maskormods: (Default)
Mask or Menace | MODERATORS ([personal profile] maskormods) wrote in [community profile] maskormenacelogs2019-05-17 01:15 pm

There must be something in the water

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Lake Tahoe, the Nevada side
WHEN: May 17 all day
WHAT: Swear-In
WARNINGS: Some violence

Welcome imPorts new and old to the lovely city of Jeopardy! For the five minutes the swear-in is here, anyway. See, there’s been some unusual activity at the (relatively) nearby Lake Tahoe. The Better Believe It Museum of Cryptozology has appealed to the government for help, and the powers that be generously volunteered this Swear-In as a chance for imPorts to be voluntold to help. Of course, you can always skip the swear-in or just decide to kick up your feet at a nice lakeside property in May, but the local natives would really appreciate the assistance. So much so that they’ve rented out a legion of party buses to transport you from Jeopardy to the museum in style. Yes, there’s a bar and snacks (though only juice for the kids). It’s about a three hour drive, try not to get too sloshed on the way over.

Just what is the issue? It seems that Nevada’s most famous cryptid, Tahoe Tessie has...well. Been seen. And, yes, of course, there is that whole museum you are going to at the edge of the lake dedicated to fuzzy, shaky-cam ‘sightings’ of Tessie and other cryptozoological marvels over the years, but this is different. Like, ‘oh no, we actually found her’ different. And by all appearances, Tessie’s pretty pissed at being found. Any boats that attempt to go out into the lake are sunk, divers have vanished to never be seen again (whole, anyway. A few parts have washed up), and police have noted a sharp increase in random, violent attacks around the lake shores.

That’s where you come in.

The museum has requested Tessie be captured and transferred into their crypto-aquarium where she can be studied (and rubbed in the faces of all those ‘real’ scientists that called them crazy over the years). There are other options, though. The police are just fine with you killing the creatures; let the scientists dissect the corpse. And a very well funded individual party is more than willing to pay an exorbitant amount to the imPorts that hand her over to them.

While you ponder about the ethics and money involved, here’s the lay of the land.



First there is the cryptid museum itself. Not the tidiest of places, the museum is three floors of winding narrow aisles between shelves heaped with curiosities and walls covered in fuzzy photographs with plaques explaining what cryptozoological marvel is depicted in them, or poster sized print outs of ‘testimonials’ of alien abductions, bigfoot sightings, etc, along with artists interpretations of events described. There is also, of course, quite an expansive gift shop. Get your BELIEVER t-shirt before supplies run out. Please no powers in the museum, the owner is quite forceful about how everything in there is one of a kind.



For those of you not into monster hunting, or hunters that need to recharge, the cryptid museum is right next to a resort that has thoughtfully opened its doors to imPorts. It’s lingering around 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit at the lake, not exactly swimming weather, but there’s charming outdoor seating, fire pits to gather around, and free drinks and finger foods abound for every one to mingle with. There’s plenty of nice walking paths around the lake, some low-key events like horse shoe tossing or croquet to pass the time with. Just a nice break by the lake to recharge after a rough month.



Then there’s the lake itself. The locals have provided you with canoes, small fishing boats with radar, diving suits and snorkels, fishing nets, pretty much anything they could think of that will help you catch dear old Tessie (if you have a specific request for an unusual item, ask here if it will be provided!). A certain eccentric (the one offering cash money for Tessie to be turned over to them) even provided a one person submarine for use- though it doesn’t have any arms to grab with or much in the way of catching power, the gesture was still nice?

But catching a cryptid isn’t that easy. See, turns out that surge in violent attacks isn’t just dear old Tessie. If you just pressed A and skipped to the lake itself, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. Those that took time to view the museum first, or chatted with the hotel staff about local legends, will have some warning of what is waiting for them. They’ll learn that in addition to cryptids lake Tahoe has a very real monstrous history- it’s a known mob mass graveyard. Through the 1900s, possibly up to today, the lake served as a very convenient spot for mobsters to send people to ‘sleep with the fishes.’ No one knows how many bodies have ended up under those placid waters, but it’s an unpleasant number. Just an interesting historical tidbit until you actually enter the lake. There you’ll see these dead are, somehow, awake. And not that happy about it.



The lake is crawling with revenants. These angry undead will fight tooth and nail anyone that comes into the waters of the lake, trying to pull you down to meet the same watery fate as them. We’re literal on the tooth part, their bites are strong enough to rip out chunks of flesh. They will follow anyone that disturbs them out of the lake, focused on destroying the life they no longer have. These creatures will need to be destroyed or laid to rest for the lake to be safe again. This can be done through sheer physical assault, break enough of the bones or destroy the skull and the creatures will collapse into the muk. Or they can be put to rest one by one with rituals specifically made for putting the dead to rest (from any religion or philosophy). Those that can talk with the dead and have the dedication can talk the spirits into releasing their mortal coil and returning to the void. Just remember their first emotion is rage at the living, and their first instinct will always be to attack. Those going for a more peaceful route may need back-up to keep the creatures at bay until they start seeing results.

Finally, there’s Tessie.



