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Latest News Items
» Report for June 2024
Posted on Wed Jul 3rd, 2024 @ 12:23am by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] in Monthly Report to the Survivors
Hello, Survivors!
Player Statistics
================
New Players: 2
Departing Players: 0
Total Currently:
> 10 Main Characters
> 7 NPCs
LOAS/Unknown:
> Calista and Killian Sutton on LOA until 17 JUL 24
> Reuben Baptiste - Unknown
Returning From LOA:
> Victoire Olaffson
NOTE: All players are represented on Discord except for Killian Sutton; however, his real-life spouse, Calista Sutton is on Discord so he'll be able to get information through her.
Total Posts for the Month: 45
Posts by User (Average): 4.5
Words by User (Average): 2295.5
Rules Adjustment
================
I'm appending the rules for character-creation to reflect the fact that the character has to be consistent with the time frame of the sim -- 2010 at present. You can't talk, for example, about having had COVID, for example, since that hadn't happened in 2010. Existing characters are not exempt from this rule.
Awards
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"High Speed Survivor" goes to Phoenix Lalor, who writes Serena Reynods, for a total of 9 posts last month -- that equals Hale's count which is also 9.
Player of the Month is awarded to Johnathan2009, who writes Tim Reynolds, for his willingness to contribute real-world knowledge and by doing so, enhance the realism we bring to the time period. And also, for helping me remember to look at production dates on vehicles.
Current Events
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With young children in the mix, the group's focus has shifted to setting up a community on Hale's land in Wisconsin. Having secured vehicles, the group is now going to drive South, towards Boston, and head west toward Wisconsin.
Hale has become the official leader of the group with Tim Reynolds acting as his second. Individuals will be evaluated and assigned jobs but everyone agrees that, Serena Reynolds (our doctor), Patrick Reynolds, 10 months old, and Thea Matthews who is five months pregnant will not participate in any encounters but instead, be ready to make a quick getaway.
Serena Reynolds has been asked to join the Logistics Committee with Ed being put in charge and Ethan to act as an assistant to Ed (for the time being).
The group is beginning to talk about how the settlement in Wisconsin will function and some rules have been suggested. Once they are confirmed, we'll add them to the sim site and new characters will have to go through that process to become members of the community.
Upcoming:
> Stop outside of Augusta at Vienna's parents' cabin
> Stop in Augusta to try to secure more medical supplies where we'll run into a new player character (formerly Vic Olaffson) and Rene's sister, Chloe, (an NPC) who are being held by a group of raiders masquerading as National Guard
> Stop outside of Boston, at a truck stop, where we'll run into three NPCs -- Kimberley Hathaway, Josh McCallan and Lydia Dunham.
And Finally
===========
I love the idea of setting up as a community once we are settled into cabins and are building our lives there. That will take some discussion, both in-character and out, but I think it will add real depth to our stories going forward.
And for those who were worried, while Vic may have died, her writer is still with us and is currently dreaming up another character that will most likely find at the Medical Center.
See you in the apocalypse,
Hale
» Report for March 2024
Posted on Sun Apr 7th, 2024 @ 3:05am by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] in Monthly Report to the Survivors
Congratulations, Survivors!
We started our first episode, Bangor or Bust, Saturday, 15 April 2023. Tomorrow, nearly a year later, we will finally finish it. For those who like stats, we have, as a group, written 332 posts for this episode, 34 of them in the past month. And now, nearly a year later, its time to move on. There will be a short post tomorrow explaining what happens to the safe zone and after that, Bangor or Bust will be closed for posting and we'll be moving into the new episode (I'm thinking about "Winter is Coming" as a title).
As you've seen, I'm starting to use a narrator (descriptions in italics) to describe things that are happening in the world around you. As we go forward, I'll be making more use of that as well as writing for a host of people you might run into -- both good and bad.
This next episode will describe the ramp-up to winter and how all of these individuals start to come together and work as a group. Things to look forward to:
> More visits from Whistler who has taken an interest in the group
> A visit to a lesser-known weapons' store
> A visit to Vienna's family cabin (though that could be problematic but we'll see when we get there, eh?)
> Possible hike along the river to find Reuben's friend (Reuben, we should talk about that)
> The reality of a world without police or an effective military
These will be difficult months in a world that is just starting to accept the notion that things are never going to go back to the way they were. Expect problems, both with the sorta-dead and with the living, and hardships but the end goal is to gather resources, figure out what to do for the winter, and prepare for what comes next.
