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!
Brendon’s gaze continued to return to the sight of the other male in the limousine time and time again on their drive home, and each time his dark hair came into his vision the impatience he felt heightened inside of him. He had announced to Hanzo that he wished to escort Mr. Ardel around the estate because he had wanted to get a private moment with him as soon as possible. However, he had a feeling that his want for him to permanently change back into his actual self wasn’t going to be met well.
Hanzo, of course, had been completely disapproving of the idea of a private escort but Brendon had pacified him — at least for now — with a compromise to carry around a radio to keep him up to date. Hanzo would feel ready to step in the moment things went awry. Brendon once again found himself wondering why he trusted Josuah based on his appearance alone. It had become such a big thing to him, completely consuming his mind. His appearance shouldn’t have had that sort of affect, but he was so overwhelmed by it that everything else felt so small and insignificant in the background.
The limousine rolled to a smooth stop at the front drive of the Redal Estate and Hanzo was the first to exit the car, holding the door ajar for him. Brendon stepped out afterward, standing tall and smoothing out his expensive maroon suit. He peered back toward the other male, although he was always reluctant to do so, to ensure he was following suit.
“Please have the radio retrieved for me right away, Hanzo.” He instructed and with a subtle nod of his head Hanzo moved away a few dozen feet to begin instructing one of the doormen by the front door. Meanwhile, Brendon turned his disapproving and scrutinizing gaze onto the Disguised. “We’ll speak in private as soon as we are able to.”
Brendon immediately turned his hostile gaze down onto Imposter as soon as he spoke in that NOT HIS voice. His face was beat red from the flare of rebellion and anger that gripped him. The male seated beside him looked tired and worn, clearly sapped of energy, but Brendon didn’t care — he wanted him back in his real body! He didn’t want to hear his other stupid FAKE voice! His cheeks were so puffed out, his hair frazzled and sticking out every which way, that he looked about ready to release steam from his flaring golden antlers.
He brought his gaze away from him and childishly stood from his chair just as Mr. Lambert finished explaining what it meant for Josuah to be his legal guardian, and reached out to grab the document that looked to be the one he needed to sigh, putting it down in front of Josuah at the desk. “There, you can sign.” He huffed with clear impatience and grabbed the pen, putting that down next.
The Attorney re-entered the office, the damage to his doorknob not going unnoticed. Brendon’s gaze roamed to Mr. Lambert as he gestured, quite adamantly, for them to take a seat at the chairs before his desk. Brendon was surprised when he found Josuah, wearing the Imposter’s disguise that he really hated, actually did it. He felt guilty with the feelings that plagued him and the fact that he was reluctant to sit next to such a visual. He wanted him back to what he looked like before! But maybe if they got this over with, then he could finally have that. He didn’t understand why he was in a disguise in the first place…
Moodily, Brendon marched his way over to the chair and made a point at sitting down as well. “How much control will I have over my own rules, Mr. Lambert?” He asked in a hoity-toity way, his nose risen toward the ceiling and his hands folded in his lap. Hanzo stood beside him, his untrusting gaze having lingered on Josuah. “How much will Mr. Ardel be able to boss me around?”
Brendon’s ears twitched and swiveled as he felt the magic of the necklace that Josuah wore. He could taste its essence and feel the way it pulsated with his energy, his soul, feeding it into him. It took a lot of willpower, but Brendon managed to compose himself. He straightened and wiped away at his tears, seeing Hanzo’s steel resolve as his gaze bore down at him in waiting.
“He didn’t do anything bad, Hanzo.” He finally declared and took a step back to smooth down any wrinkles that had bunched in his purple-red suit. “He showed me the letter and I got angry that it had taken him this long to reveal something so… crucial.”
Hanzo’s brows furrowed in contemplation and, reluctantly, he released the ward he had erected, giving the other a brief glance. “What has been revealed?”
“I do not wish to say.”
“Brendon.” Hanzo appeared for the second time today genuinely perturbed.
Brendon sniffed and stood straighter, pushing his chin higher. “I would like to sort things out, Hanzo. And… he’s going to become my guardian anyway.”
He could from his peripheral vision that the Imposter was weak. He still didn’t understand what he had to do with helping him, but it was clear to him now that he was using the necklace to somehow tap into his energy. The thing he was definitely the maddest about was just his… stupid disguise...
The male apologized to him but through the voice of the Imposter, and Brendon couldn’t handle it. He weeped until he cries grew louder and Hanzo grabbed him, pulling him back in a gesture meant for protection. The Imposter’s seething rebuke only gained a narrowed and irritable look from the bodyguard, who obviously did not trust him or his involvement in any of this, and then he turned to address his now simpering young master. “What has he done?” He demanded, erecting a ward before them to prevent any further disruption from the other male as he had now clearly shown that he was willing to use his abilities to gain whatever advantages he saw necessary.
