Character Overflow 

[hider=Maela Hernandez de Alba (Zacharius)]Name: Maela Hernandez de Alba
Age: 23
Occupation: Tampa Bay Bucs Cheerleader
Family Life: Sprawling Latin family, status unknown.
Height: 5'7
Weight: 63kg
[img=http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q548/jofisher47/character1.png]
Blood type: B
Immune: Yes
Gear: Composite hunting bow and quiver, with 12 arrows, trailmix and a couple of weeks of dried food. Like her male companion, she also carries a hiking pack with her, containing a bedroll and another wind protector. On top of that, her pack contains a limited amount of lighter fluid, unless she's given it to Marcus to carry. She has three water bottles, one is currently full, along with a pack of sterilization tables.

Bio:

Growing up in rural Florida among a family of lower-middle class Cubans (second generation), Maela, despite being fairly typical for a head cheerleader in her public mannerisms (high school Queen Bee etc) she was both intelligent, and had a less than usual upbringing. With a father and uncle who continued to hunt, both for fun and for meat, she was taught to do so as she grew up, becoming somewhat of a survivalist, even if it never manifested in her public life. A state champion in regards to cheerleading, Maela continued to do so when she attended USF to study Finance. Not entirely a prodigy, Maela was nevertheless a successful student, in most aspects of student life, becoming somewhat more open about the non-linear interests she possessed, still remaining very much a social butterfly at the same time.

Through the last year of her degree and consequentially completing it, Maela auditioned for the Tampa Bay Bucs cheerleaders, earning her place on the squad even as she earned her degree, for the present, sticking with cheerleading rather than going into the professional world of finance. Despite a mediocre, if improving, performance by the Bucs in football, their cheerleaders remained a particular highlight and Maela enjoyed her time in spotlight, even if it eventually placed her in one of the most dangerous situations during the early days of the rising. Her short-term boyfriend, a friend of Marcus', was among those who managed to escape with them, although more likely it was Maela acting swiftly that saved all three of them, getting to the coach in time to avoid being ripped apart, by both living and dead. Unfortunately, her lover was rather less level headed than both herself and Marcus, being one of the players starting to turn violent in their panic, and she opted to not wake him to flee with the pair. His fate is unknown, but after witnessing his stressed actions, she cares little or less.

It was with her guidance that both Marcus and herself located the gear they currently carry despite the chaos of the immediate rising, before keeping their heads low, Maela providing food beyond their emergency dried rations through her ability to hunt, while Marcus provided some much needed muscle and intimidation. Recently, they have grown close enough that Maela has began to teach Marcus how to survive himself, previously having avoided doing so for fear that he'd feel he no longer needed her aid, not that he could ever catch up with her so quickly, only that is how he would perceive it.[/hider]
[hider=Kim Hansson (Zhaliora)]Age: 26
Occupation: Architect
Family life: Single, no previous commitment. Was recruited for the CDC project, soon learned that her hometown, Chicago, had gotten attacked, and had heard vauge reports of it getting overrun from a security guard and gave up hope of finding her family again. She had two siblings and parents that lived in the Chicago suburbs. Kim has no hope of finding them alive again, and is in a state of depression.
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Blue
Weight: 140 LBS
Height: 5'6"
[img=http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt152/Yzan/Forum%20RP%20stuff/th_KimHansson.jpg]
Blood type: AB
Weapon: None
Reason for Government interest: Is a well trained architect in planning and building bio-friendly and self-sufficient homes and properties. She knows how to gather and build the materials necessary for building the properties, including solar cells. While she was in the CDC she was reading up on agriculture and engineering. Also unknown to herself, she is immune to the virus. She was tested without her knowledge.

Personality: Normally a quite cheerful girl has now become depressed and self loathing after the death of her family and friends where she grew up, or so she thinks. She is locked in her own shell of defence and refuses to talk to anyone. She is reluctant to do anything part from reading nowadays. She has basically read through all the books at the CDC. It will take a lot of convincing to make her do anything else or to open up to anyone again.

Bio: Born in the states but her family is from Sweden from where she has picked up a lot of her ideals and values, including her line of work. She studied in Sweden for a number of years before she returned home. She had only worked as a architect for a year before she was recruited by the CDC. They told her that she could change and save the world, and it appealed to what she saw as right, and she could use her skills for something good.[/hider]
[hider=Valentina Vetrov (Darkraven)]Name: Valentina Vetrov
Age: 10 (And a half)
Occupation: Grade School Student / Child Actress
Family life: Valentina was born to a Russian immigrant father and an American mother. She was by no means the only child of the family however, being the third to be born. First came an elder brother then an elder sister. Her short life before the outbreak was, by all means, ideal. Upon settling in, his father became a successful owner of a small-medium business using his experiences in Russia, allowing her mother to raise and accompany Valentina without difficulty. Her parents never argued, never fought beyond the occasional minor incidences that only served to further reinforce their marriage. Although the children were never as close to one another as their parents, they were there for each other whenever they were needed most.

Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Silver
Height: 4 feet 8
Weight: 65 pounds
[img=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JPARTtb9sh0/TJDy5qas8kI/AAAAAAAAACA/ie3CtXwnExU/s1600/big_Jackie+Evancho01.jpg]

Blood type: B+
Immune: No
Gear:
Purple Hello Kitty bag (A little frayed and torn but usable)
Barbie sleeping bag
Vertov's tactical torchlight
x1 Spare AA battery (unfortunately, the torchlight needs 2)
Assorted kid's clothes (some new, some old and some torn)
Lieutenant Hugh's water canteen (normally fastened to her belt or bag)
Lieutenant Hugh's Combat Knife
Steak Knife (which she found to be just right for her)
Improvised knife (normally hiding somewhere in her clothes)
Valerie's Taurus Model 85 .38 Snub-Nosed Revolver
x1 .38 cartridge loaded in her revolver (It had become a thing for her to just save a bullet)
x30 Assorted random ammunition (mismatched bullets that she found but couldn't put into her revolver)
Normally wears a pink but dulled jacket over a yellow singlet. A pair of blue jeans and boots. An eyepatch she found somewhere but couldn't remember (all the better to cover her right eye). Lieutenant Hugh's ID Tags.
x1 Sealed bag of cashew nuts
x1 Can of corn beef (which she couldn't open yet)
Daddy's First Aid Kit (By now half-full with a bottle of antiseptics, a few rolls of bandages and band-aid)
Mommy's 'Little Red Riding Hood' (Which she no longer reads but couldn't get rid of)
Picture of herself and family (At the bottom of her bag, forgotten)

