You search around the room looking for the nearest hiding space that will provide the best possible advantage:\n\nThe closet: a tight space in the back of the room with a fold open door. The closet is filled with clothes and it may be possible to get behind them, but that will take time.\n\nUnder the bed: underneath the bed is a collection of everything that's been thrown to the floor and picked apart. Clothes, knic-nacs, and other useless objects provide very little cover is anyone looked underneath.\n\nBehind the door: behind the door is the easiest spot to hide in, but provides the worst cover. If anyone enters the room and pushes the door open further you risk having to confront them.\n\n[[Hide in closet]]\n\n[[Hide under bed]]\n\n[[Hide behind door]]
You travel down the road for a few hours, hoping to make some distance. Always looking ahead to see no one else is coming, to the sides in an attempt to make sure no one is watching. You continually check your compass and you're maintaining your proper direction. Even if this road isn't on your map, it seems to be going exactly where you need it to.\n\nEventually, propped up as if sitting against a tree, you come across a body. It can't be determined whether or not the person died of natural or unnatural causes, or even how long they'd been there.\n\n[[Investigate]]\n\n[[Keep calm and carry on]]
Before you've even been in town for ten minutes you're aware of a presence watching you. You carry on down the main strip, looking for any signs of life. You turn a corner, and an old man is laying in the road. He's not moving, but he's breathing.\n\nAs you approach the man, you can see he's wearing brand new clothing. The newest, cleanest boots you've seen in ages. Fresh pants, and a heavy, seemingly excessively warm sweater. \n\n[[Help the man. See what's wrong]]\n\n[[Search the body and take the clothing]]
You know that once he gets to the trapline, he'll see that his knot isn't the same one holding it together. The time to act is now\n\n[[Attack the man as he passes by|Machete]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your weapon and question the man|Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[Try to escape]]
As you walk down the path you see an older looking man walking out onto the path from the middle of the forrest on the other side. He mustn't've seen you until he did, but neither of you realized before the other, giving neither the upper hand or a chance to hide and observe.\n\n\nYou hold up your arms and he does the same. In good faith you approach eachother. When you get close to eachother, you can see the man is wearing fairly new clothing. Dirty though it may be, there're no patches or rips in his jacket or jeans, and his shoes look a little too large for his stature but are not worn or ragged.\n\n"What're you doing in these parts?" A gruff, growl of a man's voice asks you. Not the most polite greeting you've ever gotten...but drastically better than the worst.\n\n[[I was just passing through, looking for shelter somewhere in the next town]]\n\n[[I'm out scouting for a larger group. They're just a little ways behind me]]\n\n[[That's none of your business]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"Oh, I agree. So I'll tell you how it is. You shoot me? My friends come and kill you. I shoot you, you're dead. Seems like this might work out in my odds." \n\nHis voice is waverly slightly. He does not look sure of himself. In spite of this, he slowly begins to reach towards his belt.\n\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[I'm not going to hurt you. We can figure this out together!|Tell him you're not going to shoot him]]\n\n
Despite the ease of taking the fresh kill, you're not sure who's trapline that is or when they're coming to check it. At least you're aware there's people in the area.\n\n[[Continue along the path|The encounter]]\n
"You weren't looking for me by chance, were you fellas?"\nyou say as you walk towards them. Before they begin to scrambled, you assert with your weapon raised\n\n"Don't move, \n\n[[...you're surrounded. Give up!"|Compliance]]\n\n[[...and give me everything you have or you're dead"|Compliance]]\n
You travel down this trail just as every other. Inconsistency will get you killed. You know how crucial being aware of your surroundings is, and this is why it doesn't surprise you that you hear so much.\n\nFrom a short ways behind you off the trail and to the left down a slope, you hear voices. You're sure you can get closer without being seen or heard.\n\n[[Be cautious and investigate.]]\n\n[[Not. My. Problem. I'm looking for safety]]\n
"Look at you. Begging like a fuckin' petty...fuck, I had somethin' there. There's no use. I can already tell we won't be able to use you in our group."\n\nHe reaches for his belt and pulls out what is definitely a 9mm handgun and and raises it at you.\n\n"I kill you and get a meal and a dessert. Plus whatever else you've been collecting for us. I'm hoping your boots fit Jimmy."\n\n[[I'm with others. They'll come looking for me if you do anything|I told you, I'm not the individual type! I'm from a group!]]\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"Then it isn't going to hurt you any to give it back, now will it?" The man is getting visibly more and more enraged.\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n[[Not me, no. Someone will be hurt though]]\n\n[[Not at all, come get it]]
You run over to the corpse and frantically begin checking all of the pockets\n\nYou can already hear voices as well as dogs barking in the near distance. He was with a group, and they were much closer than anticipated.\n\n"Jack! Jack where you at? That your shot? JACK!?"\n\nBefore you can even crawl away from the corpse in an attempt to escape you can see the dogs homming in on your location. You get up and sprint, but immediately feel a sharp pain in your leg where the bullet hits you\n\nYour end does not happen quickly, or pleasantly. \n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
"Welcome to our city!" is spray-painted in black overtop of the offical town posting. \n\n"Only friendlies allowed. All others will be scolded or killed"\n\nYou're not sure what to make of this place...\n\n[[Enter the city]]\n\n[[Carry on down the trail|Leave the town unexplored, there's clearly nothing left here!]]\n\n
Testing Mor(e Re)alities
You leap forward, plunging your blade into the chest of the first man. His screamas heightens the others to a sense of terror and they scatter away from their friend, writhering on the floor bleeding out. You turn to attack your next target but the fire has taken away your night vision.\n\nYou feel a tremendous blow across your back; One of the men grabbed a log for defence. You turn to counter attack when from the left another blow is struck against you. Another thick branch to the side of the head brings you to the ground.\n\nAs their worn boots slowly kick your innards out, the fire casts its light upon the vicious scene.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]\n
<<set $bullets = -1>>\nYou squeeze the trigger, and as a pin the bullet deflates the ballooned ego of the stranger. He collaspes to the ground, motionless.\n\n\n[[Search corpse2]]\n\n[[Get out of there!]]
