Prometheus

Great Sights... Great Sounds... Great Place to be.

Danny Chan invites you to Come On, Feel the Power

It all began with an obscure president and his interest in demonology

The Paranormal Research Organization formed by the very paranoid President Clancy Amherst (in 1899). 

Set to investigate the Clemency Society, PRO revealed extra-dimensional forces at work within the socialite club. The Society built its main building on the summit of Mt. Concord on the outskirts of Concordia, a major port in Northern California. Anthropological findings suggest the Oct'ma tribe practised ritual human sacrifice to a unnamed god. This god seems to spontaneously come into the Oct'ma mythos circa 1860. The primarily polytheistic culture suddenly becomes monotheistic, with greater emphasis on retribution on spiritual misgivings through blood offerings. The tribe is feared for its great increase in ferocity and takes over an area covering Northern California to Washington. The tribe mysteriously vanishes in 1876.

Doctor Clive Journey and his brother, Jack, and his girlfriend, Rose Goslin, along with Haitian bodyguard Guadelupe Gonzalez Gibraltar discovered an advanced extra-terrestrial vessel beneath the surface of the mysterious Oreich Isles off the coast of Concordia. Exposure to alien bacteria in the vessel causing the team to go in to shock, only to be saved by a increasingly mighty Gibraltar. The entire team experiences a strange transformation. Rose possesses augmented pigment dilation and bioluminescence, creating intense flare-like effects. Jack metabolism greatly increased, augmenting his ground speed ten fold. Doctor Journey's own cerebral capacities are maximized. Something is released from the ship, a dark something that gives psi-sensitives the world over nightmares for months.

The government quickly steps in to take control over its resources. P.R.O. is renamed Prometheus, after the Titan who gave fire to humanity. Not many people remember that Prometheus has spent every day since being constantly tortured.

Prometheus organizes the first Hero team (Courage Allied) to go across seas to fight the Nazi menace in 1941. England's paranormal research organization, Group 9, meets Courage with several champions: the Beadle, Barrister, Dawn Treader, and the Draconian. The French vigilante Le Jongleur joins as well as German defector Iron Cross.

In 1943, the Sunset Platoon, a much more controversial team fights the Japanese threat, led by Sarge Siege and his sidekick Kid Caliber. Meanwhile, Manpower and the Silver Spectre keep a watch on America's insides, ravaged by parasites like Madam Mephisto and the Insider.

It was by pure coincidence that Hitler's boldest attack occured two months before D-Day. The Twilight Circle, a collection of mystics and seers that served as Hitler's occult yes-men until 1944, had finally collected the six relics of the Dundensaark (Thunder Lord), a Teutonic champion born on rage and lightning. The final three relics had been delivered by Hansi Efimovivh, a german aristocrat with an affinity for archaeology. Efimovich provided her own castle for the ritual space. The six relics where all mounted on a white-blonde, blue eyed Aryan of Hitler's own choosing (Historians would later squabble over the details of this man's identity before the transformation, whether he served in the german storm troopers or was one of Hitler's personal, promiscuous servants). Lightning crashed in upon the summoning of the Dundensaark, colliding with the chosen specimen, corruscating off his body in wicked jagged waves.

After the ceremony the lad of no more than twenty looked as if he were fifty or more, scars lanced over his face and he powerfully stood at eight feet in height, long white-silk hair constantly flowing around him. He was the Nazi Ubermensch.

