achates | [DAY 0] TDM.

[DAY 0] TDM.

Error in final launch sequence:
Failed to execute MI command:
target remote localhost: 01633
Error message from debugger back end:
Cannot access memory at address 𝟹͚̽𝚡̰̍̂𝟸̠̯̘ͭͧ𝚌̭͉̺͖ͥ𝟿̳̰̒̇ͅ𝟷̦ͣ̉͌̅𝚋͓͎̈̒̀𝟻ͭ̌͂𝟷ͩ̓𝟾̦
Failed to execute MI command:
target remote localhost: 01633
Error message from debugger back end:
Cannot access memory at address 𝟹̖͇͕̃𝚡͉̹̯͇̻̉̓̂𝟸͚̹͈͓̩͚̲̼͒̾𝚌̱̠͙̝̪͇̈̌̂̃̄ͭ𝟿̱̜̪͓̳̹ͤ̊̈́ͦͥ̑𝟷͖̱̝̀̒̇̂̄̈́̓̇ͅ𝚋̥̯͉̹͛͛̊ͤͦͩ𝟻̬̮̈́̋ͯ͛̉̐𝟷̋ͩ̔̔𝟾̼
Waiting for debugger connection...
Debugger connected
Debugger connection lost.
Waiting for debugger connection...
Debugger connected
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Target is not responding, retrying...
Debugger connection lost.
Shutting down...
Rebooting
Download in Progress:
File download complete
Time elapsed during download operation: 00:12:33.131
Rebooting
Launching Demon Summoning Program. . .

You open your eyes to the end of the world, but you do not see it.

Instead what rouses you is screaming and crying, blood and tears: all around you are signs of life. Inside the overturned train, people begin to awaken, sprawled on the ground as if thrown violently from their seats, broken bones and bleeding wounds struggling to rise from the carpet of shattered glass from the windows at their feet. Emerging from the wreck, characters will find themselves at the edge of a dense forest, a towering stone wall at their backs. Bright eyes peer out from the shadows of the foliage, more and more blinking into view like stars in a darkening sky, but despite being drawn to the scent of blood that hangs heavy in the air, nothing steps out of the forest. Not yet.

None of the passengers can recall what happened, what they were doing on a train, where it was going- there's more they can't remember, but overshadowing the gaps of memory are things they have gained in return. A familiar item that is not theirs. A gemstone that feels lighter than it appears, as if hollow inside. And a device that wraps around their wrist (or rests on their head, or hangs around their neck, or however it presents itself to each character) that starts up on its own the moment the character turns their attention to it, as if waiting. Each character's COMP has a "navigator" selected at default, either "A☆L☆A" in bright neon orange, or "K5" in cool slate blue, although the presiding navigator can be freely switched between them.

Heya, boss! My name's Ala, your new navi!

You wanna know something really funny? Go ahead and touch the map on the corner of the screen to enlarge it. See all those little red dots? Those are demons out to kill you. Haha! You're surrounded!

Heya, boss! You can call me Keigo, your navigational AI.

If you touch the map on the corner of the screen, you can enlarge it and see the positions of all your allies. Looks like some of you are already heading out: see those little blue— oh. That one just disappeared. ... Try to stick together.

Along with providing a map with enemy/ally positions, the navigators will walk characters through the demon interaction, recruitment, and summoning processes, with advice varying between the two navigators (click to expand)

Just beat 'em up and force 'em to join! They can't say no if they're dead!

Nobody is immune to bribery, not even demons. What do you even have, though...? No matter what, don't let them get that life stone.

More demons incoming! Ooh, you're screwed. You'd better run! Don't worry, I won't tell.

Let's hide here. We'll wait here until that demon passes, then move!

Look, a body! Are they still alive? Wonder what's in their pockets...?

It's already too late to help. But better them being demon food than you.

