Fireflies
Overview
The Fireflies are a revolutionary group who oppose the banditry and lawlessness of Chernarus. Their long term mission is to bring an end to the apocalypse and rebuild a functioning democratic civilization. They fight for justice, inspiring bravery and hope in those who fight alongside them. The group initially began on May 11th 2020, and after a 5 month disappearance reformed on March 3rd 2022. The Fireflies can still be found around every corner today, ready and willing to avenge the innocent.
Alignment
The Fireflies are considered to be Lawful Good. Since their inception they have walked the line of more or less lawful behaviour. In its earlier days the group was far more uncompromising as opposed to their more pragmatic attitude later on. Their goals and values, however, have always remained purely good; striving for a better future, and protecting the innocent.
Appearance
The Fireflies often wear a combination of civilian clothing with tactical equipment, providing a friendly appearance while maintaining the ability to be well equipped in a fight. They can also be identified by their yellow armbands, which sometimes have black firefly symbols painted on them.
Origins
The Fireflies were created by founder and leader Harry Churches on May 11th 2020. After living with the Black Cross, Harry Churches created the Fireflies with a vision for the future, concluding that civilised society could only return if people are willing to fight for it. With the original five members Grisha, Bricks, Lynx, Matt and Jacob being inspired by that vision, the Fireflies made Pusta their home and began their mission for a brighter tomorrow.
Territory
The Fireflies hold a historic claim in the southeast, exerting a dominant presence over Elektrozavodsk and Pusta especially. These places are their home, though the group has been known to become nomadic to allow for more versatility in wartime.
Pusta
Pusta on the surface is a small ordinary farm town, however it has for a long time been where the Fireflies have called home. The Fireflies saw an advantage to living in the quiet town, as it made the perfect staging location to build up their forces in their early days and help any desperate people on the coast.
Elektrozavodsk
Being the nearest city to Pusta and a great place to plan loot routes, the Fireflies have held a territory claim over the city of Elektrozavodsk on and off. The Fireflies claimed the town with the goal of quelling the chaos of the coastal city, and potentially making it a safe place to one day set up a community.
Goals
The Fireflies exist primarily to make the world a safer and better place, and as a result the group has many goals which they believe will help them accomplish their mission.
The Fireflies have the following main objectives:
- To deal out swift and fair punishments to the criminals of Chernarus.
- To bring justice and reparations to those wronged by the criminals of Chernarus.
- To insight revolution against the oppressive, belligerent, & antagonistic factions of Chernarus.
- To protect and support others who help innocents and combat banditry.
Values
The Fireflies are a group founded on the principles of justice, bravery and hope, as a result the values that would make a good Firefly reflect this.
The Fireflies value the following:
- The bravery to stand up for others in danger and not turning a blind eye.
- The hope and vision for a better and safer Chernarus.
- The ability to discern right from wrong.
- The willingness to die for your morals.
History
After the Fireflies were founded and made Pusta their home they would meet their first allies and neighbours, a group known as Torchwood. The Fireflies and Torchwood initially fought on the same side, having mutual enemies in some small-time bandit groups. After their enemies had been done away with however, the Torchwood & Fireflies alliance would soon follow.
On August 3rd 2020, Cain the Messiah - the leader of Torchwood - and other members arrived at the Fireflies compound with a child in handcuffs, and offered to sell the child for a price while only one firefly recruit by the name of Matt was on duty. There are many rumours and contradicting stories as to what happened next but the prevailing story is that Matt, the one day second-in-command of the Fireflies, gunned down all of the Torchwood members and freed the girl in handcuffs. After this incident, Torchwood tore through the Fireflies compound the next day and left demands for Harry Churches’ cooperation in the execution of Matt. Harry and the Fireflies would refuse these demands however, believing Matt had done the right thing. This led to a vicious war between the two groups, during which the Fireflies became briefly nomadic and many lives were cut short on both sides.
Eventually, Dark as Midnight would interrupt the conflict by burning down the Mogilevka church in which Torchwood resided. Without a safe home, Cain and his group went on the run. In the coming months, the Fireflies would hunt down any Torchwood members in an attempt to kill Cain so that Matt’s life would no longer be at risk. During this period, the Fireflies discovered where Torchwood had taken refuge and massacred the Torchwood members who were home in a surprise attack - leaving a note calling for Cain's arrest. Although a tenuous truce was brokered in a diplomatic meeting hosted by the Black Cross, it would not be the last of the fighting between the two groups.
