The Fall

Related Historical Events

• The Before Time
  The Fall

Human civilization, a remarkable testament to our ability to organize, innovate, and thrive, stands as a beacon of hope in an otherwise perplexing universe. However, it is precisely our advances that can lead to the unraveling of the delicate fabric of society, leaving us vulnerable to unforeseen catastrophes. Such was the case with The Fall of Humanity, the unfortunate zombie outbreak, where mutations rendered society helpless and plunged us into a prolonged struggle for survival.
The Fall isn't a single event, but rather all of the events that led up to the collapse of civilization. It is seen as beginning with the Seattle outbreak. There is no clear date associated with this period, but rather it is seen as the end of the previous Era which is referred to as The Time Before or Before Time. This time in history is not well documented as society was in chaos and falling apart. After the fact, those who survived did their best to record the events as they remembered them or as they were told through storytelling. Because of this, the history is fragmented.
The first documented outbreak was in Seattle Washington. It hit the city hard and cases spread through the population fast. Patient Zero was never discovered. During this first epidemic wave, much of Seattle's population died. Those who survived the infection were mutated and ravenous. The city was not prepared for the victims of the virus to begin attacking those around them. It was estimated that 75% of the city's population died during the events of the Fall.
It wrought havoc amongst the populace and transformed the infected into mindless mutants. Like a ravenous wildfire, this outbreak spread rapidly, sowing chaos and triggering a collapse of infrastructure. Hospitals became overrun, forcing medical personnel to abandon their posts. The dwindling food supplies and panicked population exacerbated the downward spiral, causing riots and civil unrest. Under such relentless conditions, it didn't take long for the pillars of civilization to crumble.
In the aftermath of the outbreak, the survivors found themselves thrust into a harsh, lawless world. Without the structures that once provided for their needs, the struggle for basic necessities like food, water, and shelter became paramount. Formerly united communities were reduced to disparate groups, each fighting for their own survival. Amidst this new reality, people were forced to confront their primal instincts and make dire choices to ensure their continued existence.
The fall of civilization exposed the dark underbelly of human nature. As resources dwindled and desperation mounted, a gradual erosion of morality occurred. People who once adhered to societal norms were driven to commit unthinkable acts to protect themselves and their loved ones. The struggle for survival became a constant reminder that ethics and principles were luxuries only afforded in times of stability. In this new world governed by fear and scarcity, the line between virtue and atrocity blurred.
Human civilization's strength lies in its ability to foster cooperation, encouraging specialization and technological advancements. In the absence of a functional society, centuries of progress were quickly forgotten. With the collapse of infrastructure, the previous division of labor and collective knowledge became obsolete, causing expertise in various fields to wither away. The absence of governance led to power vacuums, allowing opportunistic individuals to seize control, further fragmenting what remained of human society.
The absence of infrastructure forced survivors to adapt, innovate, and seek solace in the small communities they created. As the echoes of civilization's collapse resonated, new leaders emerged, offering glimmers of hope amidst the chaos. These beacons of light rallied the remnants of society, striving to reconstruct some semblance of order from the ruins left behind. Humanity began to rebuild.