complementing: (✿ prepare yourself [ SETH ])
minako arisato ([personal profile] complementing) wrote in [community profile] recolle2017-06-19 11:43 am

closed || nothing ventured

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 [plurk.com profile] 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--!]
frostythehitman: (there's something inside me)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-21 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
Either we get back on track, or we get even more hopelessly lost.

[ He shrugs. He genuinely has no idea which of these is more likely. ]

I guess it depends--how lucky are you feeling right now?
prometheanflame: why is this his life (proud mom of four disasters)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-21 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
The other option we have is turning around and walking the way we came. [Will they be stuck in an infinite loop? He doesn't want to consider that possibility.]

I'm going out. Are you coming with me? [He steps over the bushes bordering the trail.]
frostythehitman: (there's something inside me)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-22 06:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Is that a challenge? Are you calling him chicken, Mohammed? Because that's how James is taking it. And he certainly never backs down from a chance to prove himself. ]

What do you think? Of course I am. Like I'm gonna let someone wander into the forest out here without some backup.

[ James steps over the bushes as well and waves his flashlight over the area to see what their options are for wandering further. Not that it helps much--the light mostly just hits a bunch of trees right in front of them, there's not much visibility beyond that. ]
prometheanflame: (Let me explain you a thing)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-22 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[This is better. Mohammed being the good leader while Bucky is the trusty backup. He feels more in control of his own destiny.]

Be careful. I don't want you to accidentally step on a flower and hear what it has to say.

[They might scream, like Yato brought up.] Keep you light pointed to the ground. [He takes small steps, careful not to trip over unseen roots or bushes.]
frostythehitman: (there's something inside me)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-23 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
What, are you worried about cruelty to flowers?

[ He says it as a joke but he's already clicking the flashlight back on and pointing it towards the ground. ]

Alright, fine, I'll keep it down, but I'm still marking all the trees we pass. It might be our only way back here.
prometheanflame: (A Respectable Adult)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-23 02:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks. [If all else fails, Mohammed as a dagger of his own to mark trees with. He doesn't know how to fight with it, but there are many things that can be accomplished with a sharp blade as Bucky demonstrated.

As they slowly make their way through the woods, Mohammed attempts to peer through the trees to no avail.]


I wonder if entering the woods from the opposite side also leads to this...
frostythehitman: (consuming; confusing)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-25 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
Why wouldn't it? It's a forest, not an alternate dimension.

[ He looks over his shoulder back at the rest of the group and the lights of their flashlights as it rapidly disappears behind the thick foliage. ]

Probably.
prometheanflame: (notice)

got feedback on what happens

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-25 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
[As they continue onwards, Bucky will realize that - to both of their surprise - the marked trees aren't showing up. It's as if...they're walking into a deep forest.

The rest of the group can't be seen.]


I...think we found a way out.

...Unless this isn't even the right way to the city.
frostythehitman: (fear is how i fall)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-26 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ As soon as James realizes the trees aren't repeating, he looks back to see if he can still see the flashlights from the rest of their group. The trees are thick, but it turns out not to be an issue, because Minako shows up right behind them. ]

Calm down, we weren't going to go that far! We just had a quick idea we needed to try out is all. Trust me, I've still been marking trees the whole time to make sure we could get back.

[ For all her concern, James seems remarkably nonchalant. ]
prometheanflame: (listening/neutral)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-27 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mohammed stops when he hears Minako approach, partially because she's worried and partially because he can't see the shine of James' flashlight anymore. He notices that, yes, he isn't imagining things and there is some distance between them and where they started.]

We were looking for a way out. [Glances at the dark forest they were headed into.] Sorry for not warning you, but on the bright side, we may have broken out.
frostythehitman: (fear is how i fall)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2017-06-29 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
[ He ignores the stinkeye and replies, just as casually as before. ]

Easy. We haven't seen a tree repeat once since we got off the path.

[ As proof, he gestures to the trees around them. Sure enough, they've each got only a single line scratched through them, as opposed to the trees with tallies on them from before. ]
prometheanflame: (listening/neutral)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-06-29 10:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I had through that to break out of this loop, we literally have to leave the path given to us. [He shines a small light towards the trail.]

Should we get the others?