Shattered Ontario, where the remnants of civilization struggle to survive amidst the chaos of the Hodgepocalypse. The once-unified province is now a fractured landscape, each region controlled by distinct factions—each with its own goals, secrets, and conflicts. From the disciplined, authoritarian Dominion Patrol enforcing order in Central Ontario, to the mysterious Warland cult in Kingston obsessed with the sanctity of paperwork, and the relentless tech-fueled war between Windsor and Detroit in the Win-Troit corridor, Ontario has become a battleground of clashing ideologies and power struggles. As the Green Creep advances from the north and strange, mutated beings roam the wilds, the people of Ontario must navigate a world where the past collides with an unpredictable and dangerous future, their fate written in a thousand fragmented stories.
History
The echoes of the Hodgepocalypse reverberate through the forsaken lands of Ontario, once a proud province rich in history, now a fractured realm where shattered realities converge. In a twist of fate, Canada faced its own storms of chaos before the cataclysmic Hodgepocalypse. While it resisted annexation by the United States, the nation endured upheavals that left deep scars, forever altering its course. The prelude to the Hodgepocalypse saw the rise of internal strife, political fragmentation, and economic collapse, all of which primed the land for the devastation that would follow.
The Great Lakes Seaway, a critical artery of commerce and transportation, was once a marvel of engineering and a symbol of Canadian-American cooperation. Before the Hodgepocalypse, it facilitated trade and economic growth, but as tensions rose and the world teetered on the brink of chaos, the Seaway became a strategic asset and a battleground. After the Hodgepocalypse, the Seaway transformed into a treacherous route, its waters infested with mutated creatures and haunted by ghost ships, yet still vital for the survival of the scattered communities clinging to its shores.
As the Hodgepocalypse tore through the fabric of reality, Ontario became ground zero for genetic and arcane experiments gone awry. The most notorious of these was the creation of the "Green Creep," a sprawling mass of mutated flora and fauna that now dominates Northern Ontario. This unnatural wilderness, born from magic-infused fallout, pulses with a sinister life, offering survivors both untold dangers and rare opportunities.
Key Events Post-Hodgepocalypse
The Emergence of the Marlarkoids:
Amidst the ruins, a new threat arose—the Marlarkoids, mutants who claim extraterrestrial origins. These enigmatic beings wield advanced Faustian Mechanical weapons, blending ancient arcane technology with a malevolent intelligence. Their presence adds an eerie, otherworldly dimension to the already dangerous wastes, as they pursue their inscrutable goals with terrifying efficiency.
The Necromantic Wars:
The Necromantic Wars ravaged the land, centered around the dark influence of the Fallen Lord Wendigo. The conflict left Ontario scarred and tainted, with entire regions consumed by necromantic energies. Although Wendigo was eventually defeated, his dark legacy endures through the Corpsemen, an industrialized undead army created from the twisted remnants of fallen soldiers and workers. Among them, a figure stands out—an enigmatic war hero from Ontario’s past, whose name is whispered with both reverence and fear.
Brigadier Morgticia Avery Mould, a decorated but controversial figure from Canada's military history, was revered for her decisive actions during the Third World War. Yet, her brutal tactics and willingness to sacrifice lives for victory left a shadow over his legacy. In the wake of the Hodgepocalypse, this once-mortal general was resurrected by Wendigo’s necromantic forces and twisted into a dark reflection of her former self. Now leading the Corpsemen, she seeks to impose order on the chaos of the wasteland, though her methods are as ruthless as ever.
Overview
Ontario, in the aftermath of the Hodgepocalypse, is a paradoxical landscape—a blend of desolation and resurgence. The collapse of advanced technology has forced survivors to adapt in inventive ways. Bicycles and rollerblades now serve as primary modes of transportation, while wood gas-powered vehicles clatter along the ruined highways. The scarcity of ammunition has led to a resurgence of primitive warfare; survivors rely on cunning traps, ambushes, and an array of makeshift weapons, such as hockey sticks and powered lawn darts, to defend themselves.
The Great Lakes Seaway remains a lifeline, but its treacherous waters are fraught with dangers. Survivors must navigate not only the mutated aquatic life and the wreckage of the past but also the predatory bands that now control key chokepoints along the route. Despite the hazards, the Seaway is crucial for trade between isolated communities, with bartering and scavenging becoming the new economy.
As relative peace settles over the land, a new influx of weapons and equipment from the more intact southern regions of Canada has begun. However, this sudden influx of technology and resources has sparked a heated debate among the survivors: will these imports bring the hope of rebuilding, or will they rekindle the fires of conflict and exploitation?
Factions
Cybercult: The Keepers of the Locks
Location: Eastern Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway
• Geography: The Keepers of the Locks dominate the crucial waterways stretching from Kingston to Cornwall, overseeing the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes lock system. Their territory extends along the St. Lawrence River, providing them with control over vital trade routes connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
• Faction Overview: The Keepers of the Locks, a sect within the larger Cybercult, are a technologically advanced faction dedicated to maintaining and controlling the lock systems that facilitate waterborne trade between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic. This group believes that the preservation and restoration of these mechanical marvels are not just practical but a sacred duty. Comprised of engineers, mechanics, and cybernetic enforcers, they blend advanced technology with fanatical devotion to their cause. The Keepers are locked in a bitter conflict with the Atlantic Compact over trading rights, their cybernetic enhancements and Faustian technologies making them formidable opponents. Their unwavering belief in the superiority of the artificial drives them to guard these waterways with religious fervor, seeing themselves as the last bastion of civilization's technological heritage.
