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

[empression]

Oh, no. But I did take ballet when I was younger, and chopped firewood for stress relief and I found myself doing more extracurricular activities in high school.

[mediator]

[ blink. blink. then frown. ]

Okumura, nobody chops firewood for stress relief. Even I know that much.

[empression]

... [ A smile. ]

Shizuki-kun, I can assure you that when every aspect of your life is meticulously planned out for you with you not actually allowed to have a say in it, with your only value being considered as a pawn for furthering your father's position in society...

Sometimes, that is all you have.

1/2

[mediator]

...

[mediator]

My apologies. I didn't consider it that way.

[ He's not especially great at social interaction, but even he can tell that's a very strained smile she's giving off. His apology is genuine. ]

Your life sounds like the complete opposite of mine. If I were in your shoes, I might seek out unconventional outlets as well to cope with the circumstances.

[empression]

I'm not offended... I can understand why people might view it as strange.

[ So it's okay!! ]

But thank you, for taking the time to understand.

[mediator]

Of course. I have strange origins as well, so I would never be judgmental.

[ He's glad she wasn't as offended as he assumed. It's hard to get a proper read on people for him since he's had such limited social interaction in his life before moving. ]

But that explains why you were able to swing that bat so well. I think Kotoha actually said she might make you a weapon when I brought it up to her, but she didn't tell me how.

[empression]

Oh goodness, really? That's very sweet of her, though I'm also not certain how she'd do it.

[ She pauses, then-- ]

Um, about these strange origins...?

[mediator]

I don't know either, but she did say she would demonstrate if you told her what you want.

[ He's curious about seeing how she does it too, so he has some stake in this however minor. ]

--Oh, I grew up in the mountains my entire life at a compound with other orphans. I only moved to the city less than a year ago.

[empression]

Oh! The mountains? [ She's never met a mountain man! She also doesn't think she would have guessed that. ]

I imagine that... must be difficult to adjust to, at least in terms of a vastly different environment.

[mediator]

Aha, the environment itself has been fine. Socializing is where I've been struggling the most. I've never been around or talked to so many people.

[ he's a lot better at it now than he was upon arriving, but at school he still struggles at times to relate to anyone else. in an interesting twist of fate, the survivalist scenario they're all in is a lot more familiar and easier to navigate. ]

If we ever get a chance, I'd like to see you in action. Your life sounds interesting for a person who grew up in a city.

[empression]

[ She has yet to go into just how interesting her life has become, but you know. It's fine. It will come up when it comes up. ]

Yes, of course! I... imagine a lot of us will be in action before too long. [ Imagine. ]

But for what it's worth, Shizuki-kun, I don't think you've been particularly awkward with your socialization here.

[mediator]

Thank you. I had some practice thanks to attending school and working my part-time jobs. It's a diverse eco-system. [ :)! he's very happy to be praised. ] But I think I just might be more suited to an environment like this. For better or worse.

[ mostly! worse! ]

[empression]

... Was living in the mountains very dangerous?

[ Should... should she be concerned? ]

[mediator]

Yes. There are wild dogs and bears. The elements were also harsh, winter especially, and we didn't have electricity or any modern appliances.

[empression]

Well, I think I can understand what you mean now... I can't say I've ever been in a situation like that.

[ Haru sadly has no memory of running around inside a dinosaur movie, more's the pity. ]

I see, though... you're better suited to this sort of thing. Then I'll...

[ fistclench. ]

I'll do my utmost to not be a burden!

[mediator]

I'm sure you won't be, Okumura. You've already proven that much to me anyway.

[empression]

Was... was it the baseball bat?

[ Is this her legacy ]

[mediator]

How do I put it... it's not just the fact you were using it, but how well you used it. I just thought you played baseball, but learning you can use an ax puts it in perspective.

You're dangerous. And I don't think you even realize it.

[empression]

Well, against an enemy, I do understand that... though I'd rather not frighten my allies.

[ Unless it's like scared respect, maybe? But that's not conducive to making friends. ]

[mediator]

I'm not frightened myself if that helps. You're a kind person outside of that, so it just comes across as surprising.

[ if she were dangerous and her behavior was erratic like kuonji, he'd be more worried. haru is very easy to talk to though. ]

[empression]

Well, if that's how you feel... I understand. I'm relieved I haven't put you off from speaking with me.