Broad Daylight: Spectral Federation, Crater Cemetery, Old Manehattan · 6:58pm Mar 4th, 2022
Spectral Federation
(Defunct)
The Spectral Federation was once the most powerful force of ghosts in the world. It was formed in the year 1200 when the head specters of the five largest ghost cities decided to form a weak federal government between them. A number of specters in control of smaller groups would join the federation in the coming years.
The federation made strides in improving the lives of ghosts during its short existence. It successfully set up communication networks between ghost settlements for the first time. It created methods for new ghosts to find and acclimate into ghost societies. And, using the threat of their coalition of specters, were able to negotiate with the SA to some degree.
Then everything changed when Crater Cemetery appeared.
It became clear that the new specter had no interest in joining their federation or following their laws. As she continued to enslave increasing numbers of ghosts, the Spectral Federation spent years trying to appease her in vain.
Finally, when they saw no other course of action, four of the five main specters launched an assault on Crater Cemetery. The result was the absolute annihilation of the Spectral Federation and all of its leaders.
Since its destruction, the remaining specters have held no hope of fighting against Crater Cemetery.
Old Manehattan
Leader: Meltdown
Headquarters: Manehattan
Old Manehattan is the largest of the ghost cities of the Spectral Federation and the only one to survive the rise of Crater Cemetery. Most of the current Manehattan
The city consists of the abandoned portion of Manehattan that surrounded the ruins of the Toxco headquarters and the Colossal Super Reactor. Due to being the center of the massive, rampant pollution of the pre-war era and the destruction of the factories and reactor during the Toxco war, the area has been rendered uninhabitable. Reclaiming the land proved impossible so Equestria settled for merely containing the pollution.
Deadly amounts of heavy metals and other toxic waste cover the ground, making the demolition of the still-standing buildings impossible. Though the radiation from the partial meltdown of the Colossal Super Reactor has mostly died down, deadly plants and fungi created from the super radiation still fill its streets.
However, none of these dangers pose any real risk for ghosts, making it a perfect place for a phantom city. The extreme toxicity of the city only serves as protection from any living enemies of Old Manehattan.
A giant lead-lined wall separates Manehattan from the forbidden lands of Old Manehattan. Though the two sides have no formal interaction, there is an unspoken agreement to never cross the line or interfere with the other side which both halves enforce.
Meltdown is the head specter and leader of Old Manehattan, created by the deaths from the partial meltdown of the reactor. Rumor has it he changed his name to Meltdown only after becoming a specter, though he denies this vehemently.
During the battle between the Spectral Federation and Crater Cemetery, Meltdown chose to collaborate with rather than fight against Crater Cemetery, buying the city a measure of safety for some time…
Crater Cemetery:
Leader – Unknown.
Headquarters – Crater Cemetery.
Crater Cemetery is ruled by the most powerful specter in the world. Their will is indominable to the point they can effectively control even other specters. Along with the tarrasque, the specter of Crater Cemetery is one of the few threats classified as being at or near the level of a witch.
Unfortunately, little is known about this mysterious figure other than their immense power. Her ‘followers’ appear to be largely under mind-control and won’t share her secrets under any circumstance. Equestria’s relationship with other ghosts is poor enough that they are generally unwilling to talk as well.
As such, the SA has yet to uncover the name, unfinished business or echo of this specter, despite large rewards existing for all three.
However, it is speculated that she was created by the massive asteroid impact that created the crater the cemetery is named for. Indeed, she appeared shortly after this event.
The asteroid was responsible for the death of at least one hundred thousand ponies, potentially the single biggest mass death event. It’s often argued that larger mass-death events create more powerful specters, though there’s little evidence to back this up.
Another hypothesis is related to the chains she enslaves other ghosts with themselves. It was discovered some time ago that these are the same chains used by the alicorns to seal their prisoners away in the shadow realm. Some speculate that this specter was sealed away in the shadow realm millennia ago and merely somehow released from her prison by the asteroid impact. A third theory is that the ghost came from outer space itself.
Of course, there are many more ideas than simply these and the truth remains elusive…
If I remember correctly, lots of ponies have to die nearly simultaneously for that. But maybe ASRS is very different from regular good old ARS.
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The main difference is that a super reactor isn't a nuclear fusion reactor. It's way, way dirtier and emits super-radiation. Though you'll get to hear the whole story later on in Ghost of a Chance.