leave their homelands and some researchers. They are largely friendly and will help the Outsiders and agents who decide to rest on their journeys.
They may be able to scavenge for supplies like old emergency rations, blankets, and pieces of technology that were left behind decades ago. But be careful! Since these areas have been taken over by nature, they may run into common regional kaiju like mutated wild dogs, monkeys, and even jaguars.
▶ 004. NATURE FINDS A WAY.
The kaiju and mutated plants aren't the only thing they need to watch out for in the forest. While traveling, some outsiders might find a regular jaguar attacking a mutated macaw kaiju and winning. It seems that while some animals have mutated into kaiju to survive, other animals have simply evolved to compete with them. As outsiders progress into the forest, at first the local fauna will attack if anyone gets close to them, but the deeper outsiders go, the more the creatures give them a wider berth, and won’t attack. If you see a local, non-corrupted creature deep in the woods, chances are it will watch or flee, rather than attack.
Outsiders will be warned to be careful of poisonous frogs both regular and mutated. These frogs are often a sign that pitcher plants are nearby. These plants have evolved to be large enough to swallow a large animal or person if one gets too close. For the most part, these pitcher plants are stationary but some may use their leaves or nearby wild vines to trip unsuspecting prey into their flower.
These aren’t the only plants that outsiders can encounter as they venture deeper into the forest. The deeper they go, the more frequently rift-corrupted pollinators are found swarming some of the large, rift-corrupted flowers, and as soon as their legs or beaks are laden, they fly off, only to be replaced by more. They aren’t great carriers, so pollen drifts on the wind. Outsiders should keep their rift-protection up, because the pollen causes rift-corruption along with other side effects such as: violent tendencies, explosive anger, and insatiable appetites (of any kind). The pollinators will escape deeper into the forest. If an outsider follows, please let the mod team know!
Outsiders will be warned to be careful of poisonous frogs both regular and mutated. These frogs are often a sign that pitcher plants are nearby. These plants have evolved to be large enough to swallow a large animal or person if one gets too close. For the most part, these pitcher plants are stationary but some may use their leaves or nearby wild vines to trip unsuspecting prey into their flower.
These aren’t the only plants that outsiders can encounter as they venture deeper into the forest. The deeper they go, the more frequently rift-corrupted pollinators are found swarming some of the large, rift-corrupted flowers, and as soon as their legs or beaks are laden, they fly off, only to be replaced by more. They aren’t great carriers, so pollen drifts on the wind. Outsiders should keep their rift-protection up, because the pollen causes rift-corruption along with other side effects such as: violent tendencies, explosive anger, and insatiable appetites (of any kind). The pollinators will escape deeper into the forest. If an outsider follows, please let the mod team know!
▶ 005. THERE WERE ONCE CITIES.
As Outsiders travel further into the jungle where civilization has a harder and harder time taking root, they instead find remnants of those that came before. There are buildings in the lush jungles, but they’re truly ancient. Sometimes, the stonework stands out and is easy to find, but at other times, the buildings are completely overgrown with vines and flowers that will take extra effort to explore. Regardless of which kind they find, the carved, geometric artwork makes it clear that these are ruins from Aztec and Mayan cultures.
Exploring the ruins will reveal very little in the way of ancient treasures (or rolling boulder traps), since anything that could be taken was already looted long ago. They’ll make suitable shelter for the forest, at least, since curiously, the more dangerous elements don’t seem to enter. In fact, they very specifically stay away.
Each set of ruins also includes one building that stands above all others. Ascending the tall pyramids will lead to a central, round room at the apex that are all united in its details, even if they’re clearly done at different times. The ceiling is dotted as a starscape, and at the center is a painted, black circle. Underneath this lays what’s clearly an altar. The altar has a depression in its center and a channel that leads down its side, as if it’s expecting liquid.
