#character group

The Spider House gang, with the two gays cuddling while their only smart member complains to their boss about something.

My OCs if they were humans instead of aliens! (2020)

Cults & Organizations

Though the majority of Wicked’s Rest’s citizens are non-powered humans, the abundance of mystical and supernatural occurrences around town have led to a culture that may be seen as “odd” to those on the outside of it. Included in this culture are a disproportionate number of largely human-led cults around town. For the most part, these groups neither refer to nor consider themselves to be cults; more likely, they view themselves as religious groups, organizations, or even “families.” 

Some of these cults may have something supernatural at the center of them – a demon, a cryptid, or even just a person of supernatural origin – while others may have been built around something more mundane. The amount of knowledge the members of these groups have about the supernatural world may also vary. While some may have limited knowledge about the things they’re worshiping, others may adhere to explanations completely separate from the truth. Additionally, although the majority of these cults have a human leader in place, a few may be led by someone nonhuman, either taking advantage of humans’ ignorance for their own nefarious purposes or simply basking in the attention that may come with leading a group of such magnitude. The activities these organizations take part in vary from group to group, ranging from harmless to potentially very dangerous. 

You can read about a few of the different cults and organizations in town below.

Wicked’s Rest’s Cults

THE CHOSEN ONES OF PRYGANDO: 

Following ancient texts found in a cave in Gatlin Fields, the Chosen Ones of Prygando worship the demon Prygando, an ancient being said to live in the underground cave network throughout town. Earthquakes, shifting ground, and cave-ins are often attributed to Prygando’s displeasure by the Chosen Ones, and it is during these times that they may be at their most dangerous. Following events perceived by their leadership to be signs of the demon’s unhappiness, the Chosen Ones often seek to appease Prygando with rituals. These rituals may start small, including things such as small rock structures being built in Prygando’s honor, but if the perceived displeasure isn’t rectified with these small offerings, the Chosen Ones will move on to bigger displays. This can include human sacrifice. Typically, the sacrifice is chosen from within the group. Often, it’s a volunteer. After the sacrificial ritual is complete, the group’s leadership determines whether Prygando has been appeased. If they find the demon to still be uneasy, they may repeat the process until they are certain. They often determine the demon to be uneasy.

CREED OF TERRAMOIST: 

A newer organization in town, the Creed of Terramoist was founded shortly after the worm citizens of the kingdom of Terramoist gained access to enough technology to make their wet voices heard. Interestingly, the leader of this group is not a human, but rather a citizen of Terramoist himself. The cult’s leader, a skinny grey worm named Mudglas Wigglesworth, holds a position within Terramoist’s royal court as the technological coordinator. As such, he is tasked with obtaining advanced technology for Terramoist to reverse engineer. This is how the cult came to be – while attempting to talk a passing human out of their wireless headphones, Mudglas found he had a knack for convincing humans, and used it to his advantage. Though not currently considered dangerous, the relative newness of the Creed as well as the unpredictable nature of their wormy leader makes the cult one to watch, as they could develop dangerous tendencies in the near future.

KEEPERS OF TENDRILLA: 

With an alarmingly high number of members in the Seven Peaks, the Keepers of Tendrilla are one of the more active cults found throughout the town of Wicked’s Rest. This group’s activities are etched into the very culture of the town itself, from Tendrilla murals found on the sides of local businesses (both those owned by Keepers and those whose owners neither requested nor desired such decor) to shrines spread throughout all seven of the titular Seven Peaks. While not typically violent, members of this organization may lash out at those who they believe disrespect or dishonor Tendrilla, the cryptid they worship. They will also go to great lengths to protect the shrines throughout Seven Peaks, meaning even accidentally stumbling upon one with no ill will can be a dangerous endeavor. 

THE PROTECTORS OF HUMANITY: 

Made up entirely of non-powered humans and largely longtime Wicked’s Rest residents, this organization is dedicated to the safety of humankind… by any means necessary. Perspective members have to pass a series of tests to prove their humanity before being required to complete an initiation ritual: returning to the cult with something supernatural in tow. Most hopeful Protectors elect to find something small and easy to capture, such as a gnome or a supernatural plant, but others strive to impress by bringing back something a little more sentient. Whatever they return with is swiftly taken by the cult’s leaders, a pair of siblings named Natalie and Julius Little. It is unknown what happens to these things afterwards, though none of the sentient beings taken by this cult are ever seen again. If the Littles are satisfied with the sacrifice, the new member is allowed entry into the group. The Protectors consider themselves to be just that – a protective force that looks out for humanity in areas where hunters and Scribes have failed. They share information with varying levels of accuracy among themselves, and hold recruitment events in the Common fairly often.

