Welcome to Recollections: Linebreaker, another RP set in the supernatural horror/urban fantasy universe known as the Recollections universe. Most people think there’s only one world. One life. One reality. But that’s simply not true. The All-Verse is a network of parallel universes. Normally, these worlds stay separate behind strong barriers, which only magic is capable of piercing. It started in Portland, Maine, in a universe called Kindle, with an individual known only as The Witch. Cloaked in red and masked by a cow skull, she was a menace—her magic reckless, ancient, and destructive. No one knew she was being used as a tool for something far older, far worse.
Nyrah the Ravager, a corrupted dragon Apparition of multiversal scale, found her way into this world through the Witch. Twisted by Chaos and driven by destruction, Nyrah used the Witch to enact a ritual that shattered the walls between worlds. A pillar of light tore open the sky, and the Linebreaker Event began. Some say The Butterfly—the Ancient that watches over time and the spaces between—should’ve stopped it. But it didn’t. Whether it was too late, too far, or already tangled in something else, no one can say for sure. All that’s known is that the walls broke, and nothing stopped it.
This caused a tear between worlds, allowing Nyrah the Ravager to emerge fully stabilized and able to pursue her destructive plans. She unleashed her corrosive acid storms across Portland, melting steel and stone alike. Her presence warped the very streets, twisting reality as her deadly minions spread destruction and despair. Portland became the first crucible of her unstoppable rampage—an ominous warning of the chaos soon to engulf the wider All-Verse.
Afterwards the Parallel Effect struck.
People from a normal, magic-free world — Shadow — suddenly found themselves in the bodies of their Counterparts in this broken dimension. They were thrust into a world of magic, gaining abilities they have little understanding of but are key to solving the crisis. They found themselves trapped in lives they didn’t know—living with powers, enemies, and responsibilities they never wanted. They woke inside a ruined chemical plant, right in the middle of Nyrah’s rampage, forced to survive in a dangerous new world. The Butterfly is missing—gone without a trace. And with it, the being who should be holding the barriers together is nowhere to be found.
Now, the only chance to fix things is to:
Find The Witch. Seal Nyrah. Repair the damage.
Or watch everything fall apart.
Above all else, the themes of this story will be Connections, Identity, Emotions, and Memories.
RULES & NOTES
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1. First and foremost, I reserve the right to reject anyone from the RP and boot them out at any time. I hate to do this, and I will try to avoid it, but sometimes, some people are too disruptive to the RP or aren't a good fit and must be removed.
2. Please try to be respectful towards all other players.
3. This is a dark, off-urban fantasy set in the real world. That means magic exists, but it’s wrapped in realism. Characters should make sense in the setting — realistic (or naturalistic) faceclaims, believable behavior, etc. Go wild with identity (gender, race, sexuality, etc.), but avoid exaggerated tropes like emotionless sociopaths or edge-lords.
4. The tone is dark, weird, and sometimes violent — not nonstop grimdark, but there will be disturbing imagery, death, and even nudity. It’s balanced out by surrealism, absurdist humor, and the general chaos of the world itself.
5.No WIP sheets in the OOC. If your character isn’t finished, don’t post it. Message me privately if you want feedback before you’re ready to go live. The character tab is only for accepted characters.
6. Your character can die. If they make the wrong move or ignore danger, there will be consequences. I’m not killing characters for fun, but I won’t save them just because you’re attached.
7.You can play as many characters as you can reasonably handle. Just don’t bite off more than you can chew.
8. This isn’t a standard superhero RP. It’s weird — an off-urban fantasy with horror, multiversal drama, and emotional magic. Powers should feel mystical, thematic, and personal. I strongly prefer abilities that reflect something internal about your character. Scientific powers (like gravity, magnetism, etc.) are discouraged, but I’ll allow them if they make sense.
9. Every character must have switched minds with their counterpart from another universe due to the Linebreaker Event.
10. I’m only giving you the essential lore up front. That’s intentional. I prefer to build the world in-character, piece by piece. If you need anything clarified to make your character work, just ask — I’m happy to fill in the blanks.
11. Banned powers: magic negation/replication, instant-kill abilities, reality-warping, anything with “Omni” in the name, complete invulnerability, and any other broken or nonsense-tier power. If you’re unsure, ask. I’ll explain why if I turn something down.
12. This RP is first-come, first-served. I won’t reserve roles, powers, or concepts. Whoever finishes their character sheet first gets it. If a dispute pops up, I’ll decide how it plays out.
13. Minimum activity is one post per week. If you don’t post within a week, your character is considered inactive. After that, I can take control of them, write them out, or kill them off. Stay in touch if you need time.
14. The setting runs on Ambiguous Time Period logic. It blends aesthetics and technology from different eras, so don’t worry about pinning down a specific year. It’s intentionally anachronistic.
15. Don’t fill out the “Weaknesses” section on your sheet. I’ll handle that myself.
16. Optional, but I can design a magical ability for your character if you’d like. It’ll be custom-built and fit their vibe. Just say the word.
17. All characters will originate from Shadow, a universe where magic is naturally suppressed and interdimensional travel is impossible. Because of this, everyone will start off completely unaware of magic. Adepts won’t have any spells at first, and other types won’t understand how to use their powers. (If you're wondering how someone can even be an Adept under those conditions — don’t worry, there’s an explanation.)
18. Power level should stay low. Think street-level supernatural. No chucking buildings or melting cities. Keep it esoteric, personal, and emotionally charged.
19. Your character doesn't have to switch with their own Counterpart. The Linebreaker Event scrambled everything — it's chaotic, unstable, and nothing went cleanly. Your character could've ended up in another body entirely, even someone else's Counterpart.
20. Some rules are so beaten into your head that it should be obvious. ............................................
The Linebreaker Event stands as a cataclysmic turning point in the balance of the multiverse, a rupture unlike anything seen before. It began when a powerful Paranormal known as the Witch, in an act of desperate ambition, performed a forbidden ritual with Nyrah the Ravager—an ancient Apparition of devastating power and malevolent intent. Though the Ancient known as The Butterfly intervened to halt the ritual, their efforts ultimately failed. Nyrah, unleashed by the Witch’s incantation, shattered the fragile dimensional barriers that separate worlds, tearing through the very fabric of reality.
This breach was not a simple tear, but a complete obliteration of the borders between dimensions. The consequences were immediate and profound. Time itself began to unravel, stuttering and looping erratically in pockets across existence. In some places, moments repeat like broken records; in others, time skips forward without warning, leaving chaos in its wake. From the darkest abyss of the Pit, monstrous creatures have slipped through the cracks, invading realms that once seemed secure. Portals to long-lost pasts and distant, alien dimensions now flicker open with unsettling unpredictability.
Perhaps the most unnerving consequence of the Linebreaker Event is the Parallel Effect. This phenomenon caused an involuntary and widespread swapping of minds and bodies between inhabitants of two universes: Shadow and Kindle. Those from Shadow—a world where magic is suppressed—found themselves thrust into the bodies of Kindle’s inhabitants, often with little understanding of their newfound powers or surroundings. Entire lives and identities were scrambled, forging strange new realities and fractured alliances. The Butterfly, once the guardian against such cosmic threats, has vanished without a trace, leaving the multiverse vulnerable and directionless.
As this multidimensional chaos escalates, the boundaries of existence weaken further. Reality teeters on the edge of collapse, and those caught in this maelstrom face challenges that test the limits of their resolve, sanity, and power. The Linebreaker Event is not just a rupture of space and time—it is a profound unraveling of fate itself, where the past, present, and possible futures collide in violent disarray. And amid the shifting shadows of this crisis, the question lingers: what greater horrors lie waiting beyond the shattered walls of the multiverse?
SHADOW
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"The silence screams loudest." ____________________________________
Shadow was once a world alive with magic. It wasn’t just a place where spells happened—it was magic itself. The land, the people, the very air buzzed with power. Abominable roamed freely, and Adepts practiced their craft openly. Cities glowed with enchanted lights, and magic was part of daily life for everyone.
But that all changed long ago. In a desperate move, all the magic of Shadow was sealed away. Nobody knows exactly who or what did it, but the effect was clear: magic disappeared. The power that once shaped the world vanished, leaving behind a cold, gray emptiness. Without magic, cities grew dull, forests lost their mystery, and magical creatures immediately died out. Life became ordinary. It became impossible to teleport in or out of Shadow, trapping its people within its borders.
And something else happened, quietly, in the blood. The Adept bloodlines went dormant. Not dead. Just sleeping. Waiting.
With magic gone, the people of Shadow had to find new ways to survive. Technology slowly took its place. Machines, tools, and science became the new “magic.” But the loss left a deep scar. Many who remembered the old days whispered in secret, dreaming of a time when magic would return. Others simply accepted that Shadow was a world without wonder.
Over the centuries, Shadow’s magical past faded into legend. Outside worlds viewed it as a myth—a place where magic once was, but no longer. Inside, life became routine and predictable, far from the dazzling reality it once was. The silence of magic still haunts the land, though no one knows if that silence will last forever.
Recently, due to strange cosmic disruptions, many from Shadow have mysteriously swapped minds and bodies with their counterparts in Kindle, throwing both worlds into confusion and chaos. The sealing that drained their world may soon be broken, and with it, the return of forces long thought dead—and the chaos they bring.
PORTLAND, MAINE
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"Where the sea meets chaos, and magic hides in plain sight." ____________________________________
Portland, Maine, is a coastal city known for its working waterfront, the historic Old Port district, and scenic views from Munjoy Hill. Its streets weave through a mix of brick buildings, parks, and close-knit neighborhoods. Notable spots include the iconic Portland Head Light, the Portland Museum of Art, and a vibrant local scene famous for food and craft beer.
Beneath the city’s everyday rhythms lies a subtle supernatural undercurrent—haunted docks, sea-bound Apparitions, and hidden magic users quietly watching over the city. Local legends mix with genuine paranormal activity, making Portland a unique crossroads of the mundane and the magical.
Since the Linebreaker Event, Portland has descended into chaos. Nyrah the Ravager’s destructive rampage left parts of the city in ruins, with shattered buildings and streets stained by glowing pools of acid. Monsters now roam familiar neighborhoods unchecked, and reality itself has become unstable, punctuated by sudden bursts of strange, otherworldly energy.
Time warps unpredictably—moments loop, freeze, or disappear—and portals to bizarre realms open without warning, spilling fragments of other worlds into Portland’s heart. The city has become a fractured battleground where survival is a daily struggle, and the boundary between the natural and supernatural has been violently shattered.
"Open your mind, heart, body, and soul to the universe..." ____________________________________ Beyond the ordinary lies an invisible threshold—a line dividing the possible from the impossible. Some people cross it easily, born with a trait or inclination that draws them toward the unknown. Others are pushed. Regardless of how they cross, those who do discover a truth both exhilarating and terrifying: Magic is real.
This magic is not pulled from ancient tomes or distant stars; it’s born from within—fueled by human emotion, belief, and personality. Those who awaken to it gain powers that reflect who they are at their core. These individuals, varied in form and ability, are collectively known as the Paranormal. Their world is a gateway to infinite stories and adventures, where the laws of reality bend and the soul takes center stage.
