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Origin Pre-War Post-War What Outsiders Know The Reality Population Territory and Locations Organization Government, National and Local Justice, Social Control, Punishment Political Factions, Dissent Famous/Infamous Persons Relationships with Other Groups Culture Ethnic Groups, Immigration and Emigration Social Divisions and Castes Religion, Beliefs and Superstition Morality and Values Progress and Failure Family, Age, Sexuality and Gender Education and Language Environment and Agriculture Food Art and Entertainment, Music, Literature, Recreation Fashion and Appearance Urban and Rural Areas, Architecture Equipment and Resources Economy Science, Medicine and Technology Weapons and Military Equipment Communications Vehicles Aircraft Watercraft

     A coastal trading state, along the southern half of the Los Angeles Bay and the Pacific Coast. Recently an anti-technology political movement, the New Way Foundation, has come to power.

     Note that the town of Southshore is the capital of the Southshore nation. 

 

Origin

 

Pre-War

 

     The area known as Southshore in the 22nd Century was within Orange County in the 20th Century, and contained several cities, of which the largest was Irvine (pop. 62,134). Well-known as a conservative district; since the end of the Vietnam War many refugees from Southeast Asia had settled in the county. A considerable number of defense and aerospace industries were located in the area.

     A severe multi-year drought had turned the Santa Ana Mountains into a tinderbox.

     On November 18, 1989 four atomic detonations took place in the area known as "Southshore" in the 22nd Century; the wind was from the northeast at the time.

 

• MCAS El Toro was struck by a warhead from an SS-17 missile, as a 600 kiloton airburst; another warhead, from an SS-18 missile, detonated as a ground burst of 600 kilotons directly on the main runway.

• MCAS Tustin suffered exactly the same type of strikes as El Toro.

 

     The four blasts resulted in 150,000 immediate fatalities from blast, thermal effects and prompt radiation; another 500,000 persons were seriously injured. Fallout from the two ground blasts was carried towards the coast, covering cities such as Costa Mesa (and the Channel Islands) in a dangerous amount of radioactive material.

     Most buildings from Mission Viejo northwest to Santa Ana were seriously damaged; the fires fueled by damaged structures and dry hills burned for weeks, and almost everything between the Santa Ana Mountains and the coast was consumed. Electrical power and water supplies ended immediately with the nuclear attacks; emergency services also ceased to exist.

     Two other attacks that day have had important effects on Southshore:  they both targeted the three nuclear power reactors at San Onofre, just south of San Clemente. The warheads, from an SS-18 missile, detonated at ground level with a yield of about 600 kilotons each. All three reactors were destroyed, and their nuclear fuel scattered widely. For a couple of days, this debris blew out to the ocean, but since then the prevailing winds have spread particles more widely -- especially over the Santa Ana Mountains, to a wide area south of Elsinore.

 

Post-War

 

     A more insidious threat to the survivors around Irvine appeared within a day or so:  whenever the winds came from the south or southeast, they brought massive contamination from the destroyed reactors at San Onofre.

     By January of 1990 only a few thousand dying, radiation-sickened persons lived between the Santa Ana Mountains and the sea. Due to vagaries of the wind and weather, the University of California campus remained unburned, and did not suffer as much contamination from fallout as areas around it.

     The Northridge earthquake in 1994 did relatively little more damage to Orange county, but in 2020 the Long Valley eruption caused massive earthquakes along the entire length of California, created the Rift in the Central Valley, and lowered much of the Los Angeles area several meters. Many remaining buildings, and newly-built or repaired ones, were destroyed. Combined with the rise of sea levels at the end of the Long Winter, a natural harbor formed between the San Joaquin Hills and the Santa Ana Mountains.

     The crater at MCAS Tustin is a few hundred meters across, and filled with water; at MCAS El Toro, the crater is just as large, but is only about half-full of water. 

     For decades, nobody sane passed within 50 kilometers of the San Onofre reactors; there are two deep craters there, filled with radioactive water and debris.

     In the second half of the 21st Century, seaborne traders and merchants arrived in the Los Angeles Bay area; some of them eventually established a trading post at Southshore, with convenient land routes to Elsinore, Chino and Berdu. They have established a strong commercial relationship with what might be considered various ill-matched groups.

 

What Outsiders Know

     Southshore is a prosperous trading community, whose boats and ships carry cargoes as far south as the Nueva Republica de Mexico and as far north as Rainbow. The biggest shipyards on the California coast are located at the town of Southshore.

     An unlikely alliance between Southshore and Berdu has outsiders scratching their heads.

 

The Reality

     The "New Way Foundation" which has led Southshore's government to join Berdu's "Purge" movement against Astra and Yellow Base is secretly a tool of the Brethren (communists from San Francisco). To some extent, the war is also driven by Southshore merchants wanting to eliminate (and loot) La Crescenta.

 

Population

 

     22,100, in dozens of towns. The largest are in what used to be the city of Irvine.

