#shadowkind

[aeternacaligo]

" I'm a shadow,.

I understand it's a hard to get concept

Hard to grasp but it's OK – i wasn't meant to be touched, only to follow right after

I still do it

It bothers some people and i try to stop but it's second nature it's weirder for them when i'm not there it seems "

[wannabecatwriter]

[melodiousmonsters]

I'm just going to start talking about my celestials each month to give you all some low effort and fun(for me) content. Also doing full illustrations of them as well, with some design notes at the end.

My interpretation of loodvigg, named Fhobia Denta Latrostratous (they're one of the three celstials with a full name at the moment) is a fair bit different from other's interpretations of it for extremely personal reasons. They're a tad bit strange, and creepy looking, but overall they are a compassionate (in their own strange way, like almost everything about them) and creative individual that's held as a role model for all shadowkind. They also have a lavender colored ring around their pupils so their eyes aren't fully pink, which is the main difference from the cannon loodvigg, along with the subtly different feathers, lower body, markings on the abdomen, and scales on the arms.

They are generally unexpressive (tonealy, the main way monsters express their emotions) yet VERY emotional. Over the years they gradually became more in control of their emotions due to sheer life experience, but they are still a little more irrational and driven by emotion than most of the other celestials.

They hate being touched, loud sudden/repetitive noises, math, people or things that get too into the meaning of art and other stuff like that, and the texture of a few things like fish meat or coarse fabrics. There are very few things they have a neutral opinion on, one of which is the taste of blood by itself.

They love keeping up their appearance in most situations, for example, their hair isn't naturally like that, they use their saliva like hair jell and specifically style it to look like that, also they would be absolutely rancid smelling and filthy with their diet of fresh meat and preferred locals of wet warm caves. They spend a lot of time cleaning themselves, which is extremely rare for monsters. They also like eating more than your average monster, they eat like a toddler because of how preoccupied with eating they get, collecting/making taxidermy and other oddities, and all critters, especially invertebrates though.

They are majorly interested in biological sciences, specifically preservation and taxonomy. They gave the celestials and dof era monsters/critters their scientific names(no I don't have scientific names for the celestials yet, I've kinda ran out of ideas for scientific names tbh). They happen to spend a lot of their time in a very large cave network with a lot of different types of caves that make good enclosures for keeping critters to study.

They care a lot about the other celestials as they are siblings and gets very angry if something bad happens to them, only if they feel it's undeserved, their empathy is a bit wacky and  inconsistent.

Also most shadow monsters tend to share in its odd mannerisms, sometimes the behaviors show up in completely non shadow affiliated monsters and no one knows why.

Disclaimer (I think that's the right word), yes you guessed right, Fhobia and the large majority of the shadow monsters are autistic, the term isn't used in universe as the monsters don't have a word for autism as they aren't that into psychology and "the way that monster is" has worked in place of a proper word historically, monsters aren't into categorizing others.

as for design notes and process here it is! all the stuff in red boxes are final.

[hemat0lasluts]

thoughts are brewing!

unique supernatural creatures

1. shadowkind: beings that live in shadows and can only exist in the dark. they communicate through whispers in total darkness and can manipulate the shape of their hosts’ shadows to express themselves.

2. bloodweaver: a creature that weaves webs of blood to trap its prey. its web glows faintly and reveals the darkest secrets of anyone caught in it.

3. emotion eaters: entities that consume intense emotions (joy, sorrow, rage) to survive. they manipulate situations to create emotional chaos in order to feed.

supernatural powers

4. time bleed: a character develops the ability to overlap timelines, bringing fragments of the past into the present. these fragments can be people, objects, or even events, causing unintended chaos.

5. memory sculptor: a person capable of entering someone’s mind and altering memories—either erasing them or creating false ones. the changes start to physically manifest in the person’s behavior or even appearance.

6. breath of life: a power where someone can breathe life into inanimate objects, creating loyal but unpredictable allies from anything around them.

supernatural locations

7. the endless forest: a forest that seems impossible to escape. time moves differently inside, and it tests anyone who enters by manifesting their greatest fears and desires.

