Harrowed Halls

GM: Mike Byrd

The airport was deserted. At least that’s how it seemed. After our initial fight with a group of zombies, any others seemed to just disappear. The problem was…it was too quite. Heading to the back of the terminal–to the tarmac where our ride to Hawaii (hopefully) waited—we discovered why the terminal was deserted. A group of brave souls had barricaded themselves on the tarmac and were currently holding off hordes of undead. More importantly, with them was a plane.

We discovered that the plane needed fuel and the fuel was in a truck not too far from their position. The only problem was the horde of zombies in between them and the truck. Fortunately we were in apposition to help both them and ourselves.

Channel 4 uncharacteristically volunteered to get the zombie horde’s attention while the rest of us went for the fuel truck. (Honestly, I think the rest of us took one step back.) Channel 4 also kept the non-combatants travelling with us. Personally I didn’t think we’d ever see Channel 4 again.

The trip to the fuel truck was short and sweet. We had information that the truck keys were in the pockets of one of the dead lying around the truck—past attempts to retrieve the fuel I guess. In the meantime, things got bad for Channel 4. Out of the undead mob came a massive zombie bear (Thanks Ben for playing that Adventure Card.)  Channel 4 and the rest decided this was a good time to follow us to the truck–quickly. The zombie bear lumbered after them. Once again Channel 4 showed his mettle and stood his ground against the bear while the others escaped. I think he thought it might count for more than one zombie if he killed it. We’re all keeping track of our zombie kills now. As for me, I took a couple shots at the bear, but the darn thing was too tough. O’Malley helped out Channel 4 with the zombies, who now noticed us. It was Channel 4 though who took down the huge zombie bear with an amazing 40 points of damage to its head. Vlad found the truck keys and we all piled on. It was going to be a rough ride through the zombie horde. We made it to the plane squashing a few zombies on the way. We fueled it up and boarded with the others. Thankfully they had a pilot amongst them.

Cruising at 30,000 feet is not the time to fine out there are infected people on board. And as luck would have it, they were in the cockpit (and the bathroom.). The fight for the cockpit was both bloody and difficult. Never mind that the plane was plunging to the ground the whole time. We killed the zombies and took back control of the plane. We got the plane flying level again but had a new problem. There we no pilots among us and we needed to land somewhere in San Diego.

Mike our GM used the new Savage Worlds Dramatic Task rules for us to successfully land the plane. We failed miserably even using two Adventure Cards. A third adventure card got us safely on the ground.

I’m not sure what San Diego will hold, but we need to find a way to Hawaii!

Harry Babcock

GM: Mike Byrd

Harry Babcock, lawyer (Steve)
Bill O’Malley, fireman (Mike)
Luke “Channel 4” Deering, news anchorman (Ben)
Vladimir Vasilevich, car mechanic (Owen)

I was currently holed up in a supermarket with a few of other survivors and O’Malley’s kid. I hate kids. A couple we had met at the supermarket had left their SUV at the gas station. The zombies had run them off while they were trying to fill the SUV’s tank up.  We needed the SUV since my Smart car could only hold 2 comfortably. A plan was hatched to lure the zombies away from the gas station. I would drive the Smart car, with Vlad as a passenger, to the gas station and we would slowly lure the zombies away. In the meantime O’Malley and Channel 4 would sneak through the back of the gas station to the SUV, fill its tank, and drive off to pick up the rest of the survivors.

Channel 4 was restless though and nearly forgot the plan and wanted to head to the gas station early.  O’Malley was ready to stop him with physical force if necessary. He looked almost as if he wanted Channel 4 to bolt. As it was, Vlad and I soon had our own troubles. Things were going fine until we got trapped between two hordes of walking dead. I decided on the bold maneuver of gunning it down another street while firing my shotgun at the zombies—to attract their attention. I had failed to mention to anyone that coming from the big city, I’d never learned how to drive a car. The car smashed into a building after I lost control of it during the turn. Vlad was nearly hurt, but he’s a tough one that Vlad. I did get my shot off though…in a big way. The round blew up in the chamber nearly taking my hand off, but it was enough to get the zombies attention and they were back after us. Vlad and me hopped out of the car and ran down the street to the market to join the others and wait for O’Malley and Channel 4 to return.

In the meantime Channel 4 had got sidetracked in the hardware store across the street. He was looking for a chainsaw. He’d obviously seen too many zombie survival movies. Those things are heavy, loud, and you have to get real close to a zombie to use it. Not what I would call the perfect zombie killing weapon.  O’Malley seemed to have a good time at the gas station judging from the booze and porno magazines he returned with. He also had a satisfied smile on his face, but I didn’t ask him about that. He was able to get the SUV filled up and brought it around for the rest of us. I’ll say one thing for O’Malley; you can count on him to get the job done. We pointed the SUV out of town looking for the nearest airport. Our destination: Hawaii.

