Four Horsemen

"They said their were four horseman, Nuclear, Chemical, Biological and their leader, the man mad enough to unleash them with a press of a button, a typed command on a touchpad, a solemn word on a secure line."

New World, Old Motives

Does it matter, the world before? It was long ago. The Cryotes say the year is 2507, but who can trust the words of men with nuclear fire in their eyes and their finger on the button of destruction?

In the wake of the thermonuclear, biological and chemical weapon exchange, the world burned, grew and deformed. The Cryotes say that this is North America, bordered by the forest to the north, the desert to the south and the churning oceans to the west and east. Perhaps this is North America, but to most it is simply the world, devoid of name. The concept of a globe is a pointless one, the seas are dangerous, the lands beyond pointless to explore with so much unknown within ones backyard.

Nobody calls it the wasteland, the nuclear weapons of the war were tactical and low kiloton strategic. The fires that burned destroyed the chains of civilization, but the world collapsed in on itself. Biological and chemical agents ravaged the survivors and destroyed the links of history. In time, these genetically engineered flora and fauna soon spread out, rebirthing the land, creating new opportunities and presenting new terrible dangers. The countryside is not a place for gentle walks, it is stalked by beasts, plagued by remnants of the old world.

The new, the old and the Stubborn

Meta-Humanity:

Before the rebirth advances in genetic engineered had proliferated exponentially, transhumans and transgenic species were designed, experimented with and released into the public. Many of these humans are not disimiliar to the standard template, some are larger, stronger, more intelligent or posses unique abilities. Some posses electrocommunication, a functional form of telepathy.

Humanity:

A slim majority of survivors in short term civil defence bunkers, caves and other shelters made up the population of the Reborn world. While most have forms of minor transgenic engineering giving them longer lifespans and a hardier constitution, they are nevertheless in appearence indistinguishable from modern man.

Cryotes:

Cryotes are mistrusted and ill-regarded humans. They have begun to emerge from their subterranean cities and they bring with them the old world in all it's glory and all it's sinister power. Cryotes froze themselves for periods of a century or more, preserving supplies in deep underground complexes, preserving knowledge and genetic purity. What Cryotes lack in numbers, resources or experiance of the overworld, they make up with robots, manufacturing plants and old world knowledge.

The State of Affairs

North America is a changed continent, geo-engineering projects started before the war have had free rein, altering the landscape.

Major Biomes

The world is unnatural. A multitude of projects designed to provide a sustainable future for humanity, for entertainment or ecological reasons were developed. During the conflicts that caused civilization to collapse, these projects were accidentally or deliberately released. Unintended consequences of their release mean many are hostile to humanity, while others are a vital part of the new eco-system without which it would be hard to survive.

The Northern Everforest

The former American/Canadian border delineates the start of the Everforest, genetically engineered tree's hundreds of meters in height. A relatively benign eco-system, it's dangers are from Giant Beavers, Bears and other mutated and tampered wildlife. It lacks the exotic dangers of other biomes.

The Everforest inhabitants trade lumber with their southern neighbours, branches easily regrow and are the size of tree's themselves. The wood has strong load bearing capability, though it is not difficult to cut with an axe.