Lauretta Bellisario

The history follows the real life timeline until the conclusion of World War 1 in 1919, which branches out into the current situation. 2 new factions form shortly after World War 1: the Golden Empire led by the Queen and the Royal Nation led by the Kings, a union of Europe and the Americas respectively. Despite how sudden their appearance are, and the unknown circumstances of their formation, that is what the world divides into now. Hatred stirred within the world’s unions. Clashing ideologies and cultural differences give birth to a new conflict – a seed for a new World War.

After 1919, a completely unexpected turn of events causes a Prince of the Royal Nation to be assassinated. With no proof whatsoever, the Royal Nation blames the Golden Empire and follows by declaring war, bombing their territory with conventional bombs and gas. The Empire retaliates with the same. Continued bombings leave the Surface to be decimated. Concentration of gas reaches high levels in certain regions, only spreading outwards across the world. As the world is ceasing to be habitable, the rival factions mine underground to escape the toxic shroud. The war follows the depths as well. A new era of life on Earth begins. Only lone scavengers remain on the Surface, as civilization adapts to living underground. Exhausted from the previous war with no time to recover, and already on the edge of the newest conflict, an organization – the Solace Coalition – was formed to attempt escape war. Having nothing else to offer the warring factions in exchange for neutrality and abstaining from conflict, they agree to fuel the war at their expense. Deserters from both factions separate into independent honourless gangs – Bandits; or join the Solace Coalition to attempt to live a normal life, although in severely worse conditions. The war rages on for several years, with no apparent end. The sides have been in a years-long stalemate. Although both Nation and Empire have seen major victories and devastating losses all throughout, none of them can confidently say they will win this war. The Earth’s population depletes steadily, already severely weakened by the war on the Surface. Everyone is expected to contribute to war. Whether it’d be teenagers working in kitchens, mines, barracks and hospitals, or young adults conscripted into the armed forces, or those that run away to the Solace Coalition – if you aren’t in the war, you’re not welcome on this planet. This is not a war that can end easily. Both the Nation and Empire despise each other, and will not stop fighting until the other is defeated. There is no armistice, there is no peace. If a winner is found, the losers will be executed. Despite all of this, it’s people that are fighting. People who have family and friends. People who want peace and not war. People who want to feel the grass and bathe in sunlight, not endure debris and inhale dust. And yet, forced by their superiors to fight a brutal war, taught to hate their enemy and to not think before shooting someone in enemy uniform. A little piece of humanity shines through, but it is unknown for how long it will last. The current Events are suggested to happen around 1922. The war is closing.

Every inch, every meter of land was ravenously destroyed by the initial Surface war, leaving the Surface in ruins and forcing the war to move underground. The air is not breathable, with a high concentration of deadly gasses. Special equipment is necessary for survival on the Surface. The Surface is mostly devoid of human presence, except for loner scavengers, particularly bandits, who’ve decided to live alone and escape the war. The Solace Coalition often sends scouting parties for recovery of valuable resources, most commonly food and blueprints, back to the underground.

The Royal Nation is a confederation of states spread all across the American continent, with additional scarce territories spread over the world. The confirmed members include America, Brazil, Canada, The Middle East, Scandinavia, Bulgaria and Poland. The Royal Nation is a democratic country led by a table of multiple Kings, all of which are elected from a pool of representatives. It is not a full democracy though, as the only people whom can be voted on are those of royal lineage, particularly the Princes of the Nation. The Nation’s predominant ideology is based on freedom, liberty and democracy. They value individuality, but are collectivist when it comes to nationwide matters. The Kings are known to encourage soldiers during hard times, but it is unknown whether they are speaking honestly, or are only pretending to care in order to raise morale. The Kings have never seen war – they don’t know the full brutality of it. But they are politicians, experienced in logistics, management and political deception. As an added benefit, having multiple leaders makes them disposable and easily replaceable. The Nation is a progressivist country, preferring utilitarian approach and valuing technology and modernization. This is reflected in the game due to use of more modern firearms, and especially technology, like electric lamps rather than the Empire’s lanterns. While the Nation appears like a modern secular republic, it is not without its issues. Rampant corruption and desertion. Valuing money, power and reputation over personality and morality. The Nation is volatile and militaristic, with questionable methods for staying in power. They are known to execute their own Kings for not aligning with the rest, and utilize the fear of punishment and dishonesty in order to force soldiers to comply and continue fighting. The Nation’s archnemesis is the Empire, whom they berate for blind fanaticism. They criticize them for keeping to old values, shunning down progress and valuing religion over reason and logic. However, the Nation fears the Empire: they refuse to have a female lead the Nation to prevent proving the Queen right, so much so that they executed a King for even proposing for such to happen. Despite all of this, it is likely the Nation’s aggressive policy that started the war. They blamed the Empire for the assassination of a Nation Prince without proof. But then again, it’s about time they eradicated those fanatics.

