Welcome to Gaia! ::

INTRODUCTION:
I love stories. I particularly like Modist stories. But I can't convince ya'll to write your own zombie stories, and I rather like collaborative stories, so I figured we should all write one together, with characters as close to us as we can make.

Forum Role-playing format seems the most logical.

So here's the drill: You start out with another Modist (if the numbers work out right) and somehow become hurt to your health bar level (see post 4). You start out with one major item chosen by your class (or suggested by you and approved). Eventually we all meet up, because for some reason we are in a medium sized, unassumable, Mid-western city named, for all purposes, The City for some reason.

And no, it's not a ModlyCon.

THE STORY:

The Hospital (St. Mercy's) has been quietly accepting patients that were originally thought to be depressed, but rumor has gotten out through some staff leaks that they are actually infected. A few writers, reporters, nurses, students, practically everytype from all over the country, has traveled to this small town to investigate the stories here. An infection causing depression? Would make for an interesting story, right?

But after little feedback, most of them left. It is now early September, the kids are back in school, and around 3 PM, when the kids are getting off.
It is presumed not all of us know each other.

So why are YOU here?

ZOMBIES:
The dictionary doesn't actually give us a good definition of what a 'zombie' is without going into voodoo lore, Canadian slang, or mixed drinks.

So we've made our own, as a mixture of various movies.
So here's what I'm thinking:
-A bloodborne, mutated neurovirus.
-What was once a latent, debilitating virus that sapped the life and will out of those infected by it, has mutated into one that leaves them, after the first 24 hours, slow to move, weak in body, but hungry for any sort of flesh.
-Spread by blood or direct bites.
-The first EIGHT HOURS, are symptomless, and have a low risk of infection.
-The 8th-23rd hour are rabies-like, only with additional ulceration of lung tissue to introduce blood to the froth in the mouth. Infected is violent, but doesn't seek out to bite, biting is only a method of violence.
-At the 24th hour, the victim goes trance-like, unresponsive, catatonic, as if they were dead.
-25th hour and beyond, the victim 'wakes up' absolutely famished, brain dead save for basic functions (move + NOM) , and violently insistent on fulfilling those functions.

This is to say that they are not dead yet. But given they will continue to attack despite debiliating body blows, even blows that should have killed them, they certainly should be.

Destroy the brain, destroy the zombie.

TL;DR

City's population is about 35k, with about 100 infected to start. Then their families. Plus medical personnel. Then there's a major crash with one infected person, and lots of blood. Spreads from there.

So at least 100 zombies to start, plus assuming they all have 3 family members and 1-2 get bit, that's another 100-200. Then at least 1 medical person for every zombie, another 100. So 400, 300 of which don't know they're contagious, and then are violent and contagious for 16 hours before they become full zombified. Those 16 hours would be the most dangerous, as they're more 28 Weeks later type violent, without the flesheating. 24 hours they hit Romero-type. Less dangerous, but more bite-y.

Okay, so, we have the cast of (possible?) players, and the form to give us an idea of what your character, you, is like.

The idea is to make the character as close to you, or as close to you as you will be in the future, as possible. I'm allowing some fudging, just don't tell me you're a super hacker when you're not. razz

Also, IF YOU'VE ALREADY SENT ME A PROFILE, PLEASE AMEND IT WITH THE EXTRA INFORMATION. kthnxbai



Note: As far as items on your person go, if it's reasonable that you have it on your person given the scenario you start out with, or if it's something you always have on your person, I'll more than likely not care. Just don't start out with Vicodin if you dont' have a prescription for it, okay?
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Player: Dreamers Thanatos
Real Name: Liz/'Kitten'
Age: 22 (fudging for realism)
Height: 5'1
Build: Petite
Physical Description: Black pixie hair, blue eyes, dark eye makeup, pale skin.
Personality Description: Studious, sarcastic, devoted medic.
Gets along well with others?: Only if they listen to or agree with her.
Main Class + chosen item: Medic + Med Kit
Classes:
Medic-***
Logistics-**
Ranged-*
Items on person:
- Cellphone/Keys with pen, flashlight
-Backpack for purse, change of nurse's scrubs, Job ID
-Photo of Natas Ferret
-Adv. First Aid booklet
-Biofreeze tube, 3/4ths full
-Red Nail polish and other toiletries
-Bottle of mixed aspirin, ibuprofen
-MP3 player w/radio, voice record
-99 cent sewing kit
-Notebook + pen
-Lighter + matchbook

