Joseph is a mildly-cheerful soul with brown hair and amber eyes. Catching him as a human would reveal a man that dresses rather plainly, with simple t-shirts and shorts or jeans as a staple and dull colors. He stands at 5'10, and outside of a bright smile he doesn't stand out too much.
His sorcerer form isn't overly complicated either, loose robe-like black pants and orange tunic, with a dramatic black long black over the shoulders that appear to be linked in the front by golden circular chains. His eyes and Hair seem to glow more too.
Though antisocial; he is generally a friendly and helpful individual; Especially in the world of sorcerer he is a bit more extroverted while 'on duty'. He spends most of his time within the library, upkeeping it, acting as secretary, and keeping company of any sorcerers that linger in the open hub.
He seems to aspire to help other sorcerers and is more then enthusiastic to share most forms of coveted knowledge with them. His general goal seems to be to keep others save, especially sorcerers. Though he plays a supportive role by maintaining the library instead of actively engaging in firewall events most of the time.
Joseph was originally a sorcerer in another city, one that had far more experienced Sorcerers and members of the SNPG. There he found assistance from his peers, and was inspired to turn his passion into helping others by joining the group and setting out for a less sorcerer-populated city to help out.
He hasn't revealed his powers or his contracts to others despite his otherwise open information, but he supposedly has a fusion-type contract; his key appearing to be a pocket watch. His mana color is teal.
Conner is tall and lean, standing at exactly six feet tall. He has slender well defined swimmers body that he is very happy to show off. He spends plenty of time out in the sun, and thus has a lightly tanned skin complexion. He has a boyish heart shaped face, with big brown eyes, and a small nose. He keeps his brunette hair spiked up in the front, a style he thinks is cool. He can most often be seen with a grin on his face.
Most of his wardrobe is just blue stuff… He likes wearing tight fitting tank tops to show off his physique. He prefers wearing sandals for footwear. He always wears his swim trunks underneath his clothes.
The first thing you’ll notice about Conner’s guardian form, is that his hair and eyes turn blue. Two blue jewels with wings attached to them sit on either side of his head. A headband of blue stars sit in the middle of his forehead. He has white pauldrons with blue symbols carved into it. He has a blue chestplate. He has a blue tunic under it that falls to his knees. Covering his legs are a pare of white tights, as well as blue armor plates around his hips. He wears white and blue boots as his footwear, and blue gauntlets to around his hands and arms. The look is completed with a long flowing blue cape.
Pronouns: He/him (gay)
Personality: Conner is a spontaneous and outgoing young man. He likes to have fun. His favorite activities are surfing, swimming, playing video games, and reading comic books. He enjoys socializing with others and being the center of attention. He is an handshaking, touching kind of guy. He openly expresses affection through hugs, holding hands, as well as stroking and grabbing shoulders. He particularly likes flirting with attractive guys. He makes friends easily, and will happily chat up strangers if they interest him somehow. He enjoys social situations, and believes that everyone else would too. He's likely to convince people who he perceives as being lonely to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!' While he does need to spend time alone once in a while, he gets bored if he does it too long. He values all his relationships, and will happily stick with anyone he considers a friend.
He can often be found with a smile on his face, even during stressful situations. He often makes jokes, when the situation is tense to lift people's spirits. He may tease others in a 'playful' way, and expect them not to 'take it so seriously.' He does feel bad if somebody does actually get their feelings hurt by what he says. Sometimes his attempts at humor are read as him not taking the situation seriously. While he does joke around a lot, he is capable of getting things done. He just doesn't feel the need to be so dour about it. He often suggests that others not be so serious.
Conner enjoys showing off his skills for others in order to get praise. He is prone to bragging about the things he is good at. He does it in a 'look at this awesome thing I can do!' way, rather than an 'I'm better than you.' way. He will often be the first one to jump into battle just to show off the cool stuff he can do with water.
He likes to live in the moment rather than dwelling on the past. This means Conner is not the best when it comes to organization, or planning. Due to his lack of planning ahead, it makes him impulsive, and he tends to jump into things without a second thought. He gets bored when he is not sufficiently stimulated, and will complain about being bored. He is also not the most tidy person. He does clean up his mess after the fact if it's pointed out to him, but he has trouble avoiding making a mess in the first place.
Growing up a member of a rich family that has high standards, and a seemingly perfect older sister has given him a number of insecurites. He’s always worried about not being good enough, and that he doesn’t belong anywhere. He feels like he has something to prove. He wants to have a purpose in life. He tries to hide his worries behind a mask of being a cool laid back surfer dude, but they’re always there. It manifests as envy towards people he thinks are better than him.
Aspirations, Goals, ideals, or Ambitions: To be better than his sister for once, to be a beloved hero, and maybe be a professional surfer.
History: Conner grew up in an upscale area of Milburn City. Conner was the youngest son of the wealthy and prominent Waters family. His parents were quite strict, and they had high standards for their kids. Conner had an older sister named Arianna, and she was the the apple of the family’s eye, at least it appeared that way to Conner. She was beautiful, talented, intelligent, and it felt like she could do no wrong. To him, it always seemed like anything he could do she could do better.
In his teenage years, Conner gave up trying to live up to the high standards set by his sister. He only did just well enough in school to get by, and spent a lot of time slacking off. He would often act up in class, and get himself into trouble. There were days where he would cut class to go to the beach and surf. Surfing was one of his favorite activities. It was definitely something Arianna wouldn’t do. He enjoyed the thrill and adrenaline high of catching a big wave.
Conner’s parents wanted him to go to college after finishing high school, but Conner isn’t so sure about that. He struggled in school, so why would he want to do more of it? Besides, he would only be compared to his sister who got accepted to a big fancy university outside of Milburn. He’s kind of tired of it. He currently works at a local surf shop, and has dreams of being a pro surfer, but doesn’t really know how to go about doing that.
Contract(s): Standard
Contract Interaction: Chesi appeared to Conner in a dream. She promised him magic, and that he would get to be special, and surpass his sister. Conner didn’t need much convincing to make a contract.
Level: 1
key: A seashell necklace Conner made himself when he was a kid.
Mana color: Blue
Artifact points:
Catalyst: 1
Familiar:
Grimoire:
Talisman:
Weapon: 1
Artifact: His artifact is a long blue trident. The weapon is ornately decorated with a lot of mysterious symbols carved into it, and a blue clamshell in the center. The handle of the trident is designed to look like it has an octopus tentacle wrapped around it. He can use his weapon to channel his magic which revolves around controlling water, or just hit enemies with it as a physical weapon.
Familiar:
Chesi has two forms. Her true form, and how she appears in the dreamscape is that of a mermaid. When Conner summons her, she takes the form of a small bottlenose dolphin. She has blue skin, with a white underbelly. She has control over water, and her singing can have manipulative effects on people.
Personality: Jeremiah is a kind-hearted and optimistic person, always willing to help others. He is curious by nature and enjoys learning new things, especially when it comes to history and mythology. Before making his contract, Jeremiah was an ordinary guy who had no idea about the existence of the supernatural world. His kind-hearted nature extends beyond just helping others; he often goes out of his way to make sure everyone around him is comfortable and happy. He has a natural charisma that draws people to him, and he's always willing to lend an ear to those in need. Despite his optimism, however, he can become easily discouraged if things don't go as planned, but he usually bounces back quickly with renewed determination. His curiosity often leads him to ask many questions, which can sometimes come across as nosy or intrusive, but he means well.
Aspirations, Goals, ideals, or Ambitions: Jeremiah has always dreamed of becoming a successful stage magician, performing his illusions in front of large audiences around the world. His love for magic has been a driving force in his life, and he's determined to make it his career. He spent countless hours practicing and refining his illusions, always pushing himself to improve. He's not interested in just performing in small, local shows; he wants to make a name for himself on a global stage. However, he's not willing to compromise his values or integrity to achieve his goals. In terms of personal goals, Jeremiah hopes to find true love and start a family one day. He's a romantic at heart and has always dreamed of finding someone who shares his interests and values. He's not in a rush to settle down, though; he wants to make sure he's ready for the commitment and responsibility that comes with starting a family.
