Echoes of the Wild: Day 1 & Day 2

[hulled]

FROGWATCH 2023

AKA A Plague of Frogs

FrogWatch Program Information

FrogWatch USA™ is a citizen science program of the Akron Zoo that invites individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities and help conserve amphibians by reporting data on the calls of local frogs and toads.

FrogWatch USA comprises a national network of skilled coordinators and volunteers that form a community with the common goal of providing large scale, long-term data on frogs and toads in the United States to help answer questions like:

- How diverse is the local population of frogs and toads?
- Where are there rare or invasive species?
- Are there long term shifts in species diversity, range, and seasonal timing?

Volunteers are trained to collect information about the calls from frogs and toads during the monitoring season of February through August.

Data is being collected in and around many wetlands across the United States. New volunteers can find a chapter near them.

Aesthetics

Timeline

Some things are better done a little later than never. Which is Evan Finch’s mindset concerning FrogWatch 2023. After setting out to discuss the Frog Census in Enodia’s protective dome, she’s spread the word for the frogs to send a representative to meet with her to relay their numbers.

Unfortunately…things get a little confused in this weird game of telephone. Somehow, the frogs have decided that they all need to present themselves to Evan for counting. That’s where things get a bit out of hand.

Roughly 3am-4am - Frog emergence

At about 3am, the usual croak of frogs becomes noticeably louder. This noise usually fades by late September, but it’s intensified and it sounds close. In the fall, amphibians begin to look for places to hibernate. Taking a few hops away from their lakes and ponds makes sense. But…this?

Anyone out and about, especially Security, will notice movement on the grounds. Slowly, but surely, amphibians of all kinds have begun to assemble near the station. What’s a few toads, right? What’s more confusing is the idea that even when approached, the little buggers don’t seem interested in moving. Rather, it seems like they’re forming lines and waiting for something.

8:00 AM

The croaking is almost unbearably loud. At some points, it sounds as if it’s synchronized. Hundreds of frogs and toads making their calls at the exact same time. For some, this is enough to encourage them to wander outside to shoo the frogs back toward their homes. This has no effect. Any amphibians picked up and relocated just turn right back around and return. Inquisitive amphibians are happy, however, to borrow feet, jackets, shoulders, etc, as a means to carry themselves into the station!

Those who sleep past the sunrise might find their windows a little darker than usual. Frogs are exceptionally good climbers. In fact, they’re such great climbers that the buildings look like they’ve been polka-dotted with them. Others find newts in water sources–public restrooms, water fountains, or fish tanks. More concerning than amphibian home invaders is the growing volume of croaking–it’s now coming from inside the house.

Those leaving their apartments will find…frogs in the hallway. Frogs in the lobby. Frogs on the door. Frogs on the windows. Frogs on the sidewalk. Frogs–Frogs Everywhere! No matter what’s said to them, they don’t seem to feel like silencing themselves.

10:00 AM

It’s clear that the frogs, toads, etc, have overrun the residential building, but it’s more than that. The dome itself is peppered with pockets of them. While the dome largely protects those that live and work within it, it also keeps what seems like the entire state of Vermont’s frog population from invading it. Just consider today Cloudy with a Chance of Frogs.

The dome doesn’t keep the sound of the amphibians from getting through, however. Thousands of croaking frogs and toads are singing for attention now.

12:00 PM

Strangely, a large, teal amphibian with purple spots finds its way up from the bottom of the lake. It swims to the surface and then hops onto the shore into the grass. It’s covered in what seems like moss before the moss starts moving. The frog-shaped creature releases an abnormally loud croak.

All at once, the dome goes silent. Eerily silent. All amphibians turn slowly to face the direction of the creature from the lake. It releases a noise that sounds like a cross between a belch and a scream.

One by one, the amphibians seem to count off, croaking just once until all have been accounted for. The creature makes a disgusted sound and croak-screams again. The mass of amphibians begin their march to its side. It opens its mouth and shoots its tongue out to touch the first frog. The frog shivers and shakes, levitates for exactly two seconds, and splits into three identical versions of itself. This continues until all of the amphibians make their way to greet this strange creature.

After deciding this is still not enough, the Liminal frog puffs its body up to twice its own size. It is now closer to the size of one of the geese by the lake. From its back, frogs pour from its skin, much like the Suriname Toad. As they hit the ground, they grow in size to the width of small dinner plates. They, too, descend upon the station, some carrying other, smaller, toads on their backs.

The reprieve from the croaking is short-lived. The noise is now ten times louder than it was before. (How is that even possible?)

