The Collapse

Lore & Background

Etherium was discovered as a revolutionary energy source, promising to solve humanity's power crisis. However, its interaction with biological matter proved unpredictable and destructive. Those exposed to high concentrations underwent horrific mutations, becoming mindless predators known as Hounds. Simultaneously, pockets of reality tore open, creating Hollows where physics no longer applied. The Collapse was not a singular moment but a spreading infection that consumed cities over time. As infrastructure failed and populations fled, New Eridu emerged as the final stronghold. The city's administration now strictly regulates Etherium usage, yet the energy remains vital for defense systems and daily life, creating a precarious balance between survival and corruption.

In Their Own Story

The old man adjusted his glasses, looking out over the neon-drenched skyline of New Eridu. Below, the streets buzzed with life, oblivious to the silent scars on the horizon where the Hollows pulsed like open wounds in reality. He remembered the sirens before the walls went up, the day the sky turned violet and the ground shook without warning. Now, he watched a Proxy team descend into the rift, their Bangboo devices glowing softly against the dark distortion. They were the new guardians of an old world's mistake.

Reader's Guide

The catastrophe began when Etherium, a potent energy source, was first harnessed by humanity in the distant past. Initially hailed as the key to limitless power and progress, its volatile nature soon became apparent to scientists and engineers alike. Uncontrolled exposure caused reality itself to fracture, spawning distorted dimensions known as Hollows that appeared without warning. These rifts consumed entire cities and twisted living beings into monstrous Hounds driven by primal aggression. As the old world crumbled under the weight of these anomalies, desperate survivors fled to the fortified city of New Eridu, the last bastion against total extinction. The Collapse was not a single explosion but a creeping doom that swallowed nations over time, leaving ruins behind. Now, decades later, Etherium remains essential for daily technology yet dangerous in its raw form. Proxies risk their lives entering Hollows to retrieve resources and rescue trapped individuals from the distorted zones. The crisis defines modern existence, forcing humanity to balance survival against the corrupting influence of the very energy they depend on to maintain their walls.

Did You Know?

• Etherium is the primary power source for New Eridu but causes mutations if mishandled.
• Hounds are creatures mutated by high concentrations of Etherium radiation.
• Proxies utilize Bangboo devices to communicate safely while inside Hollows.
• The city is divided into districts like Sixth Street and the Underground.