The group had looked around for supplies as sounds emanated from behind all the doors. It looked like most things of worth were missing but there was still chance of some small scraps.

Max took out his phone and dialed. It started ringing and he heard the beginning of a "hello" before being disconnected. Checking the signal it bobbled between no bars and one bar. A quick check confirmed internet through the hospital wifi was out as well. Others in the room were looking at their phones in frustration as well.

OOC                   Picks     Depletion
Improvised Bludgeon    1-3       10
Energy Bar             1          6
Cigarettes             1          3
Lighter                1          3 2d6
Small Canteen          2          3 2d6
Backpack- Medium       6          3
Cookware               5         10
Canned Beans           2         10
Canned Stew            2         10
Canned Fruit           2         10
Kitchen Knife          3          6
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Sun 05 May.

"Not a problem. 'We're all in this together' right?" He gives a half smile while quoting the phrase that was so rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I'm Jewels" He replies in response to the introductions. He then gives Simon's plan his attention. "Ambulance is a good plan in that it is well stocked with supplies but the fuel efficiency is shite. I need to get to my car it has my go bag and bow in the trunk. I was supposed to go to the range after work yesterday so I have a few flights of arrows in there too. A cop car might be a better option, may have weapons as well since fuel might not be our biggest short term issue.
I agree that Westfield is probably not our best plan. No offense intended to the American people but I don't trust the government to be able to handle this kind of emergency or to have our best interests in mind. I know a bunch of places up north that would fit the bill but that's days of travel and across the border for that matter." He adds into the quick brainstorming session.

15:42, Today: Julius Black rolled 10 using 1d100.  Spot/Listen. – 10

"Bow? Wow. That's pretty cool actually. I've shot a few times in my life but never had the discipline to stay on track and practice", mused Ody. "I'm up for going to the cars, I've got my stuff in my friend's car, hope he hasn't left. And then we can take it from there. I can drive, I'm not much of a survivalist but I've done some camping and can walk... a lot"

He shrugged, trying to see if Eric was around. It just struck him that he should have been looking for him the moment they were in, but fear and adrenaline definitely shuffle priorites around.

Simon grabbed a zippo lighter, a canteen and a bottle of Aleve (Naprocene) pain killer. He felt that the first two would have multiple uses and the last could relieve both pain and swelling. He then looked around for someone he might know personally and who he might be able to convincw to join them.

14:56, Today: Simon Gail rolled 3,1,6 using 1d6,1d6,1d6.  Lighter, canteen, painkiller more after pick

Simon saw a nurse he had worked with perhaps a dozen times before. He knew her to be level headed and not prone to panic. He called to her, raising his voice to be heard above the din, "Carmen!" He waved his hand above his head, "Carmen! Over here."

Max walked back to the others in time to hear the majority of the conversation. "Well everything I've got is in my bag. Well except for my bike, it's chined up outside the main entrance." His mind was racing, it was hard to even comprehend what was happening. He stared out the windows looking at the carnage outside and all the abandoned cars. "Roads are gonna be horrible to get through if that out there is any indication of what other roads are like."

"Just a thought, maybe we could get to Wethersfield Cove Yacht Club. Find a boat or two and head upstream or down." He looked almost shocked at his own words. "Just a thought."

Ody nodded. "Boat. Damn, that's a good idea. Shame I never learned how to sail, always wanted to... now would come in handy. But they've got engines and stuff, right? How hard can it be?"

It seemed he was trying to make some kind of smalltalk, bring some semblance of normalcy into this nightmare. "A bike, huh? I guess if you can do some nice tricks like those bike cops on that old show- don't even remember the name."

Eric made his way through the crowd towards Odysseas. "Hey. Man, it is getting crazy out there. I tried going to the car and a guy started chasing me. Helicopters passing overhead and I swore I heard a sonic boom." He took a beat and looked around. "Are you okay?"

Carmen nodded to Simon and gently parted people as she came over. She looked tired and nonplussed but was far from the near panic exhibited by others in the room. "I thought this was going to be like COVID but martial law? And a new agency? That is the last thing we need right now is more pencil pushers who don’t know the first thing about medicine. They LifeStarred a number of doctors out to that camp."

The crowd murmured loudly among themselves. The sick man from the isolation room was sitting by himself in the far corner of the room. A mother was desperately trying to calm her child. Nearby two of the security guards conferred with each other. Noticeably absent from the room were doctors and the soldiers.

Simon gently herded her toward the guys and talked in a low voice. "This thing is for real, my guess is the martial law is to try and restore order, but at this point I don't know. I am sure that that camp is not a place I want to go. I found some others who have similar feelings and one of them suggested a boat. That seems logical. We are trying to find people we know who aren't likely to panic. I saw you and well I know you." Reaching the others in a few steps he introduced everyone.

A genuine smile lit up his face. "Man, I'm so happy to see you!", he exclaimed, hugging him strongly, while still holding the axe- making sure not to stab him with the backspike accidentally. "Everything's gone to shit. I saw people eating other people, man, like crazy cannibals. Something's wrong. I grabbed this, but we need to get our stuff from the car. You have yours there, right? That's a bunch of swords we can use, if we also get some tools to sharpen'em. That's my plan."

"That and find a safe spot to ride it out. But man... we need the swords."

