( OPEN ) GAME START.

[monstermasher]

▶ WHO: Everyone.
▶ DATE: July 9th, 2015 (Day 1)
▶ WARNINGS: Blood, violence, general zombie horror.
▶ SUMMARY: You've met with a bad... however that line goes. Welcome to Earth.

GOOD MORNING!

---

Please try and ignore whatever it is that you just heard. It should only last for up to a minute... maybe.

It... it is morning, right?

There are no windows.

There's a light, but it's barely considered one. The compound runs on a solar generator, but that doesn't mean it has a lot of power. The light seems to be hanging from the ceiling, swinging precariously. That's when you might actually start to wake up, sit up, find the things that are familiar to you... and then some of the things that aren't. It'd be wise to explore the small room you're in before leaving through the steel door, but there's nobody around to tell you that.

Outside is a tightly knit compound, just as dark and metallic as the room. The hallway you're in houses dozens more doors identical to yours, and if you're unlucky there may be more people poking their heads out through them, just like you. There's a dull glowing sign that reads MEDICAL BAY but not all of you remember being hurt. Some of you may be just fine, apart from the memory of the sound you heard when waking up.

The Medical Bay is stocked with enough medicine to last a couple of months. There's almost everything that can be found in a hospital. Somebody was thinking ahead.

Outside of the Medical Bay are more doors, some are even locked—many aren't. There are living quarters, a food storage, a kitchen, some laboratories; even a room full of computers and nothing else, all with a screen asking for a password. There's only two doors out of the compound, a vehicle bay with what appear to be a few military jeeps and trucks, and the front doors. It's on the inside of the front doors that something is painted in bright red, flecked with what smell like blood:

DO NOT GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT A GUN AND WATER.
GUNSHOTS ATTRACT THEM.
HOLLOWS IS 1.3 MILES NORTH OF HERE.
GOOD LUCK.

And on the outside of the doors, if you choose to open them:

THE WORLD ENDED JULY 3RD, 2015.

Now... how long ago was that? And where is this place? Luckily for you, Hollows is a small town that can be raided. It hasn't been too long since the apocalypse—surely you'll be able to find something there. Batteries, food, weapons, maybe some people—and what you're guaranteed to find. Them, whatever that means.

Outside of the compound there's a fence with a single gate. Nothing can get past this unless you let them in for tea, so be careful. There's a shooting range and a large shed full of weapons and ammo, enough to last two months if you're careful. Guns, knives, anything that would be used by the military and police is hidden away in the shed. There are even a few hunting bows with arrows.

If you climb up the ladder to the top of the wall, there's enough room to walk along the top. There's definitely something moving in the distance, something you should definitely be worrying about. Maybe it's time to get a good look with a sniper rifle...?

Oh.

It's gone.

Maybe it was just a trick of the light. Regardless, it's impossible for everyone to stay in the compound forever. There are nefarious things at work! The choices are to go to Hollows, stick around, or go somewhere else. Really, the world is almost a blank slate. Maybe more of a used slate, but still yours to explore.

When the night comes, you should be hiding. The screamers, the ragers, whatever the hell they are, are running full tilt through the streets and across the landscape, running through anything in their way, ripping apart anything alive. If you don't make any noise, they won't notice you. Especially since they're stuck listening to each other. But if you get noticed by one, it won't be long until a horde forms... you might be able to outrun one for awhile, but they don't seem to let up on their breakneck pace. Maybe someone should have told you how to kill them.

OOC NOTES.

---

There will be zombies in Hollows. Whether you meet them on the way there is up to you. Apart from the undead and the animals (maybe somebody should let those poor creatures out of their houses) the town is completely deserted. In fact, the closest thing you can find to a human are the bodies of those who died without being bitten, and there's even few of those. You can find anything you'd find in a normal town here, and are free to loot and raid the houses and stores—the cops won't be coming, after all. The power is OFF apart from what you can find that is solar powered or still has a charge. If you're lucky and find another town while exploring the first few weeks, you might find an area that still has power—thank hydroelectricity.

Just keep in mind travel time... and travel expenses.

