the remaining

NAME: Dahlia Emerson

Age: 24

Origin: Seattle, Washington

Formerly: Medical Student

Dexterity: Medicine + First Aid, Communications and Human Relations

Inability: Botany, Navigation

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Dahlia Grace Emerson was not supposed to come into the world on November 25th, 1991. But, with her mother Jane’s condition, Endometriosis, her pregnancy had been high-risk from the very beginning. Jane, at only thirty-two weeks had gone into early labor and, due to infection, was rushed to the OR for a cesarean section. Dahlia survived. Jane did not.

Dahlia lived with her father, just outside of Seattle, without a maternal figure, for eighteen years when her life turned 180 degrees. It had been a day just like any, Dahlia was driving her and her father to dinner - she’d gotten an A on a paper she had struggled with - and all was well until a semi t-boned their car on the passenger’s side. Dahlia watched helplessly as her paramedics lifted her dad out of the car and onto the stretcher, she looked at his broken body with tears in her eyes, and she listened to his last words before the doctors carted him off to surgery. Just like Jane, he didn’t make it off the table.

It was all at once that things changed for Dahlia. She went to live with her mother’s parents in Portland and was set to finish high school there. She struggled with her father’s death, though and felt much guilt over what had happened despite the fact that it was not her fault. It was this guilt that led to reckless behavior. Unable to cope fully, she abandoned the line she had so carefully towed all those years. Eventually, Dahlia was kicked out of her grandparent’s home, a last ditch effort to teach her a lesson, forced to bounce around from couch to couch, her character and strong friendships granting her several nights in some homes. Despite the fact that she was homeless, it did not sway her to change, however, regardless the self-awareness that had seeded itself in the back of her mind.

It was several months before Dahlia’s life took yet another turn. On a rainy, drunken night in downtown Portland, Dahlia, who usually had more common sense, wrapped her car around a pole. It was a wake up call and, sobered up in a hospital bed, Dahlia vowed to make a change. Selflessness her father had taught her finally outweighed the selfishness. Her grandparents and friends were at her bedside and she didn’t want to end up a sad story for them to tell.

Dahlia set about a new course which included schooling. She attended college, settling on her major (pre-med), in Seattle and, upon graduation, flew to New York to attend med school.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

Her concerns were the enormous debt racking up (the price of higher education) and acing her classes when the first reports flashed across her television screen. Wide-spread panic among the population was quick to follow and Dahlia soon found all worry about bills and term papers falling away.  A global pandemic was on the rise and the human population was in the cross-hairs.

Naturally, Dahlia followed the flock. Safe havens were advertised and, without family in the Big Apple, Dahlia had little choice but to make her way to one and urged her friends to do the same. She made her way to one of the smaller safe zones, just outside the city.It was protected and secure - for about a week. By the second week, it was attacked by The Infected. Dahlia was among the few lucky ones that survived the attack.

She spent three fatiguing days wandering about the wasteland once known as New York City, using what was left of her wits to avoid the biters and malice-hearted survivors. With almost no combat experience, it was all she could do to survive. On her third day alone, Dahlia, who had been holed up in an office building, was discovered by some of the museum’s runners. They told her of the life they were trying to create for themselves and offered her sanctuary.

Since her arrival, Dahlia is grateful to those who live inside the museum. Her nature, nurturing and caring, with concern for all around her, allowed her to settle into the niche as a caregiver, keeping a mindful and mothering watch over the camp. Dahlia is still a creature of a world that no longer exists, hopeful that the life the survivors are trying to create will allow them to cling to some semblance of the old world.

CONNECTIONS

Elijah Santos: They met as children, growing up together as good friends in Washington. They were close, remaining in contact even after Dahlia moved to New York. Dahlia thinks highly of Elijah and trusts him immensely.

Axel McKinnon: Upon her arrival, Dahlia sought a quiet solace, something which Axel offered; a couch in the office he slept in. Since then, she’s been bunking with him and has grown fond of her roommate.

