The world is shrouded in darkness. Cities have crumbled, towns and communities turned to dust. However, the streets are not abandoned. There are radioactive plants growing everywhere, some twice the size of the average man. Mutated beasts that people call the Zvir wander around, waiting for their next victim. The year is 2022. It's been three years since this happened. Humanity's population has dropped drastically since then, only about 40% remains. Some of them live in large communities, others in small groups, and some in gangs, which are quite unfriendly.

What happened three years ago was that there was a lab set up at the most radioactive site in the world; Chernobyl. Scientists there were studying a new chemical, which no one knows exactly what, and were testing how it reacted with radioactivity. They believed that the new chemical could erase the negative effects of radiation and give out positive effects. The 'test subjects', as they were called, were exposed to this new mixture and then put into containment areas where the scientists could study the effects.

They started to notice some changes in the human test subjects, some being size enhancement of the limbs, or extra limbs starting to grow. The subjects, other than the extra/larger limbs, seemed to be physically healthy. However, the mix of the radiation and chemical were affecting their brains, not that the scientists noticed nor cared. Deciding that this was 'progress', animals of several different species and types were brought in to be exposed. As animals are different from humans, they started to mutate a bit more rapidly and differently than the human subjects.

A few weeks had passed and the scientists were getting worried; the animals were alien-like, almost unrecognisable as to what they were originally, and they were getting extremely aggressive. The humans were in a similar state, also looking very alien-like, and had seemingly also forgotten who and what they were. They were no longer capable of speech and reacted negatively to the scientists. One of the mutated humans had managed to escape from the containment area and almost grabbed onto a scientist. Fearing for their safety, they called in the help of the military in case anything went wrong.

Unaware of what they were dealing with, the group of soldiers that the military had sent in decided that they wanted to see these 'beasts', as the scientists were now calling them, themselves. The mutated wolf reacted quickly, wiping the soldiers out, although was almost killed in the process. Screams of terror and panic ripped through the lab along with the blaring alarms as the people inside fled to escape the mutated wolf. In amongst the panic, the other containment cells were opened, unleashing the rest of the beasts.

The majority of the scientists were killed, and the remaining ones were wounded and rushed to a hospital. The military was sent out to hunt down the creatures, some hunts being successful with finding a beast, but unsuccessful in killing it. After spending a week recovering in hospital, the survivors started to develop mutations similar to the ones that attacked them, only much more quickly, and much more dangerous. Hearing this news, the people of Ukraine started to evacuate, some being wounded in the process.

As people spread around the world to various hospitals to try and heal their wounds, they started to mutate themselves and start the population of beasts in that country. By now people were calling these creatures the Zvir, which was Ukrainian for beast. The Zvir population spread like wildfire, and in a short period of time, were taking over large cities and smaller towns and communities. Animals were affected as well, as the Zvir that were once predators still had their hunting instincts in them, which lead to animals turning into Zvir. Plants were also affected, growing larger than their usual size, and most started to develop diets for meat, while others stuck to the sun.

Over the past three years, a few groups of people have managed to successfully set up bases safe from the Zvir. Some have even been able to kill a few of the Zvir. It is possible, but apparently very difficult. The gangs that have formed are extremely hostile to those not a part of their gang, and will often kill them straight away, or rob them of their supplies and leave them there. They have also been known to raid bases and wreak havoc, and no one knows why. It is rare for them to take in new members. Every year it is getting harder to survive, and every year the population of non-affected living things goes down. It's not clear if humanity will be able to survive this radioactive world.

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Rules
- Lioden rules apply
- The only limit on characters is as many as you can handle
- No god-modding, power play or mary/gary sues
- Keep things appropriate; fights are allowed, just no excessive gore; any sexual scenes must fade to black
- Literate posts, please. 4-5 sentences minimum per post
- Try to interact with groups of people, not just one other or yourself

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Map


(Map made using inkarnate)
Camp 1 was lucky enough to snag a spot close to a forest and a freshwater river. The forest, however, holds Zvir, and provides more cover for both Zvir and survivors alike.
Camp 2 managed to get a smaller section of trees, where there is slightly less Zvir, but there is a slightly longer journey to water.
Camp 3 is close to the wastelands, where the population of Zvir is slightly higher than most areas. Camp 3 is also the furthest from the river.
Camp 4 is closest to the city, where the most Zvir roam but is full of valuables. They have setup on a cliff where they get a vantage point of seeing any approaching Zvir or possible threats.
Gangs often stick near the city but will try to raid the camps from time to time. Some of them are known to kill Zvir and other survivors for fun.
Loners wander about trying to survive, wanting to join a camp/group, gang or stay by themselves. It is tougher for loners to survive without the support of others.


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Character sheets