During the mid-1910's a power shift in the United States caused a torrent of happenings to occur that would start in motion the changes that we see in our world today. The Americas were unified shortly before the Cold War into one massive conglomeration of zealotry for a twisted form of the Catholic church. No longer were there independent countries, only the New Holy Roman Empire. This drastic change in the lineage of what was to be only enforced similar changes around the globe. Europe, feeling threatened by the power of the conjoined Americas, sought to create their own system of protection that resulted in the European Republic. It is a merging of the European countries under one banner to ensure their continued success without the need for bureaucracy to get in the way of trading. As such, each nation maintains its sovereignty, but loses critical decision making capability when those decisions could impact the rest of the Republic. And finally, late to the merging parties was the Pan Asian Coalition. Probably the most technologically advanced of the three, the Asian countries chose a slightly different route from the others in the form of a coalition that only delegates military matters. Everything else within the respective countries allows them to be independent albeit with far less restrictions on travel between one another.

This massing of power across the globe resulted in the need for locations to be created that could deal with trade filtering between each power. These areas would come to be known as the Special Economic Zones. Often thought of as a safe-haven for all, but also subjected to the implicit control of extremely powerful crime lords. These locations are the intermediaries between every faction and as such they are protected heavily from the outside by each nation due to the fact that if anything happened to these zones it would cripple trade between all factions involved.

Furthermore, the Elven races retreated from the known world around the time of Industrialization. Escaping to a parallel plane of existence that exists as a mirror image of our own world untouched by human corruption and pollution. As such, many locations throughout this plane are incredibly feral or primal. - This world is governed by a council of Elven leaders that ensure that their existence is not threatened by the Human filth. As such, there are gateways to and from the "world" that allow the passage of magical beings/creatures that wish to have reprieve from the Human world and to bring over necessary goods and commodities; these points of teleportation typically align with Ley lines. As time has forged on, the Elven council has grown ever more tired of keeping the worlds linked. So much so that they wish to separate themselves from the Human world permanently. Few make attempts to halt this wish though there are some that play key roles in ensuring that the realms do not part.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

It is currently the year 2054. In the past few years many companies have been scrambling to create more advanced military tech to combat the ever more present use of magically strengthened combatants. This is also done to profit off of the contentious feuds and wars that roar throughout Africa. Africa being a hot-pot of conflict between the three major superpowers. Although peace is what is touted to the media to obscure what truly goes on. There are turf-wars and battles waged against one another all for the sake of obtaining the resources and land of Africa. This makes most of central and southern Africa a veritable no-mans'-land with no rest to be found for the weary.

There are many stories to be told within this world. Many of them bleak and unfortuitous. Some of hope and renewal. Others dealing with the daily life of simply trying to fit in. The twisting strings of fate oftentimes draw these stories together without us knowing exactly why until it is either too late...or until the moment of needing to understand has passed us by. 

I’d like to entreat you on a journey into this world. Share with you one of the brighter tales that can be told.