panopte: (Default)
panopte ([personal profile] panopte) wrote in [community profile] achates2024-09-17 10:10 am

[DAY 1-]



The night drags on.

The moon, full and bright, illuminates the world below as demons rise in indulgence of the hunt. All those who are not securely tucked away become prey, whose blood runs freely down the streets, whose screams fill the air in symphony, whose lives are snuffed out one by one as the night grows darker- but not quieter, no. Towards the far west, wind picks up in a deafening howl that tears through the forest violently enough to uproot trees, followed by a thunderous explosion atop the wall that sends large chunks of rock crashing down on parts of the immobile train, creating shockwaves felt all the way into town. Dark clouds gather overhead, smothering the moon and unleashing a downpour that continues unrelentingly until dawn, when the paltry sunlight behind the clouds is only enough to see that the rain that falls is in fact blood, thick and warm, coating the rooftops and the streets. Rivulets trickle towards the east, where they spill over the edges of the world and into the cavernous abyss of a mouth below.

Those who sleep will dream. They dream of being flat on their back, lying on hard metal, a warm breeze caressing their cheek, the faint scent of cherry blossom in the air. They dream of their bodies feeling like lead, heavy and unable to move, hardly able to breathe— and all the while in complete darkness. Whether they give in to exhaustion or struggle valiantly against it, they will eventually open their eyes to a different scene: of somebody's home before here, you and that person reliving the very last memory they had before waking up in the train just yesterday. It's a memory that culminates in darkness. Give in. Struggle. Open your eyes again and again and again, and eventually you will wake up to what you wish were just another bad dream: the unfortunate plane of existence we call reality.

It may not be a good morning, but it's morning. If characters glance at their COMP, they will see a bright number 7 on the screen that disappears as their chosen AI chimes in with a good morning greeting ("Whoa! Congrats on surviving the night, boss!" or "Yikes, you look like shit. Did you get any rest at all?"). Pulling up the map function shows fewer blue ally dots as expected, but perhaps unexpectedly, much fewer red enemy dots as well: there are very few demons to be seen, and those that are, show little interest in hunting unless they are attacked first. The forest is still and quiet, red Mandrake leaves littering the floor in abundance but the demons remain rooted underground, the Hares of Inaba huddled snug within their dens, bird demons taken roost underneath the canopy to keep out of the blood rain. The concert hall is silent today, guards at the door watchful and ready to snipe intruders. Inside the powerplant, the giant Ooze spreads lazily across the first floor, filling the space wall to wall, acid seeping underneath the front doors and burning its way outside. Indoors, outdoors, demons keep to themselves, seemingly sated.

It's almost peaceful. If you didn't know better.

The drizzle of blood tapers off over the course of Day 1, replaced by normal rain once night hits. The water that falls is clear, though bitter and metallic tasting, and the stormy weather continues for several days more. The temperature outside dips, even during the daytime, and the hunger that continues to persist (unless you're BB, who ate a Pixie, maybe) is made worse by the appearance of a hot dog stand that has been set up in front of the school building. Its existence in this place is wholly suspicious, entirely nonsensical, manifested as if out of a yandere devil summoner fever dream— and yet the mystery meat smells divine, and you are so so hungry.

"Hee-ho! Get your hot dogs here-ho! What? What kind of mee-hee-t is in it, ho? Don't worry about it, ho!"

LOCATION
hot dog stand
STRENGTH
ice
WEAKNESS
fire
INFORMATION:
Jack Frost is a spirit originating from England who brings in cold weather during the winter and is responsible for the frost that forms on the windows of homes and buildings. Though it is usually friendly and innocent, it also has a mischievous personality and will freezes those it dislikes to death, smiling all the while.

SKILLS:
Mabufudyne: heavy ice damage (multi-target)
Megidolaon: mega almighty damage (multi-target)


NOTE: This demon is non-recruitable.

Can anybody resist that cute face? never mind the sales pitch. Jack Frost will operate on a barter system, though it really only seems interested in people's gemstones, or if they're willing to slaughter and bring it a Katakirauwa in exchange for a cold but still delicious hotdog dressed up in any variety of condiment. For those who muster the courage to go demon hunting to earn their meal, they will find that a single hotdog will stave off hunger for up to three days. For those who gave up their gemstone instead, K5 will be screaming at them not to do that, but also, please tell me. Maybe they'll rethink the offer, noticing that the gemstones they'd found on their person now feel slightly warm to the touch- growing warmer when in proximity to another person's gemstones, their colors more vibrant, stones faintly glowing as if with internal light.

