The Valley: A Part of the "Burning World" Setting for Mutant Future

First thing to know: The Valley is a hard place--a dead waste of deep canyons, jagged mountains, and open desert filled with radiation and weirdness, all created by "The Final Showdown" the Old Fucks keep going on and on about. Most of us around here live in one of two settlements:

New Haven

Black Sun Union Soldier

In the west there’s New Haven, a clutter of small towns and communities, shadowed beneath a massive complex of steel and concrete we call Tower. New Haven is the domain of Ghost. Nobody has met this Ghost fella, but his Black Sun Union (BSU) is brutally effective at policing New Haven. Life in New Haven isn't all that bad, as long as you do what you’re told. Did a BSU soldier just ask for your gun and jacket for no apparent reason? Just give it to him. Don’t ask questions, got it? If you’re ever sent to Tower, you won’t be coming back. Nobody knows what goes on up there...

Sanctuary

The Witch Lady

Across the canyon wilds to the east lies Sanctuary. Looks like a nice place. Everyone lives in these tall buildings, and they even have trees! How’s that even possible? They also say Sanctuary doesn't have to deal with attacks from strange mutants and other freaky things that live out in the wilds. The Witch Lady’s got some kinda magic or something keeping those creatures out. Folks from Sanctuary worship her like a goddess. They’re good enough people, albeit a bit strange. Must be something in the water…

The Wilds

One of the many colorful fauna awaiting you out in the wilds.

So what else is out there? Well, like I said before, there’s all kinds of strange, mutated creatures wandering outside--after "The Final Showdown", people, animals, everything changed. And not necessarily for the better. You’ve got the Reclaimers, who scavenge everywhere looking for relics of the old world. They prance around, wherever they happen to be, in their power armor like they own the damn place. Rumor is they’re building something. Something big. What else? There are those brave (or insane) caravan traders coming by every now and then. They’ve always got useful things to barter for or interesting tidbits to share about the outside. Sometimes, you’ll see someone selling their child off to some creeps wearing dark robes. These faceless strangers come by more often than we'd like. The Phoenix Society, they call themselves. Not sure what they’re about; don't really want to know, to be perfectly honest. Once in a while we also have to deal with raids by gangs holing themselves up in caves out in the wilds. I heard there’s a big turf war happening between the New Monsters and the Phantoms. Right smack in the middle of the Valley, we’ve got the Lake of Fire in case you feel like contracting radiation sickness or picking up a new mutation.

Someone from the Phoenix Society. I really hate it when they show up.

A member of the Phantoms

And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes our tour. Enjoy your stay in The Valley.

"Burning World" A setting for Mutant Future

In an instant, everything was gone. A blast of hot white, like a giant eraser on the face of the world--except for those outside the pages of conflict. Nobody really knows what happened, save the Old Fucks. Who listens to them, though? Their brains have turned to mush, and their advocacies are just fantasy...right? Hope? Peace? These words are just a luxury nobody can afford. Sounds beautiful, but who's got time for that when there are blood-thirsty mutants stalking around, or mothers willing to sell their own children for a sip of water or a pinch of bita-min? The Old Fucks say everything went to hell because people couldn't see eye-to-eye. Doesn't sound much different than our situation. I remember hearing someone found a book talking about an "eye for an eye." That sounds much more like the world we live in now. Seems like things never change. Bang bang, baby. Watch your back. Welcome to the Burning World.

"Sorrowfrost" A sandbox setting for Labyrinth Lord

      This originally started out as a little sandbox for some of my Korean middle school students who expressed interest in tabletop rpgs. They would come in during lunch recess every now and then, and I would run them through simple dungeons and wilderness encounters. It was a fun mix of English, Korean...and a lot of body language. Eventually, being kids, they lost interest after a few weeks, but the look on their eyes when I showed them the various mystical polyhedral dice used in this game was enough to tell me they had been changed and realized there is more to gaming than Starcraft and League of Legends.
      I've also been running a pretty successful campaign on the odd weekend here and there for other expat English teachers. I call this setting "Sorrowfrost", which has been written for 1st to 3rd level characters. I won't provide the crunch (on the very, very small chance any of my players find and read this), but here's a little breakdown of each area.

Yeah, I drew this myself... almost immediately after hearing my Korean students express interest in tabletop gaming.

Fairview - A village of roughly 500 human inhabitants living in thatch-roofed homes, surrounded by lush whitewood trees.  Fairview is well known for its elegant spider silks collected from the appropriately named Spider Hills to the southeast.

Fairview Outpost - Where “The Stormchasers” mercenary band - comprised of Barandon Kellegan and his 20 men hired by Sorrowfrost - rest, keep guard, and trade shifts protecting the various villages of Sorrowfrost.  Lately, however, most just sit around drinking or playing cards, as they claim they have not received this month's pay.

Hun Mountains - Mountains forever covered in snow.  The human barbarians of the White Lynx tribe occasionally battle with the Varl, a slowly dwindling race of all-male horned and bearded giants, said to be the first inhabitants of this realm.

Dragon’s Peak - Said to be the highest mountain in the world of Antediluvia.  The summit is also said to be the lair of a large, ancient red dragon.

Wellwind - A village of roughly 200 halflings. They have been known to charge outrageous prices to “tall folk," These ain’t your jolly ol’ Tolkein hobbits!

Laketown - A small village of darkwood homes and buildings, well known for its pumpkin-flavored foods and ale.  Nobody has seen a villager from Laketown since last winter... 

Whispering Hills - An ominous place indeed, shrouded with mist, cries, and whispers.  It is said that you may ask the voices any questions you like, at the possible cost of losing your mind.  A place only the foolish venture to.

Kailind - A coastal stone-walled town for trading vessels. Kailind is known for its exotic goods and diversity. Many an adventurer has started - and ended! - their career on the docks of this precarious locale. Sightings of a massive sea dragon have stopped many ships from leaving or entering Kailind recently, however.

Ghost Fields - It is said the dead remains of ancient warriors from a long-forgotten battle lie buried beneath these rolling hills.  Some say their magical weapons and armor can be dug from the ground, but it is also said the dead will rise if their rest is disturbed.

Kailind Outpost - Another outpost of “The Stormchasers." They were last known to be dealing with a roaming clan of goblins, orcs, ogres, and trolls.

Glades of Elvenspring - A forest of rich greens, reds, and golds.  Said to be the home of elusive elves, brownies, and other Sylvian creatures.

Simon’s Break -A shortcut when traveling between western and eastern Sorrowfrost. Rumors say there it is occupied by vicious bands of gnolls and venomous Tabitha spiders.

Swamp of Troos - Gypsies, fortune tellers, and lizardfolk.  Maybe a wyvern or two.  It is rumored to be the home of a nefarious black dragon and his lizardfolk worshippers.

Deep Rock - Home of the dwarves. Once trading with the other towns and villages, they have currently isolated themselves in their mountain home.

Shadowfell Woods - Said to be inhabited by monsters created by a maniacal wizard long ago who once ruled these lands.  His tower is said to still be located somewhere within these woods.  

Blackfell Keep - Nobody knows much about its past aside from once being a large dungeon where only the most vile criminals were locked away.  

The open road - Everything from roaming goblins and giants to shrines of The Seven are said to be found by anyone brave enough to travel the open roads and wilderness of Sorrowfrost.