Strange Man

*"In the cosmic narrative, I wear the masks of God, Death, or even The Devil, but my true name, a secret in the dance of shadows, remains unspoken. They dubbed me the Strange Man, an enigma echoing through time, my identity veiled in the mysteries of existence."*
―Strange Man to Amos[src]
**Theodore "Ted" Holloway** is a human who emerged from the shadows of despair in 1925, driven by the harrowing loss of his parents to the incurable Veilstrike Fever. Desperate, he struck a dire bargain at the crossroads, unknowingly sealing a pact with the Devil that cursed him to eternal penance. Transformed into a spectral figure clad in a timeless suit, the **Strange Man** traverses the ethereal realms, offering comfort to souls on the brink of departure. Each encounter serves as a haunting reminder of the tragic Veilstrike Fever and the choices that led Theodore to the crossroads. Wandering the Earth, Ted would influence the events of multiple crucial points in history, most notably the Skyward Tower explosion, resulting in approximately 750 lives lost.

## Biography

### Early Life

#### Origins

Theodore Holloway is born on October 31, 1890, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born into a poor family, Ted would grow up to become obsessed with becoming rich and wealthy.

#### Deal with the Devil

*"To be added"*
―To be added[src]
In 1925, Theodore Holloway, found himself at the crossroads of despair. Born into poverty, his life took a dire turn when an insidious and incurable disease, known as "Veilstrike Fever," claimed the lives of his parents. This devastating ailment, marked by ethereal patterns that danced across the skin like veils, defied all medical understanding.

Haunted by grief and the harsh realities of destitution, Theodore, consumed by desperation, ventured into the shadowed crossroads one fateful night. There, in the dim glow of a flickering lantern, he encountered a mysterious figure offering a desperate bargain. Unbeknownst to him, the enigmatic stranger was the Devil himself, and the pact sealed in that fleeting moment would shape Theodore's destiny in ways he could not fathom.

#### Serving the Devil

As the years unfolded, Theodore's existence transformed. Cursed by the Devil, he became the **Strange Man**, condemned to traverse the realms between life and death. His purpose: to offer and comfort to souls on the drink of departure, an eternal penance for the choices made in a moment of desperation.

Theodore's once-human identity became a distant memory as the curse reshaped him into an enigmatic figure. Clad in a timeless suit, Theodore, now the Strange Man, bore the weight of his choices with each encounter, providing solace to others even as he grappled with the eternal consequences of his own actions.

### Spotted Throughout History

#### The Fiery Confluence

*"Amidst the roaring flames, I, Sarah Whitman, caught a glimpse of him—the Strange Man, standing on the fringe of chaos. His silhouette danced with shadows, a silent witness to the inferno devouring everything in its path."*
―Sarah Whitman[src]In 1955, a massive fire erupted in the heart of a bustling city, consuming buildings and lives in its relentless path. Witnesses reported glimpses of the Strange Man's silhouette on the outskirts, his enigmatic presence seemingly drawn to the confluence of flames. Rumors spread of his spectral figure lingering in the haze, a silent witness to the fiery tragedy that left multiple lives engulfed in the inferno.

#### Skyward Tower Explosion

*"In the wreckage's despair, there he was—the Strange Man, an enigma against the backdrop of ruin. His presence, like a harbinger of fate, cast a haunting shadow over the rubble and the lives forever altered beneath."*
―Thomas Anders[src]In the heart of a bustling city, a towering structure known as the Skyward Tower stood as a symbol of progress and prosperity. However, on the fateful day of June 15, 1977, the city was shaken by a calamitous event—the sudden collapse of the Skyward Tower.

Amid the chaos and devastation, witnesses reported seeing the Strange Man in the vicinity, his enigmatic presence casting a shadow over the unfolding tragedy. The collapse resulted in a significant loss of life, as the once-proud tower crumbled to the ground, leaving behind a scene of destruction.

The Strange Man, a silent observer of the calamity, was spotted standing at the edge of the disaster site. His dark silhouette seemed to absorb the grief and despair that lingered in the air. Rumors circulated that his presence preceded the collapse, fueling whispers of an otherworldly connection to the events that unfolded that day.