8. the reflection city: a parallel city that can only be seen through mirrors. it’s inhabited by twisted, alternate versions of the people in the real world.

9. the midnight market: a marketplace that appears at exactly midnight in random locations, selling supernatural goods like bottled memories, stolen time, or elemental weapons.

plot-driven concepts

10. the soul debt: a character unknowingly inherits a debt where their soul must serve a supernatural being unless they fulfill a cryptic prophecy.

11. the waking dead: ghosts begin coming back to life as humans, but they carry the emotional weight of their deaths. they’re drawn to the protagonist for answers as the line between life and death blurs.

12. the vanishing town: a town begins disappearing piece by piece—people, buildings, even memories of its existence. the protagonist must uncover its supernatural secret before it vanishes completely.

supernatural relationships

13. bound by blood: two characters share a magical blood bond that allows them to sense each other’s emotions and pain. however, one begins developing dark abilities that threaten the other.

14. the mortal bargain: a supernatural being is bound to protect a mortal, but the mortal’s growing attraction to them threatens to break the ancient rules of their pact.

15. hunter and prey: a supernatural hunter falls in love with their prey, who’s a rare and powerful creature hiding their true nature.

worldbuilding ideas

16. elemental dynasties: a world ruled by elemental clans (fire, water, air, earth) with fragile alliances and secret conflicts. each clan’s ruler wields ancient relics tied to their power.

17. the unseen wars: a secret war between supernatural factions, waged in hidden dimensions or alternate realities, spills into the human world.

18. the reclaimed world: supernatural beings have reclaimed earth, forcing humans to live as nomads, adapting to strange landscapes ruled by vampires, witches, or ancient gods.

[butterflies-and-bumble-bees]

♧

Can I also do one for you?

You’re my: my sweet nice kind cute Catholic friend!!!

How I met you: Syd's discord

Why I follow you: prayer requests to pass along the grapevine

Your blog is: very nice

Your URL is: daughter-of-mary

Your icon is: a very pretty marian blue rosary

A random fact I know about you: you are definitely not a shadow person *wink*

General opinion: I LOVE YOU

A random thought I have: "bite me" as an insult, carries some very different subtext among shadowkind

[cleric-archive]

* @lunawish / asked: }

“ don’t speak, just… kiss me. “ / from lae'zel!

ㅤshadowheart    doesn't    take    orders    from    githyanki.    she'd    laugh    in    the    face    of    lae'zel    ﹠    her    commands    for    such    obedience,    should    her    voice    alternatively    miss    that    feathery,    cloyingly-sweet    undertone    it    is    so    rich    with    now.    yes,    now,    shadowheart    isn't    laughing—    she's    weighted    in    a    different    kind    of    mirth.    she    worries    her    teeth    into    her    lowest    lip,    before    lae'zel    ever    speaks    a    word,    ﹠    keeps    her    eyes— loses    the    foothold    she    has    on    her    composure    in    the    slits    of    those    pupils.    shadowheart    questions    how    she    may    look    to    lae'zel:    her    face    all    framed    by    a    glen    of    shadowkind    hair.

ㅤshe    squanders    not    a    second.    shadowheart    lunges    toward    lae'zel,    who    stands    but    a    smidge    taller    than    her,    ﹠    takes    her    face    into    her    hands,    her    fingers    disappearing    into    the    tresses,    behind    the    winged    elm    of    her    not-so-rival's    gradient    ears;    within    that    same    sweep,    shadowheart    presses    her    mouth    rough    into    hers,    ﹠    feels    all    the    time    between    them    boil    down    to    its    very    carcass,    its    raw    nudity    without    disguise    on    display    for    shadowheart    to    realize    the    truth    of    its    rigidity:    what    it's    been    since    the    start.    jealousy.    shame.    admiration.

ㅤshe    closes    her    eyes.

