"Never could trust you, I still got your location on, fell out of love, I delete all the nudes out your phone. Can't get a reaction out of me, that's what you want."
28 days ago
You have to live every day as if you've dropped your pants and told the whole world to suck your dick.
30 | Valencia Vorpal | She/her "Mother is the only one worth following." @Estylwen
Description:
The adopted daughter of Phantasia Vorpal after the former tried to kill the latter for a purse snatch. Valencia grew up on the streets, falling in and out of thug rings, in and out of prison, and she has a history of armed robbery and assault under her name.
With sharp eyes, and a cruel fist, she began to dominate her tasks and lackeys within the Family, until Phantasia took her under her wing and shaped her education, grooming Valencia to become the new consigliere. Now Valencia acts on behalf of the boss, especially when it comes to negotiations or shaking down folk. She has a special torture method that is derived from her abstraction.
Abstraction:
Summoning Knives (Adept)
The ability to summon any type of sharp blade from alternate realities. She can feel out weights of blades, thereby dictating how large or small of a blade she wants to summon. Once summoned, the blades telekinetically float around her, and move to strike a target at a mere thought from her. She is currently limited to summoning 10 small knives, or 3 large blades. The larger the summon, the more taxing it is to pull through. The longer she moves the blades with her mind, the heavier they become.
Growing up in a mafia family, her whole life has been centered around the House of Cards. She was there when the old casino burned down, wept with the family at their loses. The holes the attack left allowed her talents to shine forward. She's natural in a crowd, with a voice that commands and an amazing sense of delegation. Catching Phantasia's eye, Isabella went through several loyalty tests before she was given the title of Underboss, working directly below Phantasia and trusted with the darkest secrets of the mafia.
She's got long dark tresse, dresses similar to ‘Mother Cards’ (Phantasia), and always has a pistol pocketed in a shoulder holster under her overcoat. She uses her abstraction devoutly, being one of the best spies that Phantasia has. She has discovered mutiny secrets that she has squashed several times over, riding the family of moles and less-than-faithful members.
She has lost a few months off her life from staring at Phantasia's eyes on occasion through the years. Phantasia doesn't consider Isabella a thrall.
Abstraction:
Mind Suggestion
Anyone who lays eyes on Isabella will be a target for her abstraction, where she can suggest she is something else in their mind. For example, if she is sneaking around and wants to be unnoticed, she can appear as a chair or a dropped pen to a walking security guard. However, the security cameras will see Isabella for who she is.
Demos “Demy”.Castles (Kastellos)
32 | Demos “Demy” Castles (Kastellos) | He/Him "Mother won, but she was gracious." @Estylwen
Description:
The no-nonsense leader of the Castles crime family, a small-time mafia trying to make it big in St. Portwell. They mainly hinged their success on Demos’ abstraction, but were ambushed by Phantasia and her men when the House of Cards had decided they’d had enough. Phantasia trapped Demos within her eyes, and he was powerless as she claimed the Castles family for her own. But she wasn’t entirely cruel. She allowed Demos to marry into the Vorpal family instead of being killed off. He, of course, complied.
Although their marriage was arranged, Phantasia knew what she was doing. Demos would never admit it outwardly, but he’s smitten with Valencia. Now, he faithfully serves in the House of Cards as a Capo with a smaller battalion of his men he was allowed to keep, fulfilling Phantasia’s every wish.
Abstraction:
Super Massive Black Hole Demos is an adept, red lux, his earrings his channeler for his Super Massive Black Hole power. It can be broken down into three facets:
Basic Miniature Black Hole
The basic example of his power. Demos is able to create a mini black hole, with dimmed power as compared to the black holes found in outer space. Due to their size, they usually last a matter of seconds, maybe a minute. They have strong gravitational pull, able to draw in objects as large as cars or portions of concrete buildings if allowed to grow to the size of a sink. They always start off small, though, and require energy to grow in size.
They can be used to pull and enemy off-balance, or positioned above to counter the effects of gravity when falling. In extreme cases, enemies can be pulled into the black hole entirely if the black hole is large and powerful enough. When black holes are closed, they create a small seismic blast due to the energy remaining from the collapse.
Rapid-fire Black Hole
A higher level of using the Super Massive Black Hole abstraction. This is when black holes are created at a rapid rate, more than one at a time. Their seismic blasts, upon collapsing, can buffet enemies, creating a dangerous atmosphere that’s possible to knock someone off their feet, and in extreme cases, blow off limbs.
Black Hole Barrier
Multiple small black holes lined up in a shield formation, able to absorb most attacks like fire. Due to the instability of having so many black holes so close together, the barrier only lasts a few seconds before Demos has to collapse it.
Lorenzo “Lee”. Alloro
27 | Lorenzo “Lee” Alloro | He/him "The eyes, the eyes!" @Estylwen
Description:
Lorenzo is the cousin to Demos, and was a capo of the Castles crime family before the House of Cards assimilated them. Lorenzo was always a little ‘strange,’ a little ‘out of touch with reality,’ and very blunt, bit of a hot-head, unforgiving. These were mainly due to the apparition adjoined to him, wearing down on his sense of self bit by bit over the years.
Due to his unique ties with madness, Lorenzo occasionally has ‘episodes.’ These were more or less quelled with Phantasia’s power. Now, with her out of the picture, Demos has once again started to supply Lorenzo with antidepressants and antipsychotics to help keep the man sane.
Vorohah is an apparition made up of darkness and eyes. Red, maddening eyes. To see one of Voroah’s eyes means to feel the debilitating effects of being under its gaze. Symptoms are known to be unexplained and irrational fear, sweats and chills, and psychotic behavior. Symptoms are amplified under the gaze of more than one eye.
When the madness wants to subdue a prey, and how Vorohah usually ‘attacks’ its foes, is by appearing as hallucinatory and physical eyes throughout the victim’s vision. Eyes appear on the walls, the furniture, and even on the body of the victim. Body eyes are more potent due to their close proximity and sick nature of having, feeling a bulging, swiveling eye on your hand. The eyes don’t do anything on their own besides invoking a sense of madness. But they do whisper. Their whispers can’t be blocked out by simply covering the ears. The whispers are tailored to each victim. Vorohah is able to glean some of the pain in a person’s psyche, and whispers to them to exacerbate and increase that pain.
Eyes have to be physically destroyed in order to be silenced. If an eye is on a body part, this can pose a problem, as stabbing the eye means stabbing the hand to destroy it. Eyes take time to open, so the longer Vorohah has to work on a victim, the more potent their effects are. When all eyes are opened, surrounding a victim, they will enter a ‘madness episode’ and act like a person who has lost their senses entirely, attacking friend and foe alike, gibbering nonsense. The only way it stops is if the eyes are destroyed, or are closed.
Alexander.Aetos
28 | Alexander Aetos | He/him "Too hot to handle." @Estylwen
Description:
Alexander is the cousin of Demos Castles, and served in his mafia as a made man until they were assimilated by Phantasia Vorpal and the House of Cards. Under the watchful eye of Phantasia, he was promoted to capo, mainly due to his abstraction.
Energetic, bold and hot-blooded, Alexander is a perfect mirror to his abstraction, often appearing with little patience and always wanting to be on the move. Or, on the ‘hunt’ as he likes to call it. He loves his work, and has a penchant for toying with his victims, be it opposing mafia members or rats, before killing them.
He has a wife and kids hidden within St. Portwell. He loves them dearly, but tries to shield them from most of the mafia ongoings as possible. He's satisfied as he earns good coin for them to live comfortable lives.
Abstraction: Black Speed Breaker
Alexander's Black Speed Breaker is a variation of black lightning with a speed effect, red lux, and channeled by the four knuckle duster rings on his right hand.
Black Burst
Alexander creates and gathers black electricity around him, and then shoots forward at flurrying speeds, barely discernible by the naked eye. He can clear distances of up to 40 or so feet, or the distance between two buildings across an intersection. He moves so fast that gravity has little chance to work on him. If he's touched while moving in the Black Burst, the person touching him will be electrocuted as if they stuck a fork in a socket. He can do these in quick succession to be a harder target to hit.
Black Lightning
Alexander is able to create black lightning in his hands and across his body. If gathered in a hand, he can shoot it out to hit a target at lightning fast speeds. He can increase or decrease the voltage, so it can feel like a buzzing numbness, or a painful jolt that causes convulsing.
The enforcer and internal affairs agent of the Castles family, and younger brother to Demos Castles. This role was maintained when the Castles Family was defeated and assimilated into the House of Cards. Fox's role is similar to IA agents of corporate businesses where sensitive information is a daily use. He ensures there are no moles, or moles are carefully monitored, interrogated, and snuffed out. He stamps out any dissention, or people talking bad about leadership under any circumstances. And when he stamps this talk out, men are left with horrifying memories and trauma. He ensures men are quick to obey any order from leadership, pulling his puppet strings from the shadows.
Fox himself is fiercely loyal to his brother, and in turn, the House of Cards. They may not always see eye to eye, but he’d glady lay down his life for his kin.
And yes, the back part of his hair is dyed. He doesn't want to be mistaken for an old man.
Abstraction: Shadow Puppeteer
A mix of red and pink lux, the Shadow Puppeteer abstraction allows Fox to puppet any body or sentient entity. His channeler is a ring on his hand.
The Puppet Strings
The strings themselves are a mix of red and pink lux, translucent pink as they are cast, and fading into intangibility and invisibility once sunk into flesh. There are hooks on the end that make the string notoriously hard to pull out. And, once sunk in, turning intangible, they become impossible to physically pull out.
The strings with their hooks don't hurt as they sink into flesh. At least, not yet.
Attacking with the Strings
Fox can cast these strings with a thought, emanating from his being and flying in straight or curved lines towards his chosen target. He can cast upwards of twenty strings at a time.
String Subjugation
One string lodged in a limb controls the muscle group of that entire area. So, if Fox were to attach a string to a forearm, he would be able to control the entire muscle group, including the upper arm, shoulder, and fingers.
These strings connect Fox's mind with another being, be it person, entity, or animal, and allow his will to take over.
To fully take over, say, a person, strings would need to be attached to each forearm, each shin, the chest, and the back of the neck. Six strings in total to fully exert his mind over another and puppet them to his will. More strings may need to be added for beings of different sizes and shapes, or if they are resistant to mind control.
Senses Through the Puppet Strings
Each string, when embedded into flesh or ghostly wisps, relays sensations back to Fox’s mind. He can control a subjugated hand like it was his own, able to feel the sensations of the hand as if it were his own.
A fully subjugated body allows Fox to simply close his eyes, and ‘see’ through the eyes of the subjugated target, feeling as they feel. He can get bodily sensations, and he is able to determine the emotional state of the target.
Pulling the Puppet Strings
Due to the shape of the hook that digs into the flesh of a target, pulling on it causes immense pain. Fox is able to pull on any number of strings he has, as uses this as his favoured torture method.
Detaching the Puppet Strings
When Fox is done with the subjugation, with a thought, the strings become tangible once more, and the hooks disintegrate, the strings slipping from the target. The target will then slowly begin to regain control of their own body again.
”Jin”.Zhu
48 | “Jin” Zhu | He/him ”I need a smoke..."
Description:
The defacto patriarch of the Zhu family in the absence of Lancy's father. He is involved in his own illegal gambling ring, underground fighting ring, and prostitution ring. He mainly resides in the China Town side of St. Portwell, and so has never had territory disputes with the House of Cards.
He and Lancy do not get along. It's rumored Lancy actually went to the House of Cards to get protection from him, but all parties will deny this.
He often has his sons, Lancy's cousins, work with him in his illegal businesses. On occasion, he and his sons have been known to help the House of Cards for a fee.
He works on a secret project in his free time.
Abstraction: Celestial Dragons, Gold Lux, Lapel Pin as a Channeler
The Zhu Dynasty lives within Jin as a mentalscape of dragons. Some of varying designs, shapes, and effects. They live and breathe in Jin's mind. He is able to think of new creations at a whim, and add them to the dynasty. However, dragons that have more thought put into them over years are more solid, with greater power.
Some of the toughest dragons Jin has conjured and summoned are part of the Falling Petal branch, the oldest branch. These dragons are typically the size of a four-story building, have hardened scales and magical resistance, and breathe one type of element. Jin can summon less of these before becoming tired.
Jin's midrange and weaker dragons are from the Lotus branch, the newer branch. They range between a few feet to about the size of a one-story building. Their scales are not as hard, and don't have magical resistance. They typically breathe fire. Jin can summon more of these without getting tired out.
”Zi”.Zhu
21 | “Zi” Zhu | He/him "Everything will be consumed in the stars..."
Description:
Zi is the younger brother to “Kai”, known for his cool demeanor and lack of fear towards Lux users. It's rare for Lux users to participate in the illegal wrestling ring his father Jin hosts, but when they do, Zi often has to chase them out and subdue them. It's purely a mundane fighting ring after all. But Zi does relish the looks on a Lux user's face when their powers seem to get swallowed up.
Poor Lux users in St. Portwell, as it's a paranormal hub, have been looking for ways to make a quick buck. Due to this, Zi has proposed a strictly Lux fighting ring. However, his father hasn't moved on the idea yet. Too much risk with those paranormal cops. But Zi is hopeful, if only to have an excuse to participate in it himself and thrash all the participants.
He's spared against some of the men in the House of Cards, mainly Alexander, and holds a special respect for them. He regards Lancy with an icy demeanor. She, of course, has inferior blood in her. If it wasn't for the House protecting her, he'd wrap her up in his father's secret project as well.
Unlike his father, Zi inherited his Lux through his mother, who was an orange adept. His prized possession is his Star Siphon, a BLANK that releases magical gold spores when in use. These spores hover in place, absorbing the Lux of any adept that attempts to release Lux too close.
Abstraction: Core Negative, Orange and Gold Lux, Channeler is a pair of silver fangs implanted on his canine teeth.
Zi has his own Zhu Dynasty, similar to his father. Though, different from the military base of his elder brother, and different to his father's bastion of dragons, Zi instead has his own Underworld, filled with Hades-like denizens. He has a ferryman that can travel across the ‘river Styx’, a network of fourth dimensional pathways that connect all over Shimmer. It should be noted that these pathways are contained in Shimmer, and do not bleed into other dimensions.
Some of Zi's most notable denizens include skeleton warriors, will-o-wisp ghosts, and grim reapers. The crown precipice of his creations would be the undead king, standing at ten feet and able to hurtle elements. They are also resistant to magical and physical attacks.
What makes these denizens unique is that they are very much not living, tying in to Zi's Core Negative, where there is a pronounced ‘absence’. Due to their undead status, killing them by normal conventions does not work. They have to be entirely obliterated, and in the case of the ghosts, obliterated by magic, in order to be defeated.
Zi also specializes in the creation of artifacts that ‘take.’ This can be the taking of anything. He could create an artifact that takes away pain, or takes away happiness, power and strength.
Due to this specialization, he can make artifacts faster than his brother Kai. He can use any object and fill it with intent, usually opting for objects that can be easily held.
It usually takes a few hours to a few days for him to make an artifact. He typically separates himself from social contact, as even the slightest disruption can break the flow of layering Lux and imbuing an object. If he smiles while channeling his Lux, you can see his canine teeth implants glowing.
"Kai”.Zhu
24 | “Kai” Zhu | He/him "If it doesn't make us money, skip it."
Description:
”Kai” is the oldest son of Jin, and often sends Zi on gopher errands for him exclusively because he is the younger sibling. He can often be found managing the business side of Jin's illegal fighting rings if he's not acting as muscle.
Due to having more of a management role, he is often seen flitting around Jin and his secret project, ensuring goods from it are allocated correctly. His sword, the Indigo Feather, was actually made possible through this secret project through the use of an off-dimensional ore, iodoite.
He always has an eye on Lancy, despite Jin's urging to leave her be. Due to Lancy's blood being inferior, Kai thinks she should be included in the secret project as well, but her connection to the House of Cards makes her untouchable.
He tolerates the House of Cards, and will work for them. But he prefers his father's businesses.
He is blessed by both his father and mother, inheriting a mix of gold and orange lux. He is often seen wearing a mix of concealed pistols and two swords, one mundane, the other an artifact.
Abstraction: Midnight Soldiers, Midnight Arms - Orange and Gold Lux, Channeller is a Wire Necklace
The Midnight Soldiers Kai has his own miniature Zhu Dynasty, Similar to his father's, but he prefers to call it his own personal military base. The foot soldiers are about four feet high and made entirely of black shadows. The lieutenants are six feet tall, while the captains are eight feet tall. There is one general, who is two stories tall. The difference between the general and the rest of the soldiers is his glassy black skin, making him resistant to magic.
Depending on the height of the soldiers, Kai can summon more or less. The smaller they are, the more that can be summoned. The larger, the less that can be summoned.
The Midnight Arms
Each soldier is equipped with arms when they are summoned. Arms can be summoned on their own as well. Kai has a few favorites he defaults to for each soldier, as well as for himself.
Foot soldiers are often equipped with pistols, made entirely of darkness, but function similarly to mundane pistols. Lieutenants and captains are equipped with rifles and grenades. The General is equipped with a precision missile system on his shoulder, with enough firepower to wipe out a suite in an apartment building. Kai can make any of these for himself. Same as before, the larger they are, the more energy they take to manifest.
The Midnight Artifacts
Kai is able to imbue the will of his minions into artifacts, allowing them to mold and take shape. He's not really limited here. First, the minion must be thought up in his head, with its personality and traits. This is crucial, as a fiery minion may translate to an artifact that burns. Kai never really knows how his artifacts will turn out, given the unique nature of the minions that go into them.
Using mundane objects and metals take a long time for Kai to create an artifact. For a simple steel blade, it can take weeks. But using a unique ore found in the Gloam dimension, Kai can make artifacts in hours.
An example of Kai's artifact-creation is his sword, the Indigo Feather. It's made of iodoite, and only took a few hours of creations from the inception of the minion destined for it. The minion in question was lazy with the lack of a challenge, and so it channeled into the sword and gave it cutting properties against only the toughest, most physically and magically-resistant materials.
”Lancy”.Zhu
23 | “Lancy” Zhu | She/her "What's my next project?" @Estylwen
Description:
Like her father who was friends with the House of Cards before dying in gang attack - House of Cards enemies wanting to finish their ability to forge magical weapons - Lancy is a “special friend” of the Family. Not an official, or even made member of the mafia, but special exceptions and protections are given to her due to her special craft. Her existence is kept under wraps as much as possible for her own protection.
The House of Cards takes very good care of Lancy, employing her to create artifacts on an as-needed basis. However, due to their price and time taken to make, very few artifacts are produced and handed over.
Abstraction: Teal-Tinted Imbuement
By channeling her orange lux through her sunglasses, Lancy is able to imbue objects with a specific purpose, or singular focus. The bigger or heavier the object is, the more lux is required to fill the crevices of the object. This is why she prefers lighter objects, like imbuing sunglasses and parasols. Sunglass imbuement only take a few days, where a steel butcher knife could take weeks to fill with intent.
Her imbuements are purposefully simple to ensure they work. A single line of code, if you will. Imbuements with more lines of code are known to backfire, and can cause harm to the wielder.
A few examples of her imbuements include creating an umbrella that amplifies a person's lux over an area like rain. Another example is creating a pair of sunglasses that force magic to be still, or deactivate.
William.Roosevelt
63 | William Roosevelt | He/him "Yes, Madame Cards?" @Estylwen
Description:
Mr. Roosevelt is a retired made man of the House of Cards, having served in the mafia his whole life. Now that age has taken him, he serves as the trusted bartender of Miss Vorpal's owned hideaway, The Apothecary, a half-hidden speakeasy at 2321 Ash Ave.
Abstraction:
Truth Sense - Mr. Roosevelt has the uncanny ability to detect if a person is telling the truth by how the words feel. He is also able to tell if there is a half-truth at play, exposing lies and the with-holding of information.
If a person knows they are lying, he will catch them. However, if they wholly believe they are speaking the truth, even if what they say is a lie, he won't detect it.
Tralvo was summoned through human sacrifice done by the 317 as a business deal. With payments settled, the 317 handed over the Mulier Vires, a gladiator-styled blade artifact that commands Tralvo, to the House of Cards.
Tralvo has an immense hatred for men, and refuses to be commanded by any man wielding the blade. Therefore, it's a rule that House of Cards follows that only women wield the Mulier Vires.
Tralvo eats what most monsters eat: red meat. However, she prefers her meat a few days decayed.
Tralvo possesses inhuman strength, able to smash through walls and buildings with her tentacles. The tentacles have thick skin, improving Tralvo’s durability. She can shrug off needle and dagger attacks, but will sustain damage from sword swings and elemental attacks.
Abstraction:
N/A
Phantasia.Vorpal (Deceased)
38 | Phantasia Vorpal | She/her "You could call this my hobby." @Estylwen
Description:
Mystery is a part of her glamor as the leader of the House of Cards Mafia. She is known for her silver tongue and knife arts, but most importantly, she is known to have eyes - mesmerizing pink that change color depending on the Gaze - that none can look at straight on without feeling the power behind them.
With her headquarters hidden in the mafia-owned Hearts Club Casino, recently reopened, she tries to keep tabs on the paranormal heartbeat of St. Portwell, always looking for the opportunity to come back from the raid the Wolfpack did to her people years back.
Killed by the Dollhouse leadership.
Abstraction:
Phantasia Eyes
Phantasia’s eyes can be broken down into facets, and affect living beings and apparitions in similar ways:
Passive Eye Contact - A sudden looking to keep staring, hard to break eye contact except with great will. An immediate boost to the mood of a person, like taking a serotonin pill. There's an immediate elation, a removal of fear, anxiety, and depression. There will be the feeling of safety, and an encouragement to drop one’s guard. There is a debilitating affect, as time is slowly siphoned off in minutes and months. One second of eye contact is equal to one week of lifespan taken. Any eye contact, whether it's a fear or hypnotic gaze, will have the same pull on the lifespan.
Fear Gaze - Eyes turning a shade of black, the target will feel unbearable fear shaking their bones, and chilling them to the core. They will feel that their death is immediate, and unable to think clearly due to the fear, which is palpable. Physical reactions include shaking, dry mouth, tears, weakness in the knees, falling to the knees. Even if eye contact is broken, the effects of fear will last for hours unless Phantasia remedies it with another Gaze.
Pain Gaze - When her eyes turn a shade of red, the target will immediately feel as if their entire body is being lashed with a whip. The nerve endings will be on fire. Physical reactions include screaming, crying, writhing on the floor, and unable to speak coherent sentences. They only have to see the eyes for a split second, and the effects will last for hours unless Phantasia remedies it with another Gaze.
Forgetful Gaze - Turning a shade of white, Phantasia can make a person forget events for a few hours. if a person has an event playing in their mind, this will be forgotten temporarily. Or, if the person is focusing on Phantasia's gaze, they will forget the hours up to and meeting Phantasia temporarily.
Hypnotic Gaze - The eyes turn a shade of purple, and become two swirling vortexes that draw the target in. With one look, the target becomes entranced. It becomes difficult to look away, and even if they can, the effects are still inside them: extremely open to suggestions, extremely prone to speaking the truth, and little to no guard up. The effects are like taking a powerful drug that makes a person feel high, on top of the world, and last for many blissful hours.
Devout Gaze - Staring at her blue eyes, a person will feel as though they've taken a mix of morphine, drugs, and psychedelics. They will be over the moon, wholly focused on Phantasia, who they will consider to be special, even their ‘mother’. They will become insanely protective of Phantasia, even at the cost of their own health. Phantasia usually shows theses eyes to those she wants to become her thralls.
Renaissance Gaze - With one look from these golden eyes, the target will feel an immediate rush of inspiration, creativity and endless confidence. They will become their best version of themselves, whatever they could possibly imagine, times by one hundred. They will fight smarter, talk better, and act like a billionaire CEO. The effect lasts a few hours, depending on how much of the creative energies are used.
Passive Influence - Even without eye contact, Phantasia holds an elusive and mesmerizing presence that intrigues. People who are not on their guard will feel the pull to meet her eyes. Like a desire to quench thirst. It can be as bad as feeling a burn in the throat, the desire to see her eyes. Near painful. It is not debilitating to be in her presence, and does not affect a person's years.
Phantasia must have a target’s eye contact for a fraction of a second for her powers to work. If the target refuses to meet her eyes, they will be safe from her Gazes. Likewise, if she is wearing a blindfold, she can do no harm. Emotional fields dampen her ability to affect, as it is usually a battle of wills for her eyes to work.
Bruno.Arno
48 | Bruno Arno | He/him "Outta my way, bitch." @Estylwen
Description:
An “evil” man. He's gone through five wives, and is on to his sixth. He's planned all their untimely deaths after forcing and coaxing them to take life insurance. He's been enjoying a life of bliss, gambling his free money away and living it up at the Hearts Club Casino. He treats everyone around him as below him, with an inflated ego that's all ‘me, me, me’ and ‘to hell with you’. A nightmare to his wives during the entire time they are together. If he had a dime for everybody of bad karma he's collected over the years, he'd have doubled his fortune.
30 | Faith Ringgold | She/Her " You broke the rules. You know what happens if you do it again" @NoriWasHere
Description:
Faith is not the tallest woman as she stands at a height of five foot six. She has moderate curves that fill out her medium height. She is often spotted with her hair coiled, and it’s evident that she takes great care of it. In terms of clothes the less the better to Faith. The only thing that’s common to her sense of fashion is her love of fishnet tops. Jewelry is essential to Faith and she’s always seen with a beautiful gold necklace. It is speculated that she had sealed an apparition in it when she first got her powers.
Faith was born and raised in the area around the 317. Her childhood was uneventful if anything, but she’s always had a call to create. She began her art journey young and never stopped exploring what art means to her. When she graduated, she began to do art full-time, and was doing okay until the Stygian Snake changed the trajectory of her life. Cornered by monsters, she underwent a kindling event and was given visions of a great forge that made powerful relics. With her abstraction available, she spent the rest of the war helping those who could not help themselves. After the war, she made herself busy trying to build up her own little zone of influence in the city.
Abstraction:
Faith is a blue-orange-gold lux with the channeler being a hammer.
Forgemaster: Faith has the ability to curse individuals and turn them into monsters who are bound to an object.
The Devil: Faith can turn individuals into monsters and has used this ability to profit greatly. The process is a ritual that she can do either alone or with a group. She typically works best in a candlelit room with chanting to help focus her spell. To start, she must have a victim and a control object. The control object can be anything but Faith will typically have a sword or another weapon handy for dramatic flair. Second, she must prepare a salve. She typically makes this salve under the power of the full moon, and uses ingredients like wolfsbane, mandrake root, and nightshade. This salve, and this ritual, is meant to channel obedience into the new monster. She will apply the salve by painting it onto the body of the victim and will use signs of power, loops, and curves, before lastly painting the silhouette of the monster above the victim's heart. Once complete, she will do a small chant that burns the markings into the victim. All that is left is for Faith to swing her hammer down onto the silhouette of the monster while channeling her power and then the monster is born from the flesh of the victim, and for Faith to transfer the obedience to an object of power.
The monsters are always unique, and she can not have more than one of the same one at any time. As such, Faith is often found scouring old tomes and books to increase her inventory. She has sold several of these bound monsters for a significant amount of money and has several more bound to her will around the 317.
The Details: Faith can create specialized nearly sentient tools to aid her in many different pursuits thanks to her golden lux. She can conjure a sewing needle, a tape measure, scissors, and other crafting tools. These tools will be created with a specific purpose, and once summoned they will fly out and execute. She can mix in her blue lux if the need arises. She primarily uses this to create the very clothing she wears and offers this service in the basement of The 317. Whatever article of clothing is made this way will be fitted to perfection, and it will be something without equal. Faith can be open to an equal exchange of skills and talents for these services. She knows that whatever suit, dress, or costume she creates will be perfect, and the customer is likely to return.
Octavia.Wilde
28 | Octavia Wilde | She/Her"Awwww looks like you walked right into that, sorry!" @NoriWasHere
Description:
Octavia is a short, petite woman who stands at a height of five feet and two inches tall. She has a lithe frame that is covered from the top of her shoulders to the tops of her feet in tattoos. There is no rhythm to the tattoos and most appear to have been done by very talented artists, and the line work, color work, and overall the quality is very high. She has got all of her tattoos from some of the very talented artists over at the 317.
She is the older sister of Jasper and she was present in St. Portwell during the attack on the Stygian Snake though she did not join the coven. Instead, she used her abstraction to help out where she could. She focused her abilities on fighting the Stygian Snakes monsters, and had a small army of them at her side by the time the fighting was over
Abstraction:
Spray Paint Spell Slinging
Octavia has a Red/Yellow Lux and her channeler is her ring which allows her to empower her spray paint cans and activate the sigils they create.
Spray Paint Spell Slinging: Octavia can enhance her spray paint cans with her lux, allowing them to paint sigils in the world that, when activated, can do a variety of different things. In a simple term, Spray Paint Spell Slinging focuses on hitting hard and hitting fast from range. She can create ice spears that fire on a target, enhance friends and structures to withstand punishment, and even summon defeated monsters to fight at her side. When Octavia activates her lux by pressing her ring to her spray paint can it will glow a dull white color. The paint from these cans will spray out and she can then form them into sigils, which she can then activate remotely with her ring.
Ice Shot: If Octavia wishes to use her Ice Shot, she must first create its sigil. The sigil is relatively simple to create, a circle with solid dots inside. There is no specific quality or number of dots, and as long as she is able to create the sigil it will work. However, the size of the sigil will effect what the spell is capable of doing. A small circle with three small dots will mean that three darts of ice get shot out. Whereas a large circle with ten bigger dots will ensure that Ice Shot shoots ten razor-sharp spears of ice. The fresher the paint, the stronger the sigil, and the more potent the spell becomes. She can create these sigils ahead of time, however, this would lose effectiveness before long.
She can further enhance this by making a sigil within a sigil. By spraying a second, larger ring around the sigil she can change Ice Shot into a more consistently firing spell. She can paint these sigils on walls, on canvas, on people, and any other surface that can hold the paint.
Creeping spears: Octavia can also send a wall of jagged ice forward. This wall of ice advances fast, and will move thirty feet in two seconds after activation. This will impale, push, and can even crush those unlucky enough to crush them under its weight. The sigil is three jagged v’s, with the top and bottom one hitting the circle they connect to. Octavia must ensure that there is a clean line where the sigils intersect.
The Wall: If defense is needed, Octavia can use a sigil that is a rectangle that sits inside a circle. The bigger the sigil, the bigger the wall however the height of the wall will always be the size of the rectangle. Therefore, if she would want to close off a passage the sigil would need to be the size of the passage itself.
Solid Support: If Octavia instead wishes to protect someone, she can paint the sigil of Solid Support on their back. The sigil is a more complicated one, and it is another circle with a person holding up the top of the circle. Once again, like Ice Shot, the bigger the sigil the stronger the effect however detail starts to become important. If the person is not making contact with the circle the power of the spell will not transfer properly. When activated, the sigil will freeze to the surface of whatever it is placed on.
She can also use this spell on solid surfaces to reinforce them. A door with the sigil on it might take three to five times as much force to breech, and the same goes for walls.
Sypha.Fuchs
28| Sypha Fuchs | They/Them "I hope you aren’t squeamish" @NoriWasHere
Description:
Sypha is neither short nor are they tall, and they stand at a comfortable five foot six inches in height. They are often found wearing nice dresses, and a big coat during this season. Both her ears are pierced but they’re typically hidden under a mid length bob. They are always found wearing expensive rings and jewelry.
Sypha is a non-binary individual who hails from Boston. They spent most of their younger years on the East coast. They worked in an art gallery for a few years before they underwent her kindling event when a rogue agent attempted to bring a great evil into the world, and was only saved my the timely intervention by PRA agents. With their new abstraction, Sypha was quickly brought into a coven in Boston before they discovered the 317. They quickly joined their crew and came on board, bringing their abstraction and art selling knowledge to the team.
Abstraction:
Sypha is a green lux adept who can use their own blood to either heal, or destroy, a target.
Exsanguinate: Sypha channeler is a Swiss Army knife. Their abstraction is called Exsanguinate and it allows them to use their blood in many ways, but always with a cost. In order to use their power they must first open their body up and allow the blood to flow, most commonly through the palm of their hand. When engaged, or when needed, they can shoot off up to ten tendrils made from their blood and can hit many targets at once. Once they hit, these tendrils burrow into their target where they await the next phase of the spell.
Crimson healer: Sypha has an innate healing ability that allows them to recover from most non-fatal injuries in rapid succession. They can extend this healing magic to various targets through their blood tendrils. The more targets they use it on the slower the heal works. This can mend broken bones, heal most lacerations, and can even fix complex internal injuries. This healing comes at the cost of blood loss. The connection consumes blood through the tendrils in both directions, meaning the longer Sypha heals the more blood both they and their target lose. There is a real risk that both could pass out.
Scarlet fever: Sypha can infect enemies through their tendrils with a fast-acting blood disease that causes a high fever, nausea, and dizziness. Rarely is this disease fatal, and a person can recover within an hour after the last dosage of this fever. This will once again inflict blood loss on Sypha through the use of their tendrils.