Exploring the ruins will reveal very little in the way of ancient treasures (or rolling boulder traps), since anything that could be taken was already looted long ago. They’ll make suitable shelter for the forest, at least, since curiously, the more dangerous elements don’t seem to enter. In fact, they very specifically stay away.
Each set of ruins also includes one building that stands above all others. Ascending the tall pyramids will lead to a central, round room at the apex that are all united in its details, even if they’re clearly done at different times. The ceiling is dotted as a starscape, and at the center is a painted, black circle. Underneath this lays what’s clearly an altar. The altar has a depression in its center and a channel that leads down its side, as if it’s expecting liquid.
OFFERING: THE BLOOD OF OUTSIDERS AND HUMANS:
No matter the amount, characters immediately feel lightheaded, as if they’d given a large portion of blood (even if they’re not giving their own). Within 24 hours, an unusually patterned bruise will appear somewhere on their body. Characters who make this sacrifice will swap abilities with each other, but will notice that their newfound abilities are notably weaker than if the original owner still had them.
OFFERING: THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS:
Characters become more connected to the animals of the forest. They will take on one feature of a local animal, such as lightly poisonous skin, improved night vision, or ears/tail. They’ll also find they can talk to their related animal.
OFFERING: ... OTHER BODILY FLUIDS...?:
The altar is disappointed in you. There is no other effect.
OFFERING: WATER/PLANT SAP:
Characters become more connected to the forest. Skin takes on a greenish tint, and they’re able to minorly control plants. They’ll feel like they can commune with the forest, and will be able to telepathically talk with any others who make this offering.
OFFERING: ANYTHING ELSE (ANY OTHER MATERIALS):
There is no effect.
▶ 006. AFTERWORD.
Welcome to our sixth travel log!
Below, you will see the link to the MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET post that has information about the kaiju below along with OFFERING EFFECTS. Fill out the form for RNG Attacks and whether you would like to receive an OFFERING 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.
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards August AC.
All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards August AC.
EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. VAMOS!: Outsiders travel to Mexico after receiving a request for support as there has been unusual rift activity in the area. A portal is avaliable to take Outsiders to the location, but are advisted to travel light.
2. SKYSCRAPERS AND TREES: LILITH officer Morales greets outsiders and explains the situation: civillians have begun to grow sick and strange animals have begun to appear. A LILITH researcher is theorising that plants have evolved to purify the air. He requests help catching creatures for research.
3. THE FUTURE WILL BE GREEN: Outsiders are tasked with visiting areas with odd Rift readings. They will be required to journey through the jungle, finding overgrown towns and cities, scavenge supplies, while being wary of native creatures.
4. NATURE FINDS A WAY: Regular animals are fighting against kaiju and winning; local fauna attacks anyone who gets close, and poisonous frogs attack. The deeper Outsiders go, the more dangerous it becomes.
5. THERE WERE ONCE CITIES: Deep in the jungle, an ancient ruin can be found. Outsiders are able to make "offerings" at an altar for various effects, depending on the offering.
no subject
That part... It's of the ancient Aztec people. [She stares at one of the murals as she replies.] Tezcatlipoca's people.
[ She figures that bales means more to him than Quetzalcoatl. ]
Similarly to how Iraq is home to my civilization, this place is home to his.
no subject
[ He's genuinely curious, trying to work something out. Pre-modern history isn't a particular strong point for Shinn, so although he thinks these ruins post-date the ruins in Alexandria, he's not completely certain. ]
I mean, it's weird that in Alexandria the ruins had old weapons and pictures of people fighting kaiju, but there's none of that stuff here, just stars and altars. And even when the buildings here are different, they've all got this part -- [ another gesture at the starscape ] -- at the top.
no subject
[ Though the beliefs and culture that became part of the Aztecs are much older than that. But the ruins? Not that old compared to Egypt. It makes sense that if the Kaiju were fought a long time ago, this would be in Egyptian ruins but not here. ]
I believe in my world, Aztec gods originated from space... [She says as she looks up at the starscape.] You would have to ask Tezcatlipoca to be sure.
no subject
That asshole? [ he protests, indignant. The idea of space gods is weird, because space is an agnostic place in Shinn’s mind — a lot of organized religions spent decades being hostile to the Coordinators who fled to space, and then lost influence with the discovery evidence of extraterrestrial life, which.
