General Discussion

Node: religion is unnecessary once you accept that we are all souls. 

• The Node is the main idea of the story. Everything connects to it. 

• Character Nodes are the relationships characters have with the overall Node. It’s the main idea guiding their arcs.   

DISCLAIMER: This story contains content about depression, suicide, and death. Read with caution.

The world lost its faith. All traditional religions ceased to be practiced as the world became increasingly secular. However, there are three remaining religions that secretly hold the key to faith: the Supernatural. Wielding the powers of the Supernatural, the 3 remaining faiths worship Death. Each seek to understand Death, and through that journey, perhaps unearth the meaning of life. 

Legend 

~ means it needs to be replaced 

SH = Shadow Hunter 

SC = Shadow Caster

The Supernatural*

• Defined as the relationship between the seen and unseen.

• Supernatural can be expressed in different Manifestations, which tap into the Supernatural differently.  

• Manifestations exist by exploring different relationships. 

*The religions are akin to counter cultures. They live based upon higher principles compared to ordinary people. The Ziru believe normies to be inferior, the Ibahim believe them to be shepherded, the Equinity believe them in need of teaching and are the only religion willing to actively seek converts. 

Ziru - Dogma meets Fatalism… 

• Relationship between the stars/planets and us, inspired by astrology.

• Powers determined by one’s House, i.e. mental energy for August. What powers can you imagine coming from the mythology surrounding Virgos? 

• Ways in which powers can be used are determined by Alignments, which change frequently. How might a Retrograde impact someone’s baseline abilities? Think of phenomenon such as that when imagining Alignments. 

• Practitioners referred to as cosmic beneficiaries or the Ziru

• Techniques are based on the Alignment, and they require mediums (weapons) to use. 

• Alignments are the arrangements of the stars/planets in a given moment. 

• The Ziru believe themselves to be the only religion, and thus have waged holy war against the other “cults”. 

• They’ve successfully eradicated most of the Ibahim. 

• They are partly responsible for the death of Classical Religions. What would a conspiracy to end the practice of a religion look like? That’d be a cool backstory...

• They believe Death to be a sacred finality. They are fatalists. 

• Why do they hate Shadows?   

• Shadows are souls unable to know rest, which is an egregious act. 

• It is believed that Shadows contribute to Supernatural imbalances, which cause natural disasters and unfavorable occurrences. 

• The presence of Shadows can interfere with the Ziru’s use of the Supernatural. The SH is immune to this. 

• There are 12 Houses, each tasked to watch over particular parts of the planet, manage Supernatural events, and maintain the secrets of the Supernatural. The 12 Houses together make the šinšeret, which is an ancient organization that has controlled much of human history via natural and Supernatural means (they are a self-righteous cabal, acting with superiority since they know about the Supernatural). They are self appointed police of the world, and are meant to be representative of “destiny” in a way. Each of the Houses is ruled by its accompanying sign, and they have each been locked in eternal turmoil for control (since that’s what humans do). How would you flesh out the Houses? What relationships do you feel need to exist to capture the nuance of astrology? The Ziru structure doesn't need to follow astrology exactly. Astrology is meant to be a comparison. The names of the Houses, their functions, and the way Alignments work can function differently compared to astrology.

• 1st House: Aries. Fire. This House is the second most powerful, and actively controls most of the governments of the world. They are stationed in China, and are in charge of a large part of Eurasia. 

• 2nd House: Taurus. Earth. Rules over the world’s banking, and is firmly behind the 8th House. They watch over several West European nations. 

• 3rd House: Gemini. Air. In charge of monitoring the world’s communication to ID threats, and they keep track of Supernatural threats on a global scale, much more broadly than the other Houses. This House is firmly behind the 8th House. 

• 4th House: Cancer. Water. This House exists purely for the support of the other Houses. This is the “fixer” House, and thus they have an odd reputation. They act completely independently of the other Houses, and only work in exchange for something from the other Houses. They are the foundational House, however, and all the other Houses are offshoots of this one, making it the oldest. 

• 5th House: Leo. Fire. They control what people see, i.e. the entertainment industry and what not. They are responsible for media representations and all they perpetuate. Watch over most of the U.S., and are stationed in Los Angeles. They are actively vying for more power. 