The Golden Empire was formed after the turmoil of the First World War, and they likely originated in Europe due to the distinct European Knight armor they are equipped with. the only countries and regions that are officially aligned to the Golden Empire are, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, and almost the entirety of Europe except for Poland, Scandinavia and Bulgaria.

The Golden Empire is an authoritarian monarchy led by a centralized monarch, the Queen, alongside her religious Inquisition – a holy police. Together, they walk around the Empire on religious quests. The Empire’s predominant ideology is based on morals, unity and togetherness. They value loyalty, honesty and brotherhood. They give their faith to a centralized religion. Money is but a currency, and luxury is secondary to honour and faith.

The Empire is a traditionalist country, preferring conservatist approach and valuing what came before. This is reflected in the game due to use of less than modern firearms, and especially technology, like oil lanterns rather than the Nation’s lamps, as well as embracing the medieval style of life and clothing. Although this is not a pure rejection of technology and progress, as it would be stupid to give your enemy a technological advantage. There is no sin worse than betraying your faith, maybe other than disappointing the Queen. But when it comes to it, the Empire boasts undying loyalty, nearly impervious to corruption or desertion. United by a single faith, but ultimately sacrificing what makes you “human”. While everyone in the Empire believes themselves to be the peak of human morality, outsiders like the feeble Nation dogs call them “inhuman fanatics”. As united as the Empire is, anyone who refuses to conform is a heretic and must be prosecuted, whether by imprisonment or execution. Rare those cases are, but neither children nor their own imperials are safe from the executioner’s sword. Fear the Empire, Nation, because God does not discriminate. The Empire’s religion is not based on any real world one. Built on sanctity of human nature, the purity of the human body. The Golden Era of humanity is in the past, and returning to it is what we should all do. Every human here is unique. Everyone has a purpose and a role: women are great leaders, with strong blood and a moral compass; men are great warriors, with strong bodies and an unbreakable spirit. Why base your life on politics and the luxuries of capitalism, which benefits the elite, when you can just embrace the Holy Light and follow the word of God? The Empire’s archnemesis is the Royal Nation. The Queen states that doing things “for the people” is political nonsense, and that freedom and democracy lead to disagreement - which leads to war and conflict. If only people understood core human morals, there’d be no war. They blame the Nation’s politics and ideology for what happened to the surface, what caused them to submerge underground. The Nation is inherently destructive in their lust for power and domination. Clashing ideologies are the reason Nation and Empire hate each other. Perhaps the Empire did assassinate the Nation Prince, but there is no proof. The Royal Nation’s aggressive and baseless retaliation led to the surface being bombed and the next war to start. But then again, it’s about time the Empire cleansed those national heretics.

The Queen is half-german. She is known to be brutal, as she is a Great War veteran, who rose from the ranks of a grunt into a political career, eventually ending up uniting the entirety of Europe under one glorious banner. The Queen is honest, which is respected by her soldiers, often tolerating being berated for failure. She may be an authoritarian leader who uses religion as a tool of manipulation, but she believes in her cause and will fight until the end – and her followers will stand in front.

