Welcome to Gaia! ::

THE STEAM REVOLUTION - Late 1840's through Early 1850's A.D.

In reaction to the difficult and impassable terrain of the Americas and the danger of piracy that increasingly plagued sea fairing vessels, demand emerged for new methods of transport utilizing the developing power source of steam. American merchants invested in steam research resulting in a period of excited and opportunistic invention by private inventors and entrepreneurs. This period is known as "the steam revolution".

Numerous curiosities and bizarre inventions emerged from this period, including early and crude attempts at robotics as well nearly suicidal attempts at personal jet packs. Finally, after many failed and costly experiments, the Airship was invented. As this came to the attention of governments and the nobility of foreign nations, demand increased further. Soon, Russian aristocrats began to purchase and develop the partially undeveloped technology and improved it further, turning it quickly from commodity to fashion statement. The idle rich were soon hovering among the clouds in their ostentatiously decorated vessels and toying with their steam-based accessories. By 1853 steam based airships had become common in many of the larger cities of the world, all with their own unique styles and purposes. In England, for example, lords would periodically take their ships on pleasure cruises around the countryside while Paris had become a center for airships, with even the most meagerly funded person owning a flying contraption of some sort.

However, just as the airship developed as a utility and near-toy of the wealthy so it also developed as a means of war. From it's early stages, certain inventors were keen on turning the Steam Revolution into a revolution of warfare. Steam crafts were devised that could carry huge quantities of explosives, to be dropped on cities at a great distance. Even the earliest of war orientated steamists had the foresight to develop weapons that could assist in inter-airship warfare, such as grappling hooks and missiles. As the British began to purchase and produce more and more of these war vessels tensions began to arise between them and their long-time rival, France. Believing the British to be concocting a plan of attack, the French ruling class quickly began to purchase superior weapons resulting in an arms-race between France and Britain. From 1854-1856, this arms race continued.

THE AVATHAN EMPIRE - 1860 A.D.

Jacobe H. Automan, one of the men who initiated the union talks between England and France, had done so because he felt it was the only way to attain peace between the countries. His partner in the matter, George Salavant, was not so noble. He saw an opportunity to form the greatest and most powerful country ever known to mankind.

For three years after the Avathan Union formed, Salavant kept quiet. Every once in a while he would show his face to do his good deeds and move along. Giving himself such a good name, he worked his way up the social ladder. Meanwhile, he formed his own private militia of expert killers. Then, on the night of April 5th, 1860, the King of France and Queen of England were both brutally murdered. The very next morning, George Salavant declared himself Emperor of the Avathan Empire.

His first act was attacking England and second, attacking France. With the might of his private militia and his army, he was able to defeat both countries and make them part of his Empire. Within that one day, George Salavant suddenly ruled the enormous and almighty Avathan Empire. The countries surrounding this empire quickly became extremely nervous. Borders were muddled and people were confused. Everyone sat on edge.

On September 24th, 1860 a patrol of soldiers from the empire mistakenly crossed the borders of the empire into a surrounding country. Men from the other country panicked and killed the soldiers. Immediately upon hearing this news, the Empire declared war against any country surrounding it. This was merely an excuse for Salavant to show his power.

The war was over only a year after it had begun. Devastated the other countries lay in ruin and no one could stop the Avathan Empire.

THE ISLAND OF PROVOKA

Once a laid-back, peculiar pirate haven, this island is now inhabited by normal small-town people who love to fish and don't feel the need for more than necessary steam technology. The pirate heritage on the island is nearly completely forgotten, but some inward instinct stayed in them, that they don't take sides in outside wars. The Island of Provoka remained strictly neutral. Lucky for them, no one had paid much attention to them before, so they were attacked by the Empire yet.

EXTRA INFORMATION

Crime Rates - When war was declared around the world, every country was forced to raise their taxes to put towards building steamships and weaponry. People lost their jobs and had one of two choices... they could join the army, or they could resort to crime. Crime rates rose quickly and nearly twenty percent of all non-military citizens were involved in some criminal activity.