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

[sisterlessbehavior]

A - Thoughts and Prayers

[Oh... Oh this is quite the situation. Whatever deal has been made on his behalf feels like the greatest of scams. The most wretched of situations. Compared to what he currently is witnessing he'd take his prison cell and whatever was to come next over this current predicament. But perhaps this is all divine retribution.

Fly free indeed.

The situation is all the more dire when the former person that lived here is found in a state that is... horrific, honestly. The immediate question is how to help her. Can they save her from this affliction? And if they can't will there be a way to in time? And if the answer to that is no then... what would be the kindest thing to do?

Is she suffering in this state? Would it be any harm to leave her be where she's not harming anyone?

These questions are too big and great for him. Taking life, any life, is not something he can decide. But he does not wish to leave this poor person. So with these three days he mostly sits with her. She on one side of the door and he on the other, hands clasped tightly together though he's not sure if he will be heard by his Aeon. Or if that Aeon would even listen to him anymore considering... everything. Prayers and belief are all he has.]

I desire that Mercy will flow out upon this whole world through my heart. Let no one who approaches go without trust in this mercy which I so ardently desire for souls. Pray for the suffering. By Your entreaties, obtain for them trust in Your Mercy because they have most need of it and they have it the least.

B - Sewers

[Being in here reminds him of a time that feels a lot longer ago than it was. Of death and decay and rot. As the world he lived in blew up around him and they had to run and hide and be so very quiet.

He remembers a time when he and Robin held tightly to their mother's hand and fled from whatever nightmare was tearing their world apart. Through rubble and sewage... It's happening again. But this time Robin is not here.

It's slippery and wet in here and his polished shoes are not doing well. He has the thought of how horrific it would be to fall in when someone does just that. He grimaces at the splash and would make a move to help but others seem to be on it. Instead he looks out among the edge to see if he can't find whatever has been lost, as is being currently claimed. Unfortunately it's difficult to see anything past the sewage. If it's perishable it is ruined and not worth saving regardless.

Sunday keeps his wings pressed tight over his mouth and nose. It doesn't completely block out the smell but it helps. He does another up and down while the group recollects itself to see if he can't spot their lost item.]

C - Sports

[Once at the stadium it's back to praying. They have a limited amount of food and he's used to fasting. Besides there's a lot of teenagers here. Some, perhaps, still growing that could use what little food they have. He hasn't had much an appetite anyway. He's content.

Not as much praying as he did back at the home. Sitting on these stiff metal chairs overlooking this field does have him curious. It's for sports, he knows that much, though he is unfamiliar with most of them. He's never been deeply involved with anything like that. And he and Robin certainly never got to play anything like that once they were taken in. But he understands the concept. The idea of teams. And mascots.

Dodger's Stadium...]

What's a Dodger...?

[A very valid question.]


((Or make your own prompt, of course! Sunday is like an anime space priest. He can do confessionals and all that all of which is borrowing heavily from Catholicism. Do with that as you like!))

a.

[hydrotherapy]

[ At some point, maybe late the first day or early the second day, Sunday will find himself with (more) company in the form of a small girl, a set of "ears" standing tall on her head and a small curled tail bobbing behind her. Clutched in her small hands is a plate, on which rests a granola bar, an apple, and a bottle of water lying on its side. This she holds out to Sunday. ]

It's very nice of you to spend so much time with her, but you have to take care of yourself too, alright?

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He pauses his prayers and slowly opens his eyes to the young lady (presumably) and her offering. It's truly quite kind. His gaze flickers between her and the treats once more before he slowly unclasps his hands.]

Thank you... [He takes the plate from her and bows his head.] I sincerely appreciate the gesture.

[He hesitates for a moment trying to recall the names of everyone but... Truthfully he didn't absorb a whole lot. There's someone in particular he's trying to avoid so he slipped away down here at first opportunity.]

My apologies... I don't think I caught your name.

[hydrotherapy]

[ His lack of recognition doesn't seem to bother her in the slightest. She's just glad he seems to be willing to eat and drink even in the midst of his prayers. ]

That's alright. There are a lot of us here, and humans tend to lose focus whenever their surroundings change drastically.

[ Although...judging from the wings that spread and curve from behind his head, she's guessing that he isn't human, at least not fully. It makes her deeply curious, though she holds her tongue for now. ]

Was that a prayer from your world you were reciting just now?

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He takes the apple first, turning it in his hands as he listens to her. His wings give another twitch one suggests they perk up when she inquires about his prayers.]

Yes. I learned the scripture when I was quite young and have been diligent in my prayers ever since. I was taught to follow the Path of Order, the Aeon Ena. Are you familiar with them?

C

[mrknifeguy]

[ While Sunday is busy contemplating the deep, philosophical meaning of sportsball, Hoshina plunks down in the seat next to him, kicking his feet up to rest on the back of the chair in front of him. ]

I was never big into baseball, so I couldn't tell you.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[His wings give a surprised flap at the sudden presence beside him but settle quickly. Caught off guard is no reason to lose composure. Sunday clears his throat and glances at this new presence.]

