Originium Union

Lore & Background

These organizations thrive in the gray areas between warring nations and in abandoned industrial zones where surveillance is weak. Unlike a unified coalition, they are often distinct warlords or syndicates, such as the Ursus military remnants seen in Chapter 1, who seek economic dominance through scarcity rather than political power. Their existence highlights the darker side of Terra's reliance on Originium technology, reminding players that for every legitimate medical breakthrough, there are those profiting from the disease itself.

In Their Own Story

Rain slicked the metal walkways of the abandoned dockyard, masking the sound of footsteps. Two figures in heavy cloaks met beneath a flickering streetlamp, their faces obscured by masks. A crate was slid across the wet floor, glowing faintly blue at the seams—illegal Originium, unregistered and cut with impurities. 'Rhodes Island is getting closer,' one whispered, checking the perimeter. The other nodded, pocketing a vial of payment. 'Then we move east before dawn.' They vanished into the fog, leaving only the hum of the glowing ore behind.

Reader's Guide

The ideology driving these groups is survival and profit above all else. They view Originium not as a resource to be managed for public good, but as a commodity to exploit. Leadership is decentralized; there is no single 'boss' commanding the entire network, but rather regional warlords and cell leaders who answer to higher brokers only when necessary. Their primary goal is the continuous flow of contraband across borders, bypassing customs and medical regulations. They often recruit those desperate enough to ignore the risks of Oripathy or infection. Their relationship with Rhodes Island is adversarial; they view the medical organization as a threat to their supply chains and market control. Allies are transactional at best—sometimes cooperating with other criminal factions like local gangs in Lungmen, but often betraying them for better deals. They have no true friends, only business partners until the contract ends.

Did You Know?

• These groups often use infected individuals as disposable labor to avoid detection by Originium scanners.
• Rhodes Island frequently intercepts their shipments to prevent dangerous batches from reaching patients.
• The need for Rhodes Island's mobile base stems primarily from political persecution by nation-states like Kazdel and the necessity of maintaining neutrality, rather than evasion of a specific criminal coalition.