Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
Safe Harbor
It's April of 1956 and the world as you knew it no longer exists. World War 2 raged till the end of August 1951. Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, 1941. The attack came without warning and thousands lost their lives; Men, women and children, military and civilian alike. Americans were inflamed by the bold and cowardly act. Men flocked to recruiting stations across the country, women left the comfort of their kitchens and living rooms to work in factories and shipyards from coast to coast. Britain was pounded mercilessly yet refused to surrender. An eastern assault was launched by Germany in the spring of 1943 and pushed to withing 150 miles of Moscow before being brought to a halt. The lines supplying Rommel in Africa were severed late in 1942 leaving him with ever dwindling amounts of fuel and ammunition. Although the allied troops in Africa had more then enough fuel and ammunition to go around, the sand, dirt and grit of the desert had rendered their artillery and armor almost completely useless. Rommel and the Allied commanders brokered an uneasy truce and agreed on a five mile wide buffer zone between their forces.
Switzerland remained truly neutral, letting anyone into the country provided they surrendered all weapons at the border. In a last, desperate attempt to win a war that had come to a standstill, Hitler launched hundreds of V-2 rockets at his enemies. These rockets were loaded with VX gas and other bio-chemical agents. But there were unforeseen side effects from all of those agents being released at once and mixing together – fully 1/3 of all life, plant, animal and human, had disappeared off the face of the planet within the first 18 months, the agents having spread like wildfire across the globe due to the wind and waves. Within the next three years a full 2/3 of the life left was either dead or dieing. What little remained alive did so by either changing, mutating to become, for the most part, horrific and very dangerous beings, or because of some natural immunity.
Most of the technology that was around is no longer usable. Telephones poles no longer stand to provide telephone service. All planes, ships and automobiles have ground to a halt due to a lack of fuel and people able to maintain them. Most power plants have long since used what fuel they had available or automatically shut down due to a lack of maintenance, very few remain active and do not provide enough power to sustain even the smallest of cities. Radio's occasionally get a burst of static or even rarer, a snippet of music or voices. Survivors have banded together, making uneasy alliances with each other. These alliances are fragile and can shatter at a moments notice. Distrust runs rampant as do the mutants. But there have been rumors of small enclaves deep in the mountains or the most barren of deserts where the bio-chemical agents have not spoiled. Can these rumors be true, can there truly be a safe harbor out there? And if so, can you find one before its too late?
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
April 19, 1956 - 6:15 a.m. Miami Waterfront - Kathrine
Kathrine took steady aim at the shark circling just feet below were she sat. With each pass the sharks circles drew tighter and tighter, bringing it just that much closer each time. Suddenly it lunged out of the water, striking at the bait that hung a good ten feet in the air. Kathrine fired twice, hitting her mark both times. The shark dropped back into the water, dead. Quickly the other three hunters had the boat in position and were working to haul the beast in. One looked up at Kathrine and smiled. "This will feed the compound for at least the next month if not longer." Kathrine returned his smile briefly and turned her attention back to the water, keeping an eye out for any more predators that might be attracted by the blood. It took a full forty-five minutes to get the shark into the boat and back to shore and another thirty to get it wrangeled onto the sled for the trip back to the compound. The rest of the hunting team had returned by this time with nothing to show for their efforts. They quickly fell into position for the fifty mile return trip.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
April 19, 1956 - 8:00 a.m. Miami Waterways - Amos
The bottles rattled in the bottom of Amos's small boat. It was old and weathered, just like the man himself. It, like he moved with deliberate slowness. Poling a boat along the waterway was not a swift way to travel and took some degree of skill. Equally difficult was evading the dangers, both new and old, that made the waterways there home.
The alligator gars that lived in the Miami rivers had been dangerous enough before but now they were doubly so. More than twice the size and with speed that belied their size, they have decimated the alligator population. Amos didn't mind though. There were still plenty of gators in the Everglades.
