𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚏𝚕𝚞𝚡 𝙻𝚘𝚐𝚜

DOWNTIME MINGLE #9

The Outsiders have returned to a base that looks far healthier than the one that was left behind, and the decorations reflect the success of the latest missions. With the staff mostly recovered from their bout of flu, the decorations are back in full force, a celebration of the heroic achievements of the Angels against their own.

The less said about that the better.

Some things don't change, however, and the fresh food is at the ready, with only some of the meat looking questionable in a gentle change of pace. Another familiar sight is the bulletin board, though these particular results might come with more of a heavy heart than usual:

FIRST BATTLE:
HONORARY BABYGIRL (K.O.)
KIJYO & AUO (600)

SECOND BATTLE:
GOLDILOCKS (K.O.)
DESTINY & GREATVALUE (600)

The return of the Outsiders and the rebuilding of the base has led to an almost accidental rebranding of some of the fashion choices from the citizens of Neo Tokyo. A new trend has washed over the hip youth, leaving some of the outlet stores scrambling to keep up with the ensuing demand; chokers are now in, especially those affixed with little metal shapes - Xs, Os and, strangely, a cat paw...? Each to their own!

Some of the more eccentric of the fashionistas have worked magic on their chokers, matching it with the technology of the modern world, allowing for yellow-green sparks of electricity to cross along and around the band. When asked about it, all they'll say is they want to show "Setsuna-kun" their pride.

One of the more famous of the entrepreneurs, dressed in the finest of the new aesthetics, has also published her newest work to (varying) critical acclaim! A series of short comics have been distributed under the pen name PINKLIZARDLVR, detailing the star-crossed romance of a beautiful young woman and her monstrous partner, the highs and lows of making the relationship work and the horror at the revelation of the truths of their relationship. The front cover boasts a full art page, the tagline reading 'I know what you are...'

When shopping for your latest piece of literature, you might also find a new brand of chocolate on sale and flying off the shelves. These coins have a very particular golden glow, and can sometimes be mistaken for the real thing if you're willing to risk the attempt. The children of Neo Tokyo are particularly impressed with the new currency in circulation, especially since vendors who are accidentally given possession of them seem more than willing to throw them aside for the nearest hand to catch.

Children aren't just obsessing over chocolate lately, not with the new action figure on the market with its own special edition - you can buy the standalone, or the limited run that comes with an automaton, both of which have moveable parts! Part of the novelty is building the toys themselves, almost like putting together a custom robot at home, and the other part is trying to chase down that limited edition version rumored to have voice lines. If you're lucky, you might hear a soft echo of Yes, Absolutely, Handsome.

The real collector's item of the moment is a new line of wooden animals. They're gaining popularity, not just with children, but as a hot collector's item for salarymen too! After work is done, the line for the local toy store is outrageous, a mixture of exasperated parents and half-asleep office workers desperate to get their hands on the latest shipment. People are trading them voraciously, doing all they can to complete their collection, but the rarest and most desired is an off-model cardinal with an eye scratched out.

Beyond the main city hub and out into the quieter areas of the capital, there are some more subtle trends taking place. Local shrines have picked up on the 'gold coin' fascination in the younger generations and fashioned their own wearable five-yen pieces, for earrings and bracelets. Each purchase is relatively cheap, but in the 'terms and conditions' on the sign promoting the sale is a sentence written in small font: 5% of profits go to our Destiny.

Finally, the Neo Tokyo base has been repaired. After being attacked on the inside by a fearsome kaiju known as the Imugi, Outsiders had been temporarily housed in a back up base located in Kyoto. With the repairing of the base, LILITH was also able to renovate and improve the base with some new additions. Although most of them are still getting the finishing touches done, Outsiders are free to explore them as they like.

1.) Kaiju Kafe (Across from cafeteria): A casual cafe across the hall from the cafeteria, if Outsiders are not feeling the free cafeteria food, they may explore options at the Kaiju Kafe! The restaurant serves casual dining with better ingredients for a price. The menu is still in the works, but you can ask the head chef, Laios Touden, for any samples that he might be working on. This week is their soft opening and the menu consists of crispy coconut crab stir fry, roasted Yama-Kujira meat on artificial bread, lab grown fruit salad and steamed rice. They are hiring chefs and waiters!

2.) Room Variety: Now that the rooms are remade, they are now upgraded to be small suites that consist of a kitchenette, a small open area, and a loft. It's small but cozy (or cramped, depending on how your character views it). When the rooms are rebuilt, they'll start off with some basic starter furniture and can get a hologram upgrade for a quick fix, but they will be free to decorate it on their own with their own money. In the library, Outsiders will be able to find some decorating and small-space style guides to help give them a creative push!

3.) Game Room (Next to Simulation Arena): A recreation room was added, so characters can relax and mingle together. There will be some retro game systems (SNES, Wii, the Playstation 12, and so on) along with more traditional games like board games, cards, and so on. It runs 24/7 and has a variety of vending machines for late snack drinks and snacking.

4.) Improved Medical Bay: In general, the medical wing will have shared rooms for space/efficiency reasons, but they will set some space aside for private rooms for those who may require them. There will be a small couch for guests to sleep on, if they need to stay close.. Dr. Spim and the medical staff are also excited to introduce new Nursing Robots, who will be helping out. They'll mostly do basic tasks like check in patients, collect info, issue prescriptions, and assist the real doctors/nurses.

5.) Communal Kitchen: Outsiders can also still use the base's cafeteria for this, or they can use the new base restaurant. While resources can still be scarce at times, and ingredients can be limited, they aren’t always impossible to get things, especially if Outsiders work together to get them (like with Raidou's Okinawa farm project).

Outsiders may spend time exploring these upgrades and seeing the improvements on base in their spare time. Maybe sit down and start planning out your new rooms while in the Kaiju Kafe, or kick back for some Maria Kart to decimate your teammates! (As friends, of course!) This are all improvements that were crowdfunded from this post. Thank you all for your efforts!

ADDENDUM: As part of the base upgrades/repairs, the housing for Outsiders has been reshuffled - take a look to see who your new neighbors are!

It's been a while, and maybe some Outsiders remember the Get Along handcuffs from last year. They are back, now, but this time with a twist! Like before, Outsiders will be required to check in with Commander Yamakawa when she asks for them to arrive in the Simulation Arena. A metal device will place a small, metal device on their wrists.

With a push of a button, two characters will be linked together by the wrist by a pair of invisible handcuffs. Before, these devices will unlatch after 48 hours, but this time, they will not unlatch until the characters do three of the following (yes, all three!)
1. Confess a secret to the other person.
2. Compliment something about them, appearance or otherwise.
3. Hug Them.

Once both Outsiders have completed all three tasks, the handcuffs will break free.

Recent reports have filtered out from LILITH that a pair of major traffic jams have stopped all transport of supplies, equipment, and individuals in Neo Tokyo. Two major thoroughfares have been blocked for half a day before Outsiders have been given the alert, and Commander Yamakawa’s instructions filter out to all outsiders.

