Open Crucifix and Kuji Kiri [Modern/Supernatural/Mystery]

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Fulgrim

Fulgrim

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General Information​


This is about ghosts, ghouls, spirits, yokai, or whichever name you prefer for supernatural forces from beyond.

The general idea is for each exorcist to use unique combat tools such as books, your own hands or spit, smoke, some sort of enchanted object- If you want to use a Magnum that is blessed by some priest, so be it, there are no limits to the style of exorcism as long as you keep the following rules in mind:


  • Sacred objects, prayers and purging techniques depend on your faith you have in your tools and systems, in other words, if your exorcist loses confidence, their weapons will become less effective or be nullified entirely.

  • Spirits come in all shapes and sizes, as well as power levels, from the smallest sphere made of shadows to a towering, mind breaking beast that looms over cities. Keep this in mind while out in your adventures.


  • There are very few ways to provide classes among spirits, you may come up with anything to fight to your heart's content. There are Ghosts, spirits of the dead. Spirits, beings born from nature's energy, such as fire, water, sunlight, etc. And lastly Demons, things born from negative energy, sometimes just ravenous mindless beasts, other times and most disturbingly, they can be conscious, with some sort of all knowing mind from beyond, most spiritists recommend not to even engage with them if you are not advanced in the arts, claiming that falling to them would be worse than death.

  • You can control random spirits and use them as punching bags as much as you need. However, I will be managing the larger threats that can attack the whole group at once for the sake of order and lack of confusion of unarranged actions. I am still using a character of my own as well as the main bad-evil bad guy spooky person. If you have an idea for a fight and would like to pitch it, please do send me a message! I'm not opposed to cooperating in scenes at all. :]


Violence is to be expected, sometimes there will be gross spirits or gruesome situations, but let's try to keep it tasteful.




The Story Itself
​

The starting events will take place in the far north of Guatemala, Peten. (Your character can be any nationality.)


It's the modern day, nothing is special about it, the weather is terrible, and everyone is living their miserable lives like drones, barely making it day by day.

But you? No, that's not you. You are special, you are an exorcist.


There are many ways in which you likely achieved your state of illumination, maybe you were born with it, maybe you learned how to see and fight spirits thanks to some skilled and wise exorcist or you touched and ancient artifact, maybe you were even possessed at some point, which awakened something within you, whichever was the case, you can now see the dead, and not everything is as you likely imagined at first.

Negative energy is leaking into our world, ripping apart the thin veil that separates reality from the spiritual realm, more than ever. As an exorcist, it's your job to clean up all that negativity and restore balance. Whether you're using ancient hand signs to channel ethereal energy, splashing holy water to purify corrupted souls, or swinging a blessed weapon forged in sacred flames, no method is too out there for this fight.


The general public is not aware of spirits and ghosts and similar things, some believe, some don't. Some exorcists choose to work silently in the shadows, while others make public appearances and make a name for themselves, making a living through their services, however, most people would consider anyone who mentions seeing ghosts or fighting spirits to be a bit insane, and would likely not take them seriously, as only the smallest percentage of humanity is able to perceive things this way.


Now, you were called to this place. Invited by an important businessman with an offer you cannot pass up. A sum of money large enough to keep you in a life of luxury for the rest of your days, all hidden as some sort of competition. Someone must get rid of the awful number of spirits that seem to haunt the grounds of his property. That is where you come in.

You can be a novice in the arts of spiritism, or you can be experienced, you are here to prove your worth, whether you do it for the fame, because you like money, or simply as a way to continue your line of work, cleansing the darkness by ripping it out of its roots.


Even outside of the hotel where you will reside, you can feel the negative energy emanating from it like a dark mist that envelops the ground.

It is your chance to prove your skill. Do your best, or at least, try.


-

That is all for now! You can ask more details here, as well as applying for a character spot! Below I will place my character as a sort of reference to what you can do!

See you soon lovely people.
 
Margo Alister Salazar


Age: 21

Gender: Male

Background:

Margo Salazar hails from a long line of archaeologists and preachers. Known for his resilience and deep empathy, Margo fights to protect others from a fate he once had to face himself.

He works as a baker during the day, helping his mother and earning some money on the side for the sake of his family, being mostly family oriented, and using that as his impulse to continue in his secondary line of work despite the dangers it represents.