Sanguine Slash: They can also use their tendrils to slash, and manipulate objects. To slash at a target, Sypha must first gather and shape their tendrils into a blade shape, push more of their own blood into it, and then it is usable to slash. To manipulate an object or a person, they can impale a target with as many tendrils as needed, and then use the tendrils to pick up and throw the target.
Jordan.Fuchs
26 | Jordan Fuchs | He/Him " You’re going to need to explain yourself more if you want to get in here." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Jordan has always been tall. It was the greatest shame that someone as tall as nearly six feet eight inches was not athletic in the slightest. He wanted to play basketball but he could never stop tripping over his own feet. He typically is found wearing his glasses, fuzzy sweaters, and rolled-up jeans. His hair is kept short and clean.
Jordan was from Boston but followed his sibling Sypha across the country a year after they left after he had a paranormal encounter leading to his own kindling event. He’s always had a knack for telling a story through the visual medium, and he’s truly tried to blossom in this new location and with this new group. He typically acts as muscle for the 317.
Abstraction:
His channeler is an old stopwatch, Jordan is a green lux adept who can manipulate his own body to enhance his strength, durability, healing, and can take it all a step further with each one.
Dr. Jekel: Normally Jordan is able to bolster his healing, strength, and durability. He can focus his power back into his body and heal all wounds, bolster his durability to survive most attacks and go beyond even peak human strength. He is a fighter, ready to protect and defend everyone he calls dear. His healing is faster and stronger than his own sisters.
Mr. Hyde: If the situation calls for it Jordan can push himself even further, transforming his body into a hulking mass of muscle and anger. He grows to a height of seven feet, with muscles being the predominant trait visible. He gets faster, and stronger, and can go toe to toe with monsters and strong apparitions. The downside is he is no longer himself, at least in a sense, in this state. His suppressed anger, rage, and desire to cause harm become his personality and there is little one can do to bring out the sweet, innocent man that Jordan actually is.
Summer.Li
22 | Summer Li | She/Her " They say that art can take you places." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Summer is a short petite woman who tends to be the biggest light in any group. She tends to dress in her way, with suspenders and fishnet undershirts, and any combination of jeans, shorts, or skirts. Her hair tends to be a variety of colors and the texture is a bit over processed currently and it’s visible to the trained eye. Her face is always a chaotic mishmash of colors, and a random oil splattering on her cheek.
Summer is a second-generation woman whose family came to St. Portwell twenty-five years ago. Since she was born she has been a prodigy of invention. She spent her youth building and getting into trouble when her ‘inventions’ caused damage. When she was young she was downtown during the rampage of the snakes' minions and underwent her kindling event. Ever since she’s been inventing new and improved ways of using both her and her twin's abstraction.
Abstraction:
Summer is a Red-Orange lux and Master Craft is Summers abstraction. She uses it to create weapons, automatons, and swords for Faith’s monsters.
Weapon Master: Summer can craft, enhance, and perfect various weapon designs. These can range from simple empowered swords to complex abstraction-fueled designs such as the Plasma Launcher. The Plasma Launcher is a complex mechanism that fires the plasma abstraction of her twin brother, using specially designed containers to house the volatile energy. It is a complex, unreliable weapon that only Summer understands however when it works it is devastatingly powerful. Her Weapon Master skill also gives her the ability to receive these weapon blueprints as if brought about by inspiration.
Homunculi: Summer has built a small army of robotic servants powered by her own abstraction. These homunculi can range from small bird-like drones to several durable and tough fighting units with numerous guns hidden in the sides of their arms. She has to ensure that they are always at a full charge, and often spends her night pouring her lux into these machines. The robotic soldiers are placed strategically around the 317, ready to fend off any unprovoked attack.
Ritual services: As well as offering her skills to the defense of the 317, Summer is deeply involved with the rituals, namely Faiths. She will custom forge weapons to serve as the binding object for Faith, and she will pour her own lux into these weapons to make them as deadly as possible.
Jason.Li
22 | Jason Li | He/Him " You don’t know what you’re about to experience ." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Jason is the fraternal twin of Summer although he is a decent bit taller. He has long hair, piercings, and tattoos. His fashion sense is boring, and he’d usually wear black pants, a cheap hoodie, and a random band shirt. Sometimes he spices things up by wearing vests and jean jackets and going for the double denim.
Jason grew up much like Summer. Expectations were for him to become the best at whatever career he decided on. It did not matter to his family what that was, and this mindset was drilled into him from a young age. It never really clicked for him until the attack and his kindling event, which caused him to see the world in a different way.
.
Abstraction:
Plasma Caster: Jason is a Red-Orange-Green lux and he is able to summon, and manipulate, a ball of plasma. His channeler is a zippo.
Plasma Caster: Jason is able to summon a ball of plasma that he can manipulate in specific ways. He can throw the ball, turn it into a sword, or reduce it in size to help him cut through his metal art.
The power of the sun: When Jason throws the ball of plasma, it loses stability and explodes on impact. This scatters the plasma over an area burning through anything it gets in contact with.
In my hands: Jason can channel his plasma into more applicable and useable forms. He can turn the plasma into a long blade-like object and live his Jedi fantasy. This blade can cut through most objects with ease but prolonged use will eventually begin to burn himself. He can focus this into his fingertips to give him a plasma cutter.
Alex.Phillips
29 | Alex Phillips | they/them " Quick, follow me if you wish to survive." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Write their description here.
Alex is a young non-binary person who is neither tall nor short. They tend to dress plainly, wearing leggings and sweaters over anything more practical or more appropriate. They have large glasses that make their eyes seem bigger than they are. Their hair is kept at a short bob length, and she has no piercings or tattoos which make them the odd one out at the 317.
When Alex was younger, they were nearly killed by the Stygian Snake and the minions that followed. Instead of dying, they awoke with a strange presence inside of them, and their wounds healed. Tjeu suspect that this was due to Britney, and the offer for Alex to join a cult soon thereafter cemented that thought. Alex did not join, instead, they ran away from the fight as they struggled to understand the new voice in their head. Eventually, they were approached by Faith and Octavia and offered a permanent home at the 317. Even though they do not sell or produce art themself, they have a powerful connection to it. Abstraction:
Aberration (adjoined.)
Alex can utilize paintings to transport, trap, change our reality, and seal using paintings.
Down the rabbit hole: Alex can link together paintings and open a portal through the canvas. Anyone can step into these portals and will be transported to a world influenced by the two paintings. If there were dinosaurs in one, and robots in the other, the tunnel between the two would feature some combination of both. The individuals in the paintings will be very much active, alive, and aware you do not belong. The occupants of this realm will not attack, at first, but if one lingers for too long they will force the unwelcome guests out of their home. Alex is allowed free passage through the paintings and the denizens of them appear friendly towards him.
If someone follows Alex uninvited he can compel the subjects of the painting to grab hold of them as he makes his retreat. Once he’s out he can sever the connection, condemning the trapped person to become a part of the painting forever. When this happens, the trapped person, monster, or apparition will appear in both paintings. If the connection is severed as they are trying to leave the painting through a portal, whatever is still inside the painting will be removed from the rest of the body.
And back out: If the need arises Alex warps reality around him through the lens of his Aberation. When he does this, everything will appear to be changed into whatever style the Aberration wants. Thus, a modern building could appear to be an old Western. When reality is altered like this Alex can sense all nearby paintings and open a portal to whatever painting he wants in the nearby area.
Jackson.Smith
27 | Jackson “The Punisher” Smith | He/Him " What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo..." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Jackson is a tall, thin, man with nary a muscle to his name. He typically keeps his hair short, and his beard long and mostly unkempt. He prefers a simple attire, with sneakers, plain jeans, and old band t-shirts. Besides the obvious acne scars that dot his face, evidence of a battle long since won, there is nothing that decorates his face. He has never had a tattoo or a piercing.
Jackson grew up in Seattle and was often bullied throughout his youth. He likes to think these traumatic memories gave him his sense of humor, however, that would require him to have a sense of humor in the first place. He had a chance run-in with a paranormal being late one night, which forced him through his kindling event. Ever since then Jackson has had delusions of grandeur and has tried to use his powers to finally break into the comedy scene. A scene that he does not belong in.
Ever since he was practically run out of Seattle, he has called St. Portwell his home. He is often spotted at one of the few bars that host an open mic night, or browsing the art selection at the 317.
Abstraction:
The Punisher: Jackson is a Pink Lux adept who is able to make friends and foes alike do simple commands through his jokes. These jokes do not have to be good, and often the worse the joke the stronger the effect of his abstraction. His channeler is a necklace that has a microphone. When he goes to use his abstraction, he has to have one hand on his channeler. He can compel people to do three things with his abstraction. Give up, give in, and give it all.
Give up: Jackson can influence his jokes to carry a knockout punch. He focuses all the memories of his pathetic younger years before he gained his power. The feeling of helplessness, the feeling of being powerless, and the feeling of not being enough. This is an area-of-effect spell and can be used to sway the feelings of everyone in a nearby area. This is a form of Mind Control. If the spell lands, it will force those afflicted to throw their hands into the arm, swear at the joke, and leave the area before they can be subjected to another one
Give In: As well, Jackson can influence his jokes to give them the delivery of a lifetime. He focuses all his aspirations for the future, his goals to a comedian with a special, and his desire to be loved into his jokes. This is another area-of-effect spell that forces those who fall under its mind-controlling powers. With this spell, he can compel people to give in to his suggestions. Whether that is to clap at his joke, demand an ecour, or give him what he wants. He has used this power to skate by in Seattle, and it was what got him run out of the city by the local paranormal powers.
Give it all: His final spell is one that only works on a single target. He can use his joke to compel someone to give it their all, whether in life or a fight. This spell provides clarity, focus, and strength of mind to its target and can help bolster emotional fields as well.
Lori.James
21 | Lori James | They/them "My music is unlike any you’ve heard." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Lori is a nonbinary individual from Columbus Ohio. They are short, with long hair that is kept in a ponytail. They typically wear long skirts, tube tops, and various stylish jackets. They often have their headphones on listening to their music, trying to find their faults even if none exist. They will also always have their violin and the maestro’s bow.
Lori grew up in Columbus Ohio. Their early years were busy, and there was great expectation as to their musical future. Yet a traumatic paranormal event, at a young age, has a funny way of derailing even the most stubborn of destinys. Once their kindling event was over, and the maestro’s bow found its way to her, they knew that they were destined for more than before. But it was not the path that their parents had expected. As such, they moved to Seattle two years ago and to St. Portwell later that year. Ever since they have arrived they have made advancements through the ranks of the 317.
Abstraction: Aberration Agent
An Orchestra Of One:
Lori is an agent, and when they play their music together with the maestros bow they are able to gift their friends buffs, corrupt and control those around them or bring death to their enemies. Every time they plays, the maestro plays with them and Lori truly becomes a one person orchestra
Supportive melody: When they plays her song Supportive Melody they bestow a protection spell on those they consider friends. This spell provides a buff to emotional fields, absorb impacts, and gain a boon to their strength. The buff lasts for as long as the song does, and she can loop the song as many times as needed.
Corruption Spreads: If they need to, they can change up the tempo and go into a slow ballad. This ballad is one that spreads corruption to all who hear it, and this corruption begins to pull away control from anyone who hears it. It is not something that they can control. The corruption will target everyone. Once the corruption starts to take hold, the victim will start to have black tendrils that spread across their face just underneath the skin. The victim will start listening to the music more intently, and will be suggestible to commands. This can be commands such as fight for me, protect me, and kill yourself.
If the corruption reaches its crescendo, by Lori ethier hitting a corruptive note or by finishing the song, the target will become consumed by it and will lose all free will and become a thrall to the music. At this point Lori’s wish is their command, so if Lori wishes for them to die they simply need to think it so.
Zeri.Palmer
20 | Zeri Palmer | She/Her"Listen, listen, listen I really love this place and I am so grateful for your continued support of me!" @NoriWasHere
Description:
Zeri may be short, but she packs her frame with curves and confidence. She is always spotted with a smile. It seems that nothing can truly bring her down and this upbeat appearance is infectious. She typically dresses in some colorful dress, and accessories with reckless abandon. She typically wears her hair in a loose, single braid that stretches down in-between her shoulder blades, with several rouge strands sticking out in any direction.
Zeri is from Florida. Her early life revolved around finding new ways to repurpose junk, and often this involved turning it into an artistic statement. She was pushed to focus on the important subjects yet this was not her calling. Eventually, an alligator man aberration forced her through her kindling event and she spent the next few years coming to terms with her new found power. Through the grapevine, she heard of an art collective across the country that was not only filled with people like her, but also a place for her to grow as an artist, She knew that she had to make a move, and she did.
Abstraction:
Zeri was a white lux user with a bag of buttons as her channeler. Zeri has the ability to see through walls and other obstructions as if they were not there, and she can mark areas with a button to create a ‘camera’ that she can access remotely.
Nowhere to hide: Zeri has the ability to see through solid objects to a distance of seven feet. She can use this ability to check a room, the contents of a box, or even what someone has in their pocket with the distance dependent on how much power she channels. Her eyes will flash a dull white color for close range and a vivid white for her full power look.
Button Camera: If Zeri instead wishes to keep an eye over an area she can enchant eight of her buttons to serve as her eyes in remote places. These buttons will still look like a normal button, and she’ll have to attach them to whatever surface she wishes, but when she taps into their feed they’ll glow a very dull white color.
Thomas.Agresti
25 | Thomas Agresti | He/Him " This area is rich enough, I could totally tape a banana to a wall and make a killing." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Thomas is not a tall man. He’s been called a short king his entire life and it has not gone to his head. He has long locs that are well-maintained, and he is often spotted wearing some intricate or fashionable ensemble. He has various piercings and tattoos however most are hidden under his clothes.
Thomas moved to St Portwell from New York fifteen years ago. He’s always been a shy, reserved person and this truly became more prevalent after the snake attack and his kindling event. Ever since then, he’s tried to further his trauma by focusing on his art, and this led to him joining the 317 early into their operations.
Abstraction:
Thomas is a purple lux with his channeler being a bracelet. Thomas has the power of telekinesis and can push, pull, crush, and throw objects or people at will.
Overwhelming force: Thomas is able to manipulate objects up to three hundred pounds. He is able to pull them closer, push them away, and lift the target up by simply engaging their channeler and making the appropriate hand gesture. If he wants to crush a target, he has to first grab at the target with his power and once he has hold he simply needs to try and make a fist . The more durable and strong the target the harder it will be to make a fist.
About five years ago, a man found his way to St. Portwell. He kept his head down and avoided the paranormal groups in the city, and started leaving flyers on telephone poles and street corners for woodworking services. Flooring, roofing, a fix for a broken cabinet, anything that didn’t require paperwork and paid. He was content to nickel and dime his way around without much fuss, but an accident with his magic, he found himself chasing down a small wooden creature that sprang to life and ran off on him. Chasing the tiny creature down to avoid a predicament, the man encountered Octavia of the 317.
A fight broke out, thanks to Octavia’s temperament. After everyone calmed down, the man simply introduced himself as “Rohan,” saying he accidentally created the creature he was chasing. Octavia was impressed by the golem’s sophistication, and decided to welcome Rohan to the 317. He readily accepted, since he had been living out of an old Toyota Corolla until then. After he moved in, Rohan started producing magical works of craftsmanship for a living, and applying his trade to the mundane world when possible.
The story that Rohan tells others, should they ask, is that he is a second generation Japanese American, whose parents came over before he was born. He doesn’t talk to them anymore, but does give out the names of his actual parents when asked. When asked about his name, Rohan says that it was an old nickname he got after getting drunk as a kid, when it’s really just a fake name to escape his old life. Rohan is known in the 317 to have not a single evil bone in his body. Always patient with others, always gentle with his worlds, and he never has anything bad to say about anybody. Rohan is everyone’s friend, and always listens when someone is going through something.
Abstraction: Afflicted | Namiki’s Last Laugh
Rohan was cursed by a very old creature known as Namiki. He was a tree spirit that rebelled in conspiring against mortals, and setting up schemes that ended in them sealing their own fate. In essence, he was a wicked trickster of the forest, and some rumors said that his plots allowed the forests of Japan to flourish in spite of human development. Rohan was a special case, as he managed to outwit Namiki just barely enough to injure him gravely. At least, Rohan thinks he outsmarted the tree spirit, as Namiki is now a pile of ashes in the wind.
Rohan’s Abstraction consists of magical properties, and physical changes to his body that can be seen by the blind. Any object he makes out of wood, such as a new door or a wooden box, possesses some innate magical ability. Rohan cannot make something out of wood that doesn’t have magical power, but he can influence what effect it has. Often, he will focus on willing things to be supernaturally sturdy when he doesn’t need something fancy. This prevents things from being broken, but also prevents the blind from suddenly having fruit grow from their new kitchen cabinets.
There are patterns and certain creative concepts that Rohan has figured out, which he can use to further specify the magical properties he wishes to create in something. An example of this is his Ashen Scepter. It is a wooden staff with bands of metal at both ends, made from charred ash wood. Ironically, it can spew a stream of fire capable of burning away virtually any mundane material it comes into contact with, such as metal or stone. Other examples include carving the likeness of an apparition into a box for a more powerful method of sealing, making a ring out of Purple Heartwood to enhance purple Lux, and using wooden nails in place of metal nails to make a structure repair itself overtime.
When Rohan touches wood with his bare hands, it is magically nourished and strengthened as if he were healing it. The longer he does this, the more healthy a piece of wood will become, to the point that plywood could grow fresh bark. In some cases, Rohan can bring dead trees back to life, and mend broken wood like human bones. This is useful, but like other parts of his Abstraction, it cannot be turned off. This can be awkward when he is replacing rotten floorboards, which are suddenly no longer rotten.
Rohan’s curse also comes with physical changes, which can be seen rising up through his skin. Around his heart and lungs are patches of petrified wood, which spread out across his skin just subtly enough to be easily concealed. This makes him more vulnerable to being set on fire than the average person, but gives him a way to heal his injuries by simply standing in the sun for a while. Lastly, in his veins is tree sap, rather than blood. His “blood” can spread the petrified growth to others if they get it on them, and can’t get it off. This is very painful to others, and will slowly turn them to wood like a gorgon would turn them into stone.
Rien.Driessan
25 | Marijn “Rien” Elian Driessan | They/Them "If you're looking for someone who cares, keeping looking. You won't find that here." @FernStone
Description:
Born and raised in the Netherlands, Rien spent their early childhood shifting between foster homes along with their twin sister, Katja. As a result the two were incredibly close - they were practically all they had. Things got easier when they were adopted at ten. Both were incredibly artistic, with Rien leaning towards painting and Katja towards music.
But as they both got older Katja got more sickly, before being diagnosed with a terminal, degenerative illness. At fifteen, just a few weeks after their birthday, she passed away. This caused Rien’s kindling event - suddenly they’d lost the only person that mattered to them, and were thrown into a world of magic they hadn’t known about. Using their black lux Rien desperately tried to find some kind of remnant of Katja… but she’d moved on. A year later, their adoptive parents decided it would be best to get a fresh start, and moved to St. Portwell, USA (just a year after the Stygian Snake’s rampage).
While studying art at university, Rien joined 317. It was a place were they found some solace and understanding. However Rien is generally a detached and uncaring individual, fearing growing attached and losing someone again. They take carefree to the extreme, to the point of seeming to not care about anything. Rien is five-four with dyed hair and multiple piercings. They also have various tattoos - most importantly to them, a treble clef on their chest (above their heart) that curls into a K. Rien acts as 317’s sealer, when the need arises… and when they’re not getting high.
Abstraction: Adept - Black & Gold Lux. Channeler: an old, fraying friendship bracelet.
Rien is a Black and Gold Lux adept who primarily specialises in trapping and sealing Apparitions in paintings, before summoning them back out of the paintings. They have four primary spells.
Seek: Rien can use their painting to hunt down nearby Apparitions. They essentially channel their black lux as they paint, pointing them towards any Apparitions in the nearby area.
Enrapture: Using their black lux, Rien is able to manipulate Apparitions to make them easier to seal. They use the painting they plan to seal the Apparition into for this, luring them towards it and forcing them to be enthralled by it.
Trap: Using their paintings and black lux, Rien has a much easier time sealing Apparitions. This spell enhances their sealing, making it much more likely to succeed. It reduces the size of sigil needed for sealing, allowing them to use smaller canvas even for powerful apparitions.
Pull: Rien pulls a sealed apparition out of the canvas they sealed it in. Using a combination of their Gold and Black lux they’re able to control it to do their bidding. Once they’re done with it, they can easily put it back inside the canvas. They can only summon two apparitions at a time, and to summon another after that they must put one of the active ones back in a painting.
Olivia Anne.Marie Weiss
23 | Olivia Anne Marie Weiss | She/her "It’s all just a bunch of hocus pocus." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Olivia stands at a rather short height of 5’3”. She is a tiny character that moves through her life with grace in her step. Olivia is confident and she carries her posture as such. Her head is always held high, her steps carry with it the weight of her expectations, and her smile is ever present on her face. She has no set style, but she is always dressed nicely. Olivia often has a high bun coiled style to her hair. Her eyes are a darker brown that carries the same warmth that emanates from get smile. Olivia dresses well, even if she sometimes presents a little basic.
Olivia was born and raised in Seattle, and moved to St. Portwell when she was eleven. It was at the young age of twelve that Olivia was exposed to the magical world around her. She was walking to a friend's house when the snake’s rampage caused a kindling event, transforming the book she carried into her Grimoire, and she was rescued soon thereafter by a girl named Britney. Much was explained in that initial meeting, and much more was learned in the war. Eventually the coven emerged victorious but Olivia knew she could not stay. The Grimoire demanded she study and learn, and the coven was not a place that could facilitate that. As such, Olivia was among the first to leave without even saying goodbye. She spent the past decade finishing school, graduating with a Masters in Art History, and begun work to decipher more of the iconography found with the Grimoire. When the call to rejoin the coven was sounded Olivia did not join. Instead, she pushed and pushed to be accepted into the 317.
This morning she finally got the call.
Abstraction: Adept: Green-Blue-Orange-Black
Sacrificium - Olivia can heal, curse, boost, and summon the dead as long as she chants the spells needed for the magic and offers the ingredients to ensure a spell is successful. Her channeler is a Grimoire that has been passed down through countless generations. Each page in the Grimoire is a spell, with an incantation that must be spoken and a list of items that would be needed. Until Olivia is ready for a spell the pages will appear to be gibberish. Once she’s ready, the spell will become clear and Olivia would be able to use that spell to full effect. The Grimoire will need to be open to the page of the spell to cast it, but it can sense what Olivia is about to cast and will open itself to that page.
The Grimoire was originally created long ago by Olivia’s distant ancestors and was done so in Latin. The book translates to the language that Olivia understands but this has led to some spells being rather silly.
The Transference -
“By my will, your pain I take, In your stead, your wounds I break. Heal you now, as I withstand, Restoration flows from my hand.”
This is one of Olivia’s healing spells and was the first of three spells at her disposal during her time with the coven. It is a simple one at its core, but one that Olivia must prepare for mentally. By chanting the incantation, and by pressing her hand on someone, Olivia is able to heal them of all wounds. To do so she takes them on herself. If someone has a broken arm her arm will break during the spell, if someone has been shot she’ll have an exact replica of the bullet wound. As such, she will only heal what won’t kill her.
Self Reliance-
“With this blood, my strength shall rise, In sacrifice, my spirit flies. Healing flows from pain I share, Renewed and whole, beyond despair.”
Used in conjunction with The Transference, self-reliance is a spell that Olivia can use to heal herself. She must first offer up her blood willingly to get the magic flowing. This means she’ll have to draw her own blood with a blade, or any sharp object instead of any wounds caused by another. As she chants her body will heal but it will heal slowly compared to other healing magic. If she has a broken arm, for example, she might have to repeat the chant several times before it is mended.
Blood Boil-
“With gathered might, my magic flows, In this hand, the fury grows. By touch alone, your blood I sear, Feel the heat, your end is near. In boiling wrath, your life shall fade, By my will, your fate is laid.”
Blood boil is the second of the three spells Olivia knew during the war against the snake. Olivia’s spell enchanted her hands with her green lux, and if she makes contact with another person or creature she will cause their blood to boil. A strong creature will be able to resist this magic, only having the effect localized to the point of contact. But if they’re weak, or if Olivia enchants the spell further with her blood sacrifice, she can cause all of their blood to boil.
Acid Strike-
“With this breath, I call forth spite, Acidic venom, ready to bite. By my will, I spit and strike, Melt away, like candle’s light.”
The third and final spell from their time with the coven, Olivia is able to turn her spit into an acidic liquid that she can spit out. It does not enhance the amount of spit in her mouth, or how far she can spit it.
Familiar Form-
“From my core, our essence wakes, By my will, the spirit breaks. Familiar guide, answer my call, Emerge and stand, before me fall.”
The last green lux spell Olivia has learned, Olivia is able to summon her witches familiar. The spell requires her to get naked, sit cross legged, and chant this spell for as long as it takes to summon the familiar. The familiar is a spirit, and must decide whether or not they will answer the call. If they do, they’ll be born from the flesh of the witch who summons them and will be fueled by the witch's life force. The summoning is an incredibly painful process. If the witch chooses to dismiss the familiar they’ll simply turn to dust and the life force will return to the witch.
Creeping Weakness-
“Shadows creep, your strength shall wane, With every breath, I draw your pain. Life’s spark dims, your power fades, In silent whispers, my spell invades.”
By chanting the spell creeping weakness Olivia is able to make her target feel weakened. The weakness they feel would be subtle at first, maybe a step forward would rob them of their breath or the act of using magic would take more energy than normal. However, if she is able to keep the chant going the effects of this spell would grow in power and scope. After thirty seconds it’ll start piercing through emotional fields, and the weakness will only grow in strength. Olivia must very within earshot of her target for the spell to work as her words carry the curse.
The Fool -
“In shadows deep, where fears reside, Laughter echoes, truth belied. Insult and jest, your hearts exposed, In merry torment, your shame is imposed.”
When Olivia offers her blood up willingly, she can also curse the minds of a singular target. This spell can pierce emotional fields however it can only do so with a hefty blood offering. When the spell takes hold, the target will be subjected to vicious ridicule, taunts, and be swarmed by a terrible laughter that can drive them mad. The spell can last anywhere from a minute to an hour depending on how long Olivia chants, and how much blood she uses in the spell. Once again, the target must hear the chant in full to fall under it’s effects.
Obey Me-
“Hear my call, your will shall yield, In my command, your fate is sealed. Bend your mind, your heart must sway, Submit to me, and do as I say.”
Obey me is one of Olivia’s most aggressive curses. Whereas her other spells work like a needle, Obey Me is like a hammer smashing against the walls of a person's mind. This spell requires a hefty blood offering, and will make Octavia weak, however, it will be able to smash a person's emotional field and subject them to Olivia’s command. Olivia can only maintain control as long as she chants, and as long as the target can hear her voice from her lips. This curse does not require the target to hear, only to be in the line of fire.
Faerie Fire-
“Flicker bright, in shadows deep, Awaken fear, let panic seep. All around, let visions blaze, In this fright, their minds will craze. Let flames of doubt consume their sight, In terror’s dance, they lose their fight.”
Faerie Fire is Olivia’s most powerful individually cast curse. It requires a lot of blood and part of her life force to cast. The spell will target seven people and curse their minds to think they’re on fire. Everything they see, touch, taste, smell, and feel will tell them so. It is incredibly painful, traumatizing, and debilitating. The spell will last for seven minutes. Each target does not need to hear, however, those that do will feel the spell hit with an increased magnitude of power.
Fantastical Feline-
“By fur and blood, the magic blends, In this vessel, the spell ascends. With this mark, take form anew, Transformed with grace, my feline crew.”
Olivia’s curse magic can be used to disguise herself, and others, as simple house cats. They’ll still be able to talk like normal but for all other intents and purposes they will be a cat. She’ll need to have a tuft of cat fur and drain her blood into a goblet, mix, mark, and then chant. The spell lasts for seven hours but can be ended sooner.
Banishment-
“Together we stand, our voices align, With power united, your fate we entwine. From this realm, your presence we sever, Into the pit, now and forever. By our will, let shadows arise, In darkness, your spirit flies. Through the veil, we cast you away, In the pit, forever you stay.”
Banishment is the first and only spell that Olivia has learned that requires another adept to cast. The two adept’s must cut their hands, hold them together, and chant this spell three times without interruption for it to succeed. If successful, their target will be plucked from Shimmer and banished to the pit. The spell exerts a toll on both adepts, as their blood loss will be significant and their life force drained for seven hours. As well, there will be a hole in their soul that the adepts will forever feel. For there is no greater curse than the pit, and to truly commit to the spell a part of them must accompany the target there.
Haunting Specters-
“From shadows deep and sorrowed past, I call the souls of victims cast. Rise from the graves, let anguish swell, To haunt the living, a vengeful spell. With whispers soft and chilling cries, Unleash your fury, let terror arise. In shadows they gather, a spectral horde, To bind your spirit with chains unscored. Feel their pain, their wrath, their fear, For in your presence, they now draw near. By my will, let vengeance flow, Through cursed winds, your fury grows.”
The first necromancy spell Olivia learned, Haunting Specters allows Olivia to summon the victims of a target and allows them to get their revenge. Olivia will need to do several things before she begins the spell. First, she’ll need an object of importance to the target. The more important an item is the stronger the spell. Next, she’ll need a black candle to establish the connection with the spirits. From here, she’ll need to create a circle out of salt and fill a chalice with water to give life to the spirits. Lastly, she’ll need to open her grimoire and look into a scrying mirror and repeat the chant seven times. The phantoms will be released from here and haunt their target until they are dead, or the summoning circle is broken. The haunt will start slow, but will ramp up over a week's time at which point it will be a battle between the spirits and their mark.
Communes with the dead-
“By the name I speak, I call to thee, Awaken now, and set your spirit free. Spirit of [Name], I seek your voice, Join with me; let us rejoice. With open heart and intent sincere, Reveal your words; let all be clear.”
Olivia can act as the vessel for a spirit to allow them to speak with the living. Olivia will need three things to summon a spirit like this. A drink that they liked, a food they liked, and an object that was important to them. Once she recites the chant the spirit, if willing, will possess her body. The spirit can only drink what was provided, eat that which was given, and talk to those in their presence. Olivia prefers this to be in a more intimate, secluded setting as they give up their autonomy for seven minutes while the ghost is in their body. If someone tries to interact with her during this time she will be at the mercy of the spirit.
A Final Fight-
“From earth below, where spirits dwell, I call the fallen, hear my spell. Rise once more, from dust and pain, Join my cause, in this battle’s gain. In honor’s name, your strength I seek, Fight for me, as this moment’s bleak.”
The ultimate spell for Olivia and the black lux that fuels it, A Final Fight calls on any who died at the location to rise up once more for a final battle. The spell itself will nearly kill Olivia if she is lucky or will actually kill her if she’s not. This spell does not require a body, item offering, or even knowledge of who died where. The simple act of casting this spell is enough for Olivia to bring an army of the dead back with whatever weapons they may carry, if any at all. They are both solid and not, as strikes against them will simply pass through while their strikes will hit true. Only lux can dispel these spirits.
Empowered Touch
“With this touch, my power flows, Strength and speed, like wind that blows. By my hand, let courage soar, Unleash your magic, forever more.”
The weakest lux that Olivia has access to is her orange lux. She has only recently mastered her first orange lux spell and it is rather weak. She can slightly boost a person's strength, speed, magic, or mood but it’ll be a small increase.
Cyrus.Tempus
23 | Cyrus Tempus | He/Him " Oh you’re so adorable when you get mad." @NoriWasHere
Description:
Cyrus is a tall, lanky, but conventionally attractive man. He walks a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and it is one of the first things that people will notice. They will often either think he’s the most confident man in the room or the most cocky. There is never anyone in the middle. He is always dressed well, with well fitting button up shirts and stylish pants. He will often accessorize with bracelets, rings, and other charms on his hands.
Cyrus began his life in a town called Peacetree City in Georgia. He showed incredible athletic ability and as such was a constant fixture on the sport scene. He was the best on his team with baseball, football, and soccer and somehow he found the time to perfect all three. When he made it to Highschool he committed to just football. He started all four years and was his school's starting quarterback. In his senior year he carried the team on his back to the state championship. In the game he suffered a terrible leg injury on the final play of the game. His selfless act allowed his team to win, but it also stopped him from ever competing again. The raw emotional pain he endured as a result led to the events that caused him to kindle.
Cyrus took a gap year while he recovered. In this time he developed a knack for photography and quickly found a passion for it. It was a violent passion, much like sports were, and he had to become the best. After a few tears of schooling, and countless hours of training, he joined the 317. Right before the attack on the 317 Cyrus was promoted from the JV team to the varsity level.
Abstraction:Adept: Gold-Purple Lux
A wrinkle- Cyrus can project versions of himself from alternate timeline, have them take actions, and swap with them if the bed arises.
A team of my own-
Cyrus can summon three versions of himself from alternate timelines. They may be dressed the same, with slight variations, or be completely different. These versions of himself will be able to move, take actions, and act independently from his control. These versions of Curtis l Cyrus can not interact with our reality, they can not touch others or be touched themselves. There will be a flicker that will reveal them to be ghosts of Cyrus so he won’t be able to shadow cover jutsu his way out of a fight. They will be holding whatever Cyrus is holding.
