Every super hero must have his super villain, and in the post apocalyptic wasteland, the Templars are no different.  In the darkness of the end of civilization as we know it, great men will rise up, but so will terrible men.  Some people so dark and terrifying are civilized only because of fear of punishment from the powers that be, rather than from any deep seeded desire to do good.  It is these people who have swelled the ranks of the Vipers.

The Vipers were a notorious street gang, particularly violent.  When more established national gangs like the Bloods and the Crips came to town, only the Vipers could hold up against them.  Gangs like MS-13 stayed away, knowing the kind of war that would erupt would be costly to both sides…and the Vipers were on their home turf.  It takes a special type of gang to have such a reputation.

Towards the end of civilization, the Vipers leader, named 2-Rock, saw the handwriting on the wall.  Civilization was coming to and end, and the Vipers would have an opportunity to rise up and take control of the town.  They began stockpiling weapons and ammunition.  They used the proceeds of their drug sales to buy food, water, batteries, communications equipment, anything they felt would give them an edge.  The other gangs thought they had lost their minds.  That is, until it happened.

When the world around them ended, 2-Rock issued a message to the other gangs.  It simply said, “join us under my leadership, or die.”  They weren’t laughing anymore, and so the Viper’s ranks swelled.  They went on a rampage, killing anyone who dared to oppose them.  Their ranks swelled even more from not only those who were afraid, but those who had been evil deep within themselves, and now the Vipers gave them an opportunity to let it out.

In no time, the entire town was under their control.  2-Rock exerted an iron hand to keep order.  Dissent was grounds for immediate execution, and there were plenty.  Rapes were common, but those who had officially joined the Vipers were immune.  Harming a Viper in any way was also grounds for execution.  This caused their ranks to swell even more, as hungry people from the outside of town came to them for food and protection.  The world was an ugly place, and life under 2-Rock was preferable to the chaos outside of town.

Like the Romans and the Mongols, 2-Rock wasn’t satisfied.  He wanted more territory and more power.  Besides, he knew the canned goods he had wouldn’t last forever.  They would need to farm, so he created vassals that would farm in exchange for protection.  He was brought a book from the local library about the fuedal system, and it sounded pretty damn good to him.  He was king, and this was his realm!

The expansion happened quickly as town after town fell to them.  2-Rock began to find military minds who were desperate for an army.  In time, his tactics became more sophisticated and towns fell even quicker.  That is, until he made contact with the Templars and their allies, the White Stars.  That’s when things got really interesting.