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WEEK 1
WEEK ONE
!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.
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.
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.
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
➤ 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
thoughts and prayers can't help you now
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? ]
no subject
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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
Gallagher is a poison. As toxic as his creative beverages. And Sunday will not allow himself to fall victim to his words or his actions. If it weren't for him and a handful of others surely... There would be happiness and peace. No more suffering. Never again.
Yet here he is... in a land of nothing but suffering.]
If not her then who is it that needs my presence? [He opens his eyes to look upon the shambling body of what was once a person. The very person that brought them here.] She's all alone and trapped in that room. Unable to do anything but shamble about...
A horrible existence to be sure and without a cure that is how she will have to remain. I can only imagine the suffering that must have occurred. How frightening it must have been.
I can offer her no salvation or hope... But my presence and my prayers will have to be enough for now.
[He tosses the hound a glare, piercing gold through the dimness of the basement.]
Your mockeries have no place down here.
no subject
Sunday thinks the only reason Gallagher is down here is to mock him? Well, he can think that if he wants. Gallagher has never seen much point in adjusting other people's perceptions of him.
Eventually, he heaves out a long sigh, as if expelling smoke that isn't actually in his mouth or throat right now. ]
I thought the answer would be obvious.
[ He glances up toward the floorboards above them. Distantly, voices of their fellow "survivors" can be heard. ]
They've all been brought here with no warning to undertake some dangerous quest. On top of that, they'll actually hear your words. Yet you're spending all your time down here, praying for someone who's already long gone.
[ A monster trapped in some mindless, thoughtless dream. Of course this is where Sunday decided to come. ]
no subject
I am praying for the salvation of all of us. [Well, almost all of them.] That this pilgrimage be free from suffering and strife. And that if we must face trials we can do so safely. I pray that we have the strength to persevere and the courage to face any enemy. And that those who are lost can be saved. That there is salvation for all.
I do not doubt you find such things comical. You are hateful in that way. An enemy of the beautiful dream that could have been. But what I do down here should be no concern of yours. You have already won and gotten your way, have you not? Why make further mockeries in my defeat?
Leave me with this poor woman... I still believe in her eventual salvation even if no one else does.