Society & Culture

There is no true sense of government that governs Stronghold, only the Military. The Military took over not long after the outbreak, overthrowing the local government and replacing the local law enforcement with their own officers. They are now in complete control: what they say, goes. There is no questioning the Military. They are nothing more than an authoritarian regime, and while the thousands that suffer underneath them grow restless, there is very little alternative to their control: either suffer underneath them but remain safe inside Stronghold's walls, or turn one's back on them and live in the dangerous world infested with Infected.

Democracy no longer exists, as the public has no say on those that rule over them. In fact, the very highest ranking officers in the Military remain completely anonymous to the rest of society; faceless puppetmasters that face no consequences for their actions. These same people that govern the city also directly control those who safeguard the city, creating corruption within corruption. Stereotypically 'good' Military officers are few and far between; most have lost their sense of justice, fixated instead on maintaining a safe quarantine zone at the expense of those who live within Stronghold. There is no freedom of speech, and most fear the Military and their power. There are only a few that are still brave enough to stand up against the regime.

Protection

Protection against the virus and Infected is the Military's number one concern, and they will do anything to maintain the quarantine zone that is inside Stronghold. Even if this means killing their own civilians to ensure there is no outbreak inside the walls. The Military is extremely aggressive against Infected as well, and actively hunt down their nests to destroy them. The officers that directly volunteer to be part of these execution squads are often treated most favourably.

Punishment

"The end justifies the means" is a quote that could be accurately used to describe the Military's rule. Any amount of force used can be deemed acceptable based on the end result. Those that stand in defiance against the Military are either locked away inside the Military Compound to rot away or, most favourably, banished from Stronghold and used as an example. The unlucky ones, such as those accused of being bitten by an Infected, are often put down on the spot as though they're nothing more than an animal. There is no law or sense of justice in Stronghold. Simply put: anyone that angers the Military can face unreasonable punishment.

Even though most of the world is in a destroyed, post-apocalyptic state due to the Infected, Stronghold managed to hold onto some form of society, and along with it some form of economy. Controlled by a dollar-based currency, the economy is mostly used to show the gap between the rich and the poor, and helps the Military to further control its people. Money is earned through businesses that run and keep the city alive, exchanging hands for a variety of different purposes. All transfers are done with cash. The use of cards and banks is non-existent in Stronghold, which helps bring the economy to those living outside the walls as well.

Corporations still exist in Stronghold, even though they operate solely out of the city and can no longer be considered global companies. Most are owned by the Military, and focus on creating and developing technology for use by the Military. Other smaller corporations function as warehouses for creating the necessary supplies to keep society thriving, but only just enough; they do not make a surplus, as to better keep the poor in check. Corporations are responsible for allowing most of society to have a job, as they directly benefit the Military and thus are given greater freedoms to operate. While the rich are afforded most of the luxury in Stronghold, those that run corporations are the ones truly in charge of the economy.

Because of the Military's views towards providing a safe society rather than a prospering one, healthcare fell by the wayside when the Military took control of Stronghold. It's most prominent in the Inner Citadel, catering towards the rich to ensure they live a happy and healthy life. While it is still based on wealth, most civilians living in the rich district can still easily afford the most basic of care. But even that is still too rich for the rest of Stronghold. For those with money, they can get almost any kind of care they need in the Military-run hospitals. Medicine hasn't advanced much unfortunately, and there are things that are still prevalent in society, such as cancer and STIs. The virus is also unable to be treated, even with the most advanced medical care.

Small health clinics dot the poor districts of the city, usually run out of charity by the people that live there. Besides clinics that check for the virus and are Military-run, these clinics run solely on charity and donations, and are often starved of supplies that could be used to treat the sick or wounded. Unfortunately, because of this, free clinics often resort to dealing with the Jabberwockies or even Eclipse to try and get supplies, using what little money they have in return for helping people that otherwise have no Military-run health assistance.

Organ Transplants

One of the most coveted forms of healthcare in the Inner Citadel, organ transplants have surprisingly come a long way. Unfortunately, the aquisition of said organs isn't always such a pleasant manner. Most are sold to doctors in the Inner Citadel from unknown sources, and most healthcare providers simply don't care where the organs come from. As long as they're healthy and able to be transplanted, that's all they truly care about.

