achates | [DAY 1-]

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[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

Merlin cuts off his magical energy around the 50% mark (which is, admittedly, still a notable amount of magical energy), starting to feel fatigued at that point. Squaring away an extra 25% to use as a bargaining chip, if needed. Hungry little things. He just quietly notes to himself that that's what offering magical energy directly to the demons here looks like.

After he catches his breath, he'll try to wheedle some more information about the big Ooze from the lil' Oozes. Potential vulnerabilities and behavior.

Really? Nothing? Wow, what a strong Ooze! But what if things get too hot around here? Too cold? What about that big windy storm yesterday, with everything whooshing and shaking? What if the food stops coming, or goes far away one day? Would it send out a little Ooze piece of itself or something to grab it?

The Oozes conveys, in their warbling uppercase-lowercase text, that the weather doesn't change enough to be too hot or too cold (looks like you guys get a nice temperate climate in this place! when it's not raining blood.), and the winds yesterday didn't really affect the power plant which is sturdy enough to stand strong against the storm. They sneer at the thought of the giant Ooze being strong: it's just too big, that's all. Besides, it won't go anywhere or make an effort to move when there is plenty of food right here, in the powerplant, amongst all the small Oozes and Slimes and Blobs that remain confined to the upper floors.

Why are they asking? are they going to fight the giant Ooze? no no no don't do that, they will only get swallowed up and that would be a waste of such potent magic (in Merlin's case) and tasty blood (in Kate's case, bc she is the ??? holder of Dimitri's blood, or something)

wtf the oozes are cute.......

Merlin neither confirms nor denies whether they are going to fight the big Ooze, only saying that, well, if the big Ooze doesn't move or isn't taken out somehow, the smaller Oozes like them can't go outside to feast, and they'll miss more blood bath parties :( If it's not strong but it's big, is there any way to make it smaller? A smaller big Ooze (don't question it) means they could finally go outside.

Maybe if it gets hurt enough, it might split apart... The Oozes/Slimes/Blobs in general really only have two attacks at their arsenal, poison which does little to nothing against something similarly poisonous, and lunge-tackling their opponent which would immediately result in getting absorbed by the giant Ooze. Other demons won't help: why should they?

Maybe someone (looks at Merlin and Kate with their big ol' goopy eyes) can beat up the giant Ooze for them? or if they can think of another way that isn't default Violence

~~what if the smaller oozes all gattai'd to make an even bigger ooze than the big ooze~~ he will not actually suggest that.

Big ol' goopy eyes... Merlin will respond that they want to deal with the big Ooze just as much as the lil' Oozes do, which may sometimes involve Violence, but not always. It's worth trying to have a pleasant chat with it and see what's up with it first, straight from the Ooze's mouth. He doesn't want either of them to get swallowed up by the big one either...then the Oozes would have one less way of getting tasty things like magical energy and blood.

(They did come here with the other goal of trying to at least strike up a conversation with the big Ooze as well, so he thinks it'd be too hasty if they struck out the option from the table entirely at this stage.)

What kind of Ooze was the big Ooze originally, anyway? A normal ol' Slime/Blob/Ooze? Does it hate sharing? Does it hate Mondays? Will it be cranky if they wake it up for a chat? That sort of stuff. basically what is the ooze hot neighborhood gossip...

Edited 2024-09-27 21:01 (UTC)

"wHAt is mONdAy?"

. . .anyways.

The giant Ooze used to be... an Ooze...? maybe? they're not 100% sure, actually, maybe it just looks black now because it's eaten so much, all the colors have muddied together. They don't really talk to the big Ooze, but they say that it's not typically aggressive, aka it never tried to reach upstairs to hunt the other demons and instead is pretty passive in its "sit and wait for food to come walking into its mouth". like a baby bird.

It's better that they know not of Mondays.

Anyway, it was a lovely ooze-y chat with them all, but they have things to do, like deal with said big Ooze in person. Merlin gives the magical energy equivalent of a headpat to the Oozes (like, feeding them just enough for the Oozes to have the slightest of tastes, but nothing more, because he needs some time to regen his MP) before he and Kate shuffle along to the main event: the big Ooze itself.

They'll try to carefully make their way to the front entrance area, seeking out the main face(?) of the big Ooze itself. When they arrive, Merlin will offer his (nasty) blood into the big Ooze's mouth, trying to rouse it from its sleep in what he hopes is a non-hostile way.

BWUHH— The giant Ooze wakes up with a splutter, sending globs of acid flying out all over the place as it jiggles menacingly at whoever it was who thought NASTY BLOOD would be anything but a rude awakening. The demon doesn't speak right away, instead locking eyes with Kate— ...she has no eyes... locking eyes with Merlin in what it likely thinks is an intimidating fashion. Square up, punk! let's go! the Ooze will absorb anybody who tries to attack it!

Kate sees Merlin lead with a blood offering, and dark smoke rises from her head. There's even more smoke when the Ooze reacts with hostility.

"Wait! We didn't come here to fight. We just want to talk." Kate holds up her hands in a placating gesture, but takes a step back so she doesn't immediately get slimed like she's on a Nickelodeon game show.

In order to hopefully calm things down a tad so the giant Ooze isn't spitting acid everywhere (rather nonconducive to pleasant discussion), Merlin will act all surprised while also stepping back.

