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šš‚šš¢šš—šššš•ššžšš” š™¼šš˜ššššœ ([personal profile] synfluxmods) wrote in [community profile] synflux2025-08-11 10:49 am

KAIJU FIGHT #10

KAIJU FIGHT #10


CONTENT WARNINGS: bugs, insects, wasps (prompts 3 and 4), insect stings, rift poisoning, medical testing (antidote to the sickness) and emotional side effects.

ā–¶ 001. FIND THE HIVE.

Reports of mysterious drumming deep in the forest seem promising. With the assistance of local scouts, they also find a clear path of destruction marked by dead plants and fallen insect kaiju. After collecting enough data, LILITH Mexico calls back the Outsiders and their scouts to regroup and recover for what they believe to be the final battle.

Based on their understanding of the region, the clues they've found, and Rift readings, they suspect a human-threat level kaiju is at the location of a known ancient temple. The reason they called the Outsiders back, however, is because it seems like not just one but two of these kaiju might be there. They want the Outsiders to recoup their strength before they head out.

Additionally, they believe one of the kaiju is one they have records of. A long time ago, during the first kaiju attacks, a plant-like kaiju they called "Nephenthipula" appeared and destroyed many cities which resulted in them becoming swallowed up by the expanding jungle. Over time, it simply went dormant and the forest became what it is today. They don't know why it suddenly returned but they suspect it might have something to do with the forest.

Before the teams are sent out, Dr. Flores approaches. Thanks to the hard work and research the Outsiders have been able to do, a basic antidote has been created that should be effective in helping to deal with most of the symptoms that they’ve been experiencing. There’s a very limited amount, however, and he recommends that the Outsiders are cautious: once it’s gone, there won’t be any more until the kaiju is dealt with.

The other downside? It’s not completely refined, so some Outsiders might continue to face side effects. He has more good news to offset this, though: Based on toxicology reports and additional reports about abandoned hives and dead colonies, he suspects the second kaiju might be a wasp of some sort.

Both the wasp kaiju and the Nephenthipula are located deep within the jungle, further even than most outsiders have dared to travel. Interestingly, based on the coordinates they have received so far... they both seem to be in the same vicinity. Before being sent out they will be warned to prepare for a potential double battle.



ā–¶ 002. OPERATION: NEPHENTHIPULA

The trip to the designated coordinate is fraught with danger. The forest seems to close in on itself, like it is protecting whatever it is that the Outsiders are trying to reach. The vines almost seem to take on a life of their own, the deeper into the jungle they travel. Forest creatures will attack outsiders, divebombing and trying to stop them when they take breaks from the trek deeper into the jungle. The deadly plants will become more aggressive, and the deeper Outsiders go… the quieter it gets.

The animals stop attacking. The vines almost seem half-hearted as they move deeper. They are thinner and weaker. Many are cut or rotted. They’ve been chewed through and though they still try to stop the outsiders, it is more like stopping the inevitable. As Outsiders breach the treeline, they’ll come into a clearing, where not only the Nephenthipula resides, rising from the forest like a raging colossus, but it is focused on a ruin. On trying to destroy it, its vines try to slap down stone towers, and strangle out parts of the ruin, but on the Outsiders' arrival, its focus is now fully shifted to focus on the new arrivals. Now is your chance, but Outsiders will find that they have to split up, and while some stay and fight the Nephenthipula; intel says that the Vescidae is inside the ruins but there is no clear way in.

Outsiders will quickly realize the Nephenthipula is not alone. In response to the plant kaiju, the entire forest seems to come to its aid. Vines will spread across the battlefield, attempting to tangle and strangle the Outsiders. Different vines manifest thorns, carnivorous flowers, and razor leaves to deter them even more.

Local kaiju also join in. Mutated jaguars, monkeys, snakes, and iguanas appear to further hinder their advances. From above, mutated butterflies, hummingbirds, and beetles rain pollen dosed with Rift energy. On top of the usual Rift sickness, this one seems to have an additional effect as well. The longer Outsiders are exposed to it, the more reluctant they are to attack the plant life and animal kaiju. They will feel a bond with the forest and become aggressive towards Outsiders causing harm.

