achates | [DAY 1-]

Entry tags:

[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!"

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Alas for Jack Frost, the only thing that diverts the Princess' perhaps unnerving deadpan attention is the arrival of Minato on the scene. She turns to face him, giving the demon some reprieve for now. ]

Nothing specific, but... [ Trailing off, the Princess taps her fireplace poker against the glass. ] This machine wasn't here before, was it?

[ She could swear it wasn't. ]

It wasn't...

[ He doesn't think so, anyways; it's not like he spent much time exploring the actual town compared to the amount of time he spend being chased through it, but a vending machine stands out. A hotdog stand run by a demon DEFINITELY stands out. ]

I guess maybe Jack Frost brought it with him?

[ He glances over at the demon in question; Jack Frost quickly averts its gaze, as not to be caught listening in on their conversation. buy a hot dog and maybe it'll talk, otherwise shoo! ]

[ They're in agreement, this machine wasn't there before. That's good enough for Princess, who spares Jack Frost a speculative squint before her focus returns to Minato. ]

What do you think he brought it here for?

[ She has observed that there's a slot that money is apparently to be inserted into, but none of them have that currency... Not so far as she knows, at least. What gain is there for Jack Frost if they don't have whatever he's after. ]

Not to mention, couldn't someone just break the glass?

[ She knows they're being watched... ]

[ "Hee-no! Don't break the glass, ho!" Jack Frost can't just stand here and pretend he isn't hearing this blatant threat of property destruction?? The temperature around them plummets, their breaths now coming out in visible puffs.

"Hey, uh... Boss?" comes Ala's bright chipper voice from Minato's COMP. "Didya read what I wrote about Jack Frost freezing people to death? I display that information for you guys' sakes, you know?" ]

...they could, but... this is what would happen if they tried. Apparently.

Well, now we know.

[ Did she do that entirely to test Jack Frost's reaction? Yes. The sudden drop in temperature doesn't appear to concern her in the slightest, although it probably should. She tucks her fireplace poker into a space in her belt casually, a demonstration that she's not going to actually try breaking the vending machine. ]

Do any of the cans look familiar to you?

[ Minato might know them. She certainly doesn't. ]

[ The cold temperature abates... a little. Just a little. ]

Well... I can't read the writing on it, but those look like coffee beans, so coffee... probably. [ could still be a can of coal chunks, it's a toss up ]

Corn soup...? Pickle... juice...? This one has a picture of grass on it.

[ She wrinkles her nose. Ironically, the girl who doesn't need to eat and doesn't recall consuming anything before chips with Minato, has some form of standards. ]

None of that sounds very...enticing.

[ That's as diplomatic as she can make it sound, sorry Jack Frost. Also sorry coffee enjoyers. ]

People don't normally consume these, do they?

Edited (what is html) 2024-09-29 16:54 (UTC)

They do. Corn soup isn't bad.

[ maybe he should be defending coffee, avid midnight coffee drinker that he is, but he's only 87% sure that's a can of coffee inside the machine. It's not as if he craves it, but it's still a somewhat nostalgic look on his face when he looks at what may or may not be a depiction of coffee beans. ]

Do any of them catch your eye? Pickle or grass? If I come across enough macca, we can share a can.

[ Minato, still the only reason she eats anything...

Aside the occasional not-bloody candy when she's making her demon bribe treats, of course. ]

I don't know them well enough to have a preference. What would you recommend?

[ It's a roundabout way of asking what Minato wants. If he's offering to share, it only seems fair. Besides, it's true enough that she doesn't know these canned goods... And she noticed that look on his face. Something interests him. ]

That one has a picture of a fish's head and a snake on it. Let's try that one.

[ Very unfortunately, trying new things >> tried and true favorite drink ]

It's probably some sort of soup... maybe... Hey, Jack Frost. Can you lend us some macca?

[ "Hee-hell no!" It's starting to get cold again. ]

[ No one can say Minato isn't brave when it comes to food and drink. She observes his attept with little reaction, only to lean around him to make what she assumes to be eye-contact with Jack Frost. ]

What about an exchange?

[ Does the perpetually-smiling cold demon do trades? Bartering? It's not as though she knows what macca is, but it goes into the machine to get a fish-snake-can, clearly. ]

[ Doing it for the courage stat...

"An exchange, ho?"

The demon seems to consider this. It did allow barter for the hotdogs, but what's the point of cooking up 1349583 extra hotdogs if nobody pays up? Gotta correct that supply-demand balance a little.

"Alright. Since I'm hee-so generous, if you can get three people to buy a hotdog each, I'll treat you all to drinks, ho!"

It's not exactly parting with the money, but if they get their fish-snake-can in the end, that's fine, right? ]

[ Minato is truly always on that grind.

