[X] Plan: Frank go get groceries!
-[X] tell Frank (equipped with gun) to go a nearby grocery store, and if possible a hardware store, preferably away from where the army is setting up, so that he doesn't get in trouble.
-[X] tell him to pick up as many nonperishables, first aid kits, medicines, tools and nails as he can.
--[X] his safety is a priority, if the area is too hot, he should just grab what he can and immediately return.
-[X] bring Roy to the bathroom (his sister can come too) ,and check him over for injuries, scratches and bites.
-[X] keep his mind off of things by talking, how old is he? Does he have any hobbies? Is he good at basketball?
-[X] give Samantha and Roy something to defend themselves, tell them to always keep them on their person
-[X] start dismantling some of the chairs and tables to get materials
-[X] start boarding up windows or otherwise obstructing them with Roy and his sister.
-[X] LOCK THE FRONT DOOR
Thanks, we need to stock up on things before the looting gets real bad.
But since the bar is our weakness, we need to make sure it's as safe as possible against zombies, people and whatever else might be out there, so having three people helping should help expedite the process somewhat.
That and we need to make sure Roy isn't about to try and nibble someone.
Scheduled vote count started by ThunderOwl on May 8, 2024 at 5:52 AM, finished with 7 posts and 2 votes.
[X] Plan: Frank go get groceries!
-[X] tell Frank (equipped with gun) to go a nearby grocery store, and if possible a hardware store, preferably away from where the army is setting up, so that he doesn't get in trouble.
-[X] tell him to pick up as many nonperishables, first aid kits, medicines, tools and nails as he can.
--[X] his safety is a priority, if the area is too hot, he should just grab what he can and immediately return.
-[X] bring Roy to the bathroom (his sister can come too) ,and check him over for injuries, scratches and bites.
-[X] keep his mind off of things by talking, how old is he? Does he have any hobbies? Is he good at basketball?
-[X] give Samantha and Roy something to defend themselves, tell them to always keep them on their person
-[X] start dismantling some of the chairs and tables to get materials
-[X] start boarding up windows or otherwise obstructing them with Roy and his sister.
-[X] LOCK THE FRONT DOOR
You take a deep breath as you consider what to do next. While it is great that everyone here is alright, there is much to do if you want the Howling Moon to be ready, because who knows how long this situation is going to last. With that in mind, the obvious priority is getting more food, because a couple of peanuts are nowhere near enough to feed all four of you for a week, let alone at the long term. With that in mind you turn towards Frank.
"Ey Frank, the car still has gas?"
"Yeah, tank was almost full when we grabbed it?" He answers quickly. "You want me to go outside again?"
You nod. "We need more food, especially if we´re going to stay here in the long term and whatever weird shit that is happening doesn´t stop soon."
"I agree." Frank says before moving a hand to one of the pockets of his jacket and pulling out his wallet. "Still, I´m going to need all the cash you can give me, In case the owner of the store is there."
That last comment brings you to a stop for a moment. You had honestly not considered that It has seemed almost natural to just assume that the poor bastard in the nearby stores were dead. You fish out your wallet from your pockets and give it to him, although there is only 14 dollars in cash and a credit card that is almost empty. Knowing that it isn´t enough, you force the words to come out of your mouth, especially with the state the bar is at.
"Grab the cash from the register too." Frank turns briefly as she says that, but doesn´t say anything as he opens the register and takes the bills inside. He then swipes the wallet of the dead guy from earlier, before looking at Samantha expectantly. Your waitress goes to the back to retrieve her purse from the storage room, only to return a few seconds later with a sheepish expression.
"Emm, I might have… left my wallet at home." You sigh, Frank brings his hand to his face while muttering something between gritted teeth and a ghost of a smile flickers briefly in Roy´s face. Your father's old friend turns around and walks towards the door, only pausing briefly on the doorstep to look at you.
"You sure you're going to be fine, Jana?" He asks, the casual tone disguising the concern you can see in his eyes.