The abilities granted to Paranormal beings are called Paranormal-Abilities. The most basic of these is the theoretical opening of a “third eye,” a metaphor for perceiving the unseen forces at work. Only the Paranormal can see magic in action; to everyone else, only the consequences are visible.
One of the most iconic abilities is called a Recollection—a vivid, immersive flashback that allows someone to witness events they weren’t present for, as if standing within the memory itself. Recollections can be triggered in many ways: during dreams, upon touching a meaningful object, or in the presence of someone connected to the memory. Sometimes, those with deep magical knowledge can even share a Recollection with others.
Paranormal beings are drawn to one another and to magical events, often against their will. Some believe that certain traits make individuals more likely to be pulled into these situations, or to be found by them.
At the heart of each Paranormal lies a unique power known as an Abstraction. No two Abstractions are exactly alike, as each is a manifestation of the individual’s soul. Though some may seem to possess multiple powers, these are simply facets of a greater whole. An Abstraction cannot be nullified or replaced—except in one extremely rare and specific case. To prevent chaos, Paranormal beings are protected from one another by an invisible force called the Emotional-Field. This field acts as a natural limiter, preventing most offensive Abstractions from being used directly on other Paranormals. For example, a pyromancer cannot boil another’s blood, a telekinetic cannot rip out a heart, and a mind controller cannot take over a fellow Paranormal. Some abilities like healing or telepathy are typically unaffected, but others may be weakened, blocked, or require creative workarounds. Certain rare Abstractions can bypass the Emotional-Field, and others may modify it, lessening its protection, stripping it away, or twisting its effects. But these cases are exceptional.
Those who lack both an Abstraction and an Emotional-Field are called the Blind. They cannot perceive, understand, or interact with magic in any way. However, some who have been exposed to magic may gain a limited awareness known as Aware. These Aware individuals still lack the protections and powers of the Paranormal, leaving them just as vulnerable as the Blind—if not more so.
ADEPTS
_______________________________________________ "Transcend the limitations you have placed on your mind and soul."
Eons ago, an ancient race of god-like beings known as the Ancients visited humanity and gifted thousands with access to a powerful form of magic called Lux. Lux is a unique kind of magic, its properties shaped by color, and it creates a spiritual bond not only with the energy itself but with the generations of users who came before. To unlock Lux, an individual must undergo a Kindling Event—a moment of overwhelming emotion that sparks the connection.
During a Kindling Event, the Adept may find themselves communing with their ancestors, much like a Recollection, forming a spiritual lineage that passes down through their descendants. However, this bond is not unbreakable. If an Adept strays from the values or expectations of their predecessors, they may experience a Severance—a complete disconnection from Lux. In some cases, this severance is forced by the ancestors; in others, the Adept severs themselves during their Kindling. Once severed, they become Aware—still able to perceive magic, but permanently cut off from their Lux.
Unlike other Paranormal beings, Adepts resemble traditional mages or wizards. They don’t possess a single innate ability but must learn spells, each drawn from the potential of their Lux. While theoretically capable of casting any spell within their Lux’s domain, each Adept has a personal Affinity—a trait or theme that reflects who they are. Spells aligned with an Adept’s Affinity are easier to learn and more powerful. Spells outside this affinity are difficult to develop, and spells that directly oppose it are nearly impossible to master.
Spells are typically discovered through trial and error, but each Adept has a unique method of learning—some through meditation, others through experimentation or emotional breakthroughs. Spells can also be taught, passed down through grimoires, artifacts, or shared by other Paranormals. Over a lifetime, an Adept may master hundreds of spells, though doing so takes years of dedication. Interestingly, close relationships can spark inspiration, allowing Adepts to create spells influenced by those they care about.
To cast spells, Adepts require a Channeler—an emotionally significant object through which they safely conduct their Lux. It’s possible to cast without one, but doing so risks severe injury, as channeling magic through the body leads to burns and instability. The process of spellcasting is called Casting, and methods vary: visualization, chanting, rituals, or pure willpower. Some Adepts gain access to multiple Lux. While this expands their magical repertoire, it also dilutes their power, making individual spells weaker. Still, combining different Lux can lead to unique hybrid spells. Most Adepts have only one Lux, a few have two, and those with three or more are exceptionally rare.
One of the most powerful techniques in an Adept’s arsenal is Joint-Casting—a method where two or more Adepts, bonded by strong emotional ties, combine their efforts to create spells of immense power. Unlike regular spellcasting, Joint-Casting demands perfect emotional and magical synchronization, making it far more difficult. But when successful, the results are extraordinary.
Joint-Casting isn’t limited by Affinity or Lux color. Adepts with the same Lux—such as two Red Adepts—can amplify a single concept, like creating a colossal firestorm. But even greater synergy can be found in diversity: a Green Adept and a Purple Adept might form a swirling vortex of temporal healing. These collaborative spells often enhance each caster’s strengths and cover for each other’s weaknesses, producing effects no Adept could achieve alone.
Red (Rage): Elemental Lux, the most common type of Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Bull. Examples: Manipulation of fire, ice, electricity, earth, plant, and similar abilities.
Green (Joy): Biological Lux, the third most common type of Lux. The Ancient embodies this Lux: The Deer. Examples: Healing, shape-shifting, wing generation, etc,
Yellow (Terror): Stealth & Defensive Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Spider. Examples: Invisibility, barrier generation/forcefields, dumbing sound down, etc.
Pink (Love): Mental & Emotional Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Dove. Examples: Emotion manipulation, mind control, telepathy, illusion creation, etc.
Gold (Pride): Minion Summoning/Creation Lux, the third rarest type of Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Lion. Examples: Creating minions of choice, summoning a defeated monster, etc.
Purple (Anticipation): Movement & Time Lux, the second most common type of Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Butterfly. Examples: Teleportation, time travel, Portal Creation, telekinesis, slowing down time, etc
Orange (Courage): Enchanting/Artifact-Creation, & Abstraction-Strengthening Lux, the second rarest form of Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Serpent. Examples: Creating artifacts, boosting Paranormal abilities, making an object weightless, etc.
Blue (Sadness): Curse Lux, the rarest form of Lux. The ability to cast curses which requires a stipulation to be broken. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Swan. Examples: Cursing someone to turn into a monster, creating a deadly illness, cursing someone to be haunted by the dead, etc.
White (Nostalgia): Information Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Owl. Examples include Observing locations remotely, seeing into the past/future, reading auras, gaining information about the environment, etc.
Black (Apathy): Necromancy Lux. The Ancient that embodies this Lux: The Hound. Examples: Creating zombie minions, manipulating apparitions, etc.
Adepts are probably my second favorite out of the types, so I'm biased. They're probably the most complex, given how Lux n' shit works. Blue Lux are heavily restricted and require permission from me to make one a player character - otherwise, they will be an NPC-only Lux. I demand a list of spells they can cast in their abstraction section. Keep in mind the more types of Lux they have access to, the weaker their abilities should be. Also, please run any new spells by me first.
APPARITIONS
________________________________________________________________ "They emerge from a world that shouldn't exist."
Ghosts. Spirits. Angels. Demons. Echoes. Whatever name you give them, Apparitions remain the most enigmatic and fantastical of all Paranormal beings. Unlike creatures of flesh and blood, they are formed entirely of pure magic, and unlike living things, they are not born—they are spawned into existence. There are three primary ways an Apparition can come into existence. The first is through belief or emotion so powerful that it manifests into being on its own—willpower, grief, or conviction so intense it bends reality. The second method is far rarer: an Apparition can be created directly by another Paranormal being, though this process is ancient, obscure, and nearly forgotten. The third and most common way occurs when a person dies harboring overwhelming emotions; a fragment of their consciousness and scattered memories may linger, coalescing into an Apparition.
In this third case, the resulting entity is not the soul of the deceased. It merely contains echoes—faint memories, slivers of personality, and scattered thoughts. These Apparitions begin as blank slates, shaped over time by the magic and emotion that birthed them. Many were once Paranormal beings who willingly shed their humanity to become something else—something more. Apparitions are fueled by the emotion or belief that created them. The stronger and more enduring that emotional force, the more powerful the Apparition becomes. But that power is not eternal. If the belief fades or the emotion weakens, the Apparition may fade from existence entirely.
Despite this vulnerability, Apparitions are effectively immortal. They can exist for centuries, regenerating even if destroyed—some in a matter of hours, depending on their strength. By default, they are invisible to the Blind but can choose to reveal themselves. The Aware and Paranormal can always perceive them, though only the latter can see them unconditionally. The primary method of defeating an Apparition is through a process called Sealing—imprisoning them within an object, trapping them for eternity unless someone breaks the seal. To avoid this fate, many Apparitions attempt to bind themselves to a human, embedding their presence in the world in a more stable form. However, when bound this way, their Abstraction becomes static and unchanging.
Apparitions are also the primary source of curses, particularly those fueled by grief, hatred, or despair. They are deeply entwined with Black Lux, which can manipulate or even command them. Of all Paranormal entities, Apparitions are the most elusive, both in nature and origin. Neither fully alive nor entirely dead, they drift between memory and magic, caught in the wake of emotion made real.
Sealing an Apparition is simple but requires careful preparation, belief, and skill. First, the person attempting the seal must draw symbols on the ground or environment — symbols they genuinely believe will bind the Apparition. This belief is crucial, as the seal's power stems from the conviction behind the markings. Once the symbols are in place, an object of any size must be placed within the sigils. The next step is the most dangerous: confronting and weakening the Apparition. The entity must be fought and drained of its strength until it is weakened enough for the seal to activate and draw it into the prepared object. The sealing process is not precise—an Apparition must only be near the sigils to be captured.
When an Apparition is successfully sealed, it is rendered dormant within the object, effectively trapping it in a state of inactivity. This dormancy means the Apparition cannot exert its powers or influence the surrounding environment until it is released from the seal. For particularly powerful Apparitions, larger objects are necessary to accommodate their presence, and sealing multiple Apparitions into one object is possible, though risky. The more Apparitions sealed into a single object, the less stable the seal becomes, making it more prone to failure or release. If the object is ever destroyed, the Apparition(s) will be freed immediately. It's important to note that sealing only works on Apparitions. It does not affect the Abscised (possessed beings), Agents (who wield sealed Apparitions), or the Adjoined (humans bonded with Apparitions). When sealed, the object containing the Apparition allows the Blind/Aware to access their Abstraction when they come into contact with it, effectively turning them into Agents capable of using the power within.
Apparitions will be heavily restricted for several reasons; you can only make an Apparition if you get my permission. Apparitions apart of an Aberration are fully allowed.
ABERRATIONS
_________________________________________________ "Freak, monsters, predators, prey, Aberrations. Do not take them lightly." .........................................................................
