Opt-In Junk
Aug. 16th, 2023 08:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skeletonkeayGerard's canon features entities based on primal fears that are capable of leaving their mark on people. This can occur through experiencing trauma related to that fear, a deep interest or even obsession with the concept, or a lifestyle otherwise characterized by what that fear represents. While these entities are not guaranteed to exist in other worlds, it is not impossible they exist in some form in yours!
Due to his association with the Eye and lifetime of expertise, Gerard is often able to detect these marks. If you would like him to be able to detect an association with one of the Fears on your character, please let me know!
Warning: contains spoilers for The Magnus Archives and discussions of various upsetting concepts. I tried to keep the spoilers as minimal as possible. Details below the cut.
THE ENTITIES
{ click names for summaries }
Also known as "The Beholding" or "Ceaseless Watcher". The fear of being watched, stalked, followed, or exposed. Fear of a lack of privacy, fear of judgement from others. Fear of knowledge that could destroy you, and obsession with knowing. Manifests in the form of any eye, either real or symbolic. This can include drawings or photos of eyes, mirror images, camera lenses, and more. Its victims usually have experiences related to being watched intently, followed by unseen eyes, or other similar experiences. Its avatars and servants often develop a thirst for information. This is the entity with which Gerard is associated, as well as the Archivist, Jon Sims.
Also known as "Choke" or "Too Close I Cannot Breathe". Claustrophobia, the fear of being trapped without enough space, suffocation, being buried alive or drowning, or otherwise being crushed. Manifestations are typically quite literal, in the form of cramped caves, soil, flooding, underground spaces, and tight spaces such as coffins. However, it can also manifest in the form of things like debt or other metaphorical crushing weights. Its victims often find themselves trapped and unable to move or breathe properly. Its servants often develop an obsession with digging.
Also known as "The Crawling Rot", "The Flesh Hive," or sometimes simply "Filth." This represents the fear of corruption of bodies and spaces via disease, rot, insects, mold, and other things evoking feelings of deep disgust. The fear of unsanitary or revolting things. While this fear is almost always extremely literal, it can sometimes also manifest as toxic love. However, this is typically in tandem with the more tangible elements. Infection, rot, trypophobia, bodily fluids, and swarming or infesting insects are all characteristic of the Corruption. Its victims tend to either let their hygiene slip or become manically obsessed with cleaning. Its servants are often carriers of contagious illnesses or carriers of parasites. Those who serve the Corruption often speak emphatically about being "loved" by their afflictions.
An extremely old and deep fear of darkness, the unknown, and things that lurk out of sight in the darkness. Also sometimes called "Mr. Pitch" or "The Forever Blind". Often manifests as profound, endless darkness, shadowy figures, monsters that hide in shadow, deep and dark bodies of water (brackish water specifically tends to recur frequently) and blindness. Lights tend to either die out or be less effective where this entity is present. Antithetical to the Eye. Its victims tend to have childhood fears of the dark that are being played upon or simply be trapped in dark spaces. Its servants tend to avoid or sabotage light sources and seem to prefer secrets and ignorance to information and truth. The People's Church of the Divine Host is an organization specifically dedicated to worshipping the Dark.
Also called "The Lightless Flame," "The Blackened Earth," or "Asag." This is the fear of pain, agony, random destruction, loss, and burning. It often manifests in the form of destructive fire and things associated with it. Forest or house fires, destruction of potential, loss of loved ones, sabotage of success, and severe burn wounds are common. Its victims tend to lose the things they love most or die before realizing their potential, as well as come to harm by literal fire. Its victims tend to commit acts of senseless violence that favor targets with a lot to live for and be arsonists.
Also called "Terminus" or just "Death". Represents the fear of dying, especially painfully, as well as the fear of what comes after (or lack thereof, in some cases). Its victims and its servants alike tend to be those who have had close calls or near-death experiences, if they survive at all. Despondent demeanors or lack of emotions are characteristic of those who have come into contact with it. Bones, skeletons, corpses, and graves are common imagery.
Also occasionally referred to as "Viscera". This is a strange Fear that is primarily born of livestock animals and their fear of butchery. However, this also has expanded into human fears such as the existential dread of just being electrified meat, gore, body horror, and other more subtle fears and discomforts with one's body or physicality in general.
Another fear born from that of animals, this is the fear of being prey or being chased by a relentless, violent pursuer. Manifests as predatory animals and monsters, animalistic tendencies and characteristics, and hunting of all sorts. Those exposed to the Hunt will sometimes become addicted to acting as predators and develop a need to hunt animals, people, or monsters. Servants of the Hunt cite enjoying the chase more than the kill itself, and are prone to turning on each other when prey is in short supply.