“It seems that with all the recent chaos, we have more Kaiju in Neo Tokyo than anticipated. These aren’t destroying anything, though. It looks like they might be stuck. Our scientists have identified that they may be best released to the water after they have been analyzed, but getting them to move might be.. tricky.”

Outsiders will be given information about these Kaiju, the Xiphosuransus. They look like a giant horseshoe crab. There is no sign of rift energy or rifts nearby.. Where did they come from? Observations have concluded that the Kaiju are not hostile, and generally don’t attack anyone or anything, but they can be fairly uncoordinated on land, there are concerns about it crushing civilians. They have also been reacting strongly to the music playing from advertising billboards to hint that maybe music is the key to motivate them to move.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Xiphosuransus
HEIGHT: 12m
WEIGHT: 1000 tons
CLASS: Non-threat
LOCATION: Akihabara, Ikebukuro, Neo Tokyo, Japan
ABILITIES: This kaiju has a protective shell and can hide from most threats. It has no teeth, claws, and its stinger is harmless. It's only purpose is to flip itself back over.

WEAKNESSES: Being tipped on its back and unable to move, attacked on its vulnerable stomach through any sharp object.

EXTRA NOTES: LILITH has specified this kaiju WILL NOT be killed. Hurting it could cause disciplinary action. This kaiju seems to be attracted to music and can even be seen "shaking" to certain beats (it's dancing.)

RIFT EFFECTS: None.


█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

LILITH is asking outsiders to treat them with care and see if they can move them out of town without disrupting traffic too much. Outsiders who are interested in escorting the payload– I mean, the kaiju– will find that there are two of these kaiju across the region. One in Akihabara and another in Ikebukuro. Since they are not hostile, LILITH is asking Outsiders to bring them to base to be analyzed (not killed, Yamakawa promises.) Perhaps something about these docile giants can give LILITH more information about rifts and kaiju. Successful Outsiders will receive a payment for their efforts, and the one in Ikebukuro will be worth more money because of one obstacle: somehow it got flipped on its back, and because of its broken stinger, it is unable to move back on its feet. It will require more effort.

(Outsiders who are interested in helping corral the Xiphosuransus should comment in the box below. Generally, teams of 3-4 Outsiders is best. Come up with a plan for how the Outsiders will get the kaiju to move, and two teams will be selected as successful! Please make your submissions by 7/25. Unlike our RNG events, we will be looking at both the method to moving the kaiju and the music choice picked as they both have different tastes in music!)

While LILITH has spent much of the month tending to the civilians, LILITH also wants to give Outsiders a space to just chat and put out their feelings. Apparently some of you have some big ones to share. Once more, they will find the trusty forum reopened for everyone to participate in.

On the forum, they will have several headers, including general topics such as hobbies, or life advice, to even popularized internet sensations such as AITA. As LILITH encourages everyone to post, those with worries or thoughts on their mind may discover them already uploaded. Oops.

While it may clearly be another prank by everyone's favorite LILITH personnel, it's clear that it also has a practical use too. People will find headers for information and other happenings on base and are able to discuss freely.

[ Note: Feel free to use this as a general text option! Characters who may not be willing to engage are free to presume their thoughts are posted right up in whatever format is comfortable for everyone, whether that be AITA, or general/relationship advice.

You can use the coding below or come up with your own! We have also come up with some headers.


EVERLIGHT
<lj-raw><div style="width:60%;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 4px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; line-height:1.7; font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:8pt; padding: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"> <div style="display: flex; align-items: center;"> <!-- PFP --> <img src="IMG_HERE" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 50px; width: 50px;"> <!-- SPACER --> <div style="width: 10px;"></div> <!-- USER INFO --> <div style="padding: 10px 5px; margin: 0 10px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2;"> <b style="color: #000;">r/subreddit_name_here</b> <div style="color: #999;">u/username_here • <img src="https://v.dreamwidth.org/16600326/4131337" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 10px; width: 10px;"> • 1d </div> </div> </div> <br /> <div style="line-height: 1.2;"> <!-- POST TITLE--> <div style="font-family:calibri,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight: bold;">Post Title</div> <br /> <!-- POST TAGS --> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 1</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 2</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 3</div> <br /><br /><br /> <!-- POST BODY --> <div style="text-align: justify;"> TEXT_HERE </div> </div><br /> </div></lj-raw>
REVELATION
<lj-raw><div style="width:60%;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 4px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; line-height:1.7; font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:8pt; padding: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"> <div style="display: flex; align-items: center;"> <!-- PFP --> <img src="IMG_HERE" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 50px; width: 50px;"> <!-- SPACER --> <div style="width: 10px;"></div> <!-- USER INFO --> <div style="padding: 10px 5px; margin: 0 10px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2;"> <b style="color: #000;">r/subreddit_name_here</b> <div style="color: #999;">u/username_here • <img src="https://v.dreamwidth.org/16600328/4131337" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 10px; width: 10px;"> • 1d </div> </div> </div> <br /> <div style="line-height: 1.2;"> <!-- POST TITLE--> <div style="font-family:calibri,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight: bold;">Post Title</div> <br /> <!-- POST TAGS --> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 1</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 2</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 3</div> <br /><br /><br /> <!-- POST BODY --> <div style="text-align: justify;"> TEXT_HERE </div> </div><br /> </div></lj-raw>
BRIMSTONE
<lj-raw><div style="width:60%;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 4px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; line-height:1.7; font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:8pt; padding: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"> <div style="display: flex; align-items: center;"> <!-- PFP --> <img src="IMG_HERE" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 50px; width: 50px;"> <!-- SPACER --> <div style="width: 10px;"></div> <!-- USER INFO --> <div style="padding: 10px 5px; margin: 0 10px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2;"> <b style="color: #000;">r/subreddit_name_here</b> <div style="color: #999;">u/username_here • <img src="https://v.dreamwidth.org/16600325/4131337" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 10px; width: 10px;"> • 1d </div> </div> </div> <br /> <div style="line-height: 1.2;"> <!-- POST TITLE--> <div style="font-family:calibri,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight: bold;">Post Title</div> <br /> <!-- POST TAGS --> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 1</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 2</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 3</div> <br /><br /><br /> <!-- POST BODY --> <div style="text-align: justify;"> TEXT_HERE </div> </div><br /> </div></lj-raw>
REDEMPTION
<lj-raw><div style="width:60%;margin:0 auto;background:#fff;box-shadow:1px 1px 4px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.1);border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; line-height:1.7; font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif;font-size:8pt; padding: 10px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px;"> <div style="display: flex; align-items: center;"> <!-- PFP --> <img src="IMG_HERE" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 50px; width: 50px;"> <!-- SPACER --> <div style="width: 10px;"></div> <!-- USER INFO --> <div style="padding: 10px 5px; margin: 0 10px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2;"> <b style="color: #000;">r/subreddit_name_here</b> <div style="color: #999;">u/username_here • <img src="https://v.dreamwidth.org/16600329/4131337" style="border-radius: 50%; height: 10px; width: 10px;"> • 1d </div> </div> </div> <br /> <div style="line-height: 1.2;"> <!-- POST TITLE--> <div style="font-family:calibri,arial,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;font-weight: bold;">Post Title</div> <br /> <!-- POST TAGS --> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 1</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 2</div> <div style="display: inline-block;padding: 5px 10px;border-radius: 15px;background-color: #f0f0f0;color: #333;font-size: 8pt;font-weight: bold;text-align: center;border: 1px solid #ccc;">Tag 3</div> <br /><br /><br /> <!-- POST BODY --> <div style="text-align: justify;"> TEXT_HERE </div> </div><br /> </div></lj-raw>

This is Downtime Mingle / Team Building #9. All comments in this event count for 2 points towards July AC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them below.