Margo's illumination came around when he was younger, way younger, as his curiosity got the best of him when he examined an artifact his father had uncovered in a recent dig.

While observing the tool, he accidentally cut himself on one of its sharp obsidian edges, causing something malevolent to take over him.


Margo disappeared for a long time, only to be found about a three months later by his determined family. He was harmed and exhausted; the evil spirit that had possessed him forced him to crawl on the ground like a wild animal for its own sickening amusement, causing deep wounds that would remain embedded for years to come, now large scars as a reminder of what he fights for.


His grandfather, experienced in exorcisms, managed to eliminate the spirit and save Margo, but at the cost of his own life. The demon haunting the family decided it'd take one more life before being purged, fatally wounding the man.


Salazar's family grieved deeply, but Margo did not succumb to sorrow or guilt. Someone had given their life for him, and he vowed to ensure no one else would endure the horrors of evil spirits. His weapon of choice became the very artifact that had caused his possession.

After much persuasion, the local church agreed to cleanse the weapon in honor of the deceased Salazar and taught Margo how to vanish spirits. However, this was not enough for him. He sought out many other methods, making his techniques a blend of various cultures and practices.


Just a year before he turned 21, he decided to offer his services as an exorcist, at a low cost since he was still learning.

Everything went decently well, until he got that odd message in his email, something about riches unimaginable for a successful exorcism. He didn't particularly care for money at the time, but the amount offered was more than enough to give his mother a comfortable live, getting her finally rest after many years of hard work.


Appearance​


Marco Salazar has a stout frame with broad shoulders and strong arms. He has wavy brown hair that flows down to his ears, framing his face nicely. He stands at 183 cm tall.

He keeps a bit of stubble on his chin, which he carefully trims to avoid looking too disheveled, when he can.

His hazel eyes add a touch of charm to his otherwise rough features.

Margo's pale arms, legs, and hands bear many scars, making him appear even more imposing whenever he enters a room.


Personality​


Despite what his quiet and cold exterior would suggest, Margo is kind and sweet, being a decent team player when it's required.

Though he can be a bit self-conscious at times, he generally maintains a positive outlook, even in the worst situations.

Margo is not the sharpest tool in the shed. While he's not foolish, his problem-solving skills are not his strongest trait. He tends to rely on brute force to resolve issues.


Equipment​


Margo doesn't carry many special items, but he always has his trusted Macuahuitl by his side. This ancient, large wooden weapon is similar to a club but features shards of incredibly sharp obsidian, capable of cutting through high-quality steel this is to the young man's inhuman strength. The weapon's power is enhanced by blessed seals attached with strings and jade beads.

Additionally, Margo often brings candy or sweets his mother insists he should carry on his missions. Surprisingly, these treats prove effective in restoring energy to those attacked by spirits, as well as warding off evil, as a sort of edible charm.


Skills

Salazar is rather good at swinging a big heavy weapon around, earning a level of heightened strength due to the long-term usage of said deadly tool, as well as the possession that he suffered. Although it left scars behind, it offered in return a lasting impact in his muscles, providing him with extreme resilience and a level of unnatural stamina and muscular power that goes hand in hand with his large form.

Margo is quite tough, acting as a shield against evil spirits with unbreakable will. In his endeavors to become even more effective as an exorcist, he learned the arts of Kuji-Kiri or "Nine symbolic cuts" to be effective at fighting from a medium range.

He can bless items as well as allies with ease, being pure of heart has provided him with the advantage of being good support for anyone who stands by his side, often insisting on not keeping the spotlight and instead, allowing other fellow spiritists to bask in glory.


Miscellaneous / Extra information
​
Has a distinct smell like sweet bread, similar to the craqueline used for conchas.
 
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Name: Theodore “Theo” Morgan
Alias: Merlin
Age: 20
Gender: Male (he/him)

Appearance: Scrawny and on the shorter side, Theodore doesn’t look very intimidating at first glance. He has shoulder-length brown hair that poofs out at odd angles, except for the perpetually flattened top, and pale gray eyes, a small scar sitting just below his right eye that thankfully doesn’t reach high enough to impair his vision.

When he’s working as an exorcist, Theodore wears a lovingly tattered navy cloak, hand-embroidered with various runes and symbols that sit against the background like golden stars. He likes to keep the hood pulled over his face, but after a few too many times running full-force into walls his cousin made him add a patch of lighter, see-through fabric over his eye. It looks cool enough, he guesses.

