DISCLAIMER: This is a rough history essentially consiting of a compilation of many of my notes. It will be updated.

2032. Tensions are mounting on Earth between superpowers and war seems imminent. At the same time a massive ship is being prepared to launch to deliver the bulk of the colonists to mankind’s first self-sustaining extrasolar colony. Once it becomes apparent that war cannot be avoided, the mission is modified given the possibility that the colonists may end up being the last surviving members of humanity. The ship is launched and not long after all contact with Earth is lost with all evidence pointing to global nuclear holocaust. This leads to conflict among the crew over whether to return to Earth or proceed on course. The decision is made to continue on, but not before the course data is removed from the computer. The computer is programmed to locate a habitable world while the crew enters hibernation. When they awaken they learn that the ship has found a small suitable planet and the crew heads down to colonize. They discover that this world is not uninhabited; there are actually several sentient species at various levels of technological advancement, but all appear to be more primitive than the Human colonists.

As the Humans lack any real infrastructure (it was constructed by lead teams on the planet they were supposed to colonize), they take up residence in part of a long-abandoned ancient city. Over several years, the Humans also occupy another similarly abandoned city, a single massive structure that dwarfs the largest skyscrapers of Earth, and establish a large number of smaller settlements as well. Contact is made with the native races, who are largely confined to major cities due to a recent dark period in their history where much of the planet was overrun by a malevolent plant-like race that believes it is their destiny to take over the world. The exact reasons for why this race has fallen into decline are not understood, but fear has kept the other species from venturing too far out into the world. Humans play a key role in coaxing the natives out of their cities and reestablishing regular relations. This is not without problems however, as Humanity does begin a small-scale war with a nomadic people that occupy territory near many Human settlements, the Raagon.

In addition, many Humans have begun displaying certain abilities, abilities shared by some of the natives as well. Originally referred to as psychic powers or magic, these abilities have become known as novitics. A novitic individual, sometimes referred to as a nova, is able to channel and direct his body’s natural biogenic energy to achieve amazing effects. The reaction to these individuals is a mixture of curiosity and fear. The government establishes programs to research novitic phenomena as well as how to make the best use of people with these individuals.

Not long after, one of these government projects goes wrong and unleashes an effect similar to an EMP (this event becomes known as the Cataclysm). The capital city of New Avalon is rendered powerless and the second city, Elysium, is left with only one of its three reactors functioning. In the aftermath, the group of men controlling the single remaining reactor establish a government agency responsible for overseeing all Human forms of power. In effect, they are acting to preserve their monopoly, which is made easier by the limited manufacturing base, raw materials, etc. More importantly the Cataclysm resulted in persistent effects that render electronics largely nonfunctional or unreliable. Daily life for most Humans now most closely resembles the 17th or 18th centuries.

In the aftermath of the Cataclysm, Human society has undergone dramatic change. Abandoning their war with the Raagon, Humanity works to bring the native peoples closer together. At the same time, Humans are still struggling to reclaim much of the two ancient cities they now occupy, just as all races are beginning to explore the rest of the continent. Alien ruins and artifacts are discovered, some of which have the potential to alter the future of Human technology. Distrust and corruption are becoming more and more prevalent between factions within the Human government, not to mention relations between the various species that are often strained.

The planet is also populated with a seemingly impossible variety of flora and fauna, some of which would give a military battalion from Earth’s heyday a moment of pause, to say nothing of Humanity as it exists now. Incursions into cities by local wildlife require constant vigilance, and people rarely travel unarmed, even if being armed these days more often mean a sword or a spear than a gun.

While certainly challenging and often outright hostile, the world of Ortellum presents a wealth of opportunity for any brave enough to take it.