[d20 Apocalypse] After the Blast IC

airwalkrr · 31st October 2009, 11:22 AM

This thread is for players in the [d20 Apocalypse] After the Blast campaign only. Others may feel free to lurk. If you would like to discuss the campaign, anyone is welcome to join us in the OOC thread (see signature).

Rules for Posting in this Thread

1) Please do not post OOC comments on this thread (that is what the OOC thread is for).
2) All players must fill out the title section for each post. The title section should include your character's name, current hit points/max hit points, plus any conditions currently affecting the character such as: Daniel Stokes, 32/45 hp, dazed.
3) Describe actions and spoken words only. Do not describe thoughts unless you use spoiler tags as these should be for GM's eyes only (there might be someone with psionics around reading thoughts). In any event, you are not required to post your character's thoughts unless I ask you to.
4) When posting spoken words, be sure to use bold type and colored font. There are only eight choices available for colored font: red, dark orange, yellow, lime, dark slate blue, cyan, blue and purple. Color choice is first-come, first-served, and once you choose a color, you cannot switch to a different one. If a player drops from the game or flakes out, his/her color will become available for use for new players only. Existing players must continue to use their old color.
5) Use InvisibleCastle for all of your rolls. You will need an InvisibleCastle account in the name of your character or your EN World screen name. If you choose to use your EN World screen name, you will need to include your character name in the notes of each roll. Whenever you make a roll, simply link back to the roll in your post using a URL tag. Add in all applicable bonuses and/or penalties to your roll on InvisibleCastle to save time.
6) Choose when to use an action point at the time you make the roll. If it does not look like a good enough roll at the time you make the roll, and you wish to add an action point, make an action point roll immediately afterwards and link to the action point beneath the roll. Don't worry. I can do simple addition. Once you have submitted your post, it will be too late to add an action point.
7) At the beginning of each combat, roll five d20s. I will use these throughout the battle, although I will make most of the other rolls (such as damage rolls) myself. If any of the rolls look low enough that you want to add an action point to them, the beginning of the battle is when you should do it. If for some reason you do not end up using that roll, the action point will not be spent. When you are down to two d20s, I will have you roll up five more.
8) At the beginning of each combat round, post a priority of three main actions in case your turn comes up and your primary action is no longer necessary. For instance, if you choose to attack a gang leader with your pistol on your initiative of 10 but one of your allies takes the gang leader down on initiative of 13, you should have two backup actions to perform, such as, aiding someone stabilizing one of your fallen allies, gathering up dropped weapons and ammo, and so forth. List them in priority order with 1) being your primary objective, 2) being your secondary objective, and 3) being your tertiary objective.
9) Please do not post in this thread until you have received permission to post your character in the Rogue's Gallery (see signature).
10) Please do not edit your post without requesting my permission on the OOC thread. If I see a post has been edited and includes an action point, I will disregard the action point and consider it unspent. Again, you must decide whether or not to add an action point to a roll before you submit your post.

airwalkrr · 1st November 2009, 09:38 AM

Disclaimer: The settings of After the Blast and Atomic Sunrise are fantasy settings that take place within an alternate reality. Although some parts of it may seem very similar to our own world, it is not the same. Some real-life celebrities and political figures exist within the setting, but they are not exact duplicates of those found in our own world, nor are they meant to be.

Introduction

It has been a crazy, busy morning. The streets of Chicago and all of its neighboring suburbs are packed with voters turning out in droves for what has been one of the most hotly contested U.S. Presidential elections in decades. Republican President Sarah Palin easily rode into office for her first term in 2016 after defeating a weak Joe Biden who had taken office when tragedy struck President Barack Obama in the middle of his second term while aboard Air Force One on the way to Europe for a diplomatic mission (while al-Qaida claimed responsibility for the accident, it was never publicly confirmed). Not only is this election historic because of Sarah Palin's controversial tenure as President, but it is the first time ever that all 50 states have adopted a fair distribution clause for the assignment of delegates to the Electoral College, meaning that the election is no longer a winner-takes-all affair.

Both President Sarah Palin and challenger Tim Kaine have campaigned all over the country instead of concentrating only on so-called "swing states" in an effort to secure as many electoral votes as possible and voter turnout is expected to be at its highest ever, both in terms of pure numbers and percentages. Extra polling stations have even been set up to handle the overflow, and people are lined up for blocks in some places, standing outside in freezing weather to cast their vote. And then it happened.

