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etrayalogs2026-01-23 01:07 pm
etrayamods) wrote in etrayalogs2026-01-23 01:07 pm
Entry tags:
- !mission log,
- arcane: viktor,
- atla: toph beifong,
- circle of magic: sandrilene fa toren,
- co e33: gustave,
- dc comics: barbara gordon,
- dc comics: bruce wayne,
- dc comics: dick grayson,
- dc comics: jonathan kent,
- devil may cry: dante,
- devil may cry: nero,
- devil may cry: vergil,
- final fantasy vii-r: vincent valentine,
- final fantasy x-2: paine,
- final fantasy xvi: dion lesage,
- jl gods and monsters: kirk langstrom,
- metro last light: pavel morozov,
- original: knife,
- original: ranvir al-fayruz,
- person of interest: harold finch,
- person of interest: john reese,
- person of interest: sameen shaw,
- persona 3-r: junpei iori,
- superman (2025): clark kent / superman,
- to be hero x: yang cheng (e-soul),
- vox machina: vax'ildan vessar
Mission 013 Log
Mission Summary
Genre: Survival / Exploration / Spooky
Premise: Mesa is a wild, lawless land of megafauna, from feathered dinosaurs to redwoods soaring stories high. Etrayans must document what remains of a world on its way out and then get out alive, surviving in the wilderness for two weeks while fighting off a hostile environment. Most importantly of all: beware the dark.
Tone: Dark and philosophical. Is this a world worth saving?
Objectives: Take samples and record for posterity what happened on Mesa. Demonstrate appreciation of what is lost and the capacity to preserve it.
❬ all that men presume ❭
While Mesa is full of life even now, with large creatures roaming the continents and making themselves comfortable, there are traces indicating that at one point this wilderness was constructed. The Citadel, a galaxy-spanning empire, had wanted to collect creatures from the numerous inhabited planets they could reach, and selected Mesa as the location for their conservatory given its lack of sentient residents. Once a carefully maintained vacation destination for Citadel elite, landscapes were meticulously groomed and animal husbandry was rigorously planned to create fascinating creatures across generations.
A good idea, in theory. Perhaps even in practice, given that whilst the rest of this galaxy has collapsed and died, this particular planet is still standing, along with all the creatures that had been transplanted onto it to call it their home.
Now abandoned by the Citadel, Mesa returns slowly to its original state: a deserted planet much like Etraya was before Aurora and Borealis's cities had been developed on it. Which is why Aurora has sent the Etrayans abroad: gather data on those who still live amongst Mesa's population, so that these creatures will not be forgotten as their predecessors have been.
Aurora's portal brings characters to a bare base camp, previously visited by a spare few of her bots in order to outfit it with just enough to allow them to survive. Simply called the Lux, their base camp takes the form of a massive spire with a built-in high-powered lamp at the peak, which bathes the entire outside of the building in light at all times. Some rooms hidden within the facility provide darkened spots to allow Etrayans to rest safely.
Aurora had told them that they must make sure to not be out in the dark -- hopefully the spire's eternal light as well as how carefully the entire outside of the structure is lit up offers them enough of a reminder to listen.
Possible Hooks
• Taking stock of your assigned team that you've just met, sharing supplies, and getting ready to leave on your assignment.
• Building up the base to serve as a safe respite for the time on Mesa.
• Returning to camp between assignments for a breather or because you've spent a little too long out in the dark.
A good idea, in theory. Perhaps even in practice, given that whilst the rest of this galaxy has collapsed and died, this particular planet is still standing, along with all the creatures that had been transplanted onto it to call it their home.
Now abandoned by the Citadel, Mesa returns slowly to its original state: a deserted planet much like Etraya was before Aurora and Borealis's cities had been developed on it. Which is why Aurora has sent the Etrayans abroad: gather data on those who still live amongst Mesa's population, so that these creatures will not be forgotten as their predecessors have been.
