etrayalogs | Mission 013 Log

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 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.

❬ 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.

❬ 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.

❬ 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.

🔵FULL NAVIGATION🔵

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I might enjoy it at first.

[ But he would eventually tire of being carried around like a child.

His eyes glance upward, watching the sphere glow above them. ]

It's an old hunter's remedy. Vex has used it on me plenty of times. This isn't the first time I've been bit by something nasty. Surprising, I know.

[ He jokes, since Dion already thinks Vax is reckless. The remark is followed by a few blinks as Dion cups his face and starts to examine him. He has a few minor scratches, but nothing worth fussing about. As Dion stares, conducting his search, Vax can't help but jest. ]

Hey, are you going to heal me or kiss me? Because if you are, I'd like to be able to feel it.

[ And whatever numbing effect the spider bite had on him will probably take a lot longer to go away on its own. ]

[ Oh, no. Vax would be carried like a princess.

Dion would question the phrasing — plenty of times — save that Vax's question scatters his thoughts to the wind. He sputters, signs of a blush warming his cheeks even as he averts his gaze as though confirming where that poultice is. ]

If your penchant for teasing me hasn't suffered, I suppose you mustn't be in dire straits. Even so...

[ The time spent on his retort is enough to gather himself, and his palms glow once more, right where they are. A few scrapes and cuts may not seem worth the fuss, but when he can heal them, Dion sees no reason not to.

Then he lets go, the glow fading from his hands, and gives Vax one last survey. ]

I'm the reason you're here, and naturally I feel responsible.

[ Earnest as ever.

With that said, he rocks back on his heels and stands. He should see whether he can obtain what they need from that creature below, though he'll hunt down one of the others if he must. ]

[ Getting a blush out of Dion is rare, so Vax chuckles softly at the reaction. He remains still as Dion heals the last of his injuries, but when it's finished, he shakes his head a little at Dion's words. ]

Don't. I wanted to come with you. Same as you wanting to come with me to the tomb. If I can't blame myself for that, then you can't blame yourself for this.

[ But secretly, they'll both blame themselves, anyway. As Dion gets up to seek out one of the spiders, Vax watches him go. ]

Just a drop or two of the venom. No more than that.

[ Below, Dion will find the spider he killed, and he's able to easily get from it what is required. ]

I'd quite forgotten that place.

[ His words come with a faint smile. It isn't true of course, Dion recalls that lever-riddled death trap quite well, but he'd long since shed the distress of it. The petrification hadn't lasted, and he still doesn't blame Vax for any of what had transpired. How could he?

Yet that also means that Vax makes a fair point. It would be hypocritical to blame himself for what he couldn't have known when he refuses to fault Vax for the same. That won't stop him, but it is true. ]

I shall be back anon.

[ And then he simply steps out of the hole in the nest, casually dropping through it. ]

[ Just as Dion made it through the tomb, Vax will make it through this thanks to his friend's magic and his help.

As Dion departs to get the necessary ingredient, Vax nods. ]

Sure. I'll be in here. Where it's... creepy as hell.

[ At least he has company in the form of that light sphere Dion left behind. ]

[ Dion wastes no time in approaching the spider's corpse once he lands. He realizes he doesn't have anything to store venom in, which leaves him debating how to approach this. Observing that the fangs are still producing some kind of fluid, doubtless owed to the sudden nature of its death, he cuts one out with his halberd.

He also makes a face akin to Joshua's expression when presented with carrots, but no one is there to observe. No one need know.

From there he leaps back up to the nest with his provisions, carefully avoiding the business end of the fang. ]

So how do I...?

[ Dion holds up his findings. He has never prepared a poultice, or altered it, or whatever it is he's meant to do. ]

[ Luckily for Dion, most of the work is done. Once he returns, Vax explains. ]

There's a little vial in the pouch on my belt. It's already got what it needs. Just add a drop or two of the venom to the mixture and some water.

[ Vax has a small water flask on him, as well, should Dion need some. ]

Shake it, then help me to drink it.

All right.

[ It sounds straightforward enough. Dion crouches and retrieves the vial to follow Vax's instructions, handling the spider fang with caution. He has no desire to find out what happens if he makes a mistake and sets the fang well out of the way once it drips a little venom into the concoction.

Then he moves on to procuring water from a canteen he carries, only to pause. ]

How much water should be used?

[ The vial is small, but it seems prudent to ask. ]

[ Dion is being extremely careful. Vax can't help but find his concentration on the matter cute. ]

Fill it up. The water is only to mix the ingredients together and help me drink it down.

