Endemic (An Interactive Comic)

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 3:53 pm

((The images in this post got cut off, as they're kind of big. Future ones will fit in the forum. For now, right click > view image.))

Tuesday morning. 12:53 A.M.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic1

In an apparently derelict internet cafe, a light flickers. Someone's still out there.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic2

You're lightly wounded. Stop freaking out; the blood isn't all yours.

Your name is Kenneth Albright; however, you're more often known by your internet handle, "InfernoTempest". Some time ago, you became a member of a popular internet community called UndeadXBox under this handle. Today is June 13th, 2010, the release date of the long-awaited "Endemic", advertised as the 'free roam zombie game that puts you and your team right into the action'; you came here several hours ago, as some of your friends from the website decided to have a real-life meeting for the game's midnight release.

Your plans were interrupted by a strange event which you don't remember in detail.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic3

You stand up to stretch, examining your surroundings as well. The front of the cafe is obstructed by a rudimentary barricade, made from a utility shelf, some crates, a highway roadblock, and a gas stove. You also note that all of your personal effects are gone.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic4

The internet cafe has been relieved of all of its computers save for this one; the machine is active, and its presence in the corner is almost inexplicable. You wonder if it has internet; perhaps you could signal for help, or at the very least, get into contact with someone else from the website, to see if they have any idea what's going on.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic5

At this stage of the game, you don't really care who you talk to.

((Reader: You have gained control of Kenneth Albright. Suggest the next action he will take and advance the story, by posting "KA:" or "IT:" followed by any action, i.e. "KA: Use the computer.".))

**DeadApe** 13th July 2010, 3:57 pm

IT: Log onto computer.

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 4:50 pm

DeadApe wrote:IT: Log onto computer.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic6-1

First, you boot up Firefox, but sadly, your messages on the forums and websites you browse remain unanswered. You notice a familiar messaging client in the taskbar, and sign into your account in hopes of finding help.

A message, An answer. (Right Click > View Image)

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic7

He does not respond to any further messages.

Somehow, you feel these game releases are always too good to be true.

**oO Coggy Oo** 13th July 2010, 4:58 pm

KA: Peers through barricade

**Cry Vengeance** 13th July 2010, 4:59 pm

IT: Check the barricade again for stability, then check the Announcements to see if Deadape or Cry have said anything.

**Garquin** 13th July 2010, 5:03 pm

KA: Call your best friend garquin and see if he is home.

**DeadApe** 13th July 2010, 6:00 pm

IT: Grab knife on shelf.

**Vashed1995** 13th July 2010, 6:08 pm

KA: Check for a back door or windows as an alternative exit.

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 7:14 pm

oO Coggy Oo wrote:KA: Peers through barricade

Cry Vengeance wrote:IT: Check the barricade again for stability, then check the Announcements to see if Deadape or Cry have said anything.

You peer through the wide, open space in the barricade. Stable, it is not. This barricade doesn't seem effective, and despite the weight and individual strength of its components, it can barely stand up on its own.

Someone had to build this thing, didn't they? If there was someone here before you, you would sure like to know what they have to keep out.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic10

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic10

You think you see something move about in the darkness, way down the street past rubble and chunks of a fallen building. Could it be, running? Sprinting, perhaps?

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic13

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic13

You briefly laugh to yourself as you entertain the idea of something else actually being out there. That kind of stuff only happens in video games, right?

Heading back over to the computer, you decide to check the UndeadXBox site's announcements, skimming briefly through the topic concerning the meetup.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic12

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic12

The topic ends with a post by Made in Finland; evidently, he got the game early and finds it somewhat disappointing.

Garquin wrote:KA: Call your best friend garquin and see if he is home.

Of course. You know your old buddy Garquin can get you out of any jam. That guy kicks so much ass, it's not even a contest.

If only you had a telephone.

DeadApe wrote:IT: Grab knife on shelf.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic11

You retrieve the combat knife that was totally there the whole time. What do you plan to do with this thing? You've always been of a mild nature. Despite the white-hot intensity of his internet handle, Kenneth Albright would never hurt a fly.

Well, maybe if it hit on his girlfriend, and even then it would still have to take the first shot. You allocate the knife to your item inventory.

Vashed1995 wrote:KA: Check for a back door or windows as an alternative exit.

The doors and broken windows left partially covered by the barricade are the only exits to the cafe. Any other way would just make sense.

**NGU RELOAD** 13th July 2010, 7:24 pm

KA: look outside for a car

**Super Mega King** 13th July 2010, 7:35 pm

KA: Scavenge the building for a radio

**Masterofkills09** 13th July 2010, 8:17 pm

KA: Destroy barricade

**RedrumSalad** 13th July 2010, 8:22 pm

KA: Search for more weapons

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 8:24 pm

NGU RELOAD wrote:KA: look outside for a car

(Right Click > View Image)
Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic14

You muster up your courage and head outside. If you're going to ride out of here, you're going to have to do it in style.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic16

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic16

Your eyes widen as the skies above open up, and a column of white light shines down upon you. What you see shakes the foundation of your perception of reality. They said Eaustinn was wrong. They said he was crazy for believing it existed; you laughed with them, but now, faced with the truth, you can do little more than believe in the myth.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic15

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic15

The ship with golden wings is passing your way.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic17

You shift up a gear and burn out into the heart of your new daughter, and she into yours.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic18

But 'tis better to have loved and lost...

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then never to have loved at all.