A month after the truce was brokered, the Black Cross, at the time mutual friends of the Fireflies and Torchwood would be attacked by Dark as Midnight. In response to this the Fireflies decided to cut off DAMN on their way back to Gorka. Torchwood, having heard of the plan, decided to agree to work together to avenge their friends at the aid station. Though the raid was not a complete success, the two groups were able to leave with reparations for the stolen items from the Black Cross, and Cain and Matt were able to have a brief conversation during the fighting in which the two showed mutual respect for each other and put their personal rivalry to rest.
About a year after the war, in summer of 2021 Harry Churches had noticed general morale was low among the people of Chernarus. Many friends both inside the Fireflies and out were expressing a feeling of hopelessness. It was soon after this that Harry delivered a famous speech known as the “Always Hope” speech. This speech can be found as a tape around Chernarus, and carries the message that no matter who you are and what you’ve done, it is never too late to do the right thing, and that together one day the people will restore civilization.
It was around this time that a young boy named Bobby River, a former Firefly and son-like figure to Harry Churches who had left for Torchwood, arrived in Pusta. Soon after he arrived he was once again on good terms with the Fireflies after a conversation with Harry Churches. Bobby then left Pusta to attempt to bridge another gap between him and Torchwood which had come about since he’d left their group also, however Torchwood were not as forgiving and the Warden ordered the child to be shot in the chest.
Bobby came to the Fireflies for help, who were able to remove the bullet and save his life thanks to some skillful surgery. The Warden’s actions enraged Harry, reigniting the rivalry between Torchwood and the Fireflies when he threatened Torchwood over what they’d done. After this Cain and the rest of Torchwood arrived at the gates of Pusta demanding that Harry Churches revoke his threat, but after refusing to do so, and hours of arguing, eventually Torchwood stormed the compound and in the ensuing battle Acolyte Peter was killed by Harry Churches. While Torchwood did succeed in taking the Firefly compound, it was at a high price due to Peter’s death.
Some time later in the winter of 2021 Harry Churches left the Fireflies and Chernarus, fleeing to Takistan. Without his leadership the faction dissolved, with many members of the faction at the time dispersing across all of Chernarus. In early 2022, however, Harry returned from the desert after learning of Esther’s death and reformed the Fireflies on a quest for revenge against the groups involved. The subsequent correlation between his personal crusade and the new decisions and policies of the Fireflies being far more brutal and calculated was no coincidence.
The Fireflies spent nearly a year from March 3rd, 2022, quietly regaining power. Nomadic and shadowy, they covertly attacked their enemies. After building up their strength, the Fireflies began fighting to retake Pusta from the Pirates of Pusta. The Fireflies captured their leader, Captain Biscuits, in a final battle on July 22nd, 2023.
In September 2023, the Fireflies joined a growing conflict against the Masquerade, a roaming band of mime themed psychopaths and raiders. Many groups in South Zagoria were already struggling with them, and through the diplomatic efforts of a survivor named Ego, several factions formed what became the Upfront Coalition. The Coalition brought together four uneasy partners: The Village, the Wolves of Selene, the Boys of Brena, and the Fireflies.
This war was where Pete Roberts, a member of the Fireflies, distinguished himself, catching Harry's eye. He became the new right hand of the group soon after. Despite internal tensions, the Coalition united against the Masquerade and succeeded in eradicating them, and driving the surviving members from Chernarus by the end of the year. The Coalition dissolved immediately after its victory.
On February 13th, 2024, Harry executed the defeated Captain Biscuits in a public event held by the Fireflies. The Forsaken Loyalists attacked, attempting to free the Captain, but were driven off. That same day, Firefly Carter apprehended Oz, leader of the Wizards, and transferred him to Bobs of the Black Sheep, who executed Oz in Pusta.
That same month, tensions arose between the Fireflies and the Lost Legion, a communist faction to the north, after the Fireflies found out the Legion had constructed an outpost between the settlements of Mogilevka and Pusta, within an area the Fireflies considered their territory. A meeting between the groups’ leaders failed to resolve the disagreement, with the Legion disputing that the structure lay within Firefly land, and claiming that it was benign. Although both sides agreed that the outpost could remain so long as it did not expand, relations remained strained in the following weeks.
The situation escalated in April of 2024, when Firefly Abe was shot during a diplomatic visit to the Lost Legion’s compound. The Fireflies accused the Legion’s leader of assaulting Abe during a discussion without provocation. In response, the Fireflies seized the disputed outpost, reporting that it contained weapons, ammunition, and other equipment in contrast to earlier Legion statements. The incident resulted in a complete breakdown of relations, with the Fireflies declaring the site under their permanent control and issuing warnings of further action should hostilities continue in an announcement titled the “Lost Legion Portfolio” written by Harry Churches.
