Blackwater

**Blackwater** is an online dramedy, comic series created by Kooky.

## Synopsis

The series follows two main characters, twins David Melendez and Alison Melendez whom were separated at childhood. Alison and both parents had been killed in a devastating fire that killed them but only left David behind. Years pass and David is visited by a girl claiming to be his deceased sister and she explains to him the reason for her survival. She was saved by a girl named, Ginger, who took her to an isolated town from nowhere named Blackwater. Using a hand sculpture called a 'Sabazios' they were able to refuge to safety. Alison warns David that despite her good intentions, Ginger is a cunning leader and her authoritarian ruling jeopardized the lives of her friends who still currently reside there. Being the only one who could help her, Alison pleads David to help her and her friends escape Blackwater and in return to make a new life for themselves. David reluctantly agrees to aid her and they both go together to Blackwater using the hand sculpture.

They both arrive in the forest located outside the town, Alison accidently drops the sculpture and it ends up in the hands of one of Ginger's guards who momentarily returns it to their leader. Distraught about what happened, it left Alison and David both stranded in the world of Blackwater. Alison then comes up with a plan, David being unrecognized by the civilians of Blackwater would now be her little spy and pose as a citizen of Blackwater and figure out a way to reclaim the sculpture. Due to Alison's bad reputation at Blackwater she was forced to stay behind and out of sight with her friends; her friends who are all shown to have criminal tendencies and thus were outcaste from Blackwater and were dubbed 'Oilers'. Once in this new world of Blackwater, David at first skeptical realizes that this town and its inhabitants are not what Alison had exaggerated it out to be. The people are very hospital and welcomed David to their town with open arms. He meets Ginger face to face who takes an immense liking to him. Flirting and treating him like he were special, his current life had never shown him this kind of appreciation.

She explains to David that Blackwater was created as a refuge for people nearing death so they may start a new life in peaceful isolation. David then becomes stuck with the decision of continuing to help his sister by retrieving the sculpture or staying in Blackwater which was better than his old and dull life. He meets and befriends many residents including the flirtacious Ginger, bubbly Hilda, stand-up comedian Abraham, skilled-swordsman Jamshid, every-unchanging Sandra, and the mysterious shut-in Thi Han Tuyet. In his stay at Blackwater he uncovers many secrets and rumors from his interactions with the residents that may hold a dark and black truth about Ginger and her fictitious town of Blackwater. Alison, feeling guilty about losing her only way out falls into a deep depressive state. She struggles with being a leader to her friends who all feel hopeless that they could ever leave.

## Rules of Blackwater

Established by Ginger, there are a set of laws and commandments that all residents shall follow regardless of their personal views. They are loosely based off of the 10 commandments:

1. Blackwater is undivided and everyone is to be treated equally. Be kind and respectful of one's neighbor and thou shalt not discriminate or single out one another for prejudice reasons.
2. Despite immortality, thou shall not use murder as a form of punishment or entertainment other than means for healing injuries.
3. Thou shalt not vandalize, steal, litter on any property.
4. Do not disturb the peace, especially at night. Keep indoors during commute hours and during dangerous weather.
5. Respect each other's religious beliefs and any forms of spirituality. As in treat others how you would want to be treated.
6. Oilers are not to step forth back onto Blackwater soil unless they are willing to come back as a resident.
7. Depending on the severity of the crime, failure to abide by these laws may result in rehabilitation, facing a judge, or exile.
8. Keep away from the edges of the void as falling over means falling forever.
9. Thou shalt not lie or deceive against your neighbor.
10. Most importantly, treat your mayor with kindness and she will do the same for you!

Blackwater also follows its own set of wishes and to also change the rules of reality. Ginger envisioned these wishes with the help of Sabazios to shape and envision a safe and perfect world (in her own view) for her residents. However with every wish there is a negative opposition which balances it out:

1. Neverland - it is impossible to age
	1. **Reasoning:** Created due to Ginger's promising to let people never age just like in Neverland. This is in order to maintain beauty and immortality of all residents.
	2. **Opposition:** This wish was used because Ginger feared changing and getting older but in turn it is impossible to grow (such as getting taller, growing hair, maturing).
2. Fated to Die - it is impossible to die unless killed by which they were fated to die
	1. **Reasoning:** To also maintain immortality but also to give others a weakness.
	2. **Opposition:** The wish to grant immortality was given however everyone who was killed must still be given a weakness that is their fate of how they died.
3. Unlimited Power - the holder of the Sabazios cannot be hurt or killed by any means
	1. **Reasoning:** Because of the Oilers disrespect of their mayor they are willing to assassinate her and take the sculpture from her hands. Sabazios will act as a bodyguard and defense to anyone who tries to bring harm to Ginger.
	2. **Opposition:** However, Sabazios is stated to not be the best at his job and will sometimes not be there to protect her out of neglect or being too slow.
4. Handy Servitude - the Sabazios serves as a personal assistant and database to everyone
	1. **Reasoning:** Ginger loved books and wanted to make it easier for everyone to share the knowledge with her fellow neighbors.
	2. **Opposition:** Sabazios will sometimes give you the wrong information and intentionally be rude to you if you ask him a dumb question.
5. Bordered World - Blackwater is an isolated world surrounded by void
	1. **Reasoning:** Blackwater, the forest, and the castle are able to exist within a certain bounded earth
	2. **Opposition:** However, because it is a limited imagination everything else that surrounds is an unlimited void. Falling down in the void means falling forever with no stop.
6. One language - everyone can only hear the language that they are most familiar with
	1. **Reasoning:** Because residents are from many different parts of the world, to make the language barrier easier now everyone can hear the language they understand the best.
	2. **Opposition:** Sometimes not every language can be translated correctly or may come across as gibberish to others.
7. Eye of Horus - present in the night; it is the protector
8. Eye of Ra - present in the day; it represents power

## Characters

Blackwater is divided into two groups: The Blackwater Residents and the Oilers. Previously the Oilers were also residents however, their beliefs and distrust of Ginger and her society has caused the two groups to split.

## Trivia

* The name Blackwater comes from the song "Blackwater," by Doobie Brothers.
* The town of Blackwater is based on 50's America and painting the perfect town.
* Blackwater took inspiration from movies such as The Graduate, The Truman Show and Breakfast at Tiffany's.
* It is also loosely inspired by the series "The Good Place."
* Some characters are based off of songs such as "Alison" by Elvis Costello, and "Deirdre" by The Beach Boys.

## Gallery

Very early concept artEarly designs for Ginger and HildaEarly oilers designBlackwater residentsOld logoMain 3 characters (final designs)Timeline of deathHeight chartLogo draftsChibisBlackwater tower

## External Links

* Creator's Website
* Read Blackwater