Summary of "The Secrets of the Ashlands [Kenshi Lore]"

The Secrets of the Ashlands [Kenshi Lore] - Summary

Storyline and Lore

The Ashlands is a harsh, toxic, and desolate zone in the world of Kenshi, filled with ash and poisonous clouds that make survival extremely difficult. This area was once part of the First Empire, a vast human civilization on the moon of Kenshi, known for its advanced technology and monumental structures—now in ruins.

Key points about the lore include:

A colossal object resembling a space station or spaceship crashed, possibly causing the ash covering the land.
The First Empire created giant war machines called Behemoths and engineered skeletons (robotic beings).
After a devastating war, the skeletons rebelled due to the Empire’s cruelty, nearly wiping out humans.
A surviving Behemoth saved the humans, leading to the rise of the Second Empire, founded by a skeleton named Catlon, who sought peace and cooperation between humans and skeletons.
The Second Empire eventually fell into ruin, likely due to internal conflict, famine, rebellion, and sabotage, resulting in the current state of the Ashlands.
The skeletons’ leadership fractured; Catlon lost control, and his loyalists scattered across domes around the Ashlands.
The skeletons were involved in dark deeds such as imprisoning children, fueling hatred and propaganda from factions like the Holy Nation.
The Empire’s downfall was accelerated by famine, internal strife, and harsh crackdowns on cultists (likely the Holy Nation), escalating violence and chaos.

Gameplay Highlights and Zone Features

The Ashlands is the richest but most dangerous zone in Kenshi, filled with valuable treasures from the past. Key gameplay elements include:

Toxic gas clouds require players to use a fog mask to survive.
A colossal hostile creature called the Cleanser Unit roams the area, attacking trespassers but also playing a role in cleansing toxic fallout.
The Cleanser Unit is the only reliable source for harvesting valuable IE cores.
Iron spiders, deadly robotic enemies created by the Skeleton Legion, pose a major threat capable of destroying player squads quickly.
The Skeleton Legion inhabits the Ashlands with varied equipment and weaponry, including crossbows for scouts.

Key Locations and Enemies

There are six domes controlled by Catlon’s loyalists, each led by a notable skeleton with unique lore:

Dome 1: Head of Agriculture, burdened by guilt over the Empire’s fall.
Dome 2: Renobot, a morally void bot who assisted in child imprisonments.
Dome 3: General Young, leader of the Hydraulic Knights, who fought to protect the Empire but became embroiled in internal conflict.
Dome 4: General Hats 12, head of the Empire police, known for harsh crackdowns on cultists (likely the Holy Nation).
Two additional domes related to Catlon’s exile, housing his great leader and his headless thralls who aid in battle.

Strategies and Tips

Avoid encounters with iron spiders due to their overwhelming attack power.
Use fog masks to protect against poisonous clouds.
When fighting in Catlon’s exile domes, take out thralls first to make the boss fight easier.
The Cleanser Unit, while hostile, is a valuable target for IE cores.
Exploration of the Ashlands should be done cautiously, sticking to safer surrounding areas if unprepared.

Featured Gamers / Sources

Voice by Paga Nacho (credited for the tech hunter voice at the start)
Channel creator (unnamed) who presents lore and theories about Kenshi and the Ashlands

This video combines deep lore exploration with practical gameplay advice for surviving and understanding the Ashlands in Kenshi.