Dark Thystical Magic

Owned by Andalite

### Gender

It varies, adapting to match the host. At base, Its gender is hard to guess, so we refer to the creature as "It"

### **Appearance**

Came from an ancient book written by It's previous host, It is usually invisible, but can be seen by Its host in their reflection and peripheral vision as an inky, inhuman figure with slimy, coiling tendrils, eyes darker than black and a sharp, chechire grin.  It's features will first appear nonexistent, but the longer It posesses someone, the more they will see their own face and form in It's shape.  Often It will appear to be behind the person, sometimes wrapping Its tendrils around them, or stroking them creepily like a pet or toy.

To the outside, It has no real appearance, but when in Hallow, It will occasionally add the swirling, bottomless pit-like signiture in his eyes.  To an oracle, It has no appearance or trace, but may choose to show itself along threads if It so wishes, hiding Its host's mind, past and future in its oily black mass.

In It's host's dreams, It may appear as the thing or person they fear most, or a creature watching them just out of sight, vanishing when looked at directly, but always looming in the corner of your eye, feeding on your fear...

### **Personality**

DTM is - in essence - a manifestation of It's original host's magic, locked away for safekeeping and given the task of bringing It's original host back, and preparing things for their arrival.  It was allowed some aspects of Its previous host's personality and memories, only that which was actually needed, and has no real desires of It's own, acting more to get everything in order for the Shadow Prince's return.

It is cunning, patient and merciless, with a manipulative nature.  It plays the long game.  It has been allowed anger and hate, and tends to pair those up with revenge when their triggered.  It may be part of the reason for Hallow's murderous tendencies, or simply have convinced him that was the way to go.  It is not above lying, or using people, and has quite the temper when disobeyed.  DTM also enjoys scaring people, and breaking them when possible, drawing out fear not only to use for information, but to toy with Its victims and torture them slowly...

It has also been known to have some less awful traits, occasionally being sarcastic or even somewhat kind towards those It conciders loyal followers, such as Angus.  It claims to recognize true loyalty and says it will be rewarded.  While It can be bossy, and care little about who dies so long as It gets what It wants, such trusted servants are put in a different category, and It seems at least somewhat concerned about their safety, at least giving it some thought.

### **Powers**

DTM is a literal being made of magic, and thus has some abilities.  However, being non-corporial and a sort of parasite, It can't do much on Its own.
In It's base form, It is locked inside an Ancient book, tethered to it, and while It can send out telepathic messages in short range, It can't actually go beyond that without the person allowing more. Should someone touch and open the book, that's an invitation to let It nearer to their mind, at which point It may put a soothing effect over them, making them less anxious and dulling their good common sense a bit to give it time to talk.

Then It will ask them what they desire, more to draw the thought forward than anything, as It can't yet shuffle through a person's mind for what It wants, only seeing what is on the surface. Should they answer or - more realistically, the thought cross their mind at the mere mention, even if they have no intention of answering - It will claim to be able to help them achieve it with full confidence, whether its true or not.  But to help them, they must first let It in, and so they must read the book...

As the text is ancient, even historians have difficulty getting a few characters down, but It will teach them just enough, making the meanings clear enough, and should they allow It to do so - congratulations! The person is now posessed by a dark ancient magic! 🎉

Once possessing someone, the host may experience memory gaps, or entire losses of memory, and occasionally edited memories that they won't catch.  It will have full access to their mind, and - as It gains strength - It will be able to control It's host fully in short spurts, everything from movement to voice, and even keep Its host from knowing anything is happening.  It may also mess with Its host's mind as Hubble does, but generally to cause extreme pain, show memories, or block out pain if needed.

This will exhaust them both though, and the host will collapse soon after from the strain, suffering dizzy spells, vertigo, confusion and exhaustion.  DTM will similarly be weaker afterwards, exhausted, and unable to control them for a time afterwards until It gains strength again.

It may add a swirling, soulless pattern in Its host's eyes by choice - especially when poking about in a third party's mind for information or fear - which It can only do up very close, and even then is quicker to find desires, fears and weaknesses more than anything.   It may also add the signature just to freak people out. It cannot be tricked into believing a false fear or false desire when doing this - but in Its book form it can be lied to about what you desire, as Its weaker and more limited.

Additionally, It will haunt the host with nightmares at night, leaving them sleep-deprived, weak, and easy to control.  This is to put them in a weaker state, and as it controls the mind and plays on fears, you cannot resist this.  Aside from that, It has ancient knowledge, and may grant a slight boost of strength, healing, agility and/or youth to Its host, to sweeten the deal given all the drawbacks, and keep Its host safer for longer.

Despite how terrible this bond may appear, the power and presence is highly addictive, making you feel strong, powerful and more importantly - totally in control.  You won't know that It is playing you unless It wants you to know that.

As far as gender goes, I'm considering It to match Its host and be reborn as soon as the Book is read, and as It comes from a single source, that can vary.
So if Hallow read the Book, tho OG DTM is still in the Book, but an offshoot goes into Hallow, becomes male, and becomes Hallow's DTM

If directly after, Frost read the Book, the OG DTM is still there, so another offshoot goes into her, becomes female, and becomes Frost's DTM, adapting as soon as It gains a host, while the original is dormant and waiting for Its true hos

They would not have a hive-mind or be able to share info unless they were near and allowed it.

### **Weaknesses and Limits**

It does NOT give Its host magic, nor the ability to enchant or do any Thystical or Ancient Thystical things beyond what was mentioned. It's host is often exhausted due to the side-effects.

It has no corporial form on Its own, and needs a host to do anything. If Its host dies, It will be stuck back in the book until found and used again.

It may have some bad side-effects on the host besides exhaustion, including lack of focus, hyper-fixation, severe mood-swings, noticable personality flips, quick-triggered aggression, amnesia, confusion, addiction to Its presence and a hunger for power.

It may also adopt some of Its host's personality traits, and It cannot stop that, though It may be aware of it.

Hallow has shown that he can, on very rare occasions, push back against It's power, though this may also be allowed by It to an extent, as It is building up power for It's original host's return.

The host will be aware that It is in their mind, feel it sometimes, and can be very disturbed by that.  They may also doubt It at times, which can mean It will need to re-convince them, or blank memories to keep power.

It is not all-knowing, and was a part of a person once, so it can be prone to human error, though It will blame the host due to pride.

Can't harm others besides Its host except through controlling the host and forcing them to hurt people, drawing forth a third-party's worst, most traumatizing or scariest memories, or generally creeping them out.

Weak in book form and at the start of posession.

### **Lord Hallow**

DTM's host and puppet. He is not respected, but easily manipulated since he was posessed at a young age. Hallow is convinced It will get him Ancient Magic to save and heal Eve, not realizing It is using him for Its own purposes. He thinks he is fully in control, and couldn't be more wrong, addicted to the power and falling for the lie.

### **Eve**

DTM is using Eve as a tool and a playing piece, assurance that Hallow will work for him and a threat if he does not.

### **Lady Frost Northwind**

Absolutely hates her for catching Hallow's attention and distracting him from his goal. Has threatened her on multiple occasions and tried to break them apart and make her leave him. After the Festival, it may very well have worked...but It realized she may be of more use as a second Eve, a card to play and threaten if Hallow gets out of line.

### **Angus**

Concidered Its most trusted and loyal servant, It seems to trust him, though It is wary of Angus' heart, which has given him conflicted loyalties before.

### **Sakka Harikēn**

DTM's next host after Hallow, forced onto him by the roach as punishment for a break in the Legion staged.

### **Gallery**

* DTM with a female host
* DTM with a female host
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