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

[ 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. ]

[ Vax is trying to lift his hand to block the sickle with his dagger. Kicking the scarecrow isn't going to get it to let him go. Luckily, he's not alone.

The sudden flash of aether has Vax closing his eyes and turning his head to the side. When he looks again, he sees his attacker falling to pieces in front of him. The head, at least.

A shove pushes the thing off him. Then, he reaches for Dion's arm to urge him down the hall before even more of the monsters join them. ]

Come on, move!

[ Dion doesn't take more prompting than that. Vax is moving, and Dion follows suit. The longer they remain, the more likely it will be that another creature will ambush them.

Just as the thought passes through his mind, another heavy thump sounds some distance behind them. Dion doesn't bother to look as they rush toward the window down the hall. ]

[ Vax knows when he's being chased and it's more than Dion that's behind him. If Dion should be stopped by the scarecrows, Vax would turn immediately to assist, but the window is in range now. Perhaps they'll make it out.

Grabbing both of his daggers, Vax throws them ahead of him. The blades pass through the window, shattering the glass.

So long as Dion is with him, Vax sprints for the exit and leaps through it, holding his arms crossed in front of him to shield himself from any sharp pieces that might cut him on the way out. As soon as he's through the window and in the air, his wings spread to turn his fall into a glide so he might safely descend. ]

[ Dion doesn't lose momentum as he follows, though the steadiness of his dash stutters as one of the creatures lunges at him. He feels the blade of a knife graze his chainmail and he can't entirely avoid it, but the weapon glances off of his armor.

The implements these scarecrows carry don't seem remotely practical for comabt. That thought flits through his mind as he reaches the window and halts to climb out, hearing the stacatto thump of his satellites striking at his pursuers to buy him time.

And then he drops, dragoon that he is, from that height. ]

[ Once he lands, Vax turns to look to ensure Dion is behind him. He waves Dion to follow as Vax heads quickly away from the inn and back in the direction of camp. It's not until they're safely away from the building that he stops to check on his friend. ]

Dion, are you alright?

[ Vax looks well enough, except for a scratch across his cheek. Maybe it was from the scarecrow or perhaps it was from the glass as he exited the building. Either way, it's just a small cut. ]

Edited 2026-02-17 05:09 (UTC)

[ Small cut it may be, but Dion still automatically lifts a hand, palm adopting what may now be a familiar glow. He stops short of touching Vax's cheek, needing proximity for his healing still yet. ]

I am all right. Their weapons couldn't pierce my mail.

[ While his light does the work of closing that cut, he gives Vax a surveying look-over. ]

Have you any other cuts? You did pass through the window first.

[ Vax is all too familiar with Dion's healing light by now, so he closes his eyes as he sees it begin to do its work on the cut. ]

I'm fine.

[ He doesn't seem to have any further injuries. His armor is not as resistant as Dion's, but it kept him from being cut further by the glass.

He sets a hand on Dion's shoulder, giving him a once over despite knowing that Dion's armor protected him. ]

[ Unless Dion gets a pat-down, his collection of bruises from this venture will go unnoticed. They're nothing worthy of concern in his opinion, especially not when the creatures they'd dealt with were so dangerous.

He had never paid such minor things any mind. ]

That is a relief.

[ Not that Dion doubts Vax's ability to weather dangerous foes, but that was more than he'd have expected to deal with.

Once Vax's cut is healed, the glow of Dion's palm fades and he lets his hand drop. ]

I feel we should block off that doorway, lest someone else wander in.

[ As much as he'd like to, Vax has no way to heal Dion's wounds the way Dion does. The only thing Vax might be able to offer is to carry his friend back to camp, but that isn't necessary. So long as Dion's able to keep moving, Vax is sure it'll be fine, and if not, Joshua will take care of the rest.

A nod and Vax reaches to pluck a piece of straw from Dion's hair. ]

I don't have any tools to seal it with it. We could pull some of the furniture out of the lobby, provided it's still safe.

I could fell one of the trees nearby.

[ He offers this casually, as though the trees don't tower over them both. Vax would surely know what he's suggesting.

Since this world has little by way of population and is soon to perish, knocking a tree over and dropping it in front of those doors ought not pose a problem. ]

[ Vax lifts a brow as Dion suggests he simply cut down a tree. ]

Sure, that would work. I'll leave it to you.

[ And he will watch this spectacle unfold. Guess he can take this chance to catch his breath while Dion does that. Vax did have a harrowing time in there. ]

[ Dion nods, starts toward the tree he has in mind, and halts. ]

Please remain here. This should be a safe distance.

[ Then he marches toward a tree that has grown beside the hotel and circles around it. While he does so, he gathers up his aether.

So long as he does this from the proper angle... ]

[ Vax stops and lingers in the spot Dion deems safe. He doesn't need to worry Dion a third time today. With his safety assured, Vax crosses his arms over his chest to watch as his friend scopes out a tree. ]

Show that tree who's boss.

[ He calls, teasing his friend a bit. Dion is always impressive, but he gets to show off a bit now. ]

[ Once Dion decides on his angle of approach, his wings appear behind him in a flicker of an instant before he releases a concentrated beam of light that blasts the tree. The beam is broad enough to pummel the tree with sufficient force to make a crack ring out through the area.

A moment later, the tree first teeters, then slams heavily across the front stoop of the hotel, sending leaves flying. ]

[ Vax expected a show of magic to knock down the tree, but the appearance of Dion's wings gets a wide-eyed blink.

He was planning to throw out another witty remark at Dion's feat, but he's just a little stupefied by how Dion looks. Not that he isn't always eye-catching, of course.

It's not until there's a rush of leaves in the air and a gust that ruffles his hair from the falling tree does he snap out of it. ]

Uh, well done.

[ Dion's wings are gone again in a glimmer, now that his task is complete. ]

With any luck, that should keep those creatures confined to the building.

[ He hopes it will, at least. If a locked door was enough, a tree ought to suffice. ]

Nice work.

[ Vax clears his throat and turns away to look at the woods to hide his blush. ]

I guess we ought to head back.

[ Dion's strides carry him nearer, and then he leans to get a better look at Vax's expression from beside him. ]

'Twas no mountain, you know.

[ And on this day, he uses the ballad Vax often teases him over to tease him back.

Did he really find it impressive though...? ]

[ When Dion joins him and leans to purposefully look, it takes Vax by surprise, who blinks and turns red again. Fuck. Why did he do that?

He just watched Dion cut down a gigantic tree in one go. Of course it was impressive. Vax can't do that.

There's a soft huff of laughter. ]

By the time they write it into your song, that tree will be the size of a titan.

[ Dion hadn't expected the remark to fluster Vax, but it clearly did. Realizing that, he straightens, allowing his friend his space. ]

I fancy I'm quite safe from bards here.

[ It's just him and Vax and whatever forest creatures out there. ]

Titan is a veritable mountain though.

[ It's less the remark and more the proximity and being seen. Vax might wear his heart on his sleeve, but he's also used to the shadows. Going unnoticed. When Dion makes it a point to really look, Vax couldn't help it. ]

So you have felled mountains? Guess there's truth to the song after all.

[ He jokes with a side-long glance. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject