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.
foxchild: (hehe)

[personal profile] foxchild 2024-10-23 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah! I'd say you guys have been doing okay without me, so far.

[Which from him is certainly high praise! Oh, he still thinks you're all going to die sooner rather than later, and that you're not very good devil summoners... but you're doing well for a bunch of civilians just dumped into the situation without so much as a how do you do.]

I've imparted most of what I know - that you guys can use - so if I keeled over dead now, I'm sure it won't impact you all that much. Anyways...

[He turns slightly, considering where to park his soon-to-be unconscious ass to enjoy a bout of self-inflicted nightmares and/or Void sleepwalking.]

...where to sleep, hmm? I don't want to wake up with a sore back or a stiff neck...
purport: (consider)

[personal profile] purport 2024-11-01 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ It wouldn't impact them all that much, he says. The Princess wonders about that, and for a moment, it seems as though she intends to say something. But the moment passes without further comment from her, and she allows Shun'ya to steer their conversation along.

She'd rather he not perish in this place. Not lose to it, rather. Surely, he'd prefer the same for himself. ]


I brought a number of blankets. No one has taken them, so help yourself if you want.

[ The Princess was an industrious scavenger, but not the best at communicating her plans. While the blankets were for everyone, she hasn't exactly told people that explicitly. So there they sit, largely unused, because she herself has no genuine need for them. She'd spent however long chained to a wall, sitting there. The softness is novel, pleasant even, but she has no worry of a sore back.

Do you want to build a bed-nest? ]
foxchild: (Default)

[personal profile] foxchild 2024-11-03 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[DOES HE EVER.]

Aw, that's mighty kind of you, Miss Princess. Don't suppose you found a few pillows to go with too?

[He's mostly teasing. He can always bundle a few blankets into a makeshift pillow if there isn't one, and honestly, he's slept on the cold hard floor before when needs must.]
purport: (aside)

[personal profile] purport 2024-11-07 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
Are those the puffy square and round cushions?

[ As she describes them, she frames the shapes with her empty hands, as though illustration is necessary. Soft seemed good, so she definitely looted pillows from houses. She likes soft, not that she'll admit it.

After some untold age sitting in a stone basement shackled to its wall, something squishy and pliant is a nice change of pace... Even if she just sits there squeezing them like some odd form of fidget toy. ]
foxchild: (hehe)

[personal profile] foxchild 2024-11-10 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, a perfect description! Yes, Miss Princess, the puffy square and round cushions are what I mean.

[He keeps forgetting that there's something Not Quite Fully Human about Princess - either literally or socially. But really, he has to wonder... just where was she kept that pillows were a foreign concept to her???]

I hope you're using them when you're resting, rather than sitting on these rock hard pews. Don't wanna mess up your back while you're still young, eh?
purport: (consider)

[personal profile] purport 2024-11-12 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Nailed it. The Princess mentally notes that these are pillows, and she'll refer to them as such going forward. Her world had been that cabin basement for so long, far too many things are new and foreign to her now. They shouldn't be though, surely. ]

I've been using one of the blankets. It's thick — I think it has feathers in it.

[ Maybe it should be an unpleasant reminder and maybe it shouldn't. Unnerving as her sole visitor in her prison had been to look upon though, he had been well-meaning enough. ]

But aren't you young, yourself?

[ As she speaks, she starts leading the way toward the bedding, feet bare against the cold floor. Shoes may be necessary outside, but she's unused to them still. ]
Edited 2024-11-12 11:59 (UTC)
foxchild: (Default)

[personal profile] foxchild 2024-11-13 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ah, she is describing a duvet... Shun'ya has to hold back the urge to shake his head in case she took it the wrong way. Well, at least she's discovering the joys of soft cushions, pillows and warm duvets now - despite the ravenous demons and other ne'er-do-well ghoulies roaming the land outside the church walls...]

Young in spirit and young in body, yet a fast sprinter through time all the same. That's to say, age is more of a feeling, than an actual number...

[Translation: the stress of his occupation and The Horrors And Trauma has aged him like he's a dog. You know, one year in human years is like seven for him, etc etc etc.]
purport: (consider)

[personal profile] purport 2024-11-29 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
...Young then.

[ She decides this is how she'll parse his more poetic description as they make their way to the soft bedding she'd looted gathered. Finally, it will be useful to someone.

Not that she doesn't appreciate soft, warm things, but the sleep part is lost on her. ]


Maybe you should sprint less.

[ The implication didn't entirely elude her after all. ]