Exogenesis Core Rulebook
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In the year 2197¸ mankind exhausted the last of the Earth's natural resources¸ triggering an ecological collapse on a catastrophic scale. The skies churned with poison; the rivers ran black and sour. Almost overnight¸ all but a handful of species became extinct. In time¸ civil order collapsed. Violence and looting ran rampant through the streets. The planet¸ so long abused¸ had slowly begun to die. As a final desperate measure¸ an experimental initiative was renewed. It proposed the construction of the Cage¸ an imponderably vast network of platforms and stations that would be locked in low orbit by the Earth's gravitational field. Power would be sourced from the geothermic energy of the planetary core. It was a monumental undertaking¸ the first of its kind in human history. Faced with annihilation¸ however¸ there was little choice. So it was that the remaining world leaders pooled their resources¸ and construction on the Cage began. Three years passed. Great metal struts were raised into space¸ woven together in a lattice that straddled the globe. Upon it buildings were constructed¸ fed by towering pipelines that siphoned sluices of magma to fuel the enormous turbines clustered within. An artificial nation was laid across the sky¸ so huge as to blot out the sun. All that was left was poured into it. How much was sacrificed¸ how much was lost¸ can never be known. It does not matter. In time¸ the work was complete. vessels were loaded with refugees¸ marshalled by impromptu guards. People at last began to make the final exodus from the world they had called their home. They were betrayed. A terrible schism¸ sparked by a terrorist act in which thousands were killed in their scramble to the Cage. Man blamed his fellow man. Accusations were flung like grenades. And so war consumed the Earth. When the dust had settled¸ a once-united people had separated into seven distrustful Districts¸ separated into many Prefectures of fantastically diverse society and culture. Each staked a claim to a swathe of the Cage¸ the divides between each known as the Dead Zones¸ that which was destroyed or damaged beyond repair. Eventually¸ these Districts secured a lasting peace. Although one that was uncertain¸ and openly bore its scars. Subsequent advances in technology led to the rise of Biomodification and Cybernetics. Genes were no longer a confinement- they were a tool. The human body was increasingly violated¸ its sanctity ignored. Mankind began to tailor itself¸ change its very essence¸ to suit its every whim. Synthetic organics¸ known as Replicants¸ were grown in nutrient vats and lobotomised into slavery. Corpses were animated using memory code adapted from machines¸ giving rise to the ghoulish creatures known as the Resurrected Men. Faith in anything but science declined¸ until it had all but replaced the religions of Earth. The Districts embraced technocracy. The definition of 'human' was to forever change. And so we arrive at the year 2349. The fragile peace between the Districts has become vulnerable. The design of the Neural Network¸ a mnemonic database in which the brain-taped minds of man can conjoin¸ has thrown the balance of power¸ so carefully maintained¸ into doubt. The surge in popularity of separatist groups and violent protest has caused further distrust and conflict. Furthermore¸ psionic mutants- those that can wield mental energy as an extension of their will- have emerged across the Cage. A burgeoning criminal underclass has taken to colonising the Dead Zones¸ forming micro-nations that threaten the security of those around them. The atmosphere is tense. It is a dangerous time to be alive. YOU are one among millions¸ born in the confines of the Cage. YOU have never seen or set foot upon the Earth¸ growing up in an artificial wo