Skills:
-RN Knowledge
-Basic pharmacology
-Basic knowledge of firearms, skill in rifles
-Domestic skills (sewing, cooking, etc)
-Basic microbiology

Reason for being in town: Extended assignment to help with the increase of recent disease in the town, unannounced to the public.
Occupation and Living Conditions: Travel Nurse, lives in a temporary apartment near the hospital with another nurse, Lisa. Apartment is next to David's.

Player: Arcadian
Real Name: David
Age: 24
Height: 6'
Build: Lithe
Physical Description: Short brown hair, skinny but toned. Wears glasses.
Personality Description: Reserved, Passionate, Strong-Willed, Hero Complex
Gets along well with others?: Only if they aren't total freaking morons.
Main Class + chosen item: Logistics + Map
Classes:
Bruiser-*
Engineer-*
Logistics-**
Ranged-*
Orienteering-* (computers)
Items on person:
Wallet with $20 cash, spare car key, Credit Cards/ID card
3 pens
change
keys with LED light
Graphite sticks for a mechanical pencil
random dice (seriously)
Small pad of sticky notes
Leather jacket with lighter

Skills:
-Leadership; delegation and mediation
-Basic knowledge of firearms, skill in rifles
-Basic knowledge of Tae Kwon Do
-Basic knowledge of car mechanics
-Nerves of Steel
-Intermediate computer skills
-Random 'boy scout' stuff

Reason for being in town:Works for a small Flash development company.
Occupation and Living Conditions:Lives in a studio apartment next to Liz and Lisa



Player: Balcerzak
Real Name: John
Age: 25
Height: 5' 6"
Build: Slender
Physical Description: Long dark blonde hair (approximately shoulder-length, occasionally in ponytail), blue eyes, full beard, light-complexioned (burns easily). Always has sunglasses, either on or pushing back his hair from out of his eyes. Frequently wearing baggy jeans, a loose T-shirt, a jacket, and sandals. In winter the T-shirt becomes T-shirt, and plaid overshirt, and the sandals become boots.
Personality Description: Quiet, often self-absorbed. Thinks he knows what's best, and can be very stubborn. Maintains contradictory senses of hopeless idealism, and depressed pessimism.
Gets along well with others?: Yes, provided they're following a plan he agrees with. Else, not so much. Direct confrontation is unlikely, but passive-aggressive undermining might be in order.
Main Class + chosen item: Engineer + Crowbar
Classes:
Medic-*
Engineer-**
Ranged-**
Orienteering-*

Items on person:

• Mini-Leatherman keyring (has screwdrivers, knife, scissors, etc.), with keys. Also attached is a mini-flashlight (dead battery, though).
  
• Wallet ($30 cash, drivers license, credit cards, immunizations record, prepaid phone card, medical insurance card, etc.)
  
• Assorted change.
  
• Pencils (one wooden, one mechanical), and pen.
  
• Small notepad.
  
• Handheld gaming device.
  
• Cell phone.
  
• Headphones.
  
• Wristwatch.
  
• Class ring.
  
• Fingernail clipper.
  
• Ponytail hairbinder thing (if not in use, it's in pocket). [I don't know the technical term for this.]
  

Skills:

Basic knowledge: Firearms (rifle, shotgun)
Basic knowledge: First aid (CPR certified [lapsed])
Advanced knowledge: Science (Physics specialization)
Random Boy Scout stuff (Eagle Scout)

Reason for being in town: Attends the local college, finishing his degree.
Occupation and Living Conditions: Studio apartment.



