The Weird Apocalypse: The Dross Rifts

This is Part 2 of my Weird Apocalypse setting. You should read Part 1 found here first.

The Dross Rifts

The Dross Rifts, as they are now called continue to open and close randomly across the planet, though they tend to open in certain locations on the planet more frequently than others. No one to this day knows what made them, why they appeared and when or where they are going to open or close. No one has been able to leave the planet through them, and those that try are inevitably found again dead or worse after being spit out of a new rift elsewhere. Additionally, the ability to leave the planet via space or inter-dimensional travel (regardless of science, magic, psionic or other power sources) works either. No one can explain why this is, though it is speculated that the same force that caused the rifts to appear in the first place is probably responsible. For all intents and purposes the planet is now a prison.

The rifts bring all sorts of refuse to the planet. The destruction this caused the planet was incredible on both an ecological and a metaphysical level. Cities were crushed or drowned as massive amounts of debris of all sizes and substances fell from the sky. Entire ecological habitats were destroyed, wiping out hundreds of plant and animal life forms. Strange materials caused horrible deaths and mutations. The worst came when monstrous creatures fell from the rifts and began ravaging the lands. Over time other races of alien creatures, some humanoid, others so strange as to defy conventional categorization have arrived on Thrjaxia. Something about arriving through the rift causes memories to be erased or jumbled. Sometimes creatures that arrive are “Changed” though they themselves don’t really understand what that change is or might have been.  

Needless to say the the Bakkurra invasion ended that day. Hundreds of years later the descendants of the Thrjaxians and Bakkurra blame the other for the Event, and warlords on both sides keep the flames of animosity burning strong.

A party of scavengers scouting the trash heaps

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Gold

The Dross Rifts continue to open and dump trash onto Thrjaxia. This has created a new economy. Junkers, scavengers and slavers search the sprawling landfill for valuable scrap and slaves. Scrap consists of metal and other items that can be fixed, reused, repurposed, or recycled. There are all sorts of scrap dealers that can be dealt with. Some more reputable than others. Inanimate garbage is not the only thing that falls from the sky. Often strange creatures and sentient beings arrive through the portals. Assuming they survive the fall, they are hunted and captured by slavers who then sell them in slave markets. Slaves end up filling whatever role the slave masters think suits them best. Most become common labourers and servants. Others become sex workers, gladiators or soldiers. Those rare few with special aptitudes work as specialists for the Warlords.