RedXCross

The Runaways

I think the important question is who gets stuck on the humps? I'm assuming probably Malcolm just to make things somewhat easier, but yeah.

The Runaways

Hooray, now that I'm offically accepted I feel less bad about adding into the conversation.
In terms of mind reading: Malcolm will probably not react a lot, though during the daytime you'll probably get a lot of sun god nonsense. Also poor, precious Malcolm is gonna have to learn a lot about how the real world works.

^{Though him accidentally stumbling across some dirty film??? Oh boy...}

The Runaways

Malcolm Priest

---

Basic Information

| Name |

Malcolm Priest, and just Malcolm works fine.

| Date of Birth |

June 12, 1999

| Gender |

Male

| Sexuality |

Ace-Demi. Sex isn't on his radar.

| In-Depth Appearance |

Malcolm's deep grin screams “apple-pie life” if you’re able to find it. In front of his parents and neighborhood, he’s the wistful blue-eyed boy that you hope your conservative children marry, even as his blond hair is consistently in a wavy mess. Adding to this image is his shyness that permeates both within the quick scuffle he’s developed to travel from place to place and the way he somehow always manages to avoid eye-contact despite being already six feet even before he reaches the ripe age of seventeen. His body is always turned in. From hands-in-pockets to how he stands with his body tightly managed and held together.

Long-sleeved shirts and simple jeans are the go-to. He’s known for buying sweaters a size bigger than him, or anything with a collar that can be brought up to cover his face. Winter is his preferred season because he can hide behind scarves or other things that keep him from becoming this bright beacon his blond hair might suggest. Otherwise, the deep v-neck or the deep hoodie are enough to keep him hidden in plain sight. Those thin hoodies that people can still wear in the summer are ideal for his slim, lanky form. His shoes are ripped and gray and they look like they’d been picked up at a nearby thrift shop (which they were). When he access the Tome of Light and uses his power, his eyes glow completely white, and the suns on the back of his hands ignite with the same glowing light.

Lastly, a metal cross pendant always dangles from his neck, and the black suns burned into the back of his hands are still as black and firm as they were the day they first appeared.

---

Who Am I?

| Personality |

♦ Quiet ♦ Pensive ♦ Compassionate ♦ Nervous ♦

"I-I am so sorry for everything... Is it possible for me to make it up to you?"

Malcolm always tries to find the path of least resistance through his simple life. Do what his parents ask; do what his teachers ask; do what his friends ask… He’s made himself known as a pushover since day one, and he’d prefer if people just didn’t confront him at all. Yes, he’s quite the nervous type around almost everyone out of fear that he might push someone’s buttons or start some kind of confrontation. Malcolm listened to what other people told him to do for a long time, down to the idea of “keeping a smile on your face” in the view of friends and guests. This is due to the fact that he has a crippling fear of disappointing people, and distancing himself makes that much easier. Even in the presence of his friends, a simple mistake could lead to a long, drawn out apology, and Malcolm often does whatever he can to please someone.

For Malcolm to make a decision for himself, it could take days or weeks to work up the nerve to even ask for something. Numerous “questionable” experiences with friends have been shut down before they get off the ground because his parents would say no. There is no backbone to hold him up unless something actively denies his trust or his integrity. Because beyond everything else that scares him and his fear of confrontation, he is a good kid. The fastest way to get him to make a decision is to show him some form of malice, then decision making becomes quite easy. Not enough to confront someone, but it might actually get him to make some kind of action against it.

Those that have gotten beyond his anxiety and fear know that his heart is truly made of gold. He assists in the nursery a lot at the church and the children adore him, and most of his friends know that Malcolm would be the first one to take a bullet for you in your time of need.

So, in summary, he’s a strong moral compass held up by a strand of grass.

| Likes & Dislikes |

✔ Early sunrises.
✔ The large smiles of little kids
✔ Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream.
✔ winter
✔ "contraband" books
✔ fresh fruit
✔ golden retrievers.
✘ Lies
✘ Loud assemblies or concerts
✘ conflict
✘ burns
✘ insects
✘ smoking
✘ plants without flowers

| History |

December 18th, 2016
The party was filled with the awkward laughter of neighbors and friends as the Priests held their traditional after-church lunch. Malcolm had spent the appropriate amount of time with his father’s arm around his shoulder and his mother at his other side with a fake smile plastered on his face.

“Malcolm, sweetie,” his mother finally spoke.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Can you go find the punch bowl? I think it’s in the basement with your father’s old books.”

“Sure thing.” He grinned.

"Malcolm," his father spoke up.

He froze, "Yes father?"

"Do not forget that we are meeting up with my colleagues next week, and it is a family affair."

Malcolm thought over for a second... Oh, right. Every year their family went to meet with who his father referred to as his "colleagues". There were usually some other kids there around his age, but he would generally find a quiet corner to himself between being shown off by his father like a trophy and the time it would take for them to leave. Maybe a conversation had happened once or twice? He couldn't quite remember.