Player: Harbinger of Bunnies
Name: Scotty
Age: 28
Height: 5'5"
Build: Squishy (slightly overweight)
Physical description: Brown hair, brown eyes, goatee and mustache, earring in left ear, short hair, and some freckles.
Personality description: Phlegmatic, quirky, and bad sense of humor.
Gets along well with people?: Depends on the people. Most, as long as they are not idiots.
Main Class: Logistics +Bottle of Alcohol
Classes:
Engineer-**
Ranged-**
Logistics -**
Skills:
-Item improvisation.
-Trivial knowledge
-Odd viewpoint
-Sculpting and casting material knowledge
-Sculpting ability
-Special effects make up knowledge
-Some cooking ability
Items on person:
-Box cutter
-Masking tape
-Lighter
Reason for being in town: Sent due to depression scare. Turned out to be normal depression. Staying for some classes.
Occupation and living situation: Writer/student. With female roommate.



Player: Icysnowgirl
Real Name: Ellie/'Icy'
Main Class: Logistics + Backpack
Classes:
Comm -*** (Specialty in Radio)
Logistics -** (Has read far too many Worst Case Scenario books)
Medics-* (reearning my stupid First Aid badge three different times plus First Aid requirement in Health class should count for something! D: )
Items:
backpack
umbrella (I always have it when it isn't raining, but I think it is going to that day)
safety pin (I knew I should have repaired those pants before today. )
hair band
book on Native American Medicine Techniques due to a paper that was due yesterday. ^^;;
purse :
student ID
wallet
keys
glasses
pens(3 black, 1 red, 1 blue, 1 purple, 1 green)
pencils
notebook
planner
cell phone
cell phone charger
toothbrush
small hairbrush
unsent mother's day card (only a few months late. ;;; )
cough drops
Asprin (only a few lil packets of 2)
mp3 player/miniradio + headphones
nail filer (the metal kind with a hooked end)
random coins
an almost empty bag of seriously old craisins that have been in there for gods know how long (they are so forgotten!)

small box lunch (in backpack, I often don't have time to buy lunch during the main school year, so I take dinner's leftovers to eat during class)
Skills:
- I has skillz? O.o;
- Can kind of work a radio decently due to two years of working at a radio station
- Can prepare food decently
- Can give massages?
Description:
That girl who screams her head off the entire time and just hasn't died YET? Yea, that's me.
Job/Life:
Student at a college, often tries a little bit of everything, knows where the fencing team keeps their sabers due to being an on and off again member. Mediocre, Jill of all trades, most likely will be the person in the background trying to support people who are better then her at things she admires. Loves biting, but not when it passes a virus.

Player: Ruevian
Real Name: Rene
Age: 25
Height: 5'7"
Build: Heavy
Physical Description:Brown eyes, glasses, shoulder-length, wavy brown hair pulled back in a low bun. Baggy jeans, baggy black t-shirt.
Personality Description: Sharp tongued, bossy, sardonic, has something that vaguely passes for charisma, confident
Gets along well with others?: Invariably depends on the person
Main Class + chosen item: Bruiser + Baseball bat
Classes:
Bruiser - *
Medic-*
Logistics-**
Items on person:
- 98' Dodge Caravan (eggplant purple)
- Baseball bat
- An extra set of clothes
- Purse with personal IDs/credit cards
- Unloaded sniper rifle (unknown type)
- Flashlight
- Several empty cans of Red Bull
Skills:
- Strength, nothing Herculean
- Leadership skills (able to delegate, make quick decisions)
- Domestic skills
- Drawing
Reason for being in town: Investigation
Occupation and Living Conditions: Unemployed and lives in an apartment complex (not Liz and David's).
The sniper rifle is Gendou's and he knows how to use it, but I don't know a sniper rifle from a toilet brush, so it is essentially useless in my hands. But Gen would want me to have it and I'd probably take it "just in case."


