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
insinnerate: (9)

[personal profile] insinnerate 2024-07-02 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[It may be rude, but there's not much indication that Ninety-Nine takes offense to it. There are parts of her that were made to be tools of destruction.]

No. [It's almost imperceptible down here, but a pained line creases her forehead as if she's doubting her own words. Can she really say that with such certainty? Her breathing becomes a bit heavier as she continues to speak.] But whatever was "before," I don't remember that much. It was dark, and I was alone. In that place. Parma - the lab.
empression: (Apologists sure are sad)

[personal profile] empression 2024-07-02 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
A lab...?

[ Okay. So. definitely sounds like some kind of experimentation, and it sounds as though her tone is getting a little strained. Haru bites her lip. ]

... I apologize; it sounds as though it wasn't an ideal place to be. At the very least, I know I was never fond of being alone.
insinnerate: (8)

[personal profile] insinnerate 2024-07-03 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Still somewhat strained, she just grunts in the affirmative. It wasn't an ideal place to be, and now it's just a dark pit that dominates her memories.] I'll never allow anyone to restrain me in a place like that again. I won't let it happen to me or Hella. She taught me about people...She's the reason I'm not alone.

[Ninety-Nine is blunt, but she's trying to be...careful, when she talks about Hella. Hella isn't like her; she can blend in more easily with the group and make friends. Saying the wrong thing could make it harder for Hella.

Maybe if she gets this other girl talking instead, it'll be easier.
] You've been alone in the past too?
empression: (A birthday gift on my birthday to my--)

[personal profile] empression 2024-07-03 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Nothing like your situation and I certainly wasn't restrained...

[ So she and Hella know each other, then? It's good to know at least some of them come from the same place. ]

But my father was very strict with my upbringing. I never had any friends and he would often leave me at home when he would go to his more social events.
insinnerate: (8)

parental abuse mention

[personal profile] insinnerate 2024-07-05 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Ninety-Nine has never had a family, so she can't fully understand what they're supposed to be to people. When she hears people talk about members of their families, she can only think in the abstract. Aren't they people who are meant to love and look after you?

Even she knows that isn't always true. Enough of the people at the MBCC have had lives where that's anything but the case... she hears their stories even if they don't talk to her.
]

So he tried to control you. [That's a kind of restraint, she thinks, but maybe this girl doesn't see it that way.] Did he hurt you, too?
empression: (More like Hurricane Tortilla)

abuse talk

[personal profile] empression 2024-07-05 01:30 pm (UTC)(link)
No, but...

[ It's perhaps nice that it's dark, that she can grip tighter to her bat. ]

He had a fiancee arranged for me when I was older... and that man was not in the least bit reluctant to put his hands on me for speaking out of turn. I... am ashamed to say I endured him for longer than I should have.
insinnerate: (2)

[personal profile] insinnerate 2024-07-06 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
What scum, [Ninety-Nine snarls out. She didn't expect this girl, who seems polite and fancy and even a little weak, to say something that felt so familiar. Cowardly people will try to hold onto ownership of others anywhere you go, she guess. That Haru refers to him the past tense makes Ninty-Nine hope that he or her father or both are dead so they won't cause any further problems.]

Enduring takes strength too. You have to be tough to last until you're free.