Red Dead Redemption 2

The Dying West (1889) The Frontier Territories exist in the twilight of the Old West, where the era of outlaws, gunslingers, and wide-open spaces collides with the relentless march of industrial civilization. This is a world without magic—no wizards, no clerics casting divine light, no mystical portals. What exists instead is grit, gunpowder, determination, and the raw human spirit fighting against the taming of the wild. The world operates on pure realism with folklore undertones. While there's no actual magic, superstition runs deep. People speak of curses, lucky charms, and vengeful spirits, but these are always explainable through natural means—fear, coincidence, and the harsh realities of frontier life. Technology Level: Late 19th century—revolvers, rifles, steam trains, telegraph lines, early photography, and the beginnings of industrialization clashing with traditional frontier life. What Sets It Apart: This is a character-driven world where moral ambiguity reigns. There are no clear heroes or villains, only people trying to survive in a world that's leaving them behind. No Magic Classes: Wizards, Sorcerers, Warlocks, Clerics, Druids, Paladins don't exist as traditionally conceived. Replace With: Fighters: Gunslingers, soldiers, brawlers Rogues: Outlaws, thieves, confidence artists, bounty hunters Rangers: Trackers, hunters, scouts, Native warriors Barbarians: Brawlers, Native warriors, savage outlaws (Murfree types) Bards: Saloon performers, storytellers, con artists Skills Matter More: Social interaction, survival, investigation become critical without magic solving problems. Firearms Replace Weapons: Revolvers, rifles, shotguns, knives. Combat is deadlier and faster. Moral Complexity: NPCs aren't simply good or evil. The corrupt sheriff might genuinely love his family. The outlaw might be fighting against real injustice. Players must navigate gray areas. Survival Elements: Resource management—food, water, ammunition, money—becomes crucial. Reputation System: Actions have consequences. Help one faction, another becomes hostile. Kill innocents, bounties rise. Save a town, become local heroes.

The Frontier Territories (The Main Region) A vast expanse of diverse landscapes roughly equivalent to the American West, divided into several distinct regions: New Austin (The Arid Southwest) Harsh desert badlands, mesas, and canyons Settlements: Armadillo (declining frontier town), Tumbleweed (nearly abandoned ghost town), Ridgewood Farm (isolated homesteads) Home to cattle ranchers, desperate outlaws, and those running from their past Water is scarce; control of wells and rivers means power West Elizabeth (The Heartland) Rolling plains, thick forests, and the towering Tall Trees region Settlements: Blackwater (booming city, center of federal control), Strawberry (lumber town), Manzanita Post (trading post) Represents the collision of old and new—civilization encroaching on wilderness Rich in game, timber, and opportunity for those willing to work Lemoyne (The Southern Bayou) Swamplands, plantations, and Civil War ruins Settlements: Saint Denis (industrial metropolis, largest city), Rhodes (post-war Southern town), Lagras (swamp settlement) Still recovering from the Civil War (ended 1865); racial tensions and old grudges run deep Home to former plantation owners, freed slaves building new lives, and those profiting from misery Ambarino (The Northern Mountains) Snow-capped peaks, frozen lakes, and treacherous passes Settlements: Colter (abandoned mining town), Wapiti Reservation (Native American settlement) Harsh, unforgiving terrain where only the hardiest survive Rich in minerals but deadly to extract New Hanover (The Central Valley) Fertile farmland, the Heartlands, and the industrial town of Valentine Settlements: Valentine (livestock town), Emerald Ranch (mysterious farm), Annesburg (coal mining town) The economic heart—farms feed the region, mines fuel industry Constant struggle between independent farmers and corporate land grabs Neighboring Powers The United States Federal Government: Expanding westward, bringing law, order, and taxation. Views the Territories as lawless regions to be civilized. Guarma (Caribbean Island Nation): A small dictatorship to the south, rich in sugar but brutal in governance. Some refugees have fled north. Mexico: Just across the southern border, in political turmoil with revolutionaries fighting government forces. A haven for those fleeing American law.

