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.
arsenist: <user name=byob> (iwbdDqm)

[personal profile] arsenist 2024-10-18 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
at the very least?? Akira will attempt to not step on any of the leaves, that looks like a surefire way to make more noise and bring down Even More Things to hunt them than what's already hunting them down.

however, the feeling of being watched is oppressive now. it's audible. it's creeping down his neck, a vice that slowly winds its way tighter and tighter until it will choke the last bit of hope he has left.

and yet. there's something in the distance. rubble, the remains of something that used to be here. something that could have answers inside of it.

Akira should feel the danger - and really, he does, like the weight of a Palace Ruler's gaze sharpening and sharpening til the threat level is as high as it can go. but something was out here. answers could be out here, so he turns to Akechi with a single nod. a wordless communication, because sometimes that's all they ever need.

they continue forward.
arsenist: <user name=byob> (LFdySAd)

[personal profile] arsenist 2024-10-18 03:10 am (UTC)(link)
STARTS SWEATING

enteloki: antibiotical (pic#17006414)

[personal profile] enteloki 2024-10-18 03:14 am (UTC)(link)


LETS GOOOOOO
arsenist: <user name=byob> (fAkelYB)

[personal profile] arsenist 2024-10-18 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
alright, so. that's a lot happening there. more than what he's used to, truly. somewhere in the multiverse or whatever the blank strikers!Akira sneezes

it is, however, still a being that he's used to. they can't win like this, but there's one other thing he can still try.

"Hey. Let's talk about this for a second." his eyes slowly trace the 56 pairs that stare at him and Akechi. almost subconsciously, Akira's body slightly edges in front of him. "What are all of you doing out here?"

will they speak to him? will they try to attack? he's feeling the sharp regret of not bringing even a makeshift weapon along for this excursion. onmoraki could handle one, maybe two of these at best.
arsenist: <user name=albarose> (ka13-1)

[personal profile] arsenist 2024-10-18 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
do y'all think he talks to the fish he catches...

anyway! back to the situation that's getting worse!

they're getting surrounded. there won't be a way out soon, if it isn't blocked off already, so all Akira can really do is commit to keeping this conversation going for as long as he can.

"I'm searching for a friend that got lost, but I didn't know this forest was yours. I'm sorry we trespassed." it doesn't feel terribly different from any Mokoi he's ever spoken with, but that's no reason to assume anything. he's watching carefully for anything he can gauge about them. "Is that your home up ahead?"
arsenist: <user name=albarose> (ka25)

[personal profile] arsenist 2024-10-20 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
he's never wondered. he will never ever wonder again; hopefully this doesn't become a mainstay in his dreams if he lives through this.

ultimately, though, it's a positive response. or at least, it's as much of one as he can expect to receive from Demons. his Shadow debates never turn out that different, after all, although those he usually has the bonus of an intimidation factor. Akira's the one having to walk in those shoes now.

"Since we put you out, would you rather we leave? Or is there something we could do to make it up to you?"

It's a dangerous game to play. There are very few things these Shadows could likely want, and none of them are good for him or Akechi. But it's a gamble he takes, both for the sake of getting information and for staying in their good graces.