While legends have reported, and the cryptid museum lead you to expect, a more serpentine creature, characters are once more in for a surprise. Those that finally get past the undead to Tessie herself will discover she is none other than a legendary lusca: half shark, half squid, all attitude. For those still trying to apply biology to this, Tessie’s front half looks like a bull shark, a species infamous for its ability to swim in both salt and fresh waters. There is a little good news: unlike the revenants, Tessie isn’t looking so hot. Some of her tentacles are rotting off and teeth are falling out. She is mostly working to avoid anyone that wants to bother her, darting to deeper waters and running away from close encounters. Anyone that does get too close will face a fight, but it’s that of an animal in its death throes. While an unlimited number of characters can see Tessie, the final decision of what happens to her will be decided by a poll.

After a long day at the lake, imPorts are bused back to Jeopardy in the same party buses. Hopefully still more or less in one piece.

OOC PLOTTING AND QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED HERE!
stlg13bomber: (Explosion)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] stlg13bomber 2019-05-20 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe she should have.

"What?" Carter shouts back, his ears ringing with water and shockwaves. He smacks the side of his head a few times to try and dislodge the former, then adds, "You should probably get out of the way! I'm going to explode again and you might get hurt!"

The yelling is attracting other revenants, which slowly shamble or paddle towards Carter as he does the backstroke out into deeper water.
by_candlelight: (Default)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] by_candlelight 2019-05-21 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
Ruby comes to a similar conclusion soon after hearing him speak.

While curiosity was powerful, and she was very interested in figuring out what was going on, she retreated back the way she came, not even having gotten all that close to the water, because she was very fond of keeping her limbs intact.

When she felt she was a safe distance away she turned around to look at what on earth he had planned.
stlg13bomber: (Science!)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] stlg13bomber 2019-05-21 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter manages to get himself to a shallow ridge further out in the lake, high enough that he can stand up with his upper torso poking out of the water.

"Hey! Hey, you!" he shouts at the revenents, and throws a rock at them to further encourage their attentions. They almost seem like people, how funny - he's blown up people before, but never to their faces. He wouldn't have been able to survive it, haha. Now? Now he feels invincible. Omnipotent. He stands here, grinning widly until the first clawing hand almost brushes his skin.

Then? Boom.

Revenant chunks go flying, as do water and dirt in a fine mist. Carter finds himself caught in the whirlpool left behind as the water rushes back in, kicking and sputtering. Water goes up his nose. Fire can't touch him but he still needs air to breathe, a fact he is currently regretting as he tumbles head over bare feet through the lake, trying to claw his way back to the surface.

Assistance would likely be appreciated.
Edited 2019-05-21 17:45 (UTC)
by_candlelight: (Default)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] by_candlelight 2019-05-21 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Had there been time, Ruby would have clapped for him, possibly even cheered! She could always appreciate a good explosion, and while the location was less than ideal, the timing had been perfect.

There wasn't time for that, however. The sight of Carter being dragged out into the lake made her freeze for a moment, her fear weighing against the fact that she really couldn't hesitate for too long or this guy would drown. As soon as she could wrestle her fear out of the way she was running toward the water, megaphone abandoned as she dug through her backpack.

As ruby reached the edge of the water she threw her bag back towards the beach, some rope in hand. She managed to get about knee deep into the water before she realised any further would end in her panicking, and possibly both of them dying. She held on to one end of the rope, then threw the rest of it out his way, hoping he'd be able to grab it before he was pulled under.
stlg13bomber: (Explosion)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] stlg13bomber 2019-05-22 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
By some miracle the swirling water drags the rope into its currents and Carter manages to tangle his arm around it. The line goes taut as the water tries to pull him away again and he finally has something to brace against, groping his way up to the surface and taking a brief gulp of air before he's pulled down again.

Eventually, he manages to drag himself to shore, muddy and coughing on the bank. Okay, maybe that's enough boom for right now. Maybe it's time for naps.
by_candlelight: (Default)

Re: Zombie Lake Party

[personal profile] by_candlelight 2019-05-22 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
When the line goes taut Ruby starts to pull, walking backwards as she did so she could get out of the water as well as use the strength in her legs to add to the whole thing.

Once he's on shore she doesn't hesitate to run over to him and start checking his vitals. As she does she starts speaking in a sure, steady voice. Her heart was still pounding a mile a minute due to having come so close to her nemesis, deep water, but she'd put on a mask of calm and authority so often through her life it came naturally the moment panic wasn't overwhelming her.

"Can you breathe? Can you move further from the water if I help you?"
stlg13bomber: (Thoughtful)

[personal profile] stlg13bomber 2019-05-22 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter tries to talk but all that comes out is a harsh croak. He resorts to nodding his head and leaning on her as he tries to get up. Another minute of coughing clears his airway enough for him to rasp out "Thanks, miss".

The water slowly starts to settle again, even as the revenants on the far shore take notice of the commotion. They won't be alone for long.
by_candlelight: (Default)

[personal profile] by_candlelight 2019-05-22 07:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not a problem. Just keep breathing and everything will be alright. Cough when you need to." She says this as she moves to help him. She's not terribly large, but she's had enough practice to know the best way to be a sturdy aid nonetheless.

"If you can walk, we need to get away from the water for a little. Are you ready?"

In the back of her mind she was imagining zombies sneaking up on them at this very moment. She hated to turn her back to danger, but it was required if she was going to help him walk up on shore.