Called Blitzkrieg by Hitler and the german people, the warrior of Mass Destruction challenged the entirety of Courage Allied to a battle in the French Countryside. Bundists had managed to get the challenge across the airwaves at home and most of the Allies morale hinged on the one fight. Blitzkrieg quickly killed six of the Couragers (Barrister, Dawn Treader, the Liberty Eagle, Le Jongleur, the Fighting Yank, and Iron Cross) and severely injured the rest. It was only through a combined effort of the Aquarian, the Draconian, and Gibraltar that Blitzkrieg was driven off. The Allies spirits wer crushed. So Hitler, in his growing insanity, launched his main superweapon at the American metropolis of North Point. The Journeyman (Clive Journey) had intercepted communinque that purported the attack and had secretly returned to America, uniting with the Sunset Platoon and Steadfast (the Government-sponsored vigilante team patrolling america for signs of treachery). Using a device of his own design, the Journeyman lured the overpowering Blitzkrieg into a subharmonic dimension destabilizer field creating a rift into a twixt-dimensional limbo sucking both the Journeyman and Blitzkrieg into an abyssal portal. Almost all of Steadfast was eliminated, except for the Silver Spectre and Midnight Man. Many America saw it as a loss: The Germans had attacked from over seas, the national protectors were gone, and America's First Hero (as the Journeyman had been billed) had been consigned to a fate worse than death to many Americans, all in an attempt to save them.

The European Theatre of War was drawing its curtain after D-Day, but the Pacific still badly needed aid. The Sunset Platoon had deconstructed from the inside, as the Army's attempt at creating posthumans had driven one member of the team crazy. Pillbox, the bombshelle, had undergone severe magnetic "rewriting" and had learn to take metal from the air and form it into bullets, as well as deflect incoming metal-based attacks. However, her adrenal glan had mutated from her magnetic origin, causing her to have significant violent flashbacks to daily battles, which led to the death of Sarge Siege, Cindercone, the Freedom Ringer, Mon Tiki, and a severely wounded Feral (whose regenerative capacities took care of). Kid Caliber, whose reflexes bordered on the precognitive was able to dispatch of Pillbox. However the Americans were left without a team of propaganda heroes to deal with the Japanese threat. Thus the remaining American Courage Allies were transfered: Jack Quick, the Torch of Freedom, Gibraltar, the Aquarian, and the Iron American. However even these champions were not enough and America dropped the bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, much to the dismay of the world.

Fifties: America-razy

  The 1950's were a pressure cooker of American psychoses. 

While the costumed hero fad had been recognized by the rest of the world as an attempt at Propaganda, some stressed and harassed Americans took to the streets at night in outrageous get ups all to assuage a sense of guilt over not being good enough to match the image conscious 1950's. Few of these costumed crimefighters had any abilities, but they searched out and found foes, foes usually tainted red.McCarthy's reign had been tempered by the outrageous use of Posthumans in the last war, thus he managed to stay on top for longer. Horribly opposed to the McCarthyism that was sweeping the nation several costumed heroes stood up to be counted against McCarthy.

Being branded a criminal by the senator often turned these delicate psychological cases from potential do-gooders into lethal "supervillains." The biggest of which was the Red Scare who had developed a potent fear toxin and kept it on hand for occasional Terror strikes.

McCarthy was chosen to pick the next lineup of the Courage team, which he dubbed Courage America. Immediately Gibraltar, Iron American, and Jack Quick were signed on (Rose, the Torch of Freedom, had stayed in England with the Beadle whom she had had an affair with during the war. One of the few things the Journeyman couldn't figure out), as well as reincarnations of Manpower and Liberty Eagle. New faces like Crackerjack, Major Victory, the Red-Blooded Defender were included in Courage America. The main American scourge was one Professor Nevin Perl, the main scientific authority within the ranks of Prometheus. His scientific genius allowed Gibraltar's type O blood to be turned into a superserum codenamed J-12.

He was outraged at the use of atomic weaponry and McCarthy's reign. He also felt like the Prometheus board was just assigning him busy work while all the budget went to Courage America. On June 12, 1953 Professor Peril revealed himself to the world, hijacking all radio and television signals in America for 24 seconds and unleashing a subliminal wavelength that incited tremendous riots for a week-long period. Riots that resulted in tremendous loss of life and property damage. Professor Peril became known as the Grandfather of Supervillainy. His plots usually succeeded and he struck hard and fast. His first true success came in 1960 when he was able to detonate a nuclear warhead on the Arizona and New Mexico border, forever turning a section of America into a nuclear nightmare, a land of horribly mutated attrocities.

However, it was through these birthing pains that Earth's greatest champion arose.

Professor Peril, in his hubris, had altered the bomb. It was his belief that if he matrixed the energy the effects would be more devastating. And it was, to the reality of the region. Vincent Wagner was arguably the closest person to the ground zero of the bomb. His recount is sketchy though he remembers his greatest pain he had ever experienced. "A blinding light coming from behind my eyes. Heat so intense I believed it was shattering me. And a Center of gravity in every one of my fingers..."

The government discovered the man that was to usher in the next age of humanity... the Atomic Age. The government's only survivor was Vince Wagner, a high school music teacher, in his early twenties. His abilities in every way equalled Blitzkrieg. He had tremendous strength, speed, flight, and the ability to throw radioactive bolts. The radiation that bathed the region was dubbed Bios, as its effect upon organic material wasn't immediately deadly. With a champion of this magnitude, Prometheus decided to cash in on the Journeyman's legacy, deigning the Man Atomic: Journeyman.

Sixties: A Mod Age Comin'

As a survivor of the most heinous act of Super Terrorism, the second Journey was bolstered by tremendous support. The government, sensing a chance to coalesce citizens, sponsored many of media program around posthumans and their necessity for protection of the united States. McCarthy had since lost power in a wave of Goodwill and Patriotism, quieting the boistrous senator. Still there was a small faction of the posthuman population who wanted liberty to express herself without governmental coersion.

Kid Caliber had since matured into a brilliant lithe 19-year old who rallied like-minded posthumans to his side, under the banner of a non-sanctioned government superteam, the Revolution. The roster included such celebrities figures as the Eco-Friend, Free Spirit, Chakra, and Joker Wild. The team also boasted the first Alien superhero, the Stranger, a green-skinned 5 foot tall spaceman with telepathic abilities.

The Journeyman sent millions of Tax-Dollars into the posthuman project and the Government created more posthumans themselves with J12.

That was until a mole smuggled it out of Prometheus headquarters in Haxton, CT. (circa 1960) The super-serum was sold to the highest bidder and immediately super-crime was sent on a massive surge. The Vigilante teams formed in the fifites could do only so much with their skills, tactics, and themed gadgets.

The government quickly abandoned the J12 method for making posthumans and sought out other methods. The Wastes (the destroyed area of Arizona) were producing monsters of unequalled might, and the Government, along with the Journeyman's help erected a massive wall around the area, dubbing the virulently verdant soil Ground Zero. Japan suffering repercussion for its attempt at Posthuman creation, sent most of the experimental failures to the compound, creating a freakish zoo of nightmarish and primordial monstrosities for none to observe but those with great fortitude.

I'll give you a revolution!

The year, 1962: In response to the Revolution's formation the government decides to upgrade the image of Courage America, placing Journeyman as the leader, beside the Iron American, Jack Quick, Liberty Eagle, Statuesque as well as accepting the Midnight Man to the ranks, as a human whose training allowed him to be super. The renamed team was called the Courage Initiative.

1963: Another Franchise was set up across the Country in Southern California, (This furthered the division between the Youth from the Administration) called Courage West, led by an aging Gibraltar, which frequently came into conflict with the Revolution. Courage West featured the first fuly robotic hero, Argos, who acted like a Posthuman battery recharging and rejuvenating them on the battlefield. Several threats arose to take advantage of the bickering heroes. Threats like the Mole, Seismicon, Golden Boy, Tandem, and the Libertarian. And always, there was the Soviet Threat, with their own posthuman arm of defence, the Atomik Guard.

