[DAY 1-]

[panopte]

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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

merlin | fgo | current player | ota

[enflowers]

A - town;

i; golden fleece
[ The earlier network info post was enough competency and seriousness from Merlin for the moment. Instead, it is now time for him to be an utter Clown with a capital C.

Around town is Merlin once more, not scrounging for scraps as one might do, but quite literally just standing defensively, short sword drawn in one hand and staff in the other, brandishing the former to protect himself from a particularly strong and stubborn Xiezhai that stares at the mage with fury and rancor in its beady, goat-y eyes, a bit of a distance away, clearly ready to charge at him.

As soon as he spots any non-demonic movement in the corner of his eye, he calls out: ]

Hey! Mind lending a hand!? Looks like this one didn't get the memo about today being an off day, and woke up and chose violence instead!

ii; the sun in the abyss
[ True to his word, Merlin has taken it upon himself to keep an eye on the darkness on the east side of the town, taking pictures of the void's current boundaries with his COMP from a couple of key spots in town, and carving markings on nearby trees with his sword to indicate the positions from which he took said pictures of record. All from a safe distance, of course.

However, whenever he accidentally oversteps, feels the call of the void creeping up, the tendrils of malice curling around his thoughts, the mage makes the conscious effort to think of the one thing that has always been a warm hand on his shoulder, the one thing that has always served as a shining star for him amidst a raging storm of malice. (Artoria. It's Artoria. It's always Artoria.)

But he knows that that doesn't apply for everyone, and 99.9% of people shouldn't be wandering anywhere near holes in the world anyway!

To anyone who may have wandered to the eastern outskirts of town, intentionally (why would anyone want to check out the Void™ in person after he specifically warned people not to? Who knows?) or not (it's an easy thing to do, to accidentally lose one's way in a place like this), Merlin approaches with a calm but surprisingly serious expression on his face. ]

...You shouldn't wander any further than this, now.

B - power plant;

[ Hanging out near the entrance, under the nearest covering/shelter from the rain (blood or not), is Merlin, honestly just vibing there. When he hears footsteps, the approach of another, he looks up from casually browsing his COMP wrapped around his wrist. ]

Oh, did you want to check this place out too? Two heads are better than one... I'm just saying!

[ An easygoing smile, a nudging wink. He's been waiting for someone else to come along all this time because, well, he doesn't want to head in all alone... ]

C - school;

[ Literally the same exact prompt as the power plant one above, just in a different place... Yeah... ]

wildcard;

[ ooc: Just trying to keep the sheep murder/golden fleece prompt to 1 tag-in, for continuity's sake, but aside from that, anything goes!

Merlin can be found usually hanging out near or inside the church otherwise, hood up as always, when he's not wandering around and about the town in general. He's never been happier than today that his robes are waterproof. ]

power plant

[sootprints]

[ Kate has changed into new clothes and carries a (slightly broken) umbrella over her head, tilting it so that it keeps her face out of sight while shielding her from the droplets of blood. She stops when spoken to, and after a beat, realizes that she knows this person. She steps under the shelter beside him and tilts the umbrella away to face him directly. ]

You want to check it out...? [ She lifts her chin to look over the building. ] I looked around here yesterday, so... I suppose I would like to see what's changed since then.

[enflowers]

[ He perks up, the hood staying on his head despite the shelter, upon recognizing the "faerie" he spoke to the other day. ]

You did? That's great! I haven't seen much of it yet myself.

[ Still though, there's one thing he wants to check before they head in. ]

Did you investigate...unaccompanied?

[ Merlin gestures at the COMP device, to be more specific about the kind of company he means. Even if she is a faerie—a Shadow—if she's as depowered as he is, then, for some strange reason, it...doesn't entirely sit right with him for her not to have any form of protection for herself as well. ]

[sootprints]

[ Ah. She sees what he's getting at. ]

No, I have some protection.

[ Kate was taught to always hide one's power. But seeing as they all have the ability to form contracts with demons, and it would simply be far too reckless for her to run around without doing so, there's no point in withholding that information. ]

Though I was fortunate enough to not need it, despite the dangers. The Oozes were somewhat willing to talk... but I haven't tried speaking to the large one.

[enflowers]

[ He nods in return, relieved to hear that she has some under her employ. ]

Willing to talk? How did you manage to get on their good sides?

[ Er, figuratively. Oozes don't really have sides, save for the one attached to the ground that they're oozing on for the time being. ]

[sootprints]

Ah. Well...

The person who was with me offered some of his blood, in exchange for answers to our questions.

[ She's not really a fan of that. But it did work. ]

We learned that Oozes can consume all kinds of organic matter, but can't absorb inorganic matter. They especially like blood. Eating other creatures makes them stronger, and the large Ooze has apparently consumed many.

B

[blastoffed]

Actually yeah, I was coming to try to figure out what to do with the big Ooze thing that lives here. Some plan that doesn't involve setting it on fire.

[BB didn't like hearing about that, and Kaito is trying not to earn punches from her, goodness gracious]

[enflowers]

[ What a coincidence! Merlin is in this exact situation now precisely because of BB as well. ]

Oh, yes. You were one of the two plotting to blow the place sky-high, right?

