J
JJ
Guest
Original poster
- January, 2024
A scientist in California, working on a vaccine for Toxoplasmosis, which is the disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, begins human trials. - March, 2025
The vaccine is deemed a success, and the process of approval for distribution begins. - April, 2025
The lead scientist of the T. gondii vaccine dies of a heart attack. - April, 2025
A new lead scientist is assigned to the project. Makes minor edits to the quantity of some substances found in the vaccine, but the changes are minute, and a repeat of human trials is deemed unnecessary. - June, 2025
The vaccine is approved for worldwide distribution... and the apocalypse begins. - September, 2025
50% of the human population is either infected, or dead. The rest are in hiding, trying to survive. - January, 2026
A scientist by the name of Aaron Fletcher, who was one of the assistants during the trials, begins work on a possible cure. - March, 2026
Dr. Fletcher, after months of trying, has given up on a cure. It seems impossible. He switches gears, opting to try to create an immunity vaccine instead. - May, 2026
The immunity vaccine is ready for human trials. - August, 2026
The group finds themselves settled into what they proudly call a home. Everything is going great - for now.
- January, 2024
The Disease
[spoili]Unlike most zombie plots, the Z. gondii zombies are not the result of a virus, but, rather, a brain-attacking parasite. It is estimated that 30% - 50% of the human population are already carriers of T. gondii, which is spread largely in part by cats, pigs, sheep, and other livestock. Post-vaccination, anyone who did not carry the parasite was unaffected. However, those who did harbor T. gondii within their system, and were exposed to the vaccine, are a part of "Group X" - the original "zombies".
Contrary to popular belief, the Z. gondii zombies are not undead, and the dead can not be resurrected by the parasite. Once the human body dies, it is dead. While the corpse (if infected while alive) can still be a carrier for disease for up to 72 hours after death, there is no risk of anyone who dies being "reborn" as a zombie. The parasite, that lives in the brain, relies on the human body to keep it alive. If the body dies, the parasite dies as well.[/spoili]
How It's Spread
[spoili]Toxoplasma gondii AKA T. gondii (the original parasite) is spread via under cooked contaminated meat, unwashed contaminated fruits & vegetables, and contaminated water, soil, and cat litter coming into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.
Zaraplasma gondii AKA Z. gondii (the mutated parasite) is spread from mammal to mammal via bodily fluids, including blood, saliva, ejaculatory excretions, and excrement of both solid and liquid varieties.[/spoili]
Symptoms and Timeframe
[spoili]Hours After Infection || Symptoms
24 || Mild, flu-like symptoms
36 || Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes
48 || Crippling migraines, memory loss
60 || Loss of pain receptors, fits of rage
72 || Complete loss of bodily & cognitive functions, increased healing
72+ || All memory gone, reverted to primal instincts
24 hours after the infection, the host will experience mild, cold or flu-like symptoms, including headaches, stuffy/runny nose, congestion, sore throat and cough. If the infection was obtained by a bite, the site may grow red, irritated, and inflamed.
36 hours after the infection, in addition to the symptoms above growing worse, swollen lymph nodes will develop, along with a sore throat that progressively worsens and may inhibit breathing via compression of the trachea caused by the swelling.
48 hours after the infection, you will begin to experience memory loss, both short and long term, and blinding, crippling migraines.
60 hours after the infection, the host will lose all pain receptors in the body. Both a blessing and a curse, as the fits of blind rage that follow often involve the host being injured in some way or another.
72 hours after the infection, the host has lost all memory and the parasite is in complete control.
After the 72 hour timeframe, the human host is now only that, a host. All cognitive function has ceased, and, essentially, the "person" inside the body is gone. There are no memories, no thoughts, only primal instincts and rage, the urge to kill, and to eat, any living thing that crosses its path (though the parasites seem to somehow recognize other host-bodies, and leave them be). Any mammal can be infected with Z. gondii, although only those with physical attributes and digestive tracts suited for hunting and eating meat typically survive the infection, as any inclination to eat other organic material disappears once infected. As a result, natural carnivores are often hosts of Z. gondii. Birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, bugs, and amphibians seem to be unaffected by Z. gondii, and zombies do not actively hunt these creatures.