• 6th House: Virgo. Earth. This House is all but destroyed. The 6th House rebelled against the 8th House during the 1100s, resulting in the systematic killing of all but one of its members. As a curse, the 8th House made it so that every descendant of the 6th House had to operate alone as the Shadow Hunter, a glorified hitman. The Shadow Hunter was tasked with destroying all the Shadows in the world, as well as acting as the Supernatural policeman of the natural world. Whereas the 10th House monitors the other Houses, the 6th House is responsible for monitoring the natural world in a similar manner. This punishment now falls onto August Moon  

• 7th House: Libra. Air. They control most of the major corporations of the world, and they support both the 1st House and the 8th House, albeit secretly. This House is obsessed with maintaining a balance so that the status quo isn’t thrown off by too much. 

• 8th House: Scorpio. Water. This House has the most power around the globe, and these practitioners are typically the most powerful Ziru. They lead the other Houses, although some Houses are gaining on them. Ruled by an oligarchy. Scorpios…

• 9th House: Sagittarius. Fire. act as the scholars for the Sinseret. They collect data from the other Houses and compile large texts about the Supernatural. They also experiment with its limitations. This House holds no allegiances. I feel like this House would have a special relationship with the 12th House and the SH. My Sagittarius friends: what do you feel you all would do as part of a secret religious cabal? 

• 10th House: Capricorn. Earth. acts as the watchdog for the Sinseret. They ensure everyone stays on task and in line. They are mostly tasked with watching over the 6th House, and ensuring the 6th House duties are fulfilled. This House is the least liked, since they carry themselves like they’re better than everyone, but they are still revered. “Grounded in truth” is the leading ideology. 

• 11th House: Aquarius. Air. Specifically in charge of response to natural and Supernatural disasters. They typically operate in subservience to other Houses, helping allocate resources during disasters in other Houses’ regions. They work very closely with the 3rd House and the 10th House. 

• 12th House: Pisces. Water. This is the most rebellious, and no one has ever figured out why. This is because they have secretly unlocked what happens after Death, and they are continuously silenced from freeing the rest of humanity from “destiny.” They watch over the smallest amount of land. 

*Sashes delineate House and power level.

*Astrology is thought to be the best/highest understanding of the Supernatural, along with Death…

“There’s no such thing as a just war. Just delusions and the sins that fuel them.”

Equinity - Freedom and Courage… 

• Relationship between two opposing things.

• Practitioners referred to as oppositional beneficiaries or of the Equinity.

• Techniques require users to have utility belts to hold sources to transmute.

• They must have a Transmutation Veil, which is created by a material called Solunthra.

• Solunthra is a highly durable and Supernaturally conductive weave made from ~ectowebs~, the residue newly created Souls leave behind Help me create a better name than ectowebs. Seems too Danny Phantom-ish. 

• TVs woven into clothing.

• The newest Manifestation, they are quickly rising in number. 

• This Manifestation is rooted in an ideology/philosophy created by one person akin to Buddha 

• “Nothing exists without its opposite” is the central philosophy. 

• Dafiqhi - Aethal* for “the Hidden Link”, is the founder. He discovered the ability of conceptual entanglement and taught it as a means to better understand the essence of life. Unlike other leaders, he seeks to understand Death by pursuing hidden knowledge about life, making him much more optimistic. 

• Freedom, courage, and interconnected nature are tenets of his belief. 

• Users vary widely in strength since transmutations are based on a user’s considerations of opposites.

• What is their stance on Shadows? 

• The opposite of a Shadow is an enlightened person. So, Shadows are pitied and mercy killed when possible. 

• ~Shadow Casters~ are seen as cowards, and those that give into fear are thought to always disturb the balance of the Supernatural. They are actively hunted. 

*Aethal is the in-universe language shared among the religions. It’s only seen written. What images come to mind when you think “language of the Supernatural”? That’ll help Aethal find its imagery. 

Ibahim - Piety and Balance… 

• Name means “the Way of Stone”. 

• Relationship between physical world and a person.

• Earth, fire, wood, metal, air, aether (nothingness given form), khet (physical body), ren (their secret names, if invoked grants immeasurable power but a metamorphosis as a result), ba (astral form) for relationship between person and physical world.