Assume Control-
Cyrus can swap with any alternate version of himself at any time. If one is readying a strike, and has an opening to land it, Cyrus will assume control and land the strike. As well, if Cyrus is about to be hit he can also swap his way to safety.
Leah.Louis Dubois-Harrington
29 | Leah Louise Dubois-Harrington | She/Her " If you ever threaten my children again I will cut off your penis, and sew it to your face so the world will always see you for the dick you are.” @NoriWasHere
Description:
Leah stands at short five foot height with a relatively petite build. She has incredibly curly hair that reaches down to the top of her shoulders. Her mother was French, and her dad was Korean, and thus she’s inherited a very ambiguous face. She is always dressed incredibly well. Every outfit is meticulously put together. Her business is fashion so she always ensures that she looks good. If anyone spots her at home she will threaten them to ensure they never spill the beans on what her home look is.
Leah was born in Paris, France, and spent the first twenty three years of her life here. Her parents pushed her to master her native French, her father’s Korean, and English as a third language, though she speaks it with a heavy French accent. She was a good student who always was at the front of her class. A chance encounter with a vampire apparition as a teenager caused her to kindle and murder the bloodsucking horror that threatened her. She tried to bury the magical side from here and soon she found herself graduating college at eighteen. In her eighteenth year she met an American man named Stephen. The two dated for several years before they moved back to his hometown of St. Portwell. Four years ago they married in a beautiful ceremony back in Paris and set out to build the perfect life in America. The two would welcome a child four years ago, and another child the year after. The two raised their daughters Aurora and Rose together and Leah truly believed she had found her happy place. Stephen was once a part of a coven and, with his help, Leah’s magic flourished and she found strength with it. She found work as a part time fashion designer at The 317 a year ago and combined her passion for creating clothes with her magic.
Six months ago Charles was killed, crashing her entire world down with it. The case is still open, with no leads on the suspect, and the only thing left behind was a wolf carving. The more she learns about the monster that hunts the Sycamore tree coven, the more it is clear that her husband was murdered by this Father Wolf due to his connection with the fateful fight against the Stygian Snake. While she is facing mounting pressure to return home to France, she has decided to remain to help the 317 in their fight, and may lend her support to Sycamore if the need arises.
Abstraction:
Adept: Gold-Red lux
A Whimsical Melody: Leah is a gold-red adept who, while listening to music through her Walkman channeler, can turn inanimate objects into her magical minions. The function of the minions depends on the emotion used to create them. Happy emotions build minions who help whereas angry emotions build monsters. She is still a novice with her magic so she is limited in scope and function for now.
Nine To Five-
When Leah plays music through her Channeler she can create magical minions. As she dances along to the music, an important step in this magic, she’ll be able to turn mundane objects into these minions. A broom will start sweeping, a mop will start mopping, and dishes would clean themself for example. Any object can be turned into a minion and these minions are only useful for the simple acts of keeping a place tidy, and helps her turn even the most boring of chores into a fun magic filled adventure. She uses this magic when she is also creating the clothes that she sells. The needle, thread, and every other tool will animate and do the work for her. She’ll need to create the designs, and know how to create the outfit she wants, as even if they’re magical they’re simply tools that Leah uses. Leah will typically use as upbeat song to fuel this magic.
You outta know-
If she, her kids, or her friends are threatened she can use the very same magic to turn a simple object into a magical monster. If she turns a stuffed animal into a monsterous minion, for example, they may grow in size to monstrous heights, adopt some terrifying fangs, and have a personality that is prone to lashing out suddenly and violently towards perceived threats. Anything created with this spell will change physically, and they will all attack without a second thought.
Monica.Tesfa
31 | Monica Tesfa | She/Her "Magic, like art, is truly found in the eyes of the beholder.” @NoriWasHere
Description:
Monica is a tall woman. She stands at a height of five foot eleven inches her height has allowed her to look down on most men. She dresses comfortably, and tries to always look decent for every occasion without sacrificing her comfort. Her hair is very coily and very much blown out, and she spends countless hours each day working on it.
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Monica had a relatively simple life. She played sports, got good grades, and went to college. After graduation, she stayed in Ann Arbor and opened a cute but quaint vintage fashion store where she curated, and restored, old and interesting pieces of vintage history. She had sections for clothes, equipment, and had basically a bit of everything under the sun. One day she had a box of antiques donated after a man in town died and it was in this box where her magical journey started. She grabbed an old pan flute with three pipes, made out of bronze, and played a melody on it. The melody was simple, but it was enough to break the seal that held an apparition inside, releasing it and causing a kindling event. While the apparition only thanked her, it’s presence alive without glamor caused a significant emotional moment.
She could now hear the thoughts of people if she was able to look them in the eyes. As well, if she knew who she was looking for, she could also project her own thoughts into theirs. She was pulled into a local coven who sensed her magic and she trained from there. Eventually she learned of a magic filled collective out west and decided it was time to truly combine her crafts. She arrived three months ago and has been an independent artist at work here.
Abstraction:
Adept - Pink Lux
Monica is a pink adept who, by looking in someone’s eyes, can read their thoughts, learn much about who they are, and can search for minds telepathically in a five hundred foot radius.
Eye of the beholder-
When Monica looks someone in the eyes she learns much about a person. What their proudest moment is, what makes them afraid, and what they’re currently thinking. It is a subtle intrusion but it is quite powerful at finding ways through the emotional fields of adepts. The longer she holds the connection the stronger her magic becomes. She does have trouble with adjoined, and can not penetrate a raw apparition in the wild.
Deus Ex Woman - Monica can also reach out with her mind and connect with those around her. She’ll find it hard to read the thoughts of others, but can with enough concentration, but she can freely talk through this connection with ease.
Darren.’Riley’ Mayfield
37 | Darren ‘Riley’ Mayfield | He/Him [hr//]" Oh that’s cute that you think you can beat me.” @NoriWasHere
Description:
Darren is not the tallest man in a room. He is five foot five, but has packed it with a sturdy muscular frame. He dresses like a man half his age with a common theme being fishnets, denim jackets, and ripped jeans. He has various tattoos across his arms and chest, the most visible being the one that denotes his time with the marines.
Darren was born in Indiana and, at a young age, decided that he would find his way through the world as best he could until he was old enough to enlist in the marines. His father was a marine, and his father before him was a part of the army, and as such Darren felt that it was his honor, and duty, to carry on that family tradition. His grades were never perfect but he got by. He played sports but was never the best. He enlisted as soon as he could, and by the time he finished with his training the country was preparing for a war in the Middle East. He fought in the first, second, and third conflict that flared up in this part of the world. It was early on in these conflicts that the sight of his entire squad dead caused him to kindle. He kept his magic secret, and he kept it that way all the way until after he was honorably discharged.
He was now thirty years old. A warrior without a war to fight or train for. He moved out to Seattle at thirty two and within a year he met a woman named Faith who discovered his secret. She showed him that the magical world was much bigger, and much more scary, than he ever knew and he learned that it was only a matter of time before the best big magical fight kicked off. As such, he moved to St. Portwell and began to train with help from Faith. It was here he discovered a love for painting and quickly learned he had a knack for it. He started a project called the Soldier Series, a loosely connected series of paintings that he began to sell at the 317. It was more expensive than they had any right to be but he sold them with a story, and with the promise that thirty percent of the proceeds would go to a wounded warrior charity, a promise he has kept.
Faith has told him that a war had found them, and that she’d need more soldiers to fight it. Darren heard enough and as such he was promoted to a full time member.
Abstraction:
Adept. Red-Purple
Darren is a Red-Purple adept who focuses on creating, manipulating elemental magic.
Take Flight-
Darren focuses the fire of his red lux into the palms of his hands and, or, the balls of his feet. As the power grows a visible red ball will appear. Eventually the magic will shoot out with a powerful force that allows him to either fly through the air, or rocket across the Ice Rink spell. This gives him a very versatile movement skill. He needs to be careful while using this spell because while he may be immune to the magic he uses, he’s not immune to crashing and breaking his bones.
Fire Lance-
Darren points out his ring and middle finger together, while his pointer and pinky touch underneath, and channels his fire magic into the air between the fingers. As it readies the fire will form a ball. From here Darren can either shoot out a fire blast which envelops a target, fire spears that try to impale them, or continuously channel it into a flamethrower.
Fire Walls
Bringing his hands together Darren will channel his fire magic for his ultimate spell. He’ll shoot his hands out and in the process of doing this will create large walls of fire. The walls are nearly twenty feet long and ten feet tall. He’ll aim to place this on either side of a group of enemies so that they’ll be trapped in between. Then he’ll slam his hands together which will cause the magic walls of fire to slam together as well. There is a physical force applied with his purple lux. This is not enough to squash them but it is enough to hold the targets in place while the now single wall of fire incinerates their targets.
Cold Blast-
Darren once again pushes his ring finger and middle finger together on top while the pointer and pinky touches underneath. He then channels the ice aspect of his ice magic and, like Fire Lance, can utilize the magic in several ways. He can send a magical blast of cold magic to knock an opponent off their feet, create daggers of ice that get launched with his purple lux, or even just channel the magic constantly to have a constant cold flamethrower that envelops targets in a magical cold that can freeze them to their core.
Ice Manipulation-
Darren can manipulate any of his magical ice. This could be to cause it to grow from a simple patch to a field of ice spears, or allow him to change the size of his ice daggers. If it’s ice made from his magic it’s able to be manipulated.
Ice Rink -
If Darren needs to install crowd control, or move around a battlefield quickly, he can summon his red lux and use it to coat the entire area, or a small subsection of the area, in a perfect rink of ice. He will also use his purple lux to push down on the ice uniformly to make it as smooth as possible. It is magically slippery so most will slip and fall on it but Darren has practiced over the past two decades and is able to not only navigate it, but speed across it.
Destructo Disk-
The ultimate cold spell, Darren holds a hand up and back and forges a disk of ice above it. It quickly gains size, Ave with two seconds this disk its as wide as he is tall. It is compressed during this process, and given a spin, with his purple lux, all the while the edge gets sharper and sharper. He then uses his purple lux to throw the spinning disk, and can guide it through a crowd. He can not adjust it too much as the disk will lose its spin if he tries to deviate it too much from its initial course. The disk is sharp, and can cut through those with weaker emotional fields with ease, and can pose a threat to those who have a stronger one.
"Lily".Santos
32 | Carmen Brianna Santos-Romano | She/Her"This is my life, Papi; nothing can change the past, so that nothing can change me."
Description:
Carmen Santos-Romano (Better described as Lily), the eldest of three sisters, has always carried the weight of her family's expectations. Raised in the bustling streets of New York City, her life was marked by responsibility from an early age. Her parents worked tirelessly (her father was a dedicated NYPD officer and her mother a nurse) to provide for their family. Although they offered love and support, Lily often felt more like a second parent than a sibling, taking care of her younger sisters, Yara and Clarita, while trying to navigate her teenage years. This sense of duty shaped her philosophy that everything happens for a reason; she believed the struggles in her life were stepping stones laid out by a higher power, preparing her for future challenges.
Despite her creative spirit and passion for art, which served as her emotional outlet, Lily fell victim to the pressures of adulthood. After her father's infidelity led to her parents' divorce, she struggled to find her footing while dealing with the emotional fallout. College, once a beacon of hope, turned into a battlefield of stress, leading her down a dark path marked by a shopping addiction and irresponsible decisions, including opening credit cards in her sister's name. When her sisters pressed charges against her under pressure from their new stepfather, Lily found herself in prison for identity theft. It was during her time at Rikers Island's female unit, Rosies, that she was forced to confront the consequences of her choices and the deep-seated pain she had been avoiding. Surrounded by harsh reality and fellow inmates' struggles, Lily realized that her past decisions had impacted her life and fractured her relationships with those she loved.
After two years, Lily emerged determined to rebuild her life. She moved to San Antonio, Texas, distancing herself from her mother and stepfather for a fresh start. There, she found solace in tattoo artistry, channeling her creativity into a new career. Yet, her healing journey was interrupted when she fell in love with Rafael Cruz. Initially enamored, she soon faced the brutal reality of his controlling and abusive nature, forcing her to flee, and she lived with a friend. After fleeing Rafael's abusive grasp, his relentless obsession turned her new life into a waking nightmare as he began stalking her.
Then, one evening, Rafael broke into her new home. Faced with the man who had once promised her love but became her nightmare, the confrontation escalated violently, and as Lily fought for her life, she unexpectedly awakened a powerful Abstraction known as Paranormal-Battery. In a desperate moment during the violent conflict with Rafael, she accidentally Overcharged him. The overwhelming energy triggered a catastrophic explosion that devastated her neighborhood, killing him in the process.
She had no clue what had happened; the PRA swarmed her neighborhood in their investigation, and panic gripped Lily's heart. Days later, feeling the pressure closing in, Lily's life turned for the worse when she unintentionally Overcharged a friend during a moment of vulnerability. The energy burst erupted in a blinding flash, causing chaos in a nearby park and drawing even more attention from the PRA. Desperate to keep those she cared about safe, she isolated herself, fearing her abilities would hurt someone else.
As time passed, Lily had a few more close calls, and each overcharging incident made it clear that she was no longer just a survivor; she had become a target. With her life spiraling out of control and no one to turn to, Lily decided to go on the run. After escaping the chaos of San Antonio, Lily spent months on the run, moving from town to town and state to state. The relentless pursuit of the PRA and factions seeking her abstraction loomed over her like a shadow, forcing her to adopt new identities and live in constant paranoia.
Eventually, Lily arrived in St. Portwell, Oregon, just after Faith's call to action following the devastating attack on the 317 by the Elite and Sentinel Solutions. Eager to embrace a new beginning, Lily joined the 317, pouring her energy into tattoo artistry while learning to control her Abstraction. Lily is a full-blooded Puerto Rican woman who speaks with a thick Bronx accent and has a little bit of baby fat that clings to her belly.
Abstraction: Afflicted - Paranormal-Battery.
Lily’s Abstraction is a unique curse that allows her to enhance the Abstractions of anyone she touches with her bare skin. This ability draws on a deep well of magical energy that flows through her, making her a conduit for amplification. When she contacts another Paranormal-Being, her power boosts their Abstractions, allowing them to access greater strength and control than they ordinarily could.
However, this power operates on a balance. Like a vessel containing only a certain amount, those she enhances can quickly be overwhelmed. When someone absorbs too much of Lily’s energy, they risk reaching a critical threshold, leading to what is known as an "Overcharge". In this state, individuals become akin to volatile bombs, filled with raw magical energy they can no longer contain. The consequences of this explosive release are devastating and capable of wreaking havoc on a large scale.
The destructive potential of overcharging poses a constant threat to Lily and those around her. While she can enhance abilities, the risk that her touch could push someone past their limits keeps her on edge.
Jasmine.Tsega
29 | Nyala "Jasmine" Tsega | She/Her"I told myself I wouldn't let another like Sophie best me... and look around you."
Description:
Born Nyala in Germany to accomplished architects, her childhood was gilded with opportunity yet marked by an insatiable need to prove herself. This drive became even more pronounced during high school when she discovered her passion for soccer. Although she was once the star player, everything changed with the arrival of Sophie Müller, whose natural talent and charm eclipsed Jasmine’s achievements. The fierce competition ignited Jasmine's ambition, yet beneath her rivalry lay a complicated admiration for Sophie that she struggled to acknowledge.
Jasmine’s philosophy centers on the belief that greatness requires unyielding dedication and hard work. This belief, however, spiraled into an obsession that overshadowed her mental health. As she pushed herself to the brink, she wrestled with her emotions, particularly regarding Sophie, whom she secretly admired yet could not fully comprehend her feelings. The tipping point came when her desperation to reclaim her former glory during a crucial championship match led to a moment of recklessness: tripping Sophie just as she was about to score the winning goal. The fallout from this frustration resulted in Jasmine’s removal from the team and a tarnished reputation, forcing her to flee to St. Portwell, Oregon, where she reinvented herself.
In the vibrant culture of America, Jasmine embraced her new identity, choosing the name Jasmine as a nod to her fresh start. Determined to channel her competitive spirit into a new realm, she immersed herself in fitness, aiming to become a fitness influencer. Her journey was not without struggle as Jasmine battled the lingering shadows of Sophie Müller, the specter of a rival who symbolized the heights she yearned to reach but feared she could never attain.
Jasmine was shaken to her core after a harrowing encounter with an Apparition during a late-night jog in St. Portwell. With its haunting resemblance to Sophie, the spectral figure emerged from the shadows and attacked her. In that chilling moment, she realized that this apparition was not just any spirit; it was created from her unresolved feelings toward her long-time rival. This encounter shattered her perception of reality, thrusting her into the supernatural world. Determined to make sense of the mystical experience, Jasmine delved into research, exploring the intricacies of magic and the hidden communities surrounding it.
Her search led her to a hidden market where she crossed paths with "certain individuals" specializing in trading rare magical artifacts (and "other" goods). There, she discovered a sealed Apparition called "The Sun God." Intrigued by its potential, Jasmine made the purchase, excited at the new avenues this spirit opened. After Sentinel Solutions (backed by the Elite) launched a surprise attack on the 317 building, Jasmine felt a surge of adrenaline. She spontaneously stepped forward in the chaos, offering to join the faction during Faith’s call to action. She currently acts as security/a footsoldier. Jasmine is a German-Ethiopian woman with a muscular build due to being a fitness influencer and her abstraction, though she has a pear-shaped build. She speaks with a heavy German accent.
Abstraction: Agent - The Power of The Sun.
Jasmine wields a stone disk from her belt containing the Apparition known as The Sun God, granting her incredible solar-based abilities that make her a formidable adversary. She can absorb solar energy through her skin, storing it for later use, which serves two primary functions. First, she can substitute solar energy for sustenance, providing her with all the power she needs without eating. She consumes food only for pleasure and must still drink water. This ability significantly enhances her endurance, allowing her to stave off fatigue until lactic acid buildup sets in.
Maximum Solar Absorption refers to the peak level of solar energy Jasmine can store within her body. In this state, her body temperature can soar to around 550°F, making her touch intensely hot. While she is not immune to heat, her increased resistance allows her to withstand extreme temperatures without harm. At this maximum capacity, she can access her abilities at their most potent, unlocking unparalleled strength and regenerative capabilities.
Jasmine’s regenerative factor is equally remarkable. By continuously absorbing sunlight, she can heal rapidly from injuries. In her maximum state, she can recover from severe injuries, like broken bones, in a matter of minutes, while extensive flesh damage can heal in seconds as long as she remains in sunlight.
Jasmine’s strength is where her true power lies. She can infuse her muscles with solar energy, greatly enhancing her physical capabilities. Once activated, her muscles swell, transforming her physique into that of a bodybuilder, allowing her to tap into her enhanced strength. Without activation, she possesses double her baseline strength, quickly lifting over 300 pounds. When fully empowered, she can lift upwards of 5,000 pounds, making her a force to be reckoned with. Her body is reinforced to handle this immense strength, ensuring she doesn’t injure herself while exerting such power.
Lucia.Scott
33 | Lucia Danielle Scott | She/Her"I want the stars because nothing’s ever good enough for the likes of me."
Description:
Lucia Scott was born into the Inner Circle as the daughter of two devoted members; her childhood was a paradoxical blend of privilege and fear. Her parents' fervent disciples of Sunshine Jones exposed her to the horrific realities of their ambition: human experimentation, ruthless power plays, and a hunger for more. When the Accordance dismantled the organization, her parents decided to flee to Shimmer, believing they could escape the consequences of their past. However, it was in the aftermath of their flight that Lucia’s actual struggles began as she became separated from the only life she had known.
Desperate to prepare her for a harsh world and ensure she could defend herself if the Accordance came after them, her parents devised a controversial plan: forcing Lucia to undergo a Kindling Event. They sought the assistance of a remaining member of the Inner Circle, a skilled Pink-Lux Adept who specialized in emotional manipulation. This member, driven by a twisted loyalty to the cult's legacy, agreed to help them in exchange for a promise of protection.
On the night of the ritual, the atmosphere was thick with tension and apprehension as Lucia was led into a hidden chamber dimly lit by flickering candles. She had heard whispers of the Blood-Art Technique but was too young to grasp its true implications. As the ritual commenced, her parents urged her to embrace the emotions that the Pink-Lux invoked. The magic warped her feelings into a volatile cocktail of fear, anger, and desperation. As the manipulated emotions surged within her, Lucia felt herself spiraling out of control. Just as the emotional storm reached its peak, she unlocked her Lux.
When the ritual concluded, Lucia was left shaken; the power she had unlocked felt like a curse more than anything. As she grappled with her new abilities, she felt conflicting emotions: anger at her parents for forcing her to endure that and a lingering sense of loyalty that kept her bound to their legacy. In the years that followed her Kindling Event, Lucia’s parents became her mentors, training her in the Blood-Art Technique. They taught her rigorously, believing mastery over this dark and forbidden form of magic was essential for her survival in the dangerous world they now inhabited. Yet, she also felt their fanaticism and commitment to the Inner Circle lingering in every lesson.
Lucia's parents' dark legacy was a looming threat, filled with whispers of betrayal among the remnants of the Inner Circle. One night, after returning from school, she found their lifeless bodies, their throats slashed. The murderer had been careful, leaving no trace behind. In that instant, the last rope to the Inner Circle - and her previous life - was finally severed. Lucia felt overwhelming grief, rage, and most importantly freedom. Their deaths had granted her a chance to escape the legacy of the Inner Circle.
With the weight of her parents' legacy lifted from her shoulders, Lucia sought to reclaim her life and make a difference in the world. She joined the 317 after Sentinel Solutions, acting at the behest of the Elite, attacked the faction, believing that becoming part of a community dedicated to protecting artists and Paranormal beings was her way of fighting back. Lucia is a comically tall and slim woman, standing at six-two, with a dark aesthetic and demeanor.
Abstraction: Adept - Green, Purple, & Black Lux. Channeler: Old Grimoire.
Crimson Strike: Lucia thrusts her channeler, the Old Grimoire, forward, unleashing razor-sharp tendrils of blood that erupt from the book and shoot toward the opponent directly in front of her. These tendrils whip through the air with lethal precision, slicing through flesh and inflicting deep, bleeding wounds. This spell does not require a symbol to be drawn first.
The Crimson Cloud: Lucia rides a cloud of blood, gliding above the ground to traverse distances quickly or evade danger. The symbol for this spell is a billowing cloud, with droplets cascading down like rain.
Telekinesis: Lucia manipulates objects from a distance telekinetically, allowing her to hurl debris or even bind enemies with a flick of her wrist. The symbol for this spell is a series of sharp, jagged lines converging toward a central point.
Flare: Lucia fires a small orb of concentrated boiling blood, inflicting minor burns on impact. The symbol for this spell is a flickering flame encircled by droplets of blood.
Blood Apparition: Lucia temporarily creates an Apparition from her blood, manifesting as a flickering, ghostly silhouette. This Apparition can distract enemies and lash out with tendrils of blood, dealing minor slashing damage. It can absorb a few hits before dissipating in a spray of crimson mist, offering brief protection for Lucia. The symbol for this spell is a ghostly silhouette with flowing blood droplets in a swirl shape.
Sanguine Echo: Lucia creates Apparition copies of herself made of blood that can confuse and distract opponents that go down after the first moderate hit. The symbol for this spell is a series of overlapping silhouettes, each dripping blood.
The Chains: Lucia conjures chains made of blood that whip out like tendrils, lashing at her enemies precisely. Once they make contact, the chains wrap around and immobilize the target, constricting tighter the more they struggle. This spell is symbolized by a jagged chain motif drawn in blood.
Rejuvenation: Lucia channels Green-Lux into her blood and creates tendril-like tubes, which she uses to inject her blood into her target. This process gradually heals wounds and alleviates pain as the infused blood works through the recipient's body. The symbol for this spell is a heart surrounded by flowing blood.
Catalyst: Lucia animates a recently deceased body with blood-infused necromancy. The corpse is a temporary servant capable of basic tasks or light combat. The symbol for this spell is a skull crowned by blood droplets.
Scalding Rain: Lucia causes droplets of boiling blood to rain down, searing enemies with minor burns. The symbol for this spell is a series of teardrop-like shapes representing each drop of scorching blood.
Blood Barrier: Lucia conjures a barrier made of crystallized blood that acts as a protective shield against incoming attacks. The barrier can absorb a certain amount of damage before shattering, and when it does, it releases a spray of sharp, crystal-like shards that can injure nearby enemies. The symbol for this spell is a geometric crystal shape with blood droplets around it.
Phantasm Form: Lucia transforms into a glowing red orb, becoming intangible and allowing all attacks to pass through her. In this state, she can swiftly fly through the environment, evading danger and quickly repositioning herself. The symbol for this spell is a circle encircled by a series of swirling, jagged lines.
36 | Luis Gabriel Cox | He/Him "Here at Dollhouse... we have it all."
Description:
The leader of the Dollhouse organization, former organ trafficker, and current boogeyman. Luis was formerly a hitman in the employ of the Russian mafia; whenever they needed someone to disappear, Luis was that man. He used to make "good use" of the people he killed by selling their organs. However, he had a debt that he owed them,m and they turned against him, sending men to kill him. When Luis was dying, she came; Hemorrhagia the Apparition. She offered him a deal that she couldn't refuse; she would grant him immortality,y and he would be the head of her new organization.
Suddenly, Luis became a boogeyman within the criminal underground (Luis the Undying, they called him) and the black market... where he used magic to change the game. He assembled Doll-House with the sole intention of building a new organization of criminals and black market dealers. Luis is a very cunning and ruthless man but takes no pride in killing and prefers to avoid it unless necessary. Luis is a tall and slender man at six-five with lean muscle. He's half-Cuban, half-Caucasian, and has a man-bun and a beard. Likes to wear white button-up shirts.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Natalie.Parts
35 | Natalie Texas Parts | She/Her "Locked and loaded, babe!
Description:
A former Marine who enlisted at a very young age but left after two contracts and retired to Florida due to dissatisfaction with the Marines (She still flexes about being a "Devil Dog"). Natalie became a Miami-Dade sheriff... a dirty one at that. She would turn the other way, or someone would disappear for the right price and become heavily involved in the criminal underworld. Primarily organ trafficking. Once she discovered her Adept Heritage, she was drawn to Luis the Undying. She became the second in command of his Dollhouse organization and is in charge of the mundane side of their organization. Natalie is a usually harsh, loud-mouthed, and sarcastic woman who gives little thought to class or tact. She curses constantly and talks a lot of shit... and she's a huge gun nut (her channeler is a gun). Natalie is a short (about five-one) Caucasian woman with brown hair who always wears a cowboy hat for some reason. She always has one of her two revolvers if she doesn't have one.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Heinrich.Thòrmer
56 | Heinrich Thòrmer | He/Him "..."
Description:
An associate of Hemorrhagia and the Apparition of a Nazi scientist that, in time, lost faith in the whole Nazi idealogy. However, Heinrich didn't lose the fact that he was one of the greatest scientific minds in the world, and after becoming an Apparition, all he was interested in was science. He wants to use magic to expand the fragile limitations placed on science. Heinrich found himself joining the Dollhouse and became Luis' third in command - in charge of the experimentation side of their organization.
Heinrich has long lost all humanity and sees humans as mere tools and test dummies at worst. Because of this loss of humanity, Heinrich doesn't even use a human body... but instead inhabits a strange human-sized mannequin doll that stands twelve feet tall (he's hunched over most of the time so he doesn't look that tall). While it may appear feminine, this doll-like body has no face. This body looks like it's made of ceramic, and he walks in ways that make it look like he should fall over. The worst part about this frame is that it hides tools inside its body and has blades hidden in its arms and legs. Whenever he talks, he speaks in a whisper.
Abstraction:
Unknowmn.
Shaquita.Walker
??? | Shaquita Desiree Walker | She/Her"... You present a clear and present danger to our plans."
Description:
The mysterious boogeywoman of the Dollhouse organization and one of their most fearsome, brutal, and cunning members.
She primarily acts as the bodyguard for Dollhouse's leadership, but sometimes she is an assassin or a "repo-woman" for any Abscised that tries to cut and run. It's a mystery where she came from, but she is effective, and she has killed everyone who has had the displeasure of being on the opposing end of her pistol. While Shaquita is silent, when she does speak, she speaks with a lack of affect and is to the point. Not just that, she is very intelligent, occasionally participating in Dollhouse's planning. While she is a mystery, she is interested in the Sycamore Tree Coven and has done extensive research into them and can name every member by name - not that she would let that slip. Shaquita is a tall, well-built African-American woman who stands at six-three and typically has a scowl.
Abstraction:
Unknown. She is strangely immune to psychic intrusion.
Ezekial
It's Complicated | Ezekial, just Ezekial | He/Him"A flower represents a lot, you know."
Description:
One of Dollhouse's top members and arguably one of their most potent.
Ezekial's early life is... strange. He wakes up in a destroyed warehouse with "Ezekial" written on his hand and a hunger like no other. He figured that was his name, but he had no other memories. This place he woke up in was a mystery because there was no life there as far as he could travel, just the aftermath of something - a war, maybe one of the Calamities. After aimlessly wandering around, hungry, he just coincidentally came across an open portal, and seeing nothing here, he threw himself through it. That was where he finally encountered other people!
And what he was hungry for.
Ezekial discovered his Abstraction had something to do with consuming souls, and by devouring souls, he powered various abilities - one of which was dimensional travel. Thus, Ezekial traveled throughout the All-Verse, searching for a purpose and his origins while consuming souls. Eventually, Ezekiel found someone who could help him: Sunshine Jones. She tempted him to join the Inner Circle, and with their resources, they discovered his origins; he started in a universe known as Shade as a person named Marcella Marrou. Marcella was an Adept who used Black Lux, and she went around shade-sealing Apparitions and keeping the universe safe.
That was until one of the many multiversal threats out there showed up and went on a rampage. This one in particular was Mr. Death, an Apparition that feasted on souls on a large scale. He wiped out Shade on a large scale, but Marcelle didn't give up; she gathered a coalition - some from other worlds - and waged a desperate final stand against the Apparition. They got thoroughly trounced, but Marcella had one final, desperate trump card, an ultimate spell that would only be saved for emergencies.
Sealing the Apparition inside of herself.
The spell worked, but it didn't go exactly as planned... you see, instead of sealing the Apparition inside of herself, she accidentally caused a merge of herself and the Apparition. This merge caused the death of the previous two lives and created an entirely new being: Ezekial. He had no clue why that name was written on his hand, but it's his name now, and Ezekial worked with the Inner Circle, becoming one of their top members... Until James Vanburen and the Accordance began their annoying crusade against them all. Ezekial started to see the writing on the wall; his time in Inner-Cirle had ended, and if he stuck around, it would not end well for him. So, Ezekial did the unthinkable.
He went into the Void.
In his head, it was the one place where the Accordance would not dare enter for their safety, so it was the perfect place to hide out. Ezekial desperately consumed as many souls as he could and then used them to tear open a portal into the Void, where he hid for a while. He avoided the Eldritch Abominations and other spooky beings that inhabited the Void, but his plan hit a stag when he realized there were no souls to consume. He required souls to tear open a portal back into reality; thus, he was stuck out there to perish and fade away slowly.
Until a member of Dollhouse fished him out when he was in his death throes. They recognized him as one of Sunshine's inner circle members who went to Dollhouse and inducted him into the organization. There, he acts as a flex role between the assassin, kidnapper, saboteur, and other deceptive roles - though he's often sent to different dimensions to find artifacts for them. Ezekial is a very flamboyant, somewhat short man who stands at five-seven and usually carries a flower. He speaks in a low tone, and you'd be surprised to catch him shouting.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Tanya.Malcom
31 | Tanya Liberty Malcom | She/Her"I got a letter for ya', signed with love, ya' bombaclot!"
Description:
A mysterious woman disappears in the streets of St. Portwell as fast as she appears. Tanya is a short woman who stands at five-one and is Jamaican by ethnicity. She speaks with a thick Jamaican accent and speaks so fast and loudly that it's sometimes hard to understand Tanya. Despite her short height, she makes up for it with a presence that outweighs mob bosses and carries herself with cool confidence. However, Tanya's place in the city of St. Portwell is strange because she acts as a courier, a sort of mailwoman. She appears, drops letters off to people of interest, and disappears. Usually, these people are the leaders of the various Paranormal factions and certain other members. Tanya acts as a letter girl who delivers messages between these people and whoever she reports to. Some may note that she used to operate out of Miami.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Stephany.Moore
34 | Stephany Christina Moore | She/Her"I uncover the secrets that others cannot see, and in those secrets, I find my true purpose."
Description:
A crucial member of Dollhouse's business side: Stephany is Dollhouse's Appraiser.
Stephany is a native of Miami, Florida, and didn't have a fascinating life at first. Sure, she was upper-middle class (By Miami's standards), but her father ran a reasonably popular restaurant while her mother stayed home. She had many friends who loved exploring and having fun, though sometimes they liked exploring the Everglades. However, one hike went slightly south when an Alligator-Abominable attacked them, they escaped but the event triggered a Kindling-Event in all of them. These new powers opened a new purpose for the girls... and they loved nature and the Everglades like no other! After becoming familiar with magic, they covered the different factions within the city of Miami and the supernatural chaos it was in.
