Welcome to The Duality of Man, an original animanga role-play that features numerous supernatural creatures. Unfortunately, these various species have distanced themselves because of the war that occurred thousands of years ago, plaguing some with eyes that only see their dualism. While others meddle themself with their differences, two groups fight, each attempting to eliminate the other in for their definition of worldly peace. These two groups of the Terror Response Syndicate (TRS) and the Assembly of Phantoms (AP). With individuals fighting merely over their differences, it brings uncertainty to the outcome of this war.
We happily accept all role-players as long as they obey the rules and are capable of meeting our word count of 50. This does include those who are unfamiliar with this style of role-playing. The staff of The Duality of Man are willing to happily help those who are new to the role-playing world so they feel comfortable on site. Feel free to message the staff if you need help, they can be found here or in the site Discord and will gladly answer questions alongside calm concerns. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear them; guests may use the support board as a suggestion area as well. Should you decide to join, may I say welcome to the site and we all hope you enjoy your time here.
Yours Truely,
The Staff
season
Summer 2024
Heat has broken through into a glorious summer. The snow has entirely dried through the spring, leaving to the brilliance of the warmer months. Terror activity has risen as people are brought out of their homes, leaving the TRS in a position of consistent work. Each are attempting to maintain victory in the endless struggle for power.
Since the wonderful members of TDOM enjoy the site enough to play around on it, this thread is to assist with the site's tidying! Functionality is important and we want to make the site functional even if its activity will be minimal at best!
They didn’t look dead, but they didn’t look as though they were sleeping either. Death... The word was haunting as it sent an uncomfortable chill down his spine. His mother and father’s lifeless bodies rested before him in the open caskets, their lives taken from them unjustly. What would happen to him? What if the person who was responsible for their death… came after him? Brendon’s eyes remained red and swollen, the unhappiness that had settled into his chest weighing heavy on his lips.
Hanzo was the only one left that he could trust. The much taller, twenty-something stood at his side, raven black hair smoothed back, draping down his shoulders, and impeccably dressed for the funeral. He’d entrusted the truth in him, despite his age. Someone in the family was responsible for the death of Charles and Gwenevieve Redal, and from this point on the two of them would have to tread carefully.
Brendon slowly vacated the area of the casket viewing, returning to his seat at the front right row. “What’s going to happen to me?” He whispered the question and turned his gaze to Hanzo, looking to him for the answers.
Hanzo’s gaze remained forward, watching his Uncle and his family view his parents next. “At the Funeral Reception, your parent’s general attorney, will disclose the contents of their Will. That is where your… fate will be decided.”
“What if what you said is true?” Brendon nearly pleaded, heart clenching and eyes burning with dread and emotion. “What if… if someone gets rid of me next?”
“I will not let that happen. I will be with you every step of the way.” Hanzo promised, but Brendon’s hands curled into tight fists in his lap. His mother and father had gone on vacation with Lucas and even a second bodyguard he couldn’t remember the name of. Neither of them had been able to protect his parents. They had ended up dead regardless, and he was terrified of the same happening to him.
s instructed within the letter, Josuah had arrived long before he was needed at the funeral. His outward appearance appeared poised and relentless but internally he was rattled to the core. Brendon Redal was the one responsible, nothing else, not the chaos of the growing crowd of strangers, or the sleepless plane ride. He had come like a starved creature of the night, giving up everything without a second thought to be where he was now.
He had seen him as soon as the boy arrived, and had kept his eyes on him ever since, but with a great distance between them. His parents had given him a picture within the letter, but he was so much smaller than he could have ever imagined.
Josuah's heart ached deeply to the point of pain as he drew a hand to the necklace that burned with a brighter energy now that it's owner was in sight. He had been told the reality of the situation, that the parents had been murdered by someone seeking their fortune and that no one could be trusted with their son's life but him. He didn't know the boy's parents but he harbored an anger towards their lifeless bodies for not finding him sooner. The mother was a Cherubim and so she knew...the suffering...the eternal agony that came with being apart.
Everything felt surreal, like he wasn't really there. But that was because he wasn't, not truly. Dark blue eyes lifted to the reflection of one of the vases where he could see the stranger staring back at him. He didn't know how Brendon would react to his disguise. He had tried to remove it...to come as himself, but even the thought made him feel nauseous.
A light shudder invisibly coursed through his body as he brought his eyes back to Brendon, who was speaking to someone else. He looked as though he had lived a good life, but now he was riddled with the fear of his future. Someone within his own family had killed his parents...and it was now in his power to keep him safe.