Unlike most zombie plots, the Z. gondii zombies are not the result of a virus, but, rather, a brain-attacking parasite. It is estimated that 30% - 50% of the human population are already carriers of T. gondii, which is spread largely in part by cats, pigs, sheep, and other livestock. Post-vaccination, anyone who did not carry the parasite was unaffected. However, those who did harbor T. gondii within their system, and were exposed to the vaccine, are a part of "Group X" - the original "zombies".
Contrary to popular belief, the Z. gondii zombies are not undead, and the dead can not be resurrected by the parasite. Once the human body dies, it is dead. While the corpse (if infected while alive) can still be a carrier for disease for up to 72 hours after death, there is no risk of anyone who dies being "reborn" as a zombie. The parasite, that lives in the brain, relies on the human body to keep it alive. If the body dies, the parasite dies as well.[/spoili]
Plot
[spoili]Basically the idea is this: I will be playing Dr. Fletcher's son. Before the doctor can get in contact with anyone in Washington (there are rumors that a cure is in the works there too) Dr. Fletcher ends up meeting his demise. Before that, however, he manages to inject the immunity into the closest living thing he can find, his late wife's service dog, Hero, instructing his son to get Hero to Washington and end the Z. gondii parasite once and for all.[/spoili]
Players
[spoili]Dr. Fletcher's son is going to need all the help he can get to make it to DC with Hero. Along the way the pair will meet survivors with like minds, and form a group that travels together though they may not know the purpose right off the bat. At some point, the group will find themselves in a pickle that looks very dire. At the last moment, they are rescued by another group of survivors, and escorted to their home, a walled-off community that seems incredibly safe and appealing... but there is a darkness there that is not at first seen... how will our survivors react when the people who once helped them seem to now want to do exactly the opposite?[/SPOILER][/spoili]
Side Notes
This RP was restarted with a core group of 6 people that are already invested in the RP. We *are* looking for a couple of new players just to bring in some new personalities, however if you can't commit to staying with the RP, please do not apply, as it creates too many problems when characters just up and disappear.
You can play as many as you can reasonably keep up with. Main characters will be a part of the group that's traveling with the Fletcher child and Hero. They can meet up with them at any point in the storyline. You may create villainous characters if that's the way you wish to go, but keep in mind the other characters WILL respond accordingly.
This will be a mature rated roleplay, not for sex or romance purposes (though that's fine between consenting adult characters, idc) but because it's going to be incredibly gory, violent, and dark, along with probably quite a bit of foul language. No one-liner (or preferably even one paragraph) posts, we are looking for rather literate players. :)
The Character Submission and IC threads are up now and can be reached via the buttons at the top of this post. Feel free to submit your character forms and as soon as a GM approves it, you are free to RP!
[spoili]Unlike most zombie plots, the Z. gondii zombies are not the result of a virus, but, rather, a brain-attacking parasite. It is estimated that 30% - 50% of the human population are already carriers of T. gondii, which is spread largely in part by cats, pigs, sheep, and other livestock. Post-vaccination, anyone who did not carry the parasite was unaffected. However, those who did harbor T. gondii within their system, and were exposed to the vaccine, are a part of "Group X" - the original "zombies".
Contrary to popular belief, the Z. gondii zombies are not undead, and the dead can not be resurrected by the parasite. Once the human body dies, it is dead. While the corpse (if infected while alive) can still be a carrier for disease for up to 72 hours after death, there is no risk of anyone who dies being "reborn" as a zombie. The parasite, that lives in the brain, relies on the human body to keep it alive. If the body dies, the parasite dies as well.[/spoili]
How It's Spread
[spoili]Toxoplasma gondii AKA T. gondii (the original parasite) is spread via under cooked contaminated meat, unwashed contaminated fruits & vegetables, and contaminated water, soil, and cat litter coming into contact with the eyes, nose or mouth.
Zaraplasma gondii AKA Z. gondii (the mutated parasite) is spread from mammal to mammal via bodily fluids, including blood, saliva, ejaculatory excretions, and excrement of both solid and liquid varieties.[/spoili]
Symptoms and Timeframe
[spoili]Hours After Infection || Symptoms
24 || Mild, flu-like symptoms
36 || Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes
48 || Crippling migraines, memory loss
60 || Loss of pain receptors, fits of rage
72 || Complete loss of bodily & cognitive functions, increased healing
72+ || All memory gone, reverted to primal instincts
24 hours after the infection, the host will experience mild, cold or flu-like symptoms, including headaches, stuffy/runny nose, congestion, sore throat and cough. If the infection was obtained by a bite, the site may grow red, irritated, and inflamed.
