Hammerfall

The game is set in an alternate universe Earth, where, in May 2019, a catastrophe occurred, identified as the 'Mjolnir Project' by a voice which spoke directly into the minds of people around the world. After these short words, the vast majority of humanity collapsed, dead-eyed, as their souls were wrenched out of their bodies and forged into monstrous aberrations. These beasts didn't attack humanity immediately; they were more interested in feeding on metal and circuitry. This stroke of fortune gave the remaining population time to flee and form plans and barricades. However, they found they could not communicate long-distance; something about the Pearls' presence hampered any communication beyond a few kilometers.

Mundane weapons proved ineffective, but humanity discovered new abilities of their own in the aftermath of the Hammerfall. Dubbed "Forges", these abilities allowed people to bond their souls with metal, and these enhanced weapons were able to damage the beasts, now called Pearls. Initially, people could only bond with simple items like pipes, knives, and swords, but advances over time have opened up new avenues.

It's been nearly 200 years since The Day The Hammer Fell, and humanity has more than recovered. New alloys invisible to the Pearls' senses allow small cities to flourish, but only in naturally-defended areas; frontier settlements need constant guard, and rarely last long in one place.

It's in one of these cities; Sayter, the City of Eyes; that the game takes place. The city, which depends on a being known as the Oracle of the Silver Sun for guidance, has come to flourish in the hollowed-out innards of an extinct volcano. You are part of an organization known as AESIR, formed in city during the decades after the Hammerfall to investigate its cause and defend the up-and-coming city from Pearls.

Unfortunately, after 200 years with little to show other than the information given here, AESIR has lost the people's trust. Though still seen by many as necessary for defense, there is growing resentment toward the organization, and some view it as an unnecessary drain on resources, leading to a gradual drop in funds. As such, there are few agents left, as most don't want the job, dangerous and unsung as it is.

You are still outfitted with decent equipment; high-grade Forges nowadays come in the form of full-body mechanical rigs or suits, illegal for the public to obtain. However, due to the exorbitant cost, AESIR's Forges are secondhand, a generation or two behind, only held up through care and constant repair.

A few days ago, while on a mundane scouting mission, your group heard a voice whose location you couldn't pinpoint. Cautiously following it as best you could, you reached beyond the City's scouting boundaries, where you detected an unknown radio signal. However, you were unable to locate its source, and after hours of attempts, you were called back to base. Your Mission Control operative has an idea, however...


Other setting stuff:

Despite the initial setback, some electronic records survived, and science has come a long way since the early 21st century. AI, only a fledgling concept at the time, has flourished into its own scientific field, and genetic alteration is nearing perfection, though there are still...hangups.

Pearls: Aberrations unlike any seen on Earth before. They range from disconcerting to terrifying in both appearance and threat level, and pose a danger to anyone carrying metal. Even the new alloys developed to deter them are only effective in large quantities, so caution outside of cities is necessary. These alloys can harm Pearls, but proper Forges are far more effective.

Forges: Bonds between the soul and metal. While it can refer to any such bond, the term is now used mostly in military and mercenary sects to refer to exoskeleton-like frames and small mechs made for the purpose of Pearl defense and extermination. They are powered by the bonded Soul, and near useless against Pearls without a bond. Forges can be modified, though it is expensive to do so.

Sayter, The City of Eyes: The city you live and operate in. Located inside a long-extinct volcano, the surrounding mountain provides ample defense against Pearls and natural disasters alike, creating a safe, secure location that operates as the center of technology for the region. The buildings are made of a silvery, mirror-like alloy known to deter Pearls, but it does not stop their influence, and so long-distance radio and communication is still impossible. Despite this, an intranet exists within the city, providing news and entertainment to the citizens. AESIR even has its own website!

Sayter commands many patrols and a multitude of frontier settlements, especially on the outside of the mountain itself. These act mostly as scouting and warning parties, but still often skirmish with Pearls in the forested hills.