You encountered little of worth in the building, and now you're outside, and you might just be losing your mind. The car you found is in no drivable condition; it is full of trash, and missing an engine and most of the important parts under the hood. The tires are strewn haphazardly about the area, and the chassis of the vehicle itself is riddled with bullet holes.

You could go back inside, or further down this street; in front of you is the building where your forum buddies were supposedly staying. You aren't going to go down the street where you saw shadows, due to personal discomfort.

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 8:25 pm

((Going back for Redrum and Master's suggestions.))

**Cry Vengeance** 13th July 2010, 8:29 pm

KA: Check your arm for injection marks, You may have been given a drug of sorts. Hence the waking up, amnesia, Hallucinations and such.

**Masterofkills09** 13th July 2010, 8:37 pm

KA: Go forward into the building where your forum buddies are staying

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 9:13 pm

Masterofkills09 wrote:KA: Destroy barricade

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic20

Done. To be honest, it was a pretty terrible barricade anyway.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic21-1

While cleaning the floor of wreckage, you discover a HEALTH VIAL. The new universal health care plan is good, but it certainly doesn't taste good; you add the disgusting green fluid to your inventory for its healing properties only.

RedrumSalad wrote:KA: Search for more weapons

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic22-1

This shovel seems up to speed. Like the combat knife, it was ((there the entire time.))

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You allocate the shovel to your inventory instead of your weapon slot, so you do not give the appearance of ill will toward anyone you may meet. You are surrounded by implements of senseless destruction, and it makes you somewhat sad.

Cry Vengeance wrote:KA: Check your arm for injection marks, You may have been given a drug of sorts. Hence the waking up, amnesia, Hallucinations and such.

You pull up the sleeves of your shirt; there are no markings that you didn't have before. You figure that you just got knocked the hell out by something; you are still slightly injured, after all.

Masterofkills09 wrote:KA: Go forward into the building where your forum buddies are staying.

You take the long way around in order to stay away from where you saw movement in the shadows earlier. Moving stealthily and carefully, your path is not without obstacles, but eventually you arrive at the front of the building and pass through the d-- (Right Click > View Image)

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic24

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic24

Holy Jegus. Your feet crunch over gravel and small pieces of rubble as you enter the building.

"Who was that? Can anyone hear me? Hello?" There's a yell from somewhere in the once-building, but you can't tell exactly where.

**RedrumSalad** 13th July 2010, 9:42 pm

KA: Investigate the voice

**Namorg** 13th July 2010, 10:55 pm

KA: Search the wrecked building for anything useful

**SiwyCK** 13th July 2010, 11:02 pm

KA: Before entering the building, look for something that will make light. (Ex: Torch, fire is close by)

**Meatshield718** 13th July 2010, 11:09 pm

KA: As long as you decided to break down the barricade, you might as well check the boxes for something inside. Refer back to the computer to see if Eagle got back on, or if there are any other updates.

**Eaglendia** 13th July 2010, 11:59 pm

Meatshield718 wrote:KA: As long as you decided to break down the barricade, you might as well check the boxes for something inside. Refer back to the computer to see if Eagle got back on, or if there are any other updates.

Namorg wrote:KA: Search the wrecked building for anything useful

It's a bit too late to go back right now. Searching can wait too. Someone might need your help!

SivyCK wrote:KA: Before entering the building, look for something that will make light. (Ex: Torch, fire is close by)

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic26

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic27

You grab a nearby piece of WOOD and light the end aflame. Now this is something a little more your speed. You're ready to illuminate the darkness, dispelling the shadows that grip allies and enemies alike. You allocate the torch to your weapon card.

RedrumSalad wrote:KA: Investigate the voice

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic28

With your TORCH, you can now see a nearby door. It doesn't seem to belong to the frame; it is crudely affixed to the outside of the door frame with several large BOLTS, and it is in incredibly good condition compared to the rest of the building. You assume the voice came from behind it.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic29

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic29

There is a small hatch in the door; it is more than large enough to look through.

Closer...

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Who's this guy?

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You are now CRY VENGEANCE. You were trapped in this stairwell by that INSANE SONUVABITCH about an hour ago; you would have taken him down yourself, but you were critically wounded when at a great disadvantage in a scuffle with multiple INFECTED, the bodies of whom now litter the stairs leading to that damn door.

Hell, if you had the strength to move, you could probably beat that door down yourself.

Your agility and strength are both AVERAGE, and your defense is BULLETPROOF. Your skill with blunt weapons is UNPARALLELED, and your proficiency with air vehicles is ABOVE AVERAGE. Your inventory is empty, and there is a LEAD PIPE equipped to your weapon card.

There's a knock on the door, and a light from outside. "Hello?"

"Who's there?" you answer.

"Uh, Inferno. Is that you, Cry? How'd you get in there?"

"It's a long story. You're gonna have to help me get out, alright? Find a way to open that door or I'm gonna die in here."

((Reader: You may now direct the actions of both Cry Vengeance and InfernoTempest; the former is too weak to move at the moment, but you can likely provide him suggestions by preceding them with "CV:"))

**Super Mega King** 14th July 2010, 12:32 am

KA: Can you unlock the door by reaching your hand through the hatch? It may have some sort of crude, primitive lock.

**Eaglendia** 14th July 2010, 12:42 am

Super Mega King wrote:KA: Can you unlock the door by reaching your hand through the hatch? It may have some sort of crude, primitive lock.

Endemic (An Interactive Comic) Endemic32

You can get your hand through the door, but it's more of a flat slab of metal than a door; it's actually bolted to the wall, and not even designed to be opened.

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