• Practitioners referred to as elemental beneficiaries or the Ibahim 

• Techniques require Summons, which are incantations and/or hand gestures 

• These users are highly trained in CQC. They are dedicated to a life of mastering combat and control. 

• They wear masks and use pseudonyms to protect their identities.   

• They view Death as release, so holding onto, fully exploring, and consuming the physical world is important. Disciplined and directed hedonism. Indulgence is a virtue. 

• To be known is to be devoured; their names are their life force and their faces are their vessels, so they hide both. 

• “Be still, like stone” is a key tenet. 

• Why do they seek to redeem Shadows? Is it tied to their culture and how Shadows are viewed? 

• Shadows are created during the Transition (going from life to death), and are essentially trapped in this stage. This means they can be brought back to full life, which is the mission of the Ibahim: preserve life. 

The Inner-World of August Moon

“Son, we’re all alone. Some of us are just more aware of that fact than others.”

-Mr. Moon to August

• August Moon - He responds to situations as a jaded Virgo. He seeks to work to serve as punishment and therapy to deal with how his psyche is impacted. He is dressed in a three piece suit with a giant scarf that he uses to cover his face in action. This is an old design. How do you reconcile it with what you see below? August struggles with depression, which is only worsened by how self-critical he is. When things go awry, he turns his anger and distress inwards. He thinks a lot, feels deeply, but hardly expresses himself to the few he talks to. He spends his days wandering wherever he is, watching people live better lives than his. He feels he is stuck, but he thinks about and desires more. He’s a character that is constantly on the cusp of change. He philosophizes like a jaded Silver Surfer. He is observant, which is reflected in how he solves problems and fights. He resents his father but only because he wanted his love. His best friend is Nazanin, whom he has a love-hate relationship. He eventually falls in love with Nazanin as they break away from the Sinseret. Maybe? He has sharp features and dark blue eyes. His suit is dark blue, with a black vest. His scarf is black and white. He is 29, and looking for a mate is a point of contention between him and Nazanin (for obvious reasons). Does a handler to lover arc make sense for their characters? In sum, August is contemplative, self-defeating, and devoted.  *Namtaru is August’s sword. It contains parts of the Souls of all previous SHs, condemning them to Limbo for eternity. Using powerful spells, Mr. Moon was able to avoid this fate. However, the sword was still aware of his death. That’s how August knows his father is dead, but doesn’t know the circumstances surrounding his death. The blade itself is a void in space-time. It always has weight but is only material in the presence of Shadows or at the behest of August. He carries Namtaru’s hilt across his chest. The Souls of the former SHs whisper to him day and night. At least, that’s what August thinks… 

• Character node: emptiness is indicative of a life unexamined 

• Backstory: TBD. What do you think would make sense for his backstory given what you know? 

• Arc: volume 1 August is motivated by forced obedience, and then increasingly by love. He learns to see alternatives and moves away from the fatalistic thinking of the Ziru. However, he never questions his faith but instead questions the establishment. His devotion to the Ziru beliefs never wavers, he follows his faith outside of dogma. What would you add? I had originally planned for 2 Volumes of a webcomic series.

*The Ziru still use Akkadian to ground themselves in their past

Visualizing August Moon 

He started off as a nigga with vitiligo in a three piece suit. When I sketched it out, everything about it felt wrong as fuck. The scarf concept was cool, and it evolved into the sash. I’m still not sure which I like better for August’s design. I realized I needed to take inspiration from elsewhere, and what better place to do that than Naruto. Shoutout Kakashi.

The scarf over his face idea died, giving way to the sash around his waist. What do you all think makes more sense/is cooler for his design? That’s a Shadow in the moon. Those motherfuckers are ugly. 

August is a workaholic like his father before him and his grandmother before that. The Shadow Hunter curse forbids him from the corporeal realm while the sun is out, so I wanted to figure out how to depict his state of mind visually. The workaholism is evident by where he keeps Namtaru. He keeps his hilt in an unconventional place - across his chest - to represent the burden of his curse. The crystal center aligns with his heart. The hilt placement means he fights primarily with a reverse grip. The idea of a mystical buster sword wielding pothead with depression and mild psychosis sounds trippy as hell. Oh, and he fights with a reverse grip? That’s tough. 

