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09:56, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Act 5 - A: Homecoming.

Posted by BanditoFor group 0
Snicker
GM, 2514 posts
Tue 26 Oct 2021
at 03:21
  • msg #325

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Ivy

Ivy succeeds in flagging down an aloof-looking teenager with a bandage on his arm. Fortunately, it's not one of the teenagers from the library. Upon hearing her request, he looks down at her with a look that is somewhat bemused but mostly apathetic.

"I been to the roof," the teenager says dismissively. "Don't even bother, it's boring. Leo's gonna put you up there anyway. Then you'll have to see everything, 'cuz you'll be stuck there for hours. You're gonna hate it."

The teenager addresses all of the children simultaneously with his diatribe, as if he's reading a story for the class. When he's done, he looks briefly up at Edward, but doesn't look embarrassed at grousing in front of an adult.

"Whatever," he concludes, then points down the hall. "That blue door without a window goes to the roof. Don't fall off."

Trisha

Despite her exhaustion, Ashley gives Trisha a smile and a nod. "The captain's always ready," she says.

Trisha's hammer comes down on the walker's skull with textbook precision. There is an uncomfortable feeling of bone giving way under her blow as the walker immediately goes as limp and heavy as a sack of bricks. Its full weight falls on the broken glass in the window frame, which fillets the rotting flesh from its body for a moment before the glass gives way and shatters, dropping the walker to the floor.

Out in the yard, Nathan drives a knife into the rearmost walker's skull, pitching it to the grass. The final remaining walker doesn't seem to notice, its eyes on Trisha  and Ashley. As Ash moves to Trisha's flank, the walker steps over the broken glass and into attacking range.

Rufus, Regina

Mary returns Regina's look. Unlike Regina, she does not attempt to keep her expression neutral; she looks dubious, though not outright dismissive.

"I'm always open for discussion," Mary says, "but I haven't learned anything yet that's likely to change my opinion."

She looks at Gabriella. "No offense. I've just had bad experiences with large groups."

"I've heard that before," Gabriella responds, "but I've heard a lot of people say it's dangerous to go alone. Safety in numbers, right?

"Anyway, you don't have to decide right now. If you want to help Kathrine, I know she'd appreciate it. It might even get you those resources you wanted. Scavenging is still on the table, though, if you want some action."
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:00, Wed 27 Oct 2021.
Rufus
character, 415 posts
Wed 27 Oct 2021
at 00:57
  • msg #326

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"Yes, there's still much learn. Maybe you have some deep dark secrets here that we don't know about. Like a men-eating cult! Or a cave full of weapons of mass destruction." After his wild assumptions, Rufus looked over at Mary, then at Regina.

"Let us have that discussion with everyone later tonight." He said, with a more serious tone.

Rufus shifted his attention back to Gabriella. "What will we be looking for?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:57, Wed 27 Oct 2021.
Trisha
character, 593 posts
Wed 27 Oct 2021
at 10:12
  • msg #327

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Having landed a direct hit, Trisha swiftly yanks the hammer free, splattering rancid blood and brains when the monster's skull gives way to the pull. She quickly leaps back while the limp body catches and tears on the glass, before crashing to the ground in front of her.
She catches a flash of movement from behind her as Ashley moves forward. The second walker shuffles closer and Trisha does not hesitate.
"Gonna get me a double!" She calls out as she takes a step forward, winding up for a second swing.

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
20:13, Today: Trisha rolled 18 using 2d10+5 ((4,9))

This message was last edited by the player at 10:13, Wed 27 Oct 2021.
Regina
character, 152 posts
Sun 31 Oct 2021
at 11:08
  • msg #328

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"I've missed working in a hospital," Regina lamented, though, in hindsight, she supposed it was fortunate that she'd used up her vacation days before the world fell apart. "If it's alright with you," she looked to Mary, "I'd like to help out Katherine." Regina looked hopeful that Mary would acquiesce to her request.
Snicker
GM, 2518 posts
Mon 1 Nov 2021
at 07:08
  • msg #329

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha

Ashley readies to strike, but Trisha is faster. As the walker reaches for Trisha's throat, she brings the hammer down on one eyebrow ridge, causing it to give way. Just below the point of impact, an eyeball and a spurt of dark blood is forced out of the socket by the pressure. The ball dangles by its retina for a moment before the walker crashes into the computer desk before flopping to the floor. Several keys come free of the keyboard, scattering across the room, while the mouse is knocked off the surface and swings back and forth by its cord.

