East Asia

Except for the disappearance of much of the region's population, Eastern Asia did not suffer too terribly from the Event. It is this relative calm that has allowed the rise of arguably the most advanced nations of New Earth: ASEAS, PPA China, and Jieitai Japan. Flux does plague Western China, and strange monstrous creatures may roam much of the north, but the powers that be consider those problems "under control" and the tension in the region is primarily political. With the rise of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the establishment of ASEAS, Hong Kong and Nanning both declared independence… yet China wants them back for the advanced technology that they possess.

ASEAS (Click for population data)

The Association of South East Asian States (ASEAS) is the strongest entity within the region. Even though it is not a traditional nation, existing instead as an association of seven powerful city-states, ASEAS is united through the oversight of its AI. No one alive in the ASEAS knows anything about the AI except that it exists and that it, its avatars, and its robots are responsible for almost every aspect of the ASEAS infrastructure. They mine, farm, build, prepare food, clean, and even defend the people — doing nearly everything necessary to support the Apoc in a prosperous lifestyle. AESAS citizens will be quick to point out that the AI does not command the High-bred, of course, instead serving as an advisor to the Councils that govern each city. In fact, it is the different Council viewpoints and endeavors that really keep the States separate — each believes they should work with the AI towards different goals. The AI, for its part, does not claim to have independent goals; if the entity has a larger purpose behind its stewardship, it remains unknown

The seven city states — Jakarta, Kuala-Singapore, New Saigon, Nanning, Hong Kong, Taipei, and New Quezon — are all ultra-modern marvels which appear strikingly similar to the casual visitor. Each consists of a number of clustered sky scrapers where the High-bred live and work, while nearby a number of large automated factories and warehouses exist to support the Apoc population. Whatever else previously remained of the pre-Event cities has long since been torn down and turned into park land. These grand parks are usually only frequented by AI security patrols, however, as most of the ASEAS citizens enjoy spending much of their free time "plugged-in" to their virtual sim-worlds. With all their needs provided for, the vast majority of the High-bred in these city-states are free to live out idle, peaceful lives.

China (Click for population data)

Life is not nearly so plush or relaxing in the People's Democratic Republic of China to the north. A Flux Front courses and shifts over the central and southern parts of the nation, and while it is not as alien and detrimental as other Fronts its presence and storms have still been known to spawn horrors and cause physical deformations in people and animals. Utilizing this threat, the People's Protection Army (PPA) has laid claim over the large Churl population of China and rules with an iron fist. The PPA ostensibly protects those under its sway and claims to provide them with access to the superior technology they possess in return for their “paternal” rule, but in reality the majority of the Churl live in squalor and work in harsh and dangerous conditions for their PPA taskmasters. Unrest is quelled quickly and brutally by the ever-present PPA Enforcer squads, and raids on shanty-towns and Churl villages in search of "enemies of the state" are a common occurrences.

Japan (Click for population data)

To the east, the sun is once again rising upon Japan. When a displaced Klik node appeared in the Tōhoku Region of Japan, the High-bred of the Jieitai (Japan Self-Defense Force) responded immediately to provide aid as best they could to the wounded and confused Klik. Since that day, the High-bred and the Klik have lived as a united people — each learning and benefiting from the other. They spread throughout Japan, developing small, fortified enclaves, but they didn't stop there. Guided (or led, as some would claim) by the Klik amongst them towards some undisclosed goal, they have even established exploratory outposts on the Korean Peninsula.

The Wilds

Outside "civilized" areas, Eastern Asia has returned to a near primal state. Tigers stalk the forests, while giant snakes and crocodiles lay in wait along the rivers. The presence of flux-tainted and even more alien creatures make traveling through the region dangerous and deadly for the unprepared and prepared alike.

The seas are also more dangerous than they used to be. A number of ASEAS craft have simply gone missing, and even Japanese boats on their short trip between Japan and the Korean peninsula have disappeared. Many blame rogue Flux storms and currents, but those who live near the ocean or work on the water tell stories about creatures haunting the deep.

L’na, while not a major part of any nation group, can be found throughout eastern Asia. They shun the glittering high-tech cities of the ASEAS, but a number of small groups have established themselves in the now wild regions of Southeast Asia and they can also be found on the Japanese island of Hokkaidō. A few groups call China home, but they hide from the PPA and only reveal themselves to a limited number of Churl that have proven to be friends of the wilderness.