Bangor

Once a cultural and economic hub in Maine, Bangor has become a grim symbol of the state's fall from grace. Known for its historic architecture and vibrant arts scene in better days, the city now stands as a desolate, haunted ruin, shaped by the catastrophic events of the past decades. Bangor's streets echo with stories of its descent, its dangers, and the few who dare venture within its borders.

The Fall of Bangor

Bangor's collapse began with the Crossed plague. The initial outbreaks struck the city's densely populated areas, spreading like wildfire through the urban sprawl. As the infected descended into uncontrollable violence, the city fell into chaos. Law enforcement and emergency services were quickly overwhelmed, and the military quarantine came too late to save most of its residents.

When the plague subsided, those who survived found themselves in a city riddled with fear, madness, and death. The remaining population fled, leaving Bangor an empty shell haunted by its own tragedies.

Current State of Bangor

Urban Decay:

The once-proud city now lies in ruins, its skyline dominated by hollowed-out buildings, collapsed bridges, and streets overtaken by nature. Trees grow through asphalt, their roots cracking open the foundations of abandoned homes and businesses. The Penobscot River, once the city's lifeline, runs dark and silent, its waters avoided due to the stories of what lurks beneath.

Supernatural Influence:

Bangor is thick with a palpable aura of dread. Survivors tell of strange phenomena: lights in empty windows, voices in the wind, and the faint sound of children laughing where no one lives. Some speculate that the city has become a nexus for supernatural energies, a magnet for entities drawn to death and despair.

The Undead and Crossed:

The infected who were trapped within the quarantine still roam the city, their bodies decayed but their madness undiminished. They are joined by ghouls and other undead creatures who have made Bangor their hunting ground. It is whispered that certain parts of the city—especially its cemeteries—are dominated by beings far older and more malevolent than the plague's victims.

Survivors and Scavengers

• Scavenger Camps: Despite the risks, Bangor attracts scavengers seeking valuable relics, rare technology, and arcane artifacts left behind in its chaos. These scavenger bands operate in secrecy, using clever routes to avoid detection. Makeshift camps exist on the city's outskirts, where the bold or desperate gather to plan their expeditions.
• Survivors: A small number of people remain in Bangor, eking out a precarious existence in fortified enclaves. These survivors are deeply mistrustful of outsiders and heavily armed. They know the city’s dangers intimately and rarely stray from their strongholds without good reason.
• The Watchers of Mount Hope: Rumors persist of a cult operating from the Mount Hope Cemetery, the second-oldest garden cemetery in the United States. These "Watchers" are said to practice dark rituals, claiming to communicate with the dead and the entities that now seem to dominate the city. Few have encountered them and lived to speak of it, but scavengers report strange lights and chanting in the cemetery at night.

Points of Interest

• The Paul Bunyan Statue: The iconic statue has taken on a sinister presence, its cheerful demeanor twisted by the city’s decay. Local legends claim the statue moves when no one is looking or that it serves as a guardian for an unseen power lurking beneath the city.
• The Bangor Public Library: This once-grand repository of knowledge is now a shadowy maze. Those brave enough to enter report shelves of books that seem to change their positions and contents, as if protecting secrets no mortal was meant to uncover. Some speak of a single book, bound in black leather, that whispers when touched.
• The Penobscot River Waterfront: The riverfront, once alive with commerce and recreation, is now a desolate expanse. The waters are said to glow faintly under the moonlight, and scavengers claim to have seen spectral ships sailing its currents. The Riverwalk, lined with abandoned shops and restaurants, is avoided even by the most daring explorers.

Dangers in Bangor

• The “Lurkers”: These shadowy entities are said to stalk the city’s alleys and tunnels. Descriptions vary, but most accounts agree they are not human—or even fully corporeal. They strike without warning, leaving no trace of their victims.
• The Resonance Zones: Certain areas of Bangor have become “resonance zones,” where reality itself seems to warp. Time flows unevenly, and people report seeing visions of the past or future. The most infamous of these zones is the area surrounding the old Bangor Auditorium, where explorers report hearing the cheers of an invisible crowd and catching glimpses of impossible, otherworldly events.
• Ghosts of Bangor Mall: The Bangor Mall, now a collapsed ruin, is said to be haunted by the echoes of its former patrons. Survivors speak of flickering lights, music from unseen sources, and ghostly figures browsing invisible wares. The deeper sections of the mall are avoided entirely, as even the boldest scavengers refuse to enter.

The Penobscot Alliance

On the fringes of Bangor, a coalition of fortified settlements known as the Penobscot Alliance has arisen. These survivors work together to keep the horrors of the city at bay while exploiting its resources. Their leaders are pragmatic and ruthless, willing to make dangerous deals to ensure their survival. The Alliance trades with Portland and other safer hubs, bringing back artifacts and supplies from Bangor at great personal cost.

Conclusion

Bangor in 2040 is a cautionary tale, a city where the worst of human folly and otherworldly power intersect. It is a place of ruins and horrors, where the brave, the foolish, and the desperate gamble their lives for the slim hope of treasure or truth. To most, it is simply a graveyard—a place best left to the past, its secrets buried in shadows.