^broken / _magxc

ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.

YOU ARE.
name: arthur jimmy branham
alias: artie. anastos. jimmy. arseny.
occupation: contracted private investigator, freelance investigative reporter, retired federal agent.
birth: march 20th. in his 30's.
relatives: deceased.YOU SEEM.
alignment: neutral good.
positive: observant, compassionate, altruistic, patient, loyal, diplomatic, empathetic, adaptive, resilient, selfless.
negative: reclusive, guileless, distrustful, self-neglecting, combative, overly empathetic, alienated, stubborn.
diagnostics: anxiety—medicated, cptsd—ongoing therapy.

YOU FEEL.
height: 5'9".
hair: brunette, short to medium length, thin but dense, business cut or casually shaggy.
eyes: dark clay brown, shimmers gold when abilities in use. has reading glasses.
build: lean physique with defined muscular undertone, mildly underweight, paler complexion with soft features. tensile runner.
scarring: linear burn marks around the wrists and ankles, circular burns scattered on inner forearms, long erratic lashing across the back, никчемный—transl. worthless—carved into left collarbone and right ribcage, a strange circular brand seared on the left hip.
faceclaim: joseph gordon-levitt.YOU CAN.
power & abilities: the power of your soul stirs between your fingers. you are the seer, the creator, the destroyer, the harbinger, and the redeemer—bound by fates and tied by profound destiny, yet such purpose eludes you and your suffering.
sexuality: bisexual, demiromatic.
languages: english, russian, polish, georgian, french, greek, spanish, american sign language—asl.
proficiencies: hand-to-hand combat, surveillance and intelligence, small firearms, cooking, fishing, sketching, pianistic skill.

YOU CHOSE.
arthur j. branham is an independent private investigator working on contract for the federal bureau of investigation. a former agent, he attempted to leave the field after a mission ended in tragedy. his resignation proved more complicated than escape, unintentionally pulling him deeper into the bureau's shadow. bound by lingering obligations and entangled within the bureau’s reach, he continues to lend his expertise in surveillance and field work to cases that blur the line between necessity and control. the bureau calls when the jobs are strange, when expertise is scarce, when they need a man who knows how to disappear into the work. gifted with a magic that marks him as an anomaly, arthur is treated as both asset and liability, observed as much as he is deployed. each case he takes is haunted by the suspicion that his true investigation is his own: what the government has made of him, what they continue to demand, and whether his soul is his own to keep.

brief of preliminary investigation

ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM, born Arseny Anastos Brahm in Sedona, Arizona on March 20, 1982, is the child of immigrants Elena Branham, born Elena Anastos, and Jim Branham, born Ilya Brahm.Originally from Russia, Mrs. Branham, then known as Elena Anastos, migrated to America to escape religious persecution in 1970. Mr. Branham, then known as Ilya Brahm, migrated in 1976 to escape ties to Moscow.⁽¹⁾ The pair are likely to have met while working for the same Russian-owned finance company, Roskrit Holdings, in New York during the late 70's.Investigative efforts uncovered documentation of Mrs. Branham's involvement with the Svetraba,⁽²⁾ an extremist parachurch organization, starting as early as 1978.On May 19, 1980,⁽³⁾ Mr. and Mrs. Branham officiated their marriage in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Branham are recorded to have moved to Sedona, Arizona in 1981 in order to prepare for the birth of their son. Mr. Branham begins employment at another finance firm, Lenora Wealth Management, shortly after.On March 20, 1982, ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM is born under the name Arseny Anastos Brahm at Sedona Medical Center.On May 15, 1983, Mrs. Branham begins employment at Sedona Medical Center. Records indicate a growing surge of Svetraba sect followers migrating to the area. Additional investigation suggests that Mrs. Branham was an active sect member using medical roles to reach vulnerable populations and recruit new members. There is a minor investigation for medical negligence on her record, though no hard evidence was ever recovered during her stint in Sedona Medical Center, nor during her employment at Long Lake Hospital in Long Lake, New York starting 1987.There is record of several people of interest visiting Sedona, Arizona between 1984-1986, mainly members of Russian bratvas with suspected ties to Moscow resources. This is likely the reason the Branham family moves back to New York in 1986 and settles in Long Lake. Mr. Branham submits a legal petition during this time to naturalized the family name, adopting Americanized aliases and losing their original Russian monikers.On May 15, 1987, Mrs. Branham begins employment at Long Lake Hospital, presumably continuing active practice of Svetraba rituals and remaining in contact with local sects. Around this time, Mr. Branham begins the process of pursuing a career with the New York State Police. It is unclear what causes his career shift, though it can be speculated that this was likely an attempt to access additional protections for himself and his family through state law enforcement. He passes all requirements for the position and is sworn in as an officer on January 10, 1988.In March 1988, the Branham family is mentioned in a report regarding a drowning. Records indicated that a Mr. Emmett Carey died by fatal drowning at Long Lake State Park. He was the husband of Mrs. Adria Carey, a coworker of Mrs. Branham, and father to their daughter, Ms. Rona Carey. Reports indicate that the family was attending a birthday event at the park hosted by the Branham's at the time. Testimonials from the police file indicate that the deceased fell through the ice and was unable to be recovered. The body was later miraculously found a few miles down shore. The person reported as discovering the body was ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM, then aged 6.⁽⁴⁾ Therapeutic services were offered to the family for the encounter, but the Branham's declined services.On October 23, 1992, a report from Child Protective Services (CPS) is filed on the Branham family. A CPS agent visited the family home after a teacher reports unexplained injuries on ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM. The child was found to have multiple bruises and stitches on the body. CPS concluded that the child is in good care⁽⁵⁾ and the injuries were a result of accidents while performing recreational activities. The report was closed without need for further investigation.In May 1999, Department of Education confirmed that ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM graduated from Long Lake Highschool. He is accepted to Duke University over the following summer.Documents dated July 29, 1999 report that the family home was engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived on the scene at 11:59pm, approximately 35 minutes after the fire broke out. Reports indicate that the fire was caused by a leaking gas pipe below the house. Elena and Jim are reported dead on the scene, leaving ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM as the sole survivor.⁽⁶⁾In October 1999, Department of Education confirmed that ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM began attendance at Duke University. Records indicate that ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM reached a housing agreement with the university in order to live on-campus while in attendance. Permanent address is later listed as an apartment close to campus grounds.In December 2002, records indicate that ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM completed all examinations and requirements to join the Durham Police Department (DPD). He is sworn in as an officer⁽⁷⁾ in June 17, 2003. He is documented to work part-time while completing degree program.In May 2004, Department of Education confirmed that ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts in International Law. Records also determine that he passed the emergency medical technician and state paramedic certifications in the same year. DPD records report ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM working fulltime in both officer and paramedic functions.⁽⁸⁾In May 2006, ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM applied for a hybrid JD/MPP program. He is accepted into the program in August 2006.On April 7, 2007, ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM meets Special Agent D. LOUIS⁽⁹⁾ on a joint operation with DPD and the FBI. Special Agent D. LOUIS references this case in recommendation for the special agent position in the Counterintelligence Division based on their collaborative work over the next few months.On June 2, 2008, ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM submitted an application to the FBI with referrals from Special Agent D. LOUIS, several supervisors on the DPD, and council members of the Durham City Council.ARTHUR JIMMY BRANHAM is approved for appointment as Special Agent on May 24, 2009.

classified personnel only: records are sealed under section #187 - classified top secret. all content related to case id #00-0000-m1 including lab id #m1-0000-0210 and all medical records pertaining to subject requires security level tsm1 and over to access.

classified personnel only: records are sealed under section #187 - classified top secret. all content related to case id #00-0000-m1 including lab id #m1-0000-0210 and all medical records pertaining to subject requires security level tsm1 and over to access.