It started with a flash. Then there was a boom. And then a tremor along the ground, followed by silence. When you awoke your ears were ringing and you were seeing spots in your eyes. You felt dizzy, nauseated, and quite off-balance. You crawled to your feet, grabbing a hold of whatever was nearby. Your hearing was the first to return. The sounds of ringing was slowly replaced with the sounds of screams, crying, and dozens of car alarms blaring out in futility. Then the spots in your eyes began to fade, and you gazed upon the horrific sight. The streets were trashed. Cars, trucks, even entire semis had been thrown into buildings. Only the sturdiest buildings were still standing, bloody smears painting the tapestry of cement walls all around you, the telltale sign of bodies that had been flung against them with tremendous force. And then your eyes turned skyward to behold the grimmest sight of all. A cloud unlike you had ever personally witnessed before. But you knew what it stood for. So many times you had seen its like on horror films, documentaries about old wars and weapons. Centered over downtown Chicago, perhaps 15 miles away, was a mushroom cloud.

airwalkrr · 1st November 2009, 09:45 AM

All Players

Dekana · 1st November 2009, 04:11 PM

Sophie tries to open her eyes, but she quickly closes them again when the blood running down her face starts to sting. She fumbles blindly with her hands until she realizes that there is a gash running down her forehead. Weakly, she mutters, "What..."

A few moments ago, she had been at the 7-Eleven counter, paying for her food and slurpee. Even looking the opposite direction, she could notice the bright flash from the window behind her. Figuring it was just a car's headlights - during the day? - , she reached out to hand the clerk her credit card. Naturally, it wasn't actually "her" card, but rather the unlucky woman's who left it in her car while she went to vote. Easy pickings.

But Sophie was interrupted when the ground beneath her began to shake. She faltered and dropped the card onto the counter. The clerk, apparently seeing something that she didn't, gasped and raised his arm to point outside the window. Sophie turned to look, only just in time to see the large plane of glass shatter - and blow apart right toward her.

Now, lying on the floor, blinded and aching all over, the young woman feebly cries out in pain. Ten... twenty... thirty seconds pass with no response. Finally, she stands. She feels a strong breeze at her face, enough to catch her long black hair and toss it backward. "Hey, uh, dude " - she wasn't paying attention to the clerk's nametag - "what was that?" No response.

Sophie vaguely remembers a roll of paper towels only a few feet away near the plate of donuts. Still unable to see, she uses the counter to guide her toward the snacks. She winces in pain again when she cuts herself on a shard of glass on the counter. Nevertheless, she manages to reach the towels and wipe her face clean. The blood still flows from her head, so she takes a large wad of the paper and holds it against the wound.

Sophie turns around to inspect the devastation.

rolls / ooc

Voda Vosa · 1st November 2009, 11:52 PM

Fransisco was traveling in the subway, calmly balancing in his seat with the movement of the underground train. He had left most of his loggings in the hotel he was returning to after his shooting contest. In his case was his crossbow, now winner of another prize. Under the ground level, the passagers didn't notice the flash, but a few seconds later, the subway suffered almost an earthquake. The big shake took the train out of it's rails, and sent it crashing with it's left side. Luckily for Francisco, but not for the people waiting the train in the 143erd metro station, the subway was near the station. It burst in the already chaotic station, rushing with anyone standing nest to the edge, before colliding with the concrete walls on the other side.
The physicist was lucky to be in the middle wagon. He was catapulted forward under the seats, and imprisoned there, under a pile of twisted metal bars. Somehow, that kept him from being through out through the window to a most certain death, like it happened to many passengers.
The last collision freed Francisco. He remained inside for a few moments, but the understood that he had to find a way out. And quickly. If that was an earthquake, it could strike again soon.
Stumbbling outside, his mind was too feble to understand the horrors he was watching. People cut clean in two halves, smashed into a puddle by the train or the falling celling, pierced with metal derbies. He then realized he wasn't hearing a thing. He didn't hear the screams, the shouting, nothing. Perhaps it was better that way.
Barely he got to the stairs, and his system started to accommodate. He began to hear the shouting from behind, and his eyes began to truly see. People running into the station, oblivious of what was in there. There was some corpses on the stairs, under boulders and rocks, pieces of concrete. Francisco couldn't believe what he was beholding. As he walked slowly upwards, he lifted his head and saw a woman running towards him, down the stairs. She was desperate, and was bleeding. He was bleeding too, but didn't realized that yet. At a few feet away from him, a piece of the roof got loose, and fell over her, crushing her frame in seconds. Francisco automatically lifted his hands to cover his head, and then slowly lowered them. The woman was dead and her blood started to run downwards from the pile of rubble that had fall over her. The man understood that this was a dangerous place. He rushed out, as fast as he can and almost got crushed like that woman, but saved at the last moment. Finally, he got outside, and the fresh air hit his face.
But that was the only good moment. He stared open mouth to the mushroom cloud in the distance. "I'm already dead" he said (in spanish of course). With that in his mind, he walked like a zombie, barely grasping his suitcase, towards the market in he distance, perhaps he could find some survivors inside. The streets were just covered with death.