Note: This is a photo of her dating to before The Rising that lies forgotten at the bottom of her Hello Kitty bag

Bio: Once upon a time in a hospital ward, a girl was born. It took her parents and even two children months to decide upon a name, and she was christened Valentina. Valentina was born slightly premature, and sickly ever since, but with the nurture of her parents, she grew to catch up with her siblings and other kids just in time for Kindergarten. Life had never been down for her ever since. She met many friends each time she entered a new class. She loves to learn, and her parents encouraged her so.

She wanted to be like her mom and dad at the same time. Life at home and out was happy, and she rarely cried. She was bullied the first year she was in gradeschool, but her brother, Vertov, chased the bully away, and she was happy again. In school, she enjoyed stage acting, and got pretty good in it. With a strong father and a mother who was herself an actress of a few years, it was only natural that Valentina had never had much trouble in school, and became an actress herself because she thought it was fun. She was able to audition and land a few roles in a few television commercials featuring cereals, and a supporting role after that in a 2016 summer thriller movie 'Sharks Below The Line', which did well in its opening weeks.

Life was good. Valentina was so happy. Then it happened.

14 February 2017 was her 10th Birthday. Little Valentina and neither her family would know that the day she was born would be the day the entire world would be cursed.

27 February 2017 was the day she lost the sight in her right eye. While travelling with her father to the nearest gas station to purchase supplies, a gas tanker truck collided with it. She did not die as her father was able to get them both to a safe distance. "Cover your eyes, Valentina!" Her father warned her, but she did not listen, but was instead mesmerised by the explosion. It reminded her of her time on the set of her first movie, it did. A small shard of glass flew into her right eye. While it caused no permanent scar, Valentina could barely bring herself to look into a mirror anymore, for her right eye was no longer silver but milky white like the dead eye of a walking corpse.

7 March 2017 was the day she lost her elder sister to a horde of ravenous reanimates that assaulted their home. Valerie was trying to hold the front door closed and shooting out the front window with a revolver when one of them broke half the door down and bit down on her neck. It became obvious to the family that they could not hold their family suburban home. While the others were busy nearby reinforcing windows and were spared the sight but not the sound of her fate, Valentina was there at the stairs, afraid and helpless, and with her one good eye she saw it happen. Valeries was able to buy the family time to take what they can and escape by pushing through the relatively thin herd at the front door to distract the reanimates.

22 March 2017 was the day she lost her elder brother, Vertov, in a firefight against scavengers who found them taking refuge in a suburban home on the fringes of their own neighbourhood. Valentina knew one of the scavengers who was her neighbor and at one point, her babysitter. She was shocked as she saw her fire a rifle at Vertov and slew him. While her family was able to fight them off, the damage was already done. Valentina learnt that day that people could turn bad, really bad.

13 April 2017 was the day Valentina and her family was overrun and taken captive by a large group of bandits. Upon being bound and brought to their hideout, a few bandits, out of boredom, decided to toy with them, with vengeance for the many bandits the father managed to take out being a secondary goal. Despite her parents' pleas, one of the bandits took out a combat knife and carved a half-frown scar down the left side of Valentina's cheek and forced her parents to watch. The physical trauma was excruciating, but the sight of her parents breaking down and tortured was far worse. Had it not been for the timely intervention of a national guard detachment still loyal to the federal government, the results would have been far worse.

5 May 2017 was the day Valentina lost her mother to the Reanimates. Her parents were drafted for service by the national guards who saved them after they were brought to camp. "The monsters surrounded us, honey, when we were trying to save a girl about your age trapped under a rubble. I'm sorry." The lieutenant responsible for Valentina's mother had said. When Valentina reacted little instead of bursting into tears like how the lieutenant expected, the battle-hardened soldier knew: The girl was scarred not just in body, but in spirits as well, and no amount of stitches and therapy with the camp medical officer could save her completely.

20 May 2017 was the day the national guards camp was overrun. She saw her father play the hero in holding back the waves of reanimates with the M4A1 handed to him, then a Beretta, then a bayonet, and finally his fists. She saw his knuckles rip again as they pounded rotting flesh, and his father slowly torn apart as he fought with all his strength. He succumbed after giving Valentina a final look and mouthing for her to run. Valentina did not want to. She'd had enough. She'd never really smiled like she used to for months, not since her elder sister was devoured. Had it not been for the timely intervention of the same national guard lieutenant who lead her mother into battle, her story would have ended here and now.

11 June 2017 was the day she fell under the hands of a biker gang. Before then, she'd been adopted and protected by Lieutenant Hugh, but they were alone. His unit was scattered by the horde of Reanimates. The soldier was once a father himself, a really good one, and against all odds, he would somehow manage to coax a smile or two from Valentina with a cunning but kind-hearted web of talking to her about her lost family, talking to her about his lost family, and some stories of hope and a future to make her feel better. The soldier taught her a few tricks to survive on her own - how to use a knife, how to fire a revolver or pistol, and what to do behind enemy lines, though there were no more enemy lines but a whole globe. However, while travelling to a supposed safezone, Lieutenant Hugh was gunned down and killed instantly even as he was holding Valentina's hand and guiding her along gently. The leader of the biker gang forced a brand on her stomach and took her to his tent, but little did he knew that she had a shiv hiding in her jeans all along, courtesy of Lieutenant Hugh. With fiery rage erupting for the first time in Valentina, she avenged her last and final friend by thrusting it into his throat. When the deed was done, she managed to sneak away from camp.

