Read The Arcane Rifts :: CHARACTER GUIDE 2

Notes on the characters known to you thus far, which I will progressively add more characters and information to as they're introduced. These notes simultaneously include information introduced in-story and minor details (like character appearances) not entirely touched on in-story, but that are widely/easily known by the characters. Remember, this is a mystery story, so pay close attention and you may be able to figure some things out early. ;)

THE ORPHANAGE

Gene (jean? zheene?)

The main character. A mysterious, strange boy with no known past due to being found, amnesiac, in the forest outside of Kavo. Although he can’t remember where he’s from, his first language and accent are noted to be vaguely “Eastern.” He is insistent on being formal to the degree that he's seen as cold and rude, although it’s uncertain as to why. Additionally, he is discriminated against for a physical disability, leading to people referring to him derogatorily as a "slaznen."

Notable features: although a foreigner, looks very much like an average Glavni boy with long, straight brown hair; typically carries a cane to help him walk, as his left leg is deformed.

Mislav (mEES-slAHHv)

A young boy who lives in the orphanage, as he was orphaned when Adilzhan burned down his family’s farm and killed the rest of his family. He's deeply traumatized by the memories of this incident, leading to a fear of fire and anyone—or anything—with godly associations. It is suggested that this incident somehow turned him into a berserker, or a creature that loses control of itself and wreaks havoc when angry. Mislav was Gene’s only friend during his time in the orphanage.

Notable features: a Glavni boy with curly blonde hair and hazel-green eyes; he and Gene appear to have a deep understanding of one another, able to know things about one another without them telling the other; extremely quiet, but quick to anger; hides his berserker status; despite this inhumanity, he displays no inhuman features or destructive tendencies.

Damaris (duh-mAR-ess); aka "Marisha"

The caretaker of the children of the orphanage. Despite being a mixed Jhandan-Anispian woman and facing discrimination for it, feels at home in Glavnran. Grew up on Kavo's streets, working in the factories alongside Caspar, who she supported during their childhood. Her thoughts on Kavo's politics and the world at large are unknown.

Notable features: a mixed Jhandan woman with extremely curly hair; religiously devoted to Rholvny, but suggested to possibly have her own magic.

THE PASIDNYY AND GOVERNMENT

Nikolai (nICK-KOHL-eye)

A higher-up within the pasidnyy—the police force—of Kavo. While many of its citizens distrust the government and pasidnyy, the people of Kavo tend to be friendly with him. He is known to be extremely easy-going whenever not on the job, but also extremely competent as a leader and captain of the pasidnyy. On top of having grown up as the son of an ex-pasidnyy, he became a vykolt—an ice magic user—in his teenage years, leading to his exceptional skills and eventual promotions through the ranks of the pasidnyy.

Notable features: a Glavni man with short, blonde hair; is able to combine his extreme physical fitness with his vykolt abilities in a way that allows him to carry out seemingly inhuman feats; a hopeless flirt.

Karlen (cARL-ehn)

A random officer from the first two chapters. A young man who’s been in the pasidnyy for less than a year, but manages to run into a bolyui on his first late shift. He was absolutely not created to die spectacularly, and is even LESS likely to be murdered if and when he’s brought back into the story. Believe in the humanity of your author, even if you can’t believe in X’s. :)

Notable features: a plain-ass teenage Glavni boy, but if you insist I describe him: a late teenage Glavni boy with dark brown hair; grew up in the wealthier part of Kavo, but was inspired by Nikolai to join the pasidnyy.

Caspar (KAHs-parr)

Damaris's childhood friend and the konyushy—a direct assistant of sorts—of Gennadi. As he's a representative of the government that many view as failing, he is generally disliked in town. Although few mention it, some still allude to the fact that he's supposedly a so-called "slaznen". He wanted Gene removed from the orphanage for some reason despite that shared fact and an elusive event "that Gennadi did" prior…

Notable features: extremely tall and thin with delicate features, but is otherwise an average Glavni man with short hair; noted by many to often mask his emotions behind a veneer of serenity and to be overly formal; Adilzhan notes him to be "cowardly" and Damaris alludes to him having health issues.