Athena Jaeger: The one who found Dahlia in the office building. Dahlia is grateful to Athena for offering the solace of the museum.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Eliza Taylor

Separated from the loved ones, the groups attempt to get back to the base and repair the base. For those away from the base, they have collected what needed and are heading back to the base, to see the damage done. Those at the base are working tirelessly. However, things never seem to go as planned.

Location: Outside the Museum The walls are slowly being rebuilt, the few clickers that straggle in are easily taken care of. Until a nearby building collapses, the sound reverberating through the entire city, and drawing the attention to the living and the dead. The Park soon becomes overridden with clickers, the last defense those who stand at the wall.

On the morning of December 13th, 2016, everything seemed to be fine. It was business as usual. The morning light faded away into a dreary afternoon, and then something odd started to happen. Water started to shake, walls ridded themselves of plaster, some crumbling beneath the vibrations. The city was shifting beneath their feet in the most powerful earthquake in what some might have dubbed history, if they could.

Power went down. Communication went down. Everyone knew that when they emerged from cover, things would be even worse than before. Each group of people that managed to find each other, each knew that they had something to find, a task to complete.

Location: Outside the Museum Task: Repair the Walls, Clear Debris from the Door, Gather Supplies Members:  Cristine, Jesse, Hunter, Emma, Marlon,  Athena, Luca, Elijah, Tobias, Paige,  Lance, Kathryn, Connor

Location: Within the Museum, Trapped Task: Get Communications and Electricity Up, fix the holes in the walls. Members: Aiden, Taeil, Thalia, Liam, Axel, Marigold, Tatum, Robert, Diana, Liadan, Rebecca, Persephone, Frankie,

Results are mostly in for the survey. I’m missing a few people but to be honest, I do not think it will mess with much because the results were staggering in one direction. Without further ado;

Date: February 14-20th Type: Thread

NAME: Francesca “Frankie” Rose

Age: 24

Origin: Chicago, Illinois

Formerly: College Student (Majoring in Strategic Intelligence and Military Technologies)

Dexterity: Technology (Electronic Engineering), Combat, Weaponry

Inability: Textiles,  Do-It-Yourself + On The Spot, Culinary

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Frankie was raised by her older brother, who many knew to be as an admirable war hero. Their parents had died, one right after the other, and without any other kin the responsibility was placed on his shoulders. Raising your little sister after coming back from a four year tour is an admirable feat, and Frankie recognizes it, but when he came back from tour he hadn’t been the same as when he had left . Frankie ended up taking care of her brother more often than not.

As soon as she was legal she moved out of the house and left her brother to his own devices. She found different ways to pay her rent, aside from living off of the money that he parents had left her. Some of them were from jobs that she managed to pick up, others were in more underhanded ways such as selling drugs or boosting cars. It was a relatively easy way to make money and she was good at it. The money that came in was good and it always gave her a thrill when she had tight brushes with danger.

But the one time she nearly got caught she dropped her profession and moved to Colorado in hopes of gaining a fresh start. But she didn’t seem to learn from her brother that a person’s past tends to haunt you. Frankie attended college with the sincere determination of turning her life around. For awhile, she did. Instead of fighting authority she decided to assist it, which was why she wanted to join the military by majoring in Strategic Intelligence and Military technologies.

Everything was going great despite the shady business she had been involved in, she managed to get through three years of college without anything bad happening. The woman had managed to secure an honest job as a mechanic and had even played with the idea of settling down. She thought she was on her way to becoming a changed person–and for awhile, she was. But the universe had a funny way of screwing around with Francesca Rose and even she had to admire this punchline.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

Frankie went  for a short vacation to visit her brother , to make sure he was okay. Everything, for the most part, had been okay. Until all hell had broken loose and demon-kind started to take over the earth. It was the perfect time for everything to happen and instead of letting fate kick her where it hurt, she decided to go along with it. For once, the whole entire “winging it” thing seemed to work in her favor.

She went with her brother for awhile but the inevitable happened: they got in a fight and then a horde of infected separated them. Thinking that her brother had been lost to the horde, she marched on, determined to make it to sanctuary.

