🌇 The People on the Canvas

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BLACKGALE NPCS

QUENTIN ANDERSON

Quentin Anderson is the elderly head librarian of the Blackgale Library. He's gruff, no-nonsense, and hates noise. He treats his staff well, including the oddball Gregoire Renaud, even if he can't see the man's face. Quentin gets along well with Amelia Steinbeck and is one of the few people in town who can tell that she's not what she seems. But he also knows to mind his own business so he hardly bats an eye at the strangeness of her or the town.

GREGOIRE RENAUD

A humanoid creature who resides in the Blackgale Library and is the co-librarian alongside Quentin Anderson. Dubbed the "Consumer of Words," Gregoire eagerly reads every book available. One can never see his face because it's either covered by a book or when looking directly at him, the viewer begins to suffer a migraine (and they never remember what he looks like afterward).

Gregoire has apparently lived in other universes where he has spent countless centuries consuming every type of literature available and thus has a vast expanse of esoteric knowledge of not only Earth stuff but of other worlds as well. So ask him a question, and you might get an answer.

He's made the Blackgale Library his home in the meantime due to his fondness for Quentin. Don't forget to return your library book, or else Greogire will plague you with nightmares.

Aiden & Bianca Redford

The Redfords own and run the Red Divine Bar. Bianca Redford née White, was a former student of Amelia's. Both are espers, Aiden an empath, while Bianca has a particularly dangerous ability that has since been dormant due to her peaceful life with her husband. Both of them are grateful to Amelia who supports and protects them since they do not take part in the Esper Collective. While Aiden appears cold and businesslike, Bianca is the sweeter and more welcoming of the two.

SIMONE

The mysterious "Scarlet Songstress" who appears only once a month to sing at the Red Divine bar at midnight. Her sultry looks and voice attract many customers who find that they can visualize their desires whenever she sings. Simone will neither confirm nor deny that she's some type of succubus; she just has an arrangement with the owners and Amelia who allow her on stage so that she can feed on the thoughts of customers. She's fond of the Emerald Witch and likes to tease her especially.

The Praying Man

"The Praying Man" (named by Amelia) can be found in Ivory Church, muttering and chanting prayers while sitting in the pew farthest from the front. Most people are not aware of his presence and if they are, he appears to be a normal human for all intents and purposes. He's not a psychic or a warlock; most likely he's something else entirely and uncommonly benevolent. His prayers cast a veil of protection and calm inside and outside of the church.

He does not stop even when there are attempted interruptions. When interrupted, he will vanish from sight. The only way for him to acknowledge you is to ask him for a prayer and only then will he pause and pray over the asker and perhaps hold a conversation before going back to his routine.

Amelia tends to leave him be, except to give him care packages of food and water. She's never seen him partake but her things are always returned.

BLUE MOON BELLY

AKA, the "Hungry Load" as dubbed by Amelia. A gigantic blue salamander-like creature (it's basically a giant axolotl) that lives within the reflection of the moon on Blue Moon Lake. Years ago, it used to emerge from the water trekking on its hind legs to raid the fridges and trashcans of the Blackgale townspeople and businesses, much to everyone's confusion. It has become a local legend although sightings are now very rare.

The Emerald Witch and her companions struck a deal to feed the creature as long as it stays put in the lake. Now it lives peacefully beneath the water though if the Emerald Witch lets it slip her mind and forgets to feed it, the Blue Moon Belly will forage for food, starting with her house first. It has no qualms about what it will eat which is both a good and bad thing.

Blackgale Cats

The cats of Blackgale, both stray and homed, are unusually intelligent and well-mannered. Basically, they talk. A lot. There have been several generations of talking cats even before Amelia's time. But they choose who to talk to and when they choose their person(s) they are extremely chatty and conspicuously hang around their place of residence. Amelia Steinbeck is one of those people they love to talk with every now and then.

BLACKGALE CROWS

They're basically regular crows but Amelia can communicate with them. She calls upon the crows to be her eyes when she needs to gather information in and out of town. They are also an intermediary between her and the Witch King. For their services, Amelia pays them with a strand of her magical hair.

The crows are smart, the crows are watching, and while they may not talk, be careful of what you reveal to them.

Code by 10billionghosts