Welcome to the Badlands...

You peer out the window of the massive space station. It's almost an insult to call it a window. It is so wide, the glass so clear, that looking through it is almost like peering into another world.

Fitting, as you now stare at an awe-inspiring explosion of alien fauna and picturesque views. Vibrant streams flow into deep blue lakes, an incredible oasis paradise stretching for miles.

Which is why it's so jarring to take a brisk 10-minute stroll to the other side of the space station... for a view of the situation on the other side of the planet.

War-torn, desolate, withering desert. What little life is left is being starved due to atmospheric toxicity. The denizens of this trash husk of an ecosystem exist simply to get by. Many of the beings, known to humans simply as "bad creatures," denoting their nature as failed experiments, fled captivation in the city to brave the Badlands instead, as dying with dignity seemed better than becoming enslaved. 

In an anarchic wasteland, there are obviously very few trustworthy individuals. Those who have found comfort in others have banded together, forming like-minded tribes and communities, helping each other with what little resources and brainpower remain. They have learned to harness the power of the environment's rich meta crystals to enhance their bodies with cybernetics, elemental magics, and other higher forms of technology.

As for the rest, well, let's just say they sucked at the teat of the meta crystal far too much, for far too long. Yeah, besides just giving bad creatures insane powers, meta crystals can get you maaaaaad high. Like, nothing-else-in-the-entire-world-matters-except-more-meta-crystals-so-get-the-fuck-out-of-my-face-or-I'll-kill-you high. These are the true struggling, the real downtrodden.

The CAT lovingly refers to them as 'tweekers.' 

Oh yeah, the CAT. The Corporation's idealized concept of a police force. The acronym was originally meant to symbolize "Contain, Assist, Transcend." A pet project created to reign in tweekers from the Badlands, under the guise of reintegrating them into society. We all know the reality is far more sinister. The CAT is more like a glorified organized terrorism network. They built an excellent towering gate structure to keep the beautiful side of the planet beautiful. Wouldn't recommend trying to climb over it. Many have tried. Rumor has it as soon as you're halfway up, they power up a laser that slices downward and eviscerates you right then and there. Shows you just how much meaning the whole "Assist, Transcend" portion holds. They spend the rest of their time shaking down small time jobbers and innocent creatures just minding their business.

Their little acronym has taken on new Badlands definition as "Crush All Tweekers" among those who fear them, as well as those who wish them harm.

So here we are. Some try to kick the meta crystal habit. Some die in a pool of their own mouth-foam laughing about inner peace and infinite knowledge. Some figure out how to manage the addiction, how to appear somewhat 'normal' and auto-pilot their way through the drudgery of seemingly endless days.

Others fight, because with their minds gone, its all they know. War, battle, and bloodshed are all constants in the lands beyond the gate. Trips for resources to abandoned warehouses and storefronts turn into showers of gunfire and murder. Sometimes the mess doesn't get cleaned up for weeks. Did I mention the smell is great?

These are the ENDLESS plains beyond. Where do you hail from, stranger? Are you a CAT tough guy, ready to rough up the next tweeker who rubs you the wrong way? Are you a wanderer, minding your own business and building a peaceful life for yourself up in the mountains? Are you a warrior, brandishing a side of an old bus that you've carved into a devious blade? Maybe you're a tweeker, riding your makeshift hell cycle into the abyss, because fuck it, we're all gonna die, right?

Whatever your flavor, the ENDLESS Badlands have something for you <3