✤ Phantom
The discarded silk child of Grand Mother Silk, bound to the Exhaust Organ. Born from silk under then name Satin as one of the daughters of the silk monarch, Phantom discovered that the label did not feel right for them. After being banished to the Exhaust Organ, they rejected their old name and identity, claiming the name Phantom for themselves. They were freed from the Exhaust Organ thanks to Hornet’s exchange with Grand Mother Silk, and moved to Dirtmouth together with their sister, Lace.
─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───
Info | |
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| Name Pronunciation | /ˈfæntəm/ |
| Name Meaning/Origin | Ghost, illusion |
| Other names/titles | Satin (formerly)
White Knight The Phantom |
| Nicknames | "Tulle" (Lace)
"Silken kin" (Holly) "Disgraced daughter" (Grand Mother Silk) |
Personal | |
| Age | 74 years old |
| Sex | None |
| Gender | None |
| Pronouns | They/them |
| Orientation | Aromantic |
| Tribe | Silkwoven |
| Birthplace | Pharloom |
| Hometown | Dirtmouth |
| Occupation | None |
Appearance | |
| Eye color | ■ Pale orange
■ Pale yellow |
| Height | 1.20m |
| Weight | 15kg |
| Notable Details |
Silk construct body
Lack of eyes |
Relationships | |
| Parents | Grand Mother Silk (creator/mother) |
| Siblings | Lace (sister) |
Extra | |
| Voice Claim | Sphinx (Dragon's Dogma 2) |
Phantom is the sibling of Lace, a being made of silk who hides behind a mask and never ventures anywhere without their longpin. Not much is known about them to the average bug as they are far from the talkative type, though their weapon and their manner of walk suggest that they have not always been like this. They live in Aika's house together with their sister, and they are very close with the void child of Vyrm, Holly.
Name origin
Their original name, Satin, which was given to them by Grand Mother Silk, is a word of French origin that describes a type of smooth cloth made from silk. Their chosen name, Phantom, is another term for a ghost or an illusion. They chose this name after their banishment, as a form of protest against their mother; in their words, if she was going to treat them as a ghost, then they would reclaim that identity for themselves and become the phantom she wishes not to speak of.Table of Contents
Appearance
Reference sheet
(click for full size)
Phantom, just like their sister, is a being woven from silk. They are a little taller than Lace, particularly thanks to their very long, bird-like legs. Their physique can best be described as slim, with a thin waist and slightly pronounced hips, further accentuated by the fluffy fur-like silk of gray color. A similar type of silk can be found on their chest, upper back and their shoulders, where it takes an almost black color and forms into curls, though the longer strands of silk on the shoulders take a more wavy shape. As you follow down towards their hands and feet, the silk gradually morphs into tightly wrapped strands, giving them an almost mummy-like appearance, with longer "tufts" on the elbows and on the underside of their feet, right above the digits. Their whole arms share the dark coloration of their shoulders, while their legs only gain this shade around their feet. Their claws are gold in color, though they are irregular and crooked, a result of their inability to properly mantain them for decades. The silken strings meet in the middle of their chest, where the dark coloration turns more brown and forms a triangular shaped pattern. From their lower back, trailing the direction of the black stripe that follows the line of their "spine", extend two flat tails, formed from long, wavy silk, slightly torn in certain places.
Their neck is somewhat long and has a slightly brown-ish hue on the side of the throat. It leads to a face which remains hidden behind a mask for the majority of time. Underneath, the answer for their unusual secrecy is revealed - among all the silk strands that form the triangular shape of their head, there are no distinguishable facial features. They have subtle hairline and a mouth, which remains hidden until it's open, but aside from the vague suggestion of eyebrow ridges, they possess no actual face. The silk strings extend upwards starting from their neck, forming wavy hair. However, the strings on the neck appear if they have once connected into a larger form, implying that the shape of their hair may have been different at some point in the past. The most noticeable detail is the singular strand of pale silk. This was a gift from Lace, a part of her own silk, which, unlike the silk used to replenish their form, did not change its color.
