In the beginning...

1999

In the U.S.A., in a landmark 193-page decision (The United States vs. Seretech Corporation (1999)), the Supreme Court upholds Seretech's right to maintain an armed force to protect its own personnel and property.

2001

In the U.S.A., due to the precedent set by The United States vs. Seretech Corporation, the second Shiawase Decision (The Nuclear Regulatory Commission vs. The Shiawase Corporation) rules in favor of the Shiawase corporation. It also firmly establishes the extraterritoriality of multinational corporations in international law by giving them the same rights and privileges as foreign governments.

2008-2010

Decay and splintering of Germany.

2010

Vitas breaks out all over the world.

In the U.S.A., Daniel Coleman is sent to the Abilene Re-education center.

On April 23, in Australia, the first reported sighting, and subsequent attack, of the Carnivorous Koala, or Drop Bear, occurs when one attacks Wildlife Ranger Patrick Stone of Sydney.

2011

The Year of Chaos. In Mexico, the government of is violently disbanded leaving the nation in total anarchy. This event marks the beginning of an unprecedented number of governments being overthrown in the following five years. More governments are overthrown in this span of time than in any other comparable span in history.

In Ulster, Northern Ireland, U.K., the first of a series of magical attacks are made on military targets by the IRA. 75 members of the Parachute Regiment are killed. 44 in Coalisland in February and 31 more in Derry a month later.

On February 9, hurricane-force winds push the poisonous waters of the North Sea into the mouth of the Elbe River in Germany. This soon becomes the worst flood in human history. The dikes of North Frisia and the dams of the Dutch IJsselmeer burst. When the waters finally recede, most of the Netherlands and North Frisia and all of East Frisia is buried under toxic sludge making them uninhabitable. The flood costs half a million lives and leaves nearly 45 million people in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark without homes. In the city of Hamburg, the waters never recede earning it the nickname, "Venice of the North." The city soon becomes a black market paradise. The defunct nuclear plants of Brunsbuttel and Brokdorf are also hit, turning them into radioactive time bombs.

Worldwide, mutant children begin being born to "normal" parents. This event is labeled Unexplained Genetic Expression, or UGE. Newsweek magazine label these children as "Elves and Dwarves."

In Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., Trojan-Satsop, a nuclear power plant in the Redmond district, suffers partial meltdown, contaminating Beaver Lake and the surrounding land for kilometers around.

In Germany, sightings of dragons are reported in the Eifel and Harz mountains, the Bohemian Forest, the Giant Mountains, and the Allgau Mountains. (Source unknown)

On October 31, in Salem Massachusetts, U.S.A., at the height of the annual Samhain ritual of the witches of Salem, a ghostly hunting group complete with a male and female lead hunter, a full dog pack, and attending hunters appears out of the mist, circles the witches three times, and then vanishes. Several of the witches collapse and are taken to the hospital. They are treated for various problems including migraine headaches, bruises, unexplained cuts and burns, and one stroke. The stroke victim later dies. The attending doctor has no explanation for these injuries apart from stress due to what the witches claim to have seen. (Source unknown)

In California, U.S.A., there is a massive influx of new age enthusiasts looking for magical areas.

On December 24, in Japan, hundreds of people witness the first appearance of the great dragon Ryumyo as they pass Mount Fuji on a bullet train.

In Greece, the ruined temple at Larisa in Thessalay is magically replaced by a fully rebuilt classical temple.

In Ireland, U.K., western forests begin a rapid and unexplainable period of growth.

Tibet regains independence from China as magical defenses seal it off from invasion and render the region incommunicado.

Pope John Paul IV denounces metahumans as abominations in the eyes of God.

In the U.S.A., at the same moment as the Ryumyo sighting, Daniel Coleman and his followers escape from the Abiline Re-education center in plain view of all guards and inmates during a storm. Guards later claim that Coleman is "glowing" and that he and his followers ignored bullets fired at them.

On December 26, In England, U.K., the Great Welsh Dragon Celedyr is first sighted in the fortress town of Caerleon.

2012

On January 27, in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., the great dragon Dunklezahn makes his first appearance. He is notable because unlike other great dragons, Dunklezahn shows an exuberant fascination with high technology. He later takes up a lair in the area around Cherry Creek Lake.

