Post by Kai on Feb 19, 2010 10:03:41 GMT -5
One of the most perplexing scientific mysteries of current-day Earth is the presence of what are simply referred to as ‘tainted areas.’ A rather non-descript colloquialism, the ‘tainted areas’ are ubiquitous; that is, they can be found in any climate and do not discriminate when it comes to ‘land type.’ Plains, forests, mountains (volcanic or not), the frozen tundra of the continent of Xeros, rivers, lakes, seas… even ‘sections of the sky’ have been found to be ‘tainted.’ The problem, in terms of identification, is that there appears to be no measurable way of distinguishing ‘tainted earth’ against the standard environment. No chemical residues, no atmospheric fluctuations, no tell-tale radiation… no standard scientific monitoring strategy has been discovered to preemptively recognize a ‘tainted area.’ Instead, the locations of these ‘tainted areas’ have been mapped by the method of primary discovery – or, more simply, by an individual (or group) literally walking in to the area. Upon entering one of these anomalies, the perception of the individual is distorted. Although the ‘symptoms’ are somewhat variable, the most common experiences reported by individuals are: color blindness (i.e. everything turns ‘black and white’), minor vertigo, excessive sweat production (particularly worrisome in extremely cold environments), dehydration, nausea, and headache. These symptoms tend to resolve quickly once the individual is removed from the area. More severe reactions to entering ‘tainted areas’ (usually as a result of extended exposure) include memory loss, persistent fatigue (2 weeks to 2 months, generally), chronic insomnia, narcolepsy, anorexia, permanent color blindness, total vision loss, and increased susceptibility to disease states (including autoimmune diseases and cancer.) While the mechanism of damage is unknown, it is suspected that entering the ‘tainted areas’ causes genetic damage. This has been ‘confirmed’ experimentally according to the city of Vespar, which has admitted to the practice of depositing bound prisoners in known ‘tainted areas.’ Ironically, this practice is for the purpose of disposing the prisoners by way of monsters. Instead, the end result has been shown that individuals ‘lucky’ enough to not be attacked… are transformed into monsters far worse than those that should have turned them into a meal.
‘Tainted areas’ are believed to be ‘relics’ from the catastrophe that nearly ended civilization in the Sol system over 1000 years ago. Although their exact nature is unknown, the fact that these areas produce the greater majority of dangerous creatures on Earth is thought to confirm the origin of the anomalies. Additionally, the fact that they do not move – i.e. the same area, whether on land, sea, or in air, is either ‘tainted’ or not. Even areas that have moved or been altered remain ‘tainted.’ As an example, a particular portion of the Howling Fang’s mountain chain that existed as a ‘valley’ between mountains was identified as a ‘tainted area’ early in Champagne’s development. Twenty years after identification, a volcanic eruption converted the ‘valley’ into a magma-flow plain. Many scientists of the time speculated that such a change would eradicate the ‘taint.’ Instead, the area simply began producing different kinds of monsters. (In the example, the creature types moved from ‘standard’ avian monsters to flame elementals.) As mentioned above, normal creatures can be transformed into monsters by excessive exposure to the ‘tainted areas’, but the mechanism of ‘monster origin’ is not fully known. The most popular theory, which comes from direct observation, is that the mechanism of origin is ‘spontaneous.’ Monsters simply appearing out of thin air, though scientifically disturbing, is an often observed fact. The ‘how’ it occurs is the question that has yet to be answered.
Locations of ‘tainted areas’ will be revealed on an ‘as needed’ basis.
‘Tainted areas’ are believed to be ‘relics’ from the catastrophe that nearly ended civilization in the Sol system over 1000 years ago. Although their exact nature is unknown, the fact that these areas produce the greater majority of dangerous creatures on Earth is thought to confirm the origin of the anomalies. Additionally, the fact that they do not move – i.e. the same area, whether on land, sea, or in air, is either ‘tainted’ or not. Even areas that have moved or been altered remain ‘tainted.’ As an example, a particular portion of the Howling Fang’s mountain chain that existed as a ‘valley’ between mountains was identified as a ‘tainted area’ early in Champagne’s development. Twenty years after identification, a volcanic eruption converted the ‘valley’ into a magma-flow plain. Many scientists of the time speculated that such a change would eradicate the ‘taint.’ Instead, the area simply began producing different kinds of monsters. (In the example, the creature types moved from ‘standard’ avian monsters to flame elementals.) As mentioned above, normal creatures can be transformed into monsters by excessive exposure to the ‘tainted areas’, but the mechanism of ‘monster origin’ is not fully known. The most popular theory, which comes from direct observation, is that the mechanism of origin is ‘spontaneous.’ Monsters simply appearing out of thin air, though scientifically disturbing, is an often observed fact. The ‘how’ it occurs is the question that has yet to be answered.
Locations of ‘tainted areas’ will be revealed on an ‘as needed’ basis.