The Fall of Man RP

Plot & Setting

Plot

The Past...

It was the year 2050 when the HMN77 virus nearly wiped out human existence. Performing under the guise of the common flu, HMN77 was quick to decemate much of the human race in record time. Whole cities fell in the wake of the HMN77 virus's disaster. Corpses littered the streets, and the majority of the human population was killed off within a few weeks of its initial spread.

Cities became desolate, shrouded in an eerie silence. Having a natural immunity to the virus, very few humans remained. However, there were not enough of them to pick up the pieces of their former society and carry on. Animals escaped from nearby zoos, wandered into the cities, and picked on the carcasses of the dead and decaying humans as an easy meal.

Little did they know, or realize, that they willingly ingested the HMN77 virus, and with it, it began mutating in their own bodies. Instead of killing the animals like it did the humans, it quietly mutated and evolved as it was digested. The first generation of carnivorous animals who ingested the virus would see very little difference in their lives, but as the virus inside of them evolved over the years, it granted newer generations benefits that humans would've already had - advanced intelligence, the ability to stand upright, and newly developed dexterity in their paws. Each new generation born to these infected hosts were more and more evolved.

Five or so generations later, the carnivorous animals would walk upright, have the potential for intelligence that rivaled basic human understanding, and have formed their own societies from the ashes.

Of course, the pocket of immune humans that remained did not plan to give up their position at the top of the food chain so easily, and war waged between the animal kingdom and the human population.

When the animal kingdom hailed victorious, the self-proclaimed Lion King took the USA's former president as a Lap Hume as a symbol of power over the human race. It was then that everything changed for the remaining humans.

Captured, chained, taken in as pets, the humans lost their free will in the presence of the animals... and the two divided. Humans took to the forests to hide out, to avoid being captured and enslaved, while the animals took to the cities, to build their empire.

The Present

Many generations past, it is now 2755 and the animal kingdom thrives, while humanity shakily holds on. In Collinwood, humans live to serve their animal masters. In the wilds, humans live to avoid capture, live freely, and lie in wait for the moment to take back what they believe was once theirs - power.

While Collinwood isn’t the only established animal society, it is one of the largest. Rivaling that of only England, Collinwood shows its contribution to the cause by beginning its own hume breeding program, run by the Crown mainly. It becomes one of the main faces of animal society, being highly respected worldwide.

Rebel forces begin to accumulate in the wilds, bringing together humans and animals alike that believe in equality for humans. The Crown has only just learned about this group, and has been keeping as close of an eye on them as they can... though, the Rebels prove difficult at times.

Setting

The main area, Washington D.C., renamed Collinwood by the animals that conquered it, replaces what was once the capital of America. Vegetation -- trees, weeds, grasses, flowers, bushes, and other plants -- have all but just overtaken much of the city's ruins.

Collinwood is a large expanse of small to medium-sized buildings, houses, and commercial lots. The area surrounding the White House is the prettiest, with purposefully planted trees and vegetation that changes bright colors in Autumn. Such vegetation has thrived in the absence of human life.

While animal royalty, and those who closely serve them, live a plush and comfortable life in the maintained ruins of the White House, the animals who make Collinwood their home either live in crudely-made shacks in the outskirts of the city and forest or in patched up city ruins - houses, apartments that still hold sturdy, or old stores. The animals know enough to fix up what is broken, but the technology needed to build up the city to what it once was is something that's out of their grasp - no matter how intelligent they are. One thing is for certain, hard labor is always done on the backs of the humans that serve them.

Climate

Set on the East Coast of the United States, Washington D.C. (now Collinwood) is a subtropical climate defined by cold winters and hot, humid summers, with the potential for weather extremes every now and then.

Spring (March to May)

Characterized by the burst of greenery in the forest after a long and foreboding winter, Spring is often viewed as a time of celebration, gardening, and reproduction. Heavy rainstorms are frequent during this season - sometimes accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Summer (June to August)

Obvious by its longer days, humidity, and prospering vegetation, summer is the most fruitful time of the year. From what flowering gardens offer to what food can be caught and stocked up, summer signifies a time of plenty. Most days in this season are accompanied by a passing rainshower, though most of the time they clear up rather quickly.

Autumn (September to November)

When the days begin to shrink, the lasting warmth grows bitter, and the last of the lush greenery browns and dies off, Fall has come to suck the life from the earth again and prepare it for winter. There are no particularly harsh weather events that occur during the Fall. Yay!

Winter (December to February)

Winters in Maryland often feature cold temperatures (under 40°F/4°C) and frequent snow storms. In recent years, it seems that snow falls more freely with less humans about - so Collinwood is often painted white. With so much snow, though, brings structural damage and potential winter hazards. Collinwood is likely to see hailstorms and even freezing rain during more mild days.