Vaccum

Well, this went better than expected. Ad hoc RPGs are full of win, it seems.

[00:48] <@Spiritcurse> You awake once more, another day in this bunker. It was fine for the first few years, the hundred of you, sheltered to eventually recreate humanity. All well and good, until you found out the nuclear plant had been leaking since you arrived. You were all alive, but sterile. Over the years, the bunker began to die out. You and another child, Eva, were the only survivors. You'd grown up together, as
[00:48] <@Spiritcurse> siblings almost.
[00:48] <@Spiritcurse> You couldn't go outside. There was only one respirator left. Sure, the bunker had enough oxygen, but only the one tank. And you'd each sworn never to leave each other, even if that meant dying in the bunker. But you wouldn't go outside. Especially since you didn't know the nearest place with air. The atmosphere was all gone now - it had been going since you were born. Nobody knows why.
[00:48] <@Spiritcurse> That all changed when Eva died. She passed away in your arms, finally succumbing to the radiation. It was time to leave. The entire bunker under your command, and the whole, airless world. With any luck, you'd find oxygen, or be able to return to base to refill. Without it... you'd just be another corpse, gasping for air.
[00:51] <+Narsis> I pull all of my meager possesions from the box under my bunk, I push them all into a bag and walk out of the room, eyes avoiding the corner where Eva is lying dead
[00:52] <@Spiritcurse> The room outside is the exit room, a large iron airlock with a security console on the side.
[00:52] <@Spiritcurse> Next to the security console is the last respirator, as well as keys to the airlock. Eva always kept it nearby in case of emergencies.
[00:53] <+Narsis> I unlock the case and pull on the respirator, I turn and unlock the airlock
[00:54] <@Spiritcurse> The hiss of the airlock startles you at first - you'd never heard it before. But the respirator clicks on, your breathing soon being the only thing you can hear.
[00:55] <@Spiritcurse> The inner door slams shut behind you, a click telling you it's locked. Seconds later, the outer door clicks, ready to open.
[00:56] <+Narsis> I walk out of the airlock, turning back one last time to look at the only home I have ever known, then I turn my back on it and head out of the bunker
[00:57] <@Spiritcurse> The bunker appears to be situated in a hill, judging by the landscape in front of you. A village is in front of you, skirted by forests on either side.
[00:58] <@Spiritcurse> Oddly, there are footprints leading down a trail to the village, wet ones. You can sometimes hear the rain through the bunker, and it was raining a couple of days ago. Or nights, who can tell?
[01:00] <+Narsis> I kneel down, running my hand through the wet earth, my parents talked about the outside world, but I never thoughtI would actually see it
[01:00] <@Spiritcurse> The earth feels like the porridge you sometimes had back at base, think and lumpy. It feels surprisinly... native.
[01:01] <+Narsis> smileing slightly behind the mask I stand back up and head towards the village
[01:02] <@Spiritcurse> The decide the dirt trail to be the simplest path, and walk down it. The sunlight, at first distorting your vision oddly, soon grows comfortable, and you are able to find your way there safely.
[01:03] <@Spiritcurse> Through the thick respirator, you are able to hear a low whirring, similar to the server bank at home. It seems to be coming from one of the buildings to your left.
[01:05] <@Spiritcurse> The village, viewed from up close, is pretty much undamged. The rows of houses are undamaged, except for a couple decorated with graffiti. They seem mostly to be houses, although there is a shop on the corner. Distrubingly, there are quite a few bodies laid around it, some even with visible injuries. The footsteps from before seem to lead towards the shop, although the muddy footprints fade after a few steps on the pavement.
[01:07] <+Narsis> I unslight my rifle, and move towards the closest of the bodies
[01:08] <@Spiritcurse> Some of the bodies look like they died happy, the expression on their faces bringing back images of Eva. The rest look almost imhuman, face twisted with hate. These ones also seem to be riddled with bullets, mostly around the head and chest.
