( 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

Claire Dearing ; Jurassic World ; ota

[rexponsible]

[Claire honestly hadn't believed that her troubles would be over the moment she got off Isla Nublar. It was true that perhaps the threat of being devoured by a rampaging Indominus rex was no longer a concern, thanks to a tag team of equally carnivorous dinosaurs. However, her work was far from over.]

[She believed that she had two paths spread out before her. One: she'd be fired for not only giving the green light on the I. rex project but also failing to contain the problem when - for lack of a better term - shit hit the fan. Okay, she could deal with that; she'd just have to go job hunting, though putting "Operations Manager of a theme park where the attractions ate the guests" wasn't going to sound great on her resumé.]

[Another possible outcome was that the board of directors would decide that since she was the Operations Manager of the park, she'd be put in the hot seat to deal with the resulting mess. Court hearings, press conferences, reconstruction of the resort (she wasn't sure how she felt about that).]

[What she didn't expect was a third option, and that was to wake up in a small, cramped room, still in her tattered clothes, to the sound of angry screaming. Claire had all but bolted awake, terrified and fully expectant that the ferry that was carrying them all away from Isla Nublar had suddenly been overrun by more dinosaurs. It took her a while to realize that the screams weren't of terror, but of anger - and they were gone after a minute, which was not creepy at all.]

[Claire had to get moving. She discarded the book on the LOLCatz: Dinosaur Edition (Rawr), thinking it was an unfunny prank, but kept the strip of paper that said "HAVE YOU SEEN MONTGO" and "WANTED FOR MU" before the rest of it was burnt off. It might've held clues to wherever the hell she was now.]

[The bare halls finally led her past a medical bay, a living area, and - oh, thank god - a kitchen.]

[Claire's last decent meal had been more than 24 hours past, which was now why she could be found opening a can of fruit cocktail and eagerly spooning its contents into her mouth. Hey, she was trying to be healthy.]

[depqt]

[ Jordan is here to offer a far less healthier option. Specifically, chocolate cake he just found. He's not feeling particularly hungry right now but there's a limited amount of food in storage so it shouldn't go to waste. He makes sure not to sneak up on the woman since it's a pretty scary situation they're in, not wanting to startle her. The fact that he's wearing his officer's uniform should help him look less threatening, like someone she can trust and feel safe around. ]

I found cake but it looks like the party's over. [ He jokes, putting down the cake in front of her (go on, Claire, you know you want a piece). Judging by the way she's eating, it must have been a while since her last meal. He figures she's probably dehydrated as well and hands her a bottle of water. ] Here. You look like you need it.

[rexponsible]

[Wow. That was a pretty bad joke. Claire wasn't an expert on jokes, but she could tell that it was a fairly lame one.]

[She offered him a tight smile, though; no need to bite the hand that fed her (or attempted to, anyway). His uniform might've offered another person comfort, but Claire had seen uniformed personnel get eaten by a rampaging dinosaur. Sometimes, even uniforms and what they entailed weren't a promise of safety.]

[Still, though - she accepted the water gratefully, giving him a small nod.]

Thank you, officer.

[Chocolate cakes weren't at the top of her foods to eat list, but she was fairly hungry.]

What about you, though?

[depqt]

[ He probably shouldn't quit his day job and become a comedian, then. ]

Something about this place makes me lose my appetite.

[ Probably because on the outside of the compound they've woke up in, they are the food. ]

[rexponsible]

[Hey, if he wants to pursue his dream, she won't hold him back. Besides, there were probably a lot of job openings now that the world had ended.]

That I understand.

[She dug her spoon into the cake and began to eat. She did like chocolate in moderation, but right now, she was so hungry that she could eat an entire house.]

Have you looked around already?

[depqt]

I have. [ Waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, the first thing he'd done was scope out the place. ]

Would you like to hear the good news or the bad news first?

[rexponsible]

[She finished chewing before she gave him a wary look. It was good news in itself to be told that there was good news, and bad news in itself to be told that there was bad news.]

Let's start with the bad. That way, we can think up solutions.

[reginaprocacis]

[Regina is just exploring now. Mapping out the building is priority right now, and she's wasting no time doing so. Upon entering the kitchen, she extinguishes her fireball. Fireballs tend to be a rapid-fire affair; as magic goes, it's fairly basic, but still taxing to uphold over a longer period of time.

She looks around and sees that the room is occupied.]

I see someone has found the food.

[And what food... upon coming closer, Regina notes the fruit cocktail. That is perhaps the first thing in this strange land to put an amused smile on her face, complete with a raised eyebrow.]

Being health conscious during the apocalypse?

[rexponsible]

[Claire turned around to look at the newcomer, at least having the decency to swallow her mouthful of pineapple before speaking. She was starving, and that can of fruit cocktail definitely wasn't enough. Running from a murderous carnivore in heels would make anyone hungry, she thought.]