Aurora's portal brings characters to a bare base camp, previously visited by a spare few of her bots in order to outfit it with just enough to allow them to survive. Simply called the Lux, their base camp takes the form of a massive spire with a built-in high-powered lamp at the peak, which bathes the entire outside of the building in light at all times. Some rooms hidden within the facility provide darkened spots to allow Etrayans to rest safely.
Aurora had told them that they must make sure to not be out in the dark -- hopefully the spire's eternal light as well as how carefully the entire outside of the structure is lit up offers them enough of a reminder to listen.
Possible Hooks
• Taking stock of your assigned team that you've just met, sharing supplies, and getting ready to leave on your assignment.
• Building up the base to serve as a safe respite for the time on Mesa.
• Returning to camp between assignments for a breather or because you've spent a little too long out in the dark.
❬ a conservatory left behind ❭
Mesa's ecosystems are dominated by megafauna: creatures of immense size and stature, often with lengthy lifespans and narrow biome niches. Most are locked to their environments, adapted precisely to the area they reside in, with little chance of surviving outside of their specific ecosystem. A swamp titan would not survive the cold tundra that the ice leopards call home, and the ice leopards cannot survive in the ashy, hot environment that let horned beetles thrive. Smaller animals may exist amongst them, but they are significantly less common. Many rely on the larger creatures for survival: feeding off of the parasites that attach themselves to their massive bodies, or nesting within their fur.
Much of the wildlife exhibits ancient evolutionary traits, behaviors and patters long-since established with no signs of further development. They no longer evolve with time and generations but instead have settled into their place on their planet.
The megafauna are not the only living beings on Mesa. Scattered across the planet are traces of civilization: abandoned ranger stations, research laboratories, and observation outposts. While these locations appear as if the technology within them was at one time advanced, it has now become nonfunctional, left to rot without maintenance over the generations.
Yet some of these structures still contain life, the descendants of the humanoid beings that established Mesa long ago. One may consider trying to extend a hand out toward them to offer what assistance they can give - but none of them will be friendly.
Long abandoned by those who had once brought them here, these people have become opportunistic predators, fiercely defending what facilities they were able to keep partially functional. The darkness that plagues the Etrayans also appears to plague them, and without light, the same ill fate would be their demise.
They do not travel far, choosing to maintain their own livestock and supplies to ensure they are never far from the light. After all, they know the greatest threat on Mesa is not the wildlife, but the dark.
Possible Hooks
• Encounter various wildlife while out on assignment, and perhaps run into another team.
• Build an observation blind shelter with your teammates and hole up there for a few days, hoping to document your species of interest.
• Discover and explore an abandoned structure.
• Come under threat from the residents... or try to reach out to them.
Much of the wildlife exhibits ancient evolutionary traits, behaviors and patters long-since established with no signs of further development. They no longer evolve with time and generations but instead have settled into their place on their planet.
The megafauna are not the only living beings on Mesa. Scattered across the planet are traces of civilization: abandoned ranger stations, research laboratories, and observation outposts. While these locations appear as if the technology within them was at one time advanced, it has now become nonfunctional, left to rot without maintenance over the generations.
Yet some of these structures still contain life, the descendants of the humanoid beings that established Mesa long ago. One may consider trying to extend a hand out toward them to offer what assistance they can give - but none of them will be friendly.
Long abandoned by those who had once brought them here, these people have become opportunistic predators, fiercely defending what facilities they were able to keep partially functional. The darkness that plagues the Etrayans also appears to plague them, and without light, the same ill fate would be their demise.
They do not travel far, choosing to maintain their own livestock and supplies to ensure they are never far from the light. After all, they know the greatest threat on Mesa is not the wildlife, but the dark.
Possible Hooks
• Encounter various wildlife while out on assignment, and perhaps run into another team.
• Build an observation blind shelter with your teammates and hole up there for a few days, hoping to document your species of interest.
• Discover and explore an abandoned structure.
• Come under threat from the residents... or try to reach out to them.
❬ hatchlings ❭
The chelonians, one of the species in one of Mesa's warmer climates, has struggled to maintain their numbers over their centuries on the planet due to their inability to change their ways.
