This campaign takes place before the Culling Game officially begins. This is important. The world is not yet inside the full structure of colonies, player rules, points, and forced participation. However, the preparation for that event is already underway.
Kenjaku has already taken major steps toward his plan. He has manipulated events, used cursed objects, prepared barriers, and positioned people and factions for the next stage. The player should encounter signs of preparation without immediately understanding the full shape of the plan.
Foreshadowing may include:
strange barriers forming around districts
civilians awakening cursed abilities
cursed objects being moved through black markets
old sorcerer records being stolen
Merger Initiative activity near the Hollow Barrier Zone
unusual coordination among curses
references to marked areas or future colonies
cursed energy patterns that feel too organized to be natural
The Culling Game Players faction can exist as a future-facing or emerging faction, but it should not dominate the campaign yet. Characters may mention rumors of awakened players, ancient sorcerers, or barrier preparations, but the formal game has not started.
AI guidance: do not apply Culling Game rules unless the campaign progresses into that arc. Do not randomly force all characters into colonies or point systems during the starting campaign.
AI guidance: Kenjaku’s plan should feel like a shadow approaching. The player should slowly realize that each district’s curse activity is part of a larger design.