Ghosts, Shadows, same dif.

“Halloween…a celebration for the dead? Then is everyone here dead?” the concept was baffling. Why would you be excited about being dead? 

“What? No, no. Who told you that?” Clarissa had always thought the holiday was a little weird, but the kid’s interpretation was more morbid than she’d been expecting. “And we’re not dead. Dead feels different.”

THE TRIAL OF PHOBOS

Those who make the plunge, whether by choice or by force, will find that it’s a long way down that sinkhole.

The feeling of falling persists for just long enough to induce panic, the eyes of Shadows gleaming from beneath their masks as they rush by…

Those who fell come to in an immediately and vastly different set of surroundings.

Most had their fall broken by dense foliage; the less fortunate might find themselves having landed in deep, dark water, needing to swim a small ways to find their footing on solid ground.

The air is notably warmer and more humid than it had been in town. Everywhere you look, lush jungle plants can be seen growing, layered wild and tangled–not a spot of snow in sight.  Looking up, one can see the entrance of the sinkhole far above. Clouded by Shadows, it almost looks like an eclipse.

THE SINKHOLE

Days after the initial tremors occurred in Idle Lakes, talk surrounding the occurrence had begun to quiet down. No one had felt anything major since–let alone heard any suspicious sounds. A healthy sense of caution remained strong among many, though others argued that the initial rumors were merely attention-seeking witnesses telling tall tales.

As it would happen, in one week’s time…

A massive rumble in the early hours of the morning was the cue for the crumbling of stone and snapping of wood, soon followed by hand-crank sirens breaking any remaining semblance of silence in the town.

News spread quickly. On the outer edge of the East District, in the place where the earthquake had been previously felt, a large chunk of land had abruptly collapsed in upon itself, revealing an enormous sinkhole. 

Demons employed as rangers, peacekeepers and guards quickly flocked near the site of the hole, attempting to muscle reporters and other rubberneckers away from the main area. For a short while, aside from the initial event and the commotion of the crowd that congregated, all seemed calm.

But soon came the snarling.

“Melbourne, huh…? I can’t really say I’ve heard a lot about that, but I think I get the idea. It’s probably the kind of thing that happens in places where you don’t get earthquakes much, so I can’t blame them too much.”

“Half the people I’ve run into here aren’t even from Earth. I wouldn’t be surprised if one told me they didn’t know what an earthquake was. ...Bloody hell, I don’t want to think about what atrocious meteorological phenomenon other dimensions have. Sharknados had better not be real.”

“You think people are overreacting? You should’ve seen Melbourne after its big earthquake in 2012. Those knocked-over deck chairs really caused pandemonium.”

All characters have flaws, it’s part of what makes them interesting and relatable. But exploring those flaws can sometimes be tricky, especially when the character is supposed to be a hero. I made this little questionnaire to help me explore some flaws in my own characters. Feel free to use it if you think you’ll find it helpful!

Most of the questions should have some kind of answer, no matter whether it’s as horrible as “they murdered five thousand people in cold blood” or as tiny as “they forgot to return a library book that one time.”

Fill out all the answers or do it as an ask meme, whichever you prefer! (Please, remember to use trigger warnings for the more violent or upsetting stuff.)

What makes your character angry or upset?

What makes your character lose their patience with someone else?

What do they do when they get angry, hurt, or upset, and snap?

When has their curiosity or thoughtlessness lead them to intruding over another’s boundries?

When trying to relate to other people, what does your character find difficult to understand?

Does your character have any prejudices?

When have they totally failed to think of another person’s needs?

What’s the most inappropriate thing they’ve ever done (whether by accident or deliberately) and why?

When have they put their own goals above the safety, happiness, or general wellbeing of others?

Who have they hurt, and how/why? Were they sorry for what they did?

What’s the worst thing they’ve done out of frustration or a bad temper?

What’s the worst thing they’ve done out of pure malice or hatred?

Regardless of whether they would actually act on it… what type of angry, violent, disturbing or vengeful thoughts does your character have? 

What crimes or bad deeds has your character committed?

What are some of their worst habits?

What’s the most selfish thing they’ve ever done?

What lies or dishonest/misleading comments have they told? (Including “white lies” to spare someone’s feelings.) Have they ever withheld the truth?

What’s the most violent thing they ever did?

What might tempt them to go against their own moral code?

What do they feel sorry for? What do they regret the most?

What’s the stupidest mistake they ever made?

Why did they split up with their last romantic partner (if applicable)

What made them end a friendship? (if applicable)

What’s the worst thing they’ve said or done to a family member? and finally…