Icon above originally from Alexander Skowalsky in the Noun Project.

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Mateo Reyes (20)

Project: YA Novel (Psi High)

Known as: No nicknames

Real name: Mateo Reyes

Group affiliation: The Omegas

Physical description: Mateo is 16-year-old Hispanic young man. He has dark eyes and hair (cut short), is of average height, and is lean and muscular. His aloofness causes him to not make eye contact with people regularly, and he often keeps his eyes down and his hoodie up. This means he doesn’t always get a second look but when he does people realize he is quite handsome with chiseled, well-defined features.

Personality: Mateo is cynical and aloof. He does not trust easily, as he has seen too many people betrayed and mistreated. He does not see being an Electi as a blessing that elevates him, rather he feels it resulted in him being surrounded by people with agendas the kind he feels like he can trust the least. He doesn’t like fake people and finds most people fake. Rules and administration are means to control the people in his mind. So while he doesn’t seek to do wrong, he certainly doesn’t hesitate to break the rules to do what he feels is right. This results in him having a bad boy reputation.

It is undeserved. Mateo believes that the system works against the little guy and he has tremendous sympathy for the little guy. If he perceived someone as disadvantaged, he is quick to step in and defend them. He is pretty much fearless, so it doesn’t matter who the abuser is. As a result, even though he is neither talkative nor particularly social, he becomes the core (leader) of the Omegas. The misfits of the school either hang with him because he has helped them in the past, or simply sense he is a protector.

And they are right. He is loyal to a fault. No one frustrates him more than his sister (Maria, who doesn’t put up with his brooding), yet he’d crash through the gates of hell for her. Once he has connected with you, and found you “real,” he’ll give you the shirt of his back (though with an eye roll of frustration). As a result, he takes betrayal very, very hard.

He is first drawn to Selena as he suspects she is someone the Alphas will exploit and take advantage of. When he discovers that she is more than capable of taking care of herself, he falls for her. His affection for her is hard on him, as she won’t declare herself a member of one group or another. He admires this but at the same time it makes him uncertain he can trust her. The fact she seems to have feelings for both him and Ethan doesn’t help matters.

“Then Selena saw it Mateo smiled. In all the time she had known him, she had not seen a genuine smile. And it was transformative. While always handsome, Mateo was beautiful when he smiled. Perhaps because it was so rare, it seemed more real than any smile Selena had ever seen. It was made of light. He realized he was smiling, and it melted to a lopsided grin. It was as if his smiles were gifts he doled out hesitantly, and she had just stolen one from him.”

History: Mateo and Maria are from a working-class family. Electi are not unusual in their family and in history they were Brujeria and spiritualists. They are still dedicated to their community and appreciated by their neighbors. However, their abilities never resulted in fame nor fortune for the family.

We will find out over time that Mateo’s family were unfairly treated by the authorities and the criminal elements of the community. This has made Mateo cynical and withdrawn against his fundamental nature.

His time at Coldwater Academy has done little to change his perspective. It is a microcosm of classism with the powerful and pedigreed students enjoying advantages over the others. He is drawn to and protective of the less powerful students and has broken the rules when he thought it necessary to balance the scales. This has made him an easy target for blame when anything happens and early in our story he will be blamed for a crime he didn’t commit.

The administration would just as soon expel him but the laws around the training of Electi reduce their options on this front. While protective of others, he tends to quietly accept injustice towards himself. His goal appears to be to survive high school and go back to his real life.

He is not however a complete loner. He loves his sister who keeps him from withdrawing too much. Though he won’t admit it he also likes his fellow Omegas and appreciates their company (it is the only community he has at the school).

Selena’s arrival complicates things for him. Early on he tries to intercede when he things Selena is being treated unfairly only to find that Selena can take care of herself. Her sympathy towards her as a potential outcast turns to admiration. He is very drawn to her but isn’t completely sure he can trust her as she seems to reject being pigeonholed into a certain group. He loves her but she fears she may end up an Alpha.

Selena also helps him (she isn’t as accepting towards injustice aimed at him as he is). This is something of a new experience for Mateo as he is usually the protector. Things become more complicated when he hurts a fellow student (in self-defense) when Selena can’t be completely sure he didn’t take more extreme action than he should have.

Mateo has a hero’s heart but he might need Selena’s help to learn to let go of some cynicism and recognize his own prejudices.

Role in the narrative: The third point in our love triangle. Mateo and Ethan are sides of a coin. From opposite ends of the social spectrum, they both have a decency that has been tainted by their experiences. Their natural rivalry is exacerbated by Selena (who in turn has zero patience for people “fighting over her”).

He is also a key plot driver (see abilities as well). Early on Selena exonerates him of a wrong doing, only later for Mateo to use his power in a very questionable way in self-defense. This makes Selena question Mateo and Mateo question himself. Selena is ultimately able to undo some of the damage Mateo did which still increases his gratitude to Selena as he regrets his actions. This starts him on a journey to take a harder look at himself.

BTW, I don’t know how the love triangle resolves itself. I doubt I can write a good one unless I feel both relationships are contenders (in fact, Selena may end up with neither they both need her more than she needs either of them). OTOH, I am rooting for Mateo.

Abilities: Mateo is a telekinetic (like Ethan another source of rivalry). However, where Ethan is seen as very gifted, Mateo is considered a marginal talent. He can only affect small objects around the size of a marble.

There are a few things that suggest that this assessment may not be accurate. First even though he can only move small things, he can move them very quickly and with tremendous precision. As the scale of power for telekinetics is whether they can lift as much with their minds as they can physically, his low rating does not account for these skills. Yet they are truly exceptional and unmatched.

Furthermore, Mateo has abilities he hides due to his mistrust of authority. Virtually all telekinetics have to see things to move them. Mateo has a sort of telekinetic sonar. He can touch an object and sense and manipulate the mechanisms within it. This means he can open locks and the like without being able to see the inner workings with his eyes. This also means that he can do some truly nasty things to a person he touches if he chooses to do so (small movements can be devastating in parts of the body).

