epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE SICK AND THE DEAD

EVENT ★ THE SICK AND THE DEAD

THE LAST HURRAH

STATE OF WOODHURST

Things are bad. There's more infected on the streets every day, ravenous since their would-be victims are all boarded up in their houses. Audentes members who are infected are likely feeling ravenous now, too, and some of them are far gone enough that they might need to be subdued.

The city is in a state of panic, and the military has been given permission to use lethal force if necessary to stop people from leaving quarantine; keeping the virus contained is the number one priority of the federal government. As for the local government, all non-essential persons have been given leave until further notice for their own safety.

The police department is still running, but they're in a constant war against the infected, forced to retaliate fatally more and more each day. They have no time to focus on any other crimes.

Some citizens would be thankful if Audentes ran some "errands" for them — attempting to loot what's left of the stores, for example — or accompanied them outside as protection. Many people have family to see, some of them on the other side of the city, but it's nearly impossible to get there without a bodyguard of some sort. Someone could possibly make some cash this way, but there's something more important to do.

MEANWHILE . . .

The hospital, formerly chaotic, has devolved into outright bedlam. Theft and fights with the staff are increasingly common, and frenzied people are constantly demanding a cure the doctors don't have. Fortunately, it looks like Audentes does. Science-minded recruits have been hard at work creating a vaccine, which is widely available already, and a cure, which is rolling out slower.

Administering the vaccine is risky, as it requires escorting people to the hospital without getting killed, as well as hoping the infected constantly wandering into the hospital have been taken care of.

Administering the cure is even more so; it's highly recommended that the infected be unconscious before being given the cure. Even Bristol sufferers have to sleep! If not asleep, knocked out or otherwise sedated will do. It is absolutely not recommended for anyone to go at an angry infected with a syringe, but it's not like anyone's going to stop you... except maybe the infected.

Escorts and security guards are necessary at the hospital. The police department has offered their services, with their main priority being the vaccine. Until everyone is vaccinated, the city can't afford to think of a way to safely administer a cure to the infected population, so anyone interested will have to do it themselves. Stock up on syringes at the hospital and get going!

DR. PERCY

For those more interested in seeking out the source of the virus rather than treating it, it's not difficult to surmise that "Doctor" Percy is hiding out in the sewers. Very deep in the sewers. He's apparently built a subterranean expansion: a series of winding, metallic tunnels with many forks and dead ends. Be careful when exploring, as you might run into one of Percy's robotic bodyguards before finding him.

But once he is found, tucked away in a wide cavern . . .

It seems he's preparing a hasty exit, with almost everything packed up and his human disguise dropped. Without it, he appears to be an alien of some sort, but not one that Audentes has run into yet. His skin is amber, smooth, and slimy. He has several pairs of wide-set eyes of different sizes, but no nose. His mouth extends far across his face, and below it is a wattle, not unlike that of a turkey. Peeling off him at all times are scales; apparently, he's shedding more than just his disguise.

He's completely alone, without another Zymandis agent in sight, and not a particularly good fighter. Subduing or killing him would be easy, especially when it's several against one. When first encountered, he says nothing if spoken to, and only attempts to run.

If attacked, he will summon several robot bodyguards -- seven-foot-tall bipedal constructs who only listen to Percy's commands, directed via remote control. They will fight to the death to protect their master, who will use the distraction to again try to run.

It looks like the choices are clear: Audentes must choose whether to non-lethally subdue him or kill him. If subdued, what happens to him afterwards is still up in the air. Whatever your decision, it's highly likely you'll meet some resistance from the other members of the team, so get ready to argue.

CYOA

Each character will only be able to officially do one of the following choices.

Confront Percy.
Protect citizens.
Spread the vaccine/cure.
Other.

For the sake of tallying, we ask that each individual character submit their choice separately rather than in a group. The Dr. Percy encounter will be open for 48 hours only, after which participants will receive the outcome, which will be based on their choices. The rest will be open for 7 days, will not receive a reply, and will only be used only for tallying purposes. Making a choice is not mandatory, but the choices will affect whether Audentes passes or fails the mission.

You may of course thread out other options, but they will not count for the purposes of the pass/fail tally. Again, you may only officially choose one option per character.

OOC NOTES

Because this log is being posted late in the month, threads are eligible for March or April AC, but not both. Though the encounter with Percy will be a short one, the rest of this log will last two IC weeks. After that, characters will be immediately rifted away from Woodhurst without warning.

THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE CURE: As the virus is not a degenerative disease, characters will suffer no lasting (physical) trauma caused by it. Side-effects from the cure may include nausea, weakness, vertigo, rash, brain fog, numbness of the face, insomnia, dizziness, fatigue, heart palpitations, or vomiting. This may last for anywhere up to four weeks.

THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE VACCINE: Side-effects may include irritability and hunger for anywhere up to four weeks.

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.