These amphibians also seem to have no concept of personal space. They hop onto people, take rides on shoes, coats, and hair–whatever gets them where they want to go! Likewise, the dome is no longer peppered with frogs, toads, etc, but mostly covered with them.

10:00 PM

By now it has been realized that counting the amphibians seems to return them to their homes. While the idea was a more exact count of the different species of Frogs and Toads, once the amphibian has been addressed with a number, it goes on its merry little way back to the lake.

Any creature split in three will rejoin their former halves once each ‘piece’ has been counted. (Which is a little questionable–do they count as one or three?)

Salamanders and newts also expect to be counted, but wait for what seems to be a more accurate number. They aren’t satisfied to be any old number–they want someone with a running total to count them before they slither on home.

As they hop on home, the noise seems to die down a little. The frogs still clinging to the protective Dome over Enodia Station are eventually dispersed by the Liminal frog who croak-screams three times until they’re physically bounced off of the dome and safely to the ground.

3:00 AM

By 3:00AM, all of the amphibians have gone home, counted or not. The only croaking is the normally occurring kind from the lake. Well–all except one lonely frog staked out by the picnic table.

Things to Note

🐸 The amphibians are relentless and they will do whatever it takes to get inside the Station to seek out people to help them with their mission. Some of these frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts do not have a mission. Some of them are simply along for the ride. They saw a line, hopped in, and they’re following the leader!

🐸 It appears that these loud creatures are looking for a select group of people. If you agreed to help with FrogWatch, that’s probably you! Please expect to be followed by these lil buddies. Not only was your name conveyed to hundreds of enthusiastic frogs, Evan showed pictures of those willing to help to the main frog who has also relayed your likeness to his brethren. Expect a Frog Following.

🐸 Businesses, public spaces, etc, are unlikely to avoid the onslaught of frogs. They’re essentially a plague. There are too many of them to not somehow make it inside. Maybe that frog really wanted a PSL! Maybe that toad needs someone to spot him in the Rec Center! Whatever the reason, they’re everywhere.

🐸 On the grounds, there is an increased presence of prey animals. The FrogWatch makes it very easy to find a quick snack and amphibians are abundant. Expect to see playful foxes, swooping birds, and sneaky snakes. Really, anything that wants to take a nibble out of a few frogs can probably be spotted on the prowl.

🐸 While frogs and co are many, and honestly taking on a plague-like presence, their multitude is thanks to Acadia Birtwistle. She had taken it upon herself this Spring to collect pockets of poorly laid frog spawn and moved them to the lake, ponds, much better water sources, rather than patches of grass that were laid bare to the elements. (Frogs do not seem to care at a certain point.) The number of tadpoles that made it to actual frogs is much higher this year than the year prior.

Volunteer Spots

VOLUNTEER 1 gets an unfortunate surprise when they wake up to find their bed covered in frogs. They must’ve left their window open the night prior!

Mew n’ Brews will never be the same without Rory. Which is especially evident when MC FLORES goes to take a sip of their ICED MOCHA and finds a toad chilling in its own ice bath. Their drink is comped, duh, but will MC FLORES ever be able to trust a drink again?

It’s an unfortunate day to be a person with a distinct distaste of frogs and/or frog-like things. While navigating their way through the station, SHANNON WAN is clearly being stalked by a large number of amphibians. Everywhere they turn? MORE AMPHIBIANS. Finally, they end up finding what appears to be a safe space only to watch those creepy little arms reach under the door crack. Like, what!

When it’s time to say goodbye, VOLUNTEER 4 is pretty devastated to see their new best frog friend heading toward home. VOLUNTEER 4 attempts to convince their friend to stay! [Roll a d20 and let us know if Froggie Friend’s resisting the call of the wild or hopping on home.]

OOC Information

I think it’s obvious that FrogWatch 2023 did not go as intended.

Unfortunately, that means that any supplies Evan planned to have waiting for your characters are not there. Likewise, Evan Finch is not there either. In fact, Evan is effectively missing until October 2nd, 2023. No need to worry–she’ll turn up…somewhere.

THE PETTING ZOO

A shapeshifter has a very bad day

Aesthetics

Timeline

THE GROUNDS - 4:00 AM

It’s been maybe an hour since the frogs have hopped along home when Security gets a call. It doesn’t make sense, but most things at Enodia Station don’t make sense. SAL ROCA goes to check things out for themselves. Apparently, while taking their trash out at 4am, a resident reports seeing a bear climbing into the dumpsters. (Why does someone feel the need to take their garbage out this early in the morning? Who knows.)

Upon approach, SAL ROCA confirms, much to their surprise, that there is a large black bear stuck in a dumpster. They call for reinforcements. How did a bear make it into the Dome? However, by the time the cavalry arrives, the only thing hiding in that dumpster is a raccoon.