Notable Cases

c-id #187-952
c-id #145-675 - ros
c-id #051-788 - joint
c-id #456-085
c-id #367-955 - bau
c-id #614-844 - cmu
c-id #185-003
c-id #203-416
c-id #387-163
c-id #698-885

Counterintelligence Division (2009-2016)

Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM had taken to active field surveillance, forgoing traditional permanent housing for a traveling role, with the Agent staying in Quantico during lag times. The Agent has a proven track record of surveillance achievement, with notable cases worked including C-ID #145-675 and #051-788, both relating to international surveillance efforts overseas. The Agent showed excellent potential in active surveillance and threat analysis, though continued to struggle with interpersonal connection and emotional regulation. An increase of anecdotal concerns regarding the Agent's behavior and correlating unexplained phenomena had resulted in further internal investigation regarding C-ID #00–0000–M1. Efforts to determine threat level, security concern, and strategic advantage had been ramped up by demand from REDACTED. The Agent remained active in the field while confidential investigation continued throughout the Agent's tenure.In 2011, months into the investigation provided indeterminate evidence toward the cause of suspected activity. More research was needed to draw accurate conclusions surrounding extent and origin of activity. External factors were unlikely but were properly investigated, starting with parental ties to Russian-based agencies and illegal Svetraba activities. Potential for Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM to be related to reported unexplainable phenomena in the field increased as investigation continued. During this time, the Agent completed JD/MPP program and began specializing field work in improving state and federal communication policies, as well as strengthen communication regulations abroad.Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM began physical and medical testing February 23, 2012 to further investigation and gather concrete evidence toward suspected activities, though the Agent remained unaware of true reasoning behind biological diagnostics at the time. Pressure to test the Agent in more combative field roles proved unpopular amongst peers, though such pressures continued to culminate from leadership, with additional influence from agencies outside of jurisdiction. Intelligence role and supervisory team became detrimental to further research, resulting in a request for the Agent's transfer in May 2016. Request was approved by REDACTED in the same month.

Critical Incident Response Group (2016-2019)

During Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM’s tenure with CIRG, the Agent was quick to pick up CIRG protocols. After team adoption with Supervisory Special Agent M. BARRET at the lead, the Agent quickly fell into rank and began efforts to fulfill information and interrogation needs for the CIRG team with exceptional success. Peer reports suggest that the Agent was heavily involved in supporting team dynamics, becoming a staple presence within Supervisory Special Agent BARRET’s 5-man deployment. However, performance declined as the Agent was pushed into more direct frontline roles within the group. Suspected unexplained phenomena related to the Agent was reported to have increased drastically as the Agent became more involved in demanding cases and critical incidents.At the direction of REDACTED, CIRG Director M. PUNITT advised the team’s assignments in order to monitor the Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM’s outcomes. The Agent’s involvement in several high-risk, high-stakes environments was systematically authorized by internal handlers responsible for C-ID #00-0000-M1 in order to elicit concrete evidence for hypothesis behind reported unexplained phenomena.Early findings proved that unconventional procedures were fruitful in producing desired outcomes for Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM’s case, as described in case briefings for C-ID #185-003 and C-ID #203-416. However, the Agent’s growing skepticism of the director's involvement and suspicion for the Agency’s intentions evolved more rapidly than anticipated. In addition, the increasing strain on the Agent to perform within expectations while in compromised environments appeared to affect the Agent’s ability to maintain discretion when utilizing and accessing “unique skills.”While the Special Agent A. J. BRANHAM’s exposure was a primary goal of C-ID #00-0000-M1, an unexpected lack of composure from the Agent led to discussions regarding risk assessment for maintaining the Agent as an asset for the Agency. Peer reports began to suggest internal unease with the Agent’s presence, noting an uptick of erratic behavior beginning after the resolution of C-ID #387-163 in June 2018, where the Agent was reported to have a heated confrontation with Supervisory Special Agent BARRET outside of the Agent’s designated reporting location for Lab ID #M1-0000-0210. The Agent became combative about risks taken when involving him in frontline negotiations and first-contact raids. The Agent noted growing concerns for peers, admitting to a lack of control when faced with unsupported difficulties in the field. Supervisory Special Agent BARRET raised concerns to Director PUNITT, though supporting records suggest that both men were directed by REDACTED to continue applying pressure to the Agent despite opposing peer recommendations.

classified personnel only: records are sealed under section #187 - classified top secret. all content related to case id #00-0000-m1 including lab id #m1-0000-0210 and all medical records pertaining to subject requires security level tsm1 and over to access.

Associated Personnel

SA DERRYL LOUIS
referrer, close confidantSSA DANIEL GABOR
former supervisor, close confidantSC MAYA FORD
former executive director, confidantCIRG DIRECTOR MATT PUNITT
former executive director, handlerSSA MARIUS BARRET
current field supervisor over contract,
engaged in active surveillanceLSH INGRAM ALINAFE
current lab coordinator,
engaged in active surveillance

ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.

ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.

ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.
ARTHUR J. BRANHAM.

THE MIND.

memo: kindness
headcanon
headcanon

THE BODY.

headcanon
headcanon
headcanon

THE SOUL.

power, poetically
headcanon
headcanon

Notable Cases—CI

c-id #187-952
c-id #145-675 - ros
c-id #051-788 - joint
c-id #456-085
c-id #367-955 - bau
c-id #614-844 - cmu

Notable Cases—CIRG

c-id #185-003 - ci
c-id #203-416 -
c-id #387-163
c-id #698-885

MAIN CANON.

original lore based in urban fantasy with a modern united states settings. includes supernatural components and crime elements. continues from his dossier and case file.

• main: kill me gently — following his case file
• main: special agent — before his retirement

• nobility: knyaz, the prince of velgorod
• knight: bogatyr, the furtive flame
• court mage: volkhv, the court mage
• slayer: ubiytsa, the mark of the king
• myth: the greek primordial
• myth: the doll of koschei — WIP

MEDIEVAL FANTASY.

medieval high fantasy concepts deriving from historical fiction, folklore, and interpretations of various mythology. mostly original concepts with flexible detailing.

Film, Television, and Literature.

assortment of film, television, and literature universes. most listings are still a work-in-progress.

• coming soon !