“Weed couldn’t settle my fire, couldn’t cover my pain, pain, pain, pain, pain.” August would bump Isaiah Rashad if he could. He’d also get along well with Smoke/Elijah. Self medication is a favorite for dealing with depression. August is no different. That’s why his eyes are so low. To him, weed gives an excuse for a mind always wandering. It’s a crutch that visually depicts his inner struggles with numbness vs. peace, apathy vs. compassion. As he progresses through his arc, maybe his relationship with weed changes. How would you use a blunt in his character design? 

August’s character design is outdated. I really like his newest headshot, but his overall character design could use some work. August's design needs updating.   

• Shadows (aka Shut) are created when one uses Supernatural abilities to enslave people right at the moment of death (called Transition). Their souls are ripped from their bodies, and the practitioner infuses a part of their soul to create the Shadows. They are called Shadows because they exist only when the practitioner calls on them, and because they emerge from darkness. Shadows often have their bodies, but are distorted in sometimes grotesque ways (since they should be dead). Shadows can be reanimated corpses, but this requires much power; these Shadows appear as completely black, and are more powerful than Shadows that did not die. Shadows are almost always used in evil ways.

• They are most powerful at night. 

• The older the Shadow, the more powerful it becomes, and the more it can look like its old body. 

• Shadow Hunters* are one of the most important tools to maintain balance in the world. However, they are seen as being at the bottom of the hierarchy. There is only ever one Shadow Hunter. The Shadow Hunter is closely monitored by the 10th House, and is only really in close contact with their appointed handler. Shadow Hunters are raised by the parent that is a part of the 6th House; the singular person of the 6th House is required to have offspring only to continue the punishment. Future Shadow Hunters are taught by their parent and by their appointed handler, whom they know for most of their lives. 

• Shadow Hunters are cursed to only exist at night, when the Supernatural is most powerful (as well as Shadows).

• During the day, SH are nonmaterial essences. They can see, hear, think, but cannot be interacted with in any way during the day. They are cursed to walk the Earth unable to enjoy it and connect with the nature. 

• SH begin training at very young ages, and the curse only begins to apply to them on their 16th birthday (since 16 is a lucky number for Virgos). They are trained by primarily their Virgo parent, and then by their handler (who is always at least three years older). 

• Upon completion of training (around the age of 16), the burden of SH is passed on to them, and they are given Namtaru. At this point, they exclusively hunt until 29 (another Virgo lucky number), which is the age they are expected to begin finding a suitable mate. 

• If a SH is killed before having a child, the burden falls onto the 10th House handler until another suitable Virgo learns the secrets of the Supernatural, is indoctrinated, trained, and then the cycle is started again. This has never happened before. This point can be strengthened. How do you think the Ziru should handle a SH that’s been KIA? 

• SH only real friends during their lives are their mates and their handlers. Other than that, the life of a SH is extremely lonely, which of course takes its toll. 

• If a SH has multiple children, the oldest becomes the next SH, while the others are given away. 

• They are most powerful during full moons and during the winter when the nights are longest. 

*Canonically, retired SHs normally kill themselves, hence why the Sinseret never had contingencies for Mr. Moon Is no contingencies really feasible?

• Mr. Moon- the deceased father of August and Mary. He was the SH before August. He was extremely hard on August, and suffered from severe depression and PTSD. He vanished after the curse was passed onto August. However, it is revealed that Mr. Moon died trying to end the 8th House’s rule. He learned the secrets of the 12th House, and the Sinseret had him killed. He contrasts Fey as a father figure. When he died, he was 55. Since he learned the secrets of the 12th House, he was able to return, being the only person to conquer Death (who even Fey can’t see). He’s cold af with a blade he earned by impressing Death. His second chance was granted so that he could honor Death, which is two-fold: sending folks to Death with his weapon and second chance at fatherhood. He becomes Finality Given Form, a Death god. In sum, he is merciless, focused, and callous. What other characteristics can you pull from this? What would make him more interesting?  

• Character node: honor is built in the relationships one chooses to uphold. 

