Torchbearers World

Torchbearers
The world of Torchbearers is vastly different from our own. It is a world of fantastical powers and geniuses that vastly overshadow their peers. In terms of power and genius many are almost legends, and as such stand out from their peers in virtually every way. Their lives are just as fantastic as their powers, as they face off against those that are their equals.

Superhumans

In this world those with powers are known colloquially as Superhumans. They come in a massive variety of shapes and sizes, but often have similar origins. They can be classified into several types:

Serum Soldiers are the most common form of superhuman on earth and the weakest in terms of raw power. They often possess enhanced physiques and slightly enhanced minds along with other minor powers. Their comparatively weak abilities are offset by most having elite training and special equipment. Due to often possessing uniform powers and equipment, along with an ease of manufacture that even corporations could utilize, more than a few Serum Soldier units exist. Notable units include “The Bird Callers” from the United States and the “Fury Korps” in Africa. Many other Serum Soldiers are made by either corporations or by individuals of superior intellect known as Geni.

Geni are the second most common form of superhuman on earth. Geni possess vast mental capabilities that render them head and shoulders above the minds of other human beings. They are often geniuses in multiple fields, with many focusing especially on one field of science. Within their specialties these super-geniuses create revolutionary technology that others can only barely understand. Due to their superior intellect, many Geni feel they must test their inventions personally, while others are content to go about their work in peace as long as they can test its full effectiveness when they feel like it. Notable Geni include Philter, who turns sickly people into Serum Soldiers to cure them of their illnesses, and Colt, who combines the traits of organic objects with inorganic material to create advanced technologies.

Energists are the third most common superhuman and manipulate the very energy of the earth itself as their tool. The majority are born with this power, while others gain it at random. Energists can manipulate energy en masse, but need to channel it to make it more powerful. As such they use equipment made of Aeromium, a type of metal that serves as a natural conduit for their powers. Aeromium is naturally made out of a material when an Energist discharges virtually all their stored energy into it. The Aeromium that is formed is very strong and dense, but is like an extension of their body to an Energist and easily moldable. As such almost all Energists wear armor and use weapons made of Aeromium. Notable Energists include a group of eco-terrorists known as The Wild Flame Gang, and Zenitha, Queen of Russia.

Broodlings are the fourth most common superhuman and the result of humans interbreeding with other races, most commonly aliens. While this can include any dozens of species most Broodlings are of either Quinox or Dervin descent. Quinox broodlings look mostly human but possess superhuman strength, endurance, and reptilian features. Dervin broodlings look entirely human, but possess advanced shapeshifting capabilities due to possessing a semi-liquid physiology. Notable broodlings include Jazz, who possesses a hyper evolved sound box and is a widely known superhero, and Iris, who takes the form of a electric blue metallic humanoid of superb strength.

Warped are the fifth most common superhuman on earth. Warped are the result of humans surviving time rifts, space tears, black holes, and many more phenomenon. Warped possess powers relating to whatever phenomenon they were caught in, and are often far stronger than most superhumans. They all possess eyes that represent whatever they were caught in. Notable Warped include Gold King, who is able to manipulate the density of himself and others and has solid gold eyes, and Cyberklock, who “hacks” time around him to cause a variety of special effects.

From these five groups come virtually all superhumans. Others do exist, but they tend to be rarer and self-contained. Superhumans often dress in signature costumes and outfits, a unofficial tradition stretching back centuries to when the first superhumans appeared. They also tend to take up a variety of codenames, another tradition they follow.

Serum Soldiers

Serum soldiers are the latest form of superhuman, officially appearing only in the early 20th century. During World War 1 both sides of the war engaged in heavy genetic experimentation to create superhumans of their own instead of relying upon chance. Despite progress made by both, the war ended before any notable progress could be made. As such the projects were shut down and their data put away, until the advent of World War 2. Due to the furious nature of that war the old projects were reopened. The first success at a Serum Soldier was by the japanese, who developed a unit known as “The Great Suns”. This unit was modeled after the Samurai, and were extremely effective thanks to being a fusion of Serum Soldiers, Broodlings, and Energists. To this day no other country has figured out the exact formula to mesh with Broodling and Energist blood. They let Japan hold its own in the pacific and establish itself as a true superpower. This was followed by the British developing their own serum soldiers, then American and Germany following suit shortly after.

