Post by PHAROS on Oct 15, 2018 17:22:33 GMT -6
THE GLOAMING is a setting designed to cater to a variety of themes and genres ranging from horror to modern fantasy. It is meant to be adaptive which is why there are many grey areas when it comes to definitions and time but we are not without parameters. You will find in the information provided that while we allow a great variety of mythic and supernatural beings we have also ensured to minimize many of the pop-culture adaptations in order to appeal to the classic renditions.
"To most, the moment appeared as insignificant as the flutter of butterfly wing, but in 2011 it was an event that changed the fabric of reality. 'The Gloaming', for those that were aware, was a lasting darkness that enshrouded the world, paralyzing life and consciousness. Time stopped and when it resumed, the world was different.
Only two organizations (among a few others) are aware of the change that occurred—ICOR (The Institute of Cybernetic and Organic Research) and KRIUS, a dark international coalition that thrives in the bowels of humanity."
THE EVENT
The world was changed by 'The Gloaming'. An impending darkness, the twilight of our time. Whispers in the shadows, unexplained phenomena appearing and disappearing before our eyes... beyond our comprehension. Our collective refusal to believe had closed the door on that which could not be explained until only a few could see, and those that did were rewarded with madness and persecution. It has always existed, but been kept at bay by the collective perception of the human mind and the natural world. Magic was but a trickle, but after the event the flood gates were opened.
We now exist at the precipice of the preternatural. Denial and the efforts of organizations like ICOR aware of the state of the world maintain a fragile balance that is slowly slipping away. The true potential of MAGIC has returned, slowly but surely saturating a physical reality that has been dictated by the will of humans.
Faerie, Demons and other creatures of Myth are finding their strength, their power slowly growing. They are still yet vulnerable, survival is reliant on obscurity. Now is the time to destroy them... before it's too late.
THE CAUSE
Of those rare few aware of "The Gloam", even fewer realize what brought about the events that changed the world, but the truth resides in the folly of Human curiosity and the reckless abandon that so often accompanies it.
There have always been tiny pin-pricks in the fabric of reality most often sealing as quickly as they occur, some causing temporary dimensional clashes. It was within these anomalous events that began the search for "anti-gravity". As far back as the 1920's, it is both the holy grail and black-ball of science, and the more it was pursued, the more it changed the world. The Philadelphia Experiment of 1943, The American Gravity Propulsion Research of the 1950's (General Physics Labs), Zero Point Energy Research of the 1990's, the list goes on and on.
Through the history of the experimentation in altering "General Relativity", where gravity is not a force but the 'geometry of spacetime' has one thing in common — the organization known as KRIUS ('kray-us' - the Titan whose name was taken from the Greek word for ram). This powerful organization embedded in the corporations of modern society is the black that darkens the shadows of the world. They are the "Them" whispered on the lips of conspiracy theorists; "they who will not be named".
It was their involvement in the mastery of anti-gravity and the manipulation of spacetime that blew a hole in reality and caused THE GLOAMING. It caused an influx of "zero-point energy", otherwise known as "magic". THE GLOAMING, in a sense, is a directly proportional response to the effects of Humanity's breach of space and time, but it's more than just a single moment in time.
Preternatural occurrences delve further into the past, far beyond the 'event' itself. It's like reality was shifted, or perhaps obscured events made clearer and more prominent. All that's known, is that the transformation doesn't spiral out from one moment in time. The history of your character can begin as far back as you wish, the life they might have had completely altered by the event without them ever knowing. The fact is, that the world as it was or might have been manifests as moments of 'déjà vu', but there are also cases of a definite moment of change for some, these people being a little more aware of the alteration in reality. The depiction is entirely up to you.
KRIUS and ICOR
ICOR and KRIUS have always been at odds, their agents fighting in the shadows, each trying to foil the plans of the other. In our scenario, it would appear that ICOR has won, but the reality is that they have always worked to keep magic at bay. Their efforts to prevent the rampant capitalistic abuse of science has inadvertently crippled both of the powerful corporations.
KRIUS still remains hidden from the world, the organization lurking like a virus in the global corporate body. They are a major antagonist of this setting, the go-to villain when it comes to the bigger picture — the puppeteers. From the time of it's inception, KRIUS has been at odds with the predecessors of what is now ICOR and there are many other organizations that know of them. They are the true "Men in Black", the ones who paint ICOR and other opposing factions with a dark brush.
KRIUS is meant only to exist in Canon and as a plot device. No member characters are allowed to be a part of KRIUS, only indirectly involved. They are the esoteric villain injected in small inky doses that our protagonists are meant to thwart.
ANTAGONISTS
Antagonists are generally portrayed by the use of NPC-Canons. We do not allow member characters to fall into the role of antagonists unless the writer is prepared to have that character one day killed or permanently incarcerated. Here, criminals and murders MUST eventually pay for their misdeeds.
To further your development of an antagonist you are more than welcome to create and portray as many canon as you wish and write from their perspective.
KRIUS is a our main antagonist and members are more than welcome to expand upon them and utilize the faction in any capacity they wish, so long as they write within the preset parameters. Other antagonists can also be brought into existence. Have a grand idea that might effect a large portion of the city? As long as the heroes of your story are going to fix most of it and you're not going to start trashing the place beyond all repair, write away.
, Jr.