THE SETTING

The year is 2020. The world is in pandemonium as one month ago, GHNv-20 was confirmed, five months after the beginning of norovirus season. The number of the infected are in the higher hundred thousands, and the death toll is at an estimated 100,000, with about eighty percent of the rest of the population experiencing mild to moderate illnesses connected to the S. pyogenes bacteria.

Of course, news coverage of the virus is constant, but reports conflict on the actual number of people affected. No one knows the whole accurate truth, nor can scientists confirm how the virus triggers the bacterial infection, nor can governments begin distributing the first round of Advotex without confirmation that the drug actually works as intended.

The fear of the unknown has caused mass hysteria and panic.

Supermarket shelves are empty, factories are struggling to keep up with demand while also dealing with staff shortages caused by the virus, and most of the world has come to a standstill.

In an attempt to provide a semblance of safety and control, military personnel patrol the streets, even here in Lethford City, and the police force is trying to keep up with the rising street violence, assault, and theft. Civilians have been advised to quarantine themselves at home in an effort to keep as much of the virus contained. The world is waiting with bated breath for what comes next.

Welcome to Outbreak: Zero. Will you survive?

TIMELINE

24th - GHnV-20 is confirmed


25th - The US Military is called in for help and support

29th - An immediate city-wide lockdown is set in place


2nd - A curfew running from 8 PM to 6 AM is announced

13th - Prism BioTech announces official start date of Advotex Trials


5th - Scheduled power outages running from 9 PM to 5 AM are announced


1st - Violent riots in crisis-hit Downtown reflect anguish and despair, destroying several government buildings and injuring civilians as well as law enforcement officers


4th - City's most popular water brand Crystal Nero discovered to be contaminated


23rd - City's main telecommunications company LetCom INC. experiences system failure causing numerous citizens to be without cell network connectivity, WiFi and Data.


n/a


15th - Halloween is cancelled! Criminals have made the effort to throw a secret warehouse rave leading to yet another wave of infections. Local law enforcement as well as the military have worked together to stop the party.


1st - Despite unpopular opinions the city has given law enforcement the right and power to do random home raids to check on citizens and keep all regulations effective.


TBA

THE VIRUS

The beginning stages of the virus are standard symptoms of gastroenteritis, hence the first few waves of the infected were not further investigated. If there were a few reports of strep throat, no connection was made between it and the perceived seasonal outbreak of norovirus.

A few weeks later, a patient dies in hospital of Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome. Her friends and family are eventually brought into ICU with the same symptoms, and doctors find they had all suffered from gastro symptoms just a few days before. Samples are sent to the lab in an attempt to identify the cause of infection.

No conclusive evidence is found. The patients admitted to hospital have varying reactions to the available STSS medications, but ultimately all succumb to the illness. News coverage begins, as does the race to identify the cause of infection and source of transmission in order to figure out a cure.

Almost a month later, it is finally confirmed: GHNv-20 has been categorised and named as a new strain of norovirus that inexplicably triggers an infection of the S. pyogenes bacteria.

Scientists are still baffled by the connection between virus and bacteria, and are still trialing treatments. At this stage, six months since the beginning of the norovirus outbreak, the number of people affected has climbed exponentially, with varying degrees of bacterial infection. However, the rate of patients affected by fatal STSS is growing, and fear of transmission has reached fever-pitch.


NAME: GHNv-20
CLASSIFICATION: Novel norovirus
ORIGIN: Believed to be contaminated water that affected agriculture, farmland, and people
LOCATION: Worldwide

SYMPTOMS:
- gastroenteritis within four to seven days of catching the virus, duration 24-72 hrs
- 'lull period', two to seven days
- infections of S. pyogenes bacteria, including but not limited to pharyngitis, tonsillitis, scarlet fever, and in fatal cases, Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome
- further development of infection is dependent on extremity of reaction of S. pyogenes bacteria in human host

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- patient is most infectious while symptomatic of both gastroenteritis and bacterial infection, but due to norovirus nature of GHNv-20, carriers can be asymptomatic
- immunity from and re-occurrence of the virus is still to be tested

THE RULES

Please read all of this. We do not have many rules and most are just basic but there are a couple of things you should pay attention to. We reserve the right to change the rules according to the sites' needs as well as add and remove rules without notice. However, members will be notified via private message in case of important changes.