They decided to form their own: The Everglades Wardens, a Coven dedicated to protecting the Everglades' ecosystem from magical malfeasance. Together, they sealed any hostile Apparitions that roamed the Everglades, relocated any Abominable to other dimensions, decreed that no Paranormal was allowed, and warded them off if they entered. For Stephany, it was the time of her life! It was a time of belonging, fun, and adventure! Even though she wasn't a fighter, she discovered her affinity for learning about the Paranormal and devised many spells that assisted their Coven. She had a talent for it and wasn't going to squander it.
However, the Everglades Wardens began to drift apart before her very eyes! She tried to keep them together, but they had other obligations and responsibilities, and Stephany felt lost. However, Stephany drifted around to see if someone could fill that niche... but Dollhouse opened a new niche for her. Dollhouse knew her unique talents (because they had a spy in the Everglades Wardens all along) and offered her a position to be their Appraiser for when they were sold or selling artifacts or Apparitions. She was hesitant initially, but Dollhouse ensured that all of their employees were well-paid, and Stephany couldn't resist making some money. Over time, she learned how messed up the organization was but didn't care as long as money remained in her pocket.
Naturally, Stephany went with them to St. Portwell when they moved. She remains as out of place as possible in the organization, being a chubby, bubbly woman with glasses and blonde hair.
Abstraction: Adept - White Lux. Channeler: A Feather Quill.
Artifact Lore: When Stephany touches an artifact and utters an incantation, she is instantly flooded with comprehensive knowledge about the item. This spell reveals its name, origin, creator, and detailed descriptions of its magical properties. Additionally, Stephany gains a brief history of the artifact, highlighting significant events and notable previous owners. The knowledge she acquires is vivid and precise, enabling her to understand the artifact's full potential and the context of its existence.
Apparition Insight: By muttering a specific incantation, Stephany can focus on an Apparition, whether it is sealed or free, and be flooded with knowledge about it. This spell allows her to learn the Apparition's history, name, and Abstraction. Furthermore, through this connection, Stephany can understand the Apparition's intentions and emotions, gaining insight into its nature and motivations.
The Blueprint: Casting this spell enables Stephany to create a detailed visual map of an artifact’s internal structure and enchantments. The spell reveals the internal workings of its magical components, illustrating how they interact and exposing hidden features. This blueprint manifests as a glowing holographic image, allowing Stephany to study the artifact in great detail.
The Archive: By casting this spell, Stephany gains access to a magical archive containing comprehensive information about all known Apparitions and artifacts. This vast knowledge repository provides detailed historical records, descriptions of mystical properties, and known interactions with any entity or item she encounters. The archive updates in real-time, ensuring that Stephany always has the most current and accurate information.
Adaobi.Okeke
38 | Adaobi Okeke | She/Her"Transform the impossible to the possible..."
Description:
Adaobi Okeke grew up in Eziama, Nigeria, where she was fascinated by tales of spirits and otherworldly beings from a young age, often delving into local folklore and traditions. Her life took a dramatic turn when she inherited a powerful Apparition passed down through her family for generations, known as "The Witch Doctor." It gave her access to a unique abstraction which allowed her to manipulate other Apparitions physically. Initially, Adaobi struggled with this newfound power, unsure how to control or understand it. She spent years learning to harness her abilities, seeking out shamans, healers, and spiritual guides across Nigeria and Africa for guidance.
Adaobi's journey eventually led her to the bustling city of Lagos, where she began using her powers to help those plagued by Apparitions. Her reputation grew, attracting the attention of various magical and criminal entities. Recognizing the need for a broader understanding and more significant challenges, Adaobi decided to leave Nigeria and explore the world. Her travels took her across Africa and eventually to Europe, where she encountered many supernatural phenomena and further honed her skills.
Her path finally led her to Miami, a city teeming with both the criminal and magical. Here, she caught the eye of Dollhouse, who was impressed by her unique abilities. Dollhouse recruited her, and Adaobi quickly rose through their ranks due to her exceptional talent in manipulating Apparitions. Within Dollhouse, she found a place where her skills were valued and essential to their operations. As one of Dollhouse's most crucial members, Adaobi took on the role of head "Programmer." Adaobi's appearance is unique because when she was Adjoined to the Witch-Doctor, various white symbols appeared on her skin, such as tattoos. Other than that, Adaobi speaks with a thick Nigerian accent and stands at five-six, which is relatively fit due to eating well.
The Vulture is one of the Three Calamities, formidable beings of destruction that roam the All-Verse, leaving devastation in their wake. The Vulture is a nightmarish fusion of bird and beast, with colossal wings that blot out the sun, feathers like dark steel, and glowing eyes. Its body is a grotesque abomination of skeletal remains and decayed flesh, perpetually decaying and renewing. Its shadow brings a sense of dread as it soars from dimension to dimension. It is drawn to places steeped in death, from ancient battlefields to mass graves, where it feeds on the energy of the deceased and grows even more powerful. The Vulture's passage is marked by a resurgence of the dead, who claw their way out of the earth to serve their new master.
Abstraction: Abominable - Deathstorm.
The Vulture's Abstraction grants it unparalleled control over death and decay. With each beat of its colossal wings, the Vulture summons winds that carry necrotic energy that reanimates corpses, transforming them into twisted, degraded versions of their former selves. The resurrected dead are not mere shambling zombies; they are imbued with necrotic energy that enhances their strength and ferocity, making them formidable opponents. If a Paranormal-Being is resurrected, they retain the ability to use their Abstraction, adding to the Vulture's already immense power. The Vulture’s power to raise the dead is not confined by time. It can call forth those who perished centuries ago and the recently deceased, drawing them from their graves and into its service. This resurrection has no known limit, allowing the Vulture to amass vast armies of the undead wherever it goes.
The Vulture can sense the presence of death across dimensions and draws it to areas where death is most prevalent, such as ancient battlefields, mass graves, or disaster sites. Wherever there is death, the Vulture follows, ensuring it is never without a supply of corpses to reanimate. In addition, its colossal wings, made of feathers like steel, allow it to soar through the skies with incredible speed and agility. These wings are not just for flight; with a mighty flap, the Vulture can generate destructive waves of air, capable of toppling buildings and tearing through the most formidable defenses. These air blasts are imbued with the same necrotic energy that fuels its resurrection winds, causing anything they touch to decay and reanimate any dead within its path.
Despite the Vulture's potent necromancy, its physical capabilities are as equally frightening. Its body is solid and durable, a grotesque amalgamation of skeletal remains and decayed flesh. It can withstand immense damage, shrugging off all but the most potent Paranormal attacks. Furthermore, the Vulture can teleport between dimensions, spreading its influence across the All-Verse.
Goro.Hatanaka
28 | Hatanaka Goro | He/Him"We can change the world by reaching out and connecting to others, even people we personally dislike."
Description:
The embodiment of everything the Hatanakas stood for: honorable, courageous, adventurous, generous, and protective of everyone he loved. He is also seen as the gold standard in the Old Coven.
The older brother of Yoko Hatanaka, Goro was, like Yoko, born in Shirakawa-Go, and his early life was marked by books, studying, and learning how to become the next patriarch of the Hatanaka Family. From a young age, he showed wisdom beyond his years and potential like no other, and his parents put their utmost faith in Goro by getting him the best education they could afford. Though the boy knew there was more to the Hatanakas than just being old money, those old books they kept locked away in the basement told different things. After digging through them, Goro learned about the world of magic and could only feel wonder. He read about the adventures the Hatanakas went on and what they were capable of - where others would see it as tales of fantasy; Goro knew that all the information lined up.
Naturally, the boy kept this to himself but looked at his home village in a new light. However, one night changed everything for Goro; he found himself facing one of the beings in his books: a Yokai. He got thoroughly trounced and almost killed, and this event unlocked a new potential in Goro: his Kindling-Event. He got to talk to his ancestors, who went on all those journeys, made all those weapons, and saved their world so many times. It renewed him with a new sense of purpose... even though the Yokai was still kicking his ass. However, he was saved by a girl with a magical ōdachi, who introduced herself as one of the Spirit Wardens that protected Japan: Akira Shinjo, and then the two parted ways.
Afterward, Goro returned to those books and read so much about one place: The Hatanaka Sanctuary. He found the gate, but unfortunately, he couldn't find any way to get in, so he had to go to America to meet with his grandfather, who taught him how to get in. After Goro got in, he found a place of wonder and amazement, his private universe, and entered the castle. Goro found the remaining Hatanaka spellbooks and vigorously studied them, learning all the spells he could. It was easy for him, more accessible than most, as he learned the three cornerstones of the Hatanaka Spellbook: Ritual, Armandant, and Weaponmaster.
Goro returned to his grandfather, who was amazed he learned about all of this as a teenager; he called Goro a prodigy. Goro would need to use these spells to their fullest potential when the Stygian Snake attacked St. Portwell. One of the Yokai's minions almost killed Yoko, but he saved her with one of the blades he created and joined the Sycamore Tree Coven. He was one of the influential members of the Old Coven, who used his talent with Orange Lux to boost the Abstractions of heavy hitters like Trinity and create artifacts and weapons for the Coven to use. In between that, he was managing his crazy sister and trying to temper her ego and rage and stop her from causing too much trouble in the Old Coven. During this time, Goro got close to several members of the Old Coven, such as the Blackmore siblings, Kenshiro Murakin, Stormy Carson, Jack Hawthorn, Britney Williams, Kari Wilson, Jinhai Han, Sloane Faris, and so forth.
The Stygian Snake was defeated, and Goro mourned all who were lost, but their time in America ended, and Goro and Yoko were sent back to Japan. This created a new sense of purpose in Goro, who returned to the Old Coven for a bit before its eventual dissolution. However, Goro knew that unlocking the true potential in magic required one to connect to others and learn from them. When he graduated, he attended university in St. Portwell to be close to the magic and his Old Coven members. He collaborated a lot with the lots of Kenshiro Murakin and Kari Wilson to create several different artifacts. Though he was initially disappointed in his sister for turning her back on magic, she eventually came around, and he trained her in all that he had learned.
However, their Grandfather was on his deathbed, and his dying wish was to find their family's missing artifacts and reinvigorate the Hatanaka Legacy. Goro knew he was up to the task, but his rambunctious sister wanted to come along, and while he would have loved for her to come along, she just wasn't ready. He told her to train more in the Hatanaka Sanctuary, then set off. He kept in touch and returned constantly to help Yoko with her training...
... Until he went missing while chasing after the Aberration Killer in New York.
Abstraction: Adept - Orange-Lux. Channeler:
Ritual: Goro's mastery of Ritual Discipline centers on channeling Orange Lux through ancient rituals steeped in profound symbolism and spiritual connection. Using Soul's Radiance, he enhances allies' Abstractions with kanji-inscribed stones, boosting their strength. Song of the Heart fortifies Emotional-Fields against magical influences. Fortitude of Spirit reinforces and shields allies from emotional and mental manipulations. Harmony of Ascendance links participants to empower a chosen individual while temporarily dampening others' abilities. Spirit Ward enables Goro to imbue locations with barriers that prevent Apparitions and Apparition-based Aberrations from entering.
Armantant Goro enhances mundane objects with formidable magical abilities through precise Orange Lux manipulation. Sharpness imbues objects with supernatural cutting prowess, glowing with Orange Lux to slice effortlessly through materials. Armor-piercing grants objects the ability to breach magical defenses temporarily. Hardening reinforces objects with unparalleled durability and offensive strength. Extend magically elongates objects. Impact magnifies objects' kinetic force. Absorption converts incoming magical energy into stored power within objects and can be released as an explosion. Parry erects temporary defensive barriers that deflect physical attacks. Flash grants Goro brief bursts of incredible speed to deliver devastating strikes. Swift temporarily boosts his speed and reflexes for agile combat maneuvers. Disruption imbues objects with the ability to disable the effects of any artifact they strike temporarily. Awaken amplifies the magical properties of any artifact Goro holds.
Weaponmaster: Goro's Weaponmaster Discipline transcends traditional enchantment, harnessing collaborative magic with other Paranormals to empower objects. Through rituals and ancestral symbols guided by Orange Lux, Empower enhances weapons and artifacts with versatile magical attributes. Whether imbuing a weapon with elemental fury alongside a Red Lux Adept or granting an artifact truth-revealing abilities with a White Lux Adept.
Mass-Production Goro's Magnum Opus, a spell of profound ingenuity and cunning. Goro channels his Orange Lux into a designated artifact through an intricate ritual and replicates these attributes across multiple other objects. Each object imbued with this spell inherits a diminished version of the Artifact's original enchantment.
Britney woke up in her bed; Greyson was beside her like normal after their ‘fun’ a few nights ago, she felt he should be promoted to the bed at the very least. It was cruel to make him sleep in the bed like some bum, after all. Yesterday, she met with Lila, then she met with Stormy, Adora, Amara, and Jack, and then after that, she met with Lynette (in which Amara displayed all the reasons why she gave Britney very bad vibes). It was exhausting navigating their problems, complexities, and the fact that she had to walk on eggshells - which was her fault; she wouldn’t dance around that. Yet, all that was on Britney’s mind was what Kenshiro said at Kari’s house…
"... The Paths are secure: Master Kai's Wardenry was perfected in The Viscous, and he had thousands of equivalent years to perfect their security... Noone outside the Palette Clans have knowledge of their workings. By my estimation, looking at her Coin Collection, there were no broken knots or undone ties, meaning they've remained bundled and nobody found them in the freezer. If she had any sort of hand in this, she was either brainwashed, or forced! But if 8th Street was breathing down her neck, then Emily G. Reed is the first fucking person I'm interested in seeing. Because I already...-"
While Britney admitted that what came afterward was something she didn’t like one bit - and it was something that she could have handled much, much (... You trying to lowkey - but not lowkey - put the blame on whatever you think happened to Kari, on me, Kenshiro? Because you do realize that, considering her abstraction and the pattern in the murders, she is more than likely to be Father Wolf, right? Right?), better. She got defensive when she should have just let Kenshiro and Clancy run their mouths and not give them the time of day. Yet, there was one crucial factor here - one that probably went flying over the heads of everyone present except for Britney. One important thing in Kenshiro’s rant that kept looping through Britney’s head:
"If she had any sort of hand in this, she was either brainwashed or forced."
It was clear Kenshiro didn't trust her, and while she didn't particularly care for his opinion, the implication was clear: if Kari was involved, it wasn't her own volition. But who had that kind of power? And why? She replayed the conversation again in, dissecting every word. Before Britney just sighed and gently grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand, she sent Auri a quick good morning text before asking for Kenshiro's number. A few moments later, she received his number, and her finger hovered over the call button for a few moments. Before she gently slid out of bed and walked down the hallway... then hit call.
”Kenshiro? Heeeey! It's Britney,” Britney tried to say in a chipper tone. ”Can we talk?”
Kenshiro hadn’t been terribly thrilled about a call from Britney Williams, but he wasn’t about to let that get in the way of Coven business. The same situation affected the both of them, so there was little time to bicker back and forth when work had to be done. Like most meetings, neutral ground with Blind witnesses proved to be the most intelligent venue, so Ken wound up wearing some more “typical” Shimmer clothing. Sweatpants and a sweater, which easily hid his jingling and rustling tactical vest full of spell materials in case the worst happened.
Still the wooden sandals, however… And as he clacked his way down one of the Coastal Harbor Mall’s thoroughfare, he kept an eye out for the face he recognized. Though, he got two faces. Ken mostly remembered Greyson Devola as a blank face; many told him and advised him to stay away, as he was involved in some sort of criminal element here in America. But Ken was used to Tennogama, well known as the Emperor of Dirt in their histories for his early life spent as an underworld clan boss.
Pleasantries were exchanged, but it only took them getting to a slightly more private spot before it was down to business. And it was already frustrating, given the topic.
”Look, I know I got defensive back there, and you're right to feel the way you do,” Britney began. ”But, I wanted to discuss the nature of the security you placed on Kari's vault... I just can't get what you said about Kari being brainwashed or something out of my head.”
While Greyson munched away on a soft pretzel, Ken’s sour face turned away and he cleared his throat in nervousness. "W-well… If you must know, I have it on good authority that the chances of Kari being alive are high. So, it’ll just be a matter of finding her. Which means, yes… Mind control. What of our School’s masterwork concerns you in its security features?”
Greyson laughed in his seat, dipping the pretzel into some cheese. ”Holy fuck, you could knock the wind out of an air balloon with syntax like that.”
”Cut it out, Greyson,” Britney laughed, giving him a playful slap on his thigh. Before she put her hands together on the table and looked Kenshiro head on, ”I’m not going to give a thousand theories on what happened to Kari because we’ll be here all day - what I do want to know is exactly how it works. I know you’re confident in it, but, you know...”
Britney shrugged, eyes drifting to the side. ”... Infinite possibilities, and all.”
"I have been considering that…” Ken definitely didn’t look like he wanted to be having this conversation, but ultimately it was Coven business. It had to be discussed. But, he wasn’t going to let Britney Williams have information for free. Not after what he’d learned from Kari. "But, frankly, you’re the last person who I want to go over my business with… We weren’t particularly close during our time together all those years ago; and back then, I didn’t have any inclination as to what you were doing. Didn’t hear anything until after I came back a few years ago.”
Pausing, his hand slipped down into his sweater pocket and lightly brushed against the Emperor’s Tanto, only to grab his water bottle for a drink instead. It made a gentle squealing noise as he chugged away, water replaced in the bottle by air. Greyson’s eyes narrowed, and he cleared his throat. ”Frog in your throat, Ken?”
Ken shook his head in reply. "No, just good sense.” He took another small tug of water, head turning back to Britney. "You hurt a lot of people, Britney. And I don’t think I’ve heard a single person suggest that you could have something to do with what’s been happening.”
Greyson slowly released the last bit of pretzel he had, sliding the paper wrapping and the little cup of cheese wiz on the table they were sitting at. ”Now, I didn’t hear you accuse anyone just now, right?” he asked in a suddenly serious tone.
”Now, hold on,” Britney put her hands up as she leaned back in her chair. ”What do you mean by that, Kenshiro?” Britney raised an eyebrow.
"I merely suggest-” Ken began, his face unflinching under the scrutiny of the duo. "-that you have a great many enemies. People who, a decade ago, may’ve been friends that you took advantage of. Lots of pain spread out unevenly across the board… Someone looking for revenge, because not enough was done to help them.”
Throwing his hands up into a lazy shrug, Ken flicked his fingers and tilted back in his chair. It hovered motionlessly as he sat in it, then started to rock gently. "I’m not saying you’re taking your plants and going around playing Father Wolf… But if we get through this and find out our killer is one of your victims, I won’t be shocked. Does that make any sort of sense?” he cooly asked.
”Oh, yo, fuck this guy, Brit. Come on, don’t fucking humor that shit.” Greyson snarled, throwing up his hand dismissively.
”Yeah, you know what? Forget I asked,” Britney rolled her eyes. ”Let’s circle back to why I even hit you up in the first place: I just want to know the details of the lock. There could have been something you missed, that’s all.”
Kenshiro smiled, giggled, and tilted his head back. "It’s a dark fucking forest… You know? Like, the realm it all exists in is just a great, long set of tunnels between the walls of realities. Something savvy enough, smart enough, or strong enough to claw through reality from a different point could potentially travel outside the beaten path and find the caches. Mine was fairly rudimentary, otherwise unprotected. I hadn’t considered it at the time, because I saw no sign of damage to the structure.”
He had untitled his chair, slapping back down and looking at the both of them. "But I travel through the Hidden Pathways constantly; never once have I found any sort of disturbance from outside or inside. It’s just a bamboo forest. Thick, like, to the point where it’s solid. Some people think it's a bamboo dimension, but I don’t know myself.”
”So, Kenshiro,” Britney began. ”Do you think it’s possible someone ‘smart enough’ could have popped the lock without you noticing or leaving a mark?”
Kenshiro's lips curled inward as his face grew disappointed. "No, I figured I would just waste your time talking…” he responded, one hand making a questioning gesture.
”Sarcasm too? Dude, be happy I'm not-” Greyson glanced at Britney, then took a deep breath and stopped while he still had air around his head. ”W-whatever… Are you serious or not?”
Ken grinned. ”Yes, Greyson… I'm very serious. I saw no damage or disturbances, and my initial summation was that it was untouched. But I'm not a smart man. I've placed a great deal of faith throughout my life in methods created by someone who… I have questionable faith toward now.”
”So, in other words, there is a possibility that someone else could have broken in,” Britney said with a nod of her head. ”It isn’t much to go off of, but it’s now fifty-fifty on whether or not it could be Kari that popped it. Though, we’re going to drive ourselves crazy with the whole ‘is Kari Father Wolf or not’ conversation.”
She sighed. ”And if you don’t mind me asking, who created the seals? And don’t worry, I ain’t got nothing but time today!” She laughed, looking at Edict. ”... Well, not sure about him, though.” ”You know damn well I’m on your time, Girl.” Greyson grinned, gently tapping her arm with the back of his hand before scooping up the last bit of pretzel.
Kenshiro shook his head and smiled. ”Who created the concepts, or who put them there in the first place? The former is an ancient Sage called Kai of the Ten Paths. He was lost in a realm called Viscous for many thousands of years, and it’s said that he perfected mastery over all ten colors of Lux, and when he was done, he opened a hole into the Hidden Path, which he carved through himself to create the interdimensional gateways that we of the Palette Clans use to this day…” His finger had been skirting across the table, leaving a glowing purple and gold trail that luminesced and faded away in an instant.
”But, the latter was me. I put the seals on the wall, made the connection, built the hidden coin slot and the wall scroll that I had plastered to the wall with my own energy. And it wasn’t tampered with.”
”So, again, it can go either way, and we’re just gonna waste our time coming up with conspiracy theories,” Britney laughed before she stopped to roll her eyes. ”So, do you know what exactly is in those notes? An idea? I’m not sure why we should even care that the notes were taken in the first place unless Kari was already in some deep shit.”
Kenshiro shook his head with a frown. ”She was doing a lot of trans-dimensional research. I don’t know why, but certain realms I was in that were more affected by the Stygian Snake were ones that she would… Pay attention to me more? I could feel her watching. Hard not to, like a warm hug.” His eyes narrowed. ”I can only assume her work was important. She’s been in demand from the groups around the city for quite some time now.”
”I mean…” Britney then awkwardly laughed, putting her hands together on the table. ”... It’s not hard to see why. Information is power, more power than everyone in the Coven combined.” She paused for a moment.
”Just the Stygian Snake? What about the other multiversal threats flying around like the Floral Wreath?”
He shrugged again, shaking his head. ”Nothing’s been heavier than that… But I also can’t say for sure because I-” his voice wavered, got a bit smaller, and he turned his head. ”-don’t, really, know what the Floral Wreath’s influence looks like. I mean I can assume, but I’ve seen hundreds of planar jungles.”
”Well, the Floral Wreath looks like a plant-zombie-apocalypse,” Britney explained. ”... Did you know if Kari was smart enough to cipher it all?”
Ken’s confusion turned to gentle fondness. He thought about all the times he came back to Kari waiting for him, knowing he was on his way home, and seeing her buried in some notebook. ”I think she’s smart enough to do anything she puts her mind to…”
Britney nodded her head.
”I think that answers all of my questions, Kenshiro,” Britney said as she climbed up to her feet, and gently grabbed Edict’s hand. ”Thank you for your time… let’s go Greyson.”
She led Greyson out of the mall…. When they received a particular text from Auri.
The Greenwood Coven.
Interactions: None.
The Coastal Harbor Mall.
Aislin strutted around her apartment, phone pressed to her ear as a devious smile spread across her face.
It connected.
“Heyyy, Adora. You free? I got a coupon for free shakes at the mall - you wanna come with?”
”… Sure thing, Aislin,” Adora answered. ”I’m not doing anything right now… I’ll be there in an hour.”
An hour came and went, and Aislin found herself standing in front of the Shake Shack at St. Portwell’s Coastal Harbor mall. She was dressed in a black hoodie and rainbow leggings, sneakers scuffing against the polished floor. In her hands were two shakes, one she was contently sipping on, waiting for Adora to meet her at the designated spot.
”... Hey there,” Adora said as she walked up, wearing an orange hoodie (which she had her hands tucked into the pockets of), sweatpants, a matching facemask and some running shoes. She pulled a hand out of her pocket pointed at the shakes,
”... That's the only one you drunk out of, right?” Adora laughed, her smile hidden behind her face mask. ”... I don't think we that close, ha.”
Aislin laughed, shaking her head. “Nah, nah, I would never, you only get the best. Untouched!”
She held out the other shake, grinning, “I hope you like vanilla.”
”Wow, I feel like you’re calling me basic,” Adora laughed, as she took the shake and pulled her facemask down.
“What? Noo!”
As Aislin sipped on her own shake, she pointed to an outlet down the hall, past the rushing bodies. “I heard Suncore’s got some new games and vinyls in, wanna check them out?”
Unbeknownst to them, there was a grey figure casually leaned up against the railing of the second floor, watching them from above. They had a grey hoodie on, cap and hood pulled over to obscure their face. But if anyone would look closely, they’d realize it was none other than Luna, sneaking around as usual.
Adora shrugged.
”Sure. Lead the way, sis,” She responded.
Aislin gleefully tugged on Adora’s sleeve as they headed into Suncore. Keeping up with the hype of digital downloads, Suncore tried to keep customers coming back with their wide variety of exclusive vinyls, physical copies of games, and merchandise. Lots of merchandise.
Aislin hopped over to the vinyls section, sucking on her shake until her eyes widened. Pulling out a vinyl of one of Erykah Badu’s albums, Mama’s Gun, she held it up for Adora to look at. “Hey? Isn’t this that band you used to like?”
Luna’s grey figure was half hidden behind the mountain of plushies, pretending to examine them oh-so carefully.
Adora chuckled, ”... Erykah Badu ain't a band, she’s a singer!” She grabbed the vinyl, then presented it to Aislin. ”... This album is a classic! Dunno if it's your thing, lots of funk!”
Aislin smirked, “If you think it’s that cool it’d be a crime if I didn’t at least check it out, riiight?”
Two people walked up to them, and it took Adora a second to recognize them.
“... OOOOH SHIT!” James Carmicheal loudly said. He walked up, wearing a matching black Nike hoodie, sweatpants, and Air Force 1’s. He had on a black backpack with the Nike swoosh.
“... James, don’t be so loud,” Naomi said with a roll of her eyes. She was wearing a black romper with a leather jacket over it and some combat boots.
“Oh my bad,” James grinned. “... ooooooh shit.” He whispered, only to get another eye roll from Naomi. He looked at Adora and said, “You’re the one who beat the breaks off that girl at the Halloween Festival!”
Aislin’s jaw dropped a bit as her head tilted.
Adora shuffled in her feet, grabbing her arm. ”... Yeah, don’t mention that.”
“Say less, say less,” James said, “We were hoping to get your number so we can link again sometime, but uh…”
“... Duty calls,” Naomi chimed in.
“Who’s your friend?” James asked.
”... Oh, this is my good friend, Aislin,” Adora answered.
Aislin coughed a bit before she shot a smirk towards Adora.
“You dont think I'd recognize my new friends?”
She warmly extended a hand out to James and Naomi. ”Good to see you two again.”
But then she paused, a lightbulb going on in her head as she side-eyed Adora. ”So thats's why you were covered in blood…”
”... We’re not talking about it!” Adora raised her voice, awkwardly smiling.
“Yeah, I definitely remembered you!” James laughed before getting an elbow from Naomi.
“It's great to see you again, sis,”
A phone had been half propped up by a huge duck plushie as Luna discreetly snapped photo after photo of an interaction between Sycamore and Greenwood.
”Small world, ain't it?” Adora said before she took a sip of her shake.
“We just run into Sycamore everywhere we go! Sycamore! Sycamore! Sycamore,” James laughed.
“How are ya’ll doing?” Naomi smiled, “Have Jack talked with ya’ll, yet?”
“Doing alright. Had a, well, run in with 8th Street, but we’re alright.” Aislin admitted, before her head turned in the direction of Naomi. “Jack? No, not that I think so, nothing special. Why? What’s up?”
Naomi shrugged, “We briefly spoke of an alliance between Greenwood and Sycamore. He said he would bring it up to ya’ll, but it sounds like he didn't get a chance.” She laughed.
Aislin stared for a moment before her eyes grew to the size of saucers, and she sucked in a gasp.
“Noooo waaaay… You mean I'll get to be friends with you guys twice over!?”
She did a little happy dance on the spot, shake swishing in her hands, and Adora just broke out laughing.
“I didn't think this day could get any better! Have you talked with Auri about it yet?” Aislin said.
Naomi shook her head, but couldn’t help but smile.
“I gave Jackaboy my number,” Naomi shrugged. “He hit me up every now and then to touch bases, but that’s it. We haven’t talked to Auri yet. We would like to because of our alliance with the 317. We could have like a whole ass triumvirate!”
“Love it when you use big words,” James grinned, putting a hand on her shoulder.
”I mean,” Adora shrugged. ”Jack mentioned it last night, but the issue is that the Coven is a bit…”
She awkwardly laughed. ”... Disorganized. I mean some people are trying to organize it, but, um, heh…” She laughed.
”... It’s a bit of a lost cause.”
“I mean,” Naomi shrugged. “How bad can it be? You don’t have a goofball like Ruby as a leader.”
”... Auri’s a giant goofball,” Adora’s face went flat. ”I wouldn’t trust her with my life.”
“No worse than Ruby.” Naomi shrugged again. “She shows up to half our fights drunk.”
“Auri may be a bit late on the catch, but she cares about us,” Aislin smiled softly at Adora. “Leadership that cares is always a good thing, though I do totally agree on the whole uh, getting a bit more organized thing.”
Aislin turned to Naomi, speaking up after a sip of her shake. “We should totally talk to Auri about this! Banding together now is such a great idea.” Before Aislin grew a little self-conscious. “I dunno if Auri will listen to me, though…”
Her gaze flicked to Adora. “Who would Auri listen to the best…?”
”Beats me,” Adora shrugged. ”Maybe Amara?”
“I mean, we can just hit her up - ya’ll dying and now ain’t the time to play games,” Naomi shrugged. “Ruby wants a big sit down between the two of us anyway before we decide on anything.”
”Yeah, why wouldn’t she listen to you? Did you piss you off little miss sunshine?” Adora turned to Aislin and laughed.
Aislin smiled, feeling bolstered up from Adora’s comment. “Aha, I didn’t make Auri made, I don’t make anyone mad- at least,I don’t think so.”
She turned back to Naomi, “Well, the sooner the better, I think. Maybe I’ll even talk with Faith and the rest of the 317 about alliance with the Sycamore - can’t hurt, right?”
The muffled thunk of a hard-nosed plushie meeting the ground, caused Aislin to turn her head, catching a glimpse of someone ducking down behind the mountain of merchandise.
“Uhh… guys? I think we’re being watched.”
”Shit…” Adora said under her breath.
Naomi smiled awkwardly before she asked.
“... Where they at?”
Aislin pointed to the duck plushie display, “Uh, pretty sure they’re behind that.”
Meanwhile, Luna was sweating, crouched, back pressed against the wooden display, phone squeezed in her hand and eyes to the door. She still had a chance to run…
“Sweet Jesus… Why did you point?!” Naomi shook her head before her glowing webs appeared on the floor in front of Luna. Creating a net that would catch her if she wasn’t paying attention.
“Sorry, sorry.” Aislin said sheepishly, one palm waving frantically.
“Shit-” Luna gritted her teeth, her gaze on the webs at the last minute. She dove to the side, wings giving her a boost, in an effort to dodge the webs and make it to the door. Thus, Naomi gave both of her hands a wave, as she created a wide net of webs to block Luna in.
And Luna ran right into the webbing, her momentum unfortunately making it much, much harder to dodge the wall of webs. She crashed to the floor, her momentum halted, wings getting tangled up in the webbing. She immediately formed a white knife in her hands, attempting to hack away at the webs, whilst pressing another hand to her hood, trying to keep her identity hidden. The knife got stuck in the webs.
Coming from the floors and ceiling were more webs, intending to bind Luna.
“... One of ya’lls, help out!” Naomi asked as James dropped his backpack and pulled out Shango’s Axe…
Luna tried to reach for a physical knife in her pocket, but found her motion more limited. She stretched against the webbing, ebbing out the knife bit by bit until she had a decent grip on it, pressing the release that flicked the blade out. Tossing it once in the air, she switched her grip so the blade was downward, attempting to cut away at the webs that stuck to her arm-
Before she froze, her sunglass-covered eyes on the axe. The axe. The one Mother had coveted for years before turning her eyes elsewhere… The axe that had the raw power of mother nature…
Aislin had been furiously sucking on her shake, anxious, before she stepped in. Wood from the duck display table bent into ribbons, reaching for Luna's feet and constricting around them. Luna furiously kicked her feet, but to no avail.
Luna cursed under her breath, her wings fizzling out before coming back in full force, temporarily freed from the webs. She flew hard, wings flapping furiously as she tried with all her might to break free, eyes on the door.
Naomi waved her hands, creating more webs - but James grabbed her arm and said,
“Slow your roll!” James said, holding the axe with a grin on his face.
