Prospector War

The Prospector War was a conflict fought between prospectors, who aligned with Safe Arbor and the nascent Forsaken which occurred in 2181, lasting until 2184. Set off by a massacre of ghouls, it would spiral into all out warfare between Safe Arbor and the Forsaken, the two largest powers of the time. This would permanently ruin the already poor relationship between the two, former allies against Vault 36 just four years ago. The causes of the war would be the encroachment by prospectors into areas the ghouls claimed for their own. Initially willing to tolerate this, the Forsaken soon acted to push out the prospectors when violence arose, bringing in Safe Arbor to protect them. The war would result in the Forsaken permanently declaring inner Detroit off limits, a policy which was frequently tested and would lead to near conflict for the next century.

Vault 36 War
In 2172, Vault 36 opened. The vaults inhabitants had been told the outside was inherently hostile and they were to establish a base for scientific personnel who would be released later from another Vault. They were heavily armed, and thus poured out into the Wastes. The nascent communities and drifters on the outskirts, the interior still having high levels of radiation in parts, were little match for them. Indeed they likely would have marched over the entire Detroit Metro area was it not for the presence of Ann Arbor, now renamed to 'Safe Arbor'. With thousands of citizens, it was the largest settlement in the area, one of the largest in the eastern half of the former USA period. It was able to mobilize a large militia to blunt the assaults of vault 36, but even they could not prevail alone. This lead to the alliance forming with the Forsaken, a ghoul community in the radiated ruins who had established a community for their kind who often found themselves exiled or otherwise discriminated against.

Safe Arbor betrayal

Intrusion of Prospectors
With the war nearly a century past, even the most long lasting of the radiation was subsiding in Detroit. This lead to the ruins of the city increasingly opening for salvage activity. Detroit, having taken many impacts and being severely burned, was a good area to find salvage. much had survived, buried under collapsed brick and dust, sealed off from the air. Prospectors arrived in droves with the peace following the war. With Frigerator Town still rebuilding outside its citadel, the salvagers based themselves out of the ruins of a shopping center in former Taylor, as well as in the north eastern settlement of Undermarket. They pressed ever deeper into the ruins, intruding on the area inhabited by ghouls. At first, the ghouls tried to be tolerant, merely directing the prospectors away from their settlements. However, these outsiders have little tolerance for ghouls. Violence soon erupts, first with skirmishes between bands of ghouls and prospectors both salvaging the same areas. This goes on for some time, tensions simmering, until a number of prospectors band together and hire a troop of mercenaries. This group tracked some of the ghoul salvagers back to a settlement, 'Second Chance'. Their attack is merciless, the ghouls are shot down like animals, their possessions plundered.

This group continued into the ruins, but the forsaken got word of what had occured, and gathered their militia at Radiant city. They ventured forth and clashed with the salvagers, killing several. The rest fled, pursued through the ruins by the ghouls. Other bands of prospectors came to their aid, slowing the Forsaken, who did not want to kill wantonly. They were cut off and halted their pursuit just outside of Taylor, with some scouts going ahead to watch, reporting that the salvagers had left with their loot to Safe Arbor. The Forsaken sent reinforcements, and sent a diplomat to Taylor, asking for safe passage. With the large army of well armred ghouls, the taylor traders and prospectors allowed it. When this force arrived at Safe Arbor, the diplomat requested a meeting, which was granted. But their demand to receive the marauders was not. Arb's representatives stated they did not believe the Forsaken, and that they would not turn over humans to ghouls in any case. The Forsaken request then that the trial be held at Safe Arbor, with Forsaken sending representatives and witnesses. This too is declined. The discussion grows heated and the Forsaken diplomats are forced out. They would rejoin their army. On the way back, they are fired upon, presumably by prospectors. This greatly enrages them.

Human Expulsion
Forsaken declare the urban ruins of Detroit off limit. Small prospector camps are broken up and the humans dispersed, by force if necessary. Over a dozen are killed, however the Forsaken deploy so many numbers that they are mostly overwhelmed and compliant. The ghoul force returns to Taylor, and occupies it. They similarly march on Undermarket, occupying the area overtop it. Prospectors are turned away, only caravans of food for the few citizens of Undermarket are allowed through. The Salvagers do not take kindly to this. It is not long until they are forming an armed posse, nearly a hundred strong, augmented by mercenaries and adventurers in Safe Arbor. They are further outraged when a caravan dares to try to make it to Tall Towers along the southern route, through Forsaken territory, and is shot up. This force marches out and begins to clash with the ghoul outposts beyond Taylor, pushing them back, but at the same time informing the Forsaken of their presence.