Also called "The Forsaken" or "The One Alone." This is the fear of isolation, either due to being separated from others by tangible barriers or social/emotional ones. The fear of having no one to reach out to, of abandonment, of being unloved or unwanted, of being cut off from society. Manifests as abandoned spaces, faceless people, isolated places such as the sea or space, and becoming lost. Its servants often find comfort in the isolation and prey on the fears of the socially anxious.
Fear of random, unpredictable outbursts of violence, pain, and death. Its most common manifestation is that of war and combat. However, it can apply to any form of random or mass violence. It is different from the Hunt and the Desolation due to its lack of premeditation or targeting of a certain type of victim, respectively. Victims often become "mad with Slaughter", compelling them to manic violence.
Also called "It Is Not What It Is" or "The Twisting Deceit." It is the fear of madness, losing one's grip on reality, being gaslit, deception of the mind and the senses. Manifests as hallucinations or illusions and can cause victims to improperly perceive time. A common appearance is that of a door that should not be where it is and impossible spaces, as well as fractal images. Its primary avatar is a monster that absorbs the existence and appearance of certain humans, known as the Distortion.
Also called "I Do Not Know You". The fear of the uncanny valley, things that are almost human but not quite, perversions of the human form, and existential dread regarding identity and selfhood. Commonly manifests as mannequins, wax figures, dolls, automatons, masks, taxidermy, and clowns. Manifestations often feature circus or theatre imagery and focus on names, faces, and skin.
Also known as the "Falling Titan" or simply "Vertigo". It is the fear of heights, falling, endlessness, and the existential dread associated with inconceivably large spaces like the open sky, the depths of the sea, and the entirety of the universe. It also addresses the fear and despair surrounding being very small in comparison with grander things so as to be pointless or infinitesimal. Can manifest with imagery of the sky, the sea, space, extreme heights, or monsters too large to wrap one's head around.
Sometimes called "The Spider" or "The Mother of Puppets". This in part the fear of spiders themselves, but also the fear of being caught in someone else's web. The fear of being manipulated by someone else or having your actions controlled, being part of someone's master plan. The more abstract elements of this fear often manifest in tandem with spider imagery, as well as other things resembling webbing such as wires or even film reels. Marionette themes are also common.
Also referred to as "The Future Without Us". This is a relatively new Fear that plays off of several others, but has begun to establish itself as unique as environmental issues and weapons of mass destruction become more of a pressing issue. It is the fear of apocalypse, of a mass extinction event created by human hands through violence or negligence. Manifestations typically involve spaces that are inhospitable for human life, as well as mountains of trash, explosion impact sites, radiation, pandemics, and other similar concepts.
Due to his association with the Eye and lifetime of expertise, Gerard is often able to detect these marks. If you would like him to be able to detect an association with one of the Fears on your character, please let me know!
Warning: contains spoilers for The Magnus Archives and discussions of various upsetting concepts. I tried to keep the spoilers as minimal as possible. Details below the cut.
THE ENTITIES
{ click names for summaries }
The Eye
Also known as "The Beholding" or "Ceaseless Watcher". The fear of being watched, stalked, followed, or exposed. Fear of a lack of privacy, fear of judgement from others. Fear of knowledge that could destroy you, and obsession with knowing. Manifests in the form of any eye, either real or symbolic. This can include drawings or photos of eyes, mirror images, camera lenses, and more. Its victims usually have experiences related to being watched intently, followed by unseen eyes, or other similar experiences. Its avatars and servants often develop a thirst for information. This is the entity with which Gerard is associated, as well as the Archivist, Jon Sims.
The Buried
Also known as "Choke" or "Too Close I Cannot Breathe". Claustrophobia, the fear of being trapped without enough space, suffocation, being buried alive or drowning, or otherwise being crushed. Manifestations are typically quite literal, in the form of cramped caves, soil, flooding, underground spaces, and tight spaces such as coffins. However, it can also manifest in the form of things like debt or other metaphorical crushing weights. Its victims often find themselves trapped and unable to move or breathe properly. Its servants often develop an obsession with digging.
The Corruption
Also known as "The Crawling Rot", "The Flesh Hive," or sometimes simply "Filth." This represents the fear of corruption of bodies and spaces via disease, rot, insects, mold, and other things evoking feelings of deep disgust. The fear of unsanitary or revolting things. While this fear is almost always extremely literal, it can sometimes also manifest as toxic love. However, this is typically in tandem with the more tangible elements. Infection, rot, trypophobia, bodily fluids, and swarming or infesting insects are all characteristic of the Corruption. Its victims tend to either let their hygiene slip or become manically obsessed with cleaning. Its servants are often carriers of contagious illnesses or carriers of parasites. Those who serve the Corruption often speak emphatically about being "loved" by their afflictions.
