"Fear of death is more to be dreaded than death itself." - Publilius Syrus

It's been close to thirty years since I've last written in this journal. This may be the last time I ever write in them. If you're reading this now, then you are in danger. They came for me. And now that you're reading this, they'll know, and they'll come for you. My name is Richard "Martyr" Lansing. Six months ago, from this day of August 10, 2009, I worked at BLACKHOUND, a military division that worked with weaponry, as a guard there. I was forced the sign a contract which meant 'hush-hush' on all their projects. At least it was that way for all the guards. The pay, even for a guard, was really good. One day, as I was leaving the grounds, I forgot my jacket in the locker room.

As I went back to get it, I overheard two doctors talking. One said, "I looked at the test results of the Berserker's frenzied state and I found it was appalling. It was much better the Reapers back in the old cages." The other said, "Yeah, the Berserker tore up those cows so fast that they didn't see it coming. Terry's going to have some problems scraping the blood out of the test chamber walls. When they release all these guys in Manhattan next year, man, it'll be a bloodbath."

"But we'll all be safely tucked away in some island thanks to the money Dr. T will give us. Man, for a terrorist, he really is rich."

"Hey, c'mon, let's go back and check out how Berserker is doing!"

As they went back to the holding cells, I tailed them. Then I saw it. The Berserker looked like a mutated bear, some patches of hair here and there, with cataract-white eyes and muscled limbs and claws that would put Freddy Krueger to shame.

.

            There was blood all over it and torn and ripped limbs everywhere, like it had just taken a gore bath. And what did I do? I ran back and let myself get caught as I was making an escape. BLACKHOUND called in Redknight, yet another military division and they caught me. They tried to kill me, but Colonel Taggart said that I'd be better off as an experiment. I managed to escape a second time, but I can already feel myself turning, because they injected me with whatever they used to make another abomination: The Hound.

            This is the end. I think, by the time you read this, I will already have lost my humanity and I have turned into one of those creatures. They've ridiculed me in the laboratory and said I'll be codenamed BLACKHOUND. The strongest abomination of them all, serving my namesake. No, I'm no BLACKHOUND. I'm the Martyr.

            If you find this, I hope it isn't too late. I hope Manhattan hasn't been plunged into hell. But my hopes are futile, because by the act of releasing myself into the city, infected, I have given the Martyr free-reign once it is released.

            I have to keep moving now, because they'll find me soon. Good luck and Godspeed.

****

Midnight quickly fell over Manhattan. Its crowded streets, filled to the brim with people, walking home, striding over to the restaurants, meeting up with old friends: it seemed there were so many people that it was better to think them as a whole, rather than each individual one by one. What is one man amongst a million others? There was, indeed, one man amongst a crowd on Houston Street. Most of the crowd was walking back to Soho to go home. But this man was different. He wasn't going particularly anywhere. He wandered the streets, not a tramp, but more a solitary, lone figure, going nowhere, coming from nowhere. His name was Ethan Richardson.

As he wandered along Houston Street, his mind wandering, a cold shadow passed. It passed not only on him, but the entire crowd. And then a horrible, earth-shattering howl of pain sounded from the alley to the right. People turned their heads towards the noise, some screamed, some tensed, and some even ran, as a dark figure staggered out of the alley. People stepped back as he howled some more, clutching himself and lurching.

"Hey, hey, are you okay?" someone within the crowd asked. Some walked towards the screaming, writhing, twisting man, taking his clenched arms and steadying him. "Someone call 911," one person said. "There's something wrong."

Ethan took a curious step towards the man, studying him curiously. He was dressed in a tan trench coat that was frayed and stained and a black shirt made of some fabric. As he looked closer, a cold-hand gripped his heart: there was a small logo of sword outlined in red. Redknight.

