Oasis Valley

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The story of Oasis Valley is more the story of a cult than that of a settlement. Few outsiders know of Oasis Valley, and almost no one ever leaves the settlement—or rather, the cult. The cult itself, which usually calls itself the Commune or now the Commune of Oasis Valley, began around 2060, initially in New Mexico. However, as the local police and even the military began to view them with increasing suspicion, they moved—first to Baja California around 2070, and then, after the bombs fell in 2077, they headed back north into what they eventually named Oasis Valley.

Population:	About 200 humans.
Popoulation density:	Low.
Terrain:	Hilly woodland.
Governmental system:	An elected High Council reigns.
Who currently reigns:	Maria, daughter of Ramona, is the current Directoress of the High Council.
Military:	Militia.
Police:	Militia.
Electrical power supply:	None.
Vehicle provision:	None.
Livestock provision:	None.
Average education:	Low to medium.
What the law says about: Theft -> Murder -> Assault -> Drugs -> Gambling -> Cheating at gambling -> Prostitution -> Alcohol ->	-> Compensation. -> Exile. -> Compensation/exile depending on the severity. -> Legal (details below). -> Illegal. -> Illegal. -> Illegal but useless (details below) -> Legal.
Average prices for: Iguana-on-a-stick: -> NukaCola -> A good, stomach filling lunch -> A liter of clear, filtered water -> A Jet Canister -> A good room for the night -> A bath ->	Since there are no shops or recognized forms of currency and only bartering is conducted, this part of the table is omitted.
This city in three words:	Self-contained, independent, matriarchial.

History:

The story of Oasis Valley is more the story of a cult than that of a settlement. Few outsiders know of Oasis Valley, and almost no one leaves the settlement—or the cult. The cult itself, which usually refers to itself as the Commune, or now the Commune of Oasis Valley, began around 2060, first in New Mexico. However, as local police and even the military viewed them with increasing suspicion, they moved in 2070, first to Baja California, and then, after the bombs fell in 2077, back north to what they would ultimately call Oasis Valley.

Origins and Migration

The Commune was founded around 2060 by Aida Gutierrez as a spiritual retreat, originally exclusively by and for women. The first men allowed to live there—on the small farm Gutierrez had purchased—were the husbands and partners of the women who had retreated there. Aida Gutierrez blamed the Resource Wars on men in general and did everything she could to appease the “Divine Earth-Mother,” transferring all leadership positions within the Commune to women. Men were relegated to being servants, a means of showing the Earth-Mother that things could be different.

This use of able-bodied men, who now—due to religious reasons—were forbidden from fighting, angered local authorities who increasingly sought to dissolve the cult. But Gutierrez, whose following had grown to nearly 200 people, now had significant capital and relocated the Commune entirely to Mexico, to Baja California.

The Commune settled just south of the Mexican border near Tijuana and slowly continued to grow without much issue from Mexican authorities, who saw them as harmless, if eccentric. When the Great War occurred on October 23, 2077, neither the Commune nor Tijuana were directly hit, but San Diego just a few miles to the north was bombarded repeatedly. This led to a total collapse of law and order even in Mexico, and anarchy spread. Initially, the Commune was largely spared, but as more and more urbanites fled into the countryside, the leadership under Gutierrez became increasingly uncertain about how to defend themselves against violent outsiders. The Commune had almost no weapons, no protection, no walls—nothing.

Gutierrez decided to relocate the Commune again, this time to near the Eldorado National Forest in what used to be northern California, where she herself had grown up.

The exodus began a week after the decision was made, and many personal belongings were left behind. Only what could fit into a backpack was allowed—and most of that space was used for provisions. The entire Commune, now 300 people (200 women and female children, 100 men and male children), left their home and set out—carefully avoiding civilization—on their journey north. Miraculously, no one died until they found their new home: a remote, forested valley that, though not exactly where they intended to go, proved to be the perfect new sanctuary—what they would now call Oasis Valley.

Because the group was still largely unarmed, they quickly decided not to advertise their presence. They cleared no forest, both out of respect for nature and to leave no trace. The Commune retreated deep into the forest, living in trees and building treehouses from dead or naturally fallen wood. The lack of weapons led the women of the Commune to train extensively in archery, with many mastering both bowmaking and marksmanship.

Aida Gutierrez herself began feeling weaker every day after the long journey and soon noticed her hair falling out. She had received a high dose of radiation, which quickly became clear to her, and she knew she would die soon. Fighting through excruciating pain, she created the High Council, which was to take over leadership of the Commune after her death.

The first High Council, composed entirely of women and elected by the women of Oasis Valley, codified the laws and rules of the Commune, which still govern life in Oasis Valley to this day.

Overview of the Settlement and Treatment of Outsiders

The settlement lies deep in the forest in a barely accessible valley that survived the Great War densely wooded. There are no buildings on the ground and no paths leading into or out of the valley. A few women from Oasis Valley have scouted the area, but quickly determined that there’s nothing nearby likely to attract strangers. No trade routes pass through or even near the valley. The terrain is wild, tangled, and difficult to traverse. To the Commune’s knowledge, there is nothing in Oasis Valley that can’t be found elsewhere—so there’s no reason for anyone to enter the valley at all.

