Hey y’all! Say hello to …
The newest and hopefully last au ;).
Now to set the scene: in their old au, algoretale is an ancient world full of magic. Over generations, magical beings like the mages ruled supreme. Magic practically choked the very atmosphere with how wildly used it was. But with every privilege there comes a price, or at least in this old worlds case, they were long since due for a climate change
The old world of algoretale was swept up in a bitter ice age. Oceans were covered in large traveling glaciers, snow was miles high it seemed, and what available land was around was covered in mountain ranges and stone. The monsters and humans of this world of course adapted, and with the protection of their lords, or the lich, they moved underground for shelter from the elements.
The lich, or ruling lords of the algore people, were mages and witches who trained under the art of necromancy. Stitching together the dust and corpses of their people, they made zombie hoards that roamed the frozen wastelands. They were sent out to wage battles between families, or to hunt and gather resources. Even underground, the bitter cold made agriculture hard, so fishing and hunting made up the majority of food each family used to sustain themselves. The lich were, and still are beloved by their monster and human relatives. After all, you can’t create zombies without some living individuals to tether their souls to. Keeping your clan fed and happy is very important to a lichs power. Lichs also used necromancy to perform rituals extending a subjects life by transferring their sickness into a zombie. Or they can briefly summon a recently dead soul to speak with. Some are even rumored to have the ability to peer into other realms, and summon beings from them.
Technology was very medieval. Everything was made by hand, caverns were carved stone and resembled old catacombs. Probably the most advanced resource the monsters and humans made was glass and metal. Things like gunpowder and electricity hadn’t been invented yet. Every person dwelled in small clans ranging from a dozen to around 150 members, with young adults traded between rival clans to keep fresh blood coming in. Each clan was led by their ruling lich/lord.
Something very unique about the magic of algore monsters witches and mages is that they can connect each others souls, not through soulbonds but through a necromatic ritual. The result is the lich having access to the souls of their subjects in the ritual, so that they can siphon their energy into spells, curses, and objects. Or they can rearrange a souls energy adding to it to give their subjects new abilities. Like giving a witch a monsters natural ability, or giving a monster the ability to cast a spell or curse. However this gives the lich a lot of power over their subjects. They could easily drain away any of their people with ease. The monsters and witches put all kinds of trust into their lords. 
Another big difference between the algore culture vs other AUs is their views around death. To them death was simply just entering a new form. It was something to be celebrated, not mourned. When a clan member passes on, their bodies become the beloved zombies (or warriors as they called them) that provided for their families. Dying is seen as a job promotion basically lol. They’re considered very morbid by the other AUs for their casual attitude around death, sickness and pain.
After the crash, the small group of clans that crossed over joined together peacefully and have settled in Black ice city, an underground city north of snowdin. They’re known for being expert cursebreakers, as well as artisans with many members bringing back old crafts to ebott. But they can also be a bit reclusive. They’re called the winter people/monsters by other AUs
And now to meet the boys!
Hex (sans) Styx -formerly Wingdings (algoretale sans)
Hex is a (barely) medium skeleton standing at 5’4. He has a very muted grey ish red mauve magic. He was born blind, and lacks eyelights as a result, leaving his eye sockets empty when open. He has a bit of a chubby build when his ecto is out. On the back of his skull is the mark of his lich, meaning he took the ritual binding him to her. He is aged 40
Hex is a rather mischievous impish prankster. He’s always on the hunt to stir up trouble with his twin reaper. Between the two of them, he’s the calmer slightly lazier one. While he was born blind, his lich had given him the ability to cast a scrying spell letting him see through reapers eyes when he wants to. Using it for long periods of time is exhausting though, so he saves that for special occasions. Plus he likes it when reaper carries him around, or leads him by the skull. It saves hex the effort of having to feel around himself lol. Hex can be a bit of a tease to those around him, and loves messing with gullible people especially. And he’s always mistaken as the “innocent” one due to his lack of energy, despite hex being much more devilish than reaper
Hex is a leather and hide artist! He takes the furs and hides from his clans hunts and livestock to make all kinds of things ranging from clothes, to furniture, to really creepy k looking kids toys lol. The possibilities are endless. And it’s rather amazing he’s so skilled at this considering he’s not even looking at the stuff 90% of the time.