BEYOND THE GATES (KAIJU FIGHT #9.)

The Underworld halls and passages abruptly end in a massive cavern, filled with grinding vibrations of high tech engines and many thrusters firing in succession. Hovering in place amid the spacious chamber is a gigantic aerial stronghold primed with energized force fields above a dangerous chasm of pillars. Any Outsider who's spent time with Bakugo might recognize this as his hero academia transformed: U.A. - The Flying Fortress. The gate they need to access lies within.

Those who cannot fly or traverse the air freely must deal with the Pitfall grounds beneath U.A., a grouping of flat-topped spires linked together with ropes, wires, and cables. Trying to navigate them with the thrusters firing above is difficult enough, but some of the pillars are (visibly) booby-trapped with powerful landmines, combustive cursed energy blood, and mechanical explosives alike.

Passing through U.A.'s force field barely grazes the Outsiders who enter, as its goal isn't to keep people out but to utterly strip Outsiders of rift poisoning and debris. Like a purification filter, there will be no signs of rift poisoning within U.A.'s protective walls. Outsiders can take time to rest amid the campus' trees, dorms, pathways, and towering H-shaped school.

Don't rest too long. The sound of machines revving and metal crashing heralds an army of green-plated robots approaching. Red sensor eyes lock onto the Outsiders. U.A.'s fleet of Villain Bots are combat testing robots designed to create battle simulations, and they mean business. Wait, is that a white rabbit hopping around? Yep! Get too close, and they burst into a dark swirl of energy. And those roses blooming in the grass? Approach them and they erupt in a volley of nails.

With the chaff weeded out, the Outsiders can finally approach U.A.'s school proper and the two figures standing atop it. Explosions burst and flare, a threatening display around a hero's hands, while spectral blue flames ignite on a sorcerer's fists.

"Oi, you shitty extras! Making it all this way here just to die? Sucks to be you!"
"Hey, don't forget about me! I made a promise, didn't I?"

One of the Outsiders' strongest tag teams finally takes the stage.

Straight to the point, just like its Guardian, it's a short passageway to the next gate. When it opens up to their next trial, the area is brighter and smoother, the floor checker-patterned with black and white stone. It's essentially a huge chess board, and the Outsiders stand on one end of it.

The gate stands just beyond the opposite side, tall and imposing and so close. It looks like it's been carved out of steel with a simple design. In the center, a large hourglass is fixed on a rotator, the sand still at the bottom. It's blue-tinted, paneled, and vaguely familiar to some. The Gallu on the opposite side of the board wear different colored uniforms. Atop the gate is the Duel Blitz, its beam rifle in hand. Perched on its shoulder is Yzak himself, twisting his precious, bone-made black bishop chess piece between his fingers. He leans forward, sharp blue eyes staring the arrivals down as if sizing up prey.

"Come on over, then, if you have the capacity not to bullshit me."

The Gallu disappear.

"You're on a timer, too. So tick-tock, or else..."

He lifts his free hand at the Outsiders in a gun cocking motion, the Duel mirroring with its beam rifle. The hourglass begins to rotate and reset.

It's a simple walk across the floor. Some squares are fine, but others? One of the spirits springs up, grabs an Outsider's throat, and Yzak's voice echoes with a question. Honesty will cause the Gallu to crumble and Yzak will seem to reel mentally, clearly affected. Lie even a little and the Gallu can tell, inflicting something (rift effect/physical/player choice) as a punishment. The answer must be spoken out loud - to the spirit, to Yzak, to those around you.

Admit some hard truths about yourself, and you'll be rewarded by the hourglass turning again, stopping halfway into the rotation to leave an opening, allowing the Outsiders to proceed through the gate and advance.

(cw: suicide)

An unassuming and quaint hospital sits in your view. But it's quiet. Empty. There are no Cars and no personages on this solitary lot besides you. Should you choose to enter the double doOrs, the halls are just as still. It's as though everyone got up and left their stations exactly as they are.

This was not a drill.

Wander the rooms and you might run into your fellow "OUtsiders". You might run into a dead end. Travel up the floors and back down again. The longer you stay, the more youR nerves may fray. Look back whence the way you came and the door to the outside is gone, there's no escape.

Enjoy your sTay.

Wander and wander, wander and ponder, the flutter of a butterfly's wings over Yonder. The steady ticking of a nearby clock. The echo of your steps while you walk. For all the rooms and all the corners you might search, there's only one place that this gAtekeeper might find heR perch.

Once you riDdle out your destination, our cheerful winged friends become an infestation. Barring your path at every opportunity, poisoning your blight at a touch, from which even your gods have no immunity. The only remedy sits upon her gate—strange tail swishing, tears streaking, fangs bared, and inconsolable as of late.

"We H̴̢͠ave to diE̵̟̽," she sighs, hoarse and cracked from an eternal cry. "It's the onĹ̴̜y way. P̵͔̈́lease, let M̴̹̂E̴̩̾ kill you."

In a ruined white night gown, she drops from her gate and lands on all fours, succumbing to the intertwined fate. The whites of her eyes a luminescent yellow, voice shifting into a strange and distorted bellow.

With a lunge, red in her eyes, this battle for humanity has begun.

Upon reaching the depths of Kûr, outsiders are greeted by an empty seat made of rocks, ruined columns, and the rift where the waters of the abyss should be. Ereshkigal is already transformed and towering above the rift. Her voice is deeper than usual, colder and distant.

“I commend you for having come so far. But there is no hope for humanity. I shall put an end to your foolish hopes and keep your souls safe forevermore!”

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Ereshkigal
HEIGHT: 20m
WEIGHT: ???
CLASS: Evil of Humanity | Beast: Null
LOCATION: Underworld - The Abyss
ABILITIES: Can lower the atmospheric pressure. She must be quickly defeated or else the atmosphere may become unsuitable for life. She can materialize ethereal spears and attack multiple targets at once. She is capable of unleashing her Noble Phantasm - an unblockable attack directed at a small area. She can control the ground to trap or separate Outsiders and weaken their offensive abilities.

WEAKNESSES: She can become stunned or confused briefly under the following conditions: Being complimented or praised. Being reminded of her true self.
Mocking and insulting her may cause her to attack prematurely, resulting in a miss. However, her following attack will be more powerful.

EXTRA NOTES: Those already suffering from Rift poisoning and effects are warned to be careful in case effects worsen.