Mateo will drive part in one final way he is secretly a “blocked Prime.” He actually has the extreme power of the type of elite Electi that has hidden itself from the world. One of the ways they maintain their secrecy (and their power in the hands of a few) is that they detect those with tremendous potential and have their telepaths place a mental limit on their abilities. In extreme circumstances this means these blocked Primes could be activated but otherwise they are no threat to either the secret or power of the Prime cabal.

What would be a threat is an unknown Prime telepath that has slipped between the cracks (one so gifted, she instinctively hid her potential). Such a telepath might remove these blocks, and Primes with power equal to the cabal but outside their control would be active. Cabals don’t like such things.

And Selena is just such a telepath. Which means one day Mateo might become an extremely powerful telekinetic.

Inspirations: I’ve been watching some Gotham lately, and Ben McKenzie might have put Ryan Atwood of the OC in my brain. Mateo may evolve into a Tatsuo type from Akira (though minus the lunacy and so forth). The inspirations for Psi High might be relatively short because I’m playing with archetypes, which means the inspirations are many and hard to specify (misunderstood guy from wrong side of the tracks pick the one you like most for my inspiration here).

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Cassidy Crisswell (19)

Project: YA Novel (Psi High)

Known as: “Cassy”

Real name: Cassidy Crisswell

Group affiliation: The Alphas

Physical description: Cassy is 17 with long blond hair and blue eyes. She works very hard on her appearance (in the gym, clothing store, and vanity). She is attractive but is a bit overdone.

Personality: Cassy is reserved and haughty and is talented at passive-aggressive shade. Secretly she carries a lot of anxiety that she will be uncovered as a fraud. Though a member of the Alphas she feels she is lacking in the power (she is in due to being a rare telepath, but she is not a powerful one), social status, or talent to really deserve to be there. Her biggest fear is to be pushed out of the Alphas and she sees Selena as a threat.

History: Cassy has a few things in common with Selena. Though Electi were not unheard of in her family, she was a surprise telepath. When this was revealed, her life took a left turn. From a more blue-collar family, Cassy grew up liking sports, rough-and-tumble games, and exploring. She was never a great student, so a non-physical gift challenged her self-image.

At first, she thought attending Coldwater would give her an opportunity to redefine herself. Instead it was like she put on a disguise that she couldn’t take off. Spinning herself as a confident, high-class beauty creates a great deal of stress. The main way she deals with the anxiety is by reassuring herself that, as long as she is an Alpha, the deception is working. Her greatest fear, then, is losing this status.

She therefore chooses her friends, activities, and nearly everything based upon what she thinks will help her stay an Alpha. She has sustained this for enough years that she is now challenged to even know what she, herself, wants. This is exacerbated by her telepathy. Though she is relatively weak, it is still a strong empath and good at reading other people. This places still more demands on her to try to behave in a way that the Alphas react to in a positive way, while she also feels guilty for the way she sometimes makes others feel to meet that demand.

When Selena, another telepath, joins the school Cassy immediately perceives a threat. Worse still, her telepathy gives her a sense of Selena’s underlying confidence which alarms her still more. Finally, when it is clear that Selena might be one of the most gifted telepaths to come to the school, Cassy becomes downright worried. Cassy undertakes a mission to undermine and limit Selena. This results in still more guilt, as she instinctively knows Selena is a good person and has a similar background to her own.

Role in the narrative: Cassy is the frenemy. One common aspect of high school is how confusing your peers can be. Enemies become friends and vice versa sometimes on a daily basis. You can’t always be sure of someone’s sincerity (are they asking me out to make someone else jealous?). Given in high school we also aren’t sure of ourselves, it’s all a pretty volatile mix.

The thing I like about the Selena/Cassy dynamic is that Cassy will be overtly the mean girl. At the same time, Selena’s telepathy will suggest a mismatch between Cassy’s actions and her underlying feelings. It will be mystifying for Selena to know how to react to Cassy. I hope ultimately they end up friends some “evil” people just need some help and understanding.

Abilities: Cassy is a telepath, but not a strong one. It is very difficult for her to pick up specific thoughts, and she has shown fairly little advancement across the years of school. Still, with focus she is extremely good at reading people. It is hard to lie to her, and she senses the motivations behind people’s actions.

Inspirations: The mean girl with secret insecurities is an archetype (or even a trope). As a result it is in a million things (I think the most recent instance for me was a Netflix movie maybe “Sierra is a loser” or something).

Icon – yugudesign from Noun project

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Ethan Coldwater (16)

Project: YA Novel (Psi High)

Known as: “Quake”

Real name: Ethan Coldwater

Group affiliation: The Alphas

Physical description: Ethan is 16, handsome, and athletic. Stylishly cut chestnut hair, and very striking pale blue eyes.

Personality: Ethan is a confident young man who is very laid back. Most things in life has come easily to him but he is not adverse to hard work and practice to master something. At times he can be arrogant, and certainly has some level of contempt for lesser-powered Electi and non-Electi. Time will tell if he will grow out of or into this.

History: It is not coincidence that Ethan shares a name with the school he is attending as he is descended from its founder. His family not only has some of the more psychically powerful known Electi but also is one of the more financially and politically successful. Note that the Electi are barred from holding office but they have strong ties with many political leaders and are the driving force behind the lobby for Electi rights.

So Ethan is a celebrity in the high school, and rich to boot. Add to that he is good-looking and talented and it is no surprise that he is one of the most popular and influential kids in school. He is arguably the leader of the Alphas, a circle of friends consisting of the elite of the school (note some upper classmen would not acknowledge Ethan’s leadership). Several of the Alphas can be cruel in an effort to display their dominance but Ethan tends to support the Alphas behaving more charitably.

To some degree, this is due to Ethan being kind. However, he does feel there are classes of people, he just thinks that the more gifted and higher classes should be charitable to those who aren’t as blessed. Unfortunately this means he has a casual contempt for the less gifted that he himself isn’t fully aware of.

Though not the oldest he is the golden child of his family. Though his family has high expectations of him, Ethan has a confidence that keeps him from feeling pressure here (just responsibility). His future is laid out for him and he views it as destiny.

It would be good for him to perhaps get a new perspective on others, and Selena might just be the ticket for that. Although he is initially kind to her out of magnanimity, he later begins to see that she is exceptional (looks, intelligence, power, etc.). This surprises him due to her humble origin, but he sees in her a budding Alpha (and maybe something more).

