- This article is about the nomadic city. For the Annihilation operation, see Chernobog (Annihilation).
The skyline of Chernobog during the uprising
Chernobog (Чернобог), currently known as Federal Territory of Chernobog (Федеральная территория Чернобог) or Novochernobog,[1] is a nomadic city of Ursus.
Background
Chernobog was once an old Ursine nomadic city that was almost torn down, a product of the "New Aristocracy's" opposition to the old Ursine military traditions. However, in Terran Year 1070, more than twenty years before the events of the Main Theme, the Boris Group, a small mining company, unearthed a mysterious ancient device named the "Sarcophagus." Upon hearing the news, Count Boris, an Ursine noble and the leader of the mining company, decided to use the Sarcophagus to rebuild Chernobog into an industrial city. His aim was to win over the struggle against the Ursus Imperial Army, which controlled much of the Originium mining in the country. As Chernobog expanded rapidly, many smaller cities began to join Boris' venture not only because of his generosity, but also as a plan to defeat the military. Many scientists were sent to Chernobog to investigate and provide maintenance for the Sarcophagus.[2]
However, the scientist group led by Kal'tsit made a breaking discovery. They discovered that not only the Sarcophagus is indeed very ancient, but also they realized that the device could bring both a potential revolution and chaos to Ursus. Feeling that their interests were threatened, the Ursus Fourth Army, led by Grand Duke Vanya, sent several secret police to investigate the Chernobog scientists. The secret police used brute forces to force Sergei, one of Kal'tsit's students, to reveal the secret. In order to stop their future plans, the Fourth Army massacred the scientists. Ironically, the Count provided shelter for Sergei from the massacre due to his massive contribution to the city.[3]
After the massacre, the Ursus government proclaimed that it was an accident. The parents and friends of those victims were given warning by the secret police to shut up. Meanwhile, Sergei led the surviving scientists to form a new research team four year later (Terran Year 1080).[4] Meanwhile, Boris appointed himself as mayor of Chernobog in order to prevent any external interference to affect the city's development, and used the newly-established City Council as a tool to attract potential business partners. But with their morale strained by the tragedy, both Sergei and Boris could not get new result from the device. The Sarcophagus was eventually sealed off and left forgotten. Meanwhile, the Count, who was benefited by the Sarcophagus' research, had become unharmed by the military and continued the industrialization of Chernobog, making it an important city to Ursus. At some point however, Boris came into conflict with Grand Duke Baikal and the Third Army over the price of raw materials for manufacturing. However, none of the clandestine attacks ordered by Baikal managed to shake the city off. Moreover, Boris managed to arrange terms with the military, forbidding them to station within the city. By that point, Chernobog was neither bonded to rules of the military, nor by the nobility.[2]
As the city of Chernobog industrialized, more and more cities emerged and rose in prominence all around Ursus, trying to replicate Chernobog's success. During its prime, Chernobog became one of the largest Ursine nomadic cities roaming the wasteland. Meanwhile, many Infected became unsatisfied with the local government. As a matter of fact, the Military Police's garrison realized strict identity and health condition registrations on anyone who entered the city. In case an Infected is identified, they would be sent to the Governorate Council and assigned a different labor job on the concentration camps depending on their situation.[5]
| "Prosperity in the old days": E. E. Erikson's account of his visit to Chernobog
|
Unofficial English translations provided by Jowett.
"I visited Chernobog when it was still at its heyday. At that time, Chernobog had more than 30 land plots, and it could be considered one of the few giant nomadic cities in the Ursine wasteland. The whole city was filled with tall buildings and industrial facilities. On the streets, Originium-powered vehicles were running, most of them filled with raw industrial materials and products. When the vehicles sped fast, you couldn't only feel the machines' thunderous roar, but also smell all kind of odors. Both ends of the street were filled with various Originium byproducts, which might have been the result of flying sand and stones."
"The characteristic gray color that symbolizes the Originium industry did not completely submerge Chernobog. It was the short summer season in Ursus at that time. It was close to dinner time, and most of the girls who just finished school were wearing short skirts, which was the most lively scene on the streets. They gathered themselves in groups of about three or five, chattering and pouring into the record stores and bookstores near the school, talking about the latest rock music and books."
