Beyond the walls
Somewhere that wishes you harm
To be honest, this subtitle applies to anywhere on this damned planet, even Detroit. Though the world outside is even worse. The Wastes, the outside area, Terra Incognita... the unknown that spread beyond sight outside the city bears many names. None are strong enough to represent the unending threats that lies everywhere.
A painful way to die
If you're not a prowler yourself, daring to go outside is the same as having a death wish. Even they do not always come back from their expeditions. Detroit, despite the many dangers and the creatures that still lurk in the most remote places, is safe. Thanks to many sacrifices, the strongest threats have been dealt with. But out there, dreadful creatures live and grow since the appearance of the mist.
And that's without considering the sheer amount of know-how needed to merely survive, the traps hidden behind every stone or the mists that can catch you off guard at the slightest mistake. In short, outside is a place of death that is best avoided if you value your life.
It is however a gold mine to those familiar with it, namely the prowlers. This guild is geared toward the exploration of the world after the fog. Its members map, search and study the perils and wonders layered around the vast world. Their role, albeit terribly dangerous, is vital to Detroit's progress. They are pioneers in the unknown, trailblazing the path for the rest of us.
A map redrawn
The first prowlers went out of Detroit with the best maps from before the fog. They quickly threw them away when they realized the geography had nothing to do with their intel. The mist remodel the landscape with each passing, swallowing forests and mountains before spitting them out further away. These changes are not big enough to disfigure the continent, but they make useless any map that is even a few years old.
Something of note is that the mist erase the landscape far more than it creates landmarks. Vast expanses of wastelands thus appear in the middle of a dense forest or a mountain range. The most impressive — and bothersome — of these anomalies is the Great Plain. This name has never been so accurate, since it now refer to a flat ground with low grass, no spring or animal. The foothills of the Rocky Mountains disappeared as well, but not the high peaks. Without any transition with the plains, they make a gigantic wall whose climb has not yet been attempted. For now, the travelers who need to cross them make a detour.
Findings
Prowlers often come back empty-handed, but sometimes bring invaluable information or resources. From the unfortunate homewrecked to the enigmatic Them and the doomed Seattle, I will record here the most important information related to the world outside.
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