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.
02
He's fine. Really. And even if he wasn't, he wouldn't want to be treated any differently.
He's happy to chatter away, play with the radio, and even take turns driving. It's best to let Silco do his own thing and he can tell. Every now and then, he tosses an open question Silco's way, offering him a chance to comment and join the conversation if he ever feels like it.
When the jeep stops another time due to the path ahead, Harumasa steps out to use the dual blades of his compound bow to help clear the way. He leaves Asaboo in the passenger seat to compile data about the jungle. He barely hears anything with the hacking and slashing up ahead but he's senses a motion behind him and he looks back, speaking lightly,)
What's wrong? Something—
(Oh. Asaboo might be trying to reach with its little stubby arms to try and pull Silco down now. Not that it's doing much.)
Oh boy. Stay still.
ASABOO 🥺
Then again, he would much prefer sticking to the city, and handling his own plans. But that would mean that he would likely get a slap on the wrist from LILITH, and he's trying to keep his head down. Play along enough that they don't look too closely at him, and let him get away with his other plans. So here he is.
Suffering the forest. In a vehicle with other outsiders, one of which looks like a round child. Or maybe it's a toy? He doesn't quite know.
Which is why it's all well and good, up until the moment he finds himself upside down, entangled in vines, and the short stubby child-thing is trying to reach up and pull it down. Silco, predictably, is not staying still, and is instead already throwing a fit about the situation, trying to twist his way to pulling one of (the many) his knives out from a holster on his person.
His hands don't get very far. He's too tied up. ]
What — ?
[ He finally notices Harumasa. ]
Are you going to hurry up?
no subject
As for Harumasa, Silco is moving around too much and far too entangled for him to just shoot an arrow. Instead, he undoes his bow and dashes forward. Jumping on the hood of the jeep and cutting the main one tied around Silco's leg, Silco might find himself suddenly dropping but still being held by the arms or something.)
If you stay still, it'll be much faster!
(His voice has that sort of fake cheerful tone to it. He's definitely, totally happy to help if Silco will stay still.)
Unless you want to lose something.
(He'll slash another one of the vines.)
no subject
Well, mostly Asaboo because the little child hasn't even done him the decency of conversation. Or, you know, spoken back when he does speak up. ]
Are you going to shoot another arrow at me?
[ He hisses, even as he starts to go still. He doesn't dare tempt fate to get shot. Again. He'd had plenty of that in May, thank you very much. He'd prefer to escape this Kaiju with minimal injuries. ]
no subject
If that's what you want!
(He sounds a little too peppy about that. Maybe that's the point. With his bow detached into two blades, he goes for another slice, this time for Silco's arm so he can at least help free himself.)
I'm going to go for the core.
(The root of the problem. The main plant.)
Hang tight, o~okay?
no subject
I don't —
[ He hissed, but as soon as he gets his arm free, he's twisting to pull a knife out from the leather holster he keeps on him. A sick, black-bladed thing is tugged free. It doesn't look out of place in the jungle, like it could be found on anyone here.
He starts to saw at the one wrapping around his other shoulder. ]
Yes, yes. Is there a core you can find?
[ He is not, in fact, hanging tight.
Asaboo might want to move out from under him. ]
no subject
We're gonna find out!
( He's confident but let him tease. The vines are getting thicker and busier the further he goes and he knows he's getting close. If he just follows where they're coming from... up ahead, he sees a cluster of vines-- a single, common point and he takes his katana, raising it high and bringing it straight down.
As for Asaboo? Unfortunately, this little guy is not moving but hey, he might break Silco's fall. )
no subject
Every time he gets one free, another seems to find its way to getting tangled, and he's still suspended, up until the moment his katana cuts downward, slicing through the center and —
It's a good thing Silco doesn't weigh much, but poor Asaboo, it's a soft En-Nah from underneath Silco before the man is getting up like nothing even happened.
He's brushing his coat off, he's pulling his cigar up from where it fell in the water, before looking it over and deciding it was a lost cause, and so he pulls out another instead. Asaboo is still on his back. A little bit like a turtle after getting squished (Squished?) by Silco. ]
no subject
From further up ahead, there's some slashing from Harumasa's katana as he makes sure to finish off the cluster of vines. The end of one of his blades strikes some sort of core that feels a little firmer than the rest of the vines. That should be it for now and he returns to see how Silco and Asaboo are.
And he is immediately going over to Asaboo's side to right his bangboo back up. )
Looks like it worked.
( The bangboo staggers and wobbles in place, dazed. )
Are you hurt?
( To both Silco and Asaboo.....to which Asaboo just beeps, "Ehn." )
no subject
However, he didn't help Asaboo up, either.
Hey, this isn't his round child, he doesn't know what to do with it. ]
Fine.
[ He says, tersely. ] I didn't realize the forest itself was so hostile.
[ He did, but he's trying to talk about what he experienced without admitting fault. ]
no subject
It's been pretty active since we arrived... something must have set it off just now, though.
( "Something" he says as he eyes Silco's new cigar. )
no subject
Oh? Why are you looking for at me for that? I didn't do anything.
[ Clip goes the cigar. He's about to light it again, tool. ]
no subject
( That's all, really. Do it, Silco. Light the cigar. )
I'm going to check the car with Asaboo. ... Kay~?
no subject
[ He does do it. There he goes. Lighting the cigar right up. ]
Please, don't let me stop you. I'm sure the vines are... well subdued, hm?