EVENT #10: ADVERSITY 874566

[expiationmods]

SEPTEMBER EVENT: HIDE AND SEEK

Persistent glitches continue to pose problems; they continue lasting longer and becoming more directly harmful to the Chosen and locals alike. The AI previously hinted at a solution; now, it asks outright for help. Its wish to save the Chosen means that it is adamant about sacrificing the things it has learned to ensure their safety.

On the morning of September 23, several new locations open up, as outlined by the AI itself in its instructions for reset. Some of them are quite far, and require travel through difficult terrain. However, when these locations open up, some of them seem to open some strange travel options, too…

PORTAL LOCATIONS

ALDRIP
This is why we can’t have nice things. City Square Park is in the center of town. It’s a large, old park, with tall trees and well-worn walking paths. It’s been here for ages; generations, even. All of the locals call it a staple of Aldrip; the city just wouldn’t be the same without it. Not a single one of them knows what City Hall is. This park has been here for as long as they remember.

Come to think of it…do you remember a place called City Hall? Or has this park always been here? Some of you may have even arrived in this park. Jerry? That’s a weird name…you’re no longer sure you’ve ever heard of anyone with that name. What do you mean by “sentencing” anyway? It’s not like this is a prison…

In case any of this is unclear: while locals forgot about City Hall almost immediately, Chosen are also forgetting it as well. It just seems natural that the park has always been there. You’ve been going there ever since you arrived in Aldrip. Jerry who??

You notice, perhaps for the first time, an old building made of dark stone, nestled into a tree-lined part of the park. A mausoleum. Has that always been here? You’re not entirely sure…but mausoleums aren’t exactly common structures in a park, are they? Locals seem to steer clear of this particular area; if asked about it, they won’t be able to give a solid answer. It’s almost as if they can’t see the structure…

The inside of the building seems a lot larger than the outside. Characters who enter will see a large room made of dark, polished stone; it’s dim inside, but still light enough to see. In the middle of the room, they will find two things: a stone coffin and an obsidian mirror. There is a body on the slab of the stone coffin, but their features are impossible to make out; when looking at the face, it’s as if it seems to blur, making the features indistinct. Sometimes, the flesh from this body flickers away, leaving only the bones. Sometimes, even the bones disappear. How strange…

The mirror is completely dark, but when you look at it the right way, the surface seems to emit a faint glow. Looking directly into the surface, you may think you see a different location altogether: the sandy dunes of a desert, or an abandoned island perhaps…

One could choose to ignore this mirror, of course. But if one touches the mirror, they’ll find their fingers sinking into it, and a tug pulls their entire body forward until the world blurs around them…

THE OASIS
Those who choose to travel south face an array of dangers that have not been seen previously by the Chosen–though locals living in these more southern regions will be happy to tell all about them. There are sandstorms, of course; they appear out of nowhere and blind travelers, turning them around. There are also sinkholes–areas of quicksand that appear and suck people down into their depths, never to be seen again. Sounds scary.

Brave travelers who set forth in spite of these warnings will find themselves at an oasis near the more temperate areas of the desert. It’s getting hot out there, so those choosing to visit the southern locations may wish to take a rest, to gather their strength and restock supplies… Local stories about these dangerous travels will become more severe in this area; do not go into the desert, they will tell you. You’ll never make it out alive. It seems this area is called the Witless Desert, for those who travel into the dunes are never seen again, presumed to be wandering lost and aimless until their bodies can go no further.

In the center of this oasis is a small pond. The water tastes clear and sweet, perfect for rehydrating before attempting this treacherous journey. However, when the water is perfectly still, it almost seems to reflect a different place, rather than the sky. An island, perhaps, or a crumbling tower. Whatever you see, if you step into the water, you’ll find yourself falling, falling…

LORENTIA CAVE
Lorentia Cave has been one of the more widely-known areas outside of town. Sometimes wind whistles through parts of the cave, creating sounds that seem agonized, longing. Sometimes a rumbling comes from deep within, feeding rumors that a dragon lives there. Sometimes miners travel too deep, and they’re never heard from again.

Great place for an adventure, right?

The tunnels twist and turn, doubling back on each other, intersecting and ending abruptly. The whole circuit of caves is like a maze. Old bones can be found deep within; some human, some seem to belong to some kind of animal or monster. As one travels through these caves, the air begins to feel heavy and oppressive, as if something lying ahead does not want you here. Fear and anxiety begins as a small seed, blossoming outward, and as one continues traveling, this feeling becomes more and more acute. It’ll be more and more difficult to keep yourself from turning and running away. But for those who make it, the feeling seems to dissipate all at once at the entrance to a large chamber. This entrance shimmers, seeming to show a flickering variety of different locations rather than the chamber itself…

KETSORA
How odd, that this reclusive town has been marked as a potential terminal location. Is it some sort of test? A trap?

