biteys: (Default)
NIMBO ([personal profile] biteys) wrote in [community profile] turnout2024-06-29 09:53 am

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.
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
rifare: (by way of selfless means)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-07-02 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ His ears twitch for a moment at that as his face tightens for just a minute. No comment is made, but something about her statement seemed to dig at Leon too.

His expression stays tight as he glances back down on the notes she hands back to him, his gaze linger for a beat longer than he'd like on the symbol of the queen.
]

That may be what she intended, but I agree with you there. One life isn't worth more than another no matter what kind of power or influence they may have.

Though it is interesting...

[ He takes one last glance at the notes, before moving to tuck them back into his pocket. ]

It doesn't seem to be physical power that she valued highly if that was her intention.

[ He shuffles the notes she gave him to put the medical candidates with the symbol of the king on top. ]

Some of it may be how the pieces are played instead. It is true the king is the most important piece, and the game is over when he's in check, but the king also isn't usually used to attack.

[ It's a more generous reading of the pieces than Dr. Bei probably deserves. ]

Though with the woman herself unable to tell us, there's no way to know for sure.
empression: (You've got a big storm coming)

[personal profile] empression 2024-07-02 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ A sigh, less at him, more at the situation. There's still so many things they don't know and she's not fond of the uncertainty that surrounds... well, everything.

So Haru briskly slaps her cheeks, giving her head a little shake. ]


"Anything else you need to know, I'll tell you in time." That's what the recording said, and she already seemed... well, aware of her fate. I'm wondering if she might have set up some other source of information for us, but that may just be wishful thinking. Either way...

... Thank you for showing me your notes, Leon. I think we'll be able to gain a better understanding of them in time, but at the very least, we know for certain that we were all selected for a reason and... technically, what that reason is. I... truly want all of us to make it through this. Even if that might be naive.

[ She doesn't know how bad the situation is, but it's bound to be Bad. Still... ]
rifare: (truer words)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-07-03 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ The cheek slap seems to surprise him a little, his ears perking up as he gives her a questioning look. Though no comments about it are made as he moves along with the conversation. ]

I've heard someone else suggest something similar. I suppose we'll see as we make our way along.

[ It would be nice to be told more, but he also would have liked all the information up front. He's starting to find himself very tired of people involving him in their schemes without telling him anything until it's nearly too late. ]

It's a nice thought regardless. If we can pull it off, I would like to see that too.

[ Though his wording is careful. What he'd like to see isn't the same thing as what he expects to see. ]
empression: (Five feet apart 'cause they're not gay)

[personal profile] empression 2024-07-03 12:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ it's very cautious wording and she doesn't miss it--though similarly, she doesn't comment about his choice of words. There's no reason to. It's already growing increasingly evident that they've got quite the struggle ahead of them. ]

At the very least, we can support each other to the best of our abilities. We'll just have to see what comes next.
rifare: (the life you lead)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-07-04 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose we will.

[ His sigh is quiet and subdued, but in the still night air it's still easy to hear regardless. After a second he pushes himself back to his feet. ]

I think I have kept you long enough, Haru. Even if it's difficult, I hope you're able to find sleep soon enough.