Aberrations are considered beings “outside the lines,” existing beyond the grand design of the universe. They are people or creatures who have come into contact with the Paranormal and, as a result, gained either a blessing or a curse from those interactions. Most Aberrations originate from the Blind interacting with Apparitions, but they can also be created by Adepts or through contact with magical artifacts. Unlike Adepts, animals can become Aberrations because of their unique nature. Since Aberrations are Paranormal beings, they possess all the baseline paranormal abilities; however, only those who are Blind or Aware can become Aberrations.
Due to their unusual nature, Aberrations are divided into five subclasses:
Adjoined: These are Paranormal beings who have an Apparition attached to their soul and can use its abilities. This might mean the Apparition freely uses its abstraction, the Adjoined can transform into the Apparition, or they use the Apparition’s Abstraction by proxy. Sometimes, an Adjoined can do all three.
Afflicted: A person who has gained an Abstraction through a curse.
Agent: Someone who has had contact with a sealed Apparition or a magical artifact and can use their Abstraction by proxy.
Abscised: An Abscised is an Apparition that has taken control of a body, whether by possession, removing the original soul, or inhabiting a deceased body, and uses its Abstraction through that host. Abscised beings are various forms of undead.
Abominable: These are unique creatures created by magic, neither fully human nor Apparition. Some Abominable were created by Paranormal beings, others were born naturally from other Abominable, and some even spontaneously spawned from powerful magic or collective belief. The Abominable are the only known beings capable of passing down an Abstraction, and they can even breed with humans.
Glamour is an ability mainly used by Abominable Aberrations to hide their true nature from people who can see the Paranormal. Since the Blind usually cannot perceive Aberrations—or their minds interpret them as something else—Glamour isn’t about blending in with everyone. Instead, it creates illusions that mask monstrous or magical traits to avoid detection by the Paranormal.
While most common among Abominable, other Aberrations, and even magically altered humans can use Glamour when needed. It’s not a single, simple spell—Glamour varies depending on the user’s power and needs. Some Glamours are temporary and require constant focus and energy, while others are deeply tied to the being’s essence, providing a lasting disguise. Advanced Glamours can change appearance, voice, scent, and aura, making it very hard even for other Paranormals to see through. However, illusions can sometimes falter under close scrutiny or physical contact.
Glamour can be created and maintained in different ways: ritualistic rites that call on ancient or personal magic; drinking special potions that temporarily alter appearance; some Abominable can cast it at will through concentration; enchanted artifacts like rings or amulets can provide reliable disguises; emotional Glamour uses others’ feelings—like fear or admiration—to sustain the illusion; and finally, meditation and mental discipline can maintain Glamour through focused concentration.
My favorite type of Paranormal beings. They'll require a bit more background work as you'll have to come up with how they'll become an Aberrant (mainly running into an Apparition, etc). With Aberrants, you aren't limited by belief or personality or whatever, and can come up with anything; however, you have to come up with Apparitions.
ANCIENTS
_________________________________________________ "They were here before belief—and will remain after it." .........................................................................
The Ancients are ten god-like beings, each embodying the complete and overwhelming essence of a specific Lux color. They exist far beyond mortal comprehension, scattered across the All-Verse as enigmatic forces of immense power and purpose. Though their influence can be felt in the world, they rarely interact directly with sentient life. When they do, it is often through cryptic bargains, supernatural interventions, or brief, reality-warping appearances. Each Ancient holds dominion over a different aspect of existence and resides within their own personal realm—vast, self-contained dimensions shaped by their will. While some view them as distant gods or primal forces, others see them as architects of the All-Verse itself. Their true nature remains largely unknown. Together, the Ancients represent some of the oldest and most potent forces in existence. Whether they created the All-Verse, emerged from it, or are merely caretakers of its balance is a question that remains unanswered.
The Bull: Ancient of Red Lux, is the primal force of creation and destruction. Universes are born from his hammer and end with his hand. Known for his volatile temper and impatient nature, he is both feared and strangely admired. While impulsive, the Bull pushes others to find power in their fury, to mold their rage into something meaningful. His personal realm, the Forge, is a smoldering crucible of raw creation—a realm where stars are struck like sparks and broken realities are melted down for parts.
The Deer: Ancient of Green Lux, breathes life into the Bull’s empty creations. Her curiosity is endless, her creativity unbounded, and though her intentions are kind, she sometimes causes harm through unfiltered wonder. New species, sentient life, and strange ecosystems sprout wherever she treads. Her realm, the Plains, is a constantly evolving world of forests, beasts, and wild phenomena—alive in every sense of the word.
The Spider: Ancient of Yellow Lux, rarely seen and steeped in Yellow Lux, serves as the keeper of dimensional stability. He lives in self-imposed exile, tending to the fraying threads of reality to keep darker forces from bleeding through. His realm, the Web, is not a network but a sprawling fortress of mirrored corridors and endless traps—designed to confuse, isolate, and imprison anything that tries to claw its way into the All-Verse from beyond. It is a maze for monsters, and the Spider is its warden.
The Dove: Ancient of Pink Lux, is the giver of sentience. After the Bull shapes the universe and the Deer fills it with life, the Dove breathes consciousness and awareness into beings, granting them the spark of thought and feeling. Her realm, called The Sanctuary, is a tranquil, ever-changing place that nurtures the growth of consciousness and self-awareness. It serves as a spiritual incubator where fledgling sentient beings can connect with their inner selves, explore their emotions, and develop their minds before fully embracing their place in the universe. The Sanctuary also acts as a refuge for lost or wandering souls seeking clarity and understanding.
The Lion: Ancient of Gold Lux, is the silent sentinel of the All-Verse. Working in tandem with the Owl, he responds to threats from beyond reality, summoning vast armies to repel invaders and protect the balance. His realm, the Bastion, is an endless, sprawling city—an impenetrable fortress where legions gather, prepare, and stand eternal guard against cosmic dangers. The Bastion shifts and expands with every threat, a living defense crafted to endure any assault.
The Butterfly: The Ancient of Purple Lux, governs time and space with surgical precision. He monitors every instance of dimensional travel and punishes those who tamper with the timeline. Unforgiving and incorruptible, the Butterfly is bound to duty and knows no leniency. His realm is the Pasture, a deceptively serene expanse where time offenders are imprisoned—forced to relive their worst memories on endless loop, watched always by the one who caught them.
The Serpent: Ancient of Orange Lux, she is the ultimate regulator and source of all artifacts throughout the All-Verse. Every artifact’s power flows from her will, and she alone controls their creation and distribution. The Serpent carefully crafts relics imbued with potent magic, deciding who is worthy to wield them and when. Her presence ensures balance in the flow of enchanted power, preventing chaos from unchecked artifacts. Her realm, the Chalice, is a vast, shimmering vault filled with endless shelves of glowing relics and ancient tomes—a sacred treasury where the origin of every artifact is recorded and protected.
The Swan: Ancient of Blue Lux, she governs the ebb and flow of fate and consequence. Rather than curses, she weaves the invisible threads of chance and misfortune, subtly influencing events to maintain cosmic balance. Her realm, The Mirror, is a shifting expanse of reflective waters and endless skies, where possibilities ripple like waves—some serene, others stormy. Those who seek to understand fate or bargain with destiny sometimes catch glimpses of her in the depths of her realm.
The Owl: Ancient of White Lux, is the quiet observer of all things. She dwells in the Library, a sentient, endless archive that records the knowledge, thoughts, and histories of every being in the All-Verse. Though rarely seen outside her realm, the Owl watches constantly, cataloging events as they unfold.
The Hound: Ancient of Black Lux, he is the silent guide of the dead—and the most famous and feared of all the Ancients. Few see him, but all eventually feel his pull. As the psychopomp of the All-Verse, he ferries souls into his personal realm, The Dark, a place where the dead are believed to remain forever. What becomes of them in the Dark is unknown—only that the Hound never returns empty-handed.
Strictly NPCs. Don't even ask.
ARTIFACTS
"In the heart of every artifact lies a story waiting to be told."
Across the All-Verse, amidst the whispers of forgotten civilizations, lie items of unimaginable power and mystery imbued with magical power known as an Artifact - Enigmatic relics deeply rooted in human belief and thought. Across the All-Verse, there are countless artifacts created by Adepts with Orange-Lux, Apparitions, or some artifacts spawned from the collective consciousness of mankind. However, even ordinary objects can transform into artifacts through the strength of certain beliefs or emotions tied to them. They take many shapes and sizes, and many hoard them for their raw power and what they can do.
They take many shapes and sizes, and many horde them for their raw power and what they can do. Artifacts are separated into two different groups: Abstraction-Granting Artifacts, and Non-Abstraction Granting Artifacts, and the difference is simple.
Abstraction-granting artifacts are relics that, when wielded by an individual, are attuned to their power, bestowing upon the user a specific Abstraction. These can range from elemental manipulation to psychic abilities, reflecting the nature of the Artifact. The main difference between this type of artifact and other kinds is that Abstraction-Granting Artifacts turn the Blind/Aware into Agents and can not be wielded by any other form of Paranormal-Being.
Non-Abstraction Granting Artifacts function differently, and can be used by anyone, even the most potent Paranormal-Being. Their magical abilities lie inside them, not bestowing an Abstraction. When wielded or activated, these artifacts exert their influence through various means, ranging from subtle manipulation to overt displays of power. These range from a magical sword to opening portals, protecting the wielder from curses, etc.
Out there, there is a book of all known artifacts known as the The Compendium.
CURSES
"Curses are the silent whispers of history, the lingering shadows of forgotten sins, and the dark echoes of human suffering. However, they hold a hidden strength waiting to be explored."
There exists a darkness that defies explanation, an evil force that lurks in the dark shadows of the human psyche. These are the curses, ancient and insidious, born from the depths of human belief and emotion. These curses weave a tale of despair and destruction, leaving their mark on the souls of those unfortunate enough to be ailed by them. They are manifestations fueled by anger, hatred, and/or despair and imbued with the power to wreak havoc upon those who incur their wrath. Curses can be physical, psychological, environmental, or even more abstract. Much like artifacts, there are countless and diverse artifacts throughout the All-Verse. Still, most of them are created by Apparitions - others are created through Blue-Lux users and even rituals or by human belief, emotion, and intent - spawning from intense suffering, betrayal, or injustice.
Again, much like artifacts, Curses can be divided into Abstraction-Granting Curses and Non-Abstraction Granting Curses. Abstraction-Granting Curses, from a certain point of view, can be considered a gift as they can grant a transformation, psychic abilities, and more. While cursed individuals may gain access to newfound powers or skills, these come at a steep cost of losing life or a form of corruption. Every Abstraction-Granting Curse has a price no matter what, and only the Blind/Aware can receive an Abstraction-Granting Curse.
On the other hand, non-abstraction-granting curses are curses that anyone can receive, and they do not grant any boons or power whatsoever. They are strictly curses and come in many different forms, and anyone can receive these types of curses.
"Reality is a wild, unpredictable, beast. Every choice you make leads to a different reality."
Within the Recollections universe lies a vast multiverse known as the All-Verse. This intricate web of parallel dimensions, alternate realities, and diverse planes of existence stretches alongside our primary reality. These dimensions can vary widely, from worlds vastly different to ones almost identical, differing only in the smallest details.
