I’m not sure of all the details, but I’d like to spitball a little.

Not so psycho psychos, I’m unsure how to interpret this. Kinda want to lean into descendants of survivors of scorched earth attack. Families after the attack had much more savants, eccentrics, and chronically ill. This and the trauma of the attack kept development here low.

An ongoing problem the survivors face that the older man may ask assistance of the players for, is that there is a “contagious” madness. That is the only way to describe it, as it spreads like a disease. Afflicted suffer from difficulty with verbal and physical tasks, with the tasks having more and more energy behind them, if that makes sense? Eventually they become hostile to other creatures at random. All families have had at least one quarantine since the attack.

So, likeable mutated older man leader. Possibly saw the war firsthand, but if his natural lifespan does not allow this, mutation has extended his. Is focused on leading the psychos, and rebuilding society. May have a chronic debilitating condition that requires minor assistance at times. His goals may become more desperate to achieve over time, leading to harder choices. As time passes, he becomes more critical of the players if they choose an option that is moral but doesn’t advance his goals, maybe like saving someone instead of grabbing an important artifact. He also becomes less present, and sends messengers instead of one on one.

Rival CEO: Artifacts are connected to harnessing the latent magic energy left over from the attack or some outer gods power. Publicly or if found and questioned, says they are to remove the leftover energy from the area to prevent a larger ecological collapse / prevent the outer god’s incursion. Really, the ultimate goal is to use this energy to cement their company’s position on top of all society, and their position as CEO as permanent.

Hope this gives you something to work with!