N.G.A. Chapter 3: They Shall Have Stars At Elbow And Foot

This might be the last update for this particular story for some time while I wait for something more interesting to happen in the game. I've got some other stories in the works, however. Remember to click on screenshots to zoom in!

Project Zomboid

Nathan's Great Adventure

Chapter 3: They Shall Have Stars At Elbow And Foot

August 19th (1 month, 11 days since the Knox Event)

Yeah, the whole "repent for the end is nigh" thing isn't working out for me. Since this seems to be my new normal, I'm trying to find... I guess I would call it purpose? Something to keep me going day after day after day.

I decided a fresh start would be in order. I've shaved my head and beard -- let them grow from this point on. I've mended my torn clothes, and will, for the time being, live as a tender of the earth. And let it be known that death shall have no dominion over me.

September 3rd (1 month, 26 days since the Knox Event)

It's been storming for 3 days straight. Just as I wrote that, it stopped.

September 4th (1 month, 27 days since the Knox Event)

I've been looking for a reason to keep going. I don't know if this will work, but... I can't be the only person immune to the virus out there. I can't be. I know there are others.

I've built a pretty good base for myself here, pretty well-defended and secure.

I've even set up the ground floor to resemble a bar.

So I'm holding out hope. Hope that some day someone who is still alive out there will come along and join me. Who knows, perhaps we'll be able to build a... mimicry of society in this small part of the world. I've heard gunshots in the distance, and... the occasional scream. I know there are still people holding out. I just have to find them.

September 5th (1 month, 28 days since the Knox Event)

I've been mulling over a project in my head. The idea that I can turn this place into some kind of small settlement. I've decided to build small houses for people who would come in the future. Nothing big, but still luxuries for those who have perhaps been homeless for months, perhaps even years. And, if nothing else, it's keeping me occupied.

September 12th (2 months, 5 days since the Knox Event)

The first of the small cabins I'm hoping to eventually host people with is complete. I plan on building my own small "micro-town" and hopefully people will be able to move in at some point. If not... well, it's at least a project to keep me occupied. Every house will contain a bed, some shelves, a crate for generic storage, a fridge (whose freezers I'll use for now to store excess food), and some counters. I'm also hooking up a sink to a rooftop water-collector.

September 20th (2 months, 13 days since the Knox Event)

The small pond South of here still has fish. I wonder if there's use in building a cabin down there. An escape plan of some sorts.

N.G.A. Chapter 2: Long Vigils by the Silent Dust

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Project Zomboid

Nathan's Great Adventure

Chapter 2: Long Vigils by the Silent Dust

Day 8 (continued)

The helicopter flew overhead at the end of the day and just kept circling around. I know the pilot saw me, so there's no reason for me to stay outside in the rain. Help will be on its way now, I am sure of it.

The rain continued to fall as it got dark outside. I'm off to bed, knowing that tomorrow I'm likely going to be rescued.

Day 9, July 17th

Yesterday's light reading meant I wasn't as tired, and I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. Helicopter is still circling around overhead. It eventually moved away early in the morning. I assume it is leaving to get some supplies, or reinforcements? I'm gonna have to scrounge a little more before it comes back.

That's fine, it's only been a little over a week. I can manage.

At this point I'm not fooling myself. The odds of someone in Muldraugh being still alive are slim. I've not seen another live person in over a week until that helicopter flew overhead. So as far as I'm concerned, I should pick up what I can to survive. Right?

Found another prepper home. This one was for sale and empty; my guess is some people used it as a storage/safe house when they turned.

To compound what's a pretty disappointing day, I fell off my bike again and tore a hole in my boot. Splendid.

Day 10, July 18th

TV's out, all stations show only static now. Radio claims a thunderstorm is coming, which is good for the rain collectors. Today I'll try and complete the barricade up front. With some luck I can turn this place into some kind of fortress to weather the storm until help arrives.

...

I don't think help is coming. What they're calling the "Knox Event" has been happening all over the Country. Berlin. Tokyo.

I don't think I want to think about that right now.

Day 13, July 21st

Decided to take some time to bike around the neighbourhood. Saw multiple zombies; as I travel further away from home, I'm seeing more and more of those shamblers. I wonder why I don't see them as close to home... Perhaps they migrated to some other part of town?

Day 14, July 22nd

Major rainfall thunderstorm today. Built 3rd and final rainwater collector. Washed myself in the rain.

Day 19, July 27th

Wandered around Muldraugh a little to kill some zombies.

Day 22, July 30th

I need a haircut and a shave.

Fell off my bike, nearly got bitten.

Found the owner of the Rusty Rifle, a favourite haunt of mine. Had to put her down. Like the others. Well, I guess she won't mind if I help myself to some "supplies"?

Put it on my tab, Bree.

Day 25?, August 2nd

Power finally gave out. Luckily between the cars around and the gas I scrounged up, I'll be able to keep a generator running for some time. (Golly gee does it make noise though.)

I'll need to be careful about my power usage. Right now only the fridge is hooked up -- to preserve food a bit longer -- but lights will be a luxury at night from now on.

The good news is that I'm getting regular crops now. Cabbages are on a nice rotation, and soon I'll have some broccoli for variety and some tomatoes to use in traps.

Worse comes to shove, I still have my pickup which I can drain for gas.

Stupidly, in the late afternoon I took my bike to one of the more crowded areas of Muldraugh. The area was completely overrun, and I was pushed off my bike. One of them cut a pretty large gash in my arm, and another scratched my hand. I had to leave my bike behind, but I managed to make my way back home.

undated

undated

no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming no one's coming

undated

Come, my children, and be baptized in Blood and Steel. You are diseased, and I am your cure.