[ Where Vax's wellbeing is concerned, Dion can't help an overabundance of care. It may be a simple matter of mixing a couple of ingredients into an already-prepared concoction, but as a prince, he'd only observed others doing such things.

The prospect of somehow committing some grave error looms over him, though he's simply adding water. Once he's filled the vial, he caps it and does what he can to mix it, tipping the vial before rotating it in a steady, circular motion. His eyes remain focused on the contents until they appear blended enough. The color is...not very appealing.

Regardless, he shows the results to Vax, for his approval. ]

Will this do?

[ Even if Dion has never mixed medicines before, Vax trusts him completely to do it right. Once he's shown the vial, Vax nods. ]

Yeah. Tastes like shit, but it'll do. Help me up?

[ He can't drink it while on his back. ]

[ Dion doesn't envy Vax needing to drink the mixture, but if it restores his ability to move sooner, it's worthwhile. ]

Of course.

[ He moves to assist, mindful of the vial in one hand as he pulls Vax up into a seated position. Keeping one arm around him for support, he uncaps the vial and brings it to his friend's lips. ]

Here.

[ Vax rests against Dion's arm as he's held, and when the vial is brought to his lips, he tilts his head just a little to drink, gulping it down quickly, then making a sour face at the taste.

A shudder. ]

Gods, it's like licking one of those spiders.

[ Not that he's tried licking one. ]

I'd not wish to test that.

[ Setting the vial aside, Dion fishes something out of his jacket: a hard candy still in its wrapper. He holds it up for Vax to see. The wrapping makes it look something like a strawberry. ]

I've seen Joshua grimace the same way before, after taking some bitter drought. It occurred to me that these might be helpful in such cases.

[ Vax blinks a few times as Dion produces the candy. Does he carry those for Joshua in case he has a bad reaction to something? ]

I'm okay.

[ For some reason, it feels like he's taking something that's not his if he accepts it, even though they're probably not exclusively for Joshua. Normally, taking is not a problem for a rogue, but he wouldn't steal from Dion or Joshua. ]

The medicine should work soon.

You did not see your expression.

[ It isn't for Dion to impose on him, but he places that candy on Vax's palm regardless. Truth be told, he has yet to have occasion to offer Joshua one after taking his medicine, and assumes he must do so out of others' sight.

Provided he does take medicine still. Being the Phoenix, he might well rely on his Eikon's restorative powers. ]

However long it may take, those creatures are repelled by light.

[ Vax looks down at the candy set on his palm and he curls his fingers inward, still getting some feeling back into them. ]

Sorry to make you...

[ To put Dion through all this trouble. ]

I should've seen it coming.

There is nothing you need apologize for.

[ Neither of them could have anticipated an attack by creatures they've never seen before. Swift as they were, Dion has his doubts any of them could have responded quickly enough. ]

Unless you would like to exchange them, of course.

[ He hadn't reacted quickly enough either. ]

[ Vax shakes his head. Dion shouldn't apologize. Vax is the one who got caught by the spider. ]

You saved me. Thank you.

[ He does, at least, owe Dion his thanks for fighting those spiders on his own. ]

[ Still yet, he feels responsible. But he knows better than to restate it, so he smiles softly instead. ]

You'd have done the same for me.

[ He doesn't doubt that Vax would. ]

Though you could stand to be less alluring to spirits and monsters.

[ Teasing, if only a little. ]

[ Of course Vax would have done the same. He wouldn't let harm come to Dion if he could stop it, and he'd put his life on the line without question.

The bit of teasing gets a blink, then an amused smirk. ]

You can't just turn off this much charm. Though I do seem to attract the wrong type too often.

[ He nods along. Vax is indeed charming, and it's good he knows it. ]

One could hardly expect you to stop being yourself... But I hope that 'wrong type' is seldom the likes of that spider.

[ Dion hopes, but he's not very optimistic after Vax said he's needed such concoctions many times. ]

It's not always spiders. Sometimes it's an undead dog or a basilisk.

[ None of those are good, either. With a sigh he looks around at their miserable surroundings. ]

Let's get out of here. Give me a hand?

[ Perhaps if Dion helps him to his feet, he'll manage. ]

[ The thought of even more creatures trying to prey on Vax makes Dion grimace much the same way Vax had done after choking down that remedy. Now he hae another reason to hope his blessing remains whenever they return to their worlds.

He presses the thought aside, sparing Vax's legs a speculative glance. ]

Can you feel your legs now?

[ Vax wants to be out of this nest, but he frowns at the question. Reaching down with one hand, he gives one of his legs a squeeze, trying to gauge the sensation. He also wiggles his feet in his boots. ]

A little.

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