street-of-mercy:

dark aether | an avengers steampunk au

“We’re living in dark times and the end of the world as we know it is almost upon us. Someone unlocked a door that was never supposed to be opened and now evil spills from the aether over into our world. Earth is defenseless and it’s up to us to protect it.”

1878. A man’s betrayal and thirst for revenge cloak the world in shadows, leaving deep scars wherever he walks as he plays with an unpredictable force – the aether. Commander Fury knows from personal experience what can happen if it is unleashed, destruction is only the beginning and it will end in Armageddon if they do not stop it. For the first time in history, he brings together a group of men and women, superheroes of their own making, to defend Earth. Automatons and rayguns, steam-powered engines and flying machines – these so-called ‘Avengers’ are prepared to fight the war for those who cannot do it themselves.

Colonel Nicholas Fury – the Commander of A.R.M.O.R. (Alliance of Reinforcement, Masterminding and Operational Rescue), a secret military agency in the United States. A rather violent brush with the aether left him with a permanent mark (white hair) but that doesn’t stop him from standing his ground whenever the borders between our world and the aether are blurred. He is determined to keep Earth safe and when King Odin informs him of the prince’s deception, Fury sends out his agents to call in the best men and women.

Lord Anthony Stark – an aristocrat, adventurer, inventor and mechanic. He’s famous for his clockwork weapon systems and steam-powered war engines but the ‘Desert Incident’ changed him, in more ways than one. As Iron Man he tries to make up for his mistakes and destroys the very machines he once created. When it becomes clear that some parts of the automatons of the prince’s army were built by him, Stark doesn’t hesitate to join the group.

Captain Steve Rogers – the best aviator the world has ever seen. His physically frail body made it difficult for him in the military but as an aviator he finally found his true calling until he became part of ‘Project: Resurrection’ which used controlled dosages of aether to turn him into the perfect human being. Now he fights the air-pirates on top of the airships and zeppelins rather than piloting them. He’s a true gentleman and when Fury seeks him out, Rogers doesn’t think twice about becoming part of the team.

Prince Loki Laufeyson – adopted son of King Odin of England. His real parents are from the Northern People, whose ancestors experimented with aether and were changed forever into something half-human and something else. He resents his adoptive family, is blinded by the wish for revenge and wants nothing more than to make the world pay. It is him who opens the ‘door’ to the aether and uses its dark powers to strengthens his army of automatons and air-pirates.

Prince Thor Odinson – son of King Odin of England. He is a very skilled fighter and hunter, stronger than the average human due to a light brush with the aether when his father returned from the Northern People with his adoptive brother. After his brother’s betrayal, he left England and disappeared into the wilderness of the new world but when the first signs of an invasion appear on the horizon, Thor decides to join forces with A.R.M.O.R. to stop his brother.

Doctor Bruce Banner – a scholar and brilliant scientist. He’s been researching the aether for years but especially after the incident and his uncontrolled exposure to aether. Even though the ‘Other Guy’ seems to be violent and wild, he is not, there is still Banner inside, and that proves his theory that the effects aether can have on a person depend on whether someone has a good soul or not. Banner has been hiding in the Badlands to avoid any unnecessary contact with humans but to defend Earth against this new threat, the team needs both of them, the man and the beast.

Clint Barton – an agent with A.R.M.O.R. and former street sparrow. His sharp eyes and marksmanship were in great demand even before he became one of Fury’s best agents. A few years back he had been sent to eliminate a rogue agent but made a different call and to this day, he has never regretted it. When Loki uses a small dosage of aether to enslave Barton, it is that rogue agent, Romanoff, who brings him back from the abyss when he’s attacking the airship.

Natasha Romanoff – a spy working for A.R.M.O.R. and former rogue agent. Her reputation of being the perfect killer, who worked for whoever paid the most money, landed her on A.R.M.O.R.’s radar in a bad way and they sent the best to take her out. However, he went against his orders and offered her a chance to wipe out the red in her ledger. She owes Barton a debt and when he’s under the influence of the aether, she tries everything to bring him back – with success.

(via brilandsurrounding)