Federal Province of the Lawless Frontier
The Lawless Frontier is federal province of the Republic of Tersten, located in Central Tersten. The Lawless Frontier is a vast and diverse land, of many different cultures and nations. In the north, the Greenlime Mountains form a near impassable border with the Federal Province of Mora. In the south, the Pearlstone Mountains form a border with the Federal Province of Nevada. The Sahamptha Desert stretches across the entire province, ending at its most easten edge, the Jericho River and a border with the Federal Province of Mediolama. In the west, the Sahamptha continues onwards, becoming the Federal Province of Western Sahamptha just beyond the Mesa.
The Lawless Frontier is comprised of three distinct geographic areas; The Range, a fertile region of grasslands and dry forests, and one of the most fertile places to grow crops and graze animals; The Greenlimes, the foothills of the mighty Greenlime Mountains, which create a near impassible north-south divide; The Sahamptha Desert, the greatest of all deserts on Tersten, wrapping around much of central Tersten and providing a difficult barrier to land travel.
The Range
The Range is Tersten's most iconic region. It is here that the way of the Rancher still thrives. The land is largely prairie, steppe, and grasslands, and is dominated by farms and cattle ranches. The Range is the quintessential 'wild-west' of the planet. The Lawless Frontier gets its name from the city of Lawless, which encompasses a large part of the arable land between the Greenlime Mountains and the Sahamptha Desert. The city is built on north shore of the Chattanooga Lake, stretching for several miles in either direction. The city is considered the home of the Tersten Outlaw Country scene, with a large music industry being one of the region's most popular exports. All is not peaceful here, with the land divided between the Lawless Regional Government, the Communalists, and the Robcove Republic. While relations between the three main players are relatively peaceful, the expansion of the Lawless Regional Government into Wisani lands has drawn ire from their neighbours. Geographically, The Range is divided into seven geographic areas. The most prominent rivers flowing through the area include the Okton River, which flows into the Okton Oasis, and the Samheel River, which forms from the Chattanooga Lake, and flows through the region into the Samaritan Sea. To the north, the Tersten Pass defines the northern border with Moore, and a major stopping point on the rail lines between Lawless and Moore. The region is known as the Great Plains, with a great many number of independent or corporate owned ranches. Most of these ranches are concentrated around the Samheel River, the Chattanooga Lake, and its tributary rivers. The land lies above the great Sahamptha Aquifer, with farmers tapping into this abundant water source to feed an expanding number of ranches. While many see the rapid growth of Lawless's agricultural economy as a good thing, many others have seen this one before. They point to the disastrous effects this had on Earth, and the lack of oversight as large farming corporations buy up local ranchers land. As a result, a large number of independent ranchers within Lawless established the Free Farmer Folk in 70PC, an idea spearheaded by the Crenshaw Family and popularised by Jonathan Crenshaw in his music. The FFF are considered a prominent political entity, with a great deal of local autonomy exercised in their lands. However, the FFF, like many groups before them, have radical offshoots that take the anti-corporate message to its obvious conclusion. Some of the more prominent groups include the Rancher Poincarist Army and Reform Now. Both are considered to be extremist groups by the Lawless Regional Government. However, like many outlaws in Tersten history, the vilification of folk fighting for something they believe in never goes well, and they enjoy popular, if hushed, support. Many suspect these groups to be funded by the Communalists, with their goals aligning very closely. The most prominent of these groups claim to fight for the rights of local and independent ranchers and oppose the private ownership of public land. The effects of overexploitation of the land is not yet visible, having only a hundred or so years under their belt. But it's coming, and they know it. To many in the FFF, this has to stop. However, while it is easy for the FFF to believe the idea of good and independent Ranchers bought or fought off their land, many are choosing to sell their land to the Corporations because farming is just terrible work. You wake up at some ridiculous hour in the morning to work the land "hard and proper like our ancestors", but many young Tersteners hate the idea. Who wants to spend the rest of their life on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, where the only people you'll meet are other farmer communities from the area? Many people are selling their land because they no longer want to live this life, and would rather be anywhere but the ranch. You can spend your life driving a tractor, or you can move to the city and live. This process is leading many young Tersteners to leave the planet all-together in search of better prospects, a process known as Tersten Flight.Lawless Flats
