The rustlands are the primary biome of Euphrosyne, covering the vast majority of the planet’s surface. It is simply a massive, sprawling red iron oxide desert.
While the Sludge is characterized by its dense jungle and enclosed landfill walls, the rustlands are characterized by huge, open desert fields. These expanses are scattered with ancient, abandoned, and destroyed HMC megastructures and industrial complexes, including nuclear power plants, automated mines, wind turbines, solar farms, transport hubs, pumps, and geothermal plants. Cutting through the red desert are massive, long trench railways that were once used by HMC to transport resources between industrial plants, space stations, and export hubs.
The landscape is heavily scarred by massive, radioactive craters left over from the nuclear bombardment. The open fields are also littered with the rusting, destroyed carcasses of both HMC and Vanguard military technology, including large tanks, siege crawlers, artillery units, helicopters, planes, and massive spaceships.
inhabitants
The open, dangerous nature of the rustlands means it is very sparsely populated compared to the Sludge. The rustlands mainly host sparse Nomad settlements and some scattered hive growths.
However, the massive pre-war industrial plants within the rustlands are often occupied. They are primarily controlled by various Mechanic factions, while some of the operational plants remain tightly held and defended by the HMC.
hazards
biological and machine threats
Traversing the rustlands is highly dangerous. The primary threats in the region come from patrols of the HMC, massive roaming hordes infected with the feral disease, and predatory packs of vulture spawns. Due to the open terrain, ground-based spawns like lions are less effective here, as motorized vehicles and Nomads can easily spot and outrun them.
banditry
The open expanses are also plagued by banditry. Gangs will frequently chase down travelers on the rustland flats, utilizing fast vehicles to intercept and raid trade caravans navigating the desert.