Roll

airwalkrr · 2nd November 2009, 07:49 AM

The 7-Eleven
When Sophie's vision clears she sees that numerous parts of the roof of the mini-mart have collapsed. The clerk is covered in debris from the collapsed roof. His right arm, head and part of his upper torso is still visible. He has a few cuts and scratches on his face and is clearly unconscious, but it is difficult to tell from here whether he is actually alive or not.

Outside, the covered filling station has been ripped from the ground and burst fuel pipes are spraying gas and ethanol into the sky. The electrical charging stations appear to be shut-off by some fail-safe mechanism, otherwise you imagine the sparks would have caused an inferno by now. The smell of the gas already permeates the air around you. A few people lie on the ground here and there, not moving. You can see others running about the street in panic, but no one dares approach the gas.

The Subway
As Francisco makes his way to the shopping center, he sees that the intersection of 143rd and S. La Grange St. (Route 45) are in bad shape. Cars, vans, SUVs, and pick-up trucks are tossed everywhere and the fuel stations on three of the four corners have been nearly toppled. Each of them is spewing fuel into the air from their detached pumps. He has to be careful to move around them to avoid the noxious vapor.

As he approaches the shopping center, he sees more chaos and destruction. The glass-paned entrances have all been shattered. People are running about in distress. Some dart inside for cover. Others rush outside to see what is going on or to check on loved ones. Some people just sit in the middle of the parking lot with tears streaming down their faces.

Vehicles are stacked up along the north wall of the southern building making entry or exit via that direction impossible. People are flooding out the west exits in terror.

The south building is an Eagle Foods supermarket (cars stacked up the north side). The west building includes a Barnes & Noble bookstore, a local Vietnamese restaurant, a night club (currently closed) called Blue 72, and an AT&T store. The small northeast building is a Chase bank. The L-shaped east building includes a Flingers restaurant, a Hobby Lobby store, a Domino's Pizza place, a Cash Advance America payday advance store, and a Tan n' Go tanning salon.

Blackrat · 2nd November 2009, 08:08 AM

Kyle woke up from the wreck. The lorry had neatly pinned his car to the wall but amazingly hadn't damaged it very much. It had at the same time shielded him from the blast while pushing his car sideways. Kyle was feeling fuzzy. He wasn't certain what had happened but he scampered out from his car and picked up the medical kit from the backseat. He had been driving back home from the hospital and had seen a bright light that had dazed him. Then nothing until waking up just now.

Considering the sun hadn't moved at all, he had been out cold only minutes. He looked around and saw only cars smashed to the wall and thrown around. Something huge had happened. Taking his kit (being a medstudent, he kept a bit better emergency eguipment in his car than most people) he ran to the first car to check on the driver while at the same time cursing to his cellphone for not turning on.

His legs failed him immediately and he dropped to his knees. Feeling around he noticed his head was moist and brought bloody fingers before his eyes. "S***..." He whispered. He must've hit his head.

Lucky I'm a doctor. He thinks and can't help but smile. Feeling around his head he removes all the larger bits of scrap and wraps a makeshift bandage around his head. The bleeding seems to have already been stopped. Got to get to a bathroom or something and wash my head...

Finally he has the time actually look around. "S***..." He whispers again as the sight of a mushroom cloud registers in his brain. Failing to get up from his knees Kyle stumbles across the street, hauling his med kit behind.

OOC

Hob Marshmallowfoot · 2nd November 2009, 08:58 AM

Sergeant James Matthews wakes up, and immediately vomits. Regaining consciousness face down in detritus composed of concrete chunks, broken glass, and jagged pieces of sheet metal, James props himself on his hands and knees, head swimming, ears ringing, eyes closed, and thinks. Broken glass… blood. I wasn’t shot. Wait… waiting to meet the seller… man… man called…

James opens his eyes, and becomes acutely aware of a sharp pain in his left thigh. Looking down, a deep, jagged gash across his quadriceps proves to be the culprit. James swears, rolls on to his back and for the first time, takes in the devastation of the warehouse around him.

