Washington Heights

**Washington Heights** is an ex-Vancian town created around the ruins of the Capitol Building. It's the capital and sole settlement of the Washington Heights Militia, and a current secondary base of the Syndicate.

## Background

The Capitol Building was settled on October 21st, 2041 by a small, long forgotten group of survivors. The prospect of having a safe space was quite attractive and brought in survivors from all over DC to settle themselves there. The Capitol Building soon developed into a town that while by no means prosperous, was still several orders of magnitude better than anything found out there in the wastes.

The Heights survived unmolested for almost 21 years before being assaulted by it's first real horde, consisting of swarms of specials that the Militia had no chance at fighting off. The Mayor of the heights had no choice but to call a nearby faction, the AVF, for aid. Said aid only came after days of fighting, with 240 soldiers coming through and wiping the horde out. This aid came at the cost of bowing their heads and joining the Vance Republic. Vancian Soldiers would remain in the town as it's garrison for another 21 years, until the death of Autarch Cooper and the ensuing Rebellion.

Washington Heights was stormed by CCR rebels from Chespeake Bay, capturing what AVF they could and crushing all resistance. While in the beginning not many changes were made, as the rebellion went on, rumors spread of the horrific deeds of the CCR which ranged from exploiting merchants to sexually harassing the women of the Heights. While many of these were merely propaganda by provancians, enough were true to warrant a violent reprisal. On April 22nd 2084, Pro-AVF supporters gathered a Militia of Heightsmen and assaulted the CCR in town, executing the Lt. Colonel and exiling the remaining CCR soldiers. When the AVF offered to join them once more, they were turned away with the Heights declaring that they would remain independant from both of the warring factions.

## Layout

The heights surrounds the old mayoral office, which was destroyed in the recent battle with the CCR. Most of the buildings are made of scrap metal or concrete, giving the town as a whole a hastily put together look. A generator powered by an infernal is near the center of the town, which provides most of the heights's electricity.

The town is surrounded by a massive scrap wall, made to prevent shamblers or trouble makers from getting in. A second wall on the interior goes horizontally through the city, dividing north from south. This is by no means a class seperation, rather existing to safeguard an internal breach. Most of the populace remains safe within said walls, but vectures have been made to live outside the walls in their own slums. However, they are built against the wall with their own wall as well. In times of danger, the vecture populace is evacuated back within the city to safeguard them from danger like any other citizen.

There are multiple airtight bunkers within the town, where the populace is secured for when the heights is under attack, something that happens relatively often. The market district surrounds the Diamond Circle Market, and is where most of the commerce occurs.

## Government

*"Another election will not be taking place this month. Nor the next, nor the one after. Until this war ends, our city will not survive a sudden shift in power such as a new Mayor. I’ve given my best years to this city, and delivered on more promises than asked of me. I will see our city through this, no matter the sacrifices that are needed of me. After so many years, each and every hard working person of this city deserves a stable government. One willing to do what. is. necessary. to get things done, and get them done right. Those who want to leave are free to do so. You will not be judged, nor will you be called a coward. Leave knowing you are the best of all of us. To everyone else, we have work to do.” -* Excerpt from Mayor Reiner Wallacker's Speech upon the Ruined Mayors Office

After the Heights won its independence from the CCR, it went back to the rule of the mayors. Every month a new mayor would be elected. However, recently the government has turned from a democracy to a dictatorship under the rule of Mayor Reiner Wallacker, in hopes of promoting stability. This decision recieved mixed reactions from the populace, with some accepting it and others decrying it as tyranny.

The Mayor's power is absolute but below him is the Senate. While they can make laws, they are all subject to the will of the mayor and can be vetoed at any time by the mayor. The governments power is enforced by the Militia, the duty of which is to make sure the Heights obeys and is safe, no matter what.