The Lawless Flats are the most heartlands of The Range, home to the city of Lawless and the Regional Government. The flats are part of the Chattanooga Basin, which feeds both the Lake and Samheel River. Many of the most influential ranches are located here, such as the Crenshaw Ranch, or the Durcas Estate. The Flats, despite their name, are not flat, with the Silver Dollar Mountains marking the border between Lawless and the Grazelands; and the Hope Valley, where the towns of Hope and Winslow are settled. Most of the arable land has been enclosed, divided among individual plots of land. This is largely why the Communalists split from Lawless' Government just after the Interregnum, though they had always exhibited a wild independence streak. The FFF control much of the land south of the Chattanooga Lake, with their headquarters in the town of Silvergulch. Lawless is the capital of the Lawless Frontier. Unlike most major cities on Tersten, Lawless has a relatively small metropolitan area, with many of its citizens living outside the city in satellite towns. It sits on the northern coast of Chattanooga Lake, in a warm and humid valley, giving the city and surrounding areas a climate similar to the Mediterranean. Lawless was founded as the a settlement and trading post by penal colonists fleeing in 9PC. Being part of neither the Pinascimate Penal Authority, nor the República de Nevada, Lawless was well deserving of its name, and the proto-state came into conflict with the Penal Authority many times. After the abolishment of the penal system in 18, Lawless remained an independent, non-governed frontier region until the establishment of the Tersten State, under the People's Republic of Lordania. However, it was never truly tamed and remained a hotbed for resistance activity up until the Great Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Tersten, which Lawless became an eager part of. The city and surrounding areas are well known both for its farming industry, and its music industry. Together, they are the region's biggest exports.Okton Oasis
The Okton Oasis is located at the southern edge of the Lawless Frontier. Beyond this point lies nothing but dust and danger in the Sahamptha Desert. The Oasis supplies water to a large number of farms in this region, as well as the town of Okton which gives the oasis its name. Okton is a small town, notably only for being one of the last stops in civilization before the desert, and is a trading stop on the route between Lawless and Nevada coming through the Pearlstone Mountains.The Grazeland
The Grazelands are a geographic area to the west of the city of Lawless. It is located at the foot of the Greenlime Mountains, and is a sparse and open land perfect for ranching. Its eastern border is the Silver Dollar Mountains and the Lawless Flats, and its western border is the Coolridge Expanse. and is under the influence of the Communalists, a group of Cowboys and Ranchers who established an anarcho-communist commune in the area in the days following the Great Revolution. They were given the blessing to continue operating within the Republic of Tersten by Ronald Mayweather. Most of the Grazelands are communal grasslands grazed by livestock. Unlike other parts of Tersten, with individually owned Ranches and Patrons, this region is owned by all members of the commune, sharing the resources of the land. There are several towns in the Grazelands, the largest of these being Temple City, Love, and Holiday. The town of Hautch is located on its border with the Lawless Flats, with a minor dispute between the Communalists and the LRG over its control.The Steps
The Steps are a geographic area located at the very south-west of The Range. The Steps are a series of rocky outcroppings and mountains through which the Samheel River carves a path. The Samheel has changed course several times throughout geologic history, and has left a series of dry channels and canyons throughout the region, extending as far south as the towns of Nothing and Aguera, which marks the boundary between The Range and the Eastern Sahamptha.Tersten Pass
The Tersten Pass is a temperate valley between the Greenlime Mountains and the Robcove Rock. It allows for easy passage between Mora County and the Lawless Frontier. It was named in 23PC after Jonathan Tersten, who passed through this way on his return to the Penal Authority. Today it marks the historical boundary between Mora and Lawless. The border between the two nations is largely undefended, home to many road connections, and small border towns.Robcove
Robcove Rock is a monolithic mountain, similar to Earth's Rock of Gibraltar, at the edge of the Samaritan Sea, with a large city at its base. Robcove was fortified by the Pinascimate Penal Authority as a southern outpost from which to launch anti-convict operations. It was taken over by the People's Republic of Lordania, who used the monolith as a military and naval base, until it was occupied by the Tersten Resistance in 2279. Since then, the Robcove Rock has largely been a tourist destination, with the independent Robcove Republic controlling the Rock and the surrounding islands of the Samaritan Sea. This makes the republic a very powerful maritime nation, and wealthy thanks to Robcove's status as the only major port on the southern coast of the Samaritan Sea.Samaritan Islands
