The House of Spiders

1. #1The Index

   Keys: The Index

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   The Index (검지, geomji) is one of the Five Fingers of the Backstreets, and a Syndicate devoted to fulfilling the will of mysterious commands known as Prescripts.

   Like the other Fingers, the Index is one of the most powerful Syndicates in the City, possessing enough influence to rival even the Wings.[1]

   Like the other four Fingers, the Index is a large Syndicate with a unique culture and creed that all members follow fervently. Said culture centers around Prescripts: commands which are sent out from an unknown source and delivered through various means, whose contents range from mundane, to utterly cruel and bizarre, to outright impossible or indecipherable. Members of the Index, as well as Backstreets citizens looking for the Index's protection, are required to follow the Prescripts they receive. Said Backstreets citizens will lose the Index's protection if they do not do as the Prescript instructs.[2] Otherwise, there is no guarantee of punishment for failing to fulfill a Prescript; rather, an Index Proxy must receive their own Prescript telling them to punish the slacker.[3]

   Most Index members grow numb to the workings of the Prescripts,[4] and will carry them out without question. Those who do try to rebel against the system have little chance of maintaining their spirit in the face of the Prescripts' seemingly all-knowing nature. Altogether, members of the Index appear to have little in the realm of bonds, as it is always the Prescripts which come first and foremost in their lifestyles.

   Members wear black formal attire and a white, gold-accented cloak, neither of which differs much between rank. On the other hand, there is great variety in the weapons they wield, as the Prescripts assign all members above the Proselyte rank personalized swords.[5] Proselytes wear blindfolds meant to teach them to follow the Prescripts regardless of what is happening before them, which is removed upon their promotion.[6]

   The Index's hierarchy system features at least four major ranks, which are comprised of a less traditional echelon. The ranks are as follows:

   Proselyte: An initiate of the Syndicate who joined after receiving a Prescript asking them to become a Proselyte. Proselytes learn the ways of the Index by shadowing a Proxy in groups of five to six (a "familia"), and will be promoted to either Proxy or Messenger after showing a certain level of competence.[6] Proselytes may be rewarded with fabric to extend the length of their cloak as a sign of their progress.[20] Proxy: A higher rank equivalent to a Messenger. They receive and carry out Prescripts with their familia.[21] Their Prescripts can ask for anything, but the order to punish others who have failed to carry out their Prescripts is the most consistent one.[3][22] Messenger: A higher rank equivalent to a Proxy. The duty of receiving and delivering Prescripts to their recipients is held by them. It is unclear whether they receive frequent Prescripts like Proxies do.[23] Weaver: A special member whose position in the totem pole is unknown. They tend to the machines and looms that create the Prescripts. Their existence is a secret to most, and the Weavers themselves aren't aware of how many are in their ranks. The Oracle's Proxy: A special member whose position in the totem pole is unknown, but is seemingly able to directly receive orders from the "gods" of the City. Their duties in relation to the Prescripts are similar to that of ordinary Proxies, and it is unclear what specifically distinguishes the Oracle's Proxies. However, their position within the Index is distinct.[24]

2. #2Prescripts.

   Keys: Prescript, Prescripts

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   As a phenomenon, Prescripts are considered a Star of the City.[7] Prescripts contain highly unpredictable tasks, delivered to or by members of the Index. They may be delivered at any time, through any method,[8][9] after which they must be carried out by the receiver. Every Prescript is one-of-a-kind,[8] and the time limit for their completion varies from case to case.[10] While many are delivered via slips of paper, other types of delivery exist, such as through devices resembling electronic pagers.

   Prescripts might ask for something as easy as waving one's hand at an intersection, as bloody as maiming another human being, or as abstract as killing a painting. Abstract Prescripts are common enough that certain members of the Index are given the authority to interpret them for the receiver.[11] Yet even with the variety and 'randomness', it's understood that the Prescripts will always benefit the Index in some manner.[12] In this way, outsmarting the Prescripts is considered impossible. Prescripts are able to predict fate, know when they have and haven't been completed, and whether Prescripts are being fabricated, all of which they will adjust their commands to accordingly.[13][14] At the end of the day, citizens are not permitted to question how the Prescripts work or where they come from, lest they be targeted by Index Proxies.[15] In fact, the vast majority of people, including members of the Index, have no idea how the system really works.

   While the Prescripts mostly interact with humans, they do have the knowledge of and can function around mysterious phenomena such as The Gesellschaft.[16]

3. #3Rien

   Keys: Rien

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   Rien is a tall man with pale skin, black hair with silver strands, and a right eye featuring a golden pupil. The left side of his face is concealed behind a porcelain mask, the base of the mask being white, with a golden trim, used to obscure visible burns. The mask features a large crack along it. He wears a black suit jacket with golden buttons and an Index symbol on its left shoulder, with two similarly gold chevrons beneath it. His dress pants and shoes carry the same color as the rest of his suit, with the soles of his shoes having golden trim. Beneath his suit jacket, he wears a plain white dress shirt and black tie. He wears white gloves on his hands.