His father let him go as he moved to shake the hands with one of the church’s other pastors before Malcolm disappeared from sight and back into the house. He took a deep breath, then stumbled down the stairs.

These picnics had been going on ever since his father had become the lead pastor of the small-town church known as Sunlight’s Chapel, which had been since around the time that Malcolm could walk. Their family was the light of the town, and as such they always demonstrated themselves at the best of their behavior. Their town didn’t need to know about his father’s angry ranting about “secular music” and the “secular schools brainwashing their children”. Those were arguments to be addressed at home and condemned in the church, not shared in the public eye of their small community. Malcolm, close to seventeen, had no phone or computer of his own, and every piece of media he had was closely monitored so that at least the pastor’s son could avoid being brainwashed by the toxic world.

“For your own good,” his father would say as he pulled his eight-year-old son over his knee when he caught him watching the Power Rangers on television.

And Malcolm believed him.

Malcolm shook his shoulders as he descended the stairs, flicking a light switch as he rounded the corner. Shelves of books rounded the walls on the way to his Father’s study, which was hidden behind a heavy, bolted door to which his father held the only key.

Malcolm scanned the shelves, searching everywhere for that crystal punch bowl.

“Where is it…” he muttered under his breath, “C’mon mom, where…”

He paused at his father’s door. The bolts were unhinged, and the door slightly ajar.

Still no punch bowl in sight.

He scanned the room. No one watching him or following behind him. Going into his father’s study did not come without serious consequences.

The last time he even approached the door left him unable to sit comfortably for weeks, but his friends’ words were still in his mind.

December 26, 2015

No more secrets.

In his pocket was a small, silver key that had been attached to pictures inside that one file folder. It slid carefully into place, and he could hear a series of nuts and bolts start to move away from each other, though part of him was still in denial. Sacrifices to a Sun God? It couldn't be serious. No one was a stronger Christian than his father... The door moved with a little force, and he immediate had to hold off from gagging as he was hit with a horrific scent.

His hand felt along the inside of the door, and it found a light switch only a few moments later, though he really didn’t like what he saw.

A circle was drawn in the middle of a concrete room. Blood splattered across the symbol of the Sun, a mark that matched the ones in his church, and bones… bare bones, bones with rotting skin, and whole skeletons were piled in the center circle, and a tall altar stood at its edge. The altar appeared to be a hooded figure, holding what appeared to be the globe of the sun in its hands, and a bright golden book sat under its statue.

The book seemed to be glowing. Malcolm couldn’t hold back the stream of bile that came from his disgust as he threw up into the corner of the room. It was only morbid curiosity that got him off his knees and moving towards the book. He could feel warmth emanating from the text, and it stole his attention away from the gruesome scene.

At this point: he’d found one truth.

His father was a vicious, dangerous man.

He felt as though his hands were being called to the book. A moment later and his hands were grasping at its binding and opening to its center.

Light glimmered from within it, warmth blew through his body, and he squealed in agony as the same sun mark became burned into the back of his hands with fire he couldn’t see. Yet there was more. Malcolm suddenly knew things he’d never known before. The knowledge from all his father’s sermons suddenly came clear.

Except his father’s words were twisted. He always spoke of the evils that twisted the planet. That the world’s horrors would be stomped out by their God’s light.

The rhetoric was all wrong, and the constant use of “their God” made a lot more sense.

It wasn’t the Christian god, but Lunara. A pagan deity of the sun. His father was purposefully using the church in an effort to summon and bind the deity to his own will.

“You’re different…” a voice whispered in his ear, a voice beyond human understanding.
“D-different?”

“You… you are WORTHY of my power.”

Malcolm stared at the suns burned into the back of his hands and gagged at the scent of burnt flesh.

“The Goddess Lunara?” Malcolm finally stuttered.

“YES… take my book, child of the Sun.”

He was compelled. His hands grasped the book and rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He shoved the book under his hoodie and his hands into his pockets.

Malcolm felt emotions he’d never felt in a long time. Rage. Frustration. Sadness. Betrayal.

Every action, every word his father had said was a lie. Malcolm lived under his tyrannical father just so that he could sacrifice a member of his community every solstice in hopes of ruling over the Goddess Lunara.

This book was the gateway, and it was two sacrifices away from bringing his father eternal power.

Words of power danced across his mind as he shoved whatever he could grab into a duffle bag. In the middle of the day, as his father and mother attended a party, he snuck out the back door and rushed towards his friend’s place.

From there, he could get the heck out of this small town. The whole time he learned the strength of Lunara from the voice of the book. Words of healing, of protection, of hope, became part of his common vernacular.

It was only as the sun set that the words became silence.

Then he resorted to reading, for it was the only distraction he had now. Maybe if he ever found the time to settle down…

He’d have some Power Rangers to catch up on.

| Family |

Arthur Priest - Father


A determined man with a constant visage of kindness among his community, and a personality that makes everyone want to rally around him. He's a highly respected member of the community due to his presence as Pastor and somehow struck fear into the hearts of Man with his vicious, angry sermons. This is because he's purposefully misguiding the church into following his own personal belief system. On every solstice, he would pull someone away from his congregation and invite them to a personal meeting in his study.