Player: DeathByIrony
Real Name: Danny
Age: 24 (Fudged for realism)
Height: 6'4”
Build: Lanky
Physical Description: Brown eyes, long brown hair done up in a ponytail. Beard is red, curiously enough, and trimmed into a short goatee. Not exactly pale, but no trace of a tan on him.
Personality Description: Light hearted, keeps all “Serious” emotions under wraps. Broods in his spare time. Stubborn at times.
Gets along well with others?: Most definitely. Likes people.
Main Class + chosen item: Ranged + Riot Shotgun ((Approved))
Classes:
Ranged ***
Engineer **
Logistics *
Items on person:
Car Keys, with Leatherman Micra tool.
Leather Wallet
Dell Axim 51v PDA
Silver Razr Cellphone
Nokia Bluetooth LD-3W GPS unit
Silver Mechanical Pocketwatch, Monogrammed “DRF”
Messenger Bag containing:
Benchmade 3 inch folding knife
Car charger's for PDA, GPS, and cell phone
Wall socket adapter for 9v car accessories (Such as car chargers)
Tri-function pen. (Mechanical pencil, Pen, Stylus)
Blue “Neo” style generic sunglasses, in hard shell case.
Bag of assorted dice.
Lucky Danish Kroner
Skills:
Moderate skill with firearms
Intermediate handyman and computer repair skills, utilized creatively.
Basic camping and outdoorsmanship, with a working knowledge of the Anarchists Handbook
Reason for being in town: Presently taking Political Science at the local university.
Occupation and Living Conditions: Works in computer repair as a field technician. Living with comparatively nuttier gun enthusiast and coworker Tom Derrick in lieu of campus housing.

Player: Alexi Terianis
Real Name: Marty
Age: 23
Height: 5'11"
Build: Solid
Physical Description: Slightly overweight, somewhat broad-shouldered. Dark brown hair, wears glasses.
Personality Description: Headstrong, Determined, 'Stalwart', Martyr-complex
Gets along well with others?: Most of the time, but there are more than enough exceptions.
Main Class + chosen item: Bruiser + Silver Maglight (If I may?) ((**Go ahead :3))
Classes:
Bruiser **
Engineer *
Ranged *
Orienteer ** (Computers)
Items on person:
Wallet with $0 cash, credit/ID cards
Assorted Keys
Cell Phone
Brown Suede Leather Jacket

Skills:
Basic knowledge of firearms
Knowledge of armed combat
Basic knowledge of car mechanics
Working knowledge of computer hardware and software
Certainty in darkness
Limited knowledge of cooking

Reason for being in town: Working in local tech support firm
Occupation and Living Conditions: Lives in apartment with girlfriend (currently away in work related conference), puppy, and kitten

AND GO.

Liz yawned and shoved her scrubs uniform into her backpack with the rest of her locker items as she prepared to leave work for the day. It was the last day of her assignment, but they had extended her time here due to recent events.

The patients in the quarantined ward had become violent the day before, so much that they called her in that night and kept her for two shifts. They had bitten a couple of her coworkers who came in on the morning shift at 7 and didn't know better, but they were fine so far.
Still, others were brought in from all over town. Those patients who had been sent home over time had their families bring them back, as well as admit themselves for bite wounds.

Now those same family members were showing the same symptoms as their hosptialized brethren, as well as the medical staff that were bitten before the quarantine.

The TV in the break room flipped to News Channel 7 and their 'Breaking News'. One of the cities two buses had crashed an hour earlier when the driver, known as "Mad Matt", sat still in his seat and refused to drive. The passengers tried to grab the wheel in time but the bus fell over the side of an interstate overpass.

"...blocking all traffic towards Western Big!City. The city's second bus is expected to finish its first route then pick up the lost route, so all you Metro riders hold tight."

Liz sighed and sat down on a bench to call her friend, David,
"Hey! Look, you might have to pick me up instead. There's...there's just been a lot going on, you know? Like one patient-"

She noted her coworker signing the letters "H-I-P-A-A" and shook her head, "Nevermind. It's just been crazy; I'm too exhausted to walk home. You wouldn't mind, would you? Wait, hold on."
He could hear a loud crunch in the background.