I got my bicycle back.

undated

August 18th (1 month, 10 days since the Knox Event)

This plague is the Lord's answer to your iniquity. With his sword at my back, I will purge the land of Sin and free you from your punishment.

REPENT

REPENT

REPENT

N.G.A. Chapter 1: I Am Not There, I Did Not Die

Welcome, first time readers and returning viewers, to a brand-new Let's Play series of Project Zomboid: Nathan's Great Adventure! For the following posts, we will be taking a close look at our dear friend Nathan Hinkledink, a survivor whose traits, strengths, and weaknesses aim to mirror my own.

Avid players of the zombie survival game will notice a few additions to the game. Yes, I will be playing with a certain number of mods; I've added mods which either modify a few things in the game for quality-of-life reasons (e.g. ) or add items which I really feel would be available for a survivor in rural Kentucky (e.g. Braven's Bicycles). I'm also playing on custom sandbox settings.

Anyway, without further ado, enjoy! And remember, click on screenshots to zoom in!

Project Zomboid

Nathan's Great Adventure

The Hinkledinks are one of Muldraugh's oldest families. Founded in 1857 by Sir Reginald Archibald Portabella Enrique Rodriguez Hinkledink, the Hinkledink Logging Company (now called something else and completely inconsequential to the plot) provided lumber to Kentucky citizens, and wealth to the Hinkledinks. They were renowned for their smarts and prowess, and were beloved by the people of Knox County.

Nathan Hinkledink was not beloved by the people of Knox County. He was not renowned for his smarts and prowess. No, Nathan Hinkledink was an overweight, out-of-shape middle-aged white man with very little to his name and even fewer accomplishments to follow him to his eventual grave. Unfortunately for the good name of Hinkledink, he was also the heir to the family fortune, and one of the only members of the esteemed pedigree still living in Kentucky.

This is the journal of the Hinkledinks' genetic dead-end, surviving through the end of the world.

Chapter 1: I Am Not There, I Did Not Die

Day 1, July 9th

Attacked by neighbour during walk, had to shoot her in self-defense. Called 911, no response. Went home, turned on the news, some kind of plague? Need to stock up on supplies. Saw a dead body. Bringing a baseball bat just in case.

No one's around, those that are around are vicious. Rabies? News didn't say.

No one at the nearby market; found the owner's corpse in the back storage. Gonna grab everything I can, this might last a few days.

Snuck into neighbour's shed for supplies. House was empty, car gone. Dead, or fled? Found nails, saw; can start breaking down furniture for wood. Fortify the house.

Moved some things to the 2nd floor; should move everything here for safety. Will start tomorrow.

Day 2, July 10th

As a teenager, I read Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide, which was quite a feat because it's 1994 and the ZSG comes out in 2003. 

Foggy today, but will need to scavenge some more. Raided more neighbours' homes. Stole a radio. Neighbour had a gun, could be useful. Found some padded pants for winter and a leather jacket for "armour".

(As a side note, if this is not the apocalypse, I'll have a lot of explaining to do.)

Ate some pork chops while watching Woodcraft.

Last house on this side of the bend is boarded up. Hearing sounds inside. Sounded like zombies.

Zombies. Of course. 2 dead inside, 3 zombies. Put the last three down, and paid respects to the first two. Looks like they were preppers; found lots of supplies, new duffel bag, and a handmade bullet-proof vest. Thank you, preppers, though I'm sad that I'll put away my tartan cap for now.

Tomorrow, need to look into longer-term survival. Roof-top water collectors, a small farm, etc.

Day 3, July 11th

"Zombies. Of course."

Of course my ass?! Who even thinks like that?

Anyway, I know of a warehouse on the East side of town. Might contain supplies for longer-term survival.

No one around but the dead.

Found some seeds and a trowel. Jackpot.

I've setup a small farm, planted some cabbage, tomato, and broccoli seeds. Tomorrow I'm going to fortify this place more, and start moving things to the second floor. Need to find better storage solutions.

Day 4, July 12th

Teaching myself to forage. Started looting more nearby homes, almost done with my street. Went back to the house whose shed I looted on the 9th, the inhabitants... well, they're not alive anymore.

TURBO channel is broadcasting some news. Curfew has been set, though I don't think it's gonna help anything.

Buried the neighbour. She was always kind to me, brought me cookies after... well, she deserved to be put to rest.

Started dismantling the furniture in my neighbours' homes for lumber. I really hope they're dead.

Day 5, July 13th

More of the same. Almost done setting the kitchen on the second floor.

The day was uneventful. I scrounged around and scrapped a bit of the first floor flooring to get some wood, but otherwise the day was quiet. No zombies spotted today. I am starting to wonder when exactly the government is going to step in and send search & rescue parties... or any kind of help, really.

...maybe they have been? Need to start listening to the radio more.

Day 6, July 14th

Had some leeks for breakfast and lunch. Dead mouse and rat for dinner. Trying to keep non-perishables for as long as possible.

Day 7th, July 15th

The sinks are dry; the water's been cut off. I've got a rain collector set up, but if it doesn't rain soon... My bath is full so I have a few days' worth of water. I'm sure I can scrounge some from nearby.

Stupid. In my panic to find more garbage bags to make more rain collector barrels, I fell off my bike and badly cut my hand.

Day 8, July 16th

Still no rain. Need to conserve energy, don't want to get too thirsty. Spent the day reading.

Lucky, light rain in late afternoon. Better than nothing.

There's been a growing noise in the distance. Propellors. A helicopter flying around.

I might be saved!!

To be continued in Nathan's Great Adventure, Chapter 2: All By Myself