Index
If this is your first time, skip to Chapter 1.
The index is for reference in case you forget what certain terms mean or who certain characters are. I'll be adding to it and fleshing it out as I go.
I've tried my best to make it easy to CTRL + F a term. It should only take seconds to find what you're looking for and to be given a suitable reminder.
Glossary
Gothovia - proper noun - home planet of the Gothovians. One of the more diverse planets, the Gothovians consist of vampires, werewolves, fishmen, and many other races you might expect to see in Earth’s Halloween decorations. Ruled by megacorporations, Gothovia is highly advanced in cybernetics. It’s a goth/cyberpunk planet full of Halloween monsters. Gothovia was most heavily inspired by Shadowrun on the SNES, but also classic horror movies, mostly Universal and Hammer Horror, as well as the grandfather of all cyberpunk: Blade Runner. I listened to a lot of Sisters of Mercy while thinking it up as well.
Gothovian - proper noun - pretty much anyone from planet Gothovia, except for those from the Independent Nation of Suburbion. Gothovians are usually vampires, werewolves, fishmen, people with extreme cybernetic enhancements, or one of the other races unique to the planet. There’re also some humans there.
Gygaxia - proper noun - the litRPG planet. Tell all your friends who only read litRPGs when we get there. I hope you all like it.
Kintsugi - noun - the Japanese art of taking broken pottery and gluing it back together with golden lacquer to symbolize finding peace in beauty in the imperfections.
Nightreacher - proper noun - an alien race with jet black skin, white hair, long, pointed ears that stick out to the side, and leathery wings. It’s hard to find one who isn’t an adept psychic. Many see them as monsters, thieves, and scoundrels.
Shloop - verb - the peculiar form of locomotion Jack uses. That’s how he goes places. Using psychic energy, he grabs on to the electromagnetic field or perhaps space itself and pulls himself along.
Voltyr - proper noun - the prophet and messianic (meaning political and religious leader) founder of the Vulfreich and the central figure in the Church of Voltyr.
Voltyrans - proper noun - practitioners of the Faith of Voltyr, the nationalized religion of the Vulfreich.
Vulfosi - proper noun - the humanlike race with wolf ears and wolf tails that originates from planet Vulfos. Characters include Dana von Hara, Amarant, Sgt. Sigrid, Gustav, Aurick, Konrad, Cpt. Elisia, and others. They were strongly inspired by the Empire in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the Imperium from Warhammer 40k, and Saiyans from Dragonball.
Vulfos - proper noun - home planet of the Vulfosi, which includes Dana von Hara, Amarant, Sgt. Sigrid, Gustav, Aurick, Konrad, Cpt. Elisia, and others. The Vulfosi are a humanlike race with wolf ears and wolf tails. They were strongly inspired by the Empire in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the Imperium from Warhammer 40k, and Saiyans from Dragonball.
Wildheart - proper noun - also known as the Curse of Vulfos, Wildheart is an affliction which affects Vulfosi when they are over exposed to psychic energy. It causes them to lose control and become exceptionally violent.
Total Character List
Clara - First appears in Chapter 1 - I Was a Private Investigator. A 19-year-old young lady with curly, blonde hair. From Marisburg, she helps her father run a general store. Her and her family are members of the local New Faith Unitarian church.
Dana von Hara - First appears in the short story Darlings of the Ring. A 25-year-old Vulfosich woman and former soldier in the Vulfosich Empire. She has dark brown hair with wild curls and deep blue eyes. Her wolf ears and tail are a shade darker than her hair. She usually wears a white blouse with her sleeves rolled up, a blue skirt that matches her eyes, a wide black belt, dark hose, and black, pointed, heeled boots to match her belt.
Dave - First appears at the end of Chapter 5 - In the Desert. Mysteriously, he at first resembles Michelangelo’s Statue of David, which Dave says is actually him. He guides our titular P.I. turned tentacle monster into the depths of his own mind to begin facing his inner demons.
Howard Phillip Marlowe - Our secondary narrator. A man with a lean face and dark blonde hair. He’s tall, but not so much so that he stands out. Marlowe was born in Seattle in 1917. He went to college for philosophy, but became a police officer after earning his degree, starting out as a beat cop. That’s where he met Jack Wolfgang. After the war, he went back to the P.D. as a detective.
Jack Wolfgang - Our titular P.I. and primary narrator. Jack was born in Marisburg, Washington, in 1915. He grew up there. Later, he moved to Seattle to become a cop, where he married the love of his life. After their divorce, he joined the war, where he fought in North Africa, Italy, and Germany. After the war, he returned to Seattle and started a private investigation firm. While investigating a case, hired by Laura Softson to go rescue her husband, Sam Softson, Jack stumbles upon an occult ritual. He is transformed into a monster, lost in the depths of space.
