During the course of the 21st century, the Brotherhood began to exhibit the combined characteristics of a world religion, a massive decentralized nation-state, a high-tech multinational corporation, and an unorthodox superpower. Although the Brotherhood first emerged in 1995, the year of Tiberium's arrival, Nod had existed as an ancient and secret society long before this, and claims to have originally been founded around 1800 BC. The Brotherhood of Nod (often shortened to Nod or the Brotherhood) is a worldwide, quasi-religious and political movement devoted to the charismatic figure of Kane, and the harnessing of the extraterrestrial Tiberium substance by Earth's downtrodden peoples. Currently unknown: Kane and remaining Nod loyalist forces have 'Ascended'