"You're fuckin' late, Anderson," Elliot gripes in greeting to his best friend. To be fair, Elliot had been late too, but that was because he'd just made it back to the land of the living (if Center Hill can rightfully be called that) the day before. And he'd overslept because he hadn't found a phone charger and didn't set an alarm.
But Danny doesn't need to know that he only arrived ten minutes prior. Elliot makes it seem like he's been there for hours, really milking the shift work as he wipes a hand over his face and nods at him. "Gonna have to talk to Pauly about docking you or something. Maybe you'll get your ass here on time for once," he presses the issue with a shit-eating grin, handing his lone customer his requested Corona.
"You missed the rush too," he explains, gesturing at the sparsely populated bar. And by rush, he means the couple that had stopped in for lunch and had left an hour ago. @hxckedvxid
Hunter had never been accused of being emotionally versatile. The general consensus, usually delivered after he raised his voice or a fist, was that his greatest triumph was when he managed to show restraint. The absence of violence. Tonight proved it all wrong. Hunter, did in fact, have range. But even he wasn't prepared to feel so many emotions quite so quickly.
First, the strap of a bag snagged around his boot the moment he stepped inside. It nearly sent him shoulder-first into the drywall. He caught himself with a curse, hand slamming flat against the wall. "Goddamn it...who's god damn shit is this?" his voice ricocheted through the house. "Jude? Danny? Move your shit or it's goin' in the bonfire!" he kicked the bag aside, muttering under his breath before tossing his keys toward the counter. They clattered, skidding farther than he meant them to.
Then he looked up and saw him. Elliot. Just there in the kitchen. Hunter stared. Blinked. "The hell?" he grumbled, eyes narrowing as he took inventory. "They let you out already?" his brain was already moving ahead of the moment, mapping contingencies. If this was an escape situation, he had cash buried behind the trailer. Twenty grand, wrapped in plastic and locked in a box. He could get them out by sunrise if he had to. But Elliot didn't look like a man running. He looked… comfortable. A rough bark of laughter tore out of Hunter before he could stop it. He crossed the room in three strides and grabbed his brother by the shoulders, pulling him in hard enough to jolt bone.
"You didn't think'a callin'?" he demanded, already grinning. "Could've got your dumbass a ride." he clapped him on the back, sharp, solid, twice. Making sure he was real. And then, Hunter saw it. The sandwich. His sandiwch. The one he had saved to eat that very night. It was half gone, meat torn uneven. Bites missing. Hunter scowled, his hand remaining on Elliot's shoulder, grip tightening just slightly as his eyes dropped to the plate. Then back up. "You been here five goddamn minutes." he said slowly. And then he moved. He hooked an arm around Elliot's neck and dragged him sideways into a headlock, sudden and efficient, knuckles grinding into his brother's scalp.
Elliot welcomes the sound of his brother's familiar griping voice, like a particularly annoying ear worm of a song you can't bring yourself to hate. It's comforting after months locked up. Even when he's swearing in Elliot's direction. The younger Cross can only grin and shrug, his mouth too stuffed with delightfully greasy food.
"S'mthingboutgoodhavior." He explains unhelpfully as he chews. Really, he knows he's eating like an animal but there's something supremely satisfying about the way food tastes after so many meals of season-less sludge, made even more delicious by the scowl on Hunter's face. Elliot is, after all, just a little brother. "Figure you'd be busy," he finally says clearly, having swallowed the too-big-delectable bite.
But before he can say anything further, or defend himself for eating the sandwich (there's no defense), Hunter's got him in a head lock and Elliot's laughing with the sort of delight that only comes from moments like these. When he's home, when he's with family. "Well! You shoulda eaten it if it was yours. What're you doing leaving a sandwich like that in the fridge?" He protests, jamming his elbow into Hunter's side with a snort. "Actually...maybe you should lay off the greasy sandwiches, Hunt. What the fuck is this?" Another elbow, into what he's suggesting is soft skin. "I leave for a few months and you work on your beer belly?" He's cackling now, squirming out of his brother's grip with one final jab and a wide grin on his face.
After stopping at home, Elliot had gone to the Vaisman's trailer. No one was around. But word traveled fast through Center Hill. It would only be a matter of time before he saw Kenzie. Probably after she finished a session tattooing some random Kanji characters onto an idiot who swore they meant badass or bravery or some bullshit like that. She'd find him working his shift at the bar and have that annoyed look on her face: eyes sharp with judgment, but edged with affection. Brows pulled together in annoyance, maybe a bit of worry. And lips pursed in disapproval so she didn't smile. Fuck. He missed that look. He missed seeing it without a pane of glass separating them.