RIFT EFFECTS: Corruption, Sumerian Fever


█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

As seven ethereal spears appear around the corrupted goddess and shoot at the outsiders, Rin and Lucy open up the offensive — all while trying to call out to Ereshkigal’s true nature. They are not alone in doing so, a number of other outsiders following them. Indeed, Hunter tries and reminds her that people care for her. It causes Ereshkigal to hesitate, allowing Kaga, Kadaj, Raleigh and Donatello to attack her.

Following sage advice, Archer takes a shot at praising Ereshkigal, which leaves her very confused — helping Yato who takes advantage of the opening to deal heavy damage. Aki summons a blizzard of cherry blossoms that lasts for the entire battle, lowering visibility. Ereshkigal is taken aback, her next attack missing Raidou as a result. Unfortunately, it also causes Asagami, Laios and Vergilius to miss some of their attacks. Furthermore, Vash, who has been corrupted, tries to stop his own comrades!

As the assault continues with Nanami, Leonardo and Yesod, Akakagi’s paper shikigami leave the goddess burned, allowing for Murasama and Yuta to deal even more damage. And seeing how the praise worked once, Dearka and Gilgamesh do it again, but with a twist: they also insult her! This creates enough of an opening for Cagalli, Shinn, Harusama and Aventurine to attack. Tezcatlipoca’s and Dante’s words manage to get her to hesitate further, allowing Hunter to land a critical hit.

The battle takes its toll on the corrupted goddess and Outsiders alike, but suddenly a giant ethereal spear forms in her skeletal hand, twice her size and crackling with energy: her Noble Phantasm. She aims it at Geto, the blow shaking the foundation of the Underworld itself as she strikes. Anyone standing around him will be wounded or knocked out.

Ereshkigal pulls the spear back and prepares to pierce Taryon this time — but as he speaks and even apologizes for his perceived misdeed in allowing this to happen, the skeletal enemy freezes. After a moment of silence, the gigantic spear vanishes and Ereshkigal’s beastly form explodes. The rift vanishes, revealing the dark waters of the abyss beneath it. Outsiders with good eyes may see Ereshkigal has returned to her normal form — unconscious, bloodied, yet no longer corrupted. Though she fell into the waters of the abyss, someone has leapt after her. But that is likely to be the least of anyone’s concerns for the ground starts trembling...

With the rift’s disappearance, the Sumerian Fever immediately ceases, though its after-effects may still be felt. Likewise the corruption no longer spreads, even though it may still take a while (or a good beating) for its effects to dissipate. Perhaps more importantly, the trembling intensifies, an earthquake rocking the entire Underworld and causing it to collapse!

Held together with magic from another world, there is nothing left to sustain it. First the cage with the souls disappear, followed by all the Gallû Spirits. Be careful not to miss a step while running back to the surface, or you may plummet and fall into the abyss. Collapsing platforms and paths may require jumping or finding creative ways to pass over them. It’s a bit of a rocky exit, especially while carrying the wounded and formerly corrupted outsiders, but it could be worse…

… Will it be worse?

On the way out, a collapsed wall reveals a previously unexplored room filled with all sorts of gems: emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and the like. Should anyone be tempted to take one (or more) of those gems, two ghouls will appear, each holding a clay tablet upon which the words “USELESS GODDESS” are inscribed. The entities cackle and — oh, dear! The room starts collapsing on itself, better leave it immediately! And — wait, why is there a giant boulder rolling towards you now? Run! Are those arrows flying from the wall and lightning bolts striking the ground?

The escape has become a veritable adventure! Such is the fate of anyone activating the trap that was meant for this elusive “useless goddess” Ereshkigal had been preparing for. And it is also the fate of everyone else really, since the trap doesn’t differentiate between thieves and innocent passersby just trying to escape impending doom.

Dr. Masuda is waiting at the exit. Mere moments after the last Outsider has escaped, the tunnel crumbles and the path to the Underworld is forever sealed. Analysis tools reveal the inside of the cave has returned to the way it was before — as if the Underworld had never existed. However, any gems grabbed on the way out can be kept. The sole physical reminders of this adventure. That and any wounds that have been sustained, of course.

All of the disappeared Outsiders have been rescued and are (mostly) well, the corruption is gone and the Sumerian Fever is a distant memory. Communication has been reestablished with LILITH headquarters, and there is confirmation the staff is slowly recovering from this ordeal.

While Outsiders may be expecting a congratulations from the Commander, their oculars are oddly quiet as they had back to base. However, seemingly out of nowhere, SYNTHIA delivers a sudden message:

This is Kaiju Fight #9 and the conclusion of a player plot hosted by Melodie. Thanks for everyone involved in this event! All comments in this event count for 2 points towards June AC. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask them below.

TRAVEL LOG #4

The week leading into the new month is characterized by the distinct shift in weather patterns across Japan. Within Neo Tokyo, heavy rainfall with low level flooding is disrupting the business and commute of the local people. Even more temperate regions around Okinawa, and the small outer islands, will find themselves with an influx of tropical storms. Northern regions such as Hokkaido will find that some of the snow will have melted down, and the sun is running hot for the season. These strange occurrences seem to have the research team running on overtime, seeing if this has any link or correlation to any kaiju and the rifts.

To make matters worse, the Imugi hatchlings have begun to exhibit strange behaviors they never have before. While the hatchlings did seem to gain stability over the past month, now they are showing signs of extreme distress. They seem more on edge, enough to the point where entry to visit them has been appropriately blocked off until they find the source of their stress. The researchers have found in recent days that this seems to directly correlate to the weather, and what they see as rift energy in various parts of Japan. Over the week they narrow down these rifts to two specific locations which have a high chance of being the source -- Kagoshima and Yamanashi.

LILITH believes this is deeply connected to patterns that they've seen in records from South Korea, before their connections were severed due to the battle that took place last year. As a result, LILITH's Japan branch is doing their best to see if they're able to work with the tensions of the past in order to receive further research and information from the new government that rose from the destruction of Seoul, and is presently in Busan. While efforts to rebuild a branch there are progressing, they are reluctant to offer anything outside of the bare minimum or what is readily known to the public.

In light of these events, Outsiders are told to prepare for their leave soon. Unlike the sudden blare of their alarm, they offer the Outsiders time to begin preparing for the next mission. They will be given an additional stipend that amounts to 200 USD to be spent on supplies, or other personal resources necessary. Outsiders are encouraged to group up however they would like and go on a shopping spree to places such as FamilyMart, 7-Eleven and Don Quijote. Remember, only buy what you absolutely need!! (Or don't. It's not like LILITH is gonna be monitoring that.)

After much back and forth, the branch in Busan does provide limited reports on their tracking of the Imugi's movements, both prior and after the catastrophe in Seoul. Per their reports, they are able to come to several conclusions in regards to the Imugi.

The Imugi that had escaped has further evolved, and even from the point in which it appeared in South Korea, has evolved to be even stronger than before. This Imugi is able to adapt to any weather condition, and even retains some control over the environment. The Imugi possesses intellect which seems to surpass many of the kaiju they have encountered in the past. The Imugi is able to use the rifts as a means of travel. Unlike some kaiju which appear from the rifts almost arbitrarily, the Imugi seems to have full control over its ability to travel within them, which makes it effective at evading most tracking methods. In addition, after further studies, it was found that the Imugi is able to inflict severe Rift poisoning due to its connection with the rifts. They state that while Seoul was physically devastated, most of the casualties were from the rift poisoning which took place after.