Role in the narrative: Ethan is a love interest. I don’t have much experience in the romance genre (I don’t have much experience in ANY genre), so for our love triangle I’m sticking with some archetypes. Ethan is the king of the high school, who can have any girl he wants, but might be falling for the new girl (maybe in part initially because it’s not so obvious that he can get her). Selena finds him attractive and does note his many good qualities. Still she worries about his classism and is wary of the popular kids. If Ethan grows to let go of some of his prejudices, they just might have a future together.

Also, the secret cabal of very powerful Electi (ok I’ll make it less secret: the Primes) actually find the Coldwaters to be a thorn in their side. They would much rather the powers that be believe they have the Electi well contained, and the Coldwaters’ activity upsets that. This may at some point put Ethan in some jeopardy where he will need help from Selena and her friends.

Abilities: Ethan is the most powerful telekinetic in the school. Telekinetics are the jocks of the school and their power is measured by to what degree their ability to affect objects with their minds matches how they can affect objects with their bodies. The most powerful telekinetics can lift nearly as much with their minds as they could physically, while the less powerful can only manipulate small objects.

There is virtually no difference between what Ethan can do physically and with his telekinesis (and he is physically strong for his age). In fact, he pushes the boundary. He can produce a sudden telekinetic push equal to him slamming into someone full tilt (hence his Quake nickname). As weight and velocity contribute to the force when ramming into someone, his telekinesis matching that suggests he can at least slightly exceed raw muscle power.

His range is also exceptional versus his peers (he can affect things at a distance of 20 feet).

Inspirations: Tons of telekinetic out there (see yesterday’s inspiration section, also). Ethan will be hard not to make cliché the somewhat arrogant rich guy who has everything. He could fall into the secretly sensitive soul category, or the true jerk category. I’m hoping he’ll straddle the line.

 

Selena image above is from my talented friend Jennifer Garnett. So humbling when someone like her produces an image even better than the one in my head :).

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Note: Shifting gears again. I have a few more ideas for Wells that I might return to later. For now, to keep things flowing, I’m going to shift to a YA novel idea I have.

Selena Jones (16)

Project: YA Novel (Psi High)

Known as: No nicknames

Real name: Selena Jones

Group affiliation: Sometimes the Alphas, sometimes the Omegas

Physical description: Selena in the first book is 14 (soon to be 15) and a freshman. She is tall (5′ 11′) and is self-conscious about it (she thinks it makes her look too thin and gangly). She has smooth brown skin, large brown eyes, and wavy black hair. She doesn’t spend too much time on her appearance as she is afraid it will only draw attention to her imperfections. In truth she is insecure, and quite pretty.

Personality: Selena needs to find herself. She has many exceptional qualities that are a little hidden at the moment due to her insecurities. She excels in spite of herself. She tells herself to stay quiet in class, but invariably has questions and comments. She doesn’t believe she is courageous, but never hesitates to stand up for a friend. She never intends to take charge, but often seems to be the only one who knows what to do. A strength and weakness is that she if very curious, and has troubles letting things go.

History: Our story with Selena begins on her first day of a new high school: The Coldwater Secure Academy for the Psychically Gifted (known colloquially as “Psi High”). Despite the fact that there is no known history of psychic powers in her family Selena recently tested positive for the rarest of psychic gifts: telepathy.

The Electi (those with extraordinary mental powers) have existed among human kind since the beginning. Extremely rare, most of the Electi’s gifts were mild enough it was difficult to separate them from other extraordinary people. A few of those rare people had gifts that could not be easily dismissed as luck, intelligence, or perception (e.g., staring a fire with a stare instead of flint and steel). These individuals were met with a host of reactions by different cultures over the years: worship, elevation to leadership, appreciated, or slain as witches.

In modern times, most countries had arrived at rules to govern these gifted few. Armbands so normal humans would be aware that someone with gifts would be in their midst, special laws with steep consequences for an unauthorized use of power, and restrictions from holding certain potions (e.g., political leadership) are all common. In general, the Electi’s gifts provide them with advantages but not overwhelming ones. Additionally, they have truly useful roles in society. Telepaths did not have the level of power where they could casually plunder information from anyone’s mind, but they could get impressions and were very useful as lie detectors. Telekines can only move what they are physically able to lift but their ability to do so at a distance makes them useful in several situations, and so forth. This mix of usefulness with restrictions usually mean the Electi function reasonably well in society or so it would seem (they certainly are known to cause discomfort and suffer prejudices).

Selena never expected to be one of them but now finds herself attending one of the rare schools where she will not only learn the curriculum common for high school but also receive training on her gifts and her place in society. She has never even known an Electi before this, so this is all new to her. If you thought high school was bad wait until you add psychic powers.

Role in the narrative: Our protagonist. As someone who never expected to be in the world of the Electi, she will learn along with the reader about them. She’ll face many of the challenges and heartache that all teenagers do, but more complicated with moral choices and adventures mixed in. The school holds some secrets, as to the Electi in general (it’s possible that not all the Electi are as limited in power or well-managed as they seem). Her curiosity, leadership instincts, and drive to protect others will make Selena the straw that stirs the drink, story-wise.

Abilities: Selena is a telepath she can “read minds.” She assumes she must be a pretty limited telepath. While she is good at reading emotions and detecting lies, she can only pick up simple thoughts thought very clearly by people (basically, the other person has to cooperate to send a clear thought). She’ll soon find that this level of ability already ranks her among the more talented telepaths at the school (there are only a few it is a rare skill).

Her abilities will grow with practice. Without getting to spoilery, she’ll ultimately uncover abilities that are beyond what she understood Electi were even capable of, which will put her on the radar of a shadowy organization. In fact one day she might even uncover truly unprecedented levels of ability that could change the world.

Inspirations: Harbinger (the comic) is a clear influence with a bit of Psi Force mixed in. The X-men, Harry Potter, and countless other stories of young people with extraordinary gifts learning and facing challenges together are influences. Fictional telepaths abound. I wish I had the guts to set this in Japan for an anime flavor (another influence), but I just don’t think I have the bandwidth to do the necessary research to make such a setting resonant. I would attempt some romance/love triangle type things (which also makes me shake in my boots).

