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

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?

[sisterlessbehavior]

I am not familiar with most sports that people find enjoyment in, I'm afraid. [He folds his hands in his laps, correcting his posture to speak with her.] The world I am from I find that people enjoy gambling on said sports rather than playing them.

[He offers a small smile.]

Besides... such sports that require a lot of contact and aggression seem bad for the feathers.

[The faintest chuckle escapes from him at the smallest attempt at saying something amusing. It's true though! Rough on the feathers and to say nothing for his halo.]

[kototama]

Well, someone's gotta play 'em, right? [For there to be something to gamble on. But she shrugs at that, easy and comfortable.]

Fair point on the feathers though. Those must require a fair bit of maintenance.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[His wings flutter, just a little, just a touch of preening. It's expected of a Halovian.]

These aren't too much trouble. [The ones tucked tightly at his sides? A much bigger hassle but he doesn't intend, under any circumstance, on revealing or spreading those.] And such maintenance becomes common place after doing it your whole life. No different than brushing one's hair.

[But back to the topic of sports...]

Is baseball common place on your home world?

[kototama]

“My world”…

[It still feels weird hearing people say that and not mean “the other side”.

Either way, she leaves it alone, nodding idly.]

It’s popular in some countries. Like most sports, it kind of varies.

[She’s pretty blunt, so she doesn’t hesitate to focus instead on:]

Anyway, hi, nice to meetcha. I’m Kotoha. You were in the house too, right?

[sisterlessbehavior]

[Sudden introductions... He'd much rather that then talk about sports to be honest so this suits him just fine. He didn't really linger long to get everyone's names before heading right into the basement to pray for that doctor.]

I'm Sunday. It's a pleasure though I wish it were under better circumstances.

[kototama]

Sunday? Like the day of rest in English?

[Huh! That's quite the name.]

Well, it's nice to meet you too. Maybe the genre kind of sucks, but I'm sure we can make the most of it and get out of here.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[His wings flutter a touch. Now, he doesn't know about English as there are thousands upon thousands of different languages across the galaxy. It's all circumvented with a Synesthesia Beacon. He still speaks his own language and it just translates to common to everyone he comes in contact with.

Regardless of what English is it seems to fall in line with what he knows the day of rest to be.]

Yes. My name is exactly like the day of rest. My younger sister and I were named before we became truly indoctrinated into our Path but I like to believe my mother was a follower as well.

[kototama]

[Oooh, a religious sort of guy. Well, no judgies here. When you've met a couple of gods, it puts religion in a new light.]

I see... Well, it's nice to have such a meaningful name, right?

[sisterlessbehavior]

I do feel quite blessed to have it considering my path in life. [He gestures to her, offering a small smile.] Does your name hold any symbolic meaning?

[kototama]

Your path in life? Are you a religious figure or something?

[Priest? Bishop? S……….SHRINE MAIDEN?]

Ah—nah, nothing like that, though. It’s just a name in my case. Kind of ironic, but no big deal overall.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Something like that... Or, I suppose was. I had a recent fall from Grace.

[His wings droop a touch but he attempts to move on from that topic somewhat quickly.]

I have never heard of a name being ironic before... but that is rather unique as well, is it not?

[kototama]

[A fall from Grace? She tenses a little at that, but he moves on quickly, so she doesn't pursue it, letting it pass her by.]

Yeah, I guess. It's mostly a normal name, but since words and meanings are kind of my thing, it's pretty funny it panned out that way.

[sisterlessbehavior]

I see. [He doesn't really know any ironic names off the top of his head but--] My sister's name is Robin and she's a galacticly famous singer. It's funny how those sorts of things work out on occasion.

[kototama]

… Woooow, your mom must’ve been really on top of the sorts of people you were going to become, to nail it like that twice!

[She seems legitimately impressed.]

Does she have some sort of precognition or something? Also galactically famous singer sounds rad. [WISH THAT WERE HER.]

[sisterlessbehavior]

My mother...? [He stiffens at this subject but maintains a neutral expression.] I could not say.

But Robin is very famous and very talented. Truly the pride and joy of the Family. I am endlessly proud of her and her accomplishments. [He has a moment of patting at his suit. He has a diary on him usually and in it is one of her collector cards. Special edition too but... Such things don't seem to be with him anymore.] Well... If I had a picture of her I'd show you.

Admittedly, I'm always a little surprised when people don't know who she is.

[kototama]

[Oookay, so that's a sensitive topic. Noted. Moving on...]

... Huh. Kinda low level siscon vibes, but it's cute that you're so proud of her.

Guess intergalactic idols haven't made it to my corner of the multiverse yet.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Siscon...?

[He can't ever learn what that means.]

I... Well, of course. I'm very proud of her. I always knew she'd be a star and sing upon the grandest stage of all. And perhaps in time she will make it over. Ideally all worlds will eventually be connected on a galactic scale and she is quick to perform at those sorts of places.

[kototama]

[he must never learn what it means.]

Huh. Well, if I ever see her around, I'll be sure to show up at one of her concerts!

I can't resist a good idol concert, after all.

[sisterlessbehavior]

I hope one day you get the chance to see her perform. Anything I say is very bias, I know. But I truly think it's one of the best shows you'll ever see.

[He brushes his bangs back and offers her a smile. A small but genuine one.]

I often fear I may be talking too much about myself. Casual social gatherings are not things I often participated in. But I would like to learn more about yourself.

[kototama]

Eh, you were really talking about your sister more than you, but it's fine either way.

[She flaps a hand at that, smiling at him.]

I don't mind talking either, though. What do you wanna know?

[sisterlessbehavior]

She is, by far, the more interesting person of the two of us...

[That's just how it is. And she will continue to be without question.]

Well... I suppose I'd like to hear about this world of yours and what you do in it. I have noted that there are quite a few younger individuals so I am curious what it is that you do and how you spend your time.

[He had an unorthodox childhood, to say the least, so he is curious what teenagers and young people do.]

[kototama]

Oh, it's nothing special.

[She leans back a little in her seat, back on her arms.]

I'm just a regular ol' high school student most of the time. I like to go to school and go shopping and hang out with my friends.

Pretty average, right?