Game lore [WEEK 16]

 In this post i aim to kind of string together some lore points about the universe we have created, most of my ideas are based off of discussions we had as a team in class and hopefully will explain some of the reasonings behind our design choices :).

The world outside of the Sahara -

Outside of the New Sahara, the world is ravaged by a corruption solely of man's creation, Pollution, radiation, rubble of fallen civilizations as far as the eye can see. This corruption was the result of a great war, a war so terrible that it's devastation could not be cleared by any man nor machine. Though, in amongst the detritus a few settlements remained, people made homes from anything they could find, banded together in primitive communities, with no electricity and no internet they were almost Neolithic in nature. And from this came the discussion of the matter of what to do now. What could they do to fix this hell they found themselves in.

A small team of scientists, Farmers and engineers came forth with an idea, living on the borders of the mainly untouched yet barren Sahara desert, they saw potential in the only pure stretch of land left on earth. And so, with a single, somewhat implausible idea in mind, they came together to form Verdancy corporation. A group with a single goal in mind, To green the Sahara. 

Verdancy Corporation -

Art by Kenny Lycett

This team settled in the Sahara and gathered materials from the fallen world to begin construction on their project, they began with irrigation systems, diverting water from far lands and leading it towards the desert, encapsulating it from the hot sun in great tanks, these would not only be the basis for their future climate changing systems, but also a new system of power. Since the power grids of old had fallen long ago, their only hope to revive the old technologies was by harnessing new powers. They were able to construct both hydroelectric and solar power systems to help power their new base of operation set within an abandoned city in the Eye of the Sahara. They then built labs out into the desert to isolate and manage the greening one step at a time. Easier to work piece by piece, than attempt to green everything at once. 

With the combined approach of the science, botany and engineering teams they devised a strategy to change the landscape from desert, to jungle. Altering weather patterns and cultivating new plants to suit the harsh, hot dunes. It took a long long time for the Sahara project to reach almost-completion. Generations passing by and passing on their knowledge and drive to continue the project. This being humanities last hope, their children, and their children's children continued to work, inspiring others from settlements far and wide to join the cause. To some it seemed impossible, however, with each passing century the dunes turned, shifting from endless sandy wastelands to the beginnings of a savannah, and from savannah, to deep lush jungle.

In the current times, it has been 500 years since the company set themselves up, Verdancy's technology remains mainly the same as as it were upon its birth. Machines only updated to resume efficiency or operation. Resources are still scarce, yet their team is very large now, big enough to fill an entire city. The Eye became a home to over 8,000 citizens, Each member of society working together to help the new environment flourish. Farmers tended the fields, providing food to the city and overseeing the development of new crops to populate the New Sahara. Scientists researched animals, monitoring their evolutionary changes encouraged by genetic modification, they raised them like any animal sanctuary might, hoping to give them a new home free from the filth of the outside world. And engineers tended to the great machines nestled into the cliffsides and hidden amongst the trees, great monoliths that provided the rains and fed the plants. The trio of professions kept the jungle alive, working not out of the need for power, but the hope that they could maybe fix what those who came before them had broken.

The animals and plants of the New Sahara bare just faint resemblance to the beings they evolved from, some alien or prehistoric looking in nature though robust and perfectly designed to integrate into their new environment. Verdancy scientist looked to both old and new specimens throughout their archives to find traits that helped the flora and fauna adjust best. They were ever grateful that humans of past took it upon themselves to archive and store seeds from almost every plant in their researched history and kept them in a secure bunker. Nearby settlements to this bunker upon hearing of Verdancy's plans for their precious seed bunker were more than happy to donate their collection to the cause, thus helping the company gather a wide bank of genetic data to work with. It took much trial and error, but once the method was perfected, everything just slot into place. The environment began to sustain itself, like a toddler walking on it's own for the first time, Verdancy Corporation realized that the impossible had been made possible. Word spread as quick as possible without the internet, soon colonies from all over wanted to know how this was possible and if this meant that there could be a way to transform more uninhabitable environments. Many of these settlements sent over their best artists and academics to record as much as they could to relay back to their communities in hopes that Verdancy might give them a solution.

Art by Pantelis Kyriacou

Cedrick -

Art by Kenny Lycett

Cedrick, an artist and writer from one of the more northern settlements set out on their pilgrimage to the New Sahara and the base of Verdancy Corporations. They sent letters informing Verdancy of their intentions of their visit, they wanted to gather information on the project to bring back to their community to begin transformation of the land around them. Verdancy was elated to hear that their project was so widely regarded, and waited for Cedrick's arrival with anticipation. The overseer of Verdancy brought fourth 3 specialists of each field to help the reported with their research on the three fields of the operation. Dr. Raspberry Biko of the Weather engineering and irrigation division, Dr. Anastasia Triskele of the botany and agricultural division, and Dr. Bonnie Starstuck of the Fauna research and conservation division. Upon Cedrick's arrival, the three representatives set to work to explain their respective professions and each part of the process that benefitted the larger project as a whole. Cedrick hastily wrote down this information in their notebook, illustrating each specimen to ensure clarity to their community back home. They spent their time both in the city, and out in the wild to gather as much information as possible, the representatives spared no effort in making sure they understood every word and every function or process they detailed.