i'm looking for you out there,

▷ SYNFLUX WORLD TOUR PART 1

After a busy round of assignments, the Outsiders might want to rest but almost immediately, another call comes in. This time, the Alexandria Institute reaches out to LILITH. Over the year, they have been making progress with their research and they heard LILITH has done the same. They think this would be an excellent time to collaborate.

Upon arrival in Alexandria, the Outsiders will be given a chance to rest. The same as last time, they'll be housed in the student dormitories at the University of Alexandria. Each room has 2-4 beds depending on the room with a common shared area on each floor that also includes a kitchen. Unlike last time, the kitchens are stocked with more than just energy drinks and energy bars. This time, they can find coffees, teas, local and a rotation of snacks supplied by staff.

After a night of rest and catching up, they will be asked to come to the labs in the morning. They'll meet with some of the engineers. They want to take a look at their plugsuits and add some upgrades. They recovered some files from the lost research facility in Greece and believe they have a way to create a lighter and more resistant material for their suits. However, their current fabric blend compromises its integrity against physical attacks. They are trying to remedy this. Outsiders will be provided with multiple plugsuit variants and asked to test them in the field later. Plugsuits can have a mix and match of some flaws and weaknesses: Weak to rift corruption, strong to rift corruption, easily torn, repulses touch by anyone including allies, a heavily tinted helmet, sound-dampening, enhanced tracking and vision modes (infrared and night vision, and a mode to pick out where rift-energy is strongest), as well as some suits may come equipped with a pair of wheels in the feet; along with small rockets for propulsion. Yes, someone tried to install rocket-powered heelies.

Additionally, they will be provided with some new weapons... They can test these out in virtual reality simulations.

Some of the items that outsiders can be equipped with are:

Anti-Gravity Boots - These will allow Outsiders to push off and hover wherever they can push. Stronger characters can move further, weaker characters shorter distances. Turning them off results in an outsider falling, but you can turn it on and off for a controlled landing.
Stun Shield - Shield that protects the wearer and when hit, will stun most attackers for a short duration. For extremely large attackers, may deliver a zap instead.
Cloaking device - A chameleon-like device that allows the wearer to blend in when still. When moving, they may be perceivable, but only if someone is *really* looking for them.
Nausea baton - whacking this against a human or a small kaiju will render it ill, and cause it to keel over. Just… clear out quickly!
Grenades - Outsiders will be equipped with a variety of concussive, and EMP grenades to test their efficacy on different Kaiju.
High-Velocity Sword - This sword is fitted with a blade that vibrates, letting it cut through tougher hides and metal. Outsiders are asked to test these only on Kaiju.

After they have been equipped, transport will be provided to send them to a place where they know they can test their suits out in an area with high Rift activity and kaiju threats: Iraq.

Since the events in Iraq, the area where Outsiders were kidnapped to seemingly hasn’t changed much. The rift energy here is high, and Outsiders are recommended to keep their plugsuits on and active the entire time. Equipped with their weapons that they obtained in Egypt, there are a plethora of dangerous Kaiju now drawn to the ruins near the caverns that were once occupied by the rift-corrupted Outsiders.

As they step into these ruins, which are situated over the caves where the corrupted Outsiders once were – the rift corruption still hits you through your plugsuit like a wave of heavy clouds. Outsiders are protected, but the longer you linger, the worse it gets. Apparitions, memories, that sickly feeling that turns your stomach. You feel it, the doom that is coming to humanity. This is where the rift had corrupted Outsiders for a long time, and that feeling of doom is here. You can almost understand what they saw, exposed to it. It’s been left to fester and grow in the caves, and now it’s looking for a target. Their target might just be you.

The ghosts of the (Christmas) past linger in these cloudy, rift-corrupted ruins, and even moreso if you venture close to the caves. The apparitions of your past are here. Do you hear them? Do they call out to you? Will you call out to them? Outsiders will see visions of the past, and perhaps their companions will see them too. These could be people from the Outsiders' worlds that are important to them, or dark memories long sense gone. But are they real, or no? They mustn’t be, right?

So why do they reach out for you? Why do their fingers not pass through your arm, when they grab you, and try to pull you into memory with them? Do you need to relive your past? Will you drag your companions with you?

If you make it through the clouds of memory, there are kaiju who occupy these ruins, making it their home. They venture into the desert as well, but in here, this is their territory. You can find Persian leopard kaiju and mongoose kaiju; but just as dangerous, a ghostly, ephemeral hand will erupt from where the rift energy is the strongest, and try to drag Outsiders back into the rifts. The corrupting energy is strong, and the closer one gets, the…more reasonable it seems, doesn’t it?

Wouldn’t it be easier to just give in? Or will an ally reach out and pull you free? Outsiders can break the spell with one another by sharing a memory from their time with LILITH and running from the high rift energy once the trance is broken. It may take many memories to have an Outsider come to their senses once again.

Mexico City comes alive during the holidays. This time of the year, it’s only slightly cooler, hovering around seventy degrees, and the city is as alive and vibrant as when the Outsiders visited recently. Flowers and greenery still dot every bit of the city, and the people are thriving. Now that the Kaiju is done with, the city seems like it’s back to its old, cheery self. Even moreso now with the holidays! With the Outsiders back, locals will hand out small gifts of food like tamales, homemade chocolates or baked goods, or small candies. Street vendors can be found serving seasonal drinks like champurrado and atole alongside other local foods.