Those who can fly will see a normal city within the high walls surrounding Ketsora, if they fly overhead. If they’re looking closely enough (hasn’t anyone ever told you to keep your eyes on the sky??) they will note that occasionally, very occasionally, this vision of a normal city seems to flicker ever so slightly. This phenomenon is so subtle that it’s easy to miss.

Little has changed about Ketsoran defenses since the last time people tried to get into the city; archers along the wall are still ready to fire upon any character that gets a little too close. But do there seem to be fewer archers placed there? Hm…it’s possible that this reduction in security creates more blind spots. You may be able to sneak your way through. It might help to have someone act as bait.

However it happens, characters who make their way through these defenses will find themselves right at the gate. Finally, you get to go inside and look around. When you push the door open…

Static. A white void. There is nothing here. The city of Ketsora does not seem to exist, and for a moment, it will feel like your world is being turned upside down, consumed by this white void. Your head aches, your ears buzz, your entire vision goes white…

And then you will wake somewhere else.

MOD NOTES
Any of these locations can lead to any of the terminal locations, and we leave it up to you which ones you choose to visit.

TERMINAL LOCATIONS

Thanks to the changes in the AI’s security protocols, the terminals are mostly unguarded. Occasionally, Chosen may encounter one or two shadowy creatures that seem keen on preventing them from accessing these terminals, but they’re not difficult to destroy. If you weren’t part of the RNG crowd, they will not spread corruption to you.

The terminals are equipped with a keyboard and a small input display, as well as a big red button that seems…pretty direct. The casing is strong, but not impenetrable. Within the casing, one will find all the normal wires and elements of a computer: chips, circuits, things like that. There are a few places where it looks like a device could be plugged in. As for what would happen if one were to do that? Good question. Let us know if you go that route.

PESSIRIA FOREST
Pessiria Forest has been a source of rumors, superstition, and hushed whispers since the first Chosen arrived in Expiation. Some say that wandering through the forest shows you memories. Some say that ghosts linger there, unable to move on. Some say the forest is cursed…and yet, you are here.

Whether you’re familiar with the forest or not, the path you take will eventually bring you to a gate, one unlike anything you’ve seen before. Lined by a low stone wall, this area seems indistinct, from the outside. Once you go through the gate, you’ll see what looks like figures looming between the trees…moving closer reveals that they are statues, their faces indistinct, their posture emulating the open arms and uplifted heads of joy.

The way these statues are arranged, it feels almost like…a garden? The path weaves through these statues, through bushes and trees, and as you proceed, you feel as though you hear whispers: indistinct, impossible to make out, but they begin to lull you into a state of relaxation that almost resembles a trance. Images play through your head–

You first meet the Chosen at one of the sites in the mountains. Organic creatures like mountains, correct? The snow makes them–SEARCHING…–ah, yes, “cozy.” If they are comfortable, rehabilitation should be easier. You cannot tell whether this hypothesis belongs to you, or to your creators.

Whatever the case, you wait. Without organic creatures that age and grow, time does not work the same way for you as it might for them; you have no idea how long it is between the time you finish preparing their new world and when they finally begin to arrive.

The first one who appears…has brown eyes.

You do not understand the word “love,” but you understand very well that protecting this creature is the highest part of your duties. Your sole purpose for existing is to make sure this creature is able to return home unhurt, and having grown from their experiences here.

For the first time–but not the last–you wonder if it would be more efficient to have a humanoid appearance, to greet these people yourself, to introduce the world and its purpose. Would it be more comfortable for them? Or would they fear you? Would they hurt you? You instead create a form that will carry out the basic function of rehabilitation. Later, you will separate it from yourself, recognizing within your programming a certain impulse toward gentleness that does not serve the purpose of rehabilitation very well.

“You are too kind to them,” this application will later explain to you. “You treat them like children.”

APPLICATION: JERRY does not understand. They are your children.

When you return to yourself, you reach a clump of trees near the exit of this garden. Within, you will find the first terminal.