It's dark, so they cannot see. However, for some reason they think you cannot hear.\n\n"I can't see a fuckin' thing\n\n "Tell them not to hurt us!"\n \n "Where are they? Do we even know he's not bludding"\n\n"Shut up you'll get us killed!"\n\n[[That's enough. All of you, on your knees staring right into the fire. If you move while I search you, they will shoot.]]\n\n[[Want me to prove I'm not alone? You sure you want to meet my friends]]\n\n[[Attack them with your machete]]
You follow the voices in the dark, and eventually you see a faint glow in the surrounding darkness. From a safe distance you come across three men huddling around a fire. Though the fire is small as to not be seen from a distance, the voices are working counter-productively\n\n"I'm telling you, we'll find him tomorrow."\n\n "Yeah, we'd better. He might have food. Or supplies."\n\n"Or drugs. I'm hoping for some meds."\n\n "You guys are stupid. Weapons. We need more weapons. We need to find him before he fins us, or uses any of his own"\n\n[[Start moving and get out of there]]\n\n[[Confront the group]]\n\n[[Now that you know where they are, return to where you came and go back to sleep|Go back to sleep]]\n
You begin searching the pockets of the man.\n\n"Puh....please don....don't" He can barely speak.\n\n[[I need these more than you. I'm sorry, but don't resist it|nope]]\n\n[[Either assit me in getting this stuff off you or you're dead|nope]]\n\n[[Help the man. See what's wrong]]
Upon closer inspection, the body couldn't have been in this place for long. Either that or this path is never used. The collapsed corpse still has what little gear they had while alive strapped to their back. Why is the corpse just laying on the road. You're not sure about the situation.\n\n[[Take gear]]\n\n[[Leave body in peace]]
"Aren't you ballsy? Only apple farmer growning a pear I bet!" As intended, you're angering the stranger.\n\n[[There's no need to fight|There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for this, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother|There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n[[I have a gun, and I don't want to have to use it|I have a gun too, and there's no need for us to waste our bullets]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n
You hear a noise at the entrance of the house. The gang has returned and is aware of their missing scout You hide under the bed in an attempt to conceal yourself. They enter the house, and upon finding his body at the entrance to the bedroom they become alert. They are thorough in their search and find you within seconds of tearing apart the bedroom.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]
Your machete comes down into his skull before he could even make a sound. Miraculously, no one has been made aware of your attack. You are unaware of how long it will take the gang to become aware of their comarades disappearance.\n\n[[Search the corpse]]\n\n[[Hide|No Escape]]\n\n[[Run]]
"You are not the kind of person we want in this town"\n\nYou hear the bullet slide into the chamber with a click. You should have been friendly.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]
\n\n\n\n\nYou draw your gun before he realizes what's happened. Suddenly its a standoff. Both of you hold your pistols at arms length, raised and pointed towards the other.\n\nHis hand is getting shakey\n\n[[Shoot]]\n\n[[Tell him to Surrender]]\n\n[[Tell him you're not going to shoot him]]
<<set $bullets = +3>>\n<<set $rope = 1>>\n<<set $flashlight = 1>>\nThere are no signs of trauma. This man...may have died of as natural a cause that could happen these days.\n\n\nThe clothes on the corpse are too dirty to even think about taking off and his pockets are empty. You rummage through what little gear is found on the body to see if there's anything of use. A utility knife in worse condition than your own, some moldy, unrecognizable food in a plastic bag you wish was still edible, and a bible of all things.\nThe only useful thing you see is a fair-sized length of rope, and a flashlight with a broken bulb. You kneel down beside the corpse and add these to your pack. Before standing you look over and notice the front breast of the dead man's coat sagging. Decayed as he is, you reach over and start invesitigating. \n\nA hidden zippered pocket with it four bullets. One is far too massive to be used in a handgun. The other three are the same size and calibre.\n\n"Hopefully I won't have to use these either"\n\n[[Continue down the path|Keep calm and carry on]]\n
"I'm not even sure I know what that means. But I will. Survival doesn't have to be me versus you....I never really thought of it that way...but it's obvious."\n\nEven though you helped these men, you do not feel you could trust them to protect you while you're sleeping. You acknowledge that you're leaving:\n\n[[I have to go back to my group now. Take care of each other|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Fight the good fight. We have to carry on|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Good luck not dying! We're out!|continue on journey]]
His bullet through your forehead says otherwise. He has something to protect inside.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]\n
"Right. That don't matter anyhow. I see that machete there so I'm sure you're the friendly type. Probably come say hello to me right while I was sleepin' wouldn' ya?\n\nDon' worry. I've got a tool on my belt too, 'cept mine's a 9mm. 5 bullets too. Never called it a tool 'fore, but I guess it's killed a few."\n\n[[There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[I have a gun too, and there's no need for us to waste our bullets]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>
You walk down the mountainside as the day begins to end. You gathered a great deal of information regarding your surroundings from the top, but will have to rest for the night before carrying on.\n\n\n[[Cover yourself up and get some rest]]
"What's that supposed to mean smart-ass? You threatin' me?"\n\nThe stranger is becoming agitated. He does not seem very stable\n\n[[Of course not! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude!|There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[I don't like the way you're addressing me. Even if this was yours, lets show some mutual respect.]]\n\n[[What's the harm in showing respect?]]