• Backstory: At the age of 49, right after bestowing the title of SH to his son, Mr. Moon immediately embarked on a journey of truth. His time as a SH led him to believe that there were multiple SC’s, and he was determined to find them all. He began his journey by tracking down The Witch, and surprising her, asked her about her motivations. They bonded over their mutual hatred of the Ziru. After learning more about the Supernatural, even dabbling in other forms under the tutelage of The Witch, Mr. Moon decided he needed to help restore balance to the Supernatural. After two years with The Witch, Moon decided to investigate the 12th House, where he met Grand Kama, who indoctrinated him into their philosophy of freedom. While learning the truth about Death, Moon fell in love with Isa’Ko, and the two of them had a daughter whom they named Mary, after Moon’s mother, who was the SH before him. Three years after gaining hidden knowledge, Moon decided it was time to end the Sinseret’s rule and usher in freedom and peace among the religions. Unable to agree with Moon’s vision, Grand Kama demanded Moon leave the 12th House. Isa’Ko forsook her role as Mary’s mother; disheartened and fueled with wrath, Moon took his daughter to The Witch and waged a holy war against the Sinseret, dealing massive blows. The Massaru finally tracked Mr. Moon down after a year. Moon decimated the Massaru for 66 days. He killed himself just like his mother, unable to allow vermin the satisfaction of his death. His one-man war hardened his heart; his violent mercilessness bled into the 12th House teachings of absolute freedom, creating a soulless anarchism that lost its aim of peace. Seeing this backstory would be dope. What would you all like to know about Mr. Moon before the beginning of the story? 

• Finality Given Form (FGF) is a burden that Mr. Moon accepts, wearing it across his back and still being able to draw faster than any other swordsman. His philosophy as a Death god is that life is a burden that Death alleviates. He takes it upon himself to grant this alleviation, similar to how August thinks that perhaps he brings Souls to rest as the SH. This is a flawed philosophy spurred by the macho man, workaholic, callous, and heartless nature of Mr. Moon. FGF represents many things: the death of the individual at the hands of capitalism, the betrayal of what one knows. 

Visual Progression of Mr. Moon 

I really like his character. Mr. Moon’s original character design was actually for Shadow, the original protagonist of Grandmaster. The hat was to cover Shadow’s Marker (see that forum for details) so that he could use his abilities without people knowing. I liked the idea of a character who had to physically contain himself with wraps in order to better control his abilities and as a tool for characterization. What better punishment than robbing yourself of the ability to touch? It wasn’t until I wrote out Shadow’s arc some more that I realized his look didn’t really match his character. I had written Mr. Moon’s backstory and the vibe reminded me of King Bradley, Rokutaro, and Count Dooku.

These synergies brought a deadly and regal design to mind. King Bradley has his eyepatch, Rokutaro his headband, and Dooku his cape. I wanted Mr. Moon to have some iconic attire himself. Shadow’s hat flashed into my mind, and the rest is the character progression you see here.  

He moves with the precision of a fencer and the destructive style of Rengoku. He’s callous and sadistic, relishing in beating and then destroying his opps. Bro is the King Von of swordsmen. Stylistically, I imagine his cape being a part of his combat. He wears a weighted cape the way an athlete wears ankle weights, it’s all to continuously increase his speed. Since his cape is so heavy, he uses it as a defensive weapon before savagely dismembering Shadows...or people. 

One of my favorite parts about Mr. Moon is his sword. Elegance + rip and tear. That’s what influenced it. The ridges also give him battlefield control. They can get stuck in an opponent, and he can use that to his advantage. Hey, Mr. Moon is a problem. Are there any other elements you’d add to his design? 

Characters 

There are some characters whose nodes I haven’t written. If you think of a character’s purpose within the story and how they relate to the overall node, share it! All ideas are welcome.  

• Isa’Ko is the 12th House warrior who uses an instrument as a weapon. She is the personal body guard for Grand Kama.

• Character node: ? 

• Grand Kama is the 12th House leader. They are extremely secretive. Representing the most basic idea of freedom, they are a chaotic individual for both comedic effect and thematic consistency. Not much of a fighter, they are completely dependent on their bodyguard, who’s a beast. Their identity is unknown except for a few 12th House members. 

• Character node: ? 

