Embers of the Rupture: A Chronicle of Neo-America
World forged in catastrophe diverging from our past with powerful Mali Empire and post-apocalyptic Neo-America.
Neo-America
Mali Empire flourished
2030
Texas
nuclear accident
rift in reality, monsters
Monster Hunter, ARK: Evolved
radium crystals, demon spirits
The world of the Embers of the Rupture is a landscape forged in the crucible of history and catastrophe, a realm dramatically divergent from the familiar contours of our own past. Here, the legacy of Sundiata Keita's Mali Empire did not fade but flourished, expanding its dominion across North and West Africa to become a continent-spanning power whose influence echoed through the centuries. The Keita dynasty, under the sagacious rule of Mansa Musa, implemented administrative reforms that further solidified their legendary status, crafting an enduring empire of immense wealth and prestige.
Despite the tragic assassination of Mansa Musa and subsequent internal fractures, the Malian heartland remained resilient. Crucially, their early acquisition of firearms, coupled with the formidable military prowess of Shaka Zulu, enabled them to successfully resist the wave of colonization that swept across much of Africa and the Americas in our timeline. This divergence set the stage for a world where African power persisted and evolved, becoming a central pillar of the global order.
However, in 2030, this world was irrevocably altered. A feverish global arms race for advanced nuclear weaponry and defensive shield technology culminated in a catastrophic accident within the state of Texas. This devastating event not only obliterated Texas and adjacent states but also ripped open a rift in reality, unleashing monstrous entities from realms beyond human comprehension. Creatures akin to those documented in the Monster Hunter and ARK: Evolved bestiaries surged forth, initiating a brutal and terrifying conquest of America, thereafter known as Neo-America.
From the ashes of this apocalypse, three global powers ascended, each bearing unique specializations and distinct cultural identities, vying for dominance in this fractured world. These are the Neo-Holy Roman Federation, the Malian Technocratic Empire, and the Mongol Dominion. The environmental fallout of the Texas cataclysm was profound. Radiation, emanating from the site of the disaster, triggered widespread mutations in both flora and fauna, resulting in the spontaneous generation of precious energy stones known as radium crystals, the development of unique and potent plant species, and the creation of the Neon Divide, a vast, irradiated wasteland stretching across the former American continents. Furthermore, a bizarre phenomenon emerged in the wake of the catastrophe: Demon Spirits. These entities, reminiscent of those described in ancient texts, can be harvested by slaying creatures within Neo-America. These spirits possess the capacity to enhance human abilities and power advanced technologies, becoming a highly sought-after resource in this new era.
While Europe, America, and Asia all experienced significant refugee influxes, the direct radiation effects remained largely localized due to geographical distance from the Texas epicenter. Nevertheless, the emergence of monsters and the drastic shift in global power dynamics have fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical landscape, ushering in an age of peril and unprecedented transformation.
The Neon Divide: Zones of Irradiation
Neo-America, scarred and transformed by the Texas Cataclysm, is broadly categorized into three primary zones, each defined by its level of radiation and the types of challenges and resources it presents.
Irradiated wastelands of Neo-America categorized into zones based on radiation levels.Outer Zones: The Periphery of Peril
The Outer Zones represent the regions of Neo-America with the lowest levels of residual radiation. Primarily located near coastal areas or geologically stable landmasses, these zones are comparatively safer than the deeper regions of the Neon Divide. They are characterized by a sparse but resilient ecosystem of mutated flora and fauna. The human presence here is marked by scattered scavenger settlements, small independent communities, and the occasional corporate outpost clinging to the fringes of civilization.
The Outer Zones are not without their dangers. While radiation levels are manageable with basic protection, mutated creatures, though generally less formidable than those in the Inner Zones, still pose a constant threat. Raiders and desperate bands of survivors also contribute to the inherent instability of these regions. However, the Outer Zones offer a crucial resource: low-grade radium crystals. These crystals, while less potent than those found deeper within the Neon Divide, are still valuable for powering basic technologies and are a mainstay of the scavenger economy.
Inner Zones: Bioluminescent and Hazardous
Venturing deeper into Neo-America brings one into the Inner Zones, characterized by moderate to high levels of radiation. These regions are marked by bizarre and often beautiful landscapes, including bioluminescent forests where mutated flora glows with an eerie light, expansive glowing swamps teeming with strange lifeforms, and the skeletal ruins of pre-disaster cities, now partially reclaimed by nature and bathed in an otherworldly luminescence.
The Inner Zones are significantly more hazardous than the outer regions. Advanced radiation shielding or aura-based protection, utilizing techniques such as Nen infusion(Ne