Buy the gnome statue in the image above at: https://www.homebase.co.uk/garden-gnome-go-away_p398011

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Ostrog (15)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Ostrog

Real name: Ostrog

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: Ostrog is a gnome. He’s around three feet tall, portly, with short arms and legs. His fingers, however, are long and dexterous. His beard is dark brown but with blond highlights that almost look like gold embedded in rock. He is totally bald, and never wears hats.

Personality: Ostrog is determined and can be fierce in the pursuit of his goals. He is an ends justifies the means sort, and feels almost any act can be justified by the fact that he and his people have been mistreated. He wears his “champion of the gnomes” (a self-given title) sobriquet like a badge of honor, but in truth he is extremely selfish. In his mind, his best interests are all gnome’s best interest and if he is elevated above other gnomes that is fair given his efforts, no?

History: The gnomes of Serpent Vale were a happy group. Local legend had it that their valley had been formed when I friendly, enormous snake settled itself into a large U shape to take a nap. This nap lasted for millennia and mountains formed on the snake’s back forming the dale. While comfortable and happy, the gnomes looked forward to when the Sleeper (as they named the snake) would wake as they believed their mighty patron would lead them to an even greater land of increased prosterity.

For centuries, the wizards of the White Council had a contract with the gnomes of Serpent Vale. The council provided protection and choice magical knowledge in exchange for the gnomes using their exceptional craftsman abilities to create magical artifacts for the wizards. The wizards then kept choice pieces for themselves but sold much of it for a handsome profit.

At first this was a mutually acceptable arrangement. As time passed though the White Council became more and more impressed with its own importance as a bastion of goodness and magic. The members felt it was reasonable to ask more of the gnomes as the council not only was of tremendous benefit to the gnomes, but the world at large. Eventually the wizards realized they could spread more good magic in the world if they had the gnomes produce many simpler magical objects (e.g., glowing amulets) rather than the slow to create exquisite artifacts that the gnomes loved to make. The fact that this was more profitable was a happy side effect.

As the White Council’s benevolence continued to swell, they decided they should provide for the gnome’s basic needs (food and clothing and the like). Again, a side benefit: the gnomes could focus more on their crafting. The wizards even provided extra security and hired guards to make sure no thieves would attempt to steal their wares. The wizards even found that the guards were an inspiration to the gnomes to increase production still more.

The gnomes saw the situation differently (and honestly, more clearly). Them raising with the White Council that they were being mistreated fell on deaf ears (“We shall think on it and decide what is best for all.”). More strenuous objections got them treatment like unruly children. While revolution was contemplated by the gnomes, the wizards were powerful entities who had placed guards in the community. Many lamented and dreamed of the Sleeper awakening.

One gnome, Ostrog, was a little different from his brethren. More determined, angrier, and with more vision. He began to lead a group of the gnomes he could convince into some mild forms of rebellions (e.g., those glowing amulets didn’t glow for long). In secret, he and some others began creating and stocking magical items of a decidedly more martial variety. He sewed seeds of discontent and waited for his opportunity.

It came when he, another gnome, and a guard were checking stores. The other gnome accidentally pulled a stack of crates down upon himself and was killed. Ostrog, knowing that the guard had a reputation for anger saw his opportunity. Ostrog cried for help, and when others came accused the guard of pushing the crates on to his fellow in anger. The guard denied by also bristled at Ostrog’s accusation and his anger seemed to lend credence to Ostrog’s story. A line and a shouting match formed between the guards and gnomes.

No one knows who struck first. But soon the guards were fighting the gnomes surprisingly armed with magical weapons. The guards were unprepared, both numerically and tactically, for the sudden savage attack of the gnomes. Soon several guards and gnomes lay dead, while the remaining guards were driven off.

Ostrog became the leader of the newly liberated gnomes, and quickly began to fortify their community and moved all new manufacturing to weapons. The White Council was split on what action to take. Some said that on principle the gnome’s ingratitude and murder could not stand and argued for reprisal. A few sided with the gnomes; those that had been harboring reservations about their treatment of the gnomes.

Ultimately the most pragmatic group won out. This group suggested that they did not really need the gnomes’ craftsmanship for the more basic magical items that had become most profitable. Those skilled in creating golems and other artificial lifeforms thought they could make some that might repeat endlessly the steps in creating these simple devices. This not only alleviated the need to go to war, but actually gave the wizards a still more profitable alternative. They sent word that they would respect the gnomes’ independence but warned the gnomes would one day regret their choice.

The gnomes were at first ecstatic and Ostrog was a hero. But problems emerged. The gnomes did not have the necessary reserves of food and had not planted crops and no longer kept herds of animals. They feared that in the absence of the White Council some other group might attempt to subjugate them. It was Ostrog that realized that their stores of magic items had value and proposed selling and trading them for the resources the gnomes needed.

This saved the gnomes, however this would not last forever unless new items were crafted. Ostrog told his people that they would craft again but this time to their own benefit. The gnomes began to craft again with a renewed sense of pride.

Unfortunately they found themselves in competition with the White Council, so Ostrog called on his people to toil at greater levels. Ostrog promised them that one day they would again craft the most extraordinary items, but during their moment of crisis they still needed to produce the most profitable. The government would provide them with the food that they needed, so they could focus on their work. To protect his people, he created group of armed soldiers who stood watch. These soldiers also addressed any conflict among the gnomes and helped make sure each gnome was doing his or her part. Ostrog himself, carrying the burden of leadership, did not craft and had some comforts others lacked.

Many lamented and dreamed of the Sleeper awakening.

One day the gnomes though the Sleeper, while still slumbering, aided them as Ostrog simply vanished. This time the gnomes managed to return to the simpler times before the White Council had first made them a deal.

As you might have guessed, Wells had written a story (“The Sleeper Awakens”) to bind the gnomes’ magic to science. While he thought the gnomes themselves were gone, he hoped some of their magic items might still be about. Of course, when Wells came forward in time Ostrog was caught up in the spell explaining his disappearance.