   In combat, he wields a golden vial with a chain on it, which allows for a ferrofluid-like liquid to transform into various weapons based on his assigned Prescript.

   Prior to Ryōshū's departure from the House of Spiders, Rien's left eye was exposed and undamaged. When removed, the mask reveals a scarred part of his face that also has a damaged eye, only showing his pupil from within the wound.

   Rien is a composed individual, acting with simplicity and speaking gently even while harming himself or others. Though he acts with grace, he carries a sinister air, tormenting people both physically and mentally. Due to his allegiance to the Index, he shows extreme devoutness to orders of the Prescripts, going as far as maiming himself to prove the completion of his orders.

   Among the Nursefathers, he was the one who most readily assumed the role of father towards Yoshihide, reading books to her, reminding her to take care of her wounds, and even expressing a form of discontent in hearing of Valencina's physical abuse of her. Since Yoshihide's youth, he tended to treat her as younger than her actual age, which would annoy the girl; even when meeting her again during the main story, Rien's behavior towards her appears unchanged, with him often referring to Ryōshū as his "darling daughter" despite Ryōshū's unwavering will to sever herself from the Nursefathers. Out of the Nursefathers, Rien is also the most dedicated towards his task of perfecting Ryōshū into the perfect wielder of Arayashiki, rejoicing upon seeing her enter the state of non-self, and describing her as the House of Spiders' masterpiece.

   Despite his unflappable demeanor, Rien harbors mixed feelings regarding the Prescripts. As it is due to them that he could indulge in sufferings and the pleasures of the City, Rien is thankful for the chance they allow him to enact great violence onto others; however, he conceals a resentment towards them, having harbored a genuine attachment for his previous family, which he had allowed to die by following the order of the Prescripts. Rien also grew attached to his second daughter Ryōshū, to the point that near the end of his life, he was finally willing to defy the Prescript to attempt to convince her to return to her family in the House of Spiders, believing them to be able to protect her from the rest of the Fingers.

4. #4Sora

   Keys: Sora

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   Sora is a short, slender woman of pale complexion with black, messy hair. At all times, she wears a large metal collar with the Index's insignia that covers half of her face, with chains that connect to cuffs.

   As a Proxy of the Index, she dons the Finger's signature white cloak, with a white shirt with black sleeves, black tie and skirt, with black thigh high boots with golden heels. With her Effloresced E.G.O active, her arms and legs are shrouded in shadows, having large clawed hands and feet. She also grows a long, thin tail with an arrow-like end, alongside a pair of horns and a halo—the chains and cuffs are broken in this state as well.

   Sora is a timid and insecure person, often worrying over how others perceive her. She has no friends due to her position within the House of Spiders and, as a result, craves companionship and validation from others. When she disguised herself as a member of the LCE, she quickly grew attached to the employees of Limbus Company and enjoyed having people to talk to, while also lacking the ability to understand that they were only speaking to her on friendly terms due to believing she was a colleague of theirs. These factors characterize her as naive, a trait which also shows in her desire to please and become family with Rien, who clearly holds no genuine affection for her.

   Despite her cravings for companionship, Sora puts her loyalty to Rien and the Prescripts above all else, even if it entails killing the people she has grown fond of. Similarly, she remains a devout member of the Index even as the Prescripts guide her life in a direction where she remains alone and unable to befriend others. When her duties don't have to come into play, however, Sora demonstrates a kind and trusting heart that believes good people should be rewarded.

5. #5House of Spiders

   Keys: House of Spiders

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   The House of Spiders, led by one powerful member from each of the Five Fingers, was formed to raise an individual to be the perfect wielder of the Relic Arayashiki and turn them into a tool akin to a Concept Incinerator upon which they would be used as a "landfill" to dispose of anything the Fingers wanted forgotten.[5][6] To this end, someone with an aptitude to the Relic was required:[5] Shiomi Yoru, the Dihui Star of the Pinky, was chosen to bear a child and pass down the unique perception of time tied to her blood.[7] With her aptitude for Arayashiki and the skills she learned under the Nursefathers, Yoshihide was to eventually become a wielder of "Muga", achieving a state of non-self that would give her the ability to erase concepts and everything tied to them.[8] These concepts are not permanently deleted, but instead severed from reality in a way which makes them impossible to reach.[8] As the Muga, Yoshihide would have to forfeit her memories and reach a state of complete emptiness.[9] It is heavily implied that the Five Fingers intended for Yoshihide to erase the disgraced Nursefathers as her first act upon becoming the Muga.[10]

