World Setting

North America

The United States

The U. S. was one of mutant kind's most vocal and active enemies. The Sentinel Program was started in the United States, and the first mutant concentration camps were built on American soil. The country is now only a shell of what it once was, with three main powers fighting for control over the ruins. 

It begun on April 15th, when Apocalypse announced his reappearance by slaughtering thousands on West Coast. Apocalypse targeted specific cities and the civilians were completely wiped out despite authorities best efforts. These cities Grants Pass Oregon, Battle Mountain Nevada, Kingman Arizona, Echo Utah were later referred to by Apocalypse as his Four Pillars, or the capitols of his new reign. One of his Horsemen is stationed at each pillar and each now has what could be considered a 'thriving' city housed mostly by mutant followers and the Church of Apocalypse. Apocalypse himself is thought to reside in Death Valley, California.

Following the murder of the President and the subsequent fall of the U.S. Government, Therizo - a well known weapons and science division of the U.S. Army - took complete control of the East Coast and government owned sentinels. It was announced the public was safe and those seeking shelter from Apocalypse are welcome in Manhattan and the East Coast. It was eventually revealed the leader of Therizo, Ammon, was a sentinel himself and had no regard for human and mutant life alike.

The war between Apocalypse's Horseman and Therizo turned even uglier as both sides resorted to chemical and biological warfare. Many targets are rendered unlivable, with hundreds of American cities left abandoned or eradicated. Therizo developed a virus meant to kill off mutants, but inadvertently caused the deaths of 70% of the remaining human population. Humans have become a rare sight in what was once the United States, especially in the Western and middle states where Apocalypse has the most influence.

The third territory is governed by the Purifiers, a religious and heavily anti-mutant militia group, who proclaimed independence from Therizo when they took power. Their leader 1st Sergeant Landra Knight condemned the Therizo company as unworthy of American leadership and invited all humans seeking shelter to their territory, promising to eradicate any mutants who step foot on their land. This territory has the largest concentration of human survivors and the Purifier's remain the only current pro-human group in the country. 

Canada

Canada has been supportive of mutants from the beginning. It has taken in refugees from its southern neighbors ever since the oppression began. The trouble is getting there in the first place - the U. S. has been increasing its border patrols, making it more difficult to get across the border without a teleporter. The Parliament of Canada is working on a bill to make it easier for immigrants to become full Canadian citizens. The problem is growing resentment from Canadian citizens, who are feeling the economic strain the refugees are putting on them. Many refugees are encouraged to move on to other safehouses, especially if they aren't useful in the defense of the country. Tensions are rising with Canada's southern neighbor, and the country as a whole is becoming concerned.

Alpha Flight has been expanding its ranks with refugees from the United States and other nations, and worked in cooperation with the X-Men. Wolverine works primarily out of Canada, and has found himself in the position of liaison between the X-Men and Canadian teams though he still prefers solo work. He is known to make unexpected appearances in bases all across the continent, testing their defenses and helping them fill in holes in their security.

By 2020, most of Canada has shrunk into a few smaller territories due to the threat of Apocalypse closing in.  One is centered around Toronto, one around Montreal, and one around Vancouver.  These are the zones that Alpha Flight has the manpower to protect - they’ve had to withdraw from most of the rest of the country.  Anyone who’s been desperate for protection from Apocalypse, Therizo, or the Purifiers has moved into one of these cities/surrounding areas, or moved north to get away from the conflict.  There are rumors that Alaska is a safe haven, but most people think it’s just a rumor.

Mexico

In early 2019, the Horseman War's forces were diverted south into Mexico and easily crushed their army underfoot. The long oppressed mutants of Mexico rose up against their government in support of Apocalypse, many of them viewing him as a liberator. This included the majority of Mexico's Mutant Guard, originally formed by the government to protect their citizens. Within a year much of the population either fled or died, leaving majority of the cities in ruin or abandoned.

Remote areas of the country have fought back with guerrilla warfare involving mutants. Bands of armed humans joined with mutant combatants are causing strife, carving out territory for themselves and robbing any unfortunates that wander onto their land. These remote areas, few and far between, have so far been able to withstand the onslaught from Apocalypse.

To this day, War continues her inexorable drive south into Central America.

Atlantis

For many years Atlaneans lived separate and unaffected by the worsening situation around the world. As always, they held themselves remote from the affairs of the surface world. Even still it was only a matter of time before America's anti-mutant views began to refocus. Overwhelming national and media attention was given to the underwater cities of Atlantis, painting the race as a threat to America and all humans alike. Tensions mounted as the Atlantean embassy was asked to withdraw from American soil, and Atlanteans were banned from leaving the oceans or occupying alley beaches. Many well known public Atlantean figures were shunned and deported from the country within a matter of weeks. 

On November 21st, 2017 an attack was launched targeting the Atlantean capitol city. Prior to the attack King Namor was assassinated by the sentinel Omega, and within twenty four hours an estimated eighty percent of the Atlantean population had been annihilated. The Atlantean army was not easily defeated and the casualties were high. The battle between rogue Atlantean forces continued on the eastern coast for weeks, though it was clearly a losing battle. Namorita, the newly appointed Queen, called any surviving Atlanteans to retreat, disappearing into the oceans and becoming untraceable.

Even when the surviving population relocated south and went into hiding near Antartica, they were still found and hunted by Therizo. Desperate, Queen Namorita made a treaty with Apocalypse's Clan Akkaba. In exchange for the Atlanteans joining the forces of Apocalypse, they had come to help defeat the Sentinels and make the new Atlantis an Empire, which is now considered a part of Apocalypse's forces.