• baldur's gate 3: of mindflayers and men
• dark souls: burden unbroken
• final fantasy xv: a flicker of light in the darkness
• final fantasy xvi: on our own terms
• hades: the orphic primordial
• persona 5 royal: the hanged man
• stardew valley expanded: protector of the valley

Gaming Media.

assortment of gaming media based universes. listings are growing as new content is released and interests grow.

your soul is the seed hidden in marrow and the fire coiled beneath the ribs. you do not allow yourself to dissolve in silence. life or not, your last breath is yours to carry. and you are your own truest form—scripture, in light, in language, in eternity. your vessel and your being are one in the same: mirror and ledger, reflection and recorder, every material act in an immaterial tongue.what do you look like ?? a shimmer of starlight caught on the stillness of water. an echo of a hymn sung by no throat. to command your soul entirely, completely, and incomprehensibly is to press that invisible flame against the fabric of the world. illusions bloom like flowers in winter. stones move as though they remember the touch of creation. the body becomes clay, and the soul becomes the hand that shapes it. you listen for the world you live in and it listens back. you ask for intimate mercies and it receives and complies with a tenderness of mother and son, brother and sister. you fold yourself into the universe and the universe remembers your shape as if you had created it all along. birthed of and in, from and for, all the while holding creation like an invention of your own.yet no soul exists alone. each is a drop in a vast ocean, stirred into ripples when another passes—a tide surged and receding against the shore of others. one ripple becomes empathy, another perception, and another the terrible insight that comes when two spirits touch and recognize one another’s wounds. you live in the moments where tides meet, when unseen currents collide and reveal truths long hidden.flesh and spirit are two faces of the same coin. you move the immaterial because you are already threaded through its music, and when you bend it, it is willing and complacent, like a river answering its own source. and as still as you can become, your soul is never still, never caged in silence. each other leaves impressions in your sand, sigils in your sediment that fossilize in your being, a gentle and intimate thing involuntarily left behind. you are the star and the constellation and the space that holds each atom of creation within every touch and grief and joy you have coveted. you are living, endlessly rewritten, and burning with the breadth of everything you have ever dared to love.

you are...

shell-shocked. i am created through a raging war. bespoke through harmful hands, i bleed. i am carried from man to man. my soul trembles in this life-bearing form. unknowingly, i meet mom and dad. i am caressed, but not cherished. ‘ this blood is not mine, ’ she wheezes. it is not. i have come from both heaven and hell - in waves, i cry and cradle the body that has allowed me to breathe.i feel tainted. the sea could not wash me away. he says the devil lives in me, but i harness no sin in these sailing arms. my boat still sinks, slowly, toward an abysmal darkness. what has become of me ? is the blood i bathe in not enough ? the urge is dire. eternity is on my lips. a sweetened life of surrender, as the winds beneath my sails lift me off the reddened waters. they do not know that i understand the whispers they share as they rock me, gently into a deep slumber. i am not the man i was supposed to be, for humanity is not in my skin.could they not rock me any softer ? like an ocean’s arm reaching tenderly. her embrace is warm when my head is thrust to dry land, yet below she is cold, and deeper, she freezes. a pressuring silence. the never-ending drift. an ocean’s love bares all. from thrashes on the skin to filling in the lungs. i am lost in a moment of forgiveness. they think that the land’s will has tainted me and only salt can fix my soul. how thoughtful, and thoughtless still.unaccepted. restlessness wakes my soul. i am thrashed about. the waters shriek, my boat shaking, my body breaking apart, plank by plank. i did not wish to sail this way, into the wrathful storms. i did not wish to be born. yet life has chosen its vessel and it is here, aching. wailing. in waters pleasant and not. and in my blood, i awaken. in this tsunami, i rise. where ashes soak into sand, i am received. and my eyes forsake me, for in all the peace i believe, i am greeted by the sunken sails of mercy, where, wrapped in tears, my boat begins its staggering descent. and i drown.

( HE  IS   FRAIL ) in the light of uncertainties, a troublesome thing held together by naive kindness, fabricated by fraying strings sewn by shaking hands. as a youth, he was timid, trembling under parental wrath. and they were DEVOUT SINNERS — a plague — for when he spoke of    ^stars / _universes    and power beyond control, they set their lashes onto him, carved words like stone on marble flesh, crucified by the judgement of false gods. such violence drove him to quiet, finding peace in isolation. but    ^mana / _soul    could not be so easily tamed. he was bound by curiosity, the temptation of unknowns, and kindness, calling to the needy. his hands found others when others ran, and swam across hostile shores to ease pains beyond his own. he could not help his nature !! his parents knew that well. yet in their dying breath ( in what false ACCIDENT !! such claimed in death. he will shriek to the heavens where no one will hear ), they blamed their suffering on his unruly being ; an existence that should not exist at all.                                     ^forsaken / _abandoned.he found solace in a passion for dependency. if people could depend on him to be better, stronger, more normal in the eyes of otherworldliness, perhaps he could feel needed ( not worthless in the way worthlessness was CARVED into flesh ; golden cracks on splintered stone ). he carried himself through his younger years hiding amongst the masses, fearing his own hand and the instability that saw eyes fill with glitter and gold seep from falling tears. though he was brilliant, carving wings from wood and rock and fastening them onto broadened shoulders, he was not fulfilled. if he could be needed, useful, and save and protect and honor — he would fly to the sun, he told himself. he would fly to the sun for the world that wanted him not.                                                                                                          ^lost / _kindness.the law was easy to wield under his tentative grasp, softening the edges of authority, and he enjoyed it. for once, there was community in his life, a void filled with fake smiles and thoughtless gratitude. the line of duty becomes him !! drowning in the shadow of familiarity ( such badge and honor once bestowed on father ) until the eyes of grander agency found him. a more curious entity than himself, an institutional greed, under the gaze of the government's most cunning. he was pulled in with a false sense of obligation, seeking retribution for no wrongdoing. and using his ignorance, they tried to craft his DESTINY with their own hands.                                                                                                                                                                    ^control / _constraint.at the federal level, he was molded under handpicked responsibility, weathered by shocking truths that lay under the belly of his home. a shadow, he slipped between realities, found skill in conquering hidden truths. to uncover monsters under beds, beasts that wore the faces of mothers and sons, sharpening teeth with floss made of marrow.   ^humane / _inhumane   still. though, in the darkness, many shapes jutted through the abyssal waves. some things were BEYOND NORMALITY and perhaps that was why he was sought ?? both to tackle the unknowns and to become them, while unwound by the hands of those who used him. and unraveled did he become under watchful eye, criticized and questioned for the mysteries that pulled on the details of his life. ^{you disappeared again, why were you running away ?? what happened to your gaze ?? it is gilded under subtle bruising. do you feel pain ; have you become it ?? please, i do not understand !! are you a _monster or a _man ??} he did not want to be seen but he could not help his FOOLISH SELFLESS NATURE which branded him under flame and crucified him on the pyre of his good deeds. he was a puppet on taut string who folded under too much pressure, like brittle cedar: strong in face alone but fragile when whittled down and fragrant when burned. the world would command his obedience, the law and its people his charge, and he would obey with unwavering certainty for his life held no meaning otherwise. oh to serve and be of service !! despite the lack of preservation, the lack of sure identity under badge and gun and powers unexplainable, used only when forced to save life time and time again. perhaps he was set up from the start, the moment altruism became burdening and helping overcame reason. he dug into secrets beyond his authority, followed danger when danger called ( case after case after case ). the world and its evil admonished him — he was made to suffer, to be cast to hellion's gate !! thrown into the arms of the enemy ( terror !! but who were they, the criminals of the night, wolves praying on sheep and he was sheepish ). kidnapped, held prisoner by unsavory hands, silence was his only reprieve: no one would come while he was locked in his dirty cell, hidden until, under the weight of the universe he would finally break.                                     ^atlas / _icarus.he was CATACLYSMIC, a tsunami on dry land, a hurricane over salted seas, skin quaking as the ground splintered underneath him. destruction and creation, hand in hand, as the gods intended. their bodies were torn asunder, blood like rain upon snow-colored skin, for he could not contain himself under ^{pressure, pressure, pressure} and he would break like glass, in shards that caught breath short, and hands that created life would also find death heavy in tow.though he was rescued in the rubble of such aftermath, he would never recover.                                                                                                          ^broken / _still.he left the job that brought death upon him, such fulfillment sullied by unwanted carnage. he ran from the world, hidden under layers of lies, grimes of soot. yet always bearing ^{weight, weight, weight.} even in hiding, soft nature could not be easily quenched, and so he filled the thirst with mindlessness ( help the needy, feed the poor ). doing what he does best, he guesses, hurting under the guise of inquiry, purporting his own worth to the world one act of good at a time. an investigator of sorts, he chose — and it makes him laugh: purpose gone. soul in shambles, splintering rampant under thin skin. what is he searching for in the sleeplessness ?? reckless and alone. what is he trying to find if not himself in these wading waters, tinted pink with ichor, its shores crystallized fulgurite where his golden lightning strikes, cackling, pulsating, unchecked, violent and yearning and loud:                                               ^{body a husk for power} / _{mind a shell for other.}