And, just like he'd expected, it was the look she had walking into the bar as Elliot closed out someone's tab and finished serving another customer. Then he made her usual (whatever Essie says) and meandered over like someone who had all the time in the world. His lip twitched slightly as he put down a flimsy coaster and thin napkin, setting the drink before Kenzie. Elliot pressed his palms to the counter, leaning forward with an unbothered air as he took her in, blue eyes scanning her face like a caress.
A beat passed before he spoke, voice slipping beneath the din of the bar and right to her ear. "Was kinda disappointed you didn't pick me up, Kenz." He canted his head to the side, a small smirk tugging at his face all the while. God, he'd missed her. @dxrkenedheights
Elliot was rifling through the fridge, having let himself into the Cross trailer. A bag of his belongings sat discarded by the front door. It didn't have much – just ratty sweatshirt, a pack of Camels and a dead phone. He hummed to himself, scanning the mostly empty shelves for something edible. Prison food never cut it for the bottomless pit that was Elliot Wilder Cross.
He kissed his teeth, blue eyes bouncing around before landing on something suitable. A bag with a messily scrawled HnTr on it. "Bingo." He peered inside, seeing the sandwich. Probably from the burger shack. He was too impatient to warm it up so Elliot leaned over the fridge, elbow propped on the door as he tucked in, exhaling deeply as he practically felt the food travel down his esophagus into his mostly empty stomach.
When the trailer door open down the small hallway, Elliot paid it no mind. Not even at the sound of someone tripping. Or almost tripping and then a string of curses. Shit. Probably shouldn't have left his bag there. He grabbed a handful of fries from the bag, stuffing them into his mouth as Hunter stomped into the kitchen and only then peered over his shoulder at his older brother. "Sorryboutthebag," he apologized through a mouthful of food, uncaring as some crumbs hit his shirt. He picked them off, tossing them back and then took another too-large bite of the sandwich. @manybcdthings
hey look, there’s elliot cross, a 32 year old sometimes bartender/server from atlanta ga, somehow managing to be good-natured, humorous, and intelligent while also being painfully sarcastic, mischievous, and a little too restless for their own good.
got back from prison exactly 4 hrs ago on feb 26
not exactly elliot you're used to but not not the elliot you're used to.
West Stairwell Structural Check
Shep & Mara @ofwrxth
Shep still hadn't shaken the sleep from his head. It was the same every morning for the last two months. Waking with the faint impression of her shifting beside him, her routine kiss on his shoulder. It always vanished the second he opened his eyes and he didn't even look over to the empty space anymore. He just got up, braced himself, and moved.
Some days he couldn't meet Mara's eyes. There was too much he couldn't say and too much more he couldn't fix. But today, at least, the task gave them both something to focus on. "This stairwell's a pain in the ass." he muttered as they reached the west door. "Be a hell of a lot easier if we can use it. Save us walking the long way every time."
His hand closed on the handle, and with one push the door opened. The cold draft that immediately hit afterwards wasn't a normal chill, it was too sudden and sharp. Shep frowned and stepped forward first on instinct, murmuring a quiet sorry as he nudged Mara aside gently. "Door must have blown open somewhere up top." he said, though he didn't sound convinced.
As he stepped into the first landing, Shep glanced to the stairs leading up to the roof. Then to the stairs heading down into the basement, where the air had that wet, unsettled feeling he had learned to distrust. Rubbing his palms together, he glanced at Mara. "That's not just me, right? That's a little too cold?"
Mara always had a lot on her mind, but years of experience under pressure had rendered her a capable compartmentalizer. Walking beside Shep in companionable silence, she organized her mind, almost as though she were organizing an office. Thoughts of her child went in this filing cabinet, while thoughts of her sister went in that one, and grief? Well, that was tucked away in the very back corner of a drawer, in the very back corner of a closet, shut behind a door, locked and with the key thrown away.
The world had changed. It was impossible to ignore, especially walking through the hospital. Though different from her own, she'd spent years inside of them and they'd never felt like this. Like a carcass. Organs no longer beating. Veins rendered useless. Nothing but decaying bones and sinew. Detritus. The world was no longer what it had been, and yet Mara remained steady as a stream of water. Like a flowing river – she changed course with the bends of the land around her, she flowed over branches and brambles, and curved around boulders. But she never stopped. Mara was a constant, regardless of what life threw her way. Her focus on the present. She was as precise as her surgeon’s scalpel and, perhaps, grief had made her sharp as one too.
