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[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/wAlHps9.png[/img][img]http://cdn.playbuzz.com/cdn/b27fc6ed-87af-4a71-bc62-bde053cdf013/7d6d0c89-1e22-4e54-9a31-ef6654a7a4db.jpg[/img]

[b][i]“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”[/i][/b][/center]
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[hider=Flag][img]http://i.imgur.com/Lk3bDiz.png?1[/img][/hider]
[hider=Territory][img]http://i.imgur.com/cHhxXOp.png[/img][/hider]
[hider=Dossier]◤  [sub]O V E R V I E W[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]Founded by wayfaring scavengers from various walks of life, The Muddy River Collective is a faction that represents the combined peoples of the Moapa Valley. Situated around forty miles northeast of New Vegas, the Collective is far from the internal issues of New Vegas and before the pact with Mr. House supplied little interest in the center of the Mojave beyond trade routes headlined by Muddy River caravan companies. With the new alliances made the Muddy River Collective is now a subject of the Free Economic Zone of the Mojave though given its location and Mr. House’s policies little has changed within the collective and how it operates. But what this new relationship with New Vegas will bring is anyone's guess. [/list][/color]
◤  [sub]P O P U L A T I O N[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]The census last recorded by the collective government suggests the registered population to be in the low thousands. Accuracy is debatable due to mitigating factors, unregistered migrants, and the possibility of doctored reports. A workable estimate is around 3,500.[/list][/color]
◤  [sub]G O V E R N M E N T[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]The Muddy River Collective is a democratic union of the five major settlements made on the Muddy River, the central capital of the faction being the center of Moapa Valley. Despite this democratic design, the Collective has had a rocky history with politics and the acceptance of policy. The new leader of the Collective, James Wilkinson sees the utility of Mr. House’s securitrons to more cohesively centralize the Collective under his direction – fearing that with the threats of Legion-occupied Utah and potential NCR intervention in the Mojave in the future would greatly leave the Collective at risk if unpopular decisions are not made with the greater good in mind. [/list][/color]
◤  [sub]C U L T U R E   &   R E L I G O N[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]The people that live alongside the Muddy River in the Moapa Valley are a passionate, opinionated, no nonsense people that have for the most part “left well enough alone” and simply want the clout to exist in peace. Perhaps a naïve sentiment considering their location and the current climate of socio-political affairs, but it is what it is. The fact that the culture of the MRC is a disorderly melting pot isn’t far from the truth, but there are multiple opinions regarding their role in the Mojave with some being critical of integration with New Vegas whilst others finding it a lesser evil in the face of indoctrination or cession to the other greater factions of the region. Above all else, collectivists value their personal liberties and self-worth. 

As a byproduct of various walks of life, beliefs are varied and are not governed as long as they are not endangering the communities in the MRC at large. Some follow post-war facets of Christianity whilst others declare themselves as secular, Mormons, and other ideologies and beliefs. There is no state religion.[/list][/color]
◤  [sub]E C O N O M Y[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]The economic capacity of the Muddy River Collective is quite large all things considered. With nearly one hundred and eighty square miles of incorporated territory it boasts a large population and stable society. Whilst nowhere close in capacity as New Vegas itself, the Collective is the largest center northeast of the center of the Mojave. It is also centered strategically as a major caravan route on the northeastern approach – it serves as the midway point between New Vegas and settlements like Bunkerville, Mesquite, and Beaver Dam; safe to say any caravans travelling from Utah have to go through the Collective’s expanse of territory before reaching New Vegas. It’s existence as a trade hub has been prominent for over a hundred years and it is likely not going to change unless it were to be wiped off the face of the Mojave.[/list][/color]
◤  [sub]M I L I T A R Y[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]Before the introduction of securitrons, the enforcement of the law in the Muddy River settlements was loose and the people of the Collective often had autonomy in how they handled situations for the most part. With the establishment of a Mojave-based nation of sorts, this well is on the pathway of change and centralization – a fact that has relatively divided the general population. Division aside, the overall manpower of the Collective’s militia can be estimated at somewhere near the total population as every man and woman along the Muddy River is expected to defend themselves and their neighbors without hesitation. However, due to the decentralized nature of the Collective’s society and the lack of an institutionalized draft or proper standing army the manpower is as a result rather disorganized and unstable. If this were to change it would likely be seen as a valuable asset to Free Economic Zone of the Mojave.