This was supposed to be the meeting point where Sergeant Matthews, acting undercover, would be able to make his first contact with a seller purportedly able to supply some unspecified quantity of an elusive new designer narcotic being moved through Chicago: a small warehouse that formerly functioned as a brake repair shop, empty except for two vehicle lifts and a hand full of metal containers. Now the structure was in ruins. The windows and glass skylights in the ceiling had been completely blown out, the shattered remnants strewn across the floor, one vehicle lift had collapsed, missing crushing James by a matter of feet, and both articulated metal doors were completely shredded by the force of some large object. “That explains the cuts”, James says to himself out loud. The sound of his own voice surprises him: it sounds muffled, distant. Like someone else. What the f*** did this? Was I set up?

Shakily, and with great effort, James stands, suddenly becoming aware of the noise of chaos outside the warehouse. Limping, he makes his way to the shattered entrance and immediately comes across what is left of his car, upside down, crushed against the outside of the warehouse doors; the object which rent the metal during impact.

Leaning against the on of the Altima’s upturned tires, all thoughts of a car bomb slip from his mind as James takes in the scene of horror on the streets and former businesses in front of him: broken glass littering the streets and sidewalks; cars crushed and mangled in every conceivable manner; store front windows belching smoke and gouts of flame; lacerated, crushed, bleeding, and burnt bodies everywhere, and screaming. And looming over the entire terrible, unthinkable scene, in the distance, is the silhouette of the mushroom cloud over downtown Chicago.

“Lara… the kids… oh God…”

Roll

airwalkrr · 2nd November 2009, 11:45 AM

As the survivors panic, moan in anguish, and desperately try to free loved ones from crushed vehicles, the first local disaster occurs. You aren't certain what was going on before, but an overturned Volkswagen Jetta in the parking lot of the Bank of America begins to spark from the undercarriage. Something is apparently wrong with its battery (it seems to be an electric model) and the sparks threaten to ignite the gasoline and ethanol spewing from the nearby fuel stations.

Blackrat · 2nd November 2009, 11:59 AM

Having caught his breath and helped some stranger to get her husband out of a car Kyle notices the VW sparking near the gas station. "S***" He mutters again, realising he has been saying that quite a lot in the past minutes. "Ma'am, sir, you better move and fast." He says to the couple who seem to be capable of getting out themselves and starts running to the opposite direction of the station. First east and then a thought hits him. The mall seems to have survived pretty well. He turns towards the mall to get some shelter and time to recuperate a bit.

airwalkrr · 2nd November 2009, 12:09 PM

All Players

Willette · 2nd November 2009, 02:23 PM

The car continues to lay silent while Xavier frantically turns the keys, unaware at his young age of the effects of EMP. A bark from outside the door snaps him suddenly back to reality. "Gadget!", he screams. In all the commotion of finding his father he'd never thought to check the back for his dog. He jumps out of the cab of the truck and instantly Gadget is licking his face, whimpering as it looks towards his father. "We have to get home boy, we have to find Mom!", shouts Xavier. "But with no truck how are we ever going to get that far? Stay here for a minute while I grab my stuff, boy."

As Xavier looks at what he has it dawns on him that theres no way he can carry it all alone...unless...

Moving quickly he grabs the blanket from the seat and wraps it around Gadget and duck tapes it closed. "Stay put while I try something Gadget, I might need your help." Taking off his bookbag he throws in his lunch, the First Aid Kit, binoculars, his electrical tool kit and tapes the bookbag around the blanket on Gadget before throwing in the tape and zipping the bag closed. Although he'd always been resourceful, only now was he becoming aware of how useful the lessons his father had taught him, about getting the most out of everything at all times, really were. Picking up his toolbag and slinging it over his shoulder he shoves the map in his back pocket. "Alright boy, lets go find that mall I saw on the way here. I need a bike or something if I'm gonna make it home to find Mom, hopefully I won't have to steal it."

OOC

Dekana · 2nd November 2009, 08:00 PM

Sophie appears relatively calm upon seeing the destruction along the intersection (although "dazed" might be more appropriate). The sight of the mushroom cloud makes her jaw drop, however. Her upper body shaking from a combination of the pain and fear, she takes a few steps backward into the half-collapsed mini-mart.

