Luka Novikov

picrew by sacrxm

> "I don’t want wealth. I want to protect my citizens! I want to protect my family, and my friends, and cure the Shadowfolk that are suffering as we speak! Why is that not enough?"
>
>

Luka was an non-player character in the main Crossworlds campaign. Following the Test of the Starstone, he became the patron of unconventional families, justice, and activism.

## History

Luka was born as the second heir to the throne of the Crossworlds, son of Katrina Novikov and Darcy Reynolds, and brother to Zia Novikov. Zia ran away when he was 2 years old, making him the next-in-line. Shortly after, Darcy divorced Katrina and left the Crossworlds.

His childhood was pleasant, his mother loving although very demanding. He grew up to be polite and intelligent. However, at 16 years old, he crafted an alternate identity as Spectre, a vigilante in all white. He met the party when they were searching for an answer to the doorways' closing. He was immediately flattered by Redacted and agreed to a date with him.

The party discovered his identity as Spectre and offered an alliance. However, shortly after, he was almost killed by Killian Foy--until he unmasked Spectre and angrily took off. Seeking answers, Luka followed the party to their inn the next day and met Killian again, who lied to him concerning a pact with his runaway sister. As Killian says, Zia traded her silence on deep secrets in exchange for safe passage to Capua Tor, her mother's ignorance, and her family's safety. However, Killian had accidentally hit him in a group blast the night prior.

In search for further answers, his sister, and a relationship with Redacted, Luka tagged along with the party. They did have to convince Katrina to allow this.

In Capua Tor, Luka found Zia and confronted her about the pact she'd made. She confirms what he already knew: the pact was silence in exchange for safe, secret passage. In other words, there was another reason for Killian to keep him alive.

When offered the Test of the Starstone, Luka accepted in hopes of protecting the land he would one day rule. His individual test required him to quell a growing revolution, even in the face of the party dying or disappearing. He succeeded, but was deemed ineligible for divinity and gained infinite wealth instead. He also found out that another deity had a claim on his soul.

Following this, he suggested the gala that the party would eventually end up at. Pandora cast *Legend Lore* on Luka to find out information regarding his divinity—or lack thereof. They found out that Luka’s soul was definitely tied to Shade, despite Shade not wanting his soul in the first place. Not only this, but Darcy Reynolds was not really his father and was furious with the Queen for her adultery.

After the gala, Luka was with the party as they all found out that Killian was Shade. When the party returned to the castle, Luka asked his mother about who his father really is. She admitted that his father is Killian Foy (and though she regrets that, she still loves him and has never regretted his birth). Shade/Killian then helped Luka ascend to divinity alongside the rest of the party.

Following the final battle, Katrina gave birth to twin girls, rescinding Luka's claim to the throne. Free to do as he pleased with newfound divinity, Luka...still decided to stick around. He travels often and far, but remains a strong asset to the monarchy and a protector of the Crossworlds. He maintains a distant relationship with his father and Lyvalia, and begrudgingly views Mairi as a sister.

## Trivia

* Luka, like the rest of his family, naturally has a Russian accent. In order to get around this identifying factor as Spectre, he wears a Torc of Truespeech.
* As a deity, he goes by Spectre.