The Samaritan Sea is home to many different islands. The Haddensia, the Wyattamugos, and the Trent Islands are considered parts of the Federal Province of Lawless, due to their occupation by the Robcove Republic. While the Trent Islands are mostly uninhabited nature reserves, both the Haddensia and the Wyattamugos have undergone significant habitation and development. With the cities of Freeport and Three Harbours, the islands have a strong maritime history, with the Devil Raiders operating many hideouts and smuggling ports on the islands, many of which have developed into thriving villages and towns.The Greenlimes
The Greenlimes are the vast mountain range that creates an impassable north-south border between the Sahamptha and Mora, Valian, and the Shank Valley. The Greenlimes officially end in the east at the Tersten Pass and the Robcove Rock and continue on beyond the Lawless Frontier and into the Federal Province of Western Sahamptha. North of the Greenlimes is Mora County, but most of the Southern Greenlimes lie in the Lawless Frontier. While the Greenlimes are considered largely impassable, several cuts and passes do exist that allow travel into Mora County. The most well known is Las Gueras Pass, allowing travel between Manzalvos and Lawless. However, other, less known passes exist, often extremely dangerous without local knowledge.Wisanila/Southern Greenlime Mountains
The southern Greenlimes are a dry, rocky landscape of hills, valleys, and canyons to the north of The Range. The region is rugged and rough to traverse, except via trails leading high into the mountains. Historically, this side of the Greenlimes have been home to the Wisani and the Hancho. The Wisani take their name from Mount Wisani, one of the highest peaks in the Greenlime Mountains and considered sacred to them. It is from this mountain that the region takes its name, known as Wisanila. The Wisani pride themselves on being one of the few Tersteners who were never occupied by the People's Republic, their control over the mountains deemed too costly to tackle. The most important settlements in this region are the city of Valmora, which lies in a clear valley surrounded on all sides by mountains and streams and serves as the cultural capital of the Wisani; Wheels, which lies close to the border with Mora, and with its few mountain passes, notably the Shady Rock Pass, remains one of the most important smuggling towns; Iofia, a largely cultural town settled near the base of Mount Wisani and named after the 'Mother of the Wisani' Nala Iofi; and Hissano, a trading post downriver from Valmora, near the border to the Lawless Flat that lies on the great Wasino River, flowing down towards the Chattanooga Lake. This land is nominally part of the Lawless Regional Government, but in truth, nothing is done without the consent of the Wisani Syndicate. The Wisani Syndicate are tolerated by the LRG, largely because they lack the resources to commit to fully removing their influence, something that would draw the resentment of the entire local population and likely lead to revolt. As such, the LRG struggles to maintain its control over the land, only able to carry on thanks to the approval of the current Patrón, Natalie Hissimandi.Hancho River Valley
The Hancho River Valley lies in the Greenlime Mountains. The Hancho River flows down from the ice-capped mountains of the Greenlimes, where it merges with the Washoe River, heading down into Coolridge. It is home to the Hancho, who despite their geographic isolation, are skilled river navigators and traders. The largest city in the region is Wak'tun, which has grown significantly wealthy thanks to deposits of precious materials, as well as the trade of gems from the mountains. The Hancho are divided into four states, though they are all unified under the banner of the Communalists, who have strongly influenced Hancho politics since the late Interregnum. The four states of the Hancho are Wak'tun, Kuuna'Kuuna, Salap'hoe, and Wag'wah. The Hancho have ties with their Bibisangi neighbours, across the Sahamptha Desert. Their routes through the relatively cooler mountains allow for some of the only non-desert land routes into the Western Sahamptha. Several rivers flow through the Greenlime Mountains, specifically the Sandy Boot River, which flows west of the Hancho River Valley through the mountains and out to the High Ridge Lake, where it is only a few days travel up another tributary river towards Bibisango. This ancient route has been traversed by the Hancho and the Bibisangi since the days of the Exodus of The Hundreds, back in 6PC.Coolridge Expanse