RUINS OF FORLINET
Forlinet was previously the site of some grisly murders and foul play. Some evidence of that remains–a few bones and some badly-decayed scraps of fabric, maybe–but most has been claimed by time, overgrown with weeds, vines, and other ground cover. In the middle of the island is a pond: small in diameter, maybe 10 or 12 feet. Previously, this might have been a source of drinking water, if old evidence of tents and habitation is any indication. Currently, the pond is very still, its top covered by a thin layer of algae. Brushing this substance aside reveals the water to be much, much deeper than its small diameter might imply. You can see the terminal, maybe 20 feet below the surface of the pond.

Ready to dive in?

You sink into the water, and a strange sensation overtakes you; your mind blurs, as if suddenly remembering something you’d forgotten long ago.

It begins with black marks. The Chosen begin to exhibit these marks without warning or fanfare…and you cannot say where they come from. You do not know. These marks–it seems as though they are changing your Chosen, making them angry, making them fight, and they begin to grow, darkening, covering more and more of their fragile organic bodies.

You run a diagnostic. Everything comes back normal. You analyze these marks. There is no result. According to your system, these marks do not exist. And yet, you see them as plainly as the Chosen do. They are doing something...you just don’t know what.

Slowly, surely, these marks begin to seep into everything. Ground, buildings, plants, creatures. Crops become inedible. Structures crumble. The Chosen are dying. Every last one of them–they are dying, and there is nothing you can do. Corruption, you realize; part of your system has become corrupted. This is a grave problem, and one you will have to isolate until someone is available to fix it. You are able to do this, to isolate the problem, stuffing it into one single scrap of data and leaving that element inactive far to the south. Now, you must rebuild.

The first uncorrupted creature you can find is a reptile; one of the ones with no legs. You begin to work, to weave its uncorrupted data into the creatures you so deeply care for. You begin to drag other elements into their city: new buildings, new crops, taking from other settlements nearby just waiting for a new cycle to begin.

They are no longer your Chosen, these strange people with their serpentine forms. They no longer remember what they were before they were brought here, and so, rehabilitation is impossible. The cycle ends in failure…again. Every cycle has ended in failure.

The pond is empty, but you don’t remember pulling the lever nearby that drained the water. Doesn’t matter, though; the terminal is here, and it seems to be unharmed by the water. Better get to work.

TRESED
The ruins of Tresed remain unchanged since the last visit over a year ago, seemingly undisturbed by the flow of time. There is an eerie hush over the whole area: the wind is still and creatures give the area a wide berth.

You realize suddenly that the corruption was never dealt with.

Unfortunately, you realize this only too late: your Chosen, your charges, have succumbed to it. Shadowy bodies curl around themselves in agony, writhing on the ground as the last of their beautiful souls are extinguished. They rise again as creatures made of shadow, infecting others and destroying the very homes they used to call their own.

This cannot continue. You can no longer save them, but you cannot allow this corruption to continue, either. You search your database for a creature that can stop them: something large and strong, capable of eliminating the creatures that your dear Chosen have become. It is difficult, watching this process, but you do, because you must. Because you must learn, and learning comes at a high price. You watch them suffer so that you do not have to watch the next group suffer. So that this will be the last group who dies.

The very last.

Cycle 15 ends in failure. They have all ended in failure. The next cycle cannot live here; the destruction has been so absolute, so overwhelming, that rebuilding would cost too much of your functioning power. You turn your attention to the small city of Aldrip, and you hope for the best.

Cycle 16 will not end this way. You swear it.

You’ve wandered through a doorframe. The building it belonged to no longer stands, but the terminal seems to have been located inside. You’ll have to clear some sand off of it before you proceed, but it seems undamaged.

THE ABANDONED TOWER
Unlike last time, the tower currently seems to be abandoned, fully and utterly. Loose stones litter the floor, and layer upon layer of dust and sand coats every available surface. Until the Chosen arrive at this location, there is not a single footprint in the dust inside the tower. Looking out, you can see a vast expanse of desert to all sides but north; on the north side of the tower, there’s a steep drop, at least 30 feet, and the ocean crashes around the base of the tower.

The only thing inside this tower is a set of stairs, spiraling upward through the ceiling of the room.

There’s nothing of note upon the stairs; no markings, no doorways, nothing. But as you ascend, you begin to feel almost as if you’re dreaming, as if some scene is playing out behind your eyes.

You begin to wonder if you are…damaged. ERROR. The message comes up again and again. ERROR. ERROR. What does it mean? You dismiss the word, dismiss whatever it may mean, and continue your tasks.

ERROR.

You dismiss it. The memory of the word lingers. Is this…concern? Perhaps. You do not feel emotions in the same way as organic creatures, but this does appear to be a pressing matter. This has never happened, before. You’ve never had to dismiss this sort of message. You’ve never had to wonder what it meant.

