Umbralius

```
TW: Emotional neglect, familial bullying/abuse, brief grooming mention, torture, illness, murder, death, abduction, live experimentation, imprisonment.

```

## Identity

### Species

Gen 1 Shadow Monster/Original Beast; former witch

## Physical

### Fashion

Eclectic, Druidic, and ritualistic. For better or worse, he sticks out like a sore thumb in these modern times. Typically he favors all black clothing, relying on a hooded cloak and flowing harem pants decorated with layered pendant necklaces and beads. Not a shirt nor shoe in sight.

### Other

Wears either a full mask or a half-mask with six eye slits that covers everything above his upper lip, concealing most of his distinct facial features; every inch of his exposed skin is coated in a thick black grime similar to grease paint, though it smells distinctly of rot due to his sickness; his hair is hidden at all times; no visible tattoos or piercings.

## Biographical

### Affiliations

Supernatural Regulation and Intelligence (SRI) (past specimen),

## Personality

### Traits

articulate, empathetic, humble, intuitive, patient, wise, steadfast, ambitious, cerebral, enigmatic, intense, outspoken, private, quiet, solemn, solitary, bizarre, frightening, grim, insecure, melancholic, paranoid, misleading, shy, stubborn, vague

### Likes

astronomy, stargazing, nighttime, astrology, divination, reading, herbalism, nature, flowers, wildlife, history, fiction, non-fiction, the smell of ink and paper, the ocean, rolling green hills, antiques, incense, jewelry, philosophy, the sound of rain, thunderstorms, fireplaces, candles, feeling warm, sleeping, learning new things

### Dislikes

Being forced into tight spaces, medical instruments, invasion of personal space, unsolicited touch, the smell of chemical cleaners, feeling nauseous or sick, forced isolation, pure silence, being stared at, harsh artificial light, firearms, unnecessary violence, feeling out of control

### Strengths

Creative, individualistic, expressive, insightful, inquisitive, truth-seeking, full of conviction, heartfelt, idealistic, altruistic, selfless, principled, passionate, gentle

### Weaknesses

Sensitive to criticism, defensive, dismissive, reluctant to open up, struggles with vulnerability, perfectionistic, prone to mental/emotional burnout, frequently bites off more than he can chew, holds people at arms length, assumes the worst of people first, forgetful

### Astrology

Pisces (Western); Pig/Boar (Eastern)

> "For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." ― *Vincent van Gogh*
>
> Complete Beast FormIncomplete Beast Form

## Supernatural Status

* Gen 1 Shadow Monster/Original Beast.
* Was previously born a witch.
* What originally started as an opportunity to turn a new leaf quickly turned into one of the worst decisions of his life. Umbralius has no recollection of this, but his former self was taken into SRI custody by force and subject to rigorous experimentation to host the fragment of a fabled Divine Beast. Now, he remains within Cedargrove simply because there is nowhere else for him to go, and he has accepted (with great reluctance) that this will be his final resting place.
* Was once in custody of the Supernatural Regulation and Intelligence (SRI) but is no longer.

### Abilities

Umbrakinesis - The ability to create, shape, and manipulate darkness and shadows. Can be channeled to a variety of effects, both as an absence of light and a solid substance. With this ability, Umbralius can create and dispel shields and areas of total darkness, create constructs and weapons, teleport himself through massive distances via shadows, and so on.

Darkness Adaptation - The ability to survive and adapt to dark environments (especially nighttime conditions), with a circadian cycle programmed for nighttime activity and heightened senses to compensate the absence of light (i.e. night vision).

Spatial Perception - The ability to perceive spatial distances: the dimensions (length, width, height), distances between objects, shapes, and size of things. He can discern how far away something is and the exact measurements of the proportions of an object.

Shadow Camouflage - The ability to become undetectable as long as he is in darkness or shadow. He can hide within the shadows and remain undetected, which can be utilized to spy on individuals without leaving behind physical evidence.

Light Absorption - The ability to absorb light or its partial wavelengths while removing it from the source. This light can be absorbed into his body and utilized as an alternate power source in tandem with his other abilities for a temporary period of time.

Shadow Interaction - The ability to interact or induce an effect by interacting with a person's shadow, as if it were tangible. By messing with a person's shadow, he can also effect a shadow's caster. Commonly used to pin them in one spot, control their limbs, or even twist them out of shape.

Darkness Healing - The ability to heal others by using darkness and shadows.