Beastkin: A few decades ago, it was discovered that animals could form Forges as well, though it was rare, and scientists began new rounds of experimentation on gene splicing to see if human-animal hybrids could create stronger Forges. There are still difficulties, but successful Beastkin, uncommon as they are, aren't unheard of in the City of Eyes. Some citizens are wary of them, especially the Feralkin; Beastkin who, usually through a mishap in splicing caused by bootleg technology or miscalculation, possess stronger physical or mental animal characteristics than the 'norm'. They are not actually feral, and view the term as derogatory, but it is nonetheless used by many.

The Oracle of the Silver Sun: A so-called prophetic machine that has, for all living memory, resided in a building called the Sun's Chamber in the center of the city, directly under the volcano's crater. Once per week, it will answer a single question, and while there have been multiple times the Oracle could not provide an answer, any it has given have never been known to be wrong. The right to ask this question is sold by the city council each week to the highest bidder. This is done secretly, and the identity of the winner is never revealed. This has lead many to believe that foul play or unsavory groups are involved.

Augurs: Robots whose design and AI is based off of the Oracle. They are stationed around the city and offer guidance and advice akin to a concierge or tour guide. Many operate the city's taxis and other services, or serve as clerks and retail workers. Particularly zealous sectors of the Oracle's faith refer to these as "False Prophets", viewing them as sacrilege.


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Groups and People:

Killian Alvarez: Your new Mission Control Operator as of a few months ago. Holds the rank of Commander within AESIR. At 30, he's considered very young for his rank, which he was granted after losing an arm and leg protecting AESIR soldiers during a defense mission gone awry. There aren't many who'd argue whether he deserves it, however; Killian was AESIR's top agent, and one of the few things keeping the public hopeful about the organization. He had planned to get back into the fray with cybernetics, but his body rejected all attempts to outfit him, so now he uses his combat experience to aid in training and field guidance.

Killian's pretty friendly with his squadmates, and takes a results-focused approach; as long as you get the job done, he doesn't mind too terribly if you disobey orders, his or otherwise. He knows that Operators, disconnected from the frontlines as they are, can't see everything that's going on, and trusts his operatives to make their best judgments.


Ogre Claw: A mercenary group famous in the area for their consistent performance, and for taking on risky jobs others won't touch. Their leader is an ex-AESIR Captain, a wolf Beastkin named Vera, called the Iron Wake. Known for her tenacity, ferocity, and above all, sheer power, she's the most respected(or feared, depending on who you ask) Smith in Sayter, with Killian now out of commission.

Your group used to be on relatively good terms with Ogre Claw, even if you never found out why Vera left AESIR. Recently, however, Vera seems to have soured on your squad. She's dismissive and hardly gives you the time of day, avoiding you if she notices you on the street. The other former AESIR members can't explain their leader's actions, but sheepishly avoid you out of loyalty.


Damon Hylande: Head Commissioner of AESIR. Your boss' boss' boss. Ultimately has the final say in just about everything. Some blame his lax approach to Mjolnir Project research for AESIR's continued decline in the public eye, but Damon claims that safety is top priority, and that the city's' future is more important than the past. He's averse to risky operations, and there must be a very good reason for him to greenlight them.

Whatever his reasons, Damon is clearly no coward. The Commissioner was a top AESIR agent in his day, and still bears the aura of a fearsome combatant even nearing his 50s. Excuses and jargon that might confuse corporate suits won't work on a man with Damon's experience.


Ziya al-Din: AESIR's top scientist. The daughter of Yasir al-Din, the former head scientist, Ziya was the first successful Beastkin. A sheep-human hybrid, she followed in her father's footsteps, using her own experience to refine Beastkin technology and introduce support for Beastkin affected by personality abnormalities. Ziya can be indecisive and meek, but none can deny her brilliant mind or dedication.


Ofelia Armati: Your former Mission Control Operator. Ofelia much stricter than Killian, but still wanted to see you succeed...as long as you did it her way. On the job, Ofelia was all business, but she relaxed a bit once a mission was over. Shortly before Killian's incident, she was transferred to a frontier town to take over head of its guard.