He was watching one of the gars as it stalked his boat. It was trying to decide if the flat bottomed boat was edible enough to attack or predatory enough to be worried about. Amos shook his head. It wouldn't attack. The boat was too big, too slow and certainly wasn't going to attack the gar. He had the tools but he had places to go and things he needed to trade for. The gar would find something else to hold its attention and he would carry on to the trading compound, assuming it was even still there. A lot could happen in a month.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Trellin on
April 19, 1956 - 10:00 a.m. Somewhere in North Miami - Robert
Robert brought Ghost to a halt with a slight movement of his knees that was so instinctive that it was unconsciousness. They stopped under the overhang of what used to be a building for a few minutes. He let his eyes go out of focus, looking at nothing in particular, just waiting for the patterns of motion and placement to make themselves known. He did the same with his sense of sound, not listening for anything in particular but letting the sounds resolve themselves into their own distinctive patterns.
He knew Ghost was doing the same in his own way. Although his own survival instincts were not inconsiderable, horses in general were infinitely better when it came to sensing trouble and Ghost seemed almost supernatural at it sometimes.
The flight response was one of the hardest things to train out a horse and it was even harder to teach them to trust you more than their own need to flee or panic. Once you did though, you had a companion that could see you through almost anything in one piece. It had taken him a while to train Ghost who had already had a good start on training when he picked him up from the nomadic folk that lived in Wyoming now and had taken to heart their Comanche ancestors'way of life.
Had picked his way across and through everyplace that might be worth looking for salvage since Fort Myers, skirting south along Lake Okeechobee and finally turning south just east of Wellington.
He was heading to Miami, hoping to get a decent salvage run at worst and at best he would find another of those grand prizes, a little piece of civilization where people weren't simply intent on tearing each other apart or burning down the forest to save their own little tree. He wasn't holding out hope on that one though. So far he hadn't found one large city where anything like that had survived.
He waited a few more minutes enjoying a cool breeze checking the baggage on Cloud, gently guiding her mouth away as he talked to her when she looked like she was about to nip him. She didn't like being the pack animal in such unfamiliar terrain.
After that was done, he mounted and guided them off to the south again. He figured that old Miami was still about 15 or so miles to the south. If any civilized behavior still remained, at least he'd be in time for lunch.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
April 19, 1956 - 9:00 a.m. Miami Waterways - Amos
Easter had been, of all days, April Fool's Day, almost three weeks ago. Even if he was willing to play pranks (which he wasn't) there was no one to play the pranks on. The pranks would have ended at noon anyway, according to tradition, otherwise they were supposed to backfire. Amos preferred to think of the more serious meaning of the day. Despite everything, God had not abandoned them. Each survivor was a modern day Job. Faith would carry them through. It was the ultimate survival tool. To give in was to lose faith. Amos didn't know how much faith he had left but he wasn't ready to lay down and die just yet.
Sweet little Jesus boy They made you be born in a manger Sweet little holy child We didn't know who you were Didn't know you'd come to save us Lord To take our sins away Our eyes were blind, we could not see We didn't know who you were
He's picked up the nickname Moses for his ability to quote the scripture, an ability he had learned at his mother's knee. As soon as he was able to read, she would make him read from the Bible any time he wanted to run off and have some fun. She must have thought that fun needed to be paid for. It also gave her comfort when her health began to fade, so Amos really hadn't minded.
Long time ago You were born Born in a manger Lord Sweet little Jesus boy The world treats you mean Lord Treats me mean too But that's how things are down here We don't know who you are
His father, on the other hand, had taught him to ride and to shoot. He taught him to always be aware of where he was and what tools he had handy. There was a Winchester model 1892 lever action rifle close at hand, along with exactly forty two bullets remaining. Hanging from his belt was a .45 caliber Remington 1875 Army revolver that had belonged to his wife's Grandfather. Amos had discovered it while searching for appropriate clothing to bury the old man in after he'd died. There were only eighteen bullets left for it.
You have told us how We are trying Master you have shown us how Even when you were dying Just seems like we can't do right Look how we treated you But please Sir forgive us Lord We didn't know it was you
When the bullets ran out, Amos still had his knife. It was long and razor sharp, as more than one gator had learned, much to their sorrow. He briefly wondered if he would get the chance to kill any more gators with it. Probably. Ammunition was too valuable to waste on a gator's thick hide.
Sweet little Jesus boy Born a long time ago Sweet little holy child We didn't know who you were.
He pulled in to shore. Quickly tying the boat to a tree that was threatening to overtake what was left of the dock, Amos began unloading. There were four cases of jars, each filled to the top with his home made brew. The stuff was strong enough to use as medical alcohol but its primary use was getting the drinker pie-eyed.