Hex’s special ability is called black sockets. When he fully opens his eye sockets, those who stare into them are mentally trapped, unable to look away until he blinks. While his “prisoners” can move, they find that they feel sluggish like they’re trying to move through syrup.
Hex doesn’t have the ability to summon a weapon. Instead that’s been traded for the ability to cast three spells- a scrying spell for his sight, an invisibility spell and a rather nasty itching curse.
Things he loves: his lich, his twin, pranks, the color flamingo pink, really thick fluffy blankets and furs, interestingly textured fabrics, venison, snowbells, comedian shows and podcasts, exploring aboveground, playing with clay and slime, taking naps lol
Reaper (papyrus) Styx -formerly Wingdings. (Algoretale papyrus)
Reaper is a taller skeleton monster standing at 6’3. He has a dull grey berry shaded magic and a single snaggle fang on the left side of his jaw. He was born deaf and is unable to hear through any medical means. When his ecto is summoned, reaper has a thin but soft build. On the back of his skull is the mark of his lich, meaning he took the ritual bonding him to her. He is aged 40.
Reaper is mischievous, curious and a very eager monster. He’s always on the hunt to stir up trouble with his twin hex. Between the two of them, he’s the more curious and social twin. While reaper was born deaf, his lich gave him the ability to cast a spying spell that lets him listen in on his brothers conversations, allowing him to hear what hex hears. However this is rather draining when used too long, so reaper normally goes without. Plus he enjoys pretending he hasn’t heard people to get himself out of trouble or work lol. Reaper is very touchy and affectionate towards every one, even strangers which can be either endearing or obnoxious depending on the person. He’s usually mistaken as the “impulsive” twin despite reaper being much more cautious than hex
Reaper is a metalworker specializing in making pots, pans and other household appliances that don’t require electricity, as well as the occasionally rather odd elderich horror themed art piece from the scraps. Well it’s only odd to other AUs, to his own people it’s quite homey and cozy looking lmao.
Reapers special ability is called deafening snow. He can turn a bone attack into a thin powder that slowly wafts down absorbing all sound in the air. It’s great for sneaking as it looks just like snow until you touch it.
Reaper doesn’t have the ability to summon a weapon. Instead he has been given the ability to cast three spell by his lich. A spying spell for his hearing, a shielding spell and a rather nasty fear curse.
Things he loves: his lich, his twin, pranks, the color olive green, intricate metal vases and urns, weirdly shaped rocks and crystals, mum flowers, wild herring, fireworks and light shows, exploring aboveground, fiddling with old tech, climbing trees lol.
Asphodel: algore toriel, asphodel pulled an impressive trick on the royals when she and her soulmate were invited to become royals. They cast a spell swapping places with their grandchildren the second the royal ritual begin. They’ve been banned from politics for this, but they really don’t care. They already won.
Thanatos: algore asriel, Thanatos is the son of and the next in line for the throne in case anything happens to the current rulers, who happen to be his children!
Morax: a lich from the dremmur family, and the first algore royal, and first mage (alongside his sister) to ever take the royal ritual in monster history in all AUs. Morax is a mischievous ruler who tends to talk circles around many of the others. He deals with security underground, delegating where the guard is stationed there and what security measures are allowed considering laws tend to be more lax underground.
Foraii: a lich from the dremmur family, and the first algore royal, and first mage (alongside her brother) to ever take the royal ritual in monster history in all AUs. Foraii is a peppy and skilled ruler often buttering up the other royals without them realizing. She handles underground structure safety, including how and where the cavern walls are allowed to be worked for new infrastructure
Gwyn Styx: the lich of the Styx family, and a pseudo mother to hex and reaper. She was very excited to gain two skeleton children in her trade with the Wingdings family, so much so that she wasn’t that mad they gave her the broken ones. She only destroyed most of their zombies in retaliation. Gwyn raised her skeletons by lathering them in love. She spoiled the two quite a bit she admits now, but they turned out just fine. She really hopes they’ll end up with one of her witches someday. Skeleton mages make such good future liches after all~
