After the Eclipse
The Eclipse had come to the Anvil with one goal in mind: to gain total control over the area and the people within it. Through a long and brutal fight, the Eclipse has failed. Their leaders were captured, killed, or otherwise taken care of. Their minions have all dispersed like rats in the daylight. In the wake of the destruction of the Eclipse airship fleet, the Anvil celebrates. The nine pillar faiths each have held ceremonies and wondrous rituals to mark the end of these dreaded foes.
Trade has begun to turn back to its normal ways. Moving medical supplies, ammunition, and food is a lot easier with threat of becoming a bottle of goo and slime significantly lowered. The Wells Society, while not a dedicated fighting organization, sees this as the part of the war effort. Cobb’s factories move at full speed to produce goods for the rest of the Anvil. Unhindered trade routes and Cobb surviving the massive herds of Zed mean that the ammunition shortage is no more.
The city of Steelbridge celebrated the defeat of the Eclipse in its usual manner: by burning all the Eclipse propaganda anyone could find, then having a massive party in the streets. This turned into a small riot, but this was to be expected. After everyone got over their hangovers, the city went right to work on its two biggest projects. The first being a reformation of the government of the city itself. Rumors have it that the best and most brilliant minds are at work to ensure something like the Eclipse will not happen again. The second project is the reformation of the Hammer Inlet Coalition. Fractured and wounded, the HIC will need time to heal. Cities and towns will need to reaffirm their loyalties to the Anvil and each other. These politics take time. Late at night in bars, cafés, diners, and other meeting places, people talk about the HIC coming back not as a loose coalition, but as something where members will be held accountable for their actions, work with each other, and even form a true HIC government.
Not every organization or town is celebrating. Some still have jobs to do. In the whispers of the night, it is said that Murder Incorporated is hunting all remaining members of the Eclipse. No matter how well they hide, the assassins of MI will root them out and destroy them. On the other side of the criminal fence, it is said that in the hole where the Eclipse used to be, black markets are forming. Dead Markets of body harvesters, rouge graverobbers, and sawbone scoundrels who will restore your infection, for a cost, are popping up all over.
The Eclipse weaponized disease to enslave soldiers while poisoning the minds of non-combatants to keep them under the thumb of oppression. Thanks to the efforts of the research conducted by Impala, Smiley, Icarus of the Sun, Muckraker, Bilge Ratbone, Sanya, and others inside Emberforge, some treatments were found. The ‘eureka’ moment came when the Bloodberry Festival goers stormed Resilience, found Puppet’s lab where the diseases had been proliferated, and the last bit of information on Red Echo and Tyrant’s Lash. Treatments and knowledge for both diseases have been sent out across the Anvil, saving countless lives. This action was supported by the Wells Society, who owe a great debt to those who risked their lives to discover what they did.
The Emberlights have been tasked by several cities, such as Steelbridge and Cobb, to help with the repairs of their walls, infrastructure, and roadways. They have also been tasked with taking a more offensive role in the Anvil and seeking out raider dens, zed nests, critter hives, and bandit dwellings. This uptick in more ‘proactive’ measures is welcomed by most members of the Emberlights, but criticized by some. Some argue that the Emberlights need to focus more on the building of communities and getting folks to a position where they can stand on their own, not necessarily dealing with the entire problem themselves. Despite this disagreement, the Forge Lord has made it clear that all Emberlights should revel in their victory and continue to do the work that the people of the Anvil want them to do.
Resilience, the city of light, has been taken back. The warmth and welcoming attitude of the city has returned. It is only an ember, but it grows each day. Repairs will take time, but the dedication of the survivors is unbreakable. That is, until the Hazelord knocked on the front door. With the deed to the city in hand, the warlord claims that he owns this place as he is the only one who can protect it. After several screaming matches between the Hazelord and the leaders of Resilience, the city is now literally divided. A bright red chalk line divides the city into East and West halves. The east is filled with survivors of Resilience who just want their homes back, while the west is filled with the Haze-Tainted of the Hazelands who want to expand their territory. Those who live on the east side know that they would stand no chance in a fight. The Tainted are too strong, and the destruction that may be caused to the city will never be worth the risk. However, it seems the Hazelord does not wish to fight, either. It is rumored that the Hazelord wishes to make a claim that he is the rightful ruler of the town. This would be impossible if he slaughtered the denizens of Resilience. This has caused the Hazelord to do what many people thought impossible: he is playing nice. He has work with the east side to rebuild the city, populate the defenses, and give aid and food to those who may need it. His plan is currently unknown to everyone but him, but whatever it may be, it can’t be good.
Finally, there has been talk of the Broken Bones Necropolis. Someone dropped the dirty weapon from Resilience in the heart of the mortis-infected landscape: Booming Bay. Scouts have reported the land as ‘neither radioactive nor infected’. There may be something worth the time and investment out there… if you are insane enough to go.