Next came the two wheel and the frame that made up his small barrow. He wasn't about to carry the jars all the way to the outpost. Pushing them or pulling them on the cart would be simple enough, once he'd knocked in the pins that would hold the wheels in place.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Tinker on
It was hot; hot and humid. Hell, it was hot and humid and generally like living in an armpit on the better days. Today was not one of those better days.
The temperature with the insulting humidity index figured in was up near stifling and only a nose hair away from utterly unbearable, in other words, a typical spring morning for glorious Sweet Surrender sugarcane plantation, post end of the world.
The once grand plantation house was now fraying at the edges, but the structure was built to last and she was maintained as best as times would allow. The veranda was kept spotless despite the efforts of the local fauna to reclaim it for themselves. The hardwood deck was scrubbed to a dull sheen and the cracking paint on the railing was scoured to inhibit humidity induced rot. The sole surviving member of the Sharpe legacy was in her usual spot to watch the morning ripen and swell like a spoiling fruit.
The rhythmic creak of the boards beneath the old chair’s rockers had an almost lullaby quality. The craggy mutt curled next to the chair had certainly been seduced by the Morphean song and was contently sighing in his slumber. The woman in the rocking chair, who could only loosely be referred to as his master, sat with one hand curled around a half full glass of breakfast mojito and the other dangled over the chair arm to rest on the dog’s head.
Storm cloud coloured eyes gazed in the direction of the swaying field of cane which was a third of the size it had been in better days. A keen ear attentive to even the slightest sound of struggle, pain or confusion; focused to the sea of sweet green. She swirled the beverage around in the glass before taking a long sip never taking the other hand from the slumbering canine underneath her right hand. The dog stirred slightly and reached out his cold nose to nuzzle her hand, a warm velvety tongue followed to show his appreciation of her just being there. A smile spread across the landowner’s lips and her fingers found a tattered ear to rub. A four-four beat was played out on the deck with a bony pooch heel as the human found the legendary magic spot.
An unearthly how, seemingly gargling up via hell erupted from the tranquility of the cane. All of the redhead’s muscles tightened in unison with her four legged companion’s and wide smiles creased across both faces. The mojito was relinquished gently to the porch as she stood from the rocking chair and the large, battered baseball bat that had been laid across her lap was now swinging idly in her left hand. The ungodly howl was unleashed for a second time.
The Dog whined with excitement and gave a hacking bark before dancing around his human.
“I know, Dog, I know. Sounds like a nice big one, doesn’t it?â€
He replied with furious tail wagging and three short sneezes.
The pistol crossbow at her left hip was delicately loaded with a perfectly rendered homemade bolt in anticipation of what would be needed to be done. She delved in the breast pocket of her overalls, gently fingering the other bolts to count them. There were more than enough.
“Looks like we’re good to go, Dog.â€
The mutt’s rear end shimmied in unparalleled excitement, but he held fast to her side.
The baseball bat was slung casually over her shoulder and woman and dog disappeared into the swaying sea of green.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: azathothsneakerz on
April 19th, 1956 - 7:37am - Sweet Surrender Sugarcane Plantation
Wade sat on a rock, baking in the Florida sun. His short hair was slicked back in a blown back way to keep the sweat that was falling from it in beads out of his amber eyes. He was slowly, and carefully, sharpening his kukri as he sat on his duff. At his side sat the remains of his camp from the night before. A bed roll and the ashes of a small fire were the only signs he left in his wake. That and the charred remains of the squirrel he’d eaten for dinner the night before. He looked up from his work and lazily scanned the sugarcane fields. He could hear something out in the cane making a racket.
Without much ado he got to his feet, sliding the blade into a sheath at his side as he did. Wade wore no shirt, choosing instead the comfort of going topless in the heat. The only thing he wore on his upper body was a battered M1 carbine sans scope on a sling. Instead of unslinging the rifle he reached to his side and pulled his 1911 from the holster on his hip. He reached down and racked the slide on the pistol. Deliberately he walked towards the cane. A warm breeze rolled over him and the plantation, causing the field before him to ripple under its caress.
He moved through the grass with practiced quiet. It was only through years of practice and practical experience that he could tread so silently on such heavy boots. The sugarcane leaves poked and dragged against Wade as he moved through them with his pistol clenched tightly in his hand. The noise didn’t sound human, but if anything that just made Wade more on edge. A regular human, though rare, was something that Wade could deal with easily. Some sort of mutated monster however, that was something Wade had to deal with on the fly. His eyes pierced through the breaks in the sugarcane, always aware, waiting for something to come crashing at him through the stalks from any direction.