In this world, there are no fantasy races—only humans with diverse cultural backgrounds and the complex relationships between them. Major Cultural Groups Anglo-Americans (Settlers & Outlaws) Descended from European settlers (English, Irish, German, Italian immigrants) Dominant in government and business Range from honest homesteaders to ruthless industrialists to desperate outlaws Territory: Primarily New Hanover, West Elizabeth, New Austin Native Americans (The Original Peoples) Multiple tribes forced onto shrinking reservations Primary groups: The Wapiti (Northern tribes), the Southern Plains tribes Face systematic destruction of their way of life through broken treaties and forced relocation Many younger members torn between traditional ways and adaptation Territory: Wapiti Reservation (Ambarino), scattered hidden camps African Americans (Freedmen & Survivors) Freed after the Civil War (1865), now building new lives in hostile territory Face discrimination, violence, and limited opportunities Some have found success as cowboys, lawmen, or business owners despite obstacles Others work in dangerous industries like mining or live in segregated communities Territory: Primarily Lemoyne, scattered throughout all regions Mexican & Latino Peoples Original inhabitants of the Southwest, now minorities in their own land Skilled ranchers, farmers, and craftspeople Face discrimination but maintain strong family and community bonds Some ride with revolutionary movements across the border Territory: New Austin, southern New Hanover European Immigrants (New Arrivals) Recent arrivals (Italian, Eastern European, Irish) seeking new lives Often exploited in mines, factories, and construction Form tight-knit communities for mutual protection Viewed with suspicion by established settlers Territory: Saint Denis, Annesburg, industrial areas Chinese Immigrants Came initially as railroad workers, now forming small communities Face severe discrimination and violence Often work in laundries, restaurants, or dangerous jobs others won't take Strong community bonds for survival Territory: Scattered, primarily near railroads and Saint Denis Cultural Tensions The world is defined by these conflicts: Natives vs. settlers over land and survival Post-Civil War racial tensions between Black and white Southerners Immigrant populations vs. established communities Traditional frontier folk vs. industrial corporate interests Rural independence vs. federal control

The Vanishing West (Primary Theme) The entire frontier is dying. The government is expanding, corporations are buying up land, and the old ways are disappearing. This creates desperate people willing to do desperate things. Active Conflicts 1. The Range War (New Austin & New Hanover) Small ranchers and homesteaders vs. the Cornwall Corporation land grab Cornwall uses hired guns, legal manipulation, and violence to seize property Some farmers fight back; others form outlaw gangs when they lose everything Local lawmen often bought by corporate interests 2. The Wapiti Struggle (Ambarino) The Wapiti people face forced relocation to worse land Colonel Favors and the Army use any excuse to justify military action Young warriors want to fight; elders know resistance means annihilation Sympathetic settlers and former soldiers sometimes help, risking treason charges 3. The Gray-Braithwaite Feud (Lemoyne) Two former plantation families locked in a bitter, generations-long vendetta Both families ruined by the Civil War but too proud to let grudges die Hire outsiders to raid each other's properties The feud occasionally draws in innocent people from Rhodes 4. The Outlaw Problem (All Regions) Multiple gangs operate throughout the Territories The Van der Linde Gang (if using RDR lore) or equivalent—philosophical outlaws who rob from the rich The O'Driscoll Gang—brutal, savage outlaws with no code The Del Lobo Gang—Mexican revolutionaries turned bandits Federal agents like the Pinkertons hunt them ruthlessly, with no regard for collateral damage 5. Industrial Exploitation (Annesburg, Saint Denis) Mine owners work laborers to death for coal and precious metals Factory conditions in Saint Denis are deadly; workers have no rights Early union organizers are branded as troublemakers and dealt with violently Corruption runs deep in city government 6. The Border Chaos (New Austin/Mexico) Mexican Revolution spilling across the border Refugees fleeing violence, bringing their conflicts with them Bandits and revolutionaries use the border for raids and escape U.S. Army conducts questionable operations in "pursuit" of outlaw

No Magic Exists This is critical—there is no functional magic in this world. No spells, no divine intervention, no supernatural abilities. What exists instead: Superstition & Folklore People believe in curses, hauntings, and bad luck Lucky charms, folk remedies, and rituals provide psychological comfort Strange occurrences always have natural explanations (even if not immediately obvious) Fortune tellers, spiritualists, and "medicine men" may be charlatans or use observation and psychology The Power of Belief Placebo effects from folk cures sometimes work Fear of curses can cause people to make mistakes or act irrationally Confidence from a "blessed" item might make someone steadier in a gunfight But it's all in the mind, never actual magic Religion Christianity (Dominant) Various Protestant denominations (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) Catholic communities, especially among Mexican and Irish populations Traveling preachers, revival meetings, and church socials Used by some to justify both charity and oppression Churches serve as community centers and moral authorities Native Spirituality Deep connection to land, ancestors, and natural world Ceremonies, vision quests, and oral traditions Viewed as "pagan superstition" by settlers Under attack as part of forced assimilation Folk Traditions Voodoo and Hoodoo practices in Lemoyne (cultural, not magical) Various European folk beliefs brought by immigrants Syncretism creating unique frontier spiritual practices Religious Conflicts Protestant vs. Catholic tensions Persecution of non-Christian beliefs Hypocritical religious leaders exploiting faith for profit Genuine believers struggling to live their values in a harsh world Key Religious Figures Traveling preachers who speak of damnation and salvation Frontier priests and ministers serving isolated communities Native spiritual leaders fighting to preserve their ways Charlatan "healers" selling snake oil alongside redemption

