How did we get here?

The mountains of Appalachia have stood for ages, older than any strain can truly grasp. These mountains saw the birth of the Mortis. They stood strong through the Fall even as they burned. They saw civilization end and they were there at its birth. They were here before the Humans. They were here before the Trees. Older than words, older than bones, older than Gods. 

The Pennsyltucky Wastes are a land of tall trees and dark glens above and tunnels of ash and fire below. The ravaging of the land here began well before the fall and the effects of both are still felt to this day. In ancient caverns where noble animals made their home and tunnels where miners toiled in the dark, fires burned for centuries. Through all this the mountain endured but did not remain unchanged. Where once labor was done and nature found shelter now the Mortis Amaranthine runs through the cracks and crags, tunnels and caves. Any life left within these regions irrevocably changed by close contact with the Mortis forces. 

Now, something stirs in these ancient hollows, sightings of blood smeared shadows moving through the pines gathering somewhere deeper has reached the ears of watchful Hunters from distant wastes. Locals whisper of strange banners in different ragged colors gathering en masse and the sounds of a violent congregation has begun to echo across the valley. Different tribes of violent marauders flood the valley in ominous and disturbing cohabitation. Scouts report that this apocalyptic horde is led by an enigmatic figure, a vicious demagogue dubbed The Cardinal by scouting parties that have witnessed this crimson Raider shouting to large gatherings as though from the pulpit of a bloody sermon.

As the raiders gain more and more territory, Black Tide scouting parties from all directions begin to hear tales of a raider horde gathering in the “Next Valley Over”. 

These scouting teams converging from all directions, found each other at the head of a deep valley, and a great horde gathering at the other end. Occupying a great fortification at the mouth of a great tunnel into the earth, this hoard was beyond counting. Instead of retreating in the face of overwhelming numbers, they chose to dig into their newly christened Firebase N.V.O. and called for reinforcements, asking command to declare a DEATHCON.

What will you find at Fire Base N.V.O.

Among the barracks and storehouses and armories of the Black Tide Hunters gathered several support businesses have begun to spring up most especially the bar. The newly opened “Hollow Point Bar” is a rival for noise level with the raider encampments every night.

As Hunters dug barracks and armories out of the rocks of Cliff faces for more security an abandoned mine was excavated, the tunnels were soon discovered to go deep and wide barely a few hundred yards past the site of the entrance has been mapped so far. The Hunters are stretched thin for resources but many in high command feel a great tactical advantage is to be gained by controlling these mines.

An up-on-bricks workshop built around the ravaged body of a decrepit DJ ride has been erected amidst the rising tents of the Black Tide Hunters, a grizzled and wayward engineer has joined the cause as an onsite mechanic, dubbing the repair-bay the Mary-lou. This unfortunate DJ goes by the name Tinkerton who lost all four of his tires in a raider attack just before the first of the scouts arrived. The Black Tide Hunters have struck a deal with Tinkerton, The safe return of his tires in exchange for his engineering support during the Deathcon Campaign.

Advanced black tide Hunter teams discovered ghost towns of the previous inhabitants driven off by Raider attacks in the preceding months. Not ones to waste resources the black tide Hunters quickly converted these into barracks discovering many unique trinkets and items of personal significance to the locals in places of reverence. Opinions differ among the Hunters as to how these personal belongings should be treated, as spoils of war or symbols representing what they are fighting for. 

*ending note: The map below will continue to update as we release more lore about Fire Base N.V.O. and other points of interest.

Firebase N.V.O.