Lore - Why the name "Outlaw Country?"

[Author's note: The model slimmed down my chubby bandit queen, but they kept the cute pouting from the other reference image...so I'm not too upset. Something tells me Reference Pro and Edit Pro probably would've kept her chubby, but the 4,000 credit cost (vs. 8,000 and 10,000 credit cost) settles this for me. Well, I feel like it's long overdue to address “the elephant in the room,” as the saying goes... “Why the name 'Outlaw Country?'” Well, it's a bit of a nod the subgenre of country music that was popular during the 1970's and 1980's, where several country music stars bucked the country music hierarchy and monopoly that Nashville (Tennessee) record companies had over the country music genre. They were rebels within their respective industry and made a name for themselves outside of the industry machine. It also references a time where there were many parts within the southern and western portions of the United States where law enforcement was under-served and overlooked by law enforcement (for various reasons), so if you were on the run from the police, you could hide there for a period of time, in hopes that the police have forgotten about you and have moved on. Now, the first point is easy to confirm, as it is directly tied to the history of country and western music. There's documentaries, books, etc. written on the matter. The second part...that's is getting harder to prove. I feel like I'm Mandela Effect-ing myself on this one, because I'm having some difficulty verifying this online. I remember elder family members referencing this and I recall something else too, but it is a vague memory of a documentary I recall seeing many years ago. In any case, for the sake of the story, let's assume both points are true. In this world, Outlaw country is a large region of land that was owned by several other countries. This land, rich in resources and vastly underpopulated, this place was prime real estate for colonial powers. Here are the countries that had territorial stakes in the region currently known as Outlaw Country: -Federal Union -Russo Confederacy -Nienpon -United Anglica -(La République) Francia -Vereinigtes Deutschland (Unified Germany)* -Brabantia (aka Belgium)** Once World War I ended and the explosion of Super Predators happened, all Europan countries had lost all claims on this territory, as it was impossible for returning ships to safely bring back extracted resources. That left the Federal Union, Nienpon, and the Russo-Confederacy, and even they had their difficulties with land and aquatic Super Predators. Ultimately, those three countries would abandon the territory and their holdings in the area. Land, infrastructure, materials, everything...abandoned...and available to those who were willing to take risks... With these important territories now under Super Predator control, some enterprising individuals saw an opportunity to gain territory with precious resources. These individuals would raise armies and take the land for themselves. This would only enrage the powers that previously held territory in this resource-rich region of the world. Those that previously held territories there would become furious when word of private armies retaking the areas they previously held and built upon. In the minds of these world leaders, these enterprising individuals and their private armies were “...nothing but bandits! Bandits that want to make their own country...A COUNTRY OF OUTLAWS AND CRIMINALS!” Now, the people of Outlaw Country initially hated and loathed the terms “Bandits” and “Outlaw Country.” In their minds, all they did was clear out territory that was abandoned...and they were willing to spend the blood and wealth to retake the land from the Super Predators. “We put in the hard work, so we're entitled to the rewards! Why would WE clear out the territory, only to give it back to the countries that abandoned the land?” is the mindset of most Outlaw Country residents. As time would pass, the leaders and peoples of Outlaw Country would later take glee and pride in the impotent rage of the previous inhabitants. So much so, they voluntarily adopted the pejoratives. The faction leaders would joke and talk about their strategic meetings as “Bandit Brunches.” The people of Outlaw Country would joke “You call us bandits, yet your government officials vacation at mountain resorts owned and operated by one of the 'Bandit Faction Leaders?!?' They are so brave to spend their time at a luxury resort...that is supposedly owned and surrounded by thieves and murderers! 🤣🤣🤣🤣" It was initially a sore point for the people of Outlaw Country, but over time they came to enjoy and even adopt the once pejorative language, because despite the language used, they still hold the territory and they remain free from the control of those outside their borders. *which held territories in Outlaw Country prior to World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, and the Reichstag Fire in 1933. After the coup and brief civil war, the socialist and anarchist coalition founded the Deutscher Volksstaat and released all claims over Outlaw Country territories they previously held) **I'm Currently playing around with the idea that World War I was not started by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, but rather the assassination of the Brabantian King Leopold II and his family, while they were traveling from Congo to Angola. Word of the Brabantian cruelty in Congo was known throughout the African continent. The Free African Independence Movement received intelligence of a royal convoy that would be traveling from Congo to Angola. This would be Leopold II's convoy and the Free African Independence Movement saw an opportunity to strike colonial powers and instil hopes of freedom and emancipation within the African peoples. Well...it worked a little too well. The remaining power in Brabantia was livid with Portugal (I don't have an alternate name for them yet) and they would later fight, which would evolve into World War I. Now, those of you who studied your history know that the the real Leopold II dies before WWI...well, since this is a fictional story, we can always play around with the number until we make it fit. That's some of the fun of making Historical Fiction: If the dates don't work, make them work by changing them! 😁