Editing AfterTheBomb.Setting (section)

==Overall Setting Notes "RUINED EARTH"==
Before the ''Big Death'' the old '''US Empire''' and the rest of the world were competing for the ever dwindling resources such as fossil fuels and fertile lands to grow food for its ever expanding populations. Genetics had advanced beyond anyone’s ability to really control it. Human-animal hybrids, called Uplifts or sometimes Chimera, became all the rage to meet the demands of ever cheaper labour and disposable soldiers. In many third world countries genetics became the cheap answer to weapons of mass destruction and world prestige while many terrorist organizations, racial militias and criminal groups rushed to release their own versions of death onto the world at large. Most first world countries also developed A.I. computers and andriods to further spread their domination in this so-called '''''Resource Wars'''''.

This all came to a head eventually when someone, no one knows who, released a super virus that specifically targeted human’s genus and mutated fast enough that no one could produce a counter to it before it was too late. Society collapsed into madness as mobs went crazy destroying what little hope mankind had of survival. Some countries, including the old US Empire, tried to slow or contain the spread of the virus with limited nuclear strikes on their own land. It instead seems to have had the opposite effect, mutating the virus even faster than before. In the end the only intelligence survivors were the Pure Strain Humans, genetically altered super humans (transhumans), Mutant Humans and Uplifted Animals and Mutant Plants.

It has been at least a hundred years since the Big Death and the end of the Reign of Man. Humanity has been all but wiped out by the virus and nuclear bombs that fell onto the Earth. In fact most non-modified Humans of old are dead, replaced by a somewhat superior and so-called Pure Stain Humans. These Humans are not as of old and had been genetically modified doing the days of the Ancients to be resistance to almost all diseases and poison and who can survive far longer in the harsh wastelands then people of old. 

There are also mutant Humans, those gifted (or cursed) by strange powers and abilities. Most of this 'gifts' are subtle or only cause slight outward sights of deformities. Uplifted Mutant Animals also roam the Earth. Most look like the creatures of old but now upright, walking on two legs, with working hands and the ability to speak like a Human. A few also have strange new mutant powers and/or deformaties but most simply look like an upright version of their animal ancestry and breed true with other like genus of their parents. Plants have also been mutanted and as such now intelligence and mobile forms are found throughout the Ruined Earth.  
 
Besides those groups listed below I am using a few ideas from Gamma World in this Ruined Earth setting, including...</Br>
1.) "Cryptic Alliances", semi-secret societies whose ideological agendas—usually verging on monomania—often bring them into conflict with the rest of the world. No one really understands or knows what their ultimate plans or goals are (they are spead out in small cells that somehow communicate with each other and very secreative). </Br>
2.) Pure Strain Humans of the "Knights of Genetic Purity" seek to exterminate all mutants. They are spread throughout the states of the Old US Empire. They opperate in small cells indepent of each other and are very secrative. </Br> 
3.) The all-mutant territories of "Iron Society" want to eliminate all unmutated humans (based mostly in and around Texas and Oklahoma). They blame humans for the Big Death and barely tolerate Mutant Humans (and they are treated as second class citizen). </Br>
4.) Other rivalries involve attitudes towards Ancient technology, with some alliances such as "The Restorationists", seeking to rebuild Ancient society, while others, such as "The Seekers" (found mostly in southwestern Mexico), want to destroy remaining artifacts and generally hate technology. </Br> 
5.) The Sentinels: this AI collective of super computres and andoids wish to extermate all non-machine live (not just sentien life) on the the planet. They are based out of Washington DC but have access to many advanced vehicles amd weapons, and have spread throughout the Old US Empire to learn about the situation so that one day they can carry out the genocidal plans. Their lands are refered to as the Created as a front where the keep simple low-tech slave sentients as a cover.   
===BRIEF HISTORY AND SETTING FOR 'LEAVING LOS VEGAS'===
[[File:Atb.NewVegas.jpg | 700px]]
'''New Vegas''' (built on the ruins of the old city) has a population of around 30,000 with a mix mutants, pure strain humans and uplifted animals and plants is the core setting where the player's characters start out there adventures at. The city is open to all and has a very cosmopolitan to all sentient beings. All are welcome and free to live and trade as they wish.

The city’s overall technology is probably closer to the old US Empire of the 1970’s and 80's but less reliance on fossil fuels (although there are some coal mining pits to the southwest and natural gas fields to the south and east). They can replace the machine parts of most tech of this present level, including car parts and older aircraft.

The city government is something like a city-state republic, with an elected Lord-Mayor and city council (12 members). All serve six year terms. While these elections are open to any New Vegas citizen, most are part of the city’s oligarchy (local merchants). The city has fairly light laws and people have few restricts put on them by the council. This does not mean anarchy of course and murder, rape, slavery, robbery, assault and even certain drugs use are all outlawed. Punishment for such is generally hard labor and/or exile from the city. Execution are rare but are the penalties reserved for rape and murder and slavery.

