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The year was 2074, and the world was at war. Nobody was safe from army drafts, and every nation seemed to be pulling the whole of their population to join the ranks of their military. In the span of a few short months, the world's population had dropped by almost half, as human beings mercilessly slayed each other for their governments, their beliefs. The land was scarred from explosions, raging fires, and poisonous gas. It was a war from hell, and nobody seemed to be able to remember how it started. They were just blindly fighting each other, wasting life after life. Finally, nuclear weapons emerged, and the war was brought to a devastating end as nations fired upon each other, the weapons seemingly wiping out all human life. Few people survived, and those that did went into hiding. Civilization was erased, cities crumbled, and all that was left was The Shade.

The Shade was a dark shadow that blotted out the sky, a cloud left over from the war. It hung over the land, infecting it, mutating all the life left on earth. None of the few scattered humans left alive could remember a time before The Shade, and they seemed to give up hope that humanity could ever return. They began to wander, hopelessly searching for light in the darkness now looming over them. Finally, they found a place to call home, a large grove cut off from the rest of the land, and seemingly untouched by The Shade. It was surrounded by the darkness on all sides, but for some reason it seemed the Shade could not enter. It was here that they settled down, naming their new home Morden. They would live here for nearly a hundred years, the war fading from their minds completely, and their hopes slowly returning. A tale emerged among the people, one of a vast land where the shade had faded, where people were safe. They called this place Outland. It was the perfect place to rebuild their fallen civilization, and some left in search of it. Others stayed behind, the village growing into a town, and people going about their lives with a new light in their lives.

The Circle is made up of nine elders, who founded the village of Morden. Since the day that they discovered the land that Morden now sits on, they have not aged. The Elders believe that this may be an effect of wandering in The Shade for such a long period of time, but the actual reason is unknown.


Messengers:
Chosen for their mix of impatience and perseverance, Messengers are vital to The Circle, since they themselves can not be in contact with the people of Morden outside of their stations. Messengers are fast on their feet and prefer to get their job done as fast as possible. They do whatever they deem necessary to completely their tasks correctly in the shortest amount of time possible. Because of this, they may be a bit rude, and have a very hard time sitting still for any amount of time.


Artists:
In this case, Artist is a general term. (Music, painting, sculpting, smithing, theatre, dance, culinary arts, etc.) Artists are generally laid back dreamers, and take their time in their labors. This does not mean that they don't take their labors seriously, though. They are very observant people, and almost nothing goes unnoticed by them. The Artists have a darker side to their skill set, and consider thieving to be among their sacred arts. Because of this, the people of Morden are wary of those who hold this station, and sometimes downright rude to them.


Scholars: Scholars are studious people, dedicated to obtaining knowledge of any form. They are generally introverts, and keep to themselves. For this reason they tend to go unnoticed until a time comes that their knowledge is needed. This "invisibility" makes them perfect for obtaining gossip, as people don't think twice about speaking in front of them. Scholars are often sought out when advice is needed or disputes need to be solved.


Farmers:
Farmers are hard working, independent people. They have a vast knowledge of plant life, and often work with Medics growing herbs and medicinal plants for this reason. Most parties going into The Shade are usually accompanied by a Farmer, since they can identify plants that are safe to eat. Farmers are well respected in Morden for their knowledge of plant life, and are mainly female.


Guardians:
The fighters of Morden, they are chosen for their physical strength and tact. Their main purpose is to defend Morden from creatures that live in The Shade, and to protect hunting and scavenging parties. Guardians have an iron will, and are trained from a young age not to back down from a fight. At the same time, they are also taught to know when it is a losing battle, and to find solutions in extreme situations to keep themselves and their companions alive. A party never goes into The Shade without a Guardian among their ranks.


Hunters:
Hunters are generally either one of two extremes. The can be boisterous, and see hunting as a sport, or serious people dedicated to their jobs.Hunters are stealthy, and have adapted to seeing in The Shade's dim light. They are also excellent marksmen. The biggest downfall of the Hunter is their predator mindset, which causes many inhabitants of Morden to fear them. They have been know to go into furies of blood-lust and attack everything in sight, including their companions. Because of this, people often refer to them as "Piranhas" behind their backs.


Masons:
Masons are the designers and builders of Morden. They are sometimes considered a branch off of the Artists by others, though they would never think of themselves in such a way. They are chosen for their planning skills and physical strength, but also because of their gentle heart. Masons are often first placed as Guardians or Hunters, only to be moved when it is proven that they do not have the heart of a fighter. Their mindset is more like that of a scholar, and their knowledge and strength are put to use building safe and sturdy homes. Buildings created by Masons are built to keep creatures of The Shade out, and because of their fortress-like design, are not cheap.


Shepherds:
Shepherds are in charge of watching over and protecting the village livestock. There are only a few Shepherds left in the village, since there is very little livestock left these days. Shepherds are gifted with a pup when they are given their full title, and this animal serves as a companions for its entire life. The Shepherds have a talent for calming animals, and also outsmarting them-- creatures of The Shade included. They usually carry a staff, or crook, of their own design, often with bells on it.


Medics:
Medics have quickly become the most valued members of Morden society, since creatures of The Shade have begun attacking the village. They can create quick and easy remedies for travelers to take with them into The Shade, and have become used to performing emergency surgeries with limited supplies during the past few years. Medics are good defensive fighters, but are not trained to fight offensively, since their abilities are to valuable to risk losing. Some Medics train in secret, though, so that they may fight alongside their companions if the need arises. Most medics carry a charm or small item of significance to keep them grounded when working under extreme or stressful conditions.