Cassie's Thrilling Highly Interesting Intensely Overthought Postapocalockverse
It was, in most senses, the perfect storm. The weather was starting to become turbulent, tensions were rising between countries, and to make things worse, an unidentified supervirus broke out of a W.H.O. laboratory and went tearing through the human population like a hot knife through butter.
Several nations went to war. Nuclear weapons were launched. The effects of these weapons polluted worldwide food and water supplies, left the air dangerously radioactive, and kicked the wacky weather into high gear.
There were enormous floods across every coast -- tidal waves, tsunamis. In landlocked areas, hurricanes and enormous tornadoes -- more and more often tornadoes of flame -- ripped through the civilized world. Blazing heat was immediately followed by intense cold from the effects of the nuclear warheads.
By the time the weather settled and the virus gave over and the world was (somewhat) fit to walk on again, the sky was a permanent shade of sickly green, the earth was scorched, and London was one fourth of its original size. The citizens of London have a new favorite landmark: one half of Big Ben, turned on its spire, which sits now just outside the city limits.
No one in New London has any idea if anyone beyond has survived. Beyond some surviving basic radios, there are no forms of higher technology or communication. Food and water (that is not dangerously radioactive or polluted) are incredibly hard to find, and the remaining citizens of New London quickly incited an all-out turf war in a desperate effort to survive.
Control the North of London. One of the gangs with more of a moral compass, but isn't afraid to spill blood if it comes to it -- hard not to in this postapocalyptic environment. They have one of the more structured hierarchies, and Captain Watson often has open council meetings in order to hear the opinions of the other group members. They are also one of the most forgiving, but, when aggravated, and especially when on the defensive, some of the very fiercest fighters.
Second-in-Command: Greg Lestrade
Other Important Members: Sally Donovan, Anderson, Mike Stamford, Molly Hooper
The biggest and most powerful gang of them all, led by the elusive M, who is rarely, if ever, seen. Regardless of that, s/he is a brilliant strategist, and it shows in the significant amount of resources and territory the Web has. Fuck with the Web, and you're inclined to disappear.
Since M is essentially the cleverest mind on the market when it comes to gangs, The Web has a great deal more control than it even seems to. By rationing supplies of food and water, The Web could potentially starve out every gang in New London, if it was so inclined. Several of the surviving gangs that M has not crushed under his foot pay protection fees, either in the form of soldiers, trinkets, weapons, or resources. Though only one person has been confirmed as ever seeing M -- his right hand, referred to as The Tiger -- everyone knows that he (or she, no one can know for sure) is the most powerful person in New London, and now, possibly in the world.
Motto: "Etiam Cuncta Accipiat," Latin for "Take it All."
Second-in-Command: The Tiger (Sebastian Moran)
Other Important Members: The Woman (Irene Adler), The General (Shan), assorted
The New British Government--
A group trying to enforce law and order as it used to be. Referred to as "Parliament" by other gangs in a derogatory way; almost no one listens to them by choice, save for their members. Strict, practical, and elite, but constantly moving, as it plays largely by rules the other gangs will not agree to play by. Highly disliked by the other gangs but seen as considerably less of a threat than they actually are -- in reality, Mycroft Holmes, the mind behind Parliament, could match wits with M if he so wished. But he's not quite ready to do that. Too much legwork.
They're basically everyone's annoying aunt.
Motto: "In the Name of the Law."
Second-in-Command: Anthea
Other Important Members: (TBA)
Sherlock Holmes--
Younger brother of Mycroft Holmes. Unaffiliated. Lives largely in the catacombs under London. Potentially employed by M to grow vegetables in his hydroponic garden that M can then sell for absurdly high prices. Refuses to officially side with any particular gang; works all the angles for his own gain. If asked, he would likely argue, "Alone protects me."
Leader of his own small gang that doesn't nearly match up to the scale of the ones mentioned above, but respectable. One of Sherlock Holmes' associates. Has been trying to get Sherlock's brilliant mind on his side for some time... unsuccessfully. Challenger of M's policies, and thus predicted to die by the end of the year.
