Small Survivors Devlog

Hello. Small Survivors started out as a rather vague notion: what would happen if the Characters became only 2 cm tall? Then came a story concept that may or may not be important to the Players -- it was just an idea on how it happened. I am sure others have other ideas, perhaps better ideas!

The game itself is loosely based upon 'Microlite2020 Complete' which in turn is based upon 'Microlite20'. Microlite20 is an ultra lite hack of the most famous role playing game in the world based upon the SRD 3.5. 

Here is the introduction with my take on the story:

"In an alternate universe there is a galaxy very similar to our galaxy. In that galaxy there is a star very similar to our Sun. Circling that star is a planet very similar to our Earth. On that planet there are oceans, land masses, plants and animals very similar to what we find on Earth. Among those animals there is a very smart species of hominids very similar to humans.

And those hominids that are so very similar to us are governed in a very similar way.

Only on the other planet, unlike our Earth, the governments are mostly controlled by evil men and women who commit unspeakable crimes against the population of the planet. Yet the people of that planet are lazy, apathetic, and complacent. They are too obsessed with sports, entertainment, and consumerism to pay any attention to what the evil leaders of the planet are doing.

Of course this could never happen here on Earth.

On this similar planet in an alternate universe, the evil leaders hired mad scientists to create a deadly pandemic. Their goal was to kill the majority of the population of the planet so that the abundant resources would be entirely available to the elites and their loyal servants.

These mad scientists were very skillful at the art of microbe manipulation, but they and their masters were in a rush. They released the deadly pandemic into the population before thoroughly testing it and it turned out to be a massive disappointment for them. A small number of people died from the virus, but as the virus evolved it became less dangerous since killing your host is an evolutionary dead end for a virus. For most people it caused nothing more than minor cold-like symptoms.

Fortunately for the evil elites who controlled the planet’s governments, the mad scientists had a backup plan. They would produce a vaccine against their own viral creation which they claimed would protect the survivors, but which would actually kill those people who survived the initial virus. They then forced billions of unsuspecting people to take the deadly vaccine.

Again, they and their masters lacked patience. They tested the vaccine on test animals very similar to mice and monkeys here on Earth, and indeed they obtained the desired results: the deaths of all the subjects taking the vaccine. However, they only tested a handful of the planet’s hominid population, and when they obtained the same results in their limited tests they incorrectly concluded the vaccine would accomplish the goal of complete planetary genocide.

The vaccine was designed to first create minor changes in the DNA of the victims which would cause the cells of the heart and other vital organs to wither away causing the ‘mysterious’ deaths of all those who took the vaccine. Of course the evil elites running the governments, the mad scientists, and other loyal servants would not take the vaccine. Instead they would take a harmless placebo if required to show public support and participation.

It was almost successful… except for a small number of Survivors.

For a tiny percentage of those who took the vaccine instead of the genetic changes causing their organs to mortally shrivel, the genetic changes caused their entire bodies to shrink to a hundredth of their normal size. A person who was 2 meters tall was now only 2 centimeters tall.

At first no one noticed what had happened to the Survivors. There were so many dead that no one noticed those that ‘disappeared’ by shrinking. The evil elites sat back and celebrated their success; 98% of the population was dead. The elites had their robots and a small number of hominid slaves provide them with whatever they needed as they lived in luxury. Everything was going according to plans!

However, soon the evil elites and the mad scientists discovered inexplicable damage to their infrastructure. At first they suspected sabotage by the hominid slaves, or even other members of the government. As the disruptions became more numerous they realized it was sabotage by an outside group.

After diligent investigation, the mad scientists discovered who was doing the sabotage… the Survivors! Millions of tiny Survivors who were about two centimeters tall seeking revenge against those who tried and failed to kill them!"