recolle | TEAM FOUR EVENT LOG

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TEAM FOUR EVENT LOG

MAGATUS

READY: START.

Roster: Noah Isaacs + Gunther Schwarz, Gintaro Suzukaze + Elda Marker, Dave Strider + Byakuya Kirigiri, Shouto Todoroki + Akira Kurusu, Eren Jaeger + Yusuke Kitagawa, Soleil Beaufort + Vera Weisz, Alessandro Vinsmoke + Yu Narukami, Cleo Ritter + Minako Arisato, Penelope Raban + Olive Freya Yun, Orihime Inoue + Matthew Murdock, Ryouta Ono + Baren Kaiyou, Prompto Argentum + Keigo Higashino, Zaveid Taleb + Ragna Edgson, Amelia Wagner + Kasen Kaneda

On the morning of the fourth at 9am, you'll find yourself gathering at the Recollé Zoo and Aquarium. Many of you will find yourself partnered up and with a name in mind, and awaiting in front of you is a large bus with the Retrospec logo on the hood. A text comes through not long after, Zee's name attached.

I'm no Ms. Frazzle, but I think this bus will do the trick. Hope you packed a book or something.

Upon boarding the bus you'll find that's it's equipped for a longer road trip. There are snacks, books, video game consoles, and even a few beds and bathrooms. Just as well, seeing how you're going to be traveling north of the city, traveling through the woods for about seven hours. As you travel, the sky begins to change colors and the temperature drops toward the end of your journey. Outside the window you'll see a mountain range and snow on the ground, and stars streak across the sky as you enter the beautiful region of Magatus.

Permanently semi-dark with beautiful colors streaking across the sky, Magatus is filled with rivers, grass, coniferous trees and snow-capped mountains. The temperature is quite frigid, so travelers will need to bundle up!

The region known as Magatus is fairly open and while there may not a huge population like Recollé, there are small clusters of buildings and homes that characters can find by exploring this region. There is roughly 1,500 square miles to cover in the area claiming to be Magatus and some parts of this region may experiences changes in weather including heavy snow, ice, and blackouts.

Most of the towns are quaint and friendly though most people appear to mind their own business. If spoken to, they will explain that they’ve been enjoying their time alone and away from the hustle and bustle of city life, though it may be a little hard to know if this is actually true. Some of the younger ones will say they’ve lived here their whole life, but most will shy away from the topic of where they came from. Shops that can be found seem to range in the realm of basic general stores, hardware stores, mini foodmarts, and weaponry. The Magatus people truly live a simple life.

The true nature of this region doesn’t seem to come out until nightfall, however. As the light fades and the sky darkens, the colors brighten above and the sound of wolves begin howling nonstop. Depending, you may even hear the sound of snarling and growling, quick footsteps crunching through fresh snow and irritated barking. The townspeople know better than to stay out at night when the wolves run and the shadows dance, and they would advise that anyone from out of town take cover.

Too bad they won’t invite you in. You’re on your own out in the wilderness.

This is the Team Four Event Log! You are free to toplevel and thread as you choose on this log, but only team members may utilize this log.

Remember, your activity to qualify for your two free memories and one item is supplying at least 30 comments spread over the three objectives per group (minimum of 5 comments per objective!) with at least three members of your groups. You will not be eligible if you do not participate in all three objectives somehow, and you will not be eligible if you only stick with your preferred partner!

People who are paired with partners will experience some of the following:

-Telepathic connections, but only the thoughts you don’t want your partner to actually hear. You can also use this to influence your partner’s thoughts.
-Color fades when you’re not cooperating, it brightens when you are.
-Cause and effect. If something happens to your partner, you feel it (i.e. if your partner trips somewhere, you’ll feel the effects.)
-Timers. You and your partner will have a countdown embedded somewhere (hand, foot, chest, whatever) and if you don’t complete your missions and see each other before the timer runs out, consequences occur.

These are not required and you may play with these as little or as much as you want!

Important links to mod toplevels are: Mod Questions, Participation Reporting, NPC questions. Please be aware you are responsible for reporting your own participation & objective completion efforts with links. You must ICly tap into the log within the first 48 hours, or you will be removed from your team.
If your activity is low per objective, the moderators may reach out to you about reassignment as well.

