“Good morning, I'm Rod Chase, reporting live at NYMNC News. We interrupt this program to bring you this important news bulletin: We are currently receiving widespread reports of random acts of violence and murder all over the city, and happenings of mass hysteria. Details are a bit sketchy right now, and there has been no official statement from the police about the situation, but we will continue to bring you coverage of the story as it unfolds. This has been Rod Chase, with NYMNC News; keeping you up-to-date, and informed.”





“Good evening, I'm Rod Chase, reporting live at NYMNC News. For those of you just joining us, we will be remaining live on the air for the remainder of what has evolved into a nationwide crisis. As reported earlier, there have been widespread attacks all over the city by what citizens are describing as bloody corpses in a trance-like state, and the situation has only escalated further since this morning. We still have no confirmed reports as to why this may be happening, however speculations range from a bacteria or virus with a mind-altering effect, to some sort of chemical spill or behaviour disorder inducing mass hysteria. All roads and freeways are jammed with citizens trying to evacuate the city, and the governor has issued the following statement:

"All citizens are encouraged to remain in their homes until the crisis is contained. Lock your doors, lock your windows, and draw your curtains. Do not; for any reason, answer your door. Remain in your homes, and remain vigilant. CDC and law-enforcement officials are doing everything they can to safely escort and evacuate civilians to a secure location."





“Widespread panic has swept the city. Most communities are without telephones, many without power, and some without water. Scientists at the CDC released the following statement concerning the incident in an interview not more than an hour ago:

"The bodies of the recently deceased are returning to life, driven by an unknown force that enables the brain to function. Whatever it is, the condition is highly contagious, and characterized by a sudden onset of flu-like symptoms; including, but not limited to:

Headaches; fever; vomiting; chills; myalgia; convulsions, and eventually, expiration.

If you or a loved one is suspected of infection, it is absolutely imperative to segregate and contain the individual until evacuation personnel arrive."

"For citizens that are trapped or otherwise unable to evacuate the city on their own, we are providing a list of rescue stations displayed on the screen below. If possible, citizens are encouraged to make their way to the closest collection point, and await assistance. Military personnel have been deployed to aid in rescue and evacuation operations, but because the violence is so widespread, it is impossible for evacuation personnel to respond to every situation in a timely manner. Listed with the rescue points below are points of priority, displayed in red. If possible, make your way to these safehouses, and await evacuation. Barricade the doors, block the windows, and turn out the lights. If possible, mark the roof, or side of the building with a S.O.S. signal so that responders may accurately identify it and expedite your rescue. Again, it is advised to remain indoors."





“There are still pandemic reports that the recently dead and deceased are returning to life and attacking the living. Any unburied corpse with its brain intact will still function. The dead body must be deactivated by either destroying the brain, or separating the brain from the rest of the body. Every dead body that is not properly exterminated will kill; every person that dead body kills will get up, and kill, no matter how damaged or mutilated the body is. We will stay on the air for as long as possible, but with power grids failing all across the nation, there is no guarantee. This has been Rod Chase, with NYMNC News. Stay safe, and God help us all.”



THE INFECTED


Walkers:


Slow-moving shamblers; your typical zombie. With limited neural function, they are generally clumsy and awkward, and relatively speaking: fragile - but because of their tendency to interact with objects with a resemblance of memory, it is speculated over the actual intelligence of the creatures. Nevertheless, they are outwardly easy to avoid and kill in sparse quantities, but in large groups, they can become extremely problematic, often bogging down and overwhelming their victims. Drawn primarily by motion and sound, they are driven only by the basic need to feed.

Weak Point: The brain.

Runners:

Much like their shambling counterparts, Runners are identical to Walkers in every way aside from their tendency to pursue supposed prey in large, sprinting packs.

Weak Point: The brain.

Screamers/Gargoyles:

Easily one of the most disturbing types of Infected, this form of infection seems to primarily affect Avian species, to a very precise degree. Primarily identified by their molting feathers, skinless faces, and often rot-pocked bodies, their most defining feature is their voice. With supposed prey in their sights, they will emit a high-pitched, warbling shriek that at close ranges can rupture ear-drums and cause loss of consciousness, leaving their victims virtually helpless against their predator.

Weak Point: This particular strain of Infected has developed a hardiness against typical forms of extermination, making them harder to kill than the average Walker. Vulnerability is primarily expressed through the pink, bulbous fleshy nodules or splotches that develop in seemingly random areas of the body, but one solid hit will invariably result in death. However, enough damage to the brain will generally have the same effect, and if not, at least silence its voice.

Hunters/Stalkers:

How this strain of Infected is chosen by the virus itself is open to speculation, but the result is almost always the same. Sometimes referred to as 'Stalkers' because of their documented tendency to prowl around on all fours like a feral animal, this type of Infected has proven particularly dangerous not only because of its incredible mobility and the distance it can cover with a single leap, but also because of its cunning and hunting tactics. Alone and singular, a Hunter will stalk its victim like a predator to its prey; sticking to shadows and dark areas or lofty spaces where visibility is limited and detection is minimal - but in large crowds, the Hunter has been observed mimicking Walkers and Runners, if only to better close the distance and strike viciously when there is absolutely no chance of escape or evasion, attacking with sharp fang-like teeth, and long cruel talons to rip its prey to pieces. Hunters have been known to stalk victims for days and miles and more, if for nothing but for the closure of the kill.