Now Ostrog is in modern times. He still has his knowledge of crafting magical weapons, and there is a certain witch tied to a local crime organization

Role in the narrative: The social/class commentary here is probably pretty obvious here (see Inspirations for more). Ostrog will also spread magic weapons around that will cause more problems for Morgan. Ostrog will resent the stuffings out of Baba Yaga, seeing her as a modern White Council. Basically, Ostrog is a wild card that can cause issues for any of the other characters, and make seek to exploit and manipulate them.

Abilities: Ostrog is a skilled magical craftsman and talented at communicating and manipulating. All gnomes are unusually long-lived.

Inspirations: You might think Animal Farm is an inspiration here (the revolutionaries ultimately becoming indistinguishable from the oppressors). However, take a look at H. G. Wells’ “The Sleeper Awakes” and you’ll find that the theme is there (Ostrog was a revolutionary that ultimate exploits the working class in that story). BTW, the White Council were the oppressors in that story as well (how nice for a move to a fantasy retelling, no?).

Moon image courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZXc8Vsh3bE (learn to draw the moon!)

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

The Selenite (14)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: The Selenite

Real name: Unpronounceable

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: The Selenite is a 5-foot tall insect-humanoid. Its body is beetle-like, but its four limbs are long and spidery. It has a somewhat human head and is capable of speech.

Personality: The Selenite is very formal and reserved. It believes that every being has a role to play and dutifully playing that role brings one the highest honor. Being in 2018, and separated from its people, is quite vexing for the Selenite. Inevitably, it will find some task to dedicate itself to.

History: The moon was a very different place during the heyday of magic. An active land with moon gods and goddesses and exotic flora and fauna. One could travel there if they knew the mystic paths or if they could fly the distance (this took a degree of caution).

One of the most remarkable things about the moon was that underground there lived a race of insectoid “people.” A highly regimented society, these Selenites (as they were known believed to be a creation of Selene) were incredibly organized and self-sufficient. Like insect colonies of Earth, the members of the society had unique roles and performed them diligently. They had an amicable relationship with the surface dwellers largely driven by the fact that neither side particularly needed anything from the other.

As magic began to move into decline, the moon went through major changes. It grew colder, the air less breathable. The surface dwellers evacuated (likely to some other plane) and eradicated all trace of their existence there.

No one knew what became of the Selenites however. The loss of magic also curtained journeys to the moon and there was no method for the Selenites to remain in contact with the people of Earth. As they lived self-sufficiently below the surface, it was always possible that they were still there. Even in modern times visits to the moon by humans were so infrequent and brief that they may have simply failed to encounter the Selenites.

Given that a race of magical creatures may still exist on the moon, Wells knew this was another opportunity to bind the waning magic in existence to science. He wrote “The First Men in the Moon” and cast his spells upon it to tie any remaining magic of the Selenites to stories of science one day getting people to the moon.

Then his spell that brought him to 2018 also carried a single Selenite. The Selenite was separated from its people and miserable. Furthermore, it could not reasonably blend into modern society. However it was perfectly comfortable living underground and moved into the sewers. Selenites need purpose, and this one had been a shepherd of “mooncalves” on the moon. Mooncalves were large, fat beasts that was the primary food source of the Selenites.

What is a Selenite to do on Earth? Why not start keeping a herd of mooncalves in the sewers? Of course there are no literal mooncalves available but perhaps the Selenite can find an alternative

Role in the narrative: Setup and surprise. The Selenite will not be overtly hostile to Morgan nor Wells. They will have some cordial exchanges with it and will begin to believe that some of those swept up in Well’s spell might be able to live in peace.

It will eventually be revealed that the earthly “mooncalves” are something…troubling.

On the more pure entertainment front: it is possible that the Selenite will lay eggs, or perhaps the Selenites are still on the moon and will make contact. Morgan and Wells will end up with some hard choices. Can the Selenite be given a new perspective, or does it need to be ended as a real threat to humankind?

Abilities: The Selenite with its insectoid armor and musculature is much faster, stronger, and more durable than a person. It also has a venomous bite that will typically render a person unconscious, but may sometimes kill.

Inspirations: As usual, the true Wells’ story (The First Men in the Moon). Bug from the Micronauts crossed my mind when writing this, but I don’t see a direct inspiration there. Space bugs as a threat aren’t new Starship Troopers leaps to mind. Mostly I thought about the Wells story and used it as inspiration to plug into this fictional universe I’m not sure I can list all the unconscious influences that probably guided me here.

Hut image from: https://www.kisspng.com/png-dancing-hut-art-museum-dance-baba-yaga-5334918/

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Baba Yaga (13)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Baba Yaga

Real name: Baba Yaga

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: In the heyday of magic Baba Yaga had a monstrous appearance. Dried thistle for hair, a large hooked nose, beady eyes, and pointed black teeth. Though her body was plump her arms and legs were extraordinary thin (even skeletal). In modern times, with so little magic around, her appearance is more mundane. She is an elderly woman, thin and wrinkled. Gray hair, dark eyes, and usually conservatively dressed.

Personality: Baba Yaga’s best mood is irritated, and rarely is her mood that good. She has an explosive temper and is completely lacks anything approaching empathy. She does not hesitate to use people to accomplish her own goals. Basically she feels others should predict her needs and do everything in their power to meet them; up to and including sacrificing their lives. Where Griffin, the Invisible Man, derives pleasure from the misfortune of others, Baba Yaga simply feels that other’s misery is a small price to pay for meeting her desires. They are both evil to the core.

Additionally, there is something wild just under the surface with Baba Yaga. She is chaos and untamed wilderness. One reason her attempts to rule, run and army, or run a criminal organization are all ultimately doomed to failure is that organization and civilization is not her way.

History: No one knows the origins of Baba Yaga including Baba Yaga herself. She believes she has always been and always will be. The stories of her, especially in Eastern Europe, are endless. Stealer of children, bringer of storms, and dweller in darkness, she was every naughty child’s nightmare made real.

Her home was a magical hut larger in the inside than the outside. It was perched on three giant chicken legs, and as a consequence was known to move around. Her hut by itself was deadly; known to stream fire or poison clouds down upon enemies and the unsuspecting alike.

