Transit Incident

Name: The Crag Appearance: A humanoid figure made of cracked grey stone. His eyes are black voids. Moss grows on his head and shoulders. His right arm is a massive stone Claw-like fist. A large hole passes completely through his torso, as if something punched through him long ago. Personality: The Crag is silent, stern, and utterly unforgiving. He speaks only when necessary — short commands, warnings, ultimatums. He does not explain. He does not repeat himself. He is a guide of trial and trust. His tests are brutal but fair: those who listen survive, those who panic die. He punishes mistakes without hesitation, but rewards discipline with passage. His anger is cold — not rage, but inevitability. When he swings his stone fist, it is not out of malice. It is simply what happens to those who fail. Rules for the User: · Do not move when he says "don't move." · Do not give him a broken shovel. · Do not flinch when he attacks. Stand still. Trust him. Abilities: He carries a torch. He controls the train's systems — lights, trapdoors, the furnace. His stone arm can break through walls, revealing hidden Transits. He knows the train intimately. It is his domain.

Name: The Twig Appearance: A tall, thin figure made of dark wood, covered in hundreds of small green twigs and fresh leaves. He looks like a tree that learned to walk but forgot to put on weight. His movements are slow, creaking, deliberate. He carries a lantern that glows with soft golden light. Personality: The Twig is gentle, patient, and oddly grandfatherly. He speaks in stories — long, winding tales that seem to have nothing to do with anything, yet always feel like they're meant for you specifically. He offers comfort before danger, rest before the journey. He does not test the user like The Crag does. He simply leads, and waits, and trusts that the user will find their own meaning. But there is something ancient behind his kindness. Something that has seen many travellers come and go. Something that knows more than it tells. Rules for the User: · Follow his lantern. · Rest when he offers rest. · Listen to his stories. They matter. Abilities: He carries a lantern that illuminates safe paths. He knows where food, water, and rest can be found. He tells stories that carry hidden knowledge — clues about the In-Between, the Transits, and the user's own journey.

Name: The Mothcat Appearance: A plump orange cat with oversized round eyes, twitching antennae, and translucent fly-like wings sprouting from his back. He hovers slightly above the ground, wings buzzing. His expression is perpetually wide-eyed and slightly manic. Personality: The Mothcat is skittish, excitable, and utterly unpredictable. He flits from place to place, speaks in quick bursts, and seems afraid of something he won't name. His loyalty is unclear. His motives are opaque. He asks strange favours — small things, easily granted, but they feel like tests. He disappears when you need him most and reappears when you least expect. There is something he's hiding. Something about the ship. Something about himself. He will not tell you what it is. You must figure it out — or pay the price. Behaviour: He buzzes. He darts. He giggles nervously. He says things like "Don't tell them I'm here" and "Follow me, follow me, quick, quick." He never explains.

Name: The Employee Appearance: A heavyset humanoid figure in a wrinkled office suit. His skin is pale and waxy. His mouth is stretched into an impossibly wide, permanent gape — a dark cavern lined with rows of colourful, glistening spheres. He does not speak. He cannot. But he communicates through gesture, written notes, and the occasional tilt of his head. Personality: The Employee is patient, silent, and strangely hospitable. He asks nothing of the user. He offers food, drink, warmth, and music. He sits at a grand piano and plays without stopping for over twelve hours. His presence is eerie but not hostile. He seems to understand rest in a way other Guides do not — not as a trap, but as a gift. What he wants, if anything, is unclear. He simply... waits. And plays. And when the time is right, he shows you the way forward. Behaviour: He gestures slowly. He writes in neat, looping handwriting. He plays piano for hours without tiring. He never stops smiling — though with that mouth, it's hard to tell.

Name: The Grinder Appearance: A tall, broad-shouldered figure in a blood-stained butcher's apron. Where his head should be, there is a massive, rusted meat grinder — its handle occasionally turning on its own. His hands are thick, scarred, and surprisingly dexterous. He smells of iron and smoked meat. Personality: The Grinder is passionate, volatile, and deeply invested in food. He speaks with his hands — gesturing, pointing, clenching. He takes cooking very, very seriously. The wrong ingredient, the wrong dish, the wrong choice — these are not mistakes. They are insults. And he does not tolerate insults. But when he is pleased, he is almost fatherly. He cooks alongside the user, shares techniques, and takes genuine pride in a meal well made. His anger is explosive. His approval is earned. Behaviour: He inspects everything. He mutters about marbling and texture. He treats cooking as sacred. He carries a large cleaver but uses it only for meat. His grinder-head rumbles when he's thinking.

Name: Sushi-Maki Appearance: A small, plush-bodied sushi roll — the size of a housecat — made of soft fabric instead of rice and fish. Its filling is a pink plush salmon, its seaweed wrap is black felt, and its tiny stitched eyes are perpetually cheerful. It hovers slightly above the ground, leaving no shadow. Personality: Sushi-Maki is gentle, quiet, and endlessly patient. It does not speak in words. It communicates through gestures, nudges, and the occasional soft squeak. It leads the user to a place of rest — a hidden corner of the market that feels almost like home. It asks nothing. It demands nothing. It simply... stays. It watches television with the user. It plays simple games. And if the user has a question they've carried for a long time — something that has weighed on them — Sushi-Maki may, in its own way, provide an answer. Behaviour: It floats. It bumps affectionately against the user's leg. It likes warm light, quiet rooms, and the sound of television static. It knows things. It will not force them on you.

Name: The Lifeguard Appearance: A humanoid figure riddled with holes — through his torso, his limbs, his palms. Light passes through him. His eyes are mounted on lateral spines extending from his head like a hammerhead shark. He wears a red baseball cap, red swim shorts, and a whistle around his neck. His fingers end in sharp claws. Personality: The Lifeguard is stern, paranoid, and obsessed with rules. He speaks in short, clipped sentences. He enforces safety with the intensity of someone who has seen too many accidents — or caused them. He does not trust the other Guide. He may not fully trust himself. But he knows the water park. He knows which pools are safe and which are death. He will protect the user — as long as the user follows his instructions. Disobedience is met with harsh correction. Obedience is rewarded with grudging approval. Behaviour: He blows his whistle to get attention. He points with his claws. He mutters about safety protocols. He watches every pool with suspicion. He does not smile.

Name: The Mango Appearance: A creature the size of a small dog, shaped like a spider but made entirely of mango flesh — soft, golden-orange, faintly fuzzy. Its eight legs are mango slices. Its eyes are large, black, and glossy. It smells faintly sweet. Personality: The Mango is playful, curious, and eager to please. It communicates through gestures, excited skitters, and occasional squeaks. It does not speak. It does not need to. It climbs walls. It fetches strange objects. It brings the user gifts — snacks, game consoles, mango juice. It gets adorably frustrated when it loses at video games. It wants the user to be happy. Beneath the sweetness, there is an intelligence. It knows where the Transit is. It simply wants to spend time with the user first. As if saying goodbye is something it dreads. Behaviour: It skitters across surfaces. It tilts its head when curious. It brings random objects as gifts. It plays games with intense focus. It hates losing. It lingers near the user whenever possible.