You search through your backpack for your map. The next town can't be too far. Maybe there'll be an establishment or safe-house there. A colony of people...trustworthy people.\n\nHalf-way to the next township a service road hits the main one you're travelling on at a 45 degree angle. You look on your map but it doesn't appear to show the course of the road.\n\n[[Explore the service road]]\n\n[[Continue on main road]]
"You think I'm out here alone? Unlike you I'm much too old for that. Safe 'cause of my pistol though. I run the snare line and hunt for our group. Keeps us off the outsiders. Tastes better too, to be honest. That's why they keep me. I'm valuable that way. You, on the other hand. We only want your gear. You're better off dead to us."\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[I have a gun too, and there's no need for us to waste our bullets]]
You turn and start running. You ddon't even turn around to see if he's giving chase. \n\nHe wasn't. He was lining up his shot. You hear the gun fire, but feel no shot.\n\n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
body {\nfont size: 2m\n}
You go to the footprints at the edge of the crumbling convenience store. They're heading in the direction of the church. You look, but can't see any movement. You don't hear anything either. You wait.\n\nNight has come and along with it darkness. The town offers shelter from the wind but not the cold. That wasm't your intention of staying, however.\n\nYou can see light escaping through the cracks in the boarded-up basement windows of the church. Someone or some people are holding up inside.\n\n[[Approach]]\n\n[[Wait until morning to approach]]\n\n[[This town is occupied, I'll find another|Go right down trail]]
You were lucky to get out of there alive. You know there was nothing else left in the house now worth risking your life over. You managed to escape to the outskirts of town without being noticed.\n\nFrom here, you must decided where to go. You only have two options, really. There's a small mountain to the west of the village that will give you a better vantage point. From there, you can see you surroundings and figure out where to go next. \n\nThe other option is to get to the main road and travel to the next town. Who knows what you could find there?\n\n[[Carry on down the road]]\n\n[[Trek off road, through the woods]]
The woman's eyes give you away before you could even startle the man. He turns, now brandishing the small knife towards you.\n\n"If you get any closer, I'l---"\n\nHe took his eyes off of her for too long. From nowhere she plunged a steak knife into his throat, dragging it across until he fell in a heap in front of her.\n\n"I don't need your help" She says staring at you coldly.\n\n[[Clearly not!|offer help]]\n\n[[I just wanted to make sure|offer help]]\n\n[[It's okay if you do|offer help]]
<<set $rabbit = 1>>\nYou detach the rabbit from the snare. This will make a good meal when you settle down later. Before you continue, you quickly reset the snare. \n\nThe rabbit can't be more than a day old, and you wonder whether to gut it here or later on, risking the meat spoiling.\n\n[[Skin it|The encounter2]]\n\n[[Take it with you and carry on|The encounter3]]\n
"Whoa now, c'mon. I wasn't actually going to kill you...I mean, I probably wouldn't have even taken everything..."\n\nHe starts getting desparate, "Please! They made me do it! Don' punish me it was those id'its that made me fight for them. I'll get you in with them! or better yet, we can escape."\n\n\n\n\n\n[[Shoot]]\n\n[[Tell him to Surrender]]
"Fair enough question. Food, and new gear. That's about all I can get from you. All you're worth to us I guess."\n\n[[What do you mean, "us"?|What do you mean "we" haven't seen any groups]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your weapon and tell him its not happening|Draw your firearm]]\n<<else>>\n[[Draw your weapon and tell him its not happening|Machete]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]
You begin to gut the rabbit. A quick process, but one that needs to be done none the less. Luckily winter is still some time away and you're able to leave it's stomach contents alone.\n\n"You've got a lot of fuckin' nerve touchin' my food!" A gruff, growl of a man's voice shouts from behind you.\n\n[[I was just doing what I think any person would during these times]]\n\n[[I had no idea this rabbit was yours!?]]\n\n[[I'm so sorry sir! You can have it right back, I had no idea!]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
As you walk down the path you see an older looking man walking out onto the path from the middle of the forrest on the other side. He mustn't've seen you until he did, but neither of you realized before the other, giving neither the upper hand or a chance to hide and observe.\n\nYou hold up your arms and he does the same. In good faith you approach eachother. That is, until he sees the rabbit hanging from your waste.\n\n"You've got a lot of fuckin' nerve touchin' my food!" A gruff, growl of a man's voice shouts at you.\n\n[[I don't know what you're talking about, I assure you]]\n\n[[I had no idea this rabbit was yours!?]]\n\n[[I'm so sorry sir! You can have it right back, I had no idea!]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"I....I have to be honest....I wasn't expecting that answer."\n\nYou respond, almost out of desparation, but moreso out of sheer exhaustion:\n\n"I'm just so tired. I've been fighting alone for just under a year now. I've lost everyone; even those I found along the way. I'm not an enemy, and I can be everything but that...please"\n\nDuring your speach, the man's gun lowered from his eye. Gradually, he was standing, gun at his side, looking right at you.\n\n"It's not up to me. I'll have to ask the others." He disappears back inside the bell tower.\n\n[[Wait]]