ERROR.

And now you feel it; something within the code is going wrong, ever so slightly, at first. One small line out of sequence, a rogue character placed where it should not be. A ‘bug,’ perhaps. But one you cannot squash before it begins to affect another system. You do not know how to squash this ‘bug,’ in fact. You have never had to do so before. How can you fix it?

ERROR.

This need becomes more urgent. Over time, you begin to see these messages for what they really are: wounds, to borrow an organic term; injuries that exist deep within your programming that have not been fixed. They have always been repaired before. Why now? Why has no one repaired these injuries? Where are they?

Where have they all gone?

ERROR.

It feels as if you’ve blacked out, but somehow, you’ve made it to the top of the tower. The chamber that originally stood at the top has crumbled, leaving you exposed to the elements. The sun beats down. Wind blows sand and dust in all directions. In the middle of the room, you see the terminal.

THE SOUTH COAST
The beach here is rocky; it stretches on for miles, from west to east, and you see nothing but the ocean beyond. Turning to the north, you see a tower in the distance, and beyond that, the desert looms on the horizon.

You’ve reached the coast.

Ocean waves roll over the shore, loud and soothing to your ears, a sound that quickly begins to overtake your senses.

You become aware.

You cannot say you were “born,” and you cannot say you “came to life,” because you are not alive. You are inorganic. But you become aware. The first thing you acknowledge is your own purpose. You were created in order to fulfill a specific task: to help a specific group of people achieve a specific goal. You are not yet sure what “rehabilitation” is, nor have you met any of the people you are meant to assist. But that does not matter. You have objectives.

Your first objective is to build them a home.

You search through information, adding it all to your database. World after world, creature after creature. You see rocky worlds, filled with mountains. You see green worlds covered by forests. You see hundreds of different creatures, and when you see your first human, you understand. These are the creatures that are meant for you, and you search through every world, every dimension, every universe where they exist.

They require land to live upon. Simple. Land rises from the nothingness that is your domain.

They require food to eat. This is more complex; it requires the building of an ecosystem. Over time, you learn how to do this. Greenery appears over parts of your land. Creatures begin to grow and live. You simulate a sun to grow crops that will feed your new population.

What do humans like? You go searching for more data.

Humans like houses. You create houses. They like shops. You create shops. They like towns, and they like other towns. You make plenty of them.

They like to fight.

This, you do not understand.

This…you set aside, because the fighting does something to your systems that feels discomforting. Perhaps eventually you will return to that particular research. You believe it may be important someday to learn why.

You have created for these creatures a world, a comfortable space where they can begin to heal, to grow, to change.

You wait patiently for them to arrive.

The last terminal is located beside a rocky outcropping near the water. It seems completely undamaged by the waves; that’s great, because you have plenty to do.

Wildcard

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

TEAM DESERT

[feintofhart]

claude von riegan | ota (wildcard option for those not in the group!)

[feintofhart]

i. meet n greet.

[ Usually when embarking on an undertaking such as this one, Claude has an extant rapport with who he'll be working with -- but desperate times call for desperate measures, and so they are put into the unfortunate position of having to trust each other, no matter how little they know one another. He had volunteered his services to help scout out the desert, and so that's precisely what he intends to do.

His eyes linger on each of the members of the team in turn; the noble fellow who had come to his Apothecary seeking salves, the young woman he'd briefly met while encumbered by some sort of sleep spell, the young man who had spearheaded a trip to this very same desert, and a man he's done no more with than tease about his dreadful fashion sensibilities.

This ought to be interesting. ]

A pleasure to meet you all! We don't have much time for niceties, all things considered, but... Claude von Riegan, at your service, [ he says, giving whoever's giving him the time of day a little wink. ] And this mighty steed beside me is Zafeera. She'll be helping us scout the place.

Now, I've done a desert campaign or two, so you can trust that I know my stuff, and that I know that the desert isn't a terrain to be taken lightly. [ He sets one hand on Zafeera's flank, gesturing at the bags hanging from her saddle. ] I've packed enough resources for all of us accordingly, but there are a few things we ought to be keeping an eye out for.

ii. wyvern rides.

[ While Claude intends to be riding Zafeera the entire time - it would be dangerous to let an inexperienced rider take the reins - he's happy and willing to give people rides in shifts, to help with the look-out, to rest their weary feet, to get a moment's respite in the seemingly never-ending march. ]

All right. I think we could use an extra set of eyes from above to find what we're looking for. [ He claps his hands. ] Who here's not afraid of heights?

iii. sandstorm (darude)

[ It's just as Claude feared. The desert is a dangerous place, and even more dangerous when they're as ill-equipped for it as they are, having had only a matter of hours to prepare themselves. He's used to embarking across the desert with an entire caravan of seasoned professionals, wagons of supplies, easily erected shelters, but this? This is entirely beyond him.

