epidemiology | EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

I WANNA START A FIGHT

RIOTS

In the time between the quarantine and now, the virus has spread unnaturally rapidly, with the amount of the population infected estimated to be around 1.5% or approximately 3,750 people. Understandably, the panic has increased considerably. People who were taking the virus seriously before have begun to work themselves up into a frenzy, and even those who were calm are beginning to get anxious.

An infected teacher went on a violent rampage at the local elementary school yesterday, leading the school board to close all Woodhurst schools for the rest of the week while the entire staff is studied for symptoms. There’s no test for the Bristol virus, however, so it’s impossible to tell for sure. This, of course, worries the parents. The unrest starts with a protest at the school, calling for schools to be closed indefinitely until the quarantine is over for the safety of the children, but it doesn’t stop there.

Unrest turns to rioting before long; the majority of the riot is focused at city hall, where citizens are demanding answers, but there’s also mayhem at stores as the people of Woodhurst loot them, stocking up for what some assume is an impending apocalypse. Those who don’t believe this have locked themselves up in their homes not for protection from the infected but the rioters. Suffice it to say, most of the citizens out on the streets are of the slightly unstable variety, although some just found themselves caught up in the riots and became worked up by the crowd.

Local police forces -- including ALASTAIR agents posing as police officers -- have been dispatched to deal with the rioters at city hall. Rioters who attempt to leave the city are taken care of by officers sent by the federal government to enforce the quarantine.

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

It might be a good idea to see what supplies can be found at the supermarkets, although you run the risk of getting attacked by a violent looter. The police won’t necessarily turn away anyone trying to keep order at city hall, but any supernatural powers will only incite the already violent crowd, so it’s recommended characters keep from utilizing their powers if they want to stay in one piece. Then, of course, there’s always the option to protect innocents who happen to be stuck out on the streets in the middle of the riots.

While the entirety of the police force is focused at the quarantine borders and outside city hall, now is possibly one of the only chances to get full access to buildings in the city. There are still some workers who haven’t been sent home and some of the buildings are locked up, but there are few police officers that can be spared to go check out a simple break-in.

Now is the time to search the city, if you're feeling brave. If you’re really ballsy, you can even try to slip in through the back door of city hall and go through their records. The only important building in town that’s not able to be searched is the hospital, which is incredibly busy due to the high number of people injured in the riots and traffic accidents.

Of course, just because rioters aren’t around doesn’t mean you’ll be left alone. There’s always a chance you’ll find yourself alone in a building with someone very hungry. Willing to take the chance?

Submit all CYOA choices to this thread.

OOC NOTES

The Bounty Board is now open! If you are looking for ways to get involved in this mission's optional objective, this is a good place to start. We’d also like to remind everyone that ALASTAIR does not invent cover stories for characters -- that’s all them! The only jobs they’ll help with getting are in the police force and government; everything else is up to characters to interview for.

Questions about Woodhurst can be submitted to this thread. Questions about the game in general should be directed to the FAQ. You may submit mission ideas or player plots at any time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And we might end up risking this entire world to find that vaccine. Changing it in the process. I'm not sure if that's what the Timeline wants us to do. [If it means surviving, then it could work. But Keith doesn't know if drastic changes will work in their favor. Then again, they've done more extreme things in the past, haven't they?]

It seems like we're always left to sort out what we're intended to do... We've given results to achieve, but not the method or means.

[Which makes it difficult for them to make reasoned decisions that affect entire worlds. Matters would be simpler if they were provided with more information or parameters, or even active logistical support. These are what he was always accustomed to back in Tokyo, and the lack is one he feels keenly.

It might be that in the end, they'll have to change this world. They're already interfering, but it comes down to just how much change they ought to consider acceptable]

Maybe it's something the team should discuss, considering the situation. If we're not told how much is too much, maybe it's up to our discretion.

It probably is. I just ... don't want to be the one to broach that myself. [The last time Keith had to handle deep conversations with the team, he had felt exhausted. It's one thing to think about leading a small team of Voltron paladins (a thought that's already tiring as it is); it's another to think about talking to their eighty strong team to figure out a plan and method.

That sounds ... terrible to him. Absolutely awful.]

Someone with natural leadership qualities and a lot of fortitude would be best.

[At least, if they're speaking in ideal terms. Someone like Lucina comes in mind when Haise thinks about it, due to their recent experiences. Yet at the same time he isn't sure that he'd want to foist that responsibility off on her.

Still...]