Astronomical Object Manipulation - The ability to create, shape, and manipulate celestial/astronomical objects, such as comets, meteors, asteroids, stars, nebulas, dark matter, black holes, and so on. It should be noted that these objects are created and manipulated at a much smaller scale, as he does not have the power to control existing celestial bodies due to their massive size and distance (i.e. he cannot control existing stars in the sky).

Gravity Manipulation - The ability to manipulate gravity. This allows Umbralius to either increase or decrease gravity in a specific area, be it the environment's gravity or the objects/people around him. Increasing gravity would cause everything to become heavier, causing loose objects to propel to the ground and people to be immobilized or even crushed depending on the amount of gravitational force applied. Meanwhile, decreasing gravity can cause a Zero Gravity effect in a given area, lifting heavier objects with relative ease due to the decreased weight. With this ability, he can also float or levitate as if the laws of gravity have no effect on him.

Energy Detection - The ability to sense the presence of energy, whether they are electromagnetic (magnetic/infrared), psionic, magical, spiritual, etc. and possibly gain detailed understanding about the energy they are sensing, including the amount/size of energy they are sensing and whether it is hidden.

Astrological Empowerment - The ability to draw power based on astrological concepts. With this ability, he can tap the powers associated with the planets associated with his astrological/zodiac sign. As a Pisces, he can tap into the powers associated with Jupiter (known for freedom, luck, and probability) and Neptune (known for illusion, confusion, and deception). As a result, his chances of evasion and escape increase depending on each planet's position.

### Weaknesses

Photokinesis - Depending on the application and the surrounding environment, Umbralius' darkness manipulation may be limited or even fully rendered ineffective by light manipulation. While he may be able to absorb some light, too much light in any given space can drown out the darkness and subdue his umbrakinetic abilities. Without a shadow of an object or person to latch onto, he is unable to create or manipulate shadows of his own.

Nocturnal Rhythm - Due to his adaptation to darkness, Umbralius tends to be more sensitive to light (which is why he often wears a mask with dark mesh built into the eye slits). In addition, he tends to tire out more quickly during daylight hours, as that is often when he needs most rest.

Spatial Limit - Umbralius is only able to perceive the spatial distance and energy of objects or people within a 1-mile (1,609-meter) radius of himself. Any futher than that will be much more difficult to discern, if not impossible.

Interaction Limit - Umbralius must be able to touch or be near shadow or darkness to hide within it or interact with it. Healing Limit - Umbralius' healing abilities are fairly limited. He may not be able to heal injuries if they are too severe (such as fatal wounds and illnesses). In addition, while he may be able to regenerate lost limbs or organs of his own, the same cannot be said for another person.

Astronomical Object Limit - As mentioned before, Umbralius can only create and manipulate minimized versions of celestial bodies. He cannot control existing celestial bodies that are currently being inhabited (i.e. Earth), nor can he control anything that is much larger/farther than his own physical limits can allow. If he were to make an attempt to do so, then he would run a great and inevitable risk of overexerting himself - even losing control of himself.

Gravity Limit - Umbralius is only able to manipulate gravity within a 50-foot (15-meter) radius of himself for an hour maximum.

Overexertion - As a Shadow Monster, Umbralius' abilities are only as strong as his body permits. Despite being an immortal creature, the use of heavy-duty powers in a back-to-back scenario can deplete him of his energy and exhaust him both physically and mentally. If he were to push himself too hard too quickly, he would be susceptible to the negative side-effects of being a Shadow Monster, such as succumbing to the symptoms of his Rot Sickness and Incomplete Form - or, at worst, falling into a feral state of mind that would leave him extremely fatigued afterward.