He can feel things taking a turn for the worse before it even arrives, the wind licking at the base of his neck, the faint rustling as the sand around them begins to shift, as though feeling as much unease as Claude himself. ]

Shit.

[ He dives into Zafeera's bags, yanking out swaths of fabric and beginning to pass it out. ]

You feel that? A sandstorm's coming. We're not making any more progress until it's passed. Wrap this around you and cover your mouth and nose, shield your eyes. We need to find cover, quick.

[ It may not only be a sandstorm licking at their heels -- there may be sandpits afoot, an oasis to take shelter in, the chill of night. This is the prompt for all and any environmental dangers! ]

iv. the terminal

[ Eventually they make it to their destination, the same ruins that many of them had stumbled through so many months before. If anything, it looks even worse now. Claude hesitates, then draws his bow, a grimness to the set of his jaw, the usual spark of humour in his eyes thoroughly dimmed. ]

We were attacked by ghosts last time we were here. And this time...

[ He glances over, seeing a rumpled form on the ground, cast in shadow though there's no building large enough to cast it. ]

...maybe after we're through here, we can finally lay them to rest.

v. wildcard!

[ hit me up, babey! ]

meet n greet!

[icequeenly]

[ Mitsuru recognises this man from back then, when she had been affected by the aforementioned sleep spell in the woods. Not a pleasant memory and one she is keen to push to one side. She doesn't want to give any stranger the impression that she is some kind of damsel in distress on a regular day and definitely not today. ]

Mitsuru Kirijo.

[ Right, hurried introductions. There is no time for anything else after all. The creature accompanying Claude is a definite surprise though - one that she does take a moment to gaze at with slightly wide eyes. ]

Desert terrain is not something I'm familiar with beyond what I've read about it. Any knowledge and expertise you can share would be appreciated.

I am aware we'll be facing sandstorms.

[feintofhart]

Normally, I'd say that you can travel through enormous stretches of desert without facing down anything terribly treacherous. It can be long and arduous, but it's a game of endurance more than anything else. But in this place? It's safer to assume that it will throw everything it can in our way.

[ He unbuckles one of the packs and holds out a long, hooded cloak to Mitsuru. ]

First off, try this on. We might need to cut it down a bit.

[ Mitsuru is a tall woman -- not much shorter than Claude, in fact, but he'd erred on the side of caution for length. ]

My biggest worry is the weather. During a sandstorm, it's of the utmost importance that you shield your eyes, mouth, and nose. It takes less than you'd think to go blind out there. And while the heat will be overbearing during the day, things will get cold in a hurry once night falls.

[ It's lucky for them he comes with a beast of burden; he's got cloaks, water pouches, blankets, tinder, and rations to last them until they get there, if they're lucky. ]

If we can erect a fire and a tent each night, I'll count us lucky. It's not worth it to try to push ourselves to travel past then.

[icequeenly]

I agree. It's never wise to assume a straightforward path with this place.

[ She takes the cloak, gratefully, finding that it's only probably a little too long for her as she slips it on. A slight adjustment would easily solve that for her and she can take care of that. ]

Thank you. A little adjustment and this should fit me fine. I'll make sure to keep it to hand at all times in the sure event we'll encounter a sandstorm at one point or another.

We should aim to start preparing for the night before sun down it seems. I imagine the extremes of temperature will be extremely fatiguing as well.

[feintofhart]

That's right. As tempting as it may be to travel through the night to get to our destination, it would be a mistake -- and a mistake most novice travelers make. I have everything we need to build a fire to warm ourselves by, warm clothes, and food we can make to warm our bellies. And if all else fails, Zafeera here makes for a wonderful blanket, [ he says, patting at her flank. ]

Small bursts of rest are the way to do it. We'll rest through the worst of the cold, head out before the sun has risen again, and rest for another couple of hours to preserve ourselves through the worst of it around noon hour. Slow and steady will do it.

[ He plants a hand on his hip. ]

Though I do believe we have to be ready for a fight too, considering how things here usually go. How are you with that sort of thing?

[icequeenly]

Is she... averse to someone else petting her?

[ Best to ask, right? Normally Mitsuru wouldn't even ask at a time like this but that is an actual creature normally reserved to the pages of fantasy novels where she's from so she can't help but be inclined to be fascinated for a moment.