He turned away and ran, still not knowing where he was going to, but he just knew he was running. As he left, the man's screams and writhing subsided as people pulled him along, a police cruiser arriving along with an ambulance. The policemen took the man by his arms and tried to move him along, but the man was stone solid. A low, menacing, throaty growl emerged from his throat. His eyelids were closed. The policemen stared at one another, unsure what to do with this rare find. The man's eyelids snapped open. The screaming began.

Occupations

            Choose an occupation from here or start off with a blank slate (a regular citizen, gaining no advantages or disadvantages).

• NYC Police - Putting your life on the line, being some kind of law bringer-do-gooder cop ... Hey, it beats working as some subway guard, uh? Training with handguns has increased your firearms skill by  + 2, and constant exercise and chasing after criminals has increased your agility and endurance by +1 each, but always abiding the law and never negotiating with criminals, true or alleged, has decreased your Speech skill by -3 towards people deemed criminals. It has the opposite effect when dealing with everybody else. You also obtain the permanent effect "Regulator", resulting in +25% damage towards all NPCs deemed Mafiosi or Criminals (including Infected).
• Doctor - You've grown up with a fascination for medicine and science, giving you a + 2 bonus for both skills. Talking with your patients has given a + 1 bonus to Speech, and hard studying during university times has given a + 2 to your Intelligence attribute. However, staying safe in the labs has decreased your Strength and Endurance by - 1 each.
• Redknight Soldier - Serving BLACKHOUND's infamous Redknight Company has given you + 3 to all your combat skills (Firearms, Melee, Unarmed, Explosives) and intense training has given you + 3 Strength, + 2 Endurance and + 1 Agility. However, Redknight isn't exactly known for being social or charismatic, so you probably don't know how to talk to people - or talk to people first before shooting them, for that matter - resulting in a devastating - 4 Charisma and Speech.
• Construction Worker - The sounds of drills and hammers may be another addition to the New York City soundscape (or a migraine-inducing nuisance, depending on someone's point of view), but to some modern-day city-smith like you, it's nothing but music to your ears ... since it usually means things are getting built and you're going to get paid. Working has given you the massive + 3 to both Strength and Endurance, but a - 1 Agility penalty due to your slow lugging. You also get a bonus of +4 to your Melee, Unarmed, and Explosives skills.
• Scientist - A whiz kid since you were in nappies, the scientific world may be all confusing, brain-straining mumbo-jumbo to those mediocre civilians on the streets who call you an egghead, but to you, it's as easy as knowing your own name. You obviously get a +4 Science boost and + 3 to your Intelligence skill, but you're pretty fragile, resulting in a horrible - 2 penalty to both your Strength and Endurance attributes.
• Messenger - Bike messengers. Not the greatest occupational choice if you're talking about money, and most people would take this up usually for exercise or something, but, hey, somebody has to do something for a living! You get a good boost of +  3 to your Agility and Perception attributes, and + 4 to your Sneak, Speech, and Unarmed skills, but at the cost of - 1 of both your Strength, Endurance, and - 2 to your Firearms skill.
• Mafiosi - You've lived the streets under the protection of the Don and your gun most of your life. The Criminal Underworld is your family. Knives and weapons are your words. Policemen hate your guts and want you dead. You are respected and feared throughout Manhattan. You get a +4 Firearms bonus, a + 3 Speech bonus, a  + 2 Charisma bonus, but you saddle the Permanent Effect "Lawman's Bane", which, however, gives you +25% Damage when attacking Police (excluding Player Characters, and including Infected Policemen), turns your + 3 Speech and + 2 Charisma bonuses into negative penalties when talking with any uninfected Player Character policeman or NPC policeman.
• Demolition Expert - Look, you just like blowing up things ... You just love that ... "KA-BOOM!", y'know? Whenever buildings need to be crudely reduced to rubble, they call in you. You gain the obvious + 4 bonus to your Explosives skill and the + 3 bonus to both Strength and Endurance, but with the Intelligence, Charisma, and Agility penalty of - 1. Guess people just don't like guys who blow stuff up (in more senses than one).
• Mechanic - A grease-monkey like you can't stay away from shiny, metal objects, can ya? You just love to tinker with junk, resulting in the + 4 bonus to your Melee Weapons, Repair, and Barter skill. You get a boost in your intelligence and strength by + 2 each. However, you obtain a - 1 Charisma and Agility penalty. You also get the permanent effect "The Mechanist's Habitat", so, when you are in workshops or places with a repair table, you get the temporary bonus of + 3 to your Repair skill.
• Storeowner - A fair, even job: as long as you don't get robbed, everything is fine! You get a + 4 to Barter, Speech, and Repair, but - 2 to all your combat skills (Firearms, Explosives, Unarmed, Melee). You get a + 2 to your Charisma and Intelligence but - 1 Strength and Endurance.
• Lawyer - Lawyers and School-Time bullies - One's strict,  disagreeable, intimidating, and likely to make you end up with a career in crap shoveling or a beggar in your underpants, and the other's school-time bullies! Intelligent and fierce, you get a + 3 to your Intelligence, Charisma and Endurance, but at the cost of - 3 Strength and Agility. You get the + 3 Barter, Speech, and Explosives skill bonus, and the permanent effect "Scourge of Criminals", resulting in +25% damage when fighting criminals or Mafiosi (including Infected) and + 2 Speech when speaking to uninfected NPCs or PCs deemed criminals or Mafiosi.
• Student - Studying at NYU, hoping for the feature, some wishing they had went to UC Berkeley or Stanford in California. You're bright and prodigious, resulting in + 3 Intelligence and Charisma, but you lack experience, penalizing your strength and endurance by - 2 each. Your speech, medicine, repair, and barter are all increased by + 3.

