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week 2
WEEK TWO
After allowing the party some time to rest at the stadium, it’s time to get a move on again. As per your mysterious benefactor’s (?) recommendation, the party will be splitting up into two groups, with one group traveling west to a hospital, and the other traveling east to a mall.
if you chose hospital...
To get to the hospital, characters will need to venture into more densely populated areas of Los Angeles – and that means they’ll be coming into contact with a higher amount of zombies. The hordes that roam here descend upon any living creature that makes too much noise, so you might witness an unlucky squirrel or cat get hunted down by these roaming threats. The bad news is that they’ll sprint full speed at you if they happen to catch sight – the good news is that they’re not very coordinated at pack hunting, and you may be able to outsmart them by weaving through the streets.
In a stroke of bad luck, Shoko Ieiri attracts the attention of a horde, forcing the party off considerably off course. Temporarily, hopefully. Detour!
Thankfully, there are several methods of getting to the front door of the location – parkouring atop or traversing inside connected buildings, for example. The zombies aren't the only thing that can kill you, though, if you're not careful; while traveling to the hospital, Auch Aubrey slips and falls to his death off a building. Remember Dr. Bei's warning, about not getting too far away from each other? The party will realize if they get too far away from his body (specifically the bracelet), it'll start feeling like their own bracelet is burning them at the wrist. Better go back — and either lug his body around, or lop off the bracelet somehow....
The area this group will travel through has many tourist attractions – antique stores, the Natural History Museum, old-school theaters, for example. For our sword wielders, there are some dated ones among the antique stores and museums; they're dusty, but they'll get the job done. There are other cool artifacts to "borrow" at these places, too, not to mention some history of what the world was like before all this happened.
And at the theaters? There's candy, DVDs, and cardboard cutouts from a variety of movies that were out when the fall of society came. Maybe there are minions there.
Once at the hospital, the party will find that there are a massive amount of zombies that have been trapped inside. Many are former patients or hospital staff, so several are wielding things like scalpels or crutches, and they are just smart enough to attack with them. To get around the facility to find the medical supplies you need, you’ll need to find a way to either distract the zombies, stealthily make your way around, or, you know, eliminate all of them.
As for scavenging, the hospital is surprisingly well stocked, as the high zombie count has made it hard to raid. Characters will be able to find bandages, medicine, surgical tools, and more, if they look close enough.
Of this group, Satoru Gojo and Mark Grayson are infected.
In a stroke of bad luck, Shoko Ieiri attracts the attention of a horde, forcing the party off considerably off course. Temporarily, hopefully. Detour!
Thankfully, there are several methods of getting to the front door of the location – parkouring atop or traversing inside connected buildings, for example. The zombies aren't the only thing that can kill you, though, if you're not careful; while traveling to the hospital, Auch Aubrey slips and falls to his death off a building. Remember Dr. Bei's warning, about not getting too far away from each other? The party will realize if they get too far away from his body (specifically the bracelet), it'll start feeling like their own bracelet is burning them at the wrist. Better go back — and either lug his body around, or lop off the bracelet somehow....
The area this group will travel through has many tourist attractions – antique stores, the Natural History Museum, old-school theaters, for example. For our sword wielders, there are some dated ones among the antique stores and museums; they're dusty, but they'll get the job done. There are other cool artifacts to "borrow" at these places, too, not to mention some history of what the world was like before all this happened.
And at the theaters? There's candy, DVDs, and cardboard cutouts from a variety of movies that were out when the fall of society came. Maybe there are minions there.
Once at the hospital, the party will find that there are a massive amount of zombies that have been trapped inside. Many are former patients or hospital staff, so several are wielding things like scalpels or crutches, and they are just smart enough to attack with them. To get around the facility to find the medical supplies you need, you’ll need to find a way to either distract the zombies, stealthily make your way around, or, you know, eliminate all of them.
As for scavenging, the hospital is surprisingly well stocked, as the high zombie count has made it hard to raid. Characters will be able to find bandages, medicine, surgical tools, and more, if they look close enough.
Of this group, Satoru Gojo and Mark Grayson are infected.
if you chose mall...