You have creative freedom over everything else. The world is open. The only stationary places are landmarks and cities—if you want to go to Texas and talk to the poor astronauts stranded up in space, it's there. (Might be a long trip, though...)

If your character can figure it out by geography before getting to Hollows, the compound is located a few hours from the west coast, in California.

The way to kill a zombie is blunt force to the head. The head doesn't need to be removed, but significant damage needs to be done to it. This does not include the throat—it needs to be a headshot.

There's also a glaring hint. The computers in the compound, asking for a password. It is impossible to hack at this time. There will be more on this later!

Finally, if your character is exploring outside of the compound (or extensively inside of it) there's a comment here for linking me the thread. You can also PM me! I'll be ducking in with what your character may or may not have found, via a response to the actual RP thread.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS please direct them here!

Comments

Raleigh Becket | Pacific Rim | OTA

[unbreachable]

[ He wakes up to a strange, heavy weight on his chest and Delibes - Flower Duet playing somewhere off in the distance.

Could be worse, he sleepily reasons, but it damn sure isn't what he had playing when he went to sleep the night before. Raleigh sleeps (or tries to, when nightmares and insomnia aren't plaguing him) with soft music in the background but it's generally Mumford or Bastille - not...opera.

When he actually opens his eyes, he notes several things that are off - other than the creepy music in the background.

First? Not his room. Second? There's a cat on his chest. Cute, and yeah he's a cat man, but he didn't have a cat in his hotel room. He hasn't had a cat since he was a kid.

Third? Not his fucking room. ]

Fuck.. [ he groans, rubbing at his eyes before gingerly pushing the cat off and taking a better look around. His sweater is covered in cat hair and that's when he notices he's still in his damn clothes from the night before.

He spends the next half or so combing his room, looking for clues, for more information telling him where the hell he is and what's going on. Finding nothing but a set of keys that he slides into his pocket, he decides to head into the hallway (cat tucked up under his arm because it's overly affectionate and howls when he tries to leave it in the room) to investigate more - maybe find Mako, figure out what the hell is going on in his life because last he remembers? They were on their victory tour that was more solemn than joyous. ]

Hello..?

INCOHERENT NOISES

[usavatar]

[ There are so many people here. It makes Steve uneasy for a whole spread of reasons - how did they all get brought in? Is everyone really as lost as they seem to be? How long will the supplies last, how can they keep people from looting them, why are people looting them. In his experience that kind of behavior you get from crooks and the purely desperate. One of those is forgivable. Nobody here - no one that he's met - fits 'desperate'.

He lets the questions occupy him. Thinking beyond them means thinking about what Peggy said. Thinking about Bucky. Thinking about-

Nope.

Besides. There is someone emerging in the hall... with a cat.]

Hi. You just wake up?

steeeeeb

[unbreachable]

[ Yes. A man with a cat who looks incredibly confused and unnerved. He's seen some shit but this is a different level. Raleigh's pretty sure he would remember if he went to sleep in a place like this and he's damn sure Mako would've stopped him.

Where is she, anyway..? ]

Yeah. What's going on?

GOLDEN RETRIEVER BROS

[usavatar]

You have a cat.

[ It's slightly amused. ]

Someone else woke up with a purple dog.

[ He drags a hand through his hair. ] No idea. Around fifty of us woke up here, looks like, and no one's saying if they have any clue what's happening.

awww yes, adorable blond puppies

[unbreachable]

...A purple dog.

[ Is he dreaming? He's not sure. Raleigh's sort of feeling foggy and out of place (very out of place) and sort of like he's had way too many hits of...something. ]

That's...great.

[usavatar]

[ He gives a small laugh that he tries to turn into a cough. ] New way to describe it.

[ Steve offers Raleigh his hand. ] Captain Steve Rogers, US Army.

[unbreachable]

[ A wry smile as he shifts the cat to shake Steve's hand. ]

Raleigh Becket, Pan Pacific Defense Corps.

[controlledvariable]

You have a cat.

[Is - how Raleigh gets created by the girl wearing some kind of stylized bat costume, because Steph has seen a lot of people around, but she hasn't seen any pets yet.]