It chatters at them, friendly enough, and climbs out of the dumpster before landing on the ground and holding out a hand for a snack. When no one has anything to offer, it hisses and takes off back toward the woods–though SHANNON WAN could swear they saw it shrink rather than disappearing into the treeline.

SAL ROCA stays in the area to keep an eye out–just in case–long after the other Security members have returned to the building. It takes only ten minutes for the bear to reappear on the outskirts and lope toward the lake.

CUSTODIAL is in for a surprise when they find all of their outside trash cans knocked over and the trash spread everywhere. Were those permanent trash bins? Clearly not anymore–they’ve been uprooted from the ground and flung from their usual positions. It’s a raccoon’s paradise, which is what any passerby notices upon inspection. There are raccoons everywhere and they don’t seem perturbed by interruption.

COMMERCIAL CENTER - 6:15 AM

Over in the Commercial Center, Kevin is lonely no longer. He appears to resume his daily trouble making and is flanked by a pigeon friend. Together, they swoop at the unsuspecting people below. Kevin aims and hits his target, the most unfortunate [VOLUNTEER 2]. It’s that time of the week again and [SECURITY V3] is rounding on the Commercial Center to politely ask Kevin to skedaddle. They do not notice Kevin’s buddy, who is now roosting in the rafters.

Buns of Steel customers are in for a shock when a raccoon waddles in with a handful of (presumably stolen) change to pay for a loaf of bread. It waits patiently for assistance until SHANNON WAN gets a little too close for comfort. The raccoon hisses and scatters out of the shop into the Commercial Center and back out of the front doors.

THE GROUNDS - 7:00 AM

Out and about for an early stroll? For anyone crossing between the Commercial Center and Residential Building, it’s possible they might witness a raccoon curl up on itself and twist into a fox.

Halloween is at the end of October. No one needs any tricks around here! Spectators debate whether this is a Liminal creature, a poorly timed joke, or a shapeshifter. Brad’s a werewolf, not a fox, duh.

Streaking across the grounds, the fox is a blur of motion. It stops only to sniff cautiously at [VOLUNTEER 5]. There’s something about this fox that feels different and they’re just about to connect when SAL ROCA appears on the horizon. With an agitated yowl, the fox abandons its new friend and bounds in the opposite direction.

RESEARCH BUILDING - 7:20 AM

Getting into Research is a cinch. The fox-turned-frog hitches a ride on a Researcher carrying a bag of some kind. Once inside, the frog takes its time hopping around, taking a self-guided tour. It rids the corners of the room of some ugly, but innocent, spiders.

After yesterday’s Frog Problem, this one is easy to ignore. It’s stealthily sneaking its way, desk to desk, table to table, until it finds its way into the area with the Imitator Owl. From a safe distance, the frog watches the owl with intense focus. After a few minutes, the frog climbs onto a cabinet and twists into a Great Horned Owl. Footing is tough and the owl falls off of the top of the cabinet onto [RESEARCH V6]’s area.

The surprise of the fall is nothing next to the shrieking that follows as Elvira and the Owl get a good look at one another. Someone calls for SECURITY’s help and rightfully so. They manage to corner the owl, but it evades them as it twists, disappears, and turns into a bat–which zooms out of the room with a well-timed open door–right past SECURITY.

Aren’t bats nocturnal?

THE GROUNDS - 8:00 AM

Back outside, the bat initially finds a tree and twists into a new shape–a squirrel. It curls up among the branches of a tree and falls asleep.

Some time later, it awakens to the feeling of sharp talons. The hawk holding it is in for a shock as the squirrel admonishes it before twisting into a different shape–another hawk, the two of them clasped together by their feet. The birds tumble through the air until they manage to separate with a loud amount of screeching. The squirrel-turned-hawk continues to yell as if warning all of the birds in the area to stay clear. Instead, when it lands again in its tree, it is greeted by a flock of finches, sparrows, and bluebirds who eagerly nestle close in welcome and as look out as the hawk naps in the tree.

THE GROUNDS - 10:00 AM

Poor ZEKE ZELIZER is caught by surprise as a Koala falls out of the tree behind them and lands at his feet. He yells, the koala yells. He's mostly safe with the exception of a gnarly scratch to his NECK in the bear’s haste to get away. Again, SECURITY is alerted.

What is going on?

MEDICAL BUILDING - 10:15 AM

When ZEKE ZELIZER arrives to get their scratch checked out, they have unknowingly brought their assailant by way of frog. The amphibian climbs the walls as it did in the Research Building. It goes unnoticed until it finds JACK JUNG.