The Commune lives high in the trees on numerous interconnected wooden platforms. These treehouses have grown steadily over 150 years, some three stories tall and expertly built, all equipped with murder holes for the archery-trained women of Oasis Valley.

It’s rare for outsiders to stumble into Oasis Valley. As long as they don’t come too deep into the valley or harm the forest (and by extension the Earth-Mother), they are usually allowed to pass peacefully. However, individuals or groups who venture deep into the forest are typically ambushed and captured. Men, especially those who resist, are chained and forced into labor. Women are given the opportunity to join the Commune.


Cult, Culture, and Gender Roles

The foundation of the cult—and thus the culture of Oasis Valley—is based on the beliefs and writings of Aida Gutierrez, which are still preserved and closely followed by the Commune. Her teachings speak of the “Sacred Earth-Mother” and the blame masculinity bears for all the world’s evils. Gutierrez did not view the genders as equal and believed the perfect society should be ruled by women, with men playing only subordinate roles until they had expunged their “generational guilt.”

The High Council, then and now, strictly adheres to these principles. Men in Oasis Valley cannot join the Council, attend meetings, or vote for council members. They are forbidden from carrying weapons or learning how to use them. Their behavior, language, and sexuality are tightly controlled by the women of the Commune. The men of Oasis Valley know what a whip feels like.

They may not speak unless spoken to or move about freely. The first Council saw the Great War both as the fault of the world’s men and as the gravest offense against the Earth-Mother—another reason to harshly punish every man they had influence over. And punished they are, almost constantly. They are granted little rest and are constantly forced to work. If no work is needed, they are made to dig holes, refill them, and dig again. The women also ensure that men never gather in large groups or speak to one another too much.

Women, by contrast, are free to do as they please—training in the defense of the settlement, meditating (often with the aid of consciousness-expanding substances), or living in sexual bliss with other women or by “using” men.

Beliefs, mind enhancing substances, and Sexual Practices

The belief system of Oasis Valley is rooted in Gutierrez’s writings, which hold men responsible for all the world’s ills. As a result, male children are taught submission to women from a very early age—one could say indoctrinated.

Women, while also strongly indoctrinated, live hard but privileged lives in comparison to the men. Young women curious about the outside world are told how dangerous, lawless, and deadly it is, to discourage them from leaving Oasis Valley. Exile remains the ultimate deterrent.

Oasis Valley has only a few small, hidden fields deep in the valley; most sustenance comes from hunting and trapping. They almost never fell trees, partly to hide their existence, but mainly out of reverence for the Earth-Mother.

On the forest floor grows a unique mushroom found only in Oasis Valley, which the women call “the Gift.” It induces hallucinogenic states. Men are forbidden to eat it. Women, especially the younger ones, consume it frequently to commune with the Earth-Mother—or to enhance sexual experiences.

Most women in the Commune are openly sexually active, mainly with one another. Older women often share intimate pleasures with younger women. Sex with men occurs almost exclusively for reproduction. The High Council selects which men have the best genes and are suitable for “insemination.” Fertile and especially willing women may freely choose from among them and rape them as often as desired.

Language

The women of Oasis Valley speak two languages, which they call the “High Tongue” and the “Low Tongue.” They ensure that men only speak the Low Tongue.

What the Wasteland (or the rest of the world) calls “Spanish” is the High Tongue. The Low Tongue is “English.”

Important persons:

Maria, daughter of Ramona – The current Directora of the High Council, 48 years old, considered one of the wise elders. A staunch traditionalist who has never known any other way of life and resists any changes to the way Oasis Valley is run.

Rosa, daughter of Petra – A 50-year-old elder and one of the few who has left Oasis Valley. As a former scout, she explored the area as far as San Francisco (though never entered the city). Leader of the militia for 13 years and considered the Commune’s best archer. She is always ready to defend the valley.

Amy, daughter of Tina – The High Judge of Oasis Valley at age 26. A zealous follower of Gutierrez’s teachings, she oversees the upbringing of male children and enforces laws with ruthless efficiency. While she harshly punishes men for minor offenses, she often avoids intervening in disputes between women. She and her mother were once kidnapped by a small Raider gang and later rescued by the Commune. Both joined enthusiastically.

Lisa, daughter of Sandy – The 31-year-old Keeper of the Writings of Aida Gutierrez—essentially the High Priestess or Shaman of the Commune. Spends days in meditation consuming nothing but “the Gift of the Earth-Mother.” Like most women raised in Oasis Valley, she views men purely as servants.

Rafaella, daughter of Maria – A spirited 17-year-old and daughter of the Directora. She is part of a younger faction eager to explore the outside world, often clashing with her conservative mother and Rosa. Already one of the best scouts, though rarely allowed to venture out unaccompanied due to the Council’s lack of trust.