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ADVOTEX TRIALS

There is no vaccine found yet for GHNv-20, and medication is still being developed under clinical trial and testing. Immense public and government pressure to find a cure has caused the release of experimental treatment Advotex to hospitals with affected, assenting, and qualifying patients, and there is hope that this medication is the answer to the virus.

Requirements for a patient to be applicable to receive Advotex is stringent, and this is starting to cause ripples of discontent. Alternative treatment is being sought, and fake medication scams abound. What's more, whispers are starting to circulate that Advotex can be bought directly from the manufacturer, if you had a contact and the money to buy it.

These desperate times are sometimes worth the desperate measures.

- Age
- Medical history
- Family (med) history
- Reaction to previous medication
- Incubation period
- Infection stage & details
- Doctors recommendation
- Contract agreement

- Death
- Skin rash
- Dizziness, headache, neausea
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Internal bleeding
- Loss of appetite
- Cognitive problems
- Low blood platelet count and blood clotting problems
- Low red blood cell count, leading to anemia
- Low white blood cell count, increasing the patient’s susceptibility to infections

SIDE EFFECTS SOURCE

SINOXYN TRIALS

With the announcement of Advotex trials being pushed forward, Prism BioTech has buckled down and partnered up with government officials who may or may not have the best intentions. Working out of the public eye in a hidden laboratory that is kept a secret from everyone except those involved. And they don’t take kindly to quitters. Those who wish to leave are either silenced or killed, the second option guarantees the first on most cases.

With their version of the medication, called Sinoxyn, the testing is falling under unofficial and illegal testing on unwilling victims. Rebels are being paid a nice bounty for the delivery of healthy people to be tested on, though they don’t remain healthy for long as they are injected with the virus. Once showing symptoms, the tests are started and monitored closely for any changes during the trails. The ones who were already infected are started on a more aggressive trail as they have less time left for them. And for the ones who don’t make it? Well, there have been a few bodies found along the forest bordering Lethford Heath.

Military might be involved, as there are some US Government marked supplies showing up to support the tests, which only high ranking officials would be able to get their hands on.

- Death
- Hallucinations
- Compulsive behaviors
- Stevens-Johnsons- Syndrome*
- Angioedema
- Dizziness, headache, nausea
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Organ failure
- Internal bleeding
- Tendon ruptures
- Loss of appetite
- Cognitive problems
- Low blood platelet count and blood clotting problems
- Low red blood cell count, leading to anemia
- Low white blood cell count, increasing the patient’s susceptibility to infections

*During SJS, large macules rapidly spread and form together, leading to blistering, necrosis, and shedding of the skin

SIDE EFFECTS SOURCE #1
SIDE EFFECTS SOURCE #2

CIVILIANS

A majority of those dealing with the ill effects of the virus first-hand are the civilian class. Almost every aspect of their lives have been changed since the discovery of GHNv-20. Curfews, quarantines, evacuations and searches are all now a part of their daily life in Lethford City. From the wealthy to the poor, everyone is expected to play by these ever-changing new rules.

There are those of course who are occasionally given special treatment and there are those who find themselves having to become someone they didn't want to be. After all, it's a hard world out there for those who find themselves trapped inside this city.

Faced with contagion and fear running wild through the streets, it's no wonder factions of rebels and vigilantes are growing stronger by the day. The need for survival at all costs being the one thing everyone in this group can agree on.