Her coworker and roommate in assigned housing, Lisa, had suddenly tossed her metal chair into the TV, causing it to fall off the holder and onto the floor. Leaving her phone open on the locker room bench, Liz stood up to address her,
"Lisa! What's the matter with you?"

The woman exhaled through her teeth in a furious hiss. Liz noted blood seeping through the other nurse's long sleeved shirt, even though the only lacerations were at her ankles, "....Are you okay? Lisa?"

The only response she got was a choked cry from the woman as she fell to her knees. She coughed violently, blood frothing out of her mouth. Liz picked up her phone again, unaware her friend heard all the commotion, "I'll..I'll call you back, okay?". She hung up.

Liz looked around at the other nurse, some coming off shift, others just coming in, but all were circled around the fallen nurse. She kept repeating herself, crying that she 'didn't want to go in the quarantine'.

Despite the woman's flailing and tugging at her own hair, Liz slowly approached her roommate, "Lisa? It's okay, alright? We're going home. We'll just get the doctors to look at your wrist, we'll fill out an incident report, and then we'll go home, okay...?"

Lisa flung some of the TV debris at the girl, spitting at her feet, "Home? You think they'll let me go home? They'll lock me up like them and then...then..."

She screamed, then lunged for the other nurse, who fled towards the lockers and the showers at the end. But someone was stepping out to check on the commotion. Liz slipped on the water and accidently pulled her coworker down with her to the floor. She heard her wrist bend the wrong way before she felt it, though she felt the hard blow to her right eye soon after.

The nurse from the shower, with the help of the other nurses who had followed, managed to pull the screaming woman off Liz. After several failed attempts to calm her down and restrain her, they shoved her in a closet while two of the younger nurses ran to get help.

Liz lay dazed on the beige tiled floor, her left wrist bent awkwardly behind her body. The other nurses helped her back to the bench and splintered her wrist in a brace as best they could. One nurse called the incident in.

With her right hand still free, the injured nurse dialed her friend David again, but after several rings, heard only the voicemail,
"...Dave?" her voice trembled as tears rolled down her voice, "...I..I don't..I don't know what's going on. It's not safe here anymore. Please? Please I need to get home, Lisa broke my wrist, she's infected. They all are. I can't stay here. Please? Dave...? Please pick up the pho-"

She clicked her phone shut as the voicemail's time cut her off. An older nurse comforted her with a side hug while the younger nurse cried into her shoulder, "It's okay honey. We gotcha. We'll just get the doctors to cast that and you'll be fine. Then you go home, y'hear? You done good darlin', and don't'chu worry 'bout Lisa now. We'll get her the help she needs, mmkay? Hush, hush child...!"

One of the nurses pulled out the older, analog TV and adjusted the antennae. The reporter was back on, attempting to speak to the driver, who was amazingly unhurt. The man simply stared at her, until the woman turned back to the camera and away from him,
"...who refrains from comment at this time."
The bus driver slowly approached her, breathing in her scent and positioning his hands around her shoulders, "....This is Tracy Gossip, from News Chan..what is it, Frank? What's the-" she turned just as the bus driver dug his teeth into her neck, ignoring her scream. The camera fell to the grass, the blades half hiding grotesque scene, till someone turned it off.

The nurses stared at the accompanying rainbow screen till one of them slowly changed the channel. Channel 8 gave a public service announcement informing the public that essentially the jails in Small!town were overflowing with domestic abuse and assault charges, and were being directed to Surrounding!Cities, and that St. Mercy was overwhelmed and people were better suited to take route East!Interstate to Bigger!City.

One of the other travel nurses frowned at the TV, "A major high way accident, domestic abuse and assault victims, and this frickin' infection! We can't handle all these, plus we're losing our staff...! There has to be a line somewhere...!"
"We're doing our best, Susan..."
"Like hell." She jumped as Lisa slammed against the closet door, then in anger, kicked it in response.

They waited a bit longer, but their phone call was never answered. The younger nurses hadn't returned yet.

