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

[ Dimitri only managed to sit still for a brief period after The Great Minato Rescue Mission™️. Now he's taken to grabbing the extra blankets Rosie brought to the church and passing them out to those resting. After finishing the main area Dimitri takes another blanket and starts looking through the back area of the church and checking side rooms.

This is how he finds Sylvain, just after quietly opening a door. ]

Oh.

[ But the man doesn't look quite right. Like an imposter, just a shade off. Uncanny, really. A voice in his mind whispers: Like Monica. Like Tomas. ]

Oh. [ He frowns and grips the blanket harder. ] I should have known you people were involved in this place.

[Sylvain was debating moving deeper into the church to see if he could find any other survivors, when he hears the door open. He stands fully, wanting to be able to actively address the person who comes in without looking like a total slouch, and stops.

This. This isn't right. This can't be right.]

Your Highness...?

[One, why was Dimitri a teenager again? Two, what did he mean by 'you people'?]

This probably won't come as much of a shock, but I have no idea what is going on or what you are talking about.

[A pause.]

And why are you so young? What happened to you?

[The tone and the way Dimitri was holding himself screamed at Sylvain to keep his distance. And he would. For now.]

[ Dimitri drops the blanket to the side and raises his arm to hover just over his make-shift lance- ie: a long metal pole with a sharp jagged end. ]

You can't fool me with that appearance so you may as well give it up now.

[ He takes a step closer and grabs hold of the not!lance, but doesn't draw it yet. ]

Tell me what you have planned.

[Oh this is definitely not good. Makeshift weapon or not, he knows the power that comes behind those strikes. Sylvain holds his hands up plaintively.]

I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not here to hurt you.

[Sylvain does, however, stand his ground.]

I don't know what is going on, but you are about 5 years younger than I last remember you being.

[ The noise Dimitri huffs out sounds like the crossbreed of a laugh and a 'hmph'. He still manages to look down his nose at the taller man. ]

I do not assume, I know you are one of those foul people who murdered the father of-

[ He cuts off abruptly. Dimitri was going to say 'the professor', but that title is like acid on his tongue. He growls in frustration. ]

You are one of those monsters that wear the flesh of men! Like Tomas and Monica.

[ The people Byleth, who killed his parents, has been working with. Dimitri's mind doesn't connect the previous thought of Jeralt's death to Byleth working for them and how that doesn't add up. His headache is worsening. ]

I am not one of those things. I would rather throw myself on my lance than ever help any of those... creatures.

[There was no way things like that were human.]

Please, put the weapon down. We can talk about this.

[The idea of having to fight Dimitri was not appealing, but if he had to wear the guy out, he would. Dimitri already looked pretty tired. In pain...]

What is the last thing you remember about home?

[ Dimitri is in pain. He'd awoken today with glass in his face, fought and dodged around several demons, intentionally bled for some Oozes, and then got banged up coming back from rescuing Minato. All of this after being starved in a cell... which seems to have given him an unending hunger. Not to mention his constant headache as of late. It has been a day. He is tired. ]

As if I would make it easier for you to lie to me.

[ Now he draws the rod and takes another step closer. ]

You can mimic his voice all you want, but it proves nothing!

[ Dimitri looks ready to charge. ]

[Sylvain can tell that Dimitri is tired. Heck, Dimitri has been tired for a long time even before all of this. Sylvain fights the irritation rising in him and takes a deep breath. He needs to de-escalte this. Somehow.]

Look. It is me. I am Sylvain. I'm not like one of those things that pretend to be human. Remember when we made that deal about me being more diligent and you relaxing more? And you used one of my lines on a girl and you had to hide in my room?

[Would that memory even work or would he need to drag something out from childhood?]

I really don't want to fight you. Please. Listen to me.

[ He is white-knuckling his not!lance and shifting his weight so he can run the thing wearing his friend's face through- but freezes at the mention of that embarrassing moment. Dimitri's eyes shift from glaring hate to narrowed suspicion. ]

... That just proves you've been spying on us for awhile...