Ever since Lieutenant Hugh's death and her vengeance, Valentina wandered on her own, indescribable tormenting pain lying like a swelling ocean beneath her tattered body. Blaming it on the world, she took to surviving by stealing supplies and even in some cases killing in the process without remorse. She'd learnt what would have been the worse lessons to learn had it been the 'wrong time', but it was the right time where murder, deceit and selfishness was the norm. Her acting skills came in handy at times to this purpose. Having been done so much wrong, she could no longer feel as much anymore, with rage and sadness becoming her new happiness, and the happiness of yesteryear, the new pain and sadness.

Overtime, as she wandered the ruins, she had managed to find several of what she called 'sleep spots', safe places that only she could access due to her size and knowledge, as most of them were located in ventilation shafts or blocked off rooms. Driven by the basest instinct to survive that she herself would not understand nor care about, she would hide caches of supplies - normally things she already carried, things that were too big and impossible to use because of her size, or even useless trinkets she saw and liked, that ultimately sated her existence for mere moments. There was very little food, however - there was never enough. But what was in even greater short supply was her family... For although she could be considered successful in this new environment, it was an empty existence without Vertov, Valeries... Her Dad and Mom...[/hider]
[hider=Amber Bergstrom (Goldmarble)]Name: Amber Bergstrom
Age: 32
Occupation: Marine Engine Mechanic
Family life: Single, never married. Father deceased. Mother and two brothers unknown status.
Hair:Dark Brown
Eyes: Green
Weight:156 lbs
Picture: [img=http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg612/azseth/SarahLyonMechanic_zpsa746cf3e.png]
Blood type:AB-
Immune: No

Gear:
Eberlestock Gunslinger pack - On back
Hennessey Camping hammock (with winter-proofing gear)

Heavy winter sleeping bag

Small multifuel stove

Dried food supplies (Packed in zip lock bags; meat, rice, beans, vegetables, fruit and trailmix)

Small pot

Hydration pack

Water Filtration Kit

Field rifle cleaning kit

Spare clothing

First aid kit

50 round box of .30 Carbine soft point ammunition (37 rounds left)

Camera cleaning kit

15" laptop

Toiletries + Toilet paper

Fire-starting kit (Ferro-cerium rod, char cloth, box of matches)

Take-down fishing pole

Small tackle box

In the rifle scabbard she carries a M1 Carbine mounted in a choate non-folding stock. The front hand guard replaced with a scout model with an aimpoint mounted. Around the butt of the stock she has a modified Carbine magazine pouch to fit the stock, with a pair of fifteen round magazines stored. One Fifteen round magazine loaded in the rifle.

LowePro Outback 100 - Waist, offset to left, belt and shoulder strap
Pentax K-3 Camera with 50-135mm lens attached. Two 32gb cards in the camera, two more card pocket one, and a pair of 64gb cards in card pocket two - Main pocket

Pentax 31mm pancake lens and AF540FGZ II flash - left pocket

2x 30 round magazines for Carbine, and a Foursevens Quark flashlight (2x AA batteries) - Right pocket

2x spare battery packs, pen and small pad of paper - Lid pocket

32mm Snap-on chrome-steel combination wrench (2.1 lbs, 17" long) - Custom fabbed sheetmetal holster on belt, right side.
Small, folding pair of 8x binoculars - Fabric belt pouch, right side.
Condor Hudson's Bay Knife - Leather sheath, right side

Bio: 
Born in Chicago to a mother, Christine, who hailed from a wealthy family from banking, and a father, Gordon, who had worked his way up to the city council from the middle class, the second of three children, her two siblings being brothers, Jake and Daniel. Amber's early years were spent being taken care of by maids and supplementary caregivers as her parents lacked the time to give the children the attention they truly needed. Still, Christine was ecstatic to have a baby girl, and Amber's life started out as if she were a princess, spoiled and surrounded by pink dresses and luxury.

By the time she entered high school though, she had a feeling of being disconnected slightly from the image she portrayed. In the private school, she was popular and well liked, dated two of of the most popular boys. Yet she found herself privately disenchanted with the virulent nature of the act she played. It was to the point where she developed a mild neurosis of trying to scrub the lies and filth from her teeth every night. Even so, she graduated high school with honors, and had scholarships to Ivy League colleges lined up for her. She rebelled and moved out with the help of one of her friends that wasn't part of the circle her mother approved of. They moved north to Wisconsin, and sought work. After a brief stint in a fast food restaurant, and a cell-phone dealership, Amber, an eighteen year old brunette, just 5'7" and weighting 112 pounds, found herself standing before Randy Collins, a 6'2", broad shouldered, barrel chested man with arms thick with corded muscle, and a deep natural tan with obvious tan lines. His pale blonde hair shaved short, and bearing a regular ¼" stubble accentuating his gruff exterior. He wore a simple white sleeveless shirt, and heavy duck-cotton, tan contractor overalls. He was a contractor, running his own construction business, fairly well known for his perfectionism, and honesty. He gave her a chance. While the start of the job was rough, she quickly began to excel, proving to herself more than anything, that she could do it.

She stayed in construction for four years, before deciding to move on to something of a new challenge; after helping to build a new section of a shipyard, she went to a technical school and learned diesel mechanics, her apprenticeship started with a small company, that folded soon after her start, but her boss took her under his wing as he moved to to one of the Great Lakes Shipyards locations, where she has prospered, and grown from a green beginner, to a talented veteran of noted skill.

She also began to find a love of the outdoors whiles she was on her own, rather well reflected in her photographic work, she began by going camping with friends, and then looking for less RV friendly places to get out to. She began hiking, and from there, getting into 4x4 trucks, and off road driving, which she was able to apply some of her skills to, but needed to learn more. She taught herself welding, pipe bending, and how to fabricate things that she needed. Strangely though, the more she got into off road driving, the more she found it to be like the kind of camping she was trying to get away from in the first place; crowded, too many people, too much noise, not enough wilderness. It lead her to sell her tow rig, trailer and Jeep after going on a short “overland” run with some friends she had met at one of the off road meets. It was the outdoor experience she had been wanting from the start.

