Steampunk Gothic

It is all Newtons fault..

Men was never meant to dabble into science of alchemy. And certainly not the man as intelligent and resourceful as Isaac Newton. After obtaining his degree at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1665. Newton spent months locked in his home working on calculus, optics and the law of gravitation since black pleague was decimating England. But these things alone could not occupy his mind entirely. So he decided to devote some of his time to alchemy. Accidentaly, he stumbled upon the ancient scripture discussing the creation of Philosophers Mercury- a power source that transforms energy from nature into any other form of energy or matter.
Such a miraculous element intrigued the young scientists. He set to work to try and create it. Many alchemists have tried to create gold for centuries. They have failed. Creating Philosphers Mercury was hundred times harder.

Isaac Newton succedded..

But there was a price to pay..

A terrible price..

1879.

Streets of London are covered in thick eldritch fogs and polluted black smoke through which magic infused predators skulk and crawl, lurking in the shadows, waiting for their prey. Another kind of predators can also be found there-fear feeding streetgangs and body part snatchers, opportunists and insane, alchemy born abominations and geard contraptions of death.
And above them, gothic towers of guilds and aristocracy rise to reclaim a breath of fresh air, soaring through gargoyle and drake covered skies shrouded in perpetual twilight, alight with shifting aurora borealises of reality torn apart.

When Isaac Newton unleashed the power of Philosophers Mercury onto the world he couldn't fathom how this invention would change the face of the world. At first it seemed that it would help the mankind and speed the progress. Things like airships and lightning rails became possible. The effects on reality were minor and unperceptable. But then Philosphers Mercury found its way into wars. Alchemical cannons would turn enemy fortifications into glass and shatter it with ease. Flesh and bone would be turned to stone by rock granades. Weapons grew more and more devastating with time.
The strain on reality was too much and finally the barrier snaped, pouring into our world our dreams and nightmares, rising the dead and giving life to where there was none.
By the time the Philosophers Mercury was outlawed, it was already too late..

Troll-kin
Standing 2.5 meters tall with disproportioned, overmuscled bodies and light green skin troll-kin tribes simply emerged one day from the portal that opened near Stonehendge. They had no idea where they came from and how did they came to Earth. And they simply didn't care.
They went on to rampage, causing havoc and mayhem until the royal guard confronted them near the outskirts of London. Primitive troll-kin could not match strategy as well as advanced Steam Core weaponry. They were defeated and routed, forced to sign the treaty. Several years later, troll-kin easily adapted themselves into human society, working as bodyguards and manual laborers, learning fast especially when big boom sticks and ka-boom barrels are in question.

Undying
When Philosophers mercury rippled the strands of reality it also loosened ties between our world and the land of the dead. While most of undead returned as mindless slavering creatures, some have risen from the grave with their sentinence intact. Not alive and not dead and usually shunned by those who knew them while they were alive, the undying have become recluse and shady, keeping away from the mainstream society, dwelling in dark alleys and abandoned abbeys. While they are not evil (at least not majority of them) they have bad reputation which mostly comes out of superstition.

Anyone intrested in playing?
I'll post more info on STG world later..