The city maintains a local law enforcement force of 500 souls. This police force is fairly well received and respected by the local population but there is of course a strong illegal underground criminal element. These officers are armed mostly with pistols and shotguns along with a few wearing some sort of armor. They maintain a small motor pool with the rest of patrols being conducted on foot or with riding animals or even Uplifted horses and rider teams. There is also a standard city army of 400 professional soldiers who are better equipped and trained for military action. They have a few light armored transports and propeller aircraft and at least one helicopter and conduct patrols outside the city (especially to the north). The city also enlists a local militia of 2,500 members whom train in different groups of 100 at least four days every month. They are provide firearms by the city and keep these weapons at their homes but ammunition is given out sparingly and the militia are excepted to purchase extra on their own with their monthly stipend.
 
The major villains in the setting is the so-called the '''Hyborian Empire''' based out of the old US military base '''Area 51''' and '''Groom Lake Facility'''. The Empire is dominated both socially and militarily by an elite cadre of transhumans whom call themselves the ''Hyborians''[https://www.pinterest.com/pin/363454632434376119/]. These super-soldier make up about 10% of the overall population of the Empire around 2,000 souls. Most of the citizen population is made up of Pure Strain Humans whom make up another 50% of the overall population at around 10,000 souls. Citizens are branded with their civilian ID on their right arms. The remained are slaves made up of capture Mutant Humans, Animals and Planets, and Hyborian or Pure Strain ‘traitor’ former citizens that make up another 8,000 souls.

Most of the Pure Strain Humans of the Empire were workers and techs on the research part of the Area 51 Groom Lake base while Hyborians where created by the Pure Strains to act as guards and security for the base as the old US Empire fell (after most of the normal human soldiers and techs either feld or died). The Hyborians quickly saw themselves as superior to all beings on the Earth. Before the final fall they seized the facility and local military base as their own. Over the last hundred years they have lead slave and supply raids into the outlying lands but never extensive attacks. They never had the number to start conquering the lands beyond the Groom Lake valley. But it is a dream of all of them to one day they will rule over the Earth, first the old US Empire, then the world (for the lesser/inferior beings benefit of course).

The Empire today enjoys a fairly high technology level and standard of living (especially for the Hyborians), such that some furture tech is available to them (including some primitive or early stage cybernetics) They are not large enough to manufacture everything they need but they have managed to produces enough machine parts to maintain the technology of old… or at least parts of it such as vehicles, a local internet hub and limited aircraft. At present they have a couple of dozen of military helicopters, six fighter jets and two bombers. They have maybe a hundred armored fighting vehicles and three main battle tanks. Most of the military is armed with automatic rifles and combat infantry armor.

The Hyborians are generally very warry of mutants within their own populations, and there are very few if any within their own bloodline. This is in part due to the fact that many families will destroy any of their own children who they deem as ‘weak’ and all mutations are seen as a weakness and dilution of their pure, superior bloodline. 

Almost the entire adult Hyborian population (90% of the adults who make up about 60% of the overall population) is trained for war and are expected to be competent in as many forms of combat as possible. Of their population, around 10% (200) make up their standing professional full time army (and extremely limited air force) with another 25% (500) trained to act as a part-time militia whom serve in times of emgency. This militia trains at least once a month but otherwise are unarmed as the rest of the civilian populations. There is also a small group of some 500 soldier slaves made up various mutant humans and uplifted animals. These troops are trained and conditioned from birth to be absolutely loyal and obedient to their officers but even so they also tend to have various lethal measures to keep them in line (such as explosive collars, etc.). 

While Empire is only 150 miles north of New Vegas they have little direct contact. One of the major factors seperating the two states is that a nuclear bomb was dropped between the two area as the old US Empire was attempting to stop the virus. That radiation is still unhealth creating a Red Zone even today. Hence the Empire needs to take a long detore around this area to reach New Vegas.

There are no other big settlements or lands claimed by any group near New Vegas. Father out there is largest named lands of the '''Free Plains''' located to the east claiming parts of the Great Plains region of the Old US Empires heartland. The Free Plains have the greatest overall population and land area, number well over a hundred thousans, but are scattered among various tribes and clans and families that are often hostile towards each other and outsiders. Their loose confederation have few common practices except for their one universal law – that no one ever uses another beings as an unwilling beast of burden. This law applies even to unintelligence non-sentient animals.

Another towards the southwest are the lands of the '''Bandits Kingdom'''. These ''Kingdoms'' are are mostly mountainous (claiming much of the old central Rockie Moutains). Many, if not most, of the tribes here spend a good portion of their lives stealing and raiding into other territories, hence their nations name (at least by outsiders).