I remember during my first mission, I came in too late for any productive discussion. People had already committed to what they believed was the right course of action, but... I'm not sure that included defining how much change was too much.

How much of our team makeup then is what we have now? I know we have a lot of people getting transferred out all the time. [Riza and Loki are the only ones he knows that have been here since the time the team was created, so he can't help but wonder if the turnover is ... what it has been for some time.

The transfers bother him, but he has to think of it in light of how different they might be, from even their previous mission.]

Not as many as I'd think ideal for a cohesive team. Of those I know, maybe around a dozen remain from as early as the Nalawi mission. I recall Siglinde telling me only a few were still here from her early days in ALASTAIR.

[Which is itself a worrying matter. Not only are people getting transferred around rather than returning home, but they're left with more and more recruits who don't have much experience to draw on.

Once more, the organizational structure presents itself as questionable]

Then maybe things can be different in how we discuss things. [Keith pauses and thinks that's exactly what Shiro might say here, and honestly, it's what seems to be the most rational conclusion. He might not be the most rational guy, but it says something.]

Even if suggesting that we totally change these people might be taken really badly.

Yes, I think timing, personnel, and circumstances are all different this time around. And having a consensus would be a good idea.

[Ideally, not being divided among themselves, though Haise isn't sure how realistic that would be in terms of setting expectations]

It's true that we're unlikely to all agree... But we could also see how our more scientifically inclined associates are doing, which might give us a better sense of where to go from here.

I've been trying to get what I can to them, but I'm not sure if any of it has been helpful.

[The way he speaks is like one with a lot of doubts. Still, Keith will respect anything they come up with, or anything they want, moving forward.]

What makes you say that?

[Assistance in any form was surely beneficial, or at least Haise is inclined to believe as much. He doesn't doubt Keith's capacity to help others, what's more, having worked with him several times in the past.

So why is he dubious now?]

Just ... it's nothing like really useful ... anything.

[From his perspective. The riots give him more to do, but his confidence is shaken here.]

Could you give me an example?

[Because he knows how it is to feel useless. His strength is so often insufficient to affect the change that he'd like to achieve. It's a frustrating thing, and one he can certainly understand.

But maybe Keith's doing more good than he realizes]

Just—clothes in the sewers. Things like that. I've tried finding more, but I haven't had much luck. [There's a pause there. Admitting anything close to weakness is hard enough. Feeling like he's failed is another thing altogether.]

I was sure when we got here that someone was behind this. That someone hurt these people on purpose.

Edited (when html tags need to be closed) 2017-03-04 23:54 (UTC)

I don't disagree with you on that point. It does seem that this is intentional, whatever it is.

[That's only Haise's opinion, but he doesn't believe that this disease spontaneously came into being. Especially something of this nature, if only because it doesn't resemble anything from the Earth he knows...

...Except ghouls. A disease that simulates a ghoul's hunger...it seems so wrong]

Maybe the way to help is to find evidence. Some kind of lead.

That's what I've been doing. [After a beat, he just draws his arms back into their typical cross-armed position. Keith doesn't know why he took this path, and now he regrets it.]

I'll keep following any leads I find. Dead ends are better than leaving things hanging. If you've got an idea for where I can poke around, let me know.

Searching for leads is helpful, even if you find none. In those cases, you're eliminating dead-ends that others then don't have to follow.

[And there's considerable benefit in that. If they all pursued the same ideas, where would they wind up? So much time could be wasted]

You've already mentioned sewers, but maybe... I've been wondering if the hospital doesn't have reports that might be useful, at least in establishing a pattern. But that'd be difficult. So far I haven't observed anywhere that infected individuals seem to congregate, but when things settle down, it might be worth checking out the strip mall too. I ran into over a half-dozen there.

That seems like a place to start. And if I see any infected on the streets who look ... well, like they can answer questions, I'll see what I can find. If nothing else, we might be able to stop one source of the trouble.

[Keith gets the sense that he's going to be wearing his paladin outfit a lot.

He really, really wishes they had come here in October, at least. Halloween would help most of them.]

With any luck, we'll get some kind of answers soon. We could use it.

[If they keep looking, there has to be something.

At least they can be reasonably sure of that]

Those efforts will lead to something.

I'll keep working no matter what. [Which, come to think of it:] And I ought to get back to doing that now. I've had enough of a break.

There's still more to be done, you're right.

[Quite a bit more, for that matter.

They always have their hands full]

Let's do our best.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ★ I PREDICT A RIOT

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