“One of the ORs is just beyond it too. It’d be better to have easy access.” They could walk, but in a bind, for however long they were here, it didn’t make sense to risk it. Especially with the monsters that roamed outside these days. Mara met the cold with a slightly narrowed gaze, taking in the stairwell. She noted the way dust coated the steps like a light coating of snow, and the way paint bubbled along the wall, as though something were fighting its way out. Already, her magical senses were setting off an internal alarm. But one didn’t need magic to feel the wrongness of the air. Shep's words echoed as the chill cut like a knife and the dampness of the stairwell settled around them. The wet tang filling her nostrils as she stepped further into it.
“No, you’re right. Not just you.” Mara reached out, brushing a fingertip to the wall. Damp. Her magic stirred but remained under the surface like a steady simmer, ready to bubble up if needed. “Looks like someone’s already been through here, though,” or something, she observed, gesturing at the disturbed coat of dust on the steps. “Which begs the question of which direction they were going.” She look towards the stairs leading to the basement, and then the ones leading towards the second floor, brows quirked as though she were asking which path to take.
Felix didn't have high expectations, but somehow this still managed to feel like the short straw. Maybe it was the stagnant smell. Maybe it was the water, quiet and heavy and still. Or maybe it was the way the underpass stretched ahead like the mouth of something that didn't need to open any wider to eat them whole. Either way, he made a mental note: next time Shep handed out jobs, don't show up on time.
He adjusted his grip on the half sloshed jerry can, then stopped short before the water reached his boots. Murky didn't quite cover it...this shit was a soup. Floating trash, limp leaves, maybe a plastic bag or maybe something with teeth. Hard to tell. The submerged cars sat like bones, roofs just barely peeking out, and all of it made his senses flare. Just a little. Overhead, the sky grumbled. Not a threat yet, but not a comfort either. Felix glanced up, catching the smear of that red scar still pulsing in the clouds like a menacing grin.
"This sucks." he said flatly. Not dramatic, for once. Just honest. But, there were worse things. Maybe. And if a job needed doing, then a job would get done. Felix drew in a breath, toeing the water just in case there was a dramatic drop in the depth. But then...a glint. Something thin, angled wrong and jutting out near one of the half drowned cars. It caught the light like it wanted to be seen. Felix squinted, instincts sharpening all at once. He tilted his head toward Jakob without looking away, still deciding whether or not he liked any of this. Spoiler: he didn't. "Tell me that doesn't look like bait."
Even with slighted hearing, Jakob’s senses were keen. He picked up on the smell before they’d even made it to the underpass, and then the sound. Or lack of. The quiet was deafening and the only noise was their breathing. As far as Jakob was concerned, at least there was something to do. He preferred it to doing inventory, though he didn’t prefer it to doing inventory with Ines. Still, she’d been shuffled off with someone else and Jakob was with his brother. It made sense. The two of them worked in tandem. It didn’t matter that Felix had changed, decades of training together and fighting side by side was hardwired into them.
“You should tell Shep that,” Jakob snickered, amusement curling at the corner of his mouth. “I’m sure he could find something better for you to do. Like dinner service.” Having to talk to people in the line was fine for Jakob but his brother wasn’t exactly known for his proclivity for small talk. “Let’s just get it done. I told Max I’d read some more Demon Slayer.” He’d found another copy a few weeks back, bringing his collection to a grand total of two treasured copies.
Jakob glanced up at the sky briefly before they ventured into the underpass. The red in the sky no longer felt like an omen so much as a fact of life. A constant they were forced to live with. A new normal. Like siphoning gas from abandoned cars in underpasses. Nothing was out of the question when it came to gathering supplies.
Which was exactly why Jakob paused at the sight of the object. Or, rather, a glint of the object. His eyes brightened at the shape, neurons firing off in his mind with anticipation as, at the same time Felix spoke, he did too. “I’m gonna check it out.” There was a pause between brothers and Jakob blinked. “I mean. We can get the gas and then I’ll see.” Priorities. But if they happened to get close enough for him to just snatch it up, what would it matter? “It’s right there anyway,” he gestured at the cars with the jerry can, what little gasoline it held sloshing inside.
Jakob moved from the ledge they were on to the tops of one of the submerged cars – an SUV. Digging his flashlight out of a pocket, he clicked it on, inspecting the water surrounding him. It only illuminated the opaque liquid that really couldn't be called water anymore. He found the fuel door. "This one's isn't under." Jakob gestured at Felix for the rubber tube, shifting so his brother could climb atop the car as well. The sooner they got some gas, the sooner they could call this a success and the sooner he could inspect the object. The magpie in him demanded it.