Hatchlings are born several kilometers away from the beach shores, burrowed deep into soil to protect them from predators that may seek out their eggs during high tide. These creatures are massive, large shells encasing a significant portion of their bodies with only their heads and limbs visible from under it.
These creatures are rare and difficult to spot on Mesa: they breed slowly, live for centuries, and their offspring very rarely make it passed their first few hours of life. They often hatch in the dark of the night, making them extremely susceptible to predators that lurk in the dark, waiting for prey too small and too fragile to protect themselves. Large winged beasts swoop down from the skies, picking up the newborn chelonians to enjoy a fresh meal.
Without them, their ecosystem begins to collapse: kelp beds and forests fail, and entire food chains unravel.
Etrayans with interest could assign themselves a simple, unofficial mission to find the burrows and protect the younglings as they manage to break through their shells, then help them into the ocean so that their kind may survive to see the sun again. They must set up light sources and wait beside the burrows to make sure these massive creatures not only escape their eggs but do not become lost on their journey to the water. Following them to the water is critical, as their eyesight, even with a light source, is quite poor -- and they have a tendency to lose their way.
No one's asked them to do this -- the whole planet is slated for destruction, so maybe this entire venture is pointless -- but maybe this is something worth doing anyway.
Possible Hooks
• Idealistic types see the chelonian hatchlings struggling to make it to a beach and step in to help. Considering how large they are, this might be a struggle for them, too.
• Cynical types question what the point is.
Hatchlings are born several kilometers away from the beach shores, burrowed deep into soil to protect them from predators that may seek out their eggs during high tide. These creatures are massive, large shells encasing a significant portion of their bodies with only their heads and limbs visible from under it.
These creatures are rare and difficult to spot on Mesa: they breed slowly, live for centuries, and their offspring very rarely make it passed their first few hours of life. They often hatch in the dark of the night, making them extremely susceptible to predators that lurk in the dark, waiting for prey too small and too fragile to protect themselves. Large winged beasts swoop down from the skies, picking up the newborn chelonians to enjoy a fresh meal.
Without them, their ecosystem begins to collapse: kelp beds and forests fail, and entire food chains unravel.
Etrayans with interest could assign themselves a simple, unofficial mission to find the burrows and protect the younglings as they manage to break through their shells, then help them into the ocean so that their kind may survive to see the sun again. They must set up light sources and wait beside the burrows to make sure these massive creatures not only escape their eggs but do not become lost on their journey to the water. Following them to the water is critical, as their eyesight, even with a light source, is quite poor -- and they have a tendency to lose their way.
No one's asked them to do this -- the whole planet is slated for destruction, so maybe this entire venture is pointless -- but maybe this is something worth doing anyway.
Possible Hooks
• Idealistic types see the chelonian hatchlings struggling to make it to a beach and step in to help. Considering how large they are, this might be a struggle for them, too.
• Cynical types question what the point is.
❬ night falls ❭
Mesa's darkness is not merely the conventional absence of direct light.
The planet itself has no moon, and when darkness comes, it is absolute.
Remaining in the darkness has several consequences, and the effects accumulate over time, progressing along a spectrum rather than in tidy stages. This only seems to effect those from Etraya and the humanoids living within their bases, not the animals brought to reside on planet. Remaining within light sources suppresses the effects, but the moment the planet's rotation angles them away from this galaxy's star, any Etrayans caught outside of the light will find themselves succumbing to the effects.
Characters were warned not to stay out in the dark, but they were not told why they should not.
If any of them prefer not to find out and remain at base during one unfortunate night, they'll find out why anyway: the power cuts. The surrounding terrain, once held at bay by artificial light at the Lux, is swallowed whole. The air feels heavier and the atmosphere itself feels weighted.
Blithe apathy sinks in. The ability to listen to reason slowly leaves those left in the darkness. If they do not find a light source quickly, they will be able to feel the physical effects of the darkness set into their skin, potentially ending with permanent changes.
Those remaining on base may work together in order to bring the power back on, utilizing any personal abilities in addition to fixing the damaged circuits in order to bring everything back online. But they had better react quickly -- the longer the darkness remains, the worse the effects become, and maybe someone who was once trying to help is now trying to hurt...