None. There are no other planes of existence. When people die, their fate is unknown—some believe in Heaven and Hell, others in the spirit world, others in nothing at all. There are no demons, angels, or extraplanar beings. Everything that happens occurs in the material, physical world. However, psychological planes exist: The weight of guilt and trauma haunts people like ghosts Dreams and nightmares reflect inner turmoil The "ghosts" people see are always explainable—shadows, grief, fever, or manipulation

The Age of Discovery (1492-1700s) European colonization of the Americas Displacement of indigenous peoples begins Legacy: The deep cultural wounds and land disputes that define the present The Colonial Period (1700s-1776) Thirteen Colonies established in the East Frontier gradually pushes westward Legacy: Old fortifications, abandoned settlements, early trade routes The Revolutionary Era (1776-1820s) American independence from Britain Louisiana Purchase opens vast western territories Legacy: Stories of founding fathers, old military outposts, sense of national destiny The Expansion Era (1820s-1860) Manifest Destiny drives westward movement Mexican-American War (1846-48) seizes Southwest territories Gold rushes, wagon trains, establishment of frontier towns Native Americans pushed onto increasingly smaller lands Legacy: Most current ruins and ghost towns date from this era—failed mining camps, abandoned forts, burned settlements from Indian Wars The Civil War (1861-1865) Nation tears itself apart over slavery and states' rights Devastating conflict leaves deep scars, especially in the South Legacy: Destroyed plantations, mass graves, veterans on both sides trying to find purpose, racial tensions that define the present Reconstruction & Industrialization (1865-1889) Post-war rebuilding marred by corruption and violence Railroads connect the continent Industrial capitalism creates wealth and exploitation The frontier shrinks as civilization expands This is where the world currently exists—the final gasp of the Old West Ruins & Remnants Abandoned forts: Old military outposts from Indian Wars, some occupied by outlaws Ghost towns: Failed mining operations, settlements destroyed by disease or raids Civil War battlefields: Mass graves, rusted equipment, haunted by memories Ancient cliff dwellings: Pre-Columbian Native settlements, mysterious and weathered Spanish missions: Crumbling churches from earlier colonization attempts Burned plantations: Destroyed during the Civil War, symbols of a dead way of life

Currency U.S. Dollar: The official currency, coins and paper bills Gold & Silver: Always valuable, used when trust in paper is low Company Scrip: Mining and railroad companies pay workers in company money, only spendable at company stores (exploitative system) Barter: Still common in remote areas—goods, services, and livestock exchanged directly Major Industries Cattle Ranching (New Austin, New Hanover) Driving herds to railheads for transport east Open range conflicts with settlers fencing land Cattle rustling is common and deadly Mining (Ambarino, Annesburg) Coal, gold, silver extraction Incredibly dangerous work with frequent cave-ins and accidents Owners exploit workers, paying minimal wages for maximum risk Lumber (West Elizabeth) Clear-cutting forests for construction back east Sawmills in Strawberry and surrounding areas Conflict with those who want wilderness preserved Agriculture (New Hanover, Lemoyne) Corn, wheat, tobacco, cotton Small family farms vs. large corporate operations Unpredictable weather and market prices create boom-bust cycles Manufacturing (Saint Denis) Factories producing textiles, tools, weapons Exploits immigrant and poor labor Pollution and poverty concentrated in industrial districts Railroad (Everywhere) The arteries connecting the Territories to the wider nation Transports goods, people, and federal authority Railroad companies have immense political power Trade Routes The Transcontinental Railroad: Connects the coasts, runs through the Territories River commerce: Using the Lannahechee River (runs through Lemoyne) Wagon trails: Old routes still used in areas without rail access Smuggling routes: Across the Mexican border, through swamps, avoiding the law Economic Power Structures Cornwall Corporation: Massive conglomerate seeking monopoly over land, resources, and industry Leviticus Cornwall (or equivalent): Ruthless industrialist who owns politicians, lawmen, and judges Independent operators: Small businesses, family farms, prospectors—constantly under threat Outlaw economy: Stolen goods, protection rackets, illegal gambling and vice

Justice Systems Federal Law (U.S. Marshals, Army) Represents central government authority Often heavy-handed, prioritizing order over justice More present in developed areas like Blackwater and Saint Denis Can be called in to handle major crimes or threats to federal interests Local Law (Sheriffs, Town Marshals) Elected or appointed, varies wildly in competence and corruption Some are honest protectors of their communities Others are bought by wealthy interests or outright criminals themselves Severely limited resources—often just one lawman for an entire county Vigilante Justice Common when official law is absent, corrupt, or slow Ranges from legitimate community defense to lynch mobs Creates cycles of revenge and violence Morally ambiguous—sometimes necessary, often brutal and wrong Corporate Security Pinkerton Detective Agency: Private security hired by railroads and corporations Operate with near-impunity, using intimidation and violence Technically legal but morally questionable Hunt outlaws but also break strikes and intimidate workers No Justice For many—especially minorities, the poor, and Native Americans—no real justice exists The system is designed to protect property and power, not people Creates environments where people must handle problems themselves How Society Views Adventurers In this world, "adventurers" are typically: Outlaws & Gunslingers Romanticized by some as freedom fighters Feared and hated by others as murderers and thieves Reality is usually more complicated—people driven to crime by circumstance Some adhere to codes of honor; others are purely savage Bounty Hunters Respected in civilized areas for bringing criminals to justice Viewed as mercenaries without loyalty Morally gray—will hunt anyone for the right price Can transition between legal and illegal work Drifters & Wanderers Viewed with suspicion—"What are you running from?" Useful when towns need hired guns or extra hands Never fully trusted or accepted Free but lonely Gunslingers for Hire Every side needs fighters—ranchers, corporations, revolutionaries Paid well but used as disposable tools Reputation matters—some won't work for certain employers Constant risk of being on the losing side Homesteaders & Prospectors Respected for trying to build something honest Vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and bad luck Community support can make or break survival The dream many chase but few achieve Social Codes Hospitality: Even enemies might share a meal or give shelter (though betrayal can follow) Reputation: Word spreads fast; your name means everything Personal Honor: Many live by codes—keep your word, don't shoot someone in the back, protect women and children (though these codes are often hypocritical or selectively applied) Revenge: Insults and wrongs demand response; feuds can last generations Self-Reliance: Asking for help is often seen as weakness; independence is prized

Monsters & Villains Since there's no magic, there are no traditional fantasy monsters. The real monsters are human (and occasionally animal), shaped by greed, desperation, trauma, and ideology. Human Threats Outlaw Gangs The Van der Linde Gang (or equivalent): Idealistic outlaws who rob banks and trains, believing they're fighting the system. Led by a charismatic but unstable leader, they're increasingly desperate as the world closes in. The O'Driscoll Gang: Brutal, disorganized thugs who rape, murder, and pillage without code or honor. Led by a sadistic boss. The Del Lobo Gang: Mexican bandits, hardened by revolution and poverty, operating across the border. The Murfree Brood: Inbred, savage hill people who live in caves, ambush travelers, and practice cannibalism (rumors suggest). Operate in the mountains. Corrupt Lawmen Sheriffs and marshals on the take Use their badges to extort, intimidate, and murder More dangerous than outlaws because they have legal authority Corporate Enforcers Pinkerton agents who operate outside the law Company thugs who burn out homesteaders Railroad executives who order massacres for profit Mine foremen who let workers die to save costs Military Villains Colonel Favors and officers seeking glory through Native extermination Soldiers who commit atrocities against civilians Veterans turned bandits, using military training for crime Cult Leaders & Zealots Charismatic preachers who control followers through fear and manipulation Create isolated compounds where abuse flourishes No actual supernatural power, just psychological control Examples: Doomsday cults, twisted religious communities, snake oil operations Serial Killers & Psychopaths Individuals who hunt people for pleasure Leave calling cards or cryptic messages Take advantage of isolated frontier to avoid capture Based on real historical cases Crime Bosses Urban criminals controlling Saint Denis vice—gambling, prostitution, robbery Corrupt politicians who profit from misery Criminal networks with connections to police and government Racial Supremacists KKK-type organizations terrorizing Black communities Vigilante groups targeting immigrants and minorities Operating openly in some areas, protected by sympathizers in power Dangerous Wildlife Predators Bears, mountain lions, wolves, alligators Dangerous but natural—not monsters, just animals defending territory or hunting Can be deadly to the unprepared Venomous Creatures Rattlesnakes, scorpions, poisonous spiders Environmental hazards requiring caution Aggressive Herbivores Bison stampedes, territorial elk More likely to cause accidents than hunt humans Environmental Threats The Land Itself Exposure in deserts or mountains kills more people than outlaws Flash floods, avalanches, quicksand in swamps Starvation, dehydration, disease Disease Tuberculosis (consumption) ravages populations Cholera outbreaks in unsanitary conditions No antibiotics—infections are death sentences Alcoholism and addiction to opium and morphine The Greatest Monster Civilization Itself The inexorable force destroying the frontier Can't be fought with guns or fists Represented by railroads, banks, laws, and progress Destroys ways of life without malice—just business The true horror of this world is that monsters don't hide under beds—they wear badges, sit in boardrooms, preach from pulpits, and sometimes look back from the mirror. The question isn't whether you'll face evil, but what you'll become when you do.