Rockstar Lore

== Overview ==
The rockstar volcano is a small shield volcano with a mean radius of ~40km and a total area of ~4000 sq. km. It is responsible for most of the geographical features across the border.
Its central crater can be accessed through a pathway behind a small pile of rocks, at the rear end of Zone-14.
At the center of the crater, we find an observation tower on which there is an old crate containing batteries. There are also pipes leading from the volcano to a disused geothermal station in an undisclosed location.
While the volcano is currently active, its main crater does not pose a threat to AEGIS. The nature of the volcanic material is highly fluid and not ash/vapor-based. Thus, an explosive eruption is highly unlikely.
== History ==
The Rockstar Volcano’s geographical surroundings were sheltered from the outside by tall, hard-to-climb natural walls. The volcano itself was a good source of geothermal energy. 
In an attempt to seal the magma tube feeding the crater using a nuclear device (a similar method was used to seal oil wells in the Soviet Union), ARD discovered the presence of deposits of an exotic material now called Fedorium in and around the crater. 
While it is impossible to know for sure, the most plausible theory is that past eruptions of the volcano have brought up substantial quantities of this mineral to the surface for millennia.
After the discovery of Fedorium,  to speed up the extraction process, the ARD decided to use nuclear devices in the area now known as Zone-14 to unearth more deposits of its crystalline form as fast as possible. 
The use of conventional mining methods for Fedorium extraction was hampered by the presence of active lava flows in close proximity to the Fedoralite Crystal deposits.
Thus, the nuclear option was warranted.
One of the few mining attempts made using conventional mining methods was done in the forced labor area of the AEGIS Border’s subject detention zone (AKA the prison). Even here, there are multiple hot lava pools right next to the ore. Many a subject has fallen into these pools and burned away leaving no trace of their corpses.
=== Molten discovery ===
The caves had a different name at one point, a much more militarized and numerical one, back when it was just another mine that AEGIS used to extract more mundane resources and even some less than ordinary like uranium. Although not as commonly found. Very early on in AEGIS’s life, these mines were just that. A mine. Although after some time had passed, closer to when the war began, the miners had stumbled upon something rather… odd. Many reports of the uncomfortable working conditions within the mines had been made. The heat was the main complaint. When they figured out what had caused such an issue, two things quickly happened. First, AEGIS halt the cave usage as a mine for safety reasons, and second, a geothermal reactor was built to create renewable energy to sustain their border.
AEGIS faced a few problems, however. They would continuously need to guard the reactor to ensure that no potential threat got to the border’s lifeline. Having the reactor built outside the facility became an issue as AEGIS became the target of more and more hostile factions. It got to the point that ARD started to put a lot of work into researching a new power source. Successfully done and replacing the geothermal reactor with a new, much more effective Fedorium reactor. One that is stored within the border. Making it much safer, save for the potential of a rather… explosive disaster if anything were to fail.
=== Volcanic activity ===
Nowadays, Rockstar cave has been entirely abandoned by AEGIS, other than the occasional raids here and there to clear out any potential raiding cell that may be cropping up to attempt a breach onto the border. Unfortunately, after AEGIS had left the caves, they didn’t quite fortify one section of the wall, and it has been quite a problem for them for ages now. Although they can repair it as many times as they need to, AEGIS hasn’t quite found a way to deter potential threats from making their way up the cliffs. The volcanic chamber deeper within serves no real purpose anymore other than acting as a creepy lair for whoever might want to occupy it.
== Geographical Influence ==
Rockstar Volcano is the single largest and most influential entity across the entire Border region and surrounding wasteland. While it has been shrinking slowly over the past few millennia, its power still dwarfs that of any other entity in the wasteland or AEGIS.
The tall sheer cliffs that surround the wasteland and Border gate are remnants of the volcano’s past eruptions and lava flows.
A small lava pool in Poliax is all that remains of a lava flow that carved out the Helvarna caverns.
The ravine-like depression at the border gate was also carved out by the volcano. One end of this ravine leads into a cave system that provides direct access to the border. While this has been sealed with concrete, it can be easily breached using a few well-placed bricks of C4.
The Rockstar Caves that lead into the border are a prime example of a recently cooled lava flow (with visible lava pools) that also used to flow right over where the border gate stands right now. These can also be breached using some parkour skills and a few hundred grams of C4.