Location: Located in the former Swiss Alps.

Characteristics: Built into a massive fortified mountain range, Bastion Pyre is the most defensible city. It thrives on its geothermal energy and pristine water sources. However, it suffers from severe isolation and overpopulation.

Philosophy: "To endure is to outlast." Pyre emphasizes strict resource management and population control, with draconian laws governing its citizens.

Military: Heavily armored infantry and fortified artillery. Their soldiers are known as "Alpine Wraiths," specializing in ambush tactics in mountainous terrain.

Location: Situated in the ruins of Berlin, rebuilt as a vertical megastructure.

Characteristics: Hightower is a dystopian labyrinth of steel and concrete, housing millions in cramped, brutal conditions. The city’s towering spires are a testament to its desperation to expand vertically due to a lack of horizontal space.

Philosophy: "Survival at all costs." Hightower embraces harsh utilitarianism, sacrificing individual freedoms for the greater good.

Military: Advanced in guerrilla tactics, Hightower’s forces excel in urban combat and sabotage. Their elite "Ghost Units" are infamous for their covert operations in enemy territories.

Location: Hidden deep in the forests of Siberia.

Characteristics: A mysterious and elusive city, Shadow Spire relies on its natural camouflage and the surrounding wilderness to remain concealed. Its society is shrouded in secrecy, with no outsiders allowed entry.

Philosophy: "The unseen survive." Shadow Spire prioritizes stealth, subterfuge, and misinformation to ensure its survival.

Military: Their forces, known as "Shades," are masters of stealth warfare and assassination, operating in the shadows to eliminate threats before they arise.

Location: Nestled within the Ural Mountains.

Characteristics: Once a mining hub, the Iron Maw is now a sprawling network of underground bunkers and tunnels. It thrives on salvaging old-world metals and refining them into tools of war.

Philosophy: "Strength above all." Ruled by a warlord council, the Iron Maw values physical prowess and martial skill over intellect or diplomacy.

Military: Their warriors, called "Pit Wolves," are brutal, close-combat specialists armed with improvised weapons and scavenged armor.

Location: In the heart of what was once Beijing, now a wasteland of shattered skyscrapers and reflective debris.

Characteristics: Shatterglass is a city of scavengers, built on the ruins of its former grandeur. The city is a patchwork of salvaged materials, with mirrored surfaces reflecting its grim reality.

Philosophy: "The broken can still cut." Shatterglass thrives on ingenuity and resourcefulness, repurposing anything and everything for survival.

Military: Shatterglass employs unorthodox tactics, often using booby traps, drones, and improvised explosives. Their soldiers are called "Fracturers," known for their unpredictable and chaotic strategies.

Motto: "What you build, we take."

Overview: The Rustborn are a nomadic faction of ruthless scavengers and raiders. They are brutal, opportunistic, and unforgiving, thriving on the spoils of others. They are not tied to any single location but travel in massive, ramshackle convoys of scavenged vehicles and repurposed machinery. To the Rustborn, survival is a zero-sum game—if they are to live, others must suffer.

Appearance: Clad in mismatched armor made from scrap metal, bones, and salvaged gear, they appear as walking junkyards. Their vehicles are rusted hulks outfitted with spikes, flamethrowers, and heavy armor plating.

Beliefs: The Rustborn follow the "Law of the Strong"—a ruthless code where strength, cunning, and ferocity reign supreme. They believe that only the fittest can survive in this new world, and compassion is a weakness.

Tactics:

Raiding: They specialize in ambushes and brutal raids, overwhelming settlements and convoys with sheer ferocity.

Engineering: Despite their savage nature, the Rustborn are expert scavengers, capable of turning scrap into deadly weapons and machinery.

Motto: "We mend what the world has broken."

Overview: The Whitehands are a peaceful, nomadic group dedicated to healing and providing aid to those in need. They see themselves as caretakers of humanity’s remnants, offering sanctuary, medicine, and wisdom to anyone, regardless of allegiance. Operating in secret, they are often mistrusted or hunted by factions who see their neutrality as cowardice or manipulation.

Appearance: Members of the Whitehands wear flowing, white garments often dirtied by the wasteland. They adorn themselves with simple symbols of peace, such as unlit lanterns or broken chains, and carry rudimentary medical kits.

Beliefs: The Whitehands are bound by a creed that values life above all else. They reject violence except in self-defense and see themselves as guardians of hope and humanity’s better nature.

Tactics:

Stealth: They move under the cover of darkness, avoiding conflicts and staying hidden.

Healing: Their expertise in salvaging medical supplies and creating herbal remedies makes them invaluable to those they aid.