Mikael Walker wanders the Scorched Wastes along with his daughter, Lena. They scavenge through abandoned towns looking for food and supplies while avoiding threats like raiders and cannibals. The Walkers live off what little resources they find until eventually finding shelter inside one of the many ruins littering the wasteland. They're resourceful survivors, though Lena sometimes complains about their lifestyle. As time passes, Mikael begins to believe there might still be hope after all.

Lena Walker is Mikael's only child. Born to a mother who died giving birth to her, Lena grew up alone with her father. She idolizes Mikael and wants nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. At eight years old, Lena has had little contact with anyone except her father, due to their nomadic lifestyle. As such, the girl has grown up with little to no inhibitions and no sense of modesty. Though she may have been raised as a normal kid by most standards, Lena was never taught any manners or social graces due to her lack of contact with anyone, which makes it difficult for her when she does need to interact with others outside her family unit. Her lack of inhibitions makes her prone to acts of impropriety that would normally make an adult blush profusely but don't bother Lena at all.

The scorched wastes stretch over several hundred miles, covering much of what was once southern California. It consists mostly of dry land, but small pockets of vegetation can be found among the dunes. Scattered throughout the wasteland lie various city ruins and abandoned buildings. These are inhabited by a wide variety of creatures including mutated humans, mutants with animalistic features. The temperature is very hot year round, reaching up to 120 degrees during the summer months. During this time, it's common for sandstorms to occur which block out any sunlight. Taking shelter in a ruined building during such a storm is the best chance of survival.

A Psychonaught is a raider who pumps their body full of drugs and battle stimulants on a near constant basis. They have specifically designed backpacks that pump the chemicals directly into their bloodstream. These packs allow them to operate far above normal limits; however, many become addicted to the drug themselves after prolonged use. Many Psychonaughts find themselves unable to function without regular doses of the drug, leading them down a path towards self destruction.