How They Joined: Rescued by scouts from Shep’s group after being left behind following a devastating attack by Wretches.
Thoughts on the Group: Nora is grateful but cautious. She’s willing to help and contribute in practical ways, but she doesn’t fully trust that anyone will stick around when things get dangerous. She respects competence and loyalty but remains wary of self-interest.
CHARACTER PROFILE
Skills:
Handiwork and crafting, especially repurposing materials
Improvisation and problem-solving under pressure
Basic survival and first aid
Mechanical aptitude: building, repairing, and taking apart devices or large installations
Artistic expression that sometimes contains subtle magical influence
Micro-Sculpt Manipulation – Shape tiny pieces of earth or metal to smooth edges, bend scrap, fuse cracks, or hide joins.
Earthen Shift – Move small amounts of dirt, gravel, or sand to clear debris or steady footing.
Geomotive Sense – Detect nearby vibrations, footsteps, or shifting terrain.
Tactile Resonance – “Read” material integrity, stress points, or weakness by touch.
Load-Bearing Boost – Reinforce walls, beams, or ground surfaces to prevent collapse.
Seismic Ping – Tap the ground to locate hollows, tunnels, or empty rooms nearby.
Rooted Reflex – Ground herself instinctively to resist being knocked down or dragged.
Instinctive Cover – Create a quick burst of dirt or gravel as a defensive shield.
Metal Echo – Sense stress or weakness in metal and subtly bend tiny pieces.
Personality Core Traits: (5+)
Curious
Kind
Determined
Free-spirited
Brazen
Rebellious
Reactive
Strengths: Nora is highly creative, resourceful, and adaptable. Her curiosity and determination allow her to approach problems in inventive ways, whether she’s repairing machinery, repurposing materials, or finding solutions under pressure. She thrives in collaborative situations, contributing her free-spirited energy and hands-on skills to support her group. Loyal and dependable once trust is earned, Nora is the sort of person who can inspire others with her ingenuity and resilience.
Weaknesses: Nora can be impulsive and reactive, occasionally leading to reckless decisions or conflicts with authority. With her magic currently blocked, she is vulnerable and often frustrated by her limitations. She claims she doesn’t hold grudges, but that isn’t always true. While she struggles to fully rely on others, she secretly yearns to trust, which leaves her at war within herself. Despite these flaws, her strong will and independent streak keep her moving forward, even in the face of adversity.
Biggest Motivation: To survive, create, and prove her own worth without relying solely on her magic. She also wants to figure out how to regain her magic.
Biggest Fear: Losing her autonomy or being powerless when others depend on her.
BACKGROUND
Before the Rupture:
Nora was born and raised in New York City, spending most of her life in the urban environment. She was part of a coven of witches who had integrated into society while still practicing their magic in subtle ways. Her parents were creative professionals, and she followed in their footsteps, becoming a multimedia artist specializing in sculptures and magical installations. She excelled at creating intricate pieces, often repurposing recycled materials and occasionally adding magic in understated ways—enhancing her work rather than displaying it overtly.
Encounters During the War:
When the Rupture occurred, Nora was with a few friends and revealed her magic to protect them from monsters and other supernatural threats. They stuck together until they managed to escape the city, about a month into the Veil’s tearing. Over that time, their group evolved through both loss and new additions—some of whom were less than reputable, but capable enough that Nora was willing to rely on their strength. During this period, she also came to accept that her parents were either surviving on their own or had perished.
About a month ago, their group—now diminished in number—encountered a horde of Wretches, which took a heavy toll. A week of low supplies left them exhausted and unprepared, and they lost most of their group. Nora herself was injured, suffering several broken bones and other wounds. Beyond the physical damage, something had blocked her magic entirely; she could not draw on it at all.
At that point, only one friend remained from the group, but they had sustained injuries that could not be treated with bandages. Without her magic, Nora could do nothing but hold their hand as they passed. She was in a desperate state herself, and although the remaining members of their ragtag group promised to get help, they never returned. In retrospect, Nora was not surprised, even if she was a little bitter – she knew they had never pretended to be anything other than people trying to survive, whatever the cost.
It wasn’t until she took refuge in a hovel within an abandoned town that she found a second chance. Scouts from Shep’s group discovered her and brought her back with them. While her magic remains blocked, Nora has always been skilled with her hands—fixing, building, and repurposing things. Since she began recovering, she has thrown herself into being useful, doing whatever the group needs.
Notes: Quick-access wrap containing gauze, tourniquet, hemostatic powder, trauma shears, chest seal. Always on her hip—Mara is incapable of not having one within reach.