Without meaning to he started to think back to Burma. He thought about maneuvering through the Burmese jungle, and he thought about low crawling through the high grass in clearings. He half suspected the sound of machine gun fire to break out at any moment. He wiped perspiration from his brow. The heat was playing tricks on him. He closed his eyes and breathed through his nose. His belly pushed in and out rhythmically as he collected his thoughts. After a moment’s pause he was good. He blinked away sweat and ran his hand through his hair, pushing the black mess back.
He realized by that point that he must be getting close to whatever it was that was making the noise. His thumb played with the safety on the pistol. It couldn’t be more than ten more meters off.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Tinker on
Woman and hound flew through the long viridian stalks of sugar cane, weaving expertly between the tall stems with the confidence that familiarity brought. Dog’s bubble gum pink tongue lolled from the side of his mouth and flapped like a meaty streamer, his canine smile so wide that it looked as if a straight razor had been taken to his furry face.
The thing in the cane howled again, the sound of pain and frustration clear in its alien tones. A smile that was clouded with a darkness that should never belong on a face so fair, sat brazenly across Lucky’s wide lips. She moved with silence and expertise through the field towards the source of the ungodly sound, zig-zagging and bounding over the uneven ground as if it were brand new tarmac.
The quicksilver in her eyes flickered under the haze of the morning sun as her focus remained on the exact point she knew she left the trap. Within mere moments, a stench of animal rose in the air and sounds of thrashing could be heard in close proximity. Both human and canine slowed to a stealthy prowl and rounded into a small clearing.
The beast was caught by ankle in a foothold trap hidden in the debris on the floor of the clearing. Needle like teeth were bared in a long, pointed snout and grotesque pink hands reached for its captors. Lucky gauged the creature’s reach with ease and managed to stay comfortably out of the grasp of the claws that each fingere ended in. It stood upright like a man and was damn near man height, but its body was covered in thick grey and black fur and a girthy hairless tail thrashed out with an unmistakeable prehensile manner.
Still, Lucky and Dog were just out of reach.
She stood and watched the mutant opossum writhe and howl at her in a dangerous blend of frustration, hunger, pain and absolute hatred. The battered old baseball bat was slowly lowered from her shoulder and she rocked on the balls of her feet. Dog began to whine and his tail dropped between his back legs. “Swing batter!†Lucky cried and the bat rose then swung to strike the creature square in the side of the head.
The opossum man didn’t have a single second to respond before the bat found its head a second time and a third time and a fourth time. Lucky’s face was contorted into maniacal joy and streaked with the mutant’s blood. She stood above the still body huffing her exertion and prodded it with the toe of her boot. It was utterly and completely dead.
Dog slowly circled the corpse to stand by his human’s side, he lifted his nose to fit in her palm. Her gaze broke from the shattered skull of the opossum and a smile filled with warmth flooded her face, “Looks like we’re eating big tonight, Dog.â€
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: azathothsneakerz on
Wade stood at the edge of the clearing as Lucky went about braining the mutant opossum. He watched unblinking as she smeared its brains all over the ground around the trap. Wade was thoroughly impressed. From where he was standing, he couldn’t spot a single flinch come from the girl with the bat firmly in her grip. Even as she went about her gruesome task she seemed if anything to enjoy the act. Wade found most people to be squeamish when it came to killing, even on regular animals. The fact that she brutally caved in something as monstrous as the mutated marsupial without any trepidation said something to Wade. It said, don’t fuck with this lady.
“That was some hell of a batting practice right there. You must of played for the Brooklyn Dodgers back in the day,†Wade said whilst stepping into the clearing.
The former soldier put his hands up, showing Lucky the 1911. Then he slowly pointed them down and slipped the weapon into its holster. He took a couple more steps forward. He hoped to check out the opossum creature at Lucky’s feet. He also hoped that she didn’t take his show of good faith for granted and beat his skull in too.
“That’s a nice dog you got there. He vicious?â€
Wade squinted down at the mutant body. The sun seemed hell bent on staying in his eyes, and the big drops of sweat that fell into his eyes weren’t helping his vision much either. His nose however, was working fine. The dead mutant stunk to high hell, and Wade could only assume this wasn’t a recent thing. His forearm found his brow and came away slick.