Twisting into a new shape, the frog-turned-lemur perches near Dr. Jung with grave interest. If he gets close, it chatters in annoyance. He manages to distract it long enough for SECURITY to arrive again. The lemur spends its time mocking DR. JUNG’s movements by mimicking him. When SECURITY arrives, the lemur uses DR. JUNG as a springboard–it jumps, twists into a blackbird, and hightails it through the waiting room toward an open door.

This time, SECURITY is faster–the door swings shut just before the bird can make it through. Screaming in disapproval, the bird continues to fly in circles above everyone until someone accidentally opens the door from the other side. Now in a much smaller form, a hummingbird, It flies through the open door out onto the grounds.

Clearly, it’s evident that they’re dealing with a shapeshifter–does JACK JUNG share what he knows?

THE GROUNDS - 10:45 AM

Outside once more, the hummingbird flits from place to place looking for somewhere safe to land. It eventually finds a perch and relaxes, clinging to the branch upside down in an attempt to find some rest.

This is short lived. The hummingbird begins the process of shapeshifting again and releases the branch, twisting mid-air into something much larger.

DR. AUGUSTIN CHEVALIER-DESJARDINS is terribly surprised to see a nearly identical version of his beloved Choupinette appear beside him. He might have thought she’d escaped from his apartment if she weren’t already with him! The imposter has no collar or identification that he can see. He attempts to keep the dog with him–and it delightedly does so, following him with eager willingness–so that he can find its owner. (He’d also like to know if this dog came from the same breeder in Quebec!)

After a few minutes, he realizes the dog has lagged behind and when he turns, the dog has disappeared.

It hasn’t, of course, but has rather twisted into a chipmunk. Noticing a familiar face across the way, the chipmunk scrambles to pick up its pace to catch up with LINUS LOWE.

TRAINING BUILDING - 11:25 AM

Mistaking the chipmunk for his buddy, Scrap, LINUS lets the creature follow him into the TRAINING BUILDING. He begins his usual regimen while the chipmunk looks on. At some point, LINUS looks up and notices the chipmunk is gone.

From the shadows prowls a lioness who rumbles deep in its throat. LINUS might have been more scared if there weren’t some familiar feeling about it. It continues toward him, slow and methodical, until it pounces on him, throwing its long arms on his shoulders as if to hug him.

Grateful he was right about the lioness, the pair of friends goof around on the training floor for a while until the door opens. Caught by EXPLORERS this time, someone puts in a call to SECURITY. There’s no attempt to stay with Linus, the giant cat twists into a turkey and flies, clumsily, out of the front door.

THE GROUNDS - 12:15 PM

Wandering the grounds as a turkey seems to be a little fun. A well-timed and menacing turkey yell can scatter humans. The lone turkey appears to be enjoying itself quite a lot until its calls have brought the attention of the other turkeys on property.

It’s one turkey against a gaggle of them.

Onlookers will notice that they look like they’re having a very lively, threatening conversation–as is the way of the turkey. There’s quite a bit of back and forth, the lone turkey makes a noise. The leader of the gaggle makes a noise. (Then the gaggle backs him up with loud accompanying agreement.)

Finally, the lone turkey and the gaggle appear to make amends? The lone turkey makes a noise and all of the turkeys agree. This goes on for some time as the lone turkey appears to join the gaggle.

When was the last time anyone saw a group of turkeys so close to the station? A group of onlookers has gathered and might have stayed if it weren’t for the gaggle noticing them. They are promptly chased by the gaggle who sound almost as if they’re screaming an organized battle cry. Have the turkeys been radicalized?

After chasing as many humans, animals, and poorly placed rocks as possible, the lone turkey makes its way out of the gaggle to find a place to get something to eat.

COMMERCIAL CENTER - 12:25 PM

Slipping into the COMMERCIAL CENTER, the turkey’s goal appears to be food as it wanders into BUNS OF STEEL again. Unfortunately, it is shooed. Outraged, the turkey makes quite a lot of noise and before it can charge someone, it twists into … an ostrich.

MUCH LARGER and feeling A LOT MORE RAGE, the ostrich begins hissing. It sweeps its long neck around and knocks down a display before leaving the bakery.

Hangry and frustrated, the hissing ostrich looks for places with food and people with an eagerness to steal the food, charge the people, and leave destruction in its wake.

Stopping dead in front of WHIT WOOLWINE’S stationery shop, the ostrich locks eyes with him. Neither moves as they stare each other down. There is some mutual agreement? Maybe the ostrich recognizes his panic to keep his shop safe? Who knows.

Agitated at this denial, it flares its wings wide as it snatches a postcard from a nearby stand and bolts down the hallway.

