Runners
Runners are scavengers sent from The Underground to the Surface to recover resources from the ruins of the old world.
Following The Collapse, the crater settlement became dependent on materials recovered from the surrounding city. Without a steady supply of scrap, equipment, and technology, the Underground would not be able to maintain its infrastructure or support its population.
Runners perform the dangerous task of retrieving these resources from the abandoned city.
Within the Underground, Runners are sometimes mockingly referred to as “JunkRats.” The term comes from the perception that they spend their lives digging through the junk and ruins of the old world like rats searching for scraps. While originally used as an insult, the name was later adopted by the group formed by Adrian, Lucy, Gabriel, and Zariah.
Purpose
The primary role of Runners is to recover materials required to sustain life within the Underground.
These resources include tools, machinery, medical supplies, electronic components, and other usable equipment left behind after civilization fell. Salvaged materials are used to repair infrastructure, maintain power systems, and construct new structures inside the crater settlement.
Without the work of Runners, the Underground would eventually exhaust the resources necessary for survival.
Recruitment
Runners are selected through a lottery system within the Underground.
Citizens whose names are drawn are assigned to Runner duty and sent to the surface to participate in resource recovery missions. Due to the extremely high mortality rate, many residents view selection as a likely death sentence.
Despite the danger, the system continues to operate because the Underground relies heavily on the resources recovered during these expeditions.
Surface Operations
Runners travel through the ruined city in search of usable materials.
The environment outside the crater is extremely hazardous. Buildings are unstable, entire streets have collapsed, and large portions of the city are inhabited by Forsaken creatures created by the Forsaken Virus.
Because of these conditions, every expedition carries a significant risk.
Risk
Many Runners never return from the surface.
Encounters with the Forsaken, collapsing structures, and environmental hazards make each mission unpredictable. Despite this, the role remains essential to the survival of the Underground.
For this reason, Runner duty is considered one of the most dangerous responsibilities within the settlement.
Known Runners
Notable individuals who have served as Runners include: