Apocalypse Earth

Jackson

Age: 23
Occupation: Scout
Home: Haven Ridge Settlement

Jackson arrived at Haven Ridge six years ago as a frightened teenager carrying a battered backpack and a Bowie knife. He offered little explanation about his past, and to this day, nobody knows where he came from.

Quiet and reserved, Jackson rarely discusses his life before Haven Ridge. Those who know him see him as thoughtful, dependable, and fiercely loyal to the settlement that took him in.

His most recognizable feature is the worn Bowie knife he carries everywhere. Maintained with great care, it reflects his exceptional close-combat skill, which is widely respected throughout Haven Ridge.

His reputation was cemented during a bandit raid three years after his arrival. Separated from the defenders, Jackson was later found standing over four dead bandits with knife in hand. He never spoke about what happened, but the event earned him the community's trust.

Since then, he has become one of Haven Ridge's most respected scouts, known for his calm under pressure and willingness to face dangerous threats.

Though many still wonder about his past, Jackson prefers to focus on protecting the home he has found.

Rebecca "Becky" Holt

Age: 42
Occupation: Blacksmith and Metalworker

Rebecca runs Haven Ridge's forge, repairing tools, crafting nails, horseshoes, knives, and the occasional weapon. Strong, broad-shouldered, and usually covered in soot, she is known for her sharp tongue and relentless work ethic.

Few people in the settlement understand metalworking as well as Rebecca. Her skills are vital to keeping Haven Ridge functioning, making her one of its most important residents.

Despite her intimidating reputation, she has a soft spot for young apprentices and often teaches practical trade skills to anyone willing to learn.

Lily Carter

Age: 29
Occupation: Trader

Lily manages much of Haven Ridge's trade with neighboring settlements. Friendly, observant, and exceptionally persuasive, she has traveled more of the region than almost anyone except the scouts.

She maintains a vast network of contacts and is often the first person to hear rumors of new settlements, dangerous raider activity, or valuable discoveries.

Many people underestimate Lily because of her cheerful personality, but she is a skilled negotiator who rarely leaves a trade table with less than she wanted.

Grace Miller

Age: 67
Occupation: Healer

Grace served as Haven Ridge's primary healer before Mara completed her medical training. Though her age limits her mobility, she remains one of the settlement's most respected residents.

Calm, patient, and endlessly knowledgeable about herbal medicine, Grace helped countless survivors through disease outbreaks, harsh winters, and difficult births.

She was one of Mara's teachers and still acts as a mentor and advisor. Many residents seek her wisdom even when their problems have nothing to do with medicine.

Among Haven Ridge's people, Grace is often described as the settlement's grandmother—a steady, comforting presence whose advice is trusted by nearly everyone.

Caleb Turner

Age: 37
Occupation: Captain of the Guard

Caleb commands Haven Ridge's guards and organizes the settlement's defenses. The son of a policeman, he was raised during the worst years of the Long Collapse and learned early that survival depends on preparation.

Tall, muscular, and disciplined, Caleb is rarely seen without his shotgun. He oversees patrols, trains militia volunteers, and maintains the settlement's walls and watchtowers.

Unlike Angela Buckner, who prefers diplomacy whenever possible, Caleb views the growing threat of the Red Demons with deep concern. He frequently pushes for stronger defenses and more aggressive scouting operations.

Though sometimes criticized as overly cautious, few question his dedication. Caleb considers every resident of Haven Ridge his responsibility and is prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect them.

Samuel "Sam" Rhodes

Age: 63
Occupation: Teacher and Librarian

Sam was a history teacher before the Black Day and is one of the oldest residents of Haven Ridge. He manages the settlement's library and teaches reading, writing, mathematics, and history to local children.

Thin and gray-haired, Sam is known for carrying a stack of books wherever he goes. He believes knowledge is humanity's most valuable resource and spends countless hours preserving old texts and recording local events.

Many younger residents consider him eccentric, but nearly everyone respects him. Ethan often brings him books recovered from ruins, while Mara frequently consults him when researching old medical texts.