[01:09] <+Narsis> I walk over to the closest of them and nudge it with my foot
[01:10] <@Spiritcurse> It rolls over, fresh blood spurting from it. Seems fairly recent, from what you can tell. Above you, you hear a click.
[01:11] <+Narsis> I look up, sending out a ripple of psykic power looking for any minds
[01:12] <@Spiritcurse> You sense a single mind, most likely inhabiting the figure above you. He is also wearing a respirator, and carries a large rifle. He cocks his head to the side, lowering the rifle slowly.
[01:15] <@Spiritcurse> He gestures to the side of his head, then points at you.
[01:15] <+Narsis> I don't lower my own rifle, I move carfully towards him always keeping him in my rifle sights
[01:15] <@Spiritcurse> He repeats the gestures, before fully lowering his rifle and pointing to the door.
[01:16] <+Narsis> I lower my rifle slightly, and gesture to him to go first
[01:17] <@Spiritcurse> He takes a step back, and a few seconds later you can hear him walking down stairs. You hear the sound of at least six locks being turned, before the door opens.
[01:18] <+Narsis> I follow, moving
[01:19] <+Narsis> *moving though the door and looking carfully around before continuing
[01:20] <@Spiritcurse> He has put his gun down, and gestures for you to do the same. The room is fairly empty, save for a fridge, small generator, stock of ammo, and a blue tent taking up a good few metres in the corner.
[01:21] <+Narsis> I hook the rifle onto my bag and close the door behind me
[01:21] <@Spiritcurse> He seems to relax greatly, and ducks inside the tent. You can hear a hissing, shortly followed by a sigh.
[01:22] <@Spiritcurse> His hand extends, motioning you inside.
[01:22] <+Narsis> I enter the tent
[01:23] <@Spiritcurse> Inside, you see the man has removed his respirator, breathing deeply. He looks grizzled, and badly in need of a shave. Despite that, he looks friendly, albeit tough.
[01:23] <@Spiritcurse> In the corner of the tent is a complex machine, but it seems to be producing oxygen. Either that, or the man doesn't care much for breathing.
[01:24] <+Narsis> I remove my mask and slide my pack onto the floor
[01:25] <@Spiritcurse> "So, what are you doing here, so far from air?"
[01:26] <+Narsis> "just drifting, and you?"
[01:26] <@Spiritcurse> "Trying my best not to be eaten. Where you getting your air then?"
[01:27] <+Narsis> "just this tank, and what do you mean eaten?"
[01:28] <@Spiritcurse> "Did you not see the bodies? No idea what they are, but they're not as polite as you. And I'm going to ask again, where are you refilling that tank?"
[01:29] <+Narsis> "I'm not, I have this tank and thats it, why you so intrested?"
[01:30] <@Spiritcurse> "Because if there's any other real people out there, I want to know about it. And you've got no more than eight hours in that thing, and that I know of, there's nowhere within four hours with air."
[01:31] <+Narsis> "there is a bunker a little way from here, I came from there"
[01:32] <@Spiritcurse> "Oh, that place? I've been up there once of twice, not for a while there. Could never get in."
[01:33] <+Narsis> "It was my home, but theres nothing left for me there"
[01:34] <@Spiritcurse> "No? No family?"
[01:34] <+Narsis> "dead"
[01:35] <@Spiritcurse> "I'm sorry to hear that. Same thing happened to me, I don't know why I stay here. To afraid of being left without air."
[01:36] <+Narsis> "you said there were people four hours from here"
[01:37] <@Spiritcurse> "Not real people. Come and look." He grabs a smaller respirator model, fitting it over his head while he points to another.
[01:38] <+Narsis> I grab it and head follow, pausing to grab my rifle
[01:39] <@Spiritcurse> He seems almost disappointed, but opens the door again, walking to the pile of bodies.
[01:39] <@Spiritcurse> He kneels down, waiting for you. He almost seems to be crying.
[01:40] <+Narsis> I move to the bodies and kneel next to him, "your family?" I ask though the mask
[01:41] <@Spiritcurse> "This one. My daughter. Look at the eyes and face." The eyes are wide and glaring, the face twisted and contorted into an inhuman death mask.
[01:42] <@Spiritcurse> "It's the same with all of them." Every body has the same eyes, the same death mask, the same hideous snarl and expression.