While her work and social life was going well, her family life was not. Essentially ostracized from her family, her mother wanting to disown her, her brothers refusing to understand her, and a father somewhat distant and ambivalent, she felt rather alone. Still, when her father called her to ask for help, she packed and left. She came to learn that he and her mother had separated, and it wasn't on good terms, Amber's brothers had sided with their mother, but the main problem was that he had just survived a heart attack that had hit when he was climbing stairs at his office, he had fallen and fractured his right arm and leg.

While they didn't exactly get along that well, Gordon agreed that he needed a change of pace, and moved back to Wisconsin to a shock he wasn't prepared for; his little girl had become a hunter, an outdoors enthusiast, a welder, and a diesel engine mechanic living in a quaint little home on a small parcel of sub-divided farm land, so far removed from the three story condo, downtown urban Chicago living she had been raised in. They were at polar opposites in their political ideals, and came to arguments frequently. He hated the fact that she had firearms, was utterly appalled that she had a concealed carry license and carried everyday. The argument took an abrupt turn however, when she revealed the fact that she had fought off two would-be rapists in the past decade, one she she didn't fire on, the other had escaped, wounded, and later arrested by police.

Over the next three years, Gordon and Amber became closer, she finally found a parent, and he finally found out who his daughter really was. He passed away in 2016, from heart failure after the sixth heart attack that year. Neither his ex-wife, nor sons made an appearance for his funeral.

A year later, she found herself wandering, trying to get out of the clutches of the arctic winds and lake-effect snows in a world that now existed after the apocalypse had struck.
[/hider]
[hider=Werner Coetzee (Shivershiver)]Name: Werner Coetzee
Age:28
Occupation: Mechanic and wheelman
Family: Charlize Coetzee (Mother, deceased), Father (Unknown), Florenda Marino (Ex-girlfriend)

Werner stands at 6’1 weighing in at 185 lbs, with broad shoulders and lean muscle, accentuated further by an almost complete lack of body fat from a poor diet in the last nine months. His hands are rough and strong from a life of working on his vehicles, but still manage more delicate work. Werner’s right pinkie finger is missing from the first knuckle up, leaving a rounded stump. Most of his body is a mess of scars and tattoos accumulated over time, some faded, and others very new. While many might consider scars to be attractive, few would consider those that mar Werner’s skin very appealing. Most are non-uniform splashes of rough flesh from burns or road rash, but a few, like the two that dig into his cheek, have been acquired through other means. Where there are no scars, Werner has filled his skin with large and elegant tattoos, none with any deep meaning, just art.

Werner wears lace-up brown leather boots, slim-fitting jeans, a black thermal shirt beneath his grey leather jacket, mechanix gloves, and a pair of cheap wayfarer sunglasses. Werner also wears a worn coyote brown shemagh around his neck, the only keepsake he owns from his father.
Picture: [img=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kZgMM0w8S6k/TU02GJx4N5I/AAAAAAAAJ5M/UKBb4CHcWBw/s1600/Tobias%2BSorensen%2B-%2BUnknown%2B01.jpg]
Blood Type: O-
Immune: No

Bio: Werner Coetzee never really had much of a chance at a normal life. His mother, Charlize, was a young woman who left her home to earn her fame as a showgirl in Las Vegas. The naive girl was quickly seduced by a young man with a passion for cars, who later came to be Werner’s father. His father left Charlize, never knowing she was pregnant, forcing her to bear the full burden of an infant son with no means of an income and no family in Vegas. Without any other option, Werner’s mother resorted to prostitution in order to feed her child, often neglecting her own health for his. Much to Charlize’s disappointment, Werner slid through school with few interests, barely passing his classes. He deeply yearned to know his father’s identity, but was only told that his dad’s hobby was working on vehicles. 

Seeking a connection to his absent father, Werner took this to the extreme, revolving his whole world around engines. From a young age, he worked in a ratty mechanic’s shop, absorbing everything he could about the rugged vehicles that came into the garage. When he turned 16, his first action was to purchase a dirt bike, which he rode constantly both on road and off with fervent zeal. Werner dropped out of high school his final year when his mother died of AIDs, the virus acting very rapidly on her already weakened body. Seeing no future for him in his hometown, he moved to Los Angeles with nothing but his bike and the clothes on his back, similar to his mother. His goals, however, were a little more realistic. With his vast knowledge of vehicles, Werner found a job in a decent mechanic shop within the city run by an older man named Luke. The aged mechanic, witnessing Werner’s skills as a driver on race tracks, recognized his unique skill set and offered him a different type of employment in addition to working in his shop. Luke suggested that Werner serve as a getaway driver for criminals on occasion, knowing several men within the criminal network. Luke told Werner that in his youth, he did the same, and saw the same abilities in him. Werner reluctantly took the job, for his mother instilled a strong sense of morals in him, but he was desperately hurting for cash. He slowly sank into the criminal world, building a modest reputation for himself, but still retaining his strong morals. 

At 24, Werner met a beautiful Italian woman of the same age at the mechanic shop when she took her beat-up car in. Having no vehicle for the night, Werner gave her a ride home and learned her name was Florenda Marino, and, like his mother, she sought fame in Hollywood. The two quickly developed an intimate relationship, with Werner constantly urging Florenda to pursue her dreams, as if to redeem his mother’s failed ones. Despite Werner’s relatively quiet disposition, the couple seemed to be made for each other. Unfortunately, after three years, Florenda broke off their relationship. She always feared he was involved in criminal activity. The apartment, while modest, was much nicer than what a mechanic could afford. Some nights, Werner would be out until the next morning, though he never reeked of booze as one would expect. She realized just how dangerous he was when he burst into their apartment with a gunshot wound to his shoulder and hastily pried the bullet out, asking her to stitch the open hole. Florenda helped him, then promptly packed her bags and left. The last time he saw the woman, her stomach was looking slightly larger than usual, but he thought nothing of it.