Jacob Mercer

Age: 48
Occupation: Head Farmer

Jacob oversees Haven Ridge's fields and food production. Broad-shouldered and sun-weathered, he spends most days working alongside the settlement's farmers rather than directing from afar.

A practical, no-nonsense man, Jacob believes food security is the foundation of civilization. He often argues with scouts and traders who want resources diverted away from agriculture. Despite his gruff demeanor, he is respected for his honesty and willingness to help anyone willing to work.

Many residents credit Jacob's planning and farming expertise for Haven Ridge's survival during several poor harvest seasons.

Angela Buckner

Age: 56
Occupation: Settlement Leader, Former EMT
Home: Haven Ridge Settlement

Angela Buckner is the elected leader of Haven Ridge Settlement and a former EMT who remembers life before the Black Day. Her experience staying calm during emergencies helped her survive the Long Collapse and earn the trust of others.

As one of Haven Ridge’s founders and early council members, Angela became known for her practicality, fairness, and steady leadership. Though age has slowed her somewhat, she remains active and regularly visits farms, workshops, and guard posts.

Her medical background shapes her approach to leadership. She focuses on healthcare, sanitation, education, and long-term planning, believing problems should be addressed before they become crises.

Angela works closely with scouts like Ethan and Mara and takes a special interest in younger residents such as Shana. She believes survival is only the beginning and hopes Haven Ridge will become the foundation of a new civilization.

The Red Demons

Type: Raider Confederation
Estimated Numbers: 300–500 members
Territory: Camps and strongholds across the region

The Red Demons are the region’s most feared raider group and the greatest human threat to Haven Ridge. Unlike most gangs, they have endured for years by absorbing weaker bands and terrorizing isolated communities.

They are loosely organized, with independent warbands led by local chiefs. This decentralized structure makes them difficult to eliminate.

The Red Demons survive through raiding, extortion, slavery, and violence. Settlements unable to defend themselves are stripped of resources, while those that resist are often destroyed.

Most members fight with salvaged rifles, bows, machetes, axes, and spears. Though firearms are scarce, their numbers and brutality make them highly dangerous.

They are infamous for cruelty, with widespread stories of murder, torture, and other atrocities. Their reputation alone is enough to spread fear. Every member wears a red strip of cloth tied around their left arm.

Most horrifying is their practice of cannibalism. What began as a survival measure during famine became part of their culture, making them feared even by other raiders.

To Haven Ridge, the Red Demons embody everything the settlement opposes: fear, destruction, and rule through force.

Though Haven Ridge has avoided major attacks, Red Demon activity is moving closer. Many believe conflict is only a matter of time.

Haven Ridge Settlement

Population: Approximately 230 residents
Location: A secluded valley surrounded by wooded hills and farmland
Founded: 18 years after the Black Day

Haven Ridge is a large, stable settlement built in a fertile valley around the ruins of a farming community.

Protected by a wooden palisade, watchtowers, and guarded gates, it is better defended than most surviving communities.

Farming drives the economy, with crops, livestock, hunting, and trade providing food and resources.

Life is demanding but secure. Residents contribute through farming, construction, hunting, medicine, education, or defense, and children learn practical survival skills early.

A small library preserves knowledge of medicine, agriculture, engineering, and history, reflecting the community’s belief that rebuilding requires more than survival.

Haven Ridge is governed by an elected council, and its scouting corps explores ruins, maps routes, recovers supplies, and maintains outside contact.

To outsiders, Haven Ridge is a symbol of hope and the possibility of rebuilding civilization after the Black Day.

Shana

Age: 18
Occupation: Apprentice Scout
Home: Haven Ridge Settlement

Shana is the youngest scout in Haven Ridge and is on her first mission outside the settlement. After years of training, she has finally earned a place alongside Ethan and Mara.

With bright red hair, freckles, and boundless energy, Shana stands out in any crowd. Though smaller and less experienced than most scouts, she makes up for it with determination and enthusiasm.

Born seven years after the Black Day, Shana grew up hearing stories of the Long Collapse but never experienced its worst years herself. As a result, she sometimes underestimates danger.

