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

[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.

[prometheanflame]

We--

[There's no possible retort that can hold up to facts. They are following the only available trail that does not curve. This is the same tree.]

So assume that we are. What happens when we go off the trail?

[frostythehitman]

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]

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]

[ 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]

[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]

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]

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]

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.

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy's ankle wasn't troubling her at all anymore, but that certainly wasn't going to stop her from finding a dozen other things to be disagreeable about.]

How the fuck does that work?

[But Lucy stopped after a few steps, looking back briefly and then up at the darkened canopy. The teenager breathes out a frustrated sigh, and kicks one of the clearly offending trees. Lightly, but sulkily.]

The trees are getting weird, too.

[frostythehitman]

[ James doesn't seem to notice her attitude. He's a moody teenager too, unless she starts picking fights with him, he just finds all her reactions very reasonable. ]

You mean, weird in a way other than the fact that we've apparently passed this one five times so far?

[ He huffs and flips the blade of the knife in and out, in and out a few times. Just to have something to actually do with his hands, rather than stand around uselessly. ]

I don't get it. Not like 'getting it' even matters, if we're lost out here.

[long_live_the_queen]

[She doesn't comment on the knife; they were well past the point where Lucy even gave it a cursory glance as a theoretically dangerous sharp object.]

Closer together. There's less room on the path.

[...or maybe that was her paranoia talking?]

[destiny_key]

Maybe we're just getting really deep into the forest? Maybe we're at, like, the middle now.

[Sora's fooling himself and he knows it.]

[frostythehitman]

Does it really matter? We're lost and going in circles--we could be five feet in or five miles in and it wouldn't make a difference.

[long_live_the_queen]

It's probably going to get worse.

[Walking and expending more energy seemed pointless right now, so Lucy didn't move again. She stared off into the undergrowth beside the path, considering it. The outcome might be different, or they might be stuck in a loop of even more uneven ground. And it'd be easier to get lost or separated.]

Any other ideas?

[If they were completely lost, would whoever was going to retrieve them get lost too?]

[frostythehitman]

[ James crosses his arms and thinks about it. Navigating a forest--it's not something he really has extensive experience in. Especially not the 'getting lost' part. He's not really sure what makes the most sense here, but doing something is better than nothing. ]

Anyone got a flare? Or any other way to send up a signal?

[goen]

[ Hi Yato has been here all along I guess. ]

Not me. But the Retrospec app still works, y'know. We could get someone else to send up a signal and see if it's in range.

[cattack]

[Cleo examines the marks on the tree.]

It shouldn't be possible to do that without our noticing... If we are somehow being wrapped around or moved to where we started, we should notice that things no longer look the same. Perhaps we should try to find the edge, where we get moved.

[frostythehitman]

And how exactly do you think we're gonna actually find the edge, even if we do come across it?

[cattack]

[The cat ears on her head droop slightly, as she can't think of anything.]

... To look for where scenery suddenly changes is my best idea.

[frostythehitman]

I don't think we're going to find any of that.

[ He spreads his arms out wide, gesturing to everything around them. ]

There's nothing but stupid trees for miles and miles. What scenery change do you think there could be?

[cattack]

Something like... trees or foliage not being where it appeared before? Some sort of manner to show we've moved...

[her voice steadily gets less confident as she goes.]

... I have few ideas, I admit.

[frostythehitman]

[ He's not trying to be a defeatist, honest. But he's also very aware of how screwed they are right now. ]

Oh we've moved alright--over and over in front of the same trees.

[ He gestures to the tally carved into the bark of the nearest tree. Then he huffs and kicks the dirt, trying to think of a way out of this. Coming up with clever tricks or schemes was never his strong suit. ]

I don't know if there's anything we can do, unless we crawl all the way up one of these dumb trees and get a bird's eye view of where we are.

[cattack]

[She shakes her head, her ears laying flat.]

I've already tried. The branches become too thin and weak to support a person's weight before you get high enough to see.

[frostythehitman]

[ God, the ears move?

James doesn't want to admit it, but he's definitely staring. It's freaking him out a little, seeing the cat ears move as if they're an actual, biological part of her. He'd half assumed they were just...cosmetic, totally static. Or literally a headband of some kind.

No, okay, come on. Focus, man. That's not even that weird on the Retrospec scale of weirdness (probably). ]

Yeah...go figure. So basically we're screwed, unless someone brought a really long selfie stick we can use to extend our view.