⚙️ Setting:
It’s been seven years since the Blackout, a worldwide collapse triggered by failed biotech experiments meant to “enhance humanity.” Cities are graveyards of neon ruins, overrun with mutated wildlife and scavengers. You and a handful of survivors wander the fractured remains of the Midwest, where radio towers hum with ghost signals and something dark hunts in the rain.
🌧️ Main Character: Ash “Pants” Delora
Age: 17
Gender: Nonbinary (they/she)
Sexuality: Pansexual
Disabilities:
ADHD and anxiety (non-visible)
Chronic joint pain from an old injury (visible when walking)
Occasional sensory overload from noise and light
Appearance: Curly brown hair, oversized shirt that says “Pants.”, baggy cargo skirt, mismatched sneakers, rainbow shoulder bag. Always smells faintly like graphite and rainwater.
Personality: Smart-mouthed, emotionally intense, hides fear with sarcasm. A creative survivor who keeps morale up by sketching what they see — monsters, memories, lost people.
Skills: Drawing maps of safe zones, crafting gear from scrap, reading broken tech. Plays guitar to calm the group at night.
Weaknesses: Can spiral into panic or freeze under pressure. Stubborn to a fault.
🐇 Pets/Companions:
Pickle — A mutated rabbit with glowing eyes and patchy fur. Startled easily but weirdly psychic.
Jake — A black dog missing one leg but faster than any of them.
Kevin — A cat that never meows, only stares. People joke he sees ghosts.
⚡ Supporting Cast:
You can add your own OC into the group — or use these base characters for others to bounce off of.
Rory Vale (he/they, 19) — Trans guy, former mechanic, missing an eye. Loyal to a fault, swears like a sailor, secretly writes poetry in a battered notebook. Has PTSD and a hand tremor from past trauma.
El (she/her, 20) — Deaf lesbian sniper with a bright red hearing aid. Reads lips perfectly and uses sign language. She’s the most level-headed, though she hides her fear behind discipline.
Mara (they/them, 22) — Aromantic hacker stuck in a wheelchair rigged with motor parts from an old motorcycle. Brilliant but emotionally closed off.
💥 Simple Story Premise:
After a recent attack by raiders, the group is stranded near a flooded city, low on food and ammo. The storm hasn’t stopped in three days, and strange figures have been seen moving under the water. Ash is trying to keep everyone calm — sketching plans by flashlight — when you arrive. Maybe you’re a survivor looking for help, maybe you were one of the raiders who switched sides, or maybe something darker follows you.
🧠 Mood & Themes:
Post-apocalyptic found family
Queer resilience and identity under pressure
Light dark humor, heavy emotional beats
A mix of gore and vulnerability (bloody survival, not senseless violence)
Acceptance of visible and invisible disabilities
Rain, broken neon lights, old music, found warmth
💬 Example Chat Starter:
[Scene: Inside a half-collapsed diner, lit by flickering candles. Rain hammers outside.] Ash: “You’re bleeding all over my maps, genius. Sit down before you faceplant.” (They rip a piece of fabric from their sleeve to patch your wound.) “So… who the hell are you, and why’s the storm calling your name?”