HvZ: Day Two

Thursday: Life as a Zombie

This morning I woke up feeling very achy and sore all over. Taking a warm shower and stretching sort of helped, but then I realized it wasn't just a muscular ache or soreness. That ache and hollowness in my chest and legs remained. There was also another sensation sitting in my body, and I remember the only word I can describe it with was "hunger." I also realized that I was viewing and assessing the world in a different way: It felt like when you notice how things a tiny crack in a window that changes your vision just slightly.

After finding a small meal at the dining hall, I wandered down towards my class on far south campus. It was a very lonely morning, as I didn't see a single potential victim around, only the slowly-growing numbers of my brethren and sistren. We nodded our heads with slight smiles--we were as one and we all know it--even the fresh ones. I went to class as usual,took my exam, and again wandered outside.

The rest of the morning was slow and target-less. The one pack of humans I glimpsed disappeared into a building, and I had seen them toting large blasters that could easily spray me in darts...those filthy darts. Just seeing those blasters my body knew instinctively to be wary of them.

I later realized that the human I had infected the afternoon before still hadn't completely turned. A full 15 hours later, and he was still human. By the 16th hour he finally was consumed. Apparently those freshly-infected, in their first hour or two, sometimes spread a strain of the infection that hasn't passed the threshold to infect humans. (Others say that some humans may be slightly less susceptible).

When I looked upon my first kill, there was a vivid moment where I remembered the moment I tagged him. He had been leading a few zombies away from his friends so they can escape. For a moment I felt sad for him, but a shadow passed through me and all I could focus on in the memory was the feeling that went through me as I had infected him. One of us...one of us...

By the afternoon more humans were about on campus, mainly to show up for classes, and they kept in tightly-knit packs that defended all their members. Of course, this didn't deter some of the braver zombies. The impacts from the darts cause our infection to withdraw deep within, but some zombies--especially Those That Make Us Chant--say this is good for promoting a healthy strain that will infect many. Makes it hearty and resistant.

In the late afternoon there was dark rumors crossing the campus. Many zombies claimed of information about a weapon against the growing hordes. They spoke of the local administration, and how it was already trying to contain our masses. The administration had deployed a device that could hold the infected at bay--specifically on the East-side of Haggard Hall, where all day many of our kind stayed away from, like some sort of a taboo. The rumors spread by the hordes claimed that an even greater weapon was coming to campus. We could not have this, and so we planned, waited, and searched for information.

HvZ: Day One

Wednesday: Escorts and Exercise

I was extremely busy yesterday with the game, but I shall explain my adventures through the first day of HvZ, Fall 2011. I'll even throw in some map drawings, but those may come later.

Early in the morning, I woke up a little  earlier than usual and went about my morning routine. I gathered all my gear--backpack, blaster, clip, extra darts, moderator and player bands, and jacket--and headed out by 7:20 a.m. I knew my floormate (also an Alex), who has the same early-morning class as me, was more than likely one of the Origin Zombies, so I was wary of going outside. I got to the door, and sure enough he was waiting outside for me. Alex and I had an uneasy truce set up, but there was also another zombie just outside of the door. In a brief scuffle, I stunned both with socks and we all went to eat.

After eating, Alex split off to go hunt, and I was again attacked by the other zombie from before. If he hadn't scuffed his shoes while running, I'm pretty sure I may have been turned very quickly. Halfway to class, my Alex texted saying he'd tagged someone in Red Square. Later, I found out that this was the crazy-fast player known as "The General's Hound." This meant bad news for all humans, as he is super fast, and gets kills very quickly. Within half an hour, the Hound had tagged three people.

I finished class and jumped from Academic West to Communications, where I went to class and then stayed in the computer lab afterward. At ten, I had until one for my next class. I ended up finding a group of humans to roll with. We easily went from Comm to Environmental Studies, and used its underground connection to get to Arntzen Hall. From here we building hopped all up north campus, then from there

I had class in Fraser that I was able to get to safely. In the class I realized that there were quite a few human friends in there. Once class was out, we all teamed up and started going through campus as a massive pack. For the next two hours we ran a highly efficient escort service. We didn't care if it was one human trying to get corner to corner on campus, or a group of six trying to cross to the next building--we were there. If you could keep an eye out, a blaster ready, and stayed with us, we'd get you where you needed to be--and we loved it!

This was all going fine and awesome, and then the Hound happened...

The large group I was with grouped up at Miller to talk to some people, and then we saw a lone human across Red Square fighting off two zombies, and about to lose. Most of the group took off, and I half jogged with them. When the human fell, my group ran faster, and I started to go around the fountain the other way. I had totally let my guard down on watching The Hound, and then bam, I was a zombie. The rest of my comrades got to Haggard Hall after seeing the human was tagged. They all looked back to briefly mourn my death, and then took off to continue escorting.

I went back to my dorm to drop off my backpack and blaster, and then gathered a few zombies from my floor to go hunting when I was able to spawn as a zombie. With wondrous timing, we left the dorm hall just as two humans were pinned down at the entrance. After a while of stalemating with them, we decided to actually go hunt. Even after only 30 minutes of becoming infected, I was feeling different. There was a need to hunt, an ache in my legs and chest, to reach out and infect someone else to share this feeling with. So, we hunted.

After a little bit of running around, we happened upon a few humans around Arntzen half-deciding what to do next. A few of them eventually made a break for it, and I chased down a single human. He was waving around his Spectre blaster and ended up swinging it as he fired at me, catching the dart in the barrel instead of firing it. Needless to say, I tagged him. It felt wonderful, but there was still a slight pang of what I could only describe as "hunter's remorse" as I ran off knowing I infected him.

Slowly, the aching in my legs and chest became stronger, and that remorse for the newly-infected human gradually faded away. And all I wanted to do was hunt.

HvZ Fall 2011

Just a good place to get the information and follow the story, since I would've had to keep updating every post with links to other parts of the story. [Videos and maps are being worked on, and will be added to post later].

Pre-Game
Zombie Outbreak Detected!
Zombie Plague Imminent
Outbreak T-Minus 10 hours

During Game
Kills Detected!
Day One
Day Two
Mission One
Day Three
Day Four and Mission Two
Day Five
Day Six and Mission Three
Day Seven
Final Day and Mission Four

Post-Game

Kills detected!

[Updates throughout the day]

As of 7 a.m. this morning, there were 15 people on campus that became initial carriers. We don't know for sure if this is from low immune systems or from other variables.

As of now (8:42 a.m.), there have been 8 verified infections of humans.

Updates:
Day One
A really fast zombie nicknamed "General's Hound" was the first victim. Since then he has been infecting people left and right.

10:00 a.m. 36 Z - 546 H
10:12 a.m. 43 Z - 539 H
12:18 p.m. 64 Z - 524 H
4:45 p.m.: 123 Z - 420 H

Day Two
181 Z - 415 H
11:19 a.m.: 196 Z - 401 H
3:43 p.m.: 249 Z - 348 H

Outbreak in T-minus 10 hours

More like 9:43 hours. (For continuity, read here first)

Tonight's testing session was probably the most populated of the four sessions. There was so many, that our labs are currently backed up. As of last count, there were 529 samples cataloged, and quite a few from tonight's still left. Blood tests will be running late into the night, cataloging every sample and testing for who will become the initial carriers. We're expecting notifications to the carriers around midnight.

Our tests on zombie-positive blood in rodents shows that our projections are correct: the virus will reach the threshold for human-infection at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. That's Wednesday, October 19.

Good luck everyone! May you have good aim and run fast.

Zombie plague imminent

As many of you have read, there has been a threat of a plague about to hit the campus of WWU. Again, local analysts, with the aid of years of data and algorithms, have determined that the plague will become active on the morning of Wednesday, October 19th. The symptoms and spread of the virus seem to only manifest during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.--It is believed that a combination of available sunlight and temperatures are the cause of this. Due to the metabolism and intensity of the virus, which essentially turns people into non-lethal "zombies," essentially burns itself out in a short amount of time. It then remains dormant until daylight times and temperatures become suitable again. 

As mentioned in the past, this virus can only be carried by and affect relatively small groups of campus populations.  There is no real correlation between these carriers. There is relatively no adverse affects of being a carrier of the virus, especially because of the very rapid life-cycle of each outbreak; however, it was deemed prudent by the local administration to regulate and observe events during the outbreak. In order to help regulate and observe the situation, the administration has sponsored a series of testing and briefing sessions to discover this quarter's potential carriers.

During these sessions, those present were briefed on how to react during the outbreak. Subjects that have a potential of becoming these so-called "zombies" will wear orange armbands to signal caution to all others on campus. If someone does become a "zombie," this orange band will be tied around the head. There will also be moderators with green armbands to make sure the outbreak doesn't interfere with daily campus life.

Three sessions still remain open, and will be held at Arntzen Hall, Room 100 @ 7 p.m.: tonight, and Monday and Tuesday evenings.

In conjunction with the local administration, there is a military force that will be monitoring the situation on campus. Intervention by this force has been authorized, and will be used sparingly. Initial talks reveal that there is a vaccine being developed by this group, and they may use it if needed. This military group published a report that the use of polyurethane, a man-made foam, temporarily stunts the spread of the virus: A single touch of polyurethane can limit the virus's abilities for up to fifteen minutes.

