THE FINAL WAR At an unknown point in the past (implied to be World War 1), the countries of the world became locked into a war of massive proportions, beginning with an era of trench warfare. The War soon resulted in the creation of the Gutterman, one of the first successful experiments in using blood as a fuel source as well as the first automaton to be deployed in wide-scale conflict. Guttermen were capable of very efficiently clearing out trenches, and their creation single-handedly ended the trench warfare phase of the Final War. This resulted in retaliation from opposing forces in the form of the Guttertank, spiraling the conflict into a global arms race between the world's industrial powers. Every machine created for use in the Final War was designed specifically to counter the last. As machines began to quickly dominate the battlefield, human soldiers became obsolete, though they were frequently wrought with shortages as most resources were poured into further war machine development. The destruction they caused also meant nowhere was safe, with home being just another fight. Nearly two centuries after the start of the war, as more and more of Earth had become inhospitable to all life, the Earthmovers were created to be the last bastions of humanity. The pinnacle of the arms race, they were so massive that they required not only blood but also solar power. The Final War continued, and it is implied that V1 began development as a machine designed specifically to counter the Earthmovers. As a result of the Final War, soot, ash, and debris clouded the skies, blanketing the Earth in a permanent darkness that was dubbed the "Long Night." Without solar power, the Earthmovers could not sustain themselves and began to shut down, one by one. Streetcleaners were developed to assist in cleaning the air, but they were made obsolete during the New Peace. THE NEW PEACE 200 years since the beginning of the Final War, the Earth was nearly inhospitable, and humans were forced to live on the backs of the Earthmovers. Finally, mankind started to work together to reverse the effects of the Long Night, and so began the New Peace. With the end of the Final War, V1 had no purpose and its development was abandoned. In order to make up for the production cost of V1, V2 was developed for use as a peacekeeper. The demand was low, however, so V2 never reached mass production. Drones were also likely developed during this era. THE HELL EXPLORATION AND EXCAVATION PROJECT During the New Peace, the entrance to Hell was discovered. A mining complex meant to extract and process minerals was built around it, machines were repurposed to explore the deeper layers, and many inventions were developed to aid in this process. The project and factory was soon abandoned, either due to fear of Hell's sentience, the extinction of humanity, or both. DEATH OF MANKIND Eventually, humankind became extinct. It is unknown how, when, or why it happened, but the influx of new souls in Hell was noted to be very quick and widespread -- enough to turn Wrath's River Styx into an ocean. THE HELL INVASION After the death of humanity, blood on the surface quickly became a scarcity. The remaining machines began killing each other for their blood, with others invading Hell to take it from the creatures that lived there. As a result of this invasion, the layers of Hell are steadily becoming more sparse in life. EVENTS IN HEAVEN DISAPPEARANCE OF GOD AND CHAOS IN HEAVEN At an unknown point in time, God disappeared, resulting in panic and chaos in Heaven. Angels from all over were recalled back to Heaven, leaving Hell unsupervised. This sparked Hell undergoing numerous changes in each of the layers simultaneously. The Council of Heaven was established by the angels in God's place, utilizing force and fear to rule. Gabriel, One of the most respected and feared archangels, Gabriel earned his reputation through power and efficiency. Regardless of the task given, Gabriel would always perform it quickly and decisively, earning him the title of Judge of Hell after dethroning Minos and ending the Lust renaissance. Despite answering to the Council, he is far more popular and beloved among angels due to his radiant personality and active nature, especially compared to the Council that strictly follows and upholds the dogma of the Faith.