SHRIMPLETS OF THE PRAWN: 

Headed by ex-fisherman Darrell Walsh, the Shrimplets of the Prawn are based out of Harborside and hold the neighborhood’s shrimp-like deity, Krillios, in high regard. Darrell started the cult after spotting Krillios while fishing on his boat one day, so moved by the cryptid’s presence that he retired from his career in favor of taking an oath never to harm another prawn again. This is an oath all new members of the Shrimplets of the Prawn take upon initiation. They consider themselves to be protectors of shellfish, and can often be found “sticking up for the little guy”. Activities include frequent protests of local seafood restaurants (and perhaps sabotage, though none that has been proven by authorities as of yet). Physically, the Shrimplets of the Prawn are considered to be a low-threat cult, with most Wicked’s Rest citizens and authorities viewing them as more of a nuisance than anything else. Crusty’s Prawn Shop is a locus of activity for the Shrimplets. 

THE WALKERS:

Named after Wicked’s Rest’s giant “walking” mushroom known as the Mushvroom, the Walkers are fanatically devoted to mushrooms of all kinds. On the face of it, they can seem more like a mushroom club, circling around to the town’s strangest mushrooms, like the ones in Eternal Light Cemetery, the Mush Room, and even especially well-formed “fairy rings” on peoples’ front lawns. But dig a little deeper, and you might notice that some members are fae. Many of the others are humans who were at some point trapped in a fairy ring with the fae, and now concern themselves only with mushrooms. There are some more normal mushroom-loving individuals in The Walkers, even budding mycologists, and the group is not usually considered to be a high threat. But if you encounter them at a mushroom locale, keep your wits about you and don’t step into any mushroom circles with them.

THE WATCHERS OF THE FACE: 

One of the oldest organizations in town is the Watchers of the Face, a group dedicated to the Watchin’ Face. No one quite remembers who founded this group, though it’s said that it was founded shortly after the formation of the Face centuries ago. Nowadays, leaders are elected democratically after long campaigns. Occasionally, these campaigns may involve throwing enemies of the Watchin’ Face into the Devil’s Gullet. The current leader, Betsy Baxter, allegedly tossed three Face enemies into the Gullet for her campaign. The Watchers of the Face organize the frequent Watch Parties, and often use these events as recruitment opportunities. The Watchers believe that there is a literal “man in the mountain” whose face is the Watchin’ Face in question, and their ultimate goal is to free the man, so that he (or the entity) may usher in an age of prosperity and faces.

Probably Not Cults

CLUB CRYPTID: 

The buzz about cryptids in town does more than just draw in tourists and vloggers alike. Cryptids have inspired merch, art, and so much more, but some have more appreciation for them than others. The place you’ll find the most enthusiasm for these creatures is Club Cryptid HQ. This group of cryptozoologists is dedicated to learning everything they can about the various cryptids in town. While their theories can be grandiose and most of the time off base, some are surprisingly spot on. They’re always trying to set up cameras in different cryptid haunts around time, many of which end up in Wicked’s Rest State Park only to be taken down when a park ranger discovers them.

THE SCRIBES: 

Founded in the year 1868, the Scribes are an organization trying to learn more about the supernatural world, and can be seen behind books as well as out in the field. They remain relatively neutral when it comes to conflicts between supernatural conflicts and focus more on issues that affect the town as a whole, passing along knowledge and teaming up with hunters, spellcasters, and various supernatural humanoids to take down threats as needed.

THE WHISTLERS:

Aos Sí (pronounced ace-she)

OVERVIEW: 

The fae are famously poor at organization, but they have managed to organize themselves into small communities spread all over the world, referred to as aos sí. About 75% of fae worldwide come from these communities. They are highly variable in size, appearance, setting, and social norms. However, they all have one thing in common: they’re completely and utterly lawless, and lack forms of official leadership. Conflicts tend to be settled with word binding and trickery, perhaps followed by some mutual respect. Aos sí often still heavily frown upon certain things, and individual fae may take it upon themselves to punish transgressors in whatever way they see fit.

Wicked’s Rest has a number of aos sí communities in town and nearby – some are in the town proper, others might be out in the woods, mountain, or ocean, or their own dimension. They may have a number of fae species within, or may be exclusive or accessible only to a couple. These communities may be hidden with a sort of “mass glamour” that makes it harder for wardens to pin down the precise location, and may not be visible or obvious to others unless certain criteria are met. Some have sentry fae to turn others away. These powerful protective glamours are not consciously made, and are subject to dissolve if the fae within the community become discontented or weakened.

AOS SÍ LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS: 

While there used to be many prominent ancient fae languages with a variety of roots, they’ve largely fallen out of favor. Most aos sí communities simply speak the prominent language from wherever they are geographically located. Even the secluded ones aren’t so cut off that cultural transmission is impossible. It’s also common for fae to learn and use the language in their country of origin or where the ancestry of their species hails from, but there’s a lot of blending of different influences and cultures.

You can read about a few of the different aos sí below.

LOCAL AOS SÍ COMMUNITIES

BARE CREEK: 

Deep in the forests of Wicked’s Rest, lies an aos sí somewhat hidden behind a cloud of mist. If you look into the mist, you can see a Burning Man sign, stolen by the fae who live here, and modified to say Burning huMan. The fae here live what most would call a very natural lifestyle, which includes not bothering with clothes, and spending a lot of time in gnome-formed mushroom circles, dancing and partying. At first glance, humans would assume this aos sí is full of hippies singing sweet songs (or at times a weird rager), though that’d probably be the last glance they ever take.