South America

The country of Brazil has taken the lead on the mutant problem for the whole of the South American countries, the countries have formed loose agreements to not punish or pursue mutants, but Brazil has taken upon itself to force mutants into work on the government level. Nearly all military and police forces having at least one or more mutants in its ranks. This is to prepare for the possibility of invasion or attack by other countries that do use or have mutants. Brazil also has one active "super team" that actually contains former X-Man, Darwin on it. The team works to keep some level of peace, while the nation isn't friendly to mutants on a whole they aren't hostile towards them either. 

This has allowed South America to fight back against Apocalypse after Mexico's government fell during the war. The nations have rallied together and have so far been able to hold their ground against the threat. 

The country of Venezuela actually has a mutant leader, though this is not public knowledge, he hasn't made life easier for mutants but those in his close counsel know he is a mutant. He is a high functioning empath and uses his abilities to maintain control over his masses.

Africa

Many countries in Africa are extremely unfriendly and hostile to mutants; while others are open and mutants have full human and social rights. Stepping across one border can mean being shot for a mutant, while going to another place could mean your family is accepted and you can live freely. South Africa is a mutant haven, though rumors of mutants forced into government work have been leaked. 

Genosha is still marked as a free mutant area, though it is treated as a constant possible threat by almost all its neighbors and the world. Their is a stigma to the place and people don't trust it. Much of the Genoshan country is in ruin as it is not inhabited, though the cities that do remain are very mutant friendly to its populace. 

In response to the wars brewing across the globe, huge swaths of Africa have fallen under the control of warlords, many of them mutants trying to carve a piece of the world out for themselves.

Asia

Russian and China 

Russia, similar to America, was always highly hostile towards mutants. Mutants are openly slaughtered and killed in the streets. Any known mutants have been eradicated, camps were done away with because the mutants were simply killed. Babies are tested before birth for the X-Gene and if found, they are aborted. Upon treaty with Russia, China has adopted the same policy. The Red Guard was the first to die in China, followed shortly by Russia's own super team. They were viewed as threats to the safety and stability of the nations.

After the fall of the American government, China took the opportunity to absorb its smaller neighboring countries and the fractured UN was powerless to do anything about it. Several countries joined the new empire willingly, in exchange for the promise of China's protection.

Russian was able to resist China, sparking a war between the two countries and ending their long partnership. While the army was stretched thin, surviving Russian mutants started rioting, and the Horseman of Apocalypse Conquest was seen stirring up the chaos. Chancellor Defries, leader of the EEUU, threatened war if Russia didn't get its mutant population under control, but Russia's military seemed helpless against the uprising.

By December of 2019, Moscow was bombed and Russian's government crumbled completely. Conquest claimed this new part of Apocalypse's empire in his name. He organized his forces and started moving southwest, into the Middle East. 

China has made hostile moves toward India. India resists successfully at first since it's had a mutant friendly policy which now gives it staunch defenders. India is quickly wedged between Conquest and China, though, which is slowly wearing down its resistance.

Japan

The Japanese are extremely open and friendly to mutants. This stance has put them at odds with their neighbors, threatened by both China and Russia to fall in line and accept the anti-mutant policies. They have a staunch policy of freedom and justice for mutants. The heroes, Sunfire and Silver Samurai still protect the country along with various groups and team of free, solo acting mutant heroes. The mutants in this country live in freedom and have any rights that any human being is allowed too. 

Hostilities had been coming to a head between Japan and Russia due to their very different policies regarding mutants. Just as Russia declares war, Japan is shrouded by an apparently impenetrable shield. Nothing can enter or leave the island nation, even via teleportation. No one is sure how it was done. It remains to be seen if a determined and powerful mutant could get through the barrier.

Australia & South Pacific

The Australian country and its neighbor New Zealand are both open and friendly to mutants, they do not have any policies of hate nor do they employ mutants in their military unless the mutant volunteers like any other citizen. The mutants live in peace and have flourished here, it is one of the most positive lights in the mutant struggle, there are very little factions that even in the general populace that still harbor ill will towards mutants. 

Though the government has taken a strong stance against countries with anti-mutant policies and anyone with a passport from a country that has hostile mutant policies is not allowed into the country and turned away at the border before entering the country. The only exception to this policy was during the American war, where Australia sent help and brought many helpless civilians and refugees back to the country.

The Pacific Islands have various policies on mutants, though most are indifferent to the struggle, half of Papa New Guinea has taken up a hostile stance towards mutants. The overall feel in the islands is live and let live, not worrying about mutants in either fashion. Just allowing them to have rights as they see fit to themselves. The war in Asia and America has made the leaders more weary, and they have started closing their borders. 

Europe

Ireland and United Kingdom have taken a positive and pro-mutant stance, they believe in freedom and they support mutants rights. They have a long standing mutant team in their special force unit, MI-13 and Captain Britain. The group Excalibur and MI-13 still defend the area and fight for the rights of all mutants in the area. They also support the X-Men and at times assist Blink and the others with helping people out of the country.

The main of Europe takes one of two stances on the mutant issue. They are either openly hostile or extremely casual about the issue. Some countries such as France and Germany have taken upon the Asian stance of killing mutants before birth, leading to mother's who suspect their baby is mutant to try and flee the country at times. Other areas such as Sweden, Finland and Norway have taken a stance of indifference to the problem. They are not looking to oppress a people but don't want to risk angering their neighbors with the looming threat and possibility of war, leading to no official policy regarding mutants and their existence.

The Middle East

Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria are in a state of complete unrest. The lack of power and control in the area has resulted in fluctuating borders and a high level of danger. It is a near constant war zone that is made worse by the governments use of willing and forced mutant soldiers. The result is a high death count and a lot of mutants being made to be assassins and soldiers. Mutants are openly accepted and even regarded as war heroes for their actions, its a celebrity status and if you're powerful enough it can mean money in a war torn and extremely poverty stricken area. Its a tempting offer that few in the area refuse.