He was ill prepared, but there was no other path for him. He was a slave to his fated half.
Brendon was wrought with the emotion and chaos that the situation brought that his senses had become completely dulled. He felt so small and powerless during the viewing of his parents. There were so many other family members attending, some of which he’d never even met. Some offered him kind words and condolences while others seemed cold and impersonal. There was a smattering of other children around his age and younger, some well behaved others causing inappropriate mischief.
Brendon remained at the bench for the duration of the gathering, his gaze trailed to the designs on the carpeted floor, going over them again and again until they were imprinted permanently into his mind. Hanzo remained beside him for the entirety of the afternoon. At certain intervals the two had spoken, Hanzo revealing the candidate he believed to be the most eligible to take over the Redal Estate, moving in with his family until Brendon became of age. Brendon glanced toward his Uncle, the man Hanzo assumed, and couldn’t help but wonder if he was the one behind their murders then.
After the car ride out to the the buriel, standing before their closed caskets in the grave, Brendon silently weeped. One by one family members stepped forward to throw white flowers atop their grave before the final burial. “What if I just gave it to them? We can just go somewhere else. I-I don’t need any of it...,” He whispered to Hanzo after part of the crowds had dispersed for the reception. He wiped at his eyes and gazed up at the man.
“The safest place for you to be right now is here. This is where you can be offered the most protection, from the inside.”
Brendon’s shoulders hunched, eyes burning, and he drew his gaze from Hanzo. Although it briefly snagged on a lone figure in the distance, dressed in a heavy winter coat. His heart immediately leapt with startled and unpleasant feelings. At first he jerked his gaze away, staring down at the grave of his parents while he felt the increasing thump of his heart. But when he rose his eyes again, to glance back in their direction, the space had been occupied with others. It… made him feel unpleasant. He didn’t know who that person was and he had seemed out of place.
onversations were alight even during an event that should have been sacred. Within the following hours he had heard who would take over the estate and whether or not that man had been responsible for murder. The family was divided, those in support of Brendon's Uncle, and those completely against him. There was a smaller group of family members who kept their opinions entirely to themselves and they felt the most concerning to him.
Amidst his silent studying, was always his soulmate Brendon. He never let the boy out of his sight and felt admiration within his heart for him. Josuah knew that he was a heavenly creature, a Zlatorogs to be precise. His antlers were undeniably beautiful, carved with intricate rivers of gold.
While his species was tarnished with a reputation that would follow him to the ends of the earth. Especially when the majority of people who had arrived were not of the hell species. There would be many problems to come, but he would brace them all for the sake of Brendon's life. Though he did recognize that his existence depended entirely on the boy. Which left the question of whether or not he'd be able to feed from him. It had been something he had been opposed to all of his life... especially now when met with such a beautiful creature...his requirement for life felt tarnishing.
His brows drew down into a heavy frown as his thoughts weighed in his mind. But when he lifted his gaze it was to the startled expression of Brendon. The same piercing feeling that was inflicted on him coursed through his own heart, causing him to seek shelter immediately behind a large oak tree that overshadowed may stone graves.
It was painful, very painful, stealing his breath away and making his hands tremble. He could already feel the need creeping up inside of him to take in his essence, to finally for the first time in his life...feel sated.
For the rest of his time there, Brendon felt shaken — watched. Paranoid. He and Hanzo had returned to the reception but Brendon had since kept his sights on the room, roaming over its many faces, eyes wide and in search of the male he was certain he had seen. The feelings inside of him weren’t pleasant. In fact, they were the opposite of it, making his stomach hurt and his heart clench unpleasantly. His hands felt cold and clammy, and every part of his suit was beginning to itch at him, feeling out of place and stifling.
He was an ugly man and he didn’t like him at all. His heartbeat quicker, ringing in his ears, and he knew without having to think too heavily on it that he wasn’t even making much sense. He hadn’t even gotten to get a good look at the man to know if he was ugly or sinister in the first place, but he just felt so opposed by him.
The funeral reception became loud with sudden applause after his Uncle’s grand speech of admiration toward his brother and his wife, and Brendon’s wide eyes flew up to the podium, his ears swiveling backward in a timid and jostled display. “Did you want to say anything, Brendon?” Uncle Bradford pointedly asked, an arm outstretched in a seemingly welcoming gesture but Brendon flinched back into his seat.
“He’s taken the loss of his parents quite hard, Mr. Bradford. I’m afraid he isn’t up to the task.” Hanzo spoke out for him and Bradford tsk’d.