The schedule for Team Four is as follows:

Feb 3rd: Objective 1 posted (9PM EST) | Threading for Travel to Location | Threading for Objective One
Objective 2: Info about Objective Two | Threading for Objective Two
Objective 3: Info about Objective Three | Threading for Objective Three | Objective Three point Five
Mar 3rd: Outro

Objectives will be given in mod toplevels to this post with instructions; please check the log currently for Objective 1 to see how this will work.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ eren keeps his hand away from the trigger, mediates— he’s an airman with honor and education in situations such as these, not some suicidal blockhead that could get their entire group fucked over because they didn’t wait. because they didn’t try every option they had and went straight for the neck. there are some things that can’t be helped, but there are others that could. there was a high possibility that these were people to start, and eren knew what it was like to be mindless.

eren was not about to make the same mistake his past self had, what had resulted in the destruction of hundreds of lives. that’s not what he lives for, here.

but when he turns to face amelia, in the glory of burning scales and fire, eren freezes dead in his tracks, finding himself staring up as the terrible form takes its stance in her place. he becomes small, much smaller than her, a fleck in the snow—but there was something in him that stood at their height, and it wasn’t a titan.

the wolves frenzy in return, frightened and desperate with their whines and barks, snapping their jaws at the dragon as her roar vibrates the air. the wolves grow four times their size, their fangs long and pointed like curved daggers, showing their weapons as the party does theirs. if they wanted to battle, they would earn it.

eren stands in kasen’s way, and consequentially amelia, shoving his gun into its holster, defying kasen’s words and challenging amelia’s bellow, with driven eyes and wicked resolution. if that was meant to intimidate him, it fueled him instead. there was no order in this group, no rule and it had lost its respect for one another. it was overcome with emotion, the downfall to every failure eren had lived through. if i let it happen to me, he thinks, drawing a sword and holding it to kasen, not the wolves, we’re all done for.

eren was young, and true leadership had yet to be achieved as he rose through the ranks, but that didn’t mean a strong voice that people would listen to wasn’t there. ]

That shouldn’t even be a damn option. I’m your teammate—

[ the tension is too great; one of the wolves attempt to intimidate them with a lunge that would’ve stopped steps away from them. but, that could easily be viewed as a charge. ]

[Through the chaotic fog that clouded her mind, both of them seemed small, their voices distant. Insects unworthy of her attention. She didn't roar at Eren again; at most her tailtip lashed in brief irritation.

But this—this, this form, this power—it felt right. Not a shadow in nightmares at all, but a piece of a dream laid neatly into place. This was what she should be, and delight underlaid Amelia's rage.

Then the wolves changed, growing larger, snarling louder to cover up their fear. Proper opponents, something worthy of her attention. One charged at them—her, and the dragon responded immediately in kind, flaring her wings and raising her claws as she lunged forwards.]

-Kasen didn't flinch at Eren raising his weapon to him, but he did stop. The wolf that lunged at Amelia could pay for its own poor decision; in that moment, all of the artist-warrior's focus was on Eren, eyes locked with his, seeing that burning determination... Some other emotion seemed to seep its way past the magma of rage within him. Something kin to respect.-

Our mission is to stop this, isn't it? The easiest way to meet that end, the most *elegant* way, would be to kill these creatures.

-Without breaking eye contact, he gestured towards Amelia with his sword.- And do you really think you can stop something as beautiful as that? Do you think she won't go *through* you to see this end the way she wishes it to?

I can feel it, you know. The power of her fury. It's... elegant. And it's telling me to cut you down for trying to stop me.

[ the shrieks of an injured wolf echo off as it gets thrown into the snow in heavy black whisps of smoke, and that’s all the other wolves needed to make their decision and attack on their own accord, charging for the dragon in every angle, swerving around the party. while he’s listened to kasen’s words and stared him down sharply as he did (with disapproval, but with resolve), eren doesn’t have time to give him his attention anymore, not enough to answer him verbally as the wolves surround them and ready themselves for combat as well. if he wasted time talking, in giving him snap, it was one second he’d lose to a wolf crushing him in its jaws.

there’s a gut feeling that says this would work, and eren believes in it. believing that he could do it was the only way. ]

Move!!