“But-”
“... Not in here!” James laughed. “I remember when we were discreet!”
Then he leaned in, and whispered something in her ear.
Naomi sighed.
The webs disappeared.
“... After her ass!” James shouted.
Aislin watched James and Naomi's exchange with a slack jaw, then shrugged with a grimace, and released the wood ribbons wrapped around Luna's legs.
Luna didn't bother to look back. With her newfound freedom, she took off, an arc of light with her wings through Suncore's metal detector and down the mall's hall.
Aislin exchanged a bewildered glance with Adora before dashing out the front door of Suncore, “She's getting away!”
“That’s the point!” James laughed as he ran past Aislin with a grin on his face. “Too many eyes in here! You wanna interrogate someone in broad daylight? In front of dozens of people?”
“Fair enough!” Aislin said with a matching grin as she ran.
Naomi quickly bolted past Aislin with speed… while Adora downed as much of the shake as she could before she broke off into a sprint - one that was faster than one could expect.
“Ah, shoulda laid off the donuts-” Aislin said, already feeling somewhat winded, watching the others sprint past her.
Luna only spared a half-glance behind her, watching the group give chase. She gritted her teeth and sailed directly for the front automatic doors of the mall, slowing down for a fraction of a second so they would open, before launching herself into the sky outside.
“Perfect!” James laughed as he quickly picked up speed, forgetting all about subtlety as he glided along the ground after Luna. When he made it outside, he made a finger gun at Luna, before letting off a stream of electricity intended to stun her.
Naomi ran over to his side, followed by Adora. Aislin was a few paces behind Adora, but still running at top speed.
Luna quickly whipped out a white shield, but due to it having no insulating ability, she was quickly overcome by James's electrical attack.
Before getting too high in the air, Luna was stunned, hitting the ground hard and rolling to a stop. Smoke and dust fell off her form as she struggled to move, hood still low over her face.
“F-fuckin’ hell, again…?!” Luna could be heard murmuring, still gripping the knife tightly in her hand as she tried to half-sit up.
Naomi quickly stuck her hand out and let out a net of glowing white webs that would bind Luna. James approached Luna, sticking his hand out, which cracked with electricity. He grinned as he said,
“Drop the knife, sweetheart, and I’m saying that for your own sake because it’s conductive!” He commanded with a laugh. “Tell me, why were you taking pics of us? If you wanted us to model for you, all you had to do was ask! We don’t bite!”
Naomi rolled her eyes before she pulled out her cellphone and sent a quick text message to the Greenwood group chat, letting them know what had happened. “Let’s not do anything hasty! We just want to ask some questions.”
Adora walked up and kneeled behind the back of a car, taking cover as she watched the scene unfold. She pulled out her cell phone and took some pictures of her own. Aislin crouched down beside her, slowly sipping on her shake that had somehow survived the run.
“Not how I pictured our shopping spree to go…”
”... I don’t got money like that, anyway,” Adora shrugged.
Luna twisted in the net to no avail - she was stuck. Her shaded eyes glanced from Naomi to James, weighing her options, before she conceded with a low growl, and dropped the knife.
One could almost hear the wry aloofness in her voice as she spoke, little mouth twisting into a grin.
“You got me all mistaken. I wasn't taking pictures of you. I was just lost.”
“Hmph,” James said, “The way you bolted paints a different story, sis...”
“Who are you, then?” Naomi asked, shooting a strand of web to pull the knife away from Luna. “Maybe this is just a big misunderstanding…”
”I’d be damned if this is a misunderstanding,” Adora said. ”I’m going to send these pictures to Auri, Jack, Amara, and Stormy… and Brit…”
Aislin sucked in a breath, “Don't forget Drake.”
”Maaan, fuck Blackmore.” Adora whispered back at her.
Luna's eyes hovered over to the car Adora and Aislin were hiding behind, eyes tightening. A few seconds past, before she grit her teeth, hanging a bit limper in the web.
“Fuck… fine. Luna Inoue. I… was a Sycamore. Burned a few bridges, and now I spy to feel like I'm a part of the team. Happy?”
”Wait…” Adora trailed off.
“... That’s really strange, you know,” Naomi noted, narrowing her eyes at Luna.
“Yeah! Maybe you should get a hobby, lady!” James laughed, electricity still crackling. “Stalking people ain’t healthy!”
“You know phones exist, sis?”
”Luna Inuoe… Brit told me that she was selling us out to someone….” Adora trailed off, tapping her chin a few times. ”Phantasia… Vorpal. She was gunning for Brit, Jack, Stormy, and Auri for sealing the Void Heart…”
“Sooooooooo….” James trailed off.
“Yeah, ‘sooooooooooo’,” Naomi trailed off, keeping her eyes on Luna. “You’re after-”
”... Why are you spying on us, Luna…?” Adora stepped up, both of her hands in her pockets. She kept her eyes on Luna, absolutely fearless, as she walked a circle around the incapacitated capo. ”Didn’t you also get caught at Kari’s house by Blackmore and Stormy…?”
She narrowed her eyes. ”... Some fuckin’ spy you are.”
“Wow, burnt,” James chuckled.
”So, tell me, you say you’re Sycamore but burned bridges, but also want to ‘feel like you’re apart of the team’...” Adora came to a stop, before she asked, ”... Why don’t you just be part of the team then? All we’re is trying to do is survive, and your mafia is gunning for us. Can’t you see how fucked up that is? How fucked up your logic is?”
There was a long pause as Luna’s eyes locked on Adora, watching her as she made her little circle. Before her gaze dropped to the ethereal webs sticking her in place. There was a hoarseness in her voice.
“Was. Was gunning.” Her fists clenched as she sat there. “House of Cards is already burning. The new boss doesn’t care for Sycamore, for my pet project. No, they have their eyes set elsewhere.”
Luna let out a sick, sad chuckle, looking up at Adora. “So it’s just me. There’s no one else, Adora. Just a sad little spy that hasn’t kicked the habit yet, that absolutely loves those eyes of yours on me.”
“That’s uh, actually kinda weird.” Aislin slowly approached, half-hiding behind Adora as she gazed down at Luna. “Are you… really that lonely? Isn’t this a bit extreme? Why do you want to hurt Auri and the rest?”
Luna’s eyes pinched behind her sunglasses, and she wiggled uncomfortably in the webs. “Ugh. How do you expect me to answer all that, Aislin? I don’t want to hurt anyone. The person who wanted that is… well, she’s dead now.”
Luna sighed, trying to lean forward in the webbings as her gaze locked on Adora. “Listen. I have more evidence to believe 8th Street is hiding something. A lot of your problems, mine too, can be solved by capturing one of their members and interrogating the ever-living shit out of them. They know something, something that we need if we’re going to come out on top of this. And I’m referring to your Father Wolf, not anything else…”
Adora was silent.
”... If you’re talking about 8th jacking Kari’s notes,” Adora paused to roll her eyes. ”We already know.”
She shook her head, ”But, if you got something else; you can share it with me and I can pass it along with the Coven and you can keep it moving. I don't trust you far as I can throw you.”
Luna sighed. “I don't have anything else… yet. But… come on, do I look like a threat to you?”
She gestured with her hands that could still move a bit. “Nothing for old time's sake…? What will it take to convince you I’m on your side?”
Adora was silent.
”... I don't know you, Luna - and I ain’t the sentimental type,” Adora began. ”You should be asking yourself that question… ‘How can I, an open stalker and a traitor, convince Adora Phoenix-Prescott to trust me?’ And don’t act like you didn't have options because you had a lotta them!”
“... I wouldn’t,” Naomi quietly added.
“What did the others say?” James asked Naomi.
She quickly pulled out her phone and said, “Jess, Ruby and Amelia are about to come over.”
Luna tilted her head at Adora. ”I wouldn't have let them hurt you, you know. Your my project, after all.”
At the mention of more coming, she repressed an eye roll. “More Greenwood? Adora, you might as well call Auri, make your alliance while you’re at it.”A spluttered giggle escaped Aislin’s throat, before she covered up for it in a cough. After taking a few breaths to recover, she turned to Adora. “What are we gonna do? We can’t just keep Luna tied up forever…”
Adora was silent before she took a few steps closer to Luna.
”Look. You. I don't know what’s going through your head, but take the hint,” Adora began. ”We want nothing to do with you and your mafia. I will stop you if you try to worm your way back in.”
Adora rolled her eyes as she walked back to Aislin, and said to Naomi, ”Cut her loose.”
“Wait, you sure?” Naomi asked.
”Do it.”
The webs disappeared with a flick of her wrist, but James kept his hand up to Luna.
Adora crossed her arms, ”Now go. Fly away. Stay away from the Coven. We have enough problems as is.”
Luna’s eyes narrowed as she slowly stood back up. “Yeah, yeah, I can take a hint.” Her eyes drifted over to Naomi. “I’ll need my knife back.”
Naomi dropped the knife, then kicked it at Luna.
”Go.” Adora repeated. ”Don’t make me say it again.”
Luna silently picked up her knife, turned, and walked away. She soon blended into the scenery, before she spread her wings and took off, disappearing into the distance.
Aislin watched silently, before exhaling a huge sigh of relief. “Man, every time I wanna have fun…” She shot an apologetic look at Adora. “You handled that amazingly.”
Another sigh, before she eyed Naomi. “Wait.. did you say Ruby is on her way. To like, here?” A ghost of a smile was trying to haunt her lips again.
“Naw,” James said. “To the moon, girl!”
Naomi shook her head, “Ruby, Jess, and Amelia…” Naomi answered before whipping out her phone and saying, “Oh, wait, lemme call them off before they-”
Leaves and winds came and formed a tiny twister that grabbed dust and debris. At it's peak, Amelia, Jess, and Ruby (with her tree branch with charms) appeared some distance away. They walked up with Ruby in the lead.
“... Ya’ll caught a spy, right?” Ruby said to Naomi. “Where is she?”
“Well, ummm…” Naomi shrugged, looking to Adora.
”Hey,” Adora waved her hand as she walked up. ”... It's great to see you again!” “Hey, sis,” Ruby said with a smile. “It’s great to see you again, but we’re… handling business. So, where’s the spy?”
”I told them to cut her loose,” Adora said with a sigh, before looking at Aislin as she said. ”... She was after us, anyway.”
Aislin made a grimace as she glanced back at Adora. “The friggin’ mafia… I don't know why she's so obsessed with us.”
Before she smiled wide, and walked up to Ruby, pulling her hand into a clasp, squeezing to convey her enthusiasm. “My favourite Greenwood is here. Everything will be fine now.” She said, winking at Adora.
”... I hope so,” Adora put a hand on her hip.
“It’s great to see you, too, sis…” Ruby chuckled.
“Awwwwwwwwwww!” Jess shouted, throwing her hands in the air. “I was looking forward to some action! We ain’t get into a single cool-ass fight since VVV!” She snorted, laughing afterwards.
“Sorry for the false alarm!” James said.
“Eh,” Ruby shrugged. “Better a false alarm than an actual situation, I suppose… So, who was that?”
”Some weirdo… Luna Inoue,” Adora explained. ”She works for some mafia, the House of Cards I think they’re called. They got beef with some members of Sycamore...”
“We, uh,” Naomi awkwardly laughed, looking off. “Ran our mouths in front of her.”
“Well, what did ya’ll talk about?” Ruby said, crossing her arms.
“An alliance,” Naomi began. “Between us, and our good friends at Sycamore...”
“Jack hasn’t spoken with ya’ll about it, yet?” Ruby asked.
”Ain’t hear nothing about it, but I don’t think the creepy bastard got a chance too!” Adora laughed.
“Well…” Ruby shrugged. “... Why don’t we just talk about it now? We’re not doing anything, and we have three of the four Maidens with us… Pearl is busy working at her parent’s restaurant right now.”
Aislin’s eyes widened, realization dawning on her. “Wait- here? Now!?” She quickly rummaged through her bag, pulling out her phone, mumbling excitedly to herself. “I-I gotta call Auri. Adora, who else do you think needs to be here?”
”Jack, Stormy, Amara… Brit…” Adora shook her head. ”Whoever don’t sit on they ass.”
Aislin laughed, “Stormy definitely doesn’t, I’ll call them too.”
“Not right here, goofy,” Ruby laughed. “Surely you all have a base or something…”
Aislin half-smirked at Ruby, “Right,” before she tapped her screen impatiently, then pressed the phone to her ear, hoping the call would connect with Auri.
“... Aislin!,” Auri answered. “Hello! How are you?!”
Excitement lit up Aislin’s face. “Heyyy, I’m good. You’re never gonna guess who I’m with.” A quick wink to Ruby before she continued talking on the phone. “I uh, are you free? And is your flower shop free? Greenwood wants to do a little meet ‘n greet.”
Auri was quiet for a moment.
“... I can close down my shop for an hour.” She answered.
“Auri, you’re the best! We’ll head right over!”
As Aislin hung up her phone, she smirked at Adora. “Auri said yes, we even get to use her flower shop.”
Her gaze turned to Ruby, “Let me make a few more calls, then we can head right over.”
Auri Auclair.
The Greenwood Coven.
Leon
Edict
Interactions: None.
Flowers and Canvases.
Jack had been waiting for this to happen, ever since that disaster of a festival. Greenwood was about to show up, and negotiate an alliance with the Sycamore. He teleported in and out of Auri’s flower shop with a few extra folding chairs that he conveniently acquired from an undisclosed location, and sat them out for others to sit. He wasn’t entirely sure just how many of Greenwood’s members would be in attendance, but his encounter with them implied there were a lot of them.
It was late in the evening, enough that Auri had been able to close up shop after most people were off the streets. No blinds would see a huge group of people, one of which waved an axe around, walking into the place at this hour. The last time Auri had such a big gathering here, Jack almost got his head taken off by Drake.
He checked his phone, it wouldn’t be long now.
”Auri! They should be here any minute now!” He called out from the main floor, once the chairs were all set up.
“Okay! Is it-” Auri called out, before the door opened - with a little jingle from the bells. Adora pushed the door open, Aislin right behind her. She looked around before she asked,
”... Shit,” She began, glancing over her shoulder at Aislin, ”Guess we part of the setup now.”
”You’re just in time, Greenwood is due to arrive shortly,” Jack said.
”... That’s the problem!” Adora dramatically said, throwing her hands up. ”Ever heard of ‘Black People Time’?” She grinned.
”No.”
”How do I explain this? It’s like…” Adora tried to explain, before she just started laughing and said, ”... It’s a special Black Magic Spell or whatever!”
“Teach me sometime.” Aislin said with a smile as she stepped further into the flower shop, eyeing the chairs before glancing up at Jack. “Hey! Good to see you.”
She smacked her forehead. “I totally forgot to bring refreshments. Adora! We don’t have any refreshments!”
She started tapping away at her phone, trying to keep the play-desperation out of her voice. “Maybe, maybe, we can Uber something…”
There was a rumble at the door, a gentle rustle, and a Giant ducked through the low doorframe as a relatively infrequent face grinned in. ”I guess I’m early?” Looking around, the grin didn’t leave his face. He was dressed like he was a vampire or something, and had a black shawl or cloak covering his massive frame. ”Jaaaaack… What’s up, Man?” he asked. His head shot a glance at Adora, and he threw up his arm in a mock jab, the other open for Jack to shake.
The placement was ambiguous; Leon was prepared for every handshake in the book, and had the reflexes to snap into any of them.
Jack returns the handshake, in a boring way. ”Leon.”
In his other hand, a pack of 20 water bottles in plastic and cardboard wrapping appears, teleported with his magic and hanging by his fingers. ”I brought water, if that’ll do, Aislin.”
Aislin nodded gratefully at Jack, “That’s a huge step in the right direction, now they won’t die of thirst on our watch.”
Her glance looked up at Leon, her smile widening. “Wasn’t sure you’d show up, Leon. Glad you could make it! Today’s gon’ be a momentous day.” Noting that there were a few more chairs to deal with, Leon took a few long strides to scoop them up. ”What’s with you and the plastic chairs, Auri? I remember you did that presentation last spring, and you did the exact same thing even though half the people just moved them and stood around.” he laughed. ”I “borrowed” those, since Greenwood is likely bringing all of their people here. Don’t ask where I found them.”
Leon gave a slight side eye to Jack. ”You... Borrowed them? Jack?” he almost laughed aloud.
”He Jacked them,” Adora said, crossing her arms. ”Pun intended.”
Jack shot Adora the most blank stare that was humanly possible. Aislin burst out in bubbly laughter, hearing the most hilarious thing ever. “Nice one.”
“... Jack got them for me!” Auri shouted from the back room. “My boyfriend is getting us all pizza! Give him a little bit.”
“Pizza?! Thank God. We’re saved.” Aislin sighed with relief, tucking away her phone.
”Where is Stormy? Amara? Brit? Don’t tell me everyone is gonna be late.” Adora shook her head. ”And there’s like eight of them I think, we don't need this many damn chairs.”
Leon laughed aloud at this point, starting to fold chairs back up. ”There’s no way… Not a chance, everyone’s gonna be standing! And I-”
Speak of the devil and they shall appear, Stormy and Amara both walked through the door right as Adora mentioned them.
”I was busy, sorry if I’m late.”
”Yo.”
Leon pointed up at the two of them. ”Aaaaaaayyyyyy We were just talking about you guys. Stormy, what’s up Baby Boy?!” he gave a much warmer reception to his once extremely close friend.
”Good to see you, Leon. Still St Portwell’s boxing king?” He asked, grinning back at the giant. ”As it should be, Brother.” he got closer, pulling him in for a hug.
Aislin grinned, “Hi Stormy, hi Amara!”
”It's a whole ass reunion in here,” Adora rolled her eyes. ”While we wait for our guests, can we talk about Luna? Or should we wait for Brit?”
”Luna? Who?” Leon laughed, not remembering most of the lost members.
”The one who was stalking all of us when we went to search Kari’s home,” Jack explained. ”Drake found her spying on us, and we do not know how much information she has yet. According to Britney, she works for a mafia, and they want some of us dead. I am one of those people, apparently.”
”... We also just caught her stalking us, Adora added. ”The Greenwooders tied her down. She claims they are under new management, and they don't care about us anymore.”
Adora shook her head, ”But I don't buy it, not one word. She seems fucking nuts.”
Aislin grimaced at Adora, “Just wanted shakes… our time at the mall really went downhill, huh? Greenwood had good timing, jeez.”
”So what’s our plan if they decide to stamp us out?” Amara asked, taking a seat.
”... Beats me,” Adora shrugged. ”But no time like the present to make one:.. But where’s Brit…?”
Aislin made a face, then pulled her phone again. “I can call her, if ya want.”
The door clinked open again, the bells rattling to inform of intruding bodies. Only, it wasn’t Britney first. Greyson Devola’s face, sans his usual Channeler. As he entered the room he looked around with a grin. ”Oh man, what a party…” Leon’s head snapped back.
”Woah, Devola? You…” ”Hey, I’m not here alone-.” he started, holding the door open for Britney to come through.
”Heeeey everyb-” Britney bouncily strutted in, playful smile on her face, before coming to a dead stop. Expression going flat. Before she quickly put it back on. ”... How is everyone doing?! It's great to see you all even if it's albeit under weird circumstances…”
Aislin gave a forced smile, “Hi Britney, Greyson.”
Leon's face changed to a slightly smug and self aware smirk. ”It's always nice to see you too, Britney. Better seeing you both together.”
”Oh yeah? Someone at the Temple writing Sycamore Tree fanfiction? What's the scoop, guys, where's the uh… Hippies?” Greyson shook his head at Leon as he spoke.
”They are late,” Jack answered, flatly.
Adora shook her head, ”To make things quick; we caught that basket-case Luna stalking me and Ashy here, and I want to talk about how we gonna handle her ass because... Those weirdos are up to something.”
Adora rolled her eyes as she shrugged.
”Can’t motherfuckers just leave us alone? We’re only trying not to get murdered!”
Aislin paused, before her eyes sparked, “Ashy…? Ashy?!” She glanced over at Jack and Leon and puffed out her chest. “Yeah that’s right, behold the freshly nicknamed.”
Before her smile lost a bit of it’s light, concern seeping into her tone. “She hasn’t done anything recently to hurt us, from what I can see. But-” Her gaze shot over to Greyson, a flash of disdain unable to be hidden, “-Criminals can’t be trusted. We could try reporting her to the police if she pushes things further, get a restraining order…”
”Which police?” Stormy asked. ”They’re organized criminals, so they won’t care about a restraining order. And they’re also paranormal criminals, but I don’t think the PRA is going to care about her unless she makes a flashy show of magic in public.”
Aislin shrugged, half-grin flashing across her face. “Fair enough.”
”Well, Liao might.” Amara cracked a humorless grin. ”The way I heard it, she thinks she owns this city. And when the Iron Dragon-god I hate that name- Sets her mind on something? There aren’t many people out there who change it. Piss her off enough, she’ll go looking for all of them.”
Edict grimaced a little bit hearing about Luna. He had his own feelings toward her, and this interaction was only reinforcing them. ”Hey, listen… I know it’s not gonna sound great coming from me, but… Well… Luna’s Mom passed away recently. The one from her side of the Family. Maybe now would be a good time to bring her in? I get it, shady Greyson plan, but ultimately if you guys need to handle it a different way, I’ll let you. I’m not here to be a pushy asshole, y’know?” he offered to the group, hoping it’d get them off of Luna for the moment.
”Bring her in how? She’s a mafia capo, and we’re not her Family. Isn’t that how it works? Family comes first?”
”Greyson…” Adora said, ”She obviously ain’t well in the head. And we got enough basket cases as is…”
Adora shook her head, ”We need to find a way to get her to leave us the fuck alone.”
Aislin rubbed the back of her head, breathing out a stream of air through two blown up cheeks. “Weeellll…” She glanced at Adora, and grimaced. “We could scare her. Scare her real good. I know someone over at the 317 who can trap people in paintings. We could… uh…”
She paused, shoving a hand over her own mouth. She mumbled with a groan. “Gosh, what am I saying, even Luna doesn’t deserve to be jumped and locked in a painting.”
”Look, I… Is it so hard to think that we could have been a family? Not even in the Mafia sense, but like… Genuine friends and, like, people who all love one another? That’s all people want. Acceptance and love. And, if they stumble, to not be kicked immediately for it.” Edict shrugged. ”Or hey, maybe I’m talkin’ shit. I wouldn’t know anything about her situation, not like we ain’t involved in the same shit or anything.”
”It’s reasonable,” Jack acknowledged, leaning up against the wall by the front door. ”We were family once. All of us. But she chose a different life. Regaining the trust that was lost is not so simple as apologizing, certainly not after spying on us.”
”Just as not easy as it isn’t for me, Jackie boy…”
”... Leon,” Britney spoke up. ”Can you check and see if she - or anyone else - is spying on us right now?”
Leon considered what Britney said, and a small release of his seals gave him the chance to catch individual scents from around them. Trying to smell exterior Lux users, he only got a wiff of the slowly approaching Greenwood Coven. ”I don’t smell anyone. Not strange, anyway. I don’t really know how Luna smells, but we all uh… Well, y’all stink, and it ain’t your fault. It’s the magic. Like, Greyson, you reek man.”
”Oh geeze, thanks Leon. I really appreciate the info, man.” he replied sarcastically.
”On the subject of Luna… We have to do something that ensures her people don’t come for us after we’ve taken care of Luna.”
Stormy sat down in a chair. ”They're more organized than us. They have been for a long time now. It won’t be difficult for them to respond to us, in any case.”
Aislin smacked her forehead. “Crap, I forgot about that… Thanks, Stormy.”
”... That's why we’re not going to kill her, or hurt her in any way,” Britney added. ”It might sound crazy… But I agree with Greyson. We should bring her in. ”
Aislin's jaw dropped a bit, surprised. Before she grimaced, and fell silent.
Britney was silent for a moment as she looked everyone over. ”... But we don't like make her an actual member. We give her the run-around but give her just enough information so she doesn't catch on.”
”And let me watch her! I mean, again, I get why you guys may not want that, but… Well, I’ve been doin’ good with Layla.” Leon coughed. There was no reason, surely.
”What do you mean by that one?” he asked. ”Well, it was the Void Heart thing, right? So… I mean… You know about that, Leon.”
The giant man gritted his teeth slightly.
”That might be the best choice we have. What about the rest of them? Are they going to just let this slide?”
”Probably not without some serious prodding. Seems like there’s some business between them and the city’s favorite Cult that’ll probably end with meeting a bigger fish.”
Leon gripped his hands together tightly. ”Oh, go ahead man. Do what you always do.” Leon condescended.
”It’s not good for either of us, Leon, I’m not trying to act like its your family’s fault. Just… Well, you’ll probably kill Luna before we get the chance to if she doesn’t smarten up and get away from House of Cards.” Edict tried to offer the olive branch.
”The only way we can justifiably escalate to killing Luna,” Jack warned, ”Is if we know for a fact that we can kill all of them. If we escalate to that level, they will match us.”
”We’re not killing Luna, guys! We’re not, no. Sorry. She’s done some shitty things, but I’m absolutely not letting her go down like that. Not when…” Edict paused. ”Not when I don’t think she’s any worse than I am. And, Auri? You called me back. So, why are we treating her like this?” he asked, trying to rally for compassion.
”... I mean, do you follow people around malls, taking creepshots?” Adora snorted.
”I’m with Edict. We can’t afford to do something like that, and it’s not right. But, Edict…” Stormy turned around and looked at him. They didn’t always see eye to eye, but he knew Greyson had a point.
”Are you positive you can keep the House from reacting poorly to this? No matter what we do, it’s going to end with a downside unless you can pull the strings perfectly.”
Aislin sighed, spinning one of the chairs to face Stormy and taking a seat. “I’m all for pretending to be Luna’s friend. But I’d take that a step further, and have one of us dedicated to spying on her, quietly squeezing her for info.” Her eyes lazily slid to Edict. “And, no offense Greyson, but uh… I’d prefer her ‘friend’ to be someone else. You know how it is…”
Edict threw up his hands in a gentle fashion, so as not to piss off everyone in the room. ”Honestly, Stormy? I can't make guarantees. My old man is the Don of the North-West. Technically, he's HoC's Boss just like he's my Boss. But, he… Well, he kind of knows? About them? And, after the last time I had to buzz him, I'm pretty sure he's piss scared of magical people. So, the oversight is kind of left on my Uncle? Who… Well, he's kind of frothing at the mouth to kill whoever killed Phantasia.”
Edict looked a bit defeated after spilling all that. He looked down at Aislin. ”I… I know. I don't blame you, really. But, who else is closer to her? Who else can get her to spill the beans about her status? The real beans, not bullshit to protect herself.” He took a deep breath, prepared to say something controversial. ”I mean, fuck… I'll just say it. The only reason I ever had a problem with anyone is because I couldn't separate the two halves of my life. It made me deceitful and untrustable. Now we're all real adults, and I'd like a chance to prove that things are at least a little different.” he shrugged.
Aislin twisted her face up, considering Edict’s words. Before she sighed, and raised a hand in weak gesture. “Yeah, yeah, you two have history. I… I still don’t like it. But bottom line, we need to know more about Luna than she does of us. As long as we keep one step ahead of her…”
”I mean, you say that someone else should be her friend,” Britney injected, looking at Aislin head on. ”But, you also never gave an alternative as to who should do it. I understand your concerns, but who else can do it?”
Aislin grimaced, being directly spoken with by Britney. She kept her mouth shut, and offered a shrug.
”Hey now,” Adora put her hands up. ”Why do all ya’ll want a crazy bitch in our midst? Some bitch who’s openly a traitor?”
”We don’t want her here,” Britney noted. ”It’s just that we gotta handle this situation in a certain way. It’s obvious that she will keep stalking us. if we hurt her; her Mafia will just going to come after the rest of us - and that is not something we need right now. I’m not sure just what they are planning, but this way we can control the situation. She’s not looming over us and reporting critical information to her bosses. And we can prevent our more… impulsive members from jumping the gun and hurting her if and when she gets caught again.”
At this point, Auri came out of the back wearing a blue striped sundress, the Butterfly Staff in her hand. Britney glanced at her before she continued.
”... But, we should definitely make up a plan to handle the House of Cards, just in case.”
”I don’t know what you guys are so worried about. It’s not like you guys are the ones in the crossfire.” Leon interjected, eyes staring at Auri and the staff as she entered. ”Or why we’re tip-toeing around why the House of Cards has any sort of problem with us in the first place. It’s shit like this.”
The giant man stepped forward, a slightly uncomfortable look on his face. ”Bottom line, it’s fucking Void Heart. And fuckin’... Layla. Which is why Greyson’s been gassing the chick in the first place, and why he wants to be the one gassing fuckin’ Luna too. Like he’s gonna have to get his hands dirty fighting his Mafia buddies anyway? Fat chance.”
Edict shrugged his shoulders. ”To be fair, I don’t really know why we don’t just let Void Heart’s toys just self-destruct. It can’t be any more dangerous than, oh I don’t know, trying to trap the poor girl in a room and traumatizing her by taking her fuckin’ Casper away.”
”You have a very interesting definition of “dangerous” if it doesn’t involve letting that parasite feed on her,” Jack noted.
”The issue with letting the toys ‘self-destruct’ is that the two of them clearly don’t have an issue with creating problems that we have to solve,” Britney answered. ”The shitshow at the strip club a few weeks ago is proof of that.”
”Ummmmmmm….” Adora awkwardly shuffled in her feet before she raised her head. ”I’m a lil’ bit lost here; what the fuck is the deal with the Void Heart? What happened to him? And what the fuck does he have to do with all this?”
”Alizee died. Her ghost, Void Heart, jumped to Layla Hycinthus. Once some people found that out, they decided that they didn’t want him getting in the way anymore. Nobody really knew that Void Heart is my family’s responsibility. So we had to be the bad guys, and now Void Heart is sealed away in something important.” Leon barked, clearly frustrated by the situation.
”... And how is he your family’s responsibility?” Adora crossed her arms, shifting her weight sassily to one hip.
Aislin’s little jaw dropped, and she sucked in a breath. “Waaait a second…Alizée's dead? Alizée Altieri?!” A hand flew to her mouth, muffling a string of quiet profanities.
”I mean, from what I heard she was going around hurting people,” Adora looked at Aislin. ”So, good riddance. I’m not sure what Layla’s deal is, but… I don’t like her vibe either.”
Aislin grimaced, looking back at Adora. “Gee, I thought Layla was always alright. Wasn't she…?”
”The Void Heart poisons the mind of whoever it adjoins to,” Jack answered, a scowl across his face. ”Alizee never once enjoyed what she did, but the abomination drove her to the brink of insanity. We should have sealed it years ago.”
”... But, you didn’t,” Adora flatly noted. ”You should have realized after a certain point, like… how do I explain this? Like, she would have been so accustomed to the Void Heart in her life that snatching it away from her would have been like….”
She shook her head, ”... Fuck, it would have been devastating if it really fucked with her head like you and Greyson claim. At that point, you probably would have had no choice but to kill her anyway…” She put one hand on her hip and threw the other one up, shaking her head.
Jack glared daggers at Adora, she just struck a nerve and he did not like that. For a moment, he didn’t even know what to fucking say to that. ”She needed help. Would you want to be left to die when you are left helpless like she was?”
Adora raised an eyebrow, before she asked the golden question, ”...But did she want it?”
He fell silent.
”Listen, guys, it’s… A lot deeper. Layla aside, the leader of the House of Cards is a woman named Phantasia Vorpal… Or, was. She’s dead. But, I… Well, you know me!-” Edict pushed out a faked laugh. ”Trying to stop this shit before it got any more out of hand, I’ve been meeting with her. Good ol’ Phanny. Got in her head? Saw that a long while ago, when the old House of Cards casino burned down, it was Alizee and Void Heart that saved ‘em. Phantasia took a life debt to Void Heart. So, when you all decided to kick the bee’s nest, you accidentally pissed off the ground hornets too.” Edict finished.
”Jesus fucking Christ, Auri…” Amara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Auri awkwardly tugged at her collar.
Aislin shook her head. “I don't think I understand everything here… But this is a lot more complicated…. Isn't it?”
She hummed, eyes glancing to Jack. “Layla never told me what happened. But whatever you guys did, they're connected to this somehow, right?”
“I’m amazed the Void Heart could see past his own agenda long enough to save someone else…” Auri shook her head. “But, you said she was?”
Britney looked at her before she said, ”Phantasia got iced.”
“Oh, dear,” Auri said, silent for a moment before she said. “... Then is her replacement also after us?”
Aislin perked up a bit. “Good question for Luna…”
”Luna said their new guy wasn’t after us, remember?” Adora shrugged. ”But, again, I don’t believe it for a second.”
“Right, right.” Aislin groaned. “If only we had a way to get in her min-” Her eyes fell silently on Greyson.
Edict coughed. ”Listen… I saw Val at her Mom’s funeral yesterday. When I talked to her, she seemed like she was understanding my trying to push her away from pursuing things, but firstly she’s just as magic as her Mom. She just… Is more cautious. Less ego means she’s more willing to do things to stack her own deck. Phantasia got cocky, figured I was still a goofy little kid, and paid the price for it…” he paused, looking around before raising a finger.
