Core Ideas (Inpirations between brackets) • Demonic invasion on mundane, normal modern world [Shin Megami Tensei] • The invasion is the result of a collision of dimensions, causing from the other bleed into the human one. This collision also drastically affected reality and what was true before is no more. • Demons are constructs that takes forms influenced by human minds, resulting in creatures similar to entities from mythologies. While most displays animalistic behavior and attacks anything it can, some are intelligent and, influenced by their mythological origins, formed factions with similar minded demons and even humans. [Solaris and Shin Megami Tensei]

• Humans were corrupted by , with varying results. • Most were completely consumed and became something unlike both humans and demon. While some turned into meek husks of their former selves, others became incredibly powerful, capable of threatening even the mightiest demons. Because their psyches are also affected, however, they become increasingly disdainful of humans, believing that they are the new dominant species of the changed Earth, which makes them reject all vestiges of humanity. This makes them extremely dangerous toward not only humanity, but demons as well because of their links to human mythologies. These are usually called “Exhuman” by others. [BLAME!, Eclipse Phase and Made in Abyss]

• Others were able to successfully adapt to their new conditions, earning the ability to control the , and consequently reality, in and around them. While the degree of control varies between individuals, the use of these abilities is often accompanied by demon-like manifestations of their subconscious. These “Posthumans” composes the bulk of human survivors. [Persona, Jojo and Robert Chew’s art]

• Some humans were left unaffected, powerless and uncorrupted. These pure humans were more common in the past, but it has become very rare at present time. In religious communities they are sometimes worshipped, their pureness seen as a proof of personal holiness or God’s favor, while in less scrupulous groups they are looked down as easy prey due to their powerlessness.

• A drastic consequence of the damaged reality can be seen in previously densely populated areas and places with great importance to humanity. There laws of physics are completely broken and concepts like distance and space becomes meaningless. Skyscrapers becomes endless towers with vast floors, subway systems are now underground mazes and what seemed like a short stairway stretches past vanishing point. [BLAME!, Etrian Odyssey, Darksiders, Metro 2033, El Shaddai and Kowloon City]

• When the reality of an area strays too far from the rest of the world a dimensional wall if formed around it, preventing anything from coming in or out. These areas called Zones are only accessible through another anomaly called Portal, a hole in reality that links one place to another. [Shin Megami Tensei, Devil Survivor and Zegapain] • Factions with enough influence occupies smaller Zones, using them as arcologies or strongholds by taking advantage of the defensibility. Larger Zones, however, still escapes the grasp of any one faction and often hosts multiple ones, either exploring for its artifacts or engaged in conflicts for more power and influence.

• Artifacts are human-made objects corrupted by found in Zones. While low class artifacts have little to no use, the higher the grade the more extraordinary its effects are. Some humans are capable of reproduce this process using their abilities but it is usually temporary, quickly unmade once it leaves their hands. However, rare individuals have mastered this art to the point of permanence. [Zelda, Dark Souls, STALKER and Made in Abyss]

Concept/Wish List/WIP Ideas • Grimbright Science Fantasy Post-Apocalyptic (Pseudo-)Military setting • World is devastated, many metropolitan areas are lost and billions died but thanks to the introduction of what amounts to magic, the survivors has been spared from going back to more primitive technologies. ▪ Electrical grid is gone, but generator artifacts and later invention of magitech reactors provides energy for the arcologies. Replacing fuels and batteries, magitech cells that can be recharged by any posthuman keeps smaller appliances going. [Final Fantasy, Type Moon and Metro 2033] ▪ Modern food industry is gone but many alternatives exists. Synthesizers can transform organic materials into bland but edible food, Vats can produce more palatable food but takes longer, the much rarer Fabricators can produce any food almost instantaneously, but in limited quantity. [BLAME!, Biomega, Sidonia and Eclipse Phase] ▪ Firearm technology has been retrofitted to use rechargeable magitech power cells instead of ammunitions to fire bolts of energy. While most artifacts draw its power from the user, some are self-powered. [Star Wars and BLAME!] • Survivors and intelligent Demons have coalesced into multiple warring factions but even though they are all flawed, ▪ The Cathedral, a theocratic order that has quickly amassed power owing to the religious fervor that followed the manifestation of Angels. It pushes an agenda that protects the social wellbeing of all but at the collectivist social order. It is led by a college of Holy Men, seven pure humans, each chosen by one of the seven Archangels. Their seat of power is located in the Vatican Zone, but they also hold control of Jerusalem Zone and Pittsburgh Zone. ▪ The Principality is a neo-feudalism where the strong rules the weak. While at lower levels it involves gang violence for power, at higher levels open violence is seem negatively as too risky and unproductive, and political maneuvers to increase the influence are the norm. It is led by the Prince, a mysterious entity who little is known by the public except that all Lords swears fealty to them. This faction doesn’t have a seat of power and any meetings between Lords are decided ad hoc. Among the realms they hold control there are Seattle Zone, Kazan Zone and Kobe Zone. ▪ Smaller factions are usually led by local spirits, either a Genius Loci or the Gods of local religions. Examples includes Yamato, a theocratic order led by the Japanese Kamis and centered in the Nara Zone, and Valhalla, a military order based on Haderslev Zone.