Although the universes were never meant to intersect, magic enables travel between them. The All-Verse embodies the fabric of reality itself.
Yet, not all realms within the All-Verse are welcoming. Some fragments of destroyed universes have coalesced into a grim and hostile territory known as the Pit. This savage land is composed of broken shards of reality and haunted by entities cast out from existence. Escape from the Pit is rare, and those who do return are often forever changed, their sanity fractured. The Pit itself resists escape attempts, redirecting teleportation back into its grasp, meaning even the most powerful mages cannot escape.
Each universe within the All-Verse bears a name inspired by light or the essence of illumination. The universe where this story unfolds is called Kindle.
In the intricate weave of the All-Verse, the existence of Counterparts is one of its most enigmatic and metaphysically profound features. Every soul echoes across the infinite tapestry of dimensions, refracted into countless versions of the same essential being. These are not mere doppelgängers or coincidences of fate—they are spiritually entangled entities, linked by threads of shared origin and potential. A person in one reality might be a humble shopkeeper, while their Counterpart in another rules empires or communes with dead stars. Yet despite differences in choices, environment, or even species, certain core traits—ambitions, emotional scars, or particular obsessions—tend to resurface, like persistent ripples from a single stone cast into the multiverse.
This bond between Counterparts is called the Bond, a phenomenon not fully understood even by the most skilled of Adepts. It manifests uniquely depending on the nature of the individuals involved and the distance—temporal, emotional, or dimensional—between them. Some Counterparts are aware of each other only in dreams, through fragmented visions or mirrored memories. Others experience surges of déjà vu when their alternate selves achieve significant milestones or die. In rare and powerful cases, two Counterparts may experience Cross-Resonance: sharing of Abstractions, temporary cohabitation of consciousness, etc. These moments are often accompanied by flashes of alternate realities bleeding into their vision—sunsets that don’t belong, languages they’ve never learned yet understand, scars from battles they never fought.
Interestingly, Apparitions born from souls with many active Counterparts tend to be more complex, sometimes even exhibiting behaviors and abilities reflective of their alternate selves. There are tales of mirror apparitions, entities that hunt their own Counterparts across dimensions, consuming them
Ultimately, Counterparts are not just narrative reflections—they are integral components of identity within the All-Verse. A single person is not limited to one life, one path, or one reality. The Counterpart system ensures that the All-Verse remains not only infinite in scope but emotionally and spiritually recursive. Every decision resonates. Every version matters.
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_______________________________________________ Amanda Maria Klein
She/Her | 25 | White | 64 | 115 Lbs _______________________________________________ Bother _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know a thing or two about a thing or two..." ___________________________________
[Adaptive Gamer] ⫻ Some might consider Amanda a pro gamer. She has a fancy for Hero Shooters, and often reaches ranks that inch towards the upper echelons of the competitive scene, yet she never has found success in tournaments nor in being scouted by the professional teams [MacGyver From Shien] ⫻ Amanda is resourceful. They spent many a night having sleep for dinner when they started their long and painful college career. Eventually, they decided enough was enough. They can take a poorly dealt hand, add a couple of cards of their own, and then turn it into a more advantageous situation. [Overqualified Underachiever] ⫻ As someone who has as many lived experiences as Amanda does, one might expect greatness from them. Sadly, they tend to struggle even when they are supposed to do well. [Scholar Of The Far Away Worlds] ⫻ Amanda has an unhealthy obsession with learning as much as they possibly can and spends way too much time debating facts about them. [A Magician's Apprentice] ⫻ As a party trick, Amanda has developed the ability to do close-up magic to a proficient degree. She is extremely good at card tricks, and she is equally proficient with hat tricks. [Pinpoint Accuracy] ⫻ In addition to her magic she has learned to throw playing cards with a surprising accuracy, usually to complement the magic of her card tricks.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I don’t think I knew how bad of a look that was."
The Amanda from Kindle thankfully has a similar style to the Amanda from Shadow. Both tend to wear baggy clothes, with a particular interest in colorful sweaters and plain pants. They don't really take chances with their fashion, especially not lately, as they have embraced the boring style that they have developed. It is safe, functional, and can be cute as long as she accessorizes well. She does have the ability and the want to dress up more. She has some fancy cocktail dresses and other more formal attire that she seeks opportunities to wear more. In the warmer months, she does have a preference for sun dresses and other more flowy garments.
Their bodies were both almost identical. Both are completely clear of all modifications. She has nary a tattoo nor a piercing, even though she has always wanted both. The idea of committing to something that could last a lifetime, or cause scarring that would as well, has always scared her. One of these days she may pull the plug and get both, but today is not that day. She is on the shorter end of the spectrum, with a lithe frame that suggests that she is more in tune with Pilates than lifting. Her hair is a dyed mushroom blonde, though naturally more brown. Her eyes are a dark brown that have often been her most striking feature.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Therapy is not for the weak."
MAIN GOAL ⫻ Amanda wants to finish a single bachelor's degree. She is close to several at this point, and all it will take is a concentrated effort to achieve one. However, a fear of failure is pushing her away from achieving this goal.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Hard work is a lie. Life is ninety percent luck, five percent drive, and five percent additional luck. The successful ones in life were almost always born into success, and there was very little one could do to break into that exclusive club.
SECRETS ⫻ Back in Shadow, Amanda had a child at eighteen, but gave her up. This birth was a contributing factor to her failing out of her first school. As well, she had lied on her taxes every single year she had filed, lied to get a Pell grant to pay for her continued education, and lied about the classes she took in high school to get into college (the school required two years of a foreign language and she only did one.)
SEXUALITY ⫻ Amanda is attracted to masculine-presenting people. While ninety nine times out of a hundred this is a man, there have been a butch or two that have caught her affection. She is, however, open to new experiences in whatever form they come in.
FEARS ⫻ Amanda has a chronic fear of committing to a single path in life. They have attempted to find an easy one through education, but this has led to unpaid debt, a crushing sense of failure, and no clear idea of who they are and what they want to do. This fear of committing to a single path in life has also led them to fear that they will never find their version of true love.
REPUTATION IN SHADOW ⫻ In their community and friend groups, they were well-liked. Those who truly knew them knew that they suffered from an addictive personality, and there were rumors that Amanda was responsible for keeping the street dealers in business with how frequently she purchased from them. However, others knew her as an indecisive idiot who needed a babysitter on nights out.
FLAWS ⫻ Amanda finds it easy to get addicted to substances. They have had problems with weed, alcohol, pills, and more. If something helps make someone feel better or forget, they will want to try it and then abuse it. As well, Amanda tends to freeze when fight or flight kicks in like a fawn in the headlights.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I hated Ohio."
Amanda was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to a pair of upper-middle-class parents. She attended a Catholic school for the first eleven years of her life, but was moved to a public one once the rust belt rusted. She quickly noticed a change in the quality of her life after her father lost his job. Whereas once she was able to purchase a lunch at the school, now she was forced to pack the same bland meal every day, and at night she would eat the same bland meal they would have three to four times a week. McDonald's became a luxury, her parents fought, and it seemed like not much would change for a while. It was at age eight where she discovered her love of close up magic. Her parents could only get her a single magic kit for her birthday that year, and she became addicted to it. When she did a cool trick she would watch as her parents would suddenly be in a better move. In her kid mind, she could fix their relationship with the power of magic alone. Still, it did little to actually fix things and things looked like they would go from bad to worse quickly.
At least until her father got a job overseas. Suddenly, their finances were in a much stronger position. Amanda would do a semester or two abroad every other year, and she made many friends from every corner of the world. Even though he would only be around for one week out of each month, it seemed like the distance did much to repair the damage that poverty wrought on her parents' relationship. Things seemed like they were finally doing better. At least, until her Father filed for divorce as he had met the newest love of his life abroad. By the time she finished high school, Amanda was ready to put this entire life behind her and move towards the future. Instead of asking her father for help paying for school, she took out loans and attended the prestigious Cleveland State University with a focus on electrical engineering and failed out within a year. This was in part due to her own academic struggles, but also because she became pregnant. While the child was put up for adoption, and she did not need to deal with the baby itself, the sheer struggle of dealing with the pregnancy did contribute in its way.
Undeterred by the setback, Amanda quickly enrolled in her second-choice university and continued her academic career at the marvelous Cuyahoga Community College with a focus on Science. She worked at a few dead-end jobs and eventually earned an Associate of Science degree, and it seemed like life was back on track. They enrolled in their new favorite University in Kent, Ohio, and were set to get a Bachelors in Physics, and were one semester short when she quit. She suddenly lost the drive to complete her studies as she worried terribly about her job prospects out of school. At the age of twenty-two, she moved to New York and continued her studies at another community college, aiming to switch to a business degree. After a semester, she quit the business classes and focused on creative writing. After a semester, she quit the creative writing program and switched to programming. She was about to switch her courses again when something impossible happened.
As she wakes up in a new body and a new world, Amanda can only wonder if there was another path she could’ve taken to avoid this altogether.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Quote about abstraction here."
TYPE ⫻ (Put Adept, Apparition, Aberration (Afflicted/Agent/Adjoined/Abscised/Abominable), Blind or Aware)
ABSTRACTION ⫻ Name of the Abstraction (or Lux type + Channeler for Adepts), plus a one-sentence summary of what it does.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ Detailed breakdown of abilities. If Adept, list spells + how the channeler works. If Aberration, describe how the Abstraction works through them. Leave no surprises.
LIMITS ⫻ What can’t it do? List restrictions, cooldowns, energy costs, emotional constraints, etc.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "What are you talking about? Magic isn’t real."
-Amanda will always have high-quality treats with her. She will seldom share. -Despite scoffing at Pop music when around friends, her playlist is filled with the stuff. Her favorite movie to watch is Children of Men; her favorite movie to hate-watch is Twilight. -Amanda believes she is on the autism spectrum. She always makes sure to have some form of a stim device with her, typically a fidget spinner, but as long as she can do something with her hands she will be happy. If she has a deck of cards, for example, she will simply shuffle the deck.
"They call me 'Encore' because once I'm done, they're always clamoring for more."
_______________________________________________ Aleksandr Anatolyevich Leonidov ⫻ Bee Encore
He/him (she/her in drag) | 47 | Russian American | 5'10'' | 170 lbs _______________________________________________ Extravagance. _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "It's hard work being this fabulous, darling." ___________________________________
Acting (Drag) ⫻ Experienced in creating and maintaining a(n extravagant) persona, as well as doing improvisation, stand-up routines, dancing and lip-syncing. Sewing/dressmaking ⫻ Experienced in making his own stage costumes, wigs and dresses from scratch, and altering them as needed. Stage makeup ⫻ Experienced in doing his own stage makeup. With the right tools and enough time, could make someone unrecognizable, although very flashy-looking. Bilingual ⫻ Fluent in both English and Russian.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Whoever this 'other me' is, he needs better taste in clothing."
