Multiple Settings 𝔽𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕤 𝕎𝕖 ℝ𝕚𝕤𝕖 ☾ 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔲𝔰 𝔦𝔫𝔰𝔭𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔡 ↬ 𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔢 ☽

[SavannahSmiles]

• 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕀𝕞𝕞𝕦𝕟𝕖
• 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕕
• 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔽𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕤
• 𝔽𝔼𝔻ℝ𝔸
• 𝔽𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕗𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕤
• ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕤𝕠𝕟 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪
• ℍ𝕒𝕧𝕖𝕟

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  Exposed to a mutated version of the Cordyceps fungus, these individuals have inherited aspects that can be found at the different stages of infection. This adaptation grants them the gift of immunity, as the fungus recognizes them as being already infected. With the exception of their newfound abilities, they otherwise do not show any signs of infection. The fungus lies dormant within their bodies and as such did not progress to the stage where it would begin replacing human tissue with its own, so the immune would not have any growths on their bodies despite how long it has been since they were exposed to the fungus.
  
  All of the immune individuals were kidnapped five years prior to their escape. In that time, they underwent experiments to help them understand and control their abilities. They would also have been exposed to combat training, as Haven's goal was to create super soldiers. All of the experiments were tattooed with a symbol as a means of identification:
  

  Spoiler

  Symbols to be added
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  Runner

  

  
  Runners are people who recently turned into infected. They are defined by their intense speed, sluggish attacks, and tendency to attack people in hordes.

  Stalker

  

  
  Stalkers are people who have been infected from somewhere between two weeks to a year. Per their name, they stalk and hide from prey in the dark and attack at opportune moments. Some also latch onto walls and allow the Cordyceps to fester, keeping the host alive until prey walks by, at which point the stalker breaks free and attacks.

  Clicker

  

  
  Clickers are people who have been infected for at least one year. The long time elapse has allowed the fungus to spread all over their bodies, blinding them and forcing them to use echolocation to find prey. However, the fungus has granted them enhanced strength, making them fearsome foes in close-quarters combat.

  Bloater

  

  
  Bloaters have been infected for several years. The fungus has led them to become slow and blind, yet incredibly strong and resilient with the fungal growth serving as armor plating. Bloaters can also tear fungus from their bodies to use as spore bombs and throw them at their enemies. However, this additional fungal growth makes them vulnerable to fire.

  Shambler

  

  
  Shamblers are people who have been infected for several years and typically inhabit areas thriving with water. While not as physically enhanced as clickers or bloaters, shamblers are able to grapple prey and expel large spore clouds from their bodies, which cause acidic burns on the skin of prey. When killed, the spores explode, releasing a final burst of Cordyceps into the air.

  Rat King

  

  
  
  The rat king is a unique stage of infected that developed in the Seattle hospital after over twenty years of infection. Formed from several infected combining into one, the rat king is colossal in strength and size, and able to take extensive damage from fire, bombs, and guns. Even after taking much damage, it does not die, but instead, its various infected parts will start to break off from the larger mass and attack along with it.
  

  
  
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  No one knows exactly how it happened, but one day contaminated crops were discovered in South America. Soon after that the world dissolved into chaos. The Cordyceps fungus infects and grows within its host while the host is still alive, with a singular goal of spreading to every living organism it can. There are four stages of infection:
  
  Roughly two days after initial exposure to the fungus, those infected will lose all higher brain function, rendering them hyper-aggressive and incapable of rational thought. These types of infected are known as Runners.
  
  After two weeks, the fungus has begun altering the infected individuals eye-sight as growths begin to form along their head; these types of infected are known as Stalkers.
  
  After a year the growths have completely taken over the infected individual's head, resulting in the infected developing a form of echolocation in order to locate prey. These types of infected are known as Clickers.
  
  In the very rares instances of an infected person surviving for ten years, they develop hardened fungal plates all over their body.
  
  Due to the parasitic nature of the Cordyceps fungus, it is unable to infect dead bodies, the host must be alive at the time of initial infection.
  
  Animals, notably monkey's, are able to be infected, though they are only able transmit the fungus, they do not go through the stages of infection like a human would.
  
  To protect themselves from airborne spores, survivors wear gas masks. The infection seems unable to spread in open air areas, such as the countryside, although some of these areas possess a high population of infected. The infection mostly thrives in underground or enclosed areas commonly avoided by people, especially sewers, subway tunnels, and some buildings.
  
  The bitten area will turn red and black, causing the host to sweat profusely and become disoriented. Their eyes may sting and a decrease in motor function makes it difficult for them to write, while irritability and aggression increase.
  
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  The Federal Disaster Response Agency (FEDRA or F.E.D.R.A.), colloquially known as the military or army, is an antagonistic faction. FEDRA is a government agency in the United States, tasked with responding to disasters and managing emergencies. After the initial Cordyceps brain infection outbreak, FEDRA seized control of the U.S. government and armed forces in order to set up the quarantine zones (QZs). Becoming amalgamated with one another in the process, they imposed martial law and dissolved the other organs of state. In the QZs, soldiers prevent citizens from leaving the city, subject them to forced labor, and when supplies are low, restrict basic food rations. They often execute dissidents and criminals, or expell them from the QZ.
  