The Secret Dairy Council (Mafia)
Location: Southwestern Ontario
• Geography: This faction's power base lies in the fertile farmlands of Southwestern Ontario, particularly in the dairy-rich regions of Oxford County, Perth County, and Huron County.
• Faction Overview: The Secret Dairy Council has evolved from a cooperative of dairy farmers into a powerful mafia-like organization that controls the production and distribution of dairy products, which are now a luxury in the post-apocalyptic economy. Their influence extends through the farmlands, and they use their control over dairy to exert power over nearby settlements. The Council is known for its ruthlessness in protecting its interests and its secretive operations, which include smuggling and black market trading.
The Pencil Pushers
Location: Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
• Geography: Centered around the ruins of Ottawa, this faction's influence spreads across Eastern Ontario, encompassing towns like Pembroke and Cornwall.
• Faction Overview: The Pencil Pushers are a shadowy organization that emerged from a merger of Stats Canada and CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service). They operate as a secretive intelligence network, collecting information, controlling data, and manipulating events from behind the scenes. They are the remnants of pre-Hodgepocalypse bureaucrats and spies who now use their skills to maintain order, gather intelligence, and enforce their will on the region.
Beaverfolk Militia Compounds
Location: Northern and Central Ontario, particularly around Algonquin Park and the Canadian Shield
• Geography: The Beaverfolk inhabit the wilderness regions of Northern Ontario, with their compounds hidden deep within the forests and rugged terrain of the Canadian Shield.
• Faction Overview: The Beaverfolk are a fiercely independent and territorial species who have fortified their compounds throughout the dense forests of Northern Ontario. They have a strong connection to nature and are experts in guerrilla warfare, using their knowledge of the land to defend their territory from intruders. Their militia is well-organized, and they are known for their communal living and resourcefulness.
Dominion Patrol
Location: Central and Southern Ontario, including areas like Barrie, Orillia, and the outskirts of Toronto
• Geography: The Dominion Patrol's territory stretches across Central and Southern Ontario, including the more populated regions around Toronto, Barrie, and Orillia.
• Faction Overview: Established as a well-organized militia, they strive to maintain law and order in a post-Hodgepocalypse world, enforcing a strict code of discipline and civility reminiscent of the pre-collapse era. Their operations are heavily influenced by Warland, an old military base in Kingston that has evolved into a warrior cult obsessed with the sanctity of paperwork. Warland's shadowy past, as a focal point of the occupation, hints at dark secrets buried within its walls, which the Dominion Patrol seeks to uncover and control. This connection to Warland fuels the Patrol's authoritarian methods, as they aim to restore order across Ontario while navigating the hidden dangers and mysteries left behind by the Hodgepocalypse.
The Marlarkoid Cartel
Location: Greater Toronto Area, centered around the ruins of Toronto and the C.N. Tower
• Geography: The Marlarkoid Cartel dominates the ruins of Toronto and the surrounding Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Their base of operations is the former C.N. Tower, which they have turned into a fortress and trading hub. This is one of the most multicultural and multispecies areas in all of Hodgepocalypse North America and is a virtual melting pot.
• Faction Overview: The Marlarkoid Cartel is controlled by the Xanford family whom are mutants who claim to be alien crash survivors. They have embraced their otherworldly identity, mixing techno-wizardry with a 1950s sci-fi aesthetic. The Cartel is known for their Faustian Mechanics, a blend of advanced technology and arcane practices. They are both traders and raiders, using their technological prowess to dominate the region and spread their influence.
The Graveyard
Location: Northwestern Ontario, centered around Thunder Bay
• Geography: The Graveyard is an ever-changing region of wilderness and ruins in Northwestern Ontario, particularly around Thunder Bay. The area is haunted by the minions of Wendigo and other monstrous creatures.
• Faction Overview: The Graveyard is less of a faction and more of a terrifying region where the servants of Wendigo roam. Thunder Bay, now a desolate and cursed city, is the epicenter of this region. Wendigo, one of the few Fallen Lords who still physically stalks the land, is said to haunt these areas, with his minions hunting anyone who dares to enter. This region is a no-man's-land, feared by all but the bravest or most desperate. It is where Brigadier Morgticia Avery Mould is preparing her forces to strike at the rest of Ontario when the time is right.
The Green Creep
Bizarre plant life slowly engulfs Northern Ontario, showcasing the unpredictable consequences of genetic experiments. The core of the Green Creep would be in the wilderness north of the Beaverfolk Militia, extending from areas around Timmins to Thunder Bay, encompassing a broad swath of Northern Ontario's rugged, forested landscape. It also creates conflict with the Graveyard, and dominion patrol. Paradoxically Harvesters, psychic plant scientsts come to this area to study it and grab samples for their own purposes.