"In a restaurant known as the most Ursine, a drunk Leithanian businessman was passionately fighting with another Columbian boss because the later mocked the Witch King during the meal. After everyone separated the two, the Iberian musicians began playing the cheerful barcarole from their hometown again. Chernobog was at that time prosperous and open."
"Of course, the Infected are not included. In the city's outskirts, the checkpoints of the Ursus Military Police will strictly check the identity and health condition of everyone entering the city. Once an Infected is found, they will be sent to the garrison's governorate and assign different labor jobs according on their current situation until the end of their lives."[5]
|
Even when the Military Police was deployed, it only took one day for the authorities to lose control of Chernobog
Consequently, the newly-formed Reunion Movement took the opportunity to start a violent riot in December 23, 1096, the coldest day ever recorded in the city. As Reunion moved through the army's buffer zones formed as a result of the Great Rebellion, their violent attacks were planned in the uttermost secret, even catching civilians and authorities off-guard.[6] The city's system was completely paralyzed, with water and energy supply lines being cut off, and even the minimal heating equipment required to survive the winter couldn't be maintained. The unrest also prevented Chernobog to successfully evacuate from a previously forecasted Catastrophe in the area, resulting in heavy material damages and casualties, including Count Boris himself. Nearly one third of Chernobog's total population died during the incident, with a large number of people suffering from Oripathy. Most of the refugees who fled to the wasteland couldn't survive due to the harsh environment conditions. With the aid of the local Infected, Reunion took over most of the city plates, while Talulah set her base of operations in the control tower.[7]
On the other hand, the crisis was actually manipulated by the "immortal" Kashchey and his supporters, Grand Duke Baikal, Viscount Kerque, and the Ursus Third Army, as part of revitalizing Ursus' imperialism. The city was once manipulated by Talulah by having its core city set on a collision course onto the Yanese city of Lungmen in an attempt to start a war between the two empires, though it was eventually foiled by Rhodes Island.
Federal Territory of Chernobog
Six months after the crisis, in July 1097, the Ursus State Council, under encouragement of Fyodor Vladimirovich, reached a final settlement agreement with Yan to compensate the economic losses in Lungmen. In return, Yan will waive some of the money and return it to Ursus for the construction of a small-scale Nomadic city in Chernobog's original area.[2] As the reconstruction efforts began, the old city's surviving plates were absorbed by neighboring cities, and most of the refugees remained in the designated shelters.[8] Under the official name "Federal Territory of Chernobog", new city plates has been built over the ruins of the old ones in order to accommodate the returning refugees. The city's designation has been changed to a governorate, leaving the Chernobog Council as its highest administrative body, directly under Fyodor's control. On the other hand, Fyodor also appointed a commissioner from the State Council to serve as an supervisor for Chernobog's affairs.[2][9]
| “ | We promise to all citizens of Ursus that the Infected population in the Chernobog Territory won't be at risk of spillover. Consider this move as His Majesty's mercy for those involved. | ” |
| —Statement from Captain Makarov, spokesman of the Ursus Imperial Army, regarding the Infected in the newly-rebuilt Chernobog[2] | |
Post-crisis Chernobog is a bustling, yet less lively place filled with industrial dust-filled buildings and military checkpoints, and the city gates only open at day for convenience's sake. Treatment towards the Infected have become slightly more tolerable, albeit with restricted freedom of mobility as the Military Police constantly monitors them. On the other hand, the only institutions that can provide actual attention and comfort to the Infected are the specialized clinics and supply points. Nevertheless, many Infected in Ursus have moved to Chernobog, so they can receive a "preferential" treatment rather than being sent to the concentration camps. Some of them have even become members of the Governorate Council.[10]
Notable people
| Character
|
Information
|
Status