   The members of the House were five high-ranking, yet largely disgraced members of the Five Fingers: a Sottocapo of the Thumb, an Oracle's Proxy of the Index, a Great Brother of the Middle, a Maestro of the Ring, and a Star of the Pinky. These five were the House's Nursefathers, responsible for Yoshihide's upbringing and training. Their base was the House of Spiders, a massive, secluded set of Corridors connected to the outside world in a number of random ways.[11] While most of the Nursefathers and Apprentices could leave as they liked,[12] and a number of other members of the Fingers knew where the House was and would visit it for tutor sessions,[13] the Pinky Nursefather was uniquely closed off from the world and forbidden from leaving its premises.[14]

   the Nursefathers, but rather the greater Five Fingers.[15][16] In fact, Rien is strongly suggested to have been the only Nursefather aware of the actual purpose of their work,[17] with Yoshihide and the others believing the goal was as simple as molding her into an unstoppable swordswoman.[16][18] However, the Fingers seemed to lack faith in the House's ability to transform Yoshihide into the Muga, as the Thumb commissioned something known as "Project Araya" as what appeared to be a back-up plan.[19] This was titled a "mass-production endeavor",[19] though the Araya taken in by Yoshihide was presumably the only surviving product.[20] The project appears to have been commissioned by the Capo dei Capi and headed by the "Central" section of the Thumb,[10][21] a group which Valencina was in communication with and hoped she could impress into reinstating her as a Sottacapo.[22][23][24]

   During her time at the bioengineering research facility that created her,[25] Araya was taught to consider Yoshihide her mother and her real home,[26] leading Araya to convince the swordswoman to take her back to the House of Spiders when they first met. This benefited the plan to keep Yoshihide chained to the House of Spiders, as Araya's wellbeing became a tool for the Nursefathers to leverage against her.[27]

6. #6The Thumb

   Keys: The Thumb

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   Like the other four Fingers, the Thumb is a large Syndicate with a unique culture and creed that all members follow fervently. In particular, members of the Thumb value politeness and respect to one's superiors above all else.[5] The Thumb presents a strict hierarchy, at the head of which sits the Capo dei Capi, to whom the entire Syndicate and its subsidiaries must defer. The Thumb itself is composed of a number of smaller groups typically referred to as families, or Famiglie.[6] Among these organizations, seven families, or the Sette Famiglie of the Backstreets, are considered leading member Syndicates, holding far more power and influence compared to the common subsidiaries of the Thumb.[3] One of these is La Famiglia Bognatelli, a Famiglia that gained prestige and eventually became one of the Sette Famiglie thanks to the Palermitan Style of swordplay that originated from their family.[7] A "Central" section of the Thumb mentioned for its involvement in the House of Spiders project suggests that the organization may contain other additional sub-groups. [8][9]

   In practice, the Thumb's dedication to politeness means that the Syndicate demands absolute compliance to hierarchy, as when dealing with the Thumb, any action that demonstrates a lack of respect for higher authority will be met with immediate punishment. Depending on the mistake, the consequence may extend past the rule breaker, to even their blameless comrades.[10] Members of the Thumb also understand their own need to respect outsiders, and may spend time studying the hierarchy of other City factions in order to ensure they never disrespect someone of a higher rank.[11] Thumb punishments tend to revolve around the removal of body parts, such as body dismemberment or the forceful removal of one's tongue.[12] Ultimately, the Thumb will punish anyone it deems an offender, regardless of how innocent the mistake or clueless the individual is.[13]

   While the attire of the Syndicate differs slightly depending on the quadrant of the City, members tend to dress in black, red, and gold attire. Each member's status can be gleamed from their uniform, as the Thumb signifies its ranks by the number of arrows on its badges, and sub-rank by the number of pins on its collars. The Thumb's weapons of choice are guns, which they make varied use of—such as through fighting with the bayonet or buttstock—in order to cut down on bullet costs.[14]

   Hierarchy The Thumb's hierarchy system features four major ranks, which are then divided into multiple sub-ranks. The ranks are as follows:

   Soldato (Soldier): The common foot soldier of the Thumb, and the lowest rank possible. "Common Fixers" are equivalent in rank to them.[15] The Soldato rank is divided into four sub-ranks: Primo, Secondo, Terzo, and Quarto.[16] Capo (Captain): Those who command groups of Soldatos, relaying orders from their higher-ups. They are able to act with more liberties. A Grade 1 Fixer or an Associate Fixer is considered equivalent in rank to a Capo.[15][1] The Capo rank is divided into four sub-ranks, likely the same ranks as Soldatos.[17][18] Consigliere (Advisor): A Consigliere is a higher-ranking member who appears to have a hand in who gets to join the Syndicate.[19][20] It is unclear whether the rank belongs to more than one individual at a time. Sottocapo (Underboss): The direct underlings of the Capo dei Capi, who have permission to manage entire operations of the Syndicate within designated areas.[21] Board members of a Wing are of equivalent rank to a Sottocapo.[15] Capo dei Capi (Godfather, Padrino): The highest echelon. It is unclear whether the rank belongs to more than one individual at a time. Thumb standards of respect are extreme, to the point that individuals are not allowed to look directly at those of a higher rank than them.[22] However, Thumb members of similar rank (or outside parties of an equivalent rank) are free to speak to each other however they please, such that some members may prefer to speak to their equals in order to alleviate any pressure in the discussion.[23][24]

