Uprise is designed to be played as small skirmishes, or indeed a series of them, set in the near future of 2054. Pollution has forced humanity into Spires, self-supporting bastions that protect life inside from the toxic world that had been created by the unsustainable civilization that now lay under the dunes of deathly sand.

In the infancy of the 21st century, pollution was at a peak. Humanity was reaping more from the planet than could be remade, and in turn filling it with the waste. Rivers became contaminated and the landscape ruined by the various pollutants, chemicals and choking clouds of gas that spewed from the buildings of humanity. Governments across the world realized the threat that was encroaching on them, and moved to act against it, but the point of no return had long since gone. The ecosystems of Earth strained more and more to keep the world alive, but finally stalled dramatically. Sweeping dunes of toxic ash engulfed entire cities, preserving the bodies in their hideous pain-wracked state before they perished. Thick clouds of smog spewed from atmosphere, blotting out the sun and engulfing nations in its choking grasp. Declaring a state of emergency, each nation built self-sustaining mega-cities to be filled by their best and brightest. The Spires.

As the most celebrated citizens of each country were immigrated to these mighty towers, billions followed, begging for refuge from the self-engineered hell that had taken their friends and family. The Governors of the Spires showed mercy upon the masses of people, ordering the construction of habitats for them against recommendation, sacrificing themselves to control the city and make certain that the systems that kept the populace safe from the outside ran perfectly, at the cost of their lives. The Governor’s chamber contains nothing but dusty old corpses in rich finery; one or two may still be alive, but every second is wracked in agony. They are left in solitude. The final act before all communication was severed between the Spires was simple; to bring about the Peacekeepers, who would keep order in place of the Governors. They still hold close today, protecting the secret of the hierarchy and the Spires to ensure survival.

The lower tiers of the Spire are filled to bursting with people from all backgrounds; the only thing in common between them is the level of bitter hatred towards the upper classes; indeed, the divide is great between them and the higher echelons. Whereas the higher Spire contains the highest levels of care for each person within its walls, the lower has next to no level of it; people die alone from hideous diseases, their slum homes burned to the ground by their closest family and friends to save them. Corrupt lords take control of the sectors with lethal force; bands of thugs beat and maim people, robbing their houses and stealing people from the streets. But now the lowest fight back. Several weapon plants that produced items for the Peacekeepers have been overthrown and taken over. Now that they have access to weapons, the lowest are called to arms by teams of warriors all working towards the same cause.

The Rebellion fight for equality and freedom among all classes through any means possible, aiming to either turn the governors to their side or kill them trying.

The Peacekeepers are the mailed fist of the Upper Spire, there to keep law and order among the citizens. They strive to protect the Spires at all costs, knowing that the collapse of the Upper Spire would doom the entire populace to death.

You must choose whether you want to protect the Spires or remake them. Make it a wise choice; the smallest action can have fatal consequences.