( 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

[kamikaze]

[And so the TV is yanked off the table, swung upward onto one shoulder and held comfortably as he takes eager steps toward this enigmatic figure. Of course, he'll follow! What will this supposed creature of the afterlife show him next?]

[blackagar]

[ When he's sure he's being followed, Black Bolt walks without any more glances back. Back into the hall, left, toward the double doors he'd come in through on his way here. It isn't a long walk, and it's not hard to recall the way back. He walks with a perfect surety and confidence, but of course that's just his usual gait, and he would move like that either way. ]

[kamikaze]

[Meanwhile this gangly thing has all the awkward grace of a newborn giraffe, trodding after his new ally in an excited shuffle that drags every step.]

I was awaited, was I not?

[Everything seems almost too good to be true-- Nux needs more confirmation. Has to ask.]

[blackagar]

[ Awaited. Was he? Was Black Bolt, for that matter? More things he has no answers to. He considers the question thoughtfully for a few steps. He's certain that a positive answer would please this boy, but Black Bolt isn't in the habit of lying to appease. So, in time, he slows his step just slightly to draw even, and glances over at Nux to hold his gaze. It's a solemn look, full of steady intent, and he lets the human read in it whatever he's inclined to.

It's not much of a real answer, but considering the information and resources at hand, it's about all he's got. ]

[kamikaze]

[No verbal response. No talking. This stranger's so quiet and Nux isn't going to push for it 'cause he knows that's just how some people are - like the bloodbag. But this one isn't a people. It's some guardian of the hall of the slain! Has to show even more respect.

The stare is a kinda-answer Nux decides to gaze at, rusty gears in his little head working much as they can. Squeaky. Protesty.]

... Praise be. To you and the holy V8.

[Must've figured it was a yes.]

[blackagar]

[ It's a yes, then. Sometimes it says a lot about people, the way they chose to take his silence. Black Bolt watches the boy for a few seconds more, then finally turns his eyes to the front again, satisfied.

(...Isn't a V8 something he knows? A human engine, maybe? For a plane or a car, it never mattered much to him. An interesting note, though.)

Then the door is in sight, which stands out to him from the other doors along this hallway for reasons no one will ever hear about. He pushes open the door and stands aside, making entry for Nux. ]

[kamikaze]

[This is a hallway he doesn't remember wandering down yet. Nux pauses when the door's opened for him, expecting The Entity to go forward. When it doesn't, there's a second and longer pause. Go... first? Looks hesitant with this foreign concept but he does. Maneuvers into the room so he doesn't bang the box on the door frame. Precious, precious box, precious cargo.]

... Holy V8...

[Murmured to himself under his breath.]

[blackagar]

[ Black Bolt follows him in only as much as he stands just inside the doorway, arms folded over his chest like a silent sentry. The room he woke up in isn't much to look at. The only things worth noting are a small, warm, orange egg, nestled on the bed next to an out of place slice of apple pie. He hadn't known what to do with either, and left them as they were. The room is barren aside from empty lockers, and as far as Black Bolt is concerned, all Nux's. He won't be staying here. ]

[kamikaze]

[There's stuff on that bed - (the kind Nux's never been able to have, only hear about, much comfier than a corner or a slab of sandblast) - and he heads right for it, dropping the big box down next to the other two things. One rolls in the bed-dent. That thing catches his attention immediately and Nux grabs it, holds it close to his face so he can inspect it.

It's small and smooth and why warm? A questioning glance toward the stranger.]

What's this.

[Finger-taps the surface. Feels hollow-cored, like something's in the middle but it's not heavy, not filling it out all the way.]

[blackagar]

[ Really, most people have caught on by now that Black Bolt isn't going to answer open ended questions. Maybe this one just doesn't care. The warmth of the egg had made him think it might be alive, though, so he eyes the boy with a mild wariness. He knows very little about him so far, he could be the sort to crush it just to see what's inside. The TV would probably agree.

With that in mind he steps forward, a hand out to take the thing back. ]

[kamikaze]

[Certainly was thinking about it - crushing it. Maybe taking a bite out of it. Two common responses when encountering Something New. Before he can destroy the small smooth thing, the stranger walks over and silently demands it with an open palm.

