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

[venomnom]

It's too soon to say. Like you, I would prefer to wait for an educated report before making a decision.

[sisterlessbehavior]

[He nods in understanding. He's glad that there are others who feel that way. He'd be very wary if there were those that were keen on just murdering this poor soul. As of right now and those he's talked to... That is not the case.]

I am hopeful for positive results... But I am glad we are of the same mind. It would be a poor omen indeed if we started this venture by taking the life of an innocent.

[venomnom]

[Reiju looks over her shoulder, stealing a glimpse of the zombie through the crack in the ajar door.]

She seemed to feel differently.

[She'd pay for her sins in Hell, she said. That, more than anything, is what gives Reiju pause.]

[sisterlessbehavior]

If she can be saved then there is a chance for redemption so that her soul does not have to burn... I'd rather that then condemning her to the flames.

[There's only so much his prayers can do, if anything, for this particular individual.]

[venomnom]

How merciful. [There's no mockery in her tone—simply a statement of the fact as she knows it.] I suppose that's to be expected, based on what you were saying earlier.

[sisterlessbehavior]

The world is cruel enough. Full of suffering... [He clasps his hands together tightly.] To suffer further after death is unthinkable.

I don't know this woman. Or her crimes. What she's done to believe her soul will suffer but... It is not my place to condemn her. Nor can I simply stand by and allow her that eternal damnation.

[venomnom]

. . . She brought strangers into her dimension's business. If the recording is to be believed, I imagine she felt some measure of guilt for involving us, knowing the dangers that lurk beyond these walls.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Perhaps I am in the minority in finding that an issue... Travel between worlds is common where I come from. In fact, in my home, most people that come there are from another place entirely.

[His head wings twitch slightly and the ones at his waist tighten a bit. He has to clear his throat a touch as this is quite a bit more talking than he's done freely in quite some time.]

That she brought us here, albeit unwillingly, is not all that offensive to me. That it is a dangerous place does raise some questions. But I would be quite the hypocrite if I condemned her. Granted, where I wished to bring people was a beautiful and wondrous place free of pain and hardship and where every day was a day of rest... The compoete opposite of this place... It was still something I attempted to do.

But if we're the only ones that can help. That our singular actions could make her world even slightly better... I find no fault in that.

[venomnom]

[Her eyes flit to the head wings and then back to his face. Like many of the others, his appearance is somewhat peculiar . . . as is his heart.

A peaceful world—for what? She wonders.]

In other words, you believe this mission of ours involves the betterment of this world.

[sisterlessbehavior]

I would hope so... I can't imagine we've been brought here to make it worse.

[If that's even possible.]

I want to believe that, despite my failures, I've been brought here as a chance at redemption... To save something. Anything.

And it may very well start with this woman who brought us here.

[venomnom]

[She can.

She can also ask, but it isn't her business. If an elaboration is necessary, it will likely come during the inevitable debate unless someone takes matters into their own hands first. So she doesn't.]

It might. [Ultimately, it would be unwise for any one of them to act alone.] If not, there's the mission to consider.

[sisterlessbehavior]

The mission...

[To end suffering. Or at least help stop it. That's what he hopes for anyway.]

I only hope my skill set, meager though it may be, will be of use to our cause.

[He intends to go back to his prayers. He's not overly keen to speak but silence and isolation will not be helpful at all in this situation. So he hesitates before dredging up further things to say.]

You seem... almost unbothered by it all.

[venomnom]

[It must be, or he wouldn't have been summoned. Or perhaps it's that very heart for which he was chosen. Only time will tell.

In contrast, she answers easily:] I'm a mercenary by trade, so I tend to focus on the objective. And it's something that involves all of us.

[sisterlessbehavior]

A mercenary... A most useful career for our current situation. [Far more useful than himself.] Are you familiar with this type of situation?

[venomnom]

I've completed my share of deliveries, but I can't say that I've done them under these circumstances. Until now, I had no idea other worlds even existed.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Ah... I do tend to forget that there are some worlds out there that are not connected on an intergalactic scale yet. My home served as a kind of resort for those from all corners of the galaxy to come and visit, living out their sweet dreams.

[venomnom]

The dreams of visitors must have varied quite a bit. How did you cater to all of them?

[sisterlessbehavior]

Often times their dream was to come to Penacony and experience what exists there. But we made it as comfortable as possible for them. It is a dream so there is much that can be spun on a whim if needed. I am no Dreammaster, I'm afraid, so I could only do so much and made sure things ran as smoothly as possible.

As for their innermost dreams and greatest desires... That was a thing that could have been possible but I'm afraid no longer.

[venomnom]

[One's greatest desire, spun on a whim . . . ]

Regardless, your home sounds like it was a fantastical place.

[sisterlessbehavior]

It is... I hope you get to see it one day and it continues to remain the wonderful place I remember it being.

Above all... I do hope it fulfills your most wishful dreams.

[venomnom]

[Such philanthropy. A shame it's wasted on her. As for him . . . ]

Thank you. But that will have to wait at least another eight weeks. I don't imagine any visits will be possible until then.

[sisterlessbehavior]

Of course... Should you have the chance I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

[He's about to go back to his prayers from before but he pauses and returns his attention to her.]

I must apologize... I didn't catch anyone's names when we first woke up. My name is Sunday.

[venomnom]

[Wonderful, huh . . .

What a peculiar name. Then again, she can hardly talk.]

Nice to meet you. I'm Reiju.

[sisterlessbehavior]

The pleasure is mine... Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I do appreciate it.