Joseph Sullivan McCoy - the kind of man who walked out of a legend. First appears in Chapter 17 - H.P. Marlowe: When Those Who Die Leave No Goodbye, the beginning of H.P. Marlowe’s arcs. Red hair. Thick red mustache. Wears a flat cap. Born on a farm in New York state, he left home at 18 to fight in the Irish War of Independence. After the war, he returned home to chase bootleggers as a cop. Then, he moved out west to Washington to retire, but ended up joining the Army to fight in World War 2. After the war, he returned to Washington state and now works as a state detective.
Mai Selene (aka Barbara or Barbie) - a young lady from Suburbion on planet Gothovia. She resents her overprotective parents and longs for a difficult life far away from them.
Roger the Robot (aka tin can) - First mentioned in Chapter 4 - The Molt, he’s Jack’s trusty robot friend.
Tallulah - A clowngirl. She loves to dance and sing and dreams of one day writing at least one song that will be remembered for ages to come. She wants her life spent cheering people up.
Victoria - the elven princess of Enrothia on planet Gygaxia.
Zhenzhu, Bai - the dragon girl gun-fu disciple. Her skin changes color based on her mood.
Alvin - First appears in Chapter 30 - I Dream of War: Part One. A corporal from East Tennesse. One of Jack’s right hand men during the war. He has black hair and an actor’s face.
Barry Jones - First appears in Chapter 1 - I Was a Private Investigator… First named in Chapter 24 - H.P. Marlowe: An Interview with Clara, Part Two. Grew up with Clara and attended the same church. New Faith Unitarian. No description given, other than “All I saw were the sad, ugly faces of teenage boys covered in pimples and chicken blood. Long, greasy hair clung to their foreheads. White foam rolled out of the corners of their mouths. Their dads should’ve hugged them more.”
Chester - First appears in Chapter 30 - I Dream of War: Part One. A private from West Texas. Rifleman on Jack’s squad in the war.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Fren - any of the various Helpers of Helperland. (Yes, it’s the Apu Apustaja meme. No, I’m not ashamed.)
Geralt Ozymandias - Translator of The Hermetic Key: Secrets of Grimaldius Magosmegistus. He’s first mentioned in Chapter 33 - H.P. Marlowe: A Late Night’s Read at the end of the grimoire’s introduction.
Grimaldius Magosmegistus - Author of The Hermetic Key: Secrets of Grimaldius Magosmegistus
Harold Jenkins
Helper - any of the various Frens of Helperland. (Yes, it’s the Apu Apustaja meme. No, I’m not ashamed.)
I
Jerry Osbourne - Pastor at the New Faith Unitarian Church.
King Apu Apustaja - Rightful ruler of Helperland.
Laura Softson - First mentioned in Chapter 1 - I Was a Private Investigator… Sam Softson’s husband. This is all her fault.
Lancaster - First appears in Chapter 30 - I Dream of War: Part One. A private from Tennessee. Browning Automatic Rifleman on Jack’s squad in the war.
Liliana Bergman - First mentioned in Chapter 22 - H.P. Marlowe: At St. Mary’s. She’s the St. Mary’s Women’s Mental Health Hospital clerk.
Red Guy - Yuh!
Roger the Dog - Jack’s childhood beagle.
Sam Softson - First mentioned in Chapter 1 - I Was a Private Investigator…, but he is more or less first encountered in Chapter 3 - Forest of Chaos. Laura Softson’s lecherous husband.
Sergeant Sigrid -
Steven Sting - First appears in Chapter 1 - I Was a Private Investigator… First named in Chapter 24 - H.P. Marlowe: An Interview with Clara, Part Two. Had an intense infatuation with Clara Baker. Led the ritual at the cabin. No description given, other than “All I saw were the sad, ugly faces of teenage boys covered in pimples and chicken blood. Long, greasy hair clung to their foreheads. White foam rolled out of the corners of their mouths. Their dads should’ve hugged them more.”
Gothcorp United - the shadowy coalition of megacorporations that rule the megacities of Gothovia.
Helperland - home of the Frens.
New Faith Unitarians - a faux-Christian sect that branched off of the Unitarians.
Suburbion - A free nation on the planet Gothovia. Most of Gothovia is ruled by Gothcorp United, the coalition of megacorporations that control the megacities. Years ago, Gothcorp United waged a war of conquest against Suburbion, but the Suburbions prevailed, maintaining their independence. For now.
Vulfreich - The Empire of Vulfos. In short: the empire of men with wolf tails and ears. Characters from the Vulfreich include: Dana von Hara, Amarant, Sgt. Sigrid, Gustav, Konrad, Aurick, and Elisia. Other terms associated with Vulfreich:
Voltyr - proper noun - the prophet and messianic (meaning political and religious leader) founder of the Vulfreich and the central figure in the Church of Voltyr.
Voltyrans - proper noun - practitioners of the Faith of Voltyr, the nationalized religion of the Vulfreich.
Vulfosi - proper noun - the humanlike race with wolf ears and wolf tails that originates from planet Vulfos. Characters include Dana von Hara, Amarant, Sgt. Sigrid, Gustav, Aurick, Konrad, Cpt. Elisia, and others. They were strongly inspired by the Empire in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the Imperium from Warhammer 40k, and Saiyans from Dragonball.
