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]

[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?

[hydrotherapy]

[ In reply, she simply shakes her head. For all the places her teacher - and by extension, Sigewinne - had traveled to, they'd all still been in Fontaine. The Path of Order, the Aeon Ena...none of those names mean anything to her. ]

I'm sorry, I don't... But they must be very important to you, if you've been so devoted to them for so long.

[sisterlessbehavior]

They are the stage upon which I had hoped the dreams of thousands would come true. But a faulty string in what should have been utter Harmony saw the undoing of the sweetest dream.

[As Ena was devoured by Xipe... so too was he by the inevitable awakening from slumber.]

That said... Should you ever wish to hear of the paths of the Universe and of Order and Harmony I would be glad to recite the scripture to you. I fear that my only use is prayers and the history of Aeons long since departed from the universe.

[hydrotherapy]

That's not true!

[ She props her hands on her hips, a hint of chiding entering her voice. Why is this gentle and kind young man demeaning himself like that? She won't have it. ]

I'm sure there are many other things you can do. You might just not have realized it yet. And in any case, both those things are very useful. If we didn't have people preserving the history of centuries long gone, we wouldn't have any idea of what happened before.

[ That said: ]

I wouldn't mind hearing about this scripture of yours though whenever you have time.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[This is a very nice young lady. And he bows his head in appreciation of her words even if himself don't believe them. He has very little reason to believe in anything as of late.]

You are correct... Those who relay history are quite valuable lest we forget it. And to have it documented means that is less likely it be twisted for the benefit of others. [At last he takes a small bite of the apple she brought. It's very sweet and he is, admittedly, very hungry.] What Path do your people follow on your home world?

[hydrotherapy]

[ Now that he's eating, she relaxes visibly, more willing to pull her attention from him to the question he's posed to her. ]

Path…..? I'm not sure we really follow any sort of path.

[ Humans tend to follow whatever fleeting desires are born in their hearts but the Melusines…Hmm. The more she thinks about it, the more one answer comes out on top above all others. ]

I guess if we follow any path, it's the path that Monsieur Neuvillette set out for us. Most of us wouldn't be where we are now if it weren't for him. Oh, but [ just in case this man gets the wrong idea ] he doesn't force us to do one thing or another. It's more like he makes sure we have the freedom to do what we want to do.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He munches as quietly as one can munch on an apple as she tells him about this man and the path that she follows under his guidance. Some worlds that aren't part of the current Galactic network don't follow the common Aeons. And some do but the Aeons are just called something else.

Perhaps this Monsieur Neuvillette is an Aeon just under the guise of something else. He won't toss that thought in the air but it's something he can't help but ponder.]

He sounds like something special. A wonderful guiding hand. Will you tell me more about him?

[hydrotherapy]

[ A chance to talk about one of her most favorite people in the world? She couldn't possibly say no to that. ]

Of course.

[ She adjusts herself into a slightly more comfortable position. ]

Monsieur Neuvillette has been around for a long long time, so there's a lot that he knows and understands that we Melusines don't. He's the one that helped us integrate into human society and also helped find us find jobs so that we would have something to do. He's incredibly fair and he doesn't show anyone more favor than another just because of personal connections. You can definitely trust him to make the right decision no matter what. And while he can seem reserved on the outside, he's actually very kind and considerate on the inside.

[ Folding her hands in her lap, she peers up at Sunday, smiling. ]

Just like you are.

[ After all, anyone willing to sit with a stranger for hours each day must surely be a good and kind person, right? ]

[sisterlessbehavior]

[This person she speaks of sounds truly wonderful. Like a caring parent that looks after their children. She speaks so fondly and it does fill his chest with a sense of warmth. He would never begrudge Gopher Wood about how they were raised. He wishes some things were different but...

It was a better life than they could have ever hoped for. Robin is famous. He was head of the Oak family.

And yet...]

He sounds like quite the individual... And clearly you are who you are thanks to his guidance. It is, ah... Monsieur Neuvillette, yes? [He stumbles terribly over the difficult name and title.] I shall keep him in my thoughts when I do my prayers and that you may return to him safe and sound.

[Her words towards him are deeply kind. He doesn't disagree... He wants to believe he is considerate. He wants to do good things for humanity who are incapable of doing it themselves. He wants to end suffering and pain...]

You clearly take after him, Miss, for you are nothing but kind and considerate yourself. And you have my thanks for looking after me and keeping me company down here.

[hydrotherapy]

[ His words, his compliments, warm her heart, and her tail gives a little swish of happiness behind her. ]

Of course. It's my job to make sure everyone stays in good health while we're here, as best I can.