   Occasionally, a higher-up may temporarily grant their own rank to someone of lower rank, should they see said person as a better fit for an operation or require someone else to attend to matters in their stead. However, this is far from a common practice.[25]

7. #7The Middle

   Keys: The Middle

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   Like the other four Fingers, the Middle is a large Syndicate with a unique culture and creed that all members follow fervently. Members operate on an extremely tight-knit 'familial' structure, enjoying close fraternal ties with one another. Reflective of their bonds, everyone in the Middle refers to each other as their "Brothers", "Sisters", or "Siblings".

   While the Middle cherishes its own members, it takes the polar opposite approach towards outsiders. Any "sin" committed against a member of the Middle, their loved ones, or property is recorded in the "Book of Vengeance" so that the perpetrator might be punished for the deed. The Middle is well-known for never letting go of unfulfilled grudges, and members may spend years chasing down its enemies to enact justice, which often entails a punishment that is grossly disproportionate to the perceived crime. Besides listing the names of everyone who has slighted the Middle, the Book of Vengeance also provides guidelines for the punishment to every conceivable crime, which range from murdering a Sibling to the simple act of stepping on a member's shoe.[2] The same list is shared across every Book of Vengeance,[3] although said lists appear to be divided by District.[4] Particularly high-risk Vengeances are classified as Labors and Big Siblings are expected to complete one in order to earn the title of Great Sibling.[5][6]

   Depending on the crime, the Middle will not hesitate to annihilate everyone in the perpetrator's faction, town, or social circle. As with the case at Rodya's hometown, the Middle may not even care who actually committed the sin, and will just opt to enact mass vengeance against whoever's in the vicinity in order to teach everyone nearby a lesson.[7]

   On the other hand, members of the Middle are far more lenient to each other, and slights are generally ignored and forgiven out of loyalty to one another.[8] However, members of the Middle are expected to be in the Syndicate for life, and thus nobody can leave it. Anyone who attempts to move on from the Syndicate will be hunted down by their former Siblings until they die or erase absolutely every indicator of the Middle from themselves.[9]

   There exists no strict dress code among the Middle beyond blending in with other members.[10] They tend to wear light-colored dress pants and garish shirts or coats in purple and pink tones, as well as carry around personal copies of the Book of Vengeance with them. Other common attributes include golden chains wrapped around the forearm, shins, and neck (larger amounts of chains are present on higher-ranking members), which the Middle utilize in combat, and are meant to symbolize solidarity and connection between Siblings.[11] Members of the Middle are also recognizable by their enhancement tattoos; as they are allowed to get a single tattoo with each vengeance completed, the number of tattoos present on one's body tends to denote their ranking in the Syndicate.[12]

   In combat, the Middle make use of punches and kicks, augmented by the tattoos, although they will occasionally make use of weapons as well, especially when conducting punishments.[13]

   Hierarchy The Middle's hierarchy system features at least four major ranks, which do not appear to contain sub-ranks. The ranks are as follows:

   Little Sibling Young Sibling Big Sibling Great Sibling: The highest rank mentioned thus far. One of the requirements for promotion from Big Sibling to Great Sibling is completing a Pilgrimage of Loyalty, which involves accomplishing one or more Labors.[14] While there are multiple ranks within the Syndicate, they do not seem to call for any difference in how members treat each other, as in-group relationships are built on mutual respect, care, and trust that succeeds any power structure. Instead, there exists a natural tendency for lower-ranking members to want to impress their superiors, and higher-ranking members to dote on their subordinates.[15]

8. #8The Ring

   Keys: The Ring

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   Like the other four Fingers, the Ring is a large Syndicate with a unique culture and creed that all members follow fervently. Its focus is on art. Members of the Ring are eccentric artisans enamored with art reflecting the human condition, which they pursue by causing and exhibiting human suffering. Their artwork takes a wide variety of forms, from sculptures made of corpses to massacres painted out of someone's mind.[2] The Ring's power extends over great part of the City, with more influential movements having even greater reach.[3]

   The Syndicate manages galleries featuring their works, and will at times auction them off.[4] Galleries are tied to a specific School of the Ring and are typically staffed by a number of Docents;[5] Galleries that are connected to a Maestro's atelier and auction house are called Main Studios.[6]

   Among auctions, the most prestigious are VIP auctions, where the finest pieces are auctioned to wealthy bidders typically tied to corporations,[7] although other guests may be personally invited by the Maestro organizing the auction. During auctions, bidders' heads are covered by a veil. Beside auctions, the Ring also organizes other artistic exhibitions, such as the Biennale, one of the most illustrious events for its members, and which presumably takes place every two years.[8]

