In a world where genetic alterations can occur from touching the wrong creature, many things have changed. R.E.A's can result in wild and varied alterations to any creature's genetic structure. Generations have passed since an airborne version was accidentally released. People, plants, and animals come in varied forms. Factions control parts of the old world, and Heartcores power it all. A new form of biological technology that formed as the old generations of R.E.A's infected their hosts and simplified their unique traits into a more powerful heart. Humanity has used these to try to rebuild the old, or to keep it from it.