[ That could have been easily witnessed as Dimitri had fled across Garreg Mach to Sylvain's room... but once in the room they were alone... ]

...Ok then, if you really are Sylvain, then you must know what was said behind closed doors. What was your advice to me?

[Of course that is the conclusion Dimitri would come to. The (now younger) man always did his best to hide his paranoia, but based on how he looks, he was 'from' shortly after Gareg Mach fell and he had been losing his grip for a bit before then.]

I said a couple of things. I'd ask if you want the silly one, but I think I already know the answer to that.

[Sylvain lowers his hands just a bit.]

I told you to rely on me more, that it was okay to need help. That I want to help. You don't have to shoulder everything by yourself. I still stand by all of that.

[ Listen. He's been through a lot, ok? Don't judge him. ]

[ Dimitri's grip lightens briefly, then tightens again. The gloves he's wearing now, while not his usual armored ones, are leather and make an audible sound against the metal pole. He looks conflicted, because yes, that answer is correct, but he also wants it to be true, and those things- his hopes- rarely manifest. A slight tremor runs along the not!lance. ]

...Ok... [ Could one have guessed that answer? He doesn't know. The enemy is insidious, and has shown to be capable of being in hiding for quite some time. ] ... And what would be the ridiculous answer?

[The urge to move forward and ease the not!lance out of Dimitri's hands the second he sees them start to shake is so strong Sylvain has to bite the inside of his cheek to stop himself. If he moved forward now, he'd get stabbed and ruin any progress.]

You must really want to get embarrassed today, huh?

[Sylvain laughs a little.]

I told you that it was dangerous for you to use my lines on girls. They work too well when they come from people way more geniune than me. I don't know if I have seen you more nervous in my life.

[ The silence seems to stretch as Dimitri's hands tighten on the pipe, brows furrowed, and eyes darting between the man's own.

Until... ]

Syl...

Sylvain.

[ A breath leaves Dimitri like a gasp in reverse- it's almost a laugh, but filled with too much disbelief mixed with relief.

One hand falls away from the pipe as he relaxes a little jaggedly from his stance. Dimitri drops his eyes to the not!lance, then back up to Sylvain before just casting the thing aside and closing the distance between them. ]

Sylvain, what has happened to you? Why do you appear so... You look as if you've aged years in months...

[The second that makeshift lance is out of Dimitri's hands, he is also making his way to one of his oldest friends. He holds his hands up to... to.. do something but isn't sure where to put them so he lands them on Dimitri's shoulders.]

To me it looks like you aged backwards.

[Sylvain takes a brief step backwards without removing his hands and gives Dimitri a once over.]

And like you haven't eaten in a couple of days. Are you okay?

[ Dimitri feels like ice melting where Sylvain's hands grip him. Like some of the tension they've been carrying for the past couple months can finally be dropped. ]

So strange... how can this be?

[ While Sylvain gives him the once over Dimitri's own eyes stay on his friend's face- a face he wasn't sure he was going to be able to see again since getting locked behind stone walls. He gives a pained smile. ]

I have eaten today, but I am still terribly hungry. I can't seem to... I think my time in prison has-

[ He cuts himself off, suddenly what to do. What does Sylvain think of the regicide? He hadn't visited Dimitri at all since he was locked up... ]

[Sylvain can feel some of Dimitri's tension melt away and he feels his shoulders relax more, too. He isn't sure what was going on or why he has a younger Dimitri in front of him, but he has a chance now. A chance to save Dimitri from himself.]

I don't know. I have been looking around a bit to see if I can find anything, but it started getting dark and I figured I better find a place to stay. Being outside with those... things didn't seem like a good idea.

[Sylvain slides one hand down Dimitri's should to rest it on his forearm as he uses the other hand to reach in his pouch. He pulls out some hardtack and jerky.]

It's not much but I have some of this. You need to get your strength back.

[Dimitri got so skinny. What had they been doing to him in there?]

I have some crappy tea, too if we can get some water and a fire going.