Ashley looks down at the corpses, then back up at Trisha. "Good work," she says, lowering the knife sheepishly.

"Ahh, shit," Nathan mutters, surveying the window, then the bodies in the room. "What a mess. Sorry. Uhhh..."

He rubs the back of his neck, then looks up at Trisha and Ashley with an apologetic expression. "You want me to clean this up, get the bodies out? You can explore the place in the mean time."

Rufus, Regina

Mary looks taken aback by Regina's request. After a moment, she fixes her with a bemused expression.

"You don't need my permission," Mary says. "I've no right to tell you what you can and can't do. I thought you of all people would know that."

She gives Rufus a small nod. "Sure. We can talk tonight."

Rufus:
"What will we be looking for?"

"All the usual," Gabriella says with a shrug. "Food, medical supplies, guns and ammo, in that order. Actually, no, ammo before guns, if you gotta choose. We've got plenty of guns. Gasoline, if you find it, but there's no gas stations where we're sending you. Of course, if you find something special like body armour or walkie-talkies, we'd like that, too."

She waves a hand dismissively. "You've lived this long, you know what's useful. We need it like anyone else."

She taps the map with her finger. "Now, we don't know of any people at this place, but that don't mean they're not there. If you run into someone, don't start any fights...and if you do, don't tell them we know each other. We're not looking to start wars."

She pauses, then smirks at Rufus. "But we will finish them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:16, Mon 01 Nov 2021.
Trisha
character, 594 posts
Mon 1 Nov 2021
at 12:59
  • msg #330

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha stumbles back, thrown off by the walker's messy landing. She stares down at it a moment, before giving it a sharp kick in the head, to make sure it has been properly killed.
quote:
 "Good work,"
"Good enough, I guess." She looks back at Ashley with a sly grin. "Prob'ly coulda done it without wreckin' the place. I guess there ain't no fun in that, though." Though the carnage has rendered this room all but unusable for now, Trisha is still glad to have the accomplishment noted.

For a moment, she'd forgotten Nathan was there at all, until she hears him mumble a nervous apology.
"Why would you be sorry? I'm the one that made the mess." A light chuckle escapes in her tone; she isn't entirely sure if he's joking or not.
quote:
"You want me to clean this up, get the bodies out? You can explore the place in the mean time."
When he looks back at the girls with sad, puppy-dog eyes, she can feel some kind of sincerity from him. With a quick glance at Ash to gauge her reaction, she can't help but give him a pitying smile. She looks around the room as she moves to meet Nathan at the window.
"Well, maybe we just won't use this room." She picks a few of the larger shards of glass out of the frame, meeting his forlorn expression with warmth and levity.
"We can clear 'em all out before we leave. You should come look 'round with us."
Snicker
GM, 2519 posts
Thu 4 Nov 2021
at 06:19
  • msg #331

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha

"Sorry, because..." Nathan trails off, looking over the room for a moment, as if he himself is trying to figure out why he's apologizing. "...we thought this place was cleared out, or I wouldn't have brought you here. But it wasn't, and now this room's all messed up."

He looks concerned as Trisha starts clearing the broken glass from the same. "Wait - I'll get you some gloves so you don't cut yourself doing that. Let's just check the place out, like you said."

