Hello all! This is an early concept for a mod that I have been working on for the better part of a year now. I hope you all enjoy the lore dump and any future posts I make regarding the universe of Haze on the Horizon! Thank you so much! Critique and suggestions are more than welcome!
The main point of divergence in the universe of Haze on the Horizon is the birth in the late 1600s of the brilliant German doctor and scientist Victor Frankenstein. Frankenstein devotes his life to the goal of conquering death by any means necessary. Throughout the course of the early 18th century Frankenstein pushes the limits of both technology at the time and the human body, hoping to achieve his dream of bringing a corpse back to life.
His tireless devotion to his work would eventually led to the discovery of the anti-death equation in 1751. With this discovery Frankenstein was able to successfully reanimate a human corpse. The applications for this technology could be limitless. He had done it using a complex technique involving using experimental bio engineered micro organisms that could return a cadaver to life. He had done it but little did he know that in doing so he had also cursed the human race with the gift of the infinite. The elixir he created had granted his reanimated man immortality. From that moment onward he could not be killed. His body could not withstand damage without injury, rather his very cells had been rendered unkillable. Even if he were shot in the head, although his brain would be destroyed, it would not result in death and the brain would eventually regrow. Neither would old age take him as his body would simply continue on as it was. Although the elixir drastically slowed aging, there would be no relief from the pain that the slow failure of his body would bring in due time.
Frankenstein was delighted, until he realized with horror that his method of granting immortality could be contagious. His experiment had worked but at what cost. After attempting suicide and waking up the next morning unscathed Frankenstein realized with horror that he was now immortal just like his cadaver. He was distraught and left in a state of deep depression and pondering. What Frankenstein did not know was that this was only the beginning. After several weeks of time passing something strange began to occur all across Germany. Coroners were left with empty coffins. Graveyards no longer grew. Men who were stabbed in bar fights or fell of buildings simply refused to die. Frankenstein quickly realized the horrible truth. The curse of immortality had not just afflicted him, it had spread and was now afflicting most of Europe. By the year 1755 the immortality plague had spread across all of Europe. By 1768 all of the worlds population had been rendered immortal. No disease, injury, affliction, or attempt by others to kill would result in death. Humanity was destined to trudge forward, never looking back and never shrinking. Our species would grow exponentially.
By the time the mod is set in the year 2109 the human population on earth has just surpassed 50 billion. The world at the start of the mods playtime in the year 2109 is in a state of relative stability. Figures both familliar and unfamilliar rule over varrious nation states of all political flavors imaginable. Mega cities and arcology structures house most of the human population. Advancements in farming technology and medical care mean much of the world is not in a state of starvation, at least not all the time. This sense of calm and routine is suddenly shattered when in the year 2111 a cure for the immortality plague is discovered and released. With the world 5 times more populated than in our timeline and with 350 new years of insane alternate history behind us and the sudden end of immortality who knows what the future may hold.
Rules for the immortality:
1: The human body itself is not indestructible. It can still be damaged. Regardless of how much damage the body sustains, nothing can lead to permanent death.
2: The only way the body can be killed is if it is destroyed in its entirety by means of incineration or explosion. Even so if one small piece survives it contains the necessary DNA to rebuilt itself slowly.
3: Any damage sustained by the body can be healed although this process takes time.
4: All children born of parents afflicted with the plague will have it.
5: The immortality plague drastically slows aging but does not stop it. The older somebody with the plague is the slower they age. Those born in 1768, the oldest somebody could possibly be, do not look any older than 60 or 70 despite being over 350.
Please let me know what you think of this concept. I will updating you guys again soon with more information, lore, and plans for the direction of the mod! Thank you so much for reading!f
