History of Old Russia

Overview

Old Russia is a toxic region of Earth, once Siberia during the Golden Age, where mankind first reached beyond Earth. It contains the ruins of the Cosmodrome, whose security wall encloses nearly every location in the region. The House of Devils holds most of it, with scattered Hive populations, and players begin here in the mission "A Guardian Rises". The area's description says that mankind's promise of reaching beyond Earth is now gone.

The real-world site is in modern Kazakhstan, where the Russian space program has long had its launch site.

Locations

• Cosmodrome: a derelict spaceflight complex that was a shipyard of the Russian Federal Bureau of Aeronautics. During the Golden Age it launched colony ships and kept contact with the colonies through its planetary array. It also housed the Warmind Rasputin, which protected Earth from outside threats.
• The security wall: built to protect the Cosmodrome. Every location in Old Russia lies inside it, except the Gateway and Felwinter Peak.
• Plaguelands: listed among the locations inside the wall.
• Other sub-areas include Felwinter Peak, Lords' Watch, the Archon's Keep and Bunker Triglav.

History

During the Collapse, hundreds of civilian vehicles gathered outside the Cosmodrome's walls trying to get in, while tanks waited across from the entrance. The colony ship Devil's Spire was one of the last ships trying to escape the Darkness, and a fuel line explosion stopped its launch.

Factions

• Fallen (House of Devils): the Devils made their lair in the Cosmodrome after the Collapse and control most of Old Russia. Riksis, Devil Archon and many Fallen hold the wall. The Devils later withdrew en masse after Aksis, Archon Prime and his forces were defeated.
• Hive: hold scattered pockets of territory.

Story

In "A Guardian Rises", Guardians are revived by their Ghosts just outside the ruins of the Cosmodrome and explore the surrounding area.