The first floor of the condo is nicely furnished, though not extravagantly so. It looks like it hasn't been touched, at least not seriously, since the dead rose. A combination living room/library contains a soft couch and chairs, a bookshelf full of paperbacks, and a large television that dominates one wall. The kitchen is cluttered with electronic appliances that will never be used, and the bathroom is clean and decorated with blue tile.

As the group heads upstairs, Trisha finds that the door nearest the stairs is closed. As they approach, a woman's voice comes from within.

"Excuse me," the voice says. It sounds polite, though not necessarily friendly. "I'm in here. You're not going to shoot me, are you?"
Regina
character, 153 posts
Thu 4 Nov 2021
at 09:52
  • msg #332

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"Just making sure I'm not stepping on any toes," Regina replied, with a grateful nod to Mary. Being off a scavenging mission and firmly safe in a familiar environment; that was now the standard of ideal living. God help me, thought Regina. It was better this way -- she was more suitable as a caretaker, someone who saved lives rather than an ineffectual gun against the dead.

Gabriella's rundown of Mary and Rufus's assignment was straightforward enough, but the doctor couldn't help but worry for the safety of her companions, however briefly they might have known each other, and in spite of their competence. "We're not in the habit of starting fights either," Regina said, chiming in with a slight smile. "Or... Mary isn't," she resisted the urge to espouse about Mary's way with words. "Or Rufus," Regina couldn't have thought of anything that Rufus hadn't already demonstrated.
Ivy
character, 1219 posts
Sat 6 Nov 2021
at 14:23
  • msg #333

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

The boy's answer was kind of long-winded. Something about a 'Leo' guy, who was apparently a bit of a bully. Ivy wasn't sure if he'd pick on a bunch of little kids like them, but after some of the people she'd met in the past few months, she couldn't rule anything out anymore. After a bit more rambling, the teenager finally gave the information she was looking for, and the squad's course was charted.

"Thanks!" With a quick word of gratitude, the young girl led the way towards the indicated blue door and tried the handle.
Snicker
GM, 2522 posts
Mon 8 Nov 2021
at 07:09
  • msg #334

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Ivy, Edward

The blue door is unlocked. It opens into a small utility room with a fusebox and a number of pipes, none of which are likely to be used again in the foreseeable future. It also includes a metal ladder set into the wall that appears to lead to a hatch in the ceiling. Climbing the ladder and opening the hatch reveals that it is a trap door leading to the roof.

The roof itself is not terribly interesting. It is flat and covered with dried bird droppings and little else. Any balls that were tossed onto the school roof must have been tossed back down long ago. There is a "lip" around the edge about three feet in height, not enough to prevent anyone determined from toppling over the edge from doing so.

After emerging from hatch, Mina looks around the roof with an expression of wonder, then moves to the edge. With one hand on the lip, she peers down at the school grounds, then steps back and looks bored. She makes a "huh!" sound, then steps back from the edge, no longer interested in the roof after about thirty seconds.

Ivy sees a few sentries with rifles spread out over the roof, watching the school grounds from several angles. None of them seem surprised to see Edward and the kids on the rooftop.

Rufus, Regina

"Uh-huh," grunts Gabriella, sounding unconvinced. "I'm not sure Marcus would agree with that. You and he didn't end up killing each other, so it could've gone worse, but I don't know if you'll ever be friends after that.

"That's not the kind of relationships we want to make, get it?" Gabriella stresses. "I'm telling you again, don't make us any new enemies. If you've got to piss someone off, don't tell them you know us. And if you do, don't let them tell anyone else."