“Completely understandable.” He nonetheless agreed and took his own seat next to his trophy wife and three children.
eople were being ushered back into the church for the final goodbyes, but Josuah hadn't caught his breath yet. He leaned against the coarse bark and closed his eyes. The autumn air was crisp as it entered his lungs, showing signs of the approaching frost.
Finally, he moved, leaning against his shoulder to glimpse around the tree. Brendon was being brought back inside with the same bodyguard who had accompanied him everywhere. But his fluffy fawn ears were flickering aggressively atop his head, his eyes searching for him.
The sight and knowledge burned at his eyes and again it all seemed like a dream. "Too much drink?" A feminine voice came from behind him causing Josuah's entire posture to harden and eyes to grow wide. But when he turned, no trace of that reaction could be seen.
She was given nothing but a glimpse before he departed towards the crowd of people returning to the building. Sadly, she was the persistent type, choosing to lull somewhat behind him.
There had been a curiosity within her eyes, but he had no intention to quell it. The older male moved towards one of the walls he had been stationed at before, but when he felt her presence near he changed course to the male's restroom. A soft giggle left her as she waited nearby, intending to tease him as she dipped her finger into one of the potted plants and sprouted a flower.
Age was nearly impossible to know considering the endless possibilities of different lifelines. But from her playful attitude regarding a funeral, he suspected she was either very young, or lacked empathy entirely.
But he wouldn't be cornered and immediately stepped into the large bathroom, he turned towards one of the windows, pushing it open and slipped outside. He had studied the grounds before hand to learn the layout. He wasn't certain if that information would be needed or not, but he had to feel prepared in someway. And with that he ventured back to the front and re-entered while the elven girl was still out of sight, waiting for something that would never come.
The loud voice of Brendon's Uncle echoed through the room as he gave a speech that sent the room into an applaud before setting his sights onto his other half. Josuah tensed feeling an immediate surge of aggression towards the man, but Brendon's bodyguard was quick to intervene.
Josuah silently moved towards one of the walls that gave him a view of the boy and immediately he regretted the few minutes he had been forced to spend away. He would have to be at his side always from this day forward...he would find a way to make it so.
The attorney stepped before the podium next and the room seemed to quiet as he laid out his folder of documents and awkwardly adjusted his tie before clearing his throat and pushing his round spectacles further up the bridge of his nose. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman.” His bony fingers gripped the edge of the podium, and he appeared to struggle to keep contact with the crowd. “As you all are aware, Mr. and Mrs. Redal had left a Will for precautionary purposes.”
Brendon’s gaze waned as the man began to go over the Will’s contents, losing interest in the conversation he struggled to understand. At first his gaze lowered to the carpet but a prickling sensation at the nape of his neck caused his eyes to wander until they came across the man from prior. This time he was able to focus his senses and give himself a crystal clear view of the male. His hair was raven black and his eyes almost just as dark, but with undertones of blue.
Brendon’s eyebrows snapped together, his posture stiffening in his seat and his features becoming unabashedly unfriendly.
he girl from before eventually grew bored and returned to her seat as the next speaker began to prepare his paperwork. He didn't look at her directly, but he was conscious of her return because she could easily continue being a problem.
But for now she was not his concern. A low breath parted from his lips when the attorney stepped towards the podium, and filled him with the sudden urge to shelter the boy away. Chaos was all that awaited him if he stayed but Josuah had no way of communicating with him. He could physically feel the anticipation within the room growing and his own body felt tight with dread.
That was when he caught the boy looking to him again, reminding him of how drawn yet disturbed he was with his presence. But there was opportunity in his sights and he took it. With a tightness in his throat he reached beneath his sweater and withdrew the boy's necklace.
If he saw it then perhaps he would try to speak with him. There was a chance his attempt to lure the boy would fail, but if it did then he would lose nothing. Only when he had his attention did he hide the necklace away and moved towards the large men's washroom.
But to Brendon’s surprise, as he glared the stranger down, every hair at the base of his neck standing on end, the dark haired male drew an exquisitely gorgeous necklace from the neck of his sweater and revealed it to his enhanced sight. Involuntarily, Brendon’s ears immediately perked, but quickly bristled out with aggression and hostility. He didn’t look like anyone he was supposed to know! In fact, the male gave him really bad vibes and made him feel like he was someone extremely suspicious!
