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Description

A map of Franche-Comté, not really connected with the Fallout canon that much, I mostly just wanted to make a post-apocalyptic scenario. The inspiration from Fallout New Vegas made me imagine this map as if it was to be the setting for a video game, so there is some sort of dynamic story going on, with this map's situation's as the starting point. But there is also a lot of inspiration from Metro 2033 (in terms of themes), which I re-read recently, and the first Fallout game (for the main conflict).

Lore:

In the distant future, due to resources shortages, a Third World War broke out and resulted in the annihilation of every belligerent country by nuclear hellfire. As the radiation levels slowly decreased, the post-nuclear winter faded away and the Earth's surface became habitable again, small communities of survivors begin to set themselves up on the ruins of the old world, leading to the emergence of new civilisations across the wastelands.

The Franche-Comté region was, for the first time in its history, particularly lucky in that regard. Its low population density had made it a low priority target for nuclear bombings during the Great War, enabling more of the original population to survive in the old cities' rubble or the Jura mountains, and build itself back faster than the rest of France. Franche-Comté also enjoyed a faster reconstruction thanks to its proximity to Switzerland and Jura (which survived the war thanks to its highly developed anti-nuclear protections), which provided reliable trading partners. The Franc-Comtois food production was able to build itself back quicker thanks to Swiss-imported equipment, the surplus was sold to markets in Neuchâtel, Genève and Porrentruy, which in return allowed the Comtois to buy even more Swiss goods. From East to West, the standard of living begun to climb back.

Once Franc-Comtois society had evolved to levels reminiscent of the ancient cradles of civilisation and Switzerland started to close most of its borders (as its wealth was starting to attract raiders), the region had become mostly self-sustaining. Urban life was making its big come-back, pre-War cities were being rebuilt and soon these audacious city-states grew geopolitical ambitions. Like in the old times, the Greater Besançon and the Belfort-Montbéliard Area emerged as dynamic regions, further developing trade (reaching areas outside of the County) and manufacture, followed by Lons-le-Saunier, Dole and Vesoul. Wars were very rare, as none of these players had the means to sustain large enough armies to threaten the others. The Greater Besançon and the Belfort-Montbéliard Area would have had the needed manpower, but they were fractured into minuscule factions and proved impossible to unify due to the lack of a common enemy or an inspiring figure.

As the flame of civilisation was starting to spread to the smaller settlements, the country appeared as more and more divided. The need for unity began to cristallize in Dole, which could supply a larger military thanks to a fairly centralized system, provided a rallying figure due to its return to monarchy, had contacts outside of the region and enjoyed the pride of being the historical capital of Franche-Comté, an important asset considering that the study of history before the bombs fell also started around that time.

Sadly for the new Counts, it quickly became apparent that their city did not have the means to achieve its goals. The small towns around it were easy picking although keeping them obedient was always tricky, but there was another, real problem at hand. After having expanded so quickly, Dole alarmed its new neighbors to the east and south. It had united the Greater Besançon, but against itself, and the coalition was soon joined by Lons, eager to contain its rival. Officially, war did not break out, due to troops being so expensive, but Dole was soon forced to evacuate most of its conquests due to the supplying of rebellions by the alliance. Priority was given to secure Tavaux and its airport, which allowed Mont-sous-Vaudrey, Orchamps, Dampierre and Pesmes to expel the occupiers. However, it had not been a complete setback for the Counts, as they managed to make the last 3 recognize their suzerainty nominally, switching their strategy from outright conquest to the creation of a sphere of influence.

This new dawn of feudalism was promising for Dole as it allowed its name to reach further than its armies could (eventually its claims reached the entirety of region, as in 2279 was proclaimed the "Restoration of the County"), and was soon to be followed by a wave of "soft" centralization, which seemed to go smoothly, as Dole was able to re-annex Dampierre in 2280. But this could also have been the one step too far, as it re-ignited tensions between Dole and its neighbors.

Meanwhile, in the mysterious lands of the setting sun, a great danger was assembling. An immense army of mutants was destroying everything in its way to the east, soon reaching former Burgundy. Convinced that they were the new ultimate form of life, awaiting to rule all of the Earth, they methodically and brutally destroyed any human presence they found, and further justified their violence as a "justice brought to those who destroyed life on earth". They eventually heard rumors of a wealthy human civilization sitting on top of the Alps, filled to the brim with pre-War weapons and technology, which had given them motivation to march in the direction of the Jura. Unfortunately for the Comtois, not only were they worthy of being exterminated simply for being humans, but they now stood in the middle of a new conflict, the one between Switzerland and the Army of the Pure.

Unwilling to see the post-War Comtois societies as their equal, the Swiss Federal Council has made the decision to fortify every centimeter of border and prepare for a defensive war, thus dooming Franche-Comté to be occupied and most of its people to simply vanish from the Earth, after having survived a nuclear apocalypse. As the County of Dole struggles to react to its new Western threat, hope is diminishing steadily.

Franche-Comté awaits a saviour, someone who will finally unify the land under their banner, gather enough strength to be heard by the Swiss, convince them to go fight downhill, and, last but not least, survive after facing the full wrath of the mutant army, with the very survival of Humanity in the balance...