There were some glitches at the beginning of the trip out of town. The SUV broke down almost immediately. Fortunately O’Malley came through again. He had brought a bunch of hoses and belts with him from the gas station. Soon we were up and running again. We drove all night and in the morning light saw an airport. We needed a pilot though, so we began looking for survivors. We entered the main terminal and were immediately beset by walking dead. Channel 4 got himself into quite a pickle. I thought he was a goner. But just about the time I was going to put a bullet through his skull; O’Malley turned up again and saved the day. O’Malley uses a fire axe as if he was born to it. O’Malley also gave me an M-16 from his duffle bag since I’d lost my shotgun. I’m beginning to like that gun. A three-round burst to the head takes a zombie down pretty easily. Let’s just hope I don’t run out of bullets.

We secured an area in the main terminal. Now all we had to do was find a pilot.

Harry Babcock

GM: Mike Byrd

Harry Babcock, lawyer (Steve)
Bill O’Malley, fireman (Mike)
Luke “Channel 13” Deering, news anchorman (Ben)
Vladimir Vasilevich, car mechanic (Owen)

A lot happened during this week’s Savage zombie apocalypse game. Let’s see if I can remember it all.

Since we were loaded up with guns, ammo, and fuel we decided to hike down the street to the supermarket and get some food. There were zombies loitering outside the police station. We killed them again. As we approached the supermarket the zombies closed in. A man ran out from the supermarket and began helping us against the undead. A large battle ensued. It’s amazing how satisfying it is to shoot a zombie in the head with a shotgun. Although my shooting skill rolls were less than effective. How many 2’s can a guy roll? Apparently a lot. Vladimir was nearly bitten again. He continues to fight off the zombie infection from the first bite…but for how long? I’ve got my eye on him, just in case.

After dispatching the zombies in the immediate area we all entered the supermarket and met Nathan and his wife. They told us of a kid holed up in the arcade across the street. Bill O’Malley, being the heroic one of us all, ran over to save him. I searched the supermarket and discovered the smart car they were planning to give away as a promotion. I worked on getting that ready for our escape. Never mind that it could only hold three people.

I think that Channel 13 helped O’Malley recue the kid. It turned out to be good that O’Malley is heroic. The kid he saved was his 8-year old son, Frank.

Nathan and his wife also have a vehicle so now we’ll have a little convoy to our next destination. Wherever that is. Oh, and O’Malley finally got the ax he’s been whining about. He used to good effect against the undead horde, so I guess it’s a good thing. Channel 13 got some hair jell so he’s happy. Vlad just looks happy to be alive although the bite on his arm is still a fiery red. I’d better keep back one shotgun shell…just in case.

Harry Babcock

GM: Mike Byrd

Harry Babcock, lawyer (Steve)
Bill O’Malley, fireman (Mike)
Luke “Channel 8? Deering, news anchorman (Ben)
Vladimir Vasilevich, car mechanic (Owen)

During tonight’s zombie apocalypse game, Bill O’Malley finally changes out of his hospital gown and into some real clothes…formerly worn by a now dead zombie. For the rest of the character’s this was a step up for O’Malley. Channel 8 also gives up his beloved chair that he’s been using as a weapon.

Tonight was also the “Assault on Precinct 13” session. Although a more apt name would be “Assault in Precinct 13” as there was plenty of assaulting going on inside the police station as we alternated between running from zombies and running to zombies to kill them. I must say I think Channel 8 did a lot of the former.

We entered the police station. The lobby was clear of undead, but over the small counter area we could see and hear zombies shuffling around in the back rooms. O’Malley led the charge over the counter into the next room. There were only three zombies in the room, but they were hard to put down. The good news was that a couple of them were undead cops that still had holstered side arms. The bad news is that I can’t hit the broad side of a barn with a pistol. One zombie when down piece by piece as Channel 8 repeatedly hit it with his chair. Once the zombies were dead we scrounged for useful items. There were a lot of zombies in the large cell at the very back of the police station, but since they were restrained, we weren’t worried about them.  Later, when we heard the loud clang of the cell door hitting the floor, we wished we would have worried a little more about them. Channel 8 And I thought this would be the perfect time to blow the taco stand. Unfortunately O’Malley wanted what was behind a locked door at the back of the station.