GOVERNMENT

The government of Lethford city is trying to cement the facade of a brave face for their residents. The mayor and his office still reside in the city and are adamant to anyone who will listen that they still hold the power though most residents disagree.

There are a small handful of government officials who are rumored to be working with the military and scientist to come up with a cure for this virus no matter what the cost might be, but in times like this, the talk is cheap.

Sure there are a few people who can flash a mysterious black card and get waved immediately through checkpoints, but like the mayor says..there's nothing to be worried about.

POLICE DEPT

Historically there hasn't been a need for a strong police presence in Lethford City. The urban area usually reporting an expected and common level of crime. The police have always been able to keep a firm hand on the area without the use of too much force. However, when the virus began taking control of the city, the force had to recruit new officers, even pulling some out of retirement to deal with the increase in mass hysteria.

The situation only grew more and more out of control as SWAT teams had to be deployed around the clock to diffuse everything from mass riots to rebel attacks. The police chief soon found his hands tied as the government stepped in and sent in troops to take control of the area.

The officers of the force now find themselves answering to military soldiers, their oaths to protect and serve their city being stripped away bit by bit. A few think they should take control back, a few think things are better this way, and a small portion simply don't care as long as they get a paycheck. Only one thing is certain, and that is that they aren't in control anymore.

MILITARY

The most recent newcomers onto the scene, the military class has now taken the majority of control of the city. The military is the first consulted and notified before any changes or news to the civilian class is shared. The military is solely responsible for issuing orders for containment, searches, quarantines, and anything in between. While they occasionally use the city's local police force, they don't care too much about sparing their feelings and sending in professional troops when it's required.

They're currently working hand-in-hand with scientists and various medical teams to stop the spreading of the virus, often making tough calls when necessary. Some are thankful for the military presence, some not so much. No matter the opinion, it's clear that they're in control and public opinion is low on their list of goals.

MEDICAL UNIT

Those brave souls who are in the trenches of this war. This group is comprised of all of the medical staff who are doing what they can to save lives and minimize as much of the suffering as possible.

From doctors, nurses, private EMTs, therapists, and everything in between, the Hippocratic Oath has never been tested like this before. Many members of all of the various medical teams work around the clock, some comparing it to serving on the front-lines during a war.

The pay is little, the stress is high, and the sick don't seem to stop coming.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The Lethford City Fire Department belongs to the first responding to any scene alongside the police. Ever since the outbreak they are busier than ever, doing one 24 hour shift after another. Unfortunately, more disasters mean more casualities. A lot of fire stations had to close down due to lack of firefighters and/or paramedics available now.

However, those who are still on the job are trying their best to respond to all calls made, providing the city with at least a tiny bit of safety and help. Under this category, you will find all firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs assigned to the fire department rather than private companies.

CRIMINALS/REBELS

Criminals and Rebels: those who act against the law, breaking it and using it for their own benefits. This includes thieves, burglars, con artists, gangs (leaders and members), those who act against the government and the current situation, may do vandalism to send their messages, steal supplies to help the ones who cannot afford medical help, etc.

Please advise that we don't allow anything heavy such as rapists, pedophiles, serial killers, etc. as it is against the rules, morals, and would not fit our setting.

PRISM BIOTECH

Applying the latest in engineering, biological science principles, and even artificial intelligence to efficiently produce and edit chemical reactions and life science microbes at the cellular level, Prism BioTech Corps has consistently been the leading company in the world of synthetic biology. When GHNv-20 became apparent they were the first company to begin testing.

Now they are not only the leading company studying its effects and working to find a cure, but they are also in fact the only ones. Prism has recruited some of the top scientists from all over the country to work for the lab to end this bio war as quickly as possible. The trial treatment Advotex was manufactured in the biotech firm, but due to its maximum clearance security department and regulated process of receiving the trial, not much good has been released from the building since.

In fact, it's been rumored that a drop in stocks from the company a month before the virus was discovered is a little more than coincidental.