History: Growing up in a small town, Jeremiah didn't have access to many resources for learning magic. He spent most of his time practicing with whatever he could find, often using household items to create his tricks. His dedication paid off, however, and he quickly became known as the town's resident magician. When his cousin offered to pay for his education at a prestigious school in the city, Jeremiah jumped at the chance. He knew it would allow him to seek the best magicians in the city and ask them to help him hone his craft even further.
Contract(s): Standart contract
Contract Interaction:
Jeremiah Garcia awoke from a deep slumber with sweat pouring down his forehead. He had been having a strange dream, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. In the dream, he had been standing in the middle of a darkened theater, surrounded by empty seats. Suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared before him, dressed in a tattered cape and a mask covering his face.
"Who are you?" Jeremiah had asked the figure.
"I am the Phantom of the Opera," the figure had replied, its voice echoing through the empty theater. "But I am more than just a mere mortal, I am one and I am many, my true form beyond human comprehension, a collection of memories and desires, an amalgamation of all those who have breathed life into my story."
Jeremiah had been taken aback by this revelation. "What do you want from me?" he had asked.
"I seek a willing participant, a servant to do my bidding," the Phantom had replied, his voice both melodious and sinister. "In exchange, I shall gift you with power and mastery of illusions beyond your wildest imagination. But know this, mortal: you would belong to me now, body and soul. Your every thought, your every action, will be devoted to the hunt for Christine. For she is the one who can complete me, make us whole. And I will stop at nothing to possess her. Will you be my loyal servant, and help me find her?"
Jeremiah hesitated. The figure's obsession with Christine was unsettling, as if his very existence depended on finding Christine. But the promise of power was too alluring. He agreed to the Phantom's terms, and at that moment, he felt a surge of energy flow through him.
"Good," the Phantom said, "We shall begin our search tonight."
Level: 1
key: A replica of the mask of the Phantom of the Opera
Mana color: Black and silver.
Artifact points: 2
Artifacts: (1)Talisman: Cape du Fantôme - A magical cloak that appears to be made of a dark, flowing fabric. It is adorned with intricate silver embroidery in the shape of ghostly, twisting vines, giving the impression that the cloak is alive and moving. When the wearer is wearing it they are granted a boost to their stealth by masking the sound they make and their magical signature.
(1)Grimoire: Le Livre des Masques du Fantôme - A grimoire containing a series of spells that focus on illusion-based spells that are heavily influenced by the Phantom perception and its story.
INCANTATION:
May the masks of illusion come to life
And hide my true identity
May my enemies be deceived
And their vision be blurred
EFFECT: When this spell is cast, Jeremiah creates an illusory field around an area where a multitude of people wearing victorian era high fashion and a carnival mask will manifest and proceed to mingle among themselves, if any person enters they will find an illusion cast on them, their clothes will change to the same fashion as the illusory people and each will be given a carnival mask of their own choice.
INCANTATION:
May the eyes that see me be deceived
And reality be obscured
May the sewer become my domain
And may my enemy not find me
EFFECT: When this spell is cast against a target, they start to visualize their surroundings with a realistic recreation of the sewers under Paris that the Phantom once inhabited, with the illusion shaping itself based on the environment around the target to maximize the immersion, however, the illusion only affects one target and it doesn't prevent them from seeing other living beings.
INCANTATION:
May the illusions dissipate
And my true appearance be revealed
May my enemies see my face
And be struck with terror
EFFECT: When this spell is cast an illusion is placed under Jeremiah's mask which creates a visage of a deeply disfigured face that has a mental component to inflict terror on all who see it.
INCANTATION:
May the sounds of my illusion capture attention
And may my beautiful angel reveal itself
Let her dance and swirl before my enemies
And plunge them into total confusion
EFFECT: When this spell is cast an indistinct and ethereal figure of a woman in fancy victorian clothes will manifest itself in front of Jeremiah, then it will proceed to sing and dance beautifully, creating a supernatural fascination that is difficult to resist for those unprepared, and outright impossible for non-magical folk.
The Phantom of the Opera
They are a djinn-type spirit that has formed as the collective idea of the 'perfect' interpretation of the book/play character called the Phantom of the Opera, in this form there remains lingering thoughs of the people who once imagined their own version of him which has made its mind somewhat inestable due to some contradictory ideas, but even with such a thing there the bigger whole remains focused on his core elements.