His brows drew together, his ears swiveling downward and hiding as he tried to fight the unprecedented draw he felt to the incredibly intricate necklace he had revealed. It shined and glimmered in magical ways and made him feel as though the male had somehow stolen a part of his soul and had placed it inside. Wh—What if he was the killer? What if he had already taken a part of his soul!?
Brendon shuddered and grew emotional, tears stinging at his eyes. When the male, who was looking more nefarious and unpleasant with each passing second, tucked the necklace away and turned to leave the vicinity… Brendon stiffened in his seat. His clear shock and attention had also garnered the gaze of Hanzo, whose gray eyes took the other male in from across the room. His presence hadn’t gone unnoticed to him, and he’d seen him loitering around all night.
“Do not follow him, Brendon. That man is suspicious.”
Brendon’s shoulder’s hunched and he forced his eyes forward, toward the podium, and the attorney. A heavy weight had settled into his heart, and the unpleasantness wouldn’t stop… festering...
IMPORTANT THREAD DETAILS --- Brendon has seen his necklace. --- Hanzo is suspicious of Josuah.
e could hear the pounding of his heart as he waited within the washroom. His eyes were wide, and he felt as though he couldn't breathe. For years he had been tormented with the knowledge that someone existed within the world that was his and now came the time for them to meet. Or that was what he believed...what he had been so certain of. But the attorney continued his speech and the room beyond the bathroom broke into an uproar with still no sign of Brendon.
Josuah had believed he would lose nothing by revealing something so personal to the boy. But now that he stood there alone...that emptiness began to eat away at him. His body trembled and he felt the prickling thought of being wrong...of having a connection to no one.
He strained beneath the weight of his mind as he gripped the necklace for support, the only real support he ever had in his life. His eyes closed as he listened to the yelling of people beyond the bathroom. The chaos had begun... and only one question bore into everyone's mind...who was Josuah Ardel.
Eyes that were not his own lowered to the floor as he stared vacantly at the intricate stone tiles. He was scared...scared of being wrong...of not being enough for the boy. If Brendon couldn't connect to him...then there was nothing left for him in this life.
The dread continued to gnaw away at his stomach, making him increasingly more uncomfortable and sick the longer the attorney’s speech continued. “Mr. Redal has specified clearly that all assets under his name are to be handed down to his eldest and only son, Brendon Redal. However, if under the legal age of acceptance — eighteen — then these assets, as they were, will be frozen while the running of the household, its lands, and wineries will be temporarily under the direct control of his appointed legal guardian;”
Uncle Bradford looked nearly ready to pop in his seat, foot tapping incessantly away a mile a minute as he dabbed his damp and sweaty forehead with a luxury white handkerchief. Brendon’s stomach revolted and he squirmed back in his chair, tears suddenly burning at his eyes at the inevitable. A shuddered breath parted passed his lips as he was overwhelmed with emotion, tears burning at his eyes. He had to seal his mouth to stop himself from making noises as hot tears of the inevitable began to pool down his cheeks. But the name the attorney announced sent a wave of shock through not only Brendon, but the entire crowd.
“Josuah Ardel.”
Brendon’s breath hitched in his throat, his ears twitching and flattening as not only Uncle Bradford but a few other families began to openly bicker with the attorney.
“Who?” A middle-aged second or third cousin questioned.
Mr. Bradford was completely red in the face. “I think there’s clearly been a mistake, Attorney. I’ve never heard that name in my life. No one here has!”
The Attorney held a strict crease across his brow as he remained poised over the podium. While, beside them, his younger cousin Brittany, daughter of Mr. Bradford, stood up to loudly complain to her mother. "But mommy! You promised that we would get to live in the castle!" She huffed, stamping her foot, and balling her hands into fists as she placed them at her waist just above the frills of her princess pink dress.
IMPORTANT THREAD DETAILS --- Brendon has seen his necklace. --- Hanzo is suspicious of Josuah.
t some point his eyes rose to the window he had used before, and silently he envisioned himself leaving, going beyond the church grounds, disappearing within the autumn hues. But he wasn't alone...beside him was the boy peering up at him with the same want...the need to run away together. It was a comforting thought, but briefly so because it was not in his power to force Brendon to be at his side.
Their story would be much less peaceful. He had many hauntings upon his shoulders, and Brendon...the looming threat of betrayal. He would trust no one...only the boy. If only he could so easily have that in return. Josuah's jaw tightened as he forced himself from the wall to face the unrest brewing outside. His appearance garnered the attention of some, but most eyes were on the attorney.
