Timeline
It is impossible to predict the time and progress of revolution.
It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.
-- Vladimir Lenin
Timeline
The current year is 2011 - nearly 2012. Most of the events discussed in this timeline focus on the USA, particularly the NYC area as this is where the game will be taking place. Whenever new information is revealed, or significant events occur in game, the timeline will be amended with that information.
2004
New York City makes a bid for the 2012 Olympic games, setting up a television and web-based ad campaign. Plans include the construction of many new buildings, including an Olympic village set up directly across from the United Nations. This facility will feature 4,000 apartments in a secure complex by the waterfront. Other venues are being constructed, or renovated, in a circular pattern with this village as the central hub.
2005
New York's bid for the Olympics is accepted, and construction begins. The forces of good are currently scattered, and often ill-prepared - crime, both natural and supernatural, is on the rise. An ineffectual president is in office, fighting a pointless war with a small nation on the basis of suspected terrorism. The terrorist threat (whether real, or merely implied or even exaggerated) has become a terror that affects many citizen's everyday lives.
2008
John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin are elected to office. They begin to immediately crack down on human rights in a supposed attempt to stop the terroristic threat. Obama speaks out against these rights violations, and vows to run again in 2012.
2009
In response to these troubled times and the continued threat against humanity, an ancient race of seemingly benevolent beings known as Guardians arise from a long slumber under the earth. Stronger, faster, and more capable than humans, these creatures are hailed by some as civilization's salvation; by others a sign of the coming of the biblical end times. John McCain makes a statement that he supports the Guardian agenda one hundred and ten percent. Many other world leaders follow suit. Roe vs Wade is overturned; abortion becomes illegal again. Obama speaks out against the Guardians, and founds a group to fight against them. Within three months, he has been shot in a mysterious 'grass knoll' type incident - and the organization is hastily disbanded. The Guardians begin construction on Freedom Tower on Ground Zero, which they will use as their headquarters.
2010
The Guardians begin assisting local police forces in many large cities. Crime is at an all time low, but the media is beginning to shift, covering a majority of pro-Guardian topics. Funding to many arts programs are inexplicably cut, and censorship of books, music, and speech is beginning to rise. Creationism is being taught in schools, with Guardians at the top of the creation scale. Guardian Centers are opening up around the world - a combination community outreach and office building offering a youth program called Friends of the Guardians. Artists, musicans, poets and other creative types everywhere are starting to be seen as subversive and counter-culture. Atheists and non-Christian religions are becoming increasingly looked down upon by mainstream society. John McCain dies of a massive heart attack in office; Sarah Palin becomes president. Guardian control of governmental functions becomes increasingly more overt. It is suspected that many world leaders have been actively converted to the Guardian cause. Within the Guardian ranks, however, there is a small band of dissenters who disagree with the harsh politics of their leaders. This group is lead by a man known only as M5, and he refers to this group only as 'The Fifth Column'.
2011
People have begun 'disappearing' without a trace - first people who aren't entirely missed, but then, friends, co-workers, and occasionally... whole families. The Friends of the Guardians organization is beginning to implement survival and militaristic training. Some young people, upon coming of age, are being recruited into the Guardian ranks. In Sarah Palin's campaign for reelection, she reveals herself to be a Guardian - and proposes that this makes her the best hope not only for America but also for all of humanity. Fairly unorganized gangs of rebels have been forming in many cities. New York is gearing up for the 2012 Olympics.
Also in New York, an Immortal named Hans Varner calls together a small gathering of friends - planning to tell them a disturbing truth.
-- This is where gameplay picks up. The year is 2011, but time will otherwise run mostly real-time (ie: it is November, 2011 when it is November in our time)
It is governed by its own more or less mysterious laws.
-- Vladimir Lenin
Timeline
The current year is 2011 - nearly 2012. Most of the events discussed in this timeline focus on the USA, particularly the NYC area as this is where the game will be taking place. Whenever new information is revealed, or significant events occur in game, the timeline will be amended with that information.
2004
New York City makes a bid for the 2012 Olympic games, setting up a television and web-based ad campaign. Plans include the construction of many new buildings, including an Olympic village set up directly across from the United Nations. This facility will feature 4,000 apartments in a secure complex by the waterfront. Other venues are being constructed, or renovated, in a circular pattern with this village as the central hub.
2005
New York's bid for the Olympics is accepted, and construction begins. The forces of good are currently scattered, and often ill-prepared - crime, both natural and supernatural, is on the rise. An ineffectual president is in office, fighting a pointless war with a small nation on the basis of suspected terrorism. The terrorist threat (whether real, or merely implied or even exaggerated) has become a terror that affects many citizen's everyday lives.
2008
John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin are elected to office. They begin to immediately crack down on human rights in a supposed attempt to stop the terroristic threat. Obama speaks out against these rights violations, and vows to run again in 2012.
2009
In response to these troubled times and the continued threat against humanity, an ancient race of seemingly benevolent beings known as Guardians arise from a long slumber under the earth. Stronger, faster, and more capable than humans, these creatures are hailed by some as civilization's salvation; by others a sign of the coming of the biblical end times. John McCain makes a statement that he supports the Guardian agenda one hundred and ten percent. Many other world leaders follow suit. Roe vs Wade is overturned; abortion becomes illegal again. Obama speaks out against the Guardians, and founds a group to fight against them. Within three months, he has been shot in a mysterious 'grass knoll' type incident - and the organization is hastily disbanded. The Guardians begin construction on Freedom Tower on Ground Zero, which they will use as their headquarters.
2010
The Guardians begin assisting local police forces in many large cities. Crime is at an all time low, but the media is beginning to shift, covering a majority of pro-Guardian topics. Funding to many arts programs are inexplicably cut, and censorship of books, music, and speech is beginning to rise. Creationism is being taught in schools, with Guardians at the top of the creation scale. Guardian Centers are opening up around the world - a combination community outreach and office building offering a youth program called Friends of the Guardians. Artists, musicans, poets and other creative types everywhere are starting to be seen as subversive and counter-culture. Atheists and non-Christian religions are becoming increasingly looked down upon by mainstream society. John McCain dies of a massive heart attack in office; Sarah Palin becomes president. Guardian control of governmental functions becomes increasingly more overt. It is suspected that many world leaders have been actively converted to the Guardian cause. Within the Guardian ranks, however, there is a small band of dissenters who disagree with the harsh politics of their leaders. This group is lead by a man known only as M5, and he refers to this group only as 'The Fifth Column'.
2011
People have begun 'disappearing' without a trace - first people who aren't entirely missed, but then, friends, co-workers, and occasionally... whole families. The Friends of the Guardians organization is beginning to implement survival and militaristic training. Some young people, upon coming of age, are being recruited into the Guardian ranks. In Sarah Palin's campaign for reelection, she reveals herself to be a Guardian - and proposes that this makes her the best hope not only for America but also for all of humanity. Fairly unorganized gangs of rebels have been forming in many cities. New York is gearing up for the 2012 Olympics.
Also in New York, an Immortal named Hans Varner calls together a small gathering of friends - planning to tell them a disturbing truth.
-- This is where gameplay picks up. The year is 2011, but time will otherwise run mostly real-time (ie: it is November, 2011 when it is November in our time)