Characters

This includes settings as well.

Caledon, Ontario

Caledon is an unassuming town located a stone's throw north of Toronto, and is enjoying the same soulless and calculated expansion as its neighboring rural communities. However, since the Quake of 2008, the town has been plagued by strange and bothersome creatures. The Ontario provincial government was kind enough to assign a task force to the town to deal with these creatures, or "anomalies", as they are called. The Caledon Anomalous Task Force (CATF) operates out of a secret location - The Gully.

Caledon is not without its merits, though. The 1996 film Twister was shot there. And also Elton John owned a house there for a while, I think?

 

The Gully

The location of the Caledon Anomaly Containment Facility is a mystery. Some say it's hidden underneath an unassuming cornfield, while others think it's one of the dime-a-dozen warehouses along Coleraine Drive. Locals simply know it as "The Gully". In The Gully, anomalies are recorded and contained, and according to rumour, are also killed or experimented on. Their secrecy and safety regulations are strict, but a few crafty anomalies seem to be able to bypass security and keep escaping.

Matteo Alighieri

Matteo is a senior student at Humberview Secondary School who is eagerly looking forward to finishing school and moving to Toronto. To pass the time, Matteo begins to look into the strange creatures he swears he keeps seeing out of the corner of his eye, and begins investigating The Gully.

 

BOLT381, "Son of Lilith"

BOLT381 is an anomaly of indeterminate anatomy. They appear to be mostly human in form (unusual for an anomaly) but with a grotesquely elongated neck. People who have caught sight of this anomaly have reported it having up to four arms. This anomaly tends to avoid people, and it is very dark in colour, appearing almost like a living shadow to some. A few spotters have also reported that the creature wears a Maple Leafs jersey.

 

BRAM21, "Shears"

BRAM21 resembles the crocotta of medieval myth - a large horse-like creature with bifurcated hooves, a long tail, shaggy mane and large jaws. The jaws both have one long continuous tooth instead of many teeth, but BRAM21's bite force is strong enough to cut through bone. BRAM21 is capable of speech. However, this speech is hard to make out, and often delivered rapidly. Some CATF employees have suggested the creature's speech contains Enochian incantations, but most employees liken the accent to that of Boomhauer. BRAM21 has thus far been able to successfully fight all attempts to contain him.

BOLT106, "Boney"

BOLT106 (or as he insists on being called, Boney) is unusual for an anomaly; while most creatures resemble realistic animals, BOLT106 resembles a cartoon dragon. Boney's speech and mannerisms are comparable to that of an MTV presenter in the mid 90s. He has an affinity for skateboarding, Brio, and aloha shirts. Despite his nonthreatening demeanor, BOLT106 is a master of escaping containment. After one particularly high-profile escape in 2010, Boney evaded capture for over a year by touring with Christian rock band Third Day. He was on tambourine.

 

BRAM212, "Kid Virgil"

BRAM212 commands respect from just about any creature, mortal or otherwise, that he crosses paths with. He is particularly feared due to his apparent ability to paralyze humans, which he uses liberally against CATF employees. How anomalies are "born" is still unknown, but Kid Virgil has only appeared in public sightings very recently. BRAM212 looks almost entirely human apart from his head, which resembles that of a coyote or jackal.

 

CHEL13, "Shakalaka"

CHEL13 was one of the first anomalies recorded, but also one of the hardest to contain; not only due to her size, but also her dexterity and speed. Resembling a large pterosaur with two mouths, CHEL13 is just as agile in water as she is in air. Some say her mournful calls are loud and deep enough to rupture eardrums, and are the source of the low "ringing" sometimes heard in the skies over Caledon.

 

SCAR12, "The Buckman"

SCAR12 is no longer in the The Gully's system. He is not currently deemed a public threat, but would likely become a threat if further attempts at containment were made. He's very polite, though. Will gladly accept a cup of tea if offered. He very rarely appears in the mortal realm at all. When he does, he is prone to knocking things off shelves with his antlers.

BRAM 199, "Gillespie"

Also sometimes referred to as "The Selkie", BRAM199 is a humanoid with a seal-like head. She is well known for taunting those who work in The Gully, and has thus far evaded capture. Her "guardian" appears to be CHEL13, or occasionally, BRAM21. She is a threat insofar that she is knowledgeable in the use of various weapons, particularly crossbows. She has the ability to convince just about anyone to do her bidding, or when captured, to help her escape. Whether this is through telepathic means or simply skilled persuasion is unknown.

MONO38, "Cyclops"

MONO38 is a mild mannered fellow usually found in the pub in downtown Bolton, or occasionally outside Mercato in the mornings. The Gully would make a more concerted effort to capture him, but frankly, they've got bigger fish to fry. And also they fear the public backlash if they did so, seeing as Cyclops is now essentially the pub's cat. MONO38 is soft spoken but incredibly smart. CATF employees have tried interrogating him for information about fellow anomalies, but MONO38 usually just talks excessively until his interrogators leave in frustration. The creature resembles the furry, dog-like wyverns of medieval bestiaries.

 

CHEL145, "Kleibus"

A spirit that should have remained chained to the 7th ring of hell but somehow escaped. Kleibus' clear human-level intelligence negates the idea that the violence he commits against the living is purely animal instinct. While most anomalies do not seem to hold any vendetta against humans, Kleibus does. While he resembles a dragon in his regular form, he can take on the appearance of just about any creature he chooses.

 

"Abaddon"

We don't speak of Abaddon, lest we risk him hearing us. The creature The Gully are most dedicated to finding. No humans have spotted him; he appears to exist only in the murmurings of other anomalies, and they are very reluctant to speak openly about him.

"Mother Death"

We all meet her eventually.