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

[Armin isn't searching for food. Nothing can satiate his hunger. He's used to being hungry - not like this; even so.

[Point being, medical supplies will certainly be needed. Armin's addicted to saving people. He just can't fucking stop. He's not a natural-born leader, but a crafted one - maybe that's why he's so goddamn lousy at it.

[He's trying. Why? He's trying.

[He's seen the reflections - of himself, or others; he tries not to look too long.

[The sound of boots on linoleum, then a struggle, alert him. He doesn't even realize he's started running until he's skidding to a stop where a boy is being pinned down by a shadow.

[Armin's learned not to hesitate. He also has good aim.

[Rushing up on the would-be Sojiro, Armin aims an attack straight through what should be a forehead. The blade is razor sharp, and indeed pierces through the shadow - enough so that it momentarily lunges away, freeing Akira's throat.]

Get up! I don't know if I can beat it! Just run - now!

[Akira doesn't register much - can't, not with the ache and pressure radiating through his whole windpipe. Another moment, perhaps, and that facsimile would've crushed it. He gasps, grips the floor and tries to pull air into his too-desperate lungs-

The words register, even if the "who" doesn't. At least, not fully; he can piece enough of it together to guess this is whoever just saved him. But he said-

He doesn't know if he can beat it?

He's just... going to throw himself into danger like that, for Akira, who he doesn't even know?

This thing could kill him and if Akira doesn't do anything, doesn't stop it from happening-

It's wrong.

He has to save him.]

Can't-! [Speaking is hard, herculean, feels worse than pulling an impossible weight uphill. He forces the words out anyway, draws them out of something in him.] It's dangerous... You have to get away...!

[I can't let you die for me.]

[The blade is ripped from the shadow, and Armin stumbles back. Blue eyes are cast wildly upon the boy, still on the floor - arguing, and the same point as Armin. Two stubborn fools that wish to be heroes. Armin doesn't feel endeared.]

I won't do that. [He draws a second blade from his other side, gripping them both tight in his fists.]

If you can't fight, then run. [Advice that Armin would never take himself.] If you can, then start fighting.

[The shadow staggers forward.] Right now!

["If you can't fight, then run."

He can't do that, but...

"If you can, then start fighting."

...can Akira really do that, either? Even if he wasn't so weak from the encounter, he has no Personas, no working weapons. His physical strength is decent, but what good is that against something than can easily overpower him without even using any magic?

But... one thing is still true.

This young man is here with him, even if he doesn't know if he can win. Akira isn't alone, and that's what's always made the difference in the tides turning.

He draws up every bit of strength he has. His choice was already made before he thought through any of it.]

Go for the head or the heart!

[It isn't easy to call out enough to be heard, but he does the best he's able. Akira has to, because this is the only thing he can do now - give him a chance to win.

With all his might, he throws all of his weight against the legs of the fake Sojiro. It doesn't do any damage, but that isn't Akira's intent; he only needs to knock it down, and that he does manage.

His shoulder throbs the moment he hits the ground, but Akira grits his teeth through it. This thing - it can feel pain, it should be able to be stunned. Whether it's going to get up or change its form, this should at least give his savior an opening.]

[It's a strategy Armin is familiar with. If you can't reach the nape, knock the motherfucker off its feet. Akira has serious steel, lunging at the creature without anything to arm himself - stupid and foolhardy, but invaluable.

[Armin lunges for the creature, blade drawn. He's used to much bigger enemies, but if he can just sever the neck, then they should at least be able to secure an escape route, right?

[It doesn't work. Aiming the blade, the creature all at once rears up, knocking it out of Armin's hand (D:5). Armin stumbles back, the blade clattering to the ground beside him with an eerie, tinny echo - then, Armin is grabbed at the ankle by the shadow and dragged to the ground.

[No time to waste. He unsheaths his second blade and tosses it in Akira's direction (don't get cut!).]

I can't sever the head like this! Take it! Now!

