Is the son of a grim reaper who's often left to his own devices. He's got his sister, Lorelei, to take care of him, but she's also off working. Therefore, Mort had spent most of his childhood keeping himself entertained- and dreaming of being a famous rockstar.
He met his best friends Volney and Stein when he was young, and together he gathered up their talents to become Cryptic Thrills. His family doesn't approve of his lifestyle, but Mort ignores the criticisms to have fun in life.
Family
Lorelei - His sister is a grim reaper that specializes in tracking down those who have cheated death. This usually means people who have used magic or other unearthly ways to extend their life. Lorelei is an aloof and serious figure who knows the importance of her job. She’s cynical to all this joyous and indulgent in life, especially when Mort is obsessed with making the biggest racket there is. Relationship wise she bickers with Mort a lot, and once he got old enough she doesn’t keep in touch often. She’ll definitely make sure he doesn’t lose his soul in some freak accident, but being a complete laughing stock? She’s not going to be there for that.
Tully - Mort and Lorelei’s mother. She’s a rather enigmatic character and is one of the grim reapers whose main job is to guide souls to the after life. She rarely appears in their lives, but when she does she’s a rather soft spoken and caring character. If she has any wisdom, she’ll offer it up to her children first.
Species
Grim Reapers are usually skeletons and their sole purpose is to become grim reapers. Their touch of death is extremely dangerous if not controlled right, and Mort has to do everything in his power to suppress this ability. He’s one of the odd ones out who don’t want to take up the pedestal.
The skeletons are usually solidary creatures. They are born from human bones obviously, but were not humans themselves in a previous life. The creation of a grim reaper is a mystery no one has been brave enough (or lived long enough) to ask.
Lifestyle
Being a famous rockstar now, Mort certain lives that life to the fullest. However, he’s often caught in a lot of trouble with the law and usually gets the help of his gang to skip cities every so often. Rules can’t stop this fun skeleton!
🦇 Stein
Background via Toyhouse
Is part of a group of gargoyles that guard the Basilique des Portes Sacrées (Sacred Gates Basilica). He became friends with Mort and Volney at a young age and with their love of music, they formed a band together.
However, doing such frivolous things went against his guardian, Halberg's, wishes, so Stein is constantly being pulled left and right when doing band and church obligations. Though his love for music usually prevails.
Family
His colony consists of around 15 living gargoyles, most are ancient. Stein is currently the only young one in the group.
Halberg - Stein’s main guardian who’s incredibly overprotective as well as strict on Stein’s life. Halberg is a rather imposing gargoyle who’s fought off several demons and other satanic creatures around the basilica and beyond. He knows the dangers of the world and is displeased with how close Stein is toeing the line between the occult and the sacred (occult as in cool hell motifs in rock, but sure). Halberg is tough, but Stein still loves the guy just when he was little.
A few notable gargoyles: Diggory (eldest gargoyle), Favre (strongest), Patrice (stingiest), and Valentin (righteous).
Species
Gargoyles are both feared and revered by the church. Out of the belief of their powers, angels granted gargoyles life and the task of protecting holy ground from demons and other sinful creations. They themselves are monsters that may not be blessed themselves, but the act of serving God gives them a purpose for existing as is. They’re like beastly guards at the gates of virtue.
Each cathedral has a colony of gargoyles, the sizing increases with the size of the religious building. Not all gargoyles at a cathedral can come to life, but the ones that do tend to be larger statues and hide away. They are active at night, and the daylight renders them to stone. Colonies of gargoyles stay within their territories, but they do all congregate every once in a while to hear an elder council relay information.
Gargoyles cannot reproduce and are referred to using masculine or genderless terminology. They have a great resistance to demonic energy. Gargoyles usually die by destruction (but their rock forms are incredibly durable), being consumed with sin, or being weathered by the elements.
Lifestyle
Stein is slowly giving up most of his duties to tour around with his band. His job was mostly to do patrols so it’s nothing harrowing, but he’s split between his duties to the basilica and his band boys. Gargoyles like Halberg worry if Stein’s lifestyle is a disgrace to their very name.
👻 Volney
Background via Toyhouse
He doesn't remember who created him, but he was a mix of a teru tero bōzu and a haunted doll. Volney grew up in a haunted foster home and would spend his time trying to be a perfectionist. He wasn't going to be a little monster like the other kids.
The opportunity to use his skills came when he met Mort and Stein, seeing as they both didn't think he was a weirdo. (Well they did, just that he was a weirdo they liked). Volney used his musical skills to help the band become polished, thus joining them in their rockstar dreams.
Family
Volney has no family and his origins came from DNA testing at the facility he was fostered at. Volney has no desire to look for his parents, so he considers the foster home folks as his guardians. He’s gotten fostered several times, but conflicts with other children and authority figures got him sent back.
Mrs. Raggzly - A Raggedy-Anne doll who cared for many of the monster foster children. She’s a huanted doll so she taught Volney most of his ghostly powers and how to harness it. She’s old and a bit of a forgetful lass, but her button cupcakes are a killer.
Species
Volney being a teru tero bōzu comes with being extremly soft and knowing how the weather works. Niche, but it comes with its perks if Volney knows when’s a good day to cuddle up and read next to the rainfall. The haunted doll part is trickier, as he does have ghostly powers, but how his soul came to be possessing his form is unknown.
Volney cannot phase through walls, but he can create spooky hallucinations, possess objects, and make things levitate.
Lifestyle
Volney has an apartment to himself and has ghost ferrets he takes care of (Pins and Cushion). He likes his solitude and rarely interacts with neighbors, but surprisingly he doesn’t mind going on rock tours with his guys. Beats being lonely.
Ehy that’s it so far! These boys live rent free in my head!!!!
