Why a Pittsburgh Omegaverse?

It’s always a good idea, in my opinion, to ask yourself why you chose a location. I could say we chose a Pittsburgh Omegaverse because it’s where I live. It’s easy to pick out locations and get the vibe of places when I can go there myself. But … I’ve lived lots of places. I could choose from a few cities whose vibes I know.

I could do what I see a lot of Omegaverse authors do – create completely alternate worlds. I’ve read alternate Earths with cities created whole-cloth, having the feel of places we know, but their own identities (like Gotham or Metropolis in DC Comics). I’ve read ones set in fantasy settings or future dystopias where location no longer matters because it’s either ruined or fundamentally changed. We wanted our world to be … somewhat familiar. While our Pittsburgh is fully an alternate universe, it shares the same locations with the real city and enough of its history to feel grounded and authentic.

The Appeal of the Steel City

I felt something about Pittsburgh the moment that I moved here. Maybe it’s how the rivers frame the city. Maybe it’s climbing up the ridge over the South Shore and looking down to see the river, the city, and the bridges spread out below. It could be the view of the city as you approach it from 28, and you see just how incredibly huge the Steel Tower really is. Or, it could be driving up Forbes Avenue toward the Carnegie Museum, and seeing the towering beauty of the Cathedral of Learning, like a monolith to knowledge.

The city has a certain charm to it. Part of that comes from the smaller boroughs that have become part of the city, each one feeling at once distinct and part of the whole. The architecture here is absolutely breathtaking. Sometimes, I take certain routes just so I can see a specific building or catch the city from a certain angle. Because of the high hills and ridges, the city is full of these vantage points that when you find them, you want to go back. You want to look.

It’s like that Alpha that you keep wanting to catch glimpses of. Maybe catch his scent.

The City, The Packs, and the Fae

It’s not hard to imagine that a place like this, in an alternate reality, could have some dramatic push and pull. In the same way the French and British fought for control of the rivers, it’s easy to imagine the Fae and Wolves having that same kind of conflict. They’re not trading furs anymore. Instead, they’re trading in something far more important – industry, education, science, and the arts. The Fae and the Wolves both have their hands in all four of them, and even within those two factions, well – Wolf Packs and Fae Houses are each known to fight among themselves for influence and control.

In the alternate universe of Three Rivers Claimed, the Packs take advantage of the geography of Pittsburgh to help them establish territorial claims. The South Shore Pack, who take in Kimber and her family, hold the South Side Flats, up over Mt. Oliver, and down to 51. That part of the city holds deep historical roots and strong industry ties. Meanwhile, one of their major rivals, the Allegheny Pack, holds East and West Allegheny. They push into the North Shore and Chateau, but have major pushback from Fae and the Ridgeview Pack, both of whom have strong claims to parts of North Shore.

While the Ridgeview Pack territory is outside the city itself, Ridgeview holds significant influence in downtown Pittsburgh as well as parts of the North Shore. Additionally, Ridgeview has always had a strong presence in the art community – which has called into question their true loyalties on more than one occasion. This is much to the chagrin of the Assembly, who want to either pull the Pack into the city for tighter control, or push them out of the city altogether.

Unfortunately for the Elder Council, Ridgeview is one of the oldest established Packs in Pittsburgh, and their allies are just as old and just as established.

The Mysteries of the Pittsburgh Omegaverse

The real-world history and vibe of Pittsburgh are only one part of creating the alternate Pittsburgh. As Kimber begins her personal journey to find her place in the world, she begins to wonder just what that world really is. The world looks like a reimagining of our world, just – if everyone was a Wolf-shifter instead of merely human. However, Kimber learns that the history she’s been taught isn’t all there is to her world. There’s something darker underneath. While we won’t be casting that undercurrent into the light of day in Three Rivers Claimed, it still shapes almost every part of Kimber’s story and the choices she has to make.