View source for Storyline

[[File:Immortality_machine.png|right|250px]]

{{Quotation|'''Elizabeth''' pulling strings|Who I '''am''' does not concern you.}}
{{update}}
Although ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' does not have a story mode or single-player campaign, the '''storyline''' of the game has been revealed through [[comics]], [[Meet the Team]] videos, and major updates. For example, the [[October 29, 2009 Patch|Halloween]] update of October 2009 (and [[October 27, 2010 Patch|Halloween]] update of October 2010 and 2011), [[December 17, 2009 Patch|WAR! Update]] of December 2009, and [[Engineer Update]] of July 2010 have all added to the official ''Team Fortress'' continuity in one way or another. [[Hidden pages|Hidden links]] within these pages as well as examination of ''Team Fortress 2'' comic book pages are used to contribute to the various dates in the "Detailed timeline" section below.

==1850==
=== Mann family ===
[[File:Family Portrait.jpg|200px|thumb|From left to right: Barnabas Hale, Blutarch Mann, Zepheniah Mann, Elizabeth, and Redmond Mann. A mysterious man is also seen just out of shot on the far right side.]]

The '''Mann family''''s backstory begins in 1850 with the wealthy Englishman [[Zepheniah Mann]]. Zepheniah Mann was the owner and proprietor of Mann & Sons Munitions Concerns – which also went by the name of Zepheniah Mann & Sons Co., but is better known by the name of [[Mann Co.]]. Later, he traveled to the United States with his two adult sons, [[Redmond Mann|Redmond]] and [[Blutarch Mann|Blutarch]], to expand their munitions business. When they arrived, they discovered the {{botignore|[[Gravel Pit|gravel pits]]}} and {{botignore|[[dustbowl]]s}} were useless; in addition, Zepheniah had contracted numerous illnesses in his old age. With his last will and testament, Zepheniah set up the events of ''Team Fortress 2'' by leaving half of his land to each of his sons – for them to fight over for the rest of their lives.

[[File:BluTeamOriginal.jpg‎|left|thumb|1850s BLU team]]

=== Beginnings of RED vs. BLU ===
Comprised of [[Scout|Billy the Kid]], [[Soldier|Stonewall Jackson]], [[Pyro|Abraham Lincoln]], [[Demoman|Alfred Nobel]], [[Heavy|John Henry]], [[Engineer|Nikola Tesla]], [[Medic|Sigmund Freud]], [[Sniper|Davy Crockett]], and [[Spy|Fu Manchu]], Blutarch had his crack mercenary team set and was eager to claim his land. However, Redmond had assembled his own team of mercenaries and was making similar plans to gain control of his brother's land. The RED and BLU teams proceeded to enter into a massive stalemate as they attempted to destroy each other and take the land for their respective Mann sibling.
<br clear="all">

==1890==
===A Loose Canon===
[[File:Australians.png|left|thumb|Australians in the 1890's.]]
[[File:RadiganConagher.jpg|thumb|200px|Radigan Conagher accepts Blutarch's request.]]

Forty years later, Redmond and Blutarch were still engaged in their unwinnable war. 

As Blutarch neared death from old age, he called in an expert craftsman named [[Radigan Conagher]] to construct for him a machine that would allow him to live on, to "make [him] a monster", by artificially extending his life. Radigan agreed.

Upon returning to his store that evening, Radigan found a stranger who had already made her way past his locked door. Knowing she couldn't convince Radigan to change his mind about building Blutarch's life extender, this stranger asked Radigan to build Redmond a machine as well. As payment, she gave him a hundred pounds of [[Australium]] – a powerful element found only in Australia which had caused the nation of unintelligent savages to become extremely intelligent and develop such technological marvels as [[Teleporter|teleportation]] and [[Invisibility Watch|cloaking]] techniques. 

Radigan agreed and became super-intelligent with the Australium. He went on to develop life extending machines for Redmond, Blutarch, and a third individual.
<br clear="all">

==1968==
===Modern war===
During the Summer of 1968, nine individuals - the Scout, the Soldier, the Pyro, the Demoman, the Heavy Weapons Guy, the Engineer, the Medic, the Sniper, and the Spy - were recruited by Reliable Excavation & Demolition (RED) and Builders League United (BLU) to continue Redmond and Blutarch's neverending war to seize the land left to them by their deceased father.

[[Image:Announcer.png|thumb|100px|The Administrator]]

[[The Administrator|Helen]], a descendant of Elizabeth, acts as the overseer of the large-scale battles fought amongst these nine mercenaries. Descendant of Barnabas Hale, [[Saxton Hale]], acts as the propitiatory owner of the renowned weapons and [[headwear]] business Mann Co., which acts as a subsidiary of the Administrator's shadowy company, [[TF Industries]].

===Recent developments===
Our first major plot event occurs when the RED Demoman and BLU Soldier meet and become friends at an explosives convention, which severely angers the Administrator as they may share information about their job and discover they're working for the same person. With the help of Saxton Hale, she misleads both men into thinking the other is trying to kill them, sparking [[The WAR! Update|a bloody war]]. 