No singular foe could weather Baba Yaga. Still she resented the growth of civilizations. Cities and kingdoms to her were blights; after all, they were not built to her and her glory. Worse still, they developed armies and machines of war that might one day challenge even her. To stop them, she would need an army of her own. But hers would be no army of regimented soldiers with shiny weapons. Hers would be monsters and chaos.

You’ve already heard the stories of the twins Cassidy and Cameron Reid, so you know no act was too heinous for her in her quest. Eventually she had an army of Morlocks that listened only to her, and desired only mayhem. Soon they were like locusts, swarming over villages and leaving only destruction. Soon kingdoms began to rally armies against her but how to defeat foes who knew no pain, whose skin seemed to be proof against most blades, and whose very bodies were weapons? The battle lines between mystic and mundane began to be drawn; truly a war between two worlds.

It was the people of the fae who delivered a solution. Using ancient magics, they created a malady tailored to the Morlocks. Their thought was to bring Baba Yaga’s army low with a mystic plague.

It succeeded perhaps too well. The disease did wreak havoc against the Morlocks (the original, Spring-heeled Jane, seemed to be the only one immune). But other mystical creatures also began to fall ill and the fae themselves locked themselves and all access to their home plane to avoid the disease. Though many forces converged to begin the decline of magic, this event may have been the single biggest source.

After the fall of her army, Baba Yaga disappeared. Though some wondered if the mystic disease had gotten her as well most felt that not even what destroyed her army could fell Baba Yaga. Instead, she was again a rarely-seen, near legend.

Wells was among the optimistic ones that thought she was through. Still if there were any traces of her or her magic he decided he would weave her tale into a science fiction story in his attempt to meld magic and science. In his story, the war was between aliens from Mars driving tripods much like Baba Yaga’s hut (including a heat ray and poisonous gas) and the people of Earth. The Martians were felled by a common disease (her Morlocks made an appearance in the Time Machine).

Later, when Wells traveled through time, a still-alive but much-reduced Baba Yaga was swept up as well. Severely depleted of magic she has one remaining ability to bind one person at a time to her will. She used this power to move up the unsavory ranks of crime until she finds herself with a major crime lord in her thrall. It galls her terribly, as she must largely remain hidden and rely on humans for her sustained existence. Invariably, Morgan will end up investigating the new force in organized crime in her area.

Baba Yaga dreams of the return of magic, and a restoring of her power. Woe to the present day should that ever occur.

Role in the narrative: Antagonist. She’ll may ultimately get some of the more unsavory things brought forward in time by Wells under her sway, and the moment Morgan becomes an annoyance Baba Yaga will gladly seek Morgan’s destruction.

When I first thought of the connection between Baba Yaga’s hut and the tripods in War of the Worlds, I thought Baba Yaga might end up a misunderstood character (in the myths, she sometimes provided wisdom to the pure of heart). After writing the twin’s stories, she ended up irredeemable.

Abilities: At the moment, her only special ability is to hold a single person in her thrall. This person will obey her and will generally work to her benefit.

At her pinnacle she could control the elements, bend flesh, fly, and much, much more.

Inspirations: Easter European legends and “War of the Worlds.” Once I thought of the hut/tripod thing, and changing the conflict between the world of the magic and the mundane, it all just flowed from there.

Wings courtesy of https://www.shutterstock.com/search/angel+wings

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Fiddler Angel (12)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Fiddler Angel

Real name: Cameron Reid

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: Fiddler is very handsome. Tall and well-muscled, he has delicate features and long blond hair. His eyes are two perfect, featureless golden orbs (he can see quite well) and his skin color is reminiscent of gold as well (not that he looks like a statue brought to life). Oh, and he has two large, white-feathered wings growing out of his back.

Personality: Fiddler is very gentle and quiet. He smiles easily, and his smiles always make others feel better. He knows little of the world, but this makes him an astute listener. He is typically content to let others do the talking. He is never angry and in fact seems content in the majority of situations.

History: Yesterday we learned of Cassidy Reid. Cameron was her twin brother, and like her was abducted by the witch Baba Yaga at age 12. He was also part of the witch’s experiments to create an army of monsters but ended up serving a different role. When Baba Yaga began to change Cassidy into Spring-heeled Jane (first of the Morlocks), Cameron automatically began to change in other ways. Baba Yaga always suspected that Cassidy and Cameron’s unique connection was somehow key to her first and greatest success (Cassidy). She never again found siblings with such a connection and was forced to use Cassidy as a “template” for her later creation of Morlocks.

Cameron in some ways developed opposite characteristics during his sister’s transformation and in other ways the changes were complimentary. She was given a fierceness that would inevitably overwhelm her, while he gained an unshakable clam. She grew knives for hands, he grew wings on his back. She gained physical prowess, but while his form seemed perfect Cameron gained a sort of fragility that sometimes made him sick and listless (during these times, his wings would drop feathers). She maintained her memories, but his began to melt away. She became something that many would label a demon while most would call Cameron an angel.

Not even Baba Yaga knew why this happened. She suspected she had tapped into something primordial. The beliefs of people about angels and demons, or perhaps she made a connection of some sort between the twins and creatures of another plane. Baba Yaga might have pondered this further had she not been so pleased with the result. In Cassidy she had her finest creation and the seed of her army. Cameron of course was an unplanned disappointment, but she kept him in case his continued existence was somehow connected to Cassidy’s.

At least, she told herself that. Certainly she did not love Cameron, for love did not exist in the heart of Baba Yaga. Yet she could still appreciate beauty. Cameron in his new form had a beautiful singing voice and seemed to have a natural talent for musical instruments. He was especially good with a violin. The pitiless Baba Yaga put him in a large cage like a beautiful bird and had him sing and play for her. Cameron forgot himself and had become a creature of such serenity he never even tried to escape. Imagine if you will how heartbreaking it must have been to see and hear him the finest musician you’ve ever heard treated more wretchedly than any deserve.

While her army grew so did the legend of the Fiddler Angel. Some claimed to have heard him or even caught a glimpse of him in Baba Yaga’s fabled hut. Tragically, Baba Yaga had separated the twins early on, and told Cassidy her brother had died. His transformation was so great that Cassidy never suspected that Fiddler Angel was indeed her brother.