With the reports they receive, they also find that the two locations in Japan exhibited similar flows of rift energy, and are most likely to be in connection with the kaiju. As there are two locations in which have to be physically monitored, the Outsiders will once more need to be split up into teams. Everlight and Revelation will be sent to Yamanashi, while Brimstone and Redemption will be sent to Kagoshima. With this confirmation, it's highly likely that the female Imugi has returned.

Within those groups, LILITH will ask for those with experience with the Imugi to handle briefing others in their team who are not as familiar. As the Imugi does possess a variety of skills, Outsiders will also be asked to stick with those from an opposing team as a safety precautio as they believe each team member should be able to supplement for another. In addition, these teams are asked to stick together even prior to leaving the base in order to increase their ability to work as a team for the duration of the mission. While the travel time to each place is relatively short, videos on teamwork and strategy will be played and cannot be muted or turned off. Here is a recap of the Imugi from last year's debrief sheet with some extra information:

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: IMUGI ♀
HEIGHT: 1000 feet across, 30 feet high
WEIGHT: 2000kg
CLASS: Extremely Dangerous
LOCATION: ???, Japan
ABILITIES: Control over weather conditions, including summoning of heavy storms, lightning strikes and hurricanes. Can fly up to 1000 feet. By flying amongst the clouds, Imugi releases chemicals into the atmosphere that bring about acid rain. Armored scales, sharp teeth and claws.
WEAKNESSES: Piercing it in the gaps between its impenetrable scales. There is also a particularly weak spot under on it's neck that will deal significant damage if pierced.
EXTRA NOTES: From its initial appearance and behavior, specialists believe that this female Imugi confirmed to be the mother of the hatchlings. This appears to be the female counterpart to the kaiju in Seoul that was killed by the Outsiders after causing havoc on South Korea. Despite them both being the same type of kaiju, likely derived from the same rift, this kaiju seems slightly more agile and openly aggressive.

Once each group arrives, they are expected to explore each region and gather whatever data they can.

Reports continue to come in from the various outposts and remaining settlements around Kagoshima. There are constant tremors in the area and some of them manifest as full blown earthquakes that can be felt across other parts of the country and trigger tsunamis along the coast. While the region is no longer as populated as it once was, there are pockets of unfortunate civilians taking refuge in abandoned houses who will need to be rescued and evacuated (some may put up resistance). As these are typical signs of an imminent kaiju attack, the area is on high alert.

Ominously, the Kagoshima Bay area seems is exhibiting strange occurrences of dead and mutated fish washing up on the shore and any other animals in the area meet the same fate. These animals have extra limbs or organs, mysterious burns on their flesh, and have grown in size. Some animals have survived but they have mutated into unstable kaiju hybrids. They aren't very strong and don't live for very long but before they die, they become extremely violent.

LILITH researchers who try to investigate eventually become extremely ill and it has hindered their progress. They experience typical symptoms of Rift poisoning (headache, nausea, impulsive behavior, hallucinations) but also burning of the eyes, skin, and lungs. Before onset, they report spelling something foul in the air.

While getting close to the bay is difficult, it's easy to see that something is wrong. Aside from the loss of life, the water in the bay appears more polluted and smells rotten. The famous Sakurajima Island at the center of the bay has always been active but now it lets out unusual multi-coloured smoke. The clouds carry volcanic ash that completely covers large areas making it difficult to move and hard to breathe. The volcano constantly erupts and wind carries shards of cooled magma slivers. The shards cut skin, sting eyes, and can cause serious internal damage if breathed in.

The waves are too dangerous and flight conditions are poor so it is difficult to approach. However, the constant lava flows over the years have created a bridge on the other side of the bay called Ohsumi. Despite the high risks and plentiful unknown factors, Outsiders are tasked with investigating the area around Kagoshima Bay and reaching Sakurajima by this bridge.





Be careful of the toxic gases in the air, Rift poisoning, earthquakes, kaiju hybrids, and volcanic shards. Outsiders are strongly urged to keep their suits on. Outsiders will be flown near to the area via aircraft, and proceed the rest of the way using camper vehicles to reach Ohsumi and find out what kaiju threat is approaching. (Camper vehicles sit 4-5 people each and Seok Dang has kindly programmed his questionable pre-recorded driving lessons into each vehicle.)

Closer to home, the residents of Neo Tokyo can sense that something is happening outside the city. The sky is clearer in the winter months, allowing everyone to see Mt. Fuji in the distance. From the city, everyone can see that dark clouds have gathered around Mt. Fuji. There is widespread panic that Fuji may be preparing to erupt but despite the perceived activity, there have been no tremors. Meteorologists report that this is purely an atmospheric phenomenon.

Clouds spread every day and begin to affect Neo Tokyo. Weather patterns become unpredictable and extreme. Heavy rains flood lower parts of the city one moment and then turn to a mix of snow and ice the next. The temperature drops dramatically and suddenly spikes to warmer weather at other times. Strong winds cause serious damage to buildings and there are reports of tornados touching down in the outskirts. These worsening conditions not only put a significant strain on the local businesses, but there are reports of these strong winds blowing away children and the frail elderly, and flash floods drowning those unable to escape in time. This entire time, Mt. Fuji flashes as lightning repeatedly strikes it. Given the mountain's significance to the people, they worry that this might be some sort of sign that something terrible is coming. In a panic, people begin to stock up on emergency supplies. They buy out stores, hoard goods, and stick closer to the entrances for underground shelters. Some even resort to crime, looting the evacuated apartments or stealing supplies from other people.

While Outsiders may be asked by other authorities to help keep peace in the city, LILITH's priority is investigating Mt. Fuji. They will be sent to Yamanashi prefecture by camper vehicles. (They sit 4-5 people each and Seok Dang has kindly programmed his questionable pre-recorded driving lessons into each vehicle.) It takes about 6 hours to arrive in Yamanashi due to the destruction and weather. It won't be a smooth ride, either. The weather continues to storm, with heavy winds knocking over trees to block their paths, the rain triggering landslides, and lightning strikes that keep conveniently striking wherever they are. On top of that, the rift-affected animals found a month prior have further mutated. The local fauna have grown in size and viciousness, and they make the trip there treacherous. Outsiders may encounter mutated boars slamming into their camper vehicles, or oversized, snarling monkeys trying to captured people and swoop them away. Find a safe and secluded area to park and help out any citizens who may need help.

Welcome to our fourth travel log!

There are no assigned seats this time, so characters may travel with whoever they choose or assume that LILITH has assigned you. All camper vans come with a driving instruction program installed. You can find more information about these vehicles here. It is highly encouraged to stay within your assigned team mission, but in the chaos LILITH is not going to enforce a relocation if somebody ends up where they aren't supposed to be. Communications remain open across all teams but might be a bit spotty in the weather conditions.