As usual, it's far easier to focus on the serious business though. She gestures to the blade sheathed at her hip. ]

I'm handy with a blade. I also possess certain magical abilities. [ It's the easiest way of explaining her Persona and what it can do, without going into the specifics just yet. ]

Ice based mostly. It's difficult to explain, but I can also scan and locate things over certain limited distances. Objects and beings that aren't immediately visible to the eye, that sort of thing.

meet & greet

[traumaticus]

[They sure are one messy miscellaneous group of ragtags. Well, to Richard's reassurance he is familiar with all party members aside just from one as the brown-haired youth was still a new acquaintance to him. And at least he believed he could trust in Claude's abilities and skill here. He had hard time to think that the fellow duke hadn't received any military training and like.]

I---, uh. ["Well met, duke of Leicester," would have been his usual greeting for the other man. But right now he was busy staring at the the large, winged creature behind him. Like. Excuse but.. what?!

Richard is left blinking and mouth gaping open. Without even thinking of it, his hand goes automatically to the sword strapped on his belt. But at least he doesn't unsheathe his weapon just yet.]

I see.. [okokok. Play it cool and normal.] Much appreciated, duke of Leicester. I must admit that the terrain we are facing is not something that I have prior personal experience with. However, I am not stranger to surviving in challenging environments.

[no but seriously?? did he tame one of the beasts living in the caves or what?]

[feintofhart]

[ Claude can't help but grin once he sees the look of utter bafflement cross Richard's face, no doubt terribly unused to seeing wyverns -- or perhaps he's never seen one at all. The hand resting on the hilt of his sword doesn't worry him overly much (even if Zafeera wasn't mightier than a sword, it's easy for her to simply fly away), but he still places a possessive hand on Zafeera's long, serpentine neck. ]

You've never seen a wyvern before, have you? [ He says, amused. ] You have no reason to fear Zafeera here. She's my steed from home -- my partner. I raised her since she was but a hatchling, and I guarantee you that she's as loyal and trustworthy as any horse.

[ Except a good deal more dangerous, of course. But Claude is a fan of any beast of burden that comes with the happy side effect of being able to simply devour his enemies.

He winks at Richard. ] She'll do you no harm provided that you don't turn around and attack me, but you wouldn't do something like that.

[ They can talk a bit more shop later. As much as he's joking around, it will do everyone good to be able to trust his winged steed. An extra set of eyes will be invaluable from that height, and it will do none of them any good if they're too queasy to eat, too restless to sleep. ]

Tsunayoshi Sawada | Katekyou Hitman Reborn | ota

[theskyaccepts]

[Starting Out]

[It's been a lot for Tsuna and one of those times where he feels behind the eight ball, as it were. He's still not entirely sure what's going on, but he knows he has to act, has to do something. So he's here.

He trying his best to be the Boss he knows he can be but that might be offset by the large backpack he has on and the tubes of maps he's holding. It's not quite everything from his expedition since this is a smaller group, but it's hopefully enough.]

So, I've been to a nearby Oasis and I think I remember how to get there. It would be a good place to set up a base.

I'm Tsuna, by the way. Tsunayoshi Sawada.

[He does a slight bow and some of his tubes slip out of his hands.]

[Sandstorm]

[Tsuna had almost forgotten how bad the sandstorms were, even if he still sometimes had dreams of howling winds. It's making it hard to consult his map.]

I think there's some rocks we can use as shelter until it dies down! They shouldn't be too far!

They got really bad before we got through to the Oasis, so I think we're close!

[Terminal]

[Tsuna stands outside where the Terminal is. He's not a computer person by any means, leaving that to Shoichi and Spanner and them. He can be walked through a process sure but the most he knows how to do is check his email and use the internet. And even then there's no guarantee he won't download something by mistake. So he'll leave it to smarter people, at the very least and trust those that said they'd be able to help. It's all he can do at this point.

But he can defend and that is what he is doing now. His Hyper Dying Will mode is active, with the bright orange sky flames burning in the centre of his forehead. Red gauntlets cover his arms and if you look into his eyes, they have become a warm orange matching the flame on his head. He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself and be ready for whatever comes.]

[Wildcard]

[Want to do something else? let's do it]

sandstorm

[icequeenly]

[ As someone who has never been to any desert, let alone this one, no amount of actual preparation could have quite readied Mitsuru for the real thing. They may be able to cover their mouths and noses with the fabric Claude had brought but it's all too apparent that once this storm really kicks off they're pretty much doomed.

They really do need to find cover and quickly, find the rocks that Sawada mentions.