[Akira fumbles with the catch, both from the current condition of his body and the fact that he's used to a much smaller weapon. The heft of it is disorienting, but he doesn't have time to adjust to it. This was entrusted to him so both of them could survive, and he can't just squander that. He has to at least try.

There's no time to think. It has him by the ankle, there's no time to think-

Akira moves. He isn't holding the blade right, reopens the wounds on his hands and probably gives himself a new one, but if he doesn't-

Regardless of the damage that he does to himself, one thing does succeed. The blade is still made of one of the hardest substances in that world, and Akira bears all of his weight on it - it's enough the sever the demon's hand. An inhuman shriek pierces the air.

His stomach lurches from the fact that it still mostly looks like- but Akira doesn't have time to think about what it looks like or for his stomach to lurch, cannot afford it to. He pushes it down.

But that moment of hesitation is still enough.

The already-battered shoulder gets dealt a worse hand, gashed open as the creature strikes out in a blind, pained panic. Akira skids across the floor, catching himself with the sword before he can go far.

He's losing strength fast... but if he passes out here, he might not wake up again. Akira forces his eyes open, tries to catch the gaze of the young man.]

We charge it together?

[It's a shorthand for several questions in one, though the loudest ones have to be are you okay and can you still fight.]

[They've both been wounded now - both restrained too. Akira's suggestion is a fine one, but not in their condition.

[Armin doesn't run. Not under normal circumstances. But he's been made Commander now. He can't allow stubborn pride to kill an innocent person. He's done that enough.

[Without answering Akira, he takes the opportunity to swing his blade once again at the shadows neck; the shadow lurchs and the blade lands hard on Armin's shin, slicing open the trousers and deeply cutting the skin. But he lands the blow.

[Good luck running now. He's used to his body healing itself, but there's no steam. Confirmation enough that he truly is without his titan shifting ability.

[That's something he'll have to worry about later. The shadow is momentarily distracted by the slash to its neck, sloppy as it was. Armin scrambles to stand, hissing through his teeth at the pain in his leg.

[Akira is in bad condition.]

We have no choice! [Armin's only warning before he scoops the boy straight into his arms, just like a bride over the threshold. And then, he's running, weighed down by a full grown body in his arms. His breath comes in short huffs.]

Wait-! [Akira yelps as his whole center of gravity is upturned.] You can't, your leg-

[Even as his words are resistive, he doesn't struggle against the hold. That alone is a fight against his own instincts, but if he did he knows it would make it worse. He doesn't think that shin could bear the weight if he started thrashing about, and Akira isn't planning on actively making this situation harder than it already is.

It's impossible for him not to feel helpless, though; there has to be something he can do. If he cranes his neck a little... He can see behind them, just enough. Hopefully enough.]

It's not following us yet. [The "yet" feels so heavy, the guillotine hanging over their heads.] You should leave me. If it follows us- there's no point in it taking both of us.

[Unless the exit's close... Unless there's somewhere they can hide, at least to try to bandage themselves...

Akira's gut twists with the thought of never finding out if Morgana got away from the wreckage safely. He doesn't want to die here... but he hates the thought of someone dying for him when he doesn't even know his name.]

If it isn't already clear-- [Words interrupted by a pained hiss on a particularly rough step.] I have no intention of leaving you.

[He reels in a turn down a hallway to the right, gunning for another turn on the left. They can lose it, whatever it is.

[But they won't make it far at this speed. The first door Armin sees, he reels back to kick open. It works, but requires less force than he was expecting; they stumble in, Armin soundly dropping Akira (D:6).

[It is what it is. Armin works next on slamming the door shut and searching for something to barricade it.]

We'll have to keep it closed until we can figure out our next move. Anything you can find!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[DAY 0] TDM.

iii

no subject

no subject

no subject

oh bites akira I love you my baby boy

cw: shadow dismemberment?!?!?! catbiteleg.gif

>abscond (lmk if u need this changed)

no it's perfect :3 time to peaceguydisappearing.gif

I keep rolling so low, bro...I be rolling so low...(you can decide what type of room hehe)