[dandylion240]

Atherton Shadowkind for @wannabecatwriter‘s Witchy Day’s BC

Age: 20

Traits: Adventurous, Daredevil, Great Kisser, Night Owl, Rebellious

Bio: There’s not much to tell. I mean I haven’t lived long enough to entertain you with wild stories of my wild youth or something. Ask me that question when I’m old like forty or something. I guess the only thing that really stands out is the fact my parents belonged to an obscure assassins guild known as the shadowkind. 

I never knew my parents. I was left in a basket near the emergency entrance at the local hospital when I was a baby. Supposedly my name was written on a piece of paper pinned to my onesie. I was passed around several foster homes. I guess being able to manipulate shadows was a little to spooky for people to handle. I gave the other kids nightmares because I could see the monsters that lived in their closets and under the beds. It’s not like I liked knowing they were there. I thought I was doing the right thing by warning them they were there. The foster parents thought was a trouble maker though or worse yet a troubled kid that was going to kill them in their sleep.

It wasn’t until I came to this school that I began to realize what I am. Shadowkins get their powers from the shadows. Light or dark. Each one receives their alignment upon their 21st birthday. It’s a bit murky and complicated and I don’t pretend to understand it.

What Am I like you ask? Well I’ll try anything at least once. I do love a good thrill. I’ve been known to take the head masters car out for a joy ride everyone now and then. Skip class. Cheat if I haven’t studied well enough. Nothing too terrible I don’t think. I like to stay up late. One day I’m going to go on some grand adventure. I don’t know where yet but I know I’m not cut out for a mundane life.

Strengths: I don’t know get scared easily. I can blend in with the shadows or manipulate shadows to hide anyone I’m with. It comes in handy when I’m sneaking out of the dorms.

Weakness: I have no weakness. Is staying up too late a weakness? I mean I’m more energized at night. I move like a snail during the day. Wait I’ve been told I’m to impulsive. I guess that means I act without thinking things through. That’s gotten me into a lot of trouble in the past.

Prejudices: I don’t much like humans otherwise I’m pretty easy going. 

CC: Eyebrows, Shirt, Tattoos, Earrings, Hair

[shadowedcipher]

Omg haha Franco Shadowkind Shadowedcipher? on tumblr? say it aint so

WHAT IS THIS IM AFRAID !!! BUT YES!

[purewhitewolf]

Who and What can be a Shadow Queen?

Technically anyone can be a Shadow Queen/King...as long as they get the crown and then are blessed/cursed with the powers.

What is preferred is an offspring of the Shadow Queen to takeover. Preferably the strongest, smartest, and most skilled in shadow magic, but each Shadow Queen may have their own list of qualifications they are looking for in heirs.

Traditionally all the heirs would fight and likely kill each other and then the last one fights/kills the Shadow parent and absorbs their essence and crown.

The current ruler can also just hand over the crown and powers to anyone of their choosing, even if the shadow council doesn't like it. Queen's ruling is absolute.

THE crown is not any physical copy they choose to wear on their head. Just snatching a random crown off their head won't give power or title...but it may bring pissed off shadows. No, THE 'crown' is a manifestation of a special essence unique only to those properly given the authority over all shadowkind and other special abilities...and curses. They can pull this essence out and give it a form to crown the next heir which would transfer evey power and whatnot over immediately.

Forcefully trying to extract the essence from an unwilling Queen is near impossible without proper tools and power....even then the crown ITSELF can reject unworthy hosts. And it really means something when it rejects because it is pretty lenient with a lot of different people.

[primrose-fr]

“The Secluded Veil: Entrances of Sornieth”

Excerpts from the writings of an Unknown Scholar below.

     “The Secluded Veil is a mystery to Sornieth. A closely guarded secret kept by Shadowkind for generations. They say it’s like a shadow behind Sornieth. A mirror of the land above wreathed in eternal night. Where Shadowbinders influence extends to every corner of the continent, and her Veilspun reign without contest.

  The magic that divides Sornieth from the Veil is powerful. But, there are ways for those of the brighter world to access it. I’ve marked on the map where I’ve found the Veil to be thinnest. Though truthfully the Veil can be passed through in places where the shadows are deepest. Such as deep forests, storms, and caverns.