  The pre-outbreak U.S. government was often at odds with FEDRA when it came to handling the infection. Shortly after a leaked report from the World Health Organization revealed that the latest Cordyceps vaccination tests had failed, a U.S. general affiliated with FEDRA announced on television that the government "bureaucrats" had been removed from power, and that they could finally take the necessary steps to "protect" the United States. FEDRA went about this by declaring martial law and setting up quarantine zones in urban centers. The Department of Defense, as well some officials from the Department of Justice, worked closely with FEDRA during the initial outbreak. However, most other branches of government were indefinitely suspended. A notable exception was the Center for Disease Control, which was retained to study Cordyceps.
  
  FEDRA established their own central command headquarters, colloquially referred to as "CENTCOM", independent from the QZs. To ensure they maintain connection with their units in the QZs, FEDRA created numerous outposts, using radios to communicate reports between QZs and their headquarters. FEDRA also workes with the CDC to produce various fliers and informative documents, ranging from informing civilians of wanted criminals, to infographics about the stages of infected. FEDRA has the military fortify the zones with extreme levels of security. They place soldiers and checkpoints at numerous points throughout the cities and created 30-foot-high concrete walls with guard towers and searchlights. The soldiers often patrol the surrounding area to contain any citizens trying to escape or sneak into the zone and pursue escapees several hundred meters from the zone's walls.
  
  FEDRA also draftes civilians to perform work duties both inside and outside the quarantine zone, on a bi-yearly basis. Civilians residing within quarantine zones could also join the military to bolster their numbers. Records of FEDRA members are subsequently kept in their headquarters. FEDRA also maintaines military boarding schools, where children are trained to become soldiers. They patrol on top of buildings and guard checkpoints, as well as being the primary troops who conduct operations outside the safety of the wall, such as patrols or supply runs.
  
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  The Fireflies ware a revolutionary militia group featured as an antagonistic faction. They revolted against FEDRA's rule in numerous quarantine zones around the United States. The Fireflies' ultimate goal is to restore all branches of the American government. However, they're largely unsuccessful in their war against FEDRA. The Fireflies work with several other post-outbreak paramilitary groups to combat FEDRA's oppression.
  
  The Fireflies are also searching for a vaccine for the Cordyceps brain infection and do whatever it takes to accomplish it. The militia group is spread throughout the country, but their final main headquarters is located at St. Mary's Hospital in Salt Lake City. To identify members in their group, the Fireflies often wear yellow or green clothing, similar to the glow of real fireflies. Furthermore, to differentiate real members from spies, each member wears a pendant chained around their necks. The Fireflies were founded in the 2010s, shortly after the outbreak. This was in response to FEDRA's military-supported coup d'état and subsequent suspension of most branches of the U.S. government, as well as the brutal martial law that was enacted in the quarantine zones, such as Los Angeles. The group called for an end to the military's rule and staged several protests and riots in attempts to gain control over the quarantine zones. Support from the public increased when soldiers executed at least six Firefly members.
  
  The Fireflies inspire civilians in numerous quarantine zones to rise up against the military, leading to rebellions in several cities in the United States. While rebelling, Fireflies commonly graffitie their group's slogan, "Look for the light", around the cities, mainly on building walls. In most uprisings, rioting citizens have done more of the fighting than actual Firefly members, leading to feuds that typically result in the citizens turning on their city's Fireflies after the revolt is finished, fearing a reign of oppression by the Fireflies, rather than the military. When the Fireflies lose control it allowes the citizens to take over, with some adopting a "survival of the fittest" philosophy instead of trying to find a cure or build a better society.
  
  The Fireflies have been searching in vain for a cure to counter the fungus for many years. Morale within the organization is falling as vaccination tests continue to fail and the military is beginning to hunt them down.
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  Nestled on the banks of Flathead Lake lies the Polson Community, a thriving camp that has been around for roughly seven years. They are fairly self-sustaining, with water and electricity being fed to their community from the Dam that lies upstream. What they are not able to grow or make themselves, they trade for supplies with another community that is stationed close by. Life in the community is peaceful and Polson maintains this peace by removing any trouble-makers from their community. They have a good bond with the other community in the area and have established a trading system with them.
  
  Everyone has to pull their own weight in Polson, provide for the community in some way to earn their stay there.
  
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  Haven was founded roughly ten years prior and has been fully invested in researching the Cordyceps fungus and all of its properties. No one knows who the founder is and this organization prefers to operate in secret, often stealing their test subjects from different QZ's. It is not fully know where all the labs under this organization are stationed, but news quickly spread through the Haven network when a lab near Polson, Montana suddenly went dark.
  
  All of the labs under Haven work independently from any government organization and generally operate under the radar. All of their labs present as abandoned buildings, with their actual base of operations being hidden under the ground; as well, none of their labs are marked on any map. All of Haven's test subjects are stolen from different QZ's around the country and trapped at Haven against their will, with little hope of seeing the light of day once more.