Werner continued his life without Florenda, though with less enthusiasm and ambition. He began questioning his life as a criminal, albeit a fairly tame one, and if it was one he could truly be proud of. Luke, however, was practically a father to him, and constantly encouraged his illegal career, so he stuck with his life as a wheelman. In the back of his mind, though, Werner felt he should become something greater than a glorified criminal. One day, a small package was delivered to the mechanic’s apartment filled with his mother’s belongings, sent by the current occupant of his run-down childhood home. He found a photo of his mother with a man whose features were very similar to his, and Werner assumed this man to be his father. He also found an unsent letter with an address in Missouri, and upon opening it discovered it was meant to be sent to his father. With these items in tow, the mechanic took a vacation and headed to Missouri in search of his dad. A few months into his search, the whole world seemed to go to shit. Survival quickly took over as a priority, but he is still searching for his father despite the chaos around him, despite the slim odds of him even being alive.

Personality: Werner doesn't ever really say much. He’s a very reserved and calm man for the most part, only speaking when needed. Werner isn’t shy, he's simply a man of few words. He is much more content to stand and listen during the conversation, absorbing everything like a sponge. Ironically, he hates being alone, and is much more comfortable in the presence of others. Werner is exceptional at reading emotions since he focuses on others so much, but has a difficult time expressing his own feelings. While he speaks with good grammar, his vocabulary is pretty limited, exhibiting his lack of a proper education. His knowledge rarely extends outside of mechanics, but he displays a very deep understanding of the entire subject.

Despite being a criminal, Werner is a reasonably moral man. He doesn't steal, take advantage of women, and keeps his vices in check. Outside of his job as a wheelman, Werner always tries to make good choices, though sometimes he fails in this endeavor. He is quick to recognize mistakes, however, and does his best to learn from them. That being said, there is a much darker side to him that few see. When backed into a corner, he is willing to do whatever is needed to survive, and these actions sometimes disturb him afterwards. 

Werner is generally a very trusting and kind man, going out of his way to help others when possible. Those who are very close to him, such as Luke and Florenda, however, have his undying loyalty. He would do anything for those within this circle, even if it meant risking his own life. 

Gear: 
29” Crowbar
Original Colt M1911 in a shoulder holster, one mag in the pistol and two in each pants pocket
KA-BAR strapped to belt
Black Northface Recon backpack containing:
Light blanket
Spare clothes
Tooth brush, tooth paste, travel-sized shampoo
2 canned chili 
2 plastic bottled water
Small tool kit
Zippo lighter
Field cleaning kit
Knife sharpener
Multitool 
Duct tape
550 Para Cord
4-Cell LED Maglite
Map of Missouri
Crumpled photo of parents

Strengths:
Work Horse: Years of wrenching away and working out has built up some persistent muscle in Werner’s body.
Wheelman: Werner is an outstanding driver, capable of operating any vehicle put in front of him with ease.
Grease Monkey: With more than a decade of experience working on cars, Werner is able to repair almost anything with a motor in it. 

Weaknesses:
Desert Denizen: Werner’s body is accustomed to the Southwest’s warm climate, and suffers in Missouri’s winter. He is more susceptible to illness and general sluggishness from the cold. 
Old Injuries: A motorcycle accident years ago shattered Werner’s left knee, and while it has healed, long stints of jogging/running will cause him significant pain.
High School Dropout: Werner dropped out of school at the age of 18 and never was the brightest pupil, so his knowledge is limited to cars and little else.[/hider]
[hider=Christian Durant (Canoli)]Name: Christian Durant
Age: 34
Occupation: Previously a mechanic and a marine, now (as in; before the outbreak) a survival expert. Guides customers through wilderness, teaching them the basics of survival when dispossessed of civilization.
Family life: Divorced and single. Had a daughter who died in a car crash a year prior to him being locked up at the CDC facility. His mother has died after the outbreak (father before), as well as one of his two sisters and his ex-wife.
Hair: Dark brown.
Eyes: Blue.
Height: 6' 2".
Weight: 190 pounds.
[img=http://puu.sh/7oKBK.jpg]
Blood type: AB.
Immune: Yes.
Gear: None 

Bio: Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Chris grew up in a working class family. He often found himself in trouble throughout his school years, sometimes over bad grades, other times over fights and teasing and sometimes because he simply didn't show up. Both his father and mother were raging alcoholics, and as the eldest of his siblings Chris found himself fiercely protective of his two younger sisters. As Chris grew older, he dropped out of high school and started working for his (maternal) uncle as a mechanic. 

It didn't take long after that before Chris' relationship with his parents reached a boiling point. While able to, Chris had opted against moving out - although he had a feeling his parents would force him eventually - as he didn't want to leave his sisters behind. Now at the age of 18, Chris had out-grown his rather short parents, and when he came home one day after work and witnessed his parents beating the crap out of one of his sisters, all hell broke loose. Chris beat up both his parents in a violent, emotional fight and contacted the authorities afterwards. His sisters were placed in foster care, while Chris himself had to undergo a psychological exam after which he had to meet a psychologist for a long period, and his sisters even longer.

Chris got his own place and continued working for his uncle while often visiting his siblings, whose foster parents were far more suited for parenthood than their biological parents had ever been. George Durant, Chris' father, committed suicide in prison. Two years passed, during which Chris returned to school and gained his high school diploma. When Chris felt his sisters were safe, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. While the saying is that "every Marine is a rifleman", Chris was specifically trained as such. He would then go on and serve three tours in Afghanistan and one in Iraq, before leaving the military due to the emotional trauma and stress that came with the job.

Returning back to Lincoln, Chris got himself an apartment and started working for his uncle again. Eventually, Chris found himself being more and more drawn to rural settings, an interest sparked from watching TV-shows and documentaries about survival as well as an, according to him, almost perverse interest in the vulnerable, exposed state of being dispossessed of everything you know. He started going to meetings with people of similar minds. Among these was his future wife Claire, whom was one of the leaders of the movement. The group would often go into the wilds with bare minimum gear, helping and teaching each other how to survive and thrive. 

