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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
no subject
[She has now moved on to trying to loot the shelves in the back, though there is basically nothing.]
Just look at the tools we’ve got. I’m a Kotodama user and you’ve got your telekinesis. We’re already off to a good start.
no subject
[Everyone here does appear some manner of capable. Though Henry feels… a little out of place.]
So, what did you do as a Kotodama user, anyway?
[He’ll go over and help look at the lower shelves, where there’s not much but cobwebs down here.]
no subject
[Casually, it's nbd. She yanks out a plastic container that was used for organizing something, and tips it over. Only dust floats out.]
But most of the time, I'm just a regular school girl, you know? We're too young to have something specific that we just Do.
no subject
[Maybe it's a redundant question. They must not be if she's helping out a big public official like that — or even if they are, they must not be frowned upon. Accepted, seen as useful, but not so coveted that she needs to be hidden away somewhere.
He, too, turns over a box. Another small box falls out, and he opens it up: more peanuts. Go figure.]
And do you feel that way, too? "Regular"?
no subject
So she's quiet for a moment as she looks him over, and then she hops up on the counter where the register used to be, leaning back on her hands.]
No, they're pretty weird. My world's filled to the brim with regular old humans doing their regular old thing.
But the town I come from is pretty special. It's become a gathering place for both humans and youkai--that's non-human creatures with powers, for the American in the room.
[She hums, kicking her legs idly.]
A lot of those youkai were persecuted for being different, or treated badly, or shunned as outcasts, but in that town, they can go to school and make friends and have a job and everything like that. That's what the mayor and her group do. We try to protect that treasured sense of being "regular", or "normal".
no subject
He's happy that she comes from a town like that.
It also kind of stings to hear it.]
I see. [He keeps his chin up, all the same, and forces a faint smile.] It's hard to feel "normal" when you're so different from the rest of the world around you. I'm glad you have a place like that — your job's really, really important, then. That Dr. Bei should have let you stay home instead of bringing you here.
no subject
[She totally agrees. It's bullshit that she's here, when she could be home with Hime and Akina and her sweet Ao... but it's fine.
She heaves a heavily put-upon sigh, and then shrugs it all off.]
But I'm here now, so it is what it is. Just gotta get back home ASAP.
... For the record, the town's always accepting new residents. [...] No pressure, but. Just wanted you to know that.
no subject
That's nice of you to offer.
[More than just "nice." It's such a huge thing, and he almost doesn't know what to do with it. Hates the part of himself that still thinks, But Dr. Brenner would be so angry with me if I left. Chooses to ignore it, instead.]
I've always wondered what it would be like, where "weird" was the new "normal." But...
[He shakes his head.]
I don't think I can.
no subject
[She looks curious--of course she does--but she doesn't press on it.]
Well, the offer's not going anywhere, even if you decide on it later. I can confirm it's a really nice place!
[After all... they took in someone like her.]
... Anyway! [No need to push the poor boy too hard. He already looks like she put him on the spot a liiiiittle too much.]
Just peanuts, huh? Maybe we should look somewhere else.
no subject
Give him a few years and he'll feel a bit more strongly about this option.
But namely, what truly holds him back is a certain level of unfinished business that he wants to tend to. Going back in time, to a certain point, that's... He can't ignore that.]
I'm sure it is. I don't want to sound ungrateful. I just... I have to think about it.
[Maybe they can talk more about it later, but Henry seems to have reached his comfort threshold with the topic. The switch to peanuts is very welcome.]
So then, how about the gift shop? Maybe there was a snack area there, too.
no subject
So she lets the topic go, instead humming and hopping off of the counter.]
Sounds like a plan! Even if there isn't any food, we can pick up some changes of clothes and maybe some baseball bats!
no subject
Some new clothes would be nice. And baseball bats... for the rest of the group. I imagine with a power like yours, you don't really need one.
no subject
... Or an RPG.
no subject
no subject