GAN is the name that has been given to the respiratory virus that has

been concealed underneath layers of ice in Antarctica for millennia.

[Year 2021]

Due to the continually rising temperatures caused by climate change, the

virus has once again become active. What was once ice, has now become
water, allowing the virus to be gradually spread to surrounding areas by
forceful Nordic Winds. A mere 12 years later, the virus managed to spread
across the planet.

A constant cough and sore throat have been identified as the main
outward signs of infection. The most devastating aspect of the virus
however, is that it dehydrates the human body 12 times faster than it would
normally. For a humans, the adequate water consumption cycle is
approximately 3.3 litres per day. This has now become 44 litres per day.
Depending on the age of those infected, dehydration would set in after
minute or hours, leading to a constant urge to drink water in order to ease
their pain and to stabilize their body functionality. Due to the increase in
water demand, clean water prices skyrocketed globally, and the situation
has reached the point where clean water has become the most valuable
and highly sought after substance on earth.

[Year 2030]

Leading scientists around the world began working together to produce a

cure. Water consumption had increased by a factor of 2 thousand when
compared to the late 1900s. In an attempt to produce clean water from
previously unused sources, such as oceans and lakes, organizations such
as the United Nations constructed various non consumable water filters.
This excessive water treatment process was unsuccessful, as scientists
didn't have enough time to validate the microbial reaction the water would
have to the antibiotics meant to filter it to make it safe for human
consumption. Chemical substitutes used for the dirty water meant that
those who were already infected with the virus suffered even more.
Hospitals soon reached maximum capacity, and as follows, the low and
middle class could not afford to buy water to ease their pain. The human
population began fading out.
 A study showed that those who were exposed to the Gan virus past
middle age were unlikely to withstand and endure the pain when compared
to the young population (between birth and 5 years of age). The scientists
conducting the study explained this by suggesting that the younger
generation had developed an immunity to the virus due to self-developed
antibodies that reconstructed their DNA so that the Gan virus does not
harm the host. The new immune system brought up previously
undiscovered body conditions such as stronger pain tolerance, the general
improvement of physical aptitudes, water thrust resistance, faster climate
adaptation, and slower cell aging.

[Year 2032]

There was an attempt to transplant immune blood cells from immune new-
borns to other people, hoping that these antibodies would recognize the
anti-Gan cells and reconstruct on their own. Sadly, participants in this
experimental study would suffer heart attacks and most often die. This was
because both DNA structures were not able to communicate with one
another, and the subjects' bodies had constant conflicts of Leucocytes
(White blood cells). After a few years, the project was abandoned. In the
meantime, the virus had perfectly established itself in the air, and scientists
were able to create effective water filtering systems. This lead to worldwide
conflicts for remaining water resources. The Atlantic ocean was soon the
last existing ocean on earth.

[Year 2059]

Three quarters of water resources on planet earth had been exhausted.

Due to rising water prices and difficulty in accessing clean water (due to
heavy protection of water resources in high level societies) resistance
groups started forming. These groups would ravage water sites. The whole
planet had become a war zone, filled with anxious and desperate people.
Each side of the remaining groups were attacking one another in an attempt
to claim clean water sources for themselves.

This lead to a dramatic global temperature increase, and cold areas

became three to four times warmer than in recorded history. This resulted in
massive waves of refugees who had to leave their home lands due to the
fact that it was impossible to survive in their current conditions. They
decided to leave to find a new place to establish themselves. Sadly, due to
all the existing global stress, they were not accepted anywhere. These
unusual conditions, and the growing refugee crisis sparked hatred and
rejection from those who owned water sources.

The current story is taking place after the great war of the ''Slagveld'' (year
2070 – 2073). This was the war for what remained of the Atlantic
ocean. Before the elders old ad passed away, they were assigned specific
roles within their religions to protect their history and culture for the future
generations. It was hoped that these groups of people would be able to
preserve their own history and cherish the values that had been passed
from generation to generation.

The end of the war of the ''Slagveld'' resulted in the loss of many people.
Four prodigies (or the most talented individuals) were assigned by the last
surviving elders. People called them ''Prospers''. The continent was divided
into 5 regions, and the Prospers were given land ownership of a respective
region: Land of Aleksithimia (Grand Central - Central Europe), Land of
Elpida (Eurasia), Land of Slagveld (African continent), Land of Exoria
(Nordic countries) and Land of Nekros (The first area that has been affected
by the Gan virus, appears to be inhabited). After the election each Prosper
applied their own culture and religion to their land. The agreement of peace
had finally began. [Year 2073] Four prospers could have made a pact of
permanent ceased-fire, however, internal problems of acceptance between
the inner population and conflicts within lands were never concluded.

Remaining territories were still under anarchy rules which constantly led to
conflicts between native and previously migrated inhabitants. Due to the
lack of natural resources both parties were struggling to maintain a healthy
and sane balance; Depending on regions, plantation of resources and
hunting were rarely possible without specific constructions and gears; This
was the main cause of famine in rural areas.

The Lands of Elpida (Eurasian continent) or has never been in contact

with anyone from the other lands, there were rumors that these lands who's
had a majority of elder population, could not reproduce fast enough and that
therefore, the whole western population had become extinct. Unfortunately,
after the war, nobody cared to cross the dead ocean and investigate what
was going on the other side. Some merchants were spreading rumors that
in the Nekros area (Land of the Dead) Gan virus has provoked some sort of
mutation within its hosts, specifically affecting wild life and that it is
extremely dangerous approaching these lands. Merchant sources were
never clarified and confirmed to be reliable as nobody had been to these
lands after the infection since reaching Nekros required several weeks of
travel. Hence what the merchants told about Nekros was never clarified and
confirmed.

After the Slagveld war, the fallen ones who could not develop Gan
immunity were left behind untreated rotting under the sun and waiting for
the decomposition process to begin. According to the four prospers, since
there was no cure created against the virus, These people were considered
a burden and resources were not to be wasted, as the young generation
was already facing severe famine. These who were left on the battlefield
were screaming in pain under the burning sun which was intensifying the
dehydration process until their heart seized; Meanwhile, the Gan virus was
doing everything possible so that the host body would die before it had
consumed all its resources. Sadly, the body of the host could not stop
functioning until the heart stopped or someone finished them off...

The land of Slagveld had been heavily impacted by these problems as the
ocean had been depleted and had become a desert. Due to the high
temperatures, civilization was scarce and hunting was extremely limited. On
the other hand, the land of Aleksithimia, controlled by prosper Aleksithimia
himself, has become the richest land of them all.