The Musthave Wastelands

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Gather around young guns, while I tell you the story of how the Wastelands came to be. A few generations ago, the gangs of the world ended everything in what is known as the Final War. According to the Lore Keepers, like myself, and the Remnants that can still remember or read the old records, it began when the Amerimpire's leader was assassinated while in the EUnion, and the series of alliances between the gangs of the world brought them all to the war. The war waged for years, becoming more and more vicious and brutal, as whole gangs were wiped out to the man, until finally, Doomsday. No one knows what pushed the gangs to use the Megabombs, but their destruction was considered the end of everything.   Many died, with relatively few spared by either luck, location, or finding underground tunnels or bunkers, though those who did have become the trogs. Many of those who were spared the inital deaths, were brought down by the Years of Dark Ice, and the changes it brought. Floods hit many areas of the Wastelands, even while seas receded from other parts and enlarging deserts, leaving large corpses rusting on new shores. It's been a generation and then some since the Years of Dark Ice ended, letting people get back on with the tasks of rebuilding and surviving. This is when the Bartertowns and the raiders came to power.   Now, the Wastelands are wild and hostile, with many trying to enforce their wills on it. The worst raider around here is Brother Grunge, his war band is constantly threatening every Bartertown, 'stead, and tribe here, and he never seems to be lacking in recruits.   ~Old Crank, teaching the children in the Iron Ring