The forest is their ally. They have to protect the forest at all costs. If that means turning against their friends then so be it. As long as Outsiders ally with the forest, they will find that they can call on it to assist them in limited capacity. They can use vines to block attacks and command some of the mutated kaiju to attack. Fortunately, Dr. Flores' antidote uses resources from the forest itself to counter some of these effects.



ā–¶ 003. INTO THE HIVE.

Observant Outsiders may notice an entrance into the temple. They will have to find a way up the steps, over living and dead vines. Occasionally the vines cover the entrance so Outsiders will have to destroy them again and again to enter.

With this being the only entrance and the vines controlling how many can enter at a time, it is essentially a bottleneck. Those who enter first will have to be ready to respond quickly because sentry wasps the size of housecats will charge at them. They are small, fast, and aggressive but weak. Their stings are incredibly painful to victims but fatal to the wasps which die shortly after. However, after being stung, the Outsider may notice they are attacked more frequently, as if they have been specifically marked.

Eventually, the sentry drones die or retreat, granting them peace. The inside of the temple is covered in a paper-mache like material. Instead of the regular comb shaped pattern one might expect, the combs are shaped like stars. From deep inside the temple, they will hear a steady drumming sound. Following the drumming sound will lead them to even more sentry drones as well as larger soldier drones that are far more aggressive.

They will have to navigate the catacombs of the temple to find and kill the queen. Surprisingly, characters that have been stung will instinctively know which direction they need to go in and will feel drawn to its location. They will also be able to telepathically communicate with others who have been stung or significantly affected by the hive's rift energy.

They will encounter more sentry drones as well as larger solder drones that are far more aggressive. They will also find comb filled with a thick, sweet, milky colored substance and larvae in the center. Characters affected by the hivemind will know this is a precious, nutrient rich resource. Maybe it might be worth collecting?


ā–¶ 004. OPERATION: VESCIDAE

The drumming sound becomes practically deafening and the Outsiders will find themselves in a great, open hall. The walls are carved with designs all the way up to the ceiling which is filled with stars. In the center of the hall they will see the Queen Vescidae. Her wings beat in a steady, drumming sound that echoes off the walls as she takes to the air and attacks.

As she attacks, drones will fly down from the ceiling to her aid. The venom from their stings is very potent and fast acting. At first, it clears the mind of their victims but some Outsiders react to this differently. Some Outsiders become incredibly calm and relaxed, as if all of their concerns– including the battle– are unimportant to them. Others will find that their new clarity makes it easier for them to focus, making them react to attacks faster and giving them an energy boost. For those who are particularly unlucky, however, the venom seems to wipe their minds completely, making them incredibly susceptible to the hypnotic beating of the Queen Vescidae's wings.

Certain Outsiders may suddenly find themselves turning on their friends as they become loyal to the hive. Their priority will become protecting the queen. By essentially becoming new drones, they become a part of the hive's hierarchy and can order lesser drones to assist them. Outsiders that still have Dr. Flores' antidote can protect themselves and potentially save some of their friends.

In a closed space, the battle is especially chaotic and it only gets worse when parts of the temple-hive begin to crumble and collapse. Vines pierce through the walls and outside attacks make the entire hive tremble. Letting in light and fresh air from outside which provides some relief. Shinn is able to land a critical attack on the Vescidae which stuns it. It staggers in the air disoriented and this allows the Outsiders to attack more easily. Shoto sets it on fire and it frantically begins to fly into the walls of the hive, causing more of it to collapse. Eventually, a reckless attack from Geto brings it down once and for all, putting an end to it.

The Vescidae smolders as parts of the hive and temple collapse around it. As parts of the ceiling collapse, they can see the traditional star designs up close. At the center of each star is a drawing of a striped insect.


ā–¶ 005. AFTERMATH.

Outside the hive, the battlefield and temple are swallowed up by vines and plantlife. In all of the chaos, it is impossible to tell where the Nephenthipula stops and where the Nephenthipula begins. They finally get a break when Ereshkigal's spears do massive damage, severing many of the Nephenthipula's vines. This makes it easier for Outsiders to attack closer or allows them to focus on holding back the forest and lesser kaiju. Weakened by everyone's efforts, the Nephenthipula eventually grows tired which allows Raphael to find an opening. The kaiju falls to the ground and begins to wither. As it turns to dust, a voice whispers, "How could you all do this to us and this planet?"