Baseball, is it? I can't say I am particularly familiar with the sport or how it's played. Back home the people were more interested in gambling on such events than playing it themselves.

[mrknifeguy]

[ It's so hard to tell because Hoshina is in perpetual ^_^ mode but he does eye those wings for a second. ]

I could give you the basics, but it's not really relevant now. At best, we can hope they left some equipment behind so the rest of us can get armed.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Baseball bats certainly do a fair amount of damage in the right hands.

[The Legend of the Galactic Baseballer continues...]

But I am hopeful that we will not have to resort to violence. I am praying for a smooth journey with few difficulties. [Imagine that.] Wishful thinking, I'm sure most would think but the preferred outcome all the same.

a

[venomnom]

[She's seen him, sitting there, in the handful of occasions she's dropped by to take stock of the doctor on the other side. She'd stop and look, then leave shortly. It's only on the third day that she decides to linger and step closer, where his words are clearer than ever.

Mercy, he says. Altogether, it's an unfortunate sight.]

What do you suppose will happen?

[To her. They have to leave eventually.]

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He pauses in his murmured words allowing his eyes to open a fraction to look upon the dismal sight of the woman turned monster.]

I do not know... I would suggest we leave her here. Ideally a cure to this ailment will be found and administered and she can perhaps be saved. She's not harming anyone here, after all.

[If no cure to this is ever makes its way to her... Well, she'll eventually die. Grizzly as that is. But it seems worse to kill her when there could be a potential salvation.]

[venomnom]

No. She made sure of that.

[The fact that they're all standing here on the other side is proof.

(The same fact is also disproof.)

But will the barricade last forever? Is leaving her body to rot or break free with the mere hope of salvation crueler than kind? And what of the payment? Those are questions she can't answer as of now. All Reiju knows is that the doctor was in a seemingly remorseful mood before she lost herself, and left no instructions on what to do with the remains.]

We'll have to see what the others think.

[sisterlessbehavior]

I would like to hear what the more medical savvy people have to say about it all... And then after that, I suspect, we'll be having a vote on the matter.

[He claps his hands tighter together and watches the woman shambling about.]

And what would your decision be in regards to this situation?

c.

[kototama]

[Rather than sitting in a seat, Kotoha sits on the railing that blocks off the sections vertically; it's a little dangerous, but she doesn't seem to notice or mind.

She kicks her legs, and confidently:]

It's a creature. Red, white and blue, six legs, veeeery fast. That's why it got to be called a Dodger--because of how fast it was at dodging people who tried to catch it.

[.......... none of this is right.]

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He believes her.]

I see... [Sounds horrifying, really.] I cannot claim to be an expert of any sort on the sport but these activities do usually require you to be fast so... I suppose, taking that into consideration, it is a good mascot.

[They probably made it cute like the mascots on Penacony.]

[kototama]

Right, right, you've gotta be really fast to score a home run.

[She nods, glancing him over thoughtfully.]

Not the kind of guy who likes baseball, huh?

b

[unliminal]

[ At some point during the sewer trip hike while Sunday is covering his face with his wings, Gojo decides to make him the target of his antics, all but certain he has this guy figured out form his demeanor alone.

Which means he's going to float up in front of him, upside down in the air but still face-to- face, as Gojo grins and reaches out to try and poke a finger at the diminutive wings. ]

Ohhhh, I was wondering what these were for. Seemed kinda useless. Unless you can separate your head from your body and fly awaaaay!

[ He's the bored kid on a long road trip with nothing to do. ]

b for BULLYING

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He flaps his head wings, desperate to get away from the touch. These are sensitive and should not be touched. He huffs, wrinkling his nose for all sorts of reasons now. Both at the unprompted and unwanted contact and no longer having a barrier between him and the foul stench of the sewers.]

All things have purpose. And my wings are no exception. [He wraps his coat tighter around his person to hide the ones wrapped around his waist so that they are spared prodding and poking.] Our head wings are not made for flight.

I am a Halovian... our Halos are made to dazzle. And our wings paint a divine disposition. They are captivating features that help spread the cause of what we may preach.

If you have any more question about my curious features you may do so without touching me.

this one's for aventurine

[unliminal]

Soooo, you're an angel, huh? You're not about to hand me a holy book, are you? I don't think those agree with me.

[ He may not be like Suguru, literally ingesting curses as a part of exorcism, but Gojo still touches plenty himself. He doesn't try to touch Sunday again at least, though he does continue to hover as they move along the corridor. ]

Your head can't detach from your body and fly away, can it? Right?

[ Yes, this is apparently the most important thing he could have answered right now. ]

thoughts and prayers can't help you now

[mocktails]

[ Of all the things that Gallagher might have considered he would potentially come across in this situation (one for which there may be no script or plan at all), this may be the least likely.

He hears the voice from the top of the stairs, and that's his first indication of Sunday's presence. Gallagher has never been a religious man, certainly not in the way that Sunday is, but he can tell that it's a prayer that he recites now. Seems a funny thing to do when they're so far from anything familiar. Besides, if those Nameless accomplished what they set out to do (and he's certain they did), Sunday should have had the impotence of the Order proven to him by now.

