closed || nothing ventured

[complementing]

WHO: Everyone who volunteered to come on the expedition.
WHERE: Recollé Woods
WHEN: June 18th
WHAT: Exploring the woods and seeing what they can figure out about it!
WARNINGS: None anticipated, let me know if this changes! Due to the nature of this log, prompt 1 and 4 will have headers for open mingling and threadjacking (be sure to write in the header if you don't want threadjacking), while prompts 2 and 3 will be open to top levels from it's designated team members, with a chance to make network posts to the other team. If you have any questions, you can PP me at raynestorm!

I. BATTLE READY

[Good morning, Exploration Team! At the designated spot she asked everyone to meet up at, Minako is taking care of last minute preparations, such as divvying up the camping equipment, checking over weapons and supplies, and giving last minute instructions.

(There's also a certain silver Shiba Inu there too, with a sheathed knife fastened to one of his front legs. You can try asking, if you really want to...)

Once everyone has arrived, Minako will clear her throat for attention.]

Hi everyone. Thanks for coming today. Before we head out, I want to make sure everyone understands a few things going in this.

First of all, our goal is to explore the woods. We're looking for anything, from the other side of the woods to potential Retrospec hideouts to anything else that might be walking around in there with us. But because that's a possibility, because this trip has the potential to be dangerous, our first priority is our safety, and the safety of the rest of the group. The group leaders-- me and Pen-- we have the first and last say. If the situation gets dangerous, or if you encounter some kind of monster or creature that is threatening your life, we're going to tell you to run for it, and we expect you to do it, no questions asked. If anyone has a problem with that, then please speak up now.

[She waits a moment for any voices to pipe up, then continues.]

Pen and I will have walkie talkies along with our phones, to keep in contact. We have plenty of camping equipment because this is an overnight thing, but I've told a few people that we're planning to be out by tomorrow at noon. That's our check in time. If we can't regroup before then, or if either group doesn't hear from the other, then everyone on the outside is going to assume the worst. [And then she offers a bright smile.] So I expect everyone to make it out safe and sound with lots of time to spare, okay? Don't make me run back into the woods to find you and drag you out, because I will do it.

[And then she claps.]

Okay! So then, here are the groups. Sora, Lucy, Cleo, Father Karl, James, Aki, and Mohammed, you're with me. Leo, Freya, Sorey, Jake, Alison, Tatsuma, and Noah, you're with Pen. My group, we're going to go in as deep as we can, okay? Straight in, no stopping for anything unless it's something that might kill us or we have to turn back to make the deadline. Pen's team...I want you guys to go in as deep as you can too, but there's something else I want you to take care of along the way. [She turns and sends Sorey a encouraging nod.] Sorey will explain that to you guys later. Noah, I'm counting on you and Timcanpy to record anything he finds.

Everyone clear on what we have to do? Make sure you have your supplies ready, we're heading out in ten.

II. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO [MINA'S TEAM]

[Without much ado, Minako leads the charge into the woods, Koromaru at her heels and her spear at her back. At first the pathways are well-tread and friendly, and they won't encounter anything out of the ordinary. The river and lake, along with the sanctioned campgrounds, might look familiar to the Recollé natives and high schoolers, since this is where families come by on the weekend and some school science trips have happened. If you want to ask for a break, this would be the best place to do it.

This is hardly deep into the woods, though, so it's time to continue on. The Echo Flowers are growing abundantly along what few pathways there might be here. Good luck getting rid of the goosebumps you'll get from how creepy they are. Unless you find them fun to mess with instead? Echo, echo, echo... Anyways, they seem to be a permanent Retrospec addition to the world, and still retain their vibrant blue color despite the recent loss of blue, so would someone help Mina dig one out to bring back as a sample?

Onward, onward, onward, onward...hey, that tree looks familiar. Nah, it's probably different. Onward, onward, onward, onward...onward...look, it's that familiar looking tree again. Onward, onwa-- okay no, that tree is definitely the same as the one before. Looks like the team is stuck in an infinite loop, not to mention the trees eventually get too thick to pass through anymore anyways. Mina's walkie talkie is of no use, and phone signal is nonexistent, but surprise surprise, Retrospec still works, so if you want to try and send something to the other team while the others try to figure out how to escape the loop, then go for it.]

