The Planet Gunsmoke
A scorched world where peace is a myth and every sunrise brings new danger.
Gunsmoke is a desolate, arid planet located in the distant reaches of space, known simply as Gunsmoke due to its perpetual lack of rain and harsh survival conditions. Once a thriving world, it was devastated centuries ago when humans destroyed the Plants, an advanced alien species that maintained the planet's ecosystem, leaving behind only dust, ruins, and scattered settlements struggling against the elements. The planet serves as the primary stage for the adventures of Vash the Stampede and his companions, acting as a crucible where themes of pacifism, vengeance, and redemption are tested. Its vast landscapes range from endless deserts to crumbling cities like City 7, all under the watchful eyes of bounty hunters roaming the Badlands, a treacherous geographical region defined by its unforgiving wastelands.
- Key Locations
- City 7, The Badlands, Remnant Ruins
- Primary Threat
- Extreme Aridity, Bounty Hunters, Knives Stencil
Lore & Background
The history of Gunsmoke is shrouded in the mists of time, but it is known that the planet was once home to a highly advanced civilization coexisting with the Plants. This society fell victim to a catastrophic conflict centuries ago when humans turned against the Plants, destroying them and stripping the world of its moisture in the process. The resulting cataclysm turned lush lands into a sea of sand, leaving survivors to eke out a meager existence in the ruins. In the aftermath, society fractured into isolated communities, many of which are ruled by fear or greed. Bounty hunters roam the wastes, chasing legends like Vash the Stampede for massive rewards, while religious cults and secret organizations plot in the shadows. The planet is a living graveyard of forgotten technology, where ancient weapons still function and the ghosts of the past haunt the dunes, waiting for history to repeat itself.
In Their Own Story
The twin suns beat down on the endless expanse of red dust, turning the air into a shimmering haze that distorts the horizon. A lone figure in a long coat trudges forward, his boots kicking up clouds of ochre with every step. The silence is absolute, broken only by the distant whine of a sandstorm gathering in the distance. He pauses at the edge of a crumbling ruin, where the skeletal remains of a forgotten city jut from the ground like broken teeth. Somewhere out there, a bounty hunter waits, and somewhere else, a miracle might just be hiding beneath the sand.
Reader's Guide
Gunsmoke is defined by its extreme environmental hostility, forcing all life to adapt or perish. The planet's surface is almost entirely desert, dotted with isolated towns that rely on scavenged water and ancient tech. The society here is a mix of rugged individualism and desperate communal survival. Law enforcement is often replaced by bounty hunters who operate outside the law, chasing targets for massive financial rewards. This creates a chaotic environment where trust is scarce. At the heart of Gunsmoke's lore lies the mystery of its destruction and the presence of the Knives. These elements drive the narrative forward, challenging characters to choose between violence and peace in a world that seems designed to break them.
Did You Know?
- Gunsmoke is not canonically known as the 'Planet of Tears'; it is simply called Gunsmoke.
- Knives Stencil is Vash's twin brother and a clone, while the actual aliens responsible for the planet's original ecosystem are known as the Plants.
- The Badlands refers to the vast desert wasteland region of the planet, not an organized group or faction.
More in Lore & History
Elsewhere in the Trigun universe
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