Where his words in his sermons could act as enough to prevent their escape from their destiny. They would be sacrificed to call to the neutral Sun Goddess through the Tome of Light, in hopes that he could one day claim her power for his own.
He rules his family with an iron fist and offers his protection to them unconditionally, as long as it is on his own terms. Within his soft outside exists a harsh shell of a heart which feels only love for his family and lust for divine power.

His position in the church is a great boon to the Syndicate, as it provides numerous human resources. There are always people looking for penance, or deals that need to be struck, and by going through their Pastor, they can find work and other things under-the-table. As an expert of acting and expression, he is always great at covering things up behind staggeringly phenomenal PR.

"I promise you, your sacrifice will mean great things for this world, for I will call Lunara to this planet, and together we will smite the darkness from the Earth."

Lucille Priest - Mother


Their marriage forced, but their cause united, Lucille and Arthur were married in the temple of Lunara, a place buried deep into the great American Outdoors. Their goal from the beginning was to trick a community into becoming offerings for their Goddess, but they became distracted for a little while as they grew to love each other. A child was never planned, but they loved Malcolm more than life itself. Malcolm became their rekindled passion for their cause because neither parent wanted their child to live in a dark, disgusting world. She was the Scion, not her husband, and as such she could also cast spells with assistance from the golden book. She loved her husband enough to take the lead, though she always had a backup plan if things were to go wrong...

Having a better understanding of magic made it easier for her to authenticate certain objects for the Syndicate's purposes. She is also much stronger in the ways of the Tome of Light, and has seared many of the words of power into places on her body where her close could hide them easily. This is probably why she dresses so conservatively all the time - to hide the marks.

Malcolm doesn't know this about her, but because of the seared words, she can still use their power despite not having direct access to the Tome, though they still possess the same restrictions.

"Everything we've done, we've done for this family. In the end, us and our God is all we have. So we must cherish it."

| Abilities |
Blessed with the power of Lunara and a chosen Scion, Malcolm can cast the spells from his book given that he has the energy for it. Each spell puts a certain level of strain on his body, but this does not prevent him from looking out for his friends and allies.

• Blessed Protection - he focuses his energy into a barrier around allies which can protect them from many dangerous sources.
• Healing Light - exactly as it says, the light can heal small wounds if he touches them, and greater wounds over longer spans of time
• Restrictive Bonds - Light energy binds foes and renders them immobile for short periods of time.
• Hand of the Sun - light in the shape of a hand exits from his own hand and smashes into opponents in hopes of rendering them unconscious

There are many other spells within the massive tome, but these are the easiest ones to use and the most common, though there are several conditions to his use of these spells:

One, it comes at great expense to its user. For a spell to become stronger he must sear it into his own skin, and the words of Power never stop emanating through his mind as long as there's light. This has led to serious insomnia due to the words waking him at the crack of dawn, and the respite given being only as short as the night. Also, the tome stops speaking to him at night, leaving him without access to his power when there is no sunlight.

The tome is the center of his power. As a chosen scion, it is his job to guard the book. Despite its supernatural power and appearance, it can be destroyed just as any other book could. A spike through its pages, a paper-shredder, a chain saw, water damage... the only things to which the book is immune is fire and sun damage. If the book is damaged, it can be repaired by one method only.

A human sacrifice at the peaking sun before a solstice.
| Strengths |

• Perception - Being used to hiding in plain sight and having to learn how to always be ready for his father's words, Malcolm is an excellent listener, and he can pick out threats very quickly from a crowded room. He rarely puts himself first, and as such it is easy for him to listen to the plight of others and read their body language easily.
• Compassion - Malcolm quickly trusts the people he meets that he doesn't deem awful, and this can help him learn more about the world to which he's been sheltered. A person's religion, political stance, and personal understanding of right and wrong mean little to Malcolm if they've proven to be good friends. He is initially kind, and little can sway him from his kindness.
• Intuition - Malcolm is quite the clever fellow, and since he couldn't really do much that interacted with the outside world, his one distraction was often word puzzles or other logic puzzles provided by his parents. They both believed that a sharp mind was very important. This is one of the few things Malcolm still agrees with on the terms of his parents.

| Weaknesses |

• Self-sacrifice - Malcolm does not know how to take care of himself very well, and often will ignore his own problems and suffering for the sake of others. He keeps his insomnia mostly a secret and ignores how hard it is for him to walk with so little sleep. This also comes from his parents' out-dated parenting methods and belief that reminded Malcolm that he was nothing compared to those around him.
• Lack of Confidence - Malcolm has little to no confidence in his ideas and/or opinions. He's quicker to apologize and call himself stupid than suggest a brilliant plan. This can even apply to situations which he may be required to stand up to others. He's quick to break under pressure, and let's just say there's still a few times people make fun of him for pissing himself during a 7th Grade Science presentation because he was so afraid.
• Atelophobia - the fear of disappointment and imperfection - Every little mistake Malcolm makes can weigh on him forever. He's so used to being punished for every less-than-stellar grade or every simple accident or mishap that he actively fears disappointing people or making mistakes. This can lead to a complete breakdown sometimes, especially if he's left to his own devices.