Backstory: From a very young age, Theodore knew one thing with absolute certainty: he was going to become a real-life wizard or die trying. He skirted a little bit closer to the second option than he would have liked, but in the end he totally did it. He can shoot fireballs from his hands. It’s awesome.

Abilities: Theodore can shoot fireballs from his hands. (It’s awesome.)

Equipment:
  • Many-pocketed, verifiably mostly fire-proof cloak
  • Notebook
  • Pencil (chewed on)
  • Pen (not)
  • Spearmint gum
  • Deck of cards
  • Various dice with a variety of varyingly numbered faces
  • A worrying number of d6’s
  • Honest love of the game
  • A winner’s spirit
Misc: Cousins with Damian, they work together on most jobs.
 
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If there is one thing that I could first teach about esoteric contracts law, it is this:


If you intend to bind a dangerous mythological being, first make sure that your archaeological information is correct.


Two years ago, I was hired by a group of individuals with more enthusiasm than common sense, and whose research ability was regrettably well-determined in the esoteric sense, but not so much in the historical.


Having been captivated by the repainted image of the Piasa Bird in Alton, IL, and the legend told on the placard at the site thereof, it was their goal to summon, capture, and bind this legendary creature to their will. My involvement in this venture was to be as their contracts lawyer for the finial part of this endeavor.


Being entirely unversed in the esoteric at that time, I was of the opinion that the endeavor was entirely fruitless and the individuals were, in the common parlance, a few tractors short of a field study. They were, however, willing to pay my retainer and my hourly, and having recently enough graduated law school with the requisite amount of student loan debt, I was willing to take on the project provided that my contract stipulated that I received my fees whether or not they managed to bring forth any beings mythological or otherwise, and that I was not to be held liable or accountable should they bring forth any beings law enforcement or otherwise.


The relevant part of this endeavor is that the group chose to base their endeavor on the 1836 John Russel account of the Piasa Bird, this being the one referenced on the placard. Some personal research brought forth the point that there is conflicting evidence about the veracity of this account and that it may be, in the vernacular, entirely horse manure. I was assured that this was not an issue, and to write the contract because that was what they were paying me for.


So, in the end, while I was quite entirely surprised that the summoning worked and the thing existed, I was not at all surprised to find that the Russel accounts inaccuracies led to exploitable loopholes in the contract as written: namely, that the Piasa Bird does not and did not exist in the original format, and secondly, that the Payiihsa, a being of the Water Jaguar theogenus and not, as it were, a bird - had some strong opinions about the summoning and binding attempt, which it chose to demonstrate in such a fashion as to render any further attempts, summoning or otherwise, by this group to be, with permission: dead in the water.


Fortunately, as per my contract with the group, I was not able to be held liable or accountable had they brought forth any beings law enforcement or otherwise. Thus, the next point of great importance in all of this:


Do not underestimate the power of overarching terms in a binding legal contract, no matter how irrelevant they may seem at the time.


It being classified under otherwise, the Payiihsa was unable to hold me in particular liable or accountable, thus rendering any esoteric attacks on me personally to be null and void under the defensive measures held in that contract as agreed to by the signatories thereof.


The Payiihsa and I parted ways with, shall we say, a healthy mutual terror of each other's prowess in our respective spheres. I would like to say that I have not seen it since, but given the operandus of fides gignit veritatem, my knowledge of its existence allows it to continue to exist, mostly in my periphery, around bodies of water.


I believe it thinks I am interesting.



Name: Alexandria Rainne Hart
Lex or Lexi, please, and no commentary on the spelling of 'rain.' I find it as painful as you do.

Age: 28

Gender: Female

Appearance: Cocoa-brown hair, mid-back length if it is allowed to be down, which it almost never is. Usually it's kept up in a messy bun, often held in place by writing implements or just used to store them. Wire-rimmed glasses when she can't be bothered with her contacts, which is often. Murky greenish-brown eyes that could be described as either 'olive' or 'pond scum,' dependent on the charitability of the viewer. 5'6", with the build of someone who spent a great deal of time studying in law school and then two years ago discovered a sudden and compelling reason to attempt physical fitness through self-defense courses: developing muscle, but still a bit of extra weight lingering around the stomach and hips.

