The Rubblebelt
"You say this Tenth Dristrict, not Rubblebelt. But where smash happen, that Rubbeblet. Rubblebelt state of mind."
Overview
The Rubblebelt is an ever expanding archipelago of death and destruction that reaches out past the 10th district which has also become known as the Red Wastes. North of Precinct Four is an endless warzone that stretches for vast miles of land where the Gruul launch raids and sieges against civilization itself. The only people who choose to live there are those that cannot leave, or those that are too stubborn to leave.
Pre-Gruul War
The Rubblebelt was originally territory and land that was a part of Precinct Four as well as land that extended out past Precinct Four and the Tenth District overall. The land that was considered to be territory of Precinct Four included some Boros Legion barracks, Izzet League laboratories, warehouses, private homes, and businesses. The areas outside of Precinct Four were owned mostly by an archbishop of the Orzhov Syndicate by the name of Sebrim Mog. The archbishop owned miles of private land to himself, some of which he rented out to more prosperous individuals, including his own forests and a private Colosseum where he would host his own tournaments. Sebrim had constructed himself a massive palace that occupies more than 3000 square feet of ornate marble, gold, and painted glass that he named the Skarrg Palace. The rest of the land in this area was mostly urban centers, typical in most of Ravnica.
The Battle of Skarrg
In the morning of the second of January, 10005, the Gruul began their attack. Gruul raids were not uncommon throughout Ravnica, but this was the first major organized aggression the Gruul had conducted. This became known as The Battle of Skarrg, and the beginning of the Gruul War on Ravnica. Sebrim had owned a private military for himself to help maintain his land and palace, but his numbers not nearly enough to hold off the invasion of Gruul that stormed his palace, destroying most of his wealth and killing nearly all of his soldiers. Sebrim did not escape the conflict and was killed. His head was stuck onto a spike in front of his ruined home where it remains as a rotted skull. Boros and Azorius solders who happened to be in the area were also killed bravely fighting the clans. The battle took only hours to conclude. Skarrg was ransacked and mostly razed, though despite this the Gruul enjoyed the area enough to declare this place as their new Guild home, where the leaders of the clans occasionally meet.
Gruul Guildgate by Alexander Forssberg
The War on Ravnica
The unofficial declaration of made by the Gruul had sent shock waves into Ravnica. A full on guild war had not been seen since the original Guildpact was signed in 1ZC. Ten thousand years of peace were suddenly broken in the matter of a few hours. The sudden and devastating attacks caused massive panic among those who lived in the surrounding areas, and as attacks and raids became more frequent, more civilians began to flee which caused extreme amounts of migration into areas that could not support the influx of people. The confusing nature of everything also made things difficult for the Boros to fully mobilize an effective resistance. The Boros hadn't been a part of an official war for more than ten thousand years, while the Gruul were veterans of their guerilla raid tactics.
Within a year the Gruul had razed some five miles of Ravnican land. It was then that the Boros launched their first major counter offensive named Operation Sunrise. By using the Parhelion II, the Boros planned to incinerate any Gruul they could find. While effective, the operation was extremely controversial as the Boros couldn't differentiate well enough the difference between Gruul members, civilians, and sometimes even their own soldiers. The usage of the Parhelion in this way were very rare after this, as it caused major strife within the Boros ranks and high command.
Over the years the Gruul Clans had continued to raze more and more of Ravnica until they were eventually halted with Operation Ward, a project that had created a mass number of fortifications to keep the Gruul at bay from moving any further. This was a very important victory as the Fourth Precinct held most of the Boros' infrastructure along with Sunhome, the Boros' Guildhall. The Gruul have only just been halted from moving South and they continue to reap destruction outward in all other directions.
The Rubblebelt Today
The Rubblebelt has consumed nearly fifty miles of infrastructure in total. A paltry amount of land in the grand idea, but the more destruction is inflicted on Ravnica, the weaker she becomes. Mass displacement of civilians and the disruption of business and supply lines all add onto an ever growing weight that cracks at the supports that hold Ravnica together. The Gruul do not need to destroy the entire planet to achieve their victory, just enough of it for it to collapse under its own weight.
The Fortifications around the edges of the Fourth Precinct house a massive number of slums where the homeless congregate to. Anything past these lines, the Rubblebelt itself, is considered a state of complete anarchy. The blots of destruction littered the landscape, a sight that could be seen by those living in Precinct Four and other surrounding areas. Great plumes of black smoke continuously rise from the Red Wastes as fires smoulder across the expanse of ruined civilization. Many relief efforts are made to try and evacuate the civilians that were unable to escape.
Several areas, namely the places razed in the early years of the war, have been taken over by nature. Dangerous animals rarely seen within the city are found here. Great forests are growing back, and once proud structures are succumbing to the patient overgrowth of Nylea.
Gruul Guildate by Randy Gallegos
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