2222: Earth UnEnlightened

February 22, 2022 (2.22.2022) marked a paradigm shift in the history of humanity when a global network of hypnotic mystics led the world in a "Universal Day of Invocation". This invocation took place globally, but was centered around seven locales, each in their own respective region. During this mass invocation, seven entities made themselves known to humanity, with each one choosing a ritual site at which to manifest within and to claim as their home. Upon these sites, humanity was commanded to build temples and monuments to these entities.   In the aftermath of this mass encounter, many of the world's religious clergy and philosophers were forced to grapple with this paradigm shift that began to enrapture many of their former adherents. Some religious sects adapted their theology to view these entities as manifestations or forms of their traditions angels or gods. Alternatively, more radical fundamentalist groups held that these entities were demonic spirits come to deceive humanity into wickedness. Just like religions, academia was divided according to interpretation of the phenomena. Initially, a majority of academics held these events to be elaborately staged and choreographed, while their opponents claimed these phenomena were proof of the mystery and transcendent nature of the divine. As this global movement grew, it became increasingly unflattering to criticize or seek explanations for the mysterious appearance.   The year is 2222 and the planet Earth has been thoroughly and totally plunged back into ignorance. Cuts to public education in the U.S.A. during the first quarter of the 21st century paved the way for a public that began to lose technical prowess and instead understood technology along magical lines. This wave of mass ignorance was welcomed by an exhausted and desensitized populace that had both lost both faith in their political system and in a higher power. As the years flew by, global society followed the trend that was set by America until only the most privileged and intelligent citizens were able to secure secondary education in institutes of higher learning. Eventually these academic institutes would undergo aesthetic and curricular renovation which sought to reframe the specialty and expertise gained from these institutes as being magical or supernatural in origin. This skewed perception of education and the bottleneck to access it led society into a dark age where knowledge truly is power, and those without it are at the mercy and will of the ever watchful seven entities and their representatives.