LEADERSHIP: Consensus governance
GOVERNMENT: None
IDEOLOGY: Varied
STATE: Ad-hoc militia state
MAGIC: Average
SECTS: Militias / Gangs
LOCATION: Heathrow, Kingston and Stanwell
The ‘Survivalists’, as they are called by others, are not a faction. Rather, they are an oftentimes disparate union of many different groups with many different, sometimes even violently conflicting, ideas and principles unified by the sole desire to survive against the odds. No single ideological current has won out, and instead a loose coalition of those able to maintain their power – small militias and the groups they may or may not represent – makes up the forward face of this not-quite organisation. They are as diverse as any group can be, and rarely take unilateral action, doing so only by consensus of those that choose to come and take part in the decision making process. Whether or not this is at the whims of an emerging clique is unclear, but the Survivalists as a whole likely would never stand for a single leader, valuing their relative freedom almost as much as their drive to persist. Respected as voices of authority are those with weapons, yes, but also those with expertise and the charisma to make it heard.
The ‘Survivalists’ are both the largest and most varied ‘faction’ at the Summit. Practically anyone can come from inside Survivalist territory, provided that they do not disturb the fragile peace between different sects within. This is not to say that their area is free from violence or dispute, as small outbursts are common, but dealt with quickly by the militia. The militia themselves have more direct power than those that claim to command them, but for the most part maintain the peace, keep the border, and distribute food, clothing, and so on. Due to the lack of organisation, the vast majority of weapons and clothing are maintained from before the War, or are scavenged from the ruins of London, as opposed to being manufactured inside.
As a result of their organisation, or lack thereof, nobody can be counted on to follow a decision they did not agree to, and so the Survivalists have moved, naturally and over time, to a system of consensus governance. This means that no decision can be come to until all parties agree, usually in the form of a compromise position to please as many people involved in the making of the decision as possible. The only real exception is that, from time to time, a small group will make unilateral action that they themselves take, but do so on behalf of the whole. This method is expected of all delegates to the Summit. The people trust the delegates to do what is needed to survive, but all the delegates should be in agreement before they take any official action, and should prioritise the land of the Survivalists before anything else.
History and Geography
Unlike other factions, the Survivalists are not only not a singular group, but also have no history pre-war, at least no notable and public history. Resultantly, accounts vary. They vary a lot, in fact, to the extent of being utterly unreliable. The history presented here is necessarily brief, and provides a space to insert smaller individuals or constituents of the Survivalists.
At present the Survivalists control the largest area held by any ‘one’ faction, owing again to their expansive selection of people and their methods of expansion.
From the outbreak of war around 2005-2006, scarcity heightened in the dense city, leading to various gangs; bootleggers, price-gougers, and simple thieves all gaining more and more prominence. The Met was able to put them down in the central city, but they maintained a presence further out. Much like Cosa Nostra, however, these gangs, over the course of a few years, were forced to operate as community protection (whilst still continuing their illicit actions) in order to gain enough public support for their own protection. In 2007, with communication technology failing, gangs independently approached local charity and aid groups. As the threat of Artificial Vampires drained London’s resources, these charity groups found themselves dramatically expanded by the gangs as people grew more and more reliant on them.
After London falls, these gangs break out into small factions, defending specific local areas. However, by the time of the AVs reaching Britain in 2013, most of the sects with direct contact have collected together. ‘Survivalist’ territory at this point is split into two major sections; a compound operating out of Heathrow Airport, and a commune at Richmond Park, as well as the surrounding areas. The Heathrow compound is considered the first major sect, as the Richmond commune struggled with disorganisation, surviving mainly on a low population in a large area. By contrast, Heathrow was very successful in absorbing survivors into its borders, and keeping steady watch, well defended from the terrors outside. These areas continue to expand, integrating other smaller groups of survivors for a small while, especially over the 2014-2016 period as refugees fleeing AVs arrive. By the end of 2016, the ‘Survivalists’, as they had come to be known by the other major sects, have failed to push out AVs, but have carved out a safe zone nearly at their modern borders. Scavenging begins in 2017, and by 2018 the reservoirs are mostly, if not completely, safe.
In 2019 a storm brought on by the radio-arcanum blanketing the world cripples agriculture. In an effort to scavenge more resources, Survivalist militias head out, encountering various surviving criminal gangs. A three-day war breaks out, attracting the Artificial Vampires back to the area. Few survivors. The Survivalists’ area is more or less set in stone, for now.
For 5 years, the Survivalists have been getting by, with some scavenging missions, and the odd conflict. Being far enough away from other factions, and absorbing smaller threats, life in the Survivalists’ territory is largely peaceful if not easy.
In 2025, the Administrators reveal themselves, sparking a debate about who should be sent to the Summit. It’s said they invited six factions, but one refused outright.
Approach to Magic
The Survivalists’ approach to magic, as is their approach to most things, is best described as either “eclectic” or “disorganised”. There is no real consensus and so anything could bloom. However, due to the lack of coordination, large-scale projects are unheard of, and the faction is far more likely to rely on scavenged technology than they are to create their own, or use advanced magic. Case-by-case may differ, and it is on a case-by-case basis that things are dealt with. Coping with lycans, or getting vampires their blood is up to their own community, and failing that, the goodwill of those around them.
Look and Feel
The Survivalists, not being a coherent faction, have no one singular aesthetic that dominates others in their ‘culture’. The closest would be practicality. Most survivalists use scavenged goods, heavily repaired then repaired again. Trousers without darning were probably stored in a box and never used, and you can be expected to carry everything you need on you. If you leave even your own territory, let alone the greater secured region, and don’t have a canteen of water, some sort of UV protection, a toolkit, and a weapon, then you are woefully unprepared. Most clothes end up as outdoors gear from the mid 2000s.
Stereotypes
Note that because the Survivalists have no one main current, these are just the more popular and outspoken opinions, not necessarily something that everyone sort of thinks.
- Traditionalists: Can’t you see all that stuff’s done with now? All that pomp and ceremony, and for what? Not bread alone, but you still need the bloody bread!
- Evolvers: Not that anyone’s worse than anyone else, but is this really needed? What, are you going to feed people on mutations now? Waste, if you ask me.
- Pilgrims: There’s someone that’s adapted! And better for it! Bit old fashioned, but their hearts are in the right place.
- Purists: Who?
- Erudites: Intellectual types. Always the same, with or without the bomb. They’re doing alright for themselves, though. Maybe there’s something to that
Notable NPCs
Jessica Reynolds
Human, 54 years old
Leader of the Kings (Richmond gang), originally ran a food bank in Kingston. Set up small plot farms when the war broke out, and used them to supplement the food bank, stretching the rations out further. When the collapse came, many of those who relied on her, more prominently those involved in illicit or violent activity, still came. She gained their respect and the respect of the surviving local community at once, and rallied them to settle in Richmond park, where due to no targets, there was minimal fallout, and enough land to feed a small settlement, if done properly. Over the years, she has hardened, gained an edge, and sometimes a violent one, but she’s never lost sight of why she does what she does: to feed the hungry and shelter the desperate.
Montague
Dusk Vampire, 37 years old
Leader of the Compound (the Heathrow gang). He’s from Domus, though was relatively young when the portals opened. He brought his pack with him, and over a few years, gained a reputation and adopted a new Earth name. Montague had no love for the new state, and ran a small but effective extortion racket. When the war broke out, he kept a close watch on his own, but eventually came into contact with the Compound whilst they were launching first attacks on the Kings. He threatened, and successfully launched a coup against their then-leader (and former second), before making a swift peace with the Kings, where the two consolidated the land, and formed the Survivalists. In exchange for access to the farmland, he agreed that no party would officially hold power over another, and so has kept the Compound’s guns and fangs from those who would later join.
Gerry
Warlock, 40 years old
Gerry claims to have led the ‘River Snakes’, a gang operating out of Surbiton, that never actually held much territory near the river. During the messy period about six years ago in which a lot of disputes all happened at once (the ‘Second Survivalists Civil War’), he gained three settlements, then was reduced down to one house – his own. In that time other gang leaders gave him the name “the Bloodhound”, but this did not stick, as when he was cornered everyone found out that Gerry was mostly just bluffing. Everyone has a friend of a friend who claims to have been a River Snake. Sometimes fucking up so badly that your reputation is literally turned inside out is referred to simply as “doing a Gerry”. He is kept around because he has the single most important skill, and is the best at it – he can find anything. Most assume his magic is just that he is really, ridiculously lucky.