CULTURE MISC LORE

Although it may be a new nation, the Midwestern Union draws upon a longstanding identity of a people who have always viewed themselves, for one reason or another, as distinct from the rest of the Coalition. Let's briefly examine what their lives look like, and what your character's life might have been before they enlisted. 

The Gilded Cities 

As the Midwestern Union embraces the wonders of an industrial economy, its cities have quickly blossomed from scrap towns to urban centers that bear a likeness to Gilded Age America. These cities have embraced all of the good and bad of industrialism: while jobs are plenty in the factories, and housing quality has improved significantly to meet rising population demands, life in these cities is often brutal. Food is often scarce, sanitation is practically nonexistent, and most people live in cramped tenement housing. Pay is abysmal, and factory smog hangs over the air in a thick, smelly cloud. For the majority who spend 9-10 hours in a factory every day, they are painfully aware of their social class and live depressing, lonely lives. But for a small minority, the cities are something to behold - with electricity and plumbing, the managerial elite and wealthy factory owners live in secluded districts that boast cinemas, theatres, and department stores selling the latest consumer goods. City folk are often rude, self-absorbed, and emotionally cagey. These people are also educated, with most being able to read and write, and are very good at socializing and creating opportunities for themselves. The city folk are the most fervent supporters of the Midwestern Union's cause - after all, they're at the center of places affected by the Coalition's failed "economic policy."

The Heartlands 

For some who live in the MWU, life consists of long days on the farm, days-long horseback rides into the nearest town, and constant trials. Akin to the profession of most Midwesterners in a world before the bombs, many outside of the cities work on large swaths of farmland that remain loosely connected to nearby towns. These farmers rely on one another to fend off bandits, eldritch attacks, and all sorts of unnatural horrors brought about by radiation. Furthermore, the communities (often walled forts) these farms encircle are tight-knit. Folks in these parts are polite to one another, and share the wealth when times are tough. People from the Heartlands are often "Midwestern polite" (an unusual behavior of being rather warm and friendly even if one has misgivings) and gritty. They're also skilled with weapons and survival skills. In contrast, they are rather uneducated and unaware of the world outside of the farmlands, for news rarely reaches the interior. Most folks from these parts are illiterate beyond basic comprehension. Some even speak Huroni instead of English. 

The Open Country/The Frontier 

Despite the progress of industrialization, a vast majority of the Midwestern Union is still an overgrown, untouched wasteland. Filled with irradiated ruins, mutated creatures, and all sorts of unsavory characters, the Open Country is home to the true "wastelanders" who reside in scrap towns. Those who inhabit the Open Country compose a sizeable portion of the MWU's population and are rather uninterested in the political squabbles of the Great Lakes. They want to get paid, and the army is a way to do that - they'll believe whatever they're told for some cash. These people live short lives defined by resourcefulness and hardship, but also true loyalty to their family and friends. People from the Open Country are violent, quick-tempered, and paranoid; but they are highly resourceful and incredibly loyal. Education and quality of life vary.

Every Union has it's people; people who need to be fed. The Midwestern Union is no different. During the hasty foundation of the MWU, several restaurant chains began to struggle financially, as the civil conflicts over federalization weakened the local economy. One such restaurant was located in the Northern Midwestern settlement of St. Marie, ridden in financial turmoil; founded by no other than Captain Frost of the NMA's 42nd 'Icepick' Mountaineer Regiment.

 Captain Frost & his regiment were desperate for food, as the harsh winter-tides of the North overcame them. They were cold, and were slowly going to starve to death, as the weather had killed off their home settlement's remaining chicken coops. Growing out of options, Cpt. Frost had to think on his feet. During one afternoon's blizzard, he ventured out of his fort, to hunt for small game to resupply their food supply. That very same evening, he soon returned with a pair of rabbit carcasses. Working with what they had, Frost & his Infantrymen decided to deep-fry these rabbits, and in an effort to make it more palatable, used their remaining condiment rations to create a special sauce. However, strangely enough... the troopers of the regiment became fond of this meal, going as far to say that Frost's cooking was better than your typically issued rations. As time continued, Frost experimented in the field kitchen, eventually creating a type of soft serve ice-cream, using the snow that the naturally unforgiving climate had offered him. His troopers couldn't get enough of their Captain's dishes. 

Nearing the tail-end of the Western Coalition War Theatre's conflict, Cpt. Frost's experiences led him to retire from service at the age of 58, to fully commit himself to his calling. He invested his talents into developing a civilian restaurant fast-food chain, now famously dubbed 'Frosties'. Specializing in Sweet Treats, the Frosties's menu not only offers several flavors of soft-serve ice cream, but also includes milkshakes, hamburgers, waffle fries and hot dogs; but they also still continue to serve Cpt. Frost's signature Fried Rabbit, alongside his brand's 'Midwestern Mystery' sauce - a homage to their humble military roots. After becoming a commercial success within the Midwest, the Frosties restaurant quickly opened up branches all across the MWU's territories far & wide, soon establishing themselves as the union's beloved fast food provider. 