Any forces organized into a militia would be led by law enforcement figures, particularly sheriffs and their deputies that serve them.[/list][/color]
◤  [sub]P E O P L E   O F   I N T E R E S T[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list][u]James “Jim” Wilkinson[/u] - The current leader of the Muddy River Collective, a former scavenger and problem solver whom earned respect from his peers as the reigning sheriff of Moapa Valley before becoming its elected representative. He is politically conservative and values Mr. House as a beneficial and necessary ally if the Collective is to survive the future of life in the Mojave. His appointment as representative leader of all of the Collective is not without his enemies due to his loyalty and agreements to join with New Vegas, particularly a frantic liberation and independence movement that he views as both sensational and naïve.

[u]Robert Vasquez[/u] - The son of Jonathan Vasquez and effectively Wilkinson’s second-in-command. The serving leader of the MRC’s militia, Vasquez is well trained and coordinated though his former experiences as a freelance soldier has affected his purview; he has fought against raiders as well as Caesar’s Legion. In the rare case where Wilkinson must leave the core of the MRC he would serve as the de-facto leader until his return.  

[u]Katherin Liao[/u] - Personal envoy of James Wilkinson, and a representative of the MRC living in New Vegas. The daughter of Richard Liao of the Nevada Gold Caravan Company, she has been surrounded by the dealings of trade politics her whole life. The last two years of her appointment have been well-regarded by Wilkinson and he finds her an invaluable asset in communicating with New Vegas as well as negotiating any additional deals for the MRC.[/list][/color]
◤  [sub]H I S T O R Y[/sub]  ◢

[color=gray][list]The people of the Muddy River descend from scavengers, wayfarers, merchants, scouts, and others who found unity in the Moapa Valley, particularly alongside the Muddy River. The estimation of the founding of the settlements that would become the Muddy River Collective date back to around one hundred and sixty-five years before the events of the present, though it would be many years later before the independent settlements along the Muddy River would affiliate with each other for the greater protection of their interests; an alliance that would lead to the formation of the Collective. It would be a move that would protect them from developing raider factions on the outskirts of their territory and keep the Moapa Valley free from outside dangers... or at least, that was before The NCR pushed into the Mojave from the west and Caesar’s Legion became unruly in the east – two principal outsiders that were threats that the Muddy River Collective could not account for by any measure.

The then leader of the MRC, [u]Jonathan Vasquez[/u], saw the dangers to the south in Vegas and the threat alongside the Colorado River and across of the Muddy River’s own borders to the east as the “greatest danger to the peoples of the Muddy River in its entire existence”, a fact that led to the development of convoys and light centralization to prepare for the worst possible outcome. As the militia was called to active assignment, Vasquez looked to the south and his relationship with New Vegas being more important than ever before. Trade agreements were re-negotiated in favor of the sleeping giant and support would be given in secret as to not publicly acknowledge the Collective’s concern about the events that hinged on the success of Mr. House’s regime. With that taken care of Vasquez looked to the east and subsequently ordered the development of a new outpost to serve as a warning station in the case of imminent invasion by the Caesar’s Legion forces stationed north of the Grand Canyon.

Vasquez never saw the effects of his policies or deals, as evident with his advanced age; he passed away at the age of ninety-two. Elections were made whilst an election council debated the merits of the next leader. The reigning sheriff of the largest settlement, [u]James “Jim” Wilkinson[/u] was elected in his place. A few months later, Mr. House was declared the victor in the New Vegas-related conflicts and things were expected to return to normal. With the threat of the immediate Vegas crisis passed, many people expected Vasquez’s successor to revert the policies Vasquez put in place to protect the MRC now that the immediate call for concern was now over; a presumption that would be largely incorrect. The newly governing warden-elect thought of things very differently and did the unthinkable in his people’s eyes – he swore allegiance to New Vegas and by proxy, Mr. House. 

Two years later, unease has spred in the newly minted provincial territory and with Mr. House’s support, Wilkinson aims to further stabilize the infrastructure and centralize the milita into a standing army. Though such aspirations may seem to further divide the people of the MRC as evident by a rogue sentiment growing that Wilkinson is Mr. House’s pawn and that the liberties of the independent peoples of the Muddy River are being covertly attacked. A dangerous sentiment that Wilkinson no doubt will deal with in the days to come.[/list][/color]
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