At the time of their creation, the gray parts of their silk instead sported a bright white color. The curls on their hips and shoulders were more similar to Lace's, as opposed to their current wavy shape. From their head grew long, wavy silk hair, very reminiscent of their mother's, though black in tone. The white silk gave much stronger contrast to their patterns, exposing a layer of reddish brown silk outlining the dark coloring of their chest and back. Their white attire was composed of a tailcoat tunic and baggy pants, over which they wore their White Knight armor - golden shoulder pieces, a cloak with the Grand Mother Silk emblem on the front, as well as golden gauntlets and greaves.
Background
Early life
The Weavers were Grand Mother’s Silk greatest creation. Born from simple beasts infused with silk essence, they were strong and loyal… Until they weren’t. Their rebellion led to their banishment, though as years passed, the Mother started to regret casting her creations out. They turned against her, but they had potential that she squandered by banishing them away from their birthplace. It was too late to bring them back, but she could try creating them again, a new generation of Weavers. This time, however, she wanted to challenge herself. No longer would she evolve common beasts with silk; this time, she would create them from scratch, like she did with the Architects and with the Sentinels, but with the intent to mimic the mortals. She heard of other gods and their attempts at creating life, indistinguishable from real mortals, and she decided to test herself and her skills, creating life from silk itself.After a series of unsuccessful attempts, all either too weak and unstable, or too robotic, more akin to the Sentinels than living beings, she finally succeeded. A silken daughter, created in her image, who would become her child and her most loyal knight. She named this daughter Satin, and adorned it with a bright white outfit and the fanciest armor the Citadel could offer. She did not yet know that deep down, throughout even those early days, the title given to this being was not one they felt attachment to, as they did not see themselves as a daughter. However, their inner struggle notwithstanding, they learned what they needed to learn and then then served, acting on her wishes and fulfilling their job as the knight of the Citadel.
However, cracks began to show not long after the beginning of their servitude. In her desires to achieve perfection, the Grand Mother did not foresee one fatal flaw - the alien, faceless appearance befitting a god, was not suitable for a being that was meant to mimic the mortals. Her White Knight struggled to maintain peace throughout the Citadel, the bugs they interacted with mistrusted them, some even dared to insult or assault them, all for one simple reason: fear. Her subjects, unable to perceive the knight as a living being, were terrified of her daughter, and as time went on, the reputation began affecting the silken child and, by proxy, their creator. They became irritable, prone to lashing out and aggression. However, what went unnoticed for the longest time, was their physical struggles. Their body was in top shape when maintained, but their incomplete face gave them poor eyesight, and even though they developed sensitive hearing to compensate, there were moments their condition reared its head.
It all culminated in one unfortunate event. During a mission to capture a sinner and bring them back alive to face their punishment, the insults hurled towards them made them snap. They skewered the bug with their longpin, and ran from the scene after realizing what they have done. They wandered the Citadel in shame, hoping to delay facing Grand Mother Silk, but eventually they had no choice but to return to her. And as expected, punishment was waiting for them. She scolded them for their failure, called them a disgraced daughter who brought shame to her. They were to renounce their knight title, and serve in the Exhaust Organ, away from the Citadel. They accepted their punishment without protest, though as they were escorted out of the Citadel, they saw her in passing. A being just like them, though all white as the roses of the cradle. What made them stop in the tracks, before one of the Choristors shoved them to keep going, was the being's eyes. As if their failure was not embarrassing enough, their replacement was given what they lacked, the one thing that would prevent all of this from happening - a face of their own.
