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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What are you even talking about? I'm not confused.

[Kaito was walking purposefully towards the forest! Ready to delve in! Backpack and all, prepared for the wilderness, when Armin stopped him. Kaito shrugs, turning back to the train]

But fine, no harm in talking it out for now. What kinda guys you think are waiting to ambush?

[...apparently Kaito is not...aware it's demons? Is that what's going on, then?]

[Armin doesn't know much more than Kaito does, but he has learned about the demons, by now, after learning how to (just barely) use his device. Kaito's perceived defensiveness rolls easily off of Armin's shoulders; he simply doesn't address it.

[Lack of confusion means the presence of intention, however. This person is either competent or stupid. Armin will probably learn which soon.]

The device we've been given refers to them as demons. I'll admit, I'm not sure what all that entails.

Please, don't misunderstand - I don't intend for myself, or anyone, to remain by this train forever, but it's worth discussing who should venture into the forest, and who will be going with them. Dedicated squads would be my suggestion.

There are plenty of people here who might not have the ability to protect themselves. If we rush in blindly now, we could lure something out and put people at risk.

[It's both, Armin, he's both. Kaito is very competent in general, but also he's not the brightest bulb ever!]

That whole demon thing probably is some kind of clan name. Trying to make their reputations echo far and wide -- make people say they're demons in the battlefield or something.

[If only it was that instead of what it actually is]

You sure whole groups should go in? If we gotta cross that forest to get help, trying to get through unnoticed would be best. That's why I was going already. I will get through, get help, and return before sunset!

[Well, nobody can say he's not confident! Whether the confidence is well placed or not remains to be seen. Kaito, maybe feeling the need to justify why he's fine to go ahead with this, adds:]

Don't worry, I got survival training. Got that real drilled into my head.

[Armin's faith is weak.]

If not full squads, then at least groups of two. I have quite a bit of experience myself. What's your background?

Me? [A chance to brag about his amazing work!] I'm Kaito Momota, Luminary of the Stars! The cosmos is no limit to the Ultimate Astronaut!

So of course I have extensive training in survival in all kinds of terrain. When an astronaut returns, you never know where you will find yourself nor how long you'll be by yourself in the wild! And my physical shape is flawless, let me tell you!

[Yeah, under his clothes he's pretty buff, apparently]

This is not my first time in middle of nowhere! And I'm ready, like any person in my line of work should be!

[Kaito shows the backpack. It really seems like all of its contents and the quantity were chosen wisely!

Hah, sorry Kaito went and said all this in response, he's overflowing of pride at his job and isn't shy about talking about it and his training, even when it's tangential to the topic at hand at best]

Edited 2024-08-30 19:21 (UTC)

[All of that means...basically nothing to Armin. He looks appropriately quizzical, and that's all; in reality, he's entirely lost.]

Sorry - an astronaut? I'm not familiar.

What?!

[Kaito just...deflates upon hearing that, his enthusiasm broken. No way this guy hasn't heard about what an astronaut is!]

What do you mean you're not familiar? It's the coolest career there could ever be! Humanity breaking barriers and reaching frontiers we can't even dream of!

[That doesn't sound unlike the Survey's Corps' original purpose - sounds identical to it, actually, but something tells him that they aren't the same. "Luminary of the Stars" - that's what's throwing him off.]

It was my job for a long time to explore new frontiers as well - different terrains, certainly, like you mentioned. I still haven't heard the term "astronaut" though. Could you tell me a bit more?

[Oh, a peer! Someone who even though he seems not to know what an astronaut is, seems to at least understand the spirit of it. Kaito takes it as confirmation this guy is someone whose opinion about things probably is as accurate as his own!]

Sure can! Listen, because I'm about to blow your mind, supernova-style.

[Kaito points upwards all bombastic, towards the sky]

The seas, the land, the airspace, they have been explored thoroughly. Where to go but upwards, beyond the skies! That's where astronauts go! Outer space is endless, unforgiving, and potentially dangerous, but that doesn't stop the brave people who want to pierce the heavens! That's what I do!

Or more like what I will do. I'm in training, but someone my age getting into the field is pretty much unheard of! Man, is this awesome or what?!

Edited 2024-08-31 02:43 (UTC)

[Armin looks stunned. He can't help it. It isn't often that feeling out of his depth (when does he ever feel otherwise?) affects him in such a way that he can't formulate and at least passibly intelligent response, but this...

[It shouldn't be possible, right? He's not even entirely sure what Kaito is trying to say. Not the airspace, but...what's beyond it?]