      Due to a persistent health issue, 45% of the population are female.

 

population by age
age	total	male	female
under 5	3,900	2,145	1,755
5 - 9	3,200	1,760	1,440
10 - 14	2,500	1,375	1,125
15 - 19	2,400	1,320	1,080
20 - 59	9,400	5,170	4,230
60 +	700	385	315

 

Territory and Locations

 

 

     The area inside Southshore's borders is about 170,000 hectares; it extends from roughy Whittier, along with the northeastern border following the Puente Hills into the Santa Ana Mountains. On the west, the shore runs through South Whittier, Fullerton, and more or less follows the old course of the Santa Ana River to Newport Beach.

     The two largest towns are Southshore (pop. 2,600) and Lahabra (pop. 1,600).

     The southern end of Southshore is as close to the San Onofre fallout zone as anyone cares to come. The Ortega Highway (once known as State Highway 74) connects Southshore to Elsinore through the San Juan Canyon.

 

Organization

 

Government, National and Local

     The national government is called the Chamber of Commerce. Various recognized communities send representatives to the Chamber, which in turn chooses the President. Not all of the communities are geographic:  the ship owners, for example, form one of the communities.

 

Justice, Social Control, Punishment

 

     ...

 

Political Factions, Dissent

     The New Way Foundation, called the "Razers" by their enemies, have grown for five years to a politically- and socially-powerful force. Many merchants and ship captains are not thrilled with the New Way, however.

 

Famous/Infamous Persons

 

• Aretha Vanderhall:  age 56, President of the Chamber of Commerce. Elected President in 2135, she has been supporting the New Way Foundation, and pushing for laws to suppress unacceptable technology.

• Marcus Roy Garibaulde:  age 51. A ship captain, and member of the Chamber of Commerce, he's the primary opponent to President Vanderhall and the New Way Foundation.

• Evander Frost:  age 47. An immigrant with a mysterious past; founder of the New Way Foundation, which teaches about the evils of technology. His accent and habits indicate he's not from anywhere in Southern California; he arrived in Southshore in 2134.
  

 

Relationships with Other Groups

     For the last year or two the Chamber of Commerce has established close ties with Berdu, which has led to Southshore taking part in the Purge against Astra and Yellow Base.

     Chino is just to the north; at times the two nations have been at odds about the actions of various mercenary groups.

     In the Santa Ana Mountains, the Horrors are a primitive tribe of mutants, blamed for various disappearances and thefts. 

 

Culture

 

Ethnic Groups, Immigration and Emigration

 

     They're descended from all sorts of 20th Century Californians.

 

Social Divisions and Castes

     People are somewhat recognized as being farmers, merchants, sailors or mercenaries, but there's no strong social divisions between these groups.

    Ship captains are the most respected persons. 

 

Religion, Beliefs and Superstition

     Unlike many of the communities in southern California, Southshore isn't associated with the Catholic Church; there are various Protestant denominations, Native American beliefs, etc. among the inhabitants. Some Catholics are present -- there's a Catholic church and school in Southshore -- but they're very much in the minority.

 

Morality and Values

     Blah blah ...

 

Progress and Failure

     Blah blah ...

 

Family, Age, Sexuality and Gender

     Blah blah ...

 

Education and Language

 

     Road Talk is the usual language (though the locals insist they're speaking English. Literacy stands at about 50%.

     Up until 2139 most of the schools were in the towns of Southshore and Lahabra, paid for the by town authorities. The Chamber of Commerce in that year diverted all funds for teachers' salaries to expanding and arming the military. There are thus only two primary schools remaining in the nation, both in Southshore -- one operated by the Catholic Church, and the other as a private (subscription) school.

 

Environment and Agriculture

     Tens of thousands of hectares of land are under cultivation within Southshore. Avocados, squash, tomatoes, peppers, corn, and all sorts of fruits and vegetables are eaten or exported. Oranges are fairly common in local orchards.

     Like the rest of North America, there are no swine, cattle, or chickens. Horses, mules, goats and sheep are raised for meat, skins and other products.

     Much of the land south of Irvine is still contaminated by debris from the San Onofre reactors, carried by the initial blasts, spread with smoke from fires, and also by strong winds. The actual danger north of Dana Point isn't appreciated by the 22nd Century inhabitants; presumably some amount of ill-health can be attributed to reactor fallout (and also some remnants of fallout from other nuclear attacks.

    Los Angeles Bay is also contaminated. Atomic fallout effecs aren't such an issue there, compared to the millions of sources of toxic contaminants from Ancient cities -- seeps of petrochemicals are common. 

    Fog is common in the summer on the plain adjacent to the Santa Ana Mountains. In the fall and spring strong, dry winds sweep from inland, over the Santa Ana Mountains and out to sea. 