Virus Testing

The Military heavily regulates virus testing, and makes it a requirement for everyone living in Stronghold to be checked weekly for the virus. While testing for the virus has come a long way since the intial outbreak, having to change every time a new mutation of the virus is discovered, it still sometimes isn't completely accurate when measuring the levels of infection in a person. Virus testing is also required anytime someone either enters or leaves Stronghold. Those that test positive for the virus upon re-entry are usually simply denied access and banished from the city. Those that test positive inside the city are usually dragged and thrown out; any kind of resistance is usually met with violence.

Classic venues of entertainment almost exclusively exist amongst the rich in the Inner Citadel, as most everyone else is too busy struggling to survive to care about things such as theatre, opera, or other forms of entertainment. However, inside the Inner Citadel, the Military works hard to give the impression that there is nothing wrong in the world There is No War in Ba Sing Se. Because of that, a lively entertainment scene is still very present, put on by rich people, for rich people. Forms of entertainment are of course limited to what is available to create and put on, but as most productions are still funded by dirty money from the Military, there isn't much that isn't available for entertainment in the Inner Citadel.

On a smaller scale around Stronghold, bars, strip clubs, and night clubs still operate and provide entertainment through booze, dancing, and music. These are typically the venues that the more poor citizens head to for fun and to forget about the troubles of their life.

Education is very limited in Stronghold. The Military doesn't deem it a necessity, and as child-rearing is not strongly recommended amongst the poorer classes (or most citizens), there are no publicly-funded programs in place. Even amongst the rich, they usually take it upon themselves to teach their children, the only exception being those that head off to be trained in the Military Academy. Anyone is allowed to join the academy in hopes to one day join the Military, but only those that pass their tests are allowed in. For everyone else, they must learn what they can before being pushed to climb through society on their own.

Languages

Being in western North America, the official language used in Stronghold is English. What little education still exists does not teach other languages, as there is no need for it while Stronghold remains cut off from the rest of the world. That being said, many people living in Stronghold have different mother languages, or speak multiple languages, and through passing these languages down from parent to child, it's not uncommon to run into people speaking something other than English.

Orphanages

With people perishing every day from either lack of proper care or from Infected attacks, it's no surprise orphanages are an important part of society for taking care of children without parents. There are two main types of orphanages in Stronghold: those run by the poor based off donations, and those that are Military-run. The ones that are run by the Military are usually the ones that take in children with no parents, with the intention that once they're old enough, they'll be shuffled into the Military academy to hopefully one day join the Military. While seemingly generous on the surface, the purpose of these orphanages have a much darker take: training children from a young age to obey the Military without question.

Marriage simply isn't something that's important to the Military: there are no benefits offered by it, and certainly no benefits for couples thinking about having children. While there is still the requirement to register properly with the Military when married (most likely to throttle weekly supplies if deemed necessary), they otherwise do not have a hand in what happens between individuals. This means that marriage between people of the same sex, or even polyamorous marriages, are all accepted in Stronghold.

Technology

The ability to communicate with one another technologically has suffered immensely after the outbreak, both from a lack of maintenance, as well as the Military wanting to cement its control in the immediate area. It didn't take long after the Infected took over for phone lines and routers to go dark. Today, the concept of the internet is far more primitive from what it once was. Communication is limited by relays set up by the Military, and only those with access to the grid are able to communicate with one another. There is also no modern equivalent of the post service, so communication between people has become severely limited and controlled.

Few people are privileged enough to be granted tablets by the Military. In fact, government-issued tablets are only supplied to residents of the Inner Citadel, as well as Military officers. That doesn't mean no one else has their hands on a tablet. Tablets are one of the most desirable pieces of technology, and the black market and smuggling rings are always filled with stolen devices for sale.