The next major event occurs when Blutarch Mann realizes his life support machine is breaking. Blutarch contacts our BLU Engineer, the grandson of Radigan Conagher, to [[Engineer Update|fix it]]. 

Later, Saxton Hale discovers the Internet (which notably did not exist in the 1960s) and uses it to [[Mann-conomy Update|open]] the online [[Mann Co. Store]] for players to purchase weapons and items.
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==Mysteries==
===The Pyro's identity===
The identity of the Pyro has been the subject of much debate since the game's release. As the Pyro is the only class to not yet receive a [[Meet the Team]] video, little is known about his or her personality and history. 

===Zepheniah Mann's unknown will recipient===
Zepheniah Mann left an important task, as well as the entirety of his (obscured), to an unknown individual in his will. Specifically, the line reads 

{| cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" 
| style="background-color: #FBB917; padding:5px" | Lastly, to (obscured) I leave the entirety of my (obscured) <br/> (obscured) <br/> (obscured) <br/> and swear you to utmost secrecy in its keeping.
|}

===Third "Life Extender Machine"===
After constructing Blutarch his life extending machine on July 17, 1894, and a second for Redmond Mann on August 3, 1894, Radigan Conagher built a third machine on April 14 of an unknown year. 

== Detailed timeline ==
{{expandlist}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="1" | Legend
|-
| style="background:powderblue;" | Important event
|}

