Greater London Conurb

Population: 26 Million (Search +3)

Environment

Terrain: Plain
Appearance: Neutral
Hygiene: 0

Culture And Economy

Language: English, Urdu, Arabic
Literacy: Broken
TL: 9
Wealth: Struggling
Status: -2 to 6

Political Environment

Government: Military Government, Municipality
CR: 5 (Corruption -3)
Military Resources: $468 Million (Police and Paramilitary Forces)
Defense Bonus: +5

History

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By the end of last century, London had already earned the nickname “Londonistan” because of the large number of immigrant communities who had made a home there. During and after the Collapse, there was even more of an influx of refugees from the former lands of the British Empire as people fled famines, wars and plagues. The population ballooned, often settling in ghettos and camps carved out of areas destroyed during the brief civil war of 2017-18. London had been hard-hit in comparison to most other British cities during that short but intense conflict and there was plenty of opportunity for these newcomers to carve out little enclaves for themselves.

Rising flood waters changed the face of the city just as thoroughly as immigrant enclaves. By 2040, the Thames Barriers had been outclassed and not enough money could be diverted from keeping the nation’s restive populace in check for new defenses against rising sea levels. A vast swath of the city along the Thames became permanently flooded, with national landmarks like the Tower and the Palace of Westminster given enough protection to make them small urban islands. The latter building hasn’t held Parliament in years, however – nowadays it’s the UK headquarters of Krieg Kapital and several other companies, leased to the megacorps by the government and with AV landing pads on the roof.

Today

Last century, they used to sing about “London Burning” – nowadays London is drowning instead. Areas like Hammersmith, Fullham, Canning Town and Canvey Island have been entirely reclaimed by the sea or left as stinking estuary mudlands dotted with ruins, washed by the tide twice a day. The Junta’s seat of government has been moved into Buckingham Palace, now just above the waters, as a permanent symbol of the defeat of the monarchy. Police stations have become fortified blockhouses. The financial and economic heart of the city has shifted north into Camden Town and Hampstead, where massive modern skyscrapers make London look like any other major metropolis. American and Indian companies predominate in the malls and industrial estates now, taking advantage of easy tax laws to set up on the Northern Union’s doorstep. Businesses from mainland Europe prefer a lower profile and will often use British companies they’ve taken over.

South of the river, the entire Lambeth and Southwark region is a maze of waterways and small shantytowns built on islands which are the remnants of buildings which have collapsed into the waters. Only the old Imperial War Museum stands above the flood in anything like the stately splendor it once had – and that is reputed to be the home of a criminal organisation smuggling goods to the many Londoners who must use the black market to survive. Why the military junta hasn’t dealt with the gang is unknown – maybe they realize that they need the black market if the city’s poorest are not to entirely erupt in riots and civil insurrection, maybe they’re getting bribes from the criminals.

Around the core of greater London, the wider city has grown considerably in the last forty or so years, tripling the population. Civil disorder is common, and too many of the populace still live in abject poverty. The ruling Junta tries to keep it all under an iron fist, but there are just too many unhappy people. The best and worst areas are enclaves, the rich protecting themselves with private security and high walls while the poor simply survive as best they can.

Personalities

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None as yet.

Locations

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None as yet.