You are silent for an instant, before crossing your arms. "I´m gonna be fine Frank. Now go, before someone empties the place."
He leaves, closing the door behind him. You hear the sound of the car getting away, and you quickly close the door before turning around to face Samantha and Roy. You consider examining Roy more closely to see if he has a bite or scratch on him from one of the zombies, but that basketball getup he´s wearing, while completely useless to protect him from the cold in this season, would show very clearly if he had a wound of any kind, which he doesn't. So you grab their attention by clapping your hands.
"So, while Frank´s outside I think we should carry on with what I was doing before I was…" Attacked. "interrupted. So let's try and get those windows finally barricaded."
The nod in response and you get to work.
Samantha
Easy Carpentry roll 1d20 DC 5= 14 Success
Roy
Easy Carpentry roll 1d20 DC 5= 18 Success
Jana
Easy Crafting roll 1d20 DC 5= 9 Success
It may be because you´re three instead of just yourself, or just because the Woods seem to be way better than you at the whole carpentry thing, but the process or disassembling the crates and using the planks to barricade the windows goes much smoother. It takes you some time, which you take advantage of to try and get to know your waitress´s brother a bit better.
"So Roy," You start as you hand him a plank for him to nail in the upper part of the window. "You play basketball. Are you any good or just a bench warmer?"
He stops for a second and shoots you an offended glare, the most heated expression you´ve seen until now. "A bench warmer?! The only matches I´ve been in the bench were the first ones. Since then Coach Mulligan always puts me as a regular. He even says I´m the best shooting guard he´s seen in years!"
"Okay, okay you´re good, I get it." You raise your hand in mock surrender. He keeps glaring at you for a second before turning his attention back to his work. "Wait a moment, Mulligan? That fat-ass is still working there?"
"Umm yeah? Didn´t thought you played basketball." He says looking down on you.
"What gave you that impression?" You ask rhetorically. "Nah, he just doubled as the P.E teacher when I was there. That wannabe drill sergeant was always making short jokes at me whenever I lagged behind. Asshole."
Roy visibly struggles to put in good word for his coach before giving up. Not that you thought he could, Mulligan was always hated by everyone he had the displeasure to teach, and you doubt he has changed a lot in the coming years. "Yeaaah. he´s not the nicest guy around. Still he didn't deserve to…" He pales slightly.
You get the feeling you've put your foot on your mouth. "Roy are you alright?"
He takes a deep breath and speaks again, his voice more shaky. "Yeah…Yeah I´m fine. Mind if we just keep working on this?"
You nod. The rest of your work goes by in silence, and by the time you finish up with the barricades Frank returns, carrying a bunch of bags with canned food.
"Good thing you gave me the cash Jana." He says, letting the bag on the pool table and gesturing for you to help him get the rest of the bags out of the car's trunk. "I went to the store in Renfield Street…" You know the one he refers to, it's the closest one to the bar. "Turns out the owner was there, shotgun ready to blast anyone who tried looting it. I´ve got plenty of canned food, and another few medkits they had. Spent most of our cash on it."
"Good job Frank." You congratulate him with a slap in the back, to which he gives you a smile. "Now let´s put that food to good use."
Dinner is a quiet affair, one that concludes early as all of you feel drained by today´s events. Going to sleep is a challenge as the most comfortable furniture you got is the office chair, which you lend to Frank in recognition of all the work he´s done today. Samantha, Roy and you are force to make do with the other chairs, which are distinctly uncomfortable. Despite that sleep claims you as soon as you close your eyes.
[X] Plan: lay of the land.
-[X] Let Frank rest up along with Roy, they earned it.
-[X] you and Samantha will go outside.
--[X] LOCK THE DOOR AFTER YOU GO OUT.
-[X] see if the radio can be removed from the car, bring it inside to catch news.
-[X] see if any trusted neighbors are still around maybe they can give you a radio or information?
--[X] don't let anyone you don't trust know that the bar is still functioning.
-[X] pick up anything useful that may be laying on the ground, Trashcan lids, bricks, etc.