The fact that she is in a zombie apocalypse kind of scares her because it reminds her of the video games she played. She always died before she reached the last level. But to be fair, she always managed to go out with a bang. Hopefully this time she’ll do the same – although she doesn’t plan on dying any time soon.

At the same time, Frankie is actually kind of grateful that the end of the world is upon them. Now there are no records of her past and no one really cares about it. They are too preoccupied with their future. If they even have a future, that is.

CONNECTIONS

Luca Rose: She loves him unconditionally, but that has not made taking care of him any easier. While she is aware that he has done a lot for her, she knows that she has done just as much for him – maybe even more. Now that they are together again, she is determined that they will survive this thing as a family.  

Jesse Hart: He served with her brother, but was more resilient than him. Frankie has always considered one of her closest friends – practically family, but not quite – and thinks of him as her voice of reason. She thinks she needs him more than he needs her.

Liam Hart: Frankie was often Liam’s designated babysitter when Jesse or Luca weren’t around. They grew to be pretty good friends, like siblings. She goes out of her way to give him a hard time but only because she loves him so much.

Taeil Park: Taeil met Frankie when he decided to try a mainstream MMORPG and she offered to help him level up. While they never exchanged photos and only called each other by their usernames, Taeil had learned a few basic things about her personal life over time, such as where she resided and the field of her study. They didn’t expect to finally meet in person at the museum, but after revealing the true history of their friendship, the two agreed that a lot of catch-up sessions would be necessary.

Axel McKinnon: They met at one of the garages Axel worked in after college and had an instant connection – and they made the most of it despite their brief time together. When Frankie left Colorado to visit her brother back in Chicago – and the outbreak soon followed – Axel had assumed he’d seen the last of her. She’s incredibly happy to see that he is alive (more happy than she’d care to admit) but she refuses to admit it. Even to him.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Marie Avgeropoulos

NAME: Liadan “Ree” Bailey

Age: 25

Origin: Jardine, Montana

Formerly: Inventor

Dexterity: Technology, Medical/First Aid, Communications/Diplomacy

Inability: Textiles, Piloting/Sailing, Culinary

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Former horse rancher and timberwoman to her father, Jessup, and mother, Serena. Liadan looks so much like her mother the timbermen nicknamed her “Ree.” Younger brother Porter, younger sister Siobhan. The family owned and ran a timber camp, employed 200 workers from loggers to chefs to an on-call doctor. Liadan wore the pants in the family, and the boots, and the gloves. Her father had no head for numbers and her mother was cunning and slight - but they were tender, and kind, two traits Liadan inherited with gratitude. She balanced the books, rose with the sun and rode out to the cutting sites every morning with the men after taking care of the horses, and was home by dark to help her siblings with their studies. Early one morning, when she was fourteen, there was a fire, consuming the barracks and kitchen, and Liadan was nowhere to be found. She was spotted after the blaze had been put out, coated in white ash and tending to an infant - her shirt entirely burned from her back, a bleeding canvas trickling down the breadth of her shoulders.

Invented and sold many logging-aid products, all ecofriendly and helping the regrowth of felled trees. Incredibly business-savvy. Learned everything top to bottom, from notching a tree to treating snake bites to making a tourniquet for a severed limb. She was exceptional with her hands: a strong logger, a sure equestrian, a gentle caregiver. She learned from a very young age how to give a punch with one hand and a pat on the back with the other, and at the same time.

Proudly “out” in a religiously conservative area. Intensely sexual and spiritual, she has never shied from being anything but herself. She was one of the guys, one of the ladies, and enjoyed being fluid in between. Dedicated to her family and her work above all, she was keenly aware of her environment and the world outside of the camp, exploring all she could in respect to having to stay as close as she could for the business. She often took her own form of “Rumspringas,” taking weekends to run off to a town or two over, meet new people, sleep with them, drink with them, party, wander, learn, and come back before Sunday dinner.