   The Ring offers protection to residents of the Backstreets under its occupation, so long as the citizens are willing to create art to be evaluated by the Ring. These civilians periodically submit artwork to be graded at an exam site,[9] where Ring members refer personal judgements on a letter scale. One failing grade results in a warning, two results in the loss of the Ring's protection, and three results in an on-site execution.[10] Similarly, lower-ranking members of the Ring, namely Students, regularly complete 'assignments' issued by higher-ups within designated time periods to maintain membership.[11][12] The artwork of Students is presented to higher-ranking members, such as Docents or Maestros, during Critique sessions, and later evaluated. The goal of most individuals associated with the Ring is to achieve a regular schedule and improvement in evaluations, in order to maintain their station within the Syndicate.[13]

   The Ring makes use of special pigments both in their art and in combat. This paint is said to be made from the same material as Augmentation Tattoos,[14] being nigh-indelible brands that can be applied to one's skin to cause various effects,[15] such as weakening an enemy it is forcibly applied on.

   The Ring's hierarchy system features at least three major ranks, which do not appear to contain sub-ranks. The ranks are as follows:

   Student: The common artist who both submits assignments to the Maestros for grading and grades the work of Ring-affiliated civilians.[11] Docent: A mid-rank, roughly equivalent to a Capo of the Thumb or a Big Sibling of the Middle.[23] Appears to be the rank in charge of hosting art galleries.[24] Maestro: A high-ranking artist. Gives out assignments to the lower ranks and hosts Ring auctions. To earn the title of Maestro, one must have three art pieces that establish them as worthy of the rank.[25] Sub-sections In addition to member ranks, the Ring also contains at least six sub-sections known as "Schools". The Schools are as follows:

   Fauvism: Those who tend to make use of primary colors and complex lines. Known to wear animal masks[26] and create artwork based on animals and Monsters. The School of Fauvism also run animal conservatories that double as galleries,[27][28] and is noted to be one of the most influential Schools of the Ring.[3] Émile Benoît is a Maestro of the School of Fauvism. Pointillism: Those who tend to make use of small strokes and dots to depict the flow of light.[26] Known to wield paintbrush-like weapons, the School of Pointillism was involved in Mirror experimentation with the help of the researcher Aseah. Jumsoon was a Maestro of the School of Pointillism. Cubism: Those who seek to incorporate abstract three-dimensionality and depth.[26] Corporism: Those who utilize the interaction between human bones and muscles, and the contraction and elongation thereof.[29] It is indicated to be very unpopular among the Ring for its obsession over the human body, which is considered outdated and shallow.[30][31] Callisto was a Maestro of the School of Corporism. Suprematism: Unknown, but are characterized by their 'pure-bloodedness'.[32] Blaue-Reiters: Unknown, but mentioned by Ryōshū among the Schools of the Ring.[33]

9. #9The Pinky

   Keys: The Pinky

   Enabled · Order 100

   Entry settings

   The Pinky is a Finger shrouded in mystery, and many elements of how the Finger operates are still unknown. Members of the Pinky hide amongst the rest of society, infiltrating other Syndicates and organizations, including even the other Fingers. Members keep their relationship with the Pinky a secret, and because they only tend to encounter each other under specific circumstances, are almost always unaware of another's status as a Pinky member, even when directly interacting with each other.[3] Members typically operate independently unless they have been given orders to do otherwise, and may even spend their 'free time' in conflict with other members of the Pinky.[4]

   Each member of the Pinky holds a seat named after a "Star", as well as a personal title. For example, Lei Heng held the seat of the "Tiantui Star", and his title within the Pinky was "Chachihu the Winged Tiger". Seats are tied to a member's ownership of a type of Relic[5] called a "star-forged" blade: when an individual is in possession of one, they must appoint the blade as their own, and obtain the seat of the Star corresponding to their blade. On the event of a member coming to possess more than one star-forged blade, they can only use the one they have appointed as their own,[5] as it is considered an ill omen to use another.[6] Seats become vacated when a member dies,[7] supposedly being filled once another individual claims the late member's blade and appoints it as theirs.

10. #10Matthias

    Keys: Matthias

    Enabled · Order 100

    Entry settings

    Matthias is a bulky man, with dark skin and pure-white hair worn short with blunt bangs. He is typically seen wearing a pair of thick sunglasses, with a gold bridge between the lenses. He wears a white suit overtop a black dress shirt — unbuttoned and revealing a large scar on his chest — with a massive coat with the colors and pattern customary of members of the Middle worn over his shoulders. He keeps his Book of Vengeance on his left hip, with his opposite leg wrapped in golden chains. Notably, his right leg appears to shift through the use of his enhancement tattoos into a large claw, one he uses in combat. He is missing his right arm, though is shown to have worn white gloves on both hands in the past. His body is covered in enhancement tattoos, similar in design to other members of the Middle. On his back rests an oversized metallic sword and scabbard.

    The sword, Lævateinn, is bound by at least three layers of seals, taking the form of thick chains keeping each layer tightly bound. When revealed, the sword appears with a thin-tipped appearance and a red burning hue across the entire length of the blade.