## Legend: Shadow Beast

### Original Beast

* The Original Beast, Umbralius, lives within him and provides him with abilities related to shadows and the cosmos and is known to be paranoid and elusive.
* Specimen ID SRI-000-013
* No good communication ever occurs between Umbralius and the Divine Beast fragment within him. Because his identity has become blended over time, he feels that the thoughts and feelings of his fragment are his own - yet there will always be a softer emotional force that tugs him in the opposite direction of volatility and anger. Feeling such a murky divide within him often renders him in a constant loop of panic and confusion, as he genuinely cannot tell whether his thoughts of paranoid ideation come from himself or something else entirely.
* Umbralius recalls virtually nothing from his past life. Due to the traumatic nature of his transformation, he is left with large, patchy holes in his memory and a weak sense of identity. He has even forgotten his real name, which is the reason why he defaults to the name of his fragment as no other name feels quite right anyway. The only sense of familiarity and nostalgia he feels is when he looks at the night sky, as it has remained the only constant visual throughout his turbulent life.
* Umbralius sees himself as nothing other than an anomaly - something that was never meant to exist in this world. He feels he does not belong among other supernaturals, and that he certainly does not belong among humans, either. Knowing full well what he is capable of (and knowing full well the SRI are hot on his trail), he considers himself too dangerous to be exposed to the general public. Therefore, he has condemned himself to an immortal life of solitude in an unmarked location within the forest.
* Umbralius' escape from Lab 13 was pure happenstance... and perhaps one of the strangest, yet most profound experiences he actually has the pleasure of remembering. A young child, of all people, was the one who stumbled across his dirty cell in the basement of the laboratory - a young, wandering boy who somehow possessed the deep, empathetic grasp of a full-grown adult. Somehow, this child had managed to undo the locks that held him into place for nearly a century, and without once showing an ounce of fear, disgust, or remorse... he simply let him go. And without looking back for even a moment, Umbralius slipped away into the cracks of the wall toward his first taste of freedom. To this day, Umbralius does not know who that child was or what became of him, but he does know one thing: if he were to ever come across him again, he would express to him the gratitude he so rightfully deserved.

### Shadow Monster Abilities

Beast Recognition (Will recognize its own offspring or other Original Beasts immediately.)

Complete Beast Form (A difficult to maintain, fully formed Beast Mode.)

Multilingualism (The ability to communicate in every language, period.)

Prophetic Dreams (The ability to see into the future in short snippets.)

Divine Sense (Just knowing things to be true without reason; essentially heightened intuition.)

Liquid Body (The ability to turn their bodies into a black slime and slip between small cracks

Magnetic Pull (The ability to pull living things closer through psychic ability.)

Zoolingualism (The ability to talk to animal life forms and understand their reactions.)

Immortality (The state of eternal life. Original Beasts never age, are completely self-sustaining, free from all bodily necessities, and can survive virtually any kind of harm. Any damage done would either be regenerated or simply remain non-fatal.)

### Shadow Monster Symptoms

Rot Sickness (An illness where they cough up black sludge that smells of rot.)

Power Surges (Extreme surges of supernatural strength. Results in extreme fatigue after.)

Weakness to their individual fragment of the Divine Beast, which will have its own personality and presence within them, may be extremely volatile or angry, whether or not they are aware.

Feral State (A state of extreme emotional upset where they attack anything in their path, even close friends)

Incomplete Beast Form (A condition where their bodies are reduced to black goopy versions of their beast forms with only a skull and glowing eyes, maybe some tentacles, limbs, or tendrils; this happens when extremely exhausted/resting)

Full or Partial Amnesia (Prior to being made into an Original Beast)

## Background

### History

Though unbeknownst to many residents at the time, the modest population of the village of Burley was well alive with the spirit of witchcraft. The Rathbone Coven was once well-respected among the community of witches who resided there, as their natural prowess in alchemical magic was unlike anything seen before. Granted, Addison Rathbone was... kind of an odd exception to the coven's expectations. As a middle child of six, Addison's magic manifested in an entirely different practice. Rather than focus on the properties of potions and their compounds, his true calling was divination, as he sought out the stars and the planets above for counsel of the past, present, and future even at a young age.

Having no idea what to do or how to help their confused and misguided son, Addison's parents did the best thing they knew how: they undervalued him, neglected his studies, and left him to take care of his three baby sisters instead. In the meantime, his two older brothers had a hell of a time letting him know just how welcome he was in the family - by mocking him, pushing him around, and even "testing" their own magic on him by forcing him to drink rancid, unstable potions that left him sick for weeks on end. And through all of this, his parents and his coven simply looked the other way.

Yet there was one person who came into his life when he was an adolescent, one person who seemed to turn everything around for him: an older woman by the name of Eden Acres, and an astrological witch just like him. She saw potential in him that his own family failed to see, and through his formative years, he became her apprentice. Granted, Addison's family did not take too kindly to Eden superseding their authority, despite their lack of involvement before - and in a move that could only be described as purely reactionary, they slandered her name within the village by accusing her of "grooming" their child. Humiliated and deeply infuriated, Eden cursed the entire Rathbone Coven (save for Addison) with an otherworldly affliction that not even their precious alchemy could cure.