The Calamitous Collapse became a dark chapter in the city's history, and the figure of the Strange Man became forever intertwined with the haunting memory of the fallen tower. The event left an indelible mark on those who witnessed it, with the shadowy figure serving as a harbinger of tragedy.

#### The Eclipsed Epidemic

*"As the town succumbed to the illness, I, Emily Rodriguez, saw him—the Strange Man—his figure blending with the shadows of suffering. A silent observer, his presence seemed to echo the whispers of an inevitable tragedy."*
―Emily Rodriguez[src]
In 1977, a mysterious and deadly epidemic gripped a small town, leaving residents in a state of panic and despair. As the contagion spread, reports emerged of the Strange Man appearing on the outskirts, a somber silhouette against the backdrop of a town enveloped in sickness and death. Whispers hinted at his spectral visits coinciding with the darkest days of the epidemic, weaving an eerie connection between his enigmatic presence and the shadows cast by the unfolding tragedy.

#### The Cursed Nightfall

*"Beneath the celestial spectacle, his form emerged—the Strange Man, a spectral figure against the night. Little did we know, his appearance would mark the beginning of a night steeped in curses and calamities."*
―Olivia Barnes[src]In 1983, a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event captures the attention of the world—a rare alignment of planets and stars on the winter solstice. As people gather to witness this extraordinary occurrence, the Strange Man is reported to appear on the outskirts of the viewing areas. Unbeknownst to the onlookers, a series of unexplained calamities unfold in the wake of his presence. Reports flood in of inexplicable accidents, sudden natural disasters, and an eerie spike in mortality rates. The Strange Man, seemingly an ominous harbinger, becomes associated with misfortune and tragedy. His reputation transforms from a mysterious figure to a spectral bringer of destruction, earning him the unsettling moniker of the "**Cursed Wanderer**."

#### The Shadowed Eclipse

*"As the world gathered under the shadowed sky, there he stood—the Strange Man, an elusive silhouette amidst the celestial spectacle. Unbeknownst to us, his presence would usher in a cascade of shadows and sorrows."*
―Robert Foster[src]In 1997, a rare astronomical phenomenon, known as the Shadowed Eclipse, casts an eerie pallor over the world. Millions gather to witness the celestial event, unaware that the Strange Man is drawn to these unique occurrences. As the eclipse unfolds, a series of catastrophic incidents befall various locations across the globe. Unexplained accidents, natural disasters, and tragic events spiral out of control, leaving behind a trail of destruction and loss. The Strange Man's enigmatic silhouette is reported at each disaster site, his presence becoming synonymous with catastrophic misfortune. The world collectively dubs him the "**Eclipsed Harbinger**," a spectral figure tied to moments of immense tragedy and sorrow.

### Chasing Elena Ramirez

#### A Glimpse in the Alley

In the year 2005, Elena Ramirez, a librarian with a penchant for solitude, notices a fleeting shadow in the dimly lit alley as she walks home from work. A chill runs down her spine, and she catches a glimpse of a mysterious figure—the Strange Man—watching her from a distance.

#### The Haunting Street Corner

Turning a corner on her way to the grocery store, Elena feels an unsettling presence. Glancing over her shoulder, she spots the same enigmatic silhouette—the Strange Man—standing at the end of the street. His gaze follows her, and she quickens her pace, unnerved by the persistent observer.

#### A Face in the Crowd

While waiting for her train, Elena notices the Strange Man among the bustling commuters. His shadowy form seems to blend seamlessly with the crowd, and yet, she can't shake the feeling of being singled out. His silent presence becomes a haunting constant in her daily routine.

#### The Subtle Reflection

On the train ride home, Elena catches a subtle glimpse of the Strange Man's reflection in the window. His eyes seem to pierce through the glass, meeting hers. She can't escape the feeling that his watchful eyes are an ominous prelude to something she can't comprehend.

#### Echoes in the Empty Park

Seeking solace in the park, Elena finds it eerily empty. The swings sway gently in the breeze, and there, at the far end, stands the Strange Man. His dark figure casts a long shadow, and the once serene park becomes a haunting landscape where his silent gaze never wavers.