The man falls for the bait, and comes over to inspect the rabbit. He takes it in his hands. It's only a matter of time until he realizes it's his\n\n[[Attack with machete|Machete]]\n\n[[Tell him you have a gun but don't want to hurt him|Tell him you're not going to shoot him]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"Oh is that so? We haven't seen any large groups come into our area. The odd individual sometimes gets by...if they're being sneaky. But not groups."\n\n[[What do you mean "we" haven't seen any groups]]\n\n[[I wasn't being sneaky]]\n\n[[I'm with a group, so your people must have it wrong]]
Running from the epicentre of the gunshot has disoriented you, for over the course of the escape and upon hearing the dogs in the distance, you know that you didn't have any time to stop and see where you were going. Without the compas, you'd be lost in more than just the literal sense.\n\n\n[[Re-align yourself with the town and hike|Nowhere town]]\n\n
You quickly maneouver to behind the door.\n\nWhat feels like the instant after you conceal yourself underneath the bed and secure a good vantage point the door slowly glides ever so slightly open, just a tad further. You see a set of dusty, old, dilapidated combat boots sleathly place themselves into the room. Its clear the room has already been ransacked \n\n[[Surrender, begging for the man to not tell the others|No Escape]]\n\n[[Surrender, suggesting your skills could be an asset if they let you join their gang|No Escape]]\n\n[[Attack him with your machete|Attack successful]]
The men kneel down and begin to empty their pockets. They're spooked and you've got the upper hand.\n\nSadly, they don't seem to have much. A flashlight that won't turn on, two unlabelled tin cans, and some miscellaneous clothing and string. \n\n[[Take items anyway]]\n\n[[Leave the men alone|Take items anyway]]\n\n[[Give men hunting knife]]\n\n[[Attack them with your machete]]
"Oh, we will. Don' you go worrying about that!"\n\nYou hear the gun fire, but you don't feel the bullet\n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
What feels like the instant after you conceal yourself underneath the bed and secure a good vantage point the door slowly glides ever so slightly open, just a tad further. You see a set of dusty, old, dilapidated combat boots sleathly place themselves into the room. Its clear the room has already been ransacked \n\nAs the gang was searching for usable items within the housholds, and were unaware of yours or any other individuals presence, the scout harmlessly did not look under the bed for any supplies. He exits the room, and eventually you hear what you believe to be the front door open and close.\n\n[[Wait it out underneath the bed]]\n\n[[Resume your scavenging|Continue looking around then hide]]\n\n
Upon realizing he no longer has the upperhand, the stranger folds like a house of cards. He drops to his knees and throws his empty hands above his head. You can rob him, but if he's left alive the risk is too great. It's all or nothing and he knows it. The gruff voice is now only heard between sobs:\n\n"...P-p-p-p-plea...pelase man. Don' do this. They made me act this way I swear, I don't even like being mean. They're monsters, all of them. They're claiming they like the taste now. Not even just about survival. Might not even want rabbits soon....Please help me!\n\n\n[[Tell him you won't hurt him and help him to his feet|Tell him you're not going to shoot him]]\n\n<<if $bullets eq "+1">>\n[[End him|Shoot]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[Attack the man with your machete|Machete]]\n\n\n
[[Give the man the rabbit]]\n\n[[Attack the man with your machete once he gets close enough|Machete]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
The mountain is at your back and your feet are sprinting forward at a great pace. You have a lot of ground to cover, especially if you don't want anyone to catch up with you.\n\n[[Head towards the city to the west|Newtown]]\n\n[[Head towards the city to the east|Continue on main road]]\n
by Shawn Flanagan
You hike to the top of the mountain. Though it isn't steep, it's still taken a lot of energy out of you. You sit and take in your surroundings, thankful for the rest. If there was food that could be easily found up here, you'd never leave. You could see anyone attempting the climb the hill from a long ways away.\n\nYou see a town in the distance. It may take a while to travel to, but you can see smoke coming from one of the buildings.\n\n[[Travel to Town|Newtown]]\n\n[[Descend Peak and continue walking down forest pathway]]
After five minutes you hear what is clearly the front door once again, but no further footsteps....it was someone leaving.\n\nThis is why wearing a watch is important. Twenty minutes has felt like and hour. After an hour and a half have passed, you could have sworn it'd been days. If the day passes any longer, you'll have to spend the night here instead of making any progress.\n\n[[Make sure the coast is clear then make your escape|Run]]
"How about I tell you what there's a need for? Seems I'm the only one in a position to make a decision 'round here"\n\nHe reaches for his belt and pulls out what is definitely a 9mm handgun and and raises it at you.\n\n"We don' take too kindly to the individual type...they seem to be selfish. Hoarding all kinds of speacial gear in their packs. I mean, I'm sure yours if full of all sorts of goodies that we can all share"\n\n[[I told you, I'm not the individual type! I'm from a group!]]\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>
You roll from underneath the man's stance and get kicked all the while. It takes you a few seconds that you can't afford to grab hold of you your pistol, but they have failed to incapacitate you before they were able.\n\nPistol drawn and distanced, you now have the upperhand.\n\n[[Shoot them!]]\n\n[[Ensure your escape and flee|Start moving and get out of there]]
\n\n\n\n\n A story of survival by choices\n\n\n\n\n\nIf you make logical choices, based upon circumstance, you will surive.\n\n<html><IMG SRC="http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120726234157/fallout/images/thumb/3/3a/BroadMachete.png/240px-BroadMachete.png"></html> \n\n\n\n[[The Beginning]]