She looks at Regina. "You don't need to hang around, if you ain't gonna be on the supply run."
Trisha
character, 595 posts
Mon 8 Nov 2021
at 14:26
  • msg #335

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"Wow, this is fancy!" Trisha is enthusiastic as they sweep the first floor, looking more and more impressed the more they explore.
Eager to see more of the house, she takes the lead up the stairs.
quote:
"Excuse me,"
She freezes at the sound of the unfamiliar voice, staring at the door it came from. Before saying a word in response, Trisha turns her head sharply to look at her two companions. She glares at Nathan and narrows her eyes, unsure if she can trust him in the moment.
"Probably not." She finally responds to the woman's question. "Not unless you shoot first." Trisha keeps her tone light and decidedly friendly, if not a little too confident.
"We got told ain't nobody lived in this place. How'd you get in?"
Snicker
GM, 2523 posts
Wed 10 Nov 2021
at 07:44
  • msg #336

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha

Both of Trisha's companions freeze when she does. When Trisha looks back, Ashley meets her gaze, looking cautious but curious. She appears to be preparing to speak, mulling over her words. Nathan makes eye contact, too, but only just long enough to catch Trisha's glare before he shoulders his rifle, silently stepping towards the door.

"The front door," the woman's voice answers Trisha. "The same way as you, I think. I've only been here a couple of days. I didn't even know anyone was keeping track of who's living in here."
Regina
character, 154 posts
Thu 11 Nov 2021
at 08:32
  • msg #337

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"We don't need to be friends," replied Regina, who wanted to push that encounter out of her thoughts by now. "As long as nobody is trying to kill each other." With that, the doctor gave Mary and Rufus a small, almost apologetic smile. "I'd say 'be careful,' but you already know what you're doing." After clarifying where exactly Katherine could be found, Regina left the room in high spirits; tempered, slightly, by Gabriella's gruffness and a lingering feeling of unease. This settlement was almost too good to be true...
Snicker
GM, 2525 posts
Mon 15 Nov 2021
at 07:11
  • msg #338

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Regina

With exact directions, it doesn't take long for Regina to find the doctor's office. As she nears the room, she hears a frustrated voice from inside. "I want both numbers! Systolic and diastolic. Please!"

Reaching the doorway, Regina what was probably once the elementary school's nurses office. The office's original modest furnishings - a couple beds and a cabinet with very basic supplies - has been supplemented with a motley and incomplete collection of medical equipment probably scavenged from other locations. Currently, the room contains two patients: a teenaged boy, lying on a stretcher, covered with minor but numerous scrapes and bruises. The other is a white-haired man, sitting on the edge of a bed, looking awkward as two women stand over him. One of the women is black and a bit chubby, wearing nurse's scrubs, thick-rimmed glasses, and an eclectic hairstyle. The other is a young, Hispanic woman in makeup, stylish clothing, and expensive-looking jewellery.

"I just want his blood pressure, Chelsea," the chubby woman says, sounding frustrated. "I gave you five minutes! What's the problem?"

"It's - it's these..." Chelsea holds up a manual blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope. "These aren't what I used before. The surgeon's tools, they were electronic."

"Electronic - we don't have enough batteries for that," the chubby woman says. "He really never taught you how to measure blood pressure at your church?"

Chelsea looks evasive and defensive, averting her eyes. The chubby woman gives a strained sigh, taking the cuff and stethoscope from the woman. At that moment, Chelsea catches sight of Regina, locking eyes for a moment. The chubby woman follows her eyes and turns to see Regina as well.
Regina
character, 155 posts
Mon 22 Nov 2021
at 14:31
  • msg #339

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Upon entering the school's medical room, Regina lingered at the doorway and took in her surroundings, as well as the conversation going on between two women. Regina had high standards for places where patients were expected to recover, and though the office didn't quite meet them, it didn't look inhumane. In fact, given the circumstances, these people were lucky to be so supplied.

However, the same couldn't be said for the staff present, judging by Chelsea's dismay and sheepishness. Regina massaged the side of her face with a grimace as secondhand embarrassment washed over; what kind of doctor -- or nurse for that matter -- couldn't do something as basic as measure blood pressure? Chelsea was lucky to not have Regina as a supervisor -- she'd chewed people out for less, in the past.