The Queen is a master of manipulation and propaganda - an acquired skill in her political career. Should the Queen die without an heir to the throne, it would surely lead to collapse of the Empire. But the Queen is wise, and still in her prime - she has plenty of time to find and train a successor to her reign.

After the Royal Nation dropped the first set of bombs on Empire territory, everybody understood that a war has started. A neutral organization was formed – the Solace Coalition. They promised to each other to never shed blood in this war and to live peaceful lives. But unlike the pacifists who have joined the Coalition, the dogs of the Nation and the fanatics of the Empire are hostile to all that is not allied. If you are not contributing to the war effort, you are an enemy to all. The only way to remain alive in this war is to take a side. So that is what happened. The Solace Coalition swore to remain neutral and produce arms, equipment, food and gear for both the Nation and Empire in exchange for abstaining from the act of war. Living in terrible conditions, working day after day in dirty mines for resources that will be exploited in the smoke of war, to make arms used by killers who despise each other.

The Solace Coalition is an organization of workers, comprised of civilians and deserters from both factions, choosing to work in terrible conditions and fuel the war in exchange for not taking lives of other people. Nation and Empire both realize the Coalition’s independence and their reliance on them. If one chooses to ignore their neutrality, they would cease production and support for them and give an undeniable advantage to their opponent. Mostly producing supplies and arms, the Solace Coalition has several other duties. They send people in special equipment to the Surface to scavenge for supplies, particularly food and blueprints. They develop new firearms, new methods of living, construct new compounds, extract valuable resources, make railroads and transport supplies. While the Solace Coalition was created to avoid killing, it is physically unavoidable. Bandits – dirty people who live to exploit the weak – are common near the Solace outposts. So the Coalition has to defend themselves, arming themselves with weapons that they themselves create. Solace doesn’t work for money, but their human right to abstain from killing. And both the Nation and Empire directly benefit from the violation of this right by forcing them to work for them. Tired of this war, many deserters flee to the Coalition in search of shelter and protection. Maybe here they’ll get to live peaceful lives, but the war never ends. Often contracted by either Nation or Empire to produce their weapons, they also have plenty of their own designs, or blueprints of weapons they’ve scavenged from the surface. Many pity the innocent Solace. Wishing to do the right thing, but forced to watch from afar, as two radical forces kill each other, armed with weapons that you’ve created. This war burns bright. And we’re the fuel that keeps it alight. But then again, war never changes, and we’re not the ones doing the killing.

Life is cruel. Taking life is necessary for survival. So why abstain from it? After the Royal Nation dropped the first set of bombs on Empire territory, everybody understood that a war has started. Some people hoped that, in the wake of war, countrymen will unite together to defeat their enemy. But that was not what happened. It is a known fact that even before the war, crime was a problem all over the world. Organized criminals outright ignoring the government, taunting them and claiming to be “untouchable”. So, for the few whose life wasnt all sunshine and flowers, they knew that there would be people, evil people, who would, in spite of everything happening, choose to not align themselves to a flag, and fight for themselves only.

Shock Troopers are a renowned class of powerful troopers, with unique and powerful equipment capable of turning the tide of battle. Expect to see equipment varying from fully automatic rifles to supportive equipment.

These soldiers have specialty training, and they sacrifice their old weapons to hold an endless supply of ammunition for their coming combat and their training benefits them.

The Dreadnought is a last-ditch method to save a skirmish, where a single soul is entrapped in armor and sent to their guaranteed demise.

Nicknamed 'The Iron Coffin', the 'Dreadnought' armor is a heavy set of armor, layers upon layers of steel strapped as tightly as possible, meant as an alternative to the tanks, which are difficult to operate and maintain underground. The armor is completely impervious to anything, be it bullets, blades, bludgeons, explosives and even flames, but it comes with one major downfall you are trapped in this, slowly cooking yourself within your own heat you irradiate. And you don't even feel it due to a lethal dose of painkillers administered into you. You will not flinch, you will not falter and you're borderline bulletproof, but your energy slowly drains, and the enemy team is eager to speed up this process.

The Dreadnought is also armed with a Browning M1919 Machine Gun with an experimental belt box attached to it.