The Avengers The Avengers are a team of extraordinary individuals, either with superpowers or other special characteristics. Its purpose is to protect global stability from inner or extraterrestrial threats. Though primarily affiliated with the United States of America, they work with the peaceful interests of the whole world in mind rather than a specific country or organization. The Avengers were first assembled by S.H.I.E.L.D. when Loki invaded Earth with his Chitauri army to conquer the planet. The team defeated him and went to their separate ways. They reunite to handle global threats to humanity.
The Brotherhood of Mutants The Brotherhood of Mutants was a group dedicated to the cause of mutant superiority over humans. Throughout its various incarnations, the Brotherhood's agenda gravitated towards either subjugating the human race to the will of mutants or eradicating humanity altogether. Magneto formed the original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
The Council of the Aesir So far, the Council of the Aesir has been highly referenced but has yet to appear in Earth-666. Much about them is currently unknown. They are assumed to be a group of deities - perhaps even merely races with extraordinary abilities that caused them to be worshipped by humans in early civilizations. Hecate, the Greek Goddess of Magic, and Hel, the Norse Goddess of Death, are said to be affiliated with the Council of the Aesir.
The Hellfire Club The Hellfire Club began in England as a social club for the British social elite and wealthy in the 1760's as a way to provide its members with pleasures that often defied the moral standards of the time and to allow members to consolidate their influence over British economic and political matters. At some point, a handful of the most powerful members emigrated to the American colonies and began a branch in New York City and other major cities around the world.
The club has branches in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. The various branches were overseen by the Inner Circle, consisting of the White King, White Queen, Black King, and Black Queen. The Hellfire Club membership is hereditary, but can also be earned through wealth or influence. Among the Club members there are many famous and influential members of society, the wealthiest and most powerful businessmen of the world, including Justin Hammer.
The purpose of the Hellfire Club is to obtain and exert power through politics and economic influence instead of outward conquest and domination. Since its foundation, the Hellfire Club had been involved in wars and assassinations as long as these helped further the agendas of the Club's most prominent members.
The constant intrigue, backstabbing, blackmailing and politicking that plagued the Hellfire Club resulted in many changes of the Inner Circle, as new players sought out membership in order to obtain influence, power and wealth. Although the hierarchy of the Inner Circle would go through constant upheaval due to the competing egos and political motives of its members, it continues to exist in the same basic structure today.
HYDRA In the Abandoned Hope Universe, we are primarily concerned with what is called the
modern incarnation of HYDRA. Founded by Johann Schmidt, it operated as the Nazis science division in the Second World War. However, the organization was active
before the war, even attempting to assassinate genius Howard Stark. Its founder was called the Red Skull, referencing the condition his body was left in after he tried a botched batch of super soldier serum -- the same serum that would later be used on Steve Rogers.
Despite having factories in nine different countries and millions of foot soldiers, HYDRA was ultimately defeated by the Howling Commandos lead by Steve Rogers (Captain America). However, after the war concluded and the Cold War Era began, many former HYDRA scientists were recruited by the United States government, in order to stop them from working with the Soviets. These scientists, more loyal to HYDRA than anything else, rebuilt the organization in secret.
It has since regrown inside of S.H.I.E.L.D. itself, with HYDRA funding the Phase Three program and having its operative, Jim Kennedy (born Gabriel Calrisian), oversee the training of the agents. After the capture of Baron von Strucker and Luminous, its leadership is unknown but the threat is still present and growing.
MI13 A part of the Directorate of Military Intelligence, MI13's
public status is that of an organization responsible for"undocumented intelligence and special operations." Aside from the foreboding number 13 in its name, MI13 is also one of the more quiet and harder to join organizations. Members are often recruited from other divisions of military intelligence and it is not uncommon for family members to be brought into the fold, such as Rupert Cornish (former director) recruiting his niece, Jade Cornish.
MI13 has a similar structure to S.H.I.E.L.D. when it comes to training, owning a large training academy in an undisclosed location in Scotland. Its reputation is also closer to that of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s, hardly as corrupt and unfeeling as O.M.E.N. is. Much of this, of course, is due to how little people know about the organization. Its official purposes are all highly classified, but can be assumed to include the monitoring, protection, and policing of enhanced individuals, as well as the assessment and neutralization of paranormal threats.
In short, they fulfill both the functions of S.H.I.E.L.D. and O.M.E.N., but with better efficiency and more human decency.