Oh no.
The indignation melts into full existential crisis. ]
— he’s not a whale, right?
[ Please. Please let space gods from Ereshkigal’s world have nothing to do with the evidence of spacefaring intelligent life at home. ]
no subject
While this is an apt descriptor, please be careful with your language.
[ This goddess prefers it when people are super polite. That said, she is going to try and explain to him how things work in her world. ]
A whale...? Not at all. [She shakes her head.] There are two types of gods in our worlds. Those who are aspects of nature given sentience through mankind observing nature, and those who were elevated to godhood through worship - often for having godlike powers to begin with. I am of the former and he is of the later. [But to give him a scare (it's not unintentional):] Though it is not impossible there are entities that look like whales that came from space in another region of the world.
no subject
[ At least for anyone other than Kira. It comes out more dazed than cranky, though, because he's still baffled by the idea of space gods and trying to figure out whether he can rule them out at home, because:
At home, there's this winged whale fossil from Jupiter. It's supposed to be proof of intelligent life.
[ He looks at her, almost hopefully. ]
... a god wouldn't leave a fossil, right?
no subject
[ There are less vulgar and innovative ways to say someone is a really awful person. At his question, she looks perplexed though. ]
Heh? Why wouldn't they? [What a curious question.] Gods have physical bodies you know. Well, most don't any more, their bodies were destroyed long ago... But those who still have bodies could absolutely leave a fossil.
no subject
[ His world is not good at serious religion! The space whale disrupted a lot of it! There's actually an edge of desperation in Shinn's voice -- he does not want be from a world where there could be space gods when the world is already so screwed with the superweapons and genetic wars. ]
no subject
[ She's not sure why he's so bothered by it. I-Is it desperation? What the Kûr? Di she accidentally say something that brought him great distress? ]
A-Are you alright?
no subject
[ He runs a hand through his own hair in baffled generalized agitation. It's not directed at her, just the universe (universes? Mostly his universe!) in general. ]
It's like learning that maybe one plus one is three.
no subject
Not at all. [She shakes her head.] It's like learning the words one and three mean something else elsewhere, and you don't have the right tools to understand their meaning under this new light.
[ T-That's a good analogy, right? ]
Your own understanding of mathematics is still intact, you've only come to the realization there are numbers you never knew about.
no subject
[ He's adjusted to people with weird magic powers in Syn both because he can observe them and because, well, there's just a comfortable mental barrier about them being from a different world. But the idea of stuff happening beyond his perception back in his own world? ]
And if it's stuff that could help that I can't find --
[ He cuts off abruptly. That's a horrifying thought -- that there might be something back home that could fix the endless cycle of violence, but they just haven't observed it and maybe can't observe it. ]
no subject
My apologies, but I felt it to be necessary.
[ He's starting to panic, and she understands how it feels better than anyone. A shock is often enough to interrupt the panicking before it gets to be too much. ]
There is "stuff" out there you don't know about. In this world, in yours, in every other world. Even I am ignorant when compared to the vastness of existence. [A pause.] Humans will sometimes go mad upon catching a glimpse of what awaits beyond their perception. Please do not allow for this to happen to you.
no subject
Ow ow ow --
[ He's not really hurt, being told off by a cute girl just gets him in a complaining little brother mood. Which is, at least, better than existential dread. ]
I'm gonna be mad if you keep doing that, [ he grumbles, but it's just grousing. He exhales and says more seriously, with real underlying concern: ] It's not just not knowing. If there's something at home strong enough to fix things -- I want to find it.