Tablets	Tablets are devices used for communication; they function as both a way to access the 'internet', as well as communicate with other people through texts. Phone lines were destroyed and never rebuilt, so all communication is done through texting (including text-to-speech); many believe this was done purposely so the Military could monitor all texts between its citizens.
Internet	What once spanned the globe has now become something much more primitive, a sort of general web-search limited to the range of internet relays set up by the Military. Social media does not exist, and the internet no longer reaches anyone outside of Stronghold's vicinity: world-wide communication is simply a thing of the past.

Every civilian that lives in Stronghold must be registered with the Military, at which point they are granted a pass that allows them to both enter and leave the city at will. It's also a way for the Military to control rations and supplies distribution; anyone who maxes out their allotted supplies for a specific week will be denied more, regardless of how desperately they may need more. However, ID recognition is not perfect; passes are easily stolen by criminals, or even forged by smugglers to be distributed to people that don't have passes. As of right now, the Military has no proper method to control IDs, making it easy for criminals to capitalize on.

Stronghold Passes

Passes are required for people to both enter and leave Stronghold; those that live either outside or inside without a valid pass are unable to freely travel through the Military checkpoints that guard the city's only two entry points. A second level of pass is also required to enter the Inner Citadel, a way for the Military to control who's allowed into the rich district.

Inside Stronghold, transportation varies based on a person's status in the city. The Inner Citadel where all the rich civilians live is built with fully-developed roads, as most of the people have access to buy cars, trucks, and vehicles of all kinds. Military officers are also granted access to vehicles, both for professional as well as personal use. Those living in less desireable areas of Stronghold aren't so lucky. Most of the outer city was designed around narrow roads barely large enough for two people to fit in, side-by-side. Larger vehicles struggle even in areas with larger roads, and so for those that are lucky enough to have their own personal vehicles, most have different types of motorcycles, motorized scooters, and bicycles. These vehicles are generally smuggled in by Eclipse, but aren't heavily regulated by the Military.

Everyone else in Stronghold rely heavily on the underground subway system that was in place far before Stronghold became a fully-realized walled city, or by simply walking to where they need to go. Transportation in general is not made easy for people in Stronghold; the Military would rather keep things easy to monitor than provide for its citizens. For those outside of Stronghold, they have easier options of transportation. Most vehicles in the world are rusted beyond repair, but those that aren't are usually found and fixed up by any who can get their hands on them, such as Eclipse or drifters. These vehicles are imperitive for life outside of Stronghold, and are very coveted by people not inside Stronghold.

Firearms haven't evolved past the initial outbreak. They're still made the same, still require bullets to shoot, and still require regular maintenance to function. The only people in Stronghold still producing weapons is corporations funded by the Military; however, firearms in abandoned facilities doted around No-Man's Land are still regularly found and fixed up. Guns are heavily regulated inside Stronghold, and anyone found illegally possessing one could be arrested by the Military. Those in possession of guns outside of Stronghold, such as drifters, are generally ignored by the Military. Grenades, rocket launchers, sniper rifles, and other heavy firearms are completely restricted to Military use. They do, occasionally, find their way into the wrong hands.

Bionic prosthetics progressed very little since the outbreak, as research from around the globe got cut off, as well as existing research labs destroyed by Infected. However, as the importance for prosthetics grew (such as a Military officer losing a limb to prevent virus infection), the Military invested more time and research into creating better functioning limbs. Prosthetic function became valued over aesthetic appeal, and because of this, all modern prosthetics are very bionic in appearance. Prosthetics have reached a point where they function very similar to an actual limb, but they do not have any aditional features (for example they aren't super strong or durable). Regular maintenance is required to keep them functioning. Because of the cost to make them, bionic prosthetics are generally reserved for the rich and those serving in the Military; those too poor to afford one are simply told they must 'adapt' with their missing limb.

Geography & Climate

The geography of the land surrounding Stronghold is consistent with western North America: rolling plains, dense forests, and beautiful lakes and rivers. Of course the grim nature of the world often overshadows the beauty of the world, considering many of these places are now overrun with Infected and other dangers. Considering how long it's been since humanity has had control over the world around them, Mother Nature has certainly started taking back the Earth. Most abandoned buildings and towns are broken and eroded, covered in nature, like a true urban jungle. The plants that grow and thrive in the environment are typical of western North America, able to withstand the vicious cold winters the climate has to offer, as well as the heat in summer.

