| Latest Posts | The Island
==[|]== THE MAP ==[|]==
- Inside your pack, you have a gridded topographic map on wax paper that looks like this one: i.imgur.com/ejyvMFy.jpg - A more detailed version of this map without the topographic lines can be found here: i.imgur.com/5O60yxR.jpg ==[|]== THE LOCATIONS ==[|]== - I1: Oil Town ( i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/21/article-2346084... ) - The wide streets of this New Orleans style town are now cracked and faded, much like the buildings that sit on them. What appears to have been a social retreat for the working families near the oil refinery to the south is now a desolate landscape of mostly empty buildings, slowly sinking into the swampy terrain on which the town stands. If you stand on the western side of Main Street near dawn, and if the light hits it just right, the small burgh seems to come back to life. You can almost hear the foot traffic coming home from their work at the refinery. - B2: Island House ( s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/6a/da/90/6ada901... ) - A huge dilapidated wooden abode, unreachable in the rough current that flows between the small plot of land and the larger Island mass. Sitting on (and partially in) a freshwater pond, the Island House towers over the horizon, with only the huge dead tree behind it rising higher than the building itself. Late in the day, as the sun sets over the western waters, light can be seen peeking through the siding. This *could* be a place of respite from the elements, depending on what’s inside. - F2: Northern Lookout ( images.summitpost.org/medium/631159.JPG ) - One of the three unused lookout towers on The Island, the Northern Lookout boasts an impressive view, bested only by the mountain peaks in the Western Range. Atop the rickety wooden staircase sits a spacious room with bunk beds, a stove, and several shattered glass windows. The old wooden beams are constantly creaking against the eastern winds that howl through The Pines and slam against the tower. - G2: The Pines ( wall.wallrage.com/wp-content/uploads/Pine-Forest-W... ) - The thick hill of pine trees rises slowly from the west, and descends just as gradually to the east, while the northern and southern edges of the forest are perched dangerously over steep, rocky terrain, nearly impassable. The choked hillsides and hilltop give little room for sunlight, and in certain places, midday can be as bleak as night, especially due to the thick fog that seems to stick to the very branches of the trees. When the sound of the shrieking winds finally subsides, the various noises of wildlife can be heard, a little too close for comfort. - I2: Refinery ( static2.businessinsider.com/image/55f719375afbd377... , i.bullfax.com/imgs/c7b2d312ef1a5db6485e98e135b1d3f... , s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/da/cf/d8/dacfd8c... ) - Who knows what happened here, but whatever it was took what appears to have been a well-built, bustling workplace of an oil refinery and reduced it to a network of rusted pipes, empty warehouses, and cramped tunnels. This steel giant groans as its many legs settle ever so slowly into the murky waters beneath it. Maybe the workforce simply decided the place wasn’t suitable for further use. - D3: Old Docks ( img.weburbanist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/aba... , upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Abando... ) - At first glance, this seems like a terrible place to build a wooden dock. The current is swift and unrelenting as it courses between the Island House and the Old Docks. Water has battered and washed away most of the usable dock. What remains is a rotten, waterlogged collection of boards. The boat house, surrounded by trees and caving into itself at some points, is a shell of what must have been an outpost for travel to and from the smaller island to the northwest. Sitting against the northern slope of the mountain range, the view from the back of the boathouse, if accessible, would be gorgeous, sitting just over a sprawling plain this side of the river. - F3: Field House ( thumbnails.ibuyphotos.com/larger/abandoned_house_0... ) - This impressive structure, still mostly intact, stands before a small brackish water pond, fed from the fingers of the river. Located in the single largest flatland area of the island, the Field House looks up in all directions toward higher ground, though some miles in the distance. Much larger than a simple fishing hut or trapper’s house, this looks to have been a cross between a farm and a hotel, its many rooms extending from the main building in two wings. However, any traces of farmland have been buried by time and overgrowth. - D4: Lakehouse ( miriadna.com/desctopwalls/images/max/Mystic-foggy-... ) - If you’re not careful on your way down the steep mountain path, you’ll miss it altogether. This stonework structure, built in stark contrast to the bulk of The Island’s architecture, is nestled between the mountain trees and Heart Lake’s gloomy waters. A few picnic benches sit near the shore. The house itself seems untouched by time, also interesting given the rest of The Island’s destruction. Perhaps it’s the secretive location or the hardy stonework. Either way, this certainly looks passable as a residence, if you don’t mind sleeping on the inexplicably crimson-hued shore of the lake. - H4: Harbor Town ( coolvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/swamp_feve... , cdn.sp34k.