_{this verse occurs in present day, following the events outlined in his case file. after an early retirement from the federal bureau of investigation, arthur works as a private investigator in odd jobs across the country. he travels frequently, throwing himself into his dedication to helping the general populous. later convinced by executive director matt prunitt to return to the cirg unit as a specialist, arthur agrees to a unique contract that allows him to contribute to federal cases at the cost of fulfilling strange obligations for the bureau and its biotech division. one thing is made certain though: the bureau is not on his side. and he is determined to use this opportunity to uncover what exactly they are using and testing him for without alerting them of his own suspicions.}

❛ they abandoned him. arthur realizes this after he is left to cope with the consequences of his imprisonment alone, dropped from the bureau and sent packing into an early retirement. sleepless nights and unsolvable cases are all he knows, and his new civilian life has him scrambling to come to terms with his lack of familiarity in the norm. it isn't long until arthur buries himself in a new purpose: detective-for-hire, managed by his own altruism to helping the needy. and right when he thinks he has picked up a new rhythm to work with, the bureau returns and demands his contractual employment. they give him no choice (comply or become imprisoned once more), and so he agrees to continue his work as an independent specialist with cirg, diving into the frantic and dangerous lifestyle he always knew, and knowing well that he can use this second chance to sniff out the real reasons behind his employment and testing. after all — THE TRUTH MAY HAVE BEEN RIGHT UNDER HIS NOSE ALL ALONG. ❜

❛ before his unfortunate retirement, arthur is a surveillance operative for the federal bureau of investigation. unassuming under the eyes of many, he holds the secret of his powers close to his chest. as his assignments get increasingly more erratic and dangerous, suspicion grows that the watchful eyes of those above him know too much. against his better judgement, he does not let that stop him from throwing himself into his work, finding fulfillment with his role as protector and seer for the general populous. many sleepless nights are spent chasing the monsters under children's beds, but he doesn't mind — IN FACT, HE IS QUITE GOOD AT IT. ❜

_{this verse occurs prior to the incidents outlined in c-id #698-885 and the subsequent retirement that follows. arthur is still a special agent for the federal bureau of investigation, working closely with cirg director matt punitt and ssa marius barrett to solve critical (and potentially supernatual) cases across the country. he continues his work, utilizing his abilities for the greater good, all the while the director builds his case file and lab reporting, testing the limit of his abilities and powers to their extremes under the guise of national security.}

_{the war-scarred borderland of velgorod stands fractured. hemmed in by the expansionist ambitions of the polish crown, pagan raiders from the north, and rising unrest within, the once-tolerant realm is no longer safe—from outsiders, or from itself. after years of war, king ilya velbrahm and queen elena make a final bid for peace in a desperate alliance with the holy orthodoxy. with the help of the church, they are able to stave off oncoming attacks from neighboring rivals, though the support is not without a price.with the church's soldiers come its priests—and its doctrine. while velgorod's armies bleed on the borders, the orthodoxy turns its focus inward, launching a quiet but relentless spiritual purge aimed at rooting out anything it deems unnatural: forbidden beliefs, unorthodox traditions—and those born with unexplained gifts.and at the heart of their growing suspicions stands one mounting threat: crown prince arthur velbrahm.a tempered but defined presence in the royal court, arthur has long held himself apart from the spectacle of power. exiled young to the heat of battle, he grew his strength through the share of blood and mercy. upon his sudden return, a man known far and wide across the fields but not within his own halls, he faces the cruelty of a home who never wanted him and a state who calls his power frivolous.}

_{yet those who know him—or whisper of him—understand the truth: for whatever cost it may carry, he is not ordinary. no noble scum who feeds eyes before hands, and no harsh murderer who tastes blood before suffering. he possesses abilities few understand, wrapped in miracles scoffed as myth and feared as rumor, and carries the responsibility of his crown with unshaken shoulders. at its heart, his magic does not come from old gods or sacred rites, but from within, from the very soul of who he is. and that, to the church, is the gravest heresy of all: a force beyond their doctrine, beyond their control.now, branded a silent threat and a public demon, arthur remains within court—not in rebellion, but in resistance. he plays the political game with care, concealing his motives while working to protect his people from within the same system trying to suppress them. war raging, the ache of a commander away from charge in his bones, he keeps his defiance quiet and his power near. enough restraint to build the trust he needs for as far as he has to go. and as the church seeks to consolidate its hold over velgorod, arthur must walk the thin line between obedience and integrity, invisibility and influence, to ensure his country survives—both church and war—and still belongs to its people when the dust settles.}