Gennadi (zhEN-NAH-dee)

The bolyar—a governor or "noble"—of Kavo. Very little is known about him as he's usually hidden in his estate and Caspar carries out tasks that'd require his presence outside of it.

Notable features: ???

??? ALIGNMENT

Adilzhan (AH-dill-ZHON)

The local priest of Zhrizn who—somewhat predictably—appeared on the day an entire estate was burnt to the ground, leaving only one survivor. Although his name as a priest of Zhrizn carries a threatening presence, his interactions with Mislav suggests a calm and possibly caring personality. He claims to be mute and thus communicates through written messages while working as a middleman between Zhrizn and the people of Kavo. The only question is: are you willing to pay Zhrizn’s price?

Notable features: claims to be mute despite speaking to Mislav; has magic related to nature; and noted to have "sharp fingernails."

X (idk, say it how you want. They don’t even have a name)

A mysterious being from the second chapter. He? It? appeared in the form of an unremarkable Glavni man at first, but was also remarked to have a fluctuating appearance. When their (presumable) “true appearance” was witnessed, they were described to be monstrous. They displayed powerful magic, managing to kill a bolyui and stave off all attacks from Nikolai, who’s known to be a competent fighter. Despite their apparent power, they fled from combat the moment they weren’t being watched.

Ñ̷̨o̷͚̾ṭ̴̕a̴̱̍b̷̳͐l̴͉̕e̵̱͝ ̸͜͝f̸̡̊e̴̪͐a̷͔̋t̷͘͜ȗ̵͜r̶̙̽e̴͖͐s̵̳̄:̵̝̀ ̸̼̽?̷̡͆?̴͉͑?̸̆ͅ?̵̤̄?̵̨̈́?̷̼̉?̶̭͌?̸̺̐?̵̫̅?̷̮͠

Notable features: had a varying appearance, suggesting either shapeshifting or illusion magic; seems very attuned to the magical side of the world, as they were able to detect things unseen to them; wielded a wooden spear as a weapon and seemed to control wildlife.

Indah (in-dAH)

The local priestess of Rholvny, Caspar and Damaris's longtime friend, and Caspar's girlfriend. Since becoming a priestess of Rholvny, has become an important figure in town.

Notable features: a Jhandan woman with straight black hair; has powerful fire and healing magic as a priestess of Rholvny; and is deemed to be a so-called “avatar” by Gene.

GODS OF THE STORY (also known as “vynost”)

DISCLAIMER: the gods of this world are far more abstract than what our world’s Western society tends to associate with gods. Many of these aspects of the gods are loose rules—or “domains”—that the gods have influence over. They are not exact examples of the gods’ powers, and many gods tend to only control small aspects of their domains.

Rholvny (rHOLL-VINNie)

A benevolent god who is believed to look out for the people of Glavnran. She is associated with warmth, the sun, protection, the home/hearth, fertility pertaining to crops, and the earth.

Many outside of Glavnran worship her as their own goddess as well—each believing that she protects their people from harm despite all seeing her as a personification of fire and the sun. Those around Glavnran additionally view her as an earth—and fertility—goddess who aids in the growth of crops/

Zhrizn (ZHUR-REE-ZHen; somewhat like “burr-region”)

A god widely considered to be the harbinger of evil and misfortune. He is a god of wild nature, which covers much of the “bads” of nature. This wide domain includes wild animals, vegetation, natural disasters, destruction, the earth itself, psychosis, and some illnesses.

His worship is not usually done by those seeking evil, but those attempting to appease him and avoid said evils befalling them. However, there are a select few who actually worship him as a savior or attempt to bolster his powers for the worse.

He is the patron god—and perhaps even creator—of berserkers. Their wild nature is believed to be related to him, whether through his creating them or him filtering his power through them.

It is theorized that many cultures worship him, but call him by other names.

feel free to make theories in the comments if any of this information has turned those gears! I'll also be (eventually) creating an index for you guys. :)