In the end the allies still won World War 2, but Japan was never occupied as instead of surrendering it merely withdrew from the war and pulled back its forces to defensible locations, keeping pieces of China and the Philippines. Considering an invasion too costly the allies dropped two nuclear bombs. The first went off successfully, the second was intercepted by Great Sun soldiers.

After this the U.S developed a new formula for their Serum Soldiers in an attempt to make an equal to the japanese Serum Soldiers. This serum gave their soldiers greatly increased muscles, bone strength, and stamina, and due to the addition of an unnamed chemical resulted in them growing large feathered wings. At first these wings were considered a mistake and effort was put into removing them, but the military recognized the strategic boon these soldiers presented and quickly formed a unit. After months of training the newest Serum Soldier unit “The Bird Callers” entered operational activity. The formula was altered so their wings were now gunmetal grey, with the flag of their state tattooed upon their wings. Equipped with high power rifles and assorted weaponry they began a new war in the pacific against japan to reclaim lost territory and eliminate the japanese threat. Due to its nature and focus on state of the art genetic technology, this war was dubbed “The Vial War” by media across the globe.

The japanese Great Suns possessed an unparalleled ability to manipulate their environment that allowed them to put up powerful defenses, but the universal air based capabilities of The Bird Callers and their great degree of flexibility allowed them to fight The Great Suns on equal footing. The pacific war lasted a total of six years until the Japanese were successfully pushed back to the territory of their home. This resulted in the Japanese government deploying a previously unknown reserve unit of Serum Soldiers known as “The Sun Walkers” that devastated U.S troops by being on an entirely different level. They fought with determined ferocity and ruthlessness that pushed back American forces until they were forced to withdraw. The Japanese won “The Vial War”, and kept their territory, firmly establishing themselves as a global superpower.

After this point Serum Soldiers became more commonly used in warfare, with their treatment ranging from living weapons to even the status of nobility. During the 1960’s the United States, USSR, and Japan all entered into a major cold war. While the United States focused on its interests and democracy, and the USSR tried to solidify its grasp of europe and other countries, the Empire of Japan proceeded to aggressively take large portions of China and other asian countries. As tensions rose between the three superpowers more and more resources were devoted to creating better Serum Soldiers. While even the most enhanced Serum Soldier doesn't possess the raw mental capabilities of a Geni or the power of an energists, they possess numbers and uniformity that greatly benefits them. Teams of Serum Soldiers moved throughout countries as they enacted their governments orders.

Meanwhile Africa was experiencing a highly unexpected turn of events. In South Africa a pair of twin Xhosa Geni by the name of “Umlilo kwaye Ice” began to experiment with a new breed of Serum Soldier. The twin’s were tired of the racism and division that plagued Africa, so they decided to fix it. Over the years they gathered up african’s from every tribe they could reach, experimenting with each nation's culture and beliefs to create the perfect Serum Soldiers for africa as a whole.

These soldiers possessed enhanced bodies, minorly enhanced minds, but most importantly were divided into two sub groups. One half possessed fire red eyes, minor pyromancy, and high stamina, while the other half possessed ice blue eyes, major cryomancy, and high mental focus and concentration. They were then outfitted in red or blue armor with a fire or ice theme respectively, and sent on missions to bring down the villains throughout Africa. Named “The Fury Korps” they quickly garnered fear and respect throughout Africa, and were one of the major factors in Africa’s current stability and unity.