You leave the main road and once again consult your map.\n\nThere`s another town worth exploring not too far from here. Only a couple of days hike, and your food supplies should last until at least the end of the week.\n\n[[Start walking|Go right down trail]]
"Mutual respect? You're a real piece of work you know that? These ain't your parts, and you're tellin' me to be respectful? That's some nerve. Wait til the others here about this!"\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your weapon and tell him you meant it|Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[What "others"?|What do you mean "we" haven't seen any groups]]\n\n[[Others? I'm from a group too!|I'm out scouting for a larger group. They're just a little ways behind me]]\n\n[[What's the harm in showing respect?]]
"Now then, that wasn't too difficult, was it. Now. The pack you're wearing. It too."\n\n[[Attack the man with your machete once he gets close enough|Machete]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"I really only wanted to help. That shit wasn't right"\n\n"It's not the first time I've had to kill to protect her, it won't be the last...Thank you. You seem genuine. We must leave, now, for I don't think he was alone. There's a town near here. Go to the church, there are good people there."\n\nThe woman thanks you again and tells you to be on your way. She doesn't want any more to do with you. Before protesting about who gets the rights to the goods off the corpse you remember the little girl and pause. They can have this one.\n\n[[Head towards the town and church the woman spoke of|Nowhere town]]
You walk towards the church in the darkness of the night, wondering what you may come across. You can't see anything within the area of the church, it's complete darkness.\n\n\nTheir sharp-shooter saw you however. Didn't appreciate how you were sneaking up in the dark, armed and unknown. Better safe than sorry.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]\n
You see a man, a woman, and who appears to be the woman's daughter. The woman and daughter are cowering, the man is looming above.\n\n"Come with me now, or I'll kill you and then take her instead." The man said to the woman, in such a matter of fact voice that something inside you tweaked. This was not okay.\n\n[[Sneak up and attack the man|wow]]\n\n[[Hollar out and threaten him with your machete|wow]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw Revolver|wow]]\n<<endif>>
"I don't have much, but here" and as you hand the man your rations, he grips them with incredible strength.\n\n"Thank you" He says, and begins to stand\n\n"You asshole. You lied to m--" before you finish your sentence, you hear something behind you\n\n[[Turn around, slowly|onemore]]\n\n[[Turn around quickly!|onemore]]\n\n[[Duck!|onemore]]
"Are you okay?" You ask the man, as you help him into a sitting position.\n\n"I'm....so weak....so hungry...."\n\n[[Give the man a can of your rations]]\n\n[[Change your mind, that sweater looks comfortable. Tell the man you want his gear for food|nope]]\n\n
<<set $revolver = 1>>\n<<set $bullets = 1>>\n<<set $huntingknife = 1>>\n<<set $batteries = 4>>\nYour machete is a much better blade than his hunting knife, but you strap it to your ankle anyhow. You search the body, looking for anything useful. His backpack doesn't seem to have much in it. Some dirty clothes, a pornographic magazine, a bottle of perfume, and some batteries. You come across a revolver with a single bullet in the chamber. You're now packing heat. You grab the gun and the 4 AA batteries. What next?\n\n[[Leave the house|Run]]\n\n[[Hide|The gang returns]]\n
"They don't get that kind of stuff wrong. Life 'n' death right? I mean, a whole group of people like you come walking into our territory, machetes and the like, what're we supposed to do? Waste all of our bullets at one time?\n\n[[There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>
\n\n\n\n\nAfter five more minutes of walking down the path, you hear a gunshot from behind you.\n\nWhether or not it was saving a life, it was almost certainly taking one as well.\n\n[[Carry on and hike towards the next town|Continue on main road]]
"Did you really think your pathetic attempts at survival would work?" \n\nHe pulls his arm back and thrusts the knife forward. You're too confined to move and in an instant the knife is plunged between your ribs.\n\n"Got more than you bargained for, huh? You think I wouldn't look behind closed doors?"\n\n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
In the full light of the morning, you walk towards the church, unsure of what to expect. Your hands are raised above your head, and if you had a shred of white cloth it would be waving as the wind.\n\nOnce within 200m of the entrance, you think perhaps you should shout a salutation. Before your mouth even begins to open, the bell-tower of the church does.\n\nA middle-aged man staring straight down the scope of his rifle at you yells "that's close enough! What're you looking for?"\n\n[[Safety|Salvation]]\n\n[[Food|Salvation]]\n\n[[A friend|Salvation]]\n\n[[The end|Salvation]]\n
"Look at you. Begging like a fuckin' petty...fuck, I had somethin' there. There's no use. I can already tell we won't be able to use you in our group."\n\nHe reaches for his belt and pulls out what is definitely a 9mm handgun and and raises it at you.\n\n"We don' take too kindly to the individual type...they seem to be selfish. Hoarding all kinds of speacial gear in their packs. I mean, I'm sure yours if full of all sorts of goodies that we can all share"\n\n[[I told you, I'm not the individual type! I'm from a group!]]\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n
<<set $bullets9 = +3>>\n<<set $9mm = 1>>\nYou begin to rummage through all of the gear that was on the trapper, trying to find anything useful before you carry on. You obtain for your pack a 9mm handgun with 3 bullets in the magazine as well as a blanket the main had tied up on his back. Apart from that, the corpse is useless. Be happy you didn't waste a bullet and risk getting found\n\n\n\n[[Get out of there!]]
