The western frontier of the The American Union is heavily forested to the east, fading into dry plains to the west and ending at the Broken Snake Mountain Ridge, the land west of which still is free from the Union’s grasp, for now. It’s hot during the day, and cold at night most of the time. The forests of the east are plagued with thunderstorms and the plains of the west are torn up by tornadoes from time to time. To the south is the Tejas Republic, a new nation reeling from an ongoing brutal war for independence from the Spanish Empire, and against American expansion from the North. Though the rest of the American Union is stable, prosperous and industrializing, the western frontier remains perilous, with many Native Americans still fighting to hold onto their homelands, and American Union settlers forcefully expanding. Still, it’s a land of great opportunity for those willing to risk it all for fortune. Light-iron mines, fertile farmlands, and a chance at a new, free life draws many of the Union’s citizens, but few truly have the salt to survive. Hell, good luck.
The frontier’s several major settlements are populated mostly by Union settlers. Most are poor, working for the rich company men or ranchers that own land. There are few schools, hospitals or highways, but plenty lightiron mines, company farms, gambling dens and “full service” saloons. The Cheroquois make up a large minority of the population, and are treated as second class citizens, as are the Eurasian immigrants that came to America to escape the horrific imperial wars of the old world, and the many Afro Americans, a people enslaved less than a decade before now. Bands of Achatahce still inhabit the parts of The Frontier they can defend, and some smaller groups still wage active guerrilla warfare against the settlers. Most people are just trying to get along, but the socio- political pressures put on them by their conditions often lead to tragedy. Some people are hopeful, many have lost hope, and everyone is keepin’ an eye out for trouble. Best to look out for yourself.
A lot has changed in the decade since the civil war. The Union, a young nation rebuilding itself, depends on efficient production of goods and rapid technological progress to take advantage of the worldwide power vacuum left in the wake of the falling empires of old. Some of the most capable minds in the world have dedicated themselves to inventing new ways to machine lightiron, goldcopper, and silvium into innovative new mechanisms, contraptions, weapons, and machines. The world has motor powered horseless carriages, and everyday use items like mag-field lanterns, and mag-power tools like automatic saws and hammers, not to mention massive company owned mining and rail-building machines that only a decade ago would seem the realm of fantasy. While most of the luxury of the high tech lifestyle is reserved for those back east, the influence and potential of lightiron technology is undeniable.
The Frontier has a fast paced, fluid economy that flows and swells like the Katannanan river. Right now the river's flooded. New lightiron deposits are up for the taking since the government declared Achatache claims to many lands illegitimate. New railways are being built that soon will take settlers all the way to the west coast, and ensure The Union’s dominance over the whole of North America. Productivity is at an unprecedented high, and workers are fighting for pay rights and fair treatment. Companies are buying up and buying out local farms and stores, playing vicious politics to monopolize as much as possible. The frontier is mining land though, not manufacturing land, and as such, new technology isn’t as easy to come by. At most stores you’ll find, well, the best they can get. A lot of smaller stores will accept goods for trade, if they think they can resell them. Try your best to get yourself some cash. You will not find much charity.
You should spend your money wisely of course, and only gamble when your odds are up, but even worse than wasting money is not having what you need when you need it. Like not having coffee for your morning breakfast. Or not having a big gun when a bear is charging at you. Grab packs, armored clothes, and weapons to suit your posse’s needs, and don’t scoff at tools and other miscellaneous gear that could be used creatively to avoid weapon-and-armor-scenarios in the first place.
The government of The American Union, led by President Ulysses Jonahan Abrams, are the sure rulers of the land, with their vast army and infinite wallet. Or so they’d have you believe. In reality, a small fraternity of men, from rich, slave owning families, has inherited the power to shape this young nation. The powers that be are adapting to the times, and as such, slave money has been invested into companies that build strong alliances between the most powerful, and monopolize the free market relentlessly. Independent businesses, mines and farms are struggling to keep up, but even these large companies face threats.
The Achatache are a group of Native Americans from various tribes that have been pushed south and westward, into the least hospitable environments on the frontier. They used to just call themselves the Achata, after the common language western natives utilized for trade, but over time they began referring to themselves as Achatache, which means ‘vengeful ghost of the Achata’, a bold declaration of their intention to stop settlers from expanding westward. In response, The Union began payin’ $100 per native scalp, leading to anyone with dark hair being a potential victim of opportunistic scalpers.
About a decade ago the nation scared itself with a terrible civil war. States that wanted to outlaw slavery, something the rest of the world had largely already done, defeated pro-slavery states in a climactic battle at Anselvelle. In the decades since, some of the descendants of the losing states hold deep cultural grudges against The Union for ending their time of prosperity built on exploitation, and for atrocities committed by The Union Army soldiers. Generals allowed their men to rape, pillage, and burn entire towns to the ground to crush the rebellion. President Abrams himself was one such offender, notoriously burning a statehouse full of confederate politicians, lawyers, and their families. Confederate Rebels take to violent armed robbery, frequently murdering settlers, disproportionally Afro-American settlers, just to prove to the Union that they’ll never truly submit.
For thousands of years the natives of America lived with an abundance of lightiron. Due largely to the common philosophy of the land being that of sustainable resource consumption, lightiron deposits were never industrially mined or depleted, unlike under Colonial, and now Union control. Technology utilizing lightiron was simple and practical, usually in the form of automated machines to make menial tasks easier. As hunting and sometimes warring between tribes was ever common, efficient and highly effective weaponry became common as well.