[ eren sheathes his sword in its metal container and shoots his maneuver gear to the highest point of a faraway tree; he zips upwards, ascends as fast as the gas canister could propel him from the chaotic whirl of fighting below. he releases the wires until he’s in a suspended freefall for seconds, hand raised to his mouth and biting through his own palm to draw blood. a loud crack of sound akin to thunder and a spark of light brings to life flesh, a form with muscle, and blood, coated with skin. eren is engulfed in this flesh at the monster’s neck, and in his place steps a massive titan, yelling forth an outcry as he shreds through the snow like short cut grass.

the majority of wolves yip and scatter almost immediately, retreating to keep their distance and watch. they no longer attack, but wait with perked ears and dubious attention, although a few stay behind to snarl at the still weaponized kasen.

they’re still very angry for these attacks made on them. ]

[The wolf fell away from Amelia's claws, and the dragon recentered herself as her head swept around for another target. The only mind the dragon paid to the voices quarreling at her feet was noting where Kasen's voice was coming from; it wouldn't do to crush him. And the targets didn't waste time with presenting themselves as the wolves rushed in, too many for her claws and tail to keep all of them at bay. Fangs bit through the scales on her flank—but briefly. Before Amelia roared in response, it was gone.

At that thundrous sound, the wolves pulled away as quickly as they had charged in, and the dragon's head snapped up to its source. Her wings thrashed outwards and her tail lashed behind her—something seemed familiar in the giant's face, but nevermind that. This was a target. This was a challenge she didn't need to stoop for.

The dragon bellowed in the titan's face, and with a beat of her wings drove herself forwards to tackle him claws-first.]

Well... -Indeed.- I suppose he's made his choice, then.

-Kasen turned his full attention to the wolves, lowering his blade just slightly, the tip at shoulder level but his arm in a healthy sized berth away from his torso as he shifted his feet wide.-

We'll be with you in a moment. It seems my friends have a disagreement they need to settle first. But if you're that eager to rush to your deaths, by all means, allow me to give you a beautiful ending to your tortured lives!

-He'd keep the area clear for them to fight it out. He could definitely feel Amelia's motivations... she just wanted a fight. He really hoped Eren could give her enough of one to bring her back to her senses.-

[ while some of the wolves are distracted by kasen, eren lifts his arms in guard, a fighter’s stance. he knows amelia’s more likely to come straight for him, so what to keep in mind? the wings, he needs to subdue the wings, he’ll need to get her from behind, the front was way too dangerous. he didn’t want to knock her out or destroy her with punches— just subdue.

i think i got it, he thinks as he calls her to him, provokes her, and when she charges with both claws raised so does he, fainting a punch. upon impact, he pivots his body sideways and swings his arm to her neck, the closest to the base of the jaw until it locks with his other arm. he lets his own momentum take him by her, his leg sweeping to get her own limbs off the ground and allow him to throw them, the earth shaking in a tremendous thunk when they both hit the ground.

now’s the hard part: trying to keep her down while not completely secure. he never wrestled a dragon to do it correctly, and with appendages flagging all over the place it was rather difficult to make the move clean. ]

[The giant moved, slipping to the side; Amelia turned to follow, but he was fast—much faster than she was, unpracticed and scaly. Her wings flared again to try and help correct herself, but while she was focused on trying to bite his encircling arm something swept her feet out from under her. The wings flailed again, beating the air into a whirlwind, but they weren't moving fast enough to keep her from falling.

The giant was able to secure his grip, and Amelia started to thrash her spiny head and neck furiously as they landed. Her own claws reached up to tear at his arm, long tail thrashing apart undergrowth and snapping small trees in its attempt to hit the titan and get him off and away.]

-There was a passive thought that someone, not him of course, ought to teach Amelia some judo or something. As tremendous and powerful as that dragon form was, the part of Kasen that had memories of a warrior immediately recognized what Eren was doing, and that recognition of fighter to fighter (when had he come to consider himself a fighter?) put respect in his heart. Hopefully, that could transmit to Amelia and calm her down further...

That was if the wolves didn't get him first. One lunged for him, and despite his earlier promise to cut them down, Kasen simply dodged to the side, using the flat edge of the blade to give a slap to the wolf's backside as they passed.-

[ the wings were probably the hardest part in all of this in getting eren completely behind her. they slap him, cut him, her jaws leave his encircled arm with a nasty bite that only weakens his hold out of partial loss of function rather than pain— she is not an easy thing to contain, and eren fights with his own titan body to tighten! heal up and tighten!. her claws are not out of reach, and they lacerate his flesh, digging deep and leaving exposed muscle steaming, regenerating with the same steam eren had held in the caves, albeit mending much faster.

perhaps not as fast as eren would’ve liked. one arm pulls into her neck while the other presses her head forward, a rear naked choke that has found itself weakened by her thrashes. eren has one last thing, both legs crossing each other and locking around her belly, attempting to pull his weight back to have them roll backwards. he can’t have those wings batting in the air.

god damn it he can feel his fingers slipping, but even then his biceps crunch to contain her and he snarls in defense. now they had to duke it out with stamina. ]

[The iron smell of blood and steam was heavy in the air; it fueled her anger, as did seeing the titan's flesh knit back together in front of her eyes. Amelia snarled before the sound was choked off by Eren's grip.