Personality: Is it so wrong to see the world as something less than perfect? Is it folly to wish to change things for the better? These are the questions that Bela asks herself almost daily. A hopeless romantic and pitiless optimist, she believes that there is no saving the stupid, but that she has to try anyway. Her parents have made comments about it not being blood that runs through her veins, but rather a strong sense of justice and a will to see it brought about. This is unfortunately tempered by her lack of social position to act on her beliefs, her poor social skills that come from being on the autism spectrum, and her general contempt for those who have power and don't use it for the uplifting of the weak.
Aspirations, Goals, ideals, or Ambitions: Aspiration: Become capable of changing the paradigm of the world. Goal: Improve themself. Ideal: Freedom and Justice. The idea that these ideas can be harmonious with each other. Ambition: Change the world, bring justice to those who abuse others and create a world where everyone can live freely and happily.
History: Growing up in a middle-class household, Bela never wanted for anything. Well, except world peace. And a life without boredom. And the destruction of the dog-eat-dog system of the world. And-, well, you get the point. She learned the reality of the world when she was but 5, when her rare trading card was stolen. The teachers banned the game because of this, and the other children blamed her, going so far as to claim it wasn't stolen and that she just wanted to get the game banned! This made her depressed and anti-social for a while, but she returned to normal about a year later. Then the second tragedy struck. Her favorite video game was taken from her hands as she played it, and the older children who took it held it too high for her to reach. So she reached for their throat instead. She didn't choke them for too long, just long enough to make them lower their hands so she could grab her game back, but it didn't matter to the adults. She was the one who got in trouble, her parents making her throw away her precious game, the bullies who did it getting away untouched. Her disillusionment grew. By her teenage years, she was known as a troublemaker and a rather dangerous enemy to make. With no care for weak or illogical rules, she would go above and beyond to make those who harmed her, or the younger kids, pay for their actions. Even the older students at her school became afraid of her, leading to a large drop in bullying throughout the grades as a whole. That is, until she went too far and knocked a bullying transfer student unconscious on the day Bela turned 14. She was expelled that day. On an "entirely unrelated" note, the rate of bullying in the school skyrocketed the following week. At age 15, Bela, who had grown strong physically from throwing herself into working out to relieve her anger at society, became obsessed with anime. Not especially surprising for a 15 year old, but the lessons she learned from Sailor Moon and the like were different than what the english dubs wanted kids to learn. She'd need to get stronger still if she wanted to defeat the villains of the world. She didn't have a team to rely on, or magical powers. She'd have to find another way. Exactly one month after she turned 16, her favorite video game of all time was released. She loved it more than anything, and it became her newest obsession. So much so that she would have reoccurring dreams about it. Moreso, when she learned to lucid dream on command (when she realized she was in a dream, that is) at age 17, she would constantly make her dreams be about it. Age 18, Bela had played her game well over 100 times, logging uncounted hours of playtime. She became a NEET for a few months before getting kicked out of her parent's home and ending up in a tiny apartment of her own that she can, to this day, barely pay rent for. Recently having turned 19, she's begun looking into colleges that she might be accepted into, but she has no idea of what she would study for. Today, they have changed significantly.
A dream. It was obvious. But she couldn't do her usual methods. She couldn't change the dream. That was fine. They were there already. That's what mattered.
Artifacts: A knife that is capable of multiplying itself and instantly returning to its wielder. The copies of it that are created can be controlled to some degree by the wielder's mind via minor psychokinesis.