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards February AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. RECENT REPORTS: The weather across Japan has become unpredictable. The Imugi hatchlings have become very distressed and LILITH is temporarily restricting access to them. LILITH is reaching out to their sister base in South Korea to find out whatever information they can.

2. DATA COLLECTION: LILITH South Korea provides some information regarding the Imugi. We find out that is has become stronger than before. It has evolved and is now able to control not only the weather, but rift travel. It can also inflict severe rift poisoning. Outsider and split into two teams to explore two key locations: Kagoshima and Yamanashi.

3. KAGOSHIMA: Brimstone and Redemption are being sent here via campervan. There are reports of earthquakes, dead/mutated animals along with signs of severe rift poisoning in researchers. The volcano in Sakurajima island is emitted toxic, multi-coloured smoke. Outsiders must cross the bridge to get closer but beware rift poisoning, earthquakes and kaiju hybrids.

4. YAMANASHI: Everlight and Revelation are being sent here. Neo Tokyo is experiencing worsening weather conditions such as floods, unusual snowfall and tornadoes, which is causing a panic amongst the people. Outsiders have to take a campervan to travel toward Mt. Fuji but they may be faced with extreme weather conditions (such as lightning) and kaiju hybrid attacks.

KAIJU FIGHT #5

Throughout the days leading up until October 15th, the captives will be forced down to the dungeons for their “punishments” to be doled out. All of the punishments seem to be completed methodically, almost as if the followers of the Lord of the Forest had centuries of experience. While no explanation is given, it becomes clear that the sacrificial ritual has begun. While the Outsiders may not be privy to what this entails, there is one rule that will be have made clear to them: once the ritual begins, it can no longer be stopped. However, there is still a sliver of hope. On the morning of the 15th, a small message will have been pushed out by LILITH. While they haven't completely reestablished their connection to the network, they are able to get something out.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME:
HEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEIGHT: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
CLASS: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA.
ABILITIES: Ư̴͚͈̓͊̅͐́̇͛̂͌̏͠Ņ̷̧͕̣̦͉̟̣̽̽̌̓̈́͒̈́́̔̊̚͜͝K̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃Y REǸ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̹̆̃S, GK̷̗͖̜̟̮̬̜̳̍̈́̽͝Ǹ̵̠̳̯͕̠̻̖͔̹̖͑ͅỎ̶̖̲́̒͒͒͜W̵͈͍̻̞̮̻̏̍͠N̷̥͚̳̳͙̟͓̆̃
EXTRA NOTES:

It is an incredibly sparse message. It seems to be working with any information the ocular implants were able to detect in that second, and the information gets fed back in the form of a distorted debrief sheet. However, it does act as a sign that LILITH is still actively working on gaining access to their communication lines once more, and are tirelessly working to send help. With this sudden jolt of a message, they will feel an extremely heavy disturbance composed entirely of rift energy—it appears that whatever kaiju is dwelling here is able to effectively work with the rift in order to negate abilities. But perhaps the clues all strung together have already painted a similar picture as to what is to come, and to what to continue to expect.

Now that the sacrifices have all but been made, it is time for the Lord of the Forest to be summoned.

All captives who have been forcefully dragged, or psychologically drawn to the dungeons, will find themselves face-to-face with the Lord of the Forest, also known by their title of PRICOLICI. The creature is a bit difficult to make out due to its ability to shape-shift: at times mimicking a human wearing some sort mask in the form of a wolf’s skull, and at others, taking on a form of a monstrous wolf-like creature that awaits all Outsiders— those presently within the dungeon, and those that exist outside of it, ready to be lured in.

Or that should be the case, but The Lord of the Forest appears to be a kaiju unlike all others. While it is summoned for a brief period in which the Outsiders bear witness to its true form, it seems to disperse back into the rift soon afterwards, much like savoring each of its sacrifices in a temporary state of hibernation.

(Note: Details of the specific events that happened leading up until this point can be accessed on the kidnapped log. Please be advised that there are heavy trigger warnings for these topics.)

Due to their brief communication and joint efforts following the network post, it becomes clear that all signs point to Bran Castle as the place where the captives are being held. This becomes ever more apparent as the fog gradually begins to lift, and the outline of the castle can finally be seen from the distance of the forest’s perimeter.

If there were still any doubts surrounding Bran Castle as a place of interest, many of the villagers will instantly form large groups in order to stop Outsiders from heading towards the castle. They will spare no effort to achieve this. What initially starts off as peaceful dissuasion and psychological tactics, such as using the children to cling to the Outsiders leg and crocodile tears… quickly escalates to outright fighting with pitchforks and other makeshift weapons from the farm. Additionally, Outsiders who have purchased the poison dagger from LILITH will find that the “safety” on it is released, and they can be utilized on the locals with no need for additional clearance. It looks like the network wasn't the only thing affected by the spotty connection.

In this skirmish, the Outsiders trying to make their way to the castle will find that a handful of these villagers aren’t your run-of-the-mill farmers. They’re stronger, faster, and the Outsiders will discover that they have incredibly sharp teeth. They are vampires! Or, an entity that seems close enough to the ones of legends. They will not only be attempting to fight Outsiders off, but will also resort to biting them. If an Outsider is bitten, their bodies will feel almost feverish, as if an incredibly slow-acting poison has entered their bloodstream. But, being bitten by a villager does not guarantee one to be turned. While it is possible, it is a much lower chance.

Once Outsiders do make it to the castle, they will find that there will be several more attendants from the castle waiting for them at the gates, all prepared to fight tooth and nail to prevent their entry. It’s clear the objective becomes to break past them and find the dungeons below the castle!

Following the pathways of the castle to the dungeons below will not be easy. All the attendants present seem to have been waiting for them behind every nook and cranny of the castle. Outsiders will be met with their fervent attempts to stop them. It is a matter of life or death for the attendants and like the villagers, they seem to have no issue with throwing their own necks out in order to preserve the sanctity of their ritual.

Outsiders will also find various areas in which wolfsbane will be in bloom. Unlike typical wolfsbane these seem particular potent and will make the air taste bitter, and cause tingles, nausea, and hypotension if exposed to for too long. It appears even the attendants avoid them to a degree.

For those who make it to the dungeons, they will find that it is a lot bigger than it appears on the surface. A lot of its structure seems to lead deep underground, suggesting that it may even extend further out from the perimeter of the castle itself. There is a certain smell to the place that cannot be masked, years of sacrifices evident in every inch of its walls. There are over hundreds of cells, some still holding skeletal remains, alongside other ancient looking items: an old book, a worn out doll, a bloodied servant’s apron—they all appear to be pieces from a past that was long forgotten.

The Outsiders will not get to explore easily, however. As soon as they make their way past the threshold where the cells are all lined out, they will feel a chill up their spine. It's almost as if eyes are watching them in the dark, and they are. If they look up, they will realize there are hundreds of bats with glistening teeth that are all lining the ceiling, all lying in wait. They are minions of the Lord of the Forest, and their supersonic screams can stun and cause momentary deafness.