Her inventing consumed any free time she had. Whenever she wasn’t working or taking care of the finances, she was tinkering with something, coming up with the next idea or gadget or trying to get a patent. The money she acquired from her inventions helped keep the family afloat, and made a small name for herself between Jardine and New York. Her advanced knowledge and skills in technology, business, and relations propelled her love of inventing. It’s a skill that sets her apart: she isn’t just pure brawn, she’s got brains to boot.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

The Baileys didn’t think much of it when their workers started not showing up. They were good employers, and Jessup ran a first-rate business, but the work was brutal, and some people weren’t cut out to be timbermen. People left all the time for all sorts of reasons: exhaustion, better money elsewhere, relocation, fear of mountain lions or snakes or landslides. Didn’t much matter; whenever there was an opening (and there were always openings) there was a line fifty deep of men willing to work. Liadan was known for taking up the slack when there weren’t enough hands going to a site on a particular day, along with her brother, and, when she grew into her long legs and Bailey-strong arms, Siobhan, too. They never suspected it had to do with the news on the radio.

It all happened so quickly, but out in Jardine, news doesn’t travel inward very fast. Very few owned televisions, the camp preferred radios, and only the executives traveled between cities on a regular basis. The microcosm of their community was sheltered in ignorance for weeks, only growing aware of the infection days before the bombs dropped. The Bailey family was having dinner when the ground shook, and they ran outside to watch distant mountains burn in red. Jets overhead and booms like thunder spooked the horses and they ran, like during a tornado - and so did the camp. Into the bunks and under beds, hands clasped over their heads, waiting, praying together. Liadan was struck deaf in her left ear for two days after the bomb took out the camp and set it ablaze. Her scar coated her shirt in blood.

Two days of wandering around the camp and cutting sites, coated in white ash all over again, tending to her wounds and calling for help, for survivors, for her dead family. Once spirited, bright-eyed, fierce, Liadan was now lost and alone. She collected any food and hand tools she could find and packed it all away. A child of one of the camp women was able to pull himself from the rubble and Liadan cared for him until he died in the middle of the night, supposedly from the elements or infection. She buried what remained of him.

She spent the past two months traveling, making her way east, in the hopes of finding other survivors. She had a few connections in the city from her inventions, hoping there might be something for her there if she could make it. At first she took the one surviving horse, forced to scavenge for food and water and then to abandon the horse when it became feeble with starvation. She hitchhiked to New Jersey, and walked to Manhattan, following signs of life. She arrived as a former version of her old self: broad in the shoulders, scarce in the waist, mumbling a promise to work for food as they helped her inside while she floated in and out of consciousness. She awoke warm and rested in the museum, and immediately asked what she could do to help.

CONNECTIONS

None, yet.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Jennifer Lawrence

NAME: Tobias Richman

Age: 29

Origin: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Formerly: ER Doctor

Dexterity: Medicine/First Aid, Communications, Do-It-Yourself + On The Spot

Inability: Combat, Weaponry, Engineering + Mechanics

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Tobias was forced to grow up at a young age. Born as the eldest in a family of six children, he was often responsible for caring for the younger ones while their parents were busy at work. His father was an emergency medical doctor at the local hospital and often spent endless hours in the trauma ward, tending to patients at all hours of the day. His mother, a local school teacher, was gone during regular school hours. This often left Tobias and his eldest sister responsible for getting the younger kids up in the morning, make sure they were fed, and keep an eye on them; even when they were still children themselves.

This trend continued as Tobias aged, often his own needs taking a backseat to that of his siblings. Even with all of the responsibilities back home that consumed majority of his free time he excelled through school, aspiring to follow in his father’s footsteps and earn a degree in the medical sciences. If that meant staying up late nights in order to ensure his homework assignments were completed properly and turned in on time, then so be it. If he wasn’t busy taking care of his siblings he would often be found with his head in a book, reading up on the next assignment and getting as far ahead in his course work as he possibly could.

Initially Tobias had felt as if he had no choice but to attend a college close to home, knowing that without his help his sister would have a hard time looking after their rambunctious siblings, the older ones now reaching the teenage, troublesome years. But with the well wishes of his parents as well as his sister he decided on attending a university a few hours away on the premise that if he was needed they could give him a call and he’d return home as soon as possible, while also giving himself enough distance to truly focus on his studies without too much distraction.