”And no, I didn’t kill her. But, anyway, things are looking positive for the moment. If you guys trust me, I can try and prove that you’re all right to do so by just… Taking care of it. And if it goes south, I won’t keep you all in the dark. I’ll… Y’know, ask for help.” he finally conceded.
“I don't have to like it to see that it's somewhat logical… I think this is a decent plan of action, for now. What do you guys think?” Aislin said, shrugging as her eyes passed around the room.
”... I still think we should a plan to handle the House of Cards just in case it goes south,” Britney said as she finally took a seat, putting her purse on her lap. ”I trust you can handle this, Greyson, but they seem… erratic, from what I hear. I know they have beef with the Temple, but hair-triggers like them will always find another reason to go on the warpath.”
”Like any of you are ready for a fuckin’ war again? Please. Leave the heavy lifting to the Temple and be happy when I crush Father Wolf’s neck in my jaws. I ain’t the same uppity cunt I used to be, and I’m not holding back to be friendly. I don’t think Sycamore Two is gonna cut it the same way. Too busy being worried about trying to kill our family when there’s a monster out there hunting us like animals…” Leon’s voice and face both oozed disgust.
”... Yeah, trust the people that tried to fuckin’ shoot at us,” Britney said with a roll of her eyes.
”Your “family” plays with fire, and you think we’re to blame?” Jack asked, just a little pissed off now. ”Furio is lucky I didn’t decorate my home with his entrails after he attacked us for protecting a vulnerable person from a predator.”
Aislin tilted her head, an embarrassed look on her face. “Am I missing something…?”
”Jack, man, I’ll refrain from finishing your fucking lunch this time because I don’t feel like ruining Auri’s flower shop: But please, don’t act like you guys didn’t have a chance to just give her up when they explained the situation! Do you all know what that girl was dealing with before Void Heart? What she’s currently dealing with? Do you want to explain that to them too, Mister Mafia Therapist?” Leon growled toward Edict.
”... Getting a lil’ spicy in here,” Adora laughed, jabbing an elbow into Aislin’s side.
Aislin half-grinned back, “Jeez, I'll say.”
Again, Edict shrugged. This wasn’t his favorite thing to be doing, since he could see dollar bills burning in Leon’s eyes. ”It’s… Not great? Not sure if anyone remembers, but she’s attached to a few nasty ghosts herself. They use her like she’s a meal ticket essentially, and in return they protect her. At least, that’s how I think it works from being in that little noggin’ of hers.”
Leon pointed at Edict. ”Exactly, take one fucking predator away, let another back in. The girl is fuckin’ cursed, she needs to be with people who can actually help her! Not a bunch of adults who aren’t well adjusted to begin with and can’t even take the time to coordinate properly! The Temple has the resources! But none of you seem to get that!”
Adora was silent.
”... This is the first time I’ve heard about this,” Britney noted, raising an eyebrow. ”Well, if the Temple is so wonderful and can do so much to improve that child’s life, then have at it.” She scoffed, throwing Leon a dismissive hand wave, turning her head away.
“I didn’t know all of this was happening to her…” Auri noted. “But, can’t we just seal them? Or find a more benevolent Apparition to ward them off…?”
”I could ward them all off,” Stormy said. ”But I’m almost entirely certain that Layla would rather kill me than let me get that close to her.”
”That’s kind of the problem. She’s so, well, scared of these ones. They’ve been with her all her life.”
”I live with shit just like that. Got a Wampus Cat trapped in my apartment as we speak. Fuckin’ wretched way to live being a little kid getting tortured by a ghost, but I can’t excuse my Father for bringing something like that into my home. It fucked with me and my siblings as kids. But at the end of the day, I don’t want the fuckin’ thing dead. I’d like to come to an understanding with it and live peacefully and healthily.” He shook his head. ”That’s what the Temple’s all about at the end of the day. We don’t wanna have Voidy sealed up, but if he can’t behave and nobody’s strong enough to control him, he’ll stay that way. And then all we can do is try and help her heal and deal with what she’s got.”
Aislin hung her head a bit, “I didn't know it was that bad… Did… Did anyone talk with Layla before sealing the Void Heart? Is anyone talking with her now, besides Greyson?”
”We did not,” Britney flatly answered. ”We couldn’t risk tipping the Void Heart off.”
That’s when Leon dropped the bombshell. ”She showed up at our door this morning. She’s going to be taking her oaths, and she’ll begin her therapy once she’s properly inducted into the Temple of Charming and Graceful Individuals as a fully fledged member.”
Edict’s jaw dropped. Britney rolled her eyes. Aislin nearly choked on her own spit. ”What?”
”U-u-uh, oh… Leon!?” ”And to answer your question? No! Obviously nobody asked Layla’s opinion! Because Void Heart was with her when they would have… And what’s more consensual than a bunch of people ganging up on you and trying to take the only thing making you feel safe and secure away from you? So, guess what? She’s nobody’s problem, and House of Cards is certainly no problem.” Leon finished, holding back on saying anything worse.
”Then, she will stay away from us, then? The Temple are going to stop Voidy from going around trying to suck people off, right? Kidnap them in broad daylight?” Britney asked, giving Leon a flat look. ”Part of the reason -Well, pretty much the entire reason- I wanted Voidy sealed was because he was a liability. He was only going to make things so much more difficult for us.”
Leon smiled. ”See, this is why the Temple should be seen as an asset for us. My Mom is in love with us. She’s even willing to let my younger brother date Patty Vanburen, she’s so hell bent on keeping all of us safe and secure. The way I see it, if Greyson’s getting second chances here, my family shouldn’t be everyone’s new punching bag. I deserve to earn some trust.”
Adora tilted her head upon hearing ‘Patty Vanburen’. Britney kept her mouth shut.
Edict gave Leon a flat look, but didn’t say anything against him. He really wasn’t in that kind of mood, and was deeply trying to project Greyson 2.0.
Jack took a long, slow, deep breath in. And then, another one out.
”He has a point.”
“I didn't know the Temple was like that…” Aislin said thoughtfully.
“I believe in giving everyone second chances, despite my injuries due to them,” Auri sighed. “I don’t think it’s fair to dogpile Leon and the Temple like this bec-”
The door opened, and Auri (and everyone else’s) head turned to the door to see her boyfriend, Justin Haggar, holding a stack of pizza boxes. “Justy!” Auri ecstatically said before she ran over to him. “Let me help you out…” She grabbed a few pizzas off the top.
“Yeah, where are we going to put these?” Justin asked. “... There are no tables.”
Auri was silent for a moment.
“... Oh.” She began. “Darn.”
”Oh, good grief,” Adora said as she ran over to the folded chairs and unfolded them. ”Ya’ll need to think outside the box....” She shook her head as Justin and Auri put the pizzas down.
Justin looked around.
His eyes narrowed.
“... I’ll take my leave,” Justin disappeared out the door as quickly as he appeared.
”... He had the right idea,” Adora laughed as she quickly grabbed a slice of pepperoni pizza. She took a bite.
“Dig in, everyone,” Auri began. “Just save some for Greenwood.”
”…If he had walked in here one minute sooner…”
Aislin could only laugh to herself, the tension that invaded the room moments prior somewhat dispelled. She picked up a slice of pizza and lifted it in a mock toast, her trademark grin back on her face. “Long live the Sycamore.”
”I’d save a lot. Chances are, Greenwood’s coming through here higher than my blood pressure.” Leon tried to joke, hoping he could disperse at least a little tension as he went for a slice himself.
Edict recognized the shop it came from, and couldn’t help but stick his nose up.
”You got a mob feud with a pizza place?” Amara asked, grabbing a slice.
Suddenly, the smell of weed overpowered all the smells in the flower shop. It overtook the smell of potted plants, pizza, and whatever perfume or cologne they had on. There was a few knocks on the door, before it was thrown open… Jessica was the person who held the door open, looking around. Her eyes were bloodshot red, and she smiled.
“Waaaaaaaassuuuuuuup dudes,” Jessica threw them the shaka hand sign. “I hope we weren’t too late…”
“Maaaaan, get your high ass out the way…” Ruby ducked underneath Jessica’s arm, a blunt in her mouth. She was wearing a red sweater with a pink scarf around her neck, blue jeans, and mac and cheese Timberlands. She walked in, and looked around, before saying, “... Waaaaaaaassuuuuuuup dudes.” Then throwing the shaka sign.
“... I am so sorry,” Naomi shook her head as she walked in; James was right behind her. “We tried to stop them, but they kept gassing!”
“Yeah, they got more gas in ‘im than a helium balloon!” James laughed.
Kashmira coughed a few times as she walked in, holding a metal tray with some pastries that had to be Indian with a layer of plastic wrap over the top of it. She wore a green hoodie and sweatpants combo with some white sneakers and a black leather purse over her shoulder… but she had red henna designs drawn on her hands. “*COUGH* Hello, friends! It is great to meet you all here! I know it was short notice, but I made you all some *COUGH* snacks!”
She looked around, “This is Dhokla, my Grandmother’s recipe! I also brought some Henna cones if you wanted to put some on your hands and feet for this occasion!!”
Aislin's excitement couldn't be contained as she gave everyone in Greenwood a wave. “Heyyy, good to see you guys yet again! Kashmira, sign me up for some henna, I love that stuff!”
She then moved in beside Ruby, nearly drooling at the mouth. “Hey, heyyy, Ruby. We're friends, right? Help a friend out? I'm sober as heck!”
A hand flew to her mouth. “Oh wait! The leaders should do something. Like, a peace move, or whatever,” She glanced at Adora, a full-on serious look on her face, “Should they kiss?”
Adora raised an eyebrow as she twisted her face. Auri awkwardly laughed.
Leon couldn’t contain his laughter as he slowly approached Ruby for what he assumed would be the typical sisterly behavior that had always been expected of them as kids. His arms outstretched for a hug. ”Not a kiss, you horny fucker.” he laughed aloud.
The only response was Aislin's tinkling laughter.
“It’s great seeing you,” Ruby laughed as she hugged Leon back. “You giant motherfucker...” She laughed some more before turning to Aislin.
“Yo, what type of shit ya’ll be on?!” Naomi laughed as she dug into her hoodie pocket, and pulled out a bag of the most premium Zaza known to man. “This ain’t your regular gas - this shit will put you in a coma!” She threw it to Aislin. She grabbed it as quick as she could in her little hands, her face lit up like a child's on Christmas Day.
“Naomi, you’re the best!” Aislin chimed.
Leon happily hugged Ruby back. ”Things ain’t the same without you. Mom’s got this ex-nazi bitch as one of her Crones? Dude, it ain’t a good look.” he said, grabbing the blunt she was smoking and taking a fat rip off it.
“Oh my God,” Naomi shouted. “She eats ass! That blunt is infected with booty!”
”Who do you think she learned it froooooooom.” Leon growled, his tongue lolling out of his mouth comedically. It was, by all accounts, a magically long tongue.
Aislin burst out laughing again, already rifling through her bag where she knew a certain bong lay in wait. She jerked her head to the table.
“We got pizza, guys, feel free to take a slice and grab a seat.”
Her gaze turned to Auri. “You uh… should probably lead us in prayer, ya know?”
“Umm…”
Everything that just happened took a few years off of Jack’s life. But he couldn’t complain, since he was technically responsible for this meeting.
”Welcome, all of you,” He said, popping one of those dohkla squares into his mouth. His eyes widened a bit. ”…These are wonderful. Thank you.”
”Good lord, you guys are blasted tonight.” Amara cackled.
“Wonderful, I’m glad you like it!” Kashmira said with a smile, before walking over to Amara and offering her one. “Would you like one, too? I’m doing henna later to celebrate this joyous occasion!”
”Not sure I know what a Henna is, but I’ll take free food. Respectfully.”
Aislin grinned at Amara. “It's a skin stain, like a tattoo, and it looks really pretty.”
Kashmira raised both hands, revealing the henna she had drawn on her own hands.
“Who’s the leader here?” Ruby asked.
“That would be me,” Auri said as she stepped up, holding the butterfly staff in her hand.
“You know, I wish I had my tree branch on me,” Ruby said. “We could do something cool like crossing staffs.”
“Or kissing.” Aislin stage-whispered with a wide grin.
Adora gave her a queer look.
“Ah, we should have,” Auri said, “You are the leader of the Greenwood Coven, I presume? Miss…”
“White,” Ruby answered. “Ruby White. The Spring Maiden,”
Then she looked between the rest of the Greenwood Coven, before saying, “Greenwood, let’s introduce ourselves to them. Get to know our new friends…”
“I’m Jessica Rosefey, follow SunnyMuscleMommy on Instragram, yoooo…” Jessica threw up the peace sign before laughing.
“... Her high ass is the Summer Maiden,” Ruby jabbed a thumb in her direction.
“I’m Kashmira Sarai! Or Dr. Sarai,” She introduced herself, “I’m the healer for the Greenwood Coven.”
“I’m Amelia Dallon, the Fall Maiden,” She introduced herself.
“Currently, Pearl Cho, the Winter Maiden, is busting her ass at her job,” Ruby shrugged. “So, she will not be attending.”
“I’m Naomi Rodgers! I met a couple of you last week!” Naomi said.
“Same,” James said, crossing his arms. “I’m James Carmicheal.”
He walked over to Stormy and put his hand up, “Thanks for keeping my girl safe back there - dab me up!”
James was dabbed up by Stormy, way better than when he was dabbed up by Jack. ”Stormy Carson. Nice axe.”
“And I am Autumn Hayes,” She calmly noted.
Ruby cracked a grin as she took a puff of her joint. “Well, what are you waiting for? Are you going to introduce yourselves, my lovelies…?”
Before she looked at Leon, “... Except you, we’re already familiar with your ass!“
”A few of you already know me, from when we met last week,” Jack answered. ”Jack Hawthorne, for the ones that haven’t. I almost killed one of you, that night.”
“... Why would you say that?” Naomi rolled her eyes.
”Amara King. Nice meeting you guys.”
Aislin shrugged, gently loading bud after bud in her little party bowl as she sat in her chair. “Most of you already know me, but I'll re-introduce myself anyway.” She looked up and grinned. “Aislin Rose, artist and toker at your service.”
”Ador-”
“Appie,” James laughed, “How could we forget you!”
Adora shook her head.
“I was hoping to get your number, sugar,” Ruby said, taking a drag of her blunt. “But, duty calls.”
”No time like the present,” Adora stuck her hand out, and Ruby put her phone in her hand, and then Adora punched in her number before handing it back to Ruby.
Britney was silent, before waving her hands, ”Britney Williams, magical expert.”
”Greyson Devola, former Sycamore Tree Wallet… I mean, Treasurer. Not that there's ever really been a treasury, just other people have jobs now.” Edict grimaced.
“It’s great meeting all of you; I hope that we can really get to know each other,” Ruby gave her a narrow look, before turning to Auri. “... Auclair!”
“.... Oooooooooh boy!” Jess said, throwing her hands behind her head. “Should we tell her?”
“Tell her what- oooooooooooh!” James awkwardly tugged at his collar.
“Tell me what?” Auri tilted her head.
“Guys shut up,” Naomi rolled her eyes. “Let’s not put her on blast in front of her Coven. We’ll talk about it in private.”
“Riiiiiiight,” Ruby turned to Sycamore as she took a few steps forward. “Again, it’s great to meet you all, but I figured there are a lot more of you?”
”This is who we could get on short-notice,” Adora took another slice of pizza, then watched as Kashmira put down her snacks and grabbed a slice of cheese pizza and ate it.
“Well, I would prefer to meet your entire Coven,” Ruby said. “But if you are all vital members, we can begin.”
Auri smiled at her.
“The floor is yours, friend.”
“Good,” Ruby began, “The Greenwood Coven has been around for a long time… comparatively to most of the factions that rise and then fall, we are one of the oldest. And I can accurately say that this is the most dangerous the city has been since the aftermath of...” Ruby scanned the room and noticed Adora getting very uncomfortable in her seat. She shook her head.
“... You-know-what,” Ruby paused, “I know you all had a run-in with Emily the other day, but there are far bigger fish in St. Portwell’s pond than her and her stupid goons. Something big is brewing, but I’m trying to gather allies to fight against it. I got the and the 317 on board, but here’s my issue...”
Ruby looked between the various members of Sycamore around the room before she said, “... Far as I can tell, the Sycamore Tree Coven reunited to end that string of murders, and nothing else…?”
Aislin had her lips on her bong but stopped just as she was about to light it. Nothing else? Were they really so shallow?
“Well, I mean… I’d like it to be more than that. It’s nice having everyone together again. Feels like old times…” Aislin said.
”There's a lot of personal bonds, Rubes. Ten people may not like one another, but everyones got at least one friend keeping them held on the raft. It's…-” Leon paused, trying desperately to avoid the phrase clusterfuck. ”-Well, you're no stranger to complicated things. Some people feel like Aislin, happy to be around everyone. Other people are… Probably plotting to kill the people around them out of convenience.” his eyes definitely didn't flick toward Edict as he finished.
”Some of us can’t really afford to come back fully,” Amara said. ”Some of us never left. Me, though, it’s home. That’s good enough for me, so if this lasts long enough that we’re all still standing afterwards, I’ll be here.”
Aislin smirked at Leon and Amara's responses. “Exactly. Some of us are here for more than just figuring out this murder problem… And killing each other.” She let out a laugh.
”If I’m being honest here,” Adora shrugged. ”After we solve this serial killer nonsense, a lot of us are going to cut and run. Me included.”
Aislin gave a sad look, but said nothing.
”From what I saw, it’s unlikely that we will be sticking together…” Britney also shrugged.
“That’s what I’m saying,” Ruby said to the Coven, pausing for a moment before she continued. “Right now, this alliance has the power to change things, and push the tide against the assholes like the Wolfpack, the Elite, and whenever the Nazis like Berlioz rear their head again.”
“Probably do a better job than the Feds!” Naomi laughed.
“Greenwood… We are more than willing to help you stop your killer because we do not want anything to happen to Sully,” Ruby began. “But, we want this to be a two-way road… We want some help from time to time as well.”
“Greenwood has enemies?” Aislin asked.
“8th St are our sworn rivals… but we also don’t fuck with the Elite, Wolfpack, or whatever Nazi is still out there,” Ruby answered. “And if you think they won’t bother ya’ll… trust me, they’ll find a reason…”
”Personally, I can guarantee that I will be here after the murders are solved,” Jack said. ”And I will work towards the goal of improving the state of St. Portwell, alongside whoever else is still present. So if Greenwood requires my assistance, you’ll have it.”
”Yeah, me too.” Amara grinned. ”I don’t know if I’ll be moving back, but I’m pitching the fuck in regardless. I’m in.”
”I’ll gladly help long as we’re keeping St. Portwell safe,” Britney nodded her head.
”I don’t think I need to repeat myself,” Adora shrugged.
Leon and Edict, coming off of the tiff from before, shot each other an awkward glance as everyone was proclaiming their love for St. Portwell and their desire to protect it.
”I mean, we were… Mostly born here, right? Even if not, it’s home now. We’re meant to be here to protect it and make it as beautiful as can be.” His giant arm jostled Ruby in a gentle way. ”That’s Temple One-Oh-One.”
Edict’s nose scrunched, probably trying to ward off being a further smart ass. ”It’s the Coven for me. Unfinished business. Make the haters wish they were lovers.” he finally commented, grinning as he looked around the room at his fellow Covenmates.
“I’ll assist when I can,” Auri said. “I cannot speak for the rest of my Coven, however.”
”Well Jesus, Auri, don’t sound so enthused about some help getting a killer off our back.” Leon shook his head.
”I don’t think any of us ever asked to get caught in a political mess like this,” Stormy noted. ”But we’re here now. What’s done is done, so if you’ve got our backs, then we’ve got yours.”
Aislin smiled, “Yeah. I already like Greenwood. If you were in trouble I'd come runnin’. Another alliance sounds like just what we need.”
Ruby smiled.
“Now, that’s what I want to hear,” Ruby said.
“So, the alliance is official?” Auri asked.
“Not quite,” Ruby said, “Like I said before, I want to meet your entire Coven.”
”... Trust me,” Adora shook her head, laughing under her breath. ”You don’t.”
“Awwwww, I’m sure you’re all swell people…” Ruby gave Adora a catty smirk.
Britney awkwardly tugged at her collar.
“Hopefully, we can get along,” Ruby began. “Because, all four of us together can raze the 8th Street Manor to the ground and run Emily, her scissor-sister Vashti, and her bitch-ass sisters out of town. Then, I’m going to light a fat blunt using the fire of their mansion. Like not a regular blunt, it will look like a Loony-Tune cigar. It’s going to be bigger than Leon’s dick.”
James and Naomi rolled their eyes, as Jessica laughed, throwing her arms behind her head. Aislin smacked a hand against her forehead.
”Just keep your expectations tempered, Sis. We can’t expect everyone, and if you really do, you should expect a brawl before it's over. This is probably the most level-headed that a room full of us is gonna get.” Leon offered, trying to reign both sides toward something that made a bit more practical sense.
“Yoooooooooo, broooooooooooooooooooo!” Jessica said, turning to Ruby. “We should tell them about our spy in 8th!”
“... Oh, yeah,” Ruby shrugged. “We have a spy, Malik Jakane, in 8th St. He’s been there for a while now.”
“He can feed us info!” Jessica said.
Edict’s eyes boggled out of his head. He’d long since pulled out a cigarette since the entirety of the Cypress Hill Concert showed up, and he nearly swallowed it on the inhale. ”I’m sorry, who?!” He’d been mostly keeping his mouth shut. He wasn’t feeling a tremendous amount of love at the moment - The feeling of desire to wriggle his way into the heads of others to get pictures for himself wasn’t so strong.
”Like, surely you can’t be talking about the same Jakane that’s in my head… Ain’t no way that old man is runnin’ with all of you no matter how much chiba you’re pushin’.”
“I’m not,” Ruby laughed. “You’re thinking of Malik senior.”
“We got his way hotter son!” Jessica laughed.
Edict’s face couldn’t suppress the surprise. ”O-oh… Huh…” he trailed off.
Ruby smiled, putting a hand on her hip.
“You didn't know he nutted in a woman before?” Ruby laughed.
”Is this someone we should know?” Jack asked.
“Nah,” Ruby laughed. “Well, I know Shayton - Malik Sr - was at the strip club fiasco.”
”He can teleport people away just by looking at them… That was a surprise.”
”Yeah, that’s what happens when you run in front of a bunch of unfamiliar paranormals, dumbass,” Amara said, laughing.
Edict did his best to blow it all off. ”He just… Did some work for House of Cards is all, and I guess he threw his lot in with Wolfpack. He never struck me as the biker type as a kid.”
”Anybody got anything else they want to bring up?”
Jack began tracing shapes in the air with magic.
”I don’t,” Stormy said. ”You all know where to find me if you need me.”
Leon narrowed his eyes as Jack began to fade away. ”No we don’t… Well, most of us.” Subtly, he threw up some finger guns.
“We don't got nothing else to go over,” Ruby shrugged. “So we’ll be going now.”
James grinned, as he turned towards Adora.
“... You, don’t beat the breaks off anyone else!” He said, followed by a bout of boisterous laughter.
Adora just rolled her eyes in response.
“Can we grab some pizza, brooooo?” Jessica asked Auri.
“Take as much as you like,” Auri answered.
Ruby walked over to the pizza and took two boxes. Winds appeared in the flower shop as Greenwood bunched up.
“We’ll be going now,” Ruby grinned at them. “We’re trying not to make any big moves right now but we’ll be in touch.”
The winds raged as Ruby shouted.
“Don’t be a stranger!”
Then they vanished. Aislin gave a hearty wave, watching long after they left.
”I should be leaving, as well.”
In front of Jack was a large, heavy wooden door that had appeared out of thin air, with kanji writing carved into its surface. On the other side of it was a building on a cliff, with a kaleidoscope of colors and images swirling out in the sky.
”It is a significant relief that we will have more allies, soon,” he said. ”I’m sure we can survive 8th Street’s next tantrum, now.”
Leon casually looked at his phone. ”Aw, look at that… I’ve got places to be. Adora? How about we meet tomorrow, hit the bags for a while and catch up? Unless, you think you’ll be up in a few hours. I’ll be there. You know the spot.” And with that, he was out the door and into the night again.
With everything winding down and everyone going their separate ways, Aislin finally took a light to her party bowl, holding in the smoke before she let out a fierce cough.
“Ahhh, now that's some good Zaza!” She said with a laugh, her head feeling like it was floating twenty miles high.
She quietly dismantled her bong, bagging the rest of the Zaza and throwing her bag on her shoulder. She stood there for a long, stoned moment before she turned to Adora. “Let's hang out again soon, sis. Yeahh?”
Before she smiled at Auri, gave a little salute, and slowly, painfully slowly, walked out of the flower shop, and into her car. With the tunes turned up, she headed home.
As the others were leaving, one was arriving a few minutes earlier than her agreed upon time. The bell on Auri’s door jangled as Sloane Faris entered, her head turned back to the street, watching the familiar car drive off. She turned her head forward and suddenly stopped in the threshold, her eyebrows subtly shifting in surprise. Her eyes darted towards Auri, the extra chairs, the other coven members, the leftover pizza boxes, and then back to Auri as Sloane pinched her nose to block out the skunk-like stank. The smell was so strong that it even made Sloane’s eyes start to water.
“Should I wait outside, Auri?” said Sloane, her words coming out slowly as if Sloane was reconsidering every single one, trying not to sound hurt. She stepped one foot back through the door. “I’m clearly intruding.”
Jack still hadn’t left. ”Sloane… I didn’t think you were coming at all tonight.”
“Oh no, not at all!” Auri said with a smile, then gestured to the pizza. “Help yourself!”
”... Well, this was a waste of time,” Britney whispered to Edict then shook her head. ”Let’s blow this joint, Greyson.” She grabbed his hand and gently and quietly guided him out the door.
”Could have been an e-maaaaaaail…” Edict chided as he was guided out and away from the shivering time bomb that was Sloane Faris.
”Well, it was nice, ya’ll,” Adora rolled her eyes as she grabbed a pizza box, and walked towards the door. Before she was out the door, she stopped and said, ”Thanks for the dinner!” Then she was out of the door.
Stormy and Amara followed the scent of Adora’s bootycheeks.
Jack shook his head, and shut the magic door before walking through it. It stayed there, slowly flickering with shades of purple and gold, before fading away. ”I brought water, if you’d like,” he said.
”Greenwood wants to meet the entire coven before making this official.”
“Mm, can’t wait. So nice to be involved,” said Sloane, her voice dismissively flat. She opened up a pizza box, blinked twice, and closed it without grabbing a slice. She glanced at her watch.
“This takes some time. We should probably get started,” said Sloane to Auri before giving Jack the side eye and then looking toward the door with little subtlety. “Have a good night, Jack.”
A small part of Jack felt that if Sloane had been informed of this earlier, she would’ve been disappointed anyway. Of course, he wasn’t going to say that.
”I have an artifact vault to construct,” he said. ”If anyone needs me, I’ll be tampering with reality.”
He opened the door up again, and walked through it. It snapped out of the air, and he was gone.
Auri smiled at Sloane.
“So… let’s get work, shall we?”
Interactions: None.
The Board Walk.
Jack checked his phone, 7:42 PM in Shimmer. Here in the Eleventh Path, the day didn’t end. It was always bright and sunny, but it was growing late back home. He had been occupying himself by moving books, maps, and everything else that he considered sentimental from the Shadowzone to his wing of the building. Flicking his wrist, the pericosm flickered into the likeness of a wide bookshelf, which he stacked with his collection. Chronicles of Adept history written from across the All-Verse, an anthology of history’s greatest paranormal legends, bestiaries that told of the many patterns that Apparitions followed in their manifestation, and more were placed upon the shelves; Nice and neat, organized meticulously, Jack knew he’d be here much more often than the Void.
The room was lit by the gentle glow of purple Shadowflame, as Ma Kiki had called it, giving the place an eerie feel that suited Jack perfectly. But it wasn’t enough to take away from that nagging feeling he had been plagued by since the meeting at Auri’s shop. It felt like everyone had something against Alizee but him, he had been expecting doubts, but it was obvious that she had become something of a menace in their eyes. What got to him most, though, was what Adora had said about helping her.
Did she want it?
It irritated him, that someone could just chalk it up to not wanting to be helped. Of course it was only natural that some things could not be fixed. Some things were never set in stone no matter how much was done to make them so. But they didn’t even try. Ten years, and they didn’t track her down? Why did it take this long for Auri to decide he needed to be dealt with?
Thinking about it disappointed him, just about as much as he was disappointed in himself. He might have left her to fend for herself, but they stayed. Alizee deserved better.
He stepped through a door, and returned to Shimmer on a roof. It was dark out, cloudy. No moon tonight. Jack pulled out his phone and texted Auri. This would keep him awake for days if he didn’t get to the bottom of it.
Auri, can you send me Adora’s number?
Sure thing!
Auri promptly replied.
Once he had her number, Jack called Adora. After some ringing, she answered,
””… Hello?
”Adora. It’s me, Jack,” He said. ”I know it is late, but I think we need to talk about something. Are you free right now?”
There was silence.
”… Ye-yeah, s-sure,”
”Is there anywhere in particular you prefer to meet? I can teleport there, so as not to inconvenience you.”
”… The boardwalk?” Adora answered.
”Of course. I will wait for you here,” he said, teleporting between two buildings and walking across a street.
”I’ll be there,”
He waited for her out by the ocean. He hated the ocean, it was too vast, too absolute for the liking of a man who didn’t believe in absolutes. Jack sat down on a bench, staring out at the waves and thinking of how he’d get through the conversation without making it sound hostile. Which was, in his opinion, quite difficult since he felt hostile.
But he didn’t want to alienate Adora. He didn’t want to scare her more than he already knew he did, and end up with another case of Leon where he couldn’t look her in the eye without seeing red.
So he waited.
After a little while, Adora walked up, wearing an all-white combo of hoodie, sweatpants, and some running shoes. She walked past Jack, before coming to a stop.
”… What do you need?”
”I need answers to something. I didn’t want to do this in front of the others at the meeting yesterday, but it has been on my mind since.” He turned and looked over at her.
”…What did you have against Alizee?”
Adora sighed, facepalming,
”… Is this about what I said in the flower shop?” She began. ” I didn’t mean it like- okay, I never liked the vibe of her from the jump, and I didn’t like that she dragged a kid into the fight.”
”We were all children,” he said, calmly. ”And no, it is more than that. Britney knew she was a threat, Drake knew she was, and it has been ten years. Leon said that his family have the resources to help Layla, and Alizee was with them for much longer, and they did not help her. I can’t help but notice that there is a pattern there.”
He leaned back in his seat, measuring his words carefully. ”I am going to look past what you said at the meeting, since I know she caused a great deal of trouble for us all. But you’ve been here much longer than me, what happened to her after the coven dispersed?”
”… You’re asking the wrong person,” Adora shrugged. ”I hit the door first, and the only person I had contact with since the Coven fell apart was Kari…”
”And Kari had been close to her in the old coven. She never mentioned Alizee after? That there might have been a way to help her sooner?”
Adora shrugged.
”… She never mentioned Alizee when I talked to her, but you know Kari was a sweet gal. She probably was looking for something. She just…” Adora shrugged. ”Never talked with me about it because she was probably too focused on trying to help me. And I went ahead and just pushed her away…”
”And her notes were stolen before we could find them,” He sighed. ”Meaning that even if she did have a way, we wouldn’t know… We could have helped the others who were in her situation,” He said. ”Like Luca, or… I’m getting ahead of myself.”
Jack stopped for a minute and stood up. ”I asked you and not Leon because, well, he is Leon. I don’t trust him.”
”... But, look, Jack-” Adora cut herself off with a sigh before she shook her head. She turned on her heel to face Jack. ”What is this really about? Just come out and say it. Just speak your mind already, and let’s get it over with.”
Jack turned around and hid the fact that he was caught off guard from his face. Was it that obvious?
He locked eyes with Adora, and then gave in. ”…What you said about her at the meeting, it struck a nerve,” He admitted. ”I told you I won’t hold it against you, and I will not, but why? She was not the only one of us in need of help, the only one twisted by magic. What made her so different?”
Adora hung her head, and gave it a little shake before raising it and speaking, ”Look, Jack-o, I wasn’t trying to insult you, or Alizee. I wasn’t trying to disrespect anyone. If it felt that way, I’m sorry,” Adora shook her head before saying, ”But, what made her different is obvious: it’s been ten years, and she hadn’t reached out to anyone, right? Didn’t tell anyone ‘Oh hey, can someone help me get this parasite out of my life?’ Not you? Not Blackmore? Not Britney? Not Stormy? Not Auri? Not Jinhai? Not anyone?”
Adora slapped her hand on her hip before huffing, ”At the end of the day, there is a world of difference between needing help and wanting help. Hell, it’s like the mess with that white-haired bitch. Did she ask for help at all?”
”How do you ask someone for help when they won’t let you? As I understand it, Drake had been hunting her like an animal, looking for a chance to stop her by force. Leon’s cult only used her for the Void Heart, they wanted her shackled to it,” Jack said, keeping his cool as best he could.
”Of the people who stayed behind, how many of them do you think would consider giving her the chance to ask for help?”