“You plan on eating this thing?â€
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Tinker on
The gore coated bat was raised in hitting stance and poised for swinging as soon as the stranger made his presence known. Lucky’s quicksilver gaze scanned the man as he spoke the first words she had heard in nigh a year that weren’t spoken in her own voice.
He relinquished his gun to its holster, making a show that he wasn’t as hostile as the beast she just demolished. All she could do as he spoke was watch him, make sure his hands didn’t seek out another weapon.
There was no knowing the intentions of other humans beings, Lucky knew even before the big wipe out that the intentions of man were more often than not for his own gain. Dog on the other hand, took an instant liking to the new human. His tongue found the palm of Wade’s hands then his wrists. His doggy smile was the gift that kept giving and this gift was one that was bestowed on Wade in aces.Lucky had learned from early in their relationship that Dog was usually spot in about other beasts, so she gave Dog the benefit of the doubt that this beast wouldn’t be slitting her throat whilst she slept just yet.
“Dog’s a ruthless killer as you can tell by the way he’s attacking you and yeah, this ‘possum is headed for the pot. Smells like shit right now, but I can guarantee the smell he’ll be making when I’m done with him will having acting out your own version of Oliver Twist.â€
Dog turned to face Lucky with a tongue bedazzled smiled and gave a short bark.
“Dog has a pointâ€, she stuck her hand out, quickly withdrew it once she realised it was slick with opossum brain, wiped it crudely on her thigh then offered it again, “The name’s Lucky and this little corner of heaven is Sweet Surrender. The welcoming committee there is Dog.â€
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: azathothsneakerz on
Wade knelt down as Dog’s tongue began to assault his wrists. His calloused hands found the back of the beast’s ears and he scratched away. Wade rarely came across dogs that weren’t feral and looking to bite your throat out anymore. He had almost forgotten how loving the great slobbering things could be when they weren’t full of rabies and starving. The corners of Wade’s mouth turned up into a grin, a rare occurrence.
“He’s a vicious monster. I don’t think I’ll ever get all this slobber off of me. I might as well just off myself now,†said Wade, his voice cracking from speaking at such length. “I’m guessing you must be one hell of a cook then. This thing smells about as bad as jungle rot.†Wade turned his eyes to Lucky as she offered up her hand, after wiping off the excess possum gunk. He popped up onto his haunches, and then up to his feet. He covered the distance between the two of them at a leisurely pace. He then followed Lucky’s lead and wiped off the dog slobber on his pant leg, and then shook her hand firmly.
“I’m Wade. Nice to meet ya Lucky. Nice to meet Dog too. Is all this place yours? A little slice of paradise in the wasteland?â€
Wade turned his head to look up at the plantation that stood at the opposite end of the field from where he’d set up camp. The place looked nice. Usually that meant multiple people, sometimes a family, and sometimes a band of raiders.
“Just you two up there? Big place for just two people. You must be skilled with a wrench if you can keep a place that big going.â€
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: CrowsEye on
April 19th, 1956 - 7:40 AM - ??? - Papa Okra
A deep baritone voice thrummed through the trees, practically vibrating the leaves as it sang:
"The other day I chanced to meet a soldier friend of mine/ He'd been in camp for sev'ral weeks and he was lookin' fine/ His muscles had developed and his cheeks were rosy-red/ I asked him how he liked the life, and this is what he said he said/ Oh! how I hate to get up in the mornin'/ Oh! how I'd love to stay in bed..."
The voice boomed from the heavy-set black man who - at the moment - was rolling up his bedspread. He had a song for every occasion, and today was no exception. The morning sun gleamed off of his bald pate, already moist with the day's humidity. After gathering up more of his supplies, he stood up and wiped sweat and condensation from his forehead and splashed a bit of water onto his face from the nearby marshy pond he'd camped by the night before. He interrupted his song for a moment to sigh into the open air, "Hoo, that's the kinda heat that gets to a fella."
Most folks might be afraid to even get near water for fear there might be something wrong with it, but that was something that stopped occurring to Theo a long time ago. He'd noticed the changes in himself physically, but his mind was still as sharp as ever, and he could be reassured in the fact that he wasn't going insane, or becoming mutated past the point of being recognizable.