All bounties listed with a 3/25 due date are now closed. There are two open bounties remaining on the Bounty Board, which will need to be turned in by the end of the mission on 8 April. ( 1 2 )

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[Reigning back three infected at once and trying to decide what to do with them is a very preoccupying affair, enough so that Mob senses the aura early on and yet doesn't quite register it for what it could be. Not until it's strong enough to be practically on top of him, anyway, a charged ozone tang in the air prickling at the back of his throat. Like a storm's about to happen, except--

Instead of raindrops or thunder, it's a tall man that suddenly all but bursts into the scene and Mob's line of attention, with a shout loud enough to startle both Mob and the infected. Mob's focus cuts, and the infected snap free, two of them promptly rounding on the man--who proceeds to whack one with a baseball bat.]

Huh--? [The infected meeting an early-batted fate folds to the ground with a groan; their partner lunges for the man with renewed vigor. Mob stares at all of these very quickly unfolding proceedings like a deer caught in headlights, but then the third infected is lurching towards him, and he jerks a step back just in time to narrowly avoid a swiping hand. Looks like it's a fight happening here...and it looks like that stranger can hit things quite hard. Mob hopes he doesn't get hurt, though he hopes at the same time that the infected don't get too hurt either--]

Ah, please--be careful-- [--And that's all he can squeak out, before the infected has another go at him. Mob steps back into the alley this time, raising a hand again. He...still doesn't know what he ought to do, exactly, but the infected follows him back into the alley--and out of obvious sight of any possible nearby civilians--which is enough reassurance to apply his powers more openly again. Mob lifts the infected straight up into the air with a nudge of telekinesis, and just...sort of lets the person hang up there for a bit, suspended, limbs flailing and snarling down incoherently at him. It's not as if this takes a particular lot of energy, anyway, and this way Mob can refocus his attention back to the alley entrance where that man had been fighting the other two. Is he okay...?]

[It's a simple matter to knock both the infected to the ground, then set about finding ways to restrain them. He produces two lengths of thin metal wire (taken from a fence a few streets back) and winds it about their hands and legs like rope. He bends and snaps the wire off with ease, leaving them tied on the ground and incapable of doing more than writhing.

By the time Mob looks over, Odinson's wrapping up the second one. He's using less care than he should, and his hand strays too close to it's mouth. It lunges and he shouts in pain and surprise as it catches the meat of his hand in it's teeth. When a vicious shake doesn't free his hand, he drops the wire and punches it straight in the face with his free hand.]

Bloody norns-cursed spawn of a hell-hound- [He isn't worried about infection; he's immune to human disease and has already sustained a few other bites today. But the bite stings and he should take more care. Cursing to himself, he sets about finish the job of tying it up.

He looks up to find Mob watching, then looks further up at the infected hanging in the air.] A useful trick! That is how you kept them at bay?

[Well, it looks like the man has had things more than under control on his end--or at least, it did until one of the infected he was trying to tie down attempted to literally bite out a chunk of his hand, which produces an alarming gash and an equally alarming amount of--old-fashioned swearing? Probably?? (Mob isn't sure, but it sort of sounds that way...)

This prompts Mob into half-starting towards the mouth of the alley, at least, but by the time he's belatedly moved to react the man is already free of the biting with a hearty punch, and rising to his feet after finishing his tying. As he speaks, Mob draws to a halt, still openly staring...though after the question sinks in with some delay, he follows the man's line of sight up to the infected still suspended above him.]

Yes. It's--telekinesis? [Though compared to pretty much everything else about Odinson's display just now, this neither feels particularly impressive nor sounds like it, as weakly as Mob answers. Never mind that anyway, though...Mob's staring at the new wound on Thor's hand, and starts forward again now, concern visible on his features.] But...your hand--is it alright? You're bleeding... [Mob reaches into his hoodie pocket as he draws near, and wishes he'd thought to ask for some bandages or something.] I've, got some tissues, but...

[He shakes his hand, opens and closes his fist a few times to make sure all the fingers still work (they do) then wipes the blood on his shirt.]

The day I small bite fells me is the day I dig my own grave. [He sounds irked, but Mob might get the idea that this is a constant for him, unrelated to the bite. He offers what's left of the metal wire to Mob-] Do you need this?

[He motions to the infected still floating above them, unsure if Mob has other plans to subdue it. Get the threat dealt with before talking.]

[--Well, at least the man doesn't seem. Terribly...concerned about it....mistaking his irked tone for offense at the question, Mob draws to a halt and stops reaching for his tissues, though he can't help but keep eyeing the hand wound with some continuing concern despite himself.]

You're not worried about getting sick, like them? ...That's good. [Mob still can't help but be somewhat worried himself, admittedly, but the man sounds assured enough that he must have a good reason for it. Mob doesn't think he's ready to argue the point either way. And if he does get sick, Mob's heard there's medicine around for that now, at least...

Speaking of infected, though--the wire is offered his way, and Mob blinks down at it before accepting it automatically, looking back up to the suspended infected again. Oh, right...shouldn't leave that person hanging up there forever, probably.]

Yes, I think. Um... [Mob hesitates underneath the infected with the wire in hand, for a moment, before deciding to let the wire float up into the air with a telekinetic bump as well. The safest bet is probably...to not get touched by the infected if he can help it, after all, and leaving them up in the air until they're tied seems like the safest thing to do. It's simple enough that Mob doesn't need to raise a hand this time, simply keeping the wire within his line of sight and imagining it bending and knotting around the infected's arms and ankles--which it does.