”Besides the obvious, I honestly don’t know,” Adora shrugged. ”I can’t speak for the girl since I was never close to her. Maybe she did deep down, but didn’t know how to act on it.” Adora sighed as she conceded, shaking her head.
”But, neither of us are Greyson. We could never know what was going on in her head. Maybe you’re right. Maybe she loved that Apparition with all of her heart. And sadly, we never can know.”
”I knew she was at least in pain, because of the Void Heart. While I was in the Void, I saw her occasionally. She had a connection to the Void like me, and through her Abstraction, I’d see scarce traces of her,” Jack said, relaxing. ”The Void Heart drove her mad, Adora. In a way that was ultimately recoverable, but mad nonetheless. We were not able to have conversations from that distance, but… Alizee suffered.”
”I’m sorry to hear that; I really am. And even though Alizee hurt people, and gave us a lot of problems to solve, I don’t think she deserved what happened to her,” Adora sighed. ”But, that raises the question…”
She stared at Jack silently. Her face was stony.
”... Did you ever offer your help?”
”Of course I did, Adora,” Jack answered, audibly exasperated. ”Weeks digging through the coven’s archives for answers, months of researching Apparitions and their bonds to the soul- Reza even wounded the Void Heart with the Noble Vow once, and that was a mild inconvenience. Alizee was in much the same condition as Luca is now.”
”Then…” Adora closed her eyes, and then sighed. ”... You got every right to feel the way you feel about what I said.” She shrugged.
”It just wasn’t my place to say it.”
He looked away, and stared out at the ocean for a brief moment. This was, to Jack’s surprise, a lot easier than he had imagined.
”I might’ve said the same thing, in your position,” He said at last, and then looked back at her. ”I forgive you.”
Adora stuck her hand out.
”... Let’s call it good, then?”
”Yes, by all means.” He stuck his out, too.
Adora shook his hand, smiling at him… awkwardly. There was silence.
”... Though, if another situation happens like with that white-haired bitch,” Adora started, ”Please try and handle that better. Let her fuck around and find out.”
”In my defense, the plan would have gone perfectly if someone hadn’t followed us into the void with a gun.”
”No, I mean,” Adora shook her head. ”Ya’ll didn’t ask her if she needed help at all. And she obviously didn’t want it if she immediately sold us out to those mafia dickheads.”
”I suppose that is fair. Point taken. She worries me, almost as much as Alizee did. Those phantoms Leon mentioned at the meeting are no different from the Void Heart. I didn’t think it could do such a thing.”
”Hell, she should be worrying all of us,” Adora shook her head. ”Maybe we can make things up to her by actually asking her if she’s okay - but I think that ship sailed, Jack-O.”
”Then what could we do?” Jack asked. ”A curse is not the same as an Apparition. Even if we had something as powerful as the Brass Needle, or a master yellow Adept, some curses are more like a chronic illness than something treatable.”
Adora laughed.
”… Well I’ll tell Stormy to get to it, then,” Adora began. ”Meantime, I’m going to talk to her. Might not go anywhere but hell if I don’t say I never tried.”
He nodded.
”I need to find the location of an artifact, while you are doing that. I may have found a possible way to unadjoin Luca to the Rot.”
”Hit me up if you need anything, Jack-O,” Adora said, as she took a few steps back towards the shore. ”I’m only a phone call away.”
Edict
Interactions: None.
Blowin' that Joint
”… Man, I can’t stand his ass.”
Britney vented out loud, crossing her arms as she sat in the passenger side seat. She huffed.
”’I ain’t the same uppity cunt I used to be’! Oh, ‘I’ll crush Father Wolf in my jaws!” When all l was trying to do is make a plan for that crazy mafia!” Britney mockingly imitated Leon’s voice, rolling her eyes. ”Like, if you could do it, you would have done it by now, motherfucker. Nobody wants to hear you meat-glaze.”
Britney rolled her eyes again, ”Hopefully, next meeting, I can bring up the subject, and we can make some headway instead of talking in circles…”
After losing his prized vehicle to poor conceptualization, Greyson had “requisitioned” a much newer and more bedecked vehicle to cruise around in. Some European brand he could barely pronounce the name of, with a flappy paddle gearbox and way too many screens. It felt cold compared to the old manual Cadillac… He was trying to distract himself by thinking about that, rather than getting into whatever Britney was complaining about.
But he couldn’t exactly ignore it. Frankly, he had a lot of money invested in Leon’s assets, and he couldn’t let anyone ruin the paper trail that kept him (and many others) clothed and fed. Not even Britney. ”Brit… You know-” he paused, thinking for a moment and trying to choose his words as carefully as possible. ”-Shit, man… Why’s this all gotta be so hard? Why can’t we just come together on something?” he frowned finally, shrugging his shoulders.
”Listen, I’ll spill the beans… Leon and I are business partners… Well, technically their whole organization is my partner; I usually deal with his Mom or Sister. But… I’ve… Taken a few of their oaths. They wanted me to do so, because I… I know where the special shit comes from. I had to take ‘em to get involved enough that I could make money off ‘em. So, regardless of anything else, I’d like to play it straight with them for the time being.” he cleared his throat upon finishing, expecting the relative silence of his own explanation to be consumed by a hellstorm.
”Wait, what?” Britney came to a stop and looked at Edict. ”... Are they those ‘mutual friends’ you spoke of that got the Cards off my ass?”
His facial expression didn’t change despite the bold faced lie that came out of it. ”Yes. Because they know what the fuck’s happening too. And they’re not gonna leave you out to dry even if you don’t like them, especially not Leon. He may be pushy, he may be a dick, but hearing what they think and how they feel about shit? Especially Ms. Lynette…” Greyson’s voice trailed off, and he cleared his throat again as a nervous tick. ”They don’t wanna end paranormal lives… They’re obsessed with people like us coming together, and being a community, ‘cuz they think some day they’re gonna restart the world. Obviously that’s a bit too far for me too, but I think we can use their proclivities to our advantage.”
”... Restart the fucking world?!” Britney scoffed. ”I thought that bitch Lynette was crazy before, but now…” She could only laugh.
”But, they shot at us, Greyson! Jack got blasted, and Auri got brained,” Britney noted out loud. ”I know you’re making money off them-” Britney suddenly stopped. She paused for a few moments before saying.
”Actually, let’s just drop this. I won’t shit on Leon or his people no more, okay?”
Greyson threw one of his hands up vaguely, sliding it across an invisible plain, trying to ward her off of that train of thought. ”Nah, like I understand that shit. I get it, and I’m not happy about it, and if you feel like you want somethin’ done about it, I’d be more than happy to get together with them and demand more. But, like, talk your shit. Cuz yeah I’d be pissed too. It ain’t gonna affect my business unless we start causing actual trouble with them, that’s all…”
He grimaced, looking a bit remorseful. Obviously he didn’t want her feeling like she couldn’t talk to him… ”It’s my turn to show you that you can really trust me with that shit.” he offered, hoping she’d take it as a chance to comment further.
”... What did you have in mind?” Britney asked with a raised eyebrow.
He shrugged. ”I mean, I really didn’t have anything, besides being willing and open to listen to you, and to keep your secrets as your man, you know? But, obviously I’m down for anything for you. You want me to make things tough on ‘em, I’ll do it.” Greyson offered with a great deal of sincerity. ”Ain’t no “your problem my problem” shit, right? They’ our problems.”
”Look, it’s just not my place to intrude on your business like that,” Britney said with a sigh. ”I knew what you were into from the jump - so...”
She threw her hands up with a shrug, ”... That’s on me. Not you. You don’t have to make anything tough on them. I just don’t like them.”
Greyson shrugged his shoulder, reaching a hand out and placing it on Britney’s thigh. His face screamed sympathy. ”I’d like for them to be gone… First chance I get. Just… I doubt it’ll be until after this fucking Father Wolf shit, man… Like, this morning. Kenshiro had the balls to insinuate it was your fault? It makes moving and maneuvering hard on all of us.” He shook his head, frustrated by the situation as it stood. ”But, whatever. ‘Least I got you for now, huh? And we can bitch at each other like old times.”
Pointing at the glovebox subtly, he wagged his eyebrows. ”There’s a cigarette case in there with some joints rolled up… You wanna just cruise wit’cha boy?”
Britney gave him a devious grin.
”Ooooooooh boy, you bad!” Britney feigned shock as she opened it up, and pulled out the case. ”I hope you learned how to roll joints because, like ten years ago, you couldn’t roll for your life; I’m sorry.”
She laughed as she opened it up. ”So, are we going to roll back to my house, or are we just gonna pull over? I mean, you’re just gonna mind-blast any cop that appears...” She shrugged.
”Would like to at least avoid that.” She said as she rolled her eyes.
He laughed loudly. Of course she wasn’t gonna have him driving and smoking, no matter how much of a problem it probably wouldn’t have been. ”Of course we’ll pull over… You put on your music, we’ll hit a nice spot out in the hills. You can tell me ‘bout all the life I missed while we blow a little smoke.” Greyson’s eyebrows raised again, his face staying cool and neutral otherwise; trying to be nonchalant about it as possible.
”And yeah, I’ve had a bit of practice. I can do it one-handed too.”
Alright, virgins! It's time to unveil the NPCs for the upcoming Elite Arc! Pretend I wrote them all in one night and not over a few days on my phone and just touched upon the rambling on my PC.
Blake.Schmidt
53 | Blake Nathan Schmidt | He/Him"Splendid!"
Description:
Blake Schmidt was born into a life of privilege and wealth, inheriting Paragon Tech Solutions from his late father, Gerald Schmidt, a brilliant inventor and entrepreneur. Under Gerald's leadership, Paragon Tech Solutions became renowned in advanced technology, specializing in AI systems, high-tech security, and consumer electronics. However, when Blake took over, the company's trajectory shifted; lacking his father's genius and vision, Blake relied heavily on the talented individuals he hired, passing off their innovations as his own.
Despite his lack of proper expertise, Blake's charisma and natural charm, coupled with his family's established reputation, allowed him to maintain the façade of a visionary leader. His time at Paragon Tech Solutions saw the company expanding into new markets and securing lucrative government contracts. Still, these achievements resulted from his employees' efforts and his inherited wealth rather than his capabilities. The company’s flagship product, the Paragon Sentinel, a state-of-the-art home security system integrating AI-driven surveillance and smart home technology, became a household name, bolstering Blake’s public image as a tech genius.
Blake's real passion, however, lay in the pursuit of power and influence. Disillusioned with the mundane world and driven by an insatiable desire for the supernatural, he became obsessed with the idea of magic. After fruitless attempts to gain magical abilities through various organizations, Blake formed his group, the Elite, comprised of wealthy individuals who shared his ambition. Despite his bumbling and often oblivious nature, Blake's determination and sheer luck allowed him to amass a collection of magical artifacts and build a network of dangerous minions.
As the leader of the Elite, Blake seeks to make the Elite the largest Paranormal faction out there. His vision is grand, but his leadership is marred by questionable decision-making and a lack of clear direction. Blake remains blissfully unaware of his shortcomings, convinced of his genius and destined for greatness. His relentless pursuit of power, driven by his ego, propels the Elite forward, albeit chaotically.
Blake’s personal life is as questionable as his professional one. He is notorious for his lecherous behavior and constant flirtations with women, often crossing the line into outright harassment. This has earned him a reputation as a pervert and a sex pest, making him a subject of disdain and mockery. Blake is married to Phillis Schmidt, and they have three children: Cassandra, the eldest; Angela, the middle child; and Daniel, the youngest.
Blake desires the Stygian Snake, the key to gaining the power he desperately craves.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Phillis.Schmidt
50 | Phillis Diana Schmidt | She/Her"In this world, you need more than just ambition. You need the right allies and the right tools to make your vision a reality."
Description:
Née Warren.
Phillis was a renowned model who appeared on the covers of top fashion magazines and walked the runways of the world’s most prestigious fashion shows. Her beauty, charm, and keen business sense set her apart in modeling. Phillis met Blake at a charity gala hosted on the beach. Their instant attraction was undeniable, and their romance quickly became the talk of society pages.
Despite Blake's less-than-savory reputation, Phillis believed she could help him channel his ambitions more constructively. They married in an extravagant ceremony, combining their considerable wealth and influence, and the rest was history.
When Blake inherited Paragon Tech Solutions and later formed the Elite, Phillis found herself drawn into his world of high-stakes power plays and magical pursuits. Her beauty and charisma made her a valuable asset, and she soon became his number two in the Elite.
Phillis primarily balances out his more impulsive nature, and Blake entrusts Phillis with a powerful Artifact. She plays a crucial role in Blake Schmidt's plan to empower their wealthy associates within the Elite and his end goal to gain control of the Stygian Snake.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Angela.Schmidt
29 | Angela Kirsten Schmidt | She/Her"If it doesn't make your heart race, it's just not worth doing."
Description:
Blake and Phillis Schmidt's eldest daughter, Angela, lived on the edge for as long as she can remember. Born into wealth and status, she thrived on the adrenaline rush of parties, lavish events, and the allure of endless nights fueled by her father's money. Her cunning and sharp wit were overshadowed by a reckless pursuit of pleasure that bordered on self-destruction.
Angela's lifestyle was a whirlwind of excess and indulgence, characterized by wild party antics that often spiraled out of control. Her evenings were a blur of expensive booze, designer drugs, wild and unprotected sex, and the company of her equally reckless peers. She pushed on without regard for consequences, chasing euphoria left a trail of broken relationships and tarnished reputations.
Despite her intelligence, Angela's hedonistic pursuits masked a more bottomless emptiness and dissatisfaction. She sought refuge in the chaotic glamour of St. Portwell's nightlife scene, where every night was an escape from the pressures of her family's expectations and the weight of her privilege. Within the Elite, Angela saw an opportunity not only to maintain her destructive lifestyle but to amplify it. She viewed the organization's resources as a means to fuel her addiction to adrenaline and chaos.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Cassandra.Schmidt
25 | Cassandra Elizabeth Schmidt | She/Her"Why bother with consequences when you can have everything you want?!"
Description:
Cassandra, the middle child of Blake and Phillis Schmidt, embodies wealth and privilege. from a young age, she was immersed in a world of excess, where her every whim was indulged without question. Cassandra quickly learned to leverage her family name and fortune to navigate the social circles of St. Portwell.
Her teenage years were marked by a relentless pursuit of pleasure and excitement, often pushing boundaries and testing the limits of her family's patience. Cassandra's wild parties and lavish spending became infamous among St. Portwell, and she frequently appeared in some gossip magazines. Cassandra reveled in the attention and admiration that came with her lifestyle, utterly oblivious to the consequences of her actions. To her, it was all about the rush of the moment, no time to think about the consequences of her actions.
As she entered adulthood, Cassandra's behavior only worsened: she became famous for impulsive decisions and utter disregard for authority. Her relationships were fleeting and soulless, driven by attraction or resources rather than genuine connection. Yet, Cassandra harbors deep insecurities and fears of being overshadowed by her siblings and peers.
Within the Elite, Cassandra's role is mainly ceremonial: she's just there to bolster the family's influence over the families "beneath" the Schmidts without requiring any real contribution. Cassandra could care less about the Stygian Snake or Blake's lust for power but is unfortunately pressured into it, so the Family has more sway and influence within their organization.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Daniel.Schmidt
18 | Daniel Maverick Schmidt | He/Him"I'm the one that can truly lead."
Description:
Daniel Schmidt, the youngest child of Blake and Phillis Schmidt, stands out as the most competent and ambitious member of his family. Born into the luxury of the Schmidt dynasty, Daniel grew up witnessing his father's bumbling leadership and his sister's reckless behavior. Unlike them, Daniel displayed a natural and keen interest in the family business from an early age.
As a teenager, Daniel often felt frustrated by the lack of recognition for his talents. While his father, Blake, basked in unearned glory and his sisters indulged in hedonistic pursuits, Daniel quietly excelled in his studies. He absorbed everything he could about Paragon Tech Solutions and the mysterious world of magic - which he learned about far before his father.
He spent countless hours in the company's research labs, learning from the brilliant minds his father had hired. Despite his dedication and evident skill, Daniel was frequently overlooked, his potential dismissed by those who viewed him as just another privileged Schmidt. At 19, Daniel's frustration had reached its peak. He felt a profound sense of boredom, knowing he had so much to offer but no one willing to take him seriously.
His salvation finally came from the Elite, while Blake, Jiao-Long, and Jason focused on their grand visions; Daniel saw the Elite as an opportunity to prove himself. He became determined to gain access to artifacts and apparitions, believing that mastering these magical elements would finally earn him the respect and recognition he craved.
Within the Elite, Daniel's role is that of a quiet yet relentless seeker of knowledge and power. He tirelessly researches ancient texts, studies the properties of various artifacts, and hones his magical skills in secret. Unlike his father, who relies on luck and manipulation, Daniel is methodical and strategic, driven by a genuine passion for understanding and mastering magic.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Jiao-Long.Liu
62 | Liu Jiao-Long | He/Him"If we don't use magic wisely, it will destroy us!"
Description:
Jiao-Long Liu was born into a wealthy and influential family in Hong Kong, known for their ruthless business tactics and extensive connections in various industries. Jiao-Long was groomed to take over the family empire from a young age but had different plans. Unlike his parents, who desired power and control, Jiao-Long was driven to impact the world positively.
Determined to carve his path, Jiao-Long left Hong Kong and moved to America, where he could pursue his vision. He founded Liu Biomedical, a cutting-edge company focused on medical research and biotechnology. With a keen intellect and a relentless work ethic, Jiao-Long quickly established himself as a pioneer in the field. His company became renowned for its groundbreaking research in genetic engineering, regenerative medicine, and innovative treatments for chronic diseases. Under his leadership, Liu Biomedical developed several life-saving therapies and technologies, earning Jiao-Long widespread acclaim.
Despite his success, Jiao-Long remained humble and approachable, always prioritizing the well-being of his patients and employees over profits. His good-natured and compassionate demeanor won him many allies, but his idealism sometimes made him naive to the world's harsh realities. Jiao-Long’s journey in America also led him to cross paths with Blake Schmidt. Though vastly different in personality and values, the two men found common ground in pursuing the extraordinary. Jiao-Long’s scientific brilliance and Blake’s entrepreneurial spirit complemented each other, and together, they founded the Elite, an organization dedicated to harnessing the power of magic. Jiao-Long viewed the Elite as a means to advance his research and help humanity on a grander scale, while Blake saw it as a pathway to ultimate power.
Jiao-Long's vision for the Elite was markedly different from Blake's. He envisioned the Elite as a benevolent council dedicated to protecting St. Portwell and its inhabitants from the dangers of the supernatural world. He believed the Elite should act as guardians and benefactors, using their powers and resources to maintain peace and order in the city. This vision often put him at odds with other members of the Elite, who were more interested in pursuing personal gain and power.
On a personal front, Jiao-Long is devoted to his family. His wife, Chunhua, shares his compassionate nature and supports his endeavors wholeheartedly. Their son, Hank, at 13, is full of energy and curiosity. Jiao-Long is raising him to take over Liu Biomedical one day. He nurtures Hank's interests in science and medicine, guiding him to appreciate the importance of their work and instilling in him the values of compassion and innovation that define the company. While Hank's current interests lean towards adventure and discovery, Jiao-Long patiently integrates these passions with the family's legacy.
Abstraction:
Unknown
Chunhua.Liu
55 | Liu Chunhua | She/Her"We have to use our knowledge and resources for the benefit of mankind."
Description:
Chunhua Liu was born in Shanghai, China. Her parents, both teachers, instilled in her a deep respect for education and a love for learning from a young age. Chunhua was an exceptional student, excelling in her studies and demonstrating a natural talent for the sciences. Her academic prowess earned her a scholarship to one of Shanghai's top universities, where she pursued a degree in biomedical engineering. Her dedication and brilliance caught the attention of her professors, who encouraged her to further her studies abroad.
Chunhua's determination and talent secured her a spot in a prestigious biomedical research program in the United States. This opportunity allowed her to work alongside some of the brightest minds in the field and gain invaluable experience. During one of these collaborative projects, she met Jiao-Long Liu, a driven and visionary young scientist from her home country. Their shared passion for medical research and a mutual desire to positively impact the world quickly brought them together. Their professional relationship soon blossomed into an actual relationship, and they married shortly after completing their respective programs.
Chunhua and Jiao-Long founded Liu Biomedical, and despite the demands of their company, they managed to maintain a strong relationship. They had two children together, Linda and Hank, whom Jiao-Long wants to take over the family business when he reaches age. Within the Elite, however, Chunhua acts as Jiao-Long Liu's trusted second-in-command despite her unfamiliarity with magic. She recognizes the necessity of utilizing magic responsibly while harnessing its capabilities for humanitarian purposes.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Mika.Liu
38 | Liu Mika | She/Her"Would you like some tea?"
Description:
Has the nickname Melissa to blend in with Americans more.
Born as Jiao-Long Liu's illegitimate daughter from a hookup during his early career, Mika's life began in Japan under the care of her mother, Emiko Tanaka. Her upbringing was marred by her father's absence, whose involvement was kept secret to preserve his public image and relationship with Chunhua. However, in Mika's teen years, after Emiko died from breast cancer, Mika was brought to America and introduced to her sister Lin and brought into the fold. Despite her status as an illegitimate child, Jiao-Long had big plans for Mika: he wanted to make her the future head of Liu Biomedical. Recognizing her potential, he oversaw her education and early career development. From a young age, Mika was enrolled in prestigious academies, mentored by top scientists, and given opportunities to shadow executives within the company. Jiao-Long ensured that Mika received a comprehensive education in biomedical sciences, aiming to prepare her to take over the family business. Mika was excited, seeing this as her birthright.
Then Hank was born.
Jiao-Long completed 180 and decided to make Hank the future head of Liu Biomedical over her, thereby putting years of preparation and training to the test. This created an intense resentment towards her father and brother, perceiving his favoritism towards Hank as a rejection of her potential. This made Mika want to prove herself, and the golden opportunity arose when the Elite was created. In the Elite, Mika occupies a unique position; while officially, she supports her father, Jiao-Long, as his deputy, privately, she harbors ambitions to surpass and supplant him. She views Blake as an incompetent leader and sees herself as the rightful heir to lead the organization - and knows that there is no future for the Elite under that boor. Her drive to take over the Elite is fueled by a secret desire to impress others and prove herself worthy, not out of any grand goal.
Mika is highly sophisticated, intelligent, and wise, though she's often judgmental, uncaring, and dismissive of others, particularly those she perceives as lacking in intellect or class. Her deep love for her sister Lin is a cornerstone of Mika's character. She sees in Lin a kindred spirit and fiercely protects her, viewing Lin's genuine warmth and kindness as a contrast to her cold and dismissive demeanor. However, Mika harbors an obsession with tea stemming from her refined taste.
Abstraction:
Unknown. Though, Mika is strangely immune to abstractions.
Jason.Valos
59 | Jason Samuel Valos | He/Him"Money, power, and respect."
Description:
Jason Valos wasn't born as Jason Valos.
But as Andre Ramiah. Andre was born and raised on the streets of Chicago; his early life was marred by crime and gang life. As a young gangbanger, Andre navigated the dangerous world of street violence and crime. His life took a dramatic turn when he went through his Kindling-Event during a shootout, awakening his Red Lux. This newfound power gave him an edge in the criminal underworld, and Andre knew better than to throw away such an edge. Thus, Andre became a magical mercenary known as "Goldtooth." Goldtooth's reputation spread through the criminal underworld of Chicago and the neighboring states as he undertook a series of heists and odd jobs, amassing significant wealth and notoriety. His skills in magic and crime were unmatched, and his cunning and ruthlessness made him feared.
Then he stopped.
Once he had accumulated enough riches, Andre decided it was time to leave it all behind and quit while he was ahead. He relocated to the West Coast and crafted a new identity. A suave businessman, Jason Valos, was born. Relocating to the West Coast, Jason invested his "inherited wealth" into a string of nightclubs, hotels, and casinos, building an empire that catered to the wealthy and powerful. Jason Valos, alongside Jiao-Long Liu and Blake Schmidt, co-founded the Elite, positioning himself as the pragmatic third pillar in their hierarchy, driven by his insatiable quest for wealth and power. However, he passionately dislikes both and only puts aside his hatred of the Liu and Schmidts for pragmatic reasons.
Despite his criminal origins, Jason Valos is a charismatic and ambitious individual. His vision for the Elite is vastly different from that of his associates. For Jason, the primary goal of the Elite is to get filthy stinkin' rich. He is less concerned with ruling the magical scene or protecting the city; instead, he focuses on profit and expanding his empire. Jason's personal life is as complex as his business dealings. He is married to Gabriela Valos, and they have two children (Gabriela Jr, and Jake) together. However, he has several illegitimate children scattered across the United States, such as Johnny and Jaska Valos.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
The.Fenrir.Sisters
24 | Astrid, Freya, Sigrid, and Ingrid Dewynter | She/Her/They/Them"Why play it safe when you can light up the night? Grab that cash and leave 'em wondering what hit 'em!"
"Chaos is the game, and you're gonna lose!"
"One minute we're in, the next we're out!"
" We're the storm nobody saw coming!"
Description:
The Fenrir Sisters grew up on the outskirts of St. Portwell, where they were raised in a beautiful five-star trailer park. From an early age, the sisters were drawn to trouble, finding a sense of camaraderie and adventure in petty crime. They started small, stealing from convenience stores and causing mischief around their neighborhood. As they grew older, their antics just escalated, fueling a need for excitement in an otherwise bleak environment. Their reputation as troublemakers preceded them, and the sisters shared an unbreakable bond, standing united against the hardships of their upbringing.
By the time they turned 18, their antics had caught up with them, and their parents threw them out of the trailer park. Cast adrift with no clear path forward, they turned to a life of petty crime to survive, roaming the streets of St. Portwell in search of easy targets and quick cash. However, there was a lot more to the sisters than just their bond... they were all afflicted with a curse (it also made them be born as quadruplets, don't ask). It was not just a curse; the sisters turned it into a blessing to bring their thefts to the next level.
During one of these reckless escapades, they caught the attention of Dean Walker, leader of the Wolfpack after Judas' demise. Dean gave them a chance to elevate their criminal endeavors, and the sisters always adored the Wolfpack after their rise to power, so they took the opportunity without a second thought. The Fenrir sisters are a group of identical quadruplets rarely seen apart and dress and act very similarly. They are very short at five-one but very well built due to hitting the gym and their lifestyle of hauling ass constantly. They are a very chaotic bunch in the Wolfpack, even for their standards, one that gives into their intrusive thoughts far, far, too quickly. They claim to be "Norse Pagans," but not one of them understands it and just thinks it sounds cool.
Abstraction:
Unknown.
Ezekial
It's Complicated | Ezekial, just Ezekial | He/Him"A flower represents a lot, you know."
Description:
One of Dollhouse's top members and arguably one of their most potent.
Ezekial's early life is... strange. He wakes up in a destroyed warehouse with "Ezekial" written on his hand and a hunger like no other. He figured that was his name, but he had no other memories. This place he woke up in was a mystery because there was no life there as far as he could travel, just the aftermath of something - a war, maybe one of the Calamities. After aimlessly wandering around, hungry, he just coincidentally came across an open portal, and seeing nothing here, he threw himself through it. That was where he finally encountered other people!
And what he was hungry for.
Ezekial discovered his Abstraction had something to do with consuming souls, and by devouring souls, he powered various abilities - one of which was dimensional travel. Thus, Ezekial traveled throughout the All-Verse, searching for a purpose and his origins while consuming souls. Eventually, Ezekiel found someone who could help him: Sunshine Jones. She tempted him to join the Inner Circle, and with their resources, they discovered his origins; he started in a universe known as Shade as a person named Marcella Marrou. Marcella was an Adept who used Black Lux, and she went around shade-sealing Apparitions and keeping the universe safe.
That was until one of the many multiversal threats out there showed up and went on a rampage. This one in particular was Mr. Death, an Apparition that feasted on souls on a large scale. He wiped out Shade on a large scale, but Marcelle didn't give up; she gathered a coalition - some from other worlds - and waged a desperate final stand against the Apparition. They got thoroughly trounced, but Marcella had one final, desperate trump card, an ultimate spell that would only be saved for emergencies.
Sealing the Apparition inside of herself.
The spell worked, but it didn't go exactly as planned... you see, instead of sealing the Apparition inside of herself, she accidentally caused a merge of herself and the Apparition. This merge caused the death of the previous two lives and created an entirely new being: Ezekial. He had no clue why that name was written on his hand, but it's his name now, and Ezekial worked with the Inner Circle, becoming one of their top members... Until James Vanburen and the Accordance began their annoying crusade against them all. Ezekial started to see the writing on the wall; his time in Inner-Cirle had ended, and if he stuck around, it would not end well for him. So, Ezekial did the unthinkable.
He went into the Void.
In his head, it was the one place where the Accordance would not dare enter for their safety, so it was the perfect place to hide out. Ezekial desperately consumed as many souls as he could and then used them to tear open a portal into the Void, where he hid for a while. He avoided the Eldritch Abominations and other spooky beings that inhabited the Void, but his plan hit a stag when he realized there were no souls to consume. He required souls to tear open a portal back into reality; thus, he was stuck out there to perish and fade away slowly.
Until a member of Dollhouse fished him out when he was in his death throes. They recognized him as one of Sunshine's inner circle members who went to Dollhouse and inducted him into the organization. There, he acts as a flex role between the assassin, kidnapper, saboteur, and other deceptive roles - though he's often sent to different dimensions to find artifacts for them. Ezekial is a very flamboyant, somewhat short man who stands at five-seven and usually carries a flower. He speaks in a low tone, and you'd be surprised to catch him shouting.
Centuries Old | The Floral Wreath | It/Its"̶͚͘"̶̘͋"̸͙͓̾"̸͔̳̽"̶̰͝"̷̡̪̑̔"̵̓̏ͅ"̸̡̮͌"̸̙̌"̸̖̚"̵̠̞̈́"̵̻͉̚"̶̭͍̑"̷̩̫̈́̉"̸̛͈̣̀"̵͕̓̔"̵̼̪̏̈"̷̼̺͂"̴̧̂̓"̷̺͆͆
Description:
One of the Calamities.
The Floral Wreath is a nightmarish creation born from the twisted experiments of a mad scientist across multiple dimensions. Originally designed as a botanical marvel, it quickly spiraled out of control, gaining sentience and developing a hunger for domination. The Floral Wreath's appearance varies as it adapts to different environments. Still, its core features include vines that writhe and pulse, flowers that bloom with toxic pollen, and roots that burrow deep into the earth, spreading its influence like a plague.
As it spreads through dimensions, the Floral Wreath leaves behind a wake of overgrown vegetation and mutated landscapes. Its presence is marked by the rapid growth of invasive plants that choke out native flora, transforming once vibrant worlds into verdant nightmares. The air around it becomes thick with the scent of pollen, carrying its mind-altering spores that infect and mutate living organisms into twisted, plant-like hybrids under its control.
Abstraction: Abominable - Overgrowth.
The Floral Wreath's Abstraction grants it unparalleled control over plant life and the ability to spread and mutate vegetation rapidly. Its primary ability is large-scale manipulation of plants and soil, allowing it to reshape landscapes, create jungles overnight, and craete flora that towers over cities. It can animate plants as its minions, from small vines to towering tree-like guardians that protect its domain.
One of its most dangerous is a virus that every plant it generates is infected with. This virus alter their victims biology, merging them with plants and enhancing their physical capabilities while enslaving them to the Floral Wreath's will. The infected become part of its ever-expanding army, spreading its influence further with each converted creature. This Virus can bypass Emotional-Fields to an extent - the Paranormal can stave off its effects but over time they will be dominated by the Floral Wreath if they are not treated/cured.
The Floral Wreath's presence corrupts ecosystems, turning them into extensions of its twisted garden. It can produce toxic pollen clouds that induce vivid hallucinations, or even outright kill through suffocation. In addition to its mastery over flora, the Floral Wreath can create portals that allow it to invade new dimensions. Its teleportation abilities enable it to move freely between dimensions, spreading its influence across the All-Verse and transforming worlds into nightmarish jungles under its control.
They were wide awake immediately, falling off the bed and spearing a pillow with a blood tendril.
"NO, YOU CAN’T DO THAT AS A MAGICAL GIRL, LISA!" Ella, still asleep, screamed. She sat bolt upright, pointing at the air.
Saskia stopped panicking, standing up and slapping Ella awake. Such a pain when she sleep talked - well more like shouted. Rare, but annoying.
"BY SAILOR MOON- Wha?" Ella, who was finally slapped awake, looked confused.
"Rise and shine, it’s training day," Saskia intoned.
Lisa yawned.
”… You organized a train to get ran on us?” Lisa asked, before rubbing her eyes. ”Aw, you shouldn’t have…”
”Sadly not," Saskia said with a slight laugh. "Greta called last night and suggested we work on new spells… then we'll be able to kill Morningstar in new, inventive, torturous ways."
"Oh yeah, Greta said hi, Lisa!" Ella added cheerfully.
”... Awwww, and you didn’t tell me?!” Lisa groaned. ”Gretchen’s my homie! You could have woke me up- aw, nevermind!”
"You were dead asleep," Saskia intoned.