Shortly after a new threat emerged, a group named the Blackthorn Gang, led by Alastor Blackthorn. The gang were extortionist, and resorted to murder and brutality to coerce other communities of survivors into providing a steady stream of food and other supplies. Naturally this led to a war between the two groups. The war initially went very badly for Fireflies, with many Fireflies being captured and held hostage, notably Carter, who was dangled from the roof of an apartment building and held for ransom. A Firefly named Irish developed severe PTSD and guilt after leading a failed raid during the war. After this Harry and Irish became close friends, being able to relate to each others’ sense of loss and regret, the two would develop into a ruthless duo. Eventually, the group rallied, and delivered several heavy blows to the gang. As the war raged on over the following months a peace talk was attempted in April, however it ended in violence and any hope to end the war was gone.
In June of 2024, as retaliation for Oz’s death, Firefly Bart was captured and tortured by the Wizards. Tragically, this led to Bart's untimely death. The Wizards twisted Bart’s mind and brought him to Pusta. Bart didn’t even recognize the Fireflies as he mumbled nonsense before self immolating in front of them. Bart was buried at a pond to the west of Pusta, and the pond, which was called “Bart’s Pond” from then on, became the place where the Fireflies buried their fallen.
On 27th July 2024, the Fireflies confronted Mike Callahan, a former Blackthorn Gang member who had defected. Harry, having witnessed the pain and death caused by men like Mike, saw only danger in granting him any leniency. Mike’s refusal to surrender information on his former group enraged Harry, to him, it was the ultimate display of cowardice, a man choosing bonds of cruelty over accountability. The rest of the Fireflies, led by Pete Roberts, argued for a path of redemption, believing even a man like Mike could change. Harry could not reconcile this hope with the reality he had seen too often. Evil rarely surrendered, and mercy too often enabled it. The disagreement revealed a fundamental rift, Harry could no longer stand among those who believed hope alone could safeguard the innocent.
On 4th August 2024, Harry Churches resigned as leader of the Fireflies, leaving Pete Roberts to guide the group with a renewed focus on hope and redemption. Harry felt his hardened outlook and ruthless methods no longer fit that direction, so he walked away. Irish in particular struggled with his departure, beginning to hallucinate Harry and becoming increasingly unstable.
Due to the endless attacks by the Wizards and Blackthorn Gang, the Overlook, the Woodsmen and the Fireflies decided to create an alliance to defend the South-East. It was coined The Southern Shield, however this alliance did not last due to growing tensions between the Fireflies and the Woodsmen, after the latter had begun to work with groups like the Forsaken Loyalists. The Woodsmen announced their “Guns Down, Gloves Up” fight night event which took place on January 4th, 2025. Despite the expressed concerns of the Fireflies, the Woodsmen hired the Forsaken Loyalists as security and the relationship between the two allies quickly began to deteriorate.
After multiple failed attempts to convince the Woodsmen that hiring the biker gang as security would set a dangerous precedent, the event went forward as planned. While the Fireflies officially abstained from the event to demonstrate disapproval, Firefly Misha infiltrated the event undercover with a mission to get everyone on the radio while Pete Roberts broadcast a message condemning the event. What Misha saw inside was inexcusable to the Fireflies. Murder, cannibalism and robbery were reported, all under the Woodsmen’s roof. Given the previously good terms the two groups had been on, Pete Roberts was hesitant to declare war.
On January 7th, 2025, clowns from the Dark Carnival arrived in Pusta to kidnap a survivor. A Firefly named Ed stood his ground alone and outnumbered, protecting the survivor. As the lead clown pulled his gun, Harry Churches intervened from the shadows by firing a rifle shot that hit the clown in the head. A gunfight ensued, and the clowns were repelled. Thanks to the two the survivor escaped, and Harry vanished into the forest once more.
Talks continued with the Woodsmen in the hopes that they would take accountability for their mistakes. Relations would continue to spiral after a massacre at the Overlook which Gideon was directly responsible for by informing the Forsaken Loyalists of who was present at the community camp. The Woodsmen’s transgressions could no longer be ignored and Firefly Constable, Ed, immediately launched a portfolio to inform the public, titled the “Woodsmen Portfolio” in May of 2025. At this point, action had been taken but the Fireflies still refrained from a direct war, offering the Woodsmen a path toward peace instead.
Weeks after this, the Woodsmen made their move, launching an ambush on the Fireflies with help from the Dark Carnival in Chernogorsk. The Woodsmen’s attempt to kill all of the Fireflies in one fell swoop failed, but this attack finally led to a war between the two groups. A few days after this the Fireflies discovered something that would change their view of the Woodsmen forever. The Fireflies passed by Bart’s Pond to pay their respects and found his desecrated remains stuffed inside a trash bag. Wade of the Woodsmen personally signed a note inside the bag, threatening the Fireflies, and telling them not to leave garbage in their territory again.