The arm pressed against the dragon's throat, tightening and narrowing her breaths. It alarmed her enough to let go with her teeth, and the titan was able to crush her wings to her back, immobilizing them.

Like a flame fanned to life too fast, the dragon's energy started to wane. She still struggled, she still thrashed, but with less power than before. A thought of...learning something? It further jarred her mind, and Amelia growled in confusion. It was distracting, pulling her thoughts in a different direction.]

That's it, Amelia... Don't let frustration consume you... -Kasen whispered, seeing some of her energy draining, feeling those fires starting to burn out inside of her. He did his best to help, trying to remain calm despite the battle around him, despite having to send another wolf yelping with a slap of his sword.

He thought out, as loudly as he could...

"snow stills without me
the cold seeps inside myself
my soul is calming"-

[ he would’ve asked, but— there was no way to, but even then he didn’t need to. kasen has changed his own composure for the better. once amelia fights less, it gives more time for eren’s arms to heal, properly hold her into a finishing choke that didn’t quite choke her anymore. it was more of a cradle, a clasp right on her to weight onto her movement like anchors.

eren only breathes, and only holds her, feeling a rush of relief inside the titan when she stills far more than she was moments ago. he has yet to let go of her completely, waiting to be completely sure it was safe to. the wolves, at this point, also capture the message. while still angered about the complete mess this group has made with them, they’re watching, and waiting. ]

[Another thought that wasn't her own strayed into her mind; one for a...poem? It was easier to breathe now, but her efforts to tear herself free didn't resume immediately. And the longer her anger cooled, the more she realized how tired she was.

And for a moment, her grip on this form slipped. It was all that was needed.

The dragon's body began to glow white, as Amelia's body had before she transformed. Now the process reversed itself; her shape became small, the horns and claws rounded and smoothed away, the wings and tail disappeared. Her clothes were still in place, her form appearing just as it had before she'd transformed. Only now Amelia looked exhausted, with new shadows under her eyes.]

-With the wolves backing off, Kasen was quick to rush to Amelia, not minding Eren's presence as he reached to help prop her up, throwing one of her arms over his shoulder as he kept his sword ready in case something approached.-

[ eren had at least let her return to her form with no more squeezing, allowing the now human to rest over his massive chest, looking up to check on her. his hands become surprisingly gentle for a giant, cupping her and letting her down gently with kasen’s help. eren sits up and minds the wolves, all still watching from a distance with erect ears and waiting, for them.

eren gives a grunt, eyes on them; if they really wanted to kill them, they would’ve taken the chaotic opportunity. eren gave them a chance, and it was the right one. his gut didn’t fool him this time.

once amelia’s off and the woods are still with silence, eren removes himself from the titan’s neck, a pop of steam as the flesh gets torn and he’s able to fall into the snow in a damp thump, leaving the titan body to lose function and evaporate.

he’ll need a minute to breathe, to cough out some of the fluid he’d taken in, but he kneels and watches for amelia. he still has energy, good. ]

Can you stand?

[The hands that had been grabbing her throat were now bigger than she was--and yet they held onto her now like she was a glass object. They set her down just as mindfully, and Kasen was there to offer a hand as quick as a thought.

It was...jarring, to say the least. One moment, unimaginable power and glorious violence--the next, and Amelia might as well have been an invalid, a few steps away from just dropping into the snow. And they...didn't hate her? The others were concerned, not angry.

The older woman did look up at Eren's voice again; her brow furrowed slightly at seeing him and the titan's form in the same space, like the latter was merely a husk. It didn't move, didn't seem to be in any pain as it boiled away--the only living thing there was Eren.

How...odd. But she'd been asked a question.]

...yes.

[With help. Her limbs felt leaden, sluggish to respond to her commands. She had to lean on Kasen more than she wanted to admit.]

-Kasen held fast, holding steadily onto Amelia as he righted both of them, locking his eyes once more with the wolves. But just as Amelia's soul had finally calmed, so had his, and his thoughts were clear once more. He... wasn't exactly sure what to make of who he'd been in that moment. But he could worry about it later. He also had some questions for Eren, but yeah.