Starting with the Home realm itself:

Shadow.      In the Shadow realm the Veil is so thin that in the deep woods dragons could just wander in! Near the Driftwood Drag there’s a wood where the veil is so thin that it’s practically not there at all. Another point of interest is The Moon Pool. It is a well of Shadowbinders very own black ichor. They say that drinking of the Moon Pool allows for dragons of Shadowkind to speak with their deity for a short time. For non-Shadow dragons, especially those of Lightkind, it seems to drive them insane. I don’t recommend drinking it.

Light.

    It would seem that a land of such luminescence would make it impossible for the shadows to deepen enough for an entrance to form. But not so. Everyone knows of the tainting shade of the Hewn City.  It is there where the land is dark enough for dragons to slip into the Veil. But have caution. The Hewn City entrance is unstable and vanishes during the light of day.

Water

    The Waterflight is strange when it comes to the Veil. Strange in that, anywhere along the deepest part of the ocean one can enter the Veil. And I think it’s precisely for this reason that the Waterflight entrance is constantly guarded by a terrible beast. My current theory regarding this leviathan is that it was created in a joint effort between The Shadowbinder and the Tidelord to protect both the Veil and the Waterflight citizens. Further study is required.

Ice

   This entrance is a fascinating one! Now I’ve never personally assessed the thickness of the Veil in this location as the Gaoler guard the Dripcave Dregs with fervor. Although I’ve heard whispers from the guards mentioning an ongoing conflict between the Goaler and a particularly mischievous group of Veilspun.

Nature

   Ah The Shrieking Wilds! I haven’t felt a darkness this inviting anywhere but the Tangle Wood. It’s no wonder that the Veil is so thin here. In fact, A few of the nocturnal creatures found within this deep jungle are actually native to the Veil!

Plague

   The Plagueflight is often a lot brighter than it’s deep reds and browns would have one believe. It is only in the Deep Rot Caverns that the shadows are dark enough to traverse.

Wind

  The Windflight is full of towering plateaus that cast deep shadows during the night. Thinning the Veil enough to pass. The only stable entrance within the Windflight happens to be in the eye of the Twisting Crescendo itself. It is my belief that many of the foolhardy dragons who go missing within the eye have actually landed within the Veil.

Earth

   The Earthflight is chock full of deep dark caverns within which the Veil is thinnest. From ravines deeper than the light can penetrate to mountains that blot out the sun. Earthflight, like Nature, is a haven for those of Shadowkind outside of their homeland.

Arcane

  Arcaneflight’s entrances to the Veil are absolutely fascinating! Nowhere but the cliffs beneath the observatory have enough shadows to even thin the Veil let alone form an entrance. And yet! Throughout the entire flightdom the Veil is thin. Even bleeding out into the Starwood strand! Utterly unheard of! It is my belief that the Arcaneflights proclivity for magic erodes the Veil within this land.

Lightning

   Within the Shifting Expanse the arid landscapes leaves little in the way of towering forest to darken the land and thin the Veil. But what this land lacks in trees it makes up for in storms. Storms so dark and terrible they thunder across the land, blanketing the land they cover in darkness. It’s truly beautiful to behold! These magically charged storms seem to strike at the Veil with their lightning. And their winds fling wayward dragons into the Veil without mercy. Truly this land requires more study!

I will continue to document the many ways to enter the Secluded Veil for those brave enough to seek it. To peak at the untamed shadows within. But be cautious! Entering the realm is the easy part. Leaving is an entirely different challenge.“

    The journal containing this information was found within the Driftwood Drag. Camp was still showing signs of habitation. Last entered date suggests the scholar went missing a month before the journal was found. This information was taken from said scholars notes shortly before the Shadowflight authorities deemed the location “prohibited”. They claim that everything is under control. That there is nothing to see. But I know better.  

[wannabecatwriter]

Why the argument?

Polina: Why the hell did we all show up in red? We're literally matching the building, this isn't even funny!

Martha: You're asking me? I'm not the one who picked the venue!

Polina: You said you knew this place!

Martha: I said I heard of it, that's not the same thing!