During one fateful night, the group encountered Everett Reed, who had somehow survived the wounds he suffered during the Blackthorn raid on the previous incarnation of his group the Lost Legion. The man who returned, however, was markedly changed, and the group, now under his leadership, had rebranded itself as the Last Legion. The new group quickly became a disruptive presence in the South, driven by a fanatical vision to eradicate evil at any cost, even if innocents became collateral.
Reed and his Legion presented a compelling mirror to the Fireflies, frequently forcing them to reevaluate their own actions. Although they appeared to be indiscriminate killers at first glance, closer examination revealed a faction genuinely striving to shape a better world, albeit through twisted and uncompromising means. Pete Roberts, and Reed shared many conversations where they debated the merits and flaws of each other's philosophies. The tension between the groups culminated on 26th August 2025, after Firefly Santiago lost control and attempted to massacre several Legion members, including Reed, inside Hope’s Rest. The attack led to Firefly Juri’s capture, a public trial for Santiago, and a revision of the Fireflies’ rules of engagement to ensure this could never happen again. Santiago was found guilty of unreasonable use of force, disobeying a direct order, and remained under close watch. Juri remained a hostage of the Lost Legion for more than a week, but upon hearing Santiago’s verdict, Reed agreed to return Juri, handing him over the night after the trial. Ultimately, repeated raids against the Legion from their many enemies contributed to their collapse, bringing the conflict to an end.
The war between the Fireflies and the Woodsmen had dragged on for many months, with the Fireflies attacking the Woodsmen’s base. Eventually, the Woodsmen agreed to two of the Fireflies’ three demands: relinquishing Bart’s Pond and publicly denouncing the Forsaken Loyalists. The third demand was Wade's admission of what he’d done to Bart along with an apology, however this never came. Following this, a tense peace was found in September of 2025 between the Woodsmen and the Fireflies, with the exception of Wade. The Fireflies made it clear that should they catch Wade alone, they intend to execute him for his crimes.
Pete Roberts was patrolling the town of Solnichniy with other Fireflies on October 28th, when he and Santiago were ambushed and captured by the Forsaken Loyalists. An argument ensued between Vadim and Pete regarding their past encounters, personal history, and the longstanding tensions between their factions. Vadim sought to test Pete’s convictions, ultimately forcing a coercive scenario in which Pete was commanded to kill Santiago or himself. Pete refused, instead attempting to take his own life, prompting Vadim to shoot Santiago, leaving him for dead; however, he survived.
Vadim forced Pete to broadcast a final message over the radio before firing a volley of rounds into his body, framing the event as a punishment to the Fireflies for intervening in the clubs’ interests for too long. As they fled, Everett Reed, who had been in the area, heard the shots from Vadim's gun, and ran over. Finding Pete in critical condition he grabbed him and moved him to a secret location where he attempted to stabilize him as best as possible.
Reed attempted an improvised and desperate operation on Pete, while declining assistance from the Fireflies, who had been searching for Pete. Despite his catastrophic injuries and Reed’s limited medical capability, the operation stabilized Pete temporarily. Though the effort only brought him a brief reprieve, long enough to be moved to Pusta where he was met by most of the Fireflies, and Harry Churches who had come out of his self-imposed exile to assist the Fireflies during the crisis. Pete was assessed by Fireflies’ doctors, who concluded his wounds were fatal.
When doctors determined that Pete Roberts would not survive, his friends entered the surgical room to comfort him. Pete requested Harry’s pistol and, with assistance from Irish and Harry, was brought to Bart’s pond to deliver final words to his companions. After addressing several members of the group and urging the group not to succumb to vengeance, Pete used the pistol to end his life on November 1st 2025. Harry, along with Irish, witnessed the act. Following a brief gun salute, Harry retrieved Pete’s body, and returned it to Pusta for a proper funeral.
In the aftermath, some in the group became disillusioned with the ideals of hope and redemption that once shaped the Fireflies, while others held onto their principles even harder. Pete died a martyr and his legacy became central to the Fireflies ideology from then on. The group began a hunt for the Forsaken Loyalists and Vadim, some in hopes of bringing justice and others chasing after vengeance. It was a tumultuous time for the group but they proved their resilience and continued fighting for hope in Pete’s honor.