III. A LINGERING PRESENCE [PEN'S TEAM]

[Minako is sorry for putting you on the spot like that, Sorey, but she knows you'll explain what you're capable of to the rest of the team. Long story short, Sorey can sense spirits and the goal for this team is to help Sorey find them and learn more from them.

Of course, that unsettling infinite loop is working in this area of the woods, too. No matter how far you walk forward, there's no escaping that one bush shaped like a chocobo, or the tree that looks like it has the scratch marks of some kind of animal on it. How long did it take for you to notice? And what are you going to try to get out of it? Like with the other team, Retrospec still works despite how everything else isn't, so maybe some advice swapping can go down.

Or you could ask the spirits themselves. It's hard to say how many of them are friendly or not-- in fact it might be a little hard to figure out how many there are in the first place-- but it's worth a try. Just be careful what you say to them. Spirits don't like being messed with.

By the way, all that camping equipment you're lugging around isn't for nothing, you know. Time to set up camp. A little tent isn't much protection, but it's better than nothing in the face of this weird shift in atmosphere in the forest, don't you think? Because there definitely is a shift. As night falls, the temperature will drop significantly. Is that just because of how deep in you've gone? And is it just a trick of the fading light, or are the trees bowing around the party? Or is it something else...?]

IV. HOMEWARD BOUND

[Well! It's the morning of the 19th now. That was certainly an adventure. Hopefully you came out of it in one piece. Got any info to report to Minako and Penelope? Do you need to complain about something that happened in the woods? Just want to go straight home? Let Minako thank you and say good bye first--!]

Comments

I. BATTLE READY (OPEN MINGLE)

[complementing]

[redarm]

[ Believe it or not, Noah's actually looking forward to this trip. He was always a fan of taking long hikes, and if they can do anything to help solve the mystery afoot? All the better. He's not sure how much they'll actually accomplish, but it was better than doing nothing.

And sure, he wasn't thrilled to find out that his teacher, Mr. Doushi, was going to be in his group. That was a drag. But hey, at least he got Tatsuma too, so that made up for it a little huh?

Anyway, before the groups set off, they can find the teenage boy doing several checks on the food supply, to make sure they have enough for everyone in their group. When he's not doing that, he seems to be running over safety procedures with the weird golden creature that's accompanying him. ]

Okay Tim, one more time. If you get lost- what should you do?

[Tim seems to consider this, before he seems to struck with an idea! He excitedly flies over to the nearest try and...attempts to hug it with his wings. He has to bite into the tree itself to hold on]

Very good! Here! [Noah pulls out a snack from his pocket and tosses Tim's way, who lets go of the tree in time to fly over and catch it - clearly very proud of himself. Even Noah looks a bit happy while watching his companion.]

[complementing]

Oh no, he's being so cute.

[Minako smiles, raising a hand to wiggle her fingers in greeting to Timcanpy. She needs to relax, to not worry so much...but it's hard when there are a whole slew of teens here to look after, when Noah is the most relaxed she's ever seen him. If he and the others are hurt...

No. No. It's no use worrying before they even get in there. She focuses back on the two in front of her, tilting her head.]

I should've talked to Korochan about that too. I always assume he's smart enough to make his own decisions, but...

[notbunaga]

[Okay, she can't help but admit she's curious. The only thing retrospec has ever sent her is a sword, the one sheathed at her hip right now, and a golden skull she's kept locked in her wardrobe she never intends on looking at again if she can help it.

So something like Tim is...]

What is it?

[She bends forward a little to get a better look, but it's so alien that doesn't really help.]

[cattack]

[Cleo's ready to go. She has a rather hefty backpack on her back, she's dressed in loose jeans and a t-shirt for hiking, and her ears are twitching in anticipation.

For those who haven't met her yet: She's got cat ears on top of her head, and her hair is short enough that it can't hide that she doesn't have human ears. She's also got a pretty intense murder glare, so maybe don't point that out.