---

The Other

| Theme Song |

Black Sun – Death Cab For Cutie

_{”There is fear in the eyes of your father
and there is yours and there is mine
There is a desert veiled in pavement
and there's a city of seven hills,
our debris floats to the ocean
To meet again, I hope it will."}

| Extra Information |

Malcolm tends to flinch at any inappropriate language, and his form of swearing hasn't really evolved past the fourth grade. One of his closest possessions now is a copy of 1984 that he snatched from his father's library after it had been taken away from him.

Malcolm still considers himself religious, though his view of religion is incredibly skewed, seeing as he was raised thinking he was praising one thing when in reality he was praying to something completely different. Having a godly voice in his head constantly does not make that any easier.

Malcolm's Relationships

Malcolm Priest

Tish
“It was hard realizing most of the things Father said were lies, b-but people like Tish helped me change my opinions very quickly.”

Everyone in this group is well-intentioned, I think… It’s all just scrambled up in there with these lies, but Tish is very nice. She walks around like she owns the universe, and the way that she uses her power is so incredible. I feel really bad about it, but I’m still a little uncomfortable around her since Father always said that marking oneself was very sinful behaviour… but did it count if it was still part of her?

Everyone just baffles me. It makes me wish I’d talk to them more during our parents’ previous meetings. Neither of us have a stomach for violence, and I think that’s one point in which we’re both in agreement. She has so much confidence that I’m dazzled by her personality.

Andy
"Andy is so confusing, and there's some things I don't like, but I think his heart's in the right place?"

I can’t help it, but I really can’t get over the smoking! It really shouldn’t bother me so much, but it just smells so awful… I can’t tell how someone could ever breathe that stuff, though Andy is really confusing in a lot of different ways. I’ve picked up bits and pieces, but a lot of this behavior seems to be with the purpose of disappointing his parents? I couldn’t even imagine.

He cares though, and he’s crazy smart when he wants to be. I’m more than comfortable to let him take the lead, just as long as he hasn’t had too much to drink first. To be honest, there’s almost something intimidating about him that leaves me all confused. Does he like me? Does he hate me? I just watch him watching me and all of a sudden I feel like he might know everything about me and I don’t know anything. If I had known my parents’ plan sooner, would I have tried to actively defy them like Andy?

I doubt it. Andy solved that puzzle ages ago, and I’m still pulling the pieces out of the box.

Jay
"I didn't know there was so much I didn't know... then Jay starts talking."

How does Jay have so much to talk about? I feel like he’s always talking about some movie he read or something that he really cares about… it’s mesmerizing. The problem is that our conversations always come to a halt at some point because he waits for me to say something and then I have nothing to say and then there’s just this awkward silence… but it doesn’t seem awkward to him. He’s always smiling, always cheerful, and I get the sense that he knows a lot about me, but not in the same way Andy might.

There was one time where I asked Andy about what censorship was because he was talking about at some point, and then Jay jumped in and he just started going on and on about how important it was. It was outstanding! I’m pretty sure that I just stared at him with my jaw agape for who knows how long. Yet there he was, still waiting patiently for my lack-of-response.

I think we’re around the same age… but it feels like his life experience greatly outweighs mine.

Amelia
“She really gets in your face sometimes, but after the shock wears off... I guess she's fun?”

My memories of all our families meeting are a little foggy, but for some reason I remember Amelia's family the most. I think it was because My father always had a ton to say about them on the way home... and usually those things weren't very nice. It became commonplace to walk on eggshells after these nights because they always put Father in a mood. That, and the distinct image of her father's scournful eyes are burned into my skull...

Amelia though... I have to admit that she pushes my buttons a bit, but that might be a little more about my own insecurites. All the rest of the time, though, she's quite fun, I guess? I mean, she really brings out a lot of energy in our group. I'm glad I haven't ever had an argument with her... 'coz I don't think there's a real way to win...

Ophelia
“Lia... I.. I don't know what to do...”

It all started with Lia. I almost didn’t believe that dossier when I saw it, but she’s the one that made me take that key and check it out. She is such a great leader and everything she says makes me want to believe that everything might be okay at some point, though I feel really bad because I feel like she takes way too much time worrying about the rest of us when there’s clearly something weighing on her mind…

What really makes me worry is the burn mark on her neck. I just… I know what that must’ve felt like, especially after those marks on my hands.

I know that I can count on Lia, and I’m going to try my hardest to help her, and this whole group, in any way I can. Just so I can finally thank her for inspiring a little confidence in me and letting me see the truth.

Gloria
“What… What do I say? She seems so relaxed, but then sometimes she isn’t. I think… I really want to be friends with her… I just don’t know how…”

Gloria is very interesting, but she’s also super unpredictable. In one moment she’s completely in control, but then she’s challenging something that someone else said, or rolling her eyes at something else… I always feel her staring at me and the Tome with disapproval… like our very existence is insulting…

What I’m thankful for is our shared discomfort with some people. I mean, it’s probably not a good thing to like something like that, but It’s good to bond over mutual experiences. So I’ve been told. All in she’s super clever and is a lot better at trying to defend her stance than I am. That’s an extra level of comfort.

Some of the photos she takes are really cool too.

Cody
“Cody… he’s the easiest to talk to, for sure. His perspective has been very eye-opening to me.”

When my brain is going all over the place with all of Lunara’s words spiraling around it and etching all this information into my head, Cody always seems to be one of the few things that aren’t adding to my stress. Most people are so intimidating, or I feel like I need to try really hard in order to keep up with them, but Cody is always a calm smile, or a quiet nod. He’s the one I think I feel the easiest about talking to.

I know that at some point we’re gonna get stuck without a plan, or without an idea of our next step, and if that’s the case, then all I have to do is give Cody the space he needs to make that plan possible.

That is, if he doesn’t lose his human shape… How could anyone do that to their son?

The Runaways

@Write

Should be fixed now. Just had to chop things up a little bit.

Yeah, a little forewarning would've been nice on that one :P

EDIT: You created a monster. All I've been doing the past two hours is alternating between studying and editing to make my CS better.

I hope you're happy.

The Runaways

@Write
Oh my god I just met him and I love him.

Malcolm Priest

Malcolm Priest
^{Cleric - Scion of Lunara}

---

Basic Information

| Name |

Malcolm Priest, and just Malcolm works fine.

| Date of Birth |

June 12, 1999

| Gender |

Male

| Sexuality |

Ace-Demi. Sex isn't on his radar.

| In-Depth Appearance |

Malcolm's deep grin screams “apple-pie life” if you’re able to find it. In front of his parents and neighborhood, he’s the wistful blue-eyed boy that you hope your conservative children marry, even as his blond hair is consistently in a wavy mess. Adding to this image is his shyness that permeates both within the quick scuffle he’s developed to travel from place to place and the way he somehow always manages to avoid eye-contact despite being already six feet even before he reaches the ripe age of seventeen. His body is always turned in. From hands-in-pockets to how he stands with his body tightly managed and held together.

Long-sleeved shirts and simple jeans are the go-to. He’s known for buying sweaters a size bigger than him, or anything with a collar that can be brought up to cover his face. Winter is his preferred season because he can hide behind scarves or other things that keep him from becoming this bright beacon his blond hair might suggest. Otherwise, the deep v-neck or the deep hoodie are enough to keep him hidden in plain sight. Those thin hoodies that people can still wear in the summer are ideal for his slim, lanky form. His shoes are ripped and gray and they look like they’d been picked up at a nearby thrift shop (which they were).

Lastly, a metal cross pendant always dangles from his neck, and the black suns burned into the back of his hands are still as black and firm as they were the day they first appeared.

---

Who Am I?

| Personality |

♦ Quiet ♦ Pensive ♦ Compassionate ♦ Nervous ♦

"I-I am so sorry for everything... Is it possible for me to make it up to you?"

Malcolm always tries to find the path of least resistance through his simple life. Do what his parents ask; do what his teachers ask; do what his friends ask… He’s made himself known as a pushover since day one, and he’d prefer if people just didn’t confront him at all. Yes, he’s quite the nervous type around almost everyone out of fear that he might push someone’s buttons or start some kind of confrontation. Malcolm listened to what other people told him to do for a long time, down to the idea of “keeping a smile on your face” in the view of friends and guests. This is due to the fact that he has a crippling fear of disappointing people, and distancing himself makes that much easier. Even in the presence of his friends, a simple mistake could lead to a long, drawn out apology, and Malcolm often does whatever he can to please someone.

For Malcolm to make a decision for himself, it could take days or weeks to work up the nerve to even ask for something. Numerous “questionable” experiences with friends have been shut down before they get off the ground because his parents would say no. There is no backbone to hold him up unless something actively denies his trust or his integrity. Because beyond everything else that scares him and his fear of confrontation, he is a good kid. The fastest way to get him to make a decision is to show him some form of malice, then decision making becomes quite easy. Not enough to confront someone, but it might actually get him to make some kind of action against it.

Those that have gotten beyond his anxiety and fear know that his heart is truly made of gold. He assists in the nursery a lot at the church and the children adore him, and most of his friends know that Malcolm would be the first one to take a bullet for you in your time of need.

So, in summary, he’s a strong moral compass held up by a strand of grass.

| Likes & Dislikes |

✔ Early sunrises.
✔ The large smiles of little kids
✔ Cookies 'n Cream Ice Cream.
✔ winter
✔ "contraband" books
✔ fresh fruit
✔ golden retrievers.
✘ Lies
✘ Loud assemblies or concerts
✘ conflict
✘ burns
✘ insects
✘ smoking
✘ plants without flowers

| History |

December 18th, 2016
The party was filled with the awkward laughter of neighbors and friends as the Priests held their traditional after-church lunch. Malcolm had spent the appropriate amount of time with his father’s arm around his shoulder and his mother at his other side with a fake smile plastered on his face.

“Malcolm, sweetie,” his mother finally spoke.

“Yes, Mother?”

“Can you go find the punch bowl? I think it’s in the basement with your father’s old books.”

“Sure thing.” He grinned.

"Malcolm," his father spoke up.

He froze, "Yes father?"

"Do not forget that we are meeting up with my colleagues next week, and it is a family affair."

Malcolm thought over for a second... Oh, right. Every year their family went to meet with who his father referred to as his "colleagues". There were usually some other kids there around his age, but he would generally find a quiet corner to himself between being shown off by his father like a trophy and the time it would take for them to leave. Maybe a conversation had happened once or twice? He couldn't quite remember.

His father let him go as he moved to shake the hands with one of the church’s other pastors before Malcolm disappeared from sight and back into the house. He took a deep breath, then stumbled down the stairs.

These picnics had been going on ever since his father had become the lead pastor of the small-town church known as Sunlight’s Chapel, which had been since around the time that Malcolm could walk. Their family was the light of the town, and as such they always demonstrated themselves at the best of their behavior. Their town didn’t need to know about his father’s angry ranting about “secular music” and the “secular schools brainwashing their children”. Those were arguments to be addressed at home and condemned in the church, not shared in the public eye of their small community. Malcolm, close to seventeen, had no phone or computer of his own, and every piece of media he had was closely monitored so that at least the pastor’s son could avoid being brainwashed by the toxic world.

“For your own good,” his father would say as he pulled his eight-year-old son over his knee when he caught him watching the Power Rangers on television.

And Malcolm believed him.

Malcolm shook his shoulders as he descended the stairs, flicking a light switch as he rounded the corner. Shelves of books rounded the walls on the way to his Father’s study, which was hidden behind a heavy, bolted door to which his father held the only key.

Malcolm scanned the shelves, searching everywhere for that crystal punch bowl.

“Where is it…” he muttered under his breath, “C’mon mom, where…”

He paused at his father’s door. The bolts were unhinged, and the door slightly ajar.

Still no punch bowl in sight.

He scanned the room. No one watching him or following behind him. Going into his father’s study did not come without serious consequences.

The last time he even approached the door left him unable to sit comfortably for weeks, but his friends’ words were still in his mind.

December 26, 2015

No more secrets.

In his pocket was a small, silver key that had been attached to pictures inside that one file folder. It slid carefully into place, and he could hear a series of nuts and bolts start to move away from each other, though part of him was still in denial. Sacrifices to a Sun God? It couldn't be serious. No one was a stronger Christian than his father... The door moved with a little force, and he immediate had to hold off from gagging as he was hit with a horrific scent.

His hand felt along the inside of the door, and it found a light switch only a few moments later, though he really didn’t like what he saw.

A circle was drawn in the middle of a concrete room. Blood splattered across the symbol of the Sun, a mark that matched the ones in his church, and bones… bare bones, bones with rotting skin, and whole skeletons were piled in the center circle, and a tall altar stood at its edge. The altar appeared to be a hooded figure, holding what appeared to be the globe of the sun in its hands, and a bright golden book sat under its statue.

The book seemed to be glowing. Malcolm couldn’t hold back the stream of bile that came from his disgust as he threw up into the corner of the room. It was only morbid curiosity that got him off his knees and moving towards the book. He could feel warmth emanating from the text, and it stole his attention away from the gruesome scene.

At this point: he’d found one truth.

His father was a vicious, dangerous man.

He felt as though his hands were being called to the book. A moment later and his hands were grasping at its binding and opening to its center.

Light glimmered from within it, warmth blew through his body, and he squealed in agony as the same sun mark became burned into the back of his hands with fire he couldn’t see. Yet there was more. Malcolm suddenly knew things he’d never known before. The knowledge from all his father’s sermons suddenly came clear.

Except his father’s words were twisted. He always spoke of the evils that twisted the planet. That the world’s horrors would be stomped out by their God’s light.

The rhetoric was all wrong, and the constant use of “their God” made a lot more sense.

It wasn’t the Christian god, but Lunara. A pagan deity of the sun. His father was purposefully using the church in an effort to summon and bind the deity to his own will.

“You’re different…” a voice whispered in his ear, a voice beyond human understanding.
“D-different?”

“You… you are WORTHY of my power.”

Malcolm stared at the suns burned into the back of his hands and gagged at the scent of burnt flesh.

“The Goddess Lunara?” Malcolm finally stuttered.

“YES… take my book, child of the Sun.”

He was compelled. His hands grasped the book and rushed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He shoved the book under his hoodie and his hands into his pockets.

Malcolm felt emotions he’d never felt in a long time. Rage. Frustration. Sadness. Betrayal.

Every action, every word his father had said was a lie. Malcolm lived under his tyrannical father just so that he could sacrifice a member of his community every solstice in hopes of ruling over the Goddess Lunara.

This book was the gateway, and it was two sacrifices away from bringing his father eternal power.

Words of power danced across his mind as he shoved whatever he could grab into a duffle bag. In the middle of the day, as his father and mother attended a party, he snuck out the back door and rushed towards his friend’s place.

From there, he could find a bus station, and get the heck out of this small town. The whole time he learned the strength of Lunara from the voice of the book. Words of healing, of protection, of hope, became part of his common vernacular.

It was only as the sun set that the words became silence.

Then he resorted to reading, for it was the only distraction he had now. Maybe if he ever found the time to settle down…

He’d have some Power Rangers to catch up on.

| Family |

Arthur Priest - Father


A determined man with a constant visage of kindness among his community, and a personality that makes everyone want to rally around him. He's a highly respected member of the community due to his presence as Pastor and somehow struck fear into the hearts of Man with his vicious, angry sermons. This is because he's purposefully misguiding the church into following his own personal belief system. On every solstice, he would pull someone away from his congregation and invite them to a personal meeting in his study.

Where his words in his sermons could act as enough to prevent their escape from their destiny. They would be sacrificed to call to the neutral Sun Goddess through the Tome of Light, in hopes that he could one day claim her power for his own.
He rules his family with an iron fist and offers his protection to them unconditionally, as long as it is own his own terms. Within his soft outside exists a harsh shell of a heart which feels only love for his family and lust for divine power.

His position in the church is a great boon to the Syndicate, as it provides numerous human resources. There are always people looking for penance, or deals that need to be struck, and by going through their Pastor, they can find work and other things under-the-table. As an expert of acting and expression, he is always great at covering things up behind staggeringly phenomenal PR.

"I promise you, your sacrifice will mean great things for this world, for I will call Lunara to this planet, and together we will smite the darkness from the Earth."

Lucille Priest - Mother


Their marriage forced, but their cause united, Lucille and Arthur were married in the temple of Lunara, a place buried deep into the great American Outdoors. Their goal from the beginning was to trick a community into becoming offerings for their Goddess, but they became distracted for a little while as they grew to love each other. A child was never planned, but they loved Malcolm more than life itself. Malcolm became their rekindled passion for their cause because neither parent wanted their child to live in a dark, disgusting world. She was the Scion, not her husband, and as such she could also cast spells with assistance from the golden book. She loved her husband enough to take the lead, though she always had a backup plan if things were to go wrong...

Having a better understanding of magic made it easier for her to authenticate certain objects for the Syndicate's purposes. She is also much stronger in the ways of the Tome of Light, and has seared many of the words of power into places on her body where her close could hide them easily. This is probably why she dresses so conservatively all the time - to hide the marks.

Malcolm doesn't know this about her, but because of the seared words, she can still use their power despite not having direct access to the Tome, though they still possess the same restrictions.

"Everything we've done, we've done for this family. In the end, us and our God is all we have. So we must cherish it."

| Abilities |
Blessed with the power of Lunara and a chosen Scion, Malcolm can cast the spells from his book given that he has the energy for it. Each spell puts a certain level of strain on his body, but this does not prevent him from looking out for his friends and allies.

• Blessed Protection - he focuses his energy into a barrier around allies which can protect them from many dangerous sources.
• Healing Light - exactly as it says, the light can heal small wounds if he touches them, and greater wounds over longer spans of time
• Restrictive Bonds - Light energy binds foes and renders them immobile for short periods of time.
• Hand of the Sun - light in the shape of a hand exits from his own hand and smashes into opponents in hopes of rendering them unconscious

There are many other spells within the massive tome, but these are the easiest ones to use and the most common, though there are several conditions to his use of these spells:

One, it comes at great expense to its user. For a spell to become stronger he must sear it into his own skin, and the words of Power never stop emanating through his mind as long as there's light. This has led to serious insomnia due to the words waking him at the crack of dawn, and the respite given being only as short as the night. Also, the tome stops speaking to him at night, leaving him without access to his power when there is no sunlight.

The tome is the center of his power. As a chosen scion, it is his job to guard the book. Despite its supernatural power and appearance, it can be destroyed just as any other book could. A spike through its pages, a paper-shredder, a chain saw, water damage... the only things to which the book is immune is fire and sun damage. If the book is damaged, it can be repaired by one method only.