With its most powerful fighter defeated, the forest has taken a major blow. It still tries to defend itself but all of its attacks are much weaker. It does not stop until the hive temple begins to crumble and the beating sound from within comes to a stop. Suddenly, everything goes silent as the vines still and the lesser kaiju stop to observe.

Finally, the forest breathes. The vines recede and the lesser kaiju return to the jungle, leaving the Outsiders alone.

With the kaiju dealt with, it’s like a heavy weight has been lifted from the city, and the air itself feels less oppressive. Many of the issues that Outsiders had been dealing with seem to settle, the way of nature restored. It’s not all perfect, and there are still some lingering effects of pollen and other issues, but things seem to be better, to say the least. The Rift energy that had plagued the landscape settles and, over time, begins to recede.

One of the more lingering effects is the sickness affecting the civilians. Dr. Flores, using the research materials that Outsiders had returned to base, has begun to create a cure for the strain. There’s a catch: there’s no one to test it on except the Outsiders, so he reluctantly asks for their aid in seeing how effective it is. At first, it doesn’t seem to work too successfully, so Dr. Flores requests the venom of the Vescidae and the royal honey-like substance in order to supplement the cure, and tasks Outsiders with bringing samples of the venom back to base. Once this is added, it works far better.

There are various side effects as the cure is tested. The happier of Outsiders might find themselves prone to bursts of anger and irritation, while the more bitter team members could find themselves experiencing bouts of ecstasy and euphoria. As night falls, some might find themselves irrationally afraid of the dark and struggling with a chronic case of insomnia, which nothing seems to relieve. Thanks to the kaiju venom, there are still lingering effects from previous ventures into the jungle… The same violence and extreme emotions from before (yes, those too).

In addition, in the city there is another kind of testing, the kaiju left more than just venom behind, after all. Some vendors, perfumers, and even bars and smoke shops are making use of the remaining pollen, and Outsiders might find themselves asked to try a free sample, or get sprayed with a random perfume without their asking. Surely it’s fine! You might find yourself subjected to some of the pollen effects, like the increased hunger (of any kind) so you might want to go satiate those munchies, pronto!

Once the cure has been tested appropriately, Dr. Flores begins to make the rounds on the locals, dealing with the most sick first. The cure is also handed out to the Outsiders, so they can do their part. Dr. Flores congratulates the Outsiders on their success, and seems genuinely pleased - and proud? - of the work they’ve put in. What’s that about blood sacrifices…? He doesn’t want to hear about any of that. Just hand over any remaining insects, please, and get ready for a return to home.


ā–¶ 005. AFTERWORD.

This is Kaiju Fight #10! All comments in this event count for 2 points towards August AC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them below.



EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)
1. FIND THE HIVE: Outsiders receive coordinates and useful information for their upcoming battle. Dr. Flores provides a basic antidote to protect them.


2. OPERATION: NEPHENTHIAPULA: The Nephenthipula is found outside a temple. The forest and native kaiju assist the Nephenthipula. Some Outsiders might feel a bond with the forest and turn on them. Dr. Flores's antidote can protect and cure some of them.


3. INTO THE HIVE: The temple has been converted into a hive. They fight drones while searching for the queen. They also find a royal honey-like in some of the combs.


4. OPERATION: VESCIDAE: The Queen Vescidae can induct Outsiders into the hivemind. Dr. Flores's antidote can protect and cure some of them.


5. AFTERMATH: The Nephenthipula is defeated and whispers an ominous question to the Outsiders as the forest retreats. Dr. Flores asks the Outsiders to collect venom and royal jelly from the battlefield to create a better cure. Outsiders can opt in to test the new antidote.



likemybooks: glancing up with a serious look (danger ahead)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-17 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
...That was his dad? [He's learning a lot about Earth mythology in random conversations.] Maybe I should've been more reverent if I knew that was his family...