36 hours after the infection, in addition to the symptoms above growing worse, swollen lymph nodes will develop, along with a sore throat that progressively worsens and may inhibit breathing via compression of the trachea caused by the swelling.
48 hours after the infection, you will begin to experience memory loss, both short and long term, and blinding, crippling migraines.
60 hours after the infection, the host will lose all pain receptors in the body. Both a blessing and a curse, as the fits of blind rage that follow often involve the host being injured in some way or another.
72 hours after the infection, the host has lost all memory and the parasite is in complete control.
After the 72 hour timeframe, the human host is now only that, a host. All cognitive function has ceased, and, essentially, the "person" inside the body is gone. There are no memories, no thoughts, only primal instincts and rage, the urge to kill, and to eat, any living thing that crosses its path (though the parasites seem to somehow recognize other host-bodies, and leave them be). Any mammal can be infected with Z. gondii, although only those with physical attributes and digestive tracts suited for hunting and eating meat typically survive the infection, as any inclination to eat other organic material disappears once infected. As a result, natural carnivores are often hosts of Z. gondii. Birds, fish, invertebrates, reptiles, bugs, and amphibians seem to be unaffected by Z. gondii, and zombies do not actively hunt these creatures.
Unlike most zombie plots, the Z. gondii zombies are not the result of a virus, but, rather, a brain-attacking parasite. It is estimated that 30% - 50% of the human population are already carriers of T. gondii, which is spread largely in part by cats, pigs, sheep, and other livestock. Post-vaccination, anyone who did not carry the parasite was unaffected. However, those who did harbor T. gondii within their system, and were exposed to the vaccine, are a part of "Group X" - the original "zombies".
Contrary to popular belief, the Z. gondii zombies are not undead, and the dead can not be resurrected by the parasite. Once the human body dies, it is dead. While the corpse (if infected while alive) can still be a carrier for disease for up to 72 hours after death, there is no risk of anyone who dies being "reborn" as a zombie. The parasite, that lives in the brain, relies on the human body to keep it alive. If the body dies, the parasite dies as well.[/spoili]
Plot
[spoili]Basically the idea is this: I will be playing Dr. Fletcher's son. Before the doctor can get in contact with anyone in Washington (there are rumors that a cure is in the works there too) Dr. Fletcher ends up meeting his demise. Before that, however, he manages to inject the immunity into the closest living thing he can find, his late wife's service dog, Hero, instructing his son to get Hero to Washington and end the Z. gondii parasite once and for all.[/spoili]
Players
[spoili]Dr. Fletcher's son is going to need all the help he can get to make it to DC with Hero. Along the way the pair will meet survivors with like minds, and form a group that travels together though they may not know the purpose right off the bat. At some point, the group will find themselves in a pickle that looks very dire. At the last moment, they are rescued by another group of survivors, and escorted to their home, a walled-off community that seems incredibly safe and appealing... but there is a darkness there that is not at first seen... how will our survivors react when the people who once helped them seem to now want to do exactly the opposite?[/SPOILER][/spoili]
Side Notes
This RP was restarted with a core group of 6 people that are already invested in the RP. We *are* looking for a couple of new players just to bring in some new personalities, however if you can't commit to staying with the RP, please do not apply, as it creates too many problems when characters just up and disappear.
You can play as many as you can reasonably keep up with. Main characters will be a part of the group that's traveling with the Fletcher child and Hero. They can meet up with them at any point in the storyline. You may create villainous characters if that's the way you wish to go, but keep in mind the other characters WILL respond accordingly.
This will be a mature rated roleplay, not for sex or romance purposes (though that's fine between consenting adult characters, idc) but because it's going to be incredibly gory, violent, and dark, along with probably quite a bit of foul language. No one-liner (or preferably even one paragraph) posts, we are looking for rather literate players. :)
The Character Submission and IC threads are up now and can be reached via the buttons at the top of this post. Feel free to submit your character forms and as soon as a GM approves it, you are free to RP!
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