SECURITY is back and ready to assist, but an ostrich is not what they’re expecting to confront today. It hisses loudly at them, clacks its beak in threat, and then takes off. There’s something of a goose chase (ha!) around the center until SECURITY loses the large bird altogether.

Unnoticed, a gray tabby cat pops in through the door as a customer walks out of Mews n’ Brews. It is greeted by the other cats with no discord or chaos. They sniff each other, one by one, until it’s agreed that the newcomer is a friend and can stay.

Things are fine until [VOLUNTEER 8] sits down at a table with [ITEM OF CHOICE]. The moment they look away, the tabby cat shoves its face into it and takes several large bites, growling ferociously when the food is pulled away from them.

When an employee attempts to correct the tabby cat, it arches its back and hisses, swatting at the contents of the table before jumping to the floor. The next time the door opens, the cat twists into a llama and rushes the exit.

It may or may not have trampled a few toes. Intentionally or otherwise.

Seeing SECURITY down the way, it takes advantage of an open door at Equinox and gallops inside. As though they’re unfazed, the employees of the restaurant simply guide the animal out toward the terrace and outside. (How often are they dealing with wildlife that they know how to get a llama out of their restaurant?)

THE GROUNDS - 1:20 PM

The llama hits the sunlight and almost immediately twists into a new shape. Everyone loves a dog. Look at Air Bud! They gave him pudding cup after pudding cup!

Ravenous, the dog hunts down friendly faces, hitting up RORY FAIRFAX first as it flops down at his feet with a whine and rolls over, offering its belly for scratches. From there, it’s every possible trick it knows for any kind of snack or reward.

After RORY, the dog finds other people for help in the lunch department. Dogs, if they look sad enough, can often earn the last bite of a sandwich. It’s quite some time of this–begging for food–until the dog is satisfied enough to find somewhere to take a nap.

Unfortunately, its awakening is rude as a group of gardeners yell in surprise as a friendly alligator lifts its head in greeting. The dog must have shape shifted in its sleep.

RECREATION CENTER - 3PM

As SECURITY goes to check out the slumbering dinosaur claims, the reptile slithers its way into the Recreation Center. It wanders around, leaving muddy footprints, until it twists into a new shape. Hopping into the gym, the Kangaroo begins to snatch everyone’s water bottles, phones, etc. Each item goes directly into its pouch. Anyone who resists is threatened with a chest bump.

It takes the back way out of the gym when someone brings up SECURITY. Throughout the RECREATION CENTER, the Kangaroo hops around looking for trouble, but mostly something to do or someone to hang out with. It corners RUFUS KEARNEY for a good ten minutes making soft clicking noises and encouraging squeaks until it gives up and hops away.

THE GROUNDS 3:35 PM

Annoyed, the kangaroo promptly drops everything it’s stolen directly outside of the RECREATION BUILDING’s door as it twists from kangaroo shape into an elk. Remarkably, this one has antlers despite being female. The elk takes off running but trots around inconveniently placed obstacles while yelling. (How dare someone plant that bush there! How dare that tree be in her path!)

There is no echoing battle cry from another elk. Instead, it’s simply a distressed, antlered elk running around, shrieking, and charging in the direction of anyone trying to interfere.

The Pied Crow lands on its antlers and goes for a ride with the local murder following behind as they canter across the grounds toward the woods. As the Pied Crow releases its perch, the elk twists into a crow and the murder makes a delightful noise: lots of cawing, clicking, and what sounds like laughter. (As only a crow can manage.)

Crows do what crows do: which is apparently landing in a nearby tree and heckling whomever sits close to it. After chasing people away enough times, they hop place to place, only showing interest if someone happens to have food or shiny things for them to take. Today, the crows show astonishing confidence–they will take things right out of human hands and allow strokes to the top of their heads.

To CRYSTA WALDINGER, they gift RAINE RILEY’s wallet, which they conveniently ‘found’ … somewhere. Crows are thieves now? Wow!

Security doesn’t disrupt them this time, rather, it’s the new crow. With a caw of surprise, it twists into a pig. The crows erupt in laughter and take off, swooping low at passersby.

Unimpressed, the pig stamps its hooves before leaving in a rush, hightailing it toward the RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. At the last moment, the pig swerves when it sees SECURITY coming its direction. Pigs are quite quick–which is what SECURITY learns as they attempt a half circle to lock it into place. It dodges them at the last second by the hair of its curly tail, which tugs right out of SECURITY’S hands.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING - 5:30 PM

Mollified, the pig trots back toward RESIDENTIAL and waits for its opportunity to make its way through the doors. In the meantime, it helps itself to any discarded trash, food, etc, hanging around. Ants or no.