2014

In Mexico, the Aztlan political party reaches new heights of popularity.

The international signal format agreements for computer datalines are signed.

Break up of the Roman church.

2017

New U.S. President William Jarma issues the infamous Resolutions Act, sanctioning the extermination of all Native American tribes. In response, the Indians began the Great Ghost Dance. Freak weather and other uncanny events destroy or disrupt U.S. military bases hosting troops slated for use in the Resolution Action. On August 17 in response to the Ghost Dancers' growing power, Mount Hood, Mount Ranier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams erupt simultaneously just as government troops are finally about to begin their attack.

2018

In Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., three months after the meeting of the North American powers the Treaty of Denver is signed by all parties. Quebec abstains from signing, citing their historically close ties with the Native Americans and its recent rapprochement with others who felt disaffected. In the treaty, all three governments acknowledge the sovereignty of the NAN over most of western North America. The document outlines a ten-year population adjustment plan that would relocate all non-Indians off NAN lands. Provisions include the establishment of reservations for non-tribal peoples and corporations, the maintenance of certain cities (such as Seattle) as extraterritorial extensions of the governments that formerly owned the land they are on, and the retention of most of the state of California by the United States. Denver itself is renamed the Front Range Free Zone (FRFZ) set aside as a "treaty city," under joint administration by the Sioux Nation, Ute Nation, Pueblo Corporate Council, United States, and Aztlan (formerly part of Mexico). Immigration is effectively prohibited into FRFZ. The NAN is divided into the Salish-Shidhe Council, the Sioux Nation, the Pueblo Corporate Council, the Ute Nation, the Algonkian-Manitoo Council, the Athabascan Council, the Trans-Polar Aleut Nation, Aztlan, and the Tsimshian Nation.

In Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., immediately after announcing the creation of ASIST technology, ESP Systems Inc. is bought out by maverick financier Dan Truman. Truman goes on to make Chicago the capital of ASIST and simsense research.

2020

The space station Freedom becomes the Zurich-Orbital Habitat.

In Ireland, Elvish children are reportedly being born of 41% of all registered births.

In Tehran, Iran, in response to a jihad declared against the new races by Iran's ruling Ayatollah, the city is demolished by Aden, a sirrush Great Dragon.

2021

Goblinization. On April 30, 10 percent of the world's population suddenly began to metamorphose into new racial types, known today as Orks and Trolls. This transformation, popularly known as Goblinization, marks another threshold point in the reemergence of magic on Earth. Humans react violently to the presence of the metahuman races in their midst.

Quebec declares its independence, receiving immediate recognition from France.

2022

Severe rioting continues all over the world in response to the phenomenon of Goblinization. The U.S. government declares martial law for several months, while reports trickling out of the Soviet Union indicate deaths on a mass scale. Many changed beings go into hiding or withdraw into separate communities. Only another outbreak of VITAS quells the radical violence, leaving another 10 percent of the world's population dead in its wake.

The term, "Awakened Beings" is coined to describe the metahumans and other emerging lifeforms.

2024

The first simsense entertainment unit (a kind of sensory VCR) becomes available.

2025

Several prestigious U.S. universities establish the first undergraduate programs in occult studies.

2026

The U.S. Constitution is amended to include all metahumans.

The first cyberterminal (a room-sized isolation chamber for a single operator) is developed. Funded by various intelligence agencies, the goal of the research is to make it possible for strike teams of "cybercommandoes" to raid data systems.

2027

The first commercial fusion reactor power plant comes on-line.

2028

In the United States, the CIA, NSA, and IRS pool their resources to recruit and train Echo Mirage, the first team of "cybercommandoes."

2029

The Computer Crash of '29. A mystery virus attacks databases worldwide, resulting in total financial chaos. The government and megacorps attempt to fight the virus with their own cybercommandoes, but eventually must recruit maverick hackers to fight the virus with untested technology. These second-generation terminals are desk-sized and no longer require an isolation tank. In the course of fighting the virus and attempting to rebuild the world wide web, the Matrix is born. The surviving hackers now have knowledge of cyberdecks and begin to cobble together their own units.

The NAN declares that the emerging metahumans (especially Elven folk) are welcome in tribal lands.

2030

The remaining United States of America merges with Canada to form the United Canadian and American States (UCAS). A coalition of southern states opposes the idea.