Both groups  are fairly primitive, using swords and bows as their main armaments or the occasional firearm salvaged or stolen from someone else. Most lead vary nomadic lifestyles, wandering the length of breath of their landscape.

===SETTING NOTES FOR ADDITIONAL IDEA 'ROAD HOGS'===
:“It has been over a 100 years since the ''Big Death'', when most of Humankind was wipes off this world. None are alive today really know what the world was like before the ''Big Death''. It was said to be a ''Golden Age of technology'' and wonder. But the hubris of the Ancients ended all that. In their attempt to hold off the inevitable the Ancients dropped their Nukes on the soils of their own lands but this only spread the virus faster. We still live with the Red Zones even now, after all this time. But we also are free. And you are a defender of that freedom.
:You are a members of the '''State Troopers'''. For many of you, your families have served this great institute for generations and we hope your decedents serve us for many generations to come. You reflect the best of the citizens of the '''Free State of Calli'''. And as for your newcomers, those who have no family ties with us I except no less dedication and courage to duty and to the Troopers. We must all remain ever vigilant from the gangs and marauders from the so-called Road Hogs. But they are not the only treat to our lands. Invaders and bandits have plagued our highways since we took over for the last Human Troopers. We alone maintained the roads the rule of law. But our laws, not Ancients.
:From these traditions I expect the highest levels of respect and courage from each and every one of you. We are all that stands between the peace loving folks of this state and the lawlessness of the north and south, or the invasion dictatorships of the east. That badge you wear reflects these ideals. Good luck out there Troopers!”
:''Captain Diggerson, north regional Captain of the State Troopers of Free California (Mutant Badger uplift) giving a speak to the newest graducating class of State Troopers''

This game is set in the '''Free State of Calli'''. The ''Free State of Calli'' was formed about 80 years ago by members of the '''California State Patrol''' and the '''Free City-State of Sacramento'''. Other independent cities and lands joined over the years flocking to the flag of freedom that the ''Free State'' promoted. The state now extends from the '''City-State of Barstow''' in the far south to the '''Old Highway 44''' and '''Free City of Redding''' in the north. The ''Free State'' promotes the idea of all sapient have rights and freedoms. They work together to promote good will and trade within its borders and free trade with those of similar ideas outside its boards.</Br>

The '''Cali State Patrol''' (or just the '''State Patrol''') is the official law enforces on the roads and highways of '''Calli''' and their work crews maintain the roads throughout the ''Free State'' to better promote trade and travel. They protect these crews and the citizens from bandits and raiders. The have numberous Regional Outposts[https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/attachments/2hdqjvp-jpg.255626/], mostly concentrated in the northern and eastern parts of the state (to protected against the Road Hogs of the north and the Imperium to the east). </Br>

Most have a very good reputation throughout the state. They generally don't enforce the laws within any free city's limits unless specifically asked or is one of the cities that have grown up around their outposts. They maintain their own fleet of vehicles, most being ground cars of the Old World. They do have a few helicopters in their service but they are hard to maintain and so are used mostly in emergencies. </Br>

The ''Free State'' is surrounded by a few allies and more than one set of hostile lands. Of course there are the '''Road Hogs''' of the old state of '''Oregon'''. These lands are dominated by the powerful '''Swine Brotherhood''' a barbaric and large Motorcycle Gang but they are also made up of numerous other animal and mutant tribes and gangs of outlaws. </Br>

To the west, out on the '''Pacific''' is a chain of islands which serves as the trading area between ''Calli'' and both the '''Seals Republic''' and the waters of the '''Dolphin Free Seas'''. Both are allies and trading partners of the state. </Br>

Towards the northeast are the '''Horselords Lands''' which are allied with the ''Free State''. There lands include the eastern Rockie Moutains of California and Oragen and southern part of Washington state. They trade and have some shared semi-friendly contact with the lands north of the Road Hogs territories; the so-called '''Brotherhood of Thought''' (in this setting they are located in the middle and northern parts Washingon and southwestern Canada). </Br>

To the east are the very large and expansionist '''Prairie Dog Imperium'''. The Imperium are very xenophobic and wish to rule over all others (they claim for protection of Prairie Dog race). Their technology is about on par with the ''Free State'' especially in military matters with a few tanks and armored helicopers and jet fighters in their arsenal. There standing army is also in the thousands (no one really knows for sure and is made up excusively by Pairy Dog). Other Uplifted Animals, Mutant Humans and Plants and Pure Stain Humans within their lands are treated as Second Class citizens wtih few rights, especially the right to bare weapons of any kind except maybe hatchets and daggers. </Br>