During this time period as well the Chinese began a project to reclaim their home. Between the second world war and the Cold War a large portion of China was occupied by Japanese forces. Due to the superiority of japanese Serum Soldiers the Chinese needed a new breed of soldier. Working alongside the USSR they managed to develop a breed of Serum Soldier known as “The Wuxi”. The Wuxi possessed enhanced flexibility and speed compared to other forms of Serum Soldier, and were granted a form of energy manipulation that is strengthened by mental focus and clarity. They wore black armor combined with orange robes for a mixture of flexibility and durability. The Wuxi were then deployed in small groups as an advance strike force, targeting the enemy's infrastructure and taking out key objectives. After a protracted war the Japanese were pushed back, and forced to deploy a “Sun Walker”. The chinese would’ve been dedicated if not for one unprecedented benefit. There was a Warped in China named Yu-Chi who had the power to solidify the very air around him and use it as a weapon. Deciding that the only way to save China was to intervene, he engaged the “Sun Walker” and easily slayed him. From then on China was free of Japanese rule, as the presence of a Warped was considered too much of a danger for the Empire to face without extensive force deployment.

Eventually the Cold War ended, but not before a number of countries gained their own form of Serum Soldier...though the most powerful ones tend to be due to especially extensive and genius testing by Geni or very expensive secret testing by governments.

Geni

Geni are one of the most ancient types of superhuman and tied with Energists for the most natural. Wherever there has been culture there has been a Geni. Other humans may invent and design things for modern living, but Genu specialized in making the impossible possible. They range from the designers of legendary weapons to the creators of mythological beasts. As they have always existed they are the most well known form of Superhuman right after Serum Soldier.

Due to their nature Geni almost universally serve as secondary assistance. Warriors would go to them for weapons, king's for advice, and even “gods” would seek them out for their assistance. But a quirk of the Geni is that they not only think differently, but they act differently. They have quirks and personalities that are always on one edge of extreme. They would often arrange challenges, tricks, and more for those seeking them out. Many would take it upon themselves to act in situations they had no business in. Even the least eccentric Geni is strange by the standards of their respective cultures.

When America needed to create a new unit of Serum Soldiers they had the assistance of a Geni who called himself Quintessential. He was a very self-assured and determined man, who in the process of developing the Serum Soldier formula decided to add an unknown element he was sure would give the soldiers a boost. This new element resulted in the soldiers growing large wings, which surprised him none. While the other scientists partially panicked he already knew the military would see the benefits of his soldiers. Sure enough they did and he was given permission to tweak the formula. Alongside a number of scientists they added and edited components until the new breed of soldiers had the desired amount of strength and speed. When all was said and done”The Bird Callers” existed as a highly enhanced unit of Serum Soldiers, and Quintessential was given multiple awards. Afterwards he trained a number of other scientists or people willing to learn from him, while ordinary scientists were brought in who developed new weapons and armor built specifically for the Bird Callers to use.

As the years passed Geni became more and more common, implied to be linked to the increasing human population, and thanks to the digital age they are able to remain anonymous and still continue their work. Not only that but a huge number of heroes and villains owe their superpowers to Geni that experimented on them.

Energists

Energists are the most ancient form of superhuman and the most influential. They are the result of the earth imparting its immense energies upon human beings, creating nodes of power. Energists act as conduits, storage tanks, and white blood cells for the earth. They can use its energy for a huge variety of effects, ranging from pulses of raw power to healing wounds to even flight. This flexibility is what lets them persevere against even the most dangerous foes. Many energists tend to specialize though, more out of a natural tendency and fondness for one power set than conscious choice. Not only this but they can use their natural energy to transmute material into a metal known as Aeromium. Aeromium in its “natural” state is a black metal with a metallic lustre. It is very difficult to work by most, but when handled by an Energists though Aeromium retains its extreme hardness and density but becomes extremely light. It is also easily malleable by an Energist, who are able to send their energy through it to quickly reshape it. This allows Energists to use extremely durable equipment that most others have no access to. Not only that but Aeromium serves as a focus for Energists powers