You mean...[He really is about to sound like an idiot, and he knows it.] Where the moon and the stars are...

You're able to travel there? To space?

[He really has no reason to believe this guy, whatever his answer might be, but...] Really?

That's right! That moon you see every night has been stepped on by mankind. A huge step for us all! And that's only the start. There's so much more to see out there!

[Still...he feels he has to ask:]

You really hadn't heard about astronauts before? What kinda place you came from?

[What a question...]

We certainly didn't have the technology necessary to travel to the moon where I came from. [He really doesn't need to give more information than that; for all he knows, it's all-too-revealing on its own.]

It's difficult to believe - not that I do disbelieve you! [He does a bit.] It's just...incredible. That's all.

Even though you don't have the technology, you have the spirit, I can tell! It'll happen someday, I'm sure of it.

[As if Armin's own experience as he mentioned them to Kaito is enough proof that his country and his peers also possess the drive to push the boundaries of humanity, like everyone there shares what Armin has. Kaito definitely is thinking all that's going on is that Armin's home country is very, very, veeeeery behind in the space race, never guessing for a moment he's from an entirely different world]

[Unfortunately for Kaito, Armin fully assumes that everyone here has figured out they're from different worlds by now, so he'll do nothing to clarify - honestly, he'd find it pretty foolish that Kaito hadn't figured it out yet. He supposes that he, himself, doesn't look all that out of place, though he feels it. As for "the spirit" that Kaito mentions, well...

[It's certainly something that Armin used to have. There wouldn't be much point in it anymore - after all, his world is gone. He ensured that, in his own way...

[To see all of the wonders of the world he never knew - he feels that that's a dream which died a long time ago.]

Well, I appreciate that. [His laugh is light, but perfectly genuine-sounding.]

All that being said - and as much as I'd like to learn more - we're in a bit of a predicament, as it stands.

[An overturned train to nowhere with a mysterious forest being the only exit. Kaito was about to wonder off into it.]

I think it would benefit us to come up with some sort of plan before we attempt moving through that forest. If these maps we've been given are to be believed, it's full of enemies. [What are, ostensibly, enemies, anyway.]

If you don't mind, I must ask - what ability do you have to defend yourself under these circumstances?

[Haha, yeah, Kaito is not the smartest person ever in terms of logic and deduction. What he doesn't have in smarts is compensated with very accurate instincts and a lot of willingness to get his hands dirty. He won't realize this is a different world until someone spells it out to him]

First, remember to pick your battles! You won't get through that forest if you stop to fight every single foe you find along the way. I have moved through jungles before; getting through that vegetation will be a cinch. It'll be better to get through the forest instead of trying to lower their numbers or whatever.

[Omitting that when he has been in such places, he wasn't really practicing stealth. He probably will do better than the majority of people would, but also it'd be the first time he tries stealth in this terrain]

But if it gets rough and there's a fight, I'm in great shape. Not afraid of brawling it if we need to! If that's not enough, I can think real fast. That can save your hide, you know?

[The most glaring flaw here, though, is that Kaito lacks specific information of what he would be against. He knows what the COMP told him, but given the variety of demons in the forest, any fight will be tougher than most would think]

[Armin suspects that the fights, should there be any (and there likely will be), will be more than a simple "brawl," as Kaito puts it; that being said, he's not about to give away what little weaponry he has (it's all attached to his body anyway).

[He does, however, quietly draw one of his blades, turning it up flat to show Kaito.]

I'll cut through the vegetation with this. Let's move as quietly as we can and see what's on the other side. [Of course, Armin's real goal is getting this person safely through the forest to whatever lies beyond, but he won't potentially insult Kaito's pride by saying so.]

If you see an enemy, it's possible that they'll be willing to negotiate, but not guaranteed. Our best bet is to run, and only fight if we need to. [With this, he gives a firm nod.] If I can count on you to watch my back, then you can count on me. What do you say?

You got it. Let's get through this and bring the help everyone needs.

[He's motivated! Before making a move, he checks the COMP, seeing the locations of the many, many red dots littering the forest]

There's a good enough way in, twenty yards over there. [He points to the right. Over there, the dots seem less dense, enough for an attempt to run through to be likelier to succeed] Won't be a straight line, but it's doable.

Edited 2024-09-06 00:52 (UTC)

[Although Armin does get the impression that Kaito is, perhaps, not the most aware type of person, he recognizes that skills and strengths present in various ways, and he's impressed by Kaito's immediate assessment of the safest entry point. He gives a firm not, and a smile, earnest.]