Sasha's Kindle Counterpart is incredibly similar to his original body, save for a few minor differences. They have the same pale, yet warm skin tone, and the same lean build, though his Counterpart's is slightly more muscled, as if he did a bit more regular exercise. His hair, once a very dark brown, is now mostly grey. He keeps it cropped very short, in a low-maintenance, functional style, and his hairline has receded quite a bit. His eyes are dark, almost black, and his gaze can be quite intense when he's focused. Wrinkles have started appearing on his face, especially crow's feet at the corners of his eyes.
At 5'10'', Sasha is of perfectly average height. He has no visible scars or piercing, unlike his original body, where he had pierced earlobes and regularly wore earrings. He also has a tattoo of a black cat lounging and playing with yarn across his side which he did not have back in Shadow.
Sasha has a preference for loose, flowing clothing, floral patterns and pastels. Blouses, wide cut pants, and dresses are all part of his usual wardrobe, mixed with the usual t-shirts, polo shirts, jeans and vests. To his great displeasure, his Counterpart seems to have mostly favored comparatively drab dress shirts, hoodies and jeans. Far from fabulous, in his humble opinion.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Oh, малышка, don't cry, and tell Auntie Sasha who hurt you..."
MAIN GOAL ⫻ Sasha had it all: steady, fulfilling work, a loving husband, close friends, good health, no debt... Now that he's been thrown into this life that is not his, in a world working under unfamiliar rules, all he wishes to do is to get back home.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ The world can be a dreadfully boring place sometimes. He's just trying to bring a little bit of wonder and whimsy back into it. The performance arts are a perfect way to do it, and there is no performance art more fabulous than drag, no?
SECRETS ⫻ While he doesn't exactly try to hide it, Sasha doesn't really advertise the fact that he grew up in the USSR either. Despite ending over 30 years ago, the Cold War has left its mark on the American people, and they don't always take it well. Luckily, while his name and accent usually out him as Russian right away, most people don't do the math and don't realize that with his age, that would mean being born in the Soviet Union.
SEXUALITY ⫻ Bisexual. Sasha doesn't discriminate: if they're hot, they're hot. He's mostly only attracted to people his own age, and is currently in a very committed relationship, though being off the dating market won't stop him from playfully flirting with others from time to time.
FEARS ⫻ Most of all, Sasha fears losing the life he worked for, and the people he loves. Waking up in Kindle was the materialization of all those fears.
REPUTATION IN SHADOW ⫻ Bee Encore is a well-known queen in the drag scene, though nowhere even near the mainstream superstars à la RuPaul. She's been active for nearly two-and-a-half decades at this point, and has mentored many an upcoming queen. Sasha was well-liked and respected by the scene, but people outside of that whole culture sometimes found him a bit too odd, flamboyant, or effeminate for their taste.
FLAWS ⫻ Sasha has a strong vindictive streak, and will hold a grudge for any sufficiently grave perceived offence against him or people he cares about. He's also incredibly nosy, which has gotten him into trouble more than once. He tends to act a little bit too familiar with people a little bit too quickly as well.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "They say your college years are the best of your life. I say that if you really believe that, you need to learn how to have fun better!"
Aleksandr was born on January 18th, 1978, in Novosibirsk, Russia (then USSR). It was a difficult birth, and his mother sadly did not survive. Despite this early tragedy, he had a perfectly ordinary childhood, with no lack of anything. In 1991, though, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the adoption of a free-market economy, Sasha's father, a telecommunications engineer, lost his job. Faced with the incredibly rapid rise of the cost of living, he emigrated with his son to the U.S. in 1992, hoping to find better work. Sasha was 14 then.
He adapted to living in a new country and speaking a new language, relatively well. Sure, some other kids and even adults weren't too sure about the new Soviet kid on the block, but he never faced social isolation or anything like that, and made plenty of friends too. After graduating high school, he started studying accounting. It was during this period that he began performing. He had discovered his bisexuality in late high school, and made some friends, who pushed him to try out drag. Turned out he had a knack for it. He created his drag alter-ego, Bee Encore, and scored a gig hosting the weekly bingo night at his local gay bar.
He initially only meant for it to be a side-job to help pay off his degree, Sasha quickly realized that while accounting could pay his bills, it would never be as fulfilling, as absolutely electrifying as stepping unto the stage, ready to dazzle his audience with his outfits and quick wit. As soon as he managed to find a gig that he could live off of, he dropped out of college, and dedicated his whole attention to his drag career.
His father took his only son being a bisexual drag queen about as well as an older Eastern Orthodox man would in the early 2000s, which is not well. At all. The relationship between Sasha and his father broke down, and they became fully estranged. They would not communicate for the next two decades.
Sasha met his husband, Connor, in late 2010. Sasha would always say it was "love at first sight" and that he "knew he met his soulmate" that day. Close friends knew they had both been incredibly drunk that evening, started arguing about music, and had almost started brawling over it. They got married on December 29th, 2012, as soon as same-sex marriage became legal in Maine.
Now that he's approaching his 50s, Sasha had somewhat settled. His work was steady, he had friends and a loving husband, there were no real problem in his life to deal with... The only thing messing up the peace a bit, was a letter he'd recently received from his father. In his old age, he'd been apparently overcome with regret over cutting his only son out of his life, and tried to reach out. Sasha was still debating if he should respond and how when he went to bed that day.
Then he woke up in Kindle.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I have no idea what's happening or what I'm even seeing half of the time, but at least I can see it happen."
TYPE ⫻ Aware
ABSTRACTION ⫻ None
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ N/A
LIMITS ⫻ N/A
WEAKNESSES ⫻ (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Что, черт возьми, происходит?!"
- His favorite movies are Saw (2004) and The Fifth Element (1997). - While he has a license, he is not a very good driver. - He can't stand the taste or smell of seafood. - His Kindle Counterpart is a professional clown, is unmarried, has not realized he's bisexual, and has "Dmitriyevich" as a patronymic. - Sasha's tattoo is of his Counterpart's late pet cat.
She/Her | 21 | Nigerian-American | 5’ | 105lbs _______________________________________________ Nervous. _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "You want to know about the book I’m reading right now? Well, it’s about this girl who lives in the slums and- oh, n-not that much detail? O-okay, I’m s-sorry..." ___________________________________
Bookworm ⫻ Aya is a voracious reader, rarely found without a book by her side. She reads very quickly and is a bit of a sponge when it comes to soaking in information she reads… But generally, she enjoys fiction over informational reading.
Orienteering ⫻ While Aya’s a shy nerd, she wasn’t someone who stayed cooped up inside… She just dislikes crowded places. Back in Shadow she was very into orienteering, often doing it with her older sister. This means she’s good at reading an old school map, at navigating using key features around herself, and has surprising stamina and speed when it comes to hiking. So if you’re lost with no phone signal, she’s pretty good at figuring out where to go.
De-escalation ⫻ Aya’s pretty good at getting people to de-escalate and calm down through sheer panic and looking like she’s on a verge of breaking down. She hates fighting so much that she’ll do absolutely anything to stop it… To the point it’s practically a skill.
Tabletop Games ⫻ Aya is a master of both games like Dungeons & Dragons, and a wide variety of board game. Her little group of nerds at highschool were always getting together to play D&D or board games together. She’s surprisingly competitive when it comes to the latter, whereas the former really lets her come out of her shell… But she can only do it with people she’s comfortable with in the first place.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I miss my dark hair… This draws too much attention. I d-don’t like that."
Ayesha’s counterpart- Alannah- was much more… expressive than Ayesha is. Her tightly coiled, natural hair is dyed a bright orange-red. It’s well maintained and styled, varying from simple hairstyles like tying it back to putting in the effort to twist it into protective hairstyles that’ll last weeks. It technically goes almost to her shoulders, but its length greatly varies with how it's treated and styled. Sometimes its more like an afro, On top of normal lobe piercings, she has a nostril piercing and belly button piercing. Unlike her, Alannah would actually wear things that showed this off.
Their build is similar. Short, and more stocky, with wider hips but a minimal chest. Thankfully no piercings… Alannah’s skin is a dark, red toned brown, relatively unmarred apart. Aya has only found a couple of scars: one on her left knee, another on her right abdomen. Both small, but there’s a larger one across her back she doesn’t know about yet. Her dark brown eyes are expressive, though they now normally hold nervousness.
Alannah’s style varied- from crop tops and wide legged jeans, to tighter short dresses, to longer summer dresses. Thankfully, the latter is closer to what Aya is comfortable with, and she can match wider legged pants with baggy t-shirts! Aya was always a knit jumper girl… Unfortunately Alannah seems to have a distinct lack of those in her wardrobe.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Please don’t shout! Isn’t it ea-easier to just talk?"
MAIN GOAL ⫻ Ayesha wants a quiet life. She wants to complete her degree, get her job, and live in a little bubble with her close friends. So to do that, she needs to go back to her original body! And not have a ghost attached to her!
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Aya believes in tight knight community and helping others, while also being about to retain your own space. She believes strongly in peace, and that violence only perpetuates more violence.
SECRETS ⫻ Aya tends to hide her sexuality, though she’s mostly accepted it herself. Her family is quite conservative, and she tends to assume other people are unless she knows them better.
SEXUALITY ⫻ Aya is a lesbian, though she’s not particularly open about it. She’s kissed a few girls in highschool, but is generally quite inexperienced.
FEARS ⫻ Aya has social anxiety, struggling with panic attacks whenever she has to talk to new people. While she’s improved in the last couple of years to the point of being able to push through, she still finds it incredibly difficult and often stammers. Aya fears rejection, being judged, and being hated by other people. She’s generally a very nervous person, the kind who jumps at loud sounds and shouting. As she was bullied at school, she fears confrontation and becoming a complete outcast again. She also has a deep fear of spiders.
REPUTATION IN SHADOW ⫻ Aya was an often overlooked, quiet and nerdy girl. She had her small group of friends in highschool and then university, but very few would know her outside of that. When she wasn’t overlooked in highschool she was bullied… But thankfully she hasn’t dealt with that since she was sixteen. So generally, she was pretty forgettable.
FLAWS ⫻ Aya’s social anxiety is her greatest flaw. It makes it difficult for her to talk confidently to other people, and often sends her into panic attacks when she has to push out of her comfort zone. She’s got low self confidence. Her voice will get lost in the crowd, and she rarely pushes her own opinion even if she knows she’s right. She’ll go with the more confident people, being much more of a follower than she is a leader. She lacks a backbone. Because of her low self confidence, she can often be quite harsh on herself, and hates how much she struggles with things that should be easy. She can also be quite eccentric, with nerdy interests that she’ll gladly talk about for hours with the few people she’s comfortable with. But she was bullied heavily in highschool, which only adds to her struggle with talking to people she doesn’t know. It takes her a long time to get over her nerves.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I love my home. I miss it."
Ayesha was born the second child to Nigerian parents who moved over to the USA before she was born, in Gary, Indiana. Her upbringing was relatively normal, at least in her eyes. Stricter, conservative parents, sure, but they loved their three children. While they weren’t the best off, they never went hungry.