Considering that a gun would probably be a better idea, it would seem that having a sword was literally the equivalent of a security blanket for Ody.

Eric nodded at Ody. "Everything is out in the car. There are a bunch of them wandering out there in the parking lot and I think a few might be in the garage too." He took a look at his friend and his axe and added with a grin. "At least you found something for now."

Eric turned to Simon and in a serious if tremulous tone asked, "What is wrong with the relief camp? Isn’t that exactly where we should be going? Doctors, medicine, food, and protection. It doesn’t sound like it could get better than that.” He seemed earnest in his question and looked to each person and then back to Simon.

Carmen smirked and shook her head at Eric’s question. She wanted to say something but thought maybe it was better someone else said it. She looked to Simon as if asking him if he would field it.

In reply to Eric (msg # 74):

Simon just starred at the man like he wasn't holding a full deck. "Go there if you want. You'll be stuck in one place, surrounded by what's out there. Good luck to you."

"Well, maybe we can make a sortie? Can't help feeling besieged, like that. Maybe grab me, you, couple more people, go out to the cars to check the condition and grab our stuff?", Ody asked, thinking it over. He wasn't being particularly quiet, so whoever was close and could overhear, definitely would. "We need eyes out there somehow, just to know what we're dealing with."

Julius grabbed a couple items that looked like they could help in the next little while. The kitchen knife, while not ideal as a weapon, would be durable and had a larger intimidation factor than his folding pocket knife. He pulled out his cellphone with the intention of calling someone, but then saw that there was no signal and he stuffed it back in his pocket.
"How many people do you need to feel comfortable about our chances with a sortie?" He asked, a little surprised that he was in a situation where that was a legitimate question.



14:32, Today: Julius Black rolled 8,1 using 2d6,1d6.  Lighter <3, Kitchen Knife <6 . – 8,1

Max didn't say anything he just stood close enough to hear the conversation as he watched out the main window, occasionally looking over toward the sick man sitting in the corner. He had taken a few moment to strip down the vitals monitor, stashing any cords or such that might have a use in his bag. All that was left was the pole and just enough weight to give it a little extra force when swung. Of course he was sure it wouldn't last very long, but hopefully he wouldn't need it.

And the time for planning is over as the doors to the cafeteria come bursting open allowing access to a sea of infected who pour in driving the people inside into a frantic panic around you. In the onset of the situation you see people being attacked, shoved to the floor and trampled, and it looks like people are eating each other! You assess the situation, immediately noticing a young woman and her child, as one of the infected rushes them you can see the fear swelling in their eyes. Quickly taking stock of the situation, the closest door to get out of here has both infected and panicked people between you and it. It will likely be a fight to get out.

Simon doesn't hesitate, he charges to put himself between the mother/child and the persin who wants her dead.

"Well, I think about fi-"

Ody was interrupted as a bunch of those crazed cannibals got inside with chomming intentions. He checked out the exits immediately, but he couldn't just abandon the poor woman and child. With a warcry, he brandished the fireaxe, mostly to intimidate... but won't hesitate to use it if the guy doesn't seem scared.

Max's first instinct was to bolt, get as far away as possible. Unfortunately there is no where to run so he joins the others and move to protect the woman and child. Hopefully they would have a far better chance fighting of the infected as a group. He so wished he could wake up from this nightmare.

As everything goes to chaos Julius switches his knife to a reverse grip so that he can block along his forearm or stab with an overhand strike. He reaches out with his other hand to the mother and child. "Over here!"

Two of the horde closed in on the woman and her child. One took a swing at Simon’s thigh and the tried to grapple Odysseas. Most of the others in the room panicked but some fought back. This only left the two infected engaged and a third that was stiffly approaching. The woman looked to the others for guidance.

OOC: Roll your weapon skills to parry. Since they are unarmed you have a chance to injure them. Every degree of success will do 1d6 damage. Roll the intimidation Ody to see if you scare any of them off. And Julius roll Diplomacy- Command/Coax, just don’t fail by 3 degrees of failure.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:31, Tue 14 May.

15:41, Today: Simon Gail rolled 22 using 1d100.  /58% melee bludgeoning

16:02, Today: Max Duncan rolled 78 using 1d100.  Melee Attack Bludgeoning 33 +4 advancement.

Simon stepped in the way of the infected going after the woman and her child. A bloody hand swung at Simon nearly hitting his leg. Instead before he could get close Simon swung like an experienced professional and hit it so hard in the neck there was a cracking sound and it reeked back from the force. The head appeared to be hanging on by flesh alone, bobbing against his chest. It was some sort of miracle it didn’t drop. If anything its vision was highly compromised by virtue of staring at its own chest.

The other close infected went also tried to attack the woman and child but Odysseas intercepted this one. Its swing swing was wild providing no clue as to where it was trying to hit. In missing it overstretched itself providing a perfect target. Down came Ody’s axe, cleaving the head from its shoulders. He used his triumphant axe to try to scare away the approaching infected and it worked. It chose someone closer to attack, one of the guards. Which was good given that Max’s swing left him as open as the beheaded infected had been.

Julius called to the woman and child to usher them away from the violence. The noise was loud but they seemed to understand the gesture and moved his direction. Eric and Carmen were trying to work their way through the crowd of panicked people so they could be some sort of egress from this kettle.