Oneshot: The Dominion had been defeated, but the urgoth were emerging as a threat. In theory, this should have led to a surge of recruitment for the Sentinels and Freelancers. Instead, the opposite had happened. And Tassyn just couldn't understand why.

Anthem's in-game 'fight and flight' experience is fantastic, but I find the world building and supporting content a bit underwhelming. 'Whistle & Boom' is an ongoing serial that introduces a new point of view, with (hopefully) more thoughtful and nuanced takes on the world Bioware and EA have given us.

Inspired by glimpses of the visions of what Anthem might have become once - a captured moment of the night before a new Ranger goes beyond the walls.

Oneshot: Everyone carried scars. Some were just better at hiding them than others.

Oneshot: One way or another, all new Sentinel recruits were shown the ropes...

Oneshot: Brutes were well named. The creatures that bore the namesake. And the creatures that enslaved them.

Oneshot: "I have seen the power of the Anthem destroy entire civilizations. For generations our people struggled just to survive. The Javelins allowed us to fight back the chaos. Walls protected our families. Loved ones. But the Anthem still rages, and walls can only do so much. But with the power of the Anthem at my fingertips, I will end all this needless suffering."

Oneshot: Men weren't machines...normally. But then, the Monitor wasn't normal. And neither was Brin.

Oneshot: The Outlaws were those who lived outside the kingdoms of Man. But left to operate in the wild without any oversight, how different were the Freelancers?

Oneshot: Some said that music was the universal language. Some said that the Anthem of Creation bound and penetrated all. But even if both was claims were true, it meant nothing to the Dominion.

Oneshot: Javelins could take to the skies of their world. But they had a limit as to how far they could reach.

Oneshot: The Dominion, true to its namesake, sought to dominate. The Freelancers, true to their creed, sought to oppose them. But even if they triumphed, what kind of salvation could the world offer?

Poem: The Freelancers were in a constant battle with their foes beyond the Wall. But in the wilderness, moments of serenity could be found.