Soon enough, Chris and Claire got married and had a daughter named Sophia. The couple started their own business, C&C's Survival, where they taught men and women of all ages how to behave in the wilderness when, for example, being lost. The business had a good bunch of years, but Chris' personal life took a very sour turn when the family one day ended up in a car crash. Sophia died as a result of her injuries, and Claire blamed Chris, who was driving, for Sophia's death. The couple soon filed for divorce, shutting down their business in the process.

As a result, Chris found himself in a depression for the first time in his life. He had had many hardships, and this, being the worst of them all, would see Chris finally crack. Tempted to turn to alcohol, Chris refused as the haunting memories of his childhood made it ever so clear that alcohol would never be an option for the man. Partially due to this, as well as his resolve and two loving sisters, Chris got himself out of the rather deep depression after nearly six months. He re-established himself as a survival expert, opening up a new business. He hadn't even been working for a month, however, before he was contacted by the CDC, explaining they had use for his expertise and offering a better pay than he could ever give himself. Gladly accepting, Chris was then relocated to the CDC facility at Fort Leonard Wood, where he would spend the next nine months imprisoned.[/hider]
[hider=Petra Malik (Finalcatharsis)]Name: Petra Malik
Age: 29
Occupation: United Nations Human Rights Officer
Family life: No family. She's dedicated to her job.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Weight: 130 lbs
[img=http://www.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/2013927/rs_560x415-131027195626-560.MinkaKelly-2-jmd-102713.jpg][img=http://www.rickey.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Minka-Kelly-as-Valerie-Almost-Human.jpg]

Blood type: O-
Immunity: Yes
Reason for Government Interest: Petra's work with the UN has been extensive. While her title is Human Rights Officer, Petra has often been at ground zero after some of the worlds greatest catastrophes. She's an expert at mobilizing aid fast and was a highly sought after as a disaster coordinator for the US Government.

Bio: Petra was born the bastard child of an impoverished prostitute in Mumbai, India. While most women in Petra's mothers position would have aborted the fetus or killed and buried the infant after birth, she decided to keep and raise the child.

Though Petra's childhood was anything but pleasant or normal (more often than not, cruel and violent), her mother and her mothers friends protected her from the life they lived. They made sure she went to school and studied hard. Her mother knew early on that she was gifted. Of course, she was quick to learn English. Although her mother never spoke of it, she overheard the other workers on occasion gossiping that the reason why she had developed such a great accent was because her father was American.

Petra entered high school at thirteen. It was tough for her to be among the older children, but she earned their respect. At fourteen her mother passed away from work-related disease. One of her teachers decided to bring her into his family and treated her as a daughter, but she only ever saw herself as a burden to them which is why she didn't hesitate to leave that house when she was able. At sixteen, she graduated high school and was recruited for a full ride scholarship to several different universities in the US and Europe. She decided on Harvard and as an Undergrad studied International Relations. Once she was finished with graduate school she immediately applied to be an intern for the UN. She always knew she would have a career in human rights. From there it was just a matter of working her way up. Eventually she was given the title of Human Rights Officer, but really had her hand in many parts of the organization including relief work. On occasion she liaised with INTERPOL to help gather evidence on international criminals involved in drug and human trafficking.

Over the years there were opportunities for her to settle down, but she never did. She held her work in the highest of regards. Petra was fearless, never afraid to face off with dangerous criminals, or put herself on the front lines with the Peacekeepers. Because of this, she was often witness to the atrocities humans committed against one another. This caused her to build up a hard exterior.

With her superiors always on her ass about “taking it easy, and being too young to be tied down with such a serious job,” she was (under protest) transferred back to the US to work a desk job determining how to allocate US aid funds and workers on an international scale. Apparently the man before her had abruptly quit and moved to Canada.

Consequently, a few weeks later she overheard some of her co workers talking about reports that the dead had been seen coming back to life. Of course she immediately dismissed it as a hoax. The dead weren't the ones to be feared.

When the “men in black” came for her a day later, it was under the guise that her company had been requested by some big wig lobbyist in D.C. who wanted to make a “significant contribution to the cause.” When she refused saying that it “wasn't her job to deal with all that bull shit,” she felt a slight prick in the back of her neck. Everything went all blurry, then black. 

When she awoke, she discovered she was essentially in a prison cell. She couldn't stand being locked up.[/hider]
[hider=Ryan Bishop (Drummer-Dan)]Name: Ryan Bishop
Age: 34
Occupation: Head Scientist of 'Advanced Systems Innovation Division', US Military.
Family life: Mary Bishop - Mother- Status unknown
Doug Bishop - Father - status unknown
Francesca Bishop - Wife - Status unknown

Hair: Dark Brown
Eyes: Blue.
Weight: 164 Lbs
[img=http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/ed/87/3d/ed873db2dc1daa0b1553e8c5b92c8069.jpg]
Blood type: AB
Immune: Yes.

Gear: Backpack - 
bed roll, light toolbox, flashlight, box of lightbulbs, medium travel medikit, numerous canned foods, tripwire, random magazines (protection for arms)

Customised Life jacket- 
packets of biscuits, Bishop & Strauss 9mm Semi automatic pistol (5rnds), x1 magazine Hollow point 9mm (12rnds), leatherman multi tool, Aluminium baton, hip flask, M67 fragmentation grenade for "emergency use".

Bio: Ryan is one of America's 'Great minds'. He grew up in a stable, loving home as an o ky child to parents Doug and Mary. 
Mary was a house wife and Doug was a professional racer. He used to bring his son along to the races- where he would be left with the pit team whilst Doug raced- and found a love for mechanics.
Ryan graduated high school and gained a scholarship to MIT where he majored in Advanced Mechanical science and Aeronautic Engineering.

It was at MIT that he stumbled upon the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, a French Canadian girl by the name of Francesca Deloure, a neuroscientist studying for her PhD. The two had a spark between that was overwhelming and soon became a couple.

