Perth

In the year 2040, Perth is the last beacon of stability in a land ravaged by war, ecological collapse, and the rise of alien horrors. Unlike the crumbling megacities of the east, Perth has become a fortress city, surrounded by the Great Desert, where only the brave—or the insane—venture. Its isolation has allowed it to maintain a semblance of order, but at a heavy price.

A City of Refuge

Perth is divided into layers of society, with the privileged living within the fortified walls of the Perth Bastion, an imposing complex of high-tech skyscrapers, military bunkers, and corporate citadels. The city itself is surrounded by a vast wall, a scarred landscape that separates the civilized from the wasteland. The outer districts, known as The Shattered Outskirts, are a lawless land teeming with raiders, scavengers, and desperate refugees.

Those within the walls are under the control of the Manticore Group, a powerful conglomerate that claims to be the city’s last hope for survival. They control Perth’s vital resources—water, energy, and food—and they’ve made a fortune trading with the outside world. The Manticore Group’s rule is iron-fisted, employing both military force and political manipulation to keep the populace in check. Beneath the surface, however, their operations are steeped in corruption, as the company’s leaders make deals with foreign powers, underground cults, and illicit cartels.

Alien Intrigue

Perth’s isolation has made it a focal point for the spread of alien technology, and with it, the creeping influence of Xenos, a race of parasitic, otherworldly beings. The Xenos have infiltrated the city's power structures, posing as influential business figures, military officers, and scientists. They deal in biotech and advanced weaponry, often experimenting on humans to create monstrous hybrids—beings that blur the line between man and alien.

Rumors of a secretive underground research facility known only as the Eclipse Project suggest that the Manticore Group is secretly experimenting with Xenos technology, possibly in an effort to harness it for themselves. Some believe the Manticore Group’s leadership is already compromised by the alien presence, and that the city is no longer fully in human hands.

The city's military, the Perth Guardians, are tasked with maintaining order and protecting the citizens from external threats. They are a highly disciplined force, but many suspect that their loyalty lies with Manticore rather than the people. The Guardians maintain an uneasy alliance with the Frostborn, a nomadic faction of survivalists that roam the desert wasteland, trading vital resources with the city while keeping a watchful eye on the growing alien presence. They are seen as one of the last true bastions of independence in a world slowly slipping into chaos.

Wasteland Violence

Outside the city’s walls, the desert is home to numerous factions fighting for survival. Raider warbands stalk the dunes, preying on travelers and scavengers, while nomadic tribes scrape together what little they can. Among them are the Desert Maulers, a brutal gang known for their violent raids on the city’s trade routes. They are rumored to be in league with the Xenos, exchanging resources for alien technology.

As the last safe haven in the wasteland, Perth is also the center of a growing refugee crisis. The Dustborn, a desperate group of survivors from the cities and villages destroyed by the Rapine Wind, have arrived at the city gates in droves, hoping for sanctuary. But the city has limited space, and tensions are running high. The Manticore Group has begun constructing a series of fortified quarantine zones, forcing refugees into squalid conditions while they debate whether to grant them citizenship—or use them as experimental subjects.