Though of course, college in and of itself tends to be a distraction. Tobias was never much of a partier, favoring more on the side of the quiet, unknown, studious student in the corner of the classroom rather than the loud party animals that often surrounded him. His roommates often ragged on him for constantly being locked up in apartment working rather than having a little fun, and while he allowed them to convince him out of his comfort zone every once and a while he spent majority of his college years focused. A perfectionist at heart, the man spent endless hours in assignments and studying, pouring over the details and rereading everything almost obsessively.

All of his work paid off and at the end of his studies he earned his degree with honors, landing a job at the nearby hospital two hours from where his family lived. Things seemed smooth sailing from there and he was doing exactly what he loved.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

The destruction that was created on the first few days of the outbreak would forever live in the back of Tobias’ memory, a nightmare he wishes to this day that he might still wake up from. Broken and battered bodies, people falling through the doors of the hospital on an endless loop; he was working on autopilot to assist everyone and anyone who walked through his door in need of help. After the initial mania it appeared that survivors were far and few between, scattered and confused. It wasn’t until he was finally able to sit down and catch his breath that he realized he hadn’t heard from his family.

His childhood home was destroyed, only one of his family members to be found amongst the destruction alive; his youngest sister, Rebecca, cowering in fear when Tobias discovered her. He took her into his care immediately, ensuring she was safe and sound and making a promise to himself that he wouldn’t let anything else happen to her. She was all he had left, after all. He wasn’t about to lose her now that he’d lost so much else.

Tobias and his sister lived in clan out of the hospital for some time, then moved on to one that had formed in an old heritage house down the road about a year later, when the hospital’s resources had depleted and it could no longer provide much of a service. But clans were risky and unsafe, vulnerable to the likes of looters and starvation as well as attacks from infected roaming the streets. He was worried about his sister, about how long she’d last living a life like this and was determined to find somewhere safer. He was willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to make sure she was safe and could live a relatively normal life.

Their travels were difficult to say the least. If they weren’t encountering infected left and right they were coming across hostile pockets of survivors, looters who were simply trying to get through this just as anyone else. During one altercation Tobias ended up shooting one of the survivors such that he and Rebecca could get away safely – the thought of killing someone rather than healing still haunts him to this very day.

CONNECTIONS

Rebecca Richman: Tobias’ youngest sister, he had had a big hand in taking care of her when they were young while his parents were busy with work or other tasks. Now she is the only immediate family he has left and he cherishes every moment he has with her, afraid of it becoming their last. He will go to any length to protect her and fears what would result if something ever were to happen to her.

Elijah Santos: Elijah and Tobias are cousins. While they weren’t often seen together, living in different states, they were fairly close when brought together during family trips and whatnot.

Cristine Roderick: They work together in the clinic and he appreciates her help with any and all things medicine, especially since she comes from the same high intensity experiences in the ER as he does. He doesn’t mind her less than savory tongue or hardened surface; frankly it’s a nice change of pace within the field from what he’s used to. He respects her knowledge and enjoys her company.

Robert Atkins: Working on setting up the clinic in the museum together, Robert and Tobias have formed something of a friendship in their brief exchanges and joking. While they haven’t spent loads of time together or touched on much  more than light conversation, he has become fond of having the therapist around and thinks that his expertise may become extremely useful overtime.

Hunter Jaeger: Tobias found Hunter being tended to for a bullet wound and bleeding out and was the one responsible for bringing the man into the museum to safety and subsequently assisting in taking care of the wound.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Luke Mitchell

NAME: Axel McKinnon

Age: 27

Origin: Adelaide, Australia

Formerly: Mechanical Engineer

Dexterity: Mechanics, Technology, Weaponry

Inability: Communications + Diplomacy, Animal Husbandry

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Axel was taught from a young age that if he wanted something he had to work for it. His father had always been a man that believed that nothing was ever gained unless there was effort put in. Axel’s efforts were almost always rewarded, but nothing was ever given to the boy easily (except, occasionally, when his mother snuck treats to the boy behind his father’s back). It taught Axel to be independent and develop a strong work ethic. If he wanted it, he worked for it.

