20 years ago, the government announced a new 'Miracle Cure' that could alleviate nearly all illnesses and some minor disabilities. Over 1/3 of the population were eligible for the miracle pill, due to the requirements being very broad to recieve one. The pills were distributed all at once in the span of a few days. The pill did as advertised, but there was a devastating side effect: It caused the person's body to reduce in size dramatically, shrinking down to 2-3 inches in size. This event is known as the Shift. A media blackout caused most of the recipients of the pill to not be notified of the side effect until it was too late. For the following months and years, the government destroyed all information on the manufacturer of the pill, Echelon, and focused on covering up the effects by degrading the victims of the cure, establishing them as bugs or pests rather than people. This campaign was successful over the years. The victims of the pill that were shrunk were classified as "micros".

"Macro" is a semi-slang word for micros that is used to easily label normal-sized people.

Life of a normal person, or macros, was mostly unchanged. Since it has been 20 years since the Shift, most people have forgotten or dont care anymore about those who had been 'lost' to it. Macros, for most part, have no idea about micro culture or society, since that is beneath them. Micros are just pests or bugs. Most people do not remember they were once people. Some new jobs, such as catchers, were made for micros. Depending on the personality of the macro, some might just sweep them away, while others will relentlessly hunt them down, and plenty in-between. Micros became a thing that you could buy in general stores. Some were sold as toys, usually sexual in nature. Others were sold as snacks. Some that were subservient enough were sold as amusing pets for those who wanted one.

Catchers is one of the macro jobs that were made over the years in response to micros. These macros are tasked with locating and collecting micros to sell them on the market. While Catchers are rare, since its a hard job to profit off of due to micros being clever and avoiding detection. While traveling or small groups of micros have little to no fear of Catchers, big communities must be wary, as the more micros in a area their are, the more likely a Catcher might try and locate and take the colony and their micros. Catchers do not usually work with Micros, but can trail them and their routes to find the colony. Life for a micro is hard and unforgiving. Most micros have to life in between cracks and out of sight of the macros. Nearly all macros see micros as bugs or pests, and will crush or eat micros if they are discovered. Micros have to live off of crumbs and discarded scraps of the uncaring, untouchable macros that loom above them. Micros have little to no defenses against macros. Micros mostly just have to run away or stay out of sight entirety.

Micros often heavily rely on makeshift tools, either made by themselves or by micro Makers, to get around or survive. The world at a micros inch tall scale is not meant for them. Some might use ropes or pulleys, or backpacks and grappling hooks provided by a Maker. All are made from scrap left by the macros.

Micros often explore in groups or with another, since most places are extremely perilous and more micros make travel slower, but safer. Often, traveling micro groups are either groups of Runners for a community, or a mobile, traveling band of micros that wanted to stay on the move, or didn't trust communities because of Catchers or other reasons.

Micros are sometimes kept as pets, usually done by victims of the cure that had friends or loved ones nearby. Micros have no rights, so are often treated like an amusing pet, and not like people. Despite this, most pet micros willingly stay, as they would rather get rid of their freedom then try and struggle to survive in the wild.

Groups of micros often converge in safe havens, places that are far from macro reach. These havens are often makeshift settlements that allow traveling micros to recover and recooperate, often at a price of trinkets or food. Each settlement is a community of various micros, usually only in the lower double digits. A majority of the population live in the community there, since traveling and braving the elements is very difficult and dangerous for a micro. For most communities, the more worth you could bring, the higher standing you had. Runners and Makers usually had the highest standing in a community. Communities usually emphasize stealth and carefulness. Runners or the community being rash and noticed by macros will almost certainly draw Catchers and spell doom for the community. While each micro has a role, the two most prominent roles are Runners and Makers. Runners are the micros that brave the world to gather supplies and food. A runner meeting their end is not uncommon and is a accepted part of the job. Makers are micros that have the talent of making advanced tools from scrap, and are often guarded and sought after. They are rare, and the death of one is usually devastating for a community. A mysterious and unknown organization that is presumably the manufacturer of the 'miracle cure' pill and the cause of the Shift. The design that the organizations uses consists of two blue, interlocking, stylized octagonal shapes. The octagons are linked together to a similarly designed diamond shape in the middle. Nothing is known about this organization. No ties, buildings, or HQs for the organization can be found. The government has destroyed all information related to the organization and how they made the 'cure'. Due to this, a antidote or altered version of the cure that doesn't have the side effects is impossible. Micros only knew about the symbol from it being the logo on the packaging of the miracle cure Since no one cared about it, not even the name of the organization was found. Due to it being 20 years, and no new leads found on the organization, it has completely disappeared and dissolved. Nobody really cares about it anymore. Nothing can be found related to the organization anymore. Retrieved miracle cure pills from undisturbed packages or from those who never took the pill are illegal and often heavily regulated by the government. An underground black market sells these pills without government oversight for a heavy price, no questions asked. Micros are always in peak health and do not get any illnesses or sickness due to the effects of the miracle pill.

The act of swallowing micros whole, or vore, is an act that is generally accepted. Micros are sold as snacks, and are usually sucked on like candy, before being swallowed whole. Micros are often scooped up and swallowed by a hungry macro, but some don't, as it would be the same as swallowing wild bugs in their eyes. Very few people don't treat micros as bad as others. They might feel pity and help the micros, or make a mutual deal with micros or a colony that establishes their safety for a price. These people are quite rare, and usually remember the Shift and personally knew about a micro. They are often shunned by society, if their compassion is known.