Sounds like good ideas.
Later, could also try to see if any of our homes are reachable.
A few matresses could help with the living in the bar. And general stuff.
Wonder if the bar has a flat roof (like on a garage) we could start a garden on (assuming we get suitable seeds and earth, of course).
Sounds like good ideas.
Later, could also try to see if any of our homes are reachable.
A few matresses could help with the living in the bar. And general stuff.
Wonder if the bar has a flat roof (like on a garage) we could start a garden on (assuming we get suitable seeds and earth, of course).
Scheduled vote count started by ThunderOwl on Jun 5, 2024 at 5:57 AM, finished with 9 posts and 4 votes.
[X] Plan: lay of the land.
-[X] Let Frank rest up along with Roy, they earned it.
-[X] you and Samantha will go outside.
--[X] LOCK THE DOOR AFTER YOU GO OUT.
-[X] see if the radio can be removed from the car, bring it inside to catch news.
-[X] see if any trusted neighbors are still around maybe they can give you a radio or information?
--[X] don't let anyone you don't trust know that the bar is still functioning.
-[X] pick up anything useful that may be laying on the ground, Trashcan lids, bricks, etc.
The alarm on your phone makes you wake up in pain, both from the bruising on your torso and from the stiffness on your neck and shoulders from sleeping in the chair. You stand up and stretch your arms and back until you feel a satisfying pop, the stiffness fading away. Looking around, you see that Frank has already woken up, the older man eating breakfast from one of the cans he bought. He notices you´re awake and watching him, tossing you another can.
"Rise and shine Jana." He greets you as you snatch the canned meal, baked beans you read in the label. "Did you sleep well?"
You scoff, opening the can and shoving a mouthful of cold beans into your mouth. "What do you think?" You ask rhetorically after chewing the food. You notice that he has his radio on the counter. "Heard anything interesting with that?" You ask pointing at it.
"Haven´t turned it on yet, I was waiting for all of you to wake up." He replies before nodding his head towards the Woods. "Speaking of which, we should wake them up, seeing as they slept through the alarm."
"On it." You say as you move towards the chairs where they are sleeping. Waking Roy is a simple affair, the kid coming awake as soon as you shake him in the arm lightly. His sister proves much more difficult.
"Umm, five minutes more." She grumbles in her sleep. Scowling you continue shaking her with renewed intensity, until she finally opens her eyes. "Fine fine, I´m awake boss. No need to bent my spine." She stands up then and walks to the counter, though the way her eyes struggle to remain open tell you that she ain't much of a morning person.
Something that Frank comments as he passes Samantha a can and tosses another to Roy, who catches it without even looking at it. "Not much of a morning wood, aren't you?" Your waitress looks at Frank with a confused look, while you stare at him in disappointment, and Roy actually glares for a second at the older man.
"Ha ha, haven´t heard that joke a thousand times already." States Roy drily before digging into his breakfast.
You shake your head at your janitor. "As your boss, you make that joke again and I´m docking your pay. I expected better of you."
"Humor is wasted on kids these days." Replies Frank, unaffected by your justified warning. "Well, now that everyone is up and about, let's see what's on the radio." He fiddles with the knobs for a bit, static filling the air before a voice comes clear.
"...doesn't prove that you can't trust the government I don't know what more do you need people!! Now that the Deep State has decided to test their secret bilogical weapons here, their lackeys in the Army are working towards confining us all and taking away our rights!!! We will all be rendered sheeple by their brainwashing psycho-indoctrination programs…"
Frank changes the station with a shrug. "That nutjob on the woods is still broadcasting. Worse thing is that with this mess people might actually start believing his sci-fi bullshit."
"What if it is true?" Asks Samantha. Frank rolls his eyes at her question, while you are surprised by it. You haven't pegged her for the conspiracy type. Seeing your reactions she takes a more defensive tone. "I mean, isn't this whole thing with the zombies and the strange mists something out of a movie or a comic?"