Vulfos - proper noun - home planet of the Vulfosi, which includes Dana von Hara, Amarant, Sgt. Sigrid, Gustav, Aurick, Konrad, Cpt. Elisia, and others. The Vulfosi are a humanlike race with wolf ears and wolf tails. They were strongly inspired by the Empire in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, the Imperium from Warhammer 40k, and Saiyans from Dragonball.
Vulfos, a planet of dense forests, mighty mountains, and fiery volcanos, is home to one of the galaxy’s fiercest and noblest species: the Vulfosich, a humanlike race with ears and tails similar to Earth’s wolves.
In 10,000 B.I. (Before Imperium), the Vulfosich ran across the planet as little more than wild animals. Forming tribes and clans, they dominated their world by sheer force.
The warrior race turned to building cities and forging nations, giving rise to philosophers who spoke of defeating the “Curse of Vulfos,” more commonly known as wildheart.
So the story goes, when the tribes were at the mercy of the wilderness, Voltyr the Ancient rose and first mastered the wildheart, using it to carve out a great kingdom. Seeing the bloodlust as the doom of his people, he offered himself to the moon. In doing so, he subdued the curse so that his people might prosper. With this came the promise that one day Voltyr would return and lead the Vulfosich to a golden age.
After approximately 10k years, Voltyr returned. He united the planet under one rule: the Eternal Imperium. Significantly increasing the technological state of his people, he brought them to space and sent them to conquer the galaxy. And so, the golden age began and lasted for 1,000 years.
Unbeknownst to the Vulfosich, this Voltyr was maybe never real. The “hero” who arrived was actually a Yog cultivating the planet for his own purposes.
At the end of 1,000 years, Voltyr revealed to his people that his time had come to return to whence he came, and so he left the Lunar Throne empty. Chaos erupted across the empire as many fought for the throne, all claiming to be sons of Voltyr.
Dynasty after dynasty rose and fell, each fighting to maintain what their “father” had built. Eventually, in the year 9031 I.D. (Imperium Dominum, a short reference meaning “years belonging to absolute power) Emperor Exavarius I took the Lunar Throne and began a second golden age, often referred to as the Silver Age of Exavarius. He reunified the Empire and began its expansion once again.
Seeing the Vulfosich as now a threat to their machinations, two factions of Yog went to war against them: the Nyarlethy and the Hastugart. Whether or not the Yog were involved is unconfirmed to the Vulfosich; the Yog are seen as a wild conspiracy used to undermine the authority of the Empire to most people.
Ziegrich the Betrayer, mustered forces against his brother. While his faction was smaller, his warriors were far superior, seemingly capable of mastering the wildheart and going even further beyond. Theorists believe that this is because of the influence of Yog factions, though many reject this. The theory goes on to state that Exavarius traveled to the moon in search of Voltyr with the hope of finding him and perhaps a chance to save the Empire. There, he found the Moon Crystal and used it to defeat Ziegrich, sacrificing himself in the process.
Exavarius II took the throne and tried to salvage the Empire, but it wasn’t until Adolphus, Exavarius III came to power that faith in the Empire was restored. The rule of Exavarius II was seen as tyrannical, no better than if Ziegrich had come to power. Some even speculate that the true Exavarius II had been slain and that Ziegrich had survived his last assault then disguised himself as the Exavarius II to become the next Emperor.
Adolphus Exavarius III is often called Adolphus the Pure for his incorruptible nature. He fought hard to purge the Empire of its corruption. He established the Anfragen, a policing organization which he uses to investigate rumors of wildheart corruption, the use of psychic powers, and any other strangeness which might threaten the Empire from within.
While his forefathers were largely secular, Adolphus is a devout Voltyran. He has made the Church the state religion. The Voltyran faith preaches that the chains of the wildheart will one day be broken, but that every man must carry his chains until that day. Voltyr is not actually the central figure of the faith: rather, they pray to an unknown God to which they believe Voltyr was journeying, and they pray that one day Voltyr will find this God and lead them all to a paradise of unbroken chains. They have cannonized Exavarius I as a saint for his sacrifice.
Self-sacrifice is seen as the highest virtue for the Vulfosich. Honor is their second highest virtue. Justice is perhaps their third, and from that other virtues follow.
The Voltyrans believe that any man who manages to break his chains will find in death the path of Voltyr; they will follow him and perhaps be reunited with this nameless god along with him. Any who do not break their chains will be bound in Hell until the day comes that Voltyr truly returns.
The Voltyrans are skeptical of the first return of Voltyr as it did not fulfill the scriptures as written. Some accept it as a sign, a few accept it as a possibility, and many disregard it altogether. Because of this, the Voltyrans have been at odds with the Empire, and so many were highly suspicious when Adolphus made the Church a state institution.
Elisia has joined a faction known as the Knights of Ziegrich. They believe that Ziegrich knew truths about the Empire, which he was trying to spread to free his people. They believe that Ziegrich would have ushered in an egalitarian age, doing away with the enslaving systems of old: destroying the empire and replacing it with a democracy to eventually create a utopia.
