[DAY 1-]

[panopte]

full navigation

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!"

JACK FROST

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.

Comments

network

[purport]

[ Per her earlier conversation with Dimitri, the Princess is going to... Try and overcome her aversion to initiating a conversation with a whole group. She isn't used to it, but this is important, she knows.

It's something she has to tell herself several times before she manages to reach out to the others with Keigo's assistance. ]

To better survive this, there's something we should establish.

Who here arrived with weapons, and who knows how to use them?

[ A pause, and then she supposes she should volunteer... ]

I arrived with a dagger and I know how to use one. I'm able to improvise as well. While I've never taught before, I'm willing to try.

[ Whether others will be willing to be that forthcoming or offer skills to others, she honestly can't say. Depending on others remains largely foreign to her... But she knows she doesn't want people to die where it could be avoided. ]

[devilishkouhai]

BB has daddy NieR! Because you gave him to BB!

[ Sends picture of attached metal iron pipe that is now covered in blood that looks fresh. ]

Don't mind the blood, that's from the demons I just killed lolol ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

[purport]

[ The iron pipe is serving her well... Clearly it has gone to a loving home. ]

Did demons attack you? I thought it was supposedly quieter today.

[ Have her concern, BB. ]

[devilishkouhai]

Well, it's more like we got in an argument its fine tho. BB won! All thanks to your gift~ ♡!!!

[purport]

It turned out to be a good fit for you, then. You didn't get hurt at all?

[devilishkouhai]

A bruise here or there, but BB was able to patch anything up herself and with the help of her snack friend!

What about you, anything bad happen on your end?

[foxchild]

[Oh, Shun'ya's unsure if they should be openly spreading this information on a network no one can really guess the security of... but it would be a good idea to know just how helpless this group was...]

i'm skilled in a wide range of weaponry and magical arts (tho the latter is, of course, restricted as it is for everyone here!) and am heavily armed ( •̀ ω •́ )✧

[purport]

[ She's evaluated risk and reward and ultimately had the same thought: they're better off knowing who can defend themselves and who can't.

Besides, what she has provided, some have already observed. ]

Heavily? I must have overlooked something before.

[ A joke. He made at least the two plainly visible. ]

Hopefully there are more of us armed than not. What I've seen so far is mixed.

[foxchild]

well technically speaking everyone here is armed no?

COMPs and demons... the most dangerous weapons of all in this place, because they're all being used by a bunch of amateurs (ˉ▽ˉ；)

[purport]

I suppose I prefer weapons that won't turn around and eat me on a whim.

But then, I'm one such amateur.

[rimingcouplet]

I'm as defenseless as a hapless maiden if not for my demons, as you well know. I've seen what you can do with your tanto; I'm willing to take lessons if you're willing to teach.

[Shun'ya can practically hear Alice struggling to choke down her pride here.]

[foxchild]

im flattered you think to ask little ol' me for help, miss alice! ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆

but sure i can show you how to stick the pointy bit into your enemy rather than yourself. you'll need to provide your own stabber tho

[rimingcouplet]

[Around an hour later:]

Cait Sith successfully mugged. Where should I meet you?

[prodigal_disappointment]

i have my lance and a hand axe. im good with both. i know magic too but it doesnt seem to be working

also do you know if there is somewhere i can find a horse?

[purport]

From what I've heard, it seems that no one with magic can use it.

Can you describe a horse to me?

[prodigal_disappointment]

i wonder if theres a way to fix that

youve never seen a horse?? youre missing out

theyre big usually used for riding, fieldwork, or other kinds of travel. lots of knights use them in battle. they have large torsos with four legs that end in hooves. their heads are kinda triangle shaped, they have pointed ears on top of their head, and long necks. they have hair on their neck called manes and a tail that is the same kind of hair

they eat vegetables weeds grass

this would be easier if i could draw you a picture

[purport]

[ Her mental image of a horse is decidedly weird. Awkward. But she presses on. ]

I haven't seen anything matching that description in this place. Unless they have horns?

[compendiem]

[ why does everybody but him have cool weapons....... ]

I can also use whatever. Wouldn't trust myself with a gun, but anything else is fair. Bare fists if it comes to it.
But even if people can't fight, their contracted demons can. Isn't that the point?

[purport]

[ The plight of a protagonist in this place... ]

It's like you said, isn't it? Those demons could just decide we're food one of these days.

[compendiem]

Right. But the benefit far exceeds the risks. Don't they?

[ like, the risk is death, but. you know. ]

[purport]

The way I see it, it's more the lack of options than the balance of risk and benefit being favorable.

[ What with that death part. ]

[cyclonearrow]

I'm an archer and use a bow. Unless I find a reliable way to replace my arrows, though, I'm going to rely on my demons first and foremost.

[...she's not really thrilled about it, but needs must.]

[purport]

[ When one could run out of arrows, it makes sense to use them conservatively.

She wonders, though— ]

Can arrows be made, or do they require something we lack? I'm not personally familiar with them.

[cyclonearrow]

I guess they could be improvised...? I've never tried it, though. I've always bought them.

[purport]

It may be worth trying. If nothing else, it could give you options. Sometimes we deal with crowds.