Walking further into the room, Regina smiled thinly at the two women. "Hello, Gabriella sent me," she said, rubbing at the back of her wrist. "I'm a physician, and I heard you needed help," Regina gave Chelsea an aside glance for a moment, before looking back to the black woman. "Are you Katherine? I know I'm not dressed for my occupation, and I haven't had the time to practice my profession lately, but I haven't forgotten my classes. Or my internship." She shivered a little; nobody could forget that kind of horror.
Snicker
GM, 2529 posts
Fri 26 Nov 2021
at 06:43
  • msg #340

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Regina

"Kathrine," the woman corrects Regina's pronunciation, but then shakes her head. "Oh, forget it! If you can help me, you can call me anything you want! Here!"

Kathrine all but forces the blood pressure cuff and stethoscope into Regina's hands, then moves to another corner of the room, digging through some other supplies. She doesn't stop talking, however. "I've been asking for help for long, I've lost count! They always want more people to go out on patrol, and somehow they always get those people, but day after day and they can't find anyone who can help in the infirmary? Why they're all so eager to go out and risk their lives, I just don't know! It's not like they're any better at it than they would be here, anyway. I should know with all injures I have to treat here. You'd think, coming back from those patrols, it would be battle wounds or something like that - oh, thank god they're not! Most of it is twisted ankles or scrapes or even heatstroke! Little things, but it's been just me for so long, and so many people coming in! Imagine if it were things like stab or bullet wounds. What would I even do? And now..."

Kathrine continues talking. It's not clear who she's talking to, or if that matters to her. Chelsea looks down at the tools in Regina's hands, then up at Regina's face. She says nothing, but her eyes look alarmed and accusatory.
Trisha
character, 596 posts
Mon 29 Nov 2021
at 08:18
  • msg #341

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Before he can pass her, Trisha stops Nathan with an outstretched arm blocking his path. With the other hand, she slides her hammer back onto her belt and pulls out a small handgun.
She holds it in her hand, but does not aim it at at the door as she replies to the woman on the other side.

"Yeah, they got dibs on this place and a bunch of others, I guess. I don't really know much about it." She lifts her shoulder, punctuating the statement with a non-committal shrug, before remembering that the stranger cannot see her.
"Is it just you in there? If you got people comin' back here, I don't wanna kill 'em by mistake."
Snicker
GM, 2531 posts
Tue 30 Nov 2021
at 05:46
  • msg #342

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha

Nathan gives Trisha a look when she bars his way, though he does stop. From his expression, it looks like he can't decide whether to be annoyed or confused. Before he can respond in any other way, Ashley silently places a hand on his shoulder. When he looks back at her, she locks eyes with him and puts a finger to her lips, then nods at Trisha.

The interplay between Ashley and Nathan almost distracts from the fact that the mysterious woman takes several seconds to respond. Finally, she gives a soft, resigned sigh.

"It would probably be smarter to tell you I have a whole army in here, wouldn't it?" she says. "I'm afraid it's just me in here. I'm not expecting anyone else to arrive, either. I hope that doesn't change your mind about shooting me."
Regina
character, 156 posts
Wed 1 Dec 2021
at 19:42
  • msg #343

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Getting tools thrust into her hand from a ranting doctor was a pleasantly familiar, almost nostalgic experience for Regina, who knew better than to try and cut Kathrine off. The exasperated doctor's complaints were nothing new -- the hospital where Regina worked could seem understaffed on a bad day. She gave Chelsea a half-hearted shrug with an apologetic look on her face, then began to take the old man's blood pressure, guiding him through the process along the way.

When Kathrine appeared to be finished talking, Regina spoke up. "Do they send teenagers out there?" she said, glancing at the teenaged boy after setting the diaphragm on her patient's arm. His bruises, slight but too numerous to be from something as simple as a fall, were a cause for concern.
Snicker
GM, 2533 posts
Fri 3 Dec 2021
at 08:50
  • msg #344

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Regina

The boy glares at Regina defensively and looks like he's about to say something, but then seems to reconsider. After a moment, he breaks eye contact and leans back in his bed, looking a bit satisfied.