Even as a boy Axel was always fascinated by how things functioned. His toys of choice were Legos and blocks because he was able to make something out of nothing with them, tinker to his little heart’s content to end up with a final product that was altogether new and fascinating. This hands-on tinkerer attribute lead him to sign up for mechanical engineering in college despite his less than stellar grades throughout high school. He left home for Fort Collins, Colorado and Colorado University after graduating from high school to pursue his career – and explore the mountains.

His first job, which he focused on far more than his school work, was working in his father’s mechanics and machine shop in high school, fixing up old cars, constructing parts from scrap, and piecing together his own motorcycle when he had the spare cash and time to donate to it.

Engineering classes didn’t suit the high energy adrenaline junky. The young man would much rather spend his time at parties, pulling the next big stunt on his bike, or goofing off with friends than hit the books. However, when he was at threat of being put on academic probation and being kicked out of the engineering school he settled down and worked his way through by the skin of his teeth in order to get his degree. After earning his degree he moved around the states picking up odd jobs and getting out the last of his thrill seeking freedoms with his roommate before being tied down with a ‘grown up’ job.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

The boys were mountain biking when the infection hit. They came across a group of the infected in the woods and were forced to separate in order to get away. Casting a look over his shoulder as he took off out of there he could have sworn he heard his roommate’s screams above the cacophony of snarling, but he was in too much of a panic to turn back and investigate. He was on the run ever since.

Being on his own Axel had to learn how to survive on his feet. He lifted a handgun and bullets from a shop as he breezed through an abandoned town to defend himself from the zombie creatures that seemed to be around every corner. Initially he didn’t think much about the fact that he was killing real people. It was an out of body experience, a kill or be killed situation to rationalize things - but the more he did it the easier it became, the more emotion he took out of the equation.

The museum was the first place he had come upon that didn’t appear to be completely overrun with Infected. While he wasn’t keen on the idea of staying in one place like a horde of sitting ducks he has yet to leave the place, preferring to be in the company of others than back out there or on his own.

Axel has a hard time trusting those around him, just waiting for the next shoe to drop and the rest of them to turn like all the others thus far. He thinks that he’s better off on his own and always had been but he is too stubborn to leave…and he’s too proud to admit that he gets lonely being out on the road on his own.

CONNECTIONS

Diana White: Best friends since childhood and beyond, Diana was Axel’s only constant in life. He taught her how to grow from her strict household lifestyle to live her life to the fullest and in turn she kept him grounded when he needed to be. Even after Axel left for college they remained in constant contact.

Frankie Rose: They met at one of the garages Axel worked in after college and had an instant connection – and they made the most of it despite their brief time together. When Frankie left Colorado to visit her brother back in Chicago – and the outbreak soon followed – Axel had assumed he’d seen the last of her. He’s elated to know that she’s survived this far and to have her back in his arms, even if he’s too stubborn to admit it.

Lance O’Brennon: Shortly after the beginning of the outbreak Axel and Lance ran into one another on the road. They only traveled for a short while together and got along fairly well (depending on how you looked at it). However when they ran into Persephone they decided to go their separate ways, and Axel stayed behind to help the girl out.

Persephone Harris: When Axel first came across Percy he’d thought she was as good as dead. She looked stark white and was clearly going through some sort of withdrawal or detox. A part of him had thought to just leave her there to die but another part of him couldn’t do that; knowing it was somewhat within his capabilities to help. So he took her in, gave her some of the food he’d saved up on his trip, and cared for her while she got better. They held up in an abandoned warehouse for a while before they were forced to move on – but since then they never separated. They travelled together all the way from their first meeting to the museum and they made a good team, protecting one another (and maybe keeping score) along the way.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Nathaniel Buzolic

NAME: Jesse Hart

Age: 27

Origin: Chicago, Illinois

Formerly: Marine (Honorably Discharged)

Dexterity: Weaponry, Combat, Medicine/First Aid

Inability: Carpentry/building, Culinary, Botany

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Jesse was Luca Rose’s best friend since childhood. They were neighbors, living just down the street as kids and spent endless hours together fooling around and goofing off. They enlisted into the Marines together the first chance they got, fresh out of high school.

