The Croatoan Virus Outbreak

Lore & Background

Infection is rapid and brutal; once bitten or exposed to airborne particles, the host transforms into a ravenous predator within hours. The infected do not seek food in the traditional sense but are driven by an insatiable urge to bite others, spreading the contagion exponentially. This creates a scenario where entire cities fall overnight, not to fire or bombs, but to the chaotic frenzy of their own neighbors turning against them.

In Their Own Story

The rain in London didn't wash away the blood; it only made the cobblestones slicker for the shuffling dead. Agent Liz Sherman watched from the rooftop as the city below dissolved into a sea of gray coats and red eyes, the silence broken only by the wet tearing sounds of the infected. There was no time to mourn the world that had been; there was only the cold wind, the weight of her fire, and the desperate need to keep moving before the horde reached the stairwell.

Reader's Guide

The outbreak begins when the dormant virus is released into the global atmosphere or a major population center. Within days, major cities across Europe and North America collapse as the infection spreads faster than authorities can contain it. Survivors, including key B.P.R.D. agents like Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman, find themselves isolated in pockets of resistance. They must navigate a world where civilization has crumbled, facing not only the infected but also desperate human factions willing to do anything to survive. The narrative follows these survivors as they attempt to uncover the source of the outbreak and find a cure or containment method. The story highlights the psychological toll of the apocalypse, showing how characters struggle with loss while fighting for a future that may no longer exist.

Did You Know?

• The virus was originally designed by Nazi occultists during World War II to create an army of mindless slaves.
• Despite being infected, victims retain high mobility and aggression levels far beyond typical zombie depictions.
• The name 'Croatoan' is a direct reference to the historical mystery of the lost Roanoke Colony in North Carolina.
• The B.P.R.D. agents are among the few organized groups attempting to survive and understand the global catastrophe.