Before the war, the small community around Helder’s Mine was responsible for much of the crystite production in the region. Unfortunately when the Arclight crashed and the world went to hell, Helder’s Mine was one of the first places to be abandoned. As I approach the main gates, the oriental dragons adorning the top of the gate cast an ominous shadow against the fluorescent glow of the Melding wall. As I walk towards the abandoned mine, I pass by two powered-down anti-personnel turrets– likely used by the mine owners to keep potential poachers away.
Entering the mine, I find myself in a massive courtyard. More anti-personnel turrets rest with their barrels pointed towards the ground, seemingly waiting for somebody to come along and flip the switch to bring them back online. Heavy machinery sits idle away from their garages, left by their operators when the order came to leave the mine. Tattered cloth hangs from over the doorways, acting as makeshift awnings for the small residential dwelling that used to house the miners. Now, however, the building only serves as a ghostly reminder of what life used to be like here.
