The Sludge, officially known as Waste Sector 4 (WS-4), is a massive, continent-sized, walled-off landfill on Euphrosyne. Over the centuries, the sprawling mounds of waste have been overtaken by thick vegetation, transforming the sector into a dense, dangerous jungle.
It is bordered by the expansive rustland biome which covers the vast majority of the rest of the planet. To the west lies the toxic Vitriol Sea, whose eastern trash archipelago is generally considered to be part of the Sludge itself. Because of its destroyed infrastructure, the Sludge is one of the only regions on the planet where wet toilets and showers are common, in contrast to the rest of the planet which relies on dry toilets, wash sand, and foam.
inhabitants
Following the nuclear bombardment of The Great War, the majority of the survivors fled the ruins of RS-1 and migrated to the Sludge, laying the foundation for the populations that live there today. However, the original human population of the area consisted of pre-war exiles who were dropped into the sector wearing explosive tracking devices, which eventually evolved into Scavenger collars. The Sludge is currently home to two major human cultures and various intelligent species:
- Scavengers: A hardy, freedom-loving culture that largely inhabits the southern and central areas of the Sludge.
- Clans: A tribal, highly hierarchical culture inhabiting the northeastern regions of the Sludge.
- Gorillas: Intelligent, mutated, non-human people that live in tight-knit, small tribes throughout the jungle.
settlements and factions
The jungle contains several significant settlements and factions, acting as a massive hub of post-war civilization:
- New Gorod: The largest post-war city on the planet, located roughly in the very center of the Sludge.
- Federation: A massive democratic union of Scavenger settlements that controls the south-eastern part of the region, governed from their capital, Rosenrot.
- Constantine Clan: A massive Clan faction in the northeast that controls smaller villages like Prosno.
- Blue Palm & Bijou Clan: Other major clans vying for power in the region.
- The Black Pact: An anarchist scavenger faction of independent fleets operating out of the trash archipelago in the Vitriol Sea (which is technically part of the Sludge).
economy
The Sludge features a thriving, robust economy driven by the scavenging of pre-war technology and materials from the dense landfill environment. It is also home to sprawling coffee and alcohol plantations, supplying massive quantities of caffeine, energy drinks, and intoxicating beverages to the rest of the planet.
environment and conflict
the hive threat
The thick, sprawling jungle terrain of the Sludge provides a massive tactical advantage to the hive mind Tsiktral and its spawns. The dense foliage allows the incredibly fast, yet endurance-lacking spawns to sneak up on and ambush their enemies effectively. Because of this, Tsiktral thrives and heavily contests the region, forcing factions like the Federation and New Gorod into a constant state of war for territory control.
HMC presence
In contrast, the Hephaestus Mining Corporation (HMC) rarely ventures into the Sludge. They do not view the territory as essential to their primary goal of reclaiming pre-war industry, preferring to sit back and let the local human populations deal with the spawn threat. They will only engage in military campaigns in or near the Sludge if there is a specific strategic need, particularly around border areas.
federation defenses
As a result, the primary defense against the hive falls to the Federation and other local factions. To survive the constant threat of spawn ambushes, the Federation relies on a network of outposts, well-maintained roads, heavy ground and drone patrols, fast jungle vehicles, environmental scanners, and flamethrowers. By spotting the spawns before an ambush can be executed, the Federation manages to maintain its hold on the region and keep trade routes secure.
banditry
In addition to the hive threat, the muddy roads of the Sludge are heavily plagued by banditry. Independent gangs use the dense jungle and treacherous terrain to frequently ambush travelers, scavengers, and merchants.
wildlife
The massive landfill ecosystem supports a wide variety of mutated, hardy, and dangerous wildlife:
- Dragon: A massive, locomotive-sized aquatic predator that lives in the shallow, toxic waters of the Sludge. Its lightweight and highly durable leather is a prized hunting trophy.
- Lynx: Quick, intelligent feline predators that hunt small game.
- Murk: Capybara-sized armored isopods that thrive in the mud.
- Rat: Oversized rodents that scurry through the overgrown waste.
- Dubong: Large aquatic creatures frequently hunted by fleets in the waters of the western archipelago.