Looking at the wolves, he called out.-

You have our peace. Let's come to terms. What do you need from us?

[ eren watches the wolves for a moment, scarred face creasing with attention while they’re listening. they’re hesitant, but they understand what happened here. the trust might be fragile, but it’s what they have. to answer, they pad through the snow with ease to the party, their larger size only a remnence of whisps as they return to normal. one drops to the snow, rolls, and one by one the wolves express their discomforts by shaking, whining, and grumbling, like trying to shed a shell.

soon, the wolves stand, merge into each other to take the form of a single larger wolf— then before their eyes, it shifts into a man, skin exposed, bloody and cut.

eren’s probably not the only one with wide eyes here, looking between amelia and kasen as if to say you’re seeing this, right? before the man speaks.

you, three. help.

fight. a fair fight. end me, please, to purge me. is it accepted?

the man’s speech seems primitive and copied, but it expresses the desire and torment in his eyes enough. he waits for an answer, and eren turns to his team, pulling from his pocket, a . . . cookie for each. ]

They heal. [ but back to the point. ] Eat it, quick— This is our chance to make a deal.

[The steadiness in Kasen's thoughts kept Amelia from tumbling back; she latched onto them, raising her head to look at the wolves. Why was he speaking to them like they were--

--a person, bloodied and speaking clumsily, but a person nonetheless.

...well.

Given what had just transpired, they were far beyond the realm of plausibility anyway.

Amelia held her silence; she'd made things dramatically worse before, now was hardly the time to do so again. But she also accepted the cookie(?), now realizing she was hungry on top of the fatigue.]

-Kasen waved off the cookie. He may need it later, but for the moment, he was actually fine, and significantly more worried about Amelia. But as for Eren's idea...-

A deal? Should we put terms to fighting this man? I guess... I honestly have so many questions at this point, it's dizzying. But if you think we can get some information in exchange for this... We should.

He can tell us what he knows and what’s going on in this region. I don’t see why we shouldn’t if all he wants is a fair fight. We’re strong enough to manage.

[ he’s voiced his opinion. so, taking the declined cookie and stuffing it back in its plastic wrap, he turns his head to the ever quiet amelia.

there were probably dozens of things rushing through her thoughts, things they could all sit down and talk about because he’s sure there’s a lot to put on the table, but. now’s not the best time. now’s the time to move forward. ]

Mrs. Wagner?

[The silence seemed much heavier than it should have been, and Amelia answered both out of courtesy and to relieve that awful weight.]

...I suppose his terms are agreeable.

[They were all quite willing to try and kill each other before. The older woman fiddled with a bit of a crumb stuck to her fingernails--her manicured, soft fingernails that were once claws a few moments ago. She didn't quite look Eren in the face, or Kasen.]

Whatever it is I...did, I don't think I can do it again yet.

It's alright... This is going to be a fair fight, yes? We shouldn't need to go all out. -Kasen sighed, giving Amelia's shoulder a gentle pat as he slowly removed her arm from around his shoulders, checking carefully to see if she could stand after that cookie did its trick.-

I am more, physically, than human. Whatever is lacking, I can make up for. My strength, my reflexes... If this wolf wants a match worth dying for, I can give it to him.

[ eren corrects kasen a little gruffly, nudging his arm. ]

A fair fight means giving our all. The only thing changing here is intention.

[ which was important. what would’ve happened If they still fought without giving him a chance? they’d get discarded as a group that couldn’t cooperate and couldn’t be trusted. ]

. . . Trust is a two way thing.

[ he understands amelia, but doesn’t lose his focus on the situation. he grips her arm, a tough, reassuring hold that wants her attention. ]

We’ll figure it out after this. We all have each other’s backs.

[ and with that, eren turns his attention back to the wolf man, his image having trouble remaining but holding it there. ]

We’ll accept. [ he prepares the blades of his maneuver gear, out and ready, with a completely different air than before. no trembles, or shakes. he’s confident. he’s trusting his team as he’s trusting the wolf. ] But only if you tell us what happened to you and this region.

[ the wolf pauses, but quietly lowers his head in acceptance.

i will. my word.

and that’s the last thing the wolf man says before flickering into the forms of seven split wolves, engaging in a fighting stance much different than before, ears pricked forward and mouths closed. ]

TEAM FOUR EVENT LOG

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