[unbreachable]

I--

[ is he hallucinating? Is he really seeing a girl in bat costume? ]

Uh. Yeah. I do.

[controlledvariable]

That's a new one.

[She really hopes it isn't like - going to turn into anything horrible.]

Is it yours?

[unbreachable]

I guess so. She was in the room with me when I woke up.

[ it literally has not occurred to him that the cat could be anything other than a cat. ]

[controlledvariable]

Huh.

[She leans in a little, balancing on the tip of her toes as she investigates the cat.]

Last cat I met back home turned giant and tried to eat me, but hopefully this one's nicer.

[Reassuring????]

[unbreachable]

[ YEAH SO REASSURING ]

Uh...

[ He looks down at the black cat purring in his arms and frowns. ]

She seems to be okay..

[ if anything the cat seems friendly, and raleigh could use anything friendly right now. ]

because Rally has a cat and Hook only has a toy one :(

[villainously]

( what is with this place and fucking cats? Hook woke to find a cat of his own; at least his was of the toy variety. there is a fluff of white in the pocket of his leather coat, the only indication he has it one can find, and he still looks at the man carting around the cat like he's mad. )

All this going on, and you're carrying about a bloody cat? ( look, even the pirate that is practically frantic with worry and need to go to the other side of the country thinks that's fucking strange. it's enough to shake him from his demented search for answers. )

lmao hook why

[unbreachable]

[ hell if he knows. cats are a more intelligent species and might come in handy at some point? ]

...Couldn't leave her behind. She cried.

idk but he has it and he's salty

[villainously]

What are you going to bloody do with it, toss it at the things we're supposed to be avoiding and make a run for it?

( it doesn't seem like a good plan. that's all he's saying. )

Lmao obviously

[unbreachable]

[ he shrugs. ]

Dunno. Figure it's my concern, though.

[ he's keeping the cat, dickhead :| ]

hook hates cats why

[villainously]

You're bleeding mad.

( stow the wretched creature somewhere, it'd sort itself out with time. )

Do you have a map? I need one.

( because everyone wants to help you after you call them crazy, right? right. )

lmao noooo they're cuuuute hooky

[unbreachable]

Yeah, I've been told.

[ Sheepish smile. ]

No...I don't. Just woke up, 'n all that.

[rexponsible]

[The cat, of course, stole the show.]

[Claire wasn't particularly fond of animals, but she was painfully reminded of how beautiful they were and how special life was when all she'd seen in the past 24 hours was meaningless death.]

[The sight of that dying apatosaurus wasn't going to go forgotten anytime soon.]

[Claire slowly walked towards Raleigh, stiletto heels clicking across the floor as she drew closer.]

Is she a . . . friend of yours?

[Animals as friends. Another concept she would have scoffed at once. That was a thing of the past now.]

[unbreachable]

[ She's a pretty little thing - black with sharp green eyes, a tuft of white between her ears. Raleigh thinks she's just friggin precious, and sort of clings to her as a security blanket and something to focus on so he doesn't lose his shit. ]

...Yeah. I guess so. She wouldn't let me leave the room without her.

[rexponsible]

[Claire locked eyes with the cat - she wasn't trying to assert dominance or any some such, but as a human who was very much entrenched in the corporate world, eye-to-eye contact was a gesture of respect. The cat just flicked her ears in response.]

She seems quite secure with you now.

[Claire looked back to Raleigh, giving him the same eye-to-eye treatment before extending her hand.]

I'm Claire Dearing.

[unbreachable]

[ he smiles, as much as he's able given the situation. ]

Raleigh Becket. I'd say it's a pleasure but... [ another quick, cursory look around ]

I'm not quite sure yet.

[rexponsible]

[Claire took his response in stride. He was right; there was no telling what was going on in their situation now, and if they didn't take measures to find out, they'd stay in the dark.]

[She'd always been a woman of action, so she took a deep breath, then gave him a nod.]

We should see what's going on.

[unbreachable]

[ he likes that. Short and to the point. Reminds him a little of mako, actually. ]

Yeah. Okay. Let's do it.