There's enough to feed a substantial amount of people, so we don't need to worry about it running out.

[Trust Claire to make an assessment of the situation while practically inhaling her food.]

I'm always looking after my health, but what do you mean, "apocalypse"?

[She had yet to see that notice.]

[reginaprocacis]

[At the first bit of information, Regina nods. That is good to know. It looks like food scarcity might come to be a problem in this place yet, but if provisions are plenty, maybe there won't be any outright wars for a while.

Though people do always find another reason to fight. She's sure it'll happen sure. Fueled by pure panic, if nothing else. Humans are, as a species, fairly stupid.

Oh well. Not her problem. She can fend for herself and will be glad to do so.]

Apparently, the world "ended" about a week ago. Or so says the front door.

[Regina had taken a small peek outside and quickly assessed the situation to be fairly dangerous. Thus, she had decided to fully explore the building she'd woken up in to test its suitability as a safe hideout. She's impatient to get home, and in any world she knows of she would waste no time, but she doesn't know the rules of this place -- natural, preternatural, whichever. One thing was clear: she couldn't teleport back home. She suspects a different realm or an alternate universe.

The notice had not escaped her in her exploration. Frankly, she'd scoffed at it -- clearly, this world still exists, so she doesn't see the need for dramatics.]

[rexponsible]

[Honestly, Regina was right; humans were fairly stupid, and even the most intelligent ones made the stupidest mistakes - herself included. She was pretty certain that the I. rex was the hugest mistake of her life, and it cost people their lives and the rest of the park their jobs.]

[It was a good thing Regina hadn't voiced that thought - or at least, not yet - because Claire's nerves were already on edge as they were. Running away from a rampaging dinosaur tended to do that.]

What?

[Her eyes narrowed and her mouth flattened.]

That sounds like either an extremist would say. Maybe it was meant to scare us. We're kidnap victims, after all.

[She grabbed another can - this time full of corn - and opened it with a can opener she had on hand.]

I need my strength. ["To put up with this nonsense" was left hanging in the air between them.]

[reginaprocacis]

Well, it is awfully overdramatic. This realm still exists, after all, even if it is not particularly pleasant.

[She starts looking around the kitchen.]

Is there anything more substantial in here?

[Fruit is nice, though the sugary canned stuff certainly isn't the healthiest; corn is good for carbs, but they're going to need protein, too. Regina takes some of the cans and inspects them; pulling a face all the while. She's used to quality food. However, at least none of the cans seem expired, so they have a reliable source of food for a little while.

She finds a bunch of canned spam and again pulls a face. This is life now. Canned corn and spam.]

Lovely.

[Hey, she can deal with it, but she doesn't have to like it.]

[rexponsible]

[Claire can share the sentiment, and she also gave the canned spam a look of distaste.]

It's better than nothing, but I hope we find a way out soon. This is no way to live.

[She frowned, spooning corn thoughtfully into her mouth and chewing before she spoke again.]

If we were kidnapped, what could be the motive? A ransom?

[striking]

[ Katniss recognizes that fervency, even if she doesn't know the woman displaying it. When you're hungry, anything is good, even muddy bread or burnt rabbit or boiled weeds. Claire eats the fruit cocktail while she's starving, as Katniss watches from where she was crouched to investigate a lower cupboard for supplies to scavenge.

There's kinship in that, in seeing someone hungry, even if the woman dresses like she's from the Capitol. Or, like she was from the Capitol and then spent a couple of days in an Arena running through mud and whipping underbrush. ]

Don't eat too fast,

[ She advises quietly, standing. Her posture is wary despite the advice being a friendly overture, and by now she's armed to the teeth and hypervigilant in this strange location. ]

It's sugary, you'll make yourself sick. Have some rice cakes with it.

[rexponsible]

[Claire didn't mind the presence of the other woman - after all, she'd never had to fight for her food, and while the scenario had occurred to her, she'd already done a quick inventory of what was available and decided that there was still plenty more to go around.]

[She meant to greet the other woman first, but Katniss beat her to it; she looked much younger than Claire, but the look in her eyes told the Operations Director that Katniss had seen many things in her life.]

[Claire gave her a quick nod.]

Thanks.

[She reached for a pack of rice crackers - they weren't rice cakes, but she supposed they'd do.]

Do you want some?

[striking]

[ Wow, sharing. The fastest way to Katniss'heart. She evaluates and decides that while she's not all that hungry, it's best to eat while there's food to be had. ]

I would.

[ And, because she can hear Effy in her head, scolding her, she smiles and adds: ]

Thank you.

[ Before approaching, still wary, keeping one hand near her weapon, her body between the woman and her bag. ]

You know, I've only ever met a couple of people with hair like yours.

[rexponsible]

You're welcome.

[Claire takes an individual pack of rice crackers and hands Katniss the rest of them. There were a number of little packs in there - perfect for storing away in case of emergencies.]

[Katniss' statement took Claire by surprise, simply because she wasn't expecting anything like it.]