Channel 8 and I headed out the front door only to discover we’d never closed the front door and now zombies were getting in. We could have made it free, but where would we have gone? Channel 8 and I glanced at each other, shook our heads in disgust, and headed back into police station to save O’Malley and Vladimir. But not before we made sure the front doors were closed and locked. It turned out that O’Malley and Vladimir weren’t in such dire straits after all. They had formed a choke point at the entrance to the cell area. Vladimir was valiantly defending himself while zombie after zombie fell to O’Malley’s knife. When Channel 8 and I arrived, there were only three zombies left. Using O’Malley’s gun I managed to kill one of them—a freak occurrence. The rest were mopped up by O’Malley.

The locked door at the back of the police station beckoned. And O’Malley answered. Picking the lock he opened the door and reveled…a room packed full of zombies! Ok, just kidding. It was the station’s weapon’s locker. We loaded up on shotguns, grenades, pistols, ammo, and two-way radios. We also did some more scrounging and emptied out the vending machine of food. We decided to spend the night in our new little fort not knowing what new horrors the morrow would bring.

Tonight’s Zombie Count: O’Mally: 6, Harry: 4, Vlad and Channel 8: 0.

Chaos Steve

GM: Mike Byrd

Harry Babcock, lawyer (Steve)
Bill O’Malley, fireman (Mike)
Luke “Channel 8” Deering, news anchorman (Ben)
Vladimir Vasilevich, car mechanic (Owen)

Like so many pre-zombie apocalypse movies about the zombie apocalypse, we awoke in a hospital with no one around. Each in our own room. Each unknown to the others. And just like those movies, the hospital was infested with the undead. This area that had, at my last memory, been a safe zone was now a deathtrap. For the life of me I can’t remember where I am–some island off the coast of Maine I think. I quickly got dressed in my street clothes and began eating a jell-o cup I found nearby. Then I peeked outside. Several zombies were aimlessly walking around in the hallways. I could see the elevator, but couldn’t reach it without encountering one or more of the undead.

Suddenly a man pushed his way into my room. He was well-dressed and well-groomed. I figured him for a drug salesman. It was worse. He said his name was Luke Deering from channel 8 news. My new partner was an anchorman. Not exactly survivor material if you ask me, but here we were thrown together by fate. Channel 8 grabbed a chair like it was the only thing keeping him alive. Good thing too as the zombies nearly broke their way in. I made a brake for the elevator only to realize that by the time it reached our floor we’d both be brain sucking zombies ourselves. I made for the stairs. Channel 8 followed me.

On the stairs I ran past another man, still in his hospital gown. He was holding a fire extinguisher. He looked competent enough, but I was in a hurry to find a weapon and to get out of there. I ran out into the zombie filled lobby. I’m pretty sure Channel 8 was following me—still holding on to the chair. Once outside of the hospital, I spotted some parked cars. I was lucky enough to salvage a tire iron out of one of the car’s trunk. That’s when I see this guy walking on a window ledge three flights up. As he gets to the corner of the building, he begins to climb down the downspout. I realize this guy has the kind of balls it takes to survive in this new world. Just then his luck ran out. The downspout broke away from the building and he landed hard on the ground. He popped right up, but the undead had already smelled him. They closed in and the guy was surrounded. I wanted to help, but I doubted my tire iron could take out three zombies. Besides, I had a zombie of my own to worry about.

I was sick of running, so I hit the poor bastard in the head with my tire iron. The zombie’s head split like a melon. It was very satisfying. I heard the sound of a helicopter and saw it pass overhead. I thought we might be saved, but all they did was open up on the zombies surrounding the poor guy from the third floor. He made a run for it and we both jumped into a nearby car. He hot-wired the car and we both discovered the car had been drained of gas. Crap.

I heard of the sound of glass breaking. Not long after we see Channel 8 running around the corner of the hospital, still holding his chair. Behind him lumbered a few bullet ridden zombies. Those suckers are hard to put down for long. My new friend in the car said his name was Vlad and I caught of hint of his Russian accent. I also noticed the bite on his shoulder. That could mean trouble later. We both leaped from the car and decided to hightail it to the police station. We were going to need some serious firepower to survive for long here.

About that time I see the guy in the hospital gown come out from behind the far corner of the hospital. He was running too. He was still carrying his fire extinguisher, but had also picked up a knife. I knew that guy would find a way to survive. As we all ran to the police station, I found out his name was Bill O’Malley. Looks like the lot of us are going to try to make out of here together.

One thing is for sure though. I’m going to make it.

Harry Babcock