The military outpost that would eventually become Oasis was established shortly after the First Corporate War by the New Deroid Confederacy. Situated on the Maroosh side of the Landbridge, which connected it to the Makrak region, the outpost was built with the purpose of safeguarding the heart of Confederate territory should another war arise. It was a strategic location, one that could serve as a barrier against potential threats.
Tensions had been escalating for years even before the First Corporate War. The risk of war with Danthical tribes due to their aggression, and the ever escalating tensions with the Athasia Corporation. The Corporate War, however, was the final push the Confederacy needed to establish what should be a fortress designed to control the Landbridge. Due to the critical importance of the site, soldiers were stationed there for extended periods of time. To maintain morale, families of the soldiers were relocated to the outpost.
What began as a military outpost quickly transformed into a small settlement, and then a thriving community. The Confederacy, seeing the value in the growing population, supported the expansion. They believed that by providing a clear picture of what the soldiers were fighting to protect, they could foster greater loyalty to the cause. As families began to settle in, most adapted to life in the outpost, and many came to see it as home. The contrast between the peaceful life within the settlement and the harsh, unforgiving desert surrounding it was stark, for those who lived in the settlement, it became an “Oasis”.
As the population grew, so did their need for basic amenities. While the Confederacy funded some projects to improve the settlement, such as theaters, diners, and parks, these efforts were far outpaced by the rate at which the population expanded. The Confederate government, already stretched thin financially, was reluctant to funnel more resources into a settlement that wasn’t seen as essential to their overall strategy. As a result, the citizens of Oasis were left to find their own ways of occupying their time. It was during this period that the criminal elements of the colony began to take root. Supplies—alcohol, drugs, and other recreational goods—began to mysteriously disappear from military stockpiles, finding their way into Oasis through smuggling rings. Though these goods were expensive, soldiers and their families found ways to get their hands on them, often at the cost of spiraling into debt, be it from paying directly for the goods or gambling for a chance at acquiring them for a lower price. Desperate to pay off these debts, many soldiers joined the smuggling rings themselves, and this led to the formation of small factions. These groups, competing to supply the settlement with illicit goods, were the first to create a system of order within the chaos. Crime rates surged, and though most confrontations were not deadly, small “gang wars” broke out with increasing frequency. Fearing government intervention, three major factions—the Jarheads, the Coyotes, and the Stakers—eventually joined forces to maintain control.
Each faction had its own area of expertise. The Jarheads were known for their private security operations, the Coyotes controlled the smuggling, production, and sale of illicit goods, and the Stakers ran the high-risk gambling and entertainment sectors. Though distrustful of one another, the factions realized that a united front was in their best interest. They struck an informal alliance, agreeing not to interfere in each other’s territories. This alliance, known as The Concordat, was a powerful force, and by 2370, they had not only secured their own dominance in Oasis, but they also ensured that the minor factions were kept in line.
By 2382, trouble stirred at the heart of Confederate territory. A rebellion erupted, unlike any the Confederacy had seen before. Machines, once the Confederacy’s creations, turned against their masters. Though the Confederacy attempted to withdraw forces from Oasis to deal with the uprising, few soldiers answered the call to arms. By then, the Concordat had cemented its control over Oasis, using a combination of propaganda and strategic manipulation to convince the citizens that they owed everything to the Concordat, and nothing to the Confederacy. Life in Oasis, it seemed, was prosperous and secure because of the Concordat’s leadership.
In 2384, the machines launched an assault on Oasis. The Jarheads, ever vigilant, organized a defense, rallying minor factions to their cause. When a section of the city’s walls was breached by the invaders, the defenders swiftly repelled them. While some civilians were injured in the attack, no one died. In the wake of the assault, the Coyotes distributed supplies to the people free of charge, and the Stakers offered entertainment, also without cost. To the citizens of Oasis, it seemed as though the Concordat had saved them from certain destruction.
But the truth was far more calculated. The attack, while real, had been anticipated. Scouts from the Jarheads had spotted the small attacking force hours before the assault began. In preparation, they had planted explosives in a section of the city wall, and when the attack came, they detonated them, allowing the robots to breach the wall. The defenders were able to quickly push the machines back, all while in full view of the population. The Coyotes and Stakers were complicit in the plan, offering supplies and entertainment to ensure that the Concordat’s role as heroes was cemented in the minds of the people.
In the aftermath, the Confederate flag was taken down from Oasis’s tallest building, replaced by nothing. The Concordat delivered a grand speech, declaring that Oasis was now free from the Confederacy’s control. They insisted that the people owed no allegiance to the crumbling government, and that Oasis was finally what it had always deserved to be: a Free City. And so, Oasis shed its Confederate ties and embraced its new identity.
By 2386, the robot rebellion had ended, and the Confederacy was no more. Even the Pale Horse Mercenary Company, which basically won the war by itself, paid little attention to Oasis as they focused on stabilizing the regions they had inherited from the Confederacy. Oasis, meanwhile, continued to thrive.
Since 2387, business in Oasis has boomed. The city is open to anyone with enough money to enter, from bustling casinos and hotels, to diners and pubs that never close. Oasis has become known as "The City That Never Rests." Whatever you want, whenever you want, Oasis has it – no matter your gender, religion, or species, as long as you can afford it.
Politics
The political structure of Oasis may appear conventional at first glance—like any other city-state governed by corporations—but in reality, it's a web composed of nothing but crime and corruption. Here, almost every business is tangled in some form of illegal activity, making the city's economy as shadowy as it is bustling.
At the heart of Oasis' governance lies the Board of Representatives, a legislative body where each representative is chosen by the enterprises they serve. The appointment process is up to the discretion of the respective companies, so the power dynamics within Oasis are constantly shifting. The Board’s role is primarily to oversee the day-to-day operations of the city and approve minor policies, giving a voice to the smaller players in the city's sprawling corporate machine. Yet, despite its formal appearance, the Board is largely a symbolic entity—its decisions hold little weight in comparison to the real power held above.
The true authority in Oasis lies with the Concordium, the ruling body that functions as both the head of state and government. Composed of the three factions that dominate the city—the Jarheads, the Coyotes, and the Stakers—the Concordium acts as the ultimate arbiter of Oasis' fate. This closed council holds the final say on all matters of importance, having the power to veto resolutions passed by the Board or to enact policies that bypass the legislative process altogether.
The representatives of the Concordium, much like those in the Board, are appointed by the factions themselves. These representatives are typically the heads of the enterprises they represent, though this isn't always the case. What sets the Concordium apart is the power it wields behind the scenes—it ensures the factions maintain their stranglehold over the city while also acting as the face of stability and governance. While the Board may be the public face of political life in Oasis, the Concordium is the real force that keeps it a well-oiled machine.