[This is more concerning than whatever issue he's having with his spells, clearly.]
Edited 2025-08-17 22:27 (UTC)
mace_pray_love: (umm)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-17 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Kind of. [No, Tezcatlipoca said the altar might be for Teotl, who he described as a conceptional deity, but then he mentioned "You could think of it as bein’ like my parent", so Jessica's sole takeaway was 'Tezca's dad'.]

I thought Althena was mad at me for honoring another God... but Althena wouldn't be mad at you... so maybe what happened to us is being caused by Teotl? But that doesn't make sense, either. Even if you were rude to him, I wasn't.

[So there must be a third thing happening, right?]

likemybooks: Leaning on his side (questioning)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-18 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I thought he turned me into his cleric. I can heal people really well now, but I can't...put magic into things anymore. You know, what I did with the coin.

[He holds up a palm to stare at it.] Which is pretty cool, but I worked really hard on infusing magic just to lose it.
mace_pray_love: (objection)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-18 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jessica’s eyes narrow in suspicion. He can heal really well now, huh? Tezca didn’t say anything about his dad being a healer.]

Show me.

[She holds out her palm, which has a little bandage over the cut she made in it to spill her blood on the altar.]
likemybooks: Taryon casting a spell. (magic)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-19 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
Like this.

[He holds his hands over her injury and thinks of a general prayer to Teotl. He's not sure how Pike calls on Sarenrae's powers, but a simple "please bless this girl" seems to suffice as a familiar glow envelopes her palm and cures the cut.]
mace_pray_love: (happy tears)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-19 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Jessica knows that light, and the gentle, tingling warmth as the divine magic knits the skin back together, restoring it to wholeness. For a second, her eyes go blurry with relieved tears. Althena didn't leave... she just went to Tary for a bit.]

You have to focus on the injury. It works better that way.

[And if Taryon's powers have left him, then maybe....]

Tell me how to do your enchantment thing. I want to try something.
likemybooks: <user name = jessecuster site = insanejournal.com> (pensive)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-19 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
What about the prayer?

[Focusing on the injury makes sense as an arcane caster, but he figures he should act more holy if he's healing on the behalf of a god.]

I usually write the rune onto something, and it holds the spell. Like, if you wanted to heal yourself... [He removes his hand to draw four lines in the shape of a healing rune on Jessica's arm.] So it's about imbuing the spell through study instead of just...I guess you usually just think about it and it works.
mace_pray_love: (eyes closed)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-19 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
You say the words, but focus your intent on what you're asking the Goddess to heal.

[It's second nature to Jessica by now. The words of the prayer ask for divine help, and the intent helps guide it to the right place.

She reaches into her bag and pulls out a little flower hair clip she brought with her for good luck. She bullied Cloud into winning it for her at the festival.]


Could it work on this? If you can do what I usually do, I bet I can do your thing. [You know, dad jewelry magic.]
likemybooks: Taryon staring at a smiling Vex (Vex - Stare)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-19 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I literally know nothing about your Goddess. Or barely anything about this one, to be clear.

[He's still pretty sure he's a cleric of Teotl, and Jessica's next request comes out of nowhere.]

Yes, if it's valuable enough. Is that plastic? [He reaches over to pick it up, thinking that she's asking if he can demonstrate his own powers.]
mace_pray_love: (grrr)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-20 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
That’s why I’m telling you how to do it right!

[The clip has a metal backing, with a design of plastic with little sparkly beads mixed in. The second Taryon begins to question its value, Jessica’s hand closes around it, shielding it from view.]

Fine, show me on something of yours then! [She snaps. It seems she’s not accepting criticism about her trinket even a little.]
likemybooks: Taryon looking over his book (concerned)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-20 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Wh-

[Alright, so he insulted the gift that Cloud gave her, and Taryon must face the consequences.]

O...kay. I'll show you. [From his pocket, he retrieves a metallic disc: a coin he's fashioned for himself.] You have to draw it yourself. I can't do it anymore. But if you want to make the spell permanent, then you really have to carve it in.

mace_pray_love: (side)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-20 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[it's ok, Cloud also thought it was lame]

What do I carve?

[She doesn't know runes. But if Taryon is able to do her healing spells without the words of her litanies, then maybe she can use symbols that she knows instead? Who knows.]