To get to the mall, characters will need to travel underground through the subway tunnels. None of the trains are in operation anymore, so they won’t be at risk of getting flattened – but the aged husks of the vehicles are still down here, rotting away. In some tunnels, it will be impossible to go around them, and you know the saying: sometimes the only way forward is through. Inside the trains, some doors that connect the cars are operational, while others are too rusted to move, forcing characters to climb atop the train to progress to the next car. It'll be a taxing trial, made worse by the fact that in these train cars, there are both regular corpses as well as zombified ones. The unpredictable nature of the functioning or non-functioning doors will making escaping the zombies difficult — characters will need to either stand their ground, or climb up to safety if they find themselves at a dead end.
Exiting the subways leaves one last test for this group: the stairs are collapsed! The light of outside shines through what is essentially a giant hole in the ceiling leading to street level. There's about a one story gap between the end point of the subways and the upper ground of the street, so characters will have to get creative with getting everyone up — using train cables? Throwing each other? Human pyramid?
Once at the mall just outside, the party will find that while there doesn’t seem to be a massive horde, there’s another problem: the first floor of the mall, which is below street level, is completely flooded. They’ll have to swim across the distance to the escalators, find a way to get across using debris, or some secret third thing. There are waterlogged zombies floating about in the water as well, who will swim violently towards you once they hear ripples in the water — they’re not subtle about going after you, and will thrash and splash and immediately let you know where they are. They're like people sized piranhas. Scary!
At one point, Sigewinne is pulled underwater by a zombie, and comes close to drowning.
As for scavenging, once they’ve scaled the escalator, they’ll find the second floor of the mall has definitely had its fair share of visitors, but there are still many useful things to find. There are electronic stores that have batteries and walkie talkies, clothing stores (like Hot Topic) that have some extra clothes lying about, and of course, the food court, where you’ll find canned and preserved foods from a variety of different cuisines.
Of this group, Suzuha Amane is infected.
Exiting the subways leaves one last test for this group: the stairs are collapsed! The light of outside shines through what is essentially a giant hole in the ceiling leading to street level. There's about a one story gap between the end point of the subways and the upper ground of the street, so characters will have to get creative with getting everyone up — using train cables? Throwing each other? Human pyramid?
Once at the mall just outside, the party will find that while there doesn’t seem to be a massive horde, there’s another problem: the first floor of the mall, which is below street level, is completely flooded. They’ll have to swim across the distance to the escalators, find a way to get across using debris, or some secret third thing. There are waterlogged zombies floating about in the water as well, who will swim violently towards you once they hear ripples in the water — they’re not subtle about going after you, and will thrash and splash and immediately let you know where they are. They're like people sized piranhas. Scary!
At one point, Sigewinne is pulled underwater by a zombie, and comes close to drowning.
As for scavenging, once they’ve scaled the escalator, they’ll find the second floor of the mall has definitely had its fair share of visitors, but there are still many useful things to find. There are electronic stores that have batteries and walkie talkies, clothing stores (like Hot Topic) that have some extra clothes lying about, and of course, the food court, where you’ll find canned and preserved foods from a variety of different cuisines.
Of this group, Suzuha Amane is infected.
rendezvous
After several days apart, characters will be able to meet back up at a spacious park in the northern part of the city. There are park ranger staff cabins that can be converted into temporary shelters with effort — and the area has a lightly wooded trail, which will make camping outside slightly more safe than if you were plain out in the open.
It’d be a good time to treat the wounded with the new medical supplies, and chow down on the food that’s been collected. Is there someone among the group who’s medical advice can be trusted? Is there someone who might be good at rationing or cooking the food? Everyone’s role in the party should start to become clearer.
There are probably a lot of things to discuss: what will you do with the infected? What's the deal with the bracelets? Reality of how dangerous this mission is will be setting in far too quickly.
Most annoyingly… after all that, some characters will find that moving north has caused their bracelets to inexplicably magnetize together at times, perhaps in response to everything that's happened. Due to this, you might need to help feed each other, or sleep next to a stranger. Hopefully you don't get stuck to someone you totally hate.
It’d be a good time to treat the wounded with the new medical supplies, and chow down on the food that’s been collected. Is there someone among the group who’s medical advice can be trusted? Is there someone who might be good at rationing or cooking the food? Everyone’s role in the party should start to become clearer.
There are probably a lot of things to discuss: what will you do with the infected? What's the deal with the bracelets? Reality of how dangerous this mission is will be setting in far too quickly.
