The World

In the near future, economic collapse caused by underpopulation and pollution lead to food shortages and starvation. Temporary reprieve was granted through implantable bionodes which enabled humans to consume any substance, organic or inorganic. However, over time, these nodes caused mutations across the human populace, a process known as Ghoulification.

Great Exodus
Faced with a dying society, many humans fled to the stars, a mass migration known as the Great Exodus. From a new home on a lunar base, mankind began exploring and colonizing, and flourished once more. Many humans stayed behind, some because they were forced to, others out of choice. Mutated by longtime exposure to the abnormalities in their bionodes, these Ghouls eke out a merciless existence on a blasted Earth.

DarwinCorp
Decades later, biological corporation DarwinCorp has made a name for itself by collecting genetic material from across the galaxy, for preservation, research, and competitive advantage. The firm uses this information for saving species from extinction by creating clones, for engineering innovative new biological products, and for performing medical research.

The Compendium
A record of the galaxy’s flora, fauna, and artificially created organisms, the Compendium is the DarwinCorp’s great catalog of life. Some see it as a treasure trove of information. Others believe it to be a divine litany. And then others see it as a menu.