[ She may look and sound young, but she takes her (self=assigned) duties very seriously. A doctor's job is never over, even while everyone is hale and hearty. ]

And yes, that's right. Monsieur Neuvillette. I'm sure he would appreciate your thoughts very much. [ Though.... ] You must have some very important people around too you, to help make you into the wonderful person you are now.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[That someone as small as she is some sort of medical professional doesn't come a great surprise. After all, Penacony is full of Pepeshi. She called herself something else and looks different from them with the little ears and tail but the idea is the same, he's sure. Size and stature are nothing in regards to capability.]

You say a lot of nice things though I do not think myself very wonderful at present. I do owe much of who I am today to my adoptive father, Gopher Wood. He taught me all I know and all the scriptures. Countless hours of studying under his tutelage and believing in a remarkable but in the end impossible dream.

And there is my sister, of course. Robin is one of the kindest and most generous people you will ever meet. She'd be better at this whole situation but I am glad it is me and not her that is faced with such dangers.

[hydrotherapy]

[ Everyone has their reasons for feeling down, or not good enough. She's certainly felt that way plenty in the past. They're not nearly close enough for her to pry into whatever's bothering him, at least not yet, but that doesn't stop her from hoping that he'll see himself in a better light soon.

For now, she's content to hear about the important people in his life, warmth growing in her chest as he describes them one by one. ]

Oh, a sister! She sounds like such a wonderful person from the way you describe her. [ And it's clear he loves her very much. ] Though I suspect she'd probably feel the same way about you if she were here in your place. Mr. Gopher Wood sounds very impressive too.

[ But....her smile fades. ]

Why do you say your dream was impossible?

vauge-ish honkai 2.2 spoilers

[sisterlessbehavior]

[His wings give what one could describe is a happy flap.]

Robin is truly the pride of The Family. I really do think you two would be the best of friends. As for Mister Gopher Wood... We owe him a great deal as well.

[He takes a few more bites of his humble meal. Setting down the apple core and moving on to the granola bar which isn't nearly as good but the nutrients are important.]

Well... [His wings still at her question, a notable hesitation as he debates how to explain himself.] I wanted to create a world where no one would suffer. Where the weak would no longer be stepped on by the strong. And there would be peace and rest for all...

But I lacked the strength to fight for my ideals... For the ideals ingrained on me since I was taken under Mister Gopher Wood's wing. But in some ways, perhaps, I think I was doomed to fail. The entire situation reminds me of a story from my youth... When Robin and I found a Charmony Dove that had been removed from its nest. She and I talked about how to take care of it and decided, in the end, to build a cage where we could look after it. Feed it and water it. Prune its feathers. And when the time came we would release it.

And when that time came and I opened the cage to let it go... So eagerly it became airborn, taking to the sky. But only for a few glorious moments before it fell and crashed to earth, dying in a miserable heap of feathers...

When I tried to take to the sky... To soar to a height that would be the salvation of so many I, too, crashed to the ground. [Though perhaps it is more accurate to say he was thrown back to earth.] It was foolish in many ways to think that I was someone who could attain such heights. The stage was always Robin's... never mine. Some birds are meant to fly. Heavenbound and brilliant. And some are meant to remain upon the earth, looking up at that endless night sky of glimmering stars always pondering what it might be like to touch them.

[hydrotherapy]

[ Same as before, Sigewinne sits quietly and attentively as Sunday speaks, doing her best to follow along to the story that he tells. She's heard many a story back at the Fortress, and listened to plenty of people bemoan their shattered dreams, but she's never heard one quite like this. The longer he talks, the more solemn her expression grows.

It wouldn't be fair for her to make an assessment of him when she knows next to nothing about him (a name, an area of interest, a snippet regarding his family) but the way he talks about himself - specifically, the way he talks down about himself - makes her heart hurt. ]

I don't think that's true. [ Quietly. ] Maybe this dream of yours didn't come true, but I don't think that means you were never meant to fly.

[ His hands are busy with his makeshift meal so she settles on placing a small hand on his leg. ]

Maybe you're not a star because you're something else. Like a comet that sails past all of the other stars in the sky. [ But she's no astrologist, able to summon forth evocative images of all the beauty the night sky contains. ] Your dream didn't work out this time but that doesn't mean you should give up forever. And I don't think your sister would want you to see yourself that way either.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[This is all very sweet and her words do their best to resonate with him. Recent events are unfortunately, as the word implies, recent. The chains weigh heavy even if they no longer curl around his limbs.]

A comet... It is a lovely thought. Traveling through the night sky instead of sitting stagnant.

[But comet suits his sister better than him.]

Perhaps when this ordeal is done I will see where I sit in the sky after. [He finishes up his snack and brushes off his hands.] I really will keep those words in mind. And thank you... for this food and for listening and speaking with me. It is much appreciated.