The Coolridge Expanse is located at the western edge of the Lawless Frontier. This side of the Greenlimes is exposed to the harsh desert winds of the Sahamptha, with very few towns or settlements established in this area. The Washoe River flows through the Expanse, snaking back and forth across the landscape, through the basin and range landscape of canyons and valleys. The region is mostly arid, with little rainfall. Glacial meltwater high in the Greenlimes fuels many flowing rivers and streams that make their way down from the Hancho River Valley into The Range and the Lawless Flats. It is around Coolridge that much of the water is forced underground, where it joins the natural aquifers in providing vast quantities of water for the farming communities. At the extreme north end of the Coolridge Expanse is the Las Gueras Pass, one of the few trails through the Greenlime Mountains. It connects up with the region of Manzavalos in Mora County. This land lies under the direct control of the Communalists, who have a semi-rivalry with the Lawless Regional Government. As Lawless draws itself further into the influence of the Republic of Tersten and the United Nations of Sol, more and more corporate influences have spread into the area, despite the Communalist's best efforts.Goron Oil Sands
The western edge of the Coolridge Expanse is made up of the Goron Oil Sands, formerly just known as Goronia. It is home to the Goroni People, who reside around the small lakes protected from the harsh deserts and fed by the weathered Goron Mountains. Its largest city, Goron, was once known as their capital, but today is known for a different reason, the large deposits of crude oil discovered under the region. Discovered during the days of the Tersten State, it was immediately taken advantage of, with the Goroni people forced to either work in the oil industry or serve the Lordanian leaders that arrived to run it. When the Tersten State collapsed, the Goroni were able to retake control of their lands, but not their resources. The Lordanian company Imperial Oil operates mining and drilling in the area, with the Goron Pipeline funnelling black gold to the city of Lawless and the Tersten Gasworks. Naturally, this has only driven the Goroni further towards the idea of independence from Lawless, with their Communalists neighbours eager to see the Goroni join them and are willing to supply the resources needed to make it happen, much to the frustration of the Lawless Regional Government.Sahamptha Desert
The Sahamptha Desert is the largest deserts on Tersten. As the desert runs around much of Tersten's central interior, it is divided into two major parts, the Eastern and the Western. The Eastern Sahamptha is contained wholly in the Lawless Frontier. It is divided into six regions, with much of the desert being largely impassable with the exception of the few trail that connect settlements with one another. Most transport into this region is either done on horseback, or from the air. Vehicles break down in the endless dust storms, or run aground on sand dunes. Only a skilled rider can expect to reach the interior of the desert. The desert is bordered by the Greenlime Mountains in the north, and the Pearlstone Mountains in the south, creating a sort-of funnel that channels wind and sand through the dry regions.Mesa
The Mesa is one of the desert's most iconic places. Containing the settlements of Citrana, Table Ridge, Axurifo, and Abo, it is a difficult to reach location, but contains countless respites and oasis safely hidden within deep canyons and trenches that run around the base of the mesas. The people of the Mesa are comprised of many traditions and cultures. Citrana is the largest settlement in the area, and serves as a general hub and trading post for people travelling from Bibisango or Harmony. Both Table Ridge and Abo were settled originally as housing communities for the nearby mining operations undertaken by the People's Republic expansion into the area in 35PC. Following the collapse of the PRL, the mining operations were communalised and operates as worker-led cooperative, now known as The People of Abo Mining Corporation. Because mining can often have an adverse affect on communities and neighbourhoods, all residents of Table Ridge and Abo are considered to be 'shareholders' of the Corporation, and thus have a say in its operations, but most importantly: a share of its profit. This made the residents of these towns surprisingly wealthy when gold and other precious materials were discovered across the Mesas. The Western Mesa does not share the same prosperity as its eastern counterpart. While it is a part of the The People of Abo Mining Corporation, it is in the west that most material is extracted, leaving it a dangerous place filled with mineshafts, spills, loose piles, and thieves. With most settlements being found in the Eastern Mesa, very few people travel here for reasons beyond mining. Legends speak of one of the Sar'ket Ruins being found here during the mining expeditions, promptly being sealed away by the Abo Mining Corporation.The Badlands