Mob turns back to Thor as the newly-tied infected person begins to very slowly descend back to the ground behind him, eventually getting laid on their side to froth with relative harmlessness.] ...Thank you, for helping me. Are you with Audentes?

[Watching curiously as the youth deals with the infected, Odinson continues to wipe his hand free of blood and reaches to pick up the bat where he'd dropped it. It will be interesting to see what this youth is capable of when he is fully grown, he thinks distractedly.]

I am. I am Odinson, of Asgardia. [As always when introducing himself with this name, he feels keenly the loss of his hammer once more. But he steels himself to it.]

You, also, must be Audentes? Ordinary humans do not have such powers as yours. [The child could be an inhuman, or a mutant- he might not even be human like himself. It's pointless guessing.]

[Huh, so he'd guessed right. That this guy's in Audentes isn't surprising to Mob in the least--the thunderous aura still pouring off this man's person is enough to distinguish him from a Woodhurst civilian all by itself, but...there's a lot of other things too. The way he holds himself, the old-fashioned way he talks...like....ah, it's like somebody straight out of a movie full of ancient warriors or something.

There really are a lot of different kinds of people on this team, aren't there?

That's also a rather fancier introduction than Mob was expecting; he takes it in with slightly wide eyes.] It's, nice to meet you, Odinson-san. [Even his name sounds like something out of a movie, ah....] I'm Shigeo Kageyama. ...Of, um. Seasoning City?

[Well, it doesn't sound nearly as cool when he tries out the turn of phrase, but that's not really surprising. Mob couples it with a small and polite bow, at least, before moving on to nod slightly at the question.]

Yes, I am. ...I guess that's true. I'm an Esper, so I use psychic powers. [If that even means anything to this strange impressive man...but Mob feels obligated to clarify at least somehow. Still, there's that aura that continues to hang in the air, off Odinson's person...curiosity overtakes him.] ...Do you have powers too?

Edited 2017-03-29 02:18 (UTC)

[The threat of the last infected dealt with, Odinson relaxes a fraction. He rolls his shoulders, holds the bat casually over one arm while he considers how best to answer the question.] I do, of a kind.

I am Aesir, not human. My kind are longer lived, hardier, and capable of things which humans are not. [That's not a full answer.] We are what many call gods. I am the God of Thunder.

[Mob takes in all of this with slightly widened eyes, evidently at least somewhat impressed by what he's hearing. It sounds--larger than life, really, but...isn't all of this? Falling into another dimension or something, and now being in an America in the past? And also...]

Ah, that makes sense. Your power-- [He gestures, shortly and vaguely at Thor's general self on the whole.] --it feels like rain in the summer, sort of. When there's going to be a storm...you can make that happen?

[He stops mid-stretch to look over at Shigeo, looking at the child properly. The storm is something he lives with, an ever-present feeling at the core of his being which he used to consider the core of who and what he was.

He surprised that Shigeo would sense that about him, but he can't say why. After all: he may not be worthy of Mjolnir but he is still himself.]

Aye, when the storms answer me. [He looks up at the snow-grey clouds covering the city, sighs, then back down..] Your power allows you to sense such things in others?

[When they answer him...aah, what a cool answer. But also--probably not so surprising, in retrospect. Mob imagines it would be very difficult to control the weather, even when you have that kind of power. He's never thought to try it, but he already feels a little tired just thinking about it...so it makes sense.

He nods shortly at the question.]

Yes. Everyone has something a little different...if they do have it. I don't think anyone that lives in this city does, though. [Speaking of which, even...Mob shifts slightly, turning to blink at the infected still writhing on the ground behind him.] Oh, right...what should we do with these people here?

[Odinson turns, following his gaze to the infected on the ground.]

I have been leaving them restrained as they are now in abandoned buildings. I do not know if there is a place they are being held. [Since a cure is being made and the infected aren't to be killed.]

I don't know either...I haven't been here for very long. I know there's cures being given out, but. I don't know if they want these sorts of people inside the hospital before they're fixed...?

[Ah...honestly, in the end, Odinson's method of doing things here doesn't seem half bad. Mob certainly can't think of anything better himself. He looks back up to him.] In that case, I guess we can put them in a building here, and then...go back to the hospital and tell somebody where they are?

Aye, that was my plan also. Now they are restrained, they pose less danger to themselves and those who might happen on them.

[He heads out of they alley, looking up and down the street.] Here is one with windows broken. It must be abandoned.

Looks like it, yes...

[And so Mob and Odinson spent the next several minutes picking up infected and disposing them in this particular abandoned building. Some of them were probably carried with much protest, while others were gingerly floated through the window. Either way, once all that was accomplished, the two of them headed back to the hospital to tell the nearest available staff about these particular infected's whereabouts.

It wasn't a great time, but it was more of an ok time than it could have been, and that's what counts.]

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EVENT ★ THE SICK AND THE DEAD

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