Edward Nalence

> I've been **trapped in The Velvet Room** for the last eighty-eight years, so **forgive me** if I don't care about **your damned penchant** for stealing artifacts. My patience is thin and my will to **not** kill you right now is **thinner**.
>
> **Edward Nalence**

The esteemed and renowned **Edward Nalence** was the first occult detective. Edward was the first to solely handle occult cases and solved mysteries across the world and gained numerous contacts. However, after talented writer H.P. Lovecraft published a book known as *The Call of Cthulhu*, it peaked Edward's interest as Lovecraft utilized real occult themes in his stories. Fearful that Lovecraft was an emissary of something darker, Edward traveled to the lost city of R'lyeh where his suspicions of Lovecraft were confirmed but he was taken by Zo-Kalar to The Velvet Room.

A rumor purported that Edward died at sea and was dragged to Hell until 2018. This was when Ambrosia mistakenly summoned Edward from The Velvet Room, believing him to be the demon Zurin-Rah. After attacking **Ethan Graves**, he took some time away from the occult. After this, Edward resumed his work as an occult detective and work with Ethan, **Dr. Harper Declan**, **Damon Wolfe**, **and** **others**.

## **Attributes**

At the beginning, Edward had no supernatural abilities to speak of but instead he used magic he learned from shamans and other practitioners. He was a clear example of a "Jack of All Trades" occultist who relied on several mystical techniques and ancient tomes he gathered from allies and his adventures around the world. However, after spending eighty-eight years within The Velvet Room, he gained a deeper understanding of the universe and learned to affect change in the metaphysical by drawing on the seemingly infinite mystical source that is The Velvet Room.

He has shown himself to be adept at pyrokinesis, illusion, necromancy, and several other types of magic. Due to the fact that he draws upon The Velvet Room, Edward does not suffer the physical toll that other magicians do. Because of his constant exposure to the supernatural energies of the room, his aging has slowed considerably, nearly stopping. He recently demonstrated the ability to banish individuals from The Velvet Room. The only way to escape it is through the incantation that Ambrosia misspoke which was only remembered by himself and Ethan.

Barring his occult abilities, Edward is a highly capable detective and boasts a high-level of occult knowledge, if not better than Ethan's. He has identified individuals as demons or monsters by asking them a three-question quiz that reveals their true nature accidentally. As he is the first occult detective, everything everyone uses as a reference or knows about the occult is derived from Edward. This makes him the world's leading occultist.

### **Weaknesses**

While The Velvet Room makes Edward an immensely powerful individual, he is still susceptible to death in all forms.

## **Paraphernalia**

### **Equipment**

When Edward was in The Velvet Room, he discovered a mystical poker chip owned by the last person trapped inside the room. Sadly, the woman committed suicide but the poker chip had unknown properties. After Edward returned to the earthly plane, the poker chip acted as a guide, leading Edward to locations with supernatural occurrences.

## **Notes/Trivia**

* The last thing Edward remembers before entering The Velvet Room was an otherworldly scream from underneath the sunken city of R'lyeh.
* There have been comics about Edward Nalence that depict him as an occult pulp hero.
* Damon secretly looks up to Edward.
* Ethan and Edward often get coffee on Tuesdays and talk about their cases.

## **Appearances**

* Occult Studies Volume I: Abyss Callin'
* Occult Studies Volume II: Madmen's Shadows
* Occult Studies Volume III: Dare Iz A Darkside

## **References**

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Occult Studies Volume III
2. ↑ Occult Studies Volume I
3. ↑ Occult Studies Volume II