And despite Addison begging and pleading for her to lift the curse, she refused. She claimed it was for his own good, that it was time for him to be free of the people holding him back from his potential. One by one, his parents and siblings succumbed to the curse, leaving him alone, betrayed, and overwhelmed with grief. As a result, Addison cut ties with Eden, fled from England, and immigrated overseas to the United States at the mere age of eighteen, seeking to turn a new leaf and escape from the sorrows that plagued him at every turn. Eventually, his travels led him to the idyllic city of Cedargrove, Washington, where he kept a low profile and earned modest wages as a bookkeeper at Ponderosa Library.

For a while, Addison lived out his years in peace, healing from the loss of his coven and his mentor... but as he continued his divination studies in secret, he started to receive troubling visions of the future: ones filled with shadowy beasts unlike any he had ever seen, with glowing eyes and dripping maws. Every vision he received became clearer, more detailed, more grotesque than the ones that came before. Then, before long, he began to receive visions of something else entirely: an old facility somewhere deep in the forest, where the rumblings of a divine creature could be heard. Against his better judgment, he decided to seek out this facility himself, and packed up for a camping trip out into the Cedargrove Forest and Wildlife Reserve.

He did not return.

He found what he was looking for, but at a deadly cost. A few SRI agents apprehended him for trespassing upon laboratory grounds, but rather than turn him over to the proper authorities for arrest, they drag him between the jaws of Hell. They had chosen him for one of thirteen designated vessels to house a fragment of a Divine Beast, and for several endless months, they "prepared" his body for transplant by subjecting him to torture and live experimentation. Only when he was near death and severely poisoned by the blackened waters of Lost Cove did they deem him compatible - and after several failed attempts prior, the beast named "Umbralius" was successfully created. Though at a hefty price.

Parts of Addison's brain sustained damage as a result of the torture, experimentation, and transplant he received, and his memories were compromised. He no longer remembers who he was before, and only knows himself as the Original Beast of present times. He spent nearly a century wasting away inside a cell within Laboratory 13 until the year 2000, when a young child waded through the hellish waters surrounding his cell to free him from his prison. Thanks to this child, Umbralius escaped from the lab and into the impenetrable depths of the woods, where he took up residence in an abandoned mansion that had been claimed by nature within the reserve. To this day, he remains in hiding, away from society and from the lab that claimed his past life - all while fighting off determined SRI agents attempting to neutralize him.

### Motivations and Goals

To remain hidden in plain sight, to stay as far away from human society and the SRI as possible, to live out the remainder of his eternity in solitude unperturbed, to one day repay the young child who had saved him (should the chance ever arise - if it ever arises).

## Living Situation

### Home

For the past twenty-odd years, Umbralius has resided in an unmarked mansion deep within the Cedargrove Wildlife Reserve. Not many people know of its existence - likely because the reserve itself is barred from public access. Those who are aware of the mansion's location are likely part of the SRI, and likely have the unfortunate assignment of taking the Original Beast down (which, so far, has been notoriously unsuccessful). It is safe to assume that the original owner of the mansion has long since perished, either claimed by the wildlife or... well, something else entirely.

The mansion itself shows its age in its poor condition, with broken windows and shattered glass, a front door that cannot close, and a dense overgrowth of foliage crawling from the exterior of the home inward. Nearly all of the furniture in the mansion has fallen apart from neglect, coated in layers of dust and grime, including a piano with broken ivories smeared with black streaks. The interior of the home is clammy, moldy, and perpetually dark, with no candles or electricity. The only source of light occasionally comes from a fireplace in the upstairs study - where Umbralius himself spends most of his days in insolation.

### Never Leaves Home Without

His mask and his ritual pendants/necklaces.

### Travel

Umbralius only travels by foot. That's it. Frankly, he wouldn't trust anything else.

## Plotting

### Desired Ships/Plots

Friends and enemies, 100%. I am also very interested in (read: REALLY excited about) the prospect of him meeting other Shadow Monsters, such as the Original Beasts and their offspring - including his own.

### Where to Encounter Umbralius

Right now, he is most likely to be encountered within the Cedargrove Wildlife Reserve, though that may be subject to change as his personal plot progresses.

### No-Go's for RP

Not really interested in romance, as I've already got a ship planned for him. No past lovers, either, since he's never had 'em.