WASTELANDS

The wastelands are areas of land which were subjected to severe bombardment during the Zentraedi planetary attack. Most of these regions were once major population centers, cities or military installations. Today, they are dead zones occupied by renegades, outlaws, Zentraedi and nomads. 

Geographically, the features of the wastelands with the exception of climate, are the same throughout the world. They are vast expanses of cracked and blistered earth, dust bowls, deserts, or great plains of low grass and shrubs potted with scattered blast craters. Typically, such craters can measure as small as one mile (1.6km), to as large as 20 miles (32.18km) across and a quarter of a mile deep.

Broken slabs of concrete, melted steel and gnarled fingers of twisted and mangled buildings dot some areas of the wastelands. These are the remnants of a lost civilization. The tombstones that mark once sprawling metropolises. It is here that scavengers or nomads can sometimes be found exploring buried basements, subways, parking garages, and other subterranean constructions. Some of the nomads and gangs use the dwellings as temporary settlements or shelters. The larger and more ambitious groups have been known to dig connecting tunnels to the various underground structures. One recently discovered tunnel complex in the North American Sector connected 27 different dwelling areas, and had 15 different escape/access hatches covering a 900ft (270m) area and housing 250 scavengers.

Despite popular myths about buried treasure and forgotten wonders, the wastelands are dangerous and barren lands devoid of treasure and life. The damaged soil and polluted waters can support only the most meager of foliage and fauna. Low levels of radiation permeate these regions. Although not deadly, subjection to prolonged exposure (a few months) without protection can result in a variety of cancers, particularly skin cancer, and sterilization.