#where leander was a mysterious newcomer

[luckyarchivist]

Literally this idea came to me at 4 AM a couple of nights ago and I finally have the time to write out some thoughts about it!!! Started as "ooh, it'd be interesting if Vere and Kuras switched personalities or general roles" and landed on

✨ TOUCHSTARVED Roleswap!AU 🔄️

Just roleswapping the main five for now, since we don't have enough info on Sen and Elyon! (When will we have enough info on Sen and Elyon....?)

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Kuras → Vere = The Chained Angel

Kuras bears his exquisite golden chains with a solemn disdain—the mark of his servitude to the mysterious Senobium. His enslavement has gone on for so long that no one in town can recall a time when Kuras walked free. The Senobium clerics who parade him about yank on his leash and sic him on their enemies like an attack dog, which he seems to abhor but accepts nonetheless.

Even you can tell that Kuras is a being imbued with immense power. Who could possibly keep him imprisoned like this, or... Why is he letting them? Is there a way to rescue him from his fate, or will you also find yourself trapped in chains?

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Ais → Mhin = The Demon Outsider

Ais is a newcomer to Eridia, like you, but he's already garnered quite the reputation: although he's a Monster, he's laid-back, reliable, and more than willing to beat anyone and anything—human, Soulless, and all in between—to a lifeless pulp, for the right price. He seems to have taken a special liking to you, possibly because you both have problems you hope this city holds the solutions to.

What is troubling Ais so badly that he needed to come here to find its answer? Could it have something to do with his fits of ultraviolence? And are you willing to put your life in his bloodied hands to find a cure for your own affliction?

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Vere → Kuras = The Repentant Charlatan

Vere is a walking contradiction. He dresses for the lounges of Hightown while cleaning scalpels in his dingy Lowtown clinic. He is a Monster, one that invites suspicion and fear, that has made it his duty to serve humans. And, by his own admission, he hates the people of Eridia—the very people he spends hours tending to. Despite it all, lines regularly run out the door of Vere's office, and patients have few complaints when they leave. He must be an exceptionally good physician—though you're sure his enchanting looks and seductive voice also draw people through the door.

How, and why, would someone like Vere become a doctor in this town? What powers is he drawing on to heal people? Could Vere cure your condition once and for all, or will you suffer the hidden side effects of his more adventurous treatments?

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Leander → Ais = The Heroic Renegade

It's odd to see a person so welcoming and warm in a place as dread-inducing as the Seaspring, but that's exactly where Leander can be found. He wears a bright, personable smile—one offset by the eeriness of his glowing crimson eyes, and one that the Seaspring's victims around the city grimly mirror. Despite his apparent friendliness, the Seaspring is devoid of people—populated only by mindwiped minions, who serve as Leander's eyes and ears in Eridia, and the Soulless that Leander hopes to "rehabilitate".

Leander swears he'll find a way to cure you of your ailment, but how far will he go to make himself the hero of your story? And what cost will you pay to the Seaspring for his help? Can you resist the pull of the crimson waters long enough to see Leander's true face, or will his magnetic lure drag you into the depths?

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Mhin → Leander = The Cursed Mage

Mhin is an intrinsic facet of Lowtown: they and their dour band of Alley Cats serve the district's citizens as protectors and pillars of the community. But even while surrounded by allies and lackeys, Mhin seems unbearably lonely, preferring to sulk in corners while their members drink and dance at the Wet Wick. And despite accounts of their exceptional magical prowess, they refuse to use their powers, relying exclusively on their medical and alchemical knowledge to fight their battles and solve their problems.

Why does Mhin shun their own magic? And what is the source of their isolation? Can you convince Mhin to use their powers to help you, or will you both be overwhelmed by the weight of their secrets?

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And that's it! I had a lot of fun brainstorming and writing this one. Time for me to disappear again ✌🏾😗