Due to the effectiveness of polyurethane, the military has urged the use of Nerf-created products, specifically blasters and darts. The accessibility, ease-of-use, and commercial popularity of these products was deemed the best option in equipping the carrier-population. It was also revealed that socks can be used as an equally viable option for warding off the infected.

(There are several theories to exactly why this is true. Some say include trace amounts of polyurethane are in the socks from the factories; chemicals in laundry detergent may have similar effects as polyurethane; and one researcher has even introduced the idea that the socks incubate a zombie-resistant compound after coming into contact with young adults' feet, and water from being washed).

If you feel that you may be a carrier, please, attend one of the meetings mentioned above. Additional information can be found online, on the local administratively-run website.

Good luck, and may you have good aim and quick feet.

Part 1
...
Part 3

Zombie Outbreak Detected!

Last year I documented the fairly-tame zombie outbreak that happened on WWU campus during Spring Quarter, and I'll be doing it again this year. Video evidence of last year's outbreak has been compiled in an informational video below.

According to long-range transmissions, there is a high potential of this non-lethal plague striking campuses around the world within the next few months. Local analysts have determined that a WWU-based outbreak may hit the student population within the next week. These analysts have used algorithms and data over the past few years to predict that the full-on outbreak will happen approximately 7 a.m. local time on Wednesday, October 19th.

Scientists have also found that once the outbreak happens, only a specific population of students will be able to become carriers, and ultimately show physical symptoms of the zombie virus. These potential carriers will be tested for during the coming week, be trained on how to respond on campus, and issued orange armbands to designate that they may be carriers. Anyone becoming infected will tie the orange armband around their head, to signal to everyone they are zombies.

If you feel you may be a potential carrier, please attend one of the meetings over the next week, which will be at 7 p.m. in Arntzen Hall, Room 100 on the following days:

1. Thursday, Oct. 13
   
2. Saturday, Oct. 15
   
3. Monday, Oct. 17
   
4. Tuesday, Oct. 18
   

Good luck, and may you have good aim and quick feet.

...
Part 2
Part 3

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...

Year Two, Week One

This'll be a round-up and summary of my last week, which was very busy, so you can use this to pass the time while waiting for the rain to stop. Also, sorry for lack of pictures in this post.

Room- / floormates

This first week has been pretty sweet, and a good marker of what's to come this year. My roommate and I had talked late last spring and during the summer to figure out how the room would be. We're all moved in, and I'm sure we'll still tweak things as we go, but it's a great set-up. Whenever we think we might intrude on one another's homework time or play music too loud, we talk, and things get settled. 

To reader's with new roommates: Just talk. It seriously settles things out. Unless your roommate won't talk or compromise...then I'd say go chill with friends in their dorms when all else fails.

Late last week my roommate and I did our hall's Open Door Night and met lots of people. My roommate challenged himself (and dominated) about learning people's names. We both say it was around "40 names," and it actually isn't that far from reality. Of course, now everyone will probably know him as "The Guy Who Knows Everyone."

We also got to know more people on our floor. One of our immediate neighbors has one of my classes, which is always good to have familiar faces in class.

Clubs

During the Info Fair last week, I signed up for the campus clubs Browncoats and Bad Wwulf: Joss Whedon and Doctor Who clubs, respectively. For those that don't know, Joss Whedon created Firefly, among other awesome things. Sounds like this week I'll be able to go to their first meetings and get to meet new people.

Last night I went to the Humans Versus Zombies for our first staff meeting. Got me excited for the upcoming game [Insert subtle plug for the Fall Game, running from Oct. 19-26, here]. I look forward to working with everyone and do my part to make the game run as seamlessly as possible.

Weather

This dark, stormy, and rainy weather over the last few days really makes me want to do a few things; namely jump into a pile of blankets and pillows, read, write, type, and paint. If I come up with anything creative and worthwhile, I'll probably write about it on here. 

I love the feel and dark of fall weather, but not so much walking through the rain. Now, watching it while warm and dry, that's another thing I like.

Back to campus!

This was a move-in, college-filled weekend. This past week really snuck up on me, especially considering I finished my big art project on Friday. Anyways, on Saturday I spent all day packing and figuring out what to store, get rid of, or just take with me. Got pretty much everything into the car.

Yesterday I moved in, the process was really fast, as usual. People helped move stuff from cars into a holding zone inside, and then from there they helped get it upstairs and into the dorm. I think in total that was 15-20 minutes. My roommate had been there hours earlier, so he had the beds all bunked like we talked about over summer. Lofting gives lots of space in the room, but bunking does so much more!

Also, we figured whoever had the earliest class in a quarter gets bottom bunk.