Regardless, the amount of stuff she is bringing is probably a bit excessive. Or a lot, really. Her pack's got a sleeping bag rolled up on the top of it, a first aid kit hanging on the side of it, and the pack is bulging despite being tall enough that it stands well above Cleo's head while she has it on her back. Yet, she doesn't actually seem to have any problems with the weight at all.]

I rather hope this will be enough...

[openhanded]

Do you need any h--

[He sees that she is, in fact, handling the pack just fine. Note that his gaze doesn't linger on her ears. He gives her a big smile instead, hoping to ease her nerves (and his own).]

-- help...?

[Probably not, but it's good to ask.]

[complementing]

[Minako is flitting around like a nervous hummingbird, triple and quadruple checking backpacks and equipment, making sure everything is as ready as it'll ever be, and her ever faithful Shiba Inu Koromaru constantly at her heels.

She suddenly gives a gasp and dives for her backpack, extracting a wad of headphones and earbuds with a look of dismay.]

These are supposed to be our protection in case those voices try to lure us in again, but...

[It's so tangled up???? Minako immediately kneels to start and separate all the cords. Anyone looking closely might see that her normally deft hands are shaking a little.]

[belligerentwarrior]

Give 'em here. [Freya kneels beside her roommate, plopping her own large hiking bag on the ground as she gives an insistent tug on the nest in Minako's hands.]

[She'd been concerned enough about Lucy being exposed to the forest-voices again, but in all that chaos from last month, she hadn't thought to ask if they'd gotten a hold of Minako. Why would she be that nervous (...scared?) if the voices hadn't?]

...You sure you're up for this?

[openhanded]

[Sorey's as organized and packed as he'll ever be, practical with his snacks and his ramen. That leaves him to shadow Minako for a little while. She's not the only one nervous, though for Sorey's part, he looks only vaguely uneasy. He keeps playing with his phone, or glancing at his glove... and sometimes he looks toward the deep of the woods, his expression unreadable.

When Minako pulls out that mess of electronics, though, she has his full attention. He doesn't say anything at first. He just reaches out and gently, so gently, sets his hands over her trembling fingers to still them.]

Hey.

[His smile is soft but unmoving.]

Everything's gonna be okay.

[notbunaga]

[Having watched Minako go at 120% for as long as she has, Aki finally decides to approach her once she sees their reliable team leader fretting over a bunch of tangled earbuds. She does kneel beside her, but...

It's more like behind her.

And with her hands to Minako's shoulders, Aki pulls her back to lie down, aiming to rest the other girl's head against her lap. The lap pillow is a once in a lifetime experience, Minako. You must treasure it.]

Minako.

[She looks down at her; her usual, stoic expression is just a tad more stern than usual.]

Breathe.

[Let her just...take that tangled bunch of wires from her.]

[mincingminuet]

[Well this is troubling, enough so that Penelope actually breaks away from checking her own pack to walk over and stoop beside Minako. She bumps shoulders with the younger girl, flashing a warm, inviting little grin.]

Hey, Mina. Relax. We got this.

[There's absolutely zero reason to be nervous, even if Pen had come with a spear, a gun, and supplies for three days instead of one night. Better safe than sorry, but morale is way, way more important.]

I know last month was pretty rough, but it's broad daylight and we're full sized. Nothing to worry about, eh?

[Setting aside for a moment that this is a front Pen is putting up, because she was absolutely terrified of those voices. But, face your fears...]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy already had a backpack on—one of those bags banks and businesses gave away, and not exactly an expensive one. The logo on it was a bit faded and smudged up. But it was holding together for now. There were some water bottles and Clif bars packed in there, along with a spare jacket, batteries, and a flashlight.

Or...there was a flashlight. Lucy seems to have misplaced it.

With an almost constant mumbling, Lucy made her way back to the group after doing her best to separate herself without being too conspicuous. This group wasn't enormous, but it was still more than two people and that was Too Many, in Lucy's estimation.]

Is there a flashlight over here?