"Whoa there, sorry about that! I heard you Oozes liked blood, so I thought it might make a good gift, but looks like mine is like getting the cheap, knockoff brand as far as gifts go. I bet it's due to all that time I spent in the Spiritual Tomb of Albion... That's what I get for hanging out too close to the Odvena, huh?

Anyway, I really am sorry about that, you know, so how about I make it up to you with some magical energy instead? Like the little lady said, we're just here to talk."

And then he offers said magical energy, going from 60% to 50% (he regenned some MP on the way) should the giant Ooze take it.

"'wANt tO TAlk'? iT dOESn'T seEM as iF yOU nEEd aNy heLp tAlkINg."

Most of what Merlin has to say ("Spiritual Tomb of Albion"? "Odvena"? what are those, can you eat it) the Ooze doesn't care for, but when he offers his magical energy, that's speaking the Ooze's language now. It'll go ahead and help itself; they can see thin threads of red leave Merlin's body just as how it happened before. He feels a bit tired.

"gO On, tHEn. I WiLL hEAr yOU OuT."

Kate will take the lead in talking.

It seems this Ooze has been here in this one part of the power plant for some time. Why? Is there a reason that it wants to stay here, or a reason that it can't leave? Does it like it here?

The Ooze is slow in answering these questions, either because it has to ponder them first or maybe it's just slow in general, but it eventually states that it has always been here, in the power plant, for as long as it can remember. Why should it want to leave? There is food here, there is company here, and it is so so hungry. It's gotten this big because it eats and eats and eats, but no matter how much it absorbs, it is still always hungry. As if there were an empty void that it cannot fill.

(A hunger that can't be sated? That sounds familiar.)

But Kate will point out: doesn't that sound like this Ooze isn't entirely happy here, after all? So long as it doesn't move from this place, that void will never be filled.

What other option does it have? If it were to leave this place to hunt down the other demons and any other living thing in this place, it will eat and eat and eat and what if, in the end, its hunger still isn't sated? Then it will be empty and lonely, in this barren husk of a world devoid of everybody else but itself.

Is eating the only thing it can think of to sate that feeling of emptiness? What if it actually requires something else? For example... for humans, sometimes things like listening to good music can fill a hole in one's heart.

The Ooze laughs.

It's an awful sound, thick and wet, a laugh that gurgles up slow from deep within until it bursts out in spurts. Like bubbles in a tar pit when they reach the surface, releasing pungent, noxious gas.

There's no sense of malice behind the laugh, though. The Ooze is really just going LMAO.

Kate looks at Merlin, then back at the Ooze. What's so funny?

The Ooze looks at Merlin, then back at Kate. Tell her what's so funny.

Merlin looks at Kate, then back at the Ooze, its laughter difficult to ignore, then back at Kate. "What if it actually requires something else?" What if the giant Ooze requires something else besides absorbing physical organic matter to satisfy that hunger, uncomfortably familiar-sounding as it is?

"I...suppose it's highly amused by your question because of what it perceives to be the sheer ignorance of it. Of something so incredibly fundamental in its eyes..."

If that laugh was one of malice, then he would have said it was the question's audacity that set it off, but there was none to be found. Merlin holds up his free hand to his mouth. His expression, previously neutral, shifts slowly into a frown as he looks back at the Ooze once more.

For creatures that fed on the mind, such as himself, feeding on the thoughts and emotions of others did nothing to abate the gnawing.
For beings that supped on bread and water to sustain their bodies, such as the humans here, feeding on the pickings they could scrounge did nothing to satisfy the craving.

The fundamentals: mind, body, soul.

"...If it is not a hunger of the body, which can be sated by food and drink...
...and it is not a hunger of the mind, a thirst for knowledge which can be quenched by the thoughts of others...
...then it is a hunger of the soul you are afflicted with.
...Am I correct?"

Merlin narrows his eyes, not out of resentment or hostility, but out of an actual, genuine hope that his conjecture is wrong.
...Because if it's correct, then that means the hunger that the giant Ooze feels—very likely the same kind of hunger they themselves feel—is one that's much, much more difficult to sate than originally expected.

Edited (wording tweak, whoops) 2024-10-01 22:08 (UTC)

The laugher dies down, settling into quiet gurgles. "hunger of the soul" huh... That might be true...

Unlike demons such as the famous Yatagarasu and even the common Pixie, an "Ooze" has no lore, no place in the world, nothing for people to remember it by. Oozes, Slimes, and Blobs are all the result of a proper demon being unable to manifest, and as such, their existence is tenuous, and sense of self is even more so. If an existence such as itself even has anything like a soul in the first place, it is incomplete at best.

Perhaps what might finally fill the void is the presence of a strong soul, such as the souls of the two standing right there before it, shining brightly.

Kate takes another step back, her head smoking even more than before.

Their souls probably wouldn't be very satisfying... with her being a Shadow, and her companion having such unpalatable blood...

Aw, she doesn't know that. Merlin's magic was pretty tasty, after all, and Kate looks pretty spirited too (: let's give it a try! they won't ever know if they don't give up their souls to the ooze, it's just a small sacrifice for the pursuit of knowledge, right?

You know, that might be enough questions for now. It seems like it's time to go. Kate politely thanks the big Ooze for its time and backs up swiftly and smokily. How about we leave!!

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[DAY 1-]

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