Brendon blinked back his tears, dread and unhappiness seeping into his chest as he watched Josuah step back into the hex he had made. His heart seized and he started to move forward, crying out with both upset but also angered frustration at the idea of him turning back. However, he didn’t make it in time. The magic worked too quickly and he was stunted in his advance.
Hanzo burst in moments later, still in the process of healing the burn against his hand. Despite the visible distance separating the two of them, Hanzo still stepped forward, reaching out to grasp onto the upper arm of Brendon’s suit sleeve and draw him back behind him.
Brendon’s small body tensed and straightened, his chin raising up to follow the male’s movements when he rose to his full height once more. However, instead of using the hex — as Brendon had assumed he would — he stepped out of it. Suspicion immediately engulfed Brendon, causing his brows to knit together as wild ideas started to bombard him. What if he grabbed him and teleported away? Why was there a part of him that felt conflicted over his feelings on that thought?
However, his thoughts were ceased as a once invisible hex began to glow underneath him and then shattered a moment later, his disguise breaking away with it. Brendon’s eyes immediately widened and he felt struck to his very core. He’d been right… Suddenly, he felt emotion swell painfully in his chest, tearing up his eyes as they laid upon the completely different person who now stood before him. Blond hair that he could see in such vivid detail; the color and texture of each strand and his… h-his magnificent green eyes. The structure of his face… where every contour was placed.
His scent overwhelmed him. He could taste him in his mouth and he was so different. He didn’t understand why it mattered — but it did. The tears burst down his cheeks and emotion seized in his chest, pent-up rage and frustration making it burn with hurt and a feeling of betrayal.
“Why did you do that!?” Brendon yelled, his voice coarse and filled with his tears. But his accusation and emotion stirred unrest outside of the door, Hanzo immediately there, turning the knob with the intention to barge in.
Josuah Ardel has shown up to claim his place on the Will. Brendon and Hanzo are called down to the Attorney District's office where Brendon comes face to face with the male he'd been dreading it to be. However things take an unexpected turn when Josuah reveals that he is under a disguise hex.
The Attorney and Hanzo took their leave of the room, promising him the seven minutes he had requested. The door closed after their retreat and Brendon’s enhanced senses could hear the retreating of the attorney and Hanzo stationing himself at the wall beside the door.
“You have to promise me that you’ll remain where you are…” The dark haired male, who swore he was under disguise, instructed him as he backed further away in the Attorney’s office until he was nearly at the opposite wall.
Brendon pressed his lips firmly together, anticipation swelling tight in his chest. Still he… didn’t know what he expected. What could possibly happen with a change of appearance? What difference would any of this make? Despite his doubts, he couldn’t fight the compelling feelings inside of him.
His breathing grew short and raspy, impatience churning in the pit of his stomach, hands wringing against one another, as he watched the male draw the glyphs of a hex into the floor with chalk.
“It is all I’ve been trying to do.” The male confirmed out loud, causing Brendon to go a little pink in the face. His ears were frazzled, swiveling this way and that atop his head, his antlers glowing a little more intently from his build-up of emotion.
“Hanzo, I wish to do it.” He announced, puffing his chest out and using his hands to pull at the tail ends of his coat, making himself appear more masculine and older than he was.
Hanzo appeared genuinely surprised by his request, and then his gaze narrowed with his disapproval. However, he did not fight him on his decision. “Very well. I would advise that you at least set a time limit.”
Brendon took in a shaky breath. “What would you suggest?”
“Five minutes.”
“I choose seven, and then you may intervene Hanzo.” Brendon decided, folding his hands behind his back as he brought his amber gaze up to the Imposter standing across from him.
The Imposter had drawn a letter from the pockets of his black coat. However now, with a sigh, he tucked it back inside, opting to retrieve his cell phone instead. “Then avert your eyes.” He was already bossing around his bodyguard but unfortunately for him Hanzo was loyal only to Brendon and it was him he looked to for the order.
Brendon nodded his head, giving him his permission to do as requested, and then accepted the cell phone handed out to him. He wondered if the contents written on it were going to be threatening him about the necklace he had revealed during the Funeral Reception.
Therefore he was… shocked, but also still suspicious, as he read over the letter and learned of him claiming to use a… disguise hex. Emotion sweltered in his eyes and he felt it consume the rest of his body as well. He wanted to see. He immediately wanted to see, but he couldn’t trust himself. He couldn’t trust the Imposter, either. He felt such a desperate and uncontrollable need for it.