Then again, kinda hard to teach an old dog new tricks. Maybe it's the same for birds.

They're both here for reasons Gallagher couldn't begin to untangle right now, but if he had to guess, he'd call it some kind of cosmic joke. Who knows, maybe they have Aha to blame. Those Fools were hanging around in the Land of Dreams, after all.

He marches down the stairs in an almost lackadaisical manner despite the moaning of the monster behind the door. He might be putting it on a little thick, just to annoy Mr. Wings once he realizes.

He waits until Sunday has finished speaking before he pipes up, a sigh present in his tone. ]

Not sure they can hear you from here. Or at all, anymore.

[ Then again, when has that ever stopped the zealous? ]

[sisterlessbehavior]

[Oh he knew Gallagher was here. He'd seen him when he was coming around after arriving. There's more than one reason he hunkered down in this basement all while repeating endless prayers. All hoping to be heard and that he hasn't been completely abandoned...

But it seems like he has.

He grinds his teeth when he hears that drawling voice, mocking his prayers. His only source of comfort in this situation. Sunday brings his hands up higher, pressing his forehead to the locked together digits as he contemplates how to deal with this.

Ignore him... Simply continuing to recite more prayers. That's the smart thing to do. Don't engage with this. There's so many lessons that have been burned into his flesh. Turn the other cheek and things of that nature. To rise to this bait and any upcoming jeers will only sully him.

His feathers bristle and the wings at his waist tighten protectively around him.]

Speak your foul words and spout your jeers. And when they have left your system leave me be. I have nothing to say to your ilk. [His eyes squeeze shut and his fingers ache from clasping so hard. He has been damned and that Gallagher is here is proof of it.] Prayers, heard or not, are still worth reciting. And I will speak them until I can speak them no more.

[mocktails]

[ For a moment, Gallagher actually thinks Sunday is just going to outright ignore him. It'd be a pretty childish option at this point, but then again, he must be feeling a little bit like a child who hasn't gotten his way right now, after how Gallagher assumes everything turned out back home.

If Sunday had somehow succeeded in imposing Ena's Dream, he definitely wouldn't be acting like this, right?

When Sunday does speak up, it's with nothing but barbed words. Gallagher doesn't take much offense at them, having expected a greeting more or less like this, but he does let out a whistle in response, followed by a low chuckle.

The moaning of that monster punctuates every stretch of silence between them. ]

Guess that's what faith is all about, isn't it? [ To pray even when you don't know if you'll be heard, to believe in something even when there's no solid proof that it exists. Gallagher can't quite relate. Mikhail is someone he met and knew, whose measure he took for himself.

He steps down further into the basement and finds a wall to lean against. He could really go for a smoke right now, but he's gotta hold onto the two he's found. ]

Not sure that thing in there is what needs you right now, though.

[ Maybe it's not worth it to even have this conversation again. They've already proved to each other that their ideals are diametrically opposed. But both of them are here for a reason, he assumes, and they're going to have to figure out how to co-exist. That, or tear each other's throats out right here and now. ]

B

[parttimesoldier]

[This isn’t Suzha’s first rodeo. Zombies might not be the threat back home, but she’s had her share of tucking into old sewer tunnels to use as a safer path than the surface before. The smell never gets any better in these places, but she’s among the quicker of the group to adjust and put it into the back of her mind. Gotta stay sharp, so there’s no point in letting it be a distraction.

She lingers around the front of the group as they progress, wanting to keep an eye out for any potential dangers. That doesn’t change much when they all take a pause after the big guy goes tumbling into the sewage; the others have the task of fishing him and his goods out in hand, so she keeps her eyes peeled instead. Not much to find in the dim stretch before them other than more slippery paths and a few more rats scurrying about, though.

So, figuring a little break from lookout is in order, she falls into step alongside one of her new teammates—the curious looking guy with the wings—and lets her gaze skim over the water to join the search for anything salvageable. But after a moment, when the unfortunate one who fell in is back on (relatively) dry land, she can’t help but turn her attention in that direction.]

Grody. I really don’t envy the guy, that smell’s gonna be clinging to him for a good long while now. [A beat as she looks over toward Sunday.] But hey—maybe it’ll deter the zombies?

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He genuinely detests the smell that's permeating the air. And he doesn't envy the person that fell in.]

Well... [He wrinkles his nose behind the feathers and pulls them back just slightly.] That is something worth considering. I can't say I know anything about zombies or if they have a sense of smell but...

A stench this powerful could deter a sharp animal nose. I've read in stories of people getting away from dogs by simply going into moving water. Perhaps this is the same...

[parttimesoldier]

Look at us, stumbling onto a potential solution already.

[A little cheekiness there to her smile before it starts to fade. That would take some real S-tier luck to be true, but it is a worthwhile thought. There’s gotta be some way to lower their chances of getting noticed by those creatures, the question is how to figure it out. Right?]

Guess we’ve got ourselves a volunteer to test it out. I’ll pass on diving in myself until we see if it actually works. [A laugh.]