Or, you could stay. There is nothing forcing anybody to leave the relative safety of the train. Those who stay behind will find the conductor's cabin empty, save for a small black cat perched on the headrest of the driver's seat that peers out with bright golden eyes at those who enter. Otherwise, there are no signs of a fight or struggle inside the cabin. Elsewhere, there is unclaimed luggage in the overhead compartments with an abundance of clothing and blankets, although characters will not find any of their own clothing except what they're already wearing. The dining cart is still stocked with enough food and beverage to last each passenger at least two days— maybe longer, if people keep leaving/dying... But at the same time, maybe shorter, considering the pervasive hunger that gnaws at the pits of everybody's stomachs, an emptiness that yearns to be filled by something... more.

As minutes stretch into hours, it becomes painfully clear that nobody is coming to help. Everybody only has each other, this town, its inhabitants. The forest is dark and unforgiving, near impossible to navigate even with a map. Strange creatures jump out from the shadows, eyes bright, mouths salivating, hungry. Strong hands claw through the dirt underfoot to grab at people's feet, pulling themselves up, mouths wide open, hungry. Sharp talons swoop down from the skies above, snatching characters up into the air, crushing skulls and snapping spines. Hungry. The demons here seem delighted to see such a feast wandering right into their home; those who are stopped for attempted conversation express surprise that characters are able to see them, but ultimately the hunger wins, and hunger does not listen to reason.

Casualties are inevitable. Blood mist permeates the air, and follows even as characters break out of the forest and across town, all the way to the fraying end of the world. Out in the open, however, the sun rays beat down bright and harsh, and those hungry eyes shy away from the sunlight to remain in the shadows, inside husks of buildings and thickets of overgrown fields. Characters will be able to find refuge in the greenhouse and the church, and some of the standing houses are truly vacant (as opposed to "surprise! there's actually a demon inside!" vacant); the only eyes that follow you are those of photographs hung crooked on the walls, of familiar strangers and forgotten friends. Look, there's a picture of you too.

Other locations require more caution to explore:

The sound of crying can be heard from the upper stories of the school building, thin wails echoing up and down the deserted halls, and human-like shadows peer out from the broken, unboarded windows, as if watching. A barricade inside the front doors makes it difficult to enter from the main entrance, and with most of the windows boarded up, the hallways inside remain dark even during the day. The smell of rot is prominent, heavy and cloying, especially in the auditorium-become-mausoleum that is littered with crushed bones, thin and brittle, every last scrap of flesh already nibbled away. A flock of demons crowd around outside principal's office, where a blizzard blows through the entire hallway, rendering visibility near zero and temperatures below that.

The hospital is also deathly cold, breath visible in puffs of mist that sometimes form into screaming faces, and when all is still and quiet, you look up and see yourself. Shadows form into mirror images of the characters who enter the hospital, silently approaching others and attacking once the person's guard is down. If a demon borrowing your face isn't bad enough, Phantoms go a step further and take the form of people who are close to your character: friends, family, foes. Exploring the hospital may or may not be worth the potential backstabbing, considering the fact that the supplies found are maybe not the most sterile, half the equipment is rusted or corroded, and a lot of the medicine is unlabeled tablets and capsules inside unlabeled bottles (essentially, take at your own risk). Moreover, hordes of all sorts of demon ghosts will bar characters' way down to the basement, gathering in massive numbers anytime somebody tries to descend. Electricity bounces around the top of the stairway down, while bright flames lick the bottom of the stairs; particularly unlucky characters may be hit with a confusion spell, liable to throw themselves headfirst down the stairs to be consumed by the waiting demons below.

Hauntingly beautiful music can be heard from within the concert hall, and listening to their song puts you fast asleep— possibly in the middle of the street if you're not careful— while those who manage to make it past the front doors are immediately frozen in a hunk of ice or electrocuted to a crisp before being kicked to the curb. The concert hall appears to be actively guarded, and it's clear that strangers are Not Welcome. Even the other demons keep clear of this building, drawn to the music but lingering far enough to not be overwhelmed. Characters may have an easier time of initiating conversations with demons from around town or inside the houses nearby the concert hall.