Age: 19

Gender: Male

Occupation: Student

Appearance: 5'10" with a avrage weight wears black and white running shoes and blue jeans wears a brown T-shirt under his Brownish button up shirt has blueish gray eyes and light brown hair that is middem lenght wears a watch on his right wrist (not Digital) and also has a bag to carry his things (its thouse bags that hang at your side bike messengers usaly have them)

Personality: is happy'go'luckie and prefers to not take violent action if needed but will if he needs to he also feels the need to help others are in trouble he has no problim keeping his cool when trown into a problim and calmy solves it

Biography: after getting out of high school Kurt started to study chemistry and biology learning about human anatimy and chemicals he is among the top of his chemistry class but is known for making Explosives for fun with the tools and when he has time off of school he goes to vist his granfather in the contory and goes hunting with him

Attributes:

• Agility - 6
• Endurance - 10 -2
• Intelligence - 6 +3
• Perception - 4
• Charisma - 2 +3
• Strength - 7 -2
• Willpower - 5
• Luck - 5

Skills:

• Firearms - 10
• Barter - 5 + 3
• Melee Weapons - 10
• Unarmed - 7
• Explosives - 15
• Repair - 7 +3
• Science - 14
• Medicine - 14 +3
• Sneak - 13
• Speech - 5 +3

Might update bio some time

Name: Zenneth
Age: 21
Occupation: Redknight Soldier ( I wanted mercenary but oh well)
Personality: A sociopath.
Biography: He was employed by the Red Knights by the age of 17. At that age he trained and excelled in firearms in which he was scary to witness. All the horrors that he witnessed though has forced him to abandon Redknight though and has taken work as a mercenary for hire. But he never forgets the horrors of what he saw. They are hunting him now....his days are numbered.....but Zenneth will take down all of this **** even if it costs him his life.
Appearance: Looks like L from deathnote but with a redknight uniform stripped with the Redknight logo.

