Dear Friends of Fallen Earth™,

Continuing our series of newsletters detailing the factions of Fallen Earth from the points of view of the different groups, here is the Grand Canyon Province through the eyes of the Vistas.

My name's Novia Soto. I serve as the leader of the Vista Rangers, and now that you've been restrained, it's time to discuss how you've been misinformed about us. If you knew the truth, you would not have approached our camp armed and spoiling for a fight. It's a good thing our dogs warned us of your approach, or you'd be dead right now instead of captured. We don't respond well to being surprised.

Others will tell you that we're tree-huggers, that we're completely anti-technology, that we'd let your children die from disease and mutation to avoid using some sort of technology from the old world to save them. Some have even called us terrorists out to destroy technology at all costs. Look around our camp. We're not stupid. We carry firearms and other devices to make wilderness survival easier, such as water purifiers and electronic compasses. The fact that we're using these things ought to show you that we're not completely against technology and we're not the easy pickings you may have expected.

We have nothing against the responsible use of technology in the world today. Using technology to make life easier or safer in this dangerous world is fine. A bio-diesel plant, an aluminum recycling facility, an alcohol-based fuel refinery - all these are acceptable uses of technology in the world. Each of these facilities would receive Vista support and even Vista protection because they make life safer and easier without harming the environment. We follow our beliefs with reason and compassion, not mindless hatred. This is why we first tried to capture you and your friends instead of killing you outright. We try to persuade when we can and fight only when we must. But make no mistake, when we fight, we fight to win. I think you'd be terrified to see how closely a motivated Vista dog-handler can work with his partner in a battle and how much mayhem that team can wreak. Even Enforcer guard dogs know not to mess with our hounds.

We want to resist blind reliance on technology at the expense of the environment. Men are part of the environment, not its masters. You might think our use of animals as pets would contradict this, but you'd be wrong. We are creatures of the earth, the same as any other creature that walks it, and if we abandon our place in the natural world or think we're outside the natural order, we do so at our peril. Those who built the machines that brought about the Fall held the idea that man stands supreme over nature and can bend it to suit his purposes through technological expertise. That line of thinking is responsible for the fallen world in which we live.

I'm betting it's the lies of the Techs that stirred you up against us. I can't tell you how dangerous the Techs are to the future of the world. They brought about the fall of civilization. Techs don't care about anything except furthering their knowledge or refining their technological gadgets. While using technology as a tool is fine, the Techs go too far when they pursue technological knowledge at the expense of the natural world and their fellow human beings. Everyone has heard the stories of the unregulated genetic experiments that the Techs have conducted in the past. Don't listen to their denials; these tests continue today. They mutate animals into grotesque parodies of their natural forms and even force their fellow humans, regular people like you and me, to be subjects of these sick experiments. If you want to protect yourself and your children from the immoral experiments of the Techs, all you have to do is ask and we will help you. Even though you have threatened us, you are welcome.

If the Techs worked alone, we would not fear them, but they have lackeys. The Enforcers sell their muscle to the Techs for the newest gadgets, which they use to suppress dissent and free-thinking. We seldom find any common ground with Enforcers, but they're not so single-minded as Techs. Generally, we have no use for them and they have no use for us, though we make a little money selling food and grain to them when we must. One day we may have a showdown, but I believe they have some good people in their midst who still remember the harsh lessons from the Masters' fascist state. Still, if they go down that road again, there will be blood.

Travelers are not much different from Enforcers, when you think about it. They are both basically lapdogs for their Tech masters. Travelers skulk around ruins of the old world, searching for remnants of old technology that they can sell or trade to the Techs. They also sell information about the world. Travelers spend a lot of time “on the road.” They can blend in with regular people very easily and they learn bits of local lore, like who has found an old bunker full of pre-Fall tech, or which township is ready to bend to the Tech will. Sometimes we strike a deal with Travelers, but we can never trust them in the long run. You'd be well served to avoid them and avoid entanglement in their schemes.

We also have a common bond with the Lightbearers. Their philosophy wisely emphasizes harmony with nature as well as spiritual and physical development. They are corrupted by their contact with the Enforcers, though, because the taint of the Techs flows to them through the Enforcers. The Lightbearers often trade for our food and our finely-bred animals. In return, they provide us with mutation training because they know far more than we do about the powers Shiva can bestow. They also provide us with medical supplies in exchange for herbs for their research. One day, the Lightbearers will see that they have more in common with us than the techno-militarism of the Enforcers, and we are content to wait for that day to come.


So, now that you know a little about us and about our beliefs, we're going to release you. You are free to go. The next time we meet, I hope it's as friends. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to hold my people back if you come at us with bad intentions.


Don't be afraid to ask for our help if you need it.