Generous as Jack Frost is with providing dubious sustenance, it's a different story when it comes to the vending machine beside its stall. Inside are various drinks guaranteed to be cold, and include bottled water, coffee, teas, juices, blood and tears and many other questionable unlabeled liquids among its touted 100!!! varieties of beverage ("""beverage"""). Two problems: 1) there is no selection button, so you do not get to choose your drink; and 2) the machine will only take macca. Where to get macca? Figure that out yourself and earn your drink gacha.


[ Locked pending: SCHOOL investigation ]


[ Locked pending: GREENHOUSE investigation ]


[ Locked pending: HOSPITAL investigation ]


[ Locked pending: CONCERT HALL investigation ]


[ Locked pending: POWERPLANT investigation ]

OOC

»
Since I know a handful of you are still working on apps, this event log in general will be open to all players, but Investigations will be closed to current players only. See below for more information.

»
On Day 1 only, wild demon encounters will be scarce and it will rain blood all day, after which the weather will transition into normal rain and demon encounters will also return to normal rates, less during the day and more frequent after dark.

»
When characters fall asleep any time in the next several days (including victims of the concert hall lullaby that will begin again starting Day 2, as well as inadvertent naps for those of you who are like lmao yeah whatever, i don't need sleep, i'm fine), they will be able to see the circumstances around other characters' canonpoints. This dream may take the form of being a bystander, or from the point of view of the character, whichever would be more fun/interesting to play.

»
Players can advance time by posting new logs set on the current or next IC date— don't be afraid to advance time as needed! Plot beats will be adjusted accordingly, and there'll be ample warning if plot necessitates a deadline or specific event date for any reason. If you have any trigger warnings, please let me know here! Comments are screened, and warnings will be listed in the log format post for player awareness.

»
As characters investigate different locations in the setting, more aspects of the game will be unlocked and will be updated in the post above. In summary, from the previous TDM event, characters have found doors sealed by barriers in the school, greenhouse, and hospital. The concert hall and powerplant are still both heavily guarded by demons that prevent thorough investigation until dealt with.
descaledmute: (✩〖 As passion shines there 〗)

[personal profile] descaledmute 2024-10-05 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ Goodness he was stronger than she'd first thought, being able to get her to her feet so easily. It was at least a relief she wouldn't really have much more than a bruise, though it still left the matter of how to properly express herself to him.

She opened her mouth, then closed it before glancing down at the COMP on her wrist. BB had shown her how to use it but this whole tech thing was still super complicated for her just at the moment. So with that in mind, Calia reached out to take one of his hands and turned it so his palm was facing skyward.

Using her other hand, she made to use her index finger to slowly spell out her name on his hand the best she could.


C-A-L-I-A. ]
kinglyheroics: (5)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-06 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
[He watched her open and close her mouth, tilting his head like a curious puppy. When she reached out to take one of his hands, he didn't stop her, and instead focused on the shapes she was drawing. C-A-L-I-A...?]

Ooooooh. Your name is...Calia? And you don't speak? Or...maybe you can't?

[He shrugged, instead giving her another bright smile.]

Well, either way! It's nice to meet you, Calia!
descaledmute: (✩〖 Have you seen shiny rocks? 〗)

[personal profile] descaledmute 2024-10-06 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ Pleased he got it, Calia nodded her head without missing a second. Then while she had his hand, spelled something out with some pauses inbetween.

I c-a-n-n-o-t s-p-e-a-k. S-o-r-r-y.

It didn't stop her from flashing him a bright smile in turn all the same, not about to let this little weakness of hers make it harder than it needed to be here. She was on land, unable to speak and surrounded mostly by people she knew little about. Which reminded her.

She added one more thing, hoping that it wasn't being annoying.

Y-o-u-r N-a-m-e? ]
kinglyheroics: (80)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-09 07:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[He waited patiently for the girl to spell out her thoughts, hand outstretched as he concentrated on interpreting the letters. It wasn't the easiest thing in the world, but he could still make them out. Her first message confirmed that he was on the right track with his thoughts — she really couldn't speak. Even so, her smile was stil brilliant.

