The year is 1921. Civilization has fallen. The world as we once knew it is gone, lost beneath a cover of thick, poisonous gas, a rolling cloud that devours everything in its path, country by country. The Shroud.

A few years ago, during the height of WWI, a military experiment went horribly wrong, unleashing this toxic fog upon the earth, changing the course of history and damning us all. The gas kills swiftly, but not everyone is granted a quick death. For a few wretched souls, immunity to the gas is a curse. Instead of dying, their bodies undergo a slow mutation, warping them into twisted, grotesque creatures. It begins subtly, a purple spider web pattern spreading across their skin, and then the madness follows. Those fully transformed become monsters, prowling the ruined streets and attacking anything that moves. The half-mutated, the ones still clinging to humanity, hide in the shadows, desperate to avoid their fate.

As nations collapsed, so did their governments. The vibrant cities that once thrived now lie in decay, draped in the pale green fog of The Shroud. Those brave or desperate enough to wander the surface must do so wearing protective gas masks, and are wise to bring a weapon. You never know who, or what, you might encounter.

Yet, even in this wasteland, humanity endures. Above ground, life is all but extinct, but below, in subway tunnels, basements, and vaults, civilization clings on. Underground cities are alive with the echoes of old-world charm. Jazz still plays in dimly lit speakeasies, and survivors barter for scraps of food and supplies in crowded markets.

But safety is fleeting, and the threat of The Shroud looms ever near. Who are you in this fractured world? A survivor struggling to protect loved ones, a scavenger searching for precious resources, an infected seeking a cure to save your life, or something else entirely? Who you are and the choices you make will determine your path forward.