No one seems to be willing to admit the pig, but that’s no problem! It twists into a new shape, a shrew, and makes its way onto the elevator, where it remains–tucked in the corner–until it notices someone new and follows them out of the doors and into the main hall.

It’s a shitty time to make DR. JAMIE KNOWLES’S acquaintance. Almost immediately, the shrew twists shape and is replaced by an annoyed and defensive platypus. A platypus?! Surprised, he quickly takes action.

Once the shock wears off, the platypus is replaced by an eager raccoon like the one spotted in Buns of Steel earlier in the morning. The platypus-turned-raccoon makes a break for it and shimmies down the hallway, knocking on door after door with outstretched hands.

Eventually, someone admits the greedy raccoon. It steals a handful of cereal, which it devours on their balcony, before disappearing altogether. The raccoon winds its way to the ground level (after stealing a dog toy from someone else’s balcony) and takes off back through the grounds for a hasty escape.

THE GROUNDS - 6:30 PM

In the lake, an otter swims circles around lily pads. It carries a small family of frogs on its belly as it floats through the water. When approached, the otter offers [VOLUNTEER 11] its favorite rock–the one it would use to break shells if there were any shells to break!

After climbing to the grass sometime later, it finds a new shape, shifting into a gangly legged giraffe. Able to see for quite some distance, it makes the trek from the water back toward the Residential Building as it looks around. Once closer to the station, the giraffe peers into open windows with interest.

This shape doesn’t last long as it twists again into a moose. Every noise seems to agitate it. It charges in all directions, though it never aims to hurt anyone. If anything, it seems frightened.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 8:00 PM

The moose ends up at the doors of the Administration Building. Too tall to fit, it tries ducking its head, bending down, and possible movement to fit inside. When it cannot, it bellows angrily. It begins a journey around the building, looking for another way inside. By the time it reaches the front again, the moose is replaced by a porcupine.

Getting inside now is easy. It waddles inside with ease. Unfortunately, ADMIN is on it. In their haste to help, ZEKE ZELIZER is quilled. Was it intentional? No. Does it require Medical? Yes. :(

The porcupine manages to make it to Security’s floor. It twists shape again before the elevator doors open and a wolf peers out. It stalks quietly down the hall as if looking for someone. When it doesn’t find them, it heads back to the elevator.

Out of the elevator doors bounds a golden retriever. SAL ROCA doesn’t even have to try this time–the dog bounds right up to him and shoves its nose against his hands.

And…nothing happens.

For several hours, nothing happens! The dog stays a dog. There are no further random calls from different parts of the station.

How strange!!!

Things to Note

🐿️ The entire time that Evan is locked in animal form, the wild animals on property are way more interactive. They’re coming closer to humans, getting into trouble, etc. Not in a bad way, but just more mischievous. The birds don't flock with their own kind--it's a lot of abnormal behaviour. Feel free to extend this to pets if you'd like!

🐿️ After Friday's frog plague, there are noticeably less insects. Like, WAY less. Enjoy that!

🐿️ The albino deer is spotted with his herd around the time the elk is screaming. He is not approachable, but he's there! He exists! Maybe someone can collect his antlers when he eventually sheds them.

🐿️ Evan's shapeshifting ability is out of control--it's the first time she's fully shifted and it's just kind of taken over. Mentally, she's more animal than Evan. Some of those interactions are absolutely more animal-driven than human. Likewise, she will not answer to her own name.

OOC Information

Please take as many volunteer spots as you want. I know y'all are super polite and don't want to take spots from other people, but you are welcome to them. Please also assume that any interaction is open to you!

Do you want to be lovingly pounced by a lion? It's yours! Do you want to be bitten by a snake? Can do!

I wanted to write a general timeline so I had in my head what happened with Evan, but I also didn't know how to write it in a way that wasn't super restrictive. So I did my best to weave narrative with opportunity. Everything here is a free-for-all with the exception of Sal Roca! He has that super fun ability to power negate--which is what happens at the end. Poor Evan is locked in dog shape for who knows how long.

That said, if you don't know how to interact, that's okay. I had fun writing it, so feel free to just lock your characters in their rooms and let them watch Netflix instead.

CODE BY

Comments

SCENES & REACTIONS

[hulled]

Mew & Brew - Early Morning, MC + Open

[emceed]

MC knew that moving to a government fortress in the middle of Vermont would put her more in touch with nature than the Detroit she'd been calling home, but this is getting ridiculous. It was another late night of prepping The Hall, and she'd only just fallen asleep when the first frog calls began a few hours ago. After trying to will herself back to sleep, MC finally decides to embrace it and gets up. May as well get something productive done. Maybe soundproofing. Maybe that would keep out the nature.