[ This is what Kaito's known for, now. ]

[blastoffed]

Hey, don't be like that! We weren't set on that plan. And even if we did it, it'd have been a gentle inferno, or something!

[kaito plz]

[enflowers]

I don't think "gentle" and "inferno" belong in the same sentence like that...

[ Not usually, at least. ]

Well, if nothing else, tagging along is a great way to make sure you don't act on any of those pyromaniacal thoughts, should they get a little more intrusive than you bargained for. Anyway, were you planning on venturing in unaccompanied?

[ First things first: status check. Merlin makes a pointing gesture to the COMP wrapped around his own wrist, in case Kaito needs further clarification on what kind of company he means. Namely, that of the demonic variety. ]

[blastoffed]

That kinda company? Yeah, guess I was going in alone. If we gotta kill the big mold demon then I thought I could figure out what it's weak to and then find the right demons for that.

[Instead of making contracts with demons that could turn out to be less than helpful for this task! Since today demons in general are calmer, Kaito thought this might be the one time such strategy would work]

C

[thebomb]

[Armin's smile is friendly, despite the current climate. He wears a black coat, soaked through, now, with blood; the hood is pulled over his head to keep his face clean. Presentation is his greatest weapon, afterall.]

That's right. I was thinking just the same. I can't lie - I'm more than a bit relieved to see that someone else had the same idea.

[enflowers]

[ A friendly smile earns one in return. Granted, Merlin would've smiled at him no matter what kind of expression he greeted him with. ]

You know what they say, great minds think alike! [ ... ] Plus, it'd be kind of awkward if nobody else came along, leaving little old me to stand here all alone unless I called someone up...

[ Something like texting someone to specifically join him in investigating the school, at a time when most people are (understandably) trying to prioritize survival. But investigating their surroundings, getting to the bottom of the numerous mysteries surrounding them, is also a form of survival as well, in his opinion, even if it's not the immediate kind. ]

[thebomb]

[Armin and Merlin are of the same mind when it comes to that. Survival in the shorterm is a nearsighted goal. There is something greater at work here.]

It's good fortune [As if Armin believes in that.] that we found each other, then.

Is this the first you've gotten to take a look at the place?

[enflowers]

I've poked my head in and scoured about to check out some books from the library in there, if you count that as taking a look.

[ Nothing about the principal's office, or other areas like the auditorium. He was curious about those as well, yes, but as soon as he discovered there was a school library, he focused all his efforts on that and then bailed afterwards. ]

What about you?

[thebomb]

I've heard others mention a library, but I haven't had a chance to visit myself yet. That was my main interest in coming.

Perhaps you can show me the way after we've looked around a bit. I did say I'd assist you, so, of course, we can handle your explorations first.

[The truth is, Armin wants to know everything. There is no knowledge he'd reject. At this point, all he can do is learn everything that he can. They're all at the definition of square one. A lot of that can be found in books from that library, but more is always gained from firsthand experience, he's found.]

a.ii

[compendiem]

Huh...? Oh.

[ Minato breathes out that "oh," turning his head reluctantly away from the void but his body still faces it, mere steps away from the precipice. His thoughts are sluggish, wrapped around death, sorrow, nostalgia, longing...

But he goes no further than the edge he is so used to balancing upon. ]

I know. I won't. ...You said you were keeping an eye on this, right?

[enflowers]

[ Listen, Death may be much more handsome and charming that one would expect, but not now, Minato... Not for now, at least. ]

That's right. I intend to record and monitor it for any movement.

[ A dead end of a world inhabited by demons is one thing. A cosmological void, the collapse of a star under the weight of its own sins, that could very well spread is another, and a much bigger deal in his eyes. ]

Not the most pleasant job, admittedly, but I figure somebody has to do it.

[compendiem]

And it's you because... or, do you not feel that?

[ The l'appel du vide in the most literal sense he's ever known. It can't just be a him thing, right? Not with the way BB had acted when he was toeing the line. ]

There's something out there.

cw: suicidal ideation mentions

[enflowers]

Something, or somethings, plural. I suppose if it were an amalgam, it would still count as singular, though...

[ He's just saying. The fact that the pit of malice and dread is currently taking up what seemingly used to be a residential area does not sit well with him. The mage sighs. ]

I've... [ Dealt with? No, that doesn't belong to him. He wasn't one of those who resolved that collapse in the world. ] ...witnessed what I think is a similar case, and I'd rather not have anything like it happen again. That's why I'm keeping an eye on it.

[ Merlin feels it, of course, and that's precisely why he's taken it upon himself to do this. In his opinion, out of all the people here, he's probably one of the people better-equipped to handle a job like this, to make sure that this something (or rather, nothing) doesn't grow, spread, and break out, especially after what happened in the British Lostbelt. As for l'appel du vide, those poisonous thoughts creeping up whenever he gets too close to the source, the man thinks that because he's already dealt with those urges before, he won't succumb this time either.