Also typical of the land is the fact that to get anywhere distant, a working vehicle is required. Most of the abandoned towns that contain supplies are separated by swathes of forest and open, rolling plains. There are no mountains within Stronghold's vicinity, nor are there canyons or deserts. Considering everything that wants to kill humans already existing in the world, the geography is the least likely to actually kill someone.

With only one level of Infected actively seeking out animals as a food source, wildlife in the areas around Stronghold have flourished since the disappearance of their apex predator: mankind. Animals have taken over areas that were previously dominated by humans, ruined and abandoned towns now overrun with creatures such as deer, raccoons, foxes, and more. Because the infection does not affect animals like it does humans, they have been able to survive and prosper ever since the outbreak. This means they are an important food source for drifters and other people living outside Stronghold, not having to rely on the Military for rations. However, it does also mean they can be a threat as well.

The wildlife that can be found in abundance are any that can be naturally found in western North America. This includes predators such as grizzley bears, wolves, mountain lions, and more. These too have moved into places no longer inhabitated by humans, and people running into these more dangerous creatures is often just as likely as them running into Infected. For whatever reason, animals tend to avoid Infected; this is a good indication for Infected nests. If wildlife have evacuated from a certain area, more than likely it's because of an Infected infestation that's moved into the surrounding area.

Because of the lockdown state that Stronghold is in, wildlife is pretty much nonexistent inside the city. Perhaps the rare bird or two can be spotted amongst the buildings, but the lack of natural greenery causes even them to avoid the urban areas. Cats and dogs are usually the only type of animals that can be found regularly roaming the streets, either as someone's pet, or as a stray.

The climate of the local geography is consistent with northwestern North America, with cool springs, hot summers, temperate autumns, and frigid winters. Besides the obvious threat of Infected attacks, people living in the world also have threats from the elements to deal with. Particularly the cold winters that blow through, with occasional snow storms and weather that drops to freezing. It's difficult for drifters, but those inside Stronghold also often struggle with a lack of heat. Listed below is a quick overview of what each season can look like, as well as the given months in which the seasonal temperatures can be expected.

Spring

MAR to MAY

2°C — 12°C
[ 35°F — 53°F ]

Summer

JUN to AUG

11°C — 22°C
[ 52°F — 72°F ]

Autumn

SEP to NOV

-6°C — 4°C
[ 21°F — 39°F ]

Winter

DEC to FEB

-24°C — -12°C
[ -11°F — 10°F ]

Spring	Spring is usually pretty cool with lots of rain and hail, getting warmer only towards the end. Early months sometimes also still get snow, although it usually doesn't stay long and is quick to melt into mud and slush. During spring, the harshest weather people will face is the rain, which can often last for days at a time. Within Stronghold, smaller streets and ground-floor buildings often can become flooded. Infected usually come out during the warmer days, but will often take shelter during rain.
Summer	Summer, while cooler in the evening and at night, is usually extremely hot during the day and quick to bring on heat stroke and sun burns. Consideration of the heat is important for those without much shelter, such as drifters. Summer occasionally has short bursts of rain, but it's generally not prolonged or potentially damaging like spring. During the hot day, Infected will stay indoors where it's cool, preferring instead to come out during the evening and at night for hunting.
Autumn	Autumn can be described as temperate weather, with warm breezes and crisp evenings. Snow and colder weather doesn't appear until the middle of the season, with the beginning of Autumn being relatively comfortable. There aren't any major environmental hazards during this time to both people living in and out of Stronghold, and is usually considered the best time for travel. Unfortunately, it's also usually the season that Infected tend to come out the most, even during the daytime.
Winter	Winter is the toughest season of the year for everyone, except those living in the Inner Citadel inside Stronghold. The temperatures dip below freezing, making frost bite a major threat for those without adequate shelter. Snowstorms, and even blizzards, are a common occurance for most of winter. The one upside to the season is that most Infected also choose to take shelter indoors and 'hibernate', as the cold weather can still kill them if they ventured outside. However, it does make looting dangerous.