     "Exotic" plants from 20th Century yards and gardens are found throughout Southshore. In the mountains common plants are spruce, scrub oak, pine, cypress, madrone poison oak,  and various chaparral and sagebrush species such as sumac, manzanita, black or white sage and greasewood. Live oak, bay laurel, cottonwood, sycamore, alder, eucalyptus, pear grass, blackberries, wild grapes, wild oats, chickweed, poppies, mustard, buckwheat and Johnson grass are common on the deep valleys, and on the coastal plain. In former Ancient suburbs, various grasses from lawns, parks and landscaping are found.

    Mule deer, mountain lions, and coyotes are the largest mammals in the mountains. 

 

Food

     Milk and milk products such as cheese aren't popular, perhaps due to long-forgotten warnings about contamination. Fishing -- well away from the shore -- provides a lot of the protein in their diet.

     Fish are prominent in the local diet.

 

Art and Entertainment, Music, Literature, Recreation

     Horse racing is a popular sport.

     A single printing press, imported from the Nueva Republica, operates in the town of Southshore. Until recently, a weekly newspaper was issued; it's been suppressed "for the duration of the war emergency", and the press is printing propaganda posters, leaflets, etc.

 

Fashion and Appearance

     Loose, flaring trousers are worn by men and some women; dresses and skirts are worn only by women. Straw or leather hats are worn, with "mechanics" wearing striped fabric "engineers' hats". Beards are common, unlike in Berdu or Chino. Leather shoes, boots or sandals are worn.

 

Urban and Rural Areas, Architecture

     Buildings are in the Post-Apocalyptic Mission style:  sturdy concrete or adobe buildings, one or two stories, with flat or red tile roofs. Nothing but concrete foundations remains from the 20th Century -- and even most of those are cracked and broken.

 

Equipment and Resources

 

Economy

 

     The nation is rated as Rich, Agricultural, Industrial. The GNP is about $700,000 per year; the amount of money in circulation is about $350,000. Of this, about $70,000 consists of silver coins, and $17,500 is in gold coins (mostly worth $20 each). Paper money, issued by the banks in the town of Southshore, is circulating with a total face value of $140,000.

     Barter among residents of Southshore is seen as unsophisticated and rural. Paper currency, the Eagle, is printed in the Nueva Republica for the Southshore banks; notes mostly exist for $1, $5 and $10. "Modern" coins are minted for 5, 10, and 25 cents; Ancient coinage is accepted at a 10% discount (though pennies are accepted at full value) -- the preferred money is all locally minted or printed. Casino chips, parking tokens, etc. are either not accepted, or at a deep discount.

     Four banks operate in the town of Southshore; they lend money for interest, and store money for a fee ("Nobody gets money from the bank"), along with minting coins, issuing currency and a few other "central bank" functions.

 

• Bank of Southshore -- currency issued in the amount of $90,000
  

• First Irvine Bank -- currency issued in the amount of $40,000
  

• Maritime Savings and Loan -- currency issued in the amount of $10,000
  

• Macintosh's Vaults (doesn't issue paper currency)
  

 

     In the spring of 2139, each of them faced "compulsory loans" to the Chamber of Commerce, to fund the military operations related to the Purge.

 

Science, Medicine and Technology

 

     The area is Technology level E, which is equivalent to circa 1840 America.

     A few steam engines exist:  as road locomotives, aboard tug boats and ferries, and one in Southshore generating electrical power. This electricity is used for some lighting, a few technical processes, operating Ancient equipment, etc.

     Wood, agricultural waste, and charcoal are the most common motor fuels; alcohol and petroleum are available in the large towns, but expensive.

 

Weapons and Military Equipment

 

     76.2mm muzzle-loading rifles, imported from Chino, arm some ships, and forts protecting the larger towns.

     A mix of 18.5mm muzzle-loading rifles, and some breech-loading single-shot rifles, make up the basic infantry weapons. Light mortars and 93mm muzzle-loading field cannons are available; cavalry units carry swords and lever-action .44 caliber rifles, and sometimes lances.

     Longbows, crossbows, shortbows, spears and shortswords are trained with, but no "first class" unit will have those as their primary weapons.

 

Communications

    Messages are carried by couriers -- on horseback, on foot, or by ship. Flag signals are used between ships, and from ships to the shore.

     A weekly newspaper was printed up to the spring of 2140, but has been suppressed by the Chamber of Commerce.

 

Vehicles

     Horses, and horse-drawn vehicles, are the most advanced mode of transport in most Southshore towns.

     A few steam-powered "road locomotives" have been seized from their owners and converted into steam dragons:  charcoal-fired armored tractors. They each have a crew of two men (engineer and fireman), and can pull several armored trailers for troops or cargo. They have low reliability and poor handling.

 

Aircraft

     None.

 

Watercraft

     Merchant vessels, or large  ocean-fishing vessels, are either ketches or schooners. Some small steam vessels are in service, as harbor tugs or for ferry service entirely within Los Angeles Bay.

     Many small sailing or rowing boats also exist.