Just because it's the end of the world doesn't mean you can just lay down and die. Now, the only reason we're still here is 'cuz we do what people do. We survive and make it better. Guess it's not the best, but certainly better'n what it could be. See the ruined wall over there? That's the edge of the City, it prolly had a proper name like cities did but when the winter came and the bombs fell it didn't much matter, did it? Now it's jus the City and nobody lives there, well... some people might, but I don't know why you would. The City is unprotected, y'know. It's got no rules, no food, an' while there're plenty of places to squat no one is gonna watch your back. An' you'll need someone to, because the back is where they like t'stick their knives. They? I mean everyone.

I suppose you could take me for a bit of a bleater, since I'm from SubTerra. 'S not like we're known for being the best when it comes to manners and truthtelling. But if you're gonna get in a fight you'd want us there. Not like the 'oh we got a democratic process ya'll need to have a job or we don' want you in our camp' fellows over at League. Nah, we earn our keep honestly and then we keep it. Nobody hands us nothin'. Guess you could also go live with the folks over there at Apex, but that's a fair trek. Oh, sure, it'd be faster to go through the City, but who'd do that? Even the crazies take the road aroun', at least then all you gotta do is avoid the bandits then. No, 'course I'm not a bandit. I don' rob people from behind, see, I like t'show 'em the knife when I stick it in.

That's how we do it, at SubTerra. I know those at [place and place] think we're a bit savage. I've heard what they say, really. That we're all bloodthirsty and have no order an' we'd as soon kill each other as anything. Which is right, in some words. We don't believe in assigning people work and then handin' out charity work. Only the people who really deserve to be here are. 'S why we got the tunnel system. See the station building over there? At least, that's what it used t'be. "Belkin Street Entrance", that one.

You go down the subway stairs, jus' hop the turnstile, we ain't gonna charge you. ... not like anyone's got any money anyway. So the first room's the Left's room, the next tunnel over is the Top's room, then the Right's. An' when I mean room I mean area, but we call 'em rooms 'cuz it's easier and almost the same. You sleep an' eat an' depend on the people in your room, after all. You can tell who you should be friends with -- if you get my meaning -- by where they are. The Top's the top, the strongest here. An' then he's (or she's, as you know the girls hit jus' as hard as the boys here) got Right and Left hands. Right's slightly better than the Left, but I wouldn't wanna challenge either to a fight. The tunnels farther away get closer an' closer to the City, you don't want to be in those. So it's best to side with the Top, or at least with someone who's plannin' on being Top.

There's only a few rules here, we like to keep it simple. Remember, the strong survive, but the clever live longer.

Now, League has got a lot of rules, let me tell you! Everyone's got to have a job, like watchin' the kidlets or medical or somethin'. They all got schedules and shifts and the like. You gotta be in order and watch out for people who'll jus' slow you down. Sure, sure, they got a leader and a system, but they also carry a lotta dead weight. We could take 'em any time.

An' actually, sometimes we do. 'S not like there's a lotta resources and they're pretty damn close. There's the other place, up there, 'cross the City. Apex or somethin'. But 'member what I said about the City? Yeah. Good luck gettin' anything through there.

===

The Triangle

[SubTerra] (Bottom right point)

Like the name implies, SubTerra is a camp that is below ground. The entrance to the camp is an old subway station. The sign on the station reads "Belkin Street Entrance", but most of the letters are fading and most people have forgotten that the sign is even there. Through the turnstills is the First Room, it's where people used to look at maps and mill around while waiting for their train to come. This is the Left's room, and if you don't have permission, a bribe or Good Reason to be there, you'll probably get a none too friendly warning or maiming. If you go down another set of stairs, to where the trains actually come, that's the Top's room. It's the biggest, and best -- just like the Top himself. One room over is the Right's room.

Now, Politics in SubTerra are a bit odd. There are more factions than most people have fingers, and in a subway with more tunnels than even the most scholarly person could remember, it's easy to lose track of who and what. The Top is whoever has beaten down the previous Top, and he brings with him his Left and Right (third and second in command). The Top makes the rules in SubTerra, takes his cut of whatever he wants and is supposed to be respected. The Top also decides who lives where in the tunnels, which is important. The further away from the Top's room you live, the closer to (or, in some unlucky cases under) the City you'll end up. So of course, people the Top dislikes or doesn't trust end up in the Outers, where sometimes they are 'unfortunately' eaten or killed by the dangers of the City.

The Top can be challenged at any time, or just offed, depending on who wants to take over. People make alliances, back stab and often gang together for maximum survival chances. One thing that is true for all of the SubTerrans, though, is that they dislike the camp nearest to them, League. Well, dislike is a strong word, but they find it, when the fancy strikes them, quite appropriate to go raid League. A lot of City Runners come out of SubTerra.

If you contract the mechanovirus in SubTerra you'll probably be killed on the spot. It's best to try your luck elsewhere, since the strong rule in SubTerra and anything else is dead.

The current Top is:

[League] (Bottom left point)

[needsaname] is the antithesis of SubTerra in many ways. League is partially helped by the Institute, which lends itself to order and fairness. People are given places to stay, there are proper 'addresses' (though they are somewhat arbitrary) and collected into working units. Everyone has a job in League from childcare, to laundry woman to sentry. People are trained if they have no skills and even children are put to work on simple tasks. There is a person who helps supervise, but they also have to take their share and only their share of goods as well as contribute labor.

The Institute provides League with some supplies, one of which is the cure for the mechanovirus. These pills are kept as a camp store and anyone who hoards or hides pills is disciplined. People barter in League and there is an emphasis on community and helping others. Which doesn't mean everyone does, of course, but there's no real advantage to trying to overthrow the order.

SubTerra often raids League and in defense League has constructed their own sentry and guard system. And unlike SubTerra who has many City Runners there is an organizaed caravan that makes the journey into the City every now and then. While City Running is faster, it is also more dangerous.

Jobs: Sentry, guard, childcare, cook, laundry(wo)man, medical assistance (doctors, nurses, etc), builder/repairer (carpenter, plumber those sort of things), rationer, arbitrator.

[Apex] (The top of the triangle)

The most isolated camp is Apex. While SubTerra and League are close enough to compete for resources, Apex is far enough away that it has become very isolated. Most of the people in Apex have the same hair or eye color and being different is not only shunned but seen as bad luck. Living alone is also seen as bad luck and family units or blood-bonds (such as becoming someone's blood-brother or sister) is highly encouraged.

Apex is neutral and will trade with anyone who has something to trade. They have a well trained militia and are very orderly. People know their place in Apex, and even when they become 'old' and contract the mechanovirus they are still useful. There are some weird rumors floating around Apex, however. Some of the City Runners who make trade runs to Apex say they've seen things.

'Course, everyone knows City Runners are crazy.

City Running

This is how supplies get from the lower two points to the Apex, or if people want clean water. Only crazies and suicidal people make City Runs, often in pairs or trios. The quickest way through the City is straight through the center, but that's where the Metals often convene so it's safer to stick to the outskirts and make the Run that way.

Groups of Runners are often not affiliated as strongly with a camp as they are within themselves. A gang of Runners may live in SubTerra but won't spend very much time there -- they spend more time Running in the City. Most have colors or ink that they use to tell themselves apart from other gangs of Runners. Runners are also not afraid of sabatoging or crippling a caravan from League. On rare occasion they'll also help the caravan, depending on which gang of Runners you happen across.