Earth

The Earth of 2268, beyond the protective domes of its elite cities, is a planet transformed by war, climate change, and human negligence. The land that once teemed with life and ecosystems has been reduced to a hostile, almost alien landscape.

Earth is a broken world, with the domed cities serving as safe havens for the elite and powerful, while the planet’s surface remains a ruined, dangerous wasteland. This contrast between the inside and outside of the domes reinforces the oppressive, totalitarian nature of the Federation, with the privileged few living in relative luxury while the rest of the world is left to rot.

Wastelands and Desolation

Nuclear Scars : The aftermath of the global wars fought before the Federation is stark. Areas that were hit by nuclear strikes remain largely uninhabitable. These regions, often referred to as the “dead zones,” are marked by vast craters, radioactive hot spots, and the skeletons of obliterated cities. Even a century later, radiation persists in these areas, making them deadly without advanced protective gear. In some places, twisted remnants of skyscrapers stand like gravestones over forgotten metropolises.

Toxic Atmosphere : The use of biological weapons during the wars, combined with the ongoing effects of climate change, has made the atmosphere itself toxic in many areas. Polluted air laden with particulate matter, acid rain, and contaminants means that, without advanced filtration systems or environmental suits, humans would quickly succumb to respiratory diseases or chemical burns. The atmosphere carries a perpetual haze, colouring the skies a sickly green or brown, depending on the region.

Abandoned Megacities : Once-thriving cities are now decaying ruins. These urban wastelands, devoid of human life, are crumbling under the pressure of time and the elements. The streets, once filled with people, are cracked and choked with dust, while buildings stand silent and slowly disintegrating. Some areas have been overrun by mutated plant life or flesh-eating fungi, remnants of biological warfare or unplanned consequences of experiments abandoned during the wars.

Extreme Climate

Heat and Desertification : Many regions that were once temperate have now become vast deserts due to the continued effects of climate change. The temperature fluctuates wildly, often reaching scorching highs during the day and freezing lows at night. Sandstorms sweep across the landscape, burying whatever remains of the past under layers of dust. Entire swathes of the planet have become arid, with once-fertile land now bone dry and cracked.

Rising Oceans : Coastal areas have been submerged by rising sea levels, transforming former shorelines into flooded, salt-filled plains. In many places, the ocean has swallowed up cities, leaving only rusting skyscrapers or broken bridges visible above the waterline. Tsunamis and hurricanes ravage what remains of these coastal zones, eroding what little land is left.

Frozen Wastelands : At the poles, the ice caps have partially melted, but extreme cold still reigns. In these regions, dangerous blizzards and ice storms rage, making them as inhospitable as the deserts. What remains of these once-pristine regions has been polluted by the aftermath of nuclear fallout and environmental destruction.

Mutated Flora and Fauna

Mutated Ecosystems : While most life outside the domes has been extinguished, some species—both plants and animals—have mutated to survive in the extreme conditions. Gigantic, twisted trees with glowing sap dot some of the radioactive zones, their roots sucking up contaminated water and growing in unnatural ways. In other areas, bioluminescent fungi cover the ruins of human civilization, thriving in the absence of sunlight.

Hostile Creatures : Some of the planet’s fauna have adapted—or been altered—by the lingering radiation and biological contaminants. Mutant animals, often bearing grotesque deformities, stalk the landscape. These creatures can be hostile, attacking anything that crosses their path, and some have developed increased strength, size, or toxic abilities. It’s rumoured that entire ecosystems of genetically engineered organisms exist, created as weapons during the war and now thriving in the absence of human control.

Abandoned Industrial Zones

Ruined Factories : Former industrial centres are now crumbling husks of their former selves. Refineries, factories, and power plants dot the landscape, rusting and leaking toxic chemicals into the ground and water. Their towering smokestacks now stand silent, belching no more smoke, but the land around them remains poisoned, unable to sustain life. Underground pipelines that once carried fuel or chemicals are either broken or unused, but some may still contain hazardous materials.

Autonomous Drones : Some industrial zones are patrolled by leftover military drones or security bots, their systems still intact despite the passage of time. These machines, once tasked with protecting strategic resources, continue to carry out their last commands, often mistaking wandering survivors or explorers for enemy combatants. These zones are particularly dangerous, as some of the old defences include automated turrets or traps left over from the wars.

Survivors and Nomads

Outlaw Settlements : Not all humans live in the domes. Scattered across the planet, small groups of outlaw communities and nomads struggle to survive in the wastelands. These groups live off the scraps of the old world, scavenging what they can from ruined cities and factories, or trading with the few daring enough to leave the safety of the domed cities. These survivors are often hardened and untrusting, having endured generations of hardship. Their settlements are ramshackle, with makeshift shelters constructed from salvaged materials, and their technology is a mixture of ancient and scavenged remnants.

Mutants and War Veteran s: Some of these survivors are descendants of war veterans or people who were genetically modified during the wars, giving them unique abilities but also deforming their appearance. They are often feared and persecuted by the people inside the domes, viewed as remnants of a dark past. These mutants tend to band together for protection in the lawless wastelands, either forming their own factions or living in isolated groups.

Atmosphere and Feeling

Constant Dange r: The Earth outside the domes is a dangerous place, filled with toxic air, hostile creatures, and unpredictable weather. Survival is an ongoing battle, with death lurking around every corner. The planet’s surface is hostile and unforgiving, and any venture outside the domes is fraught with peril.

Forgotten History : Many areas are rich with the remains of a forgotten history. Hidden in the rubble of ancient megacities are lost technologies, bunkers, and records of the pre-Federation wars. While most of this knowledge has been erased or restricted, scavengers and explorers sometimes come across fragments of this history in the ruins.

Echoes of War : The scars of the global wars remain fresh, even a century later. Craters, military installations, and the ruins of bombed-out cities stand as grim reminders of the destruction humanity is capable of. Radiation zones are still dotted with old war machines, rusting tanks, and downed aircraft, all abandoned in the final days of the conflicts.