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/tall-tree... , img09.deviantart.net/d649/i/2013/127/d/0/swamp_mil... ) - Village is more like it. This messy bunch of lowlands houses stretches the better part of half a mile along the broken coast of The Island’s eastern shore. Thick vegetation act in some places as footholds, while elsewhere, the water reaches your knees at its shallowest point. The homes here are oddly modern for their locale, suggesting the former inhabitants had a better way of navigating the swamps than by foot. Currently, however, the “streets” consist of gaps in trees where you can feasibly get from one building to the next without submerging yourself. - D5: Heart Lake ( farm6.staticflickr.com/5733/21214355061_44b5f478aa... ) - The red shores of this freshwater lake are menacing at best. The water body is almost three miles long and boasts a one-and-a-half mile width, with a small island near its center, sharing the same red color as the surrounding banks, and shaped most unsettlingly like a human heart. The center island is almost always hidden by fog, as is the opposite side of the lake. In fact, the only vantage point from which to see the entirety of the water body is usually from the mountain range to the west. - F5: Meadow Cave ( i.ytimg.com/vi/VPQiFuqfC2E/maxresdefault.jpg ) - This is almost certainly a den for The Island’s wildlife. High enough to walk into, the maw of this cave looks to contain bits of animal bones from what you can see. Bears, most likely. The cave sits on the northern edge of a hilltop which holds a grueling climb from any face save the eastern one. - H5: Eastern Lookout ( cardcow.com/images/set321/card01057_fr.jpg ) - Another of The Island’s three observation towers, the Eastern Lookout serves little purpose now, as its main focus looks to be the Harbor Town and its namesake’s dilapidated and sunken framework. Spying on the bay of The Island, the Eastern Lookout tower dangles precariously over the water. If you set a marble on the southern side of the floor, it would most certainly roll north and out through the cracked floorboards. Sleeping in the bunk without toppling out may even be a challenge. - C6: Forest Cabin ( imgur.com/pwPfziD ) - This mountain lodge appears to cling fearfully to the cliff on which it is built. The roaring waters of a mountain stream-turned-river on its way down the western side of the range deafen you to any noise in your surroundings. The wood seems sturdy enough, and despite its lower elevation, the Cabin hosts a view of most of the six mile mountain range through the trees. A cautionary word may be to avoid using the entrance from the waterfall’s side, as it is held aloft by some shoddy support beams. - G6: Old School ( s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c3/a9/e1/c3a9e10... ) - No part of this structure makes sense. The Masonic symbol near the top places the time frame of the school to be older than most of The Island. Its position on the hill side, equidistant from any hospitable town sites, is far from acceptable for a child’s walking distance. The multi-story setup of the building would imply different classes or temporary residence, but instead it appears to house a saloon-style bar in the attic. While remaining the only discernable school building on The Island, it was most certainly not used as such. - H6: Coastal House ( s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/c5/d7/42/c5d7422... ) - Another of The Island’s curiosities. Standing alone on the sandy southeastern shore of the landmass, this abandoned house looks like it should be one of many. The structure is far enough from the shore to be in danger of water damage, and it is built sturdily over a bed of stone in the sand and brush around it. If nothing else, it is the structure farthest from the elements. The two-story building must have played host to many guests in its time, and likely many guests at once. - D7: Southern Lookout ( images.summitpost.org/original/506111.JPG ) - Much shorter than its brothers, the last of The Island’s observation points is the Southern Lookout, sitting near the base of the six mile mountain range and positioned to look into Hear Lake, down on Southern City, and back up into the mountains. It appears the cover of trees has kept this tower from much harm. It is in mostly working condition, and the structure itself appears more modern. Perhaps this was the last of the towers to be built. - F8: Southern City ( s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/bd/3d/6a/bd3d6af... , static1.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11123/11123... , pixdaus.com/files/items/pics/0/4/113004_b3e50aa776... , viralsocially.com/images/15/May/22/35c50536926ba0f... ) - If everything else on The Island has struck you as odd, it seems odder still that the largest city site, placed on the southern shore, and appearing more modern than the rest of The Island by decades, both technologically and architecturally, should be so desolate and destroyed. There is no portion of this city untouched by the wildlife. Most of it is overgrown to the point of complete abandonment, even by animals. Some buildings have trees sprouting up right through the floors. Entire streets have been swallowed up by coastal grass. The only sounds you hear besides the wind through the alleys are that of animals knocking things over in the many derelict buildings. This was once a large city, maybe even a couple hundred thousand strong, living in the high-rises and apartment buildings. Now, it’s a wasteland. Please log in to add a comment. |
==[|]== THE ISLAND ==[|]==
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Character Creation:
- Spread your traits and stats as you see fit. Bonus traits are modern and up to your discretion. As an FT standard, you receive two +1 bonuses. Limit yourself, or I will do so.
