The End and the Beginning

The world as you know it ended sometime circa 2200.
The reason why has been something many historians debate. Some point to the Last War. The one the obliterated half of Asia. Others say humans abused the planet and so it abused us right back. The truth has long been lost in the winds of time.
It was due to the End of the World that a large enough coalition of the brightest minds on the planet joined together. There were already settlements on the moon and Mars, of course. And some people had already went underground. But those harsh and unforgiving lifestyles was a short-term solution. Humankind would need a new home if we hoped to survive.
And so, when those bright minds discovered a pocket in space that led to habitable planet, a generation ark was built. Room for a million people. With over ten billion people on Earth, the ark didn't even house .1% of the total human population. But it would allow for a second chance at life.
Public pressure led to one-third of the seats going towards wealthy families who helped fund the construction, one-third of the seats going towards families with verifiable skillsets, and one-third of the families chosen by random lottery. The ark represented people from all regions of the world, all religions and nearly all philosophies of thought. It was required to pass both an extensive background and genetic marker test. But there were powerful enough people from powerful enough linages that managed to get on board. A zoo of most loved animals and seeds containing the most needed fauna was housed as well.
These ships were the final hope for survival of all Earth-kind.
And as they were the final hope, all members aboard signed the Hope Contract. The contract was long and extensive, but it boiled down to these two absolutes.
1. Our planet is our home. Treat it with respect and remember that no technological advancement will supersede the protection of our home.
2. Humanity is our family. Treat them with love and remember that no conflict excuses widespread destruction or subjection of our family.
This new world is by no means a Utopia. And as humans are not a monolith, some societies are better at keeping the Hope Contract than others. War still occurs. Harmful technology still developed. But the memory of past destruction is embedded deeply in the DNA of humankind.
Ah yes. This New World. There is something I forgot to mention. The humans that travelled to this world soon discovered they did not travel alone. And when they arrived, they found a burgeoning civilization already there. A civilization of persons humans dubbed as elves--though the so-called elves soon insisted on humans using their proper name of Kuvonee.
And the world had a certain . . . vibration . . . about it. As if another plane of existence overlapped. Some scientists believed that this planet was connected to another dimension that humans were unable to verify on Earth. Other scientists believed there was an airborne chemical that caused mass hallucinations. Religious leaders and spiritualists were convinced that humankind had made contact with the the spiritual plane -- the dimension of gods. There was no easy way to explain it, the moment humankind stepped foot on the planet they were surrounded by angels, lwas, djinn, and every imaginable spirit. Good. Evil. And ambivalent.
These spirits were able to interact with the world and some seemed to delight in interacting with humans. The vibration of the planet interfered with other things as well. Fundamentally changing how humankind could control radio waves. Sounds became distorted when played through computers or radios. Wireless devices no longer worked. And sonar radar could not pinpoint locations. It was impossible to leave once they landed and much of their developed technology was no longer useable. 
Over time, some learned to embrace the presence of the spirits. Whether through sharing their powers through agreed-upon bonds. Or stealing their powers for personal gains. Others learned to fear the spirits, becoming gods-fearing persons for the first time--never missing a prayer or supplication. Others simply ignored it. Pretended the spirits were not there until technology was developed enough to block the unexplainable dimension-- so long as you chose to live in communities surrounded by specially developed Faraday domes. 
And as for the Kuvonee who already called this planet their home. As I mentioned, this world wasn't a utopia. And humankind also had survival stamped into their DNA. (Some would call it dominance at all costs). Those who could be bargained with exchanged land for technology knowledge, lore, and services. Others who did not care for the invaders who needlessly destroyed fought back. The Kuvonee who did lost that war. There are many more wars to come. And alliances to be made. There are stories of how seemingly average people grew in determination to make this world a place of Hope. Stories of Kuvonee and Humans joining together to create new societies. And, of course, there are stories of the magic of the spirits and how they empowered people to make bold choices.This world, so named by humans is Mundus Phasmatum Est -- the World of Spirits -- Phasmatum.

Related Historical Events

• 1 AL
  Landing of the Hope Ark