With the launch of CyberSlums rushing in on me, I have been busily writing "fluff" to fill out the background of the World the rules are set in. Remember if you want to help get CyberSlums off the ground and New Evolution Games' first model sculpted by Jason Weibe, visit our Kickstarter page
HERE. Just thought I'd give you all a peek at the World history. Hope you all enjoy. Comments are welcome.
The World as We Know It
Times of War
In the beginning, there was war.
Man fought Man, Orcs fought man, Elves fought Orcs, and Dwarves fought Elves. Each fought for their own reasons: land, glory, honor, gold. Many died and the dogs of war spread across the world fanning the flames. Kingdoms, Tribes, Shogonates, Empires, and Guilds rose and fell, rebuilding over the ashes of the last.
This cycle continued unabated for hundreds of years, until the coming of the Dragons. They swept out of the North, devouring Dwarf gold, igniting Human fields, razing the Elven forests, scattering the Orc Tribes. A man would arise, a king among kings, who united the races under a single banner. Man and Orc waged war upon Dragons with Dwarf axes and Elvish steel, fighting from the backs of clockwork beast built by Gnomish hands. The tide turned, the rain of fire ceased and peace descended upon the World.
An Age of Reason spread across the lands. The races shared freely amongst one another; Dwarven forged worked Elven steel to build Gnomish technology. The lands of Man fostered trade among the peoples; settlements became cities where the races lived in peace. Soon, nations rose, ruled by governments instead of Kings and spread their influence throughout the land. A Revolution took hold, not as a time of rebellion but a time of discovery. Industry took hold and ushered in a new age of technology. Peace reigned, but peace is fragile and easily broken. Soon, war loomed on the horizon.
The First World War
Orc nations, spurred by developing technologies, looked to the Halfling ancestral lands to further their progress. When offers of allegiance were declined, the Orcs invaded, bringing war back to the World. The invention of gunpowder awakened a new breed of warfare where muskets and cannons sounded across the battlefield. Orc formations were harried by Halfling snipers from the safety of wood lines, a tactic they are still know for today. In response, the Orcs burned the wood, drawing the Elves into the combat. Dwarves with their Ogre allies believed that the dispute lay between the Halflings and Orcs alone and moved against the Elves. After years of bitter, brutal combat, the Human President entered the fight facing all others and through sheer force of numbers, the Humans were able to bring an end to the fighting. The Elves were the last race to negotiate surrender.
An uneasy peace once again descended upon the World. Human diplomats were sent to all the Nations to ensure they complied with sanctions imposed by the Human Government. Due to the bitter fighting by the Elves, much of their lands were divided up amongst the other races, leaving only their ancestral lands of Toshi Erufu remained intact.
The Second World War
Peace once again was fleeting and treachery lead to the Second World War. Elves, feeling disgraced by the losses suffered during the First World War, ventured into the forbidden North and sought out the World's greatest enemies, the Dragons. Having little, the Elves bartered with the promise of conquest, offering up Dwarven gold, human slaves, asking only for the annihilation of the Orcs. Years were spent training in secret, sending their Samurai warriors far into the Northern wastes learning to ride the horrific beasts while Elvish wizards studied ancient magics long thought forgotten. Once thought to be little more than dumb beasts, the World would soon discover the cunning and magic possessed by the Dragons.
Nearly 100 years after the end of the First World War, the veil of diplomacy was lifted and the Elves moved to reclaim their lost lands. As the Humans and other races moved to stop them, the Dragons descended from the North. War raged across the World, cities and nations burned from the assault. The Elvish people ultimately saved the World by standing against their own government in protest of their alliance with the Dragons. With the help of Elvish dissenters, Human, Orc, and Dwarf soldiers were placed near the heart of the Dragon's realm, the Hatchery. Slaughtering the eggs, the Soldiers struck a debilitating blow to the Dragons. The Samurai caste was dishonored and disbanded.
The Hunting
With the Dragon's realm conquered, the races set out on what became known as the Hunting. Man, Orc, Elf, Dwarf, and Halfling set out to ensure that the Dragons would never again rise against the World. Elite teams of Dragon hunters armed with the most advanced weapons and equipment searched the North and destroyed any Dragon they came across.
The extinction of the Dragons came with the death of the largest most fearful of them, Vlad the Ancient. Although the battle began in the North, the beast took flight and rampaged through several nations, including the Human Capital, New Yorkshire. Hundreds of Soldiers, civilians, and professional Dragon hunters gave their lives to see the end of the Dragon menace. A period of great rejoicing was accompanied by a period of great mourning.
Rise of the Corporations
The failure of the Nation's governments to protect their people led to anger and mistrust of the existing governments. Riots, looting, and discourse raged across the World. Governments lost control and Nations began to collapse. In their stead, Corporations began to rise offering the people security. This allowed for the Elves to redeem themselves as their largest Corporation, Rising Sun Technologies, quickly bought numerous smaller Corporations as well as substantial areas of numerous former national Capitals. Peace returned as the world relied on the Corporations to provide for their needs although crime quickly rose as the Corporations looked to their wealthiest contributors most favorably.
Rise of the Slums
Open war was quickly outlawed by the collective of Corporations with an uneasy agreement between them that should one wage open war against another, the rest would strike quickly to destroy the transgressor. Subterfuge and covert operations rule the day. No longer is war waged on the World's battlefields, instead war is waged in the Slums, where Corporations vie for control of assets and influence.
Welcome, Guest. Please 
April 28, 2024, 10:38:59 PM
June 15, 2009, 09:49:30 PM