- A backstory is needed, but it doesn't need to be lengthy. Give me an idea of what you did growing up, or an occupation you held, prior to waking up on The Island.
- When GM is present and your character has been approved, you'll make a few starting rolls.
- - Roll 3 dice for food rations (GM will explain the outcome)
- - Roll 5 dice for gear rations (GM will explain the outcome)
- - Roll 6 dice for Awakening. Do this twice and only twice.
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Gameplay:
- Tasks: This is, above all else, a survival game. Your secondary objectives are entirely up to you, but the constant primary objective will be to stay alive. The Island, despite it's rugged exterior, has PLENTY to offer in the way of secondary tasks.
- Combat: You may encounter combat situations. They will be turn-based and treated with FT core rules for blocking/dodging.
- HP/PP Regen: If you are injured in the wild, by the elements or something worse, you'll need to heal. Spending a Power Point along with a WIS roll can do the trick, as can consumables and things found in the environment. Resting well or eating will replenish Power Points.
- PVP: While uncommon, you may encounter other survivors on The Island. I will not temper your actions toward one another, save any killing blows. The worst you can do to another survivor is knock them unconscious, unless both players have agreed beforehand that they are OK with something worse happening.
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STARVE, SURVIVE, OR THRIVE?
- Looting: Who knows how long The Island has been vacant, but it seems that everything of importance was taken during or shortly after the exodus. You can’t expect to find a military grade M.R.E. or shiny new multi-tool sitting on any old table.
- - As a general rule, if the building is unlocked, there will be slim pickings inside. If you find a locked door, there’s almost certainly something behind it. Some doors may be forced open, but that could be loud. Others will require a lighter touch and some dexterity, as well as tools, if you have them.
- - When successfully unlocking and searching a room or container, along with your descriptive narration, you shall make ONE roll for looting. I shall follow that with a roll of my own. Between the combined chance of the dice, your loot will be described to you.
- Hunting: Taking down a deer standing before a feeder with a rifle from the comfort of your tree stand is an easy task. Stalking that deer for miles on an empty stomach in grizzly territory with only two rifle rounds and fading light is a much more demanding, but equally rewarding undertaking.
- - Should you find yourself with the means to hunt prey and take meat or skins, you’ll need to do it right. You won’t likely stumble upon an animal waiting to be executed. Look for tracks or signs of life with a WIS roll + relatives. I shall follow that with a roll of my own. From there, you may or may not have an idea of your quarry.
- - Taking the shot, whether by bow or rifle, is important. Do everything you can to ensure you don’t waste precious resources by missing your target! Once your prey is downed, cleaning it quickly and efficiently is even more important than the steps that came before.
- Foraging/Fishing: Searching for supplies or animal tracks will often leave you frustrated and empty-handed. It’s never a bad idea to have foraging or fishing as your fallbacks. They’ll require less exertion and potentially less materials to accomplish your task. The time consumption, however, is certainly something to consider.
- - Finding plants you could shove in your mouth is one thing. Discerning whether or not you *should* shove it in your mouth is another. Feel free to search any grid section for edible flora. Keep in mind this will take some time out of your day, and you might just end up with an armful of poisonous berries. When in doubt, throw it out!
- - Fishing The Island’s many waters is a calming pursuit. If you find yourself with the means to do so, drop a line in any body of water and see what bites. Just be sure to keep your eyes open while doing so. Things that bite aren’t just in the streams and lakes…