1967: Professor Peril in a bid to destroy both Courage West and the Revolution captured psychic members (The Stranger, Chakra, and Mindset) from each, trying to create a negative mental backlash great enough to kill all the members in a single death blow. Harnessing the mental energy from the three psi-sensitives Prof. Peril created a new entity composed entirely of potent will (Code-named "Cathexis')The being instead of striking at the teams, escaped. Both Mindset and Chakra were killed, but Stranger, possibly due to his immense mental constitution, remained, shaken and never quite the same. Argos, during the turmoil, was destroyed by some of Peril's own robotic creations. Meanwhile: a Group 9 team, led by the Draconian, uncovered a secret cave inscribed by unknown runes. Immediately the group was attacked by cowled figures demonstrating amazing resiliency and tenacity. The Draconian, in his haste, broke the cave door, unleashing a comely, fiery-haired green robed woman, short of breath and barely conscious. Even in her weakened state she quickly smote the cowled figures, collapsing just after. When she awoke a month later, she terrorized the Group 9 compound, revealing herself to be the Nimue of Legend who slayed Merlin and took his powers. Only by calling in Courage Initiative could she be staved off.

Seventies and Other Worlds

1970: Cathexis claims its first victim. Appearing to those in great emotional conflict and trauma and offering to fulfill their desires Cathexis serves as sort of a genie. Mindy Mawken, a recent burn victim is approached by the energy form. She asks to fix her face. She wants beauty. As do most in the Californian state. Immediately the number of beautiful people skyrockets , some call it mass histeria.

1971: Cathexis meets Michael Blackburn an emotionally distressed child whose parents are separating. He just wants someone to protect him Like the heroes are supposed to. People in Michael apartment building, and at his school immediately develop posthuman attributes. Michael due to his age and unformed psyche is embedded with Cathexis energy. the year is 1972: The final effect of Cathexis is felt as all of the Courage Initiative, Courage West, and the Revolution are all swept off of the planet. Prometheus scrambles to stave off the surge in posthuman crime. However a new team of posthumans, Heroes United, steps up to take charge, and the youngest sidekick on record, 8 year old Michael Blackburn, is seen with the team at all of its battles. When the original superteams return to earth all of Cathexis' deeds are undone. The beautiful people's appearances are twisted turning them into mockeries of humanity. Mindy Mawkins mentally collapses, adopting the name of Misfigure and leading her "Beautiful People" For some reason, the United don't lose their powers.

1973: The Revolution was deftly torn apart by the off-world experience. They did not reform after their return, and their leader, Kid Caliber, never returned. The Couragers were also wounded and sought the United to refill their ranks. (Only Journeyman, the Iron American, Gibraltar, Statuesque, Liberty Eagle, Adonis, Jack Quick, and Midnightman remained. Eco-Friend had decided to join with Courage West, and was seen by most as a sellout). The Heroes United were offered stints in the Courage units, with the stipulation Michael Blackburn not be allowed to follow the heroes around any further. As the leader of the United (Iron Claw) shook hands with Gibraltar he punched the aged leader at such a suggestion. The skirmish hit a still recuperating Courage team. Michael Blackburn was revealed to be a final battery of Cathexis. Still young and inexperienced he vanished. Jack Quick was mortally wounded in the battle and was the final casualty in the Cathexis agenda

1974: With the government's own pool of posthuman resources dwindling it looked to other agencies for help. Prometheus was viewed as an organization of crackpots and loose cannons. The Army and the CIA stepped into the role of Posthuman protocol. The Army immediately demanded the Iron American's specifications and created their own band of armored heroes, known as the Iron Citizens. There was one citizen located in each major metropolis along with a base located in Haxton, Concordia, and San Mencia (Florida). The Journeyman became a CIA Operative. His colleagues either retired or declined the offer The Iron Citizens were not embraced by the Citizenry of America, viewing them more as a power mad police force. Brutality rates soared. It was a dark day indeed for the American superhero force. Major menaces of the time period included Kid Cathexis, the role Michael Blackburn took, who led the Villains United again and again against the American government. Journeyman, on several black operations, killed many of the costumed villains that had faded away: Red Scare, Psychopomp, Tandem, Arachna, the Mole, Drillbit, Reaver, Marauder, Kid Midas, Scattershot, Dead Eye, The Rapier, Duke Decibel, Bombshell, and Manotaur.