"Familiar": [Taking this spot to describe the spirit itself rather than its familiar form] Appearance: Image Name: "The demon that comes when you call its name." Type of Spirit: Tulpa Origin: Due to the world-wide success of a certain video game, and specifically a rather notable character from a very emotionally charged part of the game, many tupla of this character came to be from the dreams of humans. These tulpa, being recreations (with some differences between them that ranged from minor to drastic) of this character found themselves in a position not unlike that of the one they were "inspired" by. One such tulpa took it upon themself to hunt down their so-called "other selves," and succeeded in greatly reducing their numbers. This particular tulpa found their way to the one whose dreams they spawned from, and made contact with them. Powers: Slight precognition and the ability to improve (non-magical) skills at an increased rate. Grants boosts to both related and (to a lesser extent) unrelated skills when achieving victory in some way over another entity. Theme: Humanity Sub-Themes: Self-Growth, Destruction Design: Hearts and knives
Appearance: Isabella is a little above average height for a woman her age, at 5’ 8”, with a build that is noticeably muscular and athletic, particularly around the arms and shoulders. Her skin is a light brown, tanned, with reddish brown hair, not vibrant enough to be called auburn, and her eyes are a dark brown that is almost black. Calloused hands show the signs of her work ethic and she has a scar on the knuckles of her right hand from one of the times she pushed herself too hard.
She could be described as having harsh features, but a lot of that just comes from her expression; even so, she has an angular face, with a sharp pointed chin, cheekbones that are just about visible and a thin nose.
When it comes to clothing Isabella tends to keep things simple, while also prioritising clothing that is durable or multi-purpose; a leather jacket that looks well worn, with scratches around the elbows and the hem, a pair of jeans that are faded and torn, but weren’t when she bought them, various pieces of clothing that show signs of repair. She had never been in a position in her life where she could afford many luxuries, so any clothing she buys needs to have a reason to be in her wardrobe and tough enough that she doesn’t often need to worry about replacing things that break or get worn down.
In her sorcerer form, Isabella looks much the same. Her clothing changes to be heavier and darker, with a black leather jacket that has a collar made of coarse brown fur, black jeans made of thick and durable denim and a pair of heavy black boots; different from her normal clothing but not much different from what she would choose to wear herself. The biggest differences are in her eyes, now dark throughout with pitch black sclera, and her finger nails which are also completely black.
Pronouns: She/Her
Personality: - Self-sufficient: Isabella has always had to take care of herself, as no one else was dependable enough to rely on. It has meant that she had to mature faster than those around her, leaving her out of sync with her peers. If something needs to be done, she will always try to do it herself first and asking for help is anathema to her. - Hardworking: Growing up she developed the mentality that it she didn’t do things for herself then they wouldn’t get done. Isabella is someone who is always willing to put the effort in when it is needed; a job left unfinished or a job done poorly will just create problems further down the road. - Driven: Isabella is not content with her current situation and is looking for a way out. There are better things ahead, but they will not come to her unless she puts in the effort to reach them. She will keep moving forward. - Serious: She doesn’t have time for fun or relaxation when there are things to be done. - Mistrustful; People have let her down in the past, people who should have been there for her. Isabella does not count on other people to help her, nor does she expect them to come through for her in her time of need. She is alone.
Aspirations, Goals, ideals, or Ambitions: Prior to becoming a sorcerer, Isabella’s ambition was just to… succeed. To finish college with a good degree, to get a job with decent pay, most likely as a physical trainer or maybe a physical therapist, to not have to constantly count pennies or worry about how to cover next month’s bills. To reach a place of stability, if had to sum it up.
Since she made the contract though, and found out about spirits and sorcerers and the veil and all of that stuff? Nothings really changed. Things have become more complicated, she had more responsibilities to think off, but she also has more opportunities at the same time. The world has gotten larger, scarier, but… nothings really changed.
A place of stability. That’s still the goal.
History:
Isabella’s parents were young when her mother become pregnant; it had been unplanned and neither of them felt like they were ready for the responsibility at the time, her mother was nineteen and her father twenty, but they also didn’t see any alternative once they were in that situation. Both came from religious families, they were both raised with certain beliefs that made the idea of not having the baby unpalatable and they both feared how their families would react even if it was an option. As such, Isabella was born and Carlos and Maria Nunes became parents.
At the time Carlos had just started working at a mechanic’s shop owned by a friend of his father’s, while Maria had yet to find work after dropping out of high school in her last year, meaning that the couple did not have much of an income between them. Nonetheless, though they hadn’t been planning on it, the two of them moved in together following the birth of their daughter and moved in a small apartment that they could barely afford; this decision was also made partly due to the expectations of their families, even though such a living arrangement was difficult for them financially. Isabella’s mother began to look for work only a few months after she was born in order to bring more money into the household, leaving her in the care of either her parents while she did so.