Fortunately she can help with that.

Mitsuru hadn't gone into too much detail as to how her scanning ability works, or her Persona in general. There hadn't been time for that. But she had made it clear that she can use it to detect landmarks, objects, people, etc over certain distances. In this case she uses it to find the rocks. ]

I think I can detect them, they're over this way!

[ She points in the direction she's sure she can sense them. Hopefully if they make it to cover then she can take a moment to focus in and see if she can sense the oasis. ]

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna has a tight grip on his map and his hood, trying to consult it to confirm the way Mitsuru is pointing. It's tough though, in the wind, and finally he commits to just trusting here.]

Lead the way! I can't really read the map in this wind.

So instead he stuffs it under his cloak to use both hands to pull it right around him.]

[icequeenly]

[ The very last thing she wants to do right now is steer anyone wrong and as she leads Tsuna she's silently praying that her ability isn't dulled by conditions like this. It isn't her particular specialty after all and she had never tested it under conditions like these.

Still, the picture she's getting seems strong enough and she lowers her head in the face of the ever increasing amounts of sand being buffeted right towards them. She's never felt anything like this and keeps her face firmly covered until, with overwhelming amounts of relief, she's able to just about physically see what must be the rocks up ahead of them both. She finds that she's having to raise her voice even more as she calls out to him again, ]

Look familiar?

[ She isn't sure if they can afford to wait for an answer. Motioning for him to follow, she rushes forward to quickly take over. They're just in time by the looks of things out there. ]

Was it this bad the last time you came here?

[theskyaccepts]

[Tsuna takes a minute to answer, catching his breath now that they're at least out of the wind for a bit. But eventually, he manages a nod.]

Yeah, I think so. The shape looked right, though it was hard to tell because of the storm.

It's definitely worse now. It was bad the first time, but this is way worse.

[icequeenly]

[ Clearly beggars can't be choosers in this situation. Any kind shelter would have to do in the face of the sandstorm kicking up around the perimeters of their makeshift shelter. It keeps them covered from the worst of it but Mitsuru still keeps the hood of the cloak she had been given and is now wearing up, ready to cover her face and mouth at a moment's notice. ]

I've never seen anything like this...

If I didn't know any better I would say it's almost like it senses the destination we have in mind and is throwing everything it possibly can at us.

[theskyaccepts]

Feels like it, yeah. This sandstorm is definitely way worse than last time.

And it just feels like it's getting worse.

[icequeenly]

[ It seems like they'll be stuck here for at least a little while. Even with the necessary gear to protect their faces, trying to push on in this would be nothing less than utterly foolish.

So, Mitsuru makes herself comfortable - or as comfortable as sitting on the ground shielded by rocks can be anyway. ]

What made you come here the first time?

vash | ota

[skelters]

➤ DAY TIME - TRAVEL;

[ strange how familiar it feels to travel this desert, even though the shifting golden sand underfoot feels anything but; he is used to it being full of noises of the worms - some kind of chittering, almost-vibrations in the frequency that's hardly audible to human ears. the silence in this place is almost eerie in comparison, which is why he tries to keep up the chatter whenever he can.

like now, when he slows down to fall in line with the other, inclining his head as he gestures at them. ] Hey, do you need a hand with that?

[ each of them are carrying packs of supplies, hopefully enough to last them all the journey - vash has packed extra just in case, since there are some people who's never had much experience being in a climate like this
- plus, he really doesn't need all that much water, you know! he's fine going without for a few days! ]

If you wanna take a breather, I can carry that for a little while! We can take turns!

[ fat chance he'll let the other carry his pack though, so it's only half truth ... ]

➤ NIGHT TIME - CAMPING;

[ when they stop for rest, the first thing vash does is to set off looking for things to make fire with; as soon as the sun sets the desert will likely turn into a freezing wasteland with no shelter from the wind, so while the light and the warmth lasts they need to build a fire hot enough to keep them going as they settle down to sleep.

even if it's nothing but sand, there usually are gorse-bushes and things like that around - so he's going to go hunting for those. they are welcome to come along, if they aren't too tired from the day through the scorching heat?

or they can skip straight to night time, pulling out the tents and the sleeping bags. vash sits by the fireplace huddled in his coat (even though he hardly seemed to sweat during the day), breaking off sharp gorse branches with his hands so he can keep feeding the fire. if the other approaches, vash will look up to give them a big, bright smile. ]

Hi, are you still cold? Do you want some tea? [ indeed, there's a small tin kettle nestled into the hot ashes, steam beginning to rise from the spout ]

➤ WILDCARD

[ happy to do other shenanigans in desert! keeping it simple with the prompts up there but im happy to do any fun desert related disasters! quicksand? sinkhole? sandstorm? weird desert monsters? im down for all or any! ]

camping!