The Great Lakes Congress saw the potential behind this monetizable & morale-boosting opportunity awaiting them, and thus quickly jumped on the Frosties's bandwagon. In March of 2164, an offer was struck up between Frosties & the MWU governing body, allowing the fast-food chain to become one of the main (contractually obligated) providers of provisions & meals to the New Model Army. 

Today, Frosties is a revered midwestern staple food brand - and their food continues to be the preferred choice of Midwestern Troopers to this very day. The brand's motto of 'Stay Frosty!' is even recalled by troopers unionwide.

Written By Fuzz55, with much assistance from ProtogenManGuy, BIueFires0 & ThePress

With the Huron Wars coming to a close, intense animosity filled the vacuum left behind by the end of the conflict. Of course, it had always existed before— The Great Lakes was a breeding ground for conflict between humanity and mutantkind. Even more-so now, after many had lost relatives in the pyrrhic war against the Hurons. As a result, many young men and women in the Midwestern territories were enlisted and perished on those fields, possibly even more than the Eastern territories had fielded. The foundation of the Midwestern Union with mutants being left out of the equation altogether. While few and quiet voices protested, they were silenced by the overwhelming majority that were unable to reconcile with their mutant neighbors. As such, mutants are not granted citizenship, nor the opportunity to pursue it. Mutants still exist in the Union, but most live in abject poverty if they are found in the cities, any attempt to climb the ladders of wealth are stagnated by ruthless businesses— Possibly the only thing they share with the standard working class. They are treated as second class citizens at best, and lamented ghosts at worst. However, the majority of the Midwest's mutant population lives in the frontiers and out West, many having fled the fields of Huron. Many of these towns are underneath the Midwestern banner, but government rule is met with apathy. They live free, with their fellow humans seeing them as merely strangers, without the cruelty of the cityscapes. Here, they can thrive in the frontier plains, still finding struggles in economic depression, tenant farming, and other hardships. 

While the Midwestern Union may be a new nation, much of its population is already divided into distinct groups. These groups include Huroni humans and mutants integrated after the Huron Wars, the jazz-loving urbanites of the Gilded Cities, or even the raider tribes of the Frontier. The Midwestern Union has tried (with varying levels of success) to unite all these groups under the cause of Federalism, but no one population has taken to the cause quite like the Pasadales (pass-a-dales).

Drawing upon the farming culture of the old world Midwest, the Pasadales are nomadic groups of farmhands which travel the former states of the Western Coalition seeking work. Concentrated mostly in southern Michigan and the areas around Green Bay, the Pasadales have a long history of living off the land and surviving by working as gangs of mercenary farmhands. 

Pasadales do it all. Whether it be working the land or protecting it from any threats, these nomadic “families” of 50-60 people split off in small teams during the summer and reunite in the winter to collectively hunker down. Living out of their wagons and cars built generations ago, the Pasadales fashion their own solutions to everyday problems. The Pasadales are legendary for their all-denim attire and use of crude laser weaponry in battle. 

Despite their free-spirit and nomadic lifestyle, however, the Pasadales have taken up the cause of federalism with pride. Viewing the centralization of government as essential to the protection of farms and agricultural communities (their source of income), the Pasadales were famous for assisting pro-federalist militias in ousting loyalist forces in the very early days of the Midwestern Union. Thousands of Pasadales enlisted with pride once the New Model Army was founded, seeing it as “absolutely necessary” to do their part to ensure the survival of the new nation.

After being hit hard by the Panic of 2157 due to job shortages, many Pasadale “caravan drivers” (community leaders) have emphasized the necessity to support a government which can protect from such a devastating occurrence. Thousands left the Pasadale lifestyle due to the economic crisis, and another one could destroy the culture entirely. They also hope to avoid the ire of the Great Lakes Congress - in times past, the Coalition often attacked the Pasadales. Thus, the Pasadales are rabid nationalists in the interest of protecting their way of life and establishing themselves as loyalists to avoid conflict. 

However, the Midwestern Union does not look so kindly upon the independent ranch hands. Industrialization may soon bring an end to this thriving culture as populations are forced into cities, and urban economies become far more integral to the Union. Rumors of crackdowns on nomadic caravans have also spread, despite the Great Lakes Congress repeatedly promising not to interfere with the Pasadales and their way of life. Only time will tell if the Pasadales faith in the Midwestern Union is misguided or not. But until then, the Pasadales serve their nation with pride, being some of the most fervent supporters of the Federalist cause. 

Pasadale soldiers are recognizable by their extensive facial hair. They also speak with a strong Midwestern/Northern Wisconsin accent. A majority are illiterate and uneducated, but nobody can live off the land quite like a Pasadale. Happy writing!

With the advent of industrialization, social classes, and all sorts of governmental changes, the once unthinkable concept of “doing something fun” has returned to post-Flash America in the Midwestern Union. Thanks to radio, mass print, and word of mouth, all sorts of pastimes and leisures have swept the populations of the Midwestern Union, from the city-folk to the waste-dwellers. Here’s a few: 

OPERA 

For the wealthy elite, operas have become the premier way to enjoy a relaxing night out. Glamorous opera houses in Lakeview and Traversity are packed each night by the rich, hoping to catch a showing of famous operas old and new alike. With accompaniment from live orchestras, and performances by some of the most talented vocalists in the wasteland, the operas have become the premier way to enjoy an evening out - if you can afford it. Many people, especially those from upper society, enjoy listening to vinyl recordings of popular opera songs in their spare time. Maybe that includes your character.

THE DERBY

For the vast majority of those living in the cities, poor or rich, the derby is the best way to spend a weekend out. Each week, crowds surge upon the various racecourses in the thousands to drink, gamble, and party. With races ranging from a Thoroughbred to Greyhound, anyone can find something to bet on at the race courses. Big races are often broadcasted nationally via radio, with people all across the Union betting locally. Soldiers in the New Model Army have taken to racing quite fondly, with many units running local pots for major races. The summer race in Traversity, The Pabst Derby, is probably the most famous race in the nation. Entire factory shifts stop for the big race, and rumor has it that some military regiments refuse to fight during the races.

BOXING 

While the cities have their operas and derby days, those living in the Frontier and Heartlands enjoy a different sport. Many forts and scrap towns host regional boxing competitions each month, with the variety of competitors ranging from off-duty soldiers to local prizefighters. Most matchups follow a traditional style, but in a few towns on the frontier, boxing is more of a bloodsport - fighters without gloves often pummel each other nearly to death. Though boxing is less popular in the cities, radios occasionally broadcast big matchups in large cities like Grand Rapids and Bulwark, where boxing is a very popular sport to gamble on amongst the working class. 

JAZZ 

Though many Midwesteners would prefer not to admit it, the jazz in the eastern Coalition is the most popular form of music, by far. Ranging from clubs in the cities to small trios in the forts, jazz has swept the entire nation. Performers from Cleveland, Cargo City, and Hamilton often travel into the Midwest to play the best clubs, garnering audiences in the hundreds. Most people listen to some form of jazz in their free time, with a hardcore audience in the cities enjoying more avant-garde forms of the genre. Jazz clubs are often packed with young people on the weekends, and most soldiers enjoy blasting their favorite records while on rest. 

BASKETBALL 

Although in its infancy, basketball is certainly making a comeback as a pickup sport in the cities. A national league, similar to the Coalition’s Interstate Boxing Federation, has been proposed, although only three cities have even floated the idea of forming a team. In the meantime, folks throughout the Union play games in alleyways and in the ruins of the Old World, hoping that one day they’ll be apart of the Midwest’s revival of the glorious sport.

With the location of the Great Lakes serving as a shared location between the old world Canada and United States, "Canadian Culture," as it was dubbed by the Midwestern Government, retains some prominence within the Midwestern Union. Canadians born into the post-war Federation and those whose ancestors moved to the States prior to the Flash make up a decent portion of the MWU's populace. Be it a store owner, a government official, or even the odd NMA soldier, most Midwesterners can claim to have at least one neighbor with Canadian heritage. This phenomenon has become even more common with the Northeastern conquest of the Federation, as most refugees fled westward to the Union. 

While many have chosen to forgo their title of "Canadian" in favor of the term "Midwesterner," there are still those who cling tightly to their heritage, which the Midwestern Government begrudgingly tolerates in a bid to placate their new populace. In the CPA's enclave territory, "Heritage Day" is celebrated on July 1st, serving as the only strictly-Canadian holiday with state recognition. While the first "Heritage Day" has yet to be celebrated, the CPA's remnant government has made it a point to start preparations early, hoping to spread the influence of the celebration across the Union, much to the chagrin of the Midwestern Government. 

It is not uncommon to find "Little Canada" subsections cropping up in larger Midwestern cities following the influx of refugees. The introduction of the CAR has even led to a select few New Model Army forts possessing them as well, with each instance serving as an area in which Canadian refugees make up a majority of the population. Portraits of King Grover and Princess Kathleen, along with old Canadian flags, can still be found as popular keepsakes among the displaced. As Canadians slowly become integrated within the population of the Midwest, only time will tell how the people of this fallen nation will adapt to their new home.