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(Post-)apocalyptic (inspired by The Walking Dead or Fallout)

Nope, no knowledge required. Doesn’t even need to be based off the Walking Dead, or we can mash Ideas together from different franchises.

(Post-)apocalyptic (inspired by The Walking Dead or Fallout)

For the record, it’s been years since I’ve “run” a group RP. I’m more interested in a collaborative storytelling effort than leading people through an adventure; my party, so I call the shots if there’s a dispute, but otherwise I’ll run with whatever.

I was watching season 8 of the Walking Dead on Netflix and I was struck by the complete shift in values that some of the characters had gone through since the start of the series, at times even feeling like they had lost some part of their humanity. I’m interested in that conflict between morals and survival, between outside forces and inner voices.

I’m open to apocalyptic ideas other than zombies (although I love them and have no problem with sticking to them), but I’m aiming to stay somewhat realistic. Hollywood movie magic would be fair game for fights and the like, though.

If the game actually manages to go long enough to really get anywhere, I would also be open to the idea that whatever is plaguing our characters was in fact limited to a relatively small area, leaving them back in the real world with these experiences no one else has had.

Ideas Galore!

Bump.

Ideas Galore!

Bump.

Ideas Galore!

Bump.

Ideas Galore!

Bump.

Goodbye, my almost lover. [Numenera]

Layers, layers, layers, always best to do things in layers, waterproof things on top. The set had been an expensive purchase, but it was much quieter and easier to move in than what she had had before. Kari slipped her arms into a dark blue coat, zipping it up to her neck. She pulled similar pants up over what she was already wearing and hefted on her pack.

Her shoes would be fine. She never wore shoes that weren’t waterproof, not after Raul-

Muffled yelling made its way to her ears, no words distinguishable. What in the world was going on outside? She made her way over to the window to peer out onto the street.

Raul.

For a split second she was confused, wondering why he had followed her, why he was screaming at her house (presumably trying to get her attention), but her eyes were caught by another figure. Lightning coming from her hands. He was yelling at the woman, not her.

She watched as he moved- he made combat look like art, she had discovered soon after meeting him, and it fascinated her. She was graceful enough, but not when fighting, not like he was.

What to do, what to do...

She made her way down the stairs. She could at least hear better from there. Raul never liked her getting into the thick of things, and to be honest, she had never liked it either. Sometimes it had been necessary.

Goodbye, my almost lover. [Numenera]

Her mouth was open, about to respond, reassure him that she knew the drill, but his sudden shout startled her into taking a few steps back. She turned and ran as directed, knowing better than to ask questions.

He found her in a room down the hall, or rather, she opened a door when she saw that it was just him. It was hidden at the end of the hallway, the seams disguised by the panels on the wall. "Prob- probably home," she said, eyes wide, throat so dry she could barely manage a whisper. She pointed out the back door. "Go straight to the edge, then turn right. Should be on the right. She says it... it's like a miniature house, looks out of place."

---

The wooden stairs creaked as she made her way up. She was going to have to reinforce them soon. Maybe destroy them entirely and build new ones. They led to an empty room, the space on the opposite side of the joint running along the floor a scattered mess of things, most of them not functional just yet. The difference between that side and the other was sudden, her gear and tools neatly placed at the end of her cot. That was probably the most personal touch in the place; she couldn't be bothered to decorate. Gave her too much time to think.

She pulled her pack up into the bed, making sure everything was in order. There was a flash of lightning, a crack of thunder- maybe she shouldn't go.

"Probably going to die in a cave one day anyway," she huffed to the empty room.

Goodbye, my almost lover. [Numenera]

The woman nodded and murmured a thank you, tucking the shins into a pocket of her apron. "Indeed it can be. I think difficulty will follow anywhere, though. A lot of people are here to escape that."

There was a pause before she answered his question. "Her, no. I don't think she could ever stay still enough for anything like that. She helps with odd jobs when she's around, but mostly she comes and goes. Usually comes back to town covered in dirt with something new to fiddle with. Keeps a lot to herself, like everyone else around here."

She paused again, longer this time. "You knew each other before she came here, didn't you?" It was more a statement than a question. She hadn't missed his stare, far longer than someone just curious about what she could be doing up on that ladder, nor the look on Kari's face when she had left.

---

She should go back, ask him why he left, why he hadn't just said something. Maybe ask him how he was doing, if he was happier now that he had left her.

No, confrontation was not something Kari was interested in. Besides- he had made his choice clear. He knew how much she hated puzzles without answers; maybe it was his turn, if he had even noticed it was her.

Back to her dwelling it was.

She didn't live far from the inn, just by the edge of town in what looked like an oversized doll house. She was fairly certain it was- it had seams where it could be pushed open had she not taken measures to prevent that, two levels with two narrow rooms each, each half designed for a different purpose. She just fit the low ceilings with a few inches to spare.

It wasn't much, but it was hers. No one else had wanted it- it had been in dire need of repairs when she had arrived and supposedly was haunted by the ghost of its previous owner.

She threw herself on the cushions lined up on the floor when she got in. She didn't feel like heading all the way upstairs to the bed, and it was just as comfortable here, anyways. A part of her wanted to sleep, but she was too restless, too fidgety.

Raul. Why were you here? Why did you go?

She got up abruptly. She had spent enough time tossing and turning over him. She was going to the caves, storm be damned.

Goodbye, my almost lover. [Numenera]

Sounds good! Looking forward to it.