Liz cradeled her backpack to her and rocked back and forth as the older nurse checked the hallway for the help they were promised. Seeing bustling people running, pushing gurneys, shouting orders, she called the young girl to her, "Come here sugar. Okay. We're going to have to get you fixed another day, alright? You head on home, I'll walk you to the door. You get that friend of yours to take you to Bigger!City like the man said before they call you back in for another shift."

Scotty groaned at the annoying sound of the alarm. If only it didn't ring so many times. Then he could just go back to sleep. Of course that was exactly why it was set for so many rings. He grabbed his cell phone and thought about throwing it. Instead, he just flipped it open to stop the ringing. 11:05, he still have 55 minutes until class.
He got out of bed and took care of a few things before heading into the kitchen, where he saw his roommate. "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you had classes all morning."
She glared at him before responding. "Someone messed my alarm up. I only woke up because of yours."
He stared at her a moment, trying to figure out what happened. Then he actually did remember playing with the alarm yesterday.
He grinned sheepishly. "Oops."
She kept glaring. "Yeah. Big oops."
"I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."
"Yeah? How are you going to do that?"
He raised his eyebrow and tried to think. "I don't know... Is there anything you'd like me to cook tonight?"
She softened just a little. "Spaghetti? But don't think I will let you off with just that."
He nodded. "Of course not."

Almost four hours later:
Scotty entered the door with a bottle. He stared in amazement and forgot to close the door at first.
"Hey, what'd I tell you about walking around naked? We'll never work as roommates if you try seducing me."
She didn't speak, but did make her way toward him. He watched her, enjoying the view. She came close and started nibbling on his left ear.
"I'm serious. If you don't stop, I'm not sure I can control myself."
As he began pulling away, her teeth clamped down on his earring. It was too late for him to respond. The earring ripped through his flesh and he began mumbling about it.
Within minutes he had the ear covered with bandaids and toilet paper. Still, the roommate refused to speak. He grabbed the bottle of wine and left for the emergency room.

The police were too preoccupied to notice the theft.

Back at the hospital, the older nurse walked with Liz to the front desk of the ER, where both weren't surprised to find the room absolute packed. The older nurse assured her charge that she'd fill out the incident report for her, and that she best get to the hospital in East!City.

The nurses had to yell over the loud roar of the frustrated, injured, frightened masses in the room. Those few police men that weren't out on assault calls or at the crash site were desperately trying but failing to contain the mob, who were starting to riot. A policeman, hiding behind an empty gurney, pushed it over to grab the crowd's attention. He stood on the arms of a chair and held his hands up, trying to calm them down.

Silence fell over the crowd in waves. Family members and staff held down some of the most frustrated patients, whose grunts were the only sound until the policemen requested everyone to line up so the triage nurses could assign them letters and locations.

He was sharply interrupted by a young child who pulled out of his mother's arms and bit the man's ankle. Out of reflex and pain, the man hit the child away, immediately regretting his decision as the crowd's compliace broke and their anger poured out.

The old nurse shoved Liz out the door and handed her her backpack. When the door closed behind her, a shot rang out, and the young nurse fell to the ground, shivering. After a moment, when she realized the danger, she hurried to hide behind the bushes at the front of the building.

If the streets had been clear, David would have obliterated the motorcycle's engine long before he got to the Hospital. He hadn't quite mastered shifting, yet, and the ride was not very pleased with its new driver. He knew he couldn't stop, though. Everywhere he looked, people were destroying things and each other. Several times he passed a bloodied body on the sidewalk.

He pulled up to the front of the Hospital, flipped open his visor, and pulled out his cellphone to call Liz. He stared worriedly at the blood stains on the lobby windows, a coldness in his gut pulsing with every ring.

He could hear a faint, happy sounding ringtone from the bushes to his right. A small head with short hair peeked over the top, then snapped the phone shut and rushed out to him.

She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder, crying that she wanted to go home. He could notice a black brace on her left wrist, and that her right eye was starting to swell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unbeknownst to Scotty, the riot in the hospital broke out further. Blood smattered against the windows and a shot rang out. Soon, a man pulled up on a motorcycle, and a young girl ran out of the bushes to greet him. Scotty could witness the two, but not recognize them.