After finding himself in the midst of heavy gunfire and explosions, Jesse was involved in an explosion which resulted in the loss of his right leg and blew out his right ear drum. He was honorably discharged from the force and received a purple heart for his efforts, but the injury landed him in the hospital for several months. Recovery was not easy, but he fought through the pain so that he could get back on his feet.

Luca had returned home with him shortly after the incident, leaving the war effort to be by his friends side and assist in recovery, however it quickly appeared evident than Luca may need Jesse more than Jesse needed Luca.

Well aware of how poorly Luca was taking to the war and the resulting PTSD from which he suffered, Jesse tried to help with the care of his best friend – while also contending with his own problems. Endless physical therapy just to learn how to do basic tasks like walking down the street didn’t settle well with him.

Jesse stuck by his friend’s side – loyal to a fault. Besides he empathized with his friend – he knew what it felt like. While he didn’t suffer as severely from the PTSD as Luca did, he was still struck with the occasional thoughts that haunted his dreams, the sounds of explosions that would never be forgotten.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

When the outbreak hit Jesse was still at his friend’s side in Chicago, alongside Luca’s younger sister, Frankie. While Jesse wasn’t the most physically able body these days he was mentally competent, and the three set out to work together in surviving the hell that had suddenly appeared ahead of them – looking out for one another.

Their first mission was to pick up Jesse’s younger brother, Liam, from University of Chicago, however once they arrived they discovered that Liam had already taken off leaving a quickly scratched out note in his wake. He didn’t like the idea of leaving his little brother behind, but had no choice in the matter and holds out faith that he’s okay.

Shortly after leaving Chicago the Rose siblings got into a heated battle that resulted in Frankie’s storming off. That was the last time he’d seen her since. Luca and Jesse continued despite it, hoping they may run into her again on their trip towards New York City – as they had originally planned.

Jesse is built to be a survivor, but the end of the world only reminds him of his suffering in the Marines. The small effects of PTSD that he suffered from since his discharge are rapidly magnifying the more time he spends out in the crumbling world he once knew.

CONNECTIONS

Luca Rose: A friend from childhood and a partner in the marines, Jesse knows Luca better than the man knows himself. He was with Luca when the disease swept through Chicago and they fled the city together.

Francesca Rose: The little sister to Luca, Jesse spent some time with the girl while hanging out with Luca as kids. They spent even more time together when taking care of Luca after returning home from the war. She’s practically family.

Liam Hart: Jesse’s younger brother. He hasn’t seen him since the outbreak began but he’s hopeful the youth finds his way on his own…and can’t consider the other options.

Aiden Holmvik: A friend forged after the outbreak, Jesse trusts Aiden despite his knowledge of her role in the outbreak. He appreciates her knowledge and wants to help in any way that he can in stopping the building apocalypse.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Garrett Hedlund

NAME: Athena Jaeger

Age: 27

Origin: Norfolk, Virginia

Formerly: Dancer

Dexterity: Combat, Culinary + Food Preservation

Inability: Engineering, Navigation

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Athena's biological father split at an early age, which meant that her mother promptly remarried. There was little love for Athena, a daughter to another man, which was quickly understood when her brother Hunter was born. It did not bother Athena too much, but it definitely strained the relationship between herself and her brother and father.

In order to stay out of trouble, Athena got involved in a myriad of sports when she was growing. The two that she enjoyed the most were oddly enough dancing and fencing. Both seemed to speak to each other on a level that Athena found it hard it to explain, and her hard work at the two paid off when she was offered a place in the dance program at Juilliard School in New York.

When their father got sick, everything changed. Athena was away at school her mother made the decision to split, leaving Hunter with her step-father. Athena had bought tickets for Hunter to visit her since she couldn’t make it down, but he never showed or responded. 