Personality: Serious, studious, and most of all intense. Lex believes in the power of information and double- and triple-checking everything, with cross-references if at all possible. She is not likely to accept half-answers or weak explanations, because leaving holes in one's knowledge base is leaving spaces for things to slip through, and Lex has learned quite a bit about the sorts of things that can slip through.

Work Experience: Lex is employed by a legal office, primarily focusing on corporate contracts law. For anyone who has ever had to scroll through a 12-page EULA in tiny font, that is the sort of thing that she works on. Aside from her day job, she has quietly let it be known that she does esoteric contracts on the side, for those who are interested in summoning, banishing, or otherwise consorting with beings of nonstandard humanity-based presentation. Given the right tools, she is very good at this job.

Equipment: Briefcase containing 8 sheets parchment (biological, non-human), 3 sheets parchment (biological, human), 2 sheets parchment (biological, mythological origin), 3 fountain pens (wood, metal, glass), 1 quill (raven), 1 quill (mythical feathered entity of North American origin), 3 vials standard ink (black, blue, red), 1 vial ink (biological, squid), 2 vials blood (human), 2 vials blood (biological, bovine or porcine), 2 vials ichor (sea-based eldritch entity), complete literature-based contracts reference guide (digital), e-reader.

Skills: Contract law, legal interpretation, loophole discovery and investigation, Latin fluency, mythological knowledge, basic self-defense, associated mythological being for advanced defense (Payiihsa).
 
Name:
Haru Sakurai

The storehouse always smelled of musty old wood tinged with a nose-tingling whiff of dust and an underlying dampness that Haru could never quite place. For the size of the space, it was also cramped, centuries of clutter stacked atop a muddle chests and furniture and ornamentation and — the point has probably been reached hasn’t it? — with only a thin cleared path through the building and into the tangle. As far as Haru was aware there had been no inventory of the storehouse since the early Meiji, and per her grandfather this was for the best and the building should be left to moulder. The storehouse, according to him, was a place where the community brought dubious objects to be housed since long before he had been a boy, and that no good would come from meddling with whatever had been abandoned there, so long as it left them alone.

Haru’s father however just saw a building he could renovate to be a guest house if only he could be rid of all the junk contained within. Now this is why Haru found herself, during her summer break no less, squirming her way through the clutter armed only with a flashlight to see if she could salvage anything worth keeping. She hated it, and would rather have gone out with her friends. Instead she was dressed in the grubbiest shirt she could find as she had already torn one very nice shirt on a stray chair leg and she wasn’t going to lose another one that way. As far as worthwhile salvage went Haru had so far found a bag of rather old coins, a rather pretty jade hand mirror, and a few pieces of furniture she had tagged because they felt sturdy enough to still be used after it jabbed her in the kidneys.

Real good use of her time.

It was a surprise to Haru then when she squeezed herself between a pair of old shelves and then found herself standing in an opening. It was hard to tell why exactly this space has been left almost empty, tatami mats on the floor had been long eaten by either time or insects, the paper along the wall was torn to fine ribbons, a rack of weapons had been set along the wall between two thick pillars and next to that was a chest. The chest was old, which was no surprise there, and covered in blackened strips of paper that Haru only recognized as charms after she had knelt down and gave one of them a close inspection. That made her feel cold, which only really began to alarm her when her breath came as a puff of vapor.

It gripped her shoulder. Her wrist. It stepped on her leg as it leaned over her to stare into her eyes. It was cold, so cold that Haru felt her scream stick in her throat like snow stuck to cloth gloves. With her free hand Haru did the only thing she felt she could, she took hold of one of the charms that was a stained brown instead of black and swung it into the air around her. The thing groaned, it scratched at her cheeks, it pulled away from the approach of the crumbling paper. Haru threw the charm at it, the paper coming apart into a puff of chaff and the thing let go.

Getting to her feet was a struggle. Her joints felt stiff, like she had slept on then all wrong for far too long. She stumbled, almost planted herself face first into the floor, and managed to not do so by leaning her shoulder against one of the pillars. Perhaps in an act of desperation, or maybe just because she had lost her flashlight at some point and its thin beam was now helpfully resting on the weapons, but Haru reached for one. Her numb fingers wrapped around the shaft of a naginata and she squeezed it for all she was worth as she yanked it off the rack. The scabbard came off with a whisper of metal, and hit the ground with a clatter of wood. The spirit had regained itself and the black mass of its form lingered in the pale glow of Haru’s flashlight.