See you in the world,
Hale Stratton
» Report for February 2024
Posted on Mon Mar 4th, 2024 @ 8:44pm by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] in Monthly Report to the Survivors
Hello, Survivors,
Been having a couple days of good weather here, sort of like the first promise of Spring, and its been lovely. Also, Watson, my cat, discovered Cat TV (its a YouTube channel) and he loves it. For a cat who absolutely refuses to go anywhere near the outside world, he's been mighty brave swatting at those birds.
Sim Statistics
No changes in the number of writers this month so we're still holding at eight. We are losing a couple of NPCs though -- Courtney, Jordan, Father Dominic I believe. Not sure about Bao (been quiet since the delivery) so I'll check on that. We did pick up two new NPCs and both are mine -- Emma Lynn Starsky and Whistler. Emma has a bio. Whistler's is coming. Just got to dig into the mind of a psycho a bit.
Oh right. I've added a second manifest to the site (on the Population tab, click "Departed")
For the month of February:
Number of Posts this Month: 45
Highest Poster This Month: Hale Stratton
Then in Order:
> Tied for Second Place: Alonzo Blazevic and Reuben Baptiste
> Tied for Third Place: Rene Rouen, Vienna Quinn, and Victoire Olaffson
> Calista Sutton and Killian Sutton
Awards:
Survivor of the Month: Calista and Killian Sutton. Since joining the sim, the two of them have been writing a married couple (as they are in real life) who are struggling to survive. While most of the writers, myself included, opted to have skills that made them able more than capable of surviving what's to come myself included, these two are just normal people. They are approaching the point, nearly a year into the sim, where they will join the group and I enjoy reading the snippets of their life. Hiding out. Being afraid. Hungry. Lost. In fact, they've actually inspired me to write an ordinary character myself! Good job both of you.
Current Episode:
Once Hale, Vic, and Reuben return from looking for Mrs. Quinn (the prognosis does not look good) and have dinner, we'll move onto our departure from Bangor. By the night of the 5th, we'll need to be outside of Bangor. I've added a tiny map to #references-and-resources -- the "X" marks the location. Its a suburban home that I transplanted from a Zillow ad. That's also in #references-and-resources. We'll (finally) meet up with Callista and Killian and watch Bangor burn somewhere around dawn.
And that brings us to the point where everyone finally has to say what they intend to do, as individual characters, going forward. The idea is to establish ourselves as a group with Hale assuming the role of official leader. We'll get organized, move away from Bangor and start figuring out what we're going to do next.
The Future
I've had one suggestion for a place where we can winter and I'll open a channel, #where-can-we-winter, for everyone to post suggestions. Things to think about:
> Where do you want to go? It doesn't have to be in Maine.
> And do you even want to settle in for the winter? Would you rather keep moving. Sleeping where we can?
I would suggest that we keep away from ready-made, easily defensible structures like prisons, survivalist compounds, and full-on military bases. To me, its a bit of a silver bullet but I'm also operating under the theory that we're not the only ones looking and the bigger places would be first up for grabs.
Now, if you want, I'll work all of this out and let you know -- but this is your sim as much as it is mine. Bring me your ideas and I'll put something together.
See you in the world,
Tory (aka Hale Stratton)
» Report for January 2024
Posted on Thu Feb 1st, 2024 @ 8:08pm by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] in Monthly Report to the Survivors
Hello, Survivors,
Okay, its been an embarrassingly long time since I've done this so, let me start by offering my profound apologies. Had a bit of a Star Trek sim burnout going on and a lot of things fell by the wayside. Things are better now and I'm totally back.
Sim Statistics
We added two survivors, Stephen Wolff and Reuben Baptiste. That brought us up to nine writers. Course, Stephen dropped out again so we have added one new writer -- which means two service dogs and three military personnel. The world has never seemed safer, eh?
You know, we started this sim on the 15th of April, 2023 and since then we've written a total of 75 posts or 106,365 words. Feel free to cheer and get yourself a celebratory beverage -- in my case, a fresh cup of coffee. Niche sims like this one often fail -- and its entirely because of all of you that we haven't. I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to our upcoming first-year anniversary.
We should celebrate. Maybe we'll invite zombies to the party?
