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

[It would be fire, of course.]

Your strategy is sound. Checking my COMP, Yatagarasu seems like a good option. I know I can't necessarily afford to be picky, but that's my first thought.

I'm willing to hear if you have other suggestions, though. As for where to search, I don't consider anything to be off limits, necessarily.

If you want Yatagarasu, that's what we'll go for. It'll probably be in the same place we'd find Harpies anyways. Haven't really seen many in the sky today, though... Maybe they're roosting in the trees. We can check the forest. Stick to the outskirts. And if we do see one in the sky, we can get closer with your

[ ?? ??? ]

grappling hook jet pack... That thing you used to fly through the forest before.

[Well, "grappling hook jet pack" is...close, maybe. Armin's not sure the technical explanation would make much more sense.]

You can call it maneuvering gear. I'm hoping, though, that if we get close enough, we might be able to lure it into a negotiation from the ground. [He really needs to hang onto that fuel. There's no way he can go another day without seeing beyond that wall.]

I suppose we'll see. If I have to reach its height, I can.

Just tell me where you'd like to meet.

School's pretty central to the place. I'll be up front, by Jack Frost's hotdog stand.

[ He's been hanging out there for a bit, especially recently, too broke to buy anything from the vending machine and not yet strong enough to defeat one of the pig demons with just him and Pixie to trade for a hotdog. Which leaves him with window shopping, COMP in his hand and pressed up against the glass while text flashes across the screen every time he moves from one can's label to the next.

Jack Frost is over there giving Minato the stink eye. "Why are you still here-ho? I thought I said no-ho loitering!" ]

[Armin is punctual. He doesn't rush to the school, but he doesn't waste time either. The demon's voice is eerie. It's strange to see non-human things speak, barter, negotiate. Armin's tried not to think too much about it; can't help it, of course. He just wonders what gives him the right to live over any other sentient being, but he's never been allowed to think that way. They're the enemy because they act against his interests.

[Minato looks more like Armin does. Maybe that's why he trusts him instead.

[He approaches with a smile.]

Minato. Thanks again for meeting with me. This will be a good lesson, I think.

Yeah.

[ "I think," huh. That'll depend on Minato's performance, and while he's used to being a leader, he's not used to being a senpai— not used to explaining himself, or devising a plan for them to carry out, or even being able to accommodate those following him in any other way than just... killing anything that threatens his team himself.

...

Okay. Awkward silence passed, Minato steps back away from the food stall to circle around towards the back of the school, turning slightly so Armin can see him gesture to the knife that he has in a makeshift sheath strapped to his belt. No need to mention the metal cane that he carries in his off-hand, tip dragging along the ground without any weight put on it.]

What weapons do you have? [ Because Armin surely has at least one. ] We'll be fighting alongside our demons.

The same you saw yesterday. [Armin shifts his coat back to show the metal holsters on his hips. He's still wearing that full-body harness as well.]

The maneuvering gear I mentioned, but it also includes two blades. I'd like to conserve as much fuel as I can, so staying on the ground as much as possible is my goal; it can be used if necessary, however.

Alright. I'll keep that in mind.

[ but damn, duel wielding blades will never not be cool... Minato looks down at his hands like ?? no, a cane and a knife would be too unbalanced, and he's always preferred something he can use with just one hand and leave the other one free, although he doesn't always get the option. Not like he needs his other hand here, with his COMP hanging freely around his neck...

Harpy's profile shows on the music player screen when he glances down at it. Weak against electricity, a good practice target for Pixie, and- according to the profile- shares that same ravenous hunger that claws at the pit of his stomach. Which means it'll be easier to draw this specific demon out from the rest of the demons roosting in the trees: all he has to do is tuck the cane under one arm, pull out his knife, and make a quick slice on the palm of his hand. The smell of blood is immediate, and it runs bright red down his wrist and the length of his arm as he holds his hand up in the air like he's in some aviary offering up a little paper cup of sugar water. pspsps- ]

Get ready...

[Armin realizes belatedly that they could have stood to strategize, but he supposes this is where he becomes the student, and Minato, the teacher. He summons "Walter," his Hare of Inaba, but readies himself with two blades all the same. His demon's skills aren't offensive, but if they need to escape, Armin will be able to test at least one of them.

[He readies his stance. At the scent of blood, two (D:2) Harpies appear immediately - both diving for Minato. They're too close to his companion for him to aim a strike with his blade, so he tries to knock one away with the handle, but fails (D:6).]

[ I like the implication that they could've been swarmed by half a dozen Harpies, they got off easy. Still, they really could have come up with a plan. Minato only ever carries the most nebulous of ones, keeps a goal in mind and finds a way there as he goes along. He doesn't need anything too elaborate here, though, because this is a familiar fight, and he'll fight just as he always has.

There's no politely taking turns in a battle like this, but it helps that he's not alone: with him and Armin and their demons, it's effectively four against two, which is great odds. The Harpy Armin is engaged with focuses on him, even if he hadn't managed to knock it away— it's enough, because that split in attention allows Minato to come swinging at it from behind, the length of his cane missing the body and instead slamming against its arm. The demon screams in pain and fury, leaping back to make space and tries to take off; it stumbles, the arm Minato had struck sagging, struggling to fly. ]

Pixie! Zio!

[ A bolt of lightning strikes the second Harpy. His Pixie isn't very strong yet, but it doesn't have to be: Harpy's reported weakness against electricity proves to be true, that little zap of electricity enough to cause its muscles to lock and the demon to freeze up, opening up a brief window of opportunity that Minato grasps with both hands. This time, the cane finds the back of the Harpy's head. It makes an ugly sound upon contact, and the demon crumples to the ground. ]

Armin, together!