Haru was not trained, so she did the only thing she could think to do and thrust the blade of the polearm at the thing currently scaring the hell out of her. There was a feeling of her cutting through… cloth? It screamed, a sound like fabric ripping as two metal edges scraped. Haru’s heel connected with the flashlight as she brought her blade down again on the spirit, sending the beam of light tumbling away into the mess. Still, her arms moved, the blade cut, and she too was screaming back at the dark until her throat was raw and all that remained was the sting of dust and sweat in her eyes and the stillness of a dark room.

Age:
27

Gender:
Female

Appearance:
A tall willowy woman with straight black hair and a pale complexion. She keeps tied back with a blue ribbon or up in a simple bun, depending on the need of the moment, though she prefers the ribbon if only because it’s a good luck charm. Haru has found that there’s an importance in little charms like that, the strange personal rituals that can make or ruin a day. Her complexion didn’t used to be so pale, though that was back when she did track and field regularly, so perhaps that’s the change, even if she began to notice it happening when she was eighteen and had her first frightful encounter. Her eyes are a dark brown, though they seem almost amber when the light strikes them just right.

Personality:
Haru is relaxed, not quick to anger or excitement, and liable to take things at her own pace if you let her. She does have a bad habit of letting the little things bottle themselves away until they’ve become one big thing waiting to burst all at once. A bad coping mechanism, perhaps, but such outbursts aren’t common. She’s also the sort who likes to be interested by something and is hard to shake off if you do catch her eye.

Biography:
Her family had been rich once, important in the community some generations ago, but they’ve slipped through the years. They’re comfortable enough now, but they aren’t the family the community brings its problem items to anymore, and they aren’t expected to show up and help when trouble arises. But, that does mean that there are stories passed down within the family, and an old storehouse bursting with odds and ends way up into the mountain of the family’s estate.

This storehouse is where Haru’s troubles began. She was sent in to poke around for anything interesting by her father, and instead found herself kneeling before a chest that something wicked had leaked from. Misfortune and fortune are often never far apart, and Haru managed to protect herself using a naginata that cut the spirit apart, slice by slice.

To know something is to also let that thing know you; even after Haru crawled her way back out of the storehouse she could still see ghosts. It was her grandfather who said that she should learn to protect herself and it was Haru who then chose to use that learning to help protect others. Sometimes a calling found you, even if you never wished for it.

Haru has a collection of weapons, starting first with the ones that had been on the back wall of the storehouse. These aren’t blessed weapons, but they are special. Weapons forged by such masters of their craft that they can carve even spirits and the strange things of the world. Few of these pieces exist, few have survived the ages, and Haru has chased down every rumor she has heard in search of them. She favors the naginata, though there is a fine long sword from France that she finds quite versatile.
 
Name: Damian Álvarez-Rossi
Age: 22
Gender: Male (he/him)

Appearance: Tall and muscular, Damian certainly appears more intimidating than his cousin at first glance. This is somewhat undermined by a pair of soft brown eyes and a mass of curly black hair that Damian as long since abandoned trying to tame. He typically isn't seen outside of long sleeves and dark jeans unless he's working or exercising.

When working, he prefers to wear something sleeveless to have better access to his arms. Over that he wears a dark jacket, something that's comfortable and durable, with familiar silver symbols stitched along the bottom hem.

Background: Born into a deeply religious family, Damian was told from a young age about the presence of malicious spirits in the world, and of those that hunted them. Some were even in his own family, traced back centuries. After his first encounter with an evil spirit, Damian realized that he was to join those blessed ranks. He fell and cut himself while trying to run for help, and in doing so discovered that his very blood was a weapon against the dead, one that was his to command. He now believes that he must seek to banish evil spirits, that this is the path he must follow.

Abilities: Damian's blood effectively functions as a holy oil. This means that it can be applied to any weapon or object and increase its efficacy against spirits. Damian has little experience with this, however, as the blood itself is his weapon. He can shape and manipulate it however he wishes, drawing it from open wounds and crafting it into weapons or projectiles.

