The Great Collapse

Lore & Background

Before the Great Collapse, records suggest a civilization existed that had mastered technology far beyond current understanding, though much of this history remains shrouded in myth or lost to time. The Collapse itself was triggered by an unknown mechanism—potentially a natural tectonic shift exacerbated by ancient experiments—that fractured the planet's crust on a global scale. This rupture did not just create mountains and valleys; it tore open veins of pure Originium, releasing a fine, crystalline dust into the atmosphere that would eventually coat the entire world. The immediate aftermath was an ecological nightmare. The sudden saturation of Originium in the air and soil poisoned the environment, causing mass extinctions among flora and fauna that could not adapt. For humanity, the dust became a double-edged sword: it provided a potent new energy source necessary to rebuild society, but it also introduced Oripathy, a fatal genetic mutation that turns infected individuals into dangerous monsters as the disease progresses. The Collapse forced the remnants of civilization to retreat into fortified enclaves, giving rise to the nation-states and city-states that define the current political landscape.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the scarred plains, carrying with it the familiar, glittering grit of Originium dust that coated every surface like a second skin. An old geologist stood at the edge of a deep fissure, staring into the abyss where the earth had torn itself apart centuries ago. The rocks here still hummed with a faint, resonant vibration, a ghostly echo of the day the sky turned gray and the world broke. He brushed a layer of crystalline dust from his goggles, watching it shimmer in the pale sunlight before settling back onto the dead grass. 'We call it progress,' he muttered to himself, thinking of the towering cities built on this very poison, 'but we are just living inside the wound.' The silence of the wasteland was absolute, save for the distant rumble of a train moving through the tunnels carved into the planet's shattered bones.

Reader's Guide

Understanding the Great Collapse is essential to grasping the core conflict of Arknights. It marks the definitive end of the 'Prehistoric Era,' a time when humanity seemingly possessed advanced technology and stability before the world fractured. The event introduced the concept of 'Originium' as both a miracle fuel and a deadly plague. In-game jargon often references this history through terms like 'Infected' (those suffering from Oripathy) or 'Wastelands' (areas rendered uninhabitable by high dust concentration). The Collapse explains why nations are so fiercely protective of their borders; resources are scarce, and the environment is hostile. Current story developments frequently circle back to this event. Many factions, including Rhodes Island, seek a cure for Oripathy not just as medical charity, but as a way to undo the societal trauma caused by the Collapse. The mystery of what exactly triggered the event—whether it was natural or man-made—remains one of the deepest lore questions driving the narrative forward.

Did You Know?

• The Great Collapse is believed to have destroyed an entire prehistoric civilization, leaving behind only ruins and fragmented records known as 'Ancient Texts'.
• Originium dust, released during the event, is so pervasive that it has permanently altered the global climate, creating a perpetual haze over many regions.
• The disease Oripathy did not exist before the Collapse; it emerged directly from humanity's exposure to the raw Originium released by the crustal fractures.
• Many of the current nations in Terra were formed specifically as refugee settlements for survivors fleeing the immediate devastation of the event.