_{arthur anastos was taken in by the duke of velgorod after the fall of his homeland—an invasion minor in scale, but one that scarred the entire river-valley in unspeakable flames. sword in hand, he was young, wounded, and silent. the duke gave him sanctuary. in time, arthur gave the duke his sword.years since, and arthur now rides beneath the duke's banner as one of his most gifted knights. his dedication and discipline are unquestioned, but his merit is marred by speculation. he speaks little of his past, and even less of the homeland that no longer exists. the lords of court whisper behind closed doors: about his foreign blood, his noble bearing, and the unspoken reason for his rapid rise through the ranks. some call him a war orphan. others say he was a noble heir smuggled out by night. no one agrees on the truth.arthur does not correct them.}

_{but what is most unsettling to those who serve beside him is not his silence—it is the rumors of what he can do.they say that the elements yield to his command, born not of nature, but from his own two hands. that he can speak in tongues that imbue his sword with power. that he once shattered a siege gate with nothing but a stare. the duke’s inner circle does not deny the claims—but neither do they confirm them. his abilities are a state secret, folded into the quiet machinery of military strategy. in public, he is simply a knight. in private, he is something far more valuable.he serves now under solemn oath, sworn to a cause he does not speak aloud. not out of fear, but because the duke gave him something no army could reclaim: a home. and in return, arthur has dedicated every ounce of strength—sword, soul, and silence—to its protection.}

_{arthur anastos appeared in velgorod not long after the polish invasion at greycliff. foreign in dress and tongue, he was first seen on the battlefield, lingering by the wreckage of the king's envoy. some say he commanded the elements against the enemy to stave off the onslaught. others whisper he spoke in tongues, hexing the polish commander and forcing their squadrons to retreat. the truth, as ever, was quickly buried under rumor.what is known is this: the king survived, his best men and commander alive, and arthur was invited behind the palace gates not as a prisoner, but as a guest. within weeks, he was officially named court mage—a title not heard in generations.he wears no sigil. he bears no known lineage. he claims to come from a kingdom “far to the east,” though no ambassador recalls receiving him. he is not young, nor old, not cruel, nor warm. he speaks with calm deliberation, appears where he is not expected, and leaves no trace of his passing.}

_{those who serve the court say his shadow moves too slowly, and that he often speaks to people who are not there. his role is never clearly defined, yet his presence is unmistakable. when a child is born with withered flesh, it is arthur they summon. when the duke's dreams go black with blood, it is arthur who listens, then wordlessly extinguishes the hearth. he advises the royal family in matters of health, war, and dreams. some lords now openly call him a spirit-binder or arcane manipulator. others believe he has bewitched the throne entirely.what cannot be denied is his loyalty: when questioned, he simply states that he has sworn his service to the duke’s cause, and that his magic is bound by oath, “no different than the knight’s blade.” still, there are those who look at him and see not an ally—but a harbinger.he walks the corridors in silence. he does not eat with the court. he does not kneel before the altar. and yet, the kingdom still stands.}

_{blood is memorable—how it sticks and smells and spills. he is careful not to show it unless needed. but those who do witness his blood tend to remember things about it that carry on long after he has left: the deep red texture across pale skin, beneath eyes of pure gold, swirling in and out of grasp. it spills with purpose, morphing into a weapon that is said to kill gods. a crimson, star-speckled sea, hardened to a life-ending blade with gruesome, heretical magic. thus is the sign of the bloodwrought—the sanguine slayer of anastos, who vanquishes immortal demons with mortal blood.arthur anastos was once a slayer among slayers, coming from a lineage of hunters famed not for loyalty to crown or creed, but for their singular purpose: to track and destroy beings that passed between worlds. spirits. false gods. immortals. it was a hard and dangerous line of work, one often thankless and difficult. but the slayers took pride in their ability to protect others from the malice of beings beyond them. their blood bore the power to end things that far surpassed the strength of mortal means. yet, as inevitabilities would have it, not all gods could be so easily killed.at some point, their work would catch up to them. one by one, the slayers of anastos would fall to a being too powerful to vanquish. the undying king, a godless revenant who sustains his immortality by feasting on the living essence of others, became such being.by the time the order was disbanded, only a young arthur and his parents remained. unable to figure out a way to permanently kill the king, they became desperate. in order to seal the king's insatiable hunger, arthur's parents used their blood magic to perform the strongest binding they could—one that bound such hunger to their very souls, trapping the king in an endless cycle. he would be forced to hunt them, and only them, in order to maintain his immortality, and they would remain cursed to his hunger, endless and undying as he until they found a way to kill him or he found a way to consume their souls.}

_{for a short time, this seemed to work well. running from the clutches of the king, the family traveled the world to look for a way to kill him for good and free themselves from their own curse. arthur grew up learning many types of magics, honing his skills with the hopes of finally ridding the world of the evil king. he became well-versed in monster slaying, learning and studying different ways to banish and kill beasts and gods, and his parents encouraged him to expand his power and reach. they put their faith in him, knowing well that he would be able to harness his own powers in ways they couldn't dream of. and they did their best to buy him enough time to do that.they lived for years on the run, the king weakening with each failed attempt to reach them. but it wouldn't last forever.one day, the king would raise his hand upon them and arthur would be faced with a difficult choice. the hour was dire, the family cornered by their enemy, and there was only one way to stop the king from regaining the strength he had lost from chasing them down. the family agreed: arthur would live on to continue his duty, take this curse for himself, and find a way to destroy this king, and his parents would sacrifice their souls to starve the king out, buying time with their binding vows to let arthur escape. in this ritual, arthur would be forced to destroy the souls of his loved ones, and though the king would be denied his feast this day, two more precious things would be lost to his clutches.now, time drags its teeth through his bones. alone, arthur bears the undying mark with each falling breath, keeping the undying king famished but never far. he slays horrors when he must, helps strangers when he can, and turns his blood inward in desperate study—seeking the means to end the curse before it ends him. and if no such means exists, then so be it—he will make his death a cage the king cannot escape.}

_{greek god au where arthur is the vessel for PHANES who will take over his mortal form when he is awakened from his slumber to change the universe once more. *for hades ( sgg ) verse, click here.}

❛ orphic tradition preludes you, yet still you are FORGOTTEN !! a relic to the very universes crafted by your trembling hands. each crack of chronos' shell instills you with the cosmos, both birthed and married in the fabled night, and though you have casted love upon your creations, you are abandoned. parent to all and none !! PHANES, you are but a whisper of the primordial, oft confused for one or other, a significance now drowning far beyond your unbridled gift of life. you were the CATALYST: the world built upon your corpse, sacrificed as a martyr to the glory of the future. oh son of fate and daughter of time !! you are the reason for all beginning and ending and yet you are left to die a memory, a dimming light in the eyes of ambitious family. in your silence, you escape into the abyssos yet again, sink into quiet night. at least you have the orphic prayer in your dreams as you slumber, only to be awoken when unageing destiny rattles your souls once more. ❜

_{work in progress.}

_{come back later!}

_{continuing the journey of the sanguine slayer: the sword coast promised to harbor cures for cursed ailments, and arthur anastos was eager to scour what he could find about immortal curses from its people. it is just his luck, however, that his visit is cut short by none other than an illithid attack. now stranded in an unknown land with something squirming behind his eyes, it seems he has more than one curse he must get rid of before it is too late.}

