The New Earth

It is Earth, but years after an epidemic. The world’s population is greatly diminished and those who remain were those immune to the illness that caused the epidemic. Since the fall of civilization, new settlements are beginning to arise. They are founded on the basics and creativity of their people. There are trade routes and abandoned towns. Homes and stores still left to be picked over. There are peaceful/neutral settlements and traders, and there are those that seek to try and claim what others have. No magic. The world doesn’t use typical coin, but more of a bartering system for items. So if you want something, you need to have a goods to do the trade.

The settlements are all in what used to be America, but the names of the old cities and states are no more. The new settlements create their own names. The universal trade routes and abandoned is called Trader’s System, and that is across all areas- traders access the network to bridge all settlements. A main settlement, the largest according to the Trader’s System, is Oak’s Rest. A trade hub and market settlement that focuses on neutral ground for all settlements is called Broker’s Edge. The vicious settlement and group of people that is known for conquering others are called Gray Men. A peaceful farming settlement is called Orchid Grove. There are a lot of areas where there are abandoned neighborhoods called Deadlads, referring to places no one lives. Or the Scavenging lands, where people go to try and find goods in the abandoned towns and cities to get goods to barter or bring to their settlements.

Gray Men are those who fight and seek to conquer others. Their goal is their own selfish gain, aiming that their way is the only one to true survival. Tradesmen are those who work in the Trader’s System and map the world, bring trade to each settlement, and are neutral. They seek to make an honest living and connect the rest of humanity together by working together. Scavengers live in the Deadlands and Scavenging lands as they make their living of off scavenging the Brandon dead towns and cities. They are in it for themselves, to find the best things to then get the most Barter Points. For what? No one is really sure. Hunters, Farmers, and Makers are those that focus on building up their settlement by doing their work. Wanderer’s are those that do not have a settlement to call home, and try to live in between all of them. The people of Orchid Grove are called The Peaceful, for they seek peace with all. Mercenaries live out their lives taking jobs from various settlements. Whether it be to find something or someone, protect, or fix something, they take whatever job they can get. Thieves are scum. They can’t fight, they can’t make, so they sneak into settlements and try and steal.

The Gray Men are an enemy to all. They conquer and destroy settlements that are just trying to rebuild life in this fallen world. Word is spreading that there is a largest settlement named Oak’s Rest, where there are even whispers of rebuilding of certain technologies from the old world. Like plumbing. People are starting to worry about the decreasing amount of wears being brought to trade. There is need for more Makes to help grow the trade network and the still fragile economy. As Scavenges work to try and add from their finds, there is still need for items that cannot be made from the old world. People worry the Deadlands and Scavenging Lands have been picked over. The need for certain items are great, things that will take much time to start making again in this era.

There is no magic. But more of a luck system. Luck affects all. Some have more luck than others. People say if someone finds something rare, they must have great luck. But if someone struggles that they have poor luck. Others think it’s based off of goodwill, others think they make their own luck. But if someone is know to have good luck, they are more likely to be trusted, get good deals in trades, and open to more jobs.

None.

The time before was The Old Earth, before the epidemic took out most of the world. This was about ten years ago. Back then, it was like how the regular world worked. But then the epidemic hit and most of the word got sick and died, leaving the world to fall apart quickly. There are ruins of old cities and towns of America. A lot of people remember of the world send to be, but the conditions that followed the epidemic left the survivors to fight for their life against other, the elements, hunger, and resources.

There is the Trader’s System that runs through all of the world. It connects settlements and is run by Tradesmen who bring trade to settlements, or anyone along the trade routes. There are market hubs across the land that you will find if you follow any trade rout far enough. The currency is the barter system. Most sellers ad traders prefer a good barter of goods, but universally take Barter Point’s. Barter Point’s are small handmade pieces made from wood, metal, or plastic. Each piece as been made by the Tradesmen in the Trade’s System and have unique symbol that is burned into them, so others cannot recreate them.

Each settlement has their own justice system. It is their responsibility of each settlement to handle their own. However, there is an understanding that if someone steals, kills, or tries to conquer, then the person must be hunted down and brought to justice by whatever settlement or settlements they have wronged. More often, a mercenary would be hired in this case. The Gray Men have been living outside of a low since the world fell, and it’s hard to try and stand against them as they are ruthless.

The Gray Men are the villains of this world. There are also some wildlife, like great wolves and bears that threaten on occasion since the world is wilder now. There are factions that live outside the greater area of settlements that all steer clear of. There is a faction that hunts people to survive that lives in the caves, they are barbaric and to be avoided at all costs. There are Mountain Men that steal women to keep their clan going, but they are hard to find and pray to never come in contact with one.