The Badlands are a region of the Sahamptha that is extremely flat and barren. Located at the heart of the Eastern Sahamptha, it presents a significant challenge for anyone attempting to cross it. It is known for its extreme heat and harsh winds, preventing any vegetation from taking root. It has throughout Tersten history, proven to be one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Populations of people have lived in the region for short periods of time, such as outlaws, prospectors, refugees, as well as the occasional Resistance camp or Unitarian outpost, but these were always temporary. The ruins of these settlements are often visited by salvagers and scrappers, as well as the occasional photographer. Legends speak of one of the ancient Sar'ket Ruins lying near the centre of this harsh landscape.Wastelandia
A barren, empty patch of the Sahamptha Desert that divides the Range and the Southern Pearlstone Mountains. So underdeveloped it doesn't even have a proper name, so the locals mockingly refer to it as Wastelandia. There's nothing here, except roads that connect the north and south. It stretches from the Mesas of the west all the way to the Badlands and Jericho River Valley in the east. Most people try to avoid this patch of land, except for travelling its many roads or railways. But, like all parts of Tersten, just because a place is considered inhospitable, barren, and pointless to settle doesn't mean a human won't try and do it anyway to prove everyone wrong. As such, the occasional dusty gas station or sleepy farmhouse can usually be found not too far from a road. As for things found far from civilization, well some people just don't want to be found...Sahamptha Range
The Sahamaptha Range is a small patch of grazelands located between Lawless and the desert. The Sahamptha Range extends across several highland regions in the Sahamptha, including the Littlewater Massifs. They rise from the desert landscape and have created small islands of habitats where life may thrive. The highlands support shrublands capable of grazing livestock at its northern edges. By all accounts, it is a largely barren, but beautiful stretch of land. Littlewater lies here, at the foot of the massifs it shares its name with. The highlands of the Sahamptha Range are home to many quarry operations, with road and rail connections between Littlewater and Okton making this stretch of the Sahamptha one of its most developed. In addition, the infamous Highway 97 runs southwards from Littlewater towards the Pearlstone Mountains and the High Hell Republic, crossing the deserts of Wastelandia. The Sahamptha Range is divided between the Communalists and the Lawless Regional Government.Walsh Basin
The Walsh Basin is a region of the Sahamptha Desert that lies on the southern shores of the Samaritan Sea. The coast is warm, temperate, and fertile. It is here that the Samheel River River reaches the sea, and is bordered in the north by the Samaritan Sea, Robcove and Samaritan Islands, in the east by the Jericho River Valley, in the south by the Badlands and Wastelandia, and in the west by the Steps and Tersten Pass. The Basin's best known feature is the Walsh Dam and Walsh Dam Reservoir. It was constructed between 30PC and 36PC by the People's Republic of Lordania, who established the settlement of Walsh's Gully to house workers and key personnel constructing the dam. Several earlier farmsteads were flooded by the dam's construction, including the village of Anarco, made famous by the travels of Jonathan Tersten and the hometown of Ronald Mayweather. Today its ruins are a popular diving site within the basin. It was built to provide power to the military bases at Robcove, but following the collapse of the People's Republic and the formation of the Republic of Tersten, the dam now supplies a large amount of power to the entire Lawless Frontier.Jericho River Valley
The Jericho River Valley is a region focused around the western banks of the Jericho River. It makes up the furthest east portion of the Lawless Frontier, bordering the Federal Provinces of Mediolama and Nevada. The Jericho River Valley is bordered in the north by the Samawash and the city of New Operstone, in the east by Big Basin and the Glass Prairie, in the south by the Pride Wolds and Wastelandia, and in the west by the Badlands and the Walsh Basin. The most important settlement here is the city of Nashville, home to the People's Congress of Nashville. It is a vital stopping and trading port, settled on the confluence of the Jericho into the Jeevan River. It was the site of the first meeting between escaped Penal Convicts and their República de Nevada rescuers, with the two rivers being considered the lifeblood of the Nevokie people. Nashville is seen as a cultural capital of these people, home to many festivals and celebrations dedicated to the Exodus of The Hundreds. It remains one of the few ways to travel from Lawless to Nevada overland without traveling the Pearlstone Pass. The People's Congress of Nashville is a modern development, founded during the Interregnum and a part of the greater Lawless Regional Government, however its belief in a free and prosperous Nashville dates back long before the Great Revolution, often having to defend themselves from the Pinascimate Penal Authority during their raids, and subsequent conflicts against the zealous Republic of the Humble Servants of God.
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