**Imperium** is a science-fiction fantasy world, set ~2400 years after a catastrophic collapse of civilization, where humanity has rebuilt from the brink of extinction. Although its details remain obscure, we widely acknowledge that pre-collapse history reveals significantly greater prosperity and advancement than the current “4th Age of Humankind.” Ares, the current human home world, is the setting's focus. Five superpowers, a multitude of sovereign corporations, and two rival branches of the church dominate civilization. Humanity controls a swath of the Milky Way’s Perseus arm, connected by a network of Transit Rings, which open portals to the enigmatic realm of Hubspace, making interstellar travel possible. In the shadows, a labyrinthine underworld thrives, fueled by black-market deals, rogue hackers, and hidden magical forces. As a new cold war brews, factions wage secret battles for influence, while cosmic entities with godlike powers plot from beyond our reality. #### The Dark Centuries Approximately six centuries ago, humanity faced self-destruction at the hands of a former authoritarian nation. Over the four centuries of rebuilding, the superpowers and corporations drafted the Orbital Strike Treaty, which restricted space-based warfare and weapons of mass destruction. This action safeguarded the species from extinction and protected the vulnerable and costly spacecraft that serve as the foundation of interstellar trade. That cataclysmic conflict led to a more nuanced era. Diverse powers, both human and alien, now use sophisticated manipulation and subterfuge instead of conventional military force and threats of violence. Despite occasional skirmishes and proxy wars, an uneasy peace prevailed until the modern era. #### Recent History In 586 NDZ (46 years ago) a corporate and political conspiracy opened a portal to the innermost realm of the universe. Energies spilled out from every linked Transit device and structure into all of human space, altering everything it touched. Ethereal creatures, known as the Hazraadim, emerged across the known worlds. This resulted in the Holoscaral Outbreak, a brief period of all-out war involving humans, aliens, and supernatural entities. The following decades saw a protracted conflict, known as the Years of Strife, aimed at restoring the pre-war status quo. #### The Present Humanity has established a new equilibrium. Safety has been restored to all but the most remote regions. Nevertheless, shadowy threats persist, even within the massive capital cities. Plots to disrupt the balance of power continue. The superpowers, corporations, and religious factions all engage in a secretive struggle for dominance. Magic, once confined to myth and religion, has begun to reemerge, and though its power is growing, few know how to wield it. In this world of political intrigue, corporate control, and magical upheaval, will you navigate the various power struggles or become lost in the chaos of the **Schattenkrieg**?