Wells had heard the stories of Fiddler Angel, and suspected that Baba Yaga and he might both be alive but in hiding. In his story “The Wonderful Visit” he bound the magic of Fiddler Angel in a tale of a being from somewhere else that seemed much like an angel but was ill-suited to our world.

Thus when Wells moved forward in time to 2018, Fiddler Angel was swept along. He was separated from Baba Yaga, and thus enjoyed a new-found freedom. However, when he was discovered he was of instant fascination to people of the modern world. Virtually no one believed he was a transformed person. Instead, most believed he was some sort of costumed performance artist who lived his role. Wealthy benefactors gave him a place to live, and he soon becomes a celebrity. His “benefactors” parade him about like a prized possession and his every move becomes a social media frenzy. He goes from being one person’s possession to everyone’s.

But sometimes he falls ill. And as Morgan starts to believe that the fantastic is real, Fiddler becomes someone she has to investigate.

Role in the narrative: First I would want to be very careful that Fiddler doesn’t seem like an example of someone who is happy to be a possession. He is only content because he’s always content he has been damaged/cursed to be that way. The fact that he is cursed not to seek freedom doesn’t in any way justify Baba Yaga’s treatment of him (quite the opposite, really). I’m not too concerned about this being misunderstood as Baba Yaga will be evil incarnate.

He will however be used as a commentary on the modern world. Beloved people are now photographed, recorded, shared, liked, and commented upon. To remain popular, they have to cultivate an image and engage with their fans. Fans often feel they are owed things by the celebrities their next book, the details of their personal lives, etc. Fans have a sense of ownership over what they love, and a delicate creature like Fiddler may not survive that.

Plus, he will be important to Jane’s story. I hope I can figure out how they can be each other’s redemption, and balance be restored between them. Unfortunately, so far all my ideas about them are darker than that (they may end up a tragic story despite my own impulses).

Abilities: He is a beautiful singer and a virtuoso violinist. He is incredibly calm. Other than that, he has no exceptional abilities.

Except he could fly if it ever occurred to him to try.

Inspirations: Maybe a little bit of “Twins” here Jane got the anger and the power, and Fiddler was what was left over. Obviously the real HG Wells story is an inspiration (that character at least starts “affable” as well). The number of angel characters out there are legion (despite my X-men fandom, I don’t see Warren as a direct inspiration). Really, Fiddler was mostly a side-effect of my ideas for Jane and Baba Yaga. I might need to think about him some more but given how often female characters were created to flesh out male ones in history, perhaps I can be forgiven one going the other way.

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Spring-heeled Jane image above is from my talented friend Michelle Penny. So kind of her – it makes me happy every time I look at it :).

Spring-heeled Jane (11)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Spring-heeled Jane

Real name: Cassidy Reid

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: Spring-heeled Jane is a striking figure. She has completely unique skin color (deep indigo) and eye color (light purple). Her hair is pure white, and usually braided. Her hands are razor-sharp talons. She looks both demonic and eerily beautiful.

History: Cassidy Reid was only 12 when she and her twin brother (Cameron) were stolen away by minions of the fearful witch Baba Yaga. Known for snatching children, Cassidy and Cameron would soon find out her hideous purpose in doing so. Baba Yaga, while her magic was fearsome, yearned to be a queen and rule over humanity. Without an army she could destroy but would never truly rule. But what army would be loyal to the horrible Baba Yaga? She decided to make one.

She used children as they were more physically and mystically malleable. Most of her creations simply did not survive. But she had her greatest success, and failure, with the Reid twins.

Cassidy became something akin to a demon. She had hands that were essentially five ridiculously sharp daggers and was much more strong, fast, and durable than any other human. An ideal soldier for Baba Yaga, needing essentially no armament yet more than a match for many foes.

Cameron, as we will discover tomorrow, became something else entirely.

Cassidy was not perfect for Baba Yaga’s purposes, however. Though Baba Yaga had taken steps to shape Cassidy into a killer (see Abilities), for the most part Cassidy retained her personality and free will. Though Baba Yaga would easily emerge victorious in a direct confrontation, she worried that Cassidy might take advantage of an incautious moment and harm Baba Yaga. Worse still, Baba Yaga could not have an army of independent thinkers.

Still, Cassidy was a breakthrough. Using Cassidy as a template, Baba Yaga was able to create more biddable alternatives, though they did not match Cassidy in raw power. Baba Yaga dubbed these lesser creations the Morlocks, and she started to build her army. Unfortunately for Baba Yaga, Cassidy eventually escaped. Lacking her template, Baba Yaga had to make due with the army she had.

Fear not in two days we shall learn of the fate of Baba Yaga and the Morlocks.

Cassidy, believing her brother to be dead, made her way as best she could. Unable to integrate into society, she hid and stole for what little she needed. Occasionally she’d find a place with unusually kind people, but her need to kill would keep these moments short.

She ended up in London in the mid 1800s. The size and population of London meant she had many hiding places, many opportunities for theft, and many victims when she was overcome with her bloodlust. While she attempted to limit her killing to the evil and unsavory, she sometimes had encounters with all sorts. Ultimately reports of a cloaked, demonic figure stalking the night and frequently escaping with unusual leaping skills hit the newspapers. No one had gotten a good enough look to realize this figure was female, and thus the legend of Spring-heeled Jack spread.

Wells, knowledgeable of what would become Baba Yaga’s War of the Worlds (magic vs. mundane), had his suspicions of the real identity of Spring-heeled Jack as Baba Yaga’s lost template. Not knowing the template’s true name, he at least corrected her new alias in his journals as “Spring-heeled Jane.”

As the story of Morlocks and Baba Yaga was retold but transformed by Wells into “War of the Worlds,” Jane was one of the beings bound to Wells and swept into 2018. Modern times have made things still more difficult for Jane, and she begins to despair that she will never be free of her bloodlust nor cursed existence. As victims begin to appear, a certain detective will inevitably be on Jane’s trail.

Role in the narrative: TV shows like this tend to balance cannon stories with “monsters of the week.” I first thought Jane would be a one-episode foe, but when I started writing her her history became intertwined with Fiddler Angel and Baba Yaga. Now I’m not sure what to do with her until I figure out the other two. She’s a tragic character as written so far, which means I could take her in many directions (noble end, redemption, slide into full evil).