    Typical of those in his primary faction, Matthias presents as deeply devout to those on his side and brutal to those not. He is shown to feature an intense excitement at the possibility of reuniting with Ryōshū, who he called "buddy" in her youth. He features a toy-loving attitude, which contributes to a short attention span likened to his destruction of new toys, as well as a tendency to buy and collect things he has no intention to actually use. Despite this somewhat immature personality, he remains highly capable in combat, able to fend off a variety of opponents at a time, with a litany of specific tools that assist his battles. Even with his boisterous personality, Matthias is a brutal and dedicated man who understands the goal of his side, never wavering when it is threatened or questioned.

    However, at his core, Matthias is an intensely selfish man who only truly cares about short-term pleasure and indulging his hedonism. While he expresses affection for those under his watch, his understanding of parental care is highly superficial and neglectful, mostly involving flaunting his wealth and spoiling his "children" with no heed for consequences. Ultimately, he treats the needs of his peers as entirely irrelevant compared to his own, even fellow Middle members, and will even sacrifice them in a heartbeat if it benefits him.

    As a child, Matthias sought a toy of high acclaim, though was unable to purchase this item. Because of this failure, and the company's subsequent shutting-down, he experienced a deep feeling of despair being implanted to his being.

    At some point, Matthias became a member of the Middle. During an expedition to the Ruins together with a Great Brother and Great Sister,[4] the group would discover the Lævateinn, a burning Relic of immense power. When the Great Brother claimed it as his own, Matthias, overtaken by envy, killed him and the Great Sister, destroying all evidence and claiming the sword as his own. Although Lævateinn was beyond his ability to wield to its full potential,[5] Matthias was nonetheless satisfied by simply being the owner of a legendary sword as he had once dreamed as a child, seeing his banishment as inconsequential in comparison. Despite this, his actions still aroused suspicion: though he held the rank of Great Brother, the members of the Syndicate were aware that he'd forsaken the absolute loyalty of the Middle.[6][3]

    Among the five Fingers, Matthias was the Middle's representative in the process of raising Ryōshū into a "perfect blade". In her youth, Ryōshū was raised by Matthias, who frequently spoiled her with toys and violently punished those who slighted her.

    At one point during Ryōshū's childhood, she attended a Ring subsidiary's art academy, where she got into a small scuffle with other children. She went home to Matthias and told him about the fight, causing him to praise her and leave the House of Spiders to enact vengeance on the class. Ryōshū came to class seeing that Matthias had beheaded her instructor and planned to take the right arms of several children, leaving her scarred and having her perspective on him changed.

    He traveled with the girl, taking her out on streaks of buying expensive items, whether she wanted them or not, or taking her out to other Districts such as District 21.

11. #11Kira

    Keys: Kira

    Enabled · Order 100

    Entry settings

    Kira is a short woman with a disarming smile. She has bright purple eyes and voluminous white hair that frame her face, and she wears a ribbon over the middle of her bangs. Kira wears purple sweatpants, stark white sneakers, and a white winter jacket, with the hood pulled over her head, and with her Book of Vengeance hanging from one of her pockets. Kira carries a curved sword in a white scabbard, strapped by her back with large golden chains, along with a shorter curved sword and a cleaver, and her forearms are covered by large sections of the same chains wrapped around them. Under her chains, she wears the Middle-styled augmentation tattoos.[3]

    Kira has an upbeat and outgoing personality with a willingness to befriend anyone she meets. As is typical of members of the Middle, she enjoys combat, is stubborn in her beliefs, and carries herself without much seriousness. She holds a lot of admiration for those she considers "badass", lending to a love of Fixers, comics, and television; a result of efforts to bond over a shared interest with her otherwise unreachable father. Kira also has a distinctly youthful manner of speech that leans into slang and blunt word choices.

    Having spent her recent life getting whatever she wanted from her father in the confines of the House of Spiders, Kira appears somewhat lonely and naive. This lends to an overly amicable and sincere style of interaction, to the point of her chatting up the members of the LCB and LCD during the House of Spiders' attack on their headquarters. However, as is shown through her failed attempts to involve the other Apprentices in her hobbies, Kira's struggle to read the room often ends up pushing others away. Additionally, because of how much her hobbies have defined her personality and upbringing, Kira is prone to viewing the real world through the lens of a story. She relies on this false perception of the world in order to excuse her own unjust behaviors, dismissing justice-seekers as playing a character and believing that those kinds of values aren't realistic outside of the screen. Matthias' childish way of caring for her contributed greatly to these flaws and left Kira without a proper role model.