[destiny_key]

[Sora is... way out of his comfort zone. He's adventurous, sure, but he's never really done anything like this. Not walked into a forest, fully aware of the danger, and going on what is essentially a ghost hunt. Not to mention, everyone but him seems to be armed to the teeth. He has a small pocket utility knife, but that's pretty useless for fighting, in his opinion.

What he does have is a compass, and a map of the surrounding area. Minako dubbed him navigator, but Sora's pretty sure it was just to keep him out of the way. She doesn't want him here, he knows, but she's also just being a worry wart. He can handle himself!

Still, if he unconsciously stays close to his cousin, no one will notice, right?

Though, it's not like he knows how navigating works, anyway.]

Hey, um. Can anyone tell where we are on this map?

now in the actual right place!

[livingdeadgirl]

[One of these things is not like the others. That is to say, despite Minako explicitly telling her she couldn't come along, Ami has showed up anyway. It seems that at some point she might have been told it'll be harder to refuse her in person. (◕‿◕✿)

What's a kid doing here? Is she coming along? Is that her idea of practical camping attire? All these questions and more will be answered only if someone asks!]

II. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE WE GO (MINA'S TEAM)

[complementing]

open to multiple replies and threadjacking, no need to wait for order!

[complementing]

A. BLUE AGAINST THE BACK OF YOUR EYELIDS

[So! Minako's a pretty chatty girl. She doesn't like the quiet most of the time, and she's willing to talk about pretty much anything under the sun. If you want to chat with her at the front of the group, feel free! She'll talk with you in between hacking at low tree branches with her spear.

Or, you know, if you want to ask permission to pet Koromaru, you can do that too.

Once the Echo Flowers come into view, though, she pauses and kneels beside one, hesitantly touching a petal.]

Hopefully it's not poisonous. [Muttered under her breath, and then--] Who's carrying the big black backpack again? I have a trowel and a pot in there for this.

...it's not poisonous, [echoes the flower, and Minako cringes.]

I can't wait what all our science friends say about that.

B. THIS IS THE ROAD THAT NEVER ENDS, YES IT GOES ON AND ON MY FRIENDS...

[It's about time for lunch, so Minako stops the group so they can set up camp and tuck into the food they've brought. She sets out Koro's lunch, but otherwise stays standing, frowning a little off into the still heavily forested distance. Light is filtering in strongly through the tree tops, but it still feels ominous either way.]

...how far do you guys think we've gone in by now?

C. I WILL BURN MY DREAD

[By now they've hit that point where the trees are impassable. Minako plants her spear butt down on the ground, setting her free hand on her hip and staring up at the tree in front of her. It's massive, gargantuan-- any and all synonyms of huge one can think of. It's impressive, yes, but it certainly couldn't have grown this big within the span of the city's history...right?]

I have some ideas but they're kind of...fire hazardous. So if anybody is a really good tree climber, let's try that first.

D. FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE (OPEN TO PEN'S TEAM)

of course Retrospec would be the only thing usable in this forest

how are you guys doing over there?

[And then later:]

any suggestions on how to get out of a spacial and possibly temporal infinite loop????

evening | open to threadjacking!

[goen]

[ Night falls.

The ghosts are restless.

Yato has seen glimpses of them in the past, but never quite like this. They shift and flicker, murmuring words he can't quite understand. But he hears the way they talk, and he begins to feel unease. Wrongness. It is thoroughly unpleasant.

The other members of the party don't seem too bothered, and why should they? Yet the voices only get louder and more agitated until Yato can think of nothing else. Even the deepening, uncommonly penetrating chill can't take his mind off things; he shivers by the fire and watches the ghosts flashing around their camp, wondering.

It's all so much. And though he's lived a life mostly free of the supernatural, he can't imagine being unable to see these troubled, circling spirits. ]

Not to spook you guys out, but is anyone else seeing this?

[spongebob voice] at night // (open to anyone on the team!)

[frostythehitman]

[ After the second time the group went by an area and got the sensation of deja vu, James decided to take matters into his own hands. He pulled out a pocket knife and had started periodically carving a tally into the bark of the trees as they walked by. Partially to count if they were actually going in circles, partially as a way to hopefully guide them back in case they got lost.