She half sleepwalks over to the cute little cat coffee shop because a hefty dose of caffeine is in order. She thanks the barista for the iced mocha, but just as she's bringing it to her lips, something sticky and amphibian brushed against her nose. She opens her eyes and screams.

Mew & Brew - Early Morning, MC + Jack

[nolitangere]

"You too?" Jack smiles at MC mournfully, as if she just hadn't screamed. Waiter, there's also a frog in his cup—and Jack's cup frog actually appears more miffed about the situation than Jack, like the frog can't believe some random guy is trying to drink his bathwater. Who do you think they are, a YouTube streamer?

Jack is holding his cup delicately, with the careful air of an amphibian jacuzzi-Uber driver. "I wouldn't lick them if I were you," he continues, trying to be helpful. "Some species secrete psychotropic compounds through their skin."

Mew & Brew - Early Morning, MC + Jack

[emceed]

"What?" MC asks, taking a moment to comprehend. When it clicks, along with the reality of the whole situation, she looks at the perturbed frog again and quickly puts the cup down on a table. She doesn't want to be party to an accidental amphibian electrocution, psychotropic or otherwise.

She's awake enough now anyway.

"I don't think I realized frog watch day meant they all came to us." She's been warned the place is weird. She assumes this is what folks around here consider normal.

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

Zeke clocks out of his security shift the very first second he can. His head hurts, he's exhausted, and there have been frogs trying to climb up his pants all goddamn morning, and all he wants to do is go see Crysta. She'd shown up late last night (or early this morning), drunk on expensive champagne, holding a piece of cake and looking like she'd been crying. Which he didn't mind; he'd worked plenty of morning shifts on a dangerously low amount of sleep and he'd do it a hundred more times if it meant Crysta felt she could come to him when she needed a safe place.

But it left him distracted today, and annoyed at the chaos unfolding with the loudest fucking critters he'd ever met in his damn life. And as soon as he can leave, he abandons any coworkers still trying to handle the frogpocalypse (a-frog-calypse???). This is so extremely not his problem now.

"Jesus fuck," he swears as he slips into the residential building, squinting through his current pair of coke bottle glasses. He shuffles down the hall, doing his genuine best to avoid squishing any little amphibious bodies. "Let my people go already for fuck's sake."

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[beautyfull]

After waking up with literally the hangover from hell and remembering why she had not cried prior to this in two years, Crysta, frankly, ditched FrogWatch 2023. That was an obligation sober Crysta had made a few days ago. Not at all the same girl who had awakened when it was about to start stripped of all moisture and emotions; raw and empty. Which would've been worse if she hadn't reached out to touch a stupid ashtray first thing, or if her fancy dress hadn't been on the floor, in favor of being wrapped in a shirt for a metal band that she'd never come close to hearing. Those things felt safe. She couldn't indulge in them all day. Or even most of it.

A shower, some painkillers, and a chugged pedialyte later, she'd finally been unable to ignore the chirps and ribbits coming from literally every corner.Getting to Research was an impossibility, but she felt she should at least put in the effort to try. And she had to check on Zeke, anyway. She pushes out of her own apartment (the journey from Zeke's to hers had been a terrible little teaser for this) and blinks at the sight. And then almost pukes. It's trillions of frog cells, all assaulting her eyes at once. This is way too much for an already swimming head, and she's about to turn around and go home when she hears a familiar voice and sees Zeke fumbling through the deluge in some truly attractive glasses.

"Babe. Just wait."

She bravely picks her way to him and holds out her hand so that she can help guide him around what must be just a sea of frog.

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

"Oh thank god, another human," Zeke calls out dramatically and grabs Crysta's hand. He shuffles along the floor toward her, still convinced if he lifts a foot he'll wind up stomping on a frog and feeling really fucking bad. "I was starting to think I'd never hear speech or see upright skeletons again."

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[beautyfull]

"If I was just a big frog, could you really tell through those like. Monumentally sexy glasses?"

Crysta smirks at him, pulling him closer. This is a look that maybe only he individually could pull off; his continually stupidly cute little security polo and maybe five inch thick glasses. But she can't just look for too long. She really doesn't want to step on any frogs, either. It's already like. Gut-wrenchingly smelly. She wants to puke. She makes a soft noise of consternation, and bats away a frog that had jumped at her arm. She does not have to vocalise further. She hates this.

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

"Oh not a chance in hell, so if you're a couple hundred frogs in a wig you gotta tell me before I—" Zeke is cut off by a frog landing on the back of his neck and he lets out a surprised yelp, jumping directly into Crysta. "Nope, no, I can't—we can't do this out here, one of us is gonna puke." He throws a frantic glance toward her apartment door (he thinks... it's somewhere around here). "Is your place safe?"

