It is the year 2089 by the Old Reckoning, or year 25 of the High Holt Colony.

23 Years ago the world overturned in an apocalyptic series of disasters, beginning with two massive alien scout ships battling in the skies above earth and landing troops on two sides of a certain valley in the Middle East, which is how the disasters came to be known as 'Armageddon'.

Then, in the space of a hands count of weeks, 'The Rise', as inexactly predicted in the films of Gorge Romero and others, the return of available mana to earth's magical field, and a 'Skynet' like rebellion of our automated fighting machines, culminating in a limited nuclear exchange, drove the human race to the brink of extinction.

However there were those who were prepared for these events: one of whom was your grandmother, Elisabeth Maurine Clearwater-Carpathian, who founded a feminist survivalist enclave in a secluded valley deep in the rocky mountains. They were well prepared for "Armageddon", yet even they were not prepared for five of them at once, nor the waves of survivors who sought shelter with them from the marauding aliens and machines.

Your grandmother took in everyone, and put them to work defending your little slice of paradise, and for 23 years you have HELD it, against all comers.

There were losses of course, not everyone made it through what you call 'The Time of Tumult', including your own mother, Elsa Mary Carpathian, but the colony survives, and even thrives to a degree.

However, your grandmother has grown old, she is now 81 in an age where most people's bodies give out around 70. She is dying, and everyone expects YOU to succeed her: your family have always been the people they look to to lead them, and though you are young they see a spark of greatness in you that only needs to be set to the right tinder to become a conflagration that will shake the foundations of the world. Pray you don't disappoint them, for everyone's sake.