Looking around awkwardly, Lisa laughed, ”Where will we work on them? Here?” She asked. ”I, well…. I’ve been cooking up a few ideas, but we need more room for them! Also, one of them is going to be really messy, so, um….”
"I don't want mess in here! Not if it's like yesterday!" Ella said.
"Don't worry, I have an idea. Someone who can find us a place." Saskia nodded, picking up their phone from beside their bed. They then went to their near empty contact list and called… Lupe. She answered, and said,
“Maaaaami, what’s up?” Lupe began, “Did you run Dollhouse back their rock?”
"Yup, all sorted. We killed Ignatius too," Saskia said nonchalantly, before getting right down to business. "You know a place without anyone around we can go to? Like, an abandoned building or something?"
“What? Ya’ll gonna get freaky, mami?” Lupe laughed. “Ummmmmm… off the top of my head, there’s an abandoned mall on the outskirts of Mirage Springs. Morningstar used his Society goons to subtly break shit until it was too expensive to run the bitch, mami!”
"Oh yeah, super freaky," Saskia said, in a tone that very much didn’t sound like a joke. "That sounds perfect. If it’s already destroyed it doesn’t matter what we do… Is it on maps? So we can find it."
“I’ll send it to you!” Lupe chipperly said, after a few moments, Saskia got a text from Lupe with a link to its location on maps. “I’m busy right now, mami. But who knows! Maybe I’ll show up with some booze later!”
"Sounds fun, maybe see you then, bye." Saskia hung up, checking the location. They then turned to the other two. "I found us an abandoned mall."
"Oh, oh, that sounds fun!" Ella jumped out of bed, throwing her hands in the air. "Let’s go! Oh, we should grab snacks on the way!"
"Sure," Saskia said. "Lisa can make a flying spider, and we can grab breakfast on the way."
”You should make a spell that makes you grow wings!” Lisa said to Saskia. ”I’m tired of being the Taxi all the time.” She stuck her tongue out as she gestured towards the door.
”Let’s go, friends! Let’s give some poor barista with arachnophobia a heart attack!”
Lisa pried the wooden boards aside, which was easy because someone had done it earlier. She opened it wide enough for her giant Jumping-Spider with wings to crawl inside. The place reeked, but that was expected with an abandoned building with loads of debris, trash, and used condoms littering the floor. Lisa kicked it aside with her booted foot, and then turned around to face the trio…
”... Should I go first, or what about Ella? Since you’ve been fiending to make that spell?” Lisa grinned. ”Shit, it’s been awhile since I’ve developed some spells!” Then she awkwardly laughed.
"Oh, we can’t all do it at the same time? I guess it's more fun to do it one by one and watch! Ooo, okay, let me go first!" Ella grinned, hopping from foot to foot.
Saskia folded her arms with a nod, stepping back to watch Ella. She was fine with going last. There were a few spells they had in mind, so it would give them time to decide what to focus on.
"Alright! I want to make everyone a magical girl like me… but I’m going to enhance the outfits to protect you! It’ll be super cool, let me test it out on you, Saskia!"
Saskia grimaced. "Do I have to?"
"Well… no… Lisa?" Ella turned to Lisa with wide eyes.
”... Do I have to get naked first?” Lisa asked, grabbing the bottom hem of her dress.
"Not unless you want to!"
”Then go ahead!” Lisa shouted, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Alright, here goes!" Ella raised her Channeler, pointing it at Lisa. A rainbow light coated it, before it also coated Lisa. It was just like what happened when Ella transformed, without the ridiculous posing! "I’m going to give you a cool spider one!"
As Ella said this the rainbow light died revealing Lisa with her clothes transformed into… a really boring magical girl outfit. It was like her own, but black. Very generic. No spider theming. Ella pouted.
"It’s still a work in progress! I should be able to make it anything I want!I dunno if the protective stuff works either."
"I can stab Lisa to find out?" Saskia intoned, pulling out their knife.
Lisa smiled.
”.... Do ittttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!”
"Alright." Saskia walked over and calmly stabbed Lisa in the shoulder - where she wouldn’t bleed to death if the outfit didn’t protect her… which it didn’t. The knife went right through it. "Awwww," Ella pouted, a different rainbow light shooting out her Channeler towards Lisa when Saskia had pulled the knife out, healing her. "Guess it needs some work… I gotta practice loads and loads!"
Lisa chuckled, looking at Ella.
”… You think?” She then turned to Saskia and said, ”… And woooooooooow! You didn’t even need to think about that! It’s like you were waiting to do that for awhile.” She stuck her tongue out.
"I enjoy stabbing people," Saskia shrugged. "It helps me remember where all the veins are, so I know where to stab to kill someone… or let them bleed out painfully."
”You love to penetrate people don’t, you?” Lisa laughed. ”Oh! I think it’s my turn to go next, I have something cool in mind!”
Lisa turned towards the open space before them, illuminated by a white light.
”So, um, here I go!”
Lisa awkwardly said, as she closed her eyes and stuck both her hands out… and out of the ground in front of her came… a spider leg. It twitched as it poked out of the ground; it wasn’t large, around a foot in length. Lisa turned back to the three with a grin on her face.
”... This is my newest spell; I call it the Chitionous Spear,” Lisa said with a nod of her head. ”The point of it is that sometimes I think it’d be easier just to have a direct weapon as opposed to summoning spiders all the time!”
However, the leg fell apart seconds after she finished speaking, and Lisa shook her head.
”... It just needs just a little more work.” Lisa sighed. ”But! I know a lot about the anatomy of spider legs!”
"Oh cool," Saskia moved to squat in front of the leg that had fallen apart, narrowing their eyes at it and inspecting it. Really, a spider leg was similar to a bone. "It does look pretty close to working. Kind of like my bone spears… Doesn’t grow out of your body though."
They tried to figure out if they could give Lisa advice to actually help her. They held out a hand, bone spear coming through it, before snapping it off. They then chucked it to Lisa. "Maybe this’ll help figure it out?"
Lisa grabbed it, held it in her hands, and her face contorted into confusion.
”... How is this supposed to help?” Lisa tilted her head.
Saskia shrugged. "A spider leg is kind of like a bone, right? Figure out how that doesn’t fall apart."
They stood back up, stretching their arms up. They looked at Lisa. "My turn, I guess. You said about growing wings… I have been thinking about it."
Saskia pulled off their sweater and tank top, standing in just a sports bra - they didn’t want to deal with holes in their clothes right now. They grimaced, bending forward. Two wide gashes appeared on their back, blood trickling down it. It was intensely painful as a grotesque mass of sinewy muscle and bones pushed out of their back. One formed more of a proper wing shape, stretching out to their right, while the other was stunted and deformed.
It was painfully slow to experience and watch. Minutes of grotesque flesh wings pushing out of their back. It was difficult to keep their balance once they were complete. "It needs to be faster, and they don’t always form correctly."
”Oh, cooool!” Lisa grabbed both of her cheeks (on her face), dropping the boner spear. She bent forward to pick it up. ”You’re like an angel… of death!”
"Right? It’ll be better when I’ve mastered it," Saskia nodded, stretching out the wings, and giving the good one a flap. It didn’t do much. "I’m going to grow the bones at the end to be sharp so I can stab people with them."
”... Even more penetration?!” Lisa laughed, before she shrugged. ”Now and here’s why I said things might get messy…”
Lisa focused on a pile of rubble some distance before them… specifically the pipe sticking out of the top. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Out of thin air, a web net connected the pipe to a stone on the ground. However, Lisa walked over to it, pulling it apart with only her index finger.
”Snare!” Lisa shouted. ”Another spell that’s useless against someone with fire powers, but the point is to make webs in the environment! Again… needs work.”
"Fire kinda fucks us, huh," Saskia mused.
"I can handle fire!" Ella shouted, looking at the webs Lisa had made. "I don’t get how this is different from the webs you tie me up with."
Lisa stared at Ella for a moment. Face completely flat.
Before a web net snared Ella’s foot - weak enough to be snapped by even the slightest flex of her foot.
”... That’s how.”
"Ohhhh…" Ella pulled her foot out of it easily. "I see! Well, I don’t really have anything else exciting! I just want to speed up my colour absorption so… I’ll practice that while watching you two!"
Ella grinned brightly, beginning to slowly absorb the pink of her t-shirt while watching them both, practically not blinking.
"Alright, fine… this one’s more boring," Saskia shrugged. Using the blood from the wounds on their back, they formed a longer, thinner tendril than normal from their hand. It was kind of whip shaped, and they flicked their wrist to hit it against a piece of debris. Upon impact the blood splattered everywhere, the remainders pulling back towards their body. "It’s difficult keeping the shape when it’s so thin. I’ll figure it out quickly, I’m sure."
"Ooooooooh,” Lisa looked on in excitement. Before giving Saskia a mischievous grin. ”… You made that for that special torture you want to do to Ella, right?”
"Obviously," Saskia nodded, looking at Ella, who couldn’t say anything about it because of the spell she was practicing. "I was jealous you got to tie her up so much."
”... It was one time!” Lisa said, before she raised her hand. ”... And for the finale.”
Lisa’s hand was covered in a black, flaky, and deformed exoskeleton. It was twisted and hardly conformed to Lisa’s features at all - and it was one finger flex away from falling off. Lisa awkwardly laughed.
”… Exoskel-” The chitin glove fell off. ”… Well, that was exoskeleton.” She sighed, staring at it on the ground.
”Kiss my ass,” Lisa stuck her tongue out at Saskia. Before she turned to Ella, ”… Speaking of ass, pull an ice spell out yours!”
"Uh, ah, okay! I haven’t really thought about this one!" Ella flailed her arms about a bit, before finally raising her Channeler. "SHINING SNOW BLAST!"
As Ella shouted the ridiculous name, she held out her hands and… the most pathetic display of a few snowflakes burst out of them.
Lisa burst out laughing.
”Now THAT will strike fear into Morningstar.” Lisa continued to laugh.
"It’s not complete," Ella pouted, shaking her hands. "I don’t really know how to work with something that isn’t light or colour! It’s totally different!"
"Just try to channel your inner Ice Queen," Saskia suggested.
"I don’t have that!" Ella wailed.
”... Just stop being a coward and think of Sailor Mercury!” Lisa shouted, then laughed. After laughing, she rubbed her chin, ”... Isn’t it a little scuffed that Houndy sent us against a bunch of people who use fire?!”
"I'm trying!" Ella wailed. Murmuring about channelling Sailor Mercury under her breath, she started gearing herself up to go again.
"Maybe he just wanted us to die again?" Saskia suggested. "I wouldn't be surprised."
"No way!" Ella yelled. As she did she held out her hands, and a stronger blast of snow came out of them. It still wasn't enough to do any damage but it was better!
”... Now you can cool me down on a hot summer day!” Lisa laughed. ”But, I mean, to be faaaaaaaair… we killed most of them anyway so-”
A heeled boot went through the boarded up entrance, and wiggled a little bit. Then tried to pull back, to no avail.
“... Mami!” Lupe began. “A little help here! I’m stuck!” She laughed
“This didn't go as planned!
"I got you," Saskia chuckled lowly. They used the fully formed wing, both still coming out their back, to smash through the boarded up entrance and help free Lupe.
"LUPE! HI!" Ella shouted, waving.
Lupe fell on her ass… then laughed for a few seconds before climbing to her feet and climbing through the entrance. She was holding a brown paper bag in hands, and waved at the three with a smile.
“... Hi girls!” She said, before resting the bag on a chair. “I got liqooooooooooooooour, ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Then she looked around.
“Mami, ya’ll trainin’, right?” Lupe asked. “Shouldn’t ya’ll be naked and hailing Satan for more power or something?” She followed that statement up with laughter.
Utterly forgetting who she was talking to.
"That works?!" Ella shouted, looking down at her clothes.
"No way…" Saskia shook their head. They were the most on their way to being naked, but that was out of necessity because of the wings. Which they should pull back in but… it would be a lot of effort and hurt. "Morningstar is basically satan. It would empower him."
“ It was a joke, mami,” Lupe flatly said before she laughed, digging through the bag.
”... I wouldn’t mind if we got naked,” Lisa tapped her fingertips together. ”Everyone else though, not me.”
"I'm not getting naked unless you do," Saskia replied.
”I got naked in the shower!” Lisa shouted.
Lupe triumphantly raised a bottle of spiced rum into the air.
“... Ya’ll ready to spice this up?!”
"YEAH I AM!" Ella shouted. She raised her hands in the air and let off another blast of snow - still not good as an attack but it was kind of cool as it fell down on them all, Saskia had to admit.
"Let me get these in first," Saskia said, pointing to her wings. As they did the painful process of pulling them back into their body began, with the horrendous sound of skin ripping and bones cracking echoing around the abandoned mall.
Lupe loudly gagged.
“... What the fuck, mami?!” She followed that by laughing. Lupe turned to Ella, “Aw, cool, you can shoot ice now!”
Lupe aimed the bottle of rum at Ella with both hands as far out as her arms could go.
“Shoot the bottle with snow, mami. Just the bottle. The bottle.”
"Ok, I'll try! I'm not well practiced at it!" Ella scrunched up her face, holding out her hands. She shot snow at the bottle… and also a bit of it but Lupe's arms. But it was just like being hit by snow caught in a gust of air, not damaging at all. It was more targeted than before, though. ”Free drinks cooling!"
“Ayyyyyyyyyyyyy, maaaaaaaaaami!” Lupe triumphantly raised the bottle of rum in the air and shook her ass a little bit. Before she stopped, she looked at Ella, “If my AC breaks next summer, you gon’ hook me up, right?” She smiled, putting a hand on her hip before she said,
“I forgot to bring some soda to mix it with,” Lupe began as she turned the top of the bottle, and there was that satisfying snap. “So, we’re drinkin' it straight for your next lesson.So, who’s ready to get a little hair on their concha!?”
”... Aren’t we training?” Lisa asked, tilting her head.
“Okay, just a little bit if you want to,” Lupe raised a finger.
"I'll take a bit to dull the pain," Saskia intoned, grimacing as the wings finally disappeared into the gashes on their. They bent down to pick back up their sweater and pulled it back on, hiding the horrendous looking wounds.
"Gimme a shot! I bet we can train better after drinking!" Ella shouted, bouncing forward with a grin, and without a second thought Luped handed her the bottle of rum.
“I also forgot cups, so you’re just gonna have to guess, mami,” Lupe laughed. “And don’t worry about the germs - we kissed each other, after all!”
Meanwhile, Lisa walked over to Saskia and grabbed onto her arms and said,
”Hold still!” Lisa said as the healing spiders forced their way out of her pores and crawled onto Saskia before they dug into her flesh to heal her. ”Dr. Turner has saved the day!”
"Thanks Dr Turner," Saskia chuckled, pain immediately subsiding. "Maybe I should work on a healing spell… no, it's less thrilling if I do."
"What do you mean?!" Ella screeching, pausing her long drink right from the bottle of rum. "Bleeding out isn't thrilling at all!"
"It isn't when you're boring," Saskia shrugged. Then they held out their hand, thin vine whip wrapping round the bottle and pulling it into their hand. They smirked. "I'm getting better at that one."
”Oh!” Lisa shouted. ”Maybe I can teach you mi- oh wait, you’re not a Gold Adept… shit.” Lisa awkwardly laughed.
”Do something that freaks out the normies! Like vomit healing blood on them!”
”That would be fun," Saskia took a sip of the rum before holding it out towards Lisa. ”Maybe I could mix it up a little. Sometimes blood, sometimes stomach acid, sometimes lumps of flesh."
”… You’ll be coughing up more stuff than Ella did after her uncle got done with her!” Lisa laughed.
“… Dios mios, mami,” Lupe facepalmed, “And that’s directed at both of ya’ll.”
Lupe sighed, “Why don’t you two just touch people to heal them like normal people?!”
”I AM touching them,” Lisa said. ”With spiders!”
"Just touching them is boring, anyway," Saskia shrugged. "Our way is more fun."
"No it isn't! It's terrifying! The way the spiders burrow…" Ella shuddered, hugging herself.
”Toooooooooooooooooooo beeeeeeeeeee faaaaaaaaaaaaaaair…” Lisa put her hands behind her back and put a cutesy look on her face. ”They annoyed me into it! I was like, ‘I only heal spiders’, and then they were like ‘People are dying, Lisa’! And I was like ‘So what!? They should stop dying!’’ They kept going on about it, so I was like, fiiiiiiiiiiine!” She followed it with some devious laughter.
”You should have seen Olivia’s face when I first used it on her! I don’t think she’ll ever forget that,” Lisa began. ”And Jade grabbed my hand while showing me how to heal people! It was the best day ever!”
"I don't think Olivia will forget anything you used on her! I bet she's got spider PTSD or something!" Ella shouted.
”Good!” Lisa shouted. ”That’s what she gets for grabbin’ muh titty!”
”She's probably fine," Saskia shrugged. "They tried to get me to learn but stopped trying when I just hurt people with blood."
”Wow, scrub,” Lisa laughed.
“Actually, mamis,” Lupe put a hand on her hip. “Ya’ll Adepts, right? Like, what color are you all?”
"Only green," Saskia said.
”Green and gold!” Lisa shouted.
"Green, red and orange!" Ella shouted.
“Wow, so we’re all green,” Lupe laughed, before she turned to Ella.
“Ooooooooooh, mami!” Lupe said. “Remember that spell when I was running from you three!? I think I can teach that to you, but, um… I don’t think you would learn a copy-copy of it.”
"Oh yeah the one where you went all neon and colourful and ran away! That was so cool!" Ella nodded, grinning. "I wouldn't be able to do the running, right? That's… purple?"
“I mean, you can still learn a version of it, mami.” Lupe shrugged. “But, it’s not about speed, mami. It’s about being fabulous! Okay, hold on!”
Suddenly, Lupe exploded into a pink fireball with arcs of electricity bouncing off it; she flew around the room a few times before circling back and coming to a skidding stop. Lupe dusted herself off, then smiled at Ella as she said,
“Okay, okay, I know that looked complicated, mami, but it’s not!“ Lupe began. “Clear your mind, focus on the energy ‘round you, mami! Then let your Lux guide you like you’re dancing to the music of the universe!” Lupe spoke as she walked over to Ella and grabbed her hands.
“Trust your lux and try it, mami! Let the world see how fabulous are!”
"Ok, let me try!" Ella nodded. She put her feet shoulder width apart and held out her channeller before yelling,
"PRISM POWER ELECTRO BALL!"
She turned into a ball of vivid, rainbow light, with multi coloured electricity sparking off her. She managed to move a little bit in it, before fizzling out and returning to normal. "That was so… amazing! Just like a magical girl!"
“Mami, you’re a natural!!” Lupe said with a smile as she ran over to Ella, wrapping her arms around her. “You just needta’ practice! Practice makes perfect, mami!”
”Just channel your inner homosexual!” Lisa laughed. ”And your outer one!”
"I am a proud lesbian!" Ella shouted, hugging Lupe back and full on lifting her into the air. "It was so fun! Kinda similar to my super prism kick but... everything! I never tried completely transforming!"
“Aye, mami!” Lupe shouted, laughing. “Put me down!”
”You're not very efficient with your lux mixing," Saskia commented. Though it was good that Ella was able to learn from Lupe, since Lisa and them… really couldn't help her. Their magic was too macabre.
"It's hard with three types! And I do… a bit!"
“Aye, mami!” Lupe said. “That’s why we’re here, to practice!”
Lupe grabbed the bottle.
“... And to drink and have a good time!” Lupe shouted.
”Yeah!” Lisa shouted as she threw up a fist. Lupe grinned, downing a good amount of the rum straight. Lupe also threw a fist in the air, shaking her behind.
Eons old | The Great Maw | He/Him"All will become part of my dominion."
Description:
The Great Maw is a terrifying Aberration-Abominable, monstrous entity that instills fear across the All-Verse. His origins are unknown, but it's been recorded to have been around since creation itself. The Great Maw's appearance is a nightmarish blend of dragon and demon. Its massive, serpentine body is covered in obsidian-like scales, with veins of molten lava coursing through them. Its presence is accompanied by an oppressive heat, making the air around it shimmer and distort. Towering above its victims, the Great Maw is a living embodiment of fire and destruction, a creature born to incinerate and annihilate.
Throughout the All-Verse, the Great Maw wreaked havoc, leaving behind a trail of scorched earth and ruined civilizations. It sired many sons with human women, creating a powerful, fire-wielding offspring lineage. Despite its destructive rampage, the Accordance managed to subdue the Great Maw. They bound the Great Maw and cast it into the Pit using immense magical chains forged from hundreds of Orange-Adepts across the All-Verse. There it remains, creating a firey hellscape around it, where only the brave enter.
Abstraction: Abominable - Dominion
The Great Maw's Abstraction, known as the Dominion, grants it unparalleled control over fire and heat, making it a force of unprecedented destruction. Its most devastating attack is the ability to shoot beams of heat so intense that they instantly vaporize anything in its path. These beams are a concentrated manifestation of the Great Maw's fiery power, capable of cutting through the most rigid materials and reducing entire structures to slag in seconds.
Beyond these beams, the Great Maw can manipulate fire at the macro level. This ability allows it to summon and control massive infernos, create towering pillars of flame, and even conjure firestorms that can engulf entire cities. The Great Maw can precisely shape and direct these flames or unleash them in a chaotic, all-consuming blaze. Its control over fire extends to manipulating temperature, enabling it to create areas of intense heat that can incinerate anything within its radius.
The Great Maw also possesses extraordinary physical strength and durability, making it a formidable opponent in combat. Its scales are nearly indestructible, capable of withstanding the most powerful attacks. This near-impenetrable hide, combined with its immense size and strength, allows it to crush and demolish any obstacle. The Great Maw can easily tear through buildings, rend the earth, and overpower even the most resilient foes. In addition to its pyrotechnic abilities and physical prowess, the Great Maw can create portals. These portals can connect different dimensions or instantaneously transport the Great Maw and its minions across vast distances. It's teleportation is also powerful enough to allow it to enter and escape the Pit and Void at will.
Thousands of Years Old | The Rampage | He/Him"̸̦̚"̸̧̧͓̬̤̮̝̰̪͉̣͕̥̼̫̂̄̌̔̀̕"̴̢͚̩͛̾̾͌̃"̵̫̭̬̹̠̯̥̫̼̜̐̾͐̿͝͝"̶̨̧̬̜̰̠̬̳̮͕͓̮̰̫͉̠̗͕̝͚̺̐͋̃̽̽́̽̏̑̽̍͛̿̕͘͜͠͝"̸̯̝̜̊"̸̢̨̨̧̪̥͓̬͓͇̱̹̹̙͙͉̳͇̲̼̝̗̟̞͉̽̐̏̽́̽͐͜"̸̡̡̰̙͎̘̬̼̼͙̲͍̹̝̖͕̘̱͍͖̰̻͈̱̩́͑̔͆̅͆͌̊̈́̀͆̋̂́̓̈́̌͝ͅ"̷̨̢̡͍̯̫̤͖̙̥̺͋͜"̸̡̧̯̣͇̩̳͈̜͈̗̻̫̦̰̳̣̞͈͓̟̓̊̅̿̅̀͂̐̀͝ͅ"̵̦̱̼̪͇̙͇͕̟̪͉͍͑̈͑̇̋͜"̵̢̲̤͂͗̿͐"̵̫̭̬̳͍͖̮̝̗̠̭̠̠͑̊͆͒̂̐̂̆͛̈́͘̕͜͜͜͝͠"̷̧̢̯̳͚͍̺̟̪̼͚̘̦̲̺͈̠͖͉͇̜̳̮̟͎̤̆̂̎̏̃̐́̀́́̏̄̑̄̏̏̆̽̾͊̕̚͠͝͝"̴̝̈́͊̈́̋͛͌̾̀̑̀̂̂͊̽͌͌͑̑͆̊͘͝͠͝͠"̸̨̩̳̳̫̣̫͚̦̳̦̲̼͙̩͕̻͇͙̈̅̐̽͊̈̈́͗̎́̆̿͐̊͗̇͂͌̓̆̃͑͛͘͠͝"̴̪͎̯̙͕̺̹̰͓͓̟̝̙͍̺͗̉̇̆̈́̽̽͝͠"̶̡̹̦̤̟͇̯͍͖̞̭͒̐̒̂͆̀͐̊̏̋̋͌̂̉͘̚͜͠͝͝"̸̢̨̢̛͚̟̱̜̮͓͓̪̰̉̽̂̅̀̀̌̆͌̈́̂́̾͜͝͝"̶̹̱̮͎̈̀͐̅̃̎̑̈́̑͂̀̌̕͝"̷̨̨̧̡̧͈͍͓̲̙̺̙͍͉̥͕̝̭̞̳̙̫̑̆̀̆͂̊́̅͒̔́̓͊̀̀̌̈́͂͋͜͠ͅ"̴͚̻̹̝̻͕͚̗̻͎̳͕̹̲͕̰́̑̐̀́̍͂̔͗̀͐̀̀̾̅̉̇͆̕͘̚̚͘
Description:
The Rampage is an immensely powerful Apparition born from the ancient cataclysmic Crimson War, a conflict where countless civilizations across various universes went to war, fueled by hatred, vengeance, and unending rage. The sheer destruction and violent emotions of trillions of beings across multiple worlds merged into a single, nightmarish Apparition: The Rampage. The Rampage embodies the collective fury and violence of the Crimson War and begins its crusade across the All-Verse, annihilating everything in its path.
The Rampage's appearance is terrifying: a towering figure wreathed in flames, its skin a dense, fiery red armor that seems to pulse with malevolent energy. It has blazing eyes that burn with an insatiable rage, massive horns jutting from its head, and claws capable of rending through the most rigid materials. The Rampage's presence is marked by an aura of intense heat, making the air shimmer and distorting light around it. Its very form is a constant reminder of the devastation it represents, a living embodiment of the cataclysmic Crimson War.
When the war finally ended, the survivors from various dimensions realized they had created an unstoppable force. The Rampage's destructive power seemed limitless, and its rampage across the All-Verse was legendary. The Rampage was finally subdued and trapped in the Pit by the All-Blade. A coalition of All-Verse's greatest champions managed to weaken The Rampage and use the All-Blade to seal it within the Pit, at the cost of most of their lives. The Rampage's legend has spread across the All-Verse, symbolizing destruction and rage. Its name alone strikes fear into the hearts of those who remember the Crimson War and the devastation it wrought. Even in the Pit, The Rampage's influence can be felt, and many fear the day it might escape its prison and resume its rampage.
Abstraction: Apparition - Fury.
The Rampage possesses several formidable abilities that make it one of the most feared entities in the All-Verse. Its primary ability is accelerating to blinding speeds, turning into a crimson blur. This Blinding Charge creates shockwaves that can level entire cities, and upon stopping, The Rampage releases a massive explosion of destructive energy, devastating everything within a several-mile radius. This explosion generates intense heat and concussive force, capable of obliterating structures and causing severe damage to anything within its range.
In addition to its speed, The Rampage has immense strength and durability. It can crush mountains with its fists and tank even the strongest Paranormal attacks. Its incendiary aura, a field of intense heat and flames, incinerates anything too close, melting steel and turning the ground into molten lava. The Rampage can also generate seismic shockwaves by stomping the ground, creating massive chasms and volcanic eruptions.
The Rampage's rage fuels its regenerative capabilities, allowing it to heal from injuries rapidly. This regeneration makes destroying it incredibly difficult, as it can recover from nearly any attack. The Rampage can also unleash a thunderous roar, its most destructive attack. This roar can shatter buildings, symbolizing the collective rage of all who died in the Crimson War. The roar's shockwave is so powerful that it can level entire city blocks, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Furthermore, The Rampage can tear open rifts between dimensions, allowing it to travel from one dimension to another with ease, and this portal creation is so potent it can enter and escape the Pit and Void freely.
[center][b]"You're a fine warrior. Call me sentimental..."[/b][/center][table][row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/139ceac154751673f3ae0a9fe3c9db14/tumblr_n5ns5eDSUE1spjmjdo1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/8de527f156d1dcdab59303529f9a2963/tumblr_n5ns5eDSUE1spjmjdo2_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/fdd81701556b497cef877cce8608411e/tumblr_n5ns5eDSUE1spjmjdo3_r1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/f4c53df62090bdfc77fc8d4af49bd3bb/tumblr_mp19k0oeBn1spjmjdo1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/tiUPmOX.png[/img][/center][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/973255b1496b1e15ea88881ee0842923/tumblr_n5ns5eDSUE1spjmjdo4_r2_400.gifv[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/92b4cd3f3f69445efc0b66dbf4040d4e/tumblr_mp19k0oeBn1spjmjdo3_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/076f8a0494600005276b223a9c34f4df/tumblr_mp19k0oeBn1spjmjdo4_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/91ef2adb4acfaae1ed6e5882900137f2/tumblr_mp19k0oeBn1spjmjdo2_r1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][/row]
[/table][center][b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oBfsNh4c_E]"...but I wish we'd met under different circumstances."[/url][/b][/center][hr][hr][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/RKmK4q0.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/N7tTd5u.png[/img]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpOgr4s3GrE[/youtube]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/hFWozfG.png[/img][hr][hr][img]https://i.imgur.com/1efdG4h.png[/img][/center][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent][indent]Currently updating...[/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent][table][row][/row][row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/f12910313dd47ea9cead1c314f8ab833/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo3_250.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/fe472fa332e424f66ed2837f2eaf23c9/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo4_250.gifv[/img][/cell]
[cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb00b50c1dbf289d9140c30a7a332011/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo8_250.gifv[/img][/cell][/row]
[row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec26b8c0fcc1da9903b62bf0022ce62c/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo5_250.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/468eaf4ed38d54774f2d3fd269296f74/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo6_250.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/23bf4bb5ad09c631a81860f2f822ccce/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo7_250.gifv[/img][/cell][/row][center][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/30d05b58ba9137c6662a93a96bfa527a/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo2_400.gifv[/img][hr][/center]
[center][b]"I'm a dominant..."[/b][/center][/table][center][hr][b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v31J3arX5Kg]"... This is my job."[/url][/b]
[img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/e91570ee96f9a973747062884eeea1ce/tumblr_ntbm31BkSa1sznb4xo1_400.gifv[/img][hr][/center][table][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/XFCLhxV.png[/img][/center][row][/row][row][cell][center][b][color=forestgreen]REALLY PUNCHY GUYS[/color][/b]
[sup]_______________________________[/sup]
[b][@redbaron1234]
[@Kamen Evie]
[@KaiserElectric]
[@Drag]
[@KremeSupreme]
[@Megsychan]
[@Oddsbod][/b][/center][/cell][cell][center][b][color=forestgreen]THE DISAPPOINTMENT CLUB[/color][/b]
[sup]_______________________________[/sup]
[b][@Spoopy Scary]
[@Junkmail]
[@Maxx]
[@Luminous Beings]
[@Dragonbud][/b][/center][/cell][cell][center][b][color=forestgreen]OTHER SCRUBS[/color][/b]
[sup]_______________________________[/sup]
[b][@Zombiedude101]
[@Lord Wraith]
[@FernStone]
[@Atrophy]
[@Moth]
[@Skai]
[@silvermist1116][/b][/center][/cell][/row][/table][table][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/GXlptHc.png[/img][/center][row][/row][row][cell][center][b][color=forestgreen]SETTINGS[/color][/b]
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[b][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/183613-the-tyrant-shell-universe]The Tyrant Shell Universe[/url][/b] - Mechapunk (Mecha and Cyberpunk mixed together).
[b][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/183624-the-black-fall-universe]The Black Fall Universe[/url][/b] - Modern-Superhuman tale.[/center][/cell][cell][center][b][color=forestgreen]LINKS[/color][/b]
[sup]_______________________________[/sup]
[b][url=https://discord.gg/4FznNGS]The Collective[/url][/b] - My Discord Server.
[b][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/183740-the-ghost-lounge-a-1x1-thread-thats-destined-to-go-places-bad-places]The Ghost Lounge[/url][/b] - My 1x1 Thread.
[b][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/183358-the-ghost-archives]The Ghost Archives[/url][/b] - Character storage.[/center][/cell][/row][/table][table][row][/row][row][cell][img]https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/928186361494425545/93DB229F54AD7363FF943FAF9627A2056CE6A354/[/img][/cell][cell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wmKBNmF.png[/img][/center][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/aab171d51ab0877e8cb44ef26725c12f/tumblr_mmijotYZ851spjmjdo1_r1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b92dee73766c54e1c588067f7b05e9/tumblr_mmijotYZ851spjmjdo2_r1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6db94e7f43a0116556b31237e9394cb/tumblr_oetl2fk7YA1r9ibuko1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/d85b9d9f883fcf1e71cad4d1b5c574e2/tumblr_oetl2fk7YA1r9ibuko2_400.gifv[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell][/cell][cell][img]https://64.media.tumblr.com/827528918c7f7bf2672681b30b851654/tumblr_otjspp0ccf1u0vn73o1_400.gifv[/img][/cell][cell][img][/img][/cell][/row][/table][center][b][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnvqcSKho5w]"Oh, I'm afraid we have no allies. No allies nor enemies. I love EVERYONE!"[/url][/b][/center][hr]
Member
Skai
Estylwen
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NoriWasHere
Antlers
FernStone
swordmasc
GamerXZ
Chronic
ColdAtlas
Kenshiro
