Note: This SB is loosely based on the novel The Passage by Justin Cronin
The year is 2020. In lieu of the rising threat of war from all sides, the U.S. government has been doing some serious study into bioengineering, to try and make supersoldiers to protect their borders. Strains of a virus that has only been documented in a single species of Bolivian bat are being used to enhance the bodies, longevity, and stamina of normal human beings. The virus, in its current form, causes the body to grow an advanced exoskeleton of hardened proteins that is virtually impregnable, except in a few key spots. The body loses hair, teeth fall out, replaced by razor-sharp fangs, and the eyes glow a brilliant orange. If this weren't all enough, the subjects also become wildly unpredictable, once the virus has completed its maturity. Truth be told, they aren't even really human anymore, filled with a bloodlust that cannot be quenched, and equipped with the tools to fulfill that lust. There 12 strains of the virus, and 12 subjects. Luckily, the subjects of this experiment are kept under 24/7 surveillance at a secure facility in the Rocky Mountains. Until something goes wrong.
No one can say exactly what happens, but suddenly, the guards of each subject,12 in all, begin to act strangely, and can't remember long stretches of time. Then, one night, just as the last, thirteenth subject, a young woman, is given the most advanced form of the virus, the guards all simultaneously release their subjects. Chaos. Guns have no effect. Human speed is laughable compared to the force of the monsters. But they do not kill all. No. Some are left, horribly mauled, but alive. And they begin to change.
In the midst of the massacre, the young woman, Amy Bellafonte, reaches her final stage as the virus matures. She, however, is not like the others. She has retained her humanity, with the benefits that the virus bestows. The other subjects ignore her, and continue outwards in search of more prey. The 12 multiply, become 100, 15000. It does not stop. They spread, ever outward, never killing all. And soon, it becomes apparent, these monsters have a semblance of unity, some force that keeps them together. Cities fall as armies of the creatures swarm. The only time there is respite are the few precious hours of sunlight, when the "virals" fall back into the shadows, either unwilling to show themselves, or unable to stand the sun.
The government starts to build compounds, equipped with powerful lights and weaponry, for the remaining citizens of the U.S. Refugees from the remaining cities of Philadelphia, Orlando, and Sacramento are taken to the compounds, as the last hope of the American people. In desperation, the government also uses the atom bomb on two of the viral "armies," as they've come to be called. One attack is successful: all of the viral for miles around fall to ashes, even if they weren't touched by the explosion. The other, however, kill only a few.
And that is that. The government's last stand. The compounds are safe, relatively. The virals are all over the continent, and no one outside is safe. 11 of the original subjects remain alive. Humanity is now an endangered species, at least on the North American continent. The unknown thirteenth subject, Amy Bellafonte, has disappeared. The only hope of the remaining survivors is to hold out, and figure out the secret of the virals' desctruction. The 11 must be destroyed.
There are three compounds: one in California, one in New Mexico, and one in Wyoming. This story will start out in the New Mexico Compound, but we might add characters from the others, depending on how the story runs.
Onwards to characters...
You will play a survivor in the New Mexican, or perhaps a wanderer who is wily enough to escape the virals' notice. You could also play someone from another continent who has come to scope out the situation, but I'd like to have mainly North American survivors.
Here's the template:
Name:
Gender:
Age:
Description:
Work: (Healer, Guard, Student, Agriculture)
Weapon: (Can be anything from gun to sword, or cross bow to grenade launcher, although, keep in mind that ammo is limited)
Strengths/Weaknesses:
Short Bio: (optional)
Other:
Now, the virals sound like zombies or vampires, and they are, to a certain extent. However, they are quite different, as well. They have special psychological powers, at least, the 11 do. More on that when we get into the story.
Rules:
Usual YWS rules (no god-modding, graphic sex, etc.)
This will be fairly violent, but please, don't let it get too graphic or gory.
No killing other people's character without explicit permission.
Romance allowed.
Have fun!
PM me if you have any pressing questions....