The crackle of electricity can be heard from inside the power plant's upper stories despite the blackout, and the entire building shakes from time to time, as if caught in a thunderstorm, or an earthquake. A slow drip... drip... drip... can be heard throughout the building, of amorphous demons clinging to the walls like mold and leaving puddles of caustic acid Everywhere. Anybody who enters the power plant's front entrance is met with a massive agglomerate of black Ooze that has expanded to fill the entire first floor from wall to wall, floor to ceiling, preventing anybody from going upstairs while it remains. Arms and legs poke out of the demon's body in places, desperately clawing and kicking, weaker, weaker. done.

OOC

Welcome to Day 0! What better meet-and-greet is there than everybody being tossed into the fray to fight for their lives? ('': For convenience, here are the game info, locations, and demon compendium pages; please use these as reference for what more can be found in the setting.

The characters' COMP will turn on only after they notice and focus on it. If they do NOT activate the COMP, they will not be able to see the demons or interact with them in any way other than being killed. Activating the COMP will allow characters to see demons and somewhat understand their language, with an added effect of allowing physical attacks to harm demons, and mitigating the damage taken from demons.

For characters who app and are accepted, please report demon recruitment here. Characters who are just tdming do not have to report. Recruited demons are inclined to listen to their summoner, but are not necessarily friendly at the beginning: if your character shows weakness, the demon may be just as likely to eat them as they are to protect them.

There will be no NPCs in this game other than the two navigators and some key demons. You're on your own for now!

This first event/tdm is open to the public, and can be used for test driving at any time after the game starts. I'll be keeping a pulse on threads for when characters have gotten their bearings and seem to have a general idea of how they want to proceed into the next day, and we'll go from there.

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[Ciel looks up at Armin, once more grateful for his existence, and does as he's told. Lifting the box and taking a few steps back for his own safety... onto to reveal-!]

A rabbit? Really?

[He has to check his device again to make sure there's not actually a demon on the roof just dropping woodland creatures down the chimney for shits and giggles aaand...

yeah, nope it's the rabbit. Well, a hare technically.

But wait, no. Sebastian said that demons didn't have pets like in the human world, hence his obnoxious infatuation with cats... but here was a little fluffy bunny. Looked pathetic enough that if Sebastian wanted he could have made it a pet whether it was intelligent or not. Well, something to dwell on later. He supposed if he was going to start feeding Armin knowledge, it would be now.]

You don't have to worry. It's too weak to attack us. A middling demon would act like those pursuing us, and we aren't in a state that would appeal to a powerful demon.

[Ciel, no longer threatened, nudges it with his foot to encourage it to do... absolutely anything. All he gets is a small startled hop, and the worlds most transparent, "uh... m-meow!"]

...and it would seem as though we have a real winner on our hands.

[Beggars can't be choosers. Armin's been dying to see how this demon negotiation business works. Surely, it would be a benefit to have one - at least one - of any fashion on his side.]

No need to be rude. [There's just the slightest teasing edge to his voice. It's a half-serious suggestion, though. There's no telling what abilities this thing might have; furthermore, Armin wants it to think that he's on its side, batshit as that might be.

[Armin returns his blades to their holsters. He stays where he is, facing the demon.]

I have no intention of hurting you.

In fact, given what Ciel has just told me, it seems that, perhaps, you can benefit from working with me as much as I can from working with you.

[And the moment Armin's weapons are sheathed, the rabbit tries to make a break for it- however, Ciel's close enough to be able to step on the rabbit's tail to keep it where it is.]

With all due respect, Mr. Arlert, I've got some prior experience in dealing with demons. In fact, I've got a contract with one far stronger than this.

[The rabbit flops dramatically onto it's side and lets out the most dramatic whine known to man hoping for pity.

Ciel meanwhile, reached up to untie his eyepatch and reveal his Faustian Contract. He'd dropped most pretenses from before, and speaking more professionally, with a nice twinge of arrogance rather than sounding helpless and naive.]