Agility - 9+1
Endurance - 5+2
Intelligence - 4
Perception - 10
Charisma - 0-4
Strength - 7+3
Willpower - 10
Luck - 0

Firearms - 17+3
Barter - 0
Melee Weapons - 17+3
Unarmed - 17+3
Explosives - 17+3
Repair - 0
Science - 0
Medicine - 12
Sneak - 20
Speech - 0-4

Okay fixed

Moderator's note: censor bypass removed

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Occupation: Student

Appearance: 5'9", scruffy, short, strawberry-blonde hair, black t-shirt, dark blue jeans, black trainers.

Personality: Quiet, but curious. Has a strong sense of right and wrong. Willing to die for his friends, but quite naive.

Biography: After his girlfriend was killed in a gang shootout, Shauny aspired to become a police officer, and fight crime. Having an extreme hatred of criminals, Shauny is looking forward to studying criminal psychology in college, and use the minds of criminals against them. But then the screaming began.

Attributes:

• Agility - 6
• Endurance - 5 (-2)
• Intelligence - 7 (+3)
• Perception - 4
• Charisma - 5 (+3)
• Strength - 5 (-2)
• Willpower - 10
• Luck - 3

Skills:

• Firearms - 4
• Barter - 14 (+3)
• Melee Weapons - 15
• Unarmed - 17
• Explosives - 2
• Repair - 2 (+3)
• Science - 17
• Medicine - 3 (+3)
• Sneak - 9
• Speech - 17 (+3)

Age: 20

Gender: Male

Occupation:Messenger

Appearance:

Short spiked black hair, with brown eyes, about 5,9 with black jeans on with a t-shirt on with the words 'Its all fun and games till the flying monkeys attack'. Yet covering that up is his black hoodie that he wears all times of the year along with is RE5 messenger bag.

Personality: A very shy and timid person. Keeps mostly to himmself but will open up to other people when talk to. Knows right from wrong and always does the right thing no matter the price.

Biography: When he got out of high school he jumped right into the next part in life majoring in CJ. Now working as a messenger to earn some extra money

Attributes:

• Agility - 2 +3
• Endurance - 5 -1
• Intelligence - 10
• Perception - 2 +3
• Charisma - 0
• Strength - 6
• Willpower - 10
• Luck -10

Skills:

• Firearms - 0 -2
• Barter - 20
• Melee Weapons - 20
• Unarmed - 2 +4
• Explosives - 0
• Repair - 9
• Science - 0
• Medicine - 20
• Sneak - 16 +4
• Speech - 16 +4

Name: Jake Nightsnare

Age: Looks to be about 37-38

Gender: Male

Occupation: Redknight Soldier

Appearance: 6'2, Slicked Back Black Hair, Very Muscular, Emotionless Face, Large Scar over left eye, Average Redknight Uniform with a prominent Redknight Logo on the right side.

Personality: Jake is a Cold, Fairly Emotionless Loner lacking any sort of Social Skill. He does whatever it takes to get the job done and won't let anything get in his way. If needed, which is often the case, he'll work with many other people. He often assumes the role of the leader of whatever squad he's with, no matter who is there. Not really a nice person to be around, but is praised for his skill in the field.

Biography: Nobody knows where Jake comes from, or, at least, not anybody in the lower ranks. One day Jake awoke, surrounded by Redknight, not knowing exactly who he was, where he came from or what was going on, but the Redknight had convinced him that he'd been with them all along, so he went along with it. He's been in service for a long time, and seems to have had training previous to becoming a Redknight.

Attributes:

Agility - 6 +1

Endurance - 6 +2

Intelligence - 7

Perception - 6

Charisma - 4 -4

Strength - 7 +3

Willpower - 3

Luck - 6

Skills:

• Firearms - 17 +3
• Barter - 8
• Melee Weapons - 16 +3
• Unarmed - 10 +3
• Explosives - 12 +3
• Repair - 8
• Science - 6
• Medicine - 10
• Sneak - 8
• Speech - 5 -4

Goodness... Did I do it right?

Hmm ... Okay, this is a pretty good number. Working on the first chapter of the RPG. I'll give it a deadline of a few more days.

And  a lot of students here ... hmmm ...