Right, then. [The plan has been set. Armin sets his eyes on that point twenty yards away, then begins his march.

[Assuming Kaito follows, their quest through the forest will begin. Armin wastes no time, slicing through the overgrowth and beginning their run. As promised, he attempts to move as quietly as he can, though doing so quickly renders complete stealth impossible. He'll have to trust his companion to call out if he notices any incoming interference.]

[He certainly is following! It indeed is impossible to move stealthily, especially since he's carrying a backpack that, although is not packed excessively, still is enough to make some noise. It shouldn't be surprising that, around them, the forest comes to life, and not in a good way. In the COMP, the red dots are beginning to make their way towards Armin and Kaito. Some are faster than others, but it's unmistakable: if they don't hurry up, they'll be swarmed.

Kaito can't be staring at the COMP while moving all the time, though, so he relies on his senses, and among them, his hearing. The sound of wings is increasingly loud, and Armin, who is leading, may not hear it right away, he thinks]

Up above, something is coming!

[Demons are coming! They're Zhen]

[Up above is, for whatever reason, not what Armin was expecting; luckily, a battle he's used to fighting, but not so much on bird-sized targets with wings.

[He makes a quick decision. It happens in a flash - one moment, he's on the ground, and the next moment, he's not; a winged demon is crashes against the forest floor in two pieces. It's done with the use of his maneuvering gear - a grappling hook fired into a tree, and a motor, propelling Armin to follow its path, blades still poised.

[Armin lands in a crouch beside Kaito, then jumps up again. He grabs his companion by the sleeve and yanks him along.] Keep going!

[An afterthought, called out over his shoulder:] And good work. Keep it up.

[He sets his eyes forward and keeps running. There are too many eyes on them now to worry about keeping quiet.] I can't say that I'm used to enemies that fly, but I am used to fighting high up. Keep your eyes above you when you can.

[Hopefully, that's the last of them - it was a risky move to begin with, and he needs to conserve his fuel; still, he'll do whatever he has to.]

Man, you're impressive.

[Kudos where they're due! Hitting anything flying is difficult. Kaito follows along, his head swiveling around and seeing vague silhouettes in the distance]

There are too many to fight. If we get caught we're not getting out of here unharmed! Damn it, that train should have had something to use as a weapon!

[But no, nothing had looked sturdy enough for that, and it's not like he can stop and take his time choosing a good branch to swing if needed! He can tell, any wrong move at the wrong time can spell doom.

Case in point: a long, gnarly, blue hand snakes from the underbrush, trying to grab their ankles. Kaito jumps at the last moment, so close the tip of the nails raked against his pants when he moved, and he takes the time to slam a heel on the middle of the hand as strong as he can.

The forest is sloped in this area. To a side there's an elevation about seven feet high, not too far away from them. A flimsy-looking bunch of rocks seem like it'd be a stable enough place to step on to go upwards. Giving a glance at the COMP to make sure there's no swarm of demons awaiting at the top, he pulls from Armin]

Get up there!

[Gaining some terrain advantage over the pursuers coming in the distance should be good, he thinks. Even if it's just a few seconds of advantage, it could be enough to be safer]

[The impulse to conserve fuel is rapidly waning as the swarm of demons approaches them. One shot up to that higher point shouldn't waste too much. If they both die before they reach the other side of the forest, then it doesn't matter how much damn fuel he has.]

Pardon my touch! [And Armin grabs Kaito around the waist with one strong arm, gripping him tight.] Hold on tight!

[He fires a grappling hook into one of the trees on the slope, firing them upward to its peak - and then it's time to start running again.]

[Things he didn't see coming: this. Kaito had been psyching himself up to clamber up there, do some good ol' rock climbing up there, and suddenly Armin grabbed him and got them up there in no time flat!]

I gotta get myself one of those...

[Kaito glances at the COMP while running, and he grins]

We'll make it!

[No important threats incoming, from what he sees! Demons keep getting in the way, but they're stray ones. They'd be threats to anyone unprepared, but to these two they're not big obstacles -- and Kaito hasn't been shy about punching anything that tries to sink teeth or talons onto anyone here]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[DAY 0] TDM.

Train

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I'd die for you, Kaito

if i can bring even an ounce of his brand of charisma i will consider myself successful

YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL!!!

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I promise he won't just slice through every demon but I wanted to give him cool points LMAO

Characters should always have chances to shine! Definitely give him cool points, yup

lmk if this is okay lol

Definitely okay, yup