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

[rifare]

[ There are strange beings in his world, though not exactly zombies. He wasn't part of Rhodes Island when they were forced to deal with the Possessed though, so while he may have heard a story or two there, this is all new for him too.

His expression is grim as he nods his head slowly. ]

It would have been helpful if the doctor had left a longer message for us before bringing us here.

[ Though given the state she was in when the left her in the house, it's hard to say if she really had the opportunity for that. ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ Committing a sin, going to Hell.....it's a sentiment not unlike what her old teacher had done all those years ago. Even the act itself had been similar, though there'd been nothing left of her by the time Sigewinne arrived. Though maybe that had been a mercy, in its own way.

The reminder of the woman in the basement, groaning and rattling against the door, has Sigewinne closing her eyes in sadness. ]

It sounds like she did the best she could under the circumstances. She probably didn't want to have to bring us here at all if she could help it.

[ But...here they are now. ]

I did search the house but I didn't find any other clues she left behind. But maybe someone else did. [ Maybe she should ask around? ]

[rifare]

[ That has Leon going quiet for a minute as he looks down at the small woman in front of him, fingers drumming against his knee as he considers her comment. ]

Nothing that will tell us much more about our circumstances.

[ It's stupid and overly sentimental, but if she hadn't made that remark that reminded him so much of Lavinia, he probably wouldn't do this at all. Reaching into his pocket, Leon fishes out the notes he found, and holds them out to her. ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ owo? What's this?

She opens her eyes to notes being held out to her and carefully takes hold of them between her small hands, flipping through. There might not be any names attached, but it's obvious after reading through what's been handed over that: ]

Are these supposed to be her notes on us? It sounds like she's been observing us for awhile... I wonder who each person is supposed to be....

[ Hmm hmm hmmmmmm..... ]

Have you shown these to everyone else yet?

[rifare]

Yes, it does.

[ Something that really doesn't endear him much to Dr. Bei, though he supposes the fate she's suffering now is cruel punishment enough for all of it. ]

I can take a guess only for myself, but some parts of the note concern me. "It is unknown how the virus will react to their biology" for example, or the fact that she has chosen to represent us with chess pieces. It could mean nothing, but...

[ He looks at the pawn on the note for the resiliency candidates. He knows for sure that this is not the group he would be included in, but it doesn't keep the bad taste out of his mouth. ]

You are the first I have shown these too, but it seems someone else has found notes on the other half of us as well.

[hydrotherapy]

[ the way I didn't even notice the chess pieces because I'm blind. ]

I suppose that could mean she considers some of us more important than others…

[ She's not much of a chess player herself, preferring to observe than directly participate, but she's picked up the basic rules over the years. The goal is to protect the king at the cost of all other pieces, though losing the queen is little better.

Maybe it doesn't mean anything like he says, but it doesn't stop an unhappy frown from settling on her face either. ]

We shouldn't worry too much about these notes though. It's important to learn all the information you can [ that's what the Duke would say, after all ] but what's more important is that we figure out for ourselves what we want to do.

[ She looks over at Vigil. ]

What do you think we should do?

[rifare]

[ Congrats, King. They're gonna have to do their best to protect you. Though given her knowledge of medicine, Dr. Bei might have been onto something prioritizing Sigewinnie's safety over others.

The question has him sitting back, and glancing up at the night sky overhead for several prolonged seconds. This is not an easy question to answer for someone who has more knowledge than he does, but with how little he understands about their situation... ]

For now, I hope most of us will stick together. Regardless of what we decide to do, we are better off in a group than trying to make our way alone. As for past that...? I don't know...

[hydrotherapy]

[ His words may be uncertain, but she can see the wisdom in them. She may not be much of an avid reader of horror novels but she's gleaned enough over the centuries to know that branching off in dangerous situations is oftentimes more risky than staying together.

Slowly, she nods, expression somber. ]

I hope everyone's willing to stay together. And hopefully nothing comes up where we're forced to split into smaller groups.

[ lol ]

[rifare]

[ She and him both, though Leon is really lacking those centuries of experience. All he can do is follow his gut and make his best guess in this situation, and common sense indicates splitting up really cuts into your firepower. ]

We'll have to see what the others decide, though even if one or two peel off, if the majority stay together it may not be so bad.

[ It's amazing how an innocent little conversation will lead to such a painful karmatic smack later.

Mostly for poor Sigewinne. ]

[hydrotherapy]

[ She is now worried for the one or two that might decide to wander off on their own. After some discussion, it sounds like there's a few among their group that can more or less hold their own against a horde of angry monsters, but that won't stop her from worrying.

Sighing, she drops her chin into the palms of her hands. ]

If only we had some way to communicate with each other even if we did get split up. Then we would at least know how everyone's doing.

[ Can't believe Dr. Bei gave them these useless (?) bracelets instead of a smartphone. :/ ]

[rifare]

[ Texting each other: 🚫🧟👍 when they're in the clear.

He doesn't disagree with the frustrating lack of proper communication tools though. ]

I imagine things like that are no longer readily available given the... state of things.