[01:42] <+Narsis> "what happened to them?"
[01:43] <@Spiritcurse> "No idea. But they come sometimes. They don't have respirators, but they still move. They're fast buggers too."
[01:45] <+Narsis> I move my hand over the faces of the dead, murmuring words from a religious text from the before times
[01:46] <@Spiritcurse> "You're a religious man?" he asks, looking slightly comforted. You notice him instinctively glancing at his air meter, even mid word.
[01:47] <+Narsis> "no, but even the dead require respect" I check my own meter
[01:48] <@Spiritcurse> The meter gives you about 5 minutes left. "They're a short term thing. I patched a few up, tend to use them when I'm guarding. I was about to go out when you arrived, you see."
[01:49] <+Narsis> "we should go back inside"
[01:50] <@Spiritcurse> "Yeah, we should. Stay the night here if you want, you should be safe."
[01:52] <+Narsis> "I will," I walk inside the tent
[01:52] <@Spiritcurse> He walks behind you, locking the door firmly before settling in the tent. "So, what are you planning next?"
[01:54] <+Narsis> "not sure, know of any other surviviors?"
[01:54] <@Spiritcurse> "Not in this area. Your bunker?"
[01:55] <+Narsis> "one giant tomb"
[01:56] <@Spiritcurse> "All of them?"
[01:57] <+Narsis> "there was someone else, she died this morning"
[01:58] <@Spiritcurse> "I'm sorry to hear that. You ever going back?"
[01:59] <+Narsis> "nothing but ghosts there, nothing to go back to"
[02:00] <@Spiritcurse> "Fair enough. Any tech worth having? This old baby's gonna pack up any year now." He pats the air machine softly.
[02:01] <+Narsis> "theres a recycler, but its too close to a leaking reactor, you'd be fried before you got there"
[02:02] <@Spiritcurse> "Well, I built this, didn't I? I'm sure I could take a look. Weapons?"
[02:04] <+Narsis> "nothing, stripped and used for parts years back"
[02:05] <@Spiritcurse> "Well, I have more than enough. Oh, I was meaning to ask. You know any sign at all?"
[02:05] <+Narsis> "sign language?"
[02:06] <@Spiritcurse> "Yeah, although you probably won't, living in a bunker."
[02:07] <@Spiritcurse> He repeats the gesture from before, a point at his head, then at you. "That means, what's your psych?"
[02:08] <+Narsis> I repeat it "and what is your psych?"
[02:08] <@Spiritcurse> "I'm a kinetic. Not a very good one, but I can do some. You?"
[02:09] <+Narsis> "mind reader, trained alittle, but not much"
[02:10] <@Spiritcurse> "Fair enough. I'm gonna assume you haven't tried me, right?"
[02:11] <+Narsis> "no, I haven't"
[02:12] <@Spiritcurse> "Good man." You hear a scratching from outside, some way up the street, but sound carries well with the mask off.
[02:13] <+Narsis> My hand twitches to the rifle "whats that?"
[02:14] <@Spiritcurse> "What was what? Scan for something."
[02:15] <+Narsis> I send out a pulse testing for other minds
[02:16] <@Spiritcurse> You find... something. Or two somethings. Or a big something. Whatever it is, it isn't human, and it's not something you had on file back at the bunker.
[02:18] <+Narsis> "something...odd, a large mind or perhaps two smaller ones"
[02:19] <@Spiritcurse> "Couldn't say, you're the first 'path I've met. Still, best be safe." He puts on a small respirator, grabs his gun and walks upstairs.
[02:20] <+Narsis> I follow him, grabbing a fresh mask and my rifle
[02:21] <@Spiritcurse> He opens a window, cocking his rifle and leaning out. "Shit..." he mutters.
[02:21] <+Narsis> "hmm?"
[02:22] <@Spiritcurse> "Never seen this before." Outside the window, a humanoid figure is chewing at the pile of bodies, the sounds of chewing audible over your breathing.
[02:24] <+Narsis> I try and force and path into its mind seeing if it has any thoughts
[02:25] <@Spiritcurse> You can't force your way into the mind proper, but you can tell two things. There are two minds, one much mentally smaller than the other. The larger one doesn't appear human, the smaller one seems to have at least once been human.
[02:30] <+Narsis> "this thing is freakish, a dominant animal mind and a smaller humanish one, I woulden't try to talk with it"
[02:30] <@Spiritcurse> "That works for me." He aims his rifle at the head. "Any objections?"
[02:31] <+Narsis> "just don't miss"
[02:31] <@Spiritcurse> "Okay then."