Aya was always a quiet, shy child. Especially close to her older sister, she struggled to socialise outside of her family for most of her early years. She would always be hiding behind her parents legs or nervously following behind her much more outgoing sister. It wasn’t until she hit her teens that she really made any friends. Other people like her- the shy and quiet nerds. People who didn’t mind just all sitting in a room together and reading, and who got excited about the same nerdy hobbies.
But with her slightly increased confidence came something to tear it back down. Other teenagers were cruel, and Aya was an easy target for bullying. Verbal bullying and pranks turned into physical aggression that had her not wanting to go to school more often than not. But her parents wouldn’t allow something like that- not after they’d worked so hard to make sure their children got a good education.
It hit its breaking point when she was almost sixteen. After daily panic attacks, Aya had one so bad she lost the feeling in her limbs and fainted from hyperventilating so much her blood pressure dropped. Then, her parents relented. She was allowed to finish highschool at home, keeping in touch with the friends she’d made to prevent her complete social withdrawal.
Since, things went back to being more peaceful. She graduated highschool and got a place at Indiana University Northwest, allowing her to attend university without having to move out. There she’s started to take solid steps with her social anxiety- attending classes in person again was already a big move for her. She’s ended up majoring in Biochemistry, and is almost done with her degree. From there she can actually see a future. Sure, she still really struggles with anxiety, but she’s been slowly improving.
Until suddenly she woke up in Kindle, in a body that wasn’t her own with another voice in her head.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "W-Why’s there a voice in my head?!" "Because I’m fucking stuck in here!"
TYPE ⫻ Aberration (Adjoined)
ABSTRACTION ⫻ The Storm of Pandemonium. The ability to create and control a variety of chaos causing storms.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻
Pandemonium is an Apparition born from the Linebreaker event itself. A soul forced from her original body into the body of Alannah along with Ayesha’s soul, it was Ayesha who ‘won’ residency within the new body thanks to it being her counterpart. Without a true body, the other soul became an Apparition. Pandemonium remembers snippets of her old life, even if she doesn’t retain her name and identity. But more than that she remembers when she lost her body. The confusion, rage, and then resentment towards Ayesha who has it.
As a result, Pan doesn’t allow Aya free use of her abstraction. It’s used in two ways: Pan comes out of the body to freely use it as an Adjoined Apparition, or Pan is allowed some control of the body to use it.
Pan’s abstraction allows them to create and control various aspects of a storm in the vicinity around them. The abstraction always starts with looming grey clouds in a radius of up to fifty metres around them. However, the further spread the storm is, the less powerful it is. The tightest that can make it is a ten metre radius around them, where it’s at its most powerful. Generally, when Pan uses her abstraction she can only use one of the three aspects of it.
Winds of Resentment ⫻ Pan creates gusting winds with the ability to sweep people off their feet. These winds can be targeted, with strong gales hitting specific targets to throw them in the air, or be over a more general area where everything within- friend or foe- is buffeted by almost hurricane speed gales.
Thunder of Disorder ⫻ Pan controls the storm clouds to clash together in loud crashes. Any who hear this will be disoriented and confused, only worsening the longer they listen. It addles the brain, making it difficult to think through it and causing crippling disorientation. People who listen long enough will struggle to know where they are, what they’re doing, and eventually who they are. Along with the mental effect, the loudness of the thunderclaps will cause harsh ringing in the ears and make it difficult to talk over.
Bolts of Wrath ⫻ Pan summons lightning bolts from the clouds above to strike at enemies. However, the control over this is shaky and dependent on her emotional state. The angrier she is the more powerful the lightning bolts get, but the less controllable they are. They can become completely random if her or Aya’s mental state is bad.
The Storm of Pandemonium ⫻ The all in version of Pan’s abstraction, where she combines all three aspects at once. Heavy gales followed by disorienting thunder and burning lightning bolts. It’s powerful, but at the heavy cost of draining Pan’s energy to the point she can only maintain it for ten minutes. Then, afterwards, she will need to withdraw into Aya’s body- leaving both of them vulnerable and Abstractionless for a day or more. This is incredibly taxing on Aya too, leaving her drained and exhausted afterwards.
LIMITS ⫻
Right now, both Pan and Aya are new to the magical world. Pan is a baby Apparition with great potential power but very little control. Along with this, the tension between the two of them makes using the Abstraction harder. Ideally, Pan would grant it to Aya and use it through her… But that just isn’t possible right now.
If Aya lets Pan use her body, it causes great damage to her. But if Pan uses it herself from outside Aya, she is both vulnerable and her magic source easily drained. Until they learn to work together, they’ll never reach their true potential.
Pan can only use their abstraction for thirty minutes to an hour before needing at least a two hour rest. Whether it’s the shorter or higher amount of time depends on their mental state and Aya’s. It’s taxing on the body and mind, and Aya isn’t entirely immune to the effects of the storm. Pan can only use one aspect at a time unless really pushed, and using all three can be devastating to the two of them as well as their surroundings.
As mentioned above, it can be done in a radius of up to fifty metres where it’s at its weakest. The closest it can be done is in a ten metre radius around them.
Winds of Resentment ⫻ This can knock over objects as heavy as a car in targeted blasts, and less when untargeted. Pan can’t buffet the entire radius with anything more than light, almost aesthetic, winds while targeting with it.
Thunder of Disorder ⫻ People with Emotional Fields are resistant to the mental effects of the thunder. While it can cause ear pain and ringing, it can’t cause permanent damage.
Bolts of Wrath ⫻ The lightning bolts are the most uncontrollable aspect, even if the strongest in terms of raw power. They’re just as likely to harm as they are help, and there’s a real risk Pan will strike Aya with them.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Why did this have to happen to me? Why not someone who wants an adventure?"
- Aya’s counterpart, Alannah, is a Pink Adept who also has social anxiety, but is much better at dealing with it. - Aya’s never left Indiana before now
Pandemonium.
0 | Pandemonium of Raging Storms ‘Pan’ | She/Her "If I can’t get myself back, then why the fuck should she get to live in peace?"
Description:
Pandemonium was originally a woman called Penelope Fisher from the world of Shadow. Penelope was a fiery woman who pushed through a great deal of hardships to really make herself a life worth living. Someone full of spirit and potential… Until the Linebreaker event, where her soul was torn out of its body. In the mess, her soul went into the body of Alannah along with Ayesha’s. The Apparition Pandemonium was born from the result, where Penelope was almost extinguished by the event and no longer having a body.
Pan didn’t purposefully adjoin to Aya. She’s a baby Apparition with little knowledge about magic or how her own existence is possible. As far as she’s aware, the two need to remain attached. She’s retained her sassy, brash personality- but with much harsher anger and resentment to go with it. She’s resentful of Aya, even though Aya has been torn from her normal life just as much as Pan was. Pan has fragments of memories from when she was Penelope, but doesn’t actually remember her name or who she truly was.
Unlike a lot of Adjoined Apparitions, Pan spends a lot of time outside of Aya’s body - although severely restricted in terms of how far she can travel. Really, she only goes in to rest. (Or at least, that's how she will be...)
“Partner, if you think this is rough you should really see my hometown. Pools of acid? Hell, I’d take that over an above ground pool any day."
_______________________________________________ Theodore Robert Bauer
He/Him | 31 | Dutch & German American| 6’1” | 190 lbs _______________________________________________ Bravado _______________________________________________ Skills & Talents "You always gotta shoot for the moon. Could end up becoming an astronaut. Pretty sure I saw that on a poster once." ___________________________________
[Cowboy Shit] ⫻ Growing up on a ranch, Ted has a general knowledge of animal husbandry, horseback riding, lasso throwing, shit shoveling, and other various rooting, tooting, pistol shooting bullshit. He’s outdoorsy enough where he can start up a bonfire with a couple of sticks, but possesses enough of the spirit of Texas to want to do it with a can of gas and a hunting rifle. [Texkwondo] ⫻ Ted is a blackbelt in…something. His stepdad signed him up for martial arts lessons at a studio called Texkwondo in a strip mall outside of Odessa. His teacher wore an American flag gi, drank Busch light at practice, and said the best way to win a fight was to pull a gun, but still, Ted can throw some cool looking roundhouses. [Stupid Grit] ⫻ Ted has a history of doing stupid things because someone bet him that he couldn’t and somehow surviving because he's too dumb to die. This fearlessness alongside his other skills helped land him a gig as a stuntman working around the Austin film industry. He’s mostly done commercial and TV work. [Teddy the Kid] ⫻ Ted is great with children and after some encouragement from his wife has regularly done volunteer work for schools and camps. He’s actually lowkey incredible at keeping kids in line while still encouraging them to have fun.
Appearance ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I swear that I was bigger in Texas."
Ted’s new body ain’t much different than the old one in the sense that both of them can wear cowboy boots with zero irony and still somehow pull it off. Perhaps that’s just a perk of, as Ted puts it, being born so damn good lookin’. He’s got bright blue eyes that are in a permasquint that makes it look like he’s in a deep concentration when really he just refuses to wear his glasses and can’t deal with contacts. His jawline looks strong as long as it's bulked up by his gingery beard, and his nice tan does a good job of masking the freckles on his face. As for his brown hair, Ted is frankly surprised to find out that he has some–he’d started shaving his head at the first sign of balding hit him in his early twenties, but Teddy must’ve paid for a real high quality hair transplant.
Full head of hair aside, there’s a couple of other things about Teddy’s body that Ted finds a little offputting. For starters, his hands are too smooth for someone who should’ve been working with them all his life, and Ted’s missing some of his favorite scars he used to show off as conversation pieces. While he’s still rocking that cowboy chic of double denim his clothes are all a bit too stiff like they’d just come off of some shelf instead of living in his closet for the past ten years and somehow his boots are unscuffed. Most notably of all, Teddy’s been skipping a few days at the gym. While this version of Ted is still physically fit with some decent definition, previous Ted swears that he was pushing two-twenty worth of perfectly carved, Grade A Texas beef.
Ted’s got a lot of bass in his voice and the roughest hint of a country accent, coming through a bit more in his choice of colorful vernacular than anything else. He’s accompanied by the faintest scent of stale cigarettes masked beneath an expensive cologne. Ted doesn’t wear any jewelry other than a wedding ring and an expensive wristwatch. He moves with a swaggering confidence like he’s meant to be right where he’s at, even if where he’s at right now is inside of the body of some carpetbagging, shitdealing politician instead of the goddamn A-lister he was rounding up to become.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "I’m just tryin’ to be a better man."
MAIN GOAL ⫻ While it would’ve been sweet to score a gig in a major Hollywood Blockbuster, Ted’s career is second to his personal life. He wants to be a father more than anything. Well, except for getting everything back the way it used to be, but c'mon, that's a given.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Nothing comes to those who wait. Get out there and do something. To quote an old proverb from Ted’s childhood, “get busy living or get busy dying.”
SECRETS ⫻ Ted and his wife Rita are separated and it’s his fault. A playful, flirty friendship with one of the makeup artists on a small film he worked on went a bit too far after a wrap party that involved a bit too much tequila, the wrong advice, and some real sweaty mechanical bullriding. He cheated on his wife, the guilt soon being too heavy of a weight for him to hold and prompting him to quickly confess his infidelity to his wife. This confession ended up being the only thing keeping Ted’s wife from immediately filing for divorce.