I would be more than happy to share my expertise with you. Seeing as you've risked life and limb for my wellbeing, it's the very least I can do. Demons do tend to be tricky when it comes to striking a fair bargain.

[The kid is a damn liar, and a good one. Some act, playing the pitiful child while Armin carried him through the forest. Perhaps Ciel's physical abilities were just as they appeared, but he carries knowledge vital to surviving in a place like this. Armin's eyes do sharpen on the boy, but don't narrow. He keeps his cool about him - most intelligent people have good reason to lie from time to time. He can't really blame Ciel, Armin being a liar himself.]

I underestimated you. [An amicable concession, though there is some knowing edge to his tone.

[He sets his eyes back on the rabbit. Despite it being a demon, the cornered whines and wails disquiet Armin.]

Please, then. Do go on. I appreciate this opportunity to learn.

My apologies, but I’m at something of a disadvantage compared to most, and not just in the face of demons. I’m sure you can understand.

[Demons were easy compared to the complexities of humans. He was still wary of Armin, since there was no guarantee that he wouldn’t trade him away for supplies or somesuch if things grew dire. But he was at least certain that Armin would only entertain the idea as a last resort. He’d risked life and limb for him with no hope of reward after all.

So now, he would be granted a reward he wasn’t expecting, and treated with a modicum of trust.

Though given Armin’s look, it would seem that he’d have to educate him on the manipulative nature of demons before anything else.]

It’s putting on an act. [He looks down at the demon.] Come now, stop that. We have business to discuss and you’re wasting time.

[The call out immediately the demon into a little tantrum, kicking its feet, rolling around, and letting out a shrill scream. Then it abruptly stopped, and remained laying on its back and staring up at the pair, and huffed indignantly. It was interested, but it was hoping to sweeten the deal with a healthy dose of pity. Which Ciel ruined by knowing things. The audacity!

Ciel, meanwhile, was more focused on the new pile of soot on the floor.]

Are you quite finished? [He pauses for a beat, then lets out an exasperated sigh.] Good Heavens, you’re filthy.

[And he takes out a handkerchief and kneels down to try and clean off its head. In contrast to what seemed to be cruelty earlier, Ciel was apparently taking this task quite seriously. Even taking special care to clean the ears.]

At least try to look presentable. An unkempt appearance reflects poorly on you.

[With the handkerchief now pitch black in just moments, Ciel was forced to give up on his demon grooming efforts. The face and ears were relatively clean now, at least.

Standing back up, he once more took on the role of mediator between the two. Addressing Armin primarily at first.]

First, we need to discuss what it is you’re looking for in this arrangement, Mr. Arlert. From there we will discuss proper compensation for our friend here, and then set the rules and conditions of the contract.

[He looked down at the incredibly pathetic and in no way adorable demon, just in time for it to sneeze, shedding another small cloud of soot in the process.]

…be mindful that “power” is likely not going to be a service this one can offer.

[Immediately, Armin is impressed by Ciel's prowess with the demon. Despite the boy's (ostensibly) young age, Armin realizes that he is very much a student in the face of an experienced teacher. Ciel demonstrates some show of empathy by cleaning the demon's face, even as he reprimands it - makes his knowledge of its manipulation known, while still ensuring it will receive compensation for its cooperation. Armin adjusts his stance, lifting his chin to hold his head high as he watches the filthy little thing (it is kind of cute, unfortunately).]

The contract is very simple. As Ciel's pointed out, you've found yourself in a pitiful position. It's clear that you aren't the most powerful of demons, but I don't mind that. I have more than enough strength - let that be the first benefit.

From you, all I want is your companionship and the opportunity to learn. I offer you protection if you offer me the knowledge of these arrangements. I'm sure you'll find the relationship mutually beneficial - and...if not, then...

You'll be free to go.

[Listening to what Armin wanted out of this made wording it all the more easy. If he wanted information, loyalty, and access to whatever meager powers this one had to offer then he could just rehash part of his terms with Sebastian.]