The couple married four years later and bought a home together, Ryans got a career straight out of college, a career that paid well, very well, and his genius and undisputed knowledge in the field of advanced weaponary saw him climb straight to the top, Head of division, in only 2 1/2 years. 
His ruthless leadership and high expectations led to many replacements within his team as they simply could not meet his needs, he would say they were lazy or simply not clever enough. However expected people to be on the same level of intelligence as himself, which was unfair given his IQ.

He is a very loving and caring man outside of work, but once he steos into his lab he is all about business. Caring only for results and success, he can get irritable with people less intelligent than himself, and hates laziness.

Strengths: 
Brainiac - Ryan has an extraordinary brain capable of working out tough equations and solving problems, he can think on his feet and Improvise, can create useful items out of seemingly nothing and can repair pretty much anything.

Headstrong: can keep calm and composed in even the worst of situations, can bolster morale and ease the nerves of those around him. Steps up to the plate when necessary.

Soldier boy- has basic knowledge of hand to hand combat and small arms fire due to military background. 

Weaknesses:
Family man - Ryan is a very caring man and is hurt deeply at the probably loss of his beloved family. This makes him somewhat reckless with a 'nothing to live for' mentality. Should he learn that his family is alive he would stop at nothing to get to them, taking risks his intelligence wouldn't usually allow and possibly putting anyone with him in danger.

No Nonsense- Ryan believes everyone should have a focus in life ans that they should work hard to achieve it. Anyone he sees just lying around doing nothing but moaning would really aet him off and could cause confrontation withing a group.
Misc: Ryan, along with his partner Nicholas Strauss, designed and built the new Bishop and Strauss 9mm pistol. He trusts it over any other pistol and carries one with him.

Ryan is a walker, drifting along the wastes with new found best friend Luke Porter.[/hider]
[hider=Haiden Grant Abrams (Mr Ozias)]Name: Haiden Grant Abrams (Goes by Grant or Major Abrams) 
Age: 40 
Occupation: United States Marine Corp (Rank held while in service was Major) 
Family life: Single. Never married. Immediate family status is unknown. 
Hair: Brown 
Eyes: Hazel 
Weight: 200 pounds 
Height: 6'3” 
[img=http://images.dailykos.com/images/user/3/cpl_Kokesh.jpg]
Blood type: AB- 
Immune: No 

Gear: 
Tactical related gear 

Modular tactical vest 
Black Serpa shoulder holster 
Knee pads 
Double edged combat knife in black leather sheath (left leg) 
Walther PPK (leather holster attached to right leg) 
Beretta 92S (shoulder holster) 
Colt 9mm SMG (with canvas strap to secure over shoulders) 
Basic black backpack 
Compass 
Para cord 
Two large water bottle (refillable) 
Four MRE's 
One large bag of trail mix 
Two cans of tuna 
One can open 
Half eaten box of saltine crackers 
1 ½ box of 9x19 Parabellum rounds (approximately 75 total rounds) 
Half box of .380 rounds (approximately 30 total rounds) 
Sharpening stone 
Flash light 
One half of a pair of binoculars 
Clothing 
Pair of black steel toe Rothco boots 
Pair of tan colored cargos (tucked into the boots) 
Tan colored canvas belt 
Green colored mens muscle shirt 
Green colored mens t-shirt 
Tan colored army jacket 
Pair of black rimmed aviators 
Black leather wrist band watch (broken) 
Tan colored Barret 

History: Before the pandemic that turned the world upside down, Haiden was a successful squad leader in the United States Marine Corp. He was on the fast track to becoming Colonel at a pretty young age, following in his fathers foot steps who was a General himself, Haiden was an exceptional soldier. With a heart of gold and a can do attitude Haiden was among the most liked in his unit, often one to joke around and have a good time when off duty. When on duty he was more often then not strict and professional which served as a good combination for himself. It was this same attitude that earned him many citations and a medal of honor from the President of the United States. 

When the pandemic started Haiden was one of the soldiers dispatched around the United States to help with evacuation and containment procedures. However what was expected to be quickly resolved turned into a catastrophe that started to spread like wild fire. Soon instead of helping people, Haiden was shooting people down like rabid animals in the street. As time continued on more and more units fell to the ravaged cities that were quickly becoming war torn. The last mission Haiden was sent on was to Missouri where him and a select number of men were to help protect a Government sanctioned CDC facility. But upon arrival at the landing zone they were attacked by relentless hordes of infected people, all the men sent were killed except for Haiden who narrowly escaped with his life down a sewer tunnel. 

Soon after these events Haiden lost complete contact with his superiors and was thrown in to the dark, stranded in the hot zone he began to move deeper into the city. Hoping to possibly make it to the CDC facility to try and reconcile his mission objective. This soon proved useless however, the hordes of infected were too much for him to handle on his own. Forced to retreat and leave the city, Haiden became a lone soldier, trying to fight the good fight still for his fallen comrades. Even this thought became fruitless to Haiden, and now nine months later his only real objective now is to survive for as long as he can. Holed in a make shift shelter on the edge of town he now lives day to day not knowing if the next will be his last, but still with the will to fight for as long as he can.[/hider]
[hider=Reverend Daniel McCarthy(FinalCatharsis)]Name: The Reverend Daniel McCarthy
Age: 26
Occupation: Associate Priest, Episcopal Diocese of West of Missouri
Family life: Father, mother, older sister. All presumed dead.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Weight: 180 lbs
[img=http://www.vanityfair.com/dam/online/culture/2009/06/29/09_Order_2003_21.jpg][img=http://data3.whicdn.com/images/22500256/thumb.jpg]
Immune: Yes
Gear: In addition to whatever may be available to him in the church (which is a quite a lot), he carries a generic heirloom pocket knife on his person at all times.
Blood type: B-
Immunity: Yes

Bio: Daniel was born into a loving family in Paducah, Kentucky. His parents were by no means wealthy, but provided everything he and his older sister ever needed, and even took them on a few family vacations out West with the grandparents. They grew much of their own food. Religion was always a part of his life and he was raised Baptist. The worship relied heavily on the musical talents of those in the congregation who could play and sing.