SEXUALITY ⫻ Ted loves the ladies and the ladies* love Ted.
*Not all ladies
FEARS ⫻ Y’know that phrase if you’re bored, you’re boring? Ted absolutely hates the idea of being seen as boring, feeling that it’s on him to captivate and entertain those around him. He doesn’t like the idea of silence, because silence allows for self-reflection and it’s in those moments where Ted starts to see how paper thin he is behind his tough exterior.
REPUTATION IN SHADOW ⫻ He’s a local legend in his hometown of Odessa, with all the boys back at the bar trading stories like the time Ted jumped from one moving truck to another or the time Ted climbed up to the top of the clocktower just so he could say he took a piss off of it. In Austin it’s a bit more mixed. He’s decently respected amongst the teachers and leaders in the community for the volunteer work he does with the kids, but some of his fellow stunt performers view him as unsafe and unprofessional to work with. Saying he can ramp a car no problem despite having never done it before is one thing when he’s with the boys in a Walmart parking lot and another thing when he can entirely fuck up a production.
FLAWS ⫻ Ted is reckless. Why worry about potential consequences when he has confidence in his success? This devil-may-care attitude is largely thanks to a great sense of machismo instilled in Ted by his stepdad, who took his job as being a positive male role model for the boy very seriously by telling a seven-year-old to man up and stop being such a pussy. Now a proper manly man, Ted recognizes the misogyny behind his old man’s sexist remarks and fully condemns them, despite regularly falling into the trappings of unintentional chauvinism himself.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Life’s a lot like bullridin’. Sometimes you gotta let it buck you around, sometimes you gotta grab it by the horns and wrestle it to the ground, and sometimes you get thrown off of that sonuvabitch and end up in the hospital with a couple of broken ribs and a real nasty scar and your momma is there and she’s sayin’ that you ain’t ever gonna ride no more and you better start studyin’ up so you can get into a community college and…I lost the metaphor, what were we talkin’ about?"
It was just Ted and his ma for the first seven years of his life in Odessa, Texas, so when she remarried his stepdad felt like it was his husbandly duty to make sure his stepson didn’t turn out to be some kind of sissy. Ted was worked real hard on his stepdad’s ranch to put some hair on his chest and in return for the free labor his stepdad always took anywhere from five to even ten minutes out of his evening to spend some time with the boy and teach him some lessons about what it meant to be a real man. When the ranch failed years later and stepdad’s funeral had to be a closed casket on account of a sizable chunk of him was still decorating the ceiling of the barn Ted made sure not to cry. Surely the old man would’ve been proud.
His teen years were spent horsing around with the boys when he wasn’t fooling around with the girls. He had a bit of a rascal’s reputation, always getting in trouble for the stupidest shit possible and always getting off with just a warning. Some think that people went light on him because they felt bad for the kid who lost not one but two dads and didn’t want to cause Mama Ted any more problems. Others are pretty sure that Ted was just too well-liked to ever get into any real trouble. Of the kids growing up in Odessa, he was one of the few who ever seemed to have aspirations bigger than moving down the block and getting real into methamphetamines.
Ted went to college in Austin to study film and more importantly stay close to his then-girlfriend and it was there that he’d meet his future wife through a mutual friend group. Ted would say that he knew right away that she was the one, but for Rita she absolutely hated him at first. She couldn’t stand his boisterous personality, his childish dream of becoming a stuntman, or his frustrating ability to get good grades despite never seeming to study or do homework.
It was only after they spent more time together with friends that she started to warm up to him, the turning point coming when she saw how good Ted was with children when her sister showed up with Rita’s nieces to crash a tailgate. She assumed that because he was good with kids he couldn’t be such an immature piece of shit after all, not realizing that kids could relate really well with immature pieces of shit. Regardless, they started dating and things went good. Real good, actually. Everything followed the formula after college–move in together, get engaged, and get married.
Ted was happy, but life wasn’t perfect. Rita was able to get a job as a kindergarten teacher, but his work for a while was pretty inconsistent where they mostly relied on her to front the lion’s share of the bills. Even once he started landing more frequent stunt gigs after one of his college buddies landed a spot at a local production company there were issues. Namely, when they were going to start having children.
They had both said before they got married that they wanted a big family, but now Rita was hesitant. She wanted to wait until they were sure they were ready; Ted was pretty sure that nobody ever felt like they were ready until they rushed in. Things spiraled from there. It became a running argument, something that would slip its way in when they were having dinner or during pillowtalk.
The blowoff happened the night they were supposed to attend a wrap party for an indie film Ted’s friend had produced. Rita was dragging her feet about going like she always did, so Ted made the casual comment that they should take every opportunity they got now to go out because when they had kids it would be a rarity. One thing led to another and when Ted wouldn’t back down Rita finally snapped at him: “You know why I don’t want a kid? Because it feels like I already have one.”
Ted went to the party alone and woke up the next morning in another woman’s bed. He didn’t try to hide what he’d done when he got home to Rita. The worst part about coming clean to her was how she didn’t even seem mad. She’d just nodded her head like she knew it was bound to happen one day and told him to pack a bag. They’d been separated for a few months now, with Ted doing his best to try and save the marriage that he royally fucked up and Rita being an absolute stonewall when it came to communication.
One day, he got a text from her saying, “I made up my mind. Can we talk?” and refused to elaborate until they spoke face to face. Ted was on his way to see her. Up until he’d gotten that text message it felt like his world was falling apart, but when she smiled at him when he opened the door at the bar where they had their first date he felt his first true moment of hope in months. Hope that blackened as she started to reach for something in her purse–and then the world decided it was done waiting on them and went ahead and fell apart anyway.
ABSTRACTION ⫻ The Heartbreaker, a manipulative curse that relentlessly "helps" its victims now only so that they can suffer a greater loss.
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ The Heartbreaker curse was created in Kindle more than a millennium ago by a Blue Lux user jealous of their rival’s success. The curse was simple in concept: ruin a life when it would be the most heartbreaking. It manifested a person who would come into its victims life, help them accomplish their goals, and just when they reached the pinnacle of their success and power the curse would strip it all away, ensuring that the victim’s suffering would be greater than if they had never got what they wanted in the first place.
The curse worked phenomenally with just one hitch: the creator had failed to create an end for the curse. Thus, once finished with its first victim, the curse simply moved on to the next ambitious person. It would physically manifest itself as whatever the victim seemingly needed at the time: a friend, a lover, a mentor. Just agreeing for some help was all that was necessary to be cursed by the Heartbreaker. Wherever it went the cycle would continue: a sudden turn of good fortune inevitably followed by an absolutely soul-crushing defeat or betrayal.
Ironically, the creator of the curse would meet their demise at the hands of their own creation when the magician they met while seeking to find a way to dispel their curse turned out to be none other than the Heartbreaker. With nobody even aware of its existence, the Heartbreaker has been free to wreak havoc throughout history, meddling in the affairs of the rich, the poor, and everyone in between. Wherever there is someone who is ambitious, powerhungry, desperate, or even just downright foolish the Heartbreaker is soon to follow, latching on to its next victim the moment it’s finished with its current one.
Now that she is stuck with Ted, Darlene is currently in a weird state of existence with someone who technically shouldn’t be cursed, as her agreement was made with Teddy, not Ted. She doesn’t know what would happen to the Heartbreaker if she fails to follow through with fulfilling the curse, and she doesn't plan to find out.
Manifest Pixie Dream Girl ⫻ Darlene is incorporeal by default but she can manifest to make herself physical. She can demanifest to make herself incorporeal again. Alternatively, while incorporeal she can demanifest further and make herself completely invisible. While incorporeal or invisible she can float. Darlene can extend her ghostly nature to Ted if she is “touching” him. Ted can briefly extend this intangibility and invisibility to another person by “touching” them as well. If Ted does this, the effect ends on him and the other person after a handful of seconds. Anything Darlene, Ted, or the third wheel are wearing or carrying manifest and demanifest alongside them.
Scheme Queen ⫻ A demanifested Darlene can reach inside of a person’s head and begin rooting around through their thoughts and memories. The Heartbreaker curse allows Darlene to have a permanent mental link with Ted, giving her access to his surface thoughts, an inherent knowledge of his location, and allowing her to establish a two-way link so they can communicate mentally. While this two-way link is established the pair are capable of knowing exactly what the other one is about to do, allowing them to operate together perfectly in tandem. While this link is established, Ted can also open links to other people. If Ted does this, Darlene can suppress her link, making herself mentally undetectable as she eavesdrops.
Damsel Indefinite ⫻ Darlene is tireless. As long the Heartbreaker curse remains and Ted lives, Darlene will continue to manifest. She is neither a person nor an apparition, and while she can appear to be killed or even sealed she is never truly gone. Due to her unusual nature, mental abstractions affect her on a case by case basis, but typically they just wouldn’t work. As long as Darlene exists, Ted is protected by the Heartbreaker curse. Anything that would cause a disease or heighten a preexisting condition are held in a stasis, and while Ted can still be injured he will always make an eventual full recovery from anything that isn’t immediately fatal as the curse dampens the injury. He still ages, but outside of some graying and wrinkles he won’t have any adverse effects while Darlene remains.
LIMITS ⫻ Although she is a magical manifestation that doesn’t require the things a normal human being would, Darlene is roughly as strong as an average woman. She does a pretty decent job of pretending to be a person, but an astute enough observer will notice uncanny aspects about her that can make her presence unnerving. Certain beneficial abstractions like healing and boosting might not work as intended on Darlene due to her unusual nature.
Manifest Pixie Dream Girl ⫻ Manifesting and demanifesting is an all-or-nothing situation, so Darlene can’t manifest just a part of herself. Incorporeal people can only float as fast as they can normally move. Ted can only be demanifested for as long as he is “touching” Darlene, and Darlene’s inherent jealousy forces her to let go of Ted after a few seconds whenever he “touches” somebody else to daisy chain the demanifestation. Someone who is invisible and tries to manifest always becomes briefly incorporeal first before becoming physical, allowing others a window of opportunity to react to their sudden appearance. An Emotional Field of a person benefiting from Darlene’s incorporealness would prevent them from manifesting inside of something, shunting them beside the thing, while an Emotional Field would also prevent Darlene from manifesting inside of someone. Certain abstractions can still affect someone that is demanifested. Strong enough electrical interference can force somebody to manifest.
Scheme Queen ⫻ An Emotional Field blocks any kind of unwanted rooting around. Ted can only link with people that he can see, and the link breaks if he is physically separated from them for more than an hour.