#### Shadows at the Threshold

As Elena arrives home on the sixth night, she finds the Strange Man standing on her doorstep. His presence, now more tangible than ever, marks the threshold of something ominous. The air is heavy with an unspoken understanding that the seventh night will hold an inevitable revelation.

#### Rest in Shadows

On the seventh day, s dawn breaks, Elena feels a sudden release from the weight of the Strange Man's watchful eyes. He is gone, and with him, the shadows that trailed her for seven nights. The city rests, and Elena is left to ponder the unsettling specter that wove through her life, leaving only whispers of an enigmatic presence.

#### Departure of Shadows

*"Amidst the grieving whispers, on the eighth day, I, Rachel Thompson, saw him—the Strange Man, haunting the edges of the farewell. His enigmatic silhouette, a specter of shadows, watched as Elena found solace in eternal rest. In that moment, I understood shadows, like secrets, persist, and in death's embrace, the Strange Man remains, a silent companion to the departed."*
―Rachel Thompson[src]On the eighth day, the city wakes to somber news—Elena Ramirez, the librarian who once felt the watchful eyes of the Strange Man, has passed away. The community mourns the loss of a quiet soul, and whispers circulate about the mysterious figure that trailed her for seven nights.

As friends and family gather to bid farewell, a subtle tension lingers in the air. And there, on the periphery of the funeral procession, the Strange Man is spotted once again. His enigmatic silhouette stands against the backdrop of mourning, a silent witness to the departure of shadows.

The whispers intensify, tales of an otherworldly connection between Elena and the Strange Man. Some speak of an ancient pact, others of an unspoken bond that transcends the veil between life and death. As Elena is laid to rest, the city becomes a canvas of speculation, and the Strange Man fades into the shadows, leaving behind a legacy of mystery that outlives even the departed.

## Personality

*"To be added"*
―To be added[src]
Theodore Holloway's original personality was shaped by the harsh crucible of poverty and the profound grief stemming from the loss of his parents to the insidious Veilstrike Fever. The weight of destitution bore down on him, fostering a sense of hopelessness and desperation. In the realm of mental health, Theodore might have grappled with symptoms of depression and acute grief, compounded by the overwhelming circumstances of his life.

Driven by desperation, Theodore, in his mentally distressed state, unwittingly struck a dire bargain with Lucifer at the shadowy crossroads. The desperation that led him to such a pact could suggest a vulnerability, potentially linked to acute anxiety or a sense of powerlessness. This deal became the catalyst for his transformation into the Strange Man, forever bound to the ethereal realms between life and death.

The haunting Veilstrike Fever, which claimed his parents, lingered as a spectral presence in Theodore's psyche. Mental disorders such as complicated grief or even symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) might have manifested, weaving a complex emotional tapestry that colored his interactions with the ethereal.

As the Strange Man, Theodore's transformation brought an enigmatic and mysterious persona. His interactions with souls on the verge of departure bore traces of subtle sarcasm—a coping mechanism, perhaps, as he navigated the complexities of his eternal penance. Mental health aspects could include elements of coping strategies, potentially developed as adaptive responses to the profound existential challenges he faced.

The weight of centuries, compounded by the crossroads and the haunting specter of Veilstrike Fever, contributed to Theodore's eternal irony. Mental disorders like existential angst or a sense of cosmic irony might have colored his perception, creating an intricate psychological landscape as he grappled with the consequences of his choices and the cosmic dance of fate.

## Attributes

### Powers

* **Demonic Empowerment** - *To be added*
	+ **Immortality** - *To be added*
	+ **Nigh-Omniscience** - *To be added*
	+ **Nigh-Omnipresence** - *To be added*
	+ **Teleportation** - *To be added*
	+ **Perception Manipulation** - *To be added*
	+ **Lie Detection** - *To be added*
	+ **Disaster Inducement** - *To be added*

### Abilities

* **Genius-Level Intellect** - *To be added*
* **Omnilingualism** - *To be added*

## Relationships

* Mother †

Allies* *To be added*