The Otherworld

*The world that is **different** from the others. One that's unique, unfathomable and strangely **intriguing**.* I must see more- **investigate** further. There is something weirdly **familiar** about it, like the fading memory of a distant **dream**..

- **The Source**

## History

During the prehistoric ages, those who would be the Gods resided above. In a pocket-dimension of divine origin. The pantheons that it housed never would walk Earth- ridiculing the orb for its primitive inhabitants. But that changed when mankind was born. Curious creatures that sought a meaning beyond survival. A reason for their existence. They created communities- a society. The gods from above took notice, finding a reason to walk the world they once deemed unworthy of their presence. The first to appear was Zeus, leader of the Greek Pantheon. He saw the structure of mankind’s constructed hierarchies. Coming to the realisation that man was meant to be ruled.

All of the Gods he ruled and other pantheons came with him- announcing their arrival and existence. Claiming their position above the mortals and demanding praise. Prayers that would- unbeknownst to the humans, increase their already divine might. Naturally they’d resist and fight back. But the sacrifices made were far too demanding. They accepted defeat. Failing at freeing themselves of tyranny. Each year it grew worse. People would go missing at random, forcing the weak to pray harder than they already did. People were desperate and grew hateful of the Gods.

In response to the combined hatred of a million souls, the combined power of that anger manifested a creature into existence. One beyond divinity. Almost demonic, grim. At night it roamed the cities of man. Siphoning the hatred from man’s soul to empower itself. It grew quickly and acted even faster. The arrogant Olympians resided on their high mountain on Earth, enjoying their reign of unjustifiable terror. When the time was right- it arrived. Their end. For, the being spawned from mankind’s anger brought forth ultimate destruction. Each attempt at resisting only increased the collateral damage. The mountain fell, and Zeus’ power vanished from the surface of the Earth.

Even those guilty of lesser crimes were terrifyingly slaughtered by the unnamed manifestation. Pantheons fell one by one- only minor deities and races who fled this dimension could find safety. Never desiring a way back- for, that which haunted them would awaken once more to come for them. And there was no power that could touch even a fraction of that entity’s might. But eventually, the races like the lycanthropes and vampires and some unnamed ones resurfaced in secret and were never again pursued. Them being the origin to most folklore.

Around the planet numerous groups performed occult practices, carrying on the vague story of the being that killed the gods. But with each new generation, that story ultimately became forgotten. Their magical ability originated from other dimensions and fundamental aspects of the universe. Only those fanatic enough could learn from the old scrolls. It acted as a basis for something greater- something left for the individual’s own interpretation.

In those ancient days the galaxy was oozing with life- entire civilizations lived in peace, though some tried to gain power over their adversary’s domain. But save for those traditional wars, the galactic community was vast and powerful. Earth had never been included for its primitive nature. Being deemed the younger and rather dumber civilization. But ironically, it would prove to be the last one. For, as centuries passed, soon 97% of the planets eventually died out. Unable to house any life. Being the reason for some reports on Earth about extraterrestrial appearances society neglects.

At the dawn of the 15th century, a rain of meteorites showered Earth in mysterious rocks that contained toxic waste. A small minority of Earth’s inhabitants were exposed to it. Some praised them, others locked them away. Reports have shown many experienced sickness due to exposure, many even dying to them. But those who lived forever carried a special gene, one that during the passage of time would be the origin of superhuman life.

During the Salem Trials the many books and other artefacts used for teaching magic grew slim. Most of the population depicted the occult as something satanic and killed all practitioners they could get their hands on. And though many were lost, a greater total survived and continued to exist in secret. Forming communities that ventured the unknown- keeping ancient things at bay mankind should never learn of.

In the 20th century, the first recording of inhuman activities was during the 1940s. In Japan Hiroshima, a prisoner named Daniel Van Kampen fell victim to nuclear bombings by the United States. But instead of dying, he alone survived it in spite of being at the epicentre of the explosion where the nuke made contact with land. The radiation was absorbed into his being, enhancing his physiology. His skin became thicker than even the hardest of steels, and stronger than even Mother Nature’s own calamities. The first man whose dormant genes activated.

Science never got its chance to understand it, for, the man would not be its subject. In secret, only his trusted British friend Richard Baker with whom he studied science during college was allowed a peek into his DNA’s newly formed structure. Exploring that gene which the attack on Japan activated. Together, they dubbed it the ‘novis-gene’. After that, no new recordings were discovered.

It wasn’t until the 2000s that superhuman activity reoccurred. By then, the research of Baker had been discovered and released to the public. There was a disliking for them, though many have learned to live with its existence. They were never antagonistic, kept in check by their own kind when things threatened to get bad. They were called heroes. A minority did not agree with that term, actively acting against all things they depicted as unnatural. The supernatural remained relatively unknown, remaining in the shadows as the metahumans appeared on the fore-front.

## Notes

* This Earth is just as the normal Earth we all inhabit- aside from these fictional events.
* In contrast to real life, this planet is not overpopulated. Due to the presence of the supernatural, nature has a mystical origin and is far more resistant to environmental damage and heals much quicker.