Let's put it into proper terms and conditions then, if I may:

The first condition is that you will not lie to Mr. Arlert.

The second is that you swear your loyalty to Mr. Arlert, and Mr. Arlert alone. No other contracts, no other allegiances.

The third is that you will follow his every order that he precedes or ends ends with "I command you".

[And he turns to Armin to briefly speak to him as an aside.]

Similar terms have served me well enough with Sebastian, and should prevent a good deal of a demon's trickery save for some of the more petty japes. Just be mindful how you phrase commands, they will follow it to the letter rather than the intention.

[Then, back to the demon.]

Now, your compensation- and let me be clear, Mr. Arlert's soul is off the table. You lack the power to make that a worthwhile trade.

[The demon seems to take thoughtful consideration of everything, because yes, Ciel's terms meant no tomfoolery, but it could still probably get some more out of it. Three conditions for three modes of payment.

"I want.... blood... and I want... protections..."

Ciel nods, since the demon didn't specify whose blood it wanted they could have a little loophole to exploit- but before he could speak the demon continued.

"And I want... to be beautiful!"]

...You what?

[Congrats Armin, you got yourself a weird one here.]

[Well.

[Well.

[It's certainly not...what he was expecting. He can't help but look just a little dumb for a moment, glancing between Ciel and the demon as if some further explanation might be given, but...no...

[He...stands a little straighter and clears his throat.]

You've already seen the way Ciel cleaned the soot off of your face. If you'd like...[Oh, this is so weird.] Ah. If you'd like to be beautiful, then I'll make it so.

[And he can certainly provide blood as much as he can protections (it will likely be his own...)]

The conditions are met then. Consider the contract sealed.

[Ciel meet Armin’s glance, just as dumbfounded as he was. Yes, Sebastian could be eccentric, but this was out of his wheelhouse.

Still he sighed and crossed his arms.]

That settles it then, but if we’re to fulfill your end of the bargain we should probably give our friend here a bath… and a name if it don’t have one already.

[The demon seemed pensive for a moment, then finally rolled itself upright.

“Deal is sealed. Trade is done. Give me beauty. Name I have.”

The rabbit sits on its hind legs, and tilts its head upwards with a dramatic flourish.

“I… am Walter.”

Ciel had already taken off his coat and jacket, and gathered a blanket to wrap their dusty new friend in. Made it easier to carry it without getting filthy- but stopped mid-gathering to turn and give the demon another incredulous look.]

Walter.

[small. He’s just going to shake his head and scoop up the dustbunny in the blanket.]

Right. Anyway, if we’re going to give… Walter a bath, we need to find a proper water source.

[Its name is Walter...

[That's a people name...

[Armin feels exhausted.]

Alright, then, Walter. Let's...get you cleaned up.

I don't suppose this place has running water...?

Edited 2024-09-11 17:31 (UTC)

[Ciel looked around, running water was still fairly new, with houses being mandated having it in his father's lifetime. So he he had made it a point to observe their surrounding when Armin had been carrying him. Again, best to make himself useful in whatever ways he could.]

I'm not certain, but I believe I saw some houses had wells to draw from. I wouldn't trust it to drink, but it should be fit to bathe a demon if nothing else.

[And he shifts the bundle in his arms because the demon (that is perfectly capable of walking on its own) is a bit heavy for him.]

I'll find some soap if you can get a basin,

[Armin nods. He'd rather be the one to venture outside and draw water from the well, considering. He should be able to handle any trouble that comes his way. A basin is found rather quickly in the bathroom, and then he carefully exits the home. Miracle of miracles - nothing seems to bother him as he fills it.

[He re-enters the home, the heavily filled basin carried easily with strong arms. Armin may look small, but he has a fair bit of strength. He returns to the bathroom and sets it on the ground.]

Ciel. [He calls; then, considering, adds:] And, ah...Walter. We should be able to get you all cleaned up now.

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[DAY 0] TDM.

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