His parents bought him his first guitar when he was seven years old. He instantly fell in love with the sound and often practiced with his grandfather. When he was ten, his grandfather gave him his first banjo, an old, heavy hand-me-down that he could barely keep from sliding off his lap. Every Sunday after church the family gathered in the parlor and listened to the duo play. Daniel sang. They always began with joyous, upbeat selections, but always finished with something quiet and contemplative. Something to remind them all of the families history in the coal mines of Eastern Kentucky. It always ended in tears. He and his sister were told time after time by their grandparents just how lucky they were to have what they did, and how hard it had been for them and their friends growing up. How poor they were. It was a rich history.

His grandfather died when he was sixteen and his grandmother a few months later. It hit the family hard. He took to smoking a single cigarette whenever he played, just like his grandfather. Those last two years of high school, he focused on his music and began practicing styles from different regions of the South, then onto different regions of the world. When he was seventeen, a new youth preacher came to their church and took interest in him and his music. He offered counsel on the death of his grandparents. It was this man that inspired him to go to seminary.

He entered the University of Kentucky a few years after his sister and earned a Bachelor's in English. He took whatever religious studies electives he could. Though radically different than what he grew up with, he took an interest in the Episcopal faith and it's history and traditions. He was confirmed as an Episcopalian one year before he graduated. After that he moved on to General Theological Seminary in New York, the oldest center of theological education in the Anglican Communion. During his time there, he earned cash by performing in small venues, schools, and sometimes on the streets. He spent three years there and graduated after spring semester in 2016. Knowing he planned to spend his summer months traveling Europe, his parents invested in an open back Helix Cherry Blossom banjo for him as a graduation present. Weighing in at just over six pounds, it was easy to travel with and it didn't sacrifice much in sound quality compared to his Huber Lexington.

When he returned he was offered a position as an Associate Priest at a church in the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri. It wasn't too far from his parents, so he took it.

Trinity, built in the early 1900s was a medium sized, beautiful old, stone-walled church. He fell in love with it and it with him. Though he was young, the parishioners took to him quickly and grew to love his music. He learned a lot from the Rector and lay ministers that took care of the place. It all seemed so perfect. He spent a short but sweet half year there before The Rising.[/hider]

[hider=Dylan Carther (AnriuSB)]Dylan Carther, Former Chief of Waynesville Police force:
Age: 42
Eyes: Greenish blue
Sex: Male
Hair Color: Dark Brown
[img=http://kptm.images.worldnow.com/images/19276942_BG1.JPG]
Blood Type: A+
Immune: No

Gear: A 50 Calibre long ranged rifle along with an asortment of other weaponry stored at the gas station. Winter and summer clothing, all of which is black. An assortment of different knives, it is a collection of sorts, every man needs a hobby. A simple silver wedding ring on his left index finger, it is a momento from his late wife. A wooden pipe gifted to him from his only daughter before the apocalypse.

Personality: Dylan is a strong and very self critical man, he expects the same of himself from everyone around him, and abhors immoral actions. He has recently lost a part of himself, a certain glow that used to radiate from him is now absent. He retains his kindness, but he has lost his hope for a brighter tommorow. If not for his mountain of stubborness he would have long given up on survival. Dylan has a strong sense of loyalty, and will go out of his way to put himself in danger to help others. However, he is not niave and will not stand for being used. His loyalty often clashes with his selflessness and these clashes cause quite a bit of inner turmoil. His time with the police force has given him the ability to make hard descisions in high tension situations, and he regrets alot of the things he has had to do to ensure the survival of the majority. He is slowly becoming a bitter old man and is constantly critisizing himself for it. Dylan has become a very tired person.

History: Before the apocalypse Dylan lived a peacefully life, watching over his family and the entirety of the Waynesville area of Missouri as chief of the police force. He was thought of kindly by the majority of the small town for his kindness and compassion. He put his heart into everything he did, and was an extremely well made person. Dylans family consisted of his 3 year old daughter Anna and his wife Elizabeth. He loved them both and always came home with a smile on his face, and a custom greeting for the day.

It was a mostly quiet day when the breakout begun, when suddenly an unprecedented number of calls began streaming in one after the other. Dylan managed the station as his officers went out to investigate the complaints. It was insanity and took them a good 3 hours of madness to get a handle on what was happening;

"My Husband woke up this morning and suddenly attacked me, I dont know whats come over him, he has... Oh god!" "Miss Johnson, are you still there? Miss Johnson!?"

"They are everywhere, help me please, I'm trapped in my car... The windows.. No!" " Wait Ma'am, what is outside of your car? Ma'am?"

"It bit me... Oh god it bit me.. The blood... It's everywhere... Oh God..." "Excuse me Sir I need you too speak more clearly, What.."

And then the lines went dead. The telephone comms throughout the entire city went black in an instant, everyone was panicked, but Dylan managed to calm the situation and keep things under control. After four more hours of rescues and transporting lifeless bodies too the morg, Dylan finally thought of his family. His heart skipped a beat, he hadn't contacted them once since the madness had begun and now...

He rushed home, leaving his head officer in charge in his stead, blood had plastered itself all over the greeting mat, he opened the door, finding the house in dissaray. He investigated further, calling for his wife and child with no answer in return. He stepped into the master bedroom to find Mr. Anders from next door snacking on what used to be his wifes face. Dylan lost control, reaching for his pistol he shot the man in the head three times, as the body fell forward he heard a light crunch, his breath came in small, un controlled gasps as he tossed the former undead's body aside. His wife had been torn apart and in her arms was their 3 year old child, her neck snapped under the pressure of the man he had shot.

Dylan wept, unable to comprehend what had happened. They had been so happy, everything had been going so well... Why?
It was dark when he finally left the house, unable to move the bodies of his dead family. To this day he blames the event on himself, and has only shared it with one other person.

Throughout the last nine months he has been forced with more and more impossible descisions and horrible scenarios, each one nipping a bit of his self confidence off. He is a man that does a lot of sighing and quite a bit of drinking.[/hider]