Atherton: Yeah, I'm not even getting into this argument. They could've pulled up a picture on this place online, after all, but neither thought to do it...

[books-in-a-storm]

The story of how I was goin to end the world began not with a bang or a whimper but a kerplink.

In that moment, I wasn’t sure whether I faced more peril from the jailors we’d just fought off or the shadowkind man we’d rescued from them.

-Shadow Thief, Eva Chase

[winterstarligh18]

Love's Nocturne

Master of the murmuring courts Where the shapes of sleep convene!- Lo! my spirit here exhorts All the powers of thy demesne For their aid to woo my queen. What reports Yield thy jealous courts unseen? Vaporous, unaccountable, Dreamland lies forlorn of light, Hollow like a breathing shell. Ah! that from all dreams I might Choose one dream and guide its flight! I know well What her sleep should tell to-night. There the dreams are multitudes: Some that will not wait for sleep, Deep within the August woods; Some that hum while rest may steep Weary labour laid a-heap; Interludes, Some, of grievous moods that weep. Poets' fancies all are there: There the elf-girls flood with wings Valleys full of plaintive air; There breathe perfumes; there in rings Whirl the foam-bewildered springs; Siren there Winds her dizzy hair and sings. Thence the one dream mutually Dreamed in bridal unison, Less than waking ecstasy; Half-formed visions that make moan In the house of birth alone; And what we At death's wicket see, unknown. But for mine own sleep, it lies In one gracious form's control, Fair with honourable eyes, Lamps of a translucent soul: O their glance is loftiest dole, Sweet and wise, Wherein Love descries his goal. Reft of her, my dreams are all Clammy trance that fears the sky: Changing footpaths shift and fall; From polluted coverts nigh, Miserable phantoms sigh; Quakes the pall, And the funeral goes by. Master, is it soothly said That, as echoes of man's speech Far in secret clefts are made, So do all men's bodies reach Shadows o'er thy sunken beach,- Shape or shade In those halls pourtrayed of each? Ah! might I, by thy good grace Groping in the windy stair, (Darkness and the breath of space Like loud waters everywhere) Meeting mine own image there Face to face, Send it from that place to her! Nay, not I; but oh! do thou, Master, from thy shadowkind Call my body's phantom now: Bid it bear its face declin'd Till its flight her slumbers find, And her brow Feel its presence bow like wind. Where in groves the gracile Spring Trembles, with mute orison Confidently strengthening, Water's voice and wind's as one Shed an echo in the sun. Soft as Spring, Master, bid it sing and moan. Song shall tell how glad and strong Is the night she soothes alway; Moan shall grieve with that parched tongue Of the brazen hours of day: Sounds as of the springtide they, Moan and song, While the chill months long for May. Not the prayers which with all leave The world's fluent woes prefer,-- Not the praise the world doth give, Dulcet fulsome whisperer;-- Let it yield my love to her, And achieve Strength that shall not grieve or err. Wheresoe'er my dreams befall, Both at night-watch, (let it say,) And where round the sundial The reluctant hours of day, Heartless, hopeless of their way, Rest and call;-- There her glance doth fall and stay. Suddenly her face is there: So do mounting vapours wreathe Subtle-scented transports where The black firwood sets its teeth. Part the boughs and look beneath,-- Lilies share Secret waters there, and breathe. Master, bid my shadow bend Whispering thus till birth of light, Lest new shapes that sleep may send Scatter all its work to flight;-- Master, master of the night, Bid it spend Speech, song, prayer, and end aright. Yet, ah me! if at her head There another phantom lean Murmuring o'er the fragrant bed,-- Ah! and if my spirit's queen Smile those alien prayers between,-- Ah! poor shade! Shall it strive, or fade unseen? How should love's own messenger Strive with love and be love's foe? Master, nay! If thus, in her, Sleep a wedded heart should show,-- Silent let mine image go, Its old share Of thy spell-bound air to know. Like a vapour wan and mute, Like a flame, so let it pass; One low sigh across her lute, One dull breath against her glass; And to my sad soul, alas! One salute Cold as when Death's foot shall pass. Then, too, let all hopes of mine, All vain hopes by night and day, Slowly at thy summoning sign Rise up pallid and obey. Dreams, if this is thus, were they:-- Be they thine, And to dreamworld pine away. Yet from old time, life, not death, Master, in thy rule is rife: Lo! through thee, with mingling breath, Adam woke beside his wife. O Love bring me so, for strife, Force and faith, Bring me so not death but life! Yea, to Love himself is pour'd This frail song of hope and fear. Thou art Love, of one accord With kind Sleep to bring her near, Still-eyed, deep-eyed, ah how dear. Master, Lord, In her name implor'd, O hear! Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882)

