WEEK 1

[biteys]

WEEK ONE

❝Don’t panic. You’re waking up somewhere unfamiliar, but try to relax. You aren’t dead, and I don’t have any intention to harm you. You’ve just been selected for a very special mission. A delivery, I guess. I’d do it myself but… let’s just say I can’t travel in the state I’m in. Take the blue container I’ve left to where I’ve marked on the maps within eight weeks, and you’ll be able to go home happy. More than, really. Any time or place you want to go… I can send you there. It's kinda my thing. Think of it as your payment. Everything else you need to know, I’ll tell you in time. Know that I’m sorry that I had to resort to this, and I’ll pay for my sins in Hell.❞

!

the beginning of the end

That’s what’s playing on repeat on a tape recorder, when the survivors come to.

Characters will find themselves in a humble, American townhouse, which other than being a bit dusty, is still mostly clean. All characters will be sprawled out on the floor and furniture of the living room, in front of what looks to be a giant portal. Characters will also notice they have a seemingly indestructible silver wristband around their wrists, and they have nothing with them but the clothes on their back.

Take a look around, and you'll realize that everyone in the room is likely a stranger. Aside from the tape playing, there's little explanation or proof that what's being said to you is even true. For all you know, one of the people in the room could be responsible for you being suddenly taken here.

Exploring the house's many rooms will reveal that there are small stockpiles food, water, weapons (a few guns, a few bats, a few knives), and maps, along with a large, strange container of blue liquid. The maps all chart a route from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and sport detailed recommended time stamps on them. Strangely, the recommended path occasionally diverges into two separate routes.

Upon searching the house, Haru Okumura finds a set of notes, while Leontuzzo Bellone finds a separate set. They are free to keep these notes to themselves, or share them with the group.

Nothing has anyone's names on it — not the notes, and certainly not the supplies. Everyone will have to compete for the same things. Or maybe all of you can be civilized about this, before anyone goes hoarding weapons and food? Maybe you can even introduce yourselves, while you're at it. For some strange reason, every window and door in this place is locked (and impossible to break), and will be for at least 72 hours, as if someone wanted you all to be cooped up together for a time before heading out.

Most interestingly, in the deepest basement of the house, there's a room with a large, heavy dresser shoved in front of it… and a low moaning and banging emanating from the other side. The door’s slightly ajar, and a closer look reveals a zombie is the source of the sound. Context clues around the basement, like the PhD in interdimensional travel hung up on the wall (for a Dr. Bei), hint that the woman inside is whoever left you this cryptic message - the woman who brought you here, allegedly. But she's long long gone, only this monster left in her wake. It seems she was smart enough to lock herself away to prevent you from being harmed, at least... and it'll give you a preview of the threat that looms outside.

sewer diving

After 72 hours have passed, one and only one door unlocks – in the very same basement that the zombie of Dr. Bei can be found. It leads down to a dark, dingy tunnel that connects to the sewers. Not only is the smell awful, but (non-infected) rats scurry about, keeping to the shadows – but the smell of any of the food you've taken from the house will attract them. Careful!

The party will need to create some light to navigate their way out and keep the rats at bay, or they’ll be bumping around in the dark for quite a while. Now might be a good time to share if you have some matches, or a special talent for being a lantern. Mercifully, there's only one exit that actually opens down in this labyrinth, as if it's a route the Doctor designed to take all the time.

At one point, Puppy falls into the sewage, and loses something they brought from the house.

oh! that's a baseball

Once characters make it out of the sewers, they’ll be a day’s travel to the first mark on the party’s map: “Dodger’s Stadium.” The road they’ll have to hike to get there is winding, curvy, and uphill, which will give the party a good overview of the now dilapidated Los Angeles, along with the many abandoned buildings and cars that litter the place. The stadium itself looks to have been cleared of threats and fashioned into a safe spot a long time ago, as all entrances but one have been completely welded shut. The high walls keep zombies out, and the winding path up here deters most of them from even approaching.

Inside the stadium, there’s some baseball merch (and equipment) to scavenge, not to mention some really old peanuts! Delicious. Maybe there are even some old fireworks laying around this place. Setting up camp here won’t be very comfortable… but at least it’s very safe. A luxury the party won’t have for much longer, if the map is anything to go by. You'll be heading through the city, next, so rest up while you can.

!

week one objectives

➤ make acquaintances with your fellow travelers
➤ decide what to do with the zombie of dr. bei
➤ arm yourself with what you can find
➤ scavenge some portable food from the house and while traveling
➤ make camp at the stadium

code

Comments

[mediator]

[ that phrasing is quite concerning! anyway- ]

What kinds? Hm. I don't know. [ the idea of having a favorite food is a relatively new concept for him. in the mountains he ate what was given to him and never thought much of food outside that. then he moved to the city and food cost money, which he was always low on. ] Whatever's most affordable? I can make a meal out of just about anything if I try hard enough.