Description

A map of Franche-Comté, not really connected with the Fallout canon that much, I mostly just wanted to make a post-apocalyptic scenario. The inspiration from Fallout New Vegas made me imagine this map as if it was to be the setting for a video game, so there is some sort of dynamic story going on, with this map's situation's as the starting point. But there is also a lot of inspiration from Metro 2033 (in terms of themes), which I re-read recently, and the first Fallout game (for the main conflict).

Lore:

In the distant future, due to resources shortages, a Third World War broke out and resulted in the annihilation of every belligerent country by nuclear hellfire. As the radiation levels slowly decreased, the post-nuclear winter faded away and the Earth's surface became habitable again, small communities of survivors begin to set themselves up on the ruins of the old world, leading to the emergence of new civilisations across the wastelands.

The Franche-Comté region was, for the first time in its history, particularly lucky in that regard. Its low population density had made it a low priority target for nuclear bombings during the Great War, enabling more of the original population to survive in the old cities' rubble or the Jura mountains, and build itself back faster than the rest of France. Franche-Comté also enjoyed a faster reconstruction thanks to its proximity to Switzerland and Jura (which survived the war thanks to its highly developed anti-nuclear protections), which provided reliable trading partners. The Franc-Comtois food production was able to build itself back quicker thanks to Swiss-imported equipment, the surplus was sold to markets in Neuchâtel, Genève and Porrentruy, which in return allowed the Comtois to buy even more Swiss goods. From East to West, the standard of living begun to climb back.

Once Franc-Comtois society had evolved to levels reminiscent of the ancient cradles of civilisation and Switzerland started to close most of its borders (as its wealth was starting to attract raiders), the region had become mostly self-sustaining. Urban life was making its big come-back, pre-War cities were being rebuilt and soon these audacious city-states grew geopolitical ambitions. Like in the old times, the Greater Besançon and the Belfort-Montbéliard Area emerged as dynamic regions, further developing trade (reaching areas outside of the County) and manufacture, followed by Lons-le-Saunier, Dole and Vesoul. Wars were very rare, as none of these players had the means to sustain large enough armies to threaten the others. The Greater Besançon and the Belfort-Montbéliard Area would have had the needed manpower, but they were fractured into minuscule factions and proved impossible to unify due to the lack of a common enemy or an inspiring figure.

As the flame of civilisation was starting to spread to the smaller settlements, the country appeared as more and more divided. The need for unity began to cristallize in Dole, which could supply a larger military thanks to a fairly centralized system, provided a rallying figure due to its return to monarchy, had contacts outside of the region and enjoyed the pride of being the historical capital of Franche-Comté, an important asset considering that the study of history before the bombs fell also started around that time.

Sadly for the new Counts, it quickly became apparent that their city did not have the means to achieve its goals. The small towns around it were easy picking although keeping them obedient was always tricky, but there was another, real problem at hand. After having expanded so quickly, Dole alarmed its new neighbors to the east and south. It had united the Greater Besançon, but against itself, and the coalition was soon joined by Lons, eager to contain its rival. Officially, war did not break out, due to troops being so expensive, but Dole was soon forced to evacuate most of its conquests due to the supplying of rebellions by the alliance. Priority was given to secure Tavaux and its airport, which allowed Mont-sous-Vaudrey, Orchamps, Dampierre and Pesmes to expel the occupiers. However, it had not been a complete setback for the Counts, as they managed to make the last 3 recognize their suzerainty nominally, switching their strategy from outright conquest to the creation of a sphere of influence.

This new dawn of feudalism was promising for Dole as it allowed its name to reach further than its armies could (eventually its claims reached the entirety of region, as in 2279 was proclaimed the "Restoration of the County"), and was soon to be followed by a wave of "soft" centralization, which seemed to go smoothly, as Dole was able to re-annex Dampierre in 2280. But this could also have been the one step too far, as it re-ignited tensions between Dole and its neighbors.

Meanwhile, in the mysterious lands of the setting sun, a great danger was assembling. An immense army of mutants was destroying everything in its way to the east, soon reaching former Burgundy. Convinced that they were the new ultimate form of life, awaiting to rule all of the Earth, they methodically and brutally destroyed any human presence they found, and further justified their violence as a "justice brought to those who destroyed life on earth". They eventually heard rumors of a wealthy human civilization sitting on top of the Alps, filled to the brim with pre-War weapons and technology, which had given them motivation to march in the direction of the Jura. Unfortunately for the Comtois, not only were they worthy of being exterminated simply for being humans, but they now stood in the middle of a new conflict, the one between Switzerland and the Army of the Pure.

Unwilling to see the post-War Comtois societies as their equal, the Swiss Federal Council has made the decision to fortify every centimeter of border and prepare for a defensive war, thus dooming Franche-Comté to be occupied and most of its people to simply vanish from the Earth, after having survived a nuclear apocalypse. As the County of Dole struggles to react to its new Western threat, hope is diminishing steadily.

Franche-Comté awaits a saviour, someone who will finally unify the land under their banner, gather enough strength to be heard by the Swiss, convince them to go fight downhill, and, last but not least, survive after facing the full wrath of the mutant army, with the very survival of Humanity in the balance...