The forgotten child
They worked at the Exhaust Organ diligently, in hopes that once they served their sentence, they could return to the Citadel. However, time passed, months turned into years, and the Citadel servants who supplied them with silk spools had no news to bring. What they did bring, however, were insults. They were called all names under the Silk's light: a freak, a disgrace to the Grand Mother, a faceless monster. They took the insults, believing them to be part of their punishment, though it hurt them at their core. One day, a Choir Reed brought them a mask and threw it at their legs, ordering them to put it on so that they would have a face to talk to. Then he left them behind, kneeling on the dirty floor of the Exhaust Organ, holding the mask in shaky hands, unable to shed tears. The pain soon gave in to anger, they threw the mask aside, and with still shaking hands they began clawing at their head, ripping the long strands of silken hair out, in desperate attempt to make themselves less like their mother. If the resemblance was part of the reason why they brought shame to her, then perhaps she would approve of this change, even if they were destroying her handiwork. But there was part of them that felt enraged at how they were treated. They were her child, her loyal knight, they tried their best to earn her affection, and yet she never once gave it to them. Instead, they were thrown aside like they meant nothing, forced to toil in the revolting swamps of Bilewater, with the organ as their only company. Staring at the ripped chunks of silk in their hands, they silently wept. Afterwards, they stood up, and picked the mask back up from the ground.Years passed, and with them, the hope of earning back their mother's grace slowly withered away, just like their once beautiful silk. They never heard the voice of Grand Mother Silk again, but they heard the servants call them "The Phantom", as if their name was long forgotten. Their silk stiffened and lost its pearly white color, the silk supplies they were given were not enough to maintain their good shape. Their vision worsened with it, making it difficult for them to tell anything apart at a distance. The mask given to them out of hatred was the only semblance of identity they had, and they clung to it, no matter how much pain it brought them. It was at this time that they began having more and more doubts about their own being. Being called the daughter of Silk never felt right, and now that they were abandoned by their creator, they felt even more alienated from that identity. The name they were given meant nothing to them, in fact, they felt angry at just the thought of it, and so they tossed it away, just like their mother did with them. In its place, they called themselves Phantom. If that was how they were treated, they would take it back and claim it as their own. They were no daughter, they were just a ghost, an apparition. And despite its depressing origin, the new identity felt right.
The silken siblings
One day, they were not visited by the usual Reed. In his place, there was that silk being they remember seeing once. Lace, as she would introduce herself. She did not speak to them, but they could feel her eyes on them, watching them carefully. She brought them a silk spool, then left, and all they could think about was: Why her? Weeks later, she visited again, and this time she had something else with her. They could almost smell it from across the room, their longpin. The weapon that sealed their fate, but one they missed dearly. Then she spoke, she said that she heard this was theirs, and that they were allowed to have it back so they could defend themselves if there was a need. Their answer was a simple nod, as they were more occupied with listening to her voice. There was a sadness in it, she masked with a layer of confidence and even some arrogance, but they could hear it. Perhaps her fate was not much better than theirs? They could only guess. At a certain point, they could’ve sworn the visits became more frequent. At one point, she told them to pick up their longpin, and spar with her. The two silk children did not converse much during their spars, but Phantom did not complain. They finally had something to look for, someone to wait for.Lace was an interesting creature, they found quickly. She was far more talkative than they first expected, and she even shared some of her doubts about their mother. They showed her how to play the Exhaust Organ, even attempted to teach her the melody that expelled the Citadel's fumes. They found that she was not as musically gifted, but she had a beautiful singing voice, and so they sang songs together to the tune of the organ. One time, she even called them their sister, to which they protested. Seeing her surprised face, they tried to explain why it felt wrong to them, though they struggled to articulate it. She seemed offended at first, then a little hurt, but she did not pry into it, and respected their wish afterwards, for which they were grateful. They realized that her presence, which at first they feared to be overstimulating, was very welcome, and they felt a sense of kinship with her. They were both the children of Grand Mother Silk, both were deprived of love, and one of them even experienced what it was like to fall below her expectations, a fate that they hoped Lace would never share. The two siblings had many things to bond over, and did so over the years, though they made sure to keep it as low-profile as they could. After all, Lace's visits were supposed to be brief, them growing close was not part of her responsibilities, and she was still bound to her duties. However, Phantom did not complain even if she did not stay long, and they eagerly awaited her return every time.
But then Lace stopped visiting them. She did not even come to replenish their silk, that job was once again handled by someone else. They asked the bug who replaced her what happened, but received no answer, unsurprisingly. Was she thrown aside by their creator, just like them? Cast into solitude, until she would fade away? Once again, all they could do was wonder. The little bud of hope that began growing in their chest during their previous meetings was now squandered once again. They were once again left to toil in solitude, an endless fate that could only be brought to an end with their death. They thought about it, more and more often, but they feared the punishment they would receive if Grand Mother Silk was able to bring them back, or if they failed. It was difficult to imagine a fate worse than the one they were thrown into, and they decided they would rather not find out.
