4R: DARKNESS

Lore Summary

The Cold War didn’t end cold — it ended in flames. The U.S. invasion of North Vietnam stunned both China and the USSR. When Hanoi fell, the two rivals put aside old grudges and formed the Asian Continental Military Force—the ACMF combined the Warsaw Pact, China, North Korea, Cuba, and symbolically - North Vietnam, into an international military alliance in defence of the Asian continent. In early 1970, the ACMF struck back. They retook North Vietnam in a swift, brutal campaign, catching U.S. troops off guard. The conflict shifted towards the U.S. fleet out at sea, with dozens of clashes—but no clear victor. Fearing an invasion, Beijing pressed for escalation. In June 1971, China and the USSR launched two nuclear missiles: one hit Da Nang, the other sank a U.S. fleet. Hundreds of thousands died.

The U.S. answered with overwhelming force. Between five and ten nukes struck ACMF targets—North Korea, China, Vietnam. Cuba may have been hit as well. What followed was a full nuclear exchange and the world was scorched by nuclear fire in 1971. The world was destroyed one warhead at a time. The skies are permanently dark, causing the lands to freeze. Crops won’t grow on the surface and radiation looms. Most of humanity would not persist. Starvation and sickness finished much of what the bombs had not.

By 2049, the Earth is frozen, dark and dying.

Midtown Manhattan is no exception. The surface remains deadly thanks to ash-choked air and sub-zero temperatures as the sun hasn’t been seen in years. Only the lost and the damned wander topside while below, in the tunnels, worse things creep about. Mutants, gangs and cannibals to name a few.

"The Reserves", descendants of the pre-war U.S. military, now rule parts of the city with old-world weapons and cruel doctrine. They enforce order through fear, no one has dared to challenge the self-proclaimed warlords, at least for now. Central Town, the largest survivor enclave, teeters on collapse as crime is rampant and supplies are thin. The outlook is bleak, and yet, life clings on. Recently, faint rays of light have pierced through the clouds. While some see hope on the horizon, others see it as an omen.

While there was never an ACMF invasion of the United States, a group of Soviet, Polish, and Cuban submariners who were deployed on standby during the Flash found themselves stranded along Long Island during the blasts. Their descendants, having had enough of decades of xenophobic discrimination and being blamed for the Flash due to their heritage, constructed a fortified camp on the ice to protect themselves and their families. At the centre of the camp sits their submarine the "Khrushchevets" which hasn’t been operational for decades. Some hope to someday return to the homes of their forefathers, while others see Manhattan as the only home they’ll ever have, as unwelcoming as it is. Many Asian-Americans have sought shelter with these remnants after facing discrimination, throwing nationality aside in favour of a shared identity as the “unwanteds” of a post-Flash society.

Roleplay Information

Playable Nations/Factions: Russian/Cuban/Polish Descendants, Asian-Americans

The ACMF descendants aboard the Kruschevets aren’t entirely cut off from the world above. Isolation kept them all alive decades prior, but survival now depends on adaptation. These days they’ve shifted focus toward trading, weapons manufacturing and mercenary work, offering their services to anyone willing to strike a deal. Whether it's a wastelander in need of a firearm, a faction looking for hired guns, or just someone with the right supplies. Interaction is limited and careful but not impossible.
The ACMF have split themselves in a organized structure with varying roles and purposes, a reflavouring of the Out Of Character faction ranks.

Workers are the backbone of the Kruschevets maintenance and defence, they work tirelessly to keep the aging submarine in mint condition whilst assisting in other matters when called upon.

Vanguards are the gunmen, mercenaries and traders of the ACMF—they frequently venture into the tunnels and outskirts of Manhattan in search of supplies and potential trades with wastelanders. They're oftentimes seen under the supervision of a Crew Chief, but they do not necessarily need one in order to fulfil their goals and objectives.

Scouts are the hardened members of the ACMF who specialize in guerrilla warfare, survival and reconnaissance. They're given the very best equipment and training available to them in order to survive topside on their long voyages into the city and beyond its borders. Oftentimes seen wearing bulky and specialized suits meant to resist smaller caliber rounds, punctures and radiation. These "specialists" are appointed by the lieutenants personally.

Crew Chiefs are the first point of authority on board the Kruschevets for all of the descendants, they organize patrols, make trading deals with wastelanders and make sure everything is running smoothly and safely for the comrades under their care.

Lieutenants are the descendants of the original officers and NCO's that were stationed on board the submarines before the Flash. They're the highest point of authority and handle delicate matters of all varieties. Oftentimes wearing old world headgear and insignia to denote their rank and position.

Rebuilding ties is their long term goal, slowly but carefully. They’re not naïve about it—peace in the wasteland is rare—but they know they can’t stay sealed away forever. Willing to make themselves useful to the right people is seen as a necessary sacrifice by many on board the submarine.

The sub is fortified and sealed tight, and anyone approaching without cause is met with armed resistance. The submariners haven’t been wiped off the map by larger factions like the Reserves for a more sinister reason; the submarines nuclear reactor. Rumour has it that destroying the submarine could trigger a meltdown of the reactor's core. Maybe it’s a bluff. Maybe not. But nobody’s willing to take that risk—not even the Reserves.

In-game ACMF gear:

AKMS (Assault Rifle)

AKM (Assault Rifle)

OTs-2 (SMG)

PM-63 RAK (SMG)

KS-23M (Shotgun)

APS Stechkin (Pistol)

Makarov (Pistol)