❛ your blood is a weapon — a star-flecked crimson sea that hardens into blades capable of felling gods. once the heir to a proud lineage of monster hunters, you now carry a curse that binds you to the undying king, a revenant who feeds on the essence of your soul. you’ve outlived your family, slain horrors that haunt the edges of the world, and spent years searching for a way to end your burden. but the sword coast offers no refuge. an illithid parasite writhes behind your eyes, threatening to claim you before your true enemy ever can. can you rid yourself of two curses at once — or will the king claim what is his, and drag you into eternity with him ?? ❜

dark souls
_{#( souls / v. the oathbound pilgrim )}

_{❛   the flame asks you to burn. the dark asks you to fall. but burden asks you to endure. which would you rather, pilgrim ??   ❜}

dark souls ii
_{#( souls / v. the forsworn vowkeeper )}

_{❛   you… you remind me of another. long ago. they bore much, too much. and yet they fell. perhaps this time… the vow will hold.   ❜}

dark souls iii
_{#( souls / v. the unhollowed seer )}

_{❛   do you feel it, too ?? the weight in the marrow. the flame thins, the dark stirs. it has happened before. it will happen again. and still, you walk forward... ah. then perhaps it is you.   ❜}

_{among the ruins of the first age of fire, arthur walks as one out of place: a pilgrim of burden, sworn once to the way of white but cast out for miracles that bore the glow of sorcery. his eyes, brown until they blaze gold, mark him as anomaly and heretic both — proof of oolacile’s folly, or its strange survival.he lingers in the undead parish, whispering of oaths that remain long after gods have fled. his burdens are three: the recovery of a relic he once carried, the laying low of a knight lost to hollowing, and the delivery of a prayer to a fading cleric. should these be fulfilled, he may be summoned as a phantom against gwyn, lord of cinder — his golden flame striking briefly against the god of flame. should they fail, he is found in the kiln of the first flame, a husk of oaths unkept, eyes alight in judgment, a secret fight against the player themselves.}

_{❛   cycles, cycles... the bells ring, the gods fall, the flame wanes. and still we walk. do you not wonder, pilgrim, if we've walked it all before ??   ❜}

_{a pilgrim of burden, soul unbroken, eyes touched by light. once a seer of white, now a wanderer among fading gods. he kneels where oaths lie shattered, bearing relics of faith as though weight could absolve him. his miracles burn gold not from divinity, but from will, born of care that refuses to hollow. ally to the chosen, or else an oath of ash that must be cut down.}

_{location: found in the undead parish, sitting at the base of a broken statue near the church bells. later relocates to firelink shrine after progress in his questline.role: an outsider pilgrim tied loosely to the way of white, he journeys not to ring the bells, but to ❛ see what is left of the gods' kingdom. ❜faction: way of white — former cleric under thorolund and once a pilgrim of faith though is now considered heretical, knights of thorolund — indirect but familiar with his exile, oolacile — theoretical and unconfirmed, firelink shrine — tolerated uneasily though never embraced and never participant, darkwraiths — indirect opposition due to unhollowed status.}

_{a vow carried into ruin, unyielding even as kingdoms fall. imprisoned, freed, bound again by oaths heavier than chains. he lingers by the sea and the shrine of candles, watching crowns rise and drown beneath the tide. his miracles are fragments of light once born in ancients, twisted by burden into care given form. summon his aid, and he will fight at your side. forsake him, and he will stand against you, soul blazing with vows that never end.}

_{location: found in the lost bastille, chained in a cell but unbroken. can be freed by the player. later moves to majula, sitting near the cliffs with a single candle burning beside him.role: a fallen seer. he offers cryptic foreshadowing about vendrick, nashandra, and the endless repetition of ages. his soul resists hollowing, much to the unraveling of the emerald herald. sometimes hints that he once fought beside another chosen who linked the flame but refuses to say if they succeeded or failed.faction: heides / blue sentinels — earned the gilded pupil relic long ago, now subject to mild animosity ; often the topic of gossip amongst the sentinels, pilgrims of dark — known in passing from previous exchange ; antagonistic, majula's exiles — a natural guest if not an anomaly even among them, king vendrick's circle — old loyalty still burning and a vow too heavy to carry alone.}

_{in drangleic, where crowns sink beneath tides and memory gnaws at the living, arthur endures as vowkeeper: prisoner of chains that cannot weigh him down, bearer of oaths heavier than any crown. once freed from the bastille, he lingers in majula by a single candle, watching the sea roll endlessly — a mirror to the vows he carries, unbroken yet eroded.his burdens are three: the recovery of his vowblade from a pursuer’s shadow, the cleansing of a shrine corrupted by dark, and the delivery of a final letter to king vendrick. should they be fulfilled, he becomes a summon at the throne of want against the watcher and defender. should they be forsaken, he falls at last to the abyss in the shards of the dark chasm, a forsaken knight whose vows burn his body hollow.}

_{❛   i have seen it before. flame, dark, crown, ruin. each age falls into the next, like corpses into the sea. and yet, still we walk forward, as though it matters. it does... does it not ??   ❜}

_{in the twilight of lothric, when even gods have fallen to ash, he remains: arthur, the unhollowed seer, whose soul endures across ages without hollowing. brown-eyed in quiet, gold-eyed in battle, his miracles burn not as gifts of gods but as burdens born of will.found in the cathedral of the deep, he kneels at a broken altar, whispering of oaths and silence. his burdens are three: the recovery of the gilded pupil from a corrupted sentinel, the cleansing of a blood basin fouled by abyss, and the delivery of an ashen missive to a dying cleric. fulfill them, and he becomes a summonable ally in the fight against the soul of cinder, later a vendor of relics in firelink. forsake them, and he is found instead in the untended graves, the everlit soul: eyes blazing, miracles turned to judgment, a secret boss whose defeat yields his soul — a will that will not hollow, even in death.}

_{❛   ah, you again. strange... you feel familiar. as though i've watched you walk before. in another age. another flame. perhaps... when you stand at the end, unkindled, the world itself will bow. fire or dark, silence or song. what will claim you then ?? or will you claim yourself...   ❜}

_{a remnant of oolacile’s folly, burden incarnate, the man who will not hollow. his soul burns brown to gold, casting phantoms of care and oaths unbroken into a world of ash. factions call him heretic, anomaly, curse, yet he walks among them all, carrying silence where gods once spoke. complete his burdens, and he will stand with you at the world’s end. fail him, and he becomes the everlit soul — flame eternal, burden unending, a secret judgment in the graves of the untended.}

_{location: found in the cathedral of the deep, kneeling before a shattered saint statue, one hand on his sword pommel. later relocates to firelink shrine after progress in his questline.role: an unhollowed anomaly whose soul resists the cycles. called seer by some, heretic by others, he offers cryptic warnings about the fading flame, londor’s hunger, and the inevitability of repetition.faction: cathedral of the deep — tolerated as a pilgrim though his presence unsettles the devout, londor — condemned as a curse upon the hollowing and proof against the sable church's creed, firelink shrine — tolerated uneasily though the firekeeper cannot name the wholeness of his soul, way of the white / blue sentinels — rumored involvement though all is only seen through gossip.}