Possible Hooks
• Help restore power after it cuts at the Lux.
• Underestimate the darkness effects, assume your light source is enough, and slowly fall prey to the pleasant apathy. You'll need rescue.
• Stumble onto another party's camp and need their help to be coaxed back to sanity.
The planet itself has no moon, and when darkness comes, it is absolute.
Remaining in the darkness has several consequences, and the effects accumulate over time, progressing along a spectrum rather than in tidy stages. This only seems to effect those from Etraya and the humanoids living within their bases, not the animals brought to reside on planet. Remaining within light sources suppresses the effects, but the moment the planet's rotation angles them away from this galaxy's star, any Etrayans caught outside of the light will find themselves succumbing to the effects.
Characters were warned not to stay out in the dark, but they were not told why they should not.
If any of them prefer not to find out and remain at base during one unfortunate night, they'll find out why anyway: the power cuts. The surrounding terrain, once held at bay by artificial light at the Lux, is swallowed whole. The air feels heavier and the atmosphere itself feels weighted.
Blithe apathy sinks in. The ability to listen to reason slowly leaves those left in the darkness. If they do not find a light source quickly, they will be able to feel the physical effects of the darkness set into their skin, potentially ending with permanent changes.
Those remaining on base may work together in order to bring the power back on, utilizing any personal abilities in addition to fixing the damaged circuits in order to bring everything back online. But they had better react quickly -- the longer the darkness remains, the worse the effects become, and maybe someone who was once trying to help is now trying to hurt...
Possible Hooks
• Help restore power after it cuts at the Lux.
• Underestimate the darkness effects, assume your light source is enough, and slowly fall prey to the pleasant apathy. You'll need rescue.
• Stumble onto another party's camp and need their help to be coaxed back to sanity.
❬ MISSION NOTES ❭
📌 — Please make sure to use the major events comment thread specifically to announce character actions that have a significant impact on the mission outcome or other characters.
📌 — For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the mission queries comment on the plotting post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
📌 — For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the mission queries comment on the plotting post. Other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
no subject
He isn't really a sugar person, but Jon is offering and he can at least try to not be a complete dick, so he gives him a small shrug. And hey, if Last Order were to ever show up he can report back as to what a roasted marshmallow tastes like.
(He will never ever do this.)]
Uh, sure.
[He closes his journal. A longer break will be good for his wrist, and while this mission isn't as dangerous as some past ones, he's still wondering how Jon is doing with it beyond the whole... existential nightmare of being on a planet they know is going to be destroyed.]
Who're you teamed up with?
no subject
( batman, nightwing, and batgirl to be exact. it’s… comforting? maybe? to be with people who know him and he knows in return, but. they’re also all bats, which isn’t a bad thing. just that batman in particular likes to think he’s in charge of everything and do whatever he wants. it’s annoying, especially when he’s their sentinel and that means he’s responsible for making sure even batman is ok. geez.
he makes his way for one of the campfires and glances back to accelerator as he starts to open up the bag of marshmallows. )
Are you with people you know?
no subject
One person, yeah. [He refuses to consider Sleipnir as "someone he knows," so that only leaves John, and he's fine with that. John is trustworthy and reliable, and Accelerator is sure if he wasn't on a team with him this would be a lot harder.] What's your role?
no subject
( he's looking into the bag of marshmallows as he says that, shaking them around a little before he looks ahead and hurries over to one of the campfires... that needs to be lit, but. he's got it. no problemo. eyes glowing red, he shoots two straight beams of energy towards the logs and sparks a fire, nonchalantly so, before he's looking around for sticks to grab for the marshmallows. )
I guess it makes sense since I'm the only Kryptonian on the team.
( even if he's half-kryptonian. )
no subject
Setting his journal aside, Accelerator grabs his crutch and hauls himself to his feet to head over to the campfire. As he approaches he watches Jon start the fire with fucking eye lasers, raising an eyebrow as he takes a seat.]
