The world is often a brutal and unforgiving place and as time progressed, society began to change accordingly to reflect their wants and desires.  With the majority of the populous focused on material wealth, over the years, the barriers between the classes began to fall apart, slowly but surely.  The true colors of people of all races and means were never revealed more clearly than on Black Friday: the day after which we were supposed to be most thankful for what we did have.

En masse, the majority of the populous would flock to the stores for the best deals, often fighting their fellow man for mere material goods and the promise of a cheap sale.  With the advance of technology and the growing number of people, the yearly occurrence became increasingly violent, punctuated by more injuries and deaths every cycle.

With tensions growing on all sides, the walls between classes finally snapped and chaos broke out on a worldwide scale.  In the year 2068, hundreds of thousands died or were killed in the efforts to gain control of the situation.  It became known as the Sundering and it was only the beginning of a new era for people everywhere.

After the madness was calmed and the day past, it was announced there would be no more Black Friday.  No more sales.  No more goods to be acquired cheaply: for anyone.

In theory, it was the perfect solution to a terrible problem, but humans are creatures of habit and privilege, if nothing else.  For those whose only recourse to greater items of material worth were such sales, this was a terrible sentence; one that greatly favored those who already had the means to acquire more.  The following year, when the worldwide ban of Black Friday was invoked, the poor rioted.  They tried to take what they believed they still had a right to and those of the middle and upper class were in mortal danger for it.

Defense forces were marshalled to protect the citizens and businesses and quell the outraged masses.  With losses to human life and businesses across the world, the day was survived, but unrest continued.  Despite their best efforts, the unified leaders of the world could not divert the people from the current path they were on.  A new one had to be forged.

So they gave the people what they wanted, though not in the way they expected.  Cities were chosen worldwide as the hosting points where, on one day each year, several valuable items would be made 'available' for no cost.  These arenas were walled in to better control the surge of people seeking such wealth.  A list of items was generated and made available to all so they could see what things they could win for their efforts at no monetary cost to them.

But nothing is ever truly free.

The first run proved to be a violent and bloody afair, nearly as catastrophic as the original riot in which even those not participating in the event, though still within the arena, were adversely affected.  A system had to be put in place.  Rules and regulations were established.  Competitors had to register beforehand and strictly enforced time limits and boundaries were imposed.  In order to make the event run smoothly and gain funding for such a happening, the government commercialized it and beseeched funding from the wealthy.  Feeding into the bloodthirsty nature of our ancestors, the event was broadcast live so that those who were not participating could watch from afar as the participants fought each other for the items they so desperately wanted in a harsh mockery of the original happenings during that day.

In the year 2072, after the system was firmly set in place, the newly deemed worldwide event was announced:

   Blackest Friday   .

It is now 2083 and another such day approaches, bringing with it the promise of wealth, danger, and salvation alike.

For one such group of motley friends, it also means life for one of their own.  They know the event is more akin to that featuring the gladiators of old, but for those intent upon facing such danger, it is a risk they are willing to take.

New poster done by YongShiShiGuk at (っ˘ڡ˘ς) Cheesecake Multi-Shop.

Original poster done by Vonnie at Coup D'Graphics.  You should go check out the shop now!