Meteor Crater

Lore & Background

Long before the current era of bounties and outlaws, a great vessel crashed into Gunsmoke's surface, leaving behind this immense depression. It is believed that this crash delivered Vash and Knives to the planet, separating them from their home world which was subsequently destroyed or lost to time. The crater contains remnants of advanced technology that predate human civilization on Gunsmoke. Over the decades, the site has become a mythic location whispered about in saloons and desert towns. Some claim it holds the secrets to immortality, while others fear it as a cursed ground where the dead return. In truth, it is a graveyard of a lost culture, buried beneath sand and silence, waiting for those brave or foolish enough to dig into its depths. The energy signatures emanating from the crater are said to be unstable, causing strange phenomena in the surrounding desert. This makes it dangerous not only due to environmental hazards but also because various factions seek to control the alien artifacts scattered within the debris field.

In Their Own Story

Dust swirled around his boots as he stood on the rim, looking down into the abyss of the Meteor Crater. The sun beat down relentlessly, turning the jagged rocks below into a sea of shadows and heat haze. He adjusted his goggles, feeling the familiar hum of strange energy vibrating through the soles of his shoes. Somewhere in that pit lay the answer to why he was hunted across half the continent, buried under tons of rock and forgotten history.

Reader's Guide

The Meteor Crater dominates a vast stretch of Gunsmoke's arid wasteland, characterized by jagged basalt ridges and deep fissures radiating from the central impact point. Unlike nearby settlements, this region lacks water sources or vegetation, making it a natural barrier for travelers. The ground is littered with scorched rock and strange metallic debris that defies local technology. Locals often avoid the crater due to superstitions about cursed lands and dangerous energy readings. While some treasure hunters seek fragments of the fallen vessel, most respect it as a graveyard for ancient history. The Knights or bounty agencies occasionally patrol the perimeter to prevent unauthorized excavation of sensitive alien artifacts. Thematically, this setting reflects the series' core conflict between nature and technology. It serves as a physical reminder of how civilization can be erased by cosmic events. Survivors must navigate its dangers not just for resources, but to understand the origins of their world's suffering and hope.

Did You Know?

• The crater is the primary landing site associated with Vash and Knives' arrival on Gunsmoke.
• Local legends claim the ground here glows faintly at night due to residual alien energy.
• It serves as a key location for understanding the history of the Plants race.
• Most maps mark this area as 'No Man's Land' due to environmental hazards.