_{arthur is a hunter, dubbed ‘ the midnight sword ’, who specializes in hunting daemons and other starscourge creatures. he is gifted with a natural ability to use elemancy, the elemental magic of the world, without the use of a magic flask and can also call upon unique psionic abilities. however, he does not quite know where this power comes from, as it has only been tied to the royal family in history and legends ( though, what most legends neglect to mention is the hand that passes them — is it possible, between the oracle, the astrals, the messangers, and the king, that there is the wandering prophet that watches destiny unfold and documents the choices which mark the passing of time ?? ). during the events of the game, he travels to the front lines of the starscourge to help people retreat from the onslaught of daemons and the ruthless attacks from the niflheim empire.}

❛ you are a strange child born in darkness, as though it is only in the night that you shine brightest. there is destiny in your veins, but neither you nor your parents really understand it. when you are but a tender age, it is revealed that you are more than just another child running rampant on the dusty outer streets of lucis - no, you are special in that you can pull magics from the ground the way that KINGS DO ( and OH !! that is so terribly wrong, for you are no king, you are no royalty, and your blood is as meaningless as it is VISCOUS AND THICK ). your parents do the only thing they can think of, HIDE YOUR TRAGIC SOUL, for fear that it is YOU who brings them BAD OMENS, and you who will find that pesky destiny in the ruin of their home. your dreams of FATED FIDELITY are crushed as swiftly as they grew ( on the backs of old kings, legends of the oracle and the son of the throne, other pulls of fortune far beyond you ) but it is in your NATURE to be KIND, to be RESILIENT, and you MUST FIND DUTY somewhere else in your life, for it calls to you in the same darkness whence you were born !! you seek destiny in the blackened void that comforts you the most, the UNENDING NIGHT that rests in your very bones. and there, that is where you find the will to do MORE, putting power to use as a dark soldier who slays monsters when all the rest of the world has fallen to sleep. ❜

_{originally conscripted from the iron kingdom, arthur fled the battle of nysa when his magic manifested while trying to protect soldiers during the fight between titan and shiva. after deserting the ironbloods, he found refuge at cid's hideaway and was quickly indoctrinated into cid's vision of peace. he serves under gav and the cursebreakers as a combat-trained scout throughout the events of the game. he specializes in typeless magic that is characterized by unique psionic abilities and a minor draw to multiple differing affinities.}

❛ your parents are soldiers, and even though you are soft ( KIND-HEARTED in a nation bred from loathing ), you are forced to follow in their footsteps. the iron kingdom welcomes you into their bloodlust. since were you a boy, all you can remember is the HATRED for something so beautiful ( so misunderstood and burdening, you think, but is that deserving of such branding, such blasphemy in unholiness ?? ), and this breeds the violence you grow to SCORN. the annex of rosaria stokes those flames, and as soon as you can grow into your armor, you are sent into WAR.

the battlefield is a dreadful thing, all peeling skin and brittle bones, but you drink it because you HAVE TO, else they light you aflame on the pyre of their vicious beliefs. not that your loyalty mattered, really, because the moment you are suspected of being OTHERLY yourself, you know you are in danger. IT HAPPENED IN NYSA, as titan and shiva cast ice and earth into soiled pastures, soaking blood into dirt, you threw yourself into the heat of battle and you BURNED BRIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MASSES !! casting a hand between your men and the debris around you, your eyes gleamed in such a vivid GOLD ( a color of holiness that sears into the sky, though you know not where it comes from ) that you are seen from across the field. water and rock, fire, blade - it all stilled around you, and when you tossed your hand aside, the floating objects followed, thrashing from some invisible force that you commanded. YOU WERE MARKED FOR DEATH THE MOMENT THEY LAID THEIR HATE-FILLED GAZE UPON YOU and you remained wide-eyed as you tried desperately to save what little life you could. what more could you do in the aftermath than run from their persecution ?? you abandon your brethren and retreat into the hills !! away, and you are SCARED and ALONE when the nice, blonde-haired lad found you. it is soon after that when you are invited to a new cause and, hesitantly, you grasp upon the other's hand and JOIN IT ( at least this mission finds HOPE in a world burning down around you ) ❜

_{phanes is a well-kept primordial secret. thought to have been birthed at the beginning of all existence, he rivals chaos for the title of the universe's creator. together, they shaped the known realms as the hands of change and the eyes of omniscience. but that was a time far before the olympian and chthonic woes of the present. now, to protect what has been made since, they meander within the abyssos, the chaos gates, and hold their influence until needed for reasons beyond them. always eager to provide, phanes relinquishes himself to chaos' ambiguity, hiding his existence so that it might not be used in the trivial conflicts of their creations. he is only remembered by nyx, the daughter of chaos, and through the legends and tales of orpheus, who hears whispers of the will of phanes in order to enact change into the world beyond.during the events of hades, he may be accessed through the chaos gates.   although hidden,   there are times where the fates may bring}

_{stray souls down his path. he very rarely leaves the comfort of darkness, but he may eventually be coaxed by the fire-hearted conflict of the chthonic. during the events of hades ii, chaos' interference with the whims of chronos pushes him out of the abyssos. wandering the universe for the first time, he hides himself from the titan's watchful eye while navigating a world that has forgotten him.}

❛ you hide in the realm of CHAOS, amongst their gates, their endless void. if chaos is the keeper of secrets then you are a secret best left kept in darkness. a part of them, perhaps ?? for not even chaos can be CREATION if you cannot be CHANGE. the catalyst, the hands that move the eyes !! and birthed from the cosmic void, you share with them in exile what would otherwise be kept alone. only through the soft whisper you cast to ORPHEUS can you bring life to the impetus beyond the prison of your realm, breathing song onto tongue so that someday your harbinger will find you. ❜

_{arthur is a playable hanged man confidant. he is able to freely commune with attis, though his true power lies in a mixture of attis' summoned abilities and his own innate psionic prowess. depending on the timeline, he is a third-year student of shujin academy or recently graduated. he is heavily associated with munehisa iwai and his adopted son, kaoru: he is often seen tending to the untouchable airsofts shop when iwai is out, or tutoring kaoru in the shujin academy library. he is like a second son to iwai, though due to his predisposition to organized crime, serves as a trusted assistant on both legal and illegal affairs at the shop and personal affairs at home.}

