panopte: (Default)
panopte ([personal profile] panopte) wrote in [community profile] achates2024-09-17 10:10 am

[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!"

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.
nterwebz: (039 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-02 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Nao is going to smiiile and instantly, intensely direct Kill Bill Intent vibes (n-n) @ the Oozes while standing perfectly open to attack like a scary Apex Predator in the moment before Minato goes "Okay, stop." She'll nix it and almost mechanically turn her head to look at Minato re: his SP comment, but make no protest. She ain't denyin' her boy his agency and if Minato or Kaito got a weird feeling a minute ago, it was probably their imagination or something they ate.

Kaito will ask if there'd be any dangers in getting the power plant fixed. As in, would it be bad if they actually succeeded at it? Meanwhile, Nao wants to know why Big O(ozie) is so lazy and if there's a way to get him to move without, y'know, fighting/hurting him so they can see about actually getting the plant running.
nterwebz: (Default)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-05 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Kaito is satisfied with the answer to his question.

Nao has more, like... is there anything Big O(ozie) would like besides humans to eat that might help convince him to be cool with moving? Do they think he could be contracted?

Would the Li'l Oozies be cool re: humans getting the power plant up and running if they brought them more delicious bloody food like the bread and not eat the humans entering the powerplant? She knows she's a snacc, but she thinks they're real neat and they seem to like hanging out here. How about a truce? 'Cause if the Oozes eat the humans, there's no more treats, but if they coexist, humans can bring them delicious treats like the blood bread! Maybe even make a whole line of blood treats for them??

Is this how cults get started???

Is there such a thing as a demon cafe here? Do they like coffee??

You don't want to know how hard she is fighting not to gag re: the whole blood thing. You would never guess from her expression.
nterwebz: (024 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-06 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
At this point Kaito would probably take Nao aside and kind of tell Nao that everybody in the town probably won't really have blood to give around even if someone has tasty blood and that maybe changing directions before the demons take something Nao says as a promise instead of as a hypothetical! Because what if tomorrow every ooze from the power plant goes asking someone when's the blood treats going to be available and takes no for an answer. The way a few of his attempts to make deals with demons went in ways that make him wary about what one says to demons

He also would make sure to tell the demons that, last Kaito checked, his blood is absolutely horrid, please don't consume him.

Nao will look Kaito straight in the eye and remind him that the Oozes currently have no way to leave the power plant since Big O(ozie) is in the way and they can easily relay to the others to tell them immediately if they get him to move. She will also go, with 105% confidence, "Look, bud, you've got 0 reason to trust me, but I'm asking you to."

Kaito says he trusts her and add that nah, he doesn't have zero reasons, he has one now: because he wants to, and that's all the reason he needs. Whatever, if something goes wrong he'll stick with Nao and solve it somehow.

Nao is going to stand there a beat too long kind of awkwardly like "what is this feeling in my chest that's not hunger, I can't even respond with HAHAHA wtf is this witchcraft" and go, "OKAY!"

Nao is going to turn to the Oozes, literally and comedically scootch back over to them, and take a knee so she's a little more on level with them. She's going to say that she understands their hunger, believe her -- NOTHING MORE, NOTHING LESS THAN THAT in human company, but she's resolved to play this card. That's why they're talking and she's really happy they're telling them these things because humans don't know about stuff like that!

TO PROVE SHE'S SERIOUS, Nao will make them an offer they can't refuse: she'll offer up a good portion of her spiritual energy today if they'll commit to working something out with them... and every day until they work something out, but guys, guys -- no sly tricks, she'll see right through it! If the truce-deal is reasonable and benefits the Oozies and the humans, they gotta agree to it. They also have to promise not to eat her... and to be the taste testers for what she comes up with while she's figuring things out for everyone!

Oh, and if a human attacks them, look. She's not going to be unreasonable. That's taking their life into their hands if you catch her drift and no one can fault them for what comes next. She might even punch the person for endangering her taste testers.

"Do we have a deal?"

Kaito will interject, "I know it sounds a lot to ask for, but we're not gonna leave you bunch hanging. You can trust Nao, she's going to figure out something that'll work out! And if she doesn't, I'll help her until she does! We're gonna get it done!" Yeah, he's officially proving he's all-in, as usual with him when he decides something could be worth it.
Edited 2024-10-06 00:01 (UTC)
nterwebz: (020 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-08 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Nao thanks them for their cooperation. She also has a few more Moar Questions before they... go for the day because Minato looks like he might pass out. She'll have to talk to Big Oozie tomorrow.

Back to the questions! Has anyone's blood they've tried recently -- if they have -- been nasty to them? If yes, do they remember anything about them? Anything that might've contributed to their blood being nasty tasting? She's asking because if not, they'll have to figure out what type of blood tastes nasty to them, but hey! Finding out what's really tasty is on the to-do list, too!

Kaito wants to know if there's a particular kind of human they just feel more tempted to eat than others. That could help figure things out, he thinks!
Edited 2024-10-09 00:39 (UTC)
nterwebz: (039 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-12 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I told you, I taste awful! Like dried space food!" is definitely Kaito's immediate answer because he really would feel the impulse of dissuading them about eating him someday.

Nao nodnodnodnods, listening to the Oozies intently. She then whips out her COMP and shows them the photo that Merlin sent of himself that she saved earlier in the day.

"Is this the guy with the nasty tasting blood?"
Edited 2024-10-12 22:56 (UTC)
nterwebz: (006 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-14 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Kaito offers absolutely no clarification on what space food is in the first place, apparently just taking for granted a bunch of random ooze demons in a power plant know what that is.

Nao looks very serious as she turns her eyes from the Oozes to the photo. "the mfer with the nAsTY blOoD" is going to be hard to get out of her head. That she managed not to laugh is a testament to her will power.

She says OK and that she'll look into it. Was there anybody else they remember who offered them particular tasty or nasty blood or SP?
nterwebz: (039 ►)

[personal profile] nterwebz 2024-10-16 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Alas, Nao has not played shutterbug just yet. She thanks Li'l Oozie and friends and, upon glancing at Minato, says that's all the questions she has for right now. Remember, no physical nomming, guys!

Kaito will wind up carrying Minato out and probably Nao, too, because she's a brat and would rather be carried even if she could sorta walk by leaning against him. It's fine.