The Outliers
Cherylynn Anne Downry
Cheryl had a promising life before her.
Born in Vostek - a country with little meaning to Cheryl - and moved to the US around the age of two, Cheryl has always been odd. She swore as a child she could see spirits; she swore as a teen that she could see a mirror of the real world; she even talked to the church’s confessor about repeated nightmares revolving around the Great War.
With a high-ranking family and deep ties to the Spiral, she and her sister were practically waiting to be handed a legacy.
All they needed to do was wait for this legacy in Dowens’ Rest, Maine. But waiting for life to come often allows other elements to blindside you, and Cheryl was hit far harder than she could’ve anticipated.
All of the faith in the would couldn’t stop the Rizen branch of the Spiral faith, and no amount of prayer can hold back the nightmare following.
Marie Lea Recowicz
Marie was born in the village of Lissi in the nation of Savo’s dense mountain range. She never trusted the Rizen church. She never trusted their tithing, never trusted their empty words, and never trusted their fake smiles. She never trusted their prophesying about “Saintbloods” or the Great War. Her family, however, had ample trust and ample money.
It didn’t take long for her family to fall for their spell, the local Vicar putting ample effort to show them their devotion would be rewarded. It started with her parents’ switch from the Spiral faith to it’s more extreme side: the Rizen. It didn’t take long for Marie’s family to “redirect” their savings; it didn’t take long for Marie’s belongings to vanish.
This, combined with her hometown’s slow suffocation by the newly-propped up church, led to the slow but steady isolation of Marie from the few connections she had.
Now Marie struggles to keep her family close and struggles harder to keep caring about it all.
Fiona Mason
Fiona is what most would describe as ‘sheltered’. Born in the eastern european nation of Kyovkret, she was brought to and raised near the small UK town of Wellbay. Fiona was provided everything: education, gifts, food; all manner of things were bestowed upon her, yet nothing ever made her less humble.
Fiona speaks quietly, says please and thank you, and treats everyone with kindness. Unfortunately, Fiona is also naive, and as such she trusts people far quicker than others would.
Fiona’s family rarely exposed her to the real world, a mistake that would make her easy prey for the Rizen.
Notables within the Spiral Church
Johnathan Renall
John is a busy man. His official position is treasurer of the east coast Spiral branch, but that’s only if you take it at face value. He controls a large portion of funding within the Church’s US wings, using his excessive cash to pull on strings he otherwise shouldn’t be able to reach.
Born and raised in Maine, Johnathan often spent his early years traveling. He spent a good few years of his younger life in the “aftermath countries” of Vostek, Savo, and Kyovkret learning what he could about the Spiral, the Great Karsk War, and the Rizen’s birth therein.
At one point in time Johnathan attempted to visit the Siwa Exclusion Zone, though what he experienced is largely unknown. He returned a changed man, and vows that what he saw was divine.
Vicar Lucina
Vicar Lucina is a leader of the eastern European Rizen movement, the daughter of the man who started the evangelistic force. She was raised from birth to follow the Rizen’s beliefs, raised from birth to preach its tenets, raised from birth to assist the Rizen church.
She believes above all else that the world will be reborn upon Marianne’s reunification, and the key to that reunification is via so-called Saintbloods. Lucina is so sure of this that she devotes every waking hour to searching for and codifying the signs for these fabled people.
As with all massive movements, her Rizen push has large amounts of funding. Yet, when pressed on this specific subject, Vicar Lucina is quick to change course.