Money was always a concern for their family. Both of Isabella’s parents were working long hours just to keep their heads above water in a situation that neither of them were prepared for. As such, her parents relied heavily on the support offered by Isabella’s grandparents; specifically those on her mother’s side, as Maria’s parents lived closer to them and both were retired, meaning they were more available than Carlos’s. As such, as a child Isabella was raised more by her maternal grandparents than she was her mother and father. This support, while at times necessary, was also something of a double-edged sword, as it provided the young and somewhat unwilling parents to avoid having to learn how to raise a child and push the responsibility onto others.
If they sometimes handed Isabella off to her grandparents for longer than was necessary, or when they could have taken care of their daughter themselves, it was intentional.
Her mother’s parents were strict people; hard people set in their ways and though they were happy to help the young couple at first, what was being asked of them now was beyond just helping. They were disappointed in their daughter for having a child so young and then being unable to care for her, they were also disappointed in her for dropping out of high school in the first place; while they were not so heartless as to completely neglect Isabella they did not do the things that they saw as a parents responsibility in the hopes that either of her parents would step up. As they did not, this meant that Isabella was slow to develop in certain areas, but not in others; for example she learned to walk and talk just fine, but struggled when it came to reading because her parents were never around to read to her and her grandparents wouldn’t do it in their stead.
This left Isabella at a disadvantage when it came to her education, not just because she was behind by the time she started school, but because there was nobody at home who could or would help her with homework or school projects. She underperformed compared to her peers in class and would often fail to hand in homework or hand in incomplete work, which led to her often getting in trouble. When she tried to explain to her teachers that she didn’t understand the homework, she was told to ask her parents, when she tried to ask her parents she was told to ask her grandparents and when she tried to ask her grandparents she was told to ask her teachers or her parents.
It wasn’t until two years into school that Isabella met a teacher who was willing to give her the extra attention and tutoring that she needed to catch-up with her peers, someone who was willing to ask why she was underperforming instead of just punishing her for it. They quickly found out about her home situation and the lack of support she was receiving; her parents were called into the school, only for them to send Isabella’s grandparents in their stead, who then proceeded to push the responsibility back onto the teachers in a circular conversation that led nowhere. It was not until the end of that school year that her teacher was finally able to get a hold of her parents and explain the situation to them that her parents finally stopped burying their head in the sand.
However, even now that they were the parents of a six year old child, Isabella’s parents were not much better prepared than they had been when she was born. They were present and they were trying, but they were still overworked and Isabella still found herself without the support she needed; it was just that now, instead of the indifference of her grandparents she was met with the unavailability and inability of her parents. She had expected them to help with her homework, or to read her stories, or to come to school events; sometimes they did, but more often than not they couldn’t. It came as a disappointment, even at that age she knew to be disappointed, but if there was any silver lining to her situation it was the fact that had taught her how to figure stuff out for herself. She now had a teacher who was understanding and willing to offer extra help and Isabella had learned when to ask and when to figure stuff out herself, rather than to wait for help that wasn’t coming.
A few years later, when Isabella was nine or ten, things changed again. The owner of the mechanic’s shop her father worked at had decided to retire and he was going to hand the business over to Carlos. It meant he was going to be even busier from then on, work even harder, but it also meant he would bring more money home with him; this in turn meant that Maria didn’t need to work as often and could afford to take fewer shifts, leaving her more time with Isabella. But while the presence and attention of a parental figure was appreciated, Isabella had by this point long figured out that it was often easier or just better to be self-sufficient in whatever areas she could manage; making herself breakfast or lunch, getting herself ready for school and dealing with school work were all things she could and would do herself. Even when her mother or father offered to help or tried to play a bigger role in her life, she would often reject them; not harshly, but just saying she had things handled.
In the years since, Isabella has only learned to become more and more independent; if she can do something herself, she will, and if she can’t she will figure out the best person to ask and then learn how to do it herself next time. Her teenaged years were defined by her attempts to be fiercely self-reliant, even when it wasn’t practical; studying by herself, learning how to do her own chores, even getting a part-time job as soon as she was able to so that she could begin saving up money just in case. A year after entering high-school she began taking lessons at a boxing gym, which she begrudgingly let her parents pay for after some arguing, so she could even defend herself if need be.