"Oh, yes," Kathrine says without looking up. "Younger than that, too. Always with an adult, they say, but it still makes me nervous! Especially with some gang running around hanging people from streetlights! Oh..."

She looks up, but catches Regina's gaze, following it to the bruised boy. "Oh, him? He didn't get that outside. He was fighting with some other boy."

The boy's satisfaction evaporates, and he gives Kathrine a sullen glare. Kathrine doesn't seem to notice as she tsks to herself.
Regina
character, 157 posts
Sat 4 Dec 2021
at 04:30
  • msg #345

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Regina's work paused as she stared at Kathrine, mouth agape in shock. "I'm sorry, there's a gang doing what, exactly?" she asked, with unconcealed concern. Her thoughts immediately went to Mary and the others, and Regina found herself worrying about them even more.
Trisha
character, 597 posts
Sun 5 Dec 2021
at 15:50
  • msg #346

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"Ain't no point in shootin' just one lady. We got more of us than you got of you."
She takes a small step back, lifting her gun to aim at the door.
"You oughta come out, so we know you ain't lyin'. You don't gotta worry, I don't hurt people if they ain't did nothin'."
As she speaks, she gives Nathan a stern glare that says 'Stay put and don't do anything stupid.'
Snicker
GM, 2534 posts
Mon 6 Dec 2021
at 07:56
  • msg #347

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Trisha

Again, there is a significant pause before the woman responds.

"I would like to believe you," she says, "but I don't know you. How do I know you're not lying? There are people out there that will say anything and then kill you the second they get the chance. Or worse. How can you convince me to trust you?"

Nathan returns Trisha's glare with a similar one, though it's not clear if he's trying to tell her anything or is just generally sullen.

Regina

"No one told you?" Kathrine looks over at Regina grimly. "Some of..."

She hesitates, glancing at the teenager, then shakes her head. "No, everyone already knows. Somebody murdered two of the guards at the edge of the city. They say they were shot, then hung from a streetlight for us to find them. I don't know how anyone could do something like that!"

She takes a deep breath and blasts it out her nose. "You know, if we all worked together, I think we could have solved this. Even with so many people dying early on, I think we could have fixed it if we'd just helped each other! But we started killing each other instead! It's like so many people were just waiting for a chance for everything to fall apart. Well, they got it! Now we're all living like this!"

She leans on a desk, frowning at no one in particular. "At least the biters don't kill each other."
Regina
character, 158 posts
Thu 23 Dec 2021
at 01:15
  • msg #348

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

"It's hard to think about helping people when civilization is falling apart," Regina said, quietly considering her words. She continued, looking at Kathrine with a surly expression. "When the phones stopped working and the lights went off and- and people got scared..." The doctor looked away and closed her eyes, her grip on the stethoscope tightening as memories of the chaos in New Orleans came rushing to the forefront of her mind's eye. Regina's breathing tightened for a brief moment. "That's it. No more rules," she opened her eyes and continued working as if the conversation hadn't affected her at all.

"Maybe the people who killed those guards wanted to send a message to the community?"
Snicker
GM, 2537 posts
Fri 24 Dec 2021
at 04:38
  • msg #349

Re: Act 5 - A: Homecoming

Regina

"A message?" Kathrine repeats. She takes a deep breath, about to say more, but the teenager interrupts her.

"Hell yeah, they wanted to send a message!" he announces. "They hung their bodies from the streetlights! It ain't enough they killed them, they're declaring war!"

Kathrine shoots the teenager a sharp look, which he ignores. Looking back at Regina, she continues, "I heard people saying it's a trap. They want us to come after them. But Leo said he was going to go and attack them anyway! I thought it was crazy, be he said he had to do it. And a lot of people agreed with him!"

She gives a frustrated sigh. "They'll be lucky if they end up back here, instead of dead! I don't know why they're so interested in fighting them head-on. Why don't we make our own traps? I told Leo that, and he said he understood, but then he just kept on talking about how we can't show them any fear. Fear seems reasonable to me, but..."
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