Evershade;Gaiden

Related Media| * *Evershade* (2014-2040)
* *Re:Evershade* (2020-

***Evershade;Gaiden*** (エバーシェイド;外伝, *Ebāsheido;Gaiden*, lit. *Evershade;Side Story*) is an online action-adventure manga series created by Alex Guy and written and illustrated by Harry Harrup, which is a spin-off of the original *Evershade* series.

This series is a collection of several arcs serving as separate stories to the main series, utilizing more horror elements and featuring the recurring Morningstar family. There is no consistent order in which the arcs take place, as some even take place in alternate timelines. However, there is no official timeline to piece together the series' events.

Published online, the series ran from 2017-2028 and while receiving positive reviews, it was only moderately successful, with the initial story, *Avert the Odds*, being slightly bashed for its obvious influence from the "Slenderverse" ARG's.

## Plot

### *Avert the Odds*

Matthew Morningstar and his best friend Sean Beckett are drawn into a mysterious and extremely dangerous rabbit hole, after a series of events surrounding the disappearance of their friend Zack Levine brings them face to face with Siege.

### *Silver Days*

Shunichi Takahashi, a university freshman from the United States suffering from retrograde amnesia, moves to Japan and settles in a large but quiet town and quickly becomes popular. He becomes suspicious of the town's true nature and his missing past catches the attention of Eita Todou, who becomes suspicious of Shunichi himself.

### *Battle Tide*

Malcolm Morningstar and others become involved in warfare with gangsters and other antagonists as the city's true supernatural nature begins to surface.

### *Fate's Rising*

Matthew Valentine and his mother begin working for the wealthy Morningstar family, leading to a series of tragic events that culminate in him being forced to flee Los Angeles to avoid being unjustly convicted. Several years later, now adopted by a wealthy man and changing his name, Dylan McConnell returns to Los Angeles to face his past and becomes involved with the supernatural shortly after.

## Characters

### *Avert the Odds*

**Matthew Morningstar** (マシュー・モーニングスター, *Mashū Mōningusutā*)
The main protagonist of the first arc, and the first Morningstar featured in *Evershade;Gaiden*. He is the best friend of Sean Beckett and Zack Levine, a former rival of Gabe Benson, and an old friend of Wayne Watts. After the disappearance of Zack, Matthew's originally motive was to find and help him, but soon begins to be hunted by the Majestic Others, Wayne, Siege, and later Zack himself. He is joined by Sean and later Gabe in his search for "The Other," but is fatally wounded by Zack after being fooled by "the Killer," and is taken by Siege to an alternate dimension.
**Siege** (シージ, *Shīji*)
The main antagonist of the first arc. It is a malicious entity of unknown origin and motivation who controls a group called the "Majestic Others." Siege first came into contact with Zack Levine after an encounter with the Majestic Others. When Matthew Morningstar and Sean Beckett personally begin investigating Alex's disappearance, they start to encounter Siege as well, who takes an immediate interest in Matthew, due to its past history with the Morningstars. It is eventually trapped within The Other's pocket dimension, which only provokes the appearance of HYBRID.
**Sean Beckett** (ショーン・ベケット, *Shōn Beketto*)
One of Matthew Morningstar's primary allies of the first arc. He is the best friend of Matthew and Zack Levine. He is also the older twin brother of Steven Beckett. After Zack's disappearance, he joins Matthew in his search to find him but is also targeted by the Majestic Others, Siege, and Zack himself. He is personally and ruthlessly stalked by "the Killer," and continues fighting against the Majestic Others after Matthew's death with Gabe Benson until being killed by Siege.
**Zack Levine** (ザック・レビーン, *Zakku Rebīn*)
One of the main allies turned secondary antagonist, and the former best friend of Matthew Morningstar and Sean Beckett. He disappears near the start of the first arc, and is later found by Matthew, but now under the influence of Siege. He kills Matthew, and is almost killed by Sean. He is later killed by Gabe in their final confrontation but warns him about HYBRID before dying.
**Gabe Benson** (ゲイブ・ベンソン, *Geibu Benson*)
A minor character turned main protagonist in the first arc. Originally an old rival of Matthew Morningstar, Gabe reluctantly joins Matthew and Sean after he becomes involved with the Majestic Others. He has a rivalry with the masked man, later revealed to be Wayne Watts. He becomes the main character when Matthew is killed, and after Sean's death, Gabe successfully kills Zack but becomes targeted by the malevolent entity known as HYBRID.
**Tracy Jennings** (トレーシー・ジェニングス, *Torēshī Jeningusu*) / **DEUSEXMACHINA** (DEUSEXMACHINA(デウスエクスマキナ), *Deusu Ekusu Makina*)
A minor turned major character in the first arc. She is an ex-girlfriend of Zack who moves into town and secretly aids Matthew Morningstar, revealing cryptic information about Zack and Siege using her online persona, "DEUSEXMACHINA." Tracy begins developing feelings for Matthew until an attack by the "Masked Man" leads to her being temporarily moved out of state. Later on, she becomes possessed by the malevolent entity known as HYBRID, until she expels him from her body upon learning of Matthew's death.
**Wayne Watts** (ウェイン・ワッツ, *Wein Wattsu*) / **The Masked Man** (仮面の男, *Kamen no Otoko*)
A minor turned major character in the first arc. He is an old friend of Matthew Morningstar who greets Matthew's group during their mission to locate Zack. Unbeknownst to them, Wayne secretly runs around as a masked man following a previous attack from Zack himself, attacking Matthew and Gabe Benson for information. Driven mad by Siege, after luring Gabe to Freedom Hall, the two engage in a fight where Wayne falls to his death.
**Steven Beckett** (スティーブン・ベケット, *Sutībun Beketto*) / **The Killer** (殺人者, *Satsujin-sha*, lit. "Murderer")
A major antagonist in the first arc. He is Sean Beckett's identical twin brother driven to the brink of insanity by Siege, and decides to kill everyone that is connected to it. He ruthlessly attacks Sean and Matthew Morningstar and later murders the vessels of the Majestic Others, before getting Matthew killed. Following another failed assassination attempt on Sean, Steven is later confronted by Gabe shortly after Wayne's death and is killed by Siege.
**HYBRID** (HYBRID(ハイブリッド), *Haiburiddo*)
The final antagonist fought against in the first arc. He is a malicious being who has been watching the protagonists since the beginning of the series and first gives Gabe Benson a clue to Zack's whereabouts. After Siege becomes trapped in an alternate dimension, HYBRID appears and begins influencing the characters' actions through his mysterious powers and possession of Tracy Jennings. He is eventually expelled from Tracy's body due to her overwhelming emotions upon learning of Matthew's death, however, HYBRID reveals that he has gained enough power to exist on his own.
**Majestic Others** (雄大な他人(マジェスティックアザーズ), *Majesutikku Azāzu*)
The secondary antagonists of the first arc. They are a group of hivemind proxies controlled by Siege who manipulate world events through use of vessels and begin attacking Matthew Morningstar and his friends in order to find "The Other." Their identities were revealed by Zack after their vessels were killed by Steven Beckett and were smited by Sean Beckett and Gabe Benson.