Coming to Mexico seems to be mostly a breather, and they’re put up in local hotels to relax and enjoy the warm weather, before returning to chilly Neo Tokyo. There aren’t many threats these days, though when Outsiders visit things certainly seem… amorous, don’t they? People holding hands on the streets, and even leaning against one another. People seem in good spirits about it, but the keen-eyed will notice that many in the street seem to come together under… a certain bright, cheery plant. Vibrant, neon leaves, white berries that almost seem translucent in the sunlight, and a sheen that almost seems like psychedelic colors running through the veins of the plant.

It’s Mistletoe, of course! And it seems like it’s rift corrupted. Maybe that’s the culprit for all the amorous acts? Outsiders are free to try and remove it, or even track down the source – which seems to be a line of the plant growing from deeper in the jungle, attaching to other plants and overtaking their roots – and locals will be grateful for the help. Be careful, however…

Finding oneself underneath the plant with another will leave the outsiders compelled to not only stay put, but being close will fill outsiders with a sense of belonging. The person next to you looks rather nice, don’t they? Is there a blush to their cheeks? Outsiders who kiss or cuddle under the mistletoe will also be compelled to stay with one another, and not only that, will start to feel agitated and paranoid if they aren’t constantly touching. Whether that’s holding hands, hugging, or… something else, it’s up to you! Effects seem to fade after a few days, but in the meantime, it’s best to hope you’re stuck with someone you can stand!

The return to Windsor is far more peaceful than the first time around, and the differences in the castle are immediate, even though it has only been a short time since the Outsiders were invited to stay.

Most of the damage from the battle has been repaired, and the castle is bustling with life. Many of the ‘rebels’ who had been part of Eadmund’s group have returned to live within the walls of the keep, and the people have an aura of true joy and happiness about them, far different from the tense, edgy fear that had left things tense and awkward the first time they had arrived.The graffiti is gone, the monsters appear to have been cursed and returned to their families, and all seems peaceful.

The main attraction for Outsiders visiting England is the Winter market that has begun, spread throughout the bailey and surrounding landscape of the castle. Various goods are on sale, and the people are more than happy to bargain and trade with the organisation that had done good work in saving them. So, the question is… What do you want to buy?

The stalls are offering various wares, ranging from woodworking, jewellery, leather work, blown glass and precious art items. There’s also a fair amount of food and drink on offer, from hog roasts to sausages to gin and mulled wine. If the Outsiders stop to chat with the vendors, they’ll find out that this is the first time in years that they’ve been able to run the market, and while there’s not a significant amount of goods to purchase (it’s only been a few months!) there’s enough for a handful of decent winter gifts.

Anyone who might be bored with their Christmas shopping might hear some rumours of a minor kaiju hunting the livestock and stalking the forests around where the citizens live, stalking the pathways the rebels used to live. They’ll happily share any information, should an Outsider want to hunt it, and leave the matter in their more than capable hands.

The Sgàilcù.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET.
NAME: Sgàilcù
HEIGHT: ???
WEIGHT: ??
CLASS: Mild threat
LOCATION: Enchanted Forest, England
ABILITIES: Shadow manipulation, poisonous bite
WEAKNESSES: Sunlight, fire, blind during the day
EXTRA NOTES: This Kaiju tends to attack at night, and can use the darkness and shadows to its own advantage. If bitten by the poison, sleep related effects may occur.
POISON EFFECTS: Unconsciousness and long-term sleep. Can be reversed with physical contact with a loved one.
ATTACHED IMAGE:

Towards the end of the month, there are whispers amongst the common folk. It might be noticeable to those Outsiders who care that both Gwen and Eadmund have been missing in action, and while no one at Windsor seems concerned, they’re giggly and coy if asked about it. They offer the reassurance that both their leaders are fine and well, but they’re otherwise occupied elsewhere at the moment. Weird.

As Outsiders conclude their world tour, they are given a chance to recuperate back on base. It looks like LILITH staff has decorated various common areas with holiday festivities. In the Library, Outsiders will find stockings with their CODENAME on it, but nothing will be seen inside of it (yet!) In the GREENHOUSE, LILITH staff will be seen decorating the trees and other plantlife, real and artificial alike. If you're feeling festive, why not give them a hand? Outsiders who wish to relax in the CAFETERIA will be treated to hot chocolate and other refreshments. It seems like it's going to be a sleepy rest of the year, right? At least, that is what it feels like as Outsiders head to their dorms for bed.

The next day, bright and early, an alarm goes off, awaking everyone on their oculars. SYNTHIA gives a quick message:


Outsiders will be provided a high speed railway pass that takes roughly an hour directly from Shibuya to Mount Fuji. Upon arrival, they will be directed to investigate various trails of the volcano for any clues. The trails are as listed: the Yoshida Route, the Fujinomiya Route, the Gotemba Route, and the Subashiri Route. The site will be shut down from tourists and civilians and granted only access to safety personnel and LILITH crew. It is very cold this time of year, so be sure to pack accordingly. Outsiders will be given a small device that tracks RIFT ENERGY and will be instructed to find anything that has high RIFT ENERGY or looks suspicious to be brought back and analyzed. Characters can bring it to LILITH personnel at SUV stations they have around the area.

After retrieving items and turning them in, head back to base. Or maybe you want to sight see Fuji yourself? Might as well while you are here if you can bare the weather.