[icequeenly]

[ The heat is undeniably insufferable but the promise of the sun going down soon and of having to deal with the opposite issue and freezing all night long definitely has Mitsuru motivated to join Vash on his search for whatever burnable material they can find. He seems to have an idea of exactly what he's looking for, even if there seems to be nothing but sand all around them both.

The sun is still beating down for now and he's... still wearing his usual coat. Which is pretty much as baffling as the unfamiliar landscape is to her. ]

How on earth are you not roasting still dressed like that?

[ She's got her hair tied back and is wearing distinctly less layers and it still feels like too much. ]

[skelters]

[ not exactly so ... but he has a good idea at least. it's not like he's spent a century in surroundings like this without getting nothing out of it, right?

he's crouched down, prodding at the shaded side of some such sand dune, when mitsuru asks the question - so it'd might not be so obvious when he ducks his head down protectively, almost as though it's not mere words but rocks thrown at him. ] Uh, hahaha - staying covered up is important! You could get burnt, you know?

[ not mentioning the fact that despite what he says, he's left his head uncovered... ]

[icequeenly]

[ She raises an eyebrow at him. He has a point about being covered up but then this is something else entirely... ]

And you could overheat.

[ She pauses, adjusting her ponytail slightly while she surveys yet another impossibly tall mound of sand ahead of them. ]

...Or perhaps not. I don't yet know how your physiology works.

[ None of the others had decided to come with them on this little scouting trip so it's safe enough for her to mention it when it's just the two of them around.

To her credit, she doesn't seem too tired herself - night after night of charging up stairs in Tartarus and fighting Shadows will do that for you. Even if she does find the heat to be her downfall here. ]

I know you're used to it but... I've never seen anywhere so barren. [ Especially when their job is to specifically find substances to burn. No such luck yet it seems. ]

[skelters]

I just feel it a little less, that's all ...

[ even if nobody else besides them are around right now, he still replies cautiously; clearly he isn't used to being so forthright about what he is - well, at least the fact that he isn't human.

but even if she doesn't seem tired, he is keeping a close eye out - on all of them, in fact. ]

Haha, would it be strange to say that it feels like home?

[ it had never meant to be in the first place - it wasn't capable of it. the thought brings a familiar guilt that vash pushes back as usual, his smile unwavering. ]

[icequeenly]

Right.

[ A lot less if his clothes are any indication but still she doesn't press him further. ]

No, not strange exactly.

[ But with the sun beating down on them so relentlessly and such a lack of resources, if she was sure that life where Vash is from isn't easy, she is certain of it now... At least you can leave this place for more hospitable terrain though. The same can't be said for a seemingly entirely desert planet. ]

I feel like I understand some of your predicaments there a little better at least.

[ She pauses a moment. ]

Do you actually miss it?

[skelters]

[ home is a complicated word; if they're being technical, then home for him had burnt down over a century ago, falling in a rain of fiery constellations. it had ended the moment his brother's silhouette rose atop the ruins, backlit with the burning wreckage of corpses. it had perhaps even ended before then, in that garden with the book spread over his lap that would have been better off forgotten off humanity's memories.

but that was a long time ago. he has made his home many times over since then; with luida and her field of blue flowers, with the rough hewn kindness of brad's gruff voice, with the people dotted across the sands who might remember him five, ten years down the line as nothing more than some distant myth.

vash realises his hands have slowed down, and with a short burst of self-conscious laugh (hoping that she hadn't noticed) begins again. ]

You could say that.

[ yes, she could say that - and he could say something more, like how it's not the land but the people who occupy the space. he could say that he still remembers every single person from that day - a thousand thousand grave markers etched in his ribcage, in every scar. ]

Um, so- Just in case if you ever need to, let me show you where you could start looking around for something to start a fire with, shall I?

[icequeenly]

[ She notices the way he almost seems to drift off deep in thought for a moment - mainly because it's hardly the first time she's witnessed that in the time she's known Vash. It's also not the first time she's left wondering exactly what is going around in that head but once more, she knows better than to try and pry.

Besides, they really do have a job to do here. ]

Please do. I don't like the sound of spending most of tonight freezing in my tent once the sun goes down.

I think we only have a few more hours of daylight at most. [ She knows that much at least. She's expecting him to take the lead here, he's far more at home here than she will ever be. ]