FATESWORM:

Once, Fatesworm was an average aos sí called Greensphere. It was a little weird, a little chaotic, but nothing special. Then the banshee, Femura, came. She made the aos sí her own, relocated the re-named “Fatesworm” to the Wormwoods and espoused her philosophy to the fae around her. Fate had an amazing future in store for Fatesworm, she said. But only if She is served, which primarily meant serving Femura. Some of the more impressionable fae were quick to take Femura’s views to heart, especially after a couple close calls with wardens, and their lives now revolve around death. Specifically, collecting dead things for Femura, and even solemnly engaging in twisted rituals to please her and, in turn, Fate. While aos sí rarely have official leadership, Femura is certainly the figurehead, and all of the fae who live in Fatesworm do their best to cater to the banshee, firmly believing that Fate will smile upon them if they keep Her earthly vessel content, nourished, and moist with worm slime.

LARK STREET: 

Not all fae want to be out there with the mushrooms and the magic. Some are far more comfortable in their cozy “human” homes – it puts them closer to their food sources, after all. Muses, faun, and other more humanoid fae (especially those that feed on humans) have formed a network of homes on Lark Street in Deersprings. These fae stay connected as a single aos sí through use of specific doors in their homes, which take them to a shared (possibly liminal) space. The sense of community can be helpful, as blending in with humanity comes with its challenges, though attitudes toward humans themselves differ. Many times arguments have broken out over whether the “Door Space” can be used for keeping fresh food. Despite the name of the aos sí, some fae who don’t live on Lark Street still have access to the Door Space if they have the correct kind of door installed.

LASSOED LANDRY:

After a group of fae discovered a plethora of cowboy memorabilia and Old Western movies, they took a liking to the genre and concept and shifted the core “focus” of their aos sí to reflect it. This aos sí’s love for things like “horse” riding and “bull” wrangling borders on an obsession, leading to a few nymph-made vine lassos flying around at all times and humans hog-tied for food sources (or general fun, for those who may not rely on humans for food). Located in Gatlin Fields, members of this aos sí can often be found terrorizing farmers (to immerse themselves in the life!) and making unwelcome visits to the Mane Attraction (to see horses!), though no outsiders know where the entrance to the aos sí truly lies. 

MIRRORED DISTRICT: 

This surreal little pocket dimension is home to a community of varied fae species that prefer to be as far removed from humans as possible. The Mirrored District can be accessed by jumping into one’s reflection in certain, large surfaces of water at night, though some mirrors in town provide alternative means of entrance and exit when the light is at just the right angle. Some fall into the Mirrored District accidentally and get stuck. The Mirrored District has a dream-like beauty but can be disorienting due to everything being upside-down, the sky stretching out below. The shops sell truly strange supernatural fae goods. Many residents are aware of Wicked’s Rest and seem to be under the impression they are connected to the rest of the town normally. They refer to visitors as being “from the other side of town,” and tend to greet other fae as “cousin” but don’t explain why. The District is only as big as Wicked’s Rest and terminates at an abrupt perimeter. Those who walk into the strange fog rolling off the edges of town are rarely seen again. Terrible things happen to non-fae who linger in the Mirrored District for too long.

NETHERLAND:

Having experienced the radical shift of living in the Bleak Point neighborhood before it was overtaken by the mineral abnormality that forced it underground, the fae of this aos sí can be a little… odd, even by fae standards. As a community, Netherlanders have an odd relationship with the tunnel system and take part in many rituals regarding it. With every meal, be it that of a fae species that feeds on some sort of human energy (such as muses and faun) or the more mundane food-types of fae with normal dietary habits (like nymphs), an offering is made to Netherville itself. Some of the older members of the aos sí remember a time when the community existed entirely above ground, while others were born into the darkness of Netherville and have never known anything outside of it. The generational gap tends to lead to some different approaches when it comes to rituals the aos sí takes part in, but only in regards to the reasons behind those rituals. This aos sí has a variety of fae species living among it, but the bugganes within the group are considered especially renowned due to their connection to Netherville. 

SALUAROP:

This aos sí has taken up residence in the downtown area, thanks to a promise bind with Sal, the hapless former owner of a nondescript used car shop, Sal’s Used Car Shop. The interior of the dealership has been split into two parts: an “art gallery” where the various muses share the art made by their meals and a “dance floor” where the faun of the aos sí have their nightly dinner. Outside in the parking lot, the nymphs have returned the dealership — including much of the remaining inventory — to nature. The fact that the cars left over in the dealership are all entirely overgrown with plantlife doesn’t stop the pixies who live within the aos sí from attempting to “sell” them to passersby, of course. Humans walking by the dealership should be cautious – if the pixies can convince a person to come inside the dealership, it’s unlikely that they’ll ever leave again. This is how the muses and faun obtain most of their meals. The sign to the actual dealership has degraded over time, through a mixture of the nymphs’ natural living and the pixies’ chaotic meddling, lending the aos sí its name.

VEILPEAK: