East Greenland
The eastern shores of Greenland have melted into the sea from rising temperatures, providing a stark visual reminder of the world's irradiated environment. The coastline visibly erodes as each year brings warmer conditions and further dissolution of what was once solid ground.
Small communities of Natural Ones are rebuilding life here, embracing ways of existence that predate the Fall. Complex rituals involving the spirit of the past form the foundation of their cultural identity. These are people who trust traditions older than the apocalypse more than anything the changed world has produced since.
The most notable tradition is a brutal coming-of-age ritual known as the bleed. Youth embrace the cold shores and stand near the waterways, cutting small wounds into their bodies to draw blood. The intent is to attract massive sharks from the deeper waters. The tribe stands ready with massive nets and spears, killing the shark before it can harm the youth. If the youth does not flinch away during the time of the bleed, they are considered an adult. It is a test of nerve, trust, and the bond between the individual and the community that protects them.
The melting shores serve as a constant warning. The world is heating. The ice that once protected Greenland from the worst of the Infection's reach is retreating. These communities rebuild their lives on ground that is literally dissolving beneath them, holding to traditions that have outlasted everything else.
Small communities of Natural Ones are rebuilding life here, embracing ways of existence that predate the Fall. Complex rituals involving the spirit of the past form the foundation of their cultural identity. These are people who trust traditions older than the apocalypse more than anything the changed world has produced since.
The most notable tradition is a brutal coming-of-age ritual known as the bleed. Youth embrace the cold shores and stand near the waterways, cutting small wounds into their bodies to draw blood. The intent is to attract massive sharks from the deeper waters. The tribe stands ready with massive nets and spears, killing the shark before it can harm the youth. If the youth does not flinch away during the time of the bleed, they are considered an adult. It is a test of nerve, trust, and the bond between the individual and the community that protects them.
The melting shores serve as a constant warning. The world is heating. The ice that once protected Greenland from the worst of the Infection's reach is retreating. These communities rebuild their lives on ground that is literally dissolving beneath them, holding to traditions that have outlasted everything else.