...Although, he later realizes, if they really are going in circles, then they already are lost.

It's after that realization (and carving a diagonal fifth tally through one particular tree) that he sighs and comes to a stop. ]

It's official. We're going in circles. We're going straight ahead, and somehow we're going in circles.

Late night | Open to threadjacking and such!

[destiny_key]

[They've been going in circles for hours now, and Sora kind of feels like it's his fault. He was supposed to keep them going straight forward, and he couldn't even get that right!

But, the compass needle had been pointing straight the entire time, no matter how far they'd gone, but still they were going in circles. Was the compass broken? Or was it Sora's sense of direction that was broken?

Not to mention, it was much harder to read a compass and map when it's dark and all you have is a flashlight. He kind of wishes he had one of those headlamp light things.

The impassable wall of trees is almost a relief, since at least now they've hit something different, and he doesn't have to navigate anymore.]

So, um, what're we supposed to do now? I don't know if we'll be able to go backwards without getting more lost...

III. A LINGERING PRESENCE (PEN'S TEAM)

[complementing]

feel free to threadjack everything in here, don't wait for order.

[openhanded]

[A. WHO YOU GONNA CALL?]

[Sorey is a touch surprised when Minako puts him on the spot like that, but he recovers quickly. After his own preparations, they set out. There's no time to waste, after all! This group has a couple of his students, which makes him a touch more nervous than if it was strangers; he halfway expects to be laughed at or downright rejected. He hopes tonight is tame simply so his kids don't have the same nightmares he does.

A few minutes in, Sorey asks everyone to stop for a moment.]

Um... I should explain what we're doing out here. [He squeezes his left hand into a fist at his side. He's wearing a strange glove with feathers and beads attached to it, which sticks out against his rather muted gray hoodie and jeans. He keeps rubbing his thumb over the back of the crest.] I can sense spirits: ghosts, gods, whatever you want to call it. Sometimes I can see them-- I'm getting better at that-- but I can definitely hear them.

Last month I ended up walking around in the woods just like we are now. And while I was there, I made contact with the spirits of people who used to live here and... didn't move on. I don't know the details; they're frightened by something, and they don't always make sense. They're just shadows of the people they used to be.

What I want to do is find out more about them. I think they might be connected to what's going wrong with the city but I can't prove that. Not yet. So -- [he says, his serious expression easing into a smile] -- if you'll put up with me just for tonight, I'd like to see what we can find. If we can document what we see and hear for the others, that's even better.

That's about it. I'll let you know if I feel anything.

[B. GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!]

[It isn't long after that when Sorey gasps aloud and stops walking.]

H-- hold on! Let's stop for a moment. Someone's here.

[It's the same spirits as before. They recognize him, and he recognizes them. They drift out of his sight sometimes, pale and wispy, unless he tries really hard to focus on them. Just by tracking his eyes, people may be able to figure out that they are being surrounded... but the spirits are visible, too.]

Hey, it's me again, Sorey. I remember you too! [He appears to be talking animatedly with one of the older spirits, if anyone can see a glimpse; it's the shade of an older man dressed from an era that could be the 40s or 50s.] Listen, all of us-- [he gestures to the group] -- we want to help you. If you can show us anything, anything at all, that might give us a clue on how to do that... we'd be grateful.

[The ghost whispers something back to Sorey, smiling, though his translucent features are creased with worry. Sorey nods and looks at the others.]

They'll try to lead us through the forest, but we should stick together just in case. They had trouble leading me out last time.

[That's all well and good, but after a while it seems like they're going around in circles. Sigh.]

[C. (synthesizer solo)]

[Around dusk, Sorey starts to fidget. Whatever he's hearing is agitating him, or maybe he's reacting to the agitation that the ghosts are displaying. They certainly seem nervous. Sorey tries to put on a brave face but he's as clueless as the rest of the people he's with.

The darkest parts of the woods fill his mind with a noise not unlike something in his nightmares. Noise, darkness, all of it pressing down on him. Others with spiritual sensitivity can hear it, too: the ghosts are murmuring louder and louder, agitated words blending too much together to understand.