But he knew as much as Hanzo did that he couldn’t be so quick to trust, so quick to run away into the other room with him. The Imposter had been trying to get him alone since yesterday… and it still felt really nefarious. Not only that but… even if he was disguised, what was it that he was looking for? Hoping to find in his real image? How would it change any of these circumstances? And why was this male saying that he trusted him? Why was he claiming that he was the one…
His mind stalled and immediately drew back to the necklace he had revealed to him. He had felt connected to it, had felt like a part of him was with it, and with a sudden surge of fear he wondered if that was what he was referring to. H-How was he stealing his life energy?!
“I…,” He faltered and struggled with the inner war going on inside of him, his strained gaze flickering between the Attorney, Hanzo, and then the man he couldn’t stand looking at! He hesitated further and then ultimately chose to write him a message, silently, in return. With a harsh breath, and a face set with determination, he gave him back the phone.
“If I may… I have something to give Brendon Redal in private… from his parents.” Brendon felt so much bitterness swell within his heart and such a need to reject referring to this male as Josuah Ardel. When he finally heard his voice, as though wanting it to sound a way that he could connect to, it instead pierced at his heart in a scathing way and made him feel… emotional. He was almost unable to control himself, and his desperation to lash out, and it took every ounce of will power to seal his mouth and remain rigidly still next to Hanzo.
“As his bodyguard, I accompany Brendon at all times.” Hanzo’s impassive but strong voice answered the other’s request. He did not appear hostile, but his lack of trust was clear.
Nestled somewhere deep in his heart Brendon knew that he had been expecting it. But, the sight of the black haired man standing at the wall brought such a contrasting mixture of emotions through him. His eyes immediately burned, chest clenching up tight. There was nothing about him that he liked. A part of him wanted to vehemently deny the fact that he was claiming to be Josuah Ardel, as though he even knew who that was. It made him so angry — yet so conflicted — to see this stupid male standing here instead of… of… someone else!
But he kept himself in check. He was so close to throwing a fit, screaming and yelling accusations, but he wouldn’t mortify himself. He needed to act dignified. He needed to be in control and in charge of everything. Hanzo’s features had become unfriendly as soon as the gray of his eyes caught sight of the male from the funeral services.
Brendon’s gaze lowered away from the presence of the other in the room. He radiated a strange aura that made him feel familiar, yet whenever he looked at him his whole being rejected the ugly sight of him! He wanted to stamp his foot over his boot and then stamp it some more! He was not Josuah Ardel! He was an Imposter!
Hanzo was handed the Imposter’s identification, to which he silently scrutinized for a handful of seconds before placing it back into the Attorney’s hands.
A knock on his bedroom door drew Brendon’s attention away from his computer screen. Yesterday had been filled with chaos and nerves and the entire night had kept him awake and restless. He’d been spending the last couple of hours propped up against the headboard of his bed, his laptops brightness turned down to the dimmest settings as he scoured the web for anything he could find on Josuah Ardel.
The door slowly opened, light from the hallway filtering in. Hanzo assumed him to be asleep, and Brendon liked to believe that he glimpsed a glimmer of surprise when he caught him sitting up in the dark of the early morning hours.
“The Attorney has phoned. Josuah Ardel has shown up.”
Alarm slammed into Brendon like a tidal wave. He felt it in every fiber of his being, rattling him to his core. His shoulders hunched and stiffened, but he didn’t hesitate to begin scrambling out of the bed, heart launched into a frenzied beat.
“The Attorney has asked for you to come down and meet him personally.”
“I will!” Brendon breathed out harshly, already at his drawers and drawing out an outfit for the day. He couldn’t begin to fathom why there was excitement mingling with the myriad of other disconcerting emotions. Did he really expect this person to be anything good? And why would he dare? He was setting himself up for failure.
By the point that he and Hanzo had been chauffeured to Mr. Lambert’s office in Lorsette’s downtown business district, the small excitement that had once been apart of him had been completely snuffed out. Brendon sat rigid in the luxurious black velvet seats of the limosene, his palms clammy as they gripped at the maroon fabric of his dress pants.
His eyes had misted with tears of emotion and dread and as the car rolled to a stop he suddenly felt stifled in the high collar dress shirt and neck tie. He adjusted them both, allowing himself more room, before his door was opened for him and he stepped out before the sleekly designed building. Hanzo came around to join him at his side, taking the stairs first to open the door for him.
“We have an appointment with Mr. Lambert.” Hanzo intoned, however it hadn’t been necessary. The receptionist instantly recognized them and was already buzzing in to Mr. Lambert’s phone directly to inform him that Brendon Redal had arrived.
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credits
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.