[goose-books]

OKAY. @bluejaybabbles and @planets-and-prose both sent me asks from this ask game about the titles of the songs in a hypothetical quark musical. and theater is a HUGE quark thing. and so i. got carried away. i mean. REALLY carried away. uh. so. i present. without further ado. Quark the Musical

ACT ONE

"the ferris wheel” - an overture of sorts, ft. the first scene of the book, a very important meeting between caelum finch and dawn andrews...

“the last shadowkind prophet” - time lapse song! this is the one where caelum sings about growing up in a big empty house for plot reasons, ft. tiny sad 7-year-old caelum, furious lonely 14-year-old caelum, and big sad 20-year-old caelum.

“new york city!” - city theme song! traveling song! toto, we’re not in the interdimensional magical town anymore!

“claire voyant” - meet dawn andrews, nonprofessional psychic. this is her theme/motif song! it’s a lot more fun than caelum’s and when it comes back later it hurts

“shake shack rap battle” - this is exactly what it sounds like. caelum is adamant that dawn is the chosen one. dawn did not sign up for that shit. (note: it doesn’t necessarily have to be a rap battle, but either way it’s an angry duet. this is interspersed with both of them stopping to sip their milkshakes and immediately getting a brainfreeze.)

“a theater on broadway / the subway” - this is one of those transitional songs yknow. caelum gets an odd feeling about an odd building. his part in the song reprises his theme from “the last shadowkind prophet.” dawn is more concerned with the dangers of the street; her part is more down-to-earth and increasingly panicky. at the end, enter... marble lavinia robespierre!

“indubitably (a very important man)” - we’re in the silverblood court now, babey. this is a marble/shade duet + the whole point is that they’re foil characters and their relationship is tense for Reasons

“the ultimatum” - dinner with the silverbloods. this is the end-of-the-first-act number where everyone has a verse… actual contents redacted for spoilers but it’s INTENSE

ACT TWO

now i’m gonna get vague both because of spoilers and because we’re in the land of things max hasn’t written yet

“midnight (in the silverblood court)” - caelum and dawn reprise their themes, separately: caelum is asleep, dreaming of a strange door, and dawn is awake, wandering the silverblood court feeling very strange herself…

“five days” - there’s Plot Stuff happening in this song but the whole vibe is about the ticking clock, because there IS a ticking clock -

“murder in the seventh degree” - the title is a joke, and the song starts as a joke also! there’s a ballroom scene. the main characters are dressed up and miserable about it. lots of weird conversations, lots of weird melodies. and then the night goes bad.

“his eyes” - [redacted for spoilers but this isn’t a fun one either. act 2 doesn’t fuck around]

“a polaroid picture of flora de rossi and angela foxfire, dated 2002” - long title made valid because dawn says this out loud to the audience. this song has plot relevance but it’s also dawn going “am i a lesbian?” thinking about it for 2 seconds and deciding to compartmentalize THAT shit real fast

“indubitably (a very important man - reprise)” - [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS]

“semele” - [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS]

“the high judge of the silverblood court” - [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS]

“a theater on broadway (reprise)” - [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS BUT SOMEONE (CAELUM) MADE A MESS]

“midnight - reprise” [REDACTED FOR SPOILERS]

“comeback tour” - VILLAIN SONG VILLAIN SONG VILLAIN SONG whoever plays cassandra divinesight has to be able to belt

“the chosen one (finale)” - the ending song… this is the one that makes you cry.