Notable Members
Harry Churches - The founder and current leader of the Fireflies and is considered by most to be a stubborn uncompromising man. The Fireflies under his leadership strive to protect the innocent and rid the world of all the corrupt immoral survivors. He is known as someone who stands up for the little guy against the oppressive factions of Chernarus, and for his speeches of hope to all of the country.
Matt - Matt was the second in command of the Fireflies for much of 2021. After joining the group, he quickly gained a reputation as the archetype of what a Firefly should be, garnering influence in the group after his impressive actions in the war against Torchwood. In late 2021 however, Matt discovered love and left the Fireflies to live a peaceful life outside of Chernarus, occasionally revealing himself in times of need to support his old friends. He has not been seen for some time.
Pete Roberts - Pete Roberts was Harry’s third right hand man, and the second leader of the Fireflies, who took over after Harry’s departure. He was a hopeful man, who led by example never confusing justice and revenge. Pete always made sure that the individuals serving under him understood that the way they fight was just as important as the reasons why. His death at the hands of the Forsaken Loyalists rocked the group, but his legacy lived on.
Irish - Irish is a long time member of the Fireflies, and through his time fighting in the Blackthorn war developed into a strong, yet slightly unstable, soldier for justice. Irish is very close with Harry Churches, and is a perfect example of a character who has been driven to increasing extremes by the world around him. Irish is known to suffer from hallucinations and PTSD, but is largely high functioning.
Carter R. Sturmin - Carter is a warrior from another land. He joined the Fireflies to seek a path of redemption, and to put his dark past behind him. Carter is the Fireflies’ most dangerous fighter, and is a ruthless tactician, serving as Pete’s right hand man. He often carries a melancholic aura about him, both due to the battles of his past that plague his mind, and his desire to keep those he cares about alive.
Bart - Firefly Bart was a jovial and chipper man, well known for cracking jokes, and generally being a kind soul. As he arrived in Chernarus he first met the Woodsmen while they were allies with the Fireflies. After they told him about the faction, Bart was inspired by their cause and joined the Fireflies. Bart became enraged by attacks from the Wizards, and set out alone to hunt them. This led to his capture, torture, and eventual death. A pond near Pusta, where Bart commonly fished, was given his namesake after his death.
Edwin Hughes - Ed is an officer in the Fireflies, serving as a Constable and is responsible for releasing several of the portfolios on enemies of the group. As an ex-police officer he was particularly suited to this job. Ed has a clear cut morality, and is happy to bear the weight of responsibility for doing difficult tasks when it’s the right thing to do. At his core, Ed is a man who holds onto the principle of justice no matter what.
Santiago - Being a darker member of the Fireflies, Santiago is not above giving into moments of rage and has little patience for criminals, often having to be calmed down by more level headed Fireflies. This is primarily due to all that he has seen and been a part of, having been captured alongside Pete when he was mortally wounded by the Loyalists, and witnessed many other tragedies, as is common for many members of the Fireflies.
Relationships
Torchwood - The history between the Fireflies and Torchwood begins at the group's conception, and has always been very up and down. The two groups have both fought together with respect, and against each other in bloody warfare. Their dynamic is perhaps one of the most unique in the current political landscape.
The Black Sheep - The Black Sheep were the Fireflies long time neighbours to the north. The two groups have had a friendly relationship for about as long as the Fireflies have existed. While the two have never officially been allies, they have fought skirmishes on the same side, and the Fireflies consider them to be some of the last wholly honest and good people left.
The Black Cross - The Black Cross are effectively the parent group of the Fireflies. They are the reason Harry Churches became a good man once more, and the history between the two is long standing. Although they are slow to agree on political policy, the Fireflies have a particular respect for the field medics and believe that they genuinely want to help people.
Overlook - Long time neighbours to the group’s north east the two groups have supported each other at various points in history. The Samaritan and Harry Churches were friends, and his death deeply impacted the Fireflies. Though the two groups are often on good terms, the Overlook’s neutrality has been the cause of tension between the two groups, preventing an official alliance from ever coming about.
Blackthorn Gang - Having been one of the Fireflies main rivals in recent years. The war between the Blackthorn gang and the Fireflies has been ongoing for quite some time. The gang under the leadership of Alastor Blackthorn demanded supplies for the Fireflies, most commonly pumpkins, and attempted to subjugate the group, but were unsuccessful. Relations remained hostile even after his death.
Wizards - The Wizards, also known as the Order of the Magi, have long been rivals of the Fireflies. The Black Sheep often had battles with them, and the Fireflies worked with the Sheep to help combat the group. After Oz’s death in Pusta, the Wizards dubbed the valley between the Guglovo and Pusta the "Valley of Death” and began harassing passerbys. Since then the two groups have remained enemies.
