[img]http://pre15.deviantart.net/801a/th/pre/f/2011/345/5/6/steampunk_europe__1825_by_zalezsky-d4iuv05.jpg[/img]

Like all things, it started with the lust for power. Europe at the turn of the 20th century was a powder-keg waiting to explode. Tension were high as each power house vied for dominance in the race to be the most industrialized nation. The rise of the steam engine and all that transpired from it become the driving force for this mechanical race. Nations strove to make bigger buildings, bigger boats, bigger airships, bigger guns... bigger everything. All for the intent to have bigger power. They formed alliances, the small seeking assurance with the strong. And the race continued.

In 1913, the powder-keg exploded leading to outright strife then to warfare. What was mainly Europe, with a few non-European powers, soon exploded to encompass nearly every land mass: The America’s, Africa, large portions of Asia, and even a few skirmishes in Australia. 
The war did not stop the arms race, in fact it escalated it. More powerful machines were invented. But even with the newly initiated battle automatons the war is bloody and drags on for years. 

Finally, after seven years of bloody fighting a ceasefire is reached, with no true winner declared. The world merely reached a point that if they had continued, mutual destruction would have been the outcome and no one wanted to win by being defeated. So the nations of the world agreed to a cease-fire and a sort of peace settled - at least on the surface. The cold war had began. Nations responded differently. A few, totally withdrawn into themselves, becoming isolationists, avoiding outside influence, placing heavy tariffs on imported goods and few, if any visitors allowed in. Other countries continue on as before, pouring money and goods into the armed forces and defense at a heavy toll to the civilian population. While others still have turned more peaceful, even if they keep a hyper vigilant eye on their easy peace. 

It is now 1930, the “cold peace” has lasted for ten years. Many people hope that maybe true peace is possible, but bitterness and longer burning opposition still lingers and threats to bubble the pot again. Technology has continued to advance with massive airships, steam-ironclads, automatized tanks and animals. However, there was a corresponding rise to mysticism. Even among the educated, there is more than just talk about things of divine, supernatural, or other worldly. Churches started to fill again, cults were founded believing in things anywhere from mysterious orbs to elite beings that would revolutionize the world. 

Doctor Edwin Brown had always been one of the the world's foremost experts on Mysticism. Initially thought as a quack by majority of the scientific community for his field of interest, he allegedly destroyed his work and refused to publish anything more on the subject. With the rise of mysticism, many asked him to pick up his research again. The London Institute of Science and Technology offered him a position but he refused. Stubborn and bitter, Doctor Brown refused, keeping to himself and rarely seeing anyone - except his daughter and a few old friends. When he died of a heart-attack in 1929, he was honored by the London Institute of Science and Technology as a hero with many calling him the Father of Mysticism. But the populace and many government officials were split on what to think of him. Some despised him for his refusal to lead the world on while others made him a saint in their various cults. Very few realized that Doctor Brown had not destroyed all of his work and that he had stumbled upon something that the would indeed change the world. Something that many would kill for.

And so the Spring of 1930 rolled around much like the turn of the 20th century. Tensions were high with a new race to unlock the secrets of the mystics - some for peace, others for final dominance. At the back of everyone's mind was the worry that war would again break out and this time, would not stop until there was complete victory - or utter devastation. 

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The courier ran up the stairs and rapped door. He barely glanced over the sign beside the door that read: [i]Ms. Mortimer's Boarding Home for Elegant Young Ladies.[/i] He turned slightly away, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for the door to open. It was the beginning of the day and he was eager to deliver the package and move on. The morning fog still hung lightly in the air giving the morning a bit of a misty look. The door opening caused him to turn his attention back. An older woman stood there glaring with a stern look behind her wire framed glasses. Her skirts blocked the doorway, making it near impossible to see past the entryway. "This is a ridiculously early hour. Young men are not permitted to call at this hour." She narrowed her eyes and started to close the door.

The young man removed his cap. "Mam, delivery for Ms. Brown," he said holding up the package. 

Ms. Mortimer, the land lady of this fine establishment, glared down at the courier. "You interrupt our morning meal for a delivery? Couldn't you have at least waited until a reasonable hour to come by?" She sighed. "Very well, give it to me and I'll pass it on." She reached for the letter.

The young man snatched his hand back. "Sorry, Mam. I have to give this directly to Ms. Brown. Those are my strict orders. Honest to goodness." 

The woman glared down at him, her eyes boring into him. He gave her a shrug as if to say it couldn't be helped. Finally she sighed. "Wait here," she said turning and closing the door. He could barely make out her grumbling about early morning and young people these days had no sense of decency. 

The boy twisted his cap impatiently as he once again stood on the porch. He patted his satchel, filling the thickness. He had a whole parcel of packages and letters to deliver and didn't have time for this. But, he couldn't complain. It was his job and if he had to wait... well, he had to wait.

It took an antagonizing long time but eventually the door started to open. He turned. Seeing a younger woman he quickly straightened. Ignoring land lady hulking over the young woman's shoulder he looked at her openly. "Are you Ms. Brown?" He asked.