Slot 2
Item: Sidearm – Glock 19
Type: Weapon
Ammo: 15 / 15
Notes: Standard military familiarity; carried for last-resort defense. She doesn’t love using it, but she will to protect the group.
Slot 3
Item: Side-Carried Utility Canteen
Type: Utility
Ammo (if weapon): N/A
Notes: A slim, insulated metal canteen worn on a belt-clip or cross-strap. Holds ~1 liter. Durable, double-sealed, and ideal for drinking, wound cleansing, defense, or magical purification. Always kept full and within reach.
Slot 4
Item: Penlight + Diagnostic Multitool
Type: Tool / Med
Notes: A hybrid tool scavenged from her surgical days: penlight, mini pupil gauge, micro-scanner for vitals (limited battery, finicky, but invaluable).
BACKPACK STORAGE
Slot 1
Item: Field Surgical Roll
Quantity: 1
Notes: Scalpels, sutures, clamps, forceps, hand drill, sterile cloths. Lightweight and sealed. Used only when someone is truly in danger.
Slot 2
Item: Water Purification + Medical Sterilization Kit
Notes: Keeps patients insulated, doubles as kneeling pad or clean work surface.
Slot 4
Item: Spare Pistol Magazines
Quantity: 2
Notes: For emergencies only. She rarely needs them but refuses to be caught empty.
Slot 5
(intentionally empty)
Slot 6
(intentionally empty)
WEARABLES / NON-SLOTTED ITEMS
Clothing / Armor:
Weathered tactical jacket, durable layered clothes, reinforced boots, fingerless gloves. Medical scrubs repurposed as underlayers for mobility.
Light Kevlar vest from her old military kit, worn under clothes.
Accessories / Jewelry / Charms:
Water-witch grounding stone tied to her belt
Holster for sidearm
Utility belt with pouches for gloves, gauze, pen, markers
Notes:
Smells faintly of antiseptic and herbal poultices; pockets always contain gloves.
PERSONAL EFFECTS (3 Small Slots Maximum)
Small Slot 1
Item: Her old dog tag
Notes:
Small Slot 2
Item: Tiny pocket notebook + stub pencil
Notes: Symptom logs, supply tallies, reminders to rest that she never follows.
Small Slot 3
Item: Dried herb sachet (witchcraft)
Notes: For grounding, meditation, and minor spell amplification.
How They Joined: She was one of the first members of the group, along with her sister Kara, and brother-in-law Evan.
Thoughts on the Group: She’s still struggling with the loss of his sister, but has known Evan for most ages. She trusts Evan’s leadership and wants to support him however she can. People trust Mara, and she hopes that by placing her trust in Evan, others will feel more confident in him as well.
CHARACTER PROFILE
Skills:
Medical & Clinical Skills
Field Trauma Medicine
Emergency Surgical Procedures
Triage Expertise (mass-casualty prioritization)
Improvised Medical Tools & Techniques
Survival Medicine (treating injuries with minimal supplies)
Resource Triage (deciding what to save and what to spend)
Patient Communication Under Duress
Stress Regulation / Professional Composure
Basic Combat-Adjacent Skills
(Not a soldier, but trained enough to survive.)
Basic Self-Defense
Firearm Competency (baseline military qualification)
Defensive Posture & Evacuation Maneuvers
Carry/drag techniques for wounded transport
Some magical skills
Hydrokinetic Manipulation – Moves or redirects existing water; can pull moisture from humid air with effort.
Aqueous Pulse – Senses movement, leaks, or disturbances in nearby water sources.
Moisture Extraction – Pulls small amounts of clean water from cloth, soil, or plants.
Hemostatic Weave – Slows bleeding by tightening and cooling water molecules around a wound
Hydro-Cleanse – Pulls contaminants or particulates out of water, tools, and shallow wounds.
Temperature Regulation – Cools fevers, reduces inflammation, or warms chilled limbs.
Vascular Sensing – Reads blood flow and pulse patterns through touch.
Condensation Harvesting – Collects drinkable water from air, metal, or foliage.
Mist Veil – Creates a burst of mist to obscure vision and cover escapes.
Hydro Push – A controlled shove of water pressure to stagger an attacker.
Cooling Strike – Rapid cooling to force an opponent to drop or loosen an object
Personality Core Traits: (5+) Industrious, Intelligent, Kind but particular, Reliable, Stubbornly self-sufficient, Quick-witted, especially under pressure
Strengths: Mara thrives under pressure, her medical intuition sharpest when everything is falling apart. She’s resourceful and improvisational, the kind of healer who can stabilize a patient with scraps and sheer will, and her presence alone has a grounding, calming effect. People trust her deeply — she’s resilient, tactically aware without being combative, and her protective instincts, reinforced by her magic, make her a steady anchor in any crisis.