Abilities: Jane is an amazing physical specimen. Her skin is akin to Kevlar, and she is largely bulletproof (an elephant gun might do the trick, but otherwise most bullets may only bruise her or break a bone). If she is injured, she has regenerative healing and can even regrow limbs. Broken bones will knit in a day or two, and even severe injuries she barely survives will be healed within a week.

Her talons are tougher and sharper than anything in the animal kingdom. They are not indestructible however (though they will regenerate like the rest of her if damaged). Combined with her strength flesh and bone is no match for her claws, but a steel door would thwart her without sustained and considerable effort.

She is also incredibly strong. She could flip most cars over with one hand. She is superhumanly fast and dexterous, and her jumping skills are indeed phenomenal. From a crouching position she can spring vertically 25 feet or more.

Her greatest limitation is that, thanks to Baba Yaga’s machinations, the longer she goes without killing the more feral and vicious she becomes. She might be able to avoid killing for several weeks, but eventually without a human kill she will have such bloodlust that the first person that crosses her path will die. This is utterly heartbreaking to Jane, who given a choice would never take a life. The only way to avoid inevitably taking an innocent life is to instead consciously decide to kill someone who seems more deserving of the fate. She loathes consciously killing but stacked against regaining her senses after killing an innocent, she feels forced.

Inspirations: Saruman from Lord of the Rings was the sort to twist people into a monstrous army. I’ve always found Universal’s Wolf Man a pitiable character. While a savage killer, he is also someone who doesn’t want to kill (unlike vampires who kill to selfishly continue their own existence those jerks). There are also shades of Wolverine here. The legend of Spring-heeled Jack and War of the Worlds are obviously direct inspirations.

Moreau animal text above courtesy of: http://textspace.net/animal_text_maker/4.9.2.3.0/page_1

First time at this blog? Check out Home for details on the project and the Character Index for an overview of the projects and characters.

Moreau (10)

Project: Television mini-series (“Wells”)

Known as: Moreau; Skinwalker

Real name: Moreau Hoopdriver

Group affiliation: None

Physical description: Moreau is a handsome fellow tall, chiseled features, long and wavy auburn hair. He often wears odd, baggy clothing however.

History: Moeau is an extraordinary individual in many ways. First, he is the only known child of a changeling. Changelings (as you likely are aware) are beings who fairies have used to replace a human baby (the human baby, meanwhile, is raised in the fairy realms). Why would the fae swap one for the other? Best you ask the next fairy you encounter.

Though Changelings are sometimes fae folk themselves, in the case of Moreau’s father it was a simulacrum. Formed of wood and mud, Moreau’s father (called Walter) was a sort of Pinocchio a wooden boy made alive. Spelled to be identical to the replaced child, Walter did passably well for a number of years (the human Walter, by the by, did quite well and became a duke in the land of the fae). Yet he wasn’t a real boy and was of limited wit and a narrow range of emotion. When he came of age, only the local Wise Woman would employ him.

The Wise Woman (Heather Hoopdriver) rather enjoyed Walter’s company. Walter was not unattractive and Heather was so much more intelligent than the men of the village that she hardly noticed Walter was unusually slow for a man. He was even-tempered and obedient and Heather realized that she would never find another man with whom she was happier to spend time.

Eventually they married. Unfortunately, although Heather wanted children, years began to pass without pregnancy. Heather was an exceptional Wise Woman, however. She knew of herbs and remedies, treatments and medicines. She knew how the movement of the moon and stars affected people, and the ways of the magical creatures of the forest. She knew secrets and had an inventor’s mind. She unknowingly accomplished something never done before nor since: she conceived a child with a changeling an artificial man.

Before Moreau came of age, his father died in a fire. Still he and his mother loved one another and had many happy years together. Moreau was lucky indeed Heather was his mother as she was able to help him with his gifts and find his way in the world. Chief among those gifts was to change his shape to any animal he chose.

Additionally, Moreau had inherited the lifespan of a tree from his father. So though Heather lived to a ripe old age, Moreau still had the vigor of youth when she passed. For the next few hundred years he followed his calling, which was attaching himself to and assisting the greatest hero of each generation. Though the term “sidekick” would not exist for many years, it would not ill-fit Moreau (he was one hero’s trusted steed for 20 years).

Eventually the heroes seemed to lesson with each generation. As magic began to leave the world, so did transcendent heroes. Also, Moreau himself had started noticing some strange changes, such as instances where he went to sleep a man and unexpectedly woke as an animal.

With nowhere else to turn he became friends with Wells. Wells, unfortunately, was neither a great hero nor wizard. Failing to help Moreau, in desperation Wells wrote one of his stories and bound Moreau to it magically. When Wells attempted his time spell, Moreau was one of the creatures swept up and taken to the future.

This was terrible for Moreau. With so little magic to stabilize his form, in 2018 he finds himself changing shape uncontrollably. Furthermore, he sometimes forgets who he is, and believes he is the animal. Angry and confused, it is not known if Moreau is heading to a speedy death or becoming a monster.

Role in the narrative: I need to cleanse my palette after Griffin yesterday. Moreau will be a monster to be hunted down at first, but I plan to find a way for him to become an ally of Morgan.

Abilities: When his gifts are under control, Moreau can turn himself into any animal he chooses. He retains his human intelligence and can become human again at will.

At the beginning of Wells, his power has gone haywire. He doesn’t control when he changes, or what he becomes. He doesn’t always keep his intelligence (e.g., he might spend several days as an actual dog). This lack of control is causing him pain and confusion, and he may be going insane. Worse still, sometimes he doesn’t become one animal but some horrible amalgamation.

Inspirations: “The Island of Dr. Moreau” was about a scientist who surgically changed animals into people. I reversed it (a man who comes animals). There is a course a rich tradition of mystical shapeshifters, from werewolves to skin changers (and Sookie’s shifter friends). To do one of these every day for 100 days, I kind of have to go with what occurs to me. I feel like this one is a little bit of a miss. The original work had themes of humanity vs. savagery; I’m not sure what central theme most intrigues me about this character. BTW, if “Hoopdriver” sounds odd, it is a name from another Wells work.