The result was that she developed into a very capable person at a young age; smart, hard-working, driven. However it also meant that she was harder, as a person, than someone as young as her should be. In some ways Isabella had made her life more difficult than it needed to be, by placing a lot of responsibility on her own shoulders and eschewing help were it was available; in doing so she also consciously created rift between herself and her parents, who found themselves at a loss of how to interact with their daughter who was actively trying to avoid needing them.
After graduating high school, Isabella moved out of her parent’s place as soon as she could; moved to a whole new city. Her hard work had earned her a scholarship; nowhere fancy, just some college in a place called Millburn City, but that was good enough. The money she had saved up over the last few years was spent setting herself up in a tiny apartment long enough for her to find more part time work, and the money she earned from that was enough to keep the roof over her head and food in the fridge while she attended lectures and worked towards a degree.
Living in a tiny apartment, earning a wage that barely covered the bills while she worked to keep her head above water long enough to maybe swim to shore one day? Young and out of her depth and less prepared for her situation than she thought she was? Isabella’s situation wasn’t too different from the one her parents had found themselves in.
And she would hate the comparison.
Contract(s): Standard
Contract Interaction:
There was a weight pressing down on her. A crushing, smothering weight that kept her from sitting up and which made it hard to breathe. It was uncomfortable, but strangely enough it wasn’t an unfamiliar sensation; Isabella knew was it was like to feel under pressure, even if this was a little more literal.
Oh, but what if there was a way to free yourself of the burden?
There was. It was college; it was a degree and the job that would come with it. Money, stability, self-reliance.
But those things are sooooo far away. And there’s no guarantee you’ll ever achieve them.
She would. She was capable of it.
All by yourself?
She’d always been by herself. It had never stopped her before.
Just because you’re moving forward doesn’t mean you’re going anywhere, you know?
…
Power. That’s what you need. Those with power can get money. Power brings with it stability. Power gives you self-reliance. Do you want power?
Yeah, of course. Who doesn’t.
That’s all I needed to hear.
Level: 1
Key: A cross pendant necklace. Isabella isn’t religious, but it was a gift from her grandmother on her father’s side that she always wears.
Mana Colour: Purple.
Artifact points: 2
Weapon (1 point) – A pair of brass knuckles.
Talisman (1 point) – A little silver cube, attached to a charm bracelet. Notable only for the fact that it is the only charm Isabella has.
Artifacts: Isabella’s weapon looks relatively mundane; just a regular set of brass knuckles, albeit one made of dull black metal. They are imbued with a piece of a Nightmares power; the dread weight that sits atop your chest and makes it hard to move, that locks you in place and keeps you in a state of paralysis even after you wake.
Every time Isabella hits an opponent with the brass knuckles, they will feel a slight weight settle on their shoulders. Barely noticeable at first, but with each hit it will increase until every step feels heavy and plodding and their movements become sluggish. The feeling with fade after about a minute, but the timer will be reset whenever Isabella lands the next hit.
Her talisman is also fairly ordinary looking; a little silver cube with black lines drawn diagonally on each face, one running from the top-left corner to the bottom-right and two short lines on either side of it. It is attached to a charm bracelet she wears on her left wrist and is the only charm on said bracelet.
The talisman has the same power at her weapon, but much stronger and shorter lived. When activated it places a huge sense of weight atop the target; not enough to harm them, but usually enough to pin them in place or even drive them to the ground. The effect only lasts a few seconds at most before ending.
Familiar: Isabella’s familiar with a Nightmare. Not a creature responsible for bad dreams, as the name suggests, nor a manifestation of a bad dream; Nightmares are creatures that feed off of the dreams of humans, by sitting atop their chest as they sleep and draining them. Such creatures are responsible for the phenomena of sleep paralysis and though they usually cannot be seen their presence can be felt as a crushing, suffocating weight that holds you in place.
Nightmare’s vary in their appearance, but the one Isabella contracted with takes the form of a rat; a particularly ugly, mangy looking rat. Isabella tries to avoid dealing with it as much as possible.