"You're not wrong about that." You concede. "But if the government wanted to test superweapons they would do it in a lab or in some Third World shithole, not near their own cities. Public opinion would eat them alive." You and everyone present winces at your poor choice of words, but nobody comments on it as Frank finds another channel.
"To all inhabitants of Woodbridge listening, this is Captain Alberto Mendoza of the U.S Army. We've got confirmed reports that the… undead." The confident and matter-of-fact voice he's speaking falters for a second, probably in disbelief that he's speaking that word in a serious context. "are concentrated on the western side of the Goldriver, with particularly high numbers around the city cemetery and in the Woodbridge General Hospital. To the people living in the western side, we urge you to make your way towards the military checkpoints set in both the Old and the Southern bridges if it is safe for you to do so. Otherwise stay indoors and barricade yourselves as well as you can. To those living in the eastern side, there are still undead in the area, so do not leave your current lodgings unless it is strictly necessary, and cooperate with Army personnel. More information and instructions will be given as the day goes on. Captain Mendoza signing off."
There's a moment of silence, broken only by the sound of them eating, until Frank chuckles mirthlessly. "Isn't it ironic, how for years the eastern side has been the slums, and now it's safer than all the fancy neighborhoods?"
"Safer isn't safe" You point out as you toss aside the now empty can, before going to the sink and washing your hands. "Speaking of which, we should go outside, try and see if there is anyone still around in the nearby buildings."
"Folks have never been friendly around here." Warns Frank. "Are you sure it's a good idea?"
You can only answer with a shrug in response. "Perhaps this brings the best out of people." You say with irony. "Samantha, with me."
Your waitress bits her lip and looks at her brother, who waves at the door. "Don´t worry about me sis, I´ll…I´ll be fine."
With those words Samantha follows you outside, the claw hammer in hand. When the both of you open the door and step outside, you´re hit by the cold chill of a winter morning. This has never been the most hospitable neighbor, but the lack of anybody in the streets, the complete silence except for the sound of your steps and your breath gives it an eerie quality. You look at the nearby buildings, forcibly ignoring the bodies that you left outside the door.
"What now boss?" Asks Samantha behind you, the hammer placed under her arm as she rubs her cold hands.
Vote the how many places you want to check and in what order:
-[] The alleyways
-[] The apartments crossing the street.
-[] The parking lot near the bar
-[] The apartments on your side of the street.
-[] The place you're 90% sure of was a drug lab.
-[] The electronics shop
Okay, I think avoiding the drug lab is probably a good idea. The parking lot and electronic shops on the other hand are places we absolutely should check out, we could potentially barter with our food for something useful. While the parking lot might have some familiar faces camping out there that we could recruit into our little survivor group.
I'm ambivelent towards the apartments nearby and across the street, I could honestly be swayed either way. Same with the alley way, although I'm thinking that it would more likely invove an encounter of some sort.
I'm pretty solidly agaist investigating the suspicious drug lab without a solid plan, some clues or a contact of some sort.
-[X] The parking lot near the bar
-[X] The apartments on your side of the street.
-[X] The electronics shop
First thing, gotta make sure the parking lot's clear. Cars means zombies can be hidden from view, plus there might be some stuff we could fine or maybe find a car to use
Second. Loot for find and find people! Maybe we could grab some mattresses and make our base more comfortable
Third electronics, crafting materials and gadgets that may be helpful
Cars present 1d50= 28
??? present 1d100 (DC 40)= 66
It is ??? 1d100 (DC 80)=58. No
Jana Scavenging roll 1d20-3(Untagged Skill)= 7-3=4
Samantha Scavenging roll 1d20= 13
??? Stealth roll 1d20=14
Jana Perception check 1d20+3(Stat bonus)=7+3=10
Samantha Perception check 1d20-3 (Stat penalty)=12-3=9
You take a look at the empty street before answering. You could check out that basement, you're 90% sure that it's a drug lab, mainly because you know plenty of ways you could put the chemicals they have to better use. Then you reconsider that plan when you realize that the place might be occupied by either aggressive junkies looking for a fix or the actual drug cooks, neither of which will appreciate you taking the stuff there. Then your head turns left, to the parking lot that your customer usually use to park their rides. From here you can see that it is somewhat filled with cars, apparently their owners either decided not to use them or didn´t have the chance to do so.
