Nerth Origin Chronology

The Shift Begins (2000-2055) -Gradual worsening of world economy, global recession, collapse of the Asian markets, prices continue to rise with unchecked inflation, while employment and wages lag far behind. The rich-poor gap widens.

The Pinnacle (2000 -2100) -Cures for AIDS and many other sexually transmitted diseases are discovered by genetic researchers, prompting a population explosion that far exceeds the post war baby boom of the 1950's. Cures for many cancers are discovered, greatly lengthening the expected human lifespan.

Global population is estimated at over 9 billion people worldwide, far more than any analyst had predicted, and severe plagues continually ravage the most densely populated countries such as China, India, Pakistan, much of Africa, much of Southeast Asia, and most of Mexico, Central and South America.

Widespread famine throughout the Third World nations of the world as population levels swell far beyond the capacity to feed their people.

-The African Collapse occurs, with nation after nation being torn asunder with food riots, demonstrations, coups, revolution, and brushfire border wars with neighboring countries. UN security forces are unable to prevent the collapse, and anarchy sweeps the African continent.

The Mexican-American Food War breaks out as Mexican armed forces invade the Midwestern United States after hordes of starving refugees are prevented from entering the US by force. The conflict lasts several months with Mexican forces seizing several stockpiles of US grain and food before US forces drive them out. Other border wars and skirmishes continue to break out across the globe, mainly repeating the same pattern of refugee armies attacking their more affluent neighbors in order to seize vital resources.

Crippling resource shortages around the world cause many nations to nationalize the remaining resources and enact strict rationing of critical supplies such as food, fuel, medicine, and so forth. Massive rioting and civil unrest prompt the issuance of severe martial law in most urban areas, with local police supported by the national guard and military units.

- Upshift (2060-2070) -Mechanization of agriculture is seen as the only means to increase food production enough to meet demand and prevent widescale starvation. The automated Agri-factories are created. As jobs dry up in rural areas people populations move into urban areas in greater and greater numbers. Massive super-city "Arcologies" are formed over the next few years. Nationalization of commercial trucking and most forms of freight and shipping is enacted at the protests of Unions worldwide, massive crash programs are enacted, building countless superhighways, seaports, airports, bus terminals, railway lines, and other transportation routes, to maximize the efficiency of transportation and freight.

- War of Worlds (2070-2075) -The Commerce Wars erupt as governments attempt to enforce other trade and shipping restrictions on interstate and inter-city shipping and commerce, to regulate and distribute scarce resources. Cities and small city-states proclaim their independence around the world. In America, the Union dissolves as first States, then the major cities, all declare their own sovereignty. Attempts by governments to prevent this dissolution and reduction of authority generally fail.

- The Grinding Halt (2075) -The global economy, weakened beyond help by chronic inflation, resource shortages, global civil unrest, widescale governmental collapse, overwhelming overpopulation, and the new trade restrictions between the fragmental city-states and countries, dissolves into total chaos and economic anarchy. Stock prices plummet, investors march like lemmings out of the upper floor windows on Wall Street, and the value of printed currency disappears almost overnight. Massive riots and looting an unprecedented scale sweep the cities, prompting even harsher policies of martial law and the formation of police states in most urban areas.

- CADRE Coalition (First Year, Post-Global) -Stabilization of the global economy gradually occurs through the Internet, which has managed to remain mostly intact. Virtual banks are established, and electronic accounts and cash cards replace paper money. Several new monetary standards appear around the globe, varying from region to region, but nearly all are based upon the value of resources. Money now represents actual physical "shares" of natural resources, similar to stock ownership in a company, and can be exchanged for such, similar to the silver certificates of long ago. The antiquated term, ‘scrip’, literally from the Latin for “to write”, comes into common usage for this new basis of exchange. Thus, money can be found in the form of Water scrip, Food scrip, Gas scrip, Electric scrip, Data Scrip, and a host of other forms. The value and availability of such currency depend upon the demand in the region.

The NOW (75th year, PG) The world has become a less peaceful place, with small cities and fragmented countries still fighting over contract completion (order wars), boundary disputes, skirmishes, and internal revolutions. Most of the population of the world lives in independent megalopolises, massive sprawling urban arcologies filled with dense buildings and denser populations. Citizens of most cities live in relative order, under draconian police states and powerful militants or benevolent dictators, and violators and criminals are severely punished. One of the most severe of these is banishment into the Free lands, ironically chaotic and anarchic, and mercilessly lawless expanses between the cities. Unproductive, unemployed and most minor criminal offenders are usually put to forced work sorting trash, recycling materials and resources, and maintaining the city streets and such. The diminished middle class works feverishly to support the outrageously affluent, and to carve out a livable condition in the midst of the pressures.

  Outside the cities, the great highways built in the late 2050s have become a commuter's nightmare, with armored truck convoys of scarce resources traveling the roads, linking the cities and countries in a network of trade routes. And highway bandits roam the roads, looting and hunting the convoys sent out from the rich cities, trying to stop the convoys before they leave no-man's land between the cities and enter the protective radius of another city protective zone.   This lawless region beyond the city walls is home to thieves, scavengers, bounty hunters, corporate enforcers, heavily armored police, speeding couriers, lumbering tractor-trailers bristling with guns and armor, and freelance drivers of every type. Nearly anyone with a handful of water scrip, mechanical savvy, and some spare parts and fuel can restore one of the countless abandoned vehicles in the outlands. They bring the engines to life, strap on a machine gun behind makeshift armor plating and hit the roads to try to make a killing.   Your Director may begin in the Wastes or an Arcology. Perhaps you will find yourself along a major Byway or in ancient and uncharted ruins. Wherever you find yourself, expect high adventure and dangers unexpected.