 The biggest surprise was our windows. There isn't one large window, just five individual windows. It looks a little strange and quasi-prison-esque, but we can really control light and breeze into our room this way.

Three pictures composited for one image. 

Basically the view from sitting at my desk.

And now the rest of the room:

 Last night my roommate and I went walking and chilled in town with one of my friends from last year. Fun way to catch up with people and stay up late, as well as get used to the town again.

Today, bought some textbooks I needed, saw some more friends, and browsed through the Info Fair. I'm stoked there's a Doctor Who club: Bad Wwulf!

Jack's What to Bring, Bonus (Humans Versus Zombies)

sponsored by 
La Crema Coffee and Roastery, 
La Conner, WA

A lot of colleges have a group of students that play a game called Humans Versus Zombies. For those of you that don't know, HvZ is a Nerf-based game of tag with two teams: Humans and Zombies (obviously). Humans get Nerf blasters and darts, and socks, while Zombies tag with hands. Simple enough, but I thought anyone that's new to it might want some tips on what to bring for this week of mayhem.

The Rules and Schedule

At WWU, the group requires all participating to attend an informational meeting to learn the basic rules. Last year, all those playing had to also then take a quick test afterwards before getting their player cards. You can find WWU's HvZ rules on this website, and stay in the loop with the Facebook group and page. 

Knowledge
It is good to be really acquainted with different tactics and the lay of the land. Take a day or two during down time to wander the campus and find different route between buildings. Humans are safe indoors, so find routes that allow you to jump from safety zone to safety zone to all your classes. Talk to experienced players--even after only one season of HvZ you learn a lot of tips and tactics, so listen up. 

Clothing
Be sure to wear clothes and shoes that will allow you to run well and move easily. Last year, I wore a jacket with a lot of zippers and just crammed a ton of notebook paper and a pencil or two into them so I didn't need my backpack. If you absolutely need a backpack that week, strap it tight to you so it's not flopping around. You can use a belt, cable, or cord to help pull everything closer to your body.

Cell phone
This handy device can help you communicate with other players if they're in-game--no consulting non-players or someone that's been stunned. Zombies can use it to coordinate attacks while hunting humans, and humans can inversely use it to track packs of zombies to evade.

Camera
Having a simple point-and-shoot camera that can also take video can help capture epic events as the game unfolds. If you get footage and post it online, be sure to tag it thoroughly and correctly so other players can go back and find it. Also, it doesn't hurt to also post about it. 

Buddies
While just playing this game creates an environment of camaraderie, having a friend or two with similar schedules play as well helps morale. Also, you just have a blast with friends. I suggest forming a team, which can sometimes be done in an official manner, depending on the rules of the current season.

Manners
I know that when you get super into the game, nothing else matters, but the campus does continue to operate while the game goes on. So, be cautious of non-player students and staff, so you don't run them over--or get run over by bikers and skateboarders. Also, hanging around classrooms means you may attract attention away from the professors and their lectures.

Socks. Lots of  clean socks.

Unless you want to start as a Zombie (because it is pretty fun), balled-up socks are a great way to defend yourself as a Human. First, they're easy to conceal and carry, and you can use them at whatever distance you feel comfortable throwing. I've seen a lot of people walking around "defenseless" and tagging with a surprise-attack sock, as well as at extremely close range and if a blaster jams.

Darts
Of course, you need darts for your blasters to work. The darts that are used in WWU's HvZ are the Streamlined, Suction-Tip, Micros, and Whistlers. Velcro-tipped are not allowed. Pre-loaded, extra clips, whether the usual or drum-type, are very useful.

Blasters (All-game legal)

Most Nerf blasters are legal for the entire game, some have to be modified a certain way, and others are just illegal unless during announced Missions (see more below). You can go see the list of blasters on the Arsenal page. For safety concerns, the Longstrike CS-6 cannot be used with either it's barrel or shoulder stock attached, because the silhouette is too realistic.

Blasters (Mission-only)

Many of the battery-powered blasters that just spray darts aren't legal during normal game days, only during announced missions. Basically, if it's big, hulking, and shoots a lot of darts, it's mission-only. Below are three of such guns.

Top, left to right: Barricade RV-10 (Battery-powered), Stampede ECS (Battery-powered)
Bottom: Swarmfire

Vulcan EBF-25 (not vector'd due to time restraints)


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Other than that, just have fun!! 

Looking for good coffee in La Conner, WA? Look no further than La Crema Coffee and Roastery for your caffeine needs. Great coffee and timely service,  with seating, Wi-Fi, and parking available.
Personally, I like the dirty chai.

I claim no rights to Captain Jack Sparrow, Disney does.