Sorey's gray eyes are wide as he stares out into the forest, his grip white-knuckled around his flashlight.]

I'm sorry, I can't... I can't hear. I can't understand any of you. I'm sorry. Just a little slower, please--

[He flinches as a twig snaps beneath someone's foot. Sorey can't hear anyone talking to him, there's only the fevered murmurs of spirits long denied.]

Something's wrong. Something is wrong. The city is wrong...? Is it because it grew too fast? Please, you have to tell me.

[Whatever it is, it's a mystery to everyone. Even after setting up camp, Sorey is still trying to talk to them. He sits at the edge of the firelight on a stump, his jacket pulled tight against the cold. If anyone else is sensitive like Sorey, they may notice glimpses of ghosts circling the camp. Even if you can't see it, though, the way his eyes follow them is pretty obvious. Are these the watchful spirits of protectors, or something more malicious?

... Maybe someone should drag him to bed.]

[belligerentwarrior]

[A.]

[Camping out in these apparently ghost-riddled woods was bad enough. Freya had already been prepping the campfire by the time dusk came around, but she paused in the middle of digging out a shallow pit. Something wasn't right. It took her a moment to realize she was beginning to see her breath. It was that cold out?]

The hell...? But it's summer.

[Rocks still had to be gathered and arranged around the pit, and she needed to clear the area around their soon-to-be fire of low branches and undergrowth, so there was no shortage of work to be done. And with the temperature dropping faster than anyone expected, it'd be best to get that fire going soon. Help out, if you aren't fighting with your tent?]

[B. Something witty about Don't Starve goes here]

[Freya was more than hesitant to sleep; Sorey's strange behavior hadn't been convincing her that it was safe, among the other oddities. She's awake well into the dead of night, warily watching the perimeter—and the treetops, were they curving and caging them in?—when she wasn't tending the fire. She sat on a root with a blanket curled around her shoulders, an expensive composite bow and a small axe by her feet. Her posture matches how she's been uncharacteristically taciturn and surly all day.]

There's more food it you want it. [Look, so what if all she had were military rations? They're caloric and they keep really well.]

OTA!

[strawberrypunch]

[A - Do you see what I see?]

[For the first part of the trip, Tatsuma's more or less the same as always. He's a quiet guy, tends to speak in soft and short sentences, and is remarkably chill with... just about anything, really! Heck, you can even dump your stuff on him - he'll be happy to carry it for you. He's attentive to the surroundings, but he's easy enough to chat with, as long as you don't mind doing most of the... well, chatting. Quiet and all.

On the other hand, around when Sorey starts talking with spirits, he stops dead in his tracks, eyes fixed on the forms in front of them. Even when they begin moving again, he's looking around, eyes catching sight of humanoid shapes others may not notice.]

[B - When night falls...]

[Tatsuma remains up at night, ignoring the chill air in favor of staring into the apparent darkness of the woods instead. Or at least...That's how it might seem at first. The more observant may note that his gaze is fixed on something in particular, but unless they can see the spirits surrounding the camp, they'll see nothing themselves.

And, once he notices he has company, he'll go ahead and turn towards them - even as his eyes remain elsewhere.]

There's something wrong...

[mincingminuet]

I. It's Just A Jump To The Left

[Well, that sure was the third time they'd passed that same bush. Pen grumbled something incomprehensible and stalked over to the chocobo shrubbery and pulled out a ball of twine, tying it around one large branch.]

You know what. I wonder if it's a time loop or if we're just being sent back to where we came from somehow. Let's go a little Theseus on this little puzzle, eh?


II. The Long Dark

[Penelope had been at least a little bit on edge since they'd gotten into that time loop, but as evening fell and they made camp, she found herself shivering from more than just the chill. Bundling up by the fire in a bedroll, she sat there, staring into the flames while her little buddy the alraune teetered around the firepit, tossing in dried twigs and small logs as it could. Clearly it was good for something.]

...Not how I expected this to go.

[A snapping noise drew her attention, head jerking upward.]

...What the hell is going on with those trees? Is anyone else seeing this?

IV. HOMEWARD BOUND (OPEN MINGLE)

[complementing]