"Let's go to the parking lot first." You finally decide. "Let's make sure that we don't have anything lurking close to us."
"Okay boss, lead the way."
With Samantha's agreement you reach your destination in no time at all. The place isn't much to look at, merely a plain surface of worn, crack-filled concrete, with fading white paint marking where the cars should be stationed. Of course, people being who they are, most of the people that had parked here took those lines more as a suggestion than as a rule, so the cars you see inside are parked in a disorganized manner. On second thought, it is good that the owners have not come to retrieve their cars, because doing so would probably start a fistfight.
"Well, it's going to be hard to loot things here." You comment idly.
"Who knows, maybe someone left their car open?" Suggest Samantha. You stare at her flatly, and she keeps an innocent expression for a few seconds, before it breaks and you both start laughing. You move then to check the vehicles, more to see that there aren't any zombies lurking there, that truly expecting to find something useful. Obviously almost all of them are locked, although you do find one with the trunk open. The dried blood splattered in the open trunk and in the car ́s gray exterior telling you that some zombie attacked the owner while they were rummaging through it. Also blood splattered is a sleeping one, although it is a worn one, with the blue plastic fibers torn and scratched in places. Still, better than sleeping in the gooddamn chairs again. You poke your head in the interior of the vehicle but there isn´t anything else of value and the keys aren´t inside.
"¡Ey Samantha!" You call out to your waitress, who is checking another car nearby. "You think you can hotwire a car?!"
"Maybe, but we ain´t going to need to, take a look at this!" She replies excitedly. You stop poking into the car and go towards Samantha, who's standing near the left side of a blue sedan. When you approach she opens the door, letting you see that someone has indeed left their car keys on.
The owner of this car is a complete dumbass, but right now you hope that the dumbass is alright if only as thanks for the boon they have unwillingly give you. The car is almost out of fuel, opening the glove compartment reveals a Glock pistol, a small roll of 20 dollar bills and a zipper bag with green, grounded herbs you very much doubt are oregano.
You grab the pistol first, searching for the mag release. You click one one of the small levers near the slide, but that doesn´t seem to do anything. After some more fumbling, you finally managed to detach the magazine, and once you look inside it you scowl when you see that it is almost empty. Putting the magazine back in it´s place, you put the pistol in one of the pockets of your coat. Samantha in the meantime has pocketed the cash and is looking at the weed.
"Would you look at that, pot!" She says with idle interest."
"Didn´t know you smoke." You comment, somewhat surprised that she's interested in the bag.
She makes a so-so gesture with her hand. "Eh, a tried it a bit during parties, but never really smoke it. You?"
"Nah I don´t want to become a pothead. Besides, addictions are bad." You reply, and this time it is Samantha that looks at you flatly, for some reason. "What?"
She looks like she's going to say something for a moment, but she thinks better of it and just keeps checking the other vehicles.
Wonder what that was about.
Zombie attempts to grab Samantha
Zombie Strength roll 1d20 (DC 10)=17
Samantha Agility roll 1d20 (DC 10+3(Suprised))=15
Samantha avoids being grabbed.
It is when you're both approaching a black car at the end of the lot that things go pear-shaped. When Samantha approaches the trunk, a hand flashes underneath the car, attempting to grab her leg. Samantha manages to move her leg out of the way and steps back. A growl comes then under the car, but the zombie there doesn't come out.
"Shit, that was close!" You shout, unsheathing your hand from your belt. Samantha grabs her hammer shakily, shooting you a concerned glance without taking her eyes away from the car.
-Write-In what do you do.
Initiative order is Samantha (Purple dot)-Jana (Blue dot)-Zombie (Red Dot)
Q.M Notes: Shorter update, but the dice rolls and I obey.