Papa Okra dumped the ashes from last night's fire out of his 'burning pan' and mixed it into the marshwater. It was like there was never a fire. His pack lay in the middle of his now-tidied camp as he swept the sand with a reed to make it seem as though an animal had slept there. His voice continued to boom through the wilds as he worked:
"Someday I'm going to murder the bugler/ Some day they're gonna find 'im dead/ I'll amputate his reveille, and step upon it heavily/ And spend the rest of my life in bed."
The rest of his camp work done, he turned to collect his bag, his next verse cut short.
"Oh! How I hate-"
He even stopped moving, having come face to face with a bright orange, two foot long lubber grasshopper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romalea_guttata) who'd perched itself on his pack. Theo's eyes slowly opened as wide as they'd go, and he inched backwards, murmuring to himself. "Oh hell no."
Rustling to the left of his campsite made his eyes dart over to see another two munching on some of the cattails growing on the bank. He let these newcomers know how he felt about their visiting as well. "Oh hell no."
Finally, something heavy and hard landed on his back, and he screamed a scream that was a high falsetto, something very much unlike his singing voice. He spun, swatting his back until the offending creature fell off, and he ran off into the brush, shouting like a boar being chased by a predator.
The first lubber sat idly where Theo had left it. It cleaned its antenna as if nothing had happened.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
April 19, 1956 - 9:45 a.m. Miami Outskirts - Amos
Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home, Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home.
The singing served many purposes. It helped Amos keep a steady pace.
I looked over Jordan, and what did I see Coming for to carry me home? A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home.
It helped him pass the time.
Sometimes I'm up, and sometimes I'm down, (Coming for to carry me home) But still my soul feels heavenly bound. (Coming for to carry me home)
It served to tell any surviving humans who where within hearing that he was, in fact, also human.
The brightest day that I can say, (Coming for to carry me home) When Jesus washed my sins away. (Coming for to carry me home)
It served to buoy his faith, which of late needed a great deal of support.
If I get there before you do, (Coming for to carry me home) I'll cut a hole and pull you through. (Coming for to carry me home)
It also served to give any nearby mutants a target to focus on but it also confused them. There had been two following him for the past half hour but they hadn't closed because if he was so obvious about his presence, he had to be very powerful.
If you get there before I do, (Coming for to carry me home) Tell all my friends I'm coming too. (Coming for to carry me home)
Amos continued to move forward, slowly pushing the cart. Either they would attack or they would fade back into the ruins of civilization. If they attacked, he would fight. If they did not, they would get a second chance when he passed back this way with the goods he'd traded for.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
April 19, 1956 - 6:20 a. m. Miami Waterfront District - Kathrine
Kathrine took the lead as the hunting parties started to make their way back to the compound. A few of the team were joking and laughing with each other, making more noise then was prudent for the times. But they were relatively young to this new world and still had a lot to learn about surviving in it. Suddenly she brought the group to a halt with a single upraised hand. There was a noise coming from an alley up ahead, a noise that was not natural. Kathrine kept her eyes forward as she motioned for two of the others to step up. When the other two come abreast of her she motioned to the alley up ahead and made a simple hand motion. The three moved forward slowly and as quietly as they possibly could. It took a good three minutes to make it the mouth of the alley and another thirty seconds before they were in a position to take a safe look. Kathrine took a quick look down the alley and practically jumped back.
"Damn it all," she muttered under her breath. She motioned the others back and they retraced their steps without even turning around. When they made it back to the rest of the hunting team Kathrine gathered the others around her. "We've got big trouble. There are a couple of those damn mutant American Crocs in the alley up ahead. We are going to have to find another way to go." Some of the team members shuddered at the mention of the Crocs, they knew what that meant. If the Crocs were in the alley then the Commander had to be close by. There was no way he would have let the Crocs out on the town without being around to retrieve them.
"What are they doing in this area?" one the more senior members of the team asked. "The Commander never comes this far out of the downtown core."
"I don't know what he is doing this far from downtown but what ever it is you can be sure that it is nothing good for us if we get caught." Kathrine sighed. "We can't stay here any longer. Lets get moving and by pass this area. It's going to add time to our trip that we can little afford as it is. No more unnecessary noise from here on out."
