What is this game, exactly?It's just a casual, post-apocolyptic place to tag. There's no pressure to keep up with an overarching plot, Zanzibar itself is just a setting provided for you to tag away in.
So the setting is Zanzibar?Yes! A tropical island with a fun name, in the 21st century, on an absolutely normal Earth. Except, now it's the only place left on earth. Everywhere else still exists, but has been branded 'forsaken', after a parasite took over and killed the
entire population of Earth. Zanzibar is now a motley band of refugees, locals and the last hope for humanity, after shutting it's borders quickly after the crisis started. The last plane and boat have just left, and now you're stuck here for the forseeable future.
Yikes! So what was this parasite?It was commonly known as the Lurg. The scientific name is somewhere on record, but there's not many scientists left to use it. It started rather innocuously with a highly contagious fever, but after a few weeks, other symptoms developed.
Bizarre symptoms, which could vary from person to person, and were mostly psychological. They could vary from singing at random, to being especially irritable, to being spontaneously honest.
After a week or so of these, the infected started to develop a zombie like state - they were now just carriers for the parasite, and had no interest but carrying it on. They were not exceptionally violent, just had reduced brain function and conscious thought. After a few days of this state, they dropped promptly dead.
The disease is a parasite, spread by contact with animals - and by eating their meat. No animals
as far as we know on Zanzibar are infected.
So, what are our characters doing on Zanzibar?You have two choices! Your character can already be established for one reason or another on Zanzibar (they could have been on holiday, working on a project, whatever you want to come up with). They have been permanently relocated to a city for refugees who cannot go home - they have been given an apartment, rations to meet their basic needs and basic amenities. They, like everyone else on the island, are expected to chip in and work towards the general good of the community. If you don't work, you don't get rations. Very simple.
The second choice is tougher. Your character can be on one of the many boats which ended up stranded at sea. After the news reached the island that the high majority of the worlds' population has died, they decided to
very cautiously accept the boats into their harbour. All those living on the boats will under go a strict screening and quarantine process. You are welcome to start playing them after their quarantine is over. They will be permitted to bring anything on them
except food onto the island, and will then live in the same city as the others, doing similar work.
Okay, so what jobs are there?We've got a handy
jobs post, for that. If there's anything your character might want to do that isn't listed, just comment and the government will give you a swift response. Hard workers are always welcome.
What about the town?The town is split up into two areas: the town proper and the quarantine area. The quarantine area is strictly controlled, with access given to medical and government personnel only. The town proper has housing accommodations for all residents, plus some for those who make it out of quarantine. They're very basic little cabins and you're welcome to share if you so choose.
The town also has a clinic, its own little farm, a schoolhouse and really anything else for basic living. The quarantine area has much smaller houses and a clinic, as well as a government office where they receive their own rations.
And my rations. What're they like?Basic, weekly, and only what can be grown on the islands. The production of non essential goods are prohibited on the island, so extra clothes, technology and fancy foods will not be available. Even if you break yours. So look after them.
How does this Government work?Basically, there's a set of
IC rules characters have to abide by, but otherwise, the Government will act like a very distant NPC. If you have a query for the people who run your life, feel free to send them a message, and a faceless bureaucrat will send you a prompt, efficient, and possibly less-than-helpful answer. Characters are free to work for the government in any capacity - bureaucracy, border control, police work. These are all detailed in the
Job Post If I don't obey the Rules?CONSEQUENCES. Not working = no rations. Other rule breaking might have the police coming after you.
How do I get around, then?Mostly, walking. Petrol is, understandably, tightly rationed, so the only vehicles permitted to be run on the island are for emergency services and vital government matters. If you work in these areas, you may just have a motorbike at your disposal, but use it wisely.
How do I talk to others?It's 2020. Cellphones for everyone! If you arrived on a boat, you have been provided with one by the government. They're ultra modern phones, too, so have video, phone, text, picture messaging, all sorts.
In fact, the only thing your phones and laptops can't pick up is the internet.
There is no TV, as Zanzibar got all it's broadcasts from Tanzania, but there's still a radio station, blasting out the best of humanity's music. Naturally.
And the local people?Well, you live, work and act on the same terms they do. But they do like to keep their distance, because they're not quite sure if you could be infected like the others. It's a worry, and so they're cautious about openly interacting with you, except from where they have to.
So what does my character get to bring with them?If you were living here previously - whatever your character had brought. A suitcase from their holiday, for example.
If you arrived on a boat, you can have a backpack's worth of stuff, not including food.
You will be allowed to keep weapons, provided you swear to use them for public defence and nothing else.
If my character dies in game?They're dead. People will cry, funerals will be held. But they're not coming back. As this is a casual game, and death can happen, feel free to kill a character off and start playing another. It's just fine.
If I want my character to get the disease?Ohohoho. Come talk to a mod. We will plot until hilarity (or tragedy) ensues.
hint: most likely tragedy.If I want my character to cure the disease?Good luck with that. Given you've got two small clinics to do what thousands of other doctors and hospitals spent two years trying to achieve. But you're always welcome to try!
Alternate Universe? Meaning?Naturally, most characters do not exist in a world where zombies are taking over and Zanzibar is the world's last hope. So, all characters in the game will be AU. This means there has to be a reason for them to be in Zanzibar/on a boat. It also means they have to fit in on a totally human Earth, in 2020.
So characters with powers no longer have them, characters from before 2020 should be updated, non-human characters should be adapted to make them human and characters not from Earth should be adapted to be from Earth. They can still be from their usual canon location and keep as many details that fit.
By all means, go to town creating an AU backstory that works for your character, changing what is necessary - but try and keep some identifying aspects of the original character.
Feel free to ask any questions here about what would and wouldn't work.
I've got some other questions!Leave them in a comment and the mods will get back to you as promptly as possible.
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zanzibar and 