[ grindset poor life... ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ That's so sad.....someone get this boy to a point where he can indulge in whatever he likes without having to worry about cost. ]

Mmm, money does seem to be a major concern for most humans too.

[ Mora, Credit Coupons, dollars here.... ]

But surely there's a treat you really like, right? Like candy or cake or a really nice cup of coffee.

[mediator]

In that case, I do enjoy drinking green tea or earl grey. My roommate has a large supply of bags and leaves, and even special cups she drinks them out of.

[ though he'll never know that alice once nearly murdered him for drinking japanese tea in a cup meant for english tea... ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ not the tea...................

There is a very, very brief moment where her smile turns slightly strained. Does she have some mild tea trauma, perhaps. ]

I do hope you're not drinking too much of it. While tea can have good benefits in moderation, like anything else drinking too in large quantities can negatively impact your health.

[mediator]

Really? I didn't know that. [ he didn't think there were downsides to drinking hot water with a tea bag to flavor it. alice seems to almost exclusively drink tea too... ] That's good to know. Thank you. I drink water more often - I only have a cup of tea a day normally.

[ this is all very serious, he does not want to get sick. ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ Thank the Archons this young man is normal about his tea consumption. That's one fewer thing for her to worry about. ]

That's wonderful to hear. You do look like someone who's careful to take good care of his health. [ Unlike CERTAIN people she knows. ] I only hope everyone else here can learn from you too.

[mediator]

I do my best. I've seen people die from sickness young, and it taught me its importance. [ A grim statement, but truthful. ] Are you a doctor, or a nurse?

[hydrotherapy]

[ She appreciates the honesty, even if it's rare to meet someone so aware of life's brevity at such a young age. ]

Hmmm, everyone at the Fortress calls me the Head Nurse, but I'm pretty sure I know just as much medicine as any other doctor in Fontaine. Either way, if anything happens here I'll be sure to take good care of you.

[ To the best of her abilities, anyway. THere are still some things medicine can't cure, after all. ]

[mediator]

We're all in your good hands. I know basic first aid, so if you ever need assistance treating someone you can count on me.

[hydrotherapy]

Wow, so many people here know first aid. That's really impressive.

[ It's wonderful and heartwarming. ]

It sounds like we're in good hands with all of you around. Thanks. I'll be sure to ask for your help if I need it. Is there anything else you're good at that I should know about?

[mediator]

[ ah, that's good to hear. the more the better - if the woman in the basement is anything to go by, this will be a dangerous mission. sadly his skills aren't as impressive as most of the other people here. ]

I'm a very fast runner. I also know how to fight, though strictly self-defense. [ he feels a need to explain that, so after a beat he goes on: ] I don't like violence. It makes me uncomfortable, but I know we could all be in danger at any point. I'm prepared to fight if it comes to it.

[hydrotherapy]

[ The more she learns about him, the more she likes this earnest young man. Sometimes, violence is necessary, but the less people crutch on it the better she personally feels. She can understand his mindset and doesn't judge him for it at all. ]

There's nothing wrong with disliking violence. I wish people would rely on it less sometimes. But it sounds like there are a few in our group who don't mind fighting [ Gojo ] so hopefully you won't have to do too much that makes you uncomfortable.

[mediator]

I get that impression as well. They'll be valuable to have in the same way a medic is. Perhaps we all have our own skills to contribute? The doctor's notes alluded to something like that.

[hydrotherapy]

[ That grabs her attention. (Let's pretend she was off doing something else whenever the news about notes started spreading.) ]

Notes? Were there more notes she left behind?

[mediator]

It was a list of candidates split into categories. Offensive, Medical, Survivalist, Resiliency, Practicality and Morale. There's more detail on what each category means, but some of them are self-explanatory.

Although there weren't any names, just the letter 'B' and numbers next to them, I did notice that together it identified 21 people. It may be something the doctor used to categorize our purpose for the mission. Okumura and Bellone were the ones who found them.

[ A person under Offensive could be someone strong enough to take down threats. Practicality are logical and strategic thinkers. So on and so forth. ]

Actually, there were only two people listed under Medical. It's likely you're one of them.

[hydrotherapy]

[ She listens to him explain, nodding along. It's a little strange for there to be such detailed notes on them - as though they've been observed for some time already? - but hopefully they'll be able to make use of what's written down. ]

Then the other person must be Miss Shoko.

[ Only two medics though....But there are plenty of people with basic first aid, so maybe everything will turn out fine. ]

Hmm..... [ She sighs. ] Thank you for telling me. Hopefully this information will be able to help us plan better for any challenges we'll face in the future.