[02:32] <@Spiritcurse> The shot cracks, loudly. THe creature stumbles, a bullet lodged firmly in its head. It turns to the window, leaping up. Shards of glass fly everywhere, and the two of you are forced back. The creature sits in the windowframe, bleeding and howling.
[02:33] <+Narsis> I aim and fire at it
[02:34] <@Spiritcurse> The bullet slams into the chest, knocking the creature back. It lurches up from the floor, pouncing towards you.
[02:35] <@Spiritcurse> The beast hits you in the chest, knocking you to the floor, although you keep hold of your gun, thankfully.
[02:36] <@Spiritcurse> The man stands, firing another shot into the creature, catching it in the eye. It screams, flailing wildly.
[02:36] <+Narsis> I send a psykic scream out, trying to stun the creature
[02:37] <@Spiritcurse> The creature stumbles into the floor, limbs collapsing around it. You get the sense that the animal side of the brain is either dead, or dying.
[02:38] <+Narsis> I probe the other side of the creatures brain
[02:39] <@Spiritcurse> The creature appears to be in shock. As you watch, you feel a link being severed between the smart side and the dying side.
[02:40] <+Narsis> I probe deeper "what are you ?" I ask into its mind
[02:41] <@Spiritcurse> "Dying... we need our... host. Why did you... take him?"
[02:45] <+Narsis> "you do not have much time left, I ask again, what are you?"
[02:46] <@Spiritcurse> "We are the... necrophages. We... give life... without air."
[02:47] <+Narsis> "but you take control of the host, dominate the mind?"
[02:48] <@Spiritcurse> "Not until... they are useless. We cannot... preserve life... forever."
[02:49] <+Narsis> I try to pykicly determine if they are telling the truth
[02:50] <@Spiritcurse> You sense that their story is true. However, you're not sure if all of it is, or if they're omitting anything. They seem benign enough.
[02:51] <+Narsis> "I offer myself as host"
[02:51] <@Spiritcurse> "Thank... you. How may we serve... until you need us... most?"
[02:53] <+Narsis> "do you have a name?"
[02:53] <@Spiritcurse> "We are... the necrophage. That is... all."
[02:57] <@Spiritcurse> You feel a lurch, and then the odd sensation of another mind within yours. It nestles within your conciousness, and you feel some of your psychic potential unlocking.
[02:57] <+Narsis> "very well, what do you know of the area?"
[02:57] <@Spiritcurse> "We know little. Our body didn't get out much."
[02:58] <@Spiritcurse> The man speaks up. "You've been staring at that body for the last five minutes, and you've just started twitching. What's going on?"
[02:59] <+Narsis> I stand up "just looking though its mind, nothing to useful"
[03:00] <@Spiritcurse> "Aye? Then help me chuck it outside. I mean, it won't rot - no atmosphere - but still."
[03:02] <+Narsis> "alright" I help him lift up the body, while doing that I try and look into his mind, looking for anything hidden
[03:03] <@Spiritcurse> [There's no point. We were all that was useful there.]
[03:04] <@Spiritcurse> The body makes a soft thud as it hits the ground. You notice that the man is panicking, breathing very shortly. Your own breathing, however, is barely affected.
[03:04] <@Spiritcurse> He runs downstairs, and you hear him dive into his tent.
[03:04] <@Spiritcurse> [Go quickly, our powers are limited]
[03:04] <+Narsis> I hurry downstairs and enter the tent
[03:05] <@Spiritcurse> Inside the tent, the man is hyperventilating. "That was close. Never again..."
[03:06] <@Spiritcurse> You attempt to pry into the man's mind, but you pick up nothing more than surface thoughts. He is scared of his air supply, and also hungry.

It was about here that my brain fizzled.

Well that was...very interesting indeed...
Thumbs up

Thank you! I wanted to run a less conventional post apocalyptic game than zombies/radiation/aliens. I think I succeeded.

Indeed. Me like very much

Thank you, want to join in sometime? We tend to run fairly erratically - this was going to be a one shot until we realised we actually like it. I can give you a yell when we're about to start if you want. I tend to end it at the end of a day, so if you miss a session it's assumed you were just chilling for the day.

I'm allways game for an RPG so count me in
What do I need?

To read this and send me a sheet, and to get used to needing to breathe.