[magicalmonsterhero]

My Spidersonas

As some of you may know, the release of Into the Spider-Verse led to the concept of Spidersonas. Now, I have finally decided to post my own. While none of these are actually based on me, I thought you might find them interesting.

-Samuel ‘Sam’ Sorenson/Cross Weave

Left on the doorstep of a church as a baby, Samuel ‘Sam’ Sorenson was raised by the devout but kindly Reverend David Sorenson. Unfortunately, Father David discovered that one of the clergymen was taking advantage of young churchgoers, and the clergyman killed him. Sam, who had been bitten by an irradiated spider during a class trip and had been recovering when this happened, used his newly developed spider powers to bring the killer to justice. Afterwards, he dedicated himself to fighting criminals as the Lord’s arachnid-powered servant, Cross Weave.

-Franklin ‘Frankie’ Favero/Daddy Longlegs

The Armonia Family is a lesser-known Mafia family dedicated to maintaining a ‘balance’ of sorts in the criminal underworld. All of its members have some form of special ability, whether they are mutants, mutates, magic users, or what have you. One of its most prominent lieutenants is Franklin ‘Frankie’ Favero, a young mutant with elastic powers. Due to an incident involving the Kingpin’s organization and Oscorp, Frankie ended up being bitten by one of Oscorp’s experimental spiders. He subsequently developed spider like abilities, which he uses in service of the Armonia Family under the code name Daddy Longlegs.

+Daddy Longlegs’ universe is partly inspired by Katekyo Hitman Reborn and Baccano, especially the latter.

-Nicholas ‘Nick’ Nutbrown/Drider

Growing up in the rougher neighborhoods, Nicholas ‘Nick’ Nutbrown was almost killed in a street rumble. But his life was saved by a strange woman who healed his wounds with a touch, and told him “the Spider Totem has chosen you” before vanishing. Nick was never able to find the woman who saved him, but he did discover that in addition, she had given him spider like powers and the ability to see the true forms of Shadowkind, beings straight out of a fantasy world who now live amongst us. Renouncing his street tough ways, Nick took to helping the Shadowkind residents of New York, both as a volunteer at a local community center (and later the head of same), and as the superhero Drider.

+Nick’s backstory is inspired by that of Donny Sinclair, an NPC from the Urban Arcana setting for the D20 roleplaying system. His universe is likewise inspired by Urban Arcana.

+Several of the B-List and lower-tier heroes of Drider’s universe are Shadowkind, including Dane Whitman/Black Knight, Bill Foster/Goliath, and Jessica Jones. Many others are Aware (able to see Shadowkind in their true forms), and Drider gets along well with them.

-Peter Parker/Jade Spider

During a trip to Osborn Industries, Peter Parker and several of his classmates were abducted by the Hand. While they were later found seemingly alive and well, they later disappeared again, their families found murdered. Only a short time later, rumors spread through the New York underworld of a band of super powered teenagers, each with animal-themed powers and bearing the mark of the. hand.

In truth, the missing students had undergone mental conditioning during their time in captivity. A while after being released, they returned to the Hand, received advanced training in combat and weaponry, and underwent genetic modification. Peter was infused with DNA from several different species of spider, and thus became the deadly Jade Spider, a near-emotionless sniper with spiderlike abilities, who only feels alive when on the hunt.

+In Jade Spider’s universe, the Hand has a much greater power in New York, having become a major crime syndicate on the level of the Yakuza and Chinese triads.

+Most of the heroes and villains are the same as the mainstream universe, but many of those who would have become members of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery instead became heroes, including Sandman, Electro, and Mysterio.

+Like Widowmaker from Overwatch (who was a major inspiration), Jade Spider has blue skin due to very low blood circulation. His heart beats just quickly enough to keep him alive.

+Other agents of the Hand include Flash Thompson AKA Ebony Hound, Liz Allan AKA Vermillion Raven, Gwen Stacy AKA Azure Octopus, and Felicia Hardy AKA Ivory Cat.