Red hair, you mean?

[She reached up to touch her hair unconsciously - it was a bird's nest now, and she sighed.]

My sister and I are both redheads.

[striking]

[ Katniss takes a pack, opens it, fascinated a little by the individual packaging but trying not to show it. It seems like a lot of work to wrap up this much food, and a lot of hassle to open them up again, but the plastic crackles as she does so.

She's been trying not to think of Prim, but not she can't help it, and she aches for missing her sister. ]

My sister is blonde, like my mom.

[ She explains quietly, a fond smile toying at the corner of her mouth. Prim is safe back home, working hard. Katniss is here, fighting for her life again. ]

But it's pretty. There was only one redhead in my whole District. Mostly everyone looked like me, dark hair, grey eyes.

[rexponsible]

[Claire listened to Katniss talk about her family, and for a moment, she felt melancholy - she didn't speak to her sister too often, what with both their busy schedules. The disaster at the park had somehow brought them closer together because Karen was grateful that Claire had gone through hell and high water to protect Zach and Gray. However, in this place, there was no guarantee when Claire would be able to speak to her sister again.]

I see. My sister has more blonde in her hair - hers is a lighter shade than mine.

[She gave Katniss a small smile.]

Thank you. I think that your hair is a nice color as well; it matches your eyes very nicely.

[Claire appreciated aesthetics and had a good sense of beauty. At least she could compliment Katniss in all earnestness, even if part of it was her penchant for business and persuasion. At least it could be put to good use.]

Where is your District? Do your mother and sister live there?

[deathgoose]

[ She's seen a room like this before. Big, shiny, she had leaped up on the loud rocks and hunted down prey, watched as they fled her Pack. That place had been past all the foul-smelling piles of food they had consumed, not a nest but a Something-Place, a grazing field; she'll work out what in time, if it's important. Like the SHOOT-fangs piled high in another room.

Wounded as she is with a T-Rex's lasting gift of punctures along her side and a fractured, aching leg, the JP stamp on her flank is still clear when she stalks by the door and takes a sniff of the floor, scenting out something she can eat; sweat, bone, blood. Fear. Something came through here.

A screeling noise starts to rise in the back of her throat, checking with a glance from the door for any more exits or adjoining spaces the prey could be. ]

[rexponsible]

[Claire had just shoveled all the fruit cocktail into her mouth and was gulping down a bottle of water when she heard it - that crackling, low screech of a dinosaur. A meat-eating one. A raptor.]

[She froze in freshly remembered terror and adrenaline, slowly turning around to see if anything was behind her. Where was she? Was this a compound of InGen's that she had no idea about? Were they doing experiments?]

[Thoughts raced through her mind before she decided that she needed to find a safe place to hide. Preferably before the raptor got there.]

[She hastily took off her heels - she didn't want to alert the animal to her whereabouts - and padded as quickly and as quietly as she could to the vehicle bay.]

[deathgoose]

[ Stalking through the room with its strange sticks and stones, the metal clatters as her tail knocks things off the sides and pushes on through, drawn to ... rocks. Skins that prey wear on their feet, the scent strong enough for it to be recent. Gekkering in the back of her throat in curiosity, her claws click out of sync as she limps on through, head swivelling to pick up the hot breaths coming from her target.

No caw, caw comes because there is no Pack to answer (not hers), so she lowers herself quietly along one of the large vehicles and cautiously starts to pace through the alleys in between, the semi-darkness no problem with her night-vision. ]

[rexponsible]

[She could hear the raptor low, growling breathing. Her stride and her clicking claws echoed in the vehicle bay, and Claire tried her best to stifle her frantic breathing. Her adrenaline was pumping and her heart was beating so loudly in her chest that she feared the dinosaur might hear it.]

[She needed to get into a vehicle. There was no way that that compound was safe, unless they managed to lock the raptor in a room. Where was Owen? Claire assumed that this raptor was one of his - after all, she didn't know that there were others - and fervently hoped that he could speak to the dinosaur.]

[For now, she was prey, so she needed to get out.]

[She spied an off-terrain vehicle some distance away. That would be the best choice. She didn't know what was out there, after all.]

[Claire padded there as silently as she could, trying not to make any noise that would indicate where she was at the moment.]

[deathgoose]

[ Claire's tactics work for a time, the raptor even pauses to lick her wounds when they drip on the hard floor, the pain a distraction. She's still there, chuffing and guttering calls of frustration, exploring the free space, and gets closer to the only area she hasn't explored yet. ]

[rexponsible]

[She finally reached the vehicle, and the problem would now be getting in and getting out of it before the raptor attacked. Claire was certain that she would hear her open and close the door, so she had to do it as quickly as possible.]

[And if the vehicle didn't have keys? Well, she was screwed.]

[She put a hand on the door handle, taking in a breath as deep as she dared, before she flung it open, threw herself inside, and reached out to slam it shut.]