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.
sootprints: (pic#17204441)

[personal profile] sootprints 2024-10-29 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a moment of hesitation... but then Kate gathers her courage and steps forward, speaking with an air of confidence and authority. Like a real aristocrat. ]

Yes. I have a proposal.

It's clear that what you need can't be obtained just by eating whoever wanders your way, and it isn't anything you'll find here. So instead of repeating something that isn't working, how would you like to try something new?

I propose a contract. If you join me, we can search for something to satisfy you. If I fail to find such a thing, it will be no great loss to you. You will be back to where you are now.

But there is one thing I can offer with certainty: a reprieve from that hunger. For as long as you are with me, within this COMP, you will feel no pain or hunger.

What do you say to that?
blastoffed: 5 (5)

[personal profile] blastoffed 2024-10-30 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaito whispers to Nao -- or more like he stage whispers:]

Nice! She's got this in the bag.

[Kate has made a good request at Big Ooze. This should be a done deal!

Is Kaito getting his hopes up? We'll find out soon]
nterwebz: (038 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-11-01 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes! I call first squish later! Good job, Kate-chan!

[ And, of course, Nao says this as she takes a few steps forward only to pause and dramatically throw her hand back behind her and to one side jazz-style for dramatic effect. ]

Xiezhai!

[ The demon is summoned and onward Nao and Xiezhai go straight into the power plant. She tosses her head over her shoulder at Kate and Kaito. ]

Let's take a look-see at the PP, yeah? See what we're dealing with!
sootprints: (pic#17204568)

[personal profile] sootprints 2024-11-02 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kate takes a blooderscotch from Nao and offers it to her Bugbear as a goodbye gift as she releases it to the wild. The Ooze is now hers. A few moments pass after it vanishes into her COMP, and she lets out a relieved sigh. ]

We did it...

... Yes, let's look around. First of all, this door...

[ It's similar to the one in the greenhouse. She won't try to boop it, but... ]

Keigo, can you detect anything here? Demons, people, or anything else?
blastoffed: 13 (13)

[personal profile] blastoffed 2024-11-02 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaito, meanwhile, is poking around in the stuff that used to be underneath the ooze, trying to see if there's anything that could be even remotely useful]

We're standing where many have died. So messed up.

[It's bothering him a lot because, well, back in the first day Kaito tried to save someone who was melting and failed at doing that. He can't help but think one of the skeletons here belonged to that unknown person]
nterwebz: (058 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-11-02 10:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ And what has Nao been doing this entire time? Moving from machine to machine inspecting things, hopping unceremoniously over a skeleton or two, examining the weapons left behind -- she's not touching them with her hands, but she has already determined she's going to have Kaito drag them back, so there's that. ]

Li'l Oozie?

[ Her head pops up from behind some miscellaneous machinery. Apparently, she is actually listening. She's quick to circle around it and stride toward the stairs purposefully. She stops far enough away to comfortably allow the Oozes to descend, leaving Xiezhai hoof-pawing the ground by one of the machines that seems to be attempting to do something. ]

Keep an eye on Kate-chan, would ya?

[ She doesn't turn when she says it, but Kaito should catch her meaning. Only she, him, and Minato are on the Do-Not-Eat-Unless list and Nao isn't willing to simply trust Kate having Big O will convince them not to try and eat her. ]

C'mon down, guys!

[ And yet, you wouldn't be able to actively tell that's a consideration of hers if she hadn't said anything. She seems excited for the li'l oozies arrival, and why wouldn't she be? She's got a bag of blooderscotches on hand. ]
sootprints: (pic#17199074)

[personal profile] sootprints 2024-11-03 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
... It should be all right.

[ After all, the little oozes were seemingly fond of Kate already, and they should be even happier with her now.

... and even if not, there's still a practical angle here. If anything happens to Kate, the big ooze would surely be released from her COMP. They wouldn't want that, would they?

She'll wait for the oozes to come see them. ]
blastoffed: 13 (13)

[personal profile] blastoffed 2024-11-03 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaito sure caught onto what Nao meant]

Yeah, no worries.

[Like hell he'll let Kate come to harm! Still, he does approach until he's right beside Kate, just in case. He doesn't have anything that can keep in line that bunch of incoming demons, but he'll sooner let himself get harmed than let it happen to Kate!

But there's no reason to expect hostility from the incoming oozes, he thinks. Nobody made a single aggressive move at the big one, that should be enough to signal there's no really any intention to get into fights for the hell of it]