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[beautyfull]

She catches him, but barely. Crysta does feel a little green. Or maybe it's just that all she can see in the entire world is green, swimming squamous cells. All epidermis looks kind of the same to Crysta now; an onion, a frog, a person, but this was too much of all of it. She exhales and goes into rational science mode, which takes up just about the last of her very depleted energy reserves. "It is. For now. But like, I'm on the first floor, they'll infiltrate my place first. Let's get to like. The elevator? They won't have made it to the roof, it's locked and it's a long way for frogs to jump."

She is making up all of these frog facts as she goes, but it sounds right, and she very valiantly starts kicking out her toes as she walks, just threatening enough to convey murderous intent.

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

Zeke has seen Dawn Of the Dead (2004). He's pretty sure the roof is one of those things you're supposed to save for the final act, because nowhere else is safe.

"What if they've already got control of the elevator?" he says, but he pushes toward the elevator doors anyway, still holding tight onto Crysta's hand. It's not like he has a better solution. Climbing the stairs means just more risk of squishing their tiny frog bodies, and there's bound to be less of them in the elevator, right?? "Is this how we find out the Bible is actually fucking true?"

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[beautyfull]

Crysta has not seen Dawn of the Dead (Any of Them) so does not know about the danger of rooftops. It seems just like the best solution for right now.And also? She curses Zeke's muscle mass for the very first time. Anyone else, and she'd be hopping on their back demanding a ride through the swarm. It's sadly not an option and she resents this a little. But that's all right.

"I mean, like. If that's true, this is the elevator to hell, anyway. The Old Testament God would not put up with either of our shit. So this is probably our last ride." Crysta flashes a dangerous grin, accepting this fate. Suffocated by Frog wasn't exactly how she'd planned to go, but it'd be a way funny story for her parents to explain at the obligatory funeral. "Don't you want to die with me amid like a million frogs?" She reaches out one arm and presses the up button to not really give him a choice in this.

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

"Okay, there's worse ways to die for damn sure, but—" The doors slide open and there's already frogs in the elevator, with more leaping toward this free real estate. "This is so much fucking stupider than even I'd've expected."

Zeke stretches one long leg over the nearest greyish ribbiting blob and shoves them out of the way with his boot. He puts his arm around Crysta's shoulder, guiding her to ?safety as another frog jumps up his sleeve. "Get in, get in, I might have to fuckin' sacrifice myself at this point."

Zeke & Crysta, Midday

[beautyfull]

"Oh it's gonna be so stupid." She grins, and leaps into the elevator with her own long legs. There weren't many frogs in the elevator, and she does not really feel remorse if some of them get lost to time and the elevator shaft. Honestly, they should know better. There's relative silence aboard the elevator, and it only serves to show how much of a headache she still has. Crysta shifts to bury her face in Zeke's arm, those energy reserves once again wafting away.

"I'm actually way too hungover for this." She does not press the button upwards quite yet. Maybe they are in the only safe 3 square feet in this whole building.

Doc accidentally sleeps on it

[yinzpired]

Who knew that counting frogs was like counting sheep? Doc had the bright idea to spend her Friday day drinking while tallying amphibians.

With a few drinks in her, the 10AM rush at the residential building pings as nothing more than a particularly wild frog party. By 4PM she's dozed off in the janky plastic lawn chair she's parked herself in, a half-empty can of Budweister & Clamato dangling from her fingertips -- dreaming of more efficient frog counting devices, no doubt.

Dead to the world, she makes an excellent elevated vantage point for froggies seeking somewhere to hop.

Noon - Lakeside Toad Witnesses (Tom + ?)

[grndctrl]

Welp, apparently today is a field research day, as the collection of small brown toads that have invaded Toms' workspace show no signs of leaving them in peace. They begin filming things out and around the station; collections of frogs following people, the incessant croaking. Maybe someday they'll all make sense of this. Maybe someday the noise will stop long enough to let them think.

Three Toms are spread out near the lake when their new teal friend emerges, and at least one of her regrets the decision immediately; there are many reasons she does not go out into the Riftlands unless she has to, and encounters with unstudied Liminal creatures are right at the top of that list. Still, they all stay, observing from a safe distance.

The amphibian role call is almost interesting, but it's the splitting that fascinates and irritates them. "What the shit?" is not the most educational of phrases to hear on a nature video, but it'll be present on every Tom's. This critter is stealing their bit!

[This is open if anybody wants to accompany Tom(s) or witness the great teal froggenning!]