1976: Prometheus saw a chance to Redeem itself by launching Courage Unstoppable under a patriotic banner. Finding a new Liberty Eagle to led the team, Prometheus only recruited and did not create any more posthuman (scientific findings had shown the effects of J12 were exponential when both mates had received their powers from the serum). The new lineup included the environmental Eco-Friend, 12-shooter swinging Desperado, ten-foot tall Neanderthal, size-changing Statuesque, expert-archer Bellerophon, the leather-winged Dactyl, and flame casting Sizzler. The Journeyman also took a more public role, but was never taken back into the ranks of Courage Unstoppable.

Eighties: How I Saved Myself

1980: Concordia, during the major posthuman shufflings, had been left defensely against corruption. Enter the Silhouette. COnsidered by many to be one of the brutalist posthuman enforcers in years, the costumed vigilante (who wore a black fedora, black trenchcoat, black head sock, black boots, red scarf and gloves) showed no overt powers leading many people to think he was a delusional human rather than one sent on a holy mission after being sprayed with radioactive funk. Continually he evaded police and private assassins. His greatest case involved the Castilucci crime family, delivering the youngest daughter, Malorie's, diary to the Concordian Observer. The Clemency Society, always seen as a symbol of wealth and power, surged in membership as the 80's yuppies wanted to clothe themselve in "lasting" class.

1981: Professor Peril achieves his greatest act of superhman fellony as he is able to hijack both the Atomik Guard and the Iron Citizenry and turn them against their own populace. Russian heroes the Walking Disaster, General Winter, and Father Fallout try to hold off their armored bretheren, while Courage Unstoppable proves its name to be a misnomer as the Omnite-plated knights descend upon their cities. At the height of the battle, all armored warriors disengage and amass on Peril's secret island base in the pacific. It was a disaster nationally. the leaders of both countries immediately accused the others. Courage Unstoppable was launched against the soviets in a resulting gala of destruction that claimed more lives that the turning of the Atomik Guard or the Iron Citizenry. The world could no longer trust its protectors as their were calls the world over to dismiss superhero teams and create camps and reservations for them to dwell in without interferring with "real society." The Hero Embargo had begun and would last until 1992...

until 1992.

The Embargo, as it was called, prohibited all nations from using posthumans in combat. Only local vigilantism was tolerated and then in small amounts. The Silhouette still operated. During this time the Journeyman was diagnosed with a degenerative disease that caused his cellular makeup to degrade. Powers flagging, he desperately sought a way to deny his horrible destiny.

1992: President Dugan introduced his law of Post-Human reform establishing a secretive school for Posthuman children "The Westward Center for Emerging Youth." Dugan also assembled the latest incarnation of the government sponsored super team: Courage Forever, which united several posthuman operatives all over the united states. The team focused on regional conflicts, hiding behind the Masked Vigilante law established by the Cordoba convention.

1995: Professor Peril, with a reconfigured army of Iron Citizenry and Atomik Guardians, marched upon Concordia. Peril had killed the pilot and united all the suits via a machine "Hive Mind," All active members of Courage Forever had to unite to stop the threat and almost 75% of the defenders were counted among the dead. In his last valiant act the Journeyman collided with the Peril's ship and the hivemind, deactivating all the drones. The vessel was claimed by the ocean waves and the World released a communal breath. However the reminder of the turned Iron Citizens and the posthuman death tolls reignited leery Americans misgivings about the gods walking among them.

1998: President Dugan was assasinated by a ruthless vigilante calling himself "Countdown" The interrim president established a smaller team would be at the administration beck and call, thus Courage Forever shrunk to a 5 member team: Major Victory, Lightspeed, Cosmique, Liberty Eagle, and Iron Maiden.

The Posthuman Appendix

"Posthuman" is the chosen term for all those beings with powers in the Prometheus universe. There was never a great genetic upheaval with an advancement in the human genome, which means that there are no arbitrary mutants. Everyone who has powers received them from exposure to some cosmic bit of life-altering energy or received them from heritage. Posthuman also describes aliens, supernatural beigns, magic-wielding folks, and generally anyone who deals with their demons by coming up with an alternate identity and wearing a cape. Courage Forever Courage Now! The Matadors