Weaknesses: But she carries heavy flaws: she overextends herself, struggles to rest, and keeps her emotions heavily guarded. Perfectionistic and haunted by past mistakes, she has trouble delegating and pushes herself past safe limits, magically and physically. With limited offensive capability and lingering survivor’s guilt — especially after losing her sister — Mara often pays the price for her own dedication.
Biggest Motivation: Finding her child, to ensure the group survives and stays medically stable — and to honor her sister’s memory by protecting the people Kara would have protected.
Biggest Fear: Being too late to find her kid, failing in a moment she could have prevented — losing another person she loves, due to a mistake, miscalculation, or inability to reach them in time.
BACKGROUND
Before the Rupture
Before the rupture, Mara had finally built the life she’d always wanted. After years as a military field surgeon — stabilizing wounded soldiers in dust, chaos, and improvised tents — she returned home to Seattle and transitioned into civilian medicine. She became a successful surgeon at a major hospital, using her earth magic subtly to enhance her precision, calm patients, and treat injuries others would have deemed impossible.
She and her husband, Jason Rivers — a civilian shifter — raised their child together through deployments, homecomings, and the long stretch of Mara’s military service. She left the military when their child was around fourteen, hoping to reclaim time with them. By the time their child turned eighteen, she and Jason parted ways amicably; they wanted different futures, but there was no bitterness.
Mara remained close to her sister, Kara — both survivors of the same strict, insular coven they fled as young women. When Kara married Evan, Mara gained not just a brother-in-law but a second anchor in her new, peaceful life. Compared to her years overseas in warzones, her days before the rupture were calm, steady, and full of purpose.
Encounters During the War
When the rupture hit, Mara was on the road with Kara and Evan. The aftermath shattered everything, and Kara’s death marked Mara deeply. Since then, her purpose has narrowed to one unbreakable point: find her child. Kara’s sacrifice will not be meaningless, and Mara’s determination has only sharpened with grief. She believes the group’s survival is the only path toward reaching her kid, which is why she’s openly supportive of Shep’s leadership — unity is the only way forward, and Mara refuses to lose anyone else she loves.
Notes: Strobe-capable; used for disorientation and stealth movement.
Slot 4
Item: Compact 9mm Handgun (Suppressed)
Type: Weapon
Ammo: 10 / 10
Notes: Lightweight, low recoil, fast draw. Suppressor is worn but functional; perfect for stealth shots, finishing wounded threats, or emergencies where blades aren’t enough. Low-profile holster hidden beneath his jacket.
BACKPACK STORAGE
Slot 1
Item: Collapsible Climbing Line
Quantity: 1
Notes: Lightweight 20ft microrope + carabiner. Used for escapes, shortcuts, or risky “Jakob-esque” plans.
Slot 2
Item: Medical Wraps + Coagulant Gel
Quantity: 1 kit
Notes: Compact hunter-grade field care. Meant for quick patch work in the field after high-risk moves.
Slot 3
Item: Arc-Forged Garrote Wire (Dual-Handle)
Notes: A razor-thin wire braided with spell-treated filament once used by Guild hunters for precision kills. The enchantment doesn't glow or sparkle — it simply strengthens the metal beyond normal limits and gives it a monomolecular cutting edge when tension is applied.
Can slice through skin, tendons, and even light armor with enough force.
Can saw through tougher material but requires leverage.
Still ineffective on thick plating or heavily armored supernaturals.
Cannot be broken by normal means.
Stores coiled and flat, wrapped in cloth to avoid accidental cuts.
Slot 4
Item: Whetstone + Blade Maintenance Kit
Quantity: 1 set
Notes: Jakob keeps his blades meticulously sharp; it's almost ritualistic.
Slot 5
Item: Spare Magazines for Compact 9mm
Quantity: 2
Notes: 10 rounds each. Wrapped in cloth to keep them quiet and easy to grab. Jakob doesn’t rely on guns, but when he needs them, he needs them now.
Slot 6
Item: Demon Slayer Manga (single volume)
Quantity: 1
Notes: Jakob keeps a random manga tucked into his pack — a humorous, nostalgic indulgence. He flips through it when hiding out, waiting for danger to pass, or just when restless. Not exactly “useful,” but he claims it’s “research.”
WEARABLES / NON-SLOTTED ITEMS
Clothing / Armor:
Rough-cut tactical pants, dark and scuffed, reinforced at the knees with stitched-on patches; movement-friendly, ripped in places but intentionally repaired.