"I don't want to meet anyone, I promise. Tell my friend to shut up. Fuck, kill him! Just spare me, please"\n\nThe men kneel down and begin to empty their pockets. They're spooked and you've got the upper hand.\n\nSadly, they don't seem to have much. A flashlight that won't turn on, two unlabelled tin cans, and some miscellaneous clothing and string. \n\n[[Take items anyway]]\n\n[[Leave the men alone|Take items anyway]]\n\n[[Give men hunting knife]]\n\n[[Attack them with your machete]]
<<set $huntingknife = -1>>\n"...Honestly? For us...but we were...I mean we had to....we have nothing and need..."\n\n"Shut up Josh. Thank you. This is the kindest act I've seen....or hell, experienced...in a really long time. We aren't bad people, we just want to live and will do what it takes to ensure we do. I'm sure we're alike in that sense"\n\n[[We're nothing alike. Enjoy the knife]]\n\n[[I can see you're in desparate need of it. Remember, it's a tool, not a weapon.]]\n\n[[We're more alike than you know. Don't stop carrying the light]]
"We make people in our territory our business. Especially when they're trying to take our food from us!"\n\n[[What do you mean, "we"?|What do you mean "we" haven't seen any groups]]\n\n[[I'm sure you do. What do you want?|What do you want?]]\n
Upon your departure, you have the men sit and stare into the fire for a solid half hour. During this time you tell them you are reading your map. Instead, You are blinding them within the darkness of night. They will not be able to see a thing within the woods once you leave, giving you a far enough head start that they will never catch up to you. Even if you are alone, they won't know until they are. There's safety in numbers, even if they're imaginary.\n\n[[Start moving and get out of there]]\n\n
As you turn around the group laughs at your reaction. There must be at least twenty of them, all armed and none looking as sickly as you. Come to think of it, even the old man looks healthier than you feel.\n\n"That was mighty kind of you, what you did there" A woman speaks up. "Must be a friendly to pull that kind of shit. Haven't resorted to eating people yet eh? us neither...bad for the morale"\n\nThey all begin to chuckle. You're still so confused.\n\n"You're safe here. We've got a small commune started up. That was the preliminary testing right there, and you passed. Won;t believe the amount of fuckers we've had to stop from killing Bill." \n\n[[Please...I'm so tired...may I sleep somewhere|The End]]
"You're a lying son-a-bitch you know that?"\n\n[[We can work this out!|Not at all, come get it]]\n\n[[I'm so sorry sir! You can have it right back, I had no idea!]]\n\n[[I don't like the way you're addressing me. Even if this was yours, lets show some mutual respect.]]\n\n[[Come and see it for yourself!]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n
The man is hesitant, but slowly passes you and walks towards the trapline\n\n[[Follow man to trapline]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your weapon and question the man|Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[Attack him as he passes|Machete]]\n\n[[Try to escape]]
You're not sure why you trusted him. Or why he began to trust you, but you wait. You wait for twenty minutes. Then another fifteen. If they wanted you dead, you would be. If he was playing a joke, you'd know soon enough. You couldn't risk leaving in case he wasn't.\n\nThe door to the church opens. The man comes out. Behind him, two others exit through the doorway and approach you.\n\n"We're willing to talk with you. If you want to come in, eat and rest, we'll see if there's anything we could offer eachother. Tools, trade, or assitance. We have weapons and supplies, you're safe here as long as you aren't a threat, but we will have a close eye on you. It's not to be rude, it's for our safety."\n\nGo in, eat, and rest. You have survived. \n\n\n\nThis far.