Call it confidence, call it arrogance, but whatever the case may be, he already went through that stretch of his life where not a day went by without him constantly thinking of taking his own life and ascending to the Throne of Heroes, having his predecessors laugh at and mock him for his follies, so Merlin believes he can deal with it the same way he did back then: thinking of that shining star. Having something he can't turn his back on. Having something he needs to see through until the end. Wanting to see beautiful things, and dedicating his body and soul to do so. ]

[compendiem]

[ ... Minato steps away from the darkness, moves far enough to extract himself from its influence so that its whispers become only that. Not an urge, but simply idle thought. Familiar thoughts. But he's grown up a lot since those days too. ]

So you've seen something like this before...

[ He drags the toe of his shoe along the ground, smearing a faint trail of dirt and blood as equidistant from the edge as he can manage. Three or four meters' distance, give or take; it doesn't need to be exact. If the void grows quickly enough that it will eat away at that distance overnight, they'll definitely be able to tell. If it merely nibbles, the three-ish feet border remaining three-ish feet, that's all the better, isn't it? ]

Can you tell me more about it?

a.i.

[petsthedog]

[Unfortunately for them both, that non-demonic movement that's stepped into his path? Is a very obviously injured human teen who is probably about to make this entire thing a lot worse. Not least because despite himself and all his protestations of not being a good guy, he can't actually walk away from someone in trouble in front of him. So he isn't really thinking about how easy of a target he might be in his condition when he hears Merlin call out, Evoker already at his temple as he charges forward to draw the creature's attention.]

Shit, hang on. Castor!

[...]

[...]

[...]

[Nothing happens. For all intents and purposes, he's just holding a useless gun up to his forehead in front of a rampaging monster and staring at it like a deer in the headlights. He clicks the trigger a few more times. Nothing again.]

What the fuck?

[...he should probably move before he needs the rescue, huh,]

poor shinji

[enflowers]

[ "What the fuck?" is a much less eloquent way of putting Merlin's exact thoughts in his head when he sees a very obviously injured young man try??? to??? help??? By holding a gun to his forehead and pull the trigger??? To no avail. Nothing happens.

(The fact that the young man yells "Castor", just a tweak or two away from "Caster", isn't helping with the confusion either, but at least the pronunciation is different enough for Merlin to quickly assume that he isn't trying to summon a certain class of Servant in an extremely unorthodox way. Probably. Hopefully. well yes but no.gif)

The Xiezhai, for a miracle of sorts, stops for a moment before its charge, as if it was also expecting something to happen and possibly change the situation into one it doesn't want to charge into...or is also dumbfounded by what is going on here.

It is that exact moment of hesitation that Merlin takes to use his staff in his other hand to reach out and forcefully knock Shinjiro on the shoulder, shoving him to the side to avoid the demonic goat's charge just barely, while he takes the opportunity to roll-dodge out of the way of the charge himself in the opposite direction. Having missed both targets, the demon in question slams into the nearby building instead, but looks no worse for wear despite the recoil. ]

[petsthedog]

[Shinjiro lands hard, seeing stars in his vision as he hits the ground, and it's all he can do for a moment not to cry out. But then he's trying to scramble back up in the reprieve as the creature recovers from smacking into the building, collecting the fallen Evoker and ... fruitlessly clicking the trigger again. And again, a few more times before he stares at it like one might at something that's cursed out their mother.]

Now you won't come out? Asshole...

[Shit. Shit shit shit. Without Castor's sheer destructive force, he's a wholesale liability right now, and this guy's in even more trouble if he tries to protect him. He's not about to accept that. A frustrated sigh, then--]

It can't come after both of us at once. I can keep it distracted to give you a better opening.

[Clearly he's the better choice for bait, what with all that fresh blood right,,]

[enflowers]

[ His attention is drawn, for but a moment, to Shinjiro clicking the trigger of the Evoker, muttering under his breath about something not manifesting the way it's supposed to (a summoning device of some sort? Magic circles seemed preferable to firearms, in Merlin's opinion, but hey, he's not here to judge), before the young man's words snap him back to the situation at hand.

Merlin shakes his head. It won't work. ]

I think I'm its prey of the day, for whatever reason. It's had its eyes (and horn) on me ever since it caught sight of me, and me alone, though I can't imagine why.

[ That's not true. Like any good bookworm, the mage skimmed the compendium's mythological information, and the Xiezhai is said to be able to see through any lie.

Wait, there are two of them. Merlin has two weapons. What is he doing, standing around like this? The Xiezhai shakes its head after its collision with the building, ready to run right at the mage yet again, seemingly determined to run him through for his falsities. They might be able to make this work. The two of them might be out of SP (and rapidly running out of HP, in Shinjiro's case), but they're not out of options.

He gives only a single warning before he tosses his staff, covered with colorful cloth, over at Shinjiro. It's not heavy, but it's still got decent heft to it, and it's sturdy, if nothing else. ]

Catch! I hope you know which end to use to bash things with!

[ He can't believe he's doing this, all but asking a clearly bloodied teenager to fight, with something akin to the Staff of Selection, of all things. But if it's good enough for that version of Artoria, it's good enough for this stranger who seems hellbent on helping despite his condition, right? (Not to mention that he's no stranger to seemingly making unreasonable requests of others.) ]