The Morlocks An underground mutant separatist community, there are branches of the Morlocks in most major cities. They are peaceful and non-violent, but almost
never interact with the world on the surface, preferring to live apart from humans. In New York City in the late 2000s, the New York City Morlocks were slaughtered, prompting other Morlock communities to become more vigilante and wary of outsiders - especially humans.
The Mutant Underground A nationwide network founded by Leo Luwoye, Evangeline Whedon, and Charles Xavier, the goal of the Mutant Underground is to provide refuge for mutants in trouble. Although the Mutant Registration Act did not pass, groups such as the Purifiers have risen to power, causing many mutants to be unsafe in their communities. The Mutant Underground takes them in and relocates them to a place where they can ideally live without fear. The current leader of the Washington D.C. faction is Veil (Valery Simmons).
O.M.E.N. The Organization for the Methodical Eradication of Necromantics was signed into existence by the President of the United States of America on June 22nd, 2016. Created in response to the Altsoba Massacre, it is O.M.E.N.'s duty to identify paranormal abnormalities in the world that may do us harm and vanquish them. It is a covert organization and underneath the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, as it is concerned with protecting national security.
Although its founders were experienced hunters, O.M.E.N. has a reputation for being unable to distinguish between peaceful beings and violent ones. Individuals with supernatural or superhuman abilities are often targeted by O.M.E.N. without mercy, as no grey areas of morality are considered. Anyone considered dangerous to the United States and its interests (provided that danger stems from what is considered supernatural and paranormal) can be arrested and charged without trial by O.M.E.N.
The only exception to O.M.E.N.'s ruthless antics is witchcraft. While witches like Walter Hanson are hunted down like dogs, those who practice magic and are willing to assist O.M.E.N. in hunting the supernatural are often left alone. Individuals like Eudora Erebus are asked for assistance in various cases, as O.M.E.N. encounters more and more supernatural beings, and are only arrested if they do not cooperate.
Known members include the Winchester Brothers and Agent Carbry Keenan. O.M.E.N. was disbanded in 2020 by director Alexander Jakobsen, after being shown that O.M.E.N.'s actions would lead to an apocalyptic future in X-Men: Darkness Rising's Days of Future Past arc.
Purifiers The Purifiers are an anti-mutant hate group, willing to commit violent acts against mutants ranging from intimidation, arson, and lynchings.
Somewhat like earlier hate groups across history, the Purifiers are not a nation-wide "organization" as such, but more of a concept. "Purifiers" is more of a catch-all term for violent anti-mutant human groups, ranging from loose gangs to fairly well organized militias. There are also public figures that are also classed as purifiers that give public support and financial aid to anti-mutant causes such as politicians and businessmen. A lot of former O.M.E.N. agents have joined their ranks.
S.H.I.E.L.D. The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division was founded in January of 1949 by Peggy Carter, Howard Stark, and Chester Philips. It absorbed the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) - the Allies' deep science agency that was responsible for the creation of the serum that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America. Following the conclusion of the war and the defeat of HYDRA, S.H.I.E.L.D. continued to monitor the world for catastrophic threats, as individuals with abilities and superior technology became more and more commonplace. The age of heroes had just begun - but so came the rise of villains.
In short, S.H.I.E.L.D. often deals with alien technology, superpowered individuals, and events that boggle the senses. Despite the agency's success in protecting the world since its founding, its failure to prevent the alien invasion of New York in 2012 and then the Altsoba Massacre (see the RP Abandoned Hope) prompted a defunding of the agency. Its budget was limited significantly and then given to O.M.E.N., a rival US intelligence and military agency. Fortunately, after O.M.E.N. attempted to kill the X-Men while the Mutant Registration Act was being debated in Congress, the rival organization was shut down and S.H.I.E.L.D. saw its funding restored.
Recruitment for S.H.I.E.L.D. can be fierce. Recruits usually have a college degree, but it is not required with the exception of Science and Technology, where candidates need at least one PhD to enter the building. Very few agents are trained 'on the job' but there are some scenarios in which this is the case. Additionally, individuals can be recruited for various initiatives without progressing through the academy, such as the Avengers Initiative. Its current director is Nick Fury and its primary headquarters, the Triskelion, is located in Washington D.C.
The X-Men The X-Men are a security force created to harbor peace between the emerging homo superior, nicknamed "mutants" and baseline humans. The roster is made up of mutants who have been trained and educated in the use of their powers at the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Their operations are funded by Professor Charles Xavier's family fortune and from the patents he created.