Weak Point: The brain.

Brutes:

Like the Hunter, basis of viral selection in this strain of Infected is only speculated. Once reanimated, the physical structure of the Infected begins to alter significantly, ultimately leaving them literal giants among the rest of the horde. Because the virus distends and grows the musculature of a would-be Brute, they are invariably some heads taller than a regular person, and despite their often lanky appearance, develop incredible strength. While this alone makes them easily discernible from the rest of the horde, they are notorious for their crazed, bloodthirsty smile, and the extreme and often excessive violence that comes with it, with most cases documenting Brutes using the heaviest thing they can lift to beat, batter, and otherwise pulverize their victim whether or not they actually intend to feed on them. Because of their hardened musculature, they are considerably more durable than the average Walker, and duly, should be avoided at all costs.

Weak Point: The brain.

Brains:

Perfectly identical to Walkers and Runners, the defining characteristic of the Brain is its capacity to learn, often mimicking the living down to a tee through gestures and habitual patterns. It is speculated that the existence of Brains might eventually spark the development of logical thinking in the rest of the horde, potentially making them that much more dangerous. However, because of their extremely restricted speech (limited mostly to grunts and groans and even sobs), and often mutilated bodies, the suspected chance of them successfully infiltrating the living is practically non-existent.

Weak Point: The brain.

Sleepers:

Much like Walkers, Sleepers will move around in a slow, trudging shamble. However, Sleepers have been separated into a different class due to their arguably more strategic tendencies, often moving around and lying back down again in places frequented by survivors to in essence, play possum. When an unwary survivor happens by, the Sleeper will promptly ambush, latching onto ankles and feet and legs in order to bite and cripple their victim so that they can appropriately feed. Survivors should watch for seemingly conveniently placed corpses, or otherwise inanimate corpses that move from one prostrate location to the next.

Weak Point: The brain.


RULES



The prescribed starting location for the initial group of players will be in a barricaded safehouse. This is the most ideal beginning to the roleplay, but honestly, your character can begin anywhere in the city. Of course, the idea is to eventually come together and stick together in order to increase chances of survival, which players will sustain for as long as possible. Survivors can be any anthropomorphic species or human ethnicity or gender, within reason (Leave your futa/herm fetishist and supernatural fantasy characters at home, please). Water still runs in most buildings, but electricity is hit-or-miss. Supplies are running low, as well as ammunition. Most local shops are empty due to looting and theft, leaving little scraps for straggling survivors, and because of their dwindling resources, players will inevitably be forced from the safety of their barricaded building and out onto the street. If this isn't taken up pro-actively, then the barricades will disappear, and they'll be forced to move anyway - because fuck idleness, that's why.

This is an open-form roleplay. Therefore, players are expected to be pro-active, and not just aimlessly follow one player's lead. The infection has become global, and thus, 'safety' is really just a relative thing, and Infected movement, behavior, and encounters absolutely will not be the duty of one person - everyone is expected to take part. You're a small group against an endless horde, after all.

No starter katana, chainsaws, rocket-launchers, or otherwise overpowered weapons; ammunition is extremely limited, so conserve it, or do without. In that, keep track of how many rounds your character expends, and make notes of it. No unlimited ammo, here. Players are expected to develop characters within realistic levels of badassness (military/law-enforcement, ex-military/law-enforcement, etc - make them believable), and duly, realistic levels of danger relative to the story. In that, we're not looking for heroes; death is, in fact, encouraged. This is not anime. The intent of this roleplay is for the lives of the Survivors to be put in a situation of calamity, even during periods of relative safety. Things like hunger, dehydration, and sleep-deprivation will be taken into account, and should be expressed accordingly. Thus, players will be expected to keep track of these things. If your character hasn't slept in two days, they're gonna be suckin'. If they haven't eaten or drank anything in two days, they're going to be weaker - and if they're bitten, or otherwise infected, then the player in question is expected to play out the symptoms until expiration and reanimation - unless they are properly dealt with. A player will be considered infected if they are bitten, scratched, or come into mucus membrane contact with infected blood, saliva or vomit. Some exceptions in cases of oral contact may apply. Roll the dice, and we'll decide on it. There is a bright side, however: the virus takes a little time to flood the bloodstream, so if a Survivor is bitten on an extremity, for example, amputation is an option - so long as it is done immediately, if not soon after contact. Otherwise, get used to the idea of shuffling around until someone puts you down.

Progression of infection:
Headaches
Fever and chills
Vomiting and myalgia
Tremors and/or convulsions
Death and reanimation

If your character dies, make another. There is no lockout. Not yet.



CHARACTER TEMPLATE

Name
Age
Species or Ethnicity
Sex
Biometric details and/or a brief bio to preferably include background, specialties and prior experience.