[center][color=aba000][h2]Lore Compendium[/h2][/color][/center] [color=aba000][b]ARGUS[/b][/color] [i][b]SHIELD[/b][/i]’s special projects and special tasks branch. [color=aba000][b]The Avengers Initiative (STRIKE)[/b][/color] Established in 2006, [i][b]the Avengers Initiative[/b][/i] (otherwise known as [i][b]STRIKE[/b][/i]) was founded by [b]Nick Fury[/b] as a response to the growing metahuman and mutant concerns of the 21st century in the wake of an alien invasion that was quelled by vigilante civilians that would come to be known as [i][b]The Justice League. [/b][/i] [hider=Members][b]Captain America[/b] Henry Pym, “Ant-Man” Natasha Romanoff, “Black Widow” Nathaniel Adam, “Captain Atom” Clint Barton, “Hawkeye” Janet van Dyne, “Wasp” [/hider] [color=aba000][b]Checkmate[/b][/color] A non-government secret society that tries to keep the world in precious balance. [color=aba000][b]Darkstar Alliance[/b][/color] An independent “security firm” that operates on the edge of galactic space offering services akin to the Lantern Corps to those who are too far or too unfortunate to have the presence of corps assistance. They are said to be comprised of drifters who are morally ambiguous but efficient just the same. [color=aba000][b]The Defenders[/b][/color] A group founded by [b]Luke Cage[/b] in the wake of the crime effecting the denizens of New York City’s citizens, The Defenders strive for “helping the little guy” in the wake of the chokehold of [i][b]The Kingpin Syndicate[/b][/i] and [i][b]The Foot[/b][/i] amongst other factions in his city. [hider=Members][b]Carl Lucas, “Luke Cage”[/b] Jessica Jones, “Knightress” Marc Spector, “Moon Knight”[/hider] [color=aba000][b]The Future Foundation[/b][/color] Organization founded by [b]Reed Richards[/b] as a non-profit thinktank. The “[b]Fantastic Four[/b]” project is the most famous happenings of the 1990s. [hider=Members][b]Reed Richards, “Mr. Fantastic”[/b] Johnny Storm, “The Human Torch” Susan Storm, “Invisible Woman” Ben Grimm, “The Thing” [/hider] [color=aba000][b]The Guild of Assassins[/b][/color] A synthesis of Marvel’s [i][b]Assassin’s Guild[/b][/i] and DC’s [i][b]League of Assassins[/b][/i], our continuity develops this secret society into pretty much what you expect. Rumored to be a cadet branch of the ambiguous [i][b]Guild of Shadows[/b][/i] the best assassin’s in the world are groomed for the top buyer and their own agenda; led by an obscure figure only known as [i]The Sensei[/i]. [hider=Members][b]The Sensei[/b] Ben Turner, “Bronze Tiger” Elaine Marsh-Morton, “Lady Vic” Constantine Drakon[/hider] [color=aba000][b]HAMMER[/b][/color] [i][b]SHIELD[/b][/i]’s mutant observation and counter-terrorism branch. [color=aba000][b]The Foot[/b][/color] A synthesis of Marvel's THE HAND and TMNT's THE FOOT. [color=aba000][b]HYDRA[/b][/color] Tenacious and resilient, [i][b]HYDRA[/b][/i] has been one of the largest threats to not only superheroes but society since the Second World War. Nothing is known about how the hierarchy has survived, or the agents inside; but if anybody is trying to find out, it is [i][b]SHIELD.[/b][/i] [color=aba000][b]The Justice League[/b][/color] Loosely formed by [b]Superman[/b] after the defeat of the alien invasion, [i][b]The Justice League[/b][/i] was formed to be the spiritual successor to the JSA but also to stand out as a collective group of superheroes in a declaration of unity. Through time the JLA would become more concrete as threats like [b]AMAZO[/b] and the [b]Injustice Gang[/b] threatened the world. [hider=Members][b]Clark Kent, “Superman”[/b] Orin of Atlantis, “Aquaman” Ray Palmer, “The Atom” Bruce Wayne, “Batman” Barry Allen, “The Flash” Hal Jordan, “Green Lantern” Shayera Thal, “Hawkgirl” J’onn J’onzz, “Martian Manhunter” Diana of Themyscira, “Wonder Woman” [/hider] [color=aba000][b]The Justice Society[/b][/color] Formed in the wake of terrorism and the rise of criminal activity in the 1960s, the Justice Society was formed to defend the people of America whilst the government that swore to protect them focused on endeavors overseas as the first resurgence