From whatever turn of fate, a small group of survivors arrived upon a swath of land in the Appalachian mountains. It is late spring and they've been traveling a very long time to escape the ravages of Z-day. Their equipment and skills have been tested and with a bit of luck they made their way to a swath of forested hillsides and verdant farmland. The Valley is isolated and has only a few buildings. There is a farm called the Beacon Ranch. The proprietor, known as Akerris has a great deal of resources on his farm and in the surrounding countryside. There's a small river, freshwater spring, an orchard and vineyard, fields for planting and grazing, a few dozen homemade solar and wind panels, livestock, and forested areas.