As a result of his blood-slinging abilities, Damian heals faster than a normal person. He can also manipulate the blood of other people, but to a limited extent. He can heal others by drawing their blood into their body and fixing blood-based injuries, but it's slow and he's not particularly experienced with it. There's only one person whose blood he has attempted to manipulate while its still in their body, and it's mainly used to pull him out of the blast radius of his own fireballs.

Equipment:
  • Embroidered jacket
  • Italian cold steel cinquedea
  • Two vials of his own blood, changed every 48 hours
  • A sense of duty
  • A martyr complex (it's complicated)
  • An overly excitable cousin
 
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We seem to have a nice group now! I'll be posting the starter soon and let you all know! I believe our posting order will be as you joined, so:

Me, Kat, illi, Umbra and Volt! If that is alright for everyone of course.
 
PROPERTY OF THE WHITGRAVE TELEGRAPH LLC. (2023) - FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

NAME: Quinn Reeves
AGE: 26
GENDER: (Candidate left this part blank. Mistake?)
DATE OF INTERVIEW: 09/02/2023

CANDIDATE SUMMARY: Postgraduate and freelance photographer with professional and personal client experience. Specialises in event photography (concerts, weddings), but can do landscape, people, food etc. Familiar with digital tools but prefer to work with film. Local to Whitgrave but willing to commute to surrounding towns (Spitwick, Warringhedge, Pyrestone-By-Sea, etc).

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

Why do you want to work for the Whitgrave Telegraph?

Well, I mean, I've grown up in the area- as, I assume, we all have. Doesn't really seem like the kind of place you can leave. Anyway, local history has always been of interest to me, and the Whitgrave Telegraph captures all of that history. I did my dissertation on it, y'know. I mean, I didn't get a good mark on it or anything, but I read a lot of your archives for it, so I know my way around that. I like how old-school everything still is around here. You're probably the only paper I know that still takes film photography- everything else is all digital now, and you just can't trust pictures like that. Film is real, right? Film is alive. Accurate, I mean.


Do you have any relevant professional experience?

Uh, I did some freelance work for the student paper back in uni. Mostly concerts and other, like, night-time events. Not the sort of thing I'd go to willingly, especially with the kind of bands they were making me photograph, but it was good work experience. I actually have a sample of some of my work here, if you'd like to have a look.

(Reeves places a folder on the desk, marked "MEMENTO MORI - Axel's Bar 2019". Inside are five photographs- standard size, printed on glossy paper.)


Was it just events you photographed, or were you given other subjects?

It was mostly events, but I took a few pictures of people for, like, articles and stuff. The student bar asked me to take some pictures for their menu as well, actually, but those were all taken digitally, and I lost my- uh, I had a house fire last December, so the hard drive's gone. Didn't keep a backup. You might be able to find them on their website, if they haven't changed the menu.

(Picture 1: Two young men on stage- one with dyed red hair and a leather jacket, another with black hair and a black t-shirt with a picture of a bird on it. The band, presumably- MEMENTO MORI. It's lit well, taken from a low angle.)


Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Did you store these somewhere else, then?

I keep all my finished work in a cabinet in the darkroom- that thing must've been made out of solid asbestos, because not a single one got burnt. That was... lucky. Really lucky. I'll, uh, I won't burn down your facilities here, don't worry about that. I kept the cabinet as well, brought it with me to my new place with all the stuff still inside it. Got the lock refitted and everything- it's silver now. I thought... that might not warp as much if it gets burnt again, y'know?

(Picture 2: A wider shot, showing the full stage, and three other people behind Redhead and T-Shirt, who serve as the focal point- everything around them is blurred.)


It's funny- the last guy who worked here, he also refitted our cabinet with a silver lock. We just thought he got scammed.

It was Jensen, right? I was frie... I knew him. We were acquaintances- he was the one who recommended I apply, actually. I think the whole silver lock thing was just a weird quirk he had. He told me to get one myself, and- well, he never lost all his belongings in a house fire, did he?

(Picture 3: Another low angle, framing T-Shirt in a blur of red light. He must've been captured mid-motion, but his figure is clear and legible. It's dynamic. Impressive.)


I guess not. Alright, back on topic. What do you think you can bring to our team here?