Battle of Taylor
Disaster for the posse, their attempt to storm taylor in the face of the heaviest armed ghouls leads to a massacre. They are driven back to the camp where the rearguard was. There they rally and try to hold in the ruins but are again driven back, hunted by the ghouls. The pursuit ceases when they make it passed a designated demarcation point, but still more then half the posse is illed.

Foundation and Razing of Fort Saken
Prospectors begin a project to build a fort on the frontline, in order to gather numbers for another push. The Forsaken attempt to interfere with this, sending patrols to snipe at them, but it fails to dissuade the humans sufficiently. Thus, before it is completed, the ghouls march and raze it, killing and scattering the would be defenders.

Second Expedition to Taylor
The prospectors and mercenaries gather for a third time, this time having attracted two mercenary bands to their cause who had arrived knowing there would be someone to hire them. This force marches out, intent on moving around Taylor and breaking through to Tall Towers to establish a safe route to the center of the city?. They march out. A large force of tribals follows out days later, hired by Safe Arbor to augment this force as it slowly heads to its objective. Forsaken halt this expedition and a battle ensues, which goes poorly for the prospectors. The mercenaries abandon them at the first sign of danger. The force flees, meeting with the tribals who hit the Forsaken unexpectedly. The battle escalates, some of the mercenaries return, but the Forskaen superior technology wins the day and the salvagers do a runner this time, leaving the mercs and tribals to fend off the ghouls. The mercs soon broke, and then the tribals, with the ghouls pursuing them., this time determined to kill them all

Arb Enters War
As the tribals retreated, the prospectors having abandoned them, the Forsaken followed in pursuit. Their bloodlust was up and they wanted revenge. They did not expect Safe Arbor forces so deep in the city, nor that the tribals had been informed if they should need to retreat where to go. As the first shots fell among the ghouls, they halted, confused. Things soon became apparent, and the ghouls were forced back after taking losses. Safe Arbor's army marched into the ruins, gathering the scattered prospectors. They sought to march on Taylor immediately, but the prospectors will had been shaken, and their lacking discipline lead to it taking time to gather and coax them. More arrived daily to Safe Arbor however, having heard of opportunity, and finding none, opted to fight in what seemed like a safe and victorious war. Safe Arbor spent some time gathering its forces together, while indecisively clashing with the Forsaken in the ruins

Second Battle of Taylor
This delay had infact convinced the Forsaken that the humans were not going to attack the town again and so their focus shifted elsewhere. Inspired by the battle in the south, a group of mercenaries had gathered in the north, seeking to recruit others to reclaim Undermarket. Several caravan companies supplied funding for this. More Forsaken troops were sent to that front in expectation of this. Others dispersed to chase the humans in the ruins.T his lack of discipline and central focus would be a motivating factor for Putrid to create a more organized army and style of governing in later years. But at present, the Forsaken were ill prepared when Safe Arbor marched on Taylor finally. The battle is fierce, but the ghouls are ultimately driven back.

Battle at Undermarket
Undermarket Expedition is defeated

Battle of Slag Avenue
Battle among freeway and melted cars, the Arb-Prospectors are defeated and pushed back.

Third Battle of Taylor
Forsaken recapture the settlement

First Year
Raids and clashes continue on as neither side can gain a decisive advantage.

Fourth Batle of Taylor
In the winter months Arb attacks, having hired the best mercs. They capture Taylor.

Second Battle of Slag Avenue'
Arb Victorious

Battle of the North Route
Arb flanks Forsaken forces and drives them bac as they advance northwards on two fronts. Its army has now expanded enough that significant numbers of its troops take part in these battles, giving the ragged force a decisive edge. Safe Arbor uses its wealth to hire more mercs and adventurers to its cause, and sends some north to help Undermarket.

Second Battle of Undermarket
Salvagers-mercs-caravaneers break the siege.

Battle Under the Tall Towers
Battle near Tall Towers settlement, results in victory for ghouls and strengthens blockade around the community. Ghouls now seek to fully isolate the entire city, encircling and besieging Tall Towers.

Siege of Taylor
Forsaken invest Taylor, cutting it off from three sides in an offensive. They eventually fully surround it for almost two weeks, until a relief force arrives from the north to break the siege.

Western Spring Campaign
Forsaken divide their army into small units, while conscripting civilians to man the front lines. They are thus able to hold their pressure and sally forth to destroy outposts and ambush their enemies. This takes a toll, Arb mercs become hesitant to go into battle putting pressure on Arb army. Many of its citizens now are dying, and the prospectors are not disciplined enough to replace them in this role. Arb realizes they have to win quick, and win need a decisive victory. They send emmissaries to all the communities. Goodvault responds and sends them troops to assist against Forsaken.

Fifth Battle of Taylor
Arb abandons Taylor, leaving the prospectors there but taking its mercs. Prospectors scramble to leave as Forsaen attack, many die, but it was just a trap as Arb forces detonate magazines inside the structure, taking down parts ontop of the ghouls. Battle is joined on the outskirts of Taylor, but its half hearted, and Arb soon retreats.

Arb Atrocity
Arb reaches out, faking interest in peace. The Forsaken take the bait, sending a force out with their diplomats to enter negotiations in Arb. They march past smouldering Taylor, past the smouldering eyes of the prospectors at the garrison west of taylor. They never make it to Arb, falling into an Ambush. Many died, and their attempt to retreat east was barred as the prospectors opened fire on them. Surrounded, the Arb soldiers called out they should surrender, it was a misunderstanding. Trusting this, they accepted. The entire party was then lined up and shot. Arb would use the advantage caused by this to enact the next step of its plan.

Sixth Battle of Taylor
Ghouls at TAylor caught by surprise, the garrison there was quickly penned up inside as Arb storms the palace. They take moderate losses but capture it and execute the ghouls. Prospectors join them but after battle is over they are angry at being abandoned earlier, Arb wins them over by giving two powerful companies and a mercenary band control over the Trade Complex. They will themselves keep the dissidents in line and take care of defending it. Arb and Tall Trees forces then sally forth, Arb from Taylor, Tall Trees from the north, in a coordinated offensive against the ghouls taking the form of a Chevauchee. Ghoul ssettlements are burned, ghoul garrisons destroyed, ghoul columns of troops killed and supply depots looted. The surprise doesn't last forever, and the two parties convene in the northwest. There they march and meet the ghoul army.

Redded Brick Way
Large and decisive battle where the path between Safe ARbor and Tall Towers is secured.

Taylor Negotiations
Ghoul emmissaries are sent to negotiate with the humans as the ghouls anti war faction wins power. Despite the treachery, they are still willing to see the negotiations through. It is arranged to meet at Taylor, but when the ghouls arrive they are seized and burned alive. This enrages the ghouls, and also gives the Forsaken the chance to seize power. They rally the ghoul armies, promising revenge.

Sacking of Goodvault
In revenge for the deaths and for helping Arb, ghouls pen up Goodvault and pour radioactive waste inside, intending to kill the inhabitants.Most do die, however some of them are able to escape out secret tunnels, and of those trapped inside some actually become ghouls. This fascinates the Forsaken, specifically Doctor Leonid Hespeler, formerly a researcher before the war. He begins his experiments into the ghoulification process.

Seventh Battle of Taylor
Ghoul attack on the settlement is repelled, putting it securely in humans hands. The atrocity at Goodvault has inspired Frigerator Town and Boomfield to send troops to help fight, and in the northeast the mercenaries hired by Safe Arbor continue to probe ghoul defenses in the north.

Southern Ghoul Expedition
Forsaken force attempting to outflank Safe Arbor is ambushed by vengeful Goodvaulters and tribes who inhabit south of the city. They are forced back into Ghoul territory, and Putrid, finding himself in command, orders no more outings to human territory. Ghouls will strictly fight defensively.

War Ends
Humans had little enthusiasm for an offensive to wipe out the gouls, so while there was no formal end the war just sort of peters out.

Aftermath
War would cement Safe Arb as the dominant power, with influence over Refrigerator Town, Tall Towers and Taylor. The tribals who help would form the First Estate would never forget the betrayal in the war to use them as bait however, and bad blood would exist between the two settlements for hence on. The Forsaken would remain in the interior, jealously guarding what they had and seeking a way to defeat the ever multiplying humans.