2030-2042

Euro-Wars. In this twelve-year period, Europe and Asia are rocked by a series of wars that result in a complete political transformation.

2034

A coup ousts President McGoldrick of Ireland. The coup was subtly masterminded by Laim O'Connor, whose Tir Republic Corps rose out of a dying IRA. Liam is asked to impose a state of emergency by acting President McCarthy. Liam uses this request to his advantage and creates a Tir out of Ireland: Tír na nÓg.

The first "gray market" cyberdecks become available.

The government of Brazil topples in the aftermath of an attack by Awakened forces, including three dragons. The Awakened declare the new state of Amazonia.

The Confederate American States (CAS) declared their independence from the UCAS and are immediately recognized by Aztlan, itself recently separated from the NAN.

2035

On May 1st, the Elves of the Pacific Northwest secede from the NAN, declaring themselves the nation of Tir Tairngire (Land of Promise) and confiscating Indian land for themselves. Their borders, which had previously been open to all metahuman refugees, snapped shut. Violent clashes between Indian and Elven tribes break out.

The Tsimshian tribal coalition withdraws from the NAN.

2036

A small community of Awakened beings in rural Ohio is napalmed by Alamos 20,000, a terrorist group dedicated to destroying all metahumans. Over the next 15 years, Alamos 20,000 is linked to the deaths of a thousand metahumans and openly sympathetic supporters.

Fuchi Corporation markets its own third-generation cyberdeck, the desktop CDT-1000.

2037

California declares independence from UCAS and it's immediately recognized by Japan. The powerful Japanese Imperial State lands troops to protect their interests.

Texas secedes from the CAS and makes an unsuccessful attempt to seize portions of southwestern Texas ceded to the tribes of Aztlan by the Treaty of Denver. Four months later, a frustrated and embarrassed Texas applied for re-admittance to the CAS.

The Great Dragon, Lofwyr, appears with a staggering 63 percent of Saeder-Krupp's outstanding stock shares. He immediately votes himself Chairman of the Board, CEO, and president, effectively becoming the megacorporation.

2039

The Night of Rage. Racial violence breaks out in major urban centers of North America. Thousands die, most of them metahumans and their supporters.

2041

EuroAir Flight 329, en route from London to New York, is destroyed over the Atlantic, killing all passengers and crew. Though garbled, the last transmission seems to indicate that a dragon attacked the craft. Many believe the flight was sabotaged to retaliate for the Night of Rage.

Policlubs, youth-oriented associations devoted to spreading various political or social philosophies, first appear in Europe. Each club hopes to recruit the masses to its own viewpoint and thus play a leading role in the European Restoration.

2043

Liam O'Connor, State President of Tír na nÓg, disappears. His wife of two years, Brane Deigh, proclaims herself "Queen" of the Seelie Court, a non-legislative body said to influence the spirits of Elves, rather than their minds or bodies.

Four new chapters of the Universal Brotherhood, an organization espousing a philosophy based on EST, New Age pseudo-mysticism, and a healthy dose of Madison Avenue marketing smarts, open in California.

2044

Aztlan nationalizes all foreign-owned business. Semi-open war breaks out as some corporations fight to retain their holdings. Under cover of the fighting, Aztlan annexes most of what is left of Mexico except for the Yucatan, where Awakened forces halt all takeover attempts.

2045

The Universal Brotherhood opens a chapter in Seattle.

2046

The first simsense megahit, "Free Fall," starring Honey Brighton, eventually sells 50 million copies.

The policlub idea spreads to North America, but with violence in its wake. The Humanis Policlub, in particular, attracts a major following that cuts across economic, social, and political divisions. In a series of paid advertisements, Mothers of Metahumans (MOM) denounces Humanis as an army of the shadowy Alamos 20,000.

2048

Tir Tairngire is admitted to the United Nations.

2049

The Governor of Seattle signs an exclusive trade deal with representatives of Tir Tairngire. Seattle, already a major cultural and economic center for the UCAS, NAN, and large segments of the Awakened, now takes on new importance as the only access to Elven goods and services.

2050

The seventh generation cyberdeck is introduced, now down to keyboard-size.

Cyber- and biotechnology continue to advance as a significant percentage of mankind chose to distance themselves from the faults of natural flesh.

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