Darkness in the East

"'Estria was born in blood. It gorged upon blood and grew into a giant, and it shall drown in blood.' —John Freeman Queen, Jr., The Messengers' Final Message, December 21, 1984"Estria is a smoldering carcass. Any illusion of order and cohesion was lost the moment the dust settled in the aftermath of the nuclear war, as war-weary refugees fill the I-65 in their desperate droves. The Military Anarchy lives here at its peak. In what were once among Estria's finest cities, psychotic snipers now pick off targets from the skeletons of atomically-ravaged skyscrapers, leaving the survivors to be mauled by packs of savage dogs.

The greatest city in the world, Enterprise City, has become the epicentre of an atrocious mixture of racial, political and criminal gang warfare, a slaughter that has mandated as many remaining loyal units of the Federal Army make their stand and enforce the rule of law in the Big Apple.

The once-capital of the Federation, Mendenhall F.D., is now overrun by gangs, ethnic insurrectionists and local warlords all feuding for the symbolic glory of the capital of the Federation, and the legitimacy it may bring. Metaphorically speaking, a rifle is trained behind every blade of grass, and seizing the nuke-ravaged capital of the country will prove a challenge to any bold enough to attempt it.

Player Introduction
The desolate ruins of what once was the Estrian eastern seaboard bring with them considerable opportunity, intrigue and opportunity. Hosting two of the most significant metropolitan centers in the entire country, the risk will be just as great as the reward, regardless of who you are. Take the mantle of the embattled Federal Army, bold anti-government insurrectionists waging war against the state, opportunistic mercenaries looking to turn a profit, bloodthirsty warlords and bandits preying on the populace, or weary refugees just trying to survive.

Depending on your character's profession and specialty, your character may specialize in a variety of roles in the anarchic Estrian east coast, and even thrive based on the conditions and demands of the apocalypse. Your origin may have heavy bearing on how you are introduced to the east coast. Certain elements, such as the Federal Army and mercenaries, may arrive from out-of-state, either as transfers from cantonments abroad or deliberate deployments.

Locations of Interest
Various locations, either due to resources, population or ongoing crises, have become focal points to the Estrian east coast during the Military Anarchy. The control and holding of these locations may prove vital in the struggle, either due to political, symbolic, resource-based or economic reasons.

The I-65
The I-65 Interstate, known colloquially as the Long 65, runs north-to-south along the course of the eastern seaboard, becoming a pivotal aspect of command and control over the region due to its invaluable role in facilitating the transporting of troops, supplies, goods and equipment.

Due to its nature, its role in the present situation is highly sought-after, and while the Federal Army controls much of the interstate, raider, insurgent and bandit encroachments have proceeded with increasing frequency and severity. Loss of control of the I-65 might spell doom for the Estrian military's ability to retain control over the seaboard, and with an unprecedented refugee crisis taking place, it is something the Estrian military cannot afford. As such, the defense and protection of the I-65 will be conducted and maintained by the Federal Army at all costs.

Enterprise City
The golden jewel of the Federation, Enterprise City survived the nuclear tribulations, its defense systems shielding it from the brunt of the devastation incurred upon other cities of the east coast, with only one ballistic missile managing to devastate the borough of Stockport. However, once the dust settled and the situation began to rapidly decay, Enterprise City became a hotbed for political and racial conflict. Enterprise City is currently one of the most vital strategic and political positions held by the Federal Army, the port of Gottheim acting as a key strategic gateway for Federal troops arriving from foreign cantonments.

A variety of landmarks exist in the boroughs of Enterprise City, both helping travelers navigate the Big Apple and proving to be sought-after locations in the neverending conflict surrounding the city.

Borough of Gottheim
The beating heart of the city. Almost entirely urbanized, its southern tip serves as the popular image of the Enterprise City skyline. Various locations are of note within Gottheim.


 * Liberty Center, currently acting as an emergency command center for Federal Army forces active in the city. Some floors are still operated by their corporate tenants, to which a certain degree of coordination between the military and private actors takes place.
 * The Colossus, situated on Colossus Island off the coast of Enterprise City, (albeit technically a part of the borough of Gottheim) the Colossus is a massive bronze statue depicting the ancient Nalian deity Sannia holding a torch. Symbolic of Enterprise City's culture and iconography, the Colossus has become the headquarters for the Federal Army deployment in Enterprise City.
 * Enterprise State Building, currently abandoned. Local area is disputed between militias associated with Students for a Democratic Estria, the Black People's Liberation Army, the Army of the Lord and government forces.

Borough of Senefelder Island
Senefelder Island is the least urbanized borough of EC, situated just to the south of Gottheim. Unlike much of the rest of the city, Senefelder Island was spared the chaos and unrest that arose in the aftermath of the Military Anarchy.

Borough of Blume
Though initially far more problematic, the situation in Blume has since calmed down, with the Federal Army keeping a tight grip on daily life within the devastated borough. Of particular strategic note is Michael Holder International Airport, located on the southeastern end of the borough. The airport has become one of the prime air hubs for (limited) Estrian aerial deployment capabilities.

Borough of Royals
Royals fared far less ideally compared to its sister borough of Blume. The situation has devolved into complete and utter chaos, with indiscriminate and often genocidal slaughter taking place on a whim. Gangs rove the street and enforce a vague semblance of order, though it is one the militias of the SDE and the AOTL hardly ever adhere to. The largest gang in Royals, the Zano-Orian 5th Street Emperor Disciples, occupy Richard Earl Blackwater International Airport, currently permitting limited civilian air traffic, especially mercenaries.

Borough of Stockport
The sole borough stricken during the nuclear war, much of downtown Stockport has since been transformed into a desolate post-nuclear wasteland, ruined streets flanked on all ends by the iron and concrete carcasses of devastated highrises. Stockport is of particular attraction to the denizens of Empire City (and the broader East Coast at large) due to the variety of anomalies that have since arisen in the area, as various explorers (known as 'stalkers') pursue these elusive and unusual items. A few gangs still operate in the ruins of Stockport, such as the Nalian Kings.

Mendenhall, F.D.
Once the illustrious capital of the nation, Mendenhall F.D. is now little more than an anarchic footnote in the overall chaos that has consumed the east coast. What the nuclear weapons did not succeed in devastating, the various gangs and domestic terrorist cells did in the ensuing collapse of order. Banditry reigns supreme now, the battered monuments of a nation's legacy now marred by graffiti and grim effigies of war. Due to the looting of the various national guard armories during the Military Anarchy, the gangs of the capital are heavily armed and incredibly dangerous.


 * The Capitol Building has become the capital of a bandit polity, with extravagant public executions and floggings carried out on its steps.
 * The Presidential Palace was partly leveled during the nuclear war. Only a fragment of the eastern annex remains.
 * The Capitoline Library was looted and burned in the aftermath of the nuclear war. Of its contents, only about 34% of the library was digitalized to RADNET by the time of Operation Eurysian Storm, meaning a significant amount of its contents were lost.

Essen City
Once the genesis of Estria's revolution against the Avalonian crown, Essen City is now a veritable post-nuclear wasteland, warlords vying over what remains of the historical legacy of the city. Its historical districts and museums are now thoroughly looted, the nation's legacy but mere heirlooms to bolster the legitimacy of upstart warlords and conquerors in the ruins of the city. Anomalies are especially prevalent in Essen City, making it a particular attraction to daring explorers seeking rarities and riches.