The reply gives her pause, cupping a hand to her chin. If none of them have the currency, how do they buy hotdogs? The question springs to mind, and she debates briefly how to broach the subject. ]

Three people... Alright.

[ They can find three people. The Princess is tenacious, Minato raps. But there is one small logistical matter— ]

Do you take the same currency as the machine, or something else? Excuse our ignorance on the matter, we're new.

[ She's observed already that sometimes, such admissions smooth interactions. ]

[ Jack Frost laughs: their ignorance is pardoned, but it's still funny. "I know now that you chumps don't hee-have any currency, ho. But pulling out at this stage would be a loss, ho!" As the astute businessdemon that it is, it's got to adjust.

Bring it anything valuable or interesting and Jack Frost will appraise whether it is worthy of a hotdog. It once again expresses interest in their gemstones, but it'll also be interested in "something from hee-human culture, ho!" ]

Thank you for the accommodation.

[ She may be deadpan, but she can be polite. With their marching orders set, the Princess turns back to Minato. ]

So we'll need enough for five, including us. Let's see what we can find.

[ Something of value shouldn't be beyond them. The stones being named specifically makes her wary of sharing them, so she mentally takes that possibility off the board. ]

[ Meanwhile there's Minato, who, as they turn to walk away from the food stall, digs his stone out of his pants pocket to take a closer look at. It's a pretty clear blue, for sure, much larger than the tiny pebble gemstones you might find embedded in jewelry, but he doesn't think much of it otherwise. It feels warm in his hand. Which makes sense, since it was just in his pocket. ]

Maybe if we break this into five pieces...

[ Jack Frost has never seen Minato's gemstone. Surely it won't be able to tell. ]

So you've got one too...

[ She'd slotted her own odd rock rather awkwardly into the large, round link connecting her shackle to the chain that dangles from it, held in place by wire. ]

The fact that he'd suggest it as something valuable means we shouldn't.

[ If a demon places high value on it, and demons hunger for their flesh and blood, these stones must be precious in their own right. Maybe they're even tied to them somehow, considering the sorts of things demons tend to want, but that much is only conjecture on her part. ]

...How did he know you have one, anyway?

[ Do they all have them? ]

I dunno. Shadows... demons... sometimes drop stuff like this when they die. Maybe he figured we'd be the same.

[ It's like mugging people for their wallets and hoping they carry cash and not just cards. Still, it's weirdly specific, and what's more concerning is that the demon's assumption is correct.

He puts his stone away. ]

"Human culture" then. That's stuff like art and music. [ looks down at his music player. can't exactly give that away, considering it's his COMP. also it'd break his heart. ]

Maybe I can sing [ rap ] to him. [ Jack Frost would kill him instantly. ]

[ She thinks back to the way that Pixie acted as though Minato's singing was some form of torture, frowning to herself. With Jack Frost's readiness to put them on ice, he might just be provoked. ]

It sounds like he wants something tangible. Do you think there's something like that makes music somewhere other than the concert hall?

[ If music is human culture, something that could give Jack Frost music could work, provided they can find it. ]

[ Fingers wrap around his music player. Jack Frost can't have it. ]

The school might have a music club. There'd be instruments in there, if they do. Otherwise, we could make a drum.

[ Which is the only instrument he knows how to make with any confidence, because all a drum requires is something solid to whack. ]

Are there any other things that make music as well?

[ She is very pointedly not looking at the item in Minato's hand. He spoke to Ala with it before and it's clearly important to him, so it's not an option.

Worry not, fellow deadpanner. ]

[ She asks this and Minato looks down at his music player ... ]

You can make music with whatever. Anytime, anywhere, with anything... Even if it's just you by yourself. That's the beauty of it.

Since he wants something he can be given... [ How to put this? She frowns in thought before trying to form the question. ] Could there be something in the houses that works like your device does?

[ If only my girl knew what a music box was. ]

Maybe...

[ If it's something like an mp3 player, it'd be their luck if the battery were dead after all this time- he decidedly does not think about how much longer his own music player will last, maybe the AIs are keeping it going somehow, he won't ask. ]

No use guessing when we can just check, so...

[ He'll head towards one of the houses that's already been broken into via and open window or kicked down door, since it means somebody's probably already gone inside and dealt with the demons there. ]

They tend to be pretty small. Don't always look like mine... I think usually they're more like a phone. A flat rectangle.

A flat rectangle...

[ The Princess echoes the words as they enter the house. Her eyes dart around for signs of anything that might spring out at them, but their surroundings are still and quiet, save the gentle breeze filtering through the broken windows.

Once convinced it's safe enough, she isn't shy about beginning the search. While she pulls at desk drawers, something comes to mind. ]

What was that you sang before?

[ It's impossible to not be curious. ]

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