• Fey the Ferryman* - August’s “mentor” and guide to Death, Fey is a charismatic yet somber guide turned father figure for August during his tenure as the Shadow Hunter. Fey is a being that exists to bring dead souls to Death. Despite this responsibility, Fey is unaware of what exactly happens to souls after Death. He simply carries them until they disappear. Fey has always been close to SH, since SH are the only ones, along with Shadows, that can perceive him. Fey is extremely talkative, eccentric, funny, wise, and rather carefree. He grows close to August because August struggles so much with the loneliness of being the SH, and sees that August is stuck. He wants to help August find who he is, and move towards ending the curse. Fey is an integral part of August’s growth. Fey is a skeleton man in a purple suit, black tie and white ruffled shirt. He is omnipresent, existing everywhere there is life. He does not use the Supernatural, but he is completely immune to it. He is almost always seen in a raggedy rowboat with another version of himself dressed in black robes that is always rowing. He’s the most powerful being in existence. Talkative, funny, wise. What would be some interesting story beats for such a character? 

• Character node: to know a person is not enough; one must feel them 

*Souls unable to be retrieved by Fey are said to be in Limbo. These souls are called Fractured Souls (FS); all Shadows are FS but not all FS are Shadows. That is, these souls are tied to something in this plane rather than a person’s will, and parts of their souls can be used to power objects. The most prominent Fractured Soul is that of the first SH; her soul is tethered to Namtaru.

*Limbo is a literal place; Fractured Souls - created by Soul Ties - exist in Limbo and also in the objects they’ve been tied to. If the object is destroyed the FS are freed, and Fey can claim the Soul in its entirety. 

• Nazanin Raheem is August’s handler. As a member of the 10th House, she’s all about business. She pities the position that August is in, and having been his friend for most of each others’ lives, they are much closer than she cares to admit. She secretly hates being the one to effectively send him on suicide missions, but she keeps the appearance of being a cold handler so that he doesn’t get too comfortable. She wants to free August, but she is always stuck between facilitating his “destiny” and following her own heart. On the surface, she is cold, detached, efficient, and quick-tempered. In reality, she is sensitive, deeply empathetic, and afraid of her emotions. Despite this, she knows this to be true: she loves August. She is average height, with long thick black hair, light brown eyes, with Middle Eastern features. She wears a black suit with a white overcoat and vest, black tie. She is a highly trained combatant. She is 32. Efficient, sensitive, empathetic. 

• Character node: to honor the self is to honor the soul, and to honor the soul is to honor others 

• Backstory: What comes to mind for you? 

• Arc: She struggles between following her heart and following orders. She follows the Ziru for guidance, security, and direction, but is constantly pulled inwards. She is about efficiently moving forward, having never had the time to understand herself. When her faith in the Ziru is tested, she relinquishes all she knew. Where else should she go? 

Visualizing Nazanin Raheem

This first sketch was actually for a completely different character for an entirely different project. However, the concept was rejected. So, I repurposed my trash. I knew Nazanin wasn’t a standard ninja. I did know she had a certain strictness to her. The martial arts influence had to stay. I like the idea of really strict warrior-monks that have to unlearn seemingly universal truths that in reality stop them from enjoying their lives. The monk influence grew as her drip got baggier. I wanted her to flow in her depictions. In the second design, I went a lil overboard with the flowiness.

The baggy jacket + cape + baggy pants = slosh rather than flow. When I looked back at August’s newest design, it clicked for me that she was missing an element of snug that would enhance her combat prowess. I gave her a sleeveless top, kept the sarouel pants, and added a lil more expressiveness to her cape. 

I really like the freer look. It leaves room for her choreography to shine. I envision her movement as controlled chaos. She needs the freedom of movement in her legs to generate the power to use her kunai rope dart. Her upper body needs to be bare to give the rope dart direction. Like Mr. Moon, she wears a cape to increase the challenge of fighting. The strongest often suffer from boredom; I like that as a motif and wanted to continue to visualize it. I do think she can have a little more detail, especially her rope dart and face. Claudia Doumit and Talia al Ghul are my main inspos in terms of look (that was not the case in 2023, when I drew her face for the first time). What’re some ways you’d update her appearance? How would you capture her character in her design? 

• Mary Moon- she is August’s younger sister. They are estranged, and unaware of each others’ existences. She doesn’t come into play until later in the story. She is highly adept at the Supernatural without even knowing it because she’s 8th House. She is lively, meticulous, somewhat controlling (borderline OCD), enthusiastic, and extremely intelligent. She is 22. She’s found by the Ibahim, and trained in that form of the Supernatural. Meticulous, enthusiastic, intelligent. How do you envision someone stuck between two different Manifestations fitting into the story? What do you feel like her character traits should be? 