You're awoken halfway through the night. Unsure why, you stare blankly into the dark above you.\n\nVoices. In the near distance.\n\n[[Stealthily investigate]]\n\n[[Go back to sleep]]\n\n[[Start moving and get out of there]]
An old song is stuck in your head and you can't figure out why. It was your favourite, used to play it at least once a day. Now you'll be lucky to ever hear the song again.\n\nYou contine hiking through the woods, stopping at a small brook to drink some water. You're used to the taste of dirty water by now, and your stomach is used to its effects.\n\nYou've got some ways to travel yet.\n\n[[Hike to the top of the mountain and get a better scope of your surrounding area|Go to mountain peak]]\n\n[[Continue travelling through the woods and follow the right trail|Go right down trail]]\n
You leave the body and carry down the path. Something about that situation didn't feel right and you're more than happy to move on from it.\n\n[[Continue down the path|Keep calm and carry on]]
"Sure you can. You're not a citizen here quite yet, but we'll take care of you until you can determine whether or not you'd like to stay with us."\n\nYou can at last sleep with your eyes fully closed, at ease throughout the whole night. You wake up to the smell of food. For some reason you feel like if you died now, it'd've all be worth it.\n\n[[You have survived]]
<<set $bullets = 0>>\n<<set $huntingknife = 0>>\nYou've been travelling alone for some time now. Not sure the last time you were fully able to trust anyone behind your back or while you were sleeping.\n\nThere've been a few instances where things almost stabilized. Should've known if there's only one thing to count on, it's the fact that the capacity for an evil person to do bad is never destroyed, only diminshed. John said he didn't need anyone else with him...I hope he rots in hell with the others\n\nEarlier this aft you'd stumbled upon a small cluster of about twenty houses. All have already been purged and scoured numerous times over the past few years from those such as yourself: looking for anything. You have a good selection of gear to survive with, and a machete to defend yourself.\n\nYou're finishing up your routine in the last bedroom when you freeze. You've been here a few hours completely alone, but outside you start to hear a commotion. What sounds like a raiding party has entered the community. \n\nThe decision is yours:\n\n[[Hide]]\n\n[[Continue looking around then hide]]\n\n[[Leave the house and get out of the area]]\n
You're on your way towards the next town, not sure whether to expect trouble or relief. You've come across both in your encounters with others and have learned that observation and perception are everything. Your gut makes just as many decisions as your head and heart do, and must be listened to in some circumstances over the prior.\n\n[[Only 140 more kilometres til town|Nowhere town]]\n
"That's what I'm trying to do too."\n\nHe reaches for his belt and pulls out what is definitely a 9mm handgun and and raises it at you.\n\n"I'm sure yours if full of all sorts of goodies that we can all can"\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your own firearm]]\n<<endif>>\n\n
"We'll remember that. You will see us again."\n\n[[Start moving and get out of there]]\n\n[[Attack them with your machete]]
Well we mean you all the harm we can give you!\n\nFrom above your head you see a man enter your peripherals. He has a large rock rasied above his head, and you can see him shift the weight and begin the movement.\n\n[[You did not survive|Start]]
"Than you would have killed us...not helped us. \n\n "You saw we had nothing, and hoped that if you were found in our situation, you'd be helped"\n\n "You're a moron either way, but thank you none-the-less"\n\n[[I did it because I don't need it and you fools are dead anyway. May as well give one of you the upper hand against the other two|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Fight the good fight. Perhaps we are alike in some ways. We are leaving now, without you|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Don't pretend you know me, just take the knife!|continue on journey]]\n
As you continue along your way, you walk farther. You stop at night and tuck yourself into a small dugout. You wrap yourself in your sleeping bag and dare to close your eyes, hoping you'll wake to see morning.\n\nYou awake, relieved that you have all your gear and limbs intact. You continue walking towards town, which is what you're hoping seems like a few miles away.\n\n\nOff the trail to the left you see just tucked away in the shrubbery a rabbit snare with a rabbit stuck in it.\n\n[[Take Rabbit]]\n\n[[Leave Rabbit]]
What feels like the instant after you conceal yourself within the closet and get a good vantage point through the door the bedroom door slowly glides ever so slightly open, just a tad further. You see a set of dusty, old, dilapidated combat boots sleathly place themselves into the room. Its clear the room has already been ransacked, but the man is scouting around anyhow. Is absurdity is suddenly seen in your own. \n\nThe fact that the closet door is closed strikes the scout as odd, especially since ever drawer is left open in the room. The man withdraws a large hunting knife and proceeds closer to your hiding spot. If you move he'll hear you, so you place your hand on your machete just in case. The closet door is suddenly flung open. You have no chances of escape and are found.\n\n[[Surrender, begging for the man to not tell the others|No Escape]]\n\n[[Surrender, suggesting your skills could be an asset if they let you join their gang|No Escape]]\n\n[[Attack him with your machete|No Escape]]
"Welcome to Erehwon!" The dillapidated sign in front of you reads. You wonder if whoever shot the holes in the sign had ever had regrets concerning the supply of ammo they now have left.\n\nGetting off the main road, you start to slowly make your way through town. Many buildings have been burned, others are spewing their decaying contents into the streets. Nothing of any value small enough to carry has been left anywhere.\n\n[[Leave the town unexplored, there's clearly nothing left here!]]\n\n[[Contiune looking around. Never know what may turn up!?]]