+Many of Jade Spider’s victims were the counterparts of Spider-Man’s villains, including Otto Octavius, Adrian Toomes, Dmitri Smerdyakov, and Mac Gargan. They were targeted because of their loose totemic connections, and in a few cases, their equipment was given to Jade Spider’s colleagues. John Jameson was also targeted, but his life was saved by Quicksilver, who exposed Jade Spider’s existence in the process. Enraged by the attempt on his son’s life, J. Jonah Jameson has allied with Harry Osborn, who lost his father to the Arachnid Assassin. The two have supported the efforts to take down the Hand, even helping to empower/equip Sandman, Electro, and several more.

+Mary Jane Watson is Harry Osborn’s girlfriend, and later became his wife. She helped her husband with many of his empowering experiments, ensuring they didn’t go horribly wrong (especially the one that turned Harry into Goodfellow). When he formed the Spectacular Six, she became one of its members under the name Tigress, having undergone the ritual that would have turned the deceased Greer Nelson into Tigra.

+Jade Spider did briefly possess the Venom symbiote at one point, but due to his almost complete lack of emotions, the symbiote could not survive with him as a host, and thus abandoned him. Later, when the Hand attacked Eddie Brock, who was investigating the Hand and needed to be silenced, the symbiote bonded with him, saving his life and revealing many of their secrets through Jade Spider’s memories. Eddie became one of New York’s more infamous vigilantes, often allying with Daredevil, Moon Knight, and similar heroes.

-Kiki Komori/Spider-Rouge

Kiki Komori was an ordinary high school student until she ran across Araka, a spider fairy from the Land of Totems. Araka was searching for someone to take up the power of the Spider Totem, but she was attacked by Kobalo, a member of the Great Hunters. To protect her, Kiki allowed herself to be bitten, and was transformed into the Arachnid Magical Girl, Spider-Rouge!

+The Great Hunters are similar to the Inheritors in their goals, but do not have access to the Multiverse. They are able to create monsters known as Rabidons from ordinary objects, and can also turn ordinary humans into pseudo-totems. While Spider-Rouge is able to purify most pseudo-totems, six of them were too powerful, and have since become a recurring threat as the Sinister Six.

+Other magical girls and boys exist, including counterparts of mainstream heroes and villains.

-Artie Anderson/Webweaver

Like most 10-year-olds, Artie Anderson was quite eager to get his Battle License and be allowed to compete in professional monster battles. But things took an unexpected turn after he encountered an unusual Radiorachnid—while he was able to capture it, he was bitten in the process. While he did choose to specialize in insect- and arachnid-based monsters as a result—with (his Radiorachnid) as his ace—it wasn’t until an encounter with the Sinister Squad five years later that he chose to become the hero Webweaver.

+As you may have deduced, Artie’s universe is influenced by the Mons genre, especially Pokemon.

+Radiorachnid is a portmanteau of radioactive and arachnid.

+The Sinister Squad is, of course, based on the Sinister Six and Team Rocket.

[feather-dancer]

The Shadowkind ref is done! They popped up in a dream just over four years ago then kicked about again last September out of nowhere so I slowly started to get their design hashed out. I hope my handwriting is readable.

As long as they have enough water resource, there is no real shape or size limit to how they can appear and they do wander into town appearing human quite regularly as they find them fascinating. Downside is of course the “skin” is pure shadow, the vulnerabilities of all Shadowkind to direct sunlight is still intact. Parasols are a great invention for those wandering the 3D world. Being a living shadow if one a bit different than usual, their main sense is touch.

By nature they do not really eat in our sense either nor need to sleep but doesn’t seem to stop them accepting tribute particularly…. As far as the townfolk are concerned a mysterious creature rarely seen lives there watching over them and has a nack for predicting the weather particularly violent storms. Keep on their good side and you’ll get some warning.

Shadowkind do not have a naming system or a gender either for that matter.

Their boyfriend is standing by a more bent limb so it is not the best reflection of how tall compared, it’s just the correct height you couldn’t actually see where he came up to. It IS still accurate if you lined up up with the forelimbs though.