Free from shackles
Their life continued as it did before Lace's meetings. With no hope left to anchor them, Phantom grew cynical and pessimistic, and would often respond to the unpleasant words of the Citadel workers with off-putting laughter, or even threats of violence. But they remained as nothing but threats, they knew that if they killed one of them, they would anger Grand Mother Silk. Part of them did not care and even silently hoped she would finally get rid of them for good, but another part held the fear that she would not let them go that easily. Perhaps, one day, someone else would do them a favor and put an end to their miserable existence.They were not aware of what the real reason behind Lace’s absence was. Somewhere along the way, they simply accepted that she had also abandoned them. Everyone did, that’s all they were good for, they’ve always just been something to throw away like a broken doll. They’ve been alive for too long to expect things to be different, though they could not muster a hint of anger, either. What would it change, after all? They would still be forced to remain here, in solitude, slowly withering away and losing their mind with every passing day. They stopped paying attention to the bugs who checked on them to ensure they were doing their job properly, though it was unclear whether it was a conscious choice, or if they began losing their social skills. Regardless of the reason, the bugs returned that sentiment, and did not even attempt to talk to them.
When they heard unfamiliar footsteps approaching, they did not turn their head away from the organ, they did not react at all. They did not move at the sound of the stranger’s weak voice, either, at least until they said the words. You are free to leave, Phantom heard, and after a pause that felt like days, they started laughing. A long, maniacal laugh, that at times sounded more like sobbing. Then they grabbed the mask lying next to them, turned their head towards the source of the voice, and picked up their longpin. If the stranger was there to mock them with such gall, then they might as well get back at them. They would inevitably be punished for it, it was not their job to fight unless necessary, but they did not care. On the contrary, they would welcome it. Their existence was nothing but silent suffering, so why not go out with a bang?
But then they heard the words again, however, this time, they were said by a familiar voice. They hesitated and turned their face in Lace’s direction. She repeated it, without a hint of mockery in her words. They lowered their longpin, and asked what this was about. As they heard the explanation, they slowly turned towards one of the other bugs, the one who spoke before. This Hornet, she was the one who made it happen? She offered herself to Grand Mother Silk… in exchange for their freedom? But why? They never even met, they were nothing to her. Was all of this just an elaborate joke at their expense? They stood there, confused, though eventually they agreed to go with them. If they got tricked, and the freedom in question was the sweet release of death, they would welcome it. But if there was even just a little chance that they could see the world again… They didn’t realize that part of them was still alive, but they felt excited at the thought.
New home
Phantom, Lace, Hornet and the bug who accompanied her, named Aika, all traveled out of Pharloom on the back of a Shell Treader, a giant creature bred for long distance travel. During their walk to and from the Treader Stations, Hornet, exhausted and injured, struggled to maintain pace and had to be carried by Aika. Right behind them, Lace held Phantom’s hand, helping them avoid obstacles on their way. They weren’t used to touch, but her hand was soft, and they liked the sensation enough to not let go. Lace carried their longpin, and so with their free hand, they held the mask onto their face, scared of the possibility of the other two seeing what was behind it, even if they seemed more occupied with Hornet's state. And truthfully, they could not blame them. Whatever happened to Hornet, she looked terrible, and that knowledge only deepened the confusion in their mind. Just why exactly were they given their freedom, what happened in the Citadel? They looked at Lace for answers, but she seemed unusually quiet. Something was clearly tormenting her, and they decided not to pry into it.They arrived in a town called Dirtmouth, in a distant land known as Hallownest. They stopped at Aika's house to unpack, but then all three of the girls left and walked towards another house. Phantom followed them, not wanting to be left behind all alone, in a place they've never been to. Not again, at least. They caught up with Lace, who still seemed too shaken to say anything, her eyes were glued onto Hornet. They really wanted answers, but they respected Lace enough to not bother her with questions. Whatever was happening, was clearly of higher priority, and the gratitude that formed in their heart for Hornet made them share the concern for her well-being, even if they barely knew her.
What met them in the house they arrived in was less than pleasant. They never met any of the bugs inside, but one of them immediately gave them reasons to mistrust him. This bug, named Grimm from what Phantom was able to tell, seemed unreasonably aggressive with Lace, and had to be dragged away from her, stopped only by Hornet. Phantom felt the urge to jump in to protect their sister, but the situation calmed down and they left, heading back towards Aika's home. It was only after they reached it and Hornet was put to bed that Phantom had the opportunity to get some answers. Lace was shaken after the situation with Grimm, but she tried to force a smile and proceeded to explain what happened. They listened in silence, and only nodded at the end. