In the year 2020, people believed a better society would be better than during a time that plagued the world with diseases and war, but more unity within cultures, and understanding of lack of tolerance and education. Stemming from this came the research experiment called 'Bindung' which means Bond in German. The social scientists in Germany and America came up with a plan to test human behavior in an enclosed and monitored setting. They built a simulator that mimicked earth. Anyone inside the simulator would have no idea it was anything less than real. The air smelled fresh, the sun felt warm, the water from the mountains ran cold.
The idea behind the experiment was to determine how people instinctively worked together to form a culture, survived and made a new life for themselves. The modern world diluted the way people think and their need to survive as they leaned on modern technology and modernized inventions to lean on. How would a young adult at the age of 20 survive in a world where electricity was no longer an option, or even having running water? Would they break or would their built-in instincts kick in and help them survive? Is human nature lost or can it be rebuilt as it once was?
The scientists developed an advanced technology that surpassed most. It gave them the ability to choose people to insert into the simulation from all over the world. Once a person was chosen they would experience a 'blackout'. They would wake up in the unknown to the simulation. So new world, new time era, new struggles. Some may get lucky and come with someone that they know, most will not be that fortunate. Their memories are not lost but their resources are not available. Confusion will most likely set in for a while but then at some point they will need to come to the conclusion that they need to survive.
In the modern world, supernaturals existed but simple humans was not aware of them for the most part as the world was not ready for this. Inside the simulation, those that were holding superpowers used them to try to escape meeting failure but this broke the masquerade and now all beings walked the streets as if they always had. Magic is a common thing inside the simulation, using a power is an everyday practice. Since the ‘sunlight’ is artificial this allows for vampires to not worry about being in the open during the daytime hours.
What it's like for those that are placed inside... You can either 'wake up' you are confused, lost, and unsure of what is going on, or you could have been here a while and already have your bearings. The simulation has been around for about ten years now. It is your choice to have been here one day up to ten years. You will remember your life, your friends, your knowledge is retained but you will soon realize things are far from the same. Your clothes are what you decide to wear. Of course trying to fit in might be beneficial, it is a choice you will have to make. There is no electricity, cell towers etc so bringing your iPhone will do you no good.
It is also important to realize that a player's past work experience, knowledge, training might be very useful in this new world they are embarking into. Players will be able to choose a profession, maybe they are doing it for pure entertainment, maybe it's a craft, perhaps it's a skill that will one day help the simulation evolve into a more updated age. It is completely up to the player to decide the direction they wish to go in. Players will also need to decide if they are new to the simulation or if they have been there for a period of time. Those that are new probably would still be confused, maybe frightened. They would still be following the masquerade, still mindful of those around them and trying to blend in just as they had been doing in the modern world. Those that choose to have been there for a period of time have already adapted to the way of life inside the simulation, thus being themselves in the open.
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Emerald Hurst has evolved as it is said that the simulation has been around for nearly 15 years. It currently has running water, electricity and some modern comforts. Clothing has evolved from medieval to modern but some are just stuck in their ways. There is still no cell service to be found.