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Trellin on
April 19, 1956 - 11:30 p.m. near US Hwy 1 and Bayfront Park - Robert
Robert had made good time on his southward trip. He had kept the old US highway 1 a few miles east of himself and slowly been converging towards it. The old well-traveled roads were always a tempting spot for highwaymen, local militants, mutants and just about anything else, although that frequency of militants and highwaymen had dropped off in the past year or two.
The ease of travel attracted a lot of targets especially those few who were travelling long distances or were lucky enough to have an established trade route so he made it a practice to stay off of them in general but keep them close at hand. If he did have to make a run for it the old roads were a great place for a full out gallop. The second reason to keep it close was that people and animals were creatures of habit. If there was any civilization of note you could be certain that they would use the road regularly, although perhaps not frequently, and this meant that he was a lot more likely to pick up signs of them. It also kept him close to areas that were likely to have salvage in them but not close enough to the major road that everyone would have already been over it a dozen times. You could still find worthwhile salvage there but the odds weren't in your favor of finding anything extremely useful.
He had ended converging on the highway itself at a point that was close to what was supposed to be an old park but you'd never know it by looking at it now. Now you would be hard pressed to determine where the park had originally started without the clues from overgrown roads, the rusting hulks of old cars. The pavement was still more or less holding up but mother nature had crowded in fast here, reminding him a little of Louisiana. he had seen the occasional signs of use but nothing worth putting a grin on his face.
He couldn't see it from here but he was close enough to the ocean to feel its influence. The breeze was nice even here among the flora that had been reclaiming the area and he could smell a slight salty tang. He stopped Ghost and sat in the saddle silently for a few moments to take in the surroundings.
he knew there were people here, he had seen that much sign, but he didn't know much more than that. He had done this enough times in enough different places to know that patience would win out in the end. Everyone had their own customs, habits and survival traits that worked for them or they wouldn't still be alive. Eventually they would meet. He just had to make sure they going to kill him on sight.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
April 19, 1956 - 10:30 a.m. Miami Proper - Near the Compound - Amos
The two mutants had followed him for almost a quarter hour, so Amos hadn't bothered to stop. He didn't really need to rest but it pausing to role a cigarette from his dwindling tobacco supply was one of those little pleasures in life that he would likely soon have to give up. Maybe there would be a can of tobacco to trade for at the Compound. Maybe there wouldn't. Life would go on either way.
All praise to thee, who safe hast kept and hast refreshed me whilst I slept; grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake.
His voice was still strong despite the distance he had traveled with his cart. He was on more stable roads now and the the going was easier. He didn't move any faster though. He wasn't in any kind of a hurry.
Lord, I my vows to thee renew, disperse my sins as morning dew; guard my first springs of thought and will, and with thyself my spirit fill.
The Compound would still be there whether he arrived at dawn, dusk, noon or midnight. Granted he'd have a harder time getting them to let him in during the hours of darkness but Christian charity would prevent them from forcing anyone to stay outside the gates at night.
Direct, control, suggest, this day all I design or do or say; that all my powers, with all their might, in thy sole glory may unite.
If he had the chance, he'd see if any news had filtered through about Sarah's husband. He'd been missing in Europe since the middle of the forties and the chances of news was slim. Still, missing wasn't dead. Faith and love were powerful and they could keep even the faintest hope alive. If her husband -Ed? Ted?- loved her as much as she loved him, he'd find a way home or at least a way of getting a message to her. Who knew? Maybe somebody would arrive with news of an intact, functional airplane and he'd get the chance to reunite the lovers.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
April 19, 1956 - 12:15 pm. Miami Proper - Gates of the Compound - Amos
"Hello the gate!" Amos called out, making no attempt to hide his approach. "I have goods to trade." It had been a long walk to the compound and would be a long walk back. He certainly didn't want to be outside after dark, s he was either going to have to trader quickly, which was unlikely, or sty the night here.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Trellin on
April 19, 1956 - 12:30 p.m. Somewhere in Miami Proper - Robert
He had set a gentle pace and began working his way generally south into the heart of Miami itself, swinging from left to right and back again along the route working with the knowledge that eventually someone would find him, even if he didn't spot them first and at the same time, it would give him a good idea for the lay of the land and any potential salvaging that might be in the area.
From experience he knew that people adapted in different ways and where some areas managed to set up defensible positions during or just after the Dying Days inside cities, others fled the city and created new homes, some of them becoming surprisingly large communities themselves.
