Caldera

Following the first expansion of the Warp Band signal in May of 2014, the people of Union tentatively began to explore out beyond their previous boundaries. Almost immediately, they picked up a distress call broadcasting from a city naming themselves Caldera.

Two years prior to that date, Caldera had been attacked by Gigas, who claimed that the city had formerly belonged to their empire prior to the war of 500 years past. The city was under siege and was failing fast. With the assistance of Union and their warp technology, however, the forces of Caldera were able to repel Gigas, forcing them to withdraw - for the time being. At the moment, Caldera and Gigas share an anxious truce.

Caldera is located in the Western Desert, midway up a towering mountainside. The city's walls appear to be made of raw iron that was formed instead of forged around the city, and the buildings are rough-hewn from stone and steel. Although it is about the size of Union, it lacks the tall towers that Union has, so it has a smaller population of around 200,000 people. Deep within the mountain, there exists a lake of fire with a strange shrine within.

Caldera's history and culture differ greatly from Union. Though they have legends of a god native to their area, a Red Giant, they hold no particular reverence for it, as it is believed to have nearly eradicated Caldera during the time of the Savior. Union's attitudes towards Pokémon are viewed as amusingly quaint. They have little ability to communicate with Pokémon, but work with any who would respect their strength. They, in turn, respect the abilities of their partners. The Calderans value strength, honesty, loyalty, and tradition, and frown upon those failing to adhere to these virtues.

Caldera's greatest asset is its location relative to several mines in the area, and it churns out steel and machinery at a high rate. There are a form of Enlightened within the city known as Earthkin, primarily attuned to the types of Fire, Steel, Rock, and Ground, though Earthkin attuned to all types exist. The abilities of the Children of the Verdant Forest are foreign to them, and Kindred Souls and Shifters are rare. Apart from the Earthkin, the military forces of Caldera consist of the Steel Battalion and the Rock Legion.

Notable citizens of Caldera include Rory Donnachaidh, Brand Ironborn, and Maxwell Akers.

The timeline for the siege of Caldera can be found within the Timeline.