Australia

Once known as the land down under, Australia by 2040 has become a patchwork of fractured zones, each battling to survive the brutal forces of a world pushed to the brink. Once a continent of sunburnt plains, lush forests, and bustling cities, it now finds itself scarred by environmental collapse, political chaos, and a deep undercurrent of supernatural activity. It is a land where the laws of both men and nature seem to twist and fold on themselves, creating an atmosphere where survival is a constant struggle and mystery lurks in every shadow.

By the mid-2030s, Australia had split into rival factions, each fighting for territory, resources, and the future of its people. The original Australian government, a coalition of states and territories, collapsed under the strain of both internal corruption and external pressures. The land, once considered a distant outpost of Western civilization, became the new Wild West—worse, in fact, for its isolation and the wrath of a fractured ecosystem. The Great Rift, as it came to be called, was a cataclysmic environmental event that saw much of the country submerged, scorched, or rendered uninhabitable due to a series of natural disasters, climate warfare, and the spread of highly infectious plagues. The arid outback was transformed into a dangerous hellscape; vast cities turned to ruins; the coastline was eroded away by rising seas.

Now, Australia’s heart is dominated by four central powers: The Outback Sovereignty, The Syndicate of the Coasts, The Veldt Cults, and The Last Bastion.

The Outback Sovereignty

A brutal, militaristic regime that claims dominion over the central deserts and the scarred heart of Australia, the Outback Sovereignty thrives by scavenging the wreckage of old cities and forcing the unprivileged to toil in toxic wastelands. Their leader, General Bridget McAllister, an ex-military commander who rose to power through a deadly mix of survivalist cunning and authoritarian brutality, has consolidated power by using cutting-edge technology recovered from the ruins of a long-forgotten world.

The Outback Sovereignty is home to a highly skilled military faction known as the Sand Walkers. These nomadic soldiers are adept at navigating the poisoned desert and are expert survivalists. Rumors of their use of forbidden technologies, including bio-enhancements derived from strange fungi found in the region, persist. The Sand Walkers are often called upon to deal with the uncountable threats that haunt the wasteland, from giant mutant kangaroos to savage, lizard-like creatures that prey on the weak.

The Outback Sovereignty’s grim rule comes with a hidden agenda—whispers of ancient entities trapped beneath the desert sands, their cults and followers ever watching, waiting for the moment of their release. The connection between the Sovereignty and these dark powers is a subject of increasing concern, particularly as McAllister’s personal obsession with unlocking these forbidden forces grows.

The Syndicate of the Coasts

On the opposite side of the Outback lies the sprawling remnants of Australia’s once-great coastal cities. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane have all been reshaped by the hands of corporate warlords, crime syndicates, and mercenary groups, with the Syndicate of the Coasts holding sway. What remains of these cities is a blend of gleaming skyscrapers and devastated ruins, where corporate espionage, gang violence, and backdoor politics form the backbone of daily life.

In the Syndicate, it’s not just corporate CEOs pulling the strings, but also a collection of criminal syndicates—the Chinese Triads, the Yakuza, and the Seoulpa Rings—that have maintained their stronghold here. These groups have adapted to the new world order, forming complex alliances and rivalries in the fight for control over valuable resources like clean water, fuel, and black-market biotech. They have a heavy presence in the trade of illicit weapons, drugs, and experimental treatments for the diseases that plague the land.

Within this chaotic underbelly, the city’s corrupted elites indulge in the pleasures of the old world, with gangs fighting for control over the dwindling supply of luxuries. The underworld is heavily influenced by dark, eldritch forces—rumors of blood rituals and the influence of dreamers from the deep ocean, communicating through strange visions in the hearts of the criminal families. These entities, supposedly older than time itself, seem to be guiding the rise of certain figures within the Syndicate.