For the month of January:
Number of Posts this Month: 15
Highest poster this Month: Hale Stratton
Then, in order:
> Alonzo Blazevic
> Reuben Baptiste
> Callista and Killian Sutton, Victoire Olaffson
> Vienna Quinn and Rene Rouen
Awards
Survivor of the Month: Reuben Baptiste. I love his concept for a character who is disabled, in his case, through military service, both in how it reflects the reality some veterans face and in how it will affect his character's ability to survive and thrive in the aftermath of the Wildfire Virus.
Honorable mention: Steffan Wolfe for a character who wasn't afraid to hang onto the privileges he enjoyed in the pre-virus world. It would have been fun to see how it all played out.
Current Episode
Our time in Bangor is coming to an end. At the moment, Hale is conferring with Victoire Olaffson and Reuben Baptiste regarding the current situation. There's been a significant uptick in incidents with the not-so-departed and resources are becoming harder to find and more dangerous to procure. By the night of the 5th, the safe zone will be on the point of failing and, of course, on the 6th, the government, on the verge of collapse, bombs major cities. Not all of them, of course, since Atlanta and the CDC were still standing months afterward. But, for our purposes, Bangor will be on the list.
Between now and then, some things that might be happening:
> More sounds of gunfire
> Maybe a not-so-dead wanders by your quarters
> You see more wounded coming back
> The supply depot doesn't have nearly as much as it did
> The mood among survivors is getting desperate
For roleplay purposes, and so that we can (finally -- and yes, Callista and Killian I'm looking at you) meet up with the Suttons, Hale and those that come with him, will be heading back the way they came (we left our vehicles behind. Maybe they're still there? We'll watch Bangor burn and know that we have to leave that area behind. Fire attracts after all.
The Future
After we leave Bangor, we'll have to decide what comes next. OOCly speaking, since we're not doing missions, I'm going to be planning events that will happen. Some good. Some pretty terrible. It's not just to give you something interesting to write about, it's more that we can explore some of what happens when society breaks down and everything changes. So, on that note, I direct your attention to #future-apocaplytic-events in the Survivor Resources category on Discord.
Think of it as your chance to influence what comes next. Something you really need to happen to or for your character? Something you think would be fun to do? Something you're not seeing enough of? It's a place for brainstorming and discussing all of that.
See you in the world,
Tory (aka Hale Stratton et al)
» Report for May 2023
Posted on Fri Jun 2nd, 2023 @ 12:08am by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] in Monthly Report to the Survivors
Hello, Survivors!
We've made it out of the church and the group is starting to come together. This month should see us start the push to get everyone back to their families in Bangor and what everyone is hoping will be an end to the insanity. Bangor will be very action-filled since the city is well on its way to being overrun. We'll see safe zones set up, lawlessness outside of those zones, and a whole lot of undead. Not to mention the last ditch attempt by the government to contain the Wildfire Virus by dropping napalm on major city centers.
On a personal note, this will also be the time when individuals will be able to explore their personal storylines a bit. Return to your homes, look for your families, and come to the realization that the world has really changed. That things aren't going back to the way they were and that there really is, no way home.
Player Statistics
=================
New Players: 2
Victoire Olaffson and Father Alexander Pryde
Departing Players: 1
Cooper Gaines
Total Currently: 10
Total Posts for the Month: 70
Posts by Player (Average): 6.36
Awards
==================
There was only one nomination for the Player's Choice Award but a nomination is a nomination -- and I agree that this player has done some great characterization in their role as a French foreign-exchange student. The winner is: Rene Rouen.
Post of the Month Award
==================
The Fall of Saint Andrews (Part 1)
https://no-way-home.sim-station.net/index.php/sim/viewpost/39
Player of the Month Award
================
Victoire Olaffson - This writer hit the ground running, did a lot of research, and through our discussions has shaped a character that makes sense in terms of training and education -- not only their own but mine as well!
Survivor of the Month Award
==================
Kara Sloane - For the courage to face what's coming even without the skill
High Speed Survivor Award
=================
Alonzo Blazevic
Rene Rouen
Best Use of a Non-Weapon Weapon
======================
Victoire Olaffson for using her Armada to run over walkers and thereby help the survivors escape!
Website
=======
Things are basically set up on the site. The Wiki is useless and has been replaced by information provided through Discord.
The Current Episode
===================
In the small town of Millinocket, the undead are starting to appear with more frequency and survivors are grouping together in cobbled-together shelters but its clear, the city isn't prepared. One of those shelters, Saint Andrew's Episcopal falls when the priest holds a service for the dead and the church bells draw unwelcome attention. Forced to flee, a group of survivors takes shelter at Twin Pines, a camping resort outside of town, and makes plans to get everyone back to their families in Bangor.