{|class="wikitable grid sortable plainlinks" cellpadding=10px width="100%"
|-
!class="header" style="width: 15%"| Date
!class="header unsortable" | Event
!class="header unsortable" | Source
|-
!colspan="3" | 18th Century
|-
|1788 - December 18th
|[[Non-player characters#Nicholas Crowder|Old Nick]] turns his boat around to conquer the South Pole while on a voyage to Australia.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/australianchristmas/ Link]
|-
!colspan="3" | 19th Century
|-
| 1808
| The company that produces the [[Bottle|scrumpy]] that the Demoman would become a fan of over a century later begins production of their product. 
| [[:File:XXX.png|Link]]
|-
| 1814 - June
| An editorial cartoon is published in the ''Gentle Manne’s Monthly'' entitled "An Editorial Cartoon of Some Insighte" starring the editorial’s mascot the Gentle Manne of Leisure along with his "Companione".
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/hats/ Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1850
| - style="background:powderblue;" | The last will and testament of [[Zepheniah Mann]] is written and enacted.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/04.html Link]
|-
| 1850
| Australia becomes the world's most advanced country.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/pumpkinpatch/the_last_will_and_testament_of_Zepheniah_Mann/ Link], [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/09.html Link]
|-
| 1857
| Abraham Lincoln invents stairs, replacing [[rocket jumping]].
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/war/victory/ Link]
|-
| 1862 - August 5th
| Scientists in Australia "nervously assure the world" that there is "No [[Australium|gold]] after all..." Gold prospectors turn gaze to Canada.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/engineerupdate/v00.php Link], [http://www.teamfortress.com/engineerupdate/radigan/ Link]
|-
| 1865
| Abraham Lincoln holds his Second Inaugural Address stating, "I say this to you with unvarnished factualism of plain talk: I love [[Arena|Arena Mode]]."
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/sniper_vs_spy/day02_english.htm Link]
|-
| 1865 - April 20th
| The War Department publishes a wanted poster for John "Tower of Hats" Booth for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/engineerupdate/v00.php Link]
|-
| 1869
| [[List of companies|Shiny's Bullion]] is established.
| [[:Image:Shinys_bullion.jpg|Link]]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1880
| - style="background:powderblue;" | Emily begins her search for Australium.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/09.html Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1890
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [[Blutarch Mann]] commissions [[Radigan Conagher]] to build a life extending machine.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/05.html Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1890
| - style="background:powderblue;" | Emily requests Conagher to build a life extending machine for [[Redmond Mann]] as well.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/09.html Link]
|-
| 1890
| [[List of companies|Biggs]] starts producing steel rods.
| [[:File:Biggs steel rods.jpg|Link]]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1894 - April 14th
| - style="background:powderblue;" | Radigan Conagher finishes a life extending machine for an undisclosed party.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/13.html Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1894 - July 17th
| - style="background:powderblue;" | Radigan Conagher finishes building a life extending machine for Blutarch Mann.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/13.html Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1894 - August 3rd
| - style="background:powderblue;" | Radigan Conagher finishes another life extending machine for Redmond Mann as well.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://www.teamfortress.com/loosecanon/13.html Link]
|-
| 1895 - January 25th
|  “Hills Discovered!” The ''Here's Some News, Mate!'' newspaper runs a story about Australia stating “Mysterious new geographic lumps confound men of Australian science."
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/geographic_lumps/ Link]
|-
| 1895 - March 6th
| “War, Mate!” Two months later, the king of Australia declares war on hills stating “There will be time to study these so-called hills after they are dead.”
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/war/ Link]
|-
| 1895 - April 5th
| “King Conquers Hill!” It is reported by the ''Here's Some News, Mate!'' newspaper that the “Coward Mound Surrendered Without a Fight.”
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/coward_mound/ Link]
|-
!colspan="3" | 20th Century
|-
| 1900 - January 23rd
| "[[Mann Co.]] invents 'ro-bot'." It is revealed by an Australian newspaper that Mann Co., an Australian weapons giant, has invented the "robot". In the article, Mann Co. officials attempt to assure public concerns over their 'ro-bot' by stating that "These automatons will only be used for violence." On a minor note, a poll shows that "Robin" is the most popular Australian girl’s name.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classless/hidden/populace/ Link]
|-
| 1900
| Australia tries to colonize space by this time. They seem to have failed.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/engineerupdate/v00.php Link]
|-
| 1901
| Newell and Sons debuts a "turnless" board game – ''Teams and Fortresses 2'' – with explosive "real-time" gameplay.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/119/teams_and_fortresses.html Link]
|-
| 1921
| Franklin D. Roosevelt loses both of his legs while rocket jumping. As a result, he perfects the modern staircase.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/war/victory/ Link]
|-
| 1923
| [[List of companies|Red Shed]] beers are distilled in Tougaloo.
| [[:File:Tf2 red shed.jpg|Link]]
|-
| 1937
| [[List of companies|Redstone Cargo]] is established.
| [[:File:Redstone.png|Link]]
|-
| 1939 - September 1st
| World War II begins. Though he wanted desperately to fight in World War II, the Soldier was rejected from every branch of the U.S. military. Undaunted, he bought his own ticket to Europe. After arriving and finally locating Poland, the Soldier taught himself how to load and fire a variety of weapons before embarking on a Nazi killing spree for which he was awarded several medals that he designed and made himself.
|  [http://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=soldier#classBioText Link]
|-
| 1941 - September
| The [[Heavy]]'s father, a counter-revolutionary, is killed. The Heavy and his family are deported to a North Siberian gulag.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/meetthedirector/?p=4 Link]
|-
| 1941 - December
| The North Siberian gulag burns to the ground with all its guards tortured to death and all prisoners, including the [[Heavy]] and his family, escape.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/meetthedirector/?p=4 Link]
|-
| 1945 - September 2nd
| World War II ends.
| 
|-
| 1949
| The [[Soldier]] ends his Nazi killing spree in Poland upon hearing that World War II had already ended in 1945.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/classes.php?class=soldier#classBioText Link]
|-
| 1959
| [[List of companies|Primaprime]] comes out with a series of instructional films.
| [[:File:Primaprime.png|Link]]
|-
| Early 1960's
| ''Saxton Hale's Barbershop Action'' debuts in the U.S. It is followed by ancillary titles ''Saxton Hale's Barbershop Romance'' and ''Haircut Horrors Starring Saxton Hale's Ghost''.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/barbershop.jpg Link]
|-
| 1961
| ''Saxton Hale’s Thrilling Tales'' first arrives on newsstands.
| [http://teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/sharks.jpg Link]
|-
| 1962
| ''Saxton Hale's Jungle Brawl'' debuts in the U.S.
| [http://teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/ape.jpg Link]
|-
| 1963
| Only four items are being produced for the elderly: hats, meat, caskets, and ''Saxton Hale's Mildly Thrilling Tales''. ''Saxton Hale Visits His Mother Monthly'' and ''Soothing Stories of Familiar Things'' soon follow.
| [http://teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/mild.jpg Link]
|-
| 1964 - March
| The first, and possibly only, issue of ''Saxton Hale's Mail Storm'' is published.
| [http://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/c/c2/Mailstorm_large.jpg Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1965
| - style="background:powderblue;" | The [[Engineer]] creates several mechanical contraptions, including the [[Sentry Gun]], while under contract with TF Industries.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [http://storefront.steampowered.com/Manuals/440/SentryManual_web.pdf Link]
|-
| 1968
| ''Boy's Adventure Starring Saxton Hale'' comes under fire from the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. Pressured by the Senate, Mann Co. changes the title to ''Girl's Adventure Starring Saxton Hale''.
| [http://teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/girlscouts.jpg Link]
|-
| - style="background:powderblue;" | 1968 - June
| - style="background:powderblue;" | The main setting for ''[[Team Fortress 2]]''.
| - style="background:powderblue;" | [[:File:Calendar B.jpg|Link]]
|-
|1969 - August
| Saxton Hale firebombs Woodstock from a helicopter due to a longtime feud with hippies.
| [http://www.teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/barbershop.jpg Link]
|-
| 1972
| ''Saxton Hale's Jungle Brawl'' ends publication.
| [http://teamfortress.com/images/posts/001/ape.jpg Link]
|}

==Trivia==
* World maps exist within the game that do not show 1968 contemporary nations, such as the Soviet Union, but instead show countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Estonia, and many others which were not independent at the time. This may be due to ''Team Fortress''' timeline differing from our own, or simply being an oversight.

== See also ==
* [[Comics]]
* [[Patches#Major updates|Major updates]]
* [[Movies#Meet the Team|Meet the Team]]
* [[Non-player characters]]

[[Category:Background]]