Quest Line · Original Adventure · End of the World: Zombie Apocalypse
One-shot
The players are neighbors on Meadowbrook Circle, a quiet suburban cul-de-sac that has miraculously remained untouched by the zombie outbreak ravaging the city. For three weeks, they've barricaded themselves, rationed supplies, and listened to the distant screams. Tonight, a massive horde is being driven toward their street by military firebombing operations downtown. The players must decide whether to fortify and defend their homes, evacuate together, or fracture under pressure as neighbors reveal their true natures when survival is on the line.
Players portray themselves as residents of a suburban cul-de-sac. They should create realistic characters with everyday skills—perhaps one player has medical training, another is handy with tools, someone else might be athletic or good with people. Emphasize that these are ordinary people, not action heroes.
Content Warnings: Body horror, violence, difficult moral choices involving neighbors and pets, potential character death, themes of isolation and paranoia.
Choose one of the following hooks or combine elements:
Option 1: The Fire in the Sky At sunset, the players gather for their nightly check-in at the Johnsons' house (the unofficial meeting point). Through the windows, they see orange flames on the horizon and hear helicopters. Marcus, monitoring his ham radio, announces that the military is firebombing downtown, and the undead are being driven outward—directly toward the suburbs.
Option 2: The Desperate Arrival A bloodied teenager named Riley crashes through the wooden fence separating the cul-de-sac from the greenbelt, collapsing on someone's lawn. The teen gasps a warning: a massive horde, hundreds strong, is thirty minutes behind them. They were part of a refugee group that got overrun.
Option 3: The Breaking Barricade The makeshift barricade at the cul-de-sac entrance—shopping carts, cars, and lumber—begins to shake. Not from zombies yet, but from panicked survivors trying to push through from the main road. The players must decide whether to let them in, potentially leading the horde directly to their doorstep.
The eight houses of Meadowbrook Circle form a rough oval around a central island with a sad little playground and dying grass. The players have fortified their homes individually, but never tested their defenses against a real assault. As the session opens, the situation crystallizes: the horde will arrive within the hour.
What the Players See: Smoke rises from the city, three miles away. The constant background moaning that's haunted their nights for weeks grows louder, punctuated by crashes and car alarms. Streetlights flicker—power has been intermittent for days. Some neighbors emerge from their homes; others stay locked inside.
What the Players Can Do:
Key Decision: Thomas Garrett, the former HOA president, argues loudly for evacuating immediately. His SUV has fuel, and he knows back roads. But Dr. Patel, the retired physician, insists her husband is too sick to move—he's been fighting a fever that may or may not be a bite. This creates the session's central tension: stay or flee?
Skill Check: Players attempting to gather intelligence about the horde's size and direction can make a Logic + Observation check (Difficulty -2). Success reveals the horde is 200+ strong and will reach the cul-de-sac in 45-60 minutes. Negative result: they underestimate the threat.
The players must navigate interpersonal conflict while preparing for the horde. This scene focuses on difficult choices and reveals NPC motivations.
The Scenario: As preparations intensify, three problems emerge simultaneously:
Problem 1: The Sick Husband Dr. Patel's husband, Rajesh, is burning with fever. She swears he wasn't bitten—it's just pneumonia. But Thomas Garrett demands proof, and tensions escalate. The players must mediate or take sides. If examined closely (Dexterity + Medicine check, Difficulty -1), a successful character notices bite marks hidden under bandages on Rajesh's shoulder. Dr. Patel has been lying.
Problem 2: Limited Resources The cul-de-sac has one working vehicle with fuel (Thomas's SUV, seats 7), two hunting rifles, one shotgun, and limited ammunition. If evacuating, not everyone can go. If staying, they must decide how to distribute weapons. Marcus volunteers to stay behind as a lookout/sacrifice—he's convinced he won't survive anyway.
Problem 3: The Locked House The Reeves family at number 4 won't answer their door, but lights are on inside. Players can see movement through curtains. Breaking in (Strength + Subterfuge check, Difficulty -1) reveals they've stockpiled food and water far beyond what they claimed to have—enough to support the whole cul-de-sac for weeks. Jonathan Reeves, holding a pistol, orders everyone out.
Adversary Note: If combat occurs with Jonathan Reeves before the horde arrives: Jonathan Reeves (Desperate Hoarder): Physical 3, Mental 4, Social 2, HP 10, Armed with 9mm pistol (Damage +3). Will wound but not kill neighbors unless directly threatened.
Key Choice: The players must decide their core strategy:
Time pressure mounts as the moaning grows closer. The first zombies appear at the cul-de-sac entrance.
The horde crashes into Meadowbrook Circle like a rotting wave. This climax plays out differently based on earlier choices.
If Players Chose Fortification: The zombies shamble into the cul-de-sac, spreading across lawns and beating against doors. Players must hold a fortified position—likely one house with barricaded doors and windows.
Combat Notes: The horde contains 200+ zombies, but only 15-20 can press against the house at once. Standard zombies have Physical 2, Mental 1, Social 0, HP 6-8, Damage +1 (bite). They're slow but relentless.
Skill Checks:
Crisis Point: If Rajesh wasn't dealt with, he turns during the siege, creating chaos from inside. If the Reeves' supplies weren't secured, survivors run out of ammunition faster.
Possible Endings: 1. Survived Together: Players hold through the night. At dawn, the horde disperses, and military helicopters appear overhead. Rescue is possible, but the street is devastated. 2. Pyrrhic Victory: The players survive but at great cost—several NPCs dead, resources exhausted, and more hordes surely coming. 3. Overrun: The defenses fail. Players must make a desperate escape through the greenbelt while the cul-de-sac burns.
If Players Chose Evacuation: The group attempts to escape via back roads as the horde floods the cul-de-sac. They witness their homes being overrun in rearview mirrors.
Skill Checks:
Crisis Point: The vehicle breaks down or runs out of gas. Players must decide whether to continue on foot or fort up in a new location (gas station, school, etc.).
Possible Endings: 1. New Haven: The group reaches a rumored safe zone—a National Guard checkpoint or fortified farm. Not all neighborhoods were as lucky as theirs was for three weeks. 2. Fractured Flight: Disagreements cause the group to split. Some players make it to safety; others are left behind or choose different paths. 3. Full Circle: Unable to escape, the players fight their way back to the cul-de-sac, finding it partially cleared. They must rebuild from the ruins.
Thomas Garrett Former HOA president, early 50s, drives an SUV. Wants to evacuate immediately and is willing to leave others behind to ensure his family's survival.
Dr. Amrita Patel Retired physician, late 60s, calm and competent. Desperately hiding that her husband has been bitten; will lie and manipulate to protect him.
Marcus Webb Electronics technician, early 30s, lives alone. Operates the only working ham radio. Pessimistic and suffers from depression; believes he's expendable.
Jonathan Reeves Accountant, mid-40s, paranoid and armed. Has been secretly hoarding supplies for weeks. Distrusts everyone and will defend his stockpile with violence if necessary.
Riley Chen Teenager, 16 years old, only surviving member of their family. Athletic and resourceful but traumatized. Arrived at the cul-de-sac fleeing the horde; provides crucial intelligence about its size.
Survival Itself: Characters who make it through gain 1 experience point and the "Survivor's Guilt" or "Tested Under Fire" positive/negative feature (player's choice based on roleplay).
Tangible Gains:
Story Rewards: The players now have a shared trauma bond and reasons to continue as a group. If they stayed and survived, they control defensible territory. If they evacuated, they're experienced refugees who know how to work together under pressure—valuable in any survivor community.
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