Dr Quickthorn and Dr Raven

DrJayvyn Quickthorn was a world-renowned chemist who joined one of CR (Crossover Research)’s Recondite research programs alongside a physicist of similar status, Dr Allister Raven. This program (one of many running in parallel) was code-named "CrossMining", and focused on the origins and uses of the mysterious Recondite metal along with discovery of the seemingly magical effects that it could induce.

Records are unclear about the phenomena that the CrossMining team experienced during the project’s early phases, but it became clear that it was becoming increasingly dangerous. Raven seemed to revel in each of their discoveries regardless of the ever growing risks and volatility of the Recondite refinement process. It was suspected that the exposure to the refined metal dust was also having a negative effect on the physicist’s sanity.

As the dangers grew, Quickthorn took the decision to leave the project taking valuable research with him in the hope of stopping or at least slowing it down.

Raven had overseen discoveries of telekinesis and time manipulation and had no tolerance for delays. He was also not about to see the progress they had made be taken to any other research group. No longer thinking rationally, he hired a team to kill Quickthorn and recover the research.

But the attempt failed, and using some of the magical discoveries made during the project, Quickthorn managed to escape and go into hiding.

The specifics of Crossover Research’s part in the collapse of society are still largely unknown but many hold them responsible.

After the fall, Quickthorn emerged from hiding blaming himself for not doing more to stop CR and their projects.

On learning that Raven was still at CR and research was still moving forward, Quickthorn made it his mission to confront Raven and destroy the lab.

Quickthorn used his expertise to develop explosives that would be powerful enough to annihilate the lab and anyone in it. With patience and persistence, he managed to return to the lab and even to confront Raven. With no plan for escape he fought Raven as he detonated the explosives killing both scientists and destroying the mostly evacuated lab.

The Recondite from the destroyed lab rained down on the site's wreckage, and had an unexpected and major effect that had not been discovered by either scientist before their deaths. The earth from that site became magically charged and anything dead buried there returned to life, though at the expense of becoming corrupted.

Ironically, in death the two scientist had discovered another of Recondite’s effects, necromancy.

Small settlements have formed there over the years, but have always eventually been abandoned due to those buried there returning as corrupted monsters.  The place became known as Lazarus.

It is rumored that the earth at Lazarus, resurrected both scientists.The corrupted man believed to be Quickthorn no longer answered to his name and just became known as “The Raised Man”.

Raven, ever the ego continued to go by “Dr Raven”, and both now harness the power of the Lazarus earth/shards.

Despite the corruption, Quickthorn’s goal remains the same, to stop Raven at all costs.