Nux is curious enough for relentless questions, but he won't fight for this thing. Not in his new ally(?)'s presence. His forgiver. Doesn't pause for very long before he places it in that palm and then he's reaching over to grab the other thing. Triangle thing. Entire hand around it, clutching it firm.

-- That one's squishy. Clumpy, sticky-- ? Reminds him of tar but smells better. Nux pulls a face before he holds that thing out too, offering.]

[blackagar]

[ He takes the egg with some care, tucks it carefully into some pocket out of sight. He'll remove it later, when he's thought of a better place to leave this thing. The food, though... he holds out a hand again, this time palm towards the boy (and the pie). That, he doesn't want. Especially now that it's been so rudely grabbed.

It does occur to him, though, with TVs and eggs being examined so thoroughly, that he might not realize it's meant to be eaten. So the stopping hand turns into a point, from the pie, towards his own mouth, and then finally to Nux. ]

[kamikaze]

[At some point you get used to starving, and the pangs fade away. Constant malnutrition and the just barelys turn it into something bearable. When he's shown a sign obvious enough that even a naive (ex-? no? what is he now?) cultist could understand, his stomach knots up. It remembers. So he blindly trusts this man, because, well, why not? He's dead. Nothing can hurt him anymore. And he's hungry.

Nux spends a blink looking at the thing one more time before he shoves as much as he can into his mouth. Swallows fast 'cause that's how you're supposed to eat so you can get enough before someone else takes it away. Except-- this thing, it tastes unlike anything he's ever had. There's no manners when he chews with his mouth open, but he's looking stunned. On a different plane. Flavors he never knew existed. War Boys didn't get processed sugar, only what was necessary. Nothing good like that to hope for and that entire piece of pie, every crumb and fleck of goo or fallen apple-chunk is consumed in seconds. There it is, the Feast he's so heard about-- ! Nux grins wide again and it's not a pretty sight.]

Thk-- ghh!

[There's too much in his mouth to actually pronounce a decent thank you.]

[blackagar]

[ Well, he's glad it went to someone who appreciated it. At least, someone who appreciated it in the scant seconds it took to completely disappear. His grin might not be a pretty sight, but it's one Black Bolt can appreciate nonetheless. It's clear to him this isn't just greed at work.

His you're welcome comes in the form of a nod, and a mental note to be sure this human has enough to eat, generally speaking. No well-fed person eats that quickly. He turns back for the door again, steps slow enough that Nux has a good few seconds to decide whether he's coming along or staying here. ]

[kamikaze]

[It's-- fantastic. It's shine in his mouth. Not chrome, chrome tastes bitter and burning but this is delicious. He's licking it off his fingers. Everything left that he can. Ate it too fast so he can't savor it but he'll never forget that flavor. What was it? Wants to ask but Bolt's already made it clear he will not speak. And Nux wants to ask why, of course.

Nux wants to lay on this weird bed and roll on it and sleep the sleep of the dead but he's too excited and-- will the entity allow itself to be followed? Maybe? Nux is watching for a cue. Gets it when he's loping after him and isn't stopped, the steps slow and deliberate enough to allow him to catch up.]

That thing was so good! It was radiant! [Nope he's not gonna shut up about pie yet.]

[blackagar]

[ His new, pie-loving friend is still coming along, then. That's good. Black Bolt would like to know a little more about him (and not to mention about their surroundings) before he's content to see him off. He shifts to the side without a glance at Nux, making wordless room for him to walk along with him.

He glances at each door as they pass them, checking through the small windows, looking for anyone else. He gestures at the other side of the hall, Nux's side, and directs a quick glance at the boy. It's a request to do as Black Bolt is doing, checking rooms, and hopefully he would have the sense to give some sign if he sees anyone. Hopefully. This request is banking a lot on intuition that he's not sure Nux has about him yet. ]

[kamikaze]

[Nux might be naive and obnoxious, but he's a War Boy. He's perceptive and he's versed in battle tactics. Though more used to it in car-speak he can pick up what Bolt wants and nods with enthusiasm. Goes into scout mode and starts slamming his way through whatever doors give, no subtlety at all.]

I didn't know Valhalla would be so dark! [Chipper. Not disappointed. Just was expecting something else.]