There were a few events that were pretty important in the history of the Fractured. Some of these are the the total breakdown of mainland European economy which led to the creation of the Church of Rome. Also the spreading of Rome's empire which is just as organized but a lot more religious than the Rome of ancient history. Then there is the total destruction of the whole continent of North America...both the USA and the CSA. Then the total cessation of contact between Europe and the East. But the biggest event to Londoners is probably the Fracture. It didn't happen all at once...but London used to be one City. Now it's more like one country, with several city states similar to the city states of ancient Greece (here they're call boroughs or Baronies) with each having it's own little government and level of technology and everything. Some of them exist almost in a medieval feudal state. Lots have a Victorian society and level of technology. Some are a military conclave and one or two are technology obsessed and filled with amazing cyberpunk technology and wonders. The only thing that links all the Baronies is the Underground...which nobody owns. The main city goverment,
CityGov, purports to run everything....but ever since the loss of the Monarchy they get ignored more and more and respond by getting more and more totalitarian to keep their power.
You can find the social rules of the new society on the wiki,
here.
Here are the basics:
Favors: the society is very based on who owes who what.
Lifedebt: If someone saves your life, you can never ever betray them.
Dangeld: If you take someone's life unjustly, their loved ones have the right to take yours. If they can.
Sanctuary: If you owe somebody, you have to open your house to them if they need it and protect them.
Sworn Word: Your word is your bond as they used to say. If you give your sworn word you better not ever break it! Or else...
Forfeit: This is what you become if you break the above rules. It means the benefits of them don't apply to you. And this is Bad, people..
Actually, the wiki is a pretty big deal! Just read it, I've put a lot of work into it and you should take a good look around.
http://thefractured.wikispaces.com/
