Gods Spirits Beast and Men

In the modern era the number of spirits has rapidly and inexplicably increased. This is commonly called 'The Surge in Spirits'. The eldest people alive today probably remember a time when travel after dark through unwarded areas was considered risky but not deadly. Ancient texts depict scenes of people carefree in the forests after dark. But now the spirits are estimated to be billions in number and are so numerous and dangerous that not even an army of skilled magicians could dispel them faster than they appear.


The spirits of the Badlands are highly variable in size and shape, but overall are considered low-value to those who bind and use spirits. They are mindless beings, incapable of taking orders.


The rapid increase in spirit numbers is the largest factor of the exodus from the south-east parts of Altaire into to large cities of the north-west. Entire towns have been forced to evacuate as their communities cannot keep up with the the price of the ever increasing number of wards.

There are two images: The first is a movie theatre at night, a strange somewhat skeletal spirit towers above it.
The second is a interstate highway at dusk. There is a sign above the road which reads: "Next Warded Zone 2km. Sunset is at 18:39. The time is displayed on a digital clock.