Maybe. The only regular human on my team's our Sentinel. I don't know if Echo assigned us according to our skillsets or just picked randomly. [Could be either, honestly....]
no subject
but.
well.
he looks off to the side a little in thought — makes sure the stick he has in hand is free from dirt and bugs before he goes stabbing a couple marshmallows onto it. he'd been upset at accelerator last they spoke and while he doesn't agree with anything he had said nor is really sure the boy stands by what he said, he can't stay mad at him and he wouldn't want to see anything happen to him or his world, so. )
I'm sorry about before. ( there's a bit of a frown he wears as he says that, stabbing a couple more marshmallows on. ) I mean... I'm not sorry for how I feel and I still stand by this not being right or fair. But I shouldn't have lashed out at you... even if what you said was upsetting, so.
( ... )
Sorry.
no subject
The hell are you doing? You've got nothing to apologize for.
[He's saying that sincerely, keeping his eyes on the fire.]
That wasn't the first time I've pissed someone off enough that they've tried to punch me. It's a pretty normal reaction, when I think about it.
no subject
( sure, maybe he hadn't been able to land a punch on accelerator — THIS TIME — but he's still not wrong in his losing his temper could result in the casualty of another, even by accident. he needs to be more careful with that, especially when he's upset.
with his stick stabbed with marshmallows, he holds it over the fire then and watches as he slowly turns it. )
And before you try and say I can't hurt you ( hi damian ) that's not the point.
no subject
Alright. If I can't say that then you need to acknowledge that you stopped and left before you did any serious damage. You managed to maintain that much control, at least.
[And that's important to recognize. Even if Jon hadn't reacted perfectly, that is still something.]
no subject
( he shakes his head at that, turning the stick over again, making sure he gets all sides of the marshmallows. )
no subject
[Then there's a pause as Accelerator's gaze hardens slightly. He continues watching the fire, contemplating if he should just leave it there. It would be easier to remain closed off, but... he gets what Jon is going through, and it's doubtful many people outside of his dad do.
Inhaling deeply, he closes his eyes so he can reach up and rub the bridge of his nose. This isn't a memory he enjoys bringing up.]
When I was about your age I destroyed a part of my city and hurt a bunch of people because I couldn't control myself. It's shitty that someone your age has to worry about this, but the alternative is a lot worse.
no subject
What happened? I mean... how did you lose control?
( something — or someone? — must have set him off for him to lose control after all. )
no subject
I don't really remember. Some classmates shoved me, or something. It doesn't matter. I broke a bunch of their bones, and when a teacher tried to intervene the same thing happened to her. Things kept escalating because I couldn't control myself.
[Unlike Jon back at the farm. That's the big difference between their experiences.]
no subject
I'm sorry that happened. I mean... I can imagine how it must have felt.
( maybe not to that extent, but. he has an idea... he's had a few accidents before in his time. which... hm. )
When I first discovered who I was— I mean, who my dad was and who I was, I tried to stop this hawk from taking my mom's cat one day. So I used my heat vision but I... I accidentally killed Goldie. ( the cat, to which he frowns, still unhappy with himself for that. ) I was trying to help and I made things worse because I didn't have the best control.
( shaking the stick a little he pulls it back and gently blows the small flickering flame there on the tip of a marshmallow. )
So yeah. I get it.
no subject
.... If Last Order heard this story she'd be bawling her eyes out. He tries not to think about that and instead glances over at Jon, tone a little more sympathetic.]
.... Sounds like you do. Sorry about that.
no subject
( a nod, he looks back to stick with the toasted marshmallows on it and holds it out and over to accelerator there. you know. so he can take one for himself. )
Here. They're ready.
no subject
[Looking a little dubious, Accelerator regardless takes the offered marshmallow. He blows on it to try and cool it some more, before taking a small bite.
And he makes a face.]
God, this is still so sugary. [The roasting did nothing!]
no subject
( he blinks in surprise at that, all the while popping his marshmallow into his mouth and happily chewing on it. he will, in fact, help himself to another, too! )
no subject
[There's a sigh form Accelerator before he takes another bite, because he at least isn't going to waste food.]
I didn't grow up with it.