Josuah could see Brendon within the corner of his eye, but he didn't look to him, not with the fresh wound of rejection. He kept his eyes narrowed forward, listening to the words spoken around him. Fighting had begun to take over, the Uncle calling for his own attorney to look over the will and eventually someone else had to step forward to try and calm the audience.
"With all due respect, please compose yourselves," the man called lifting a hand, telling those within the room that the attorney had yet to finish his speech. Begrudgingly people settled down, but some had left the building too heated to stay. Josuah knew nothing of the rich, but was learning how blood thirsty they all seemed for more. The reality of it all made him petrified for Brendon's safety. How had he lived under such threat? And why hadn't his parents done more to protect themselves and their son. It was cruel to leave him at the mercy of such hungry souls. Josuah's mouth drew into a hardline as he felt the need to protect him...to find a secure future for them both. They needed each other...
A swell of sadness and doubt touched his chest as he was reminded of how he had waited for him in the washroom. But he brought reason to his feelings, that Brendon was in no position to freely do as he pleased.
"Legally, Mr. Ardel must make himself known within a weeks time or his rights to this title will be forfeit."
"Outrageous," another family member shouted. "How could they do something like this to their own family, to their own son!" A woman argued and immediately the room filled with chaotic banter once more. The selfishness of their actions burned inside of him and he could feel his temper rising. Brendon had just lost his parents, but he was not allowed to process that loss because everyone was far more concerned with whose pockets would be filled with the Redal's coin.
Josuah's gaze returned to him then and he could see the beads of tears clinging to the ends of his lashes. He wanted to comfort him, but he had no right to...their souls may have been connected, but they were still strangers.
The funeral home became a room filled with chaotic banter, heated discussions, and the occasional angry family leaving through the front door. Brendon’s heart continued to thud in his chest, his stomach squeezing and tensing as the name settled into him. But it didn’t settle right and as soon as he glimpsed the dark haired male back at his spot by the wall, he felt a dread and fear heighten within him at the idea of him being Josuah Ardel.
Yet, he felt so opposed to it. So conflicted. His young mind couldn’t wrap around the contradicting emotions that plagued him. But, he could get angry about it. He could feel mad and standoffish and enraged with the entire ordeal. He wanted to see the real Josuah Ardel — but he had a sickening feeling that he didn’t exist.
“Do you know who he is, Hanzo?” Brendon asked his bodyguard tensely. Hanzo had remained impeccably calm through the entire fiasco, and Brendon could never read what thought or emotion was actually brewing underneath.
“No. I’m just as at a loss as you, and the rest of your family.” Hanzo admitted, and Brendon’s shoulders sank. It was like he was some kind of… invisible person. What if his Uncle was right and Josuah Ardel wasn’t even real? What if it had been his parents attempt at biding time?
“Maybe I really am supposed to run away.” He whispered.
“We’ll wait the week’s time. In the meantime, I will do my own research.”
“What if it’s… him?” He couldn’t help but ask, looking in the direction of the man who had… stolen something from him. Or maybe he was just using his powers to make him believe so…
“Then we have a problem.”
IMPORTANT THREAD DETAILS --- Brendon has seen his necklace. --- Hanzo is suspicious of Josuah.
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The skin is created by Wolf of Adoxography and Gangnam Style. The thread and conversation remodels are by Kagney. The Strange Reality board list, Heal My Soul info center, I Remember Now mini profile and Electric Requiem profile remodel is made by Pharoah Leap. The Who's That Member member list remodel was made by Tictactoe. The Cbox.ws Shoutbox remodel was made by Trinity Blair. All templates used for claims, information sheets, applications, etc are credited to their owners; credits for these can be found in the threads the templates are use on. Images that are used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners, however, they have been edited by Zac with a few being edited by Chibi Magician. The plot, rules and various other information pieces for The Duality of Man are written by Chibi Magician with the assistence of her co-admins, Finnegan and Dremulf, alongside other unlisted people who were kind enough to give their input. The TRS, AP and face claim were all created by Fleur for specifically the use of TDOM. All plugins used on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners. The templates my members use are credited to their maker, if you find a template that belongs to you, but is uncredited, please speak to Chibi Magician or the member themself. Characters created on The Duality of Man are credited to their owners and should not be used elsewhere without the creator's permission.
Special thanks for the members of TDOM who make suggestions to help make this site better. Even though we can not accept all suggestions, we immensely appreciate it. Thus, we give credit to any additions that you thought of and were later implimented by the staff, because we are glad you give us these excellent ideas.