of HYDRA threatened the world. Disbanded almost a decade or so later, the JSA stand as an example to the heroes of today and are heavily idolized by most of the population. [hider=Members][b]Jay Garrick, “The Flash”[/b] Al Pratt, “The Atom” Alan Scott, “Green Lantern” James Harper, “The Guardian” Rex Tyler, “Hourman” Danette Reily, “Firebrand” Charles McNider, “Midnite” Joan Dale, “Miss America” Sylvester Pemberton, “Skyman” Ted Knight, “Starman” John Law, “The Tarantula”[/hider] [color=aba000][b]The Kingpin Syndicate[/b][/color] A criminal syndicate that is native to New York City, not much is known about the leadership or the hierarchy. [color=aba000][b]Kravin Industries[/b][/color] A technology firm established in the early eighties, one of America’s leading corporations in technology development for warfare since Stark Industries killed their weapons program. Secretly under influence of [i][b]the Kingpin Syndicate.[/b][/i] [hider=Members][b]Sergei Kravinoff[/b] Calypso Ezilli Harlan Ryker Michael Collins Spencer Smythe Elizabeth Zogolowski[/hider] [color=aba000][b]Lantern Corps[/b][/color] The stalwart guardians of the realm, [i][b]The Lantern Corps[/b][/i] have been the mediators and guardians for the galaxy for thousands of cycles. At the center of their power lies the ancient species tied into the emotional spectrum. Unlike the [i][b]Nova Corps[/b][/i] or the [i][b]Darkstar Alliance[/b][/i] who serve planetary interests, the Lanterns are not political or national—gathering their sense of law and order from beyond political interests and within moral beliefs. The Lantern Corps is comprised of four colors: green (will), blue (hope), violet (love), and indigo (compassion). [color=aba000][b]Latverian Union[/b][/color] A political union established by Victor Von Doom, the Latverian Union is a popular league of governments tied together by Latveria’s industrious head of state under the guise of protection from enemies that wish to impose or tarnish their cultural heritage and lives. [hider=Members][b]Latveria[/b] Albania Austanburg Belarus Bosnia Bulgaria Kaznia Macedonia Markovia Modora Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia Symkaria Transia Ukraine Vlatava[/hider] [color=aba000][b]The League of Shadows[/b][/color] The [i][b]League of Shadows[/b][/i] is the Illuminati resurfaced and led by Ra’s al Ghul—“the Demon’s Head”, who believes through chaos the world can be reborn. The league is a secret society bent on world order through predetermined chaos, making them the antithesis to many and is one of the reasons former member [i][b]Bruce Wayne[/b][/i] left the society as he did not agree with their supposed vicious methods and pihilosophy. [hider=Members][b]Ra's al Ghul[/b] Antonio Diego, “Bane” Sandra Wu-San, “Lady Shiva” David Cain Nyssa Talia[/hider] [color=aba000][b]Nova Corps[/b][/color] The special forces of Xandar, the Nova Corps exist to protect the interests of Xandar and its allies. Slightly comparable to the Lantern Corps, the Nova Corps travel with goals of peacekeeping and relief forces to other worlds. Their power originates with a supposedly infinite power core that exists on Xandar. [color=aba000][b]SHADE[/b][/color] [i][b]SHIELD[/b][/i]’s supernatural counter-terrorism branch. [color=aba000][b]SHIELD[/b][/color] Government agency originally made as a special counter-terrorism branch to combat the resurgence of [i][b]HYDRA[/b][/i]. [color=aba000][b]The Society[/b][/color] Headed by Vandal Savage, this secret society of likeminded criminals and megalomaniacs are probably the most obscure and dangerous threat to superheroes worldwide yet. [color=aba000][b]STAR Labs[/b][/color] Founded and led by Doctor Emil Hamilton, a brilliant multi-faceted scientist with expertise in genetics and engineering, STAR Labs is a scientific thinktank that has several connections with the United States government and other interest groups. Seen in similar regard as the renowned Future Foundation and FoxTECH Solutions. [color=aba000][b]SWORD[/b][/color] [i][b]SHIELD[/b][/i]’s extraterrestrial counter-terrorism branch.