template testing goodies

[attr="class","org-name"]exodus

[attr="class","org-subtitle"]sub title or important org quote here

[attr="class","txt-styles"]

It started off slowly. Slow and steady always wins the race. Thin strings of black liquid – suspected originally to be oil – swirled in the Volga River, laying undetected for what has been calculated to be months. No one paid much attention to the murkiness of the water and citizens in Samara went on with their daily, productive lives; that is, until it got worse. The tainted water in the Volga trickled downstream, eventually tainting a small portion of the Samara water supply.

The citizens of Samara should have listened to the Muscovites. Never drink the water. Once citizens began to drink the water, things went downhill – slowly, but gradually. Psychiatric hospitals in Samara and the locations in the vicinity had a sudden increase in patients, with rumors of “demonic possession” being tossed around (quietly, mind you – The Celestials shut down any sort of loud talk regarding it). Families reported small, but gradual changes in loved one’s personalities. Angrily shouting over who gets to borrow a magazine. Eating dinner, demanding more, and then eating what was left on everyone else’s plates. Children became more aggressive, picking fights in the school yard. Parents and the elderly having screaming matches in the middle of the night because they first think they’re right.

But even then, life moved on. No one really thought too much of it. The patients chucked into psychiatric hospitals were eventually released, handed a few pills or given therapy, and the Samara psychologists closed their doors. They were overwhelmed with their work and at a lost for what could have been happening. Rumors of the same individuals later going blind from being outside intensified fears that something indeed was happening in Samara under their noses. Some patients had such severe light sensitivity that they lived in cellars and attics, sneaking out only at night time to greedily steal from stores – food, possessions, money. You name it.

The citizens exposed to the water had finally hit the end where it became clear there was no denying it; something was wrong. Their veins turned pitch black, most noticeable in their sclera. A year after the Earthquake, fear spread rapidly even as The Celestials attempted to suppress it. The Illuminate whispered of it being a sign from God and the Russian Souls wondered what The Celestials would do about the issue. Little did they know The Celestials had been capturing many of the sick since the start of the epidemic. They were driven away in ATVs similar to what they use in Moscow, only with tinted windows. They only appeared at night and no one dared question or speak up.

Approximately one week ago, the first person to have succumbed to what is now being dubbed the “Black Vein” (or the “Second Coming of The Black Death”, in reference to the historical event) was found one mile away from their house, apparently having black pustules on their skin that oozed a black, tarry substance that smelled of death. The confirmed death sent fear riveting down the spines of citizens. With the confirmed death came the sudden rumored appearance of Saint Raphael and Saint Michael, who touched down very quietly on the outskirts of Samara one day after the appearance of the first public victim of the Black Vein. Their appearance has made the Illuminate thankful for the salvation to come, but has angered the Russian Souls who are not fond of evangelicals coming to “rescue” humanity once more. Anti-evangelical sentiments have increased and have clashed with the strong Illuminate force that resonated through Rostov Veliky and trickled down in Samara.

Fear is spreading in State of Night as The Celestials attempt to keep a tight hold on Samara, where the epidemic is currently located.

It has not spread to any other locations in State of Night, but fears of strong that it soon will. Not even the best scientists The Celestials have working for them can explain what the substance is.
All they know is that if you want to live, don’t drink the water.

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OOC: Welcome to SPT #4 – Disaster Strikes: Black Vein. Sign-ups for the SPT will last four days, starting 5/22/15 and ending 5/25 (you sign up via PM with the characters you want to join – you can have as many as you’d like to join, they just can’t role play with each other / interact). Your character has signed up to help nurse and take care of the sick. The Black Vein is not contagious so long as the patient is not covered in pustules. The aforementioned patients were immediately quarantined and are currently not in the immediate area for the safety of the citizens. Saint Michael and Saint Raphael have appeared in Samara (on the outskirts and therefore, not everyone will know they are there) and have offered their assistance in aiding the disease stricken city. After a quick IC debriefing by the two, a separate thread will be made for those going with Saint Michael (you do get a choice, but we want an equal split between the two angels if possible) where you will encounter many of the ill and will be able to help.

Mod Raziel and I will be controlling our respective NPCs, but mainly to lead you on to find things along the way. Players will be rewarded for creativity, activity, and taking chances / leaps of faith. There is a post count MAX of 450 words – nothing more than that to keep the SPT brief and allow everyone to participate. After 24 hours of waiting on someone, you are welcome to skip them. For characters on visa, they are allowed to participate without this taking up a visa slot. This happens one year after the Earthquake.

Have fun. PM or skype either of us for any questions or concerns.