You've got my powers right now, so maybe I have yours.
likemybooks: standing tall and serious (contemplate)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-20 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's see...we should do something easy...

[It's two runes with simple designs, four lines in total. He traces it over her palm.]

That's what I do for Sanctuary. It protects you from attacks for a short time.
mace_pray_love: (side)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-21 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Jessica traces the symbols back to him.]

Like that? But I have to carve them into something?

[She doesn't have any tools for that. Man, artifice is complicated. Material components? In this economy?]
likemybooks: speaking unconcerned (dismissive)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-21 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
It helps. An expert like me [emphasis "expert"] can do quick infusions without it.

[He drops it into her palm. There are small carvings on the perimeter to hold the spell, but it's mainly unmarked. These coins are meant to be reusable.]
mace_pray_love: (umm)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-21 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[She turns the coin over in her hand, examining it from all sides.]

What do I carve with? Do I just trace it with my finger, or do I need a pocketknife or something?

[Maybe she should've paid more attention to what Taryon was doing that time he cast that haste spell on her at the beach, but she'd been preoccupied with fish monsters.]
likemybooks: Leaning on his side (questioning)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-22 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
I think you can use your finger. You seem to get how magic basically works.

[More than how some classes with no spells would understand. There's more to it than saying the right words and doing the correct hand movements.]

Why? Are you thinking of following in my footsteps?
mace_pray_love: (eyes closed)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-22 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Shhh.

[She shushes the expert and focuses on the coin in her hand. Muttering a prayer of protection in lieu of the spell incantation, she traces her finger in the pattern Taryon showed her. Verbal, somatic, and material components.

She feels something magical happen, and she shoves the coin back into Tary's hands.]


There, did I do it? Is it magic now?
likemybooks: Taryon looking over his book (concerned)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-22 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I...

[Squinting at the coin doesn't tell him anything. He may not have Detect Magic, but he gets the sense that there's something special about it.]

Yeah. I...guess you figured it out?

[Why is Jessica a prodigy when Tary had to study by himself for years?]
mace_pray_love: (objection)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-22 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
No! Don't you get it? You suddenly have healing powers and can't enchant, and I can't heal but I can do this.

[She points to the coin.] This is some sort of weird trial from the altar. Our magic is switched up! I bet we're supposed to learn some stupid lesson about friendship or about appreciating our allies better or something. Grrr.

[If she ever finds out who did this, she's gonna sock em' in the gut for stressing her out so much! It's no ok to make a priestess think her Goddess forsook her!]
likemybooks: Taken aback (shock)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-22 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
So--

So...I'm not a cleric of Teotl.

[That would have been incredibly cool, and Taryon looks visibly disappointed.]

But do you have all of my spells? Try a flying and cast it on me. If they really switched all of our powers, you should do that.
mace_pray_love: (grrr)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-22 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, being a priest of Althena is way better! [Besides, Taryon didn’t even know who Teotl was before Jessica told him!

She holds her hand out for the coin.]


What’s the symbol for flying?

[It'll end up being the symbol for hovering when she tries it.]
likemybooks: glancing up with a serious look (danger ahead)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-23 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Levitation and Fly are not the same thing!]

Like this. [It's more complex, being a higher level spell, so the corresponding runes are not as simple.]

But, alright, so I'm a fully cleric. Do you do anything cool besides healing? That's all I know about.
mace_pray_love: (Default)

[personal profile] mace_pray_love 2025-08-23 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[She practices the rune once in the air, then tries it on the coin once she feels like she has it right.

She passes it back to Taryon for inspection.]


Well, I have a spell that can transport a party out of a dungeon, and a spell to make an enemy run away. Althena's magic doesn't cause harm, so there's nothing offensive. I have my mace for when I need to defend myself.

[She'll give him a breakdown of her various spells so he knows how they work.]

likemybooks: Taryon staring at a smiling Vex (Vex - Stare)

[personal profile] likemybooks 2025-08-23 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's less complicated that he thought, but he appreciates the variety beyond "heal someone once and move on".]

You know, I think this will be a great help. We need all the healers we can get.

[....wait.]

And you have a mace. Being able to fly whenever you want would be pretty killer.

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