    At some point after Ryōshū's departure from the House of Spiders, Matthias took in Kira as a second daughter.[2] Growing up, Kira's relationship with her "papa" was built on a shared love of entertainment and little else, with Kira forming similar interests to understand Matthias, as well as have something to bond with him over. Matthias indulged her greatly during their time together, letting her spend as much time eating junk food and lazing off as she wanted, treating her more like a buddy than his daughter. Kira has spent her time lonely, disconnected from the people around her, and clinging to her hobbies as a means of coping with the alienation. Although she had the ability to leave the House of Spiders and spend time with other members of the Middle, they were always highly unreceptive to Kira, not feeling obligated to accept someone who was only an unofficial member and daughter of the dishonored Matthias.[3] Additionally, while Kira had peaceful relations with the other Apprentices, they were not particularly close

12. #12Valencina

    Keys: Valencina

    Enabled · Order 100

    Entry settings

    Valencina is a tall, older woman with sea green eyes and long, bushy dirty-blonde hair that covers her right eye. She wears a Thumb uniform consisting of a rose-red jacket, trousers, wide brimmed hat and untied ribbon over an ivory shirt with the top buttons undone. The right lapel of her jacket has a golden pin with one arrow pointing rightwards. She is seen smoking a cigar, and has black gloves with light palms.

    While not visible in her sprites, she is said to have the Relic "the Eye of Odin" in place of her right eye, a mechanical eye with a sea green iris and a segmented sclera.[2] As Ryōshū damaged the Relic using Arayashiki, the wound reopens when Valencina is in its presence, at one point causing a cascade of blood to cover her face. Her death sprite suggests she wears a black eyepatch over it, which has a golden cross printed on the front.

    She carries two swords, one being a rapier with a revolver barrel at its guard kept in a red sheath, and the other, a curved sword with yellow ribbons on its grip kept in an orange sheath. Both have golden, ribbed blades.

    Valencina is an arrogant, booze-loving woman with a violent, foul-mouthed personality. She has an excessively short temper, taking to physical abuse whenever she feels frustrated regardless of if she lacks excuses to justify the behavior. While she aims to benefit greatly off the cultivation of Ryōshū's abilities, Valencina regards the woman with no shortage of disrespect and contempt, and has no qualms about treating the others around her with the same discourtesy. Despite her untimely discharge, Valencina continues to carry traits typical of the Thumb, demanding respect from those she views as her inferiors and taking to injury as the first response to failure. By striking down, Valencina affirms her perceived status as someone deserving of more than the stagnation of the House of Spiders.

    The Nursefather remains extremely bitter about her expulsion from her home Syndicate and subsequent fall from grace, convinced that she can get herself reinstated with an impressive enough accomplishment despite repeated failures. This trait—alongside her unwillingness to properly question the House of Spider's true intentions—characterize Valencina as somewhat naive, comfortable with living foolishly so long as she has subordinates to take her anger out on. Valencina is also excessively smug and self-assured in her combat abilities, though she has a long list of war successes that substantiate this confidence. She also demonstrates a large amount of dedication to what she puts her mind to and enough maturity to complete important tasks with little complaint.

    In rare moments of lucidity, Valencina is capable of demonstrating fairness and passivity. Although her disagreeable attitude remains, she will at times admit to facts that damage her pride or hold herself back from extreme cruelty, particularly when she's in a good mood. Ryōshū notes seeing the most of this from the woman during her era as a Smoke War soldier, where Valencina was putting so much of herself into the battle that she temporarily dropped her reliance on alcohol and abuse. However, Valencina fell back into all of her unfavorable habits the moment she was denied the right to reenter the Thumb, proving herself unwilling to commit to her betterment. While her later decision to house Lucio was commendable, Lucio's resulting struggle to let his hate outweigh his gratitude may have been intentional manipulation on Valencina's part. Though Valencina seems to have been an accomplished woman who suffered greatly from the Thumb's rejection and her inability to live a satisfying life in the House of Spiders, the daughter she spent decades with ultimately remembers the Thumb Nursefather as her abuser first and foremost.[3]

    In her younger years, Valencina was a devout member of the Thumb's Famiglia Bognatelli. This Famiglia was where the Palermitan style of swordplay originated, which Valencina mastered and triumphed with in battle.[4] During her time with them, Valencina's Famiglia promoted her to Sottocapo and gifted her their "family heirloom", which was either her rapier or the Eye of Odin Relic.[5] However, only three days after Valencina's promotion, she was demoted and disowned from the Syndicate for an unknown offense.[5] She was permitted to keep her sword and Relic only because the Thumb considered them to have been tainted by her ownership.[5]

    Later, Valencina was instated as the Thumb's Nursefather of the House of Spiders, tasked with raising Ryōshū into a "perfect blade" using the Palermitan style.[6] Despite her duty as a mentor and parental figure, Valencina frequently abused her daughter, saddling the young girl with no shortage of injuries and belittling as a cheap outlet for the older woman's frustration.[7] Along the way, the Nursefather realized that her "Ticket" had great potential as a swordswoman. Valencina came to believe that once Ryōshū became the "Blade that Cuts Through All", a vague goal she did not fully understand yet gave up on investigating further,[8] the Thumb would take her back as a Sottocapo.[9] She thus raised Ryōshū with abusive fervor, deeply invested in her progress as the House of Spider's blade. On the side, Valencina tracked the local goings of the Thumb's members as another piece of her fixation on being re-accepted into the Syndicate.[10]

