![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
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
... Still, Ninety-Nine notices the methodical pause in her movements; with their bracelets linked, Reiju's short tension and relaxation carry across the connection. She has a readiness about her that reminds Ninety-Nine of a fellow predator - but her actions are all methodical and controlled.]
Trying not to startle me?
no subject
Is that what you think? You don't seem like someone who'd startle easily.
[Especially if it doesn't concern Hella, if Reiju were to guess. Those two have an interesting bond.]
no subject
I'm not. [She doesn't get scared - not the normal way, anyway; fear has been strung up inside of her like a part of her circulatory system. The world is a terrifying place, and she is a terrifying part of it.]
But you might be thinking... I'm unsafe. We're attached, and I could turn on you because I'm dangerous. Even if you think you can withstand me.
no subject
[And Reiju wouldn't fault Ninety-Nine for it. The lengths to shield someone can go far, indeed. As for Ninety-Nine herself . . . ]
Have I given you a reason to be dangerous?
no subject
Ninety-Nine shakes her head. No, Reiju's given her no reason to attack, especially having been given a hint of her understanding.]
Once instinct kicks in, there's no thinking, only feeling. I probably wouldn't even see it as your arm. As long as you don't try to keep me contained...
no subject
Unless it jeopardizes the mission, I have no reason to stop you. [It's debatable if she'd even succeed.] Everyone's safety is in our best interest, and that includes Hella.
no subject
[As they make their way, bracelets linked, to the pop-up cooking station, Ninety-Nine sizes Reiju up again. She isn't looking for a fight, and her posture is relaxed. This seems like second nature to compare herself like this.] I think you could withstand me for at least a while.
no subject
I don't know how tough she is exactly, but I'm tougher than most people. [Given the nature of their mission, she volunteers this much:] Ordinary bullets won't harm me. My skin is harder.
no subject
MAYBE REIJU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A BULLET FOR SUZUHA DID SHE EVER THINK OF THATHella is tougher than bullets, but they can still hurt her. Ninety-Nine has to wonder if Reiju is the same - if, no matter how impenetrable her skin is, she would still rather avoid the impact or if she seeks out the blood-pounding thirst of the fight.]
They tried shooting me with bullets, too... It didn't stop me, but they still tore through me. [Shoot her enough, and in the right places, and even a rampaging monster will eventually fall.]
no subject
If only RNG had been kinder . . .Back home, that soft physicality might be considered a weakness; Reiju, however, feels differently. Her family doesn't realize the power of someone's will.]
I'm more suited to wield a sword than a gun.
[At the end of the day, though, she prefers neither. And that's that.]
Why were they trying to stop you?
no subject
It's happened more than once. When we escaped, they tried to stop us. When we were surviving, the gangs tried to stop us. When I was lost, they shot me because I was turning into a monster.
[The last instance brings the most emotion to her voice; if Reiju was listening to any of the discussion around what to do with the zombie in the condo basement, she might remember Ninety-Nine's belief that the doctor likely didn't want to live as one .]
no subject
It's not something she can imagine for herself, not when she was born already made. It's the sort of plight from which she thinks he might suffer; ergo, what she can imagine is that Ninety-Nine suffered the most in that moment.]
. . . And now you're here.
[Lost? Surviving? Captured again? Reiju hasn't the wisdom to say.]
no subject
[It starts out as more of a hypothetical musing spurred on by Reiju's observation. After a moment, however, the usually taciturn Ninety-Nine continues speaking.]
There are monsters here, too. I never want to listen to a scientist again. However, people need to get out of here... they need to be free.
[That promise of freedom is what's going to keep her in line, more than any stupid magnetic bracelets or the words of another scientist who messed around and paid the price.]
no subject
Her lips curl into a fond smile. For how gruff and harsh Ninety-Nine can be, a tender heart beats beneath the skin of this so-called monster. While the sweet sentiment can't apply to her, Reiju finds that a part of herself is glad.]
You're right. [She glances down at her meager portion of the food.] And the key to that freedom lies in the lab upstate. . . . There will be no stopping until then.