Ah...well, that's okay! If you need to, you can just spell everything out on my hand. Just let me know if I screw up interpreting anything.

[He nodded along as she asked his name, before pausing a little. He should probably keep up their Servant codenames...ah, to hell with it. Keeping secrets wasn't cool.]

I'm Charlemagne! Ah, but you can call me Charlie, or Chuck, or Saber, or anything else you like really. Charlemagne is a bit of a mouthful, you know?
descaledmute: (✩〖 As passion shines there 〗)

[personal profile] descaledmute 2024-10-10 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Calia instantly perked up when he not only understood her but offered for her to be able to 'talk' to him via spelling things out for him. It'd been hard trying to adapt here but if she was troubled any? She had kept that to herself because the last thing she wanted to make anyone feel inconvenienced.

She couldn't help the soundless little giggle she made, still visible to what she was doing even if it couldn't be heard. Though all the same? Calia nodded to say she understood, already moving to carefully 'send' another message to him.

'C-h-a-r-l-e-m-a-g-n-e i-s a l-o-v-e-l-y n-a-m-e.

I w-i-l-l c-a-l-l y-o-u C-h-a-r-l-i-e. I-t i-s c-u-t-e!'
]
kinglyheroics: (62)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-11 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Mmm, mmm! It's definitely cute...but it's cool too, right? Right?

[He seemed particularly insistent on that point, though his friendly demeanor hadn't shifted a bit. Her silent giggles were a little strange, but not remotely the strangest thing he'd ever seen — heck, Roland blew her out of the water all by himself. Still, they seemed to be getting along well!]

So, what brings you out here? Searching for demons too?
descaledmute: (✩〖 As the cold truth sets in 〗)

[personal profile] descaledmute 2024-10-14 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ It took a couple seconds but Calia just nodded in agreement to his question, though for added emphasis she did take the time to spell out something else.

'Y-e-s. V-E-R-Y c-o-o-l!'

A pause lingered and she tilted her head to the side, thinking about it deeply before nodding again. The COMP-thing said something about allying with demons but they mostly just seemed like they wanted to eat her and she wanted nothing to do with that.

She couldn't keep putting off using it so Calia withdrew her hand and brought up her wrist, bringing up the text function and tapping a bunch of times before showing him a much more cohesive message. A little shaky but she was getting used to this whole technology thing. ]


Should hve done ths earlier. sorry. hard to deal wth dmons when i cant speak.
kinglyheroics: (73)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-15 12:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Haha, excellent! I mean, I knew it was a cool name, but it's always nice to get a reminder!

[He took back his hand as she let go, tilting his head curiously as she tapped away at her wrist, before he made a hum of acknowledgement as he saw the message. He hadn't used his COMP much, but this definitely felt like a quicker way to communicate, even if he hadn't minded the drawing-on-hand method.]

Oooooh...that's pretty cool, actually. It must come in handy - but, ah, yeah. They're kind of hard to deal with normally, but if you can't speak...

[He hummed to himself, before nodding.]

Well, since we're both here, why don't we recruit you a demon? I can help with the whole process!
Edited 2024-10-15 12:31 (UTC)
descaledmute: (✩〖 A grievous mistake was had 〗)

[personal profile] descaledmute 2024-10-16 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly being around him made her feel like it was hard to feel upset, the smile of hers almost a permanent addition on her face now with his words. Only slightly dimmed by the surprise that came with his last suggestion which had her blinking a couple times as she took it all in.

Then she hurriedly began typing out a message that she then showed him, a touch of concern evident even though she tried to keep her smile in place. ]


you can? would it work? would th demn think i can offr anything if you're speakng for me?

[ After all, she wanted to do so since it seemed like a good way to protect themselves here in the event of running into another demon but she had her concerns along with a understandable amount of anxiety. ]
kinglyheroics: (79)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-11-17 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a good question...hm.

[He raised a hand to his chin and tilted his head as he thought about it for a few moments, before snapping his finger with a smile.]

Oh, right! Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself, or what you'd want to tell a demon to get them to partner up with you! That way, when they ask, I can tell them how cool you are!

[His easy smile was impossible to rattle, even though his proposed solution was faintly ridiculous given they'd just met. He really was a simple kind of man.]