Damsel Indefinite ⫻Typically, the mental abstractions that don’t work on Darlene would be ones that attempt some kind of mind or emotion control. If Darlene was sealed she will remanifest by Ted after a minute. If Darlene was killed she will remanifest at her remains after a minute. When the Heartbreaker’s curse ends on a person, so does its protection. Over a short period of time a person succumbs to the effects that were kept in stasis by the curse: their immune system suddenly gets attacked by diseases that had been lying dormant for years, any sprains or deteriorating joints suddenly flare up, and the negative effects of aging hit at full force. While the Heartbreaker’s curse isn’t intended to kill someone, this rapid fall in health can be life-threatening.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Actually, President Ted’s got a pretty nice ring to it. Maybe once this is all sorted I’ll run for SAG-AFTRA office."
Ted’s Counterpart Teddy is a State Senator, which is like a real Senator because nobody actually gives a shit if they go missing or are melted by an acid-breathing dragon. Teddy was stupid enough to think that he could become President, and Darlene was going to help him climb politically until he got into the White House. Judging by his party affiliation, it’s unlikely that Teddy got married to a kindergarten teacher who got reprimanded for turning a lesson on sharing into an anticapitalist rant.
Ted’s favorite flicks are Rush Hour 2, John Wick 2, and Lethal Weapon 2. Teddy’s favorite movies are Rosemary’s Baby, Sound of Freedom, and Lethal Weapon 2. Darlene has never seen a movie, as she is both a magical construct and accurately pretending to be someone who is part of Gen Z.
Ted has real strong opinions on pickup trucks. Teddy has real strong opinions on “family values”. Darlene was never intended to be able to have actual opinions due to the nature of her being the creation of a curse and all, but she really thinks smoking looks cool and that maybe you should try it.
Ted knows it's wrong, but he actually prefers Kansas City BBQ over Texas BBQ. Teddy says he likes Texas BBQ, but he actually hasn’t had red meat ever since his doctor said it could cause a gout flare up. Darlene doesn’t eat food, but if you were to smoke something, you should really just smoke a cigarette, after all it’s just so relaxing.
Ted doesn’t smoke. Teddy does and also has been speaking with a lobbyist working for Philip Morris to open up a plant in Odessa. Darlene will go get you a pack right now, seriously, you look stressed.
Fixing Shit ⫻ You can’t always afford to have someone else fix your car or your leaky roof. Emil learned how to do shit like that the hard way, making him good at figuring out what’s broken and how to make it right.
Scrapper ⫻ Watching a 40 year old man get drunk and smack his wife didn’t sit right with Emil when he was a kid. So he started standing up and doing something about it, and he quickly learned how to fight dirty. Going for the eyes, kicking the shins out from under someone, and the classic throat punch are how Emil beats someone up.
Mechanic ⫻ Emil works in a car shop, so the thing he’s best at fixing is usually a car. If it’s not working right, he can probably find some way to get it back into shape or hold things over for a while.
Fucking Deal With It ⫻ Emil has learned, time and time again, that shit is rough. He has the near supernatural ability to think, “It is what it is” about so many things. Whether it’s an unbelievable amount of patience or just being too tired to give a shit, Emil gets through it.
Emil is younger than he looks. His unkept facial hair and the tired look in his eyes make him seem like he’s in his late thirties, but he’s still in his late twenties. The man tends to have a battered, thrown-together “Homeless Chic” aesthetic consisting of multiple hooded shirts and old jeans worn long enough to be confused for sweatpants. He tends to dress im layers because he’s used to bring outside in the cold a lot. His hands are calloused to hell and back, and though Emil doesn’t have any kind of tattoos or body mods, you can tell he’s got some road miles on him.
Psychology ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Боже, черт возьми, все это, черт возьми! …What? Nothing."
MAIN GOAL ⫻ Having goals implies there's some kind of future. Emil hasn't really been in a good enough mindset of late to feel like he can make those kinds of plans. His first priority has been to get a better opportunity and find more stability in life. Emil wants to find a way to know where he's going to be in the next month before he starts planning for the next year.
PHILOSOPHY ⫻ Life isn't fair. Same shit, different day. You can expect a fair hand, but you won't always get one. When bad things happen, the best way to get over them is to get through them. Just keep fucking moving.
SECRETS ⫻ When Emil was 13, he watched a kid drown. He could’ve done something about it, but he didn’t because he was afraid he’d drown too.
SEXUALITY ⫻ Eh.
FEARS ⫻ Emil really doesn’t like being high up off the ground, it makes his head spin. Oh, and he’s also afraid he’s going to die before his life actually gets better.
REPUTATION IN SHADOW ⫻ Emil was the guy you knew in high school, and wondered about after he dropped off the radar for the rest of your life. The guy who just went completely incommunicado and left no trace of where he went with his future. People don't know Emil, they knew him at some point or another in the past, before he fell to their wayside, and then another wayside again and again.
FLAWS ⫻ Emil habitually assumes the worst about a lot of things. This new job is probably going to fall through, that girl his friend from work introduced him to probably isn’t interested, the rain is probably about to leak through the roof, and so on and so forth. He isn’t used to looking at things positively, and he expects people to turn their backs on him when he isn’t looking.
Backstory ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "It is what it is."
Once upon a time, there was a sleepy town assailed by an army of the dead for reasons unknown. Day after day, night after night, the Emil Kolya of this town would wade through the slain undead to take power for himself and turn it into weapons with which he would protect his hometown. He became a kind of gritty, respected hero that took the opportunity for magic by the horns and put himself on the level of Adepts. People were fascinated by the sealing techniques he cobbled together that shouldn’t have worked, but did. And after that chapter of his life came to a close, he went on to become a well-renown monster hunter with an arsenal of magical tools at his disposal.
His counterpart from Shadow wasn’t so fortunate.
His sleepy town didn’t have much going for it. It was about half an hour from a big city known as Hayweather, just far enough not to benefit from things like tourism or any kind of local business. This Emil’s parents came from Shadow’s Russia to its America in the wake of his father’s newest job opportunity. They lived in Hayweather for roughly ten years before they had a kid and decided not to raise him in such a noisy environment.
It wasn’t a bad decision. Less people, less crime, less chaos from being in such a populated area… But it wasn’t the right decision, either. Emil grew up with just a single father, because his mother had died in childbirth, the town didn’t have its own hospital and they weren’t in a position to make it to Hayweather before it was too late. And then his dad started working overtime in a remote job he held for years, both to distract himself and to deal with raising a kid alone.
And if that wasn’t enough, lots of people in the town weren’t particularly nice to him. Things sucked, he’d go to school and get into scuffles with other kids, and then go home to a place where the kitchen tablet’s chairs were stuck to the floor because they hadn’t been moved in so long. Someone in town sold drugs, and Emil had reported it for obvious reasons. That made him a few more enemies before he was even 17.
Eventually, Emil got out of high school and things at home at gotten better. His dad had eventually moved on from the past, and was in a good enough financial position that he considered heading back to Russia with his son. They both had family over there that Emil had never been introduced to, and it would’ve made things easier on both of them for a whole slew of reasons Emil didn’t fully get. But it sounded better than the shitty town he grew up in.
So they left America. A month later, they were on the other side of the planet, and with a lot of help at home, Emil learned his native language enough to speak as if he’d been born there. He met his uncle and the entire family on that side of the tree, moved into a house just down the street from them, and things were generally fine. Shadow’s Moscow was vibrant and full of things to do. Emil spent two years settling in with his dad, getting to know things and enjoying a new page in the book of his life.
It only lasted that long, though. In time, Emil learned that his uncle, Pavel, had a habit of putting hands on his wife and arguing about politics in a way that wasn’t very safe for drywall. And his kids who were several years younger than Emil himself occasionally had bruises on their elbows when they walked past his house. Emil’s old man wasn’t too happy about it, but he always told his son that family was the only thing they had at the end of the day.
What his father hadn’t said was that he was sick for a long time. Emil found out when he came home from a day out with a girl, to find that Pavel and his wife were both there sobbing over a corpse with a gun between its fingers. He left a note saying he didn’t know how long he had to live, and that he wanted to leave America because he feared it wasn’t very long once. Emil’s father didn’t leave any indication of what he had, it could’ve been cancer or it could’ve been early dementia. But no one ever found out.
Emil had no choice but to move in with his uncle’s family. Pavel didn’t mind, neither did his wife Irina. But Emil eventually got to a point where he’d break Pavel’s face in half when he caught the man abusing his own family. So by the time he was 20 and unable to get into college, he had to move out and find a job.
The next few years were a blurry, stagnant haze until the day Emil stepped down a hallway and saw himself staring back.
Abstraction ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "A shovel? What am I supposed to do with-"
TYPE ⫻ Agent
ABSTRACTION ⫻ The Gravedigger
ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION ⫻ When Emil fell into Kindle, he found an oversized shovel embedded in concrete like a sword meant for a king. It absorbs the essence of anything it is used to kill, alive or undead, and uses that as fuel to conjure up dead things. Recently killed creatures can be resurrected, ghosts can be summoned. The shovel acts like a battery for death, which Emil can pull out and used as a way to sustain the minions.
LIMITS ⫻ No matter the conditions of the undead summoned, they’re products of the Gravedigger. Unless they originate from elsewhere, they’re on a timer. These undead lack an internal source of power, unlike other zombies or ghouls that can exist indefinitely. These undead have to be nourished by Emil, using the internal well of death that the Gravedigger builds up. If it depletes fully, its only use is as a hefty tool for cleaving and bludgeoning.
WEAKNESSES ⫻ (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
Other ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ "Yeah. This is rough."
Anyyyything else?
THE.GRAVEDIGGER
| Death’s Authority |
"For when the unquiet dead get too loud."ORIGINS & CREATIONS: | The Gravedigger was created by Emil Kolya of Kindle during his childhood, as a way to get through a horrific crisis. An undead invasion occurred and no one came to help, so he figured it out himself. |
TYPE: | Necromantic Weapon |
LOCATION: | Kindle |
NOTABLE OWNERS: | Emil Kolya of Kindle: Creator of the Gravedigger |
ABSTRACTION-GRANTING: | No | .............................................................................
As a kid, Emil Kolya of Kindle once spent three long weeks in a town beset on all sides by the undead. Having no magical experience beforehand, he had to learn quickly or die try. So he grabbed the closest thing to a weapon that he could find, a hefty shovel, and started slashing. Zombies were dismembered, ghouls were tossed into holes filled with flammable material, and the occasional ghost had its face smacked in. It worked for a whole, but then the undead intensified.
As more and more them appeared, Emil eventually worked out a method to use their power for himself. He learned a method of dealing, but his novice skills meant that he bit off more than he could chew.
The Gravedigger is a long shovel, big enough to be used as a spear, with a handle made of death driftwood. The head was originally polished steel, but has since ossified and now resembles cracked bone. It is a vessel for necromantic energy, eating death at every opportunity- Anything living or undead killed by the Gravedigger is drained of whatever kept it going, and this power can be used to reanimate or summon the dead.
Every time a zombie is laid to rest, or a ghost is smacked out of existence, its captured essence allows it to be brought back out. Undead summoned this way are stripped of all their innate power, and so they have to be sustained by the Gravedigger’s internal well of death. Without this power, a corpse will begin to slow down until nothing keeps it moving, and incorporeal undead will simply fade until there’s nothing left.
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