Next to catch Sophie's attention is the sparking Jetta across the street. She looks back and forth between the car and the mushroom cloud before apparently deciding on a course of action. Sophie turns around to the unconscious clerk, starts pulling rubble off him, and begins to yell.

"Wake up!" She smacks him lightly across the cheek. "Hey! You have to turn off the pumps!"

actions

Voda Vosa · 2nd November 2009, 08:50 PM

Hearing the man shouting, Francisco's eyes posed upon the sparking car. His eyes widen when he thinks of the possible magnitude of the explosion that could cause. Making use of some inner strength, Francisco pulled himself along and ran towards the mall as fast as he can, dragging his case with him. "Mier** Mier** Mier** Mier**" he curses constantly as he hasty makes his way to safety.

Hob Marshmallowfoot · 3rd November 2009, 03:38 AM

"Kids...kids... Hey Kid!" Seeing a young boy in the street struggling with what appears to be a blanket, James snaps out of his awe at the sight unfolding in front of him. "Kid! You need to get out of the street! Away from here... that fuel is dangerous. Run, now!" Motioning momentarily in the general direction of the mall, James turns to the ruined Altima and levels a fierce sequence of kicks at the lock mechanism of the upturned trunk. "Gotta get that duffel bag..."

OOC

airwalkrr · 3rd November 2009, 06:44 AM

Gadget whimpers a bit at being used as a beast of burden, but he steadfastly sticks with his master as Xavier heads to the mall.

*****

The 7-Eleven clerk (whose name badge says Aziz) wakens in a stupor. He seems disoriented as he slowly asks, "Was that a bomb?"

His eyes are glassed over and he tries to free himself from the rubble. With Sophie's help most of the fallen ceiling is cleared off, but there is an enormous shard of glass in his right leg. He cannot stand. But he can sit propped up against the counter just enough to see the debacle outside.

"Turning off the pumps won't help at this point," he struggles to speak. "They ground lines have been ripped out."

*****

As Francisco approaches the shopping center, he sees utter chaos and confusion. Dozens, if not hundreds, have gathered in the parking lot to gaze at the majestic fireball still alighting into the sky. Some have gathered into prayer circles while others preach of Armageddon. There are those who blindly panic, literally running around in circles. A few have already taken to looting as shopping carts filled with diapers, paper towels, bottled water, bandages, and pharmaceuticals are hauled out by the more opportunistic types.

*****

The trunk to James' Altima seems jammed pretty good from the crunch it took in the blast. But after a few good kicks it pops open.

Hob Marshmallowfoot · 3rd November 2009, 08:02 AM

James opens the crumpled trunk, grabbing his duffel bag and allowing the rest of the contents to spill haphazardly on the glass strewn pavement.

"Sh** gotta move fast."

He begins shoving things into the bag, ripping open his tool kit and evidence collection kit and grabbing a few choice items. Flinging the bag across his back, he grabs the small fire extinguisher in hand and sprints toward across the street toward the 7-11.

"Hey lady! Guy! You need help or what? You gotta get out of there, quick!"

OOC

Blackrat · 3rd November 2009, 10:38 AM

The sprint to the mall left Kyle gasping for air. He wasn't really an athlete and had to put his head down to gather his breath. Noticing the people on the parking lot staring at the cloud he starts to look around. The people looting the stores seemed somewhat strange until he realises that they probably have it right. There's going to be need for clean water and food soon. He quickly pops to the closest store, grabs a bag and throws some cans of preserved food and water bottles in it before slinking back to the lot.

Dekana · 4th November 2009, 04:41 AM

On hearing the warning from the man outside the store, Sophie quickly digs through the rubble to recover her purse. Through the open window she yells "We are coming! The man here is hurt though." She then turns to Aziz and offers a hand, attempting to help him stand on his injured leg.

"Let's get out of here then. That car is going to blow, and we do not want to be here when it does."

airwalkrr · 4th November 2009, 04:43 AM

James sees that the only safe way to approach the 7-Eleven is from the electrical charge station side, where apparently some fail-safe mechanism has kept the chargers from sparking. Ethanol and gasoline are spewing from the other direction. Even getting within 30 feet of the fumes is starting to nauseate him however (roll a Fortitude save, remember to add the action point before you submit if you think it's too low).