The voice of the sea speaks to the soul.
/ Kate Chopin , The Awakening.

BREAKING NEWS, CIRCA 2030.

Scientists have warned that ocean levels will continue to rise at alarming rates due to climate change, irreversible glacial melting, and increased carbon emissions. With global temperatures continuing to soar, they predict that Australia will join the list of recent countries submerged, and that the very foundations of the remaining human civilization will be threatened by massive and unpredictable flooding. 

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Earth has passed the brink of irreversible environmental collapse. Global warming, unchecked pollution, and the continued melting of polar ice caps have caused ocean levels to rise at unprecedented rates. What started as isolated flooding on coastal islands soon became a global crisis. Major cities around the world—New York, Tokyo, Miami, London—began to sink beneath the waves, displacing millions and forcing nations to scramble for solutions. In the wake of this disaster, world governments struggled to respond. 

Massive evacuation efforts were built, but only for elite and wealthy, while the rest of humanity was left to fend for itself. Economies crumbled and governments fell one by one as they were hit with the catastrophic flooding. The survivors were left in a world that had turned against them.

Out of this chaos, several factions emerged—groups formed to survive by any means necessary. Some, like The Dread Tides, turned to violence and piracy. Others, like The Council, sought to take control of what remained of the world by imposing order through fear and harsh rule. But amid the anarchy, there was a flicker of hope. The Cosmia Coalition was born out of a desire to avoid the corruption, theft, and murder that had consumed the world.

A group of survivors came together with the belief and hope that a better world could still be built out of the ruins of civilization. They were determined to rebuild society without repeating the mistakes of the past. Their goal was to create a new society, one that would not be bound by the greed and corruption that had caused the world's downfall. They built self-sustaining settlements, with floating platforms and rafts becoming the new hubs of civilization, and reached out to other survivors to join their cause.

Marina Li was one of the many survivors who found her way to The Cosmia Coalition after the flood devastated her home. A survivor of a coastal city that had been swallowed by the rising ocean, Marina had seen the horrors of the collapse firsthand. Determined to help rebuild, she joined the Coalition, drawn to its commitment to rebuilding society with integrity. However, she was restless. So, she volunteered for a mission to search for new lands and gather more survivors.

Alongside a group of Coalition members, she set out on a journey across the flooded remains of the world, navigating treacherous waters and abandoned cities in search of new lands. However, during their voyage, Marina and her team were captured by The Council, who viewed The Coalition as a threat to their authority and saw them as potential rebels who needed to be silenced, and the team was imprisoned. Marina refused to give up. While imprisoned, she met others who had been captured by the Council—people from different backgrounds, all desperate for a way out of the oppressive regime. 

She organized a plan to escape the Council's clutches. She convinced her newfound allies that the The Oasis was their only hope for survival and a new beginning. They managed to break free from their captors, escaping into the night and setting sail. With the group now on the run from The Council, Marina and her companions face new challenges. The seas remain perilous, filled with dangers from pirates, wildlife, and the elements.

Will they find the peace they seek, or will the rising tides of corruption and violence drown their dreams forever?

The Oasis.

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A small, newly-founded town being built up by The Cosmia Coalition. Most of the buildings remain surprisingly intact despite the global flooding, allowing the residents to focus on rebuilding their community and gathering supplies. The main priority of sending word out to other survivors to increase the population and restore civilization remains, alongside growing a large farm of crops and raising livestock to sustain them.

It is not meant to be just a place of refuge, but a symbol of hope. A place where survivors can find support, safety, and purpose. A place to call home. The Cosmia Coalition, with a network of scouts, messengers, and sailers, ensures that the word spreads through constant voyages.

Aetheris.

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A crumbling city that once housed the most elite and rich. Now, it is a shadow of its former self—a place of ruin and decay housing thousands of people. It is governed and ran by an organization named The Council. What was once a symbol of prosperity, drawing in survivors by rumors of shelter and supplies, beneath the surface, it has become a place of manipulation, greed, and exploitation.

What little resources that remain are controlled by The Council, doling them out in exchange for loyalty or favors, keeping the desperate population under their thumb. The city's once-pristine infrastructure is in disrepair—streets flooded with stagnant water from rising tides, sewage systems collapsing, and crumbling buildings that barely hold together.

The Council.

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A shadowy, corrupt government that controls the remnants of Aetheris. It was intended to be a coalition of elite leaders meant to ensure the city's well-being in the times of need, preserving order, and managing resources. However, as the city began to fall into disrepair and rations grew low, their true nature emerged. No longer a force for governance, they have now become a ruthless group of corrupt individuals exploiting citizens to maintain power and control.

It consists of seven leaders, each representing a different faction or sector of the city, with officers and lawmakers beneath them. These individuals were once part of the city's high society, holding influence in politics, business, or the military. As the city collapsed, they quickly adapted, using their wealth, influence, and networks to carve out territories within the city and control essential resources. Despite their apparent unity, each member constantly seeks to gain more power at the expense of the others, engaging in covert schemes and rivalries, often at the cost of lives.

The Dread Tides.

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A group off self-proclaimed pirates who roam the seas who have long since abandoned any idea of law or civility. They see the vast, lawless seas as their domain, where they answer to no one but themselves. There isn't a central leader, instead the group operates through a loose structure of captains that each command their own ships. But all are united beneath a shared philosophy of freedom through mayhem. 

This group thrives on plundering, violence, and intimidation, taking whatever they please from anyone unlucky enough to cross their path. They were born out of a series of failed rebellions and collapsed societies. Many of the group's members are former sailors, mercenaries, or traders who were cast out or driven to desperation. Over time, these individuals began to band together, forging an empire on the open sea.

The Cosmia Coalition.

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A rising faction born out of the chaos from a fragmented world, dedicated to rebuilding society. Unlike the corrupt power systems of remaining cities and towns, they stand for unity and reject any sort of thievery or violence. They are committed to preserving what little order and morality still exists. The Coalition believes that to survive, communities must work together. They seek to gather survivors who share similar ideals to build a new society. One based on mutual respect, honesty, and a strong sense of justice. Marina Li is a member of this group.

Marina Li.
Portrayed by Havana Rose Liu.

QUINTON'S NOTE /

✷ I am basing a majority of this on the game Raft, following the background leading to the events of it and little details. But otherwise, a lot of it is me simply just expanding on it. Things such as my original characters, original civilizations, organizations, and groups, are mine. I do not own any images or gifs utilized, but I did create the cover and moodboards used. The layout is inspired by Caden, otherwise known as formerghost.

✷ If the summary didn't really make much sense, basically, this will focus on the escaped group's journey across the ocean towards The Oasis. It will include love, drama, survival, etc.

✷ Oceanborne will contain topics such as violence and mild gore, animal experimentation, animal deaths, mature language, sexual references, etc. As the story progresses, I may add more.

✷ If you have any questions regarding characters to create, parts of the story, etc. Just ask me! I would love to explain.

༄ ghostiingz 2024