Creation myth actually recounts ancient history of the Allmind, a godlike artificial intelligence of unknown origin, taking over the world

"Angels" = robots - want to rule over all life and protect it from itself - strictly hierarchical society with the Allmind at the top

"Demons" = cyborgs - want to work together with living beings and grant them power - demons can be fallen angels or modified humans - more individualistic, less organised than angels - no central leader but a number of popular heroes

Neither side is entirely good or bad - angels genuinely want to protect humanity but do so by enslaving it (think of them as Three Laws robots of the later Asimovian variety) - demons (including humans with any cybernetic enhancement whatsoever) are no longer "human" and angels can therefore kill them with impunity - demons grant knowledge of technology to humanity but pick and choose who they give this knowledge in order to serve their own ends

In opposition to both sides are human channelers, who tap into the power of the old gods from before the coming of the Allmind. There are countless such gods from different ages of humanity; any ten channelers picked at random will likely have ten different gods between them. Channelers are exiled to "Sanctuaries" (really internment camps) by angels, and either grudgingly tolerated or ruthlessly killed by demons depending on how much of a threat they pose. Demons with a significant biological component to their bodies can learn to channel, but are unable to perform the same extraordinary miracles that humans can.

Angels have long been the world's dominant political force, but their numbers are gradually declining as members die or "fall". They are currently desperately engaged in researching a way to reproduce themselves; this effort has taken up so much of their collective resources that their policing of the world has become lax, and more demons and mages are slipping through the cracks and challenging their authority.

Players can start as either angels, demons or humans. All characters have three stats in common: Strength, Endurance and Agility. The sum of these three stats must equal 100, and no stat can begin at less than 10. The intrinsic value of any of these statistics can only permanently increase if another statistic decreases by an equal amount, and vice versa. In addition, each species has a fourth stat unique to itself, which can begin at any value from 10 to 90, and which can change over time (but may never go below 0 or above 100).

Humans' unique stat is Karma, which reflects their standing with their god. Performing services for one's deity will raise one's Karma, while displeasing one's deity will lower one's Karma. Karma affects the power of a human's magic, and calling upon one's deity for extraordinary or miraculous feats will also involve a cost in Karma. High Karma creates an aura around a character which is visible to a trained eye, and will tend to attract the hostile attention of angels.

Angels' unique stat is Rank, which reflects their status within the angelic hierarchy. An angel of higher Rank will be permitted to access and use greater power, but will also be vested with more onerous duties and responsibilities. Rank increases when an angel goes beyond the call of duty to fulfil the will of the Allmind, and decreases when the angel uses power recklessly or in a way that defies the will of the Allmind.

Demons' unique stat is Flesh, which reflects the percentage of their body which is made up of organic components. While lacking in the raw power of the most faithful channelers and high-ranking angels, demons are the most versatile species, with a limited ability to use both channeling and angelic powers. A low Flesh rating will allow a demon to use a wider range of angelic powers at the expense of channeling ability, while a high Flesh rating will do the opposite. Flesh may be increased or decreased by having one's body altered by a trained surgeon. A demon whose Flesh reaches 0 becomes an angel of Rank 0, and a demon whose Flesh reaches 100 becomes a human of Karma 0.