Welcome to Tortured Earth Imagine that within the next hour, your computer screen turns RED. The only words visible are 'The Gate is Open. Beware the Mist'. Every computer, television, tablet, and cell phone on the planet has the same message. An hour later, it abruptly ends. Twelve hours from the initial Broadcast, every human in New York City instantly vanishes. The world continues to unravel as magic, aliens, telepaths, and far worse flood through random cracks in reality. Reality itself has lost the ability to keep barriers in place. Magic and its associated species mingle with future civilizations and alternate realities in which humans never existed. The only sign that a crack is forming is the odd atmospheric depression causing a dense mist. Those who enter The Mist don't always return. Those who return from The Mist are never the same. Many that didn't disappear after encountering the Mist have instead mutated into a hybridization of animals, insects, or other unrecognizable species. Beware the Mists Two decades later, Mist incursions persist. However, they have become infrequent and limited in scale. Amid this semblance of stability, mankind begins to rebuild an existence in its new reality. In this precarious world, you find yourself holding a formal invitation, an unexpected lifeline promising sanctuary in Canyon City. This once-dormant mining settlement has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a fortified haven with essential amenities like running water and electricity. Accepting the invitation means more than just seeking refuge; it demands a commitment to the community's survival. You're tasked with proving your allegiance and dedication through fifteen months of service. A year on combat patrol and three months as a town reservist await as you embark on this journey into Canyon City. The challenge ahead is not just to survive but to become an integral part of this enclave, where the echoes of the Mist-infested past linger, and the future hangs in a delicate balance.