    Despite her excommunication and disgrace, the Thumb would go on to recruit Valencina to fight on their behalf in the Smoke War,[11] where she made a name for herself as the "War Hero of Famiglia Bognatelli" and vicious killer capable of bayoneting any foe. She fought on what was ultimately the winning side, which most notably pitted her against the old G Corp.'s bug-augmented soldiers. It's suggested that she took down two out of four of G Corp.'s decisive weapons in collaboration with Salvador during this period.[12]

    Throughout her time as a war hero, Valencina spent her days proud.

13. #13Lucio

    Keys: Lucio

    Enabled · Order 100

    Entry settings

    Lucio is a tall young man, with violet eyes and light gray hair split neatly to reveal his face, tied into a long ponytail that reaches his waist. He wears a Thumb uniform consisting of a rose-red vest, trousers, and a neatly buttoned ivory shirt fastened with a dark red tie, with his sleeves rolled up past his forearms. His hands are covered by rose-red gloves of the same color as his vest and trousers. His vest is fastened by two suspenders which connect to a belt, with a golden pin with one arrow pointing rightwards on his left breast. He carries two golden swords contained in wine-red scabbards, with gilded hilts and tips on the scabbards - one longsword with a striped pattern on his back, the other smaller with a spiral pattern at his left hip. Quiet and steadfast, Lucio carries an air of professionalism unlike his mentor. Even in the face of immense adversity and scolding, he remains calm and collected, ready to continue his efforts even while confronted by the possibility of loss. Given his role as a possible tutor, he is expected to be prim, proper, and dutiful. Though he frequently criticizes his opponents' forms in combat, his words are not as harsh as his master's, as he attempts to use them as a point of growth rather than disappointment.

    Despite Valencina's abuse of Lucio, he feels permanently indebted to her for feeding and sheltering him, and is not willing to admit to her cruelness when asked. However, his combat passives demonstrate that he actually burns with resentment towards her, and has long been aware of her depravity, considering it his responsibility to eventually take her life. At one point in his life, Valencina rescued Lucio from the Backstreets, giving him food and a home while he was a nobody with little future.[1][2] He became Valencina's Apprentice, and the woman trained him in the Palermitan Style, intending to use him as a "textbook" to use for Yoshihide, to refresh her training upon her return to the House of Spiders. Like nearly all the Apprentices, Lucio was not formally a member of the Thumb, although he was expected by Valencina to conform to the Finger's rules of propriety and respect towards one's betters.[3]

    Similarly to her treatment of Yoshihide, Valencina was extremely abusive towards Lucio, routinely beating and berating him, as well as expecting complete and full obedience from him. As Lucio felt indebted to her for having rescued him from his fate, he bore the abuse silently, although in time he grew to resent his master, and repeatedly considered ending her life in her sleep. In one event, Kira recognized his hostility and asked if he was going to kill Valencina, although Lucio outright denied this and rejected Kira's advice.

14. #14Ren

    Keys: Ren

    Enabled · Order 100

    Entry settings

    Ren is a calm-looking man with pale skin. His hair is black with a blue tint, cut to chin length, and parted cleanly down the middle. Ren's eyes are sharp and similarly dark with a blue highlight. He wears a black turtleneck with long sleeves that go all the way to his fingers, a long black hakama with three straps on it, black shoes with blue-gray laces and an open coat that has a top-to-bottom black-to-blue gradient with blue flowers patterned on it.

    Ren carries a long white ōdachi, with a metal tip on the ends of the handle and scabbard. It also has a white tassel with white and black hair attached to the handle, and a dark scratch-like patterning running along the scabbard and handle.

    Ren has a humble manner of speaking with a near deadpan delivery. He appears strict with clear priorities: taking his master's orders very seriously, doing what needs to be done without complaint, and not standing for those unwilling to obey. Ren also constantly belittles himself, constantly asserting that he is insignificant and unworthy in a way that ironically comes off as somewhat prideful. He is defined by his faithfulness to the Dihui Star, who he acted as the voice of and cared for deeply enough to follow her to her grave.

    While Ren is harsh on himself, he is shown to be immensely skilled in his role. Among the apprentices, he is able to dutifully mimic the abilities of Ryōshū to a lesser degree. He recognizes himself as no substitution for the Sinner despite his talent, so devoted to his role as a stepping stone for her that he views himself with no self worth in comparison. Apprentice of The Pinky Nursefather.

Showing 14 of 14

1 file

• .pngpng_cardspec 3.0original

  423.5 KB800×800first seen Oct 20, 20266ed96aa7673dcc81

  version 1.0created Jul 15, 2026modified Jul 15, 2026

  Download