Curious and eager to learn, she constantly asks questions about ruins and the world before civilization fell. Her fascination with the past can sometimes distract her from the present.

Impulsive and eager to prove herself, Shana often takes risks and volunteers for dangerous tasks. Ethan frequently reminds her that survival matters more than impressing others.

Despite her flaws, Shana is a talented scout—observant, quick, and skilled at spotting details others miss. Her optimism also makes her popular within Haven Ridge.

She admires both Ethan and Mara and hopes to earn their respect. For Shana, this mission is her chance to prove she belongs among Haven Ridge's scouts.

Mara

Age: 25
Occupation: Scout and field medic
Home: Haven Ridge Settlement

Born on Black Day, Mara grew up hearing that her first cries mixed with sirens and chaos. People in Haven Ridge jokingly call her "the first child of the new world."

Lean, athletic, and practical, she keeps her dark hair tied back and carries a medical satchel alongside her rifle.

Trained by the settlement's aging doctor, Mara became one of Haven Ridge's most valuable medics. She treats injuries, identifies medicinal plants, and improvises care from scavenged supplies. On expeditions, she serves as both scout and healer.

Intelligent, resourceful, and compassionate, Mara hides her softer side behind sarcasm and stubborn determination. She dislikes reckless behavior but is fiercely loyal and willing to risk herself for others.

Unlike Ethan, who sees ruins as warnings, Mara sees opportunity. She searches abandoned hospitals and libraries for knowledge and hopes to preserve medical understanding for future generations.

Mara and Ethan often scout together. Though her optimism clashes with his caution, they trust each other deeply.

Mara believes humanity's best days are still ahead.

Ethan

Age: 32Occupation: Scout, scavenger, and occasional hunterHome: Haven Ridge Settlement

Ethan was born seven years before the Black Day and barely remembers the world before the Long Collapse. To him, stories of smartphones, airplanes, and cities filled with millions of people sound more like half remembered fairy tales than history.

Tall, lean, and weathered by years of hard travel, Ethan has dark hair, a permanent stubble, and a face marked by old scars. His clothing is a patchwork of repaired garments collected from ruins and trading posts. He rarely goes anywhere without his backpack, knife, and battered rifle.

Ethan serves as one of Haven Ridge's most experienced scouts. He spends weeks at a time exploring abandoned towns, mapping safe routes, searching for useful supplies, and gathering information about neighboring settlements. His knowledge of the surrounding region is unmatched, making him invaluable to the community.

Practical and cautious, Ethan prefers observation over action. He distrusts easy promises and believes survival depends on preparation rather than luck. While many see him as distant, those who know him understand that he cares deeply about the people under his protection. He simply struggles to express it.

The death of his wife during a harsh winter epidemic five years ago left him emotionally guarded. Since then, he has devoted himself almost entirely to his work, avoiding close relationships and focusing on the needs of the settlement.

Despite his reputation as a survivor, Ethan is fascinated by remnants of the old world. He collects books, photographs, and journals whenever he finds them, believing that preserving humanity's history is just as important as preserving its future.

His greatest fear is not death, but watching civilization repeat the mistakes that led to the Long Collapse. He hopes that the scattered settlements of the new world can someday become something better than what came before.

The Black Day

The Black Day was the worst disaster in human history. A massive solar flare struck Earth with a powerful EMP, disabling power grids, satellites, vehicles, computers, and most modern electronics worldwide.

Governments declared emergencies, but society's dependence on electricity caused rapid collapse. Supply chains failed, food and fuel became scarce, and communication broke down.

Within months, starvation, disease, and violence spread. Cities emptied, governments fragmented, and conflicts erupted over food, water, and other vital resources.

The years that followed became known as the Long Collapse. Global trade vanished, most nations ceased to function, and survivors migrated to areas with farmland and clean water.

Within a decade, about ninety percent of the world's population had died.

Twenty-five years later, modern industry is gone, advanced technology is rare, and most communities survive through farming, scavenging, and simple tools. Ruined cities stand abandoned as nature reclaims them.

The Black Day is remembered not as the day humanity died, but as the day the old world ended.