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

[ Dion would have stepped around him otherwise, but seeing as Vax has made it convenient for him, he wastes no time in applying his aether once again. He presses his palm to Vax's cape, right between where his shoulder-blades would be, and light shimmers its way across the material.

Once the length of Vax's cape exudes a pale glow, Dion's hand drops. ]

That should do.

[ Vax watches over his shoulder as the light spreads across his cape and touches the feathers of his mantle. He wonders what it would look like with his wings spread, but there isn't room for that in the hallway. ]

Thanks.

[ He turns around to face his friend again. He also feels a bit like a lightbulb, but maybe that's how Dion often feels. ]

So, where do you want to check next?

It seems we have exhausted the doors on this floor. One of the creatures retreated to the third... We could see what the second holds.

[ Dion channels his light into his halberd before he holsters it, his satellites arraying themselves around both him and Vax. They should be as well-defended as they can be. ]

What say you?

[ Vax watches as the lights take up a guarding position around them. Dion's power always amazes him, even when performing simple tasks. Having command over light is certainly unique, in Vax's opinion. ]

Yeah, let's do it. I'll take the front, and this time, I won't let anything get the drop on me.

[ He hopes the key actually opens something worthwhile, but even if it doesn't, they're having an adventure together. ]

I trust you won't. You noticed them more readily than I did.

[ Vax has keener hearing, but Dion suspects that is only part of it. He steps aside, gesturing for Vax to lead on. Between their glowing equipment and his familiars, they're well-prepared.

Now he only hopes there aren't any more predatory creatures in this place, but it's a small hope. ]

Not enough.

[ Vax murmurs, since he did get caught and might have been killed were it not for Dion. But how many times could he have been killed were it not for his sister and his friends? That's what they have each other for.

They have to go back to the stairs to proceed to the next floor, but this time Vax is prepared to dart. As he leads the way, his new, shimmering cape is easy to follow, at least. ]

None of us are impervious.

[ Dion only counts it fortunate these creatures are so repulsed by light, because they can use that.

He follows Vax closely, watching out for any further attacks. ]

[ Vax knows Dion is right, but he's also glad his friend walks behind him so he can't see the disappointment on his face. Mixed with that, however, is determination.

As they get to the stairwell door, he opens it slowly, taking a careful look up before he moves the rest of the way inside. No sign of spiders at the moment. ]

Looks clear.

[ Dion knows by now that Vax is hard on himself. "Not enough" was itself enough for him to guess what his friend might be thinking.

As they reach the second floor, he peers around. ]

Let us hope it remains that way.

[ Vax doesn't see any threats. Maybe this floor isn't used by the spiders or something else is lurking here unseen. If they're lucky, it'll stay quiet. No visible sign of traps at the moment, so he proceeds forward.

He's quiet as he listens for signs of anything hiding or possibly in the rooms. The place is a bit old, so it does have its own natural creaking sounds at times. ]

I'll try these doors.

[ He indicates the left side of the hall. ]

[ Dion nods, and several of his familiars drift to the left side of the corridor, waiting for Vax. ]

I shall confirm which doors on the right are locked.

[ Could he kick more doors open? Yes. But the noise could attract attention, so it isn't his first recourse when they're back to investigating. ]

Those three can assist you if we find ourselves with company.

[ Vax knows how the satellites move from the times they've trained together. ]

[ Vax glances to the orbs that hover nearby and nods. He knows it's a good idea having them watch his back, but it feels a little like being babysat, as well.

He tries to put such thoughts out of his mind as he gets to work checking each door and sometimes using the key they found in the locks. Hopefully, they can get something useful out of his trip, even if it's a few supplies for their camp. ]

[ For his part, Dion only thinks it a wise precaution when he has seen the creatures here use ambush tactics as a group. Just as many satellites remain with him as he checks doors, peering over obstacles blocking them and trying handles.

Some doors open into dusty, nodescript rooms. He leaves these ajar, to differentiate between those locked and unlocked.

For now, he doesn't venture inside them. It's better to remain in line of sight while more threats may exist. ]

[ Vax moves from one door to the next, following the same method that Dion does. Sometimes, he glances over his shoulder at his friend, as if to ensure there are no problems. ]

Did you ever play games as a kid? Like hide and seek?