He was betting that given the monsters and wildlife that were supposed to inhabit the swamps and oceans that in this area, it would be very desirable to stay inside old-fashioned concrete and steel walls, preferably with extra floors, just in case. At least, so he reasoned as he kept glancing at the tallest buildings in sight while he worked his way into the city itself.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
April 19th, 1956 - 6:22 - 8:30 a.m. Miami Waterfront district - Kathrine
Kathrine led the small group of hunters away from the marina and farther into the city proper. It would be a little faster and the terrain was easier to navigate closer to the water but with a couple of the Commander's Crocs in the area she knew it was just a matter of time before they migrated toward the ocean. They made as little noise as possible which wasn't easy considering what they had on the sled. They made good time through the deserted streets even with having to make four other detours around pockets of mutant activity. One of the end tail hunters even managed to bring down a mutated mule dear buck that decided to wonder between her and the rest of the party. With the extra meat the buck would supply the compound would have enough to sustain them for the next month for sure and possibly even a little longer than that depending on if the other hunting teams were able to bring anything home. Kathrine pulled the team around in a wide arc as they made their way back to the Compound so that they approached from the East, the direction the sentries would be expecting to see them from. As they approached the main gate two more men came out and took over pulling the sled that now contained not only the thirty foot shark but the mule deer as well. One of the new comers gave Kathrine a wry smile. "It's good to see you back little one," the older man said. She smiled at his nick name for her even though he stood a good four inches shorter then she did. "Your mother has been worried sick. It seems Nathaniel took off out the North gate chasing a wondering puppy sometime after you left this morning and he ain't back yet. We sent out a couple of search parties but they didn't find anything." Kathrine swore under her breath. "It looks like I'll have to go after him then," she said with a sigh. She was hoping for a nice warm bath after the morning hunt but it looked like that was going to have to wait now. As soon as the hunting party got inside the gate she made a beeline for the main house and her mother to find out what she could about her brother being gone.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
OOC: You're giving us nothing to spin off of....
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
OOC: another post or two will be forthcoming within the next few days... as well as a profile for a new major NPC.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Tinker on
The touch of an other human being was something that Lucky hadn't experienced in what now seemed like a lifetime ago. She clasped both hands around Wade's and mirrored the amount of pressure he had exerted on her hand. It was a damned good handshake, it was confident and strong, something that suggested she too was a vessel of that same strength and confidence.
The merest suggestion of a smile had returned to her clear features and she gave a short nod, allowing his questions to hang between them for a moment before replying, "That sure is a metric fuck tonne of question for a first meeting, don't you think Wade?"
The flash in her mercurial was difficult to decipher. Was it humour? Maybe it was panic. It might possibly be a warning of a short fuse or it could have just been the way the sun was sitting on the horizon. her soft laugh gave no further clues, but she granted him an answer to each question, "I'm not the greatest cook in the world, but a handful of spices and an empty bell can do wonders for any meat you find out here. Sweet Surrender is mine, she treats me as well as I treat her, which explains why we are both so god damned shiny and beautiful. And handy doesn't even begin to cover the extent to my talents with a wrench, hell sometimes I surprise myself with the magical I can weave with a standard or garden variety wrench."
Dog continued to smile his doggy smile, his tail never relenting it it constant assault on the invisible drum that he had been pounding out his own rhythm to since he first laid eyes on Wade. It took a high pitched scream that sounded decidedly human to break his concentration and refocus his attention toward the South and the outlaying swamp. The almost smile that had been sitting in stasis on Lucky's face now spread further to creep into her eyes, "Hot damn, sounds like we have more surprise guest to join our party."
The bat was slung over her shoulder and she turned towards the sound, "Care to join us for a little boogie-woogie?"
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
Roll Call: Who is still interested in playing?
Depending on how many are still interested, I will do a restart with a time jump that will bring all players together.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
I'm always game.
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
ROLL CALL: Any one still interested in playing?????
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
I believe I may be the only one still lurking around here, although there may be stirrings....
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Goosekat on
I'll give it a couple of months... going to busy getting this place ready to sell and moving anyways :tongue:
Title: Re: Safe Harbor RP thread
Post by: Maxx on
RL always comes first. As long as their are stirrings(evil or otherwise) there is potential.