• Character node: ? 

• Mary Moon Sr.- Mr. Moon’s mother, she never spoke to him outside of his responsibilities as SH. When Mr. Moon turned 16, she killed herself. Her suicide would go on to fuel Mr. Moon’s later convictions that there was more to the suffering his family had to endure at the hands of the SH curse. 

• The Witch is the first main antagonist. Her age is unknown, and she doesn’t remember her real name since it has been lost to time. Her entire character is motivated by her fear of Death. She uses the Supernatural to create Shadows, and during the ritual, siphons the souls to her own so that she can prolong her life. She has waged war against the Sinseret for centuries, and is firmly against the status quo. She was a Jew deported by the Second Babylonian Empire. Her hatred runs deep for the Sinseret since they use some practices of the Babylonians. To the outside world, she is known as Abigail Amaroop. She is extremely powerful politically and financially, controlling much of the world that the Sinseret doesn’t control. She is the CEO and owner of the largest cosmetics corporation in the world, known as “Abigail Everlasting.” She has such a famous presence to mock the Sinseret since they can’t touch her. Many of her corporations and operations are run by powerful Shadows that command weaker Shadows. She is cunning, wise, and intelligent. She has a crippling fear of Death, and is fueled by that fear and her hatred for the Sinseret. She wants revenge for her people. She pities SHs since she sees their journey as fruitless. She is the single most powerful Supernatural practitioner. She raised Mary Moon. Since she helped Mr. Moon recover from being the SH, she was more than willing to raise his child after they became close friends. She can perceive Fey, and they have a bit of a funny rivalry. She appears to be in her late 40s to early 50s. Wise, cunning, intelligent. What would you add to her character?

• Character node: there’s more to life than what you force 

• Abiola Scorpio - the self-appointed “king of the Scorpios,” he is the true villain of the series. He has secretly prolonged his life using the Supernatural. The oligarchy that rules the 8th House is really comprised of his Shadows. He gives the illusion that he is the second in command of the 8th House, but really controls everything. He is manipulative, a pathological liar, harsh, and ambitious. He hates the 6th House with a passion since he remembers their rebellion, and he is the one who came up with the curse. He really uses the SHs to wage war against The Witch, whom he also deeply hates and finds annoying. He is always seen in a red cloak. He appears to be in his 30s. He is the second most powerful Supernatural practitioner. He is a Black male with dark hair with slight greying on his temples. “Not all relationships are meaningful.” He’s on a quest to discover and master as many forms of the Supernatural he can, so that he can end Death in its entirety. He represents the egotistical denial of Death. Manipulative, narcissistic, powerful. What would make him a thematically compelling villain? 

• Character node: ? 

• Backstory: Explains how he came to power and maintains that power. What’s that look like to you? 

• Rex Scorpio is the puppet leader of the 8th House. He is authoritative, understanding, compassionate, stern. He and August have a decent relationship. He is a father figure for Nazanin. He is an older Indian male. He was killed centuries ago by Abiola, and is one of the more powerful of his Shadows. Stern and understanding. 

• Dione - she is the leader of the 10th House, and is a mother figure to Nazanin. She tries her hardest to keep Nazanin in line and acts as a force to maintain the status quo. Whenever Nazanin has doubts, Dione is always there to remind her of her duty to the world and to the 10th House. Dione holds August in contempt, and sees him as nothing more than a tool. Through Nazanin, she grows to view August as a person. Dione is headstrong, stubborn, by the books, stoic, yet motherly. She becomes an important ally for Nazanin and August after they finally decide to rebel. She is the only other member of the Sinseret to come to their aid. Dione is an olive skinned woman in her mid 30s, with short brown hair and a large nose. Before she becomes an ally, she sends the Massaru after Nazanin and August, and they are the second most lethal weapons of the Sinseret behind the SH. She is an integral part of the last part of the story. She was Mr. Moon’s handler. Uppity, rigid, unforgiving. 

• Character node: ? 

• Corvus - elemental beneficiary, real name is unknown to everyone but Dairo. As a follower of Ibahim, he is very powerful with mastery of the Hell Wave, an Earth Technique. Corvus is a “cool guy,” thinking of himself as above most he meets. Arrogant, self-centered, moral. 

