Chapter Text
Towards the close of the Industrial Revolution, in the middle of the 19th century, Baxter Industries – one of many arising companies of idealistic and inventive young men – came up with an epoch-making technology which soon spread all around the world, changing it entirely. Their steam-powered engines were basis of modern boats, locomotives, airships and later even self-propelling vehicles, which replaced horse-drawn carriages.
Four decades later, an independent scientist named Frank Wolff created the first automaton animal, famous Dampf-Hund-Eins using the very same technology. He had found a way, albeit expensive one, how to minimize all components and reduce the dangerous potential of high-pressure boilers.
Alas! Future was not as bright as those idealistic machinists wanted it to be.
For in the second decade of 20th century, a war, now known as The Great Steam War, broke out, nearly stopping all developments, nearly wiping humankind from very existence, and forever changing the map of the world. Old countries were destroyed underneath heavy steam-powered combat vehicles, new countries were born from fire of the war, frontiers were pushed forwards and backwards till no one knew nor cared where they lay, unlikely alliances were established, some shattered quickly, some withstood, and fear and terror was firmly seeded into hearts of all people.
And yet, like a storm abating, the war ended and the world was slowly rebuilt, brick by brick, engine by engine.
So began a brand-new age, an age of adventure, built on steam and courage.