Yet, beneath the crime and corruption, a resistance movement is beginning to form. Led by the charismatic but mysterious figure known as Sable, a former corporate mercenary who disappeared after a botched mission in the heart of the Outback, the movement is targeting corporate strongholds, cutting off supply lines, and forcing these criminal syndicates to face their darker dealings. Some say Sable's resistance is the product of unnatural power, drawn from the deep sea and the sunken ruins of ancient civilizations.

The Veldt Cults

In the lush and uncharted wilds of what was once Queensland and parts of New South Wales, the Veldt Cults have risen. These factions worship a strange, alien entity referred to as Nyctogai, a being of darkness and shadow that is said to rule over vast tracts of the jungles and swamps. The Cults see the remnants of human civilization as an affront to the natural order, and they fiercely battle to cleanse the land. They believe that in the heart of the jungle, beyond the reach of technology, lies the true source of power—the Nyctogai Pyramid, an ancient structure buried deep within the rainforest that is said to house the eldritch god’s essence.

The cults themselves are a mix of radical eco-warriors, sorcerers, and scientists who have embraced the strange and terrifying mutations wrought by exposure to the primal energies of the wilderness. Over time, the Veldt has turned into a labyrinth of enchanted ruins, mystical rituals, and monstrous creatures drawn from both the natural and supernatural realms. Some say the animals here have undergone terrifying mutations, blending both terrestrial and alien DNA, creating beasts of nightmare—giant, multi-eyed cassowaries, loping lizards with human faces, and colossal spiders that spin webs of silver thread strong enough to trap entire villages.

It is here that the Veldt Cults engage in their most infamous activities: sacrificing those who venture too deep into their domain in horrific rites to bring about the resurrection of Nyctogai from its dark tomb. While some believe this is a myth, others whisper of strange lights seen in the forest, of rifts in reality that tear apart the mind of any who witness them. In this jungle, reality is malleable, and those who stray too far from the path may never return.

The Last Bastion

In stark contrast to the chaos and violence that defines the rest of Australia, The Last Bastion is a community of survivors clinging to a fragile semblance of order. Located in the far southern reaches, near the frozen wastes that were once Tasmania, The Bastion is a mix of military veterans, scholars, and civilians who have managed to fortify themselves against both external threats and the ravages of time. They have constructed an isolated fortress-city with the remnants of old world tech, now in the hands of a well-established council.

Though they are the last stable community in Australia, even they cannot escape the shifting horrors of the world. Strange anomalies occur within the Bastion’s walls: inexplicable disappearances, reports of strange figures haunting the outskirts at night, and the increasing frequency of bizarre, unexplainable weather patterns. Some believe that the Bastion is sitting atop an ancient, sunken Elder City, one that predates even the First Nations of Australia. Others speak in hushed tones about a pact made between the survivors and a being known only as The Outlander, a shadowy figure whose origins are as elusive as the sands of time itself.

The Last Bastion might be the last vestige of human civilization, but its future is far from certain. It is only a matter of time before the forces of the Outback, Syndicate, and Cults begin to move on it, and many fear that the Bastion’s most prized possession—the Cairn of Echoes, a massive, ancient structure of unknown origin—might attract the attention of far darker powers.

Whispers of the Void

As Australia teeters on the brink of total collapse, rumors persist of something far worse than bandits, mutants, and corporate greed. They speak of The Void, a creeping force that seems to devour reality itself, transforming landscapes into alien nightmares. Some say The Void is linked to the forces lurking beneath the desert sands, while others trace it back to the ancient creatures that once ruled the oceans before humanity’s rise.

The Void is growing, and it is drawing closer to the shattered remains of Australia. Soon, every creature, every plant, every person might find themselves caught in its pull, unable to escape its all-consuming reach.

In Australia, survival is no longer just about food, water, or territory—it’s about facing the dark forces beyond the veil, the ones waiting to claim the land. It’s a race against time, and only those strong enough, cunning enough, or desperate enough will survive the horrors of Alternate Earth 2040.