In the following years, Athena built her dance portfolio. Living in New York and still craving the fun of fencing, in her off time between shows and teaching dance, she supplemented in defense classes and fencing.

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

Athena was outside of the city picking up a few things from a dance store when she first encountered the Infected. Picking up an antique firepoker that was usually used for set props, she smashed the woman’s head in before they could touch her.

Her car ran out of gas just outside the city, and she spent a few night in a remaining townhouse while she hatched a plan. Gathering what she could, she began to search for others.

The Museum was not her logical place to go to first, instead she went down to Manhattan, mostly to see what remained of her shit-hole apartment that was there. The door had been blow away by debris, but otherwise, it was in tact. She swapped a few things out before returning to her search.

After a few days, she noticed walls being built around the Museum--some people were turning it into a safehaven, it seemed. She arrived on the scene in six inch heeled boots, with dual short swords she found attached to her hips, and offered to help gather supplies.

CONNECTIONS

Hunter Jaeger: Her brother, well half-brother technically. At least, it was that way in their father’s eyes. Growing up, Hunter and Athena were thick as thieves, but as she grew to understand that her brother would always be the first in their father’s eyes, she started to drift away. She was away at college when their father got sick and their mother left him, and since then they’ve barely talked.

Diana White: The Girl Who Saved Her Brother. Diana is kind hearted, and while Athena remains suspicious of the woman, even under scrutiny, Athena cannot find a fault in her intentions for her brother. For that, Athena likes her. 

Tobias Richman: The cute doctor. Dr. Cutie-Pie, handsome, darling, and any other myriad of pet names she calls him. Clearly, he’s cute. Furthermore, he’s smart, sweet, and is generally a good person. Flustering him is just a bonus. 

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Emeraude Toubia

NAME: Dr. Connor Hopkins

Age: 33

Origin: Washington, D.C.

Formerly: Neurosurgeon

Dexterity: Medicine + First Aid, Research, Textiles

Inability: Blacksmithing, Weaponry, Carpentry

BEFORE THE OUTBREAK

Born from a father who was an Officer in the military, and a mother that came from money, Connor grew up without any real wants. The wealth that he had (a trust fund, university paid for) was not an issue that was in the front of his mind. To him, it gave him the opportunities. He graduated high school with over 30 hours of college credit and graduated with his degree two years later.

Starting medical school was something he always wanted, ever since he was a kid, being a surgeon was the plan. Medical school gave him the opportunities to decide what specialty, and neurosurgery was picked. He was an average student, always excelling better in labs than in the lecture exams.

He was in his first year of residency when he met Sadie, who was nineteen at the time, to his 24. Her parents were livid, and Connor’s mother was less than impressed. They dated for three years before she got pregnant. 

Sadie came under fire from her parents over the pregnancy, delivering her an ultimatum. The tension and ultimatum caused Connor and Sadie to fight often during the pregnancy, but he had thought it was a rough patch. That was, until about two months after their daughter Penelope was born. Connor had gone out to get milk and eggs as Sadie asked, and when he returned she was gone.

Being a single father was not something that Connor had planned, but he suddenly was one. Refusing to give up his power to the proverbial “village” he tries to maintain as much one-on-one with Penelope as he can. 

AFTER THE OUTBREAK

Connor was had a day off and was at the park with his daughter when the Outbreak arrived. He noticed the weird gait of the infected man, scooped his daughter up and bolted home.

After placing a call the hospital, and the line going dead in the middle, he gathered everything he needed for himself and his daughter and packed it into his Jeep. His father had instilled the “prepare for the worst” mentality and it had come in handy.

They ran into trouble along away, people trying to steal the car or the supplies, which lead to Connor killing someone for the first time. He still hasn’t processed that admission, and is more worried about his daughter and making sure she doesn’t see the Infected.

Finding the museum was luck, he spotted a runner along the way and followed them back to the museum.  

CONNECTIONS

Penelope Hopkins: His daughter, aged six. He’d do anything for her, especially now that the world has gone to shit. Without her, he feels lost and is prone to get grumpy after prolonged time away from her.

CONSENSUS

Face Claim: Colin Donnel