Unfortunately, books don't always tell you the truth. The backbone of the Internet is pretty much lies anyway, and even then the Akashic record is hardly available to just anyone asking to have a poke around. It is for this reason why it is important to clarify a few things that have been altered from their original forms.
-- The Xerxes Jones Experiment --
Some time during the mid-1990's high-ranking Technocrats learned that Xerxes Jones, a rogue agent, had planned to detonate a large-scale bomb in an alternate dimension just to see what would happen. While transporting the Trinity Nuke, Jones was ambushed by a small group of BlackOps agents sent straight from one of the Unions more advanced laboratories. Acting quickly he managed an escape and eventually found himself in an image of the Shadowlands reflected onto Earths moon. This mirror, while nearly flawless in every way, allowed Jones to believe that he had arrived at his final destination
Although the results of the test have been pretty much unaltered from their original state it is still worth mentioning here. After placing the bomb, Xerxes quickly found himself in a world of trouble as his pursuers caught up. In the apex of the fight, the carefully protected detonator short circuited setting off the nuke. The resulting explosion triggered a series of events which include, the eventual collapse of the reflected plane, and a mass shattering of tens of thousands of avatars. It is these avatar shards, thrown back into Earths orbit, that have created the avatar wall. Or as it is commonly known, the Gauntlet.
-- The Fall of Doissetep --
On the eve of the new millennium members of the Ancestral Chantry Doissetep gather in celebration. Hours before the official start of the new year sparks of etheric lightning tear through the main ballroom cutting down dozens of guests. In the chaos several of the outer walls collapse from the shock wave caused by a sizable explosive originating from somewhere near the newly built prison facility.
While most of the magi scatter, others, including Archmage Porthos Fitz-Empress Flambeau remain behind. Several small squads of attackers wearing what appear to be biological hazard suits are dropped to the surface by vehicles whose origin is unknown. Among the reinforcements is a spherical bomb which several of the attackers carry inside and embed into the floor at the heart of the Chantry. Fearing the worst, Flambeau and other high magi, although badly wounded, work in unison to suppress explosion.
As the dust settles the Chantry's inhabitants find a considerable amount of destruction and at almost a hundred casualties and many are missing entirely. The most painful of the losses was that of Archmage Flambeau. While clearing the rubble one of the the charred remains of an attacker are recovered but is unable to give any clues to who they were, or what prompted the attack.
-- Digital Web - Rebooted --
The havoc that took place in Doissetep however had consequences not only to the chantry it self. The Doissetep chantry,
as it is located deep in the umbra, it was in some way connected to the digital web. (Yes the Digital Web. The virtual space where all information and action on the net by sleeper or not is projected as a virtual reality).
As the Doissetep shook and trembled so did the Digital Web. The result was the biggest whiteout(crash) in the history. After the Digital Web got back to it's feet, it was seriously damaged. Many netizens were lost forever and several hundred-thousand sectors were damaged, bugged or even destroyed completely.
The Digital Web now is full of unexplored turf, Virgin Web (unformatted sectors) exist quietly waiting to be discovered
as both adepts and technocrats rush to be the first to find them. Other sectors are flooded with trash sleepers tend
to toss into them with their reckless actions, some of them have collapsed due to that. Full of secrets, mysteries and danger. Until recently only the bravest virtual adepts and the most loyal technocrats surf it in search of lost information. Some, more enterprising than others, have been seeking out virgin web space in order to craft their very own wondrous creation.