[ Dimitri leans a little into the hand Sylvain left on his arm. ]

That was wise, you coming here. It seems the demons don't cross these hallowed grounds. We should find respite from there here...

[ He was just concerned about how all the skeletons ended up in the church. Had they died in here? How?

Dimitri accepts the food, if only because he was just so hungry. ]

Thank you, Sylvain.

[ He takes a bite and finishes what he has in his mouth before speaking again. ]

There are some other people from the 'Train' crash in main worship room. Some have started a small bon fire there. As for the water...

[ He finally breaks away from the contact to shoulder off his pack where he rummages and pulls out a regular bottle of water. ]

I have a few of these containers of water. I'm told they've been sealed to keep them clean.

[ Though he has no idea what this flimsy clear bottle is made out of. It's not glass... ]

[The smile that Sylvain gives Dimitri is small and tired, but genuine. He lifts his hand and shakes the device around his wrist.]

The, uh, whatever she is in this bracelet told me that the map shows me where the demons are. So I went where they weren't.

[He scoffs a laugh.]

Of course it would be a church. I'm just glad there is a place here where we can rest a bit.

[Sylvain touches the bottle and gives it a very gentle squeeze.]

What is that bottle made out of?

[ Dimitri's smile is a mirror of Sylvian's: small and tired. ]

Ever the strategist then. I believe her name is Ala. I prefer to work with Keigo, the one who speaks in blue writing. His map will show you where our, ah, allies? are. [ His word, not Dimitri's. ] I assume he means the other people from the crash.

[ His nod is also tired when he agrees with their good fortune of finding this church. As for the bottle... ]

Honestly? I have no idea. It's far flimsier than glass.

[Sylvain snorts a quiet laugh.]

Strategy, not wanting to die. Same thing, right?

[Sylvain eyes his wristband.]

Do you think they can hear us when we aren't talking to them? Don't get me wrong, love that Ala told me where to go to not get murdered, but I don't know how much we can trust these things.

[Or maybe he was just being paranoid.]

Seems like it is probably more shatterproof, so there's an improvement. Is it reusable?

[ well. she won't interrupt their conversation, but Sylvain's COMP screen does glow a momentary bright orange: ]

Sure can! Hehe, you're so paranoid. That's not a bad thing, though! Trust me as much as you'd trust any stranger: never blindly, but don't just dismiss everything out of principle either. That'd be stupid, and also rude.

[Sylvain glances down at the sudden light from his COMP.]

Well, that answers that. Thanks Ala.

[Sylvain holds his wrist out so Dimitri can see.]

Straight from the horse's mouth. We are being, uh, politely spied on?

[ Dimitri gets a little frown when Sylvain sells himself short, but allows the conversation to ebb away from the matter. Mainly because it's a good question to raise and one that is immediately answered. Alright then. ]

I am also hesitant to put my faith in them- what with not knowing who gave them or why they were given to us. But they have proven useful...
[ But that could be the point. Lull them into trusting and relying on them and then... what? Wouldn't it just be easier to have them be eaten by the demonic beasts? ]

[ He circles back to the water. ]
It is reusable, this little cap can be screwed on and off very easily.

She makes a good point about trusting them like you would a stranger, though. We should take what she and Keito say with a dose of skepticism, but the information they have given us so far as been solid so I don't think we should dismiss them out of hand either.

[Sylvain carefully holds the cap of the water bottle and twists it half way off before twisting it back on.]

Seems more convenient than corks. Does it leak?

While I agree- it's only to an extent. They aren't just strangers to us. Someone gave us these strange wristlets with Ala and Keigo. This is some sort of manipulation, I just don't know if it's in our benefit, or not. [ He shakes his head. They were simply working with too little information. ]

As long as that cap is twisted as far as it can be it doesn't leak. It's also nice how it doesn't crumble. I've dropped the bottle a couple of times and it hasn't broken.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[DAY 0] TDM.

The Church [Sundown]

Re: The Church [Sundown]

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