Most annoyingly… after all that, some characters will find that moving north has caused their bracelets to inexplicably magnetize together at times, perhaps in response to everything that's happened. Due to this, you might need to help feed each other, or sleep next to a stranger. Hopefully you don't get stuck to someone you totally hate.
!week two objectives
➤ scavenge for your assigned items!
➤ protect and fight for each other
➤ treat each others wounds
➤ eat tasty canned food
➤ protect and fight for each other
➤ treat each others wounds
➤ eat tasty canned food
no subject
....Then again, they might have different stars in their skies to begin with. ]
Are you asking about the stars I'm used to back home? [ Close enough, probably. ] Hmm...I don't really recognize any of the stars up there right now. But maybe I'm just not looking at them the right way.
[ She twists her head this way and that. Nope, no dice. ]
But you seem to know some of them. Maybe you can teach me when you get your voice back.
no subject
So she shoots a quick thumbs up in acknowledgment and agreement, before she drops her hands behind her head, staring up at the sky again.
It's... comforting to have Sigewinne here. It'd be nicer if she could say the things on her mind--gratitude, for how calmly she handled the situation. Gratitude, too, for how her instructions allowed Kotoha to make that anesthetic. Concern, for how much Sigewinne has been through without rest--but for now, it's probably okay to just be grateful for the company, right?
Maybe this little break will be a help to Sigewinne, too.]
no subject
Not everyone can be saved. Not everyone can stay safe. Those are lessons she'd learned long ago. It hasn't gotten much easier over time but at least she can take care of herself better now.
She lets the silence stretch between them for a little longer before asking a question of her own. ]
Once we make it to where we're supposed to go and finish what we're supposed to do, what's the first thing you want to do?
[ Time for charades round two. ]
no subject
Then she rolls half over to face Sigewinne, and starts to draw in the dirt.
Kotoha absolutely has no artistic talent, so they're stick figures: a girl with cat ears, a girl wearing a long scarf, and the most boringly nondescript stick figure boy possible.
She taps them with a big grin. Her besties, her pals! It doesn't really matter what comes next so long as she's with them.]
no subject
Sigewinne follows suit, staring at the dirt being pushed out of the way with deep concentration. Even if Kotoha is expressive as always, it's hard to discern meaning off only facial expressions and gestures. There are figures on the ground....Kotoha is smiling brightly....Neither of the people appear to be Kotoha herself so! ]
Are these your friends?
no subject
So she just shrugs. She'll have to tell Sigewinne more later--for now, she points at her, head cocked in a clear question.
What about her? What's she going to do?]
no subject
But past Sigewinne does not know of future Dicebot's crimes and continues to believe in the future where they all make it safely to their destination and Kotoha's able to be reunited with her friends once more. She points to herself, as if to double-check. ]
Me? [ Hmm...that's a good question. ] I guess I'd like to see all of my friends too. It's been awhile since we've all gotten together. I bet they'll have a ton of new stories to tell.
no subject
Kotoha just beams, nodding eagerly, and then scoots closer, like an eager child expecting storytime.
Tell her about them! What friends!]
no subject
Well, there's Monsieur Neuvillette. He's the one that takes care of all of us Melusines and makes sure we're treated fairly. And then there's the Duke. [ This time a figure with hair that seems to stick up like two cat ears. ] I watched him grow up from a young man to an even bigger young man. He has his bad habits, but he's always looking out for the safety of everyone in the Fortress in his own way.
[ And then a series of figures, one after another. ]
And then there's Sedene and Ottnit and Menthe, who I invite over for tea all the time.
no subject
Sooo cuuuuuute. She can so easily imagine Sigewinne at her lovely tea parties...
Kotoha points to the group of melusines, and then mimes sipping tea, before she points to herself. Is she invited?]
no subject
Kotoha's mimed sipping is met with an enthusiastic nod and a bright smile. ]
Of course. Once we find another place to stop at, let's have a big tea party with everyone.
[ Haha...ha............... ]
no subject
Kotoha brightens at that, though, nodding eagerly. She's never had a proper tea party before, but she seems quite enthusiastic about it.
So she grins, and manages a very, very raspy:]
'S a pr'mise.
[And then holds out her pinky. Pinky swear!]
no subject
But pinky promise it is, with Sigewinne sticking out her pinky to give Kotoha a good shake. Perfect! No takebacks now. And then they spent a little while longer appreciating the stars while they could. ]