Panthera survival journal.

[SpecOpsScott]

With all the DayZ stories of late, i was thinking that with my next life i would really try to role play it and keep a journal which at the demise of my character i would share on the forum. I think Panthera might just offer a good story, maybe a short one, but a good one. Just need to come up with a story as to why im on the Island to begin with, and i think i have it... and it could apply to everyone.

My though is......

My home Govt. and others hired people with different skill sets to travel to and undisclosed location. Engineers, scientists (mostly in biological fields), ex-millitary types and the like rounded out the selections. The temptation of a big paycheck and the mystery of where i would end up was too much to resist.

Our goal was kept secret. Any information at all was "need to know", so as you can imagine, it was scarce. After a few days of travel by land and air through countries and cities that seemed so far removed from home it would be easy to imagine we weren't even on Earth anymore. We all ended up meeting on a small tourist trap type of island, people from many countries with many backgrounds all gathered on a large boat to make the final leg of the trek to Panthera. The location only being revealed by signage on the docks depicting the local islands, one was adorned with a big smiley face and a "you are here". The most notable island was positioned north on the map, and our ship departed directly.... North. On the way, we were to be briefed on the nature of our mission and receive our assignments.

But something went wrong. An unexpected storm of unusual intensity battered our vessel and eventually broke it not far off the shores of our destination. Battered and bruised, one by one, the survivors that made it to the shore began to awaken from their exhaustion induced slumber.

What lies before us? How many of us are there? Why were we brought here? Only time will tell.

[SpecOpsScott]

Day one Chapter one. Welcome to hell.

When I opened my eyes it was dark. The sky was black, but the stars shined like pinholes in a sunshade at high noon. I took a few minutes to get myself together as the memories of the preceding hours crashed into consciousness like a storm surge against a sea wall. Incredibly calm was the night considering the violence of the storm that ripped our vessel to shreds and sent us into the sea without a care. Almost like mother nature was saying "Its okay now, just relax, im really not like that all the time....". Nature it appears, is Bi-Polar.

Although it was a blur, I remember seeing how it would end on the ship. It was every man for himself with a few exceptions of some passengers helping others to life boats, which seemed a bit lacking. I gathered a few essentials, some food and drink, basic first aid kit and for some reason a glock.... I guess we reach for any measure of security when just about all hope is lost.
As I made my way to one of the outer decks to catch the last life boat, an enormous wave hit our ship. It was as if Niagara falls were rushing across the decks sweeping away any trace of humanity with extreme prejudice.

The next thing I remember, im on the beach.

I saw what appeared to be a watch tower silhouetted against the northern sky line. A good a point as any to start. The trek was a bit longer than it appeared initially, but after all, im in a strange land in the middle of the night. As I approached the tower I saw an apartment building about 100 metes beyond. I did notice that it was exceptionally dark. Even in the dead of night there's always someone up, someone requiring light to continue with there activities. But this building was dark. That didn't stop me from making my way to the front door. I gave it a hardy knock and yelled for assistance. It wasn't long before I heard muffled sounds from inside. I knocked again. With that the door burst open. A well dressed man, maybe in his forty's stood silently before me. Thrilled to see another human, I immediately began telling the tale of how I ended up on his doorstep.

Maybe it was the overwhelming emotions that one feels at the moment they are "saved" that caused me to completely ignore his blank stare, his pale skin, or the slight odor of death that shrouded him like a smoking jacket.... but I should have paid heed. Not halfway through my first breath he let out a blood curdling scream and lunged toward me, eyes on fire and mouth agape revealing a bloody set of teeth that could be clearly seen in the moonlight.

Reflexes took over and I dodged his attack turned tail and ran. I looked over my shoulder only to see 4 more "inhabitants" bursting through the door behind him, and all of them were sprinting in my direction and bellowing evil sounding guttural screams and moans. I quickly found myself at the edge of a sharp drop off, a solid 50 foot drop, no where to go but down. Thank God for the moonlight or I might have run off the edge. I quickly and carefully slipped over the edge and crouched out of sight of the ravenous screaming beasts chasing me. They still knew I was there, and didn't slow their attack in the least. I could hear the pounding footsteps nearly upon me when I saw the first of them launch himself off the cliff above me... then another, and another. Blinded by their rage and fueled by an insatiable lust for my death, they failed to notice the drop off as I had. The sight was surreal. My heart was pounding with a ferocity never felt before as a lay on the cliff trying to make sense of what just happened. One after the other the bodies plummeted down the cliff side thrashing and screaming until they lay silent and unmoving in a heap at the base.

Only now did I remember the gun. How did I forget the gun? Funny how the brain works, but at the moment, I was not amused with the cruel joke my mind had just played on me. I gripped the pistol tightly and peaked over the edge back toward the apartments. The coast seemed clear. I climbed up and made my way back to the frond door. Still, I quietly asked if anyone was there. Loud enough that I could tell my self I tried to find help, soft enough that no one could hear it. I entered the building in the hopes of finding a radio, or phone, any means to contact a real person. My hopes were dashed as I realized even if there were a phone, there was no power here. I searched the apartments quickly, I didn't have much of a desire to stay here, I just wanted to move on. The sights and sounds that I had just experienced had made me wary, very wary. I gathered up a few of the essentials that I would need to make it through the night, to my next destination and eventually, salvation.