To make matters worse, it is not just their sharp teeth that hurt on impact, but they have a keen thirst for blood similar to the villagers. Being bitten by one will cause the Outsider to potentially begin to lose control of themselves and will have an insatiable thirst for blood, even at the expense of their fellow teammates. Additionally, those who are bitten will find themselves moderately more susceptible to psychic brain washing, and may cause them to momentarily join the enemies side.

While the battle has already started within the village and the castle, suddenly the familiar ping of their oculars will alert them to the following message from Yamakawa—





With the connection reestablished, the main objective of the mission becomes one thing: RESCUE. For Outsiders who may have still been left at the village, or engaged within their own horrors, they are all advised to head to the dungeons as soon as possible. The coordinates for the deepest cells are sent alongside directions, with a constant warning to avoid direct contact with the kaiju there. The kaiju has long been absorbing rift energy and LILITH strongly advises against any attempts to engage with it until more information is known.

After half an hour, LILITH gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission. Villagers, cult members, anyone. This includes Outsiders who may have temporarily been brainwashed, with the caveat of bringing back their bodies as they may be able to save them.

As they get further into the dungeons, they will find themselves susceptible to the side effects of rift poisoning. It is far more potent with each step, and will take laser focus to make one's way all the way to the last holding cells. There they will find the several of the castle’s most devout followers desperately calling out for The Lord of the Forest, as if summoning its presence.

…


…

…

… and The Lord of the Forest answers the cries of its followers. The initial part of this battle is difficult as the kaiju's abilities paired with the abnormalities of the rift result in weakening the powers of all living organisms around him, including the powers of the Outsiders. However, due to the phases of the moon, its abilities to nerf powers seem to have diminished slightly - they are able to use their abilities at a lower output, or at times they will find their abilities can cut in and out. After five to ten minutes of the Outsiders actually engaging the creature, they will find LILITH has effectively sealed the rift below the dungeons. It is far from perfectly done, but will allow the Outsiders the window of opportunity to use their all in their battle with the Lord of the Forest before backup arrives.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: PRICOLICI
HEIGHT: VARIES
WEIGHT: VARIES
CLASS: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
LOCATION: BRAȘOV, TRANSYLVANIA
ABILITIES: SHAPESHIFTING, IMMORTALITY, NIGHT VISION, SUPER STRENGTH
WEAKNESSES: SUNLIGHT, HOLY RELICS, GARLIC, WOLFSBANE
EXTRA NOTES: This kaiju has a malicious intent to all humans besides those who praise it. It's said it will bless all of its followers abundantly on this Earth and grant them immortal life.

The battle against the PRICOLICI will not be made easy, especially as its weaknesses are not as straightforward to tap in as most elements. However, LILITH will provide utmost support for the Outsiders who want to try their hand at defeating it. While it was once believed to be immortal, perhaps due to the disconnection of the rift and the moon, it does seem weaker the longer the Outsiders engage with it. There are also pockets in which wolfsbane bloom in secret in the dungeon, and the PRICOLICI will evade these specific areas, as well as any places containing holy relics.

The remaining villagers do their utmost in attempting to ground the LILITH medical cruiser, using cannons and other primitive weapons against it. Fortunately, they do not succeed. With the LILITH medical crew all present, they begin their work promptly. Outsiders can not only use the medical cruiser as a temporary base and resting point, but those with severe injuries are ushered in for emergency surgeries and other necessary procedures. Those who can heal are encouraged to take care of the ones with less major injuries in order to lighten the load on LILITH’s medical robots... and Dr. Spim, of course.

When the final battle finally winds down, several more mission objectives crop up. While no formal decision is pushed on the Outsiders this time, they are given several choices.

Although LILITH has permitted Outsiders to take their own stance in whether they want to kill those involved in the ritual, including the villagers, they do state the final request to spare the children, which they plan to bring back to Neo Tokyo. Those who do not wish to engage in the taking of lives will be encouraged to continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders. Finally, all Outsiders are tasked to take with them any goods that LILITH could benefit from, including any sources of food.

Once this has all been completed, they will all be encouraged to leave Transylvania behind.

Back at base, they are presently working on the cure for those who were bitten and turned. While the brainwashing element has been resolved through persuasion tech, it wasn't possible for them to fully reverse the other side effects. LILITH staff are requesting those affected to remain indoors until they figure out what they need in order to completely rid them of this ailment.

(Note: The above mission objectives in this section are all optional! Please remember that you only need to engage in the plots and ideas you are comfortable with. If you would prefer your character to leave early to take the others back to recover at base, that is completely fine. We want this to be flexible and for people to play with what inspires them. You are also free to come up with other ways your character can help during this time, as long as it does not break any game rules.)

Welcome to fifth kaiju log!

Thanks to the Outsiders' efforts, they were able to engage with the kaiju in this fight. Due to them piecing the clues of the skulls helping to destroy the fog, they were able to gain access to Bran Castle. As they have also kept their suspicions of the villagers, some even including to sacrifice them, they were able to unearth them being associated with the cult, and able to uncover their involvement. Outsiders were also able to add wolfsbane as a weakness to the kaiju due to the messages exchanged between the kidnapped and non-kidnapped - and so this detail was also added into the log. We appreciate everyone’s engagement in this and hope you have fun with this outcome!

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the minions. The main fight with the largest one will be determined via a HP-based system (See below). Feel free to ask any other questions below! Additionally, we did clarify some questions in regards to vampires/general weaknesses here, as well!

For the vampire prompts, feel free to work with the setting in how you want your character to experience being turned, and potentially turning others. It was made vague to allow flexibility, so if you'd like to have your character just feed off of people without turning them, that works. If they want to turn all their friends, that is also 100% okay. Those who have been turned are welcome to play with that as they see fit. As mentioned, LILITH will be actively working on the cure, and this will be something revisited in the TDM, or on our quest board, so be on the lookout for that!

All tags on this log are worth 2 points and will count towards October AC.

EVENT BREAKDOWN/RECAP (CLICK TO EXPAND)

1. LORD OF THE FOREST: On the days leading up to the 15th, kidnapped characters are brought to the dungeons to receive their punishments. The punishments are administered in a way that suggests that the followers have many years of experience, and that they are all part of a sacrificial ritual to summon the Lord of the Forest; once the ritual begins, it can't be stopped. On the morning of the 15th, LILITH is able to send out a distorted monster debrief sheet that the captives will be able to briefly see before experiencing a heavy disturbance of rift energy. Captives in the dungeons will also be able to see the Lord of the Forest, but it will disperse back into the rift after being summoned.

2. FIND THE CAPTIVES: The Outsiders figure out that the captives are held in Bran Castle; the fog gradually lifts and the outline of the castle will be visible. The villagers will do everything they can to prevent the Outsiders from reaching the castle, from using the children to persuade them to stay to more violent means. Outsiders who have a poison dagger from LILITH are able to use it on the villagers without prior clearance due to the spotty connection. Vampires are among the villagers attacking the Outsiders; if they are bitten, their bodies will feel feverish. Once Outsiders reach the castle gates, they will have to break through the castle attendants to reach the dungeons.

