Downtown West, once a bustling hub of Washington, D.C.'s cultural and commercial life, lies in ruins seven months after the Green Poison outbreak devastated the city. The collapse of federal authority left this district a battleground for survival, where the scars of the pandemic and ensuing chaos are etched into shattered storefronts, abandoned vehicles, and graffiti-stained monuments. Amid the decay, two factions - the Hyenas and the Outcasts - vie for dominance, their conflict shaping the lawless streets of this forsaken urban sprawl.
Pre-Pandemic[]
Before the Green Poison outbreak ravaged Washington, D.C., Downtown West was a thriving heart of the city’s cultural, civic, and social life. Nestled in the shadow of iconic landmarks, this vibrant district buzzed with activity, blending historic charm with modern energy. Its streets, lined with theaters, museums, and government offices, welcomed a diverse mix of locals, tourists, and professionals. In the pre-pandemic era, Downtown West was a symbol of the nation's capital at its peak, a place where history was preserved, art flourished, and community thrived - far removed from the chaos that would later draw the Hyenas and Outcasts to its ruins.
The Green Poison Outbreak[]
When the Green Poison hit, the area's dense population and commuter influx made it a hotspot for infection. CERA's failed containment efforts, including the toxic DC-62 chemical deployments, rendered swaths of the district uninhabitable, driving survivors into makeshift settlements or into the arms of emerging factions. The evacuation of government and Joint Task Force personnel left a power vacuum, and Downtown West became a contested territory where only the ruthless survived.
The Hyenas, a loosely organized coalition of gangs, criminals, and anarchists, swept into Downtown West like scavengers to a carcass. Drawn by the district's abandoned wealth - government buildings, banks, and supply caches - they established strongholds, marking their territory with green paint and clouds of their signature Spice drug fumes. Led by a volatile Hyena Council of pack leaders, including the elusive Mayhem and Zodiac, the Hyenas thrive on violence and opportunism. They raid civilian encampments, loot resources, and destroy what they cannot carry to deny their enemies any advantage.
The Outcasts, born from the horrors of the Roosevelt Island quarantine, brought their fanatical vengeance to Downtown West, seeking to punish a society they blame for their suffering. Led by the charismatic and bloodthirsty Emeline Shaw, their cult-like devotion fuels a campaign of bioterrorism and indiscriminate murder. In Downtown West, the Outcasts have carved out territory with their propaganda broadcasts blaring from makeshift speakers and their Molotov cocktails scorching the streets. Their goal is to spread sickness and chaos, targeting civilian settlements like the Campus with infected agents and homemade flamethrowers reminiscent of the Cleaners from New York.
Tensions between the Hyenas and Outcasts in Downtown West are volatile, with both factions vying for dominance. An ECHO reveals a rare instance of temporary cooperation, where Hyenas and Outcasts joined forces to ambush a True Sons squad guarding a building. However, such alliances are fleeting; the two groups typically clash on sight, their skirmishes turning the district's streets into killing fields. The Hyenas see the Outcasts as a threat to their scavenging operations, while the Outcasts view the Hyenas as complicit in the societal failures they seek to punish. These conflicts have left Downtown West littered with the wreckage of factional warfare - burned-out vehicles, bullet-riddled barricades, and the bodies of those caught in the crossfire.
Missions[]
Main Missions[]
A short, story mission in which Division agents speak with the leader of the Campus Settlement, Henry Hayes.
This mission has Division agents infiltrate the World Bank, where the Hyenas have kept something valuable which was stolen from the wreckage from Air Force One
Side Missions[]
Respond to a distress call at an old deconstruction site.
Investigate the disappearance of a honey trader called Jeff.
Classified Assignments[]
- Detention Center
Infiltrate a True Sons detention center and release the prisoners.
Control Points[]
Downtown West contains two control points, one at the far west border and one on the northern border.
Collectibles[]
Comms[]
- Stan - (2005,2135) Located on the western side of the entrance to the Campus Settlement
- Building Community - (1976, 2136) Located outside the west entrance to the Campus
- Hiding - (2010, 2077) Located at the central tree inside the Campus
- All You Could - (2001, 2062) Located to the right of administration inside the Campus
- Thursday - (1984, 2033) Found at the southwest corner of the Campus Settlement
- Overstay - (2007, 2039) Located to the right of the Projects vendor in the Campus settlement
- Food Scarcity - (2020, 2040) Found to the left of the aforementioned Projects vendor
- Systems - (2040, 2033) Near the southeast corner of the Campus Settlement
- Downside - (2040, 2054) Found north of the previous Comms, near the southeast corner of the Campus Settlement
- Anniversary - (2030, 2082) Inside the path to the Campus' Public space
- Quarantine Staff - (2290, 2256) Inside the Toxic Alley control point, near the supply room.
- First Council Meeting - Found in the Bank Headquarters mission.
- Special Shipment - Found in the Bank Headquarters mission.
ECHOs[]
- Hostile Activity - In the open, in front of the National Library steps.
SHD Tech Caches[]
PLACEHOLDER