|
| Real name Zoya. A survivor of the Chernobog disaster and daughter of a military police officer who died during the unrest. | Alive |
| Real name Shura Olev. Former Chernobog underground fighter who unceremoniously got Infected by her opponent, Yevgeny. Came to R.I. to receive treatment. | Alive |
| Boris | Former mayor of Chernobog and CEO of the Boris Group, who intended to revitalize the city using the Sarcophagus, unbeknowst of the consequences. He later died while attempting to flee the city | Deceased |
| Real name Louisa. Daughter of Dr. Lillia and member of the Rhodes Island Medical Department | Alive |
| Real name Lada. Former student of the Peterhim Middle School, joined alongside Zima and the U.S.S.G. | Alive |
| Former General of the Ursus Imperial Guard and head of the Azazel Clinic. He's also Neon's adoptive father | Alive |
| Real name Anna Morosova. Former student of the Peterhim Middle School who suffers from survivor's guilt after forcing her best friend Vika to jump off the roof during the lockdown. Joined alongside Zima and the U.S.G.G. | Alive |
| Real name Rosalind Tatyanovna Larina, daughter of Arctosz Paleroche and Tatyana Larina. Unlike the other U.S.G.G. members she doesn't suffer from any psychological issues. She's also responsible for paying her mother's Oripathy treatment | Alive |
| Real name Natalya Andreyevna Rostova, former student of the Chernobog #4 Secondary School and heir of House Rostov. Acts as the figurehead of the U.S.G.G. | Alive |
| Real name Sonya. The de facto leader of the U.S.G.G. | Alive |
| Character
|
Information
|
Status
|
| Hired by Count Boris at some point after she left Columbia. She was responsible for leading the research team. | Alive |
| One of Kal'tsit's students and the mother of Operator Folinic, who was one of the few survivors of the Sarcophagus massacre. It's implied that an Emperor's Blade killed her while trying to escape to Sami | Unknown |
Other notable people
- Count Andrey Rostov: Rosa's father and patriarch of House Rostov, a noble family that rose in prominence following the Great Rebellion. He held a considerable reputation in Chernobog's upper class and was friends with Count Boris. However, the destruction of Rostov Industries's HQ and the loss of his largest customer during the Chernobog-Lungmen Crisis would cause him to momentarily fall from grace.[11][12] He and his wife managed to escape and flee to another city, but assumed Rosa didn't survive during the uprising.[13]
- Astrov☠: Lillia's husband. He was the first who got shot by the Fourth Army.[4]
- Ilia☠: Lyudmila's father. Following his death, Kal'tsit would send the young Lyudmilla to Siracusa for her safety.[4][14]
- Romanovich☠: One of the researchers mentioned in passing by Lillia. Although his death was officially declared as an "accident" by the authorities , his brothers never believed that. The news about his death would force his family to sell their whole estate and leave the city.[4]
- Sergei☠: Misha's and Alex's father, as well as one of Kal'tsit's students. Due to his collaboration with the military, he was considered a "traitor" for selling off his colleges in order to save himself.[3][4] However, he would later be tracked down and killed by Lyudmilla, with the aid of Alex, as a vendetta for his actions[15]
- Sofia: A former maid of the Rostov family, who had to quit her job at some point before Reunion's uprising and move to Victoria to treat the illness of her son, Alexei. She's currently receiving treatment for her Oripathy in Rhodes Island.[13]
- Vampilov☠: One of the researchers mentioned in passing by Lillia. Following his death, his father went mad to the point of even fantasizing about still going hunting fowlbeasts with his son by the river.[4]
Notable landmarks
Gallery
Places
The avenues of Chernobog during the
Reunion uprising
The bridge of Chernobog's control tower
Ditto, when the Catastrophe slightly subsides
Chernobog's control tower
Oustide scenery of Chernobog's control tower
The ruined downtown Chernobog
Outskirt of Chernobog's control tower
The streets of Chernobog during the Reunion uprising
Ditto, following the Catastrophe
Ditto, in ruins after the Reunion uprising
Concept art
The Chernobog's Control Tower's scenary
Early concept art for Chernobog's Core city scenary
Trivia
- Prior to the Arknights beta version, Chernobog appears to be intended to be named "Chernobyl", at least according to the cryptic message from Koshea in the official doujinshi CRAVE published on 2018.
References
