Arklay County

Arklay County, situated in the heart of the UCAS (United Canadian and American States), was once a rural county known for its natural beauty, agricultural prosperity, and proximity to the burgeoning industrial city of Raccoon City. By 2040, it has become a radioactive wasteland, a grim remnant of the T-Virus outbreak and the Raccoon City Destruction Incident of 1998. Its once-thriving communities are ghost towns, and its forests and mountains have become twisted, deadly landscapes teeming with mutated wildlife and remnants of corporate experiments.

In this new world, Arklay County is a place of mystery, danger, and hidden histories, with its secrets hidden beneath layers of rubble, wild forests, and twisted, derelict laboratories. The UCAS government, having gained control of the area in the aftermath of the incident, continues to monitor the region closely, though its influence is limited, and many areas remain off-limits or are simply abandoned.

Before the outbreak, Arklay County was known for its picturesque landscapes, rolling hills, and dense forests. Located in the northeastern part of the UCAS, near the border with Canada, it was a rural area surrounded by rich farmlands and small logging communities. The county itself was a quiet, relatively isolated area with a few small towns and villages, including the largest settlement—Raccoon City.

Arklay County’s location on the edge of the vast Raccoon Forest, bordered by the Arklay Mountains, made it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The area’s rivers, including the Marble River and Aimes River, provided ample water resources for agriculture and transportation. The forests were rich in plant life, particularly herbs with purported medicinal properties, which attracted the interest of early pharmaceutical companies.

The growth of Raccoon City in the mid-20th century was a defining chapter in Arklay County’s history. Originally a small industrial town, it became a bustling city in the 1960s as the Umbrella Corporation, a global biopharmaceutical giant, established multiple facilities in the area. These included research labs, chemical plants, and training centers. Umbrella’s heavy influence on the local economy brought wealth to the region but also led to increasing environmental degradation. The city’s proximity to the Arklay Mountains and Raccoon Forest became a focal point for Umbrella's secretive research, particularly into genetic manipulation and bioengineering.

In the decades leading up to the 1990s, Raccoon City was a mixture of urban development and sprawling nature. While the city boasted cultural attractions like the St. Michael’s Clock Tower, Raccoon Zoo, and the local university, the surrounding forests and mountains were prime for hiking, camping, and scientific exploration. Small towns like Cedar and Stone-Ville dotted the outskirts of the city, with their economies tied to both agriculture and Umbrella's corporate needs.

The influence of the Umbrella Corporation grew to the point where nearly 40% of the local workforce was employed either directly or indirectly by the company. The corporation’s presence was pervasive: its chemical plant operated in the east of Raccoon City, and the Arklay Laboratory was located on the outskirts of the Arklay Mountains. Umbrella’s presence was regarded by the public as a symbol of prosperity, though there were whispers of unethical practices and hidden projects deep within the corporate structure.

In 1998, the Umbrella Corporation’s illegal experimentation with biological weapons culminated in the T-Virus outbreak, centered in the Arklay Mountains and Raccoon City. Initially, the virus spread through the Arklay Laboratory and other corporate research sites, eventually escaping into the nearby forests and the city itself. What followed was a rapid collapse of public order as mutated creatures—ranging from zombies to terrifying Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W.s)—emerged and overran the area.

As the virus spread, the once-bustling city of Raccoon became a site of unimaginable horror. By the time the UCAS government responded, the damage had been done. Raccoon City was decimated in an effort to contain the virus, and the entire region of Arklay County was quarantined. In the aftermath, the government imposed a nuclear detonation to eradicate any traces of the T-Virus, sealing the area off from the rest of the world.

The nuclear strike on Raccoon City in 1998 turned Arklay County into a wasteland. The city was reduced to rubble, the surrounding areas were poisoned by radiation, and the once-bustling community became a forgotten chapter in the history of the UCAS. The Arklay Mountains, home to the now-infamous Arklay Laboratory and Umbrella’s dark experiments, became a deadly no-go zone, with radioactive ruins and mutated wildlife roaming freely.

For years after the destruction, the region remained under heavy quarantine. The UCAS established a perimeter around the county to prevent anyone from entering the contaminated zone, though reports occasionally surfaced of daring expeditions into the area—some of which never returned.

By 2040, Arklay County is nothing more than a desolate wasteland, the scars of the 1998 incident still visible in every corner. The land is heavily irradiated, making it hazardous for anyone to attempt to reclaim it. The UCAS government has restricted access to the area, but unofficial groups still try to explore and scavenge whatever resources remain.

The Arklay Mountains, once home to forests of towering trees and diverse wildlife, have become twisted and mutated. The radiation and the remnants of Umbrella’s experiments have created an ecosystem of terrifying, mutated creatures that roam freely, making it nearly impossible for anyone to survive without proper preparation and armed protection.

Though the Umbrella Corporation has since collapsed, its legacy still looms large in Arklay County. Rumors of secret research facilities buried beneath the mountains and forests continue to circulate. Some factions, particularly the UCAS government and private organizations, have made attempts to explore the area for valuable information about the virus and the twisted creations left behind. However, few venture into the region willingly, and fewer still return with concrete evidence.

The area around the remains of Raccoon City has become a place of dark legends and scavenger stories. Locals from nearby areas, speak of mysterious artifacts and mutated creatures seen in the region. The legacy of the T-Virus continues to haunt Arklay County, with some survivors and even groups like the Frost Wolves (militias stationed in the north) engaging in covert operations to try and recover technology or secrets from the old world.

By 2040, Arklay County is not devoid of human life, but the people who live there are survivors, scavengers, and outcasts. Various factions vie for control of the area’s most valuable resources: remnants of Umbrella technology, rare medicinal plants (such as the famed Green, Red, and Blue herbs), and possibly the secrets to curing the virus.

The UCAS government has dispatched various expeditions into the region to recover scientific data and prevent any new outbreaks. However, these missions are often mired in failure, as the environment is both hostile and unpredictable. Secret military outposts occasionally send in special units to collect materials, though many such teams have disappeared into the wasteland.

Small groups of scavengers and mercenaries operate throughout the abandoned county, searching for anything of value, whether it be technology, weapons, or supplies. Some have formed loose alliances, while others work alone, competing to unearth the secrets of the area and survive the dangerous wilderness.

Some of the more isolated groups that roam the outskirts of Arklay County are mystical or cult-like in nature. These factions, which refer to themselves as the "Wretched," are rumored to have deep knowledge of the virus and the events leading up to the destruction of Raccoon City. Some may even seek to harness the power of the virus itself.

Today, Arklay County is a dangerous, radiation-scorched relic of a forgotten world. The land may have been forsaken, but its twisted history still calls to those brave (or foolish) enough to explore its crumbling remnants.

In 2040, Arklay County is an evocative setting for stories of survival, horror, and exploration. It is a place where the past still haunts the present, and those who venture into its radioactive forests and ruined mountains risk more than just their lives—they risk uncovering the dark legacy of the Umbrella Corporation and its twisted creations. The UCAS government’s efforts to contain the area are frail, and many secrets remain buried, waiting to be unearthed.

This background can serve as the foundation for a variety of narratives, from survivors seeking to reclaim the past to factions trying to harness the power of the T-Virus or even unraveling the mysteries of the now-dead Raccoon City.