Well, I mean, a photographer. You need one of those, don't you? Anyway, I suppose... I know a lot about the area, about its history. I know where all the skeletons are, so to speak; the weird stuff, the unexplained- and I'm not afraid to go there. I can report as well as photograph, so you'd only need to send me out to places- that's gotta save you some money, right? Look, I know how understaffed you guys are, and I'm willing to fill whatever role you need me to. As long as I get to take photos, I'll be fine.

(Picture 4: Low angle. T-Shirt, again, but, behind him... a smudge. It's long. Dark grey. The shape and size of it, at first glance, makes it look like the man's shadow- but it's in front of the lights. Looking closely, there appears to be a shape near the top of the smudge- a downward crescent, almost. Like the white of an eye.)


Sorry, what's this? On the photo?

This? Shit- ah, sorry. It must've got in the folder by mistake, there's an embarrassing- uh, I spilled a paint marker on it. I thought I left it in the cabinet. Yeah, that never made it to publication. A shame, really- it would've been a nice one, if it didn't have that thing on it. The rest of the pictures, they're all clean.

(Picture 5: Redhead, standing in front of their drummer. Less dynamic composition than the others, but at least there's no paint spilled on this one.)


Right. Well, thank you for your time, Miss- Mister? Miss?

Quinn.


Thank you for your time, Quinn. We'll get in touch next week.


INTERVIEWER'S NOTES:
  • Jensen mentioned a Reeves before he left. Quinn matches the description he gave- black-brown hair, thick glasses, grey eyes.
  • They even wore that big coat he said they always wear. Guess he wasn't lying about that one- who shows up to a job interview looking like a second-rate Sherlock Holmes cosplayer?
  • Looked up student bar photos. Menu changed since but some items remained- old photos substantially better than new ones.
  • Looked up MEMENTO MORI. Four-man band, Japanese post math fusion rock metal something something. Hipster shit. Very niche, so small potential audience. Concert photos published on band Instagram (now inactive?)
  • Looked up student paper. Reeves wrote a few articles as well, with decreasing frequency. They're very different to how they came across in the interview. Makes sense.
  • Reverse image searched Picture 3. Found police report(?) (missing person? Google translate was not helpful) from 2019. No other hits for any of the other images. Probably not a plagiarist.
  • Will probably hire. Best out of all 4 applicants, and one of 2 who can actually hold a camera properly.
  • Asked if they heard from Jensen since he left, they said he hadn't spoken for a while. Must've just drifted apart, or something. Shame- it seemed like they were close, despite what Reeves wanted me to know. I wonder where he is now.

----

Quinn Reeves,

I've sent this letter alongside a parcel- please do not open the parcel until you have finished reading. As you can probably guess, I've sent you a functional camera. It's a newer model- I know the old ones can be a bit finicky when it comes to getting a clear shot. Should be less of a learning curve with this one. It's more reliable. I've got one myself, and it's done me well for a good few years.

The manifestations should appear through the viewfinder, even whilst you're not personally attuned- don't worry, that sort of thing comes with time and practice. As long as you get the thing mostly in frame, its spirit should transfer to the photograph mostly intact. I'd recommend keeping your shots clear of any human subjects, for the time being- any mistakes during the development process could lead to them being trapped as well. It's important that you develop the pictures as quickly as possible to avoid any seepage- once twenty-four hours pass, the barrier starts to get weaker. For lesser spirits, you should be alright, but for anything threatening, you've really got to hurry.

As for how to safely develop the pictures, this is where you need to pay attention. Bless the developing fluid the same way I taught you, as if it were holy water. Then, only once the pictures is submerged, add six drops of your own blood- as fresh as possible. From there, you can develop the pictures as "normal", but watch out for any signs of seepage. If the picture of the spirit starts to gain clarity, if their features become distinct, if they turn into anything other than a grey or black smudge, then you need to burn it, and you need to run.

I'll be back next Sunday. Pat's got me chasing some D-list soap star in Pyrestone-By-Sea, for some reason. It's going to take a while. Just remember: trapping spirits is easy- it's how you keep them trapped that matters.

Faithfully,
Karl Jensen.

