Group 14621
A long time ago, this place may have been a center of arts and religion in the area. Now, well, it is still a center of arts and religion, but the apocalypse has a funny way of twisting everything in it, doesn't it? The streets here are littered with the twisted metal hunks of what were once vehicles, now mangled and torn apart by those that call this place home. The buildings in the area are still maintained, to some degree, even if only a single wall is left standing. What matters most, as anyone can tell, is the "art" that is made here. Certainly, there are remnants of the old world, but now they are accompanied by horrific metal structures lining the highway to the north, and on all the buildings possible, there are massive mosaics on the buildings, done in a variety of colors, depicting enormous animals and the humans serving (or being killed by) them.
The plant-life there is surprisingly well maintained given the residents, with an abundance of trees and ivy in particular growing amidst the buildings. Assorted other plants thrive, giving the "artists" a wide variety of colors from which to make the paint they use. Besides the larger buildings, not many other places are left standing, some visibly torn apart for pieces, others overgrown with plants, and what is left are a variety of small churches, which have also been maintained, because while the worship has changed, the respect for a place of worship has not.
Those who live here are very like minded people, in more ways than one. Some places like this often have a central figure to lead or be worshiped, but here, the social ladder is two steps high. The bottom consists of the artists and worshipers of these animal gods, and the only step above that is the priests who instruct them, clad in costumes resembling these gods, but horribly worn down and although they are faded, the bright colors of blue, green, red and the like all shine through. Visitors to this area don't... last long. Those who do make it out are lucky to leave with their sanity, although those who lose that rarely leave, instead adopted into this hive-mind of zealots.
This place has two names, Group 14621, the name given by the old ones, that has only stuck because it's cold, almost scientific classification is very fitting for the sentiment most sane people have towards this place, which is fear, like many feel when hearing scientific terms. The other is The Saved Land, the name that is used by the residents, as they believe themselves saved from the life of misery that those around them live, because they have found true meaning in life, which even to those living outside sounds nice, and has often been the final thought of those who wander in here, wondering if it is true.
Their neighbors all maintain a fragile peace to the East, West, and South, while the border to the North is revered and respected outright, as the gods they worship occupy those lands of West Rons. Maplehood manages to maintain the only trade with these people, as their refined drugs are coveted as a lens through which one can open their eyes to the world of the gods. To the south, the gang wars in The Roc are further motivated by the desire to move away from these people, and to the East, Ron Dequois lives peacefully, as an understanding has been reached (likely with no input from anyone living in Ron Deqouis) that these fellow artists are worshiping the same gods and doing the same work for them.
Overall, Group 14621 maintains it's culture relatively well compared to places around it, which seem to have lost all meaning, at least in the minds of the Groupers. Certainly, those who visit here are likely to agree, once they have been found.
Demographics
Assorted brainers mostly, whether they were that way or not when they arrived. Those who do not fit this either are a variety of other kinds of people, of any and all races and genders, all dedicated to these gods. If someone is there that doesn't fit either of those, they are most often found cowering in a corner of some building, hoping the residents of this district don't find them.
Government
The priests of this region are the only authority figures, and they do not particularly manage the people, only instruct them. As a hive mind, the people here manage to maintain order through their collective consciousness, and operate as such.
Defences
The roads to the North and East form barriers, less to stop entry and more to stop exit from the Group by those who live there. To the North, massive sculptures line the highway, a reminder to those driving past to step on the gas. To the West, the river prevents any travel across, save for the trade of drugs from Maplehood, in return for relative safety. To the south is the most uncertain border, and to hear of people going missing from The Roc, or to see prisoners of the gang war exiled to this area is not uncommon at all, but in return, there appears to be little pressure pushing into The Roc.
The only other defense here is simply the fact that the hive mind seems keen on adding more worshipers and artists to its regiment, and so all who are found here are quickly indoctrinated.
Industry & Trade
Gifts in the hundreds are sent north, not necessarily with hope of reciprocation, but a show of worship and respect of the gods that live there. Occasionally, people who dare to venture west in Ron Dequois may find crates full of paints, as if left there to support the neighboring artists and ensure they are worshiping the gods correctly. Maplehood is the only place that actually trades with the Groupers, giving them drugs to keep them sated and, well, drugged. In return, they sometimes get small sculptures, trinkets, and absolute junk that serves no purpose, but overall, they really earn safety.
Infrastructure
Mass housing is available in some of the larger buildings, where most of the community eats and sleeps, and besides that, very little is preserved on purpose, save for anything with religious or artistic value.
Assets
Not much of value is kept here, likely raided when things first went bad, and all that is left is insanity and paint, the rest is either mixed in with junk or being made into sculptures of terrifying giant animals.
Guilds and Factions
The only faction here is the hive mind. They live, act, and work as one organism, albeit with many individual parts. All others either join, or escape.
History
The religion popped up around the same time that West Rons became controlled by the former residents of the zoo. The sight of intelligent animals made the lightbulbs go on in the heads of a few who finally understood why there were these giant paintings of animals left on the buildings around the area, and as a result, the cult began, slowly developing into the hive mind that it is today.
Architecture
The only architecture that remains are dilapidated larger buildings, with walls full of art preserved, some churches, converted to the new faith, and a few houses that have not yet been ripped apart. not much is built here besides that which already was here, let alone things that one could live in, as the majority of the utilities here are maintained in the simplest and most efficient ways as to not waste time maintaining the Group, time better spent worshiping and making.
Geography
This area is mostly still urban in look, but certainly overgrown, and seemingly encouraged to become so by the Group, as they maintain the plant-life here as well, in order to reap the colors it grows and because they believe the gods may come to visit if they see their habitat replicated here. The river is the only natural border, and along it are more aquatic themed structures, no less horrifying, but things resembling fish and otters and such are built here.
Natural Resources
The resources here are scarce, some fruit grows from the plants that are grown, and it is just enough to sustain the people here. Besides that, the river to the west provides water, but is also more worshiped than actually used.
Alternative Name(s)
The Saved Land (internally)
Type
District
Population
~200-300
Inhabitant Demonym
Groupers
Included Locations
Characters in Location
Comments