This will serve as a glossary of sorts, and a hub of information. It will detail the characters and such that are introduced as the story goes on.
Characters
Major characters
James Williamson: Main Character, has multiple superhuman identities including his maternal Grandfather's, the Phantom, as well as Shade, one of his original identities. (putting this here, as while the MC, is the Main Character, the Major characters, will have plenty of interactions with him and such within the story. Both Minor and Major characters will be recurring, for the most part, just major characters will be more prominent.)
Candace Marie Clarke: (Introduced in Chapter One) Has plant related powers, has been a long time friend of the MC. She is rather powerful, in certainn conditions, but does not like fighting in general.
Jess/Lust: (Introduced in Chapter One) Former Acquaintance of the MC, she has come to Cross Timber for mysterious purposes, has deep connections to James.
Giovanni D'Angelo/Pride: Former Member of the Seven Sins and The Syndicate, is currently Jess's superior in the Society, now leads operations in Cross Timber.
Douglass Silver/Shaman: Member of the League who preaches complete justic and no mercy against Villains, has several friends within the League. Has powers related to the elements.
Minor/Recurring/Unidentified characters
Victor Armstrong: (Introduced in the Prologue) Villain, led a mercenary group that tried to assist in a coup in an unspecified country run by a Monarchy. Was captured and imprisioned 8 years by the main character in his Shade persona. Had air related powers, was a Juicer.
Bruiser/Bruce Donovan: (Introduced in Chapter One) Former boxer who killed an opponent when his powers awoke. Now works as muscle for several Villain Groups in Cross Timber, tried to take down the MC, but was defeated.
The Princess: (Introduced in the Prologue) a Princess that was nearly killed in a Coup that sought to remove many of those in the line of Succession. She has spent the last 8 years using her kingdoms resources to track down her hero.
Tara, Vincent, and Craig Williams: Three siblings, one of whom is an avid follower of Douglass.
Terry and Scott Murray: Heroes who follow Shaman and are old friends of his.
Sofia Rigby: Plant manipulating retired hero who is currently a teacher at Darkholme, close friends with Candace.
Dilligence, Patience, Chastity and the other Virtues: Members of an organization in pursuit of destroying the Sins and their members.
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Terms to Know
Juicers: Supers who use a serum to grant themsevles powers, usually require a dose every so often
Super/Meta(human): Term that refers to those with superhuman abilities that do not fall under the umbrella of magical abilities.
Types of Powers
Within the World of Thicker Than Water, there exist two types of powers, aside from ones certain beings are gifted as being a natural part of their physiology. Magical/Mystical powers are the least commonly seen, they are tied to ones bloodline, so they unlike superpowers are hereditary to a point. Magic, is the most mysterious of the two powers, as well as the most complicated. Magic more often than not requires a medium of some sort, usually the magical pwoer within a casters bl;ood combined with some other magical medium such as a wander or trinket. Some types of magic are more reliant on mediums or more ritualistic than others. Regardless of the magic practice, it circumvents most knowledge of the laws of physics and the universe, whereas superpwers are generally still bound within those rules.
Superpowers are the most commonly seen of the two types of powers, while not exactly hereditary, they are genetic, and if several members of a family do have powers, they will be similar or connected more often than not. For example, during the WW2 Era, there was a Superhuman who was German born, but fought against the Nazi regime for a time, he was called Der Reise, or the Giant, he could make himself larger at will, increasing strength and durabilit with his size. His son, had similar powers, increased durability and llimited size changing. but still ultimately different from his fathers. The Super Gene, when activated, changes the persons physiology, to where they would naturally have that power.
This is only if activated through stressful events or such, we do not know the exact factor, but Serums used by Juicers, for example, can temporarily or permanently awaken a Supers powers, but that is iffy at best. Most powers, physically oriented or otherwise, are much like muscles. The more one uses them, the stronger they can become, but after a certain point, usually, the Supers advancement lessens, this depends on talent and potential, in a sense.
Factions/Groups
The Syndicate: In the late 40's, after Supers became known and started taking a more active part in society, the more convention criminal institutions started recruiting Supers. The Syndicate is the result of a pact and merger between several well known Organized Crime families that banded together to survive as more and more Heroes and Villains came about.
The Society: Though many Villains work solo or in small groups, they are often disadvantaged against Heroes who have sponsors and organizations behind them much of the time. A group of the greatest Villains, including the original Phantom
The 7 Sins: Though there are many Villain groups, most have hordes of mundane lackeys, but not all. The 7 sins is one such group, in the early months of 2008 a group of Villains with certain thematic powers teamed up. Each of them has a power based off of or around one of the biblical Seven sins.
The Virtues: A mysterious group of people whose sole apparent goal is the destruction and eradication of the Seven Sins.
The League: During the Early 90's, a group formed, of the Greatest heroes of the time and ages past, formed to provide guidance to the younger generation. They operate much like the Society, but for heroes, most freelance heroes and hero groups have some connection, however loose to the League.