The Dark
An extremely old and deep fear of darkness, the unknown, and things that lurk out of sight in the darkness. Also sometimes called "Mr. Pitch" or "The Forever Blind". Often manifests as profound, endless darkness, shadowy figures, monsters that hide in shadow, deep and dark bodies of water (brackish water specifically tends to recur frequently) and blindness. Lights tend to either die out or be less effective where this entity is present. Antithetical to the Eye. Its victims tend to have childhood fears of the dark that are being played upon or simply be trapped in dark spaces. Its servants tend to avoid or sabotage light sources and seem to prefer secrets and ignorance to information and truth. The People's Church of the Divine Host is an organization specifically dedicated to worshipping the Dark.
The Desolation
Also called "The Lightless Flame," "The Blackened Earth," or "Asag." This is the fear of pain, agony, random destruction, loss, and burning. It often manifests in the form of destructive fire and things associated with it. Forest or house fires, destruction of potential, loss of loved ones, sabotage of success, and severe burn wounds are common. Its victims tend to lose the things they love most or die before realizing their potential, as well as come to harm by literal fire. Its victims tend to commit acts of senseless violence that favor targets with a lot to live for and be arsonists.
The End
Also called "Terminus" or just "Death". Represents the fear of dying, especially painfully, as well as the fear of what comes after (or lack thereof, in some cases). Its victims and its servants alike tend to be those who have had close calls or near-death experiences, if they survive at all. Despondent demeanors or lack of emotions are characteristic of those who have come into contact with it. Bones, skeletons, corpses, and graves are common imagery.
The Flesh
Also occasionally referred to as "Viscera". This is a strange Fear that is primarily born of livestock animals and their fear of butchery. However, this also has expanded into human fears such as the existential dread of just being electrified meat, gore, body horror, and other more subtle fears and discomforts with one's body or physicality in general.
The Hunt
Another fear born from that of animals, this is the fear of being prey or being chased by a relentless, violent pursuer. Manifests as predatory animals and monsters, animalistic tendencies and characteristics, and hunting of all sorts. Those exposed to the Hunt will sometimes become addicted to acting as predators and develop a need to hunt animals, people, or monsters. Servants of the Hunt cite enjoying the chase more than the kill itself, and are prone to turning on each other when prey is in short supply.
The Lonely
Also called "The Forsaken" or "The One Alone." This is the fear of isolation, either due to being separated from others by tangible barriers or social/emotional ones. The fear of having no one to reach out to, of abandonment, of being unloved or unwanted, of being cut off from society. Manifests as abandoned spaces, faceless people, isolated places such as the sea or space, and becoming lost. Its servants often find comfort in the isolation and prey on the fears of the socially anxious.
The Slaughter
Fear of random, unpredictable outbursts of violence, pain, and death. Its most common manifestation is that of war and combat. However, it can apply to any form of random or mass violence. It is different from the Hunt and the Desolation due to its lack of premeditation or targeting of a certain type of victim, respectively. Victims often become "mad with Slaughter", compelling them to manic violence.
The Spiral
Also called "It Is Not What It Is" or "The Twisting Deceit." It is the fear of madness, losing one's grip on reality, being gaslit, deception of the mind and the senses. Manifests as hallucinations or illusions and can cause victims to improperly perceive time. A common appearance is that of a door that should not be where it is and impossible spaces, as well as fractal images. Its primary avatar is a monster that absorbs the existence and appearance of certain humans, known as the Distortion.
The Stranger
Also called "I Do Not Know You". The fear of the uncanny valley, things that are almost human but not quite, perversions of the human form, and existential dread regarding identity and selfhood. Commonly manifests as mannequins, wax figures, dolls, automatons, masks, taxidermy, and clowns. Manifestations often feature circus or theatre imagery and focus on names, faces, and skin.
The Vast
Also known as the "Falling Titan" or simply "Vertigo". It is the fear of heights, falling, endlessness, and the existential dread associated with inconceivably large spaces like the open sky, the depths of the sea, and the entirety of the universe. It also addresses the fear and despair surrounding being very small in comparison with grander things so as to be pointless or infinitesimal. Can manifest with imagery of the sky, the sea, space, extreme heights, or monsters too large to wrap one's head around.
The Web
Sometimes called "The Spider" or "The Mother of Puppets". This in part the fear of spiders themselves, but also the fear of being caught in someone else's web. The fear of being manipulated by someone else or having your actions controlled, being part of someone's master plan. The more abstract elements of this fear often manifest in tandem with spider imagery, as well as other things resembling webbing such as wires or even film reels. Marionette themes are also common.
The Extinction
Also referred to as "The Future Without Us". This is a relatively new Fear that plays off of several others, but has begun to establish itself as unique as environmental issues and weapons of mass destruction become more of a pressing issue. It is the fear of apocalypse, of a mass extinction event created by human hands through violence or negligence. Manifestations typically involve spaces that are inhospitable for human life, as well as mountains of trash, explosion impact sites, radiation, pandemics, and other similar concepts.
