The Forsaken Virus
Atmosphere
The Forsaken Virus is the mutating infection responsible for the collapse of human civilization in the world of JunkRats.
The virus spreads through organic life and causes extreme biological mutation. Infected organisms are transformed into hostile creatures collectively known as the Forsaken.
The rapid spread of the virus led directly to the global collapse known as The Collapse.
Infection
The Forsaken virus spreads through direct exposure to infected biological matter and contaminated environments.
Once infected, the virus rapidly begins altering the host’s body. Tissue, bone, and internal systems mutate as the infection spreads through the organism. These mutations eventually transform the host into a hostile creature.
The infection affects nearly all forms of organic life, making containment extremely difficult.
Mutation
Victims of the virus do not remain biologically stable. The infection continues mutating the host over time, reshaping the body into increasingly aggressive and hostile forms.
These infected organisms are collectively referred to as the Forsaken.
Forsaken creatures are known for their aggressive behavior and their ability to survive in environments that would normally be fatal to uninfected organisms.
Environmental Spread
The virus does not remain limited to living hosts.
Over time, infected growths and tendrils begin spreading across surrounding structures and environments. These growths can appear along buildings, streets, tunnels, and other surfaces within infected areas.
This environmental spread allows the infection to continue expanding even in locations where living hosts are no longer present.
Atmospheric Effects
As the infection continued spreading across large regions of the world, dense concentrations of the virus began accumulating in the atmosphere.
These infected clouds reduced the amount of sunlight reaching the surface, leaving much of the world in a dim twilight environment.
Role in the Collapse
The spread of the Forsaken virus led directly to the global event known as The Collapse.
As the infection spread across cities and living populations, civilization rapidly fell apart. Infrastructure failed, large areas were abandoned, and much of the world became overrun by infected organisms.
The resulting collapse of society marked the beginning of the post-collapse world depicted in JunkRats.