Final Thoughts
==============
We've had a great second month with the start of some wonderful characterization, both PCs and NPCs. Now, we're heading into our next big adventure, traveling down to Bangor. This is where everything changes, where we all begin to understand the new reality, and the group really forms.
Really looking forward to what you come up with!
And just who is it who knocked on the cabin door? Hmmm?
SG
Writing for Hale Stratton
Latest Mission Posts
» Surviving the Walking Dead: Amy's Story
Mission: The Road Ahead
Posted on Sat Jul 27th, 2024 @ 3:58am by Civilian Amythyst
Amythyst, or Amy as she prefers, crouched behind a dumpster in an alleyway, the heavy scent of rotting garbage mingling with the pungent odor of the undead. The streets of New York, once bustling with life, were now overrun with the shambling horrors that had turned the city into a…
» After Dinner Meeting
Mission: Winter is Coming
Posted on Fri Jul 26th, 2024 @ 3:23am by Dante & John Smith
Boxcars, stored at Track 61, had become a home for the Infernals but Dante had become to think that, considering the safety it had once afforded from the police was no longer an issue, it might be time to find a better solution. Money was no longer an option which…
» Visit to the ER: In the Aftermath
Mission: Winter is Coming
Posted on Thu Jul 25th, 2024 @ 4:40am by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] & Ethan Thompson & Lydia Dunham & Roman Quinn M.D. & Timothy Reynolds [Captain, US Army] & Timothy Cotton {Sergeant, US Marines} & Serena Reynolds M.D. & Civilian Joshua MacCallan & Chloé Rouen & Kimberley Hathaway
[Back with the Group]
Kimberly slowed her SUV as she came up to where TJ had told them the safe location was. She could see two Vehicles parked just outside the medical area, and people gathered around.
Lydia slowed as Kimberly did, taking in the group of people standing around,…
» Visit to the ER: Sudden Noises
Mission: Winter is Coming
Posted on Wed Jul 24th, 2024 @ 4:02am by Hale Stratton [Major, United States Army] & Ethan Thompson & Timothy Reynolds [Captain, US Army] & Serena Reynolds M.D.
[Emergency Room Ambulance Entrance]
We should probably do a sweep and make sure we haven't left any unfriendlies behind," Hale said. "Then we can bring this beast around front where, I'm sure, you're wife will be happy to see it."
Timothy nodded as he moved, scanning his half of the…
» Harris Family : Moving on and Panic.
Mission: Winter is Coming
Posted on Wed Jul 24th, 2024 @ 3:58am by Civilian Carmen Harris & Civilian Myles Harris & Civilian Jack Harris
The next morning dawned and Carmen was the first up, she slipped from the Tent, let Daisy out to do her business and went to the treeline to do her own. Then she came back and made their breakfast which ended up being a bread roll with meat and cheese.…
Latest Personal Logs
» Diary Entry of Dr. Serena Reynolds
Posted on Sat Jul 6th, 2024 @ 7:46am by Serena Reynolds M.D.
**Diary Entry of Dr. Serena Reynolds**
The past few hours have been a strange blend of anxiety and fleeting relief. I’m sitting next to Timothy in our truck, cradling PJ in my arms while he sleeps peacefully, blissfully unaware of the chaos around us. We’ve just joined a convoy of…
» Snack Pack - 01
Posted on Tue May 16th, 2023 @ 12:01am by Alonzo Blazevic
Snack Pack Blog
August, 26th, 2010
It was just a joke, you know? At first at least. Movie theaters were showing classic horror flicks, especially those like Night of The Living Dead or Evil Dead. Last Year’s Zombieland was a blast to watch on the big screen, but now? Now,…
» The Beginning of an End
Posted on Fri May 5th, 2023 @ 8:28am by Victoire Olaffson [Lieutenant, United States Navy]
Mom and Dad were killed... the lensmann called it a wild animal attack... but somehow with the way that they wouldn't let me see their bodies (not that it stopped me from breaking in) and the condition that I found them in there is not any animal I know of…
» My first week in America
Posted on Thu Apr 20th, 2023 @ 7:27am by René Rouen
Dearest Mother and Father,
Well, I have made it through my first week in America. I am staying with the Quinn family in a nice home just in the city limits of Bangor, Maine. Monsignor and Madame Quinn have a teenage aged daughter in the same grade and she will…