• Character node: ? 

• Dairo - a tank of a man, his real name is Aazim Winston. He’s a masochist, always ready for battle. He leads Corvus and Meti on their mission to redeem Shadows (shut) which brings them into conflict with August Moon. Dairo is a strategic genius. He is the master of a powerful Aether/Khet Technique. Genius, relentless, battle-ready. 

• Character node: mind over matter 

Visualizing Dairo

Bane is the biggest influence here. I like archetypes that go against the norm, i.e. a big but smart character. Dairo loves pain. It’s his favorite indulgence. How scary would it be to face a 7 foot giant that prioritizes his own punishment in his 10-step plan to beat your ass? I would feel very unsafe. Drawing him was fun, but I never finished. I started this at a gathering in undergrad and then very quickly got distracted. How would you finish his design? 

• Death - the Constant. Death is essentially God. It exists on every plane, superseding Fey. It is immeasurable, omnipresent, omnipotent, and only conceivable in fractions. To fend off Death is to have an extremely powerful soul. Mr. Moon attains perfect harmony with a weapon gifted to him by Death, granting him the title of Finality Given Form. Clearly not nothingness; Death is never understood or form-bound. 

• Character node: the purpose of a spiritual practice is to bring you closer to your higher power

*”You see everything that exists here is mine; it is not yours. Your house, your spouse, your children, your car, your career, your money — everything is mine and I can take it away when I want to, but for now you can use it.” 

-The Toltec Angel of Death, according to The Four Agreements

• Meti (Formerly Jada Black) - was an elite Ziru turned Ibahim, her unlocked power is Liquid Shadow, an Aether technique. She forged an umbrella as a weapon as homage to her former identity. Her switch represents the significance of individuality. Rather, she hated the Ziru so much that she willingly underwent Metamorphosis in order to convert to the Ibahim. Smooth, challenging, laconic. I love character sacrifices. She made the sacrifice of her old self to find truth in a new walk of life. I’ve always envisioned her as one of those cool ass characters that low-key encompasses a major theme for the story, like Jet from ATLA. Someone please flesh this out! I’m curious to what you might cook up.  

• Character node: ? 

• Backstory: She hated herself as a Ziru. 

• Captain Eda - the Massaru captain, he’s one of the last men to see Mr. Moon alive. One of the most powerful swordsmen of the Ziru, he has a rivalry with NR as the 10th House top dog. He claims to have killed Mr. Moon. August believes him. 

• Character node: ? 

Visualizing Captain Eda 

This man…I created him with the express purpose of being hated. He’s cocky. He’s really good at his job. He’s unfunny, but he keeps making jokes. He’s an instigator and brown noser. Yet, he’s still somehow cool as hell. I wanted to give him a sense of mystery with the hood over his eyes. I like how his cocky smile is pretty much all you can see. He’s very basic, influenced by ninjutsu so he uses a katana. His left forearm has armor that he uses to protect himself from bladed attacks. The “6” scar tells a story about a very special night with a certain SH…

How would you update his design to capture his cockiness, skill, and obsession with status? 

Setting and Visuals 

• Semi-futuristic setting. Advanced science. The people are defeated, living for systems and governments that have eroded all sense of human uniqueness. The outside world is unaware of the Supernatural, so people are either victims or bystanders. As such, the story doesn’t really involve people outside of the religions. 

• Hi tech environment overall, a la Akira meets Star Wars. The Ziru live amongst normal folks, the Ibahim live nomadic lifestyle, and the Equinity choose to live caravan style. That is, they move after a couple of years of settlement and growth. The Ziru seek to maintain control, hence how they live. The Ibahim live in accordance to their philosophy of disciplined hedonism, meaning their whims make them move frequently. The Equinity seek converts above all else, so they settle and move when appropriate. 

What medium do you think would fit this story best? My first inclination was webcomic. Then I thought, “Hmm, comic?” Motion comic was another. Prose. Now I’m unsure. 

Themes

Recognize any other themes?

• Death

• Mental Health 

• Overcoming

• Faith

• Fatherhood

• light vs. dark

• Fate

• Generational pain 

Weapons

• Gravitational bullets that pull the target towards them, amongst other gravity related abilities. 

Add some more.