----

Equipment:

  • SLR film camera
  • 5x Spare 35mm film rolls (various brands)
  • Developing fluid
  • Red LED lamp
  • Lighter
  • Pocket knife
  • Flip-phone (Motorola MPx200- no camera.)
  • Fast food salt sachets
  • Fast food condiment sachets
  • Handheld torch
  • 8x AA batteries
  • Oval locket with a folded photograph

----

(Picture X: A photograph of a man, who looks to be in his early fifties. It looks candid- captured mid-turn, like he just noticed the photographer standing behind him. The background is completely smudged- a mixture of black and grey and the faintest hint of wallpaper, though that seems lost in the murk. It's an odd picture, not the kind of thing you'd expect to find in a locket.

It's the last known photo of Karl Jensen, taken around the time of his disappearance in the winter of 2022.)
 
Name: Elias Corven

Age: 34 (appears human, actual age unknown)

Gender: Male

Background: Elias came to Guatemala pretending to be a European occult scholar working with a small restoration group that studies spiritual contamination in ancient buildings. In reality, he was born centuries ago from a fallen spirit and a human priestess. As a child of both worlds, Elias can sense celestial and infernal energy, giving him a rare talent for exorcism. However, this also leads to a constant battle to keep his darker half at bay. Only he and a parasitic familiar named Ichor, who whispers through his reflection, know about his demonic lineage.

Appearance: Elias stands just over six feet tall. He is lean but muscular, like a predator. His black hair has silver streaks at the temples due to repeated purification rites. His eyes look dark brown in sunlight but reveal faint glimmers of crimson in the dark. Long, faintly glowing scars wrap around his right forearm, which he keeps covered in red cloth and marked with purification seals. He dresses impeccably, wearing a black shirt, gray duster coat, gloves, and a silver chain with a shattered rosary bead.

Personality: Elias is calm, articulate, and strangely poised. He speaks carefully and values balance over notions of absolute good or evil. This neutrality often comes off as unsettling to others. Sometimes, when he's provoked or tired, his voice takes on an almost inhuman quality, and shadows around him seem to shift slightly with his movements. Despite his intimidating presence, Elias genuinely wants to keep his demonic nature suppressed. He sees exorcism as both his job and a form of penance.

Skills:
- Aether Transference: Channels corrupted energy from others into his sealed arm, cleansing victims while absorbing some darkness himself.
- Scripture Ignition: Recites excerpts from forgotten gospels in a language older than Latin, igniting his sigils in pale spectral flame that can banish minor spirits.
- Hollow Step: A technique from his demonic blood that allows for brief displacement through the shadow plane, used for dodging or repositioning. However, this risks revealing his true form.
- Alchemy & Smoke Rites: Uses burning incense mixed with consecrated salt and trace amounts of demon ichor (his own blood) to attract or bind powerful spirits.

Miscellaneous Info: Elias’s supernatural core appears as a blackened halo, visible only to those sensitive to spirits. If he loses faith in his sealing rites, this halo could fully manifest, returning him to his original demonic form. His greatest fear is losing control during an exorcism and becoming the monster he hunts. Nevertheless, his knowledge of infernal mechanics makes him essential in battling sentient, reasoning demons.
 
Greetings @TypedRooster ! Thank you for taking your time to write down your character sheet.

I do have to mention that at this time our group is full, however, I will make sure to consider you first if we have a spot later on!

On another note, I wanted to make a couple suggestions for the character. While I think he's very well written, he would have many, many issues settling down in the story as is. You see, in this universe (that I will refer to as Crucifix from here on out) the spirits are not at all physical nor interested in procreation of any kind, compared to other magical media.

Spirits in Crucifix are either literal forces of nature such as an ancient river, a forest fire recently born due to global warming or directly negative, evil emotions. I see where the idea of a descendant of such creature could come in, however, these spirits, especially "demons" (our evil forces) would have no need for that, as they can simply take over a body at will, or if they are smart and ancient enough, create one of their own with say, mannequins, dolls, etc.

In truth, no angels or demons exist within Crucifix, merely good and bad energies. As for "familiars" this is much more likely to occur and actually very common if you've seen our other members' sheets.

Tldr; there aren't any true hybrids in universe due to the simple fact that well, there's just no way it can happen. There are definitely possessions and vessels that carry around negative spirits, however, given how the story would progress I would likely not recommend going for something of the like, as it may give your character quite a lot of trouble in later fights.


Those are simply some suggestions I could think off the top of my head, once again, thank you so much for considering us. I will absolutely take another look at your sheet if you make some changes and will let you know when we are able to accommodate you!
 
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