3. THE DUNGEON OF CASTLE BRAN: Outsiders must fight through more attendants inside the castle as they make their way down to the dungeons. The layout of the dungeons is much bigger than it may seem on the surface—with over hundreds of cells, some of which still contain the remains and personal effects of previous villagers who have been sacrificed. Bats, minions of the Lord of the Forest, will attack the Outsiders and those who are bitten may begin to lose control of themselves with a thirst for blood. Bitten Outsiders may attack their teammates as a result, and may also be more susceptible to psychic brainwashing.

4. THE FINAL RESCUE: LILITH confirms the main mission objective of rescuing all the captives and gives formal clearance to kill anyone interfering with the mission, which includes any Outsiders who may have been temporarily brainwashed. The bodies of any fallen Outsiders must be brought back as LILITH may be able to restore them. Going deeper into the dungeons will cause side effects of rift poisoning to manifest. The Lord of the Forest appears to engage the Outsiders; its ability to weaken abilities is diminished slightly due to the phases of the moon. Five to ten minutes into the battle, LILITH seals off the rift below the dungeons, allowing Outsiders an opportunity to go all in on attacking the Lord of the Forest.

5. AFTERMATH: LILITH's medical crew arrives to begin treating injured Outsiders. Those who are able to heal or have medical experience are encouraged to treat Outsiders with minor injuries to lighten the load on LILITH's medical staff. Once the battle winds down, Outsiders are given several options on what to do next: kill the followers and the villagers, but sparing the children (who will be brought to Neo Tokyo); continue assisting and escorting any injured Outsiders to safety; taking any goods from the village that will benefit LILITH, including food sources. Once completed, Outsiders will leave Transylvania to embark on the journey back to Neo Tokyo.

DOWNTIME MINGLE #2

As Outsiders make themselves comfortable back on MAIN BASE, they will be informed of a reward for their great efforts. A party is thrown to celebrate their achievements and they will find pizza and a cup noodle tower. A giant streamer and balloons are laid out for everyone to see:

GOOD JOB:
GREAT EXPLOSION MURDER GOD DYNAMIGHT (K.O)
KUZUNOHA14 (546)
TENTACLE (497)
ICE SNAP (488)

The named Outsiders will also be informed that they’ve managed to catch the attention of a certain instant noodle company. As thanks for their hard work and dedication to protecting Neo Tokyo, the company has decided to launch a new line of flavors in their honor. All proceeds will go to relief efforts and charities in Neo Tokyo. The new flavors are:

EXXXTRA HOTT mapo tofu ramen
Creamy octopus and seafood chowder ramen
Chilled tomato noodles
Sweet potato and miso ramen

The tower of cup noodles in the cafeteria isn’t all. The winners will receive a free and unlimited supply of the special flavors until the campaign ends in 3 months.

Those who do not attend the party will still get this message as a marquee text along their ocular device. Characters CAN take this message off, but it's a bit complex. Try under General > Settings > Notifications > Messages > Texts > Alerts > Appearance > End Battle Notifications > OFF. Hopefully, you won't miss something exciting by doing this. The marquee will disappear a week after the kaiju fight.

Following the events of the most recent battle, LILITH is in a busy state. What was supposed to be a simple operation has become a major event with the sudden Rift event. The LILITH administrators work closely with officers, researchers, and engineers to understand what happened and how to proceed.

While not all questions are answered, Outsiders will receive updates on things of note. First and foremost, the Rift was successfully closed. The park is closed and being tested to see if it is safe to enter. Reports suggest the Rift event was caused by the large, uncontrolled levels of electricity at the park. LILITH agents have gone in and identified some of the bodies. Others are missing, presumably pulled into the Rift, and assumed dead. Among the dead is Dr. Tanaka whose mutated corpse and lab coat were found near what they believe to be the Rift’s origin center. As for the mutated survivors… well, that remains to be answered.

Outsiders will be told to sit tight while the grounds are checked and cleared for further recovery efforts. In the meantime, every LILITH operative who participated at Tokyo Disney Land will receive orders to check their health to make sure the Rift didn’t infect them.

Outsiders will be directed to the medical bay where Dr. Spim and Alex will tell them to get changed into their loungewear and wait for tests in the lobby with each other. They will be given questionnaires to fill out and be asked what they experienced before, during, and after the Rift opened. After that, they will conduct regular tests for things like their blood, vision, hearing, etc. The physical will also involve checking their ocular and brain implants. Hopefully, no one is bothered by all of the poking and prodding.

Upon conclusion, characters will receive their results. For the most part, there don’t appear to be any lingering effects from the Rift, and any comments they receive will be about their regular health. There may also be some helpful advice written at the end to varying degrees of helpfulness such as:

Reduce sugar intake.
Remember to live, laugh, love, and hydrate.
Exercise regularly to improve mental health.
Be nice to yourself or else.

Characters are free to discuss their results with each other or they can choose to keep the results to themselves. After all, the results they receive are between them and their physician… Right?

Although ocular & brain implants are the means of communication nowadays, a messenger service still exists in this world. Mostly everyone uses LINE nowadays even if the need for cellular phones is null. Characters may have already recognized the interface to be somewhat familiar with the similar shade of green and same old slogan.

It happens the first time, and several times throughout the week as your character goes about their new routine. The sound of machine-like whirring, deep within their cranium, like a computer that’s in the midst of processing some new information. Then, there’s the familiar ping of a new public message, and whatever you were thinking about at that point of time will be plastered on the network, for all to read and react to. Thinking about your recent health check results? Having a fun night out at a club? Regretting said night out at the club? Falling into a deep depression about how your life has turned out so far? It doesn’t matter when or where, because the system doesn’t discriminate. You’ll soon find the thoughts you were having during those moments posted on the network and you can’t delete them.

That’s the only explanation SYNTHIA will give when prodded or asked to take down a post. She’s not too helpful at this moment. It looks like while Seok Dang isn't available, his usual antics have been pre-programmed.



Welcome to our third Network Mingle! This is a TFLN-inspired mingle that’s been tweaked to make it completely canon to the game. Due to a glitch in the system, random thoughts that characters might be having throughout the week will be registered as network posts and posted in public for all to see and respond to. This can happen at any time as they wander around the main base or different Neo Tokyo locations!

HOW TO PLAY:
1. Write out prompts (example below) for others to respond to. These can be thoughts they’re having in bed, at work, while intoxicated or what-have-you. You can look up shower thoughts or TFLN as inspiration, but remember that this will be game canon so it has to be written in your character’s voice.
2. Go around and respond to others!
3. ???
4. PROFIT!

Participation in this mingle isn’t obligatory, of course. If you don’t want your character to participate, you can simply assume the glitch did not affect them.

We also have a code below for fun, but please don't feel pressured to use it. As always, a regular text thread works out just fine! Most importantly, have fun!

(Please remember to put warnings for NSFW/triggering content in the subject header.)

NOTE: Since there is both an action and a text component to this mingle, all action tags on this post are worth 2 POINTS while all text tags as part of the TFLN prompt are worth 1 POINT.