A human sacrifice at the peaking sun before a solstice.
| Strengths |

• Perception - Being used to hiding in plain sight and having to learn how to always be ready for his father's words, Malcolm is an excellent listener, and he can pick out threats very quickly from a crowded room. He rarely puts himself first, and as such it is easy for him to listen to the plight of others and read their body language easily.
• Compassion - Malcolm quickly trusts the people he meets that he doesn't deem awful, and this can help him learn more about the world to which he's been sheltered. A person's religion, political stance, and personal understanding of right and wrong mean little to Malcolm if they've proven to be good friends. He is initially kind, and little can sway him from his kindness.
• Intuition - Malcolm is quite the clever fellow, and since he couldn't really do much that interacted with the outside world, his one distraction was often word puzzles or other logic puzzles provided by his parents. They both believed that a sharp mind was very important. This is one of the few things Malcolm still agrees with on the terms of his parents.

| Weaknesses |

• Self-sacrifice - Malcolm does not know how to take care of himself very well, and often will ignore his own problems and suffering for the sake of others. He keeps his insomnia mostly a secret and ignores how hard it is for him to walk with so little sleep. This also comes from his parents' out-dated parenting methods and belief that reminded Malcolm that he was nothing compared to those around him.
• Lack of Confidence - Malcolm has little to no confidence in his ideas and/or opinions. He's quicker to apologize and call himself stupid than suggest a brilliant plan. This can even apply to situations which he may be required to stand up to others. He's quick to break under pressure, and let's just say there's still a few times people make fun of him for pissing himself during a 7th Grade Science presentation because he was so afraid.
• Atelophobia - the fear of disappointment and imperfection - Every little mistake Malcolm makes can weigh on him forever. He's so used to being punished for every less-than-stellar grade or every simple accident or mishap that he actively fears disappointing people or making mistakes. This can lead to a complete breakdown sometimes, especially if he's left to his own devices.

---

The Other

| Theme Song |

Black Sun – Death Cab For Cutie

_{”There is fear in the eyes of your father”
"and there is yours and there is mine"}

| Extra Information |

Malcom tends to flinch at any inappropriate language, and his form of swearing hasn't really evolved past the fourth grade. One of his closest possessions now is a copy of 1984 that he snatched from his father's library after it had been taken away from him.

The Runaways

Howdy Friends, it is I the friendliest fry.

Do you want CS's here, then to be moved upon approval from GM?

Happiness

*casually waits by door for people to come back or come by*

Happiness

Austin stood attentive as Irina and Gray took off in search of their goals, and as he was left behind with Justin and Cleo. The room from which he emerged stood behind him: with his goods and some others already being stored inside. Justin was putting him on the spot, but if he was being honest that was almost a little more reassuring.

Heck, the way he took charge like that was pretty impressive. With the girls gone, Austin needed to step into some kind of role, and if that meant taking a leadership position then by all means he was going to take it. Priority number one was still surviving this situation through any means necessary. Staying in a group seemed like the best way to accomplish that goal at this time.

Even so, there were personal goals that needed to be accomplished. Based on how Justin’s goal was achieved by “making friends”; he doubted that any of the challenges were impossible.

This meant there was one or more people still in this building they hadn’t located. To be fair, there was still a large portion of this place that had yet to have been explored. Already they were an eclectic group. Austin knew his priorities but was also aware that keeping track of people’s personalities was a little neurotic and strange, and Justin didn’t seem to like surprises. But with that passed, he seemed to have fallen calmly into his own skin, but he was quick to shirk the leadership role.

Did he really think that Austin was the most reliable person for that position? Or did he simply want to avoid stepping into a role that was guaranteed to be stressful?

Austin read too many novels featuring similar situations to believe that they’d make it out of this unscathed. The problem was that Austin spent so much time trying to be more open and emotional that it might have made him vulnerable.

Or would it be easy to become as cold as his bones once again?

Then there was Irina, who seemed nervous and timid, but likely not a threat as of yet, nor an obvious victim. Typically, horror novels liked to eradicate the most reliable and self-confident person first.

Based on who he’d met, that was probably either Gray or Cleo.

He ignored the voice in his head that told him this wasn’t a novel.

But if they needed a leader at the moment, he could fulfill this role. He could keep the group comfortable in their own skin and find ways to divvy things up and organize their forces so they could all make it out alive. He’d spent his life trying to create perfect relationships. That should help, right?

Or had it just made him better at manipulating people to suit his own purposes. If he could keep it going, he could probably make it out of this with minimal damage.

The others… well. Austin couldn’t control everything.

He placed his hand on the doorknob and looked around the door on both sides, searching for some locking mechanism. Once he discovered the answer, he turned back to Justin.

“You two need to figure out what kind of ‘gift’ this voice is talking about. You guys go find the place and I’ll stick around here. That way when the others get back or others show up maybe we can find a way to get things organized. I’ll just stick around in this hallway, and we can organize everything else once we’re all here to talk about it.”

With that, he took a breath and leaned against the doorway, manipulating his body language once more to try and appear as casual as possible.

So be it. He’ll take the role in stride.

Happiness

No, pushing things forward is great. It's gonna take me a little bit of time to figure out what Justin's move is, so expect my post in a few hours or so.

Happiness

@SilverDawn

Well Done.

You've effectively made an RP that has me hyperanalyzing every word choice, every decision, and every character bio that's been pasted here in an attempt to discover what your intentions are.

In doing so, I've also realized that I'm gonna need to start making some crazy IC decisions if I want a chance of surviving/figuring out the puzzle.

I don't know what the omniscient voice's idea of "Happy" is, but I am very happy with where this is going. Even if Austin ends up dying, trust me, I'll still be here, lurking, waiting.

I'm so excited I want things to keep going!