[ He thinks he already knows the answer, but he asks anyway. ]

My father would have frowned upon it, and there was a certain distance between myself and most others.

[ Idly, he wonders whether anything in the brief time he'd spent with Joshua during the Remembrance Ceremony would count, but they weren't playing games exactly.

He nudges another door open and finds a peculiar, unnaturally positioned figure staring back at him with wide, unmoving eyes. It reminds him of a scarecrow, were such things ever so detailed. As he observes it, the figure doesn't move. ]

I assume you did?

[ As he asks, he glances Vax's way.

An odd crackling noise follows, and when he looks to the room, the figure has vanished. ]

[ Vax is looking into the rooms on his side, finding nothing of interest. He doesn't notice what strange thing Dion saw in one of his rooms. ]

Mostly when we lived with our mother, yeah. There was a group of us kids in Byroden. We played sometimes. The village wasn't big, but there were a few empty houses or barns we'd make use of for games.

So you had others to play with... [ He smiles at the thought, a small thing, but no less warm. ] That is good to hear.

[ And his voice in turn is warmed, albeit briefly.

It's cooled to something more flatly serious when he speaks again. ]

There was something in this room, and it vanished when I looked away.

[ Vax wonders if Dion would have played with him and the others if they were all children together, or if he would have kept himself away from them. If there were no consequences to it, maybe he would have had many friends.

As the tone changes, Vax turns to look, then hurries to join Dion at the door. He draws his glowing dagger, although Dion said the thing has vanished. ]

What was it?

[ Fair question. What had that been? Dion couldn't be entirely certain, and it feels quite nonsensical the more he thinks about it, but all he can do is describe what he'd seen. ]

It...looked much like someone had made a scarecrow of a cadaver.

[ He wishes he could say it better resembled a mannequin. ]

A... what?

[ He heard Dion, he just sort of wishes he hadn't. That's a very unsettling image he's painted. ]

You know, maybe this key isn't even important.

[ They don't have to find the door it fits. ]

It does seem best to withdr—

[ His words catch in his throat, as another such figure drops from the ceiling with a thump and odd, metallic clatter behind Vax. It lurches upright in jerkiing, unnatural motions before it lunges toward him with alarming speed.

Fortunately, it doesn't move so swiftly that his satellites can't respond. They launch themselves at the scarecrow-creature, striking its head and forcing it to halt in order to lash out at them with a rusted blade.

Light does not appear to affect it. Perhaps it can't see. ]

That isn't the same one I saw before.

[ When he hears the clatter behind him, Vax quickly turns to look. The orbs have bought him just enough time to throw his dagger, embedding it into the skull of the strawman, but will that even do anything? ]

Then there's more. We should get the fuck out of here.

[ The scarecrow buckles, its torso snapping backward with the impact at a severe angle. More jerking motions follow as Dion's satellites pummel it, yet it straightens moments later.

It seems to not feel pain, whatever it is.

They're best off not testing whether these can be felled. Dion glances around before spotting a window in a sitting area along the hall. He wastes no time pointing to it. ]

We can make use of that window to make our egress.

[ Vax nods, holding his hand up so the dagger he threw into the scarecrow reappears in his grip. ]

Let's go then!

[ He wastes no time heading down the hall. As he's sprinting, a side room door bursts open, and another scarecrow creature lunges out. It collides with Vax, who grunts loudly, throwing Vax to the wall and pinning him there. ]

[ It happens swiftly. The little caged lights of Dion's familiars pelt the back of the scarecrow, but it pays them no heed. With stuttering movements, it raises its arm, a sickle in hand. ]

Vax!

[ Dion doesn't know whether he started charging down the hall before or after he shouted. His boots thump against the dusty carpet, and that seems distant to his ears, his focus narrowed to a singular goal.

It isn't safe to use his halberd. Dion registers this as he closes distance, and that thought leads to him grabbing the creature's head with one hand and channeling a burst of his aether through it. His eyes are luminous as bits of the creature's porcelain-like face litter the floor, its head half-gone as it stumbles back.

Spindly legs buckle and the scarecrow stumbles back, seemingly from the force of Dion's magic. ]

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