❛ you are stuck in the IN-BETWEEN - two worlds / two halves colliding, a shadow behind dead eyes and a light between thinning lips. all pale, all vivid. you thought you were SAFE when you ran, all those years ago, CLEAR from the terror of gunfire late into the night, the sound of screaming. dirty money, sobbing cries from people you didn't know. you were but A CHILD !! though that did not stop your father from trying to indoctrinate you. you never wanted to be YAKUZA ; despite desperate pleas from a dying man. ( “ YOU WERE CHOSEN !! ” he would scream at you. “ a weapon for your skill, a dog for our cause. ” you cursed him, for you knew all he sought was the power he already promised to his superiors. it was YOU ; an odd thing of the mind you possessed, subtle behind golden eyes. to move things without touch, sense danger without sight. maybe he was right, a WEAPON was who you were meant to be. ) but that didn't matter to your delicate resolve - as alien as you were ( soft edges, tender fists ), you would not let them take you.

you REFUSED. you RAN. and now you are TRAPPED. you're not stupid ; a young life of crime taught you some things well. you changed your name, used some dirty cash and forgery to live by yourself at the tender age of 15. trouble always found you though - so much so that you bought a GUN and OH !! that closed-off store owner reminded you of yourself. he would not sell to you unless you PROVED SOMETHING to him ( a gentle heart, a soul refusing to submit to a life of misery at the hands of something evil, something tainted ). you obliged ( easily, you are nothing if not knowledgeable and gutsy and kind ) and then, slowly, you found purpose under a new title: mr. munehisa iwai's store boy. he could use your wit, you can tell. he could use your skill. the way you protected the shop from thieves and thugs, stood your ground against gangs ( syndicates and family names you've since SCORNED ), even though sometimes iwai himself bows his head and obeys. it was fine - you respected him, his secretly soft eyes, subtle words of wisdom always telling you to KEEP RUNNING. you use his wages to keep yourself alive and all the while you stand by his side. by the time you are 18, you think you are changed. now in your third year of school, so close to graduating and making something new of yourself, you spend your days ever busy: mentoring a young kaoru with your smarts while helping protect him from the little dirty secret of a past you and iwai keep close to chest. iwai tries to push you out of the shop nowadays, tells you get a new better JOB, do something worth while with your life, your potential. but you can't bring yourself to leave him ( like a SECOND FATHER - though this one won't strike obedience in your flesh ). you let your discourse WHIP YOU instead ; you are STUCK between wanting to protecting this bittersweet fragile family and wanted to break into real freedom on your own, all the while running from past ties that still weigh you down and haunt you into the wee hours of the night. ❜

_{Arthur is a seasoned sorcerer who specializes in supernatural matters, from banishing rogue spirits to dismantling dangerous magical anomalies. Though not officially a titled member of the Adventurer’s Guild, his reputation spans the Order of the Knights of Pythagoras, where he is dispatched between guilds and clans across the world. He’s most often found in the company of Rasmodius or the wizards of Fern Island, discussing magical theory or quietly assisting with magical crises. Though reserved and reclusive, Arthur’s skill with both blade and spell makes him a dependable ally — one the valley turns to when supernatural trouble comes knocking.}

_{Arthur’s dislike of the Ferngill Republic Ministry of Magic is well known ; he avoids political entanglements whenever possible, preferring to serve the people directly rather than the bureaucracy above them.}

❛ People think magic is all fireballs and fireworks. It’s not. Most of the time, it’s patching the same hole in the world over and over again before anyone notices it’s there. It’s being the person who goes out in the rain when you could be warm inside. I don’t mind. Not everything worth doing leaves you with applause — sometimes it just leaves you with a place that’s a little safer than it was yesterday. ❜

resisteence / jake berenson file.

co-authored by flint, this universe is tied into the world of jake berenson, as housed in the 90s classic animorphs, combining original urban fantasy crime lore with a complex sci-fi twist.arthur branham, still recovering from the aftermath of the svetraba incident, crosses paths with jake berenson, a post-war covert operative recently embedded in a joint fbi task force investigating svetrava’s escalating aggression. while arthur remains entangled in dangerous work with the bureau, bound by both his abilities and complicated ties, jake must confront the haunting possibility that the alien threat he once fought to exterminate may have survived. drawn by circumstance and locked in by tender survival, the two must navigate buried secrets, shadowy agendas, and the looming truth about svetraba, the bureau, and an invasion that never truly ended.

• verse—stellar collision, nuclear fusion, death.
• jake—we were one soul unbound in creation.

• verse—a curse pierced by heavy blade.
• cloud—and by your hand was i unwound.

callmeteor / cloud strife file.

co-authored by aster, this story is set in the universe of ubiytsa: the mark of the king, adapting the life of cloud strife from square enix's final fantasy vii into an original tale combining unique medieval lore with a dark fantasy twist.years ago, arthur anastos fled a kingdom in ruins, carrying the weight of a god’s curse and the guilt of abandoning the boy he loved. now, after years spent hunting the undying king who destroyed his family, arthur crosses paths with cloud strife, a lost prince turned hardened knight, and the bearer of a legendary heirloom blade rumored to sever even the oldest curses. but nothing is certain—not the blade, not forgiveness, and not survival. together, they must face what remains of their past, and what may be the final battle for their future.

drachnslayer / siegfried of xanten file.

co-authored by ka, this legend takes place in the universe of ubiytsa: the mark of the king, intertwining the adventures of siegfried of xanten—as inspired by germanic folklore, the nibelungenlied, the novel of hagen of tronje, and the movie hagen—with an original tale that combines dark fantasy with a legendary mythical twist.arthur anastos, cursed slayer and last of his bloodbound line, crosses paths with siegfried, a wandering hero whose legend lingers longer than his purpose. what begins as a chance meeting folds into an unlikely companionship held together by shared hunts, strange warmth, and the slow, steady gravity of trust. while siegfried searches for direction in a world he no longer belongs in, arthur keeps to his quiet work, hunted still by the undying king and the curse that binds them both. but when arthur learns of balmung, the bone-hilted blade at siegfried’s side said to cut through even the immaterial, he finds himself drawn to a truth he isn’t ready to name. some weapons kill. others choose. and not all endings are escapes.

• verse—hope in the hands of destruction.
• siegfried—i sank my teeth in your belief.

• verse—a death foretold, a love unsung.
• noctis—your mortal light, my darkness burning.

royalarms / noctis lucis caelum file.

co-authored by aster, this prophecy is set in the universe of final fantasy xv: a flicker of light in the darkness, writing the life of noctis lucis caelum from square enix's final fantasy xv into an adapted myth combining the world-building lore of the franchise with a hopeful fantasy twist.arthur, the midnight sword, is a hunter born in the shadow of lucis, gifted with magic that should not exist—power untethered from royal blood, yet ancient as the gods. raised in silence by fearful parents, he learns early that magic without a name must be hidden or destroyed. but when the starscourge spreads, arthur takes to the front lines, wielding light in the only way he knows how—against the dark. it is in this struggle of duty and personal debt that he meets noctis, the runaway prince burdened by the binds of destiny. they walk the road together—friends by fate, companions by choice, and something gentler growing in the quiet between battles. but as noctis nears his end, visions claw through arthur’s sleep: sacrifice, ruin, a throne drenched in starlight. he was never meant to be part of the story—but he will not let it end the way it’s written.