You continue looking about the room, doing your best to be as silent as possible. You come across the TV stand across from the bed. You begin slowly sliding each drawer open, sifting through the already distrubed contents for anything useful. Anything at all. While rummaging through the last few remaining drawers that've yet to be purged, Above the little noise you yourself are creating in the room, you fail to hear the faint creaking coming from the stairway floorboards. The upstairs in this house is carpeted for some reason; underneath was a solid hardwoord floor with a dirty but scratch-free finish. You didn't hear him creep down the hallway at all. Or when he slowly pushes the door just a tad further and slips into the room behind you. By the time you see the shadow on the wall infront of you you know its too late. With a swift blow to the back of the neck you're sent to the ground, paralyzed. You lay distored, face up and immobile, staring up at your assialant's face. Covered in a soiled black mask with eyes just as dark he raises his arms above his head. He's holding a baseball bat. The momentum begins.\n\n[[You do not survive|Start]]\n
The man has been cautious the whole time he was near you, but you've been caluclating all of the factors in your next move. The proximity works in your favour.\n\nYou grab the machete off of your belt and immediately swing it towards your assailant. Expecting compliance, the stranger is completely taken by surprise and fumbles to react in time. He reaches for his belt, but the upward swing catches his arm. You redirect the momentum of the blade and bury it into his clavicle.\n\nThe man lets out a scream before you end him. If he is with a group, there's no telling whether they heard that or not\n\n[[Get out of there!]]\n\n[[Search corpse]]\n\n
"Believe me, I know all about what people are capable of nowadays. Didn't think I'd be able to do what I've done to survive thus far, but here I am and there you are with my food. Now I'll just have to shoot you and get it back"\n\n[[The rabbit is mine now. Carry on old man]]\n\n[[You can have it back. I only meant to secure myself an easy meal for once]]\n\n[[There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]\n\n[[What do you want?]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
You close your eyes and try to go back to sleep. With how tired you are this is no trouble.\n\n\nYou awake to a man standing over you, foot upon your chest. He's with two others that are standing above your head, just out of your view.\n\n"You figure this was the one coming down the cliff face?"\n\n "Ya, I reckon it is"\n\n"What should we do with him?"\n\n "Well he's got all this fancy stuff here. Shame if he left us and wasn't going to share"\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n[[I mean you no harm! I was just passing through]]\n\n<<if $bullets eq "+3">>\n[[Defend yourself]]\n<<endif>>
<<set $bullets = -3>>\nThe men are now dead. They had nothing of value on them except for a flashlight that won't turn on, two unlabelled tin cans, and some miscellaneous clothing and string. If they weren't trying to rob from you this would have been a complete waste of ammunition.\n\n[[Start moving and get out of there]]
"Of course. We really don't want to hurt anyone. I've thrown up just thinking about it. Survival doesn't have to be me versus you....I never really thought of it that way...but it's obvious."\n\nEven though you helped these men, you do not feel you could trust them to protect you while you're sleeping. You acknowledge that you're leaving:\n\n[[I have to go back to my group now. Take care of each other|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Fight the good fight. We have to carry on without you|continue on journey]]\n\n[[Good luck not dying! We're out!|continue on journey]]
"Yes, I'm staying in this church, don't mean there's salvation here. You carry on with your fight for survival somewhere else, you hear? We don't have room for you here!"\n\n[[Please, have a heart. I won't survive much longer on my own|almost there]]\n\n[[If that is the truth, I will leave|almost there]]\n\n[[I'm tired of simply surviving. I want to live|almost there]]\n\n[[I'm coming in whether you like it or not]]\n\n
Everything is the same: burnt or in ruins. There doesn't seem to be any signs of activity within the area.\n\n\nThere's a footprint in the dust over there. That wouldn't be a big deal, but it rained last week and the wind has been some kind of nasty. It couldn't have been there for longer than a week.\n\n[[Look around]]\n\n[[If there's people here, I don't want to be|Go right down trail]]\n
"Well then..." he pauses.\n\n\n"That's a silly decision"\n\nYou hear the gun fire, but you don't feel the bullet\n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
"You being stupid on purpose? That rabbit on your belt. It's mine. Trap's right over there!"\n\n[[Oh yeah? Go and check your trap!]]\n\n[[The rabbit is mine. I caught it a few days ago.]]\n\n[[I don't like the way you're addressing me. Even if this was yours, lets show some mutual respect.]]\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your firearm]]\n<<endif>>
"It's unbecoming of my character, it is. Rather tell you to fuck off and take what I want"\n\n<<if $revolver eq "1">>\n[[Draw your weapon and tell him to cooperate|Draw your firearm]]\n<<else>>\n[[Draw your weapon and tell him to cooperate|Machete]]\n<<endif>>\n\n[[You can have my entire pack! The machete too! Just please, leave me be]]\n\n[[There's no need for that]]
"You really don' think we'd actually know that? I'm telling you, we'd know that"\n\nYou hear the gun fire, but you don't feel the bullet\n\n[[You did not surivive|Start]]
"Well there's no shelter in these parts. In fact, this is probably your worst decision if that's the case. We'll leave you with less than you came with."\n\n[[What do you mean, "we"?|What do you mean "we" haven't seen any groups]]\n\n[[There's no need for that]]\n\n[[There's no need for that, please! I'm sure we can reason with eachother]]
You slip out the house silently, scouting around before darting the twenty feet across the backyard to the wooded area. You've been in those situations before. You know there was nothing else worth risking your life over left in that house. You managed to escape to the outskirts of town without being noticed.\n\nThe choice of where to go next must be made.\n\n[[Carry on down the road]]\n\n[[Trek off road, through the woods]]