Sleeveless or torn-sleeve base layer, breathable, fitted, worn under…
A battered, asymmetrical combat jacket — lightweight but armored in key places, straps and stitched repairs visible; multiple hidden pockets.
Kevlar-lined underlayer vest, slim-profile, built for agility rather than full protection.
Hand wraps / forearm bindings, used for grip, absorbing impact, and lending that slightly unhinged fighter vibe.
PERSONAL EFFECTS
Small Slot 1
Item: Old Lighter
Notes: Keeps it on him out of habit; flicks it open when restless.
Small Slot 2
Item: Chewing Gum (half pack)
Notes: Helps him stay focused and quiets the tinnitus buzz in moments where silence is uncomfortable.
How They Joined: Felix and his twin brother, Jakob, crossed paths with Shep’s group while fleeing a Brute in the Central Corridor. The twins helped lure it away, traded supplies, and split off — only to run into the group again at a nearby settlement days later. When that settlement collapsed, Felix and Jakob left with Shep’s people and have remained ever since.
Thoughts on the Group: Jakob isn’t someone who trusts easily, though he may seem easy going enough for that to be the case. The reality is that he and Felix have been on their own for so long that his loyalty is to his brother and little else. That loyalty has kept him alive thus far. Still, he’s never found it hard to play nice with others, as long as people don’t try to put him in a box. He doesn’t mind the stability but the moment it becomes suffocating is when he gets antsy. For now, they’ve proven to be a reliable group of people so he does his part to earn his place.
Strengths: Jakob has always been the sort of person who can smile at an authority figure and get off easy. His natural charm exudes warmth and a playful sensibility that makes Jakob someone you’d want to talk to. Even at his most frustrated, he’s not likely to yell (unless it’s something dumb) and prefers to be diplomatic, working through issues with others.
Weaknesses: Jakob is guarded – he doesn’t prefer to share things about his past unless they’re funny anecdotes or stories. He does get irritated when people want to know more but isn’t usually sharp until someone pushes him. He has a restless spirit, frenetic with energy that pushes him to keep moving. He’s known to be mischievous (though he doesn’t consider it a weakness) but he’d prefer to be known for that. A physical weakness is that as a result of the incident with a dark witch, he still has impacted hearing in his right ear and suffers from tinnitus.
Biggest Motivation: Staying alive, making sure his brother stays alive
Biggest Fear: Losing his brother, or doing something risky that doesn’t pay off in the end.
BACKGROUND
Before the Rupture: Jakob grew up in New York City within a hunter family, long-standing members of the Hunter’s Guild. He and Felix were raised as a paired unit — a twin hunter team specializing in tracking and eliminating dangerous supernaturals. Their upbringing demanded discipline, loyalty, and efficiency, often requiring them to neutralize threats with cold precision. Jakob learned early on that doubt was the root of failure and relying on his strength, and his brother’s, was the only way to survive.
Encounters During the War:
Survived a Scrambler ambush in an abandoned subway tunnel, escaping only by triggering a partial cave-in behind him.
Witnessed an entire safehouse fall to infighting. Felix and Jakob slipped out before the violence reached them.
Fought through a fog-thickened stretch of highway where visibility dropped to inches and something followed them for miles without fully revealing itself.
Assisted in evacuating survivors from a collapsed building overtaken by small, fast-moving creatures he still hasn’t identified.
Notes: Standard, reliable, easy to maintain. He keeps it on his hip at all times. He chooses a handgun over a rifle because he can fight close-range and stay mobile.
Slot 2
Item: Fixed-blade combat knife
Type: Weapon / Tool
Ammo: n/a
Notes: Military-grade, full tang. Used for close-quarters fights, cutting materials, or emergency prying. Beck’s had this one for years.
Slot 3
Item: Flashlight (heavy-duty, steel)
Type: Utility
Ammo: n/a
Notes: Doubles as an impact weapon. Beck keeps it in a front pocket for quick use during sweeps, tunnels, and night watches.
Slot 4
Empty for now
BACKPACK STORAGE (6 Slots Maximum)
Slot 1
Item: Extra pistol magazines
Quantity: 2
Notes: Each mag: 15 rounds. Enough ammo for a prolonged encounter without overloading his pack.
Slot 2
Item: Water bottle / Canteen
Quantity: 1
Notes: Metal container so he can purify water over fire if magic isn't an option.
Slot 3
Item: Compact first-aid kit
Quantity: 1
Notes: Gauze, alcohol pads, tape, bandage roll, painkillers. Not a full medic kit—just emergency essentials.
Slot 4
Item: Rations
Quantity: 2 days’ worth
Notes: Protein bars, jerky, nuts. Enough to survive if separated, not enough to weigh him down.
Slot 5
Empty for now
Slot 6
Empty for now
WEARABLES / NON-SLOTTED ITEMS
These do not take inventory space. Includes clothing, armor, jewelry, charms, watches, belts, holsters, etc.
Clothing / Armor:
Worn tactical boots
Sturdy jeans
Dark henley or flannel (depending on weather)
Weathered military jacket
Leather shoulder holster
Belt with knife sheath
Gloves tucked into a pocket
Accessories / Jewelry / Charms:
Wedding ring
A small earth-aligned charm from his childhood coven (kept hidden)
Watch (non-digital, shock-resistant)
Dog tags from his military service
Notes:
Beck dresses practical, muted, and durable — everything chosen for function over style.
PERSONAL EFFECTS (3 Small Slots Maximum)
Small Slot 1
Item: Old photo of Odessa (folded, worn at the creases)
Notes: He keeps it in his breast pocket. It’s his grounding anchor when panic or grief hits. The edges are soft from handling.
Small Slot 2
Item: Zippo lighter (engraved)
Notes: A leftover from his Army days. Works even in rain. He uses it for fire, comfort, and the occasional cigarette when stress peaks. The engraving is faded but readable initials of a friend who died in combat.
How They Joined: He was one of the first members of the group, along with his sister Kara, and brother-in-law Evan.
Thoughts on the Group: He’s still struggling with the loss of his sister, but he’s known Evan for most of his life. He trusts Evan’s leadership and wants to support him however he can. People trust Beck, and he hopes that by placing his trust in Evan, others will feel more confident in him as well.
Witch: Grimoire Literacy – He can read magical diagrams, sigils, inherited witch scripts, and old coven languages — not fluently like a scholar, but well enough to understand spells, dangers, and rituals on the fly.
Witch: Geokinetic Shielding – Beck can pull up barriers of stone, dirt, or roots in sudden bursts to protect himself or others. It’s instinctual.
Witch: Vibration Sense – He can “listen” through the ground. Footsteps, vehicles, digging, or even a heartbeat against the earth gives off a vibration he can interpret. It’s not psychic — it’s elemental awareness through his connection to earth magic.
Witch: Rapid Plant Manipulation – Beck can accelerate the growth of plants in order to create cover, bind enemies, or produce quick-growing brambles to block off paths. He uses this practically: camouflaging camps, obscuring tracks, or creating living snares.
Witch: Metal Manipulation (Advanced) – Not full telekinesis — he can only move or warp metals that still contain natural ore traces. In practice, this lets him: Bend metal locks or bars, Twist weapons out of an attacker’s grip, Pull bullets out of surfaces (or gently out of wounds), Sabotage tech or vehicles with subtle warping. It’s taxing, so he uses it sparingly, but it’s lifesaving in a pinch.
Strengths: Beck is highly efficient and calm under pressure, which makes him a natural leader in stressful situations. His protective nature means he looks out for others, earning their trust and respect. His intuition allows him to sense potential problems before they escalate, while his patience enables him to navigate challenges with a level-headed approach.
Weaknesses: However, Beck’s distrustful and intense nature can alienate others, making it difficult for him to fully open up or rely on those around him. His stubbornness may cause him to hold onto ideas or decisions even when they’re no longer the best option, and his protective instincts may lead him to take on too much responsibility, sometimes at his own expense.
Biggest Motivation: Finding Odessa, keeping his family and friends safe.
Biggest Fear: That he’s too late and Odessa is dead.
BACKGROUND
Before the Rupture: Before the rupture Beck ran a successful private security firm, Anvil, founded once he retired from years in the military. He was close to his family – his younger siblings, Kara and Jasper, all three of them having escaped the cultish coven of their youth. When Kara married Evan, Beck gained a new brother. His life was peaceful for the most part, a sharp contrast from years overseas in warzones.
But calm didn’t last long and about two years ago he encountered Odessa. A Russian witch who’d fallen in with the wrong people. Needless to say, Beck helped save her out of the goodness of his heart and not at all because she looked like that. One thing led to another and they got married a year ago. Six months before the world went to shit.
Encounters During the War: When it did, they were still together, traveling, but along the way they became separated for reasons yet to be determined by Monty and Amanda. It’s been Beck’s goal since to find her and his sister’s sacrifice and death has only made him more determined to find his wife. He knows that in order to do so, their group needs to continue working together and so he is vocal about his support of Shep.
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