A fallen world

It was the year 2060, a dark chapter for humanity. Over the past fifteen years, the global population reduced to a mere 300 million. Once monumental cities lay in ruins, destroyed by wars and economic collapse. Economies had crumbled, prices soared to astronomical heights, and essential resources like food and water became scarce commodities. 

In this grim reality, the world regressed to the dawn of the century. The advancements in communication that had flourished in the preceding years faded , leaving society isolated and fractured. Long gone were the days of instant connectivity and global awareness; now, the people lived in silos, their understanding of the world reduced to whispers and rumors. As monetary systems crumbled, traditional currency was abandoned, opting instead for a new system known as "credits," where one dollar equated to an unfathomable 150,000 credits. This provided a temporary parachute to the crisis, but it did little to lower the poverty that hunted countless families, many of whom succumbed to destitution and despair.

The year 2055 marked a turning point, as the economy began to stabilize, paving the way for a fragile recovery. New jobs emerged as the reconstruction of cities took precedence, and for a moment, the world seemed to go back toward normalcy. Construction crews rebuilt a part of what had been lost. Education, too, experienced a renaissance after years of closures that had led to a rise in illiteracy. Schools reopened their doors.

In this new world, the demand for essential resources spurred the rise of explorers, teams of brave people, venturing into the ruins of abandoned cities and forgotten towns in search of food, water, and artifacts. These explorers navigated through the remains of civilization. They scavenged for supplies to bring back to their struggling communities.

As cities grew more self-reliant, the grip of central governments, already weakened by years of crisis, waned further until they became shadows of their former selves. The once-unifying power of these governments split as local authorities rose to fill the void. At the heart of each urban center lay the churches, which had come to symbolize not only faith but authority and protection in this fractured world. These institutions, now wielding immense power, served as the pillar of governance. Each church aligned with a particular deity or entity, claiming to safeguard the people and uphold order.

To solidify their influence, they offered artifacts—sacred relics imbued with divine or demonic energy—providing local leaders with the means to defend against dangers both human and otherworldly. Those within the churches deemed worthy underwent rigorous initiation and were blessed with the task of guardianship. Empowered through a connection to higher powers, these individuals, known as "Sentinels," took up their roles with unwavering commitment. Gifted with extraordinary abilities through these blessings, they patrolled the perimeters, warding off threats from other cities or the wild creatures roaming the outskirts. 

Over time, these Sentinels expanded their jurisdiction beyond the city walls. As trade and travel resumed in the wake of economic recovery, roads and trade routes became lifelines for the fragile economies. These paths were fraught with danger, infested by both human bandits and dangerous creatures, born of the 'Void' and/or loyal to no one. In response, the churches dispatched their most capable Sentinels to patrol these routes, escorting travelers and merchants, ensuring that trade could flow with safety.

In the absence of traditional state authority, the churches took on the role of regulators, their influence extending into every facet of life. For the common person, daily existence had become intertwined with the machinations of these religious institutions, whose blessings were both revered and feared. To gain favor with a church, either for protection, prosperity, or advancement, was something many sought, though it came with conditions.

Amidst this fragile resurgence, the churches of various deities prospered even more. The church of Ra, the sun god, gained prominence in the USA. In Russia, Zarathustra, the god of thunder and sea, reigned. Meanwhile, in Germany, Amon, the god of commerce and money, established a strong foundation. 

As the United Nations declared with caution that the demographic crisis was showing signs of stopping, they released a report detailing the recovery and the foundation of new cities and towns. The year 2060 was the first one since 2036 that the economy had shown signs of improvement.