Background

The creation of the miniaturized nuclear power plant warranted many research grants and military contracts, new factories were built on the outskirts of the town and the downtown was revitalized.  NEMA constructed one of its first operations centers near the city.  Chicago became a world leader in military and civilian hardware, from hover cars to the famous SAMAS power armor.  Ironically, the city was one of the hardest hit by the coming of the Rifts.


Regardless of the cause, the effect is undeniable.  The city was ravaged by the appearance of twenty-four major ley lines intersecting in a super nexus at what was once the Sears Tower.  The number of initial deaths from the release of psychic energy was astronomical, only the brave actions of NEMA ensured any survivors.  The super nexus quickly began pouring out all manner of supernatural creatures and demons who ran rampant through the streets of the city, making any chance of recovery impossible.  A giant wave from Lake Michigan washed over most of the downtown ruining structures and returning portions of the city back to its original muddy, swampy terrain.  To this day the super nexus in Old Chicago is one of the most active Rifts in all of North America, although some of these Rifts are not exactly random as we will soon discover.

All along the canals and lakeshore buildings crumbled as the earth holding their foundations corroded away.  Many fell into the canals creating damming effects and flooding large sections of the city.  Subway tunnels filled with water and created dark underground cesspools that are breeding grounds for disease and demonic creatures.

The cityscape is now a hollow skeleton of its former self bathed around the clock in the pale blue light from the ley lines.  Looking at the city at night from a ship safely floating in Lake Michigan one can see the eerie outlines of crumbled buildings and make out a few dark shadows moving across the sky.

Ley Lines & Magic
The Super Nexus
Lay of the Land