[ Both enemies down. It's time for an ALL OUT ATTACK. ]

[One harpy is successfully distracted by Armin, who gets to work just as Minato does. Beloved Hare of Inaba, "Walter", has skills that are more suited for defense than offense, but he still gives the harpies a few square kicks to batter them back while Armin draws his blades. He's less the "blunt force trauma" type.

[Minato acts quickly, however. In no time at all, the harpies are down, and he's shouting a command.

[Armin's eyes meet his just long enough for an affirmative nod. He lunges toward the harpy he'd been facing, launching an attack with both blades to the neck. It's successful (D:12), though the head isn't severed entirely. Armin gives it another slash just for good measure. Call him paranoid.]

[ Minato would call him thorough, rather. Demons, humans, animals, whatever- they're all the same in that they'll fight for their lives, lashing out all the harder the closer they are to death, and this isn't an exception either. The Harpy's talons rise, and would have clawed out Armin's throat if he hadn't dealt the final blow first. It connects, follows through, head falling and hitting the ground, body following right after.

Minato's weapon isn't quite as efficient, only good for blunt force trauma, his attacks towards the second Harpy much less elegant and much less deadly. If they ignore its wings, it really just looks like Minato beating up a woman with a cane, especially when it raises said wings in trying to cover itself, especially when it cries out in pain and with panicked glances towards its fallen friend:

"Stop! Please, just let me go! I don't want to die...!" ]

[At the Harpy's pleas, Armin holds up a hand, as if to still Minato, though it appears the other man isn't attacking yet.

[He shoots his companion a look. This isn't exactly the demon Armin was aiming for, but a negotiation is a negotiation, and he's here to learn (beggars can't be choosers - it's important to remember that too). He'll see if Minato is interested first, though. He can learn something either way.

[He addresses the harpy.]

You're in a good position for pleading, but we're more interested in a negotiation. Hear our terms and you can make a decision about whether your life is worth as much.

[Ciel did encourage him to be harsh when executing these negotiations. It worked for Walter...

[He looks to Minato again.]

Your terms or mine?

Uh.

[ His terms? He was just going to kill the demon, honestly; the Shadows he used to fight never begged for their lives, and the Personas he wielded always stood by his side, rather than turn against him. He never had to think about it before. ]

If it were up to me, I'd just let her go.

[ Harpy: let me go
Minato: okay
he's easy. even if it means gaining nothing from the fight, even if it means there's a chance the demon will turn on them later. ... ]

What do you think, Armin?

[Ah. He and Minato are not quite on the same wavelength, it appears.

[That's alright. Armin has words to back up now.]

I'd like that negotiation. [This, to all present company. After that, onto the Harpy.]

The first benefit is that we let you live. I think that should do some heavy lifting, considering. I can offer a small amount of blood daily as a secondary benefit, but the amount and type is left to my descretion. You'll act whenever I give you a command.

What are your terms?

[ The Harpy draws itself up, gives Minato the cold shoulder to face Armin instead. There's a scowl on her face: she's clearly humiliated, pissed off that a mere human has her (her! a great powerful demon! wtf!!) in such a position, and even more so because he is correct. That first benefit holds the greatest weight of all, and anything that comes after is a kindness.

"Keep your blood, human," she spits out. "I will join you, and follow your commands, but I only want to follow the strong, not the stupid. Humans are inherently weak: if you bleed out, you die, and that will be by your own folly. I will not save you then."

She will, if he so commands, but if he does not or can not, Harpy will not go out of her way for him, coerced into this contract as she is.

But time may change this. Minato's Pixie had originally wanted him dead too. ]

[Success? Armin nods once toward the Harpy.]

Your terms are fair. I wouldn't expect you to waste your time on someone who can't stand on their own two feet. I look forward to working together.

[Just like that, the contract is sealed. As far as he knows, that puts him at two registered demons, the ostensible limit.]

Thank you, Minato. That's one goal achieved today, and now I'll have a demon with combat abilities to help as well. Shall we continue on?

[ The Harpy disappears as data in Armin's COMP, and the space around them is quiet in that brief pause before Minato answers, lifting his eyes up from the dead Harpy on the ground. ]

...Yeah.

[ Okay, yeah. Armin's ready to move on so Minato will too, once again taking point as he walks alongside the tree line, eyes up at the sky. ]

But first, have your Hare of Inaba heal your Harpy so she'll be ready for the next battle. Keep an eye on your demons' health, and its magic as well: you won't be able to use that "trafuri" trick indefinitely, and you don't want to be in a situation where your demons are all exhausted and you're left to fend for yourself.

[ He can be a good senpai too, sometimes, chattier when he's speaking of battle the same way he is when it comes to demons. They can press on while Minato talks about managing a team— not just one's own demons, but those of any allies fighting alongside them as well— and keeping an eye on both sides of the battlefield, of keeping the team alive, of learning where to hit the enemy where it hurts, of knowing when to fight and when to run, etc etc.

There's nothing about demon negotiations, though, because that's an area Minato has zero experience with. Any further demons they come across in this little foray, Minato simply cuts down, looks to Armin to do the same. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[DAY 1-]

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o v o lmk if you'd like to handwave or thread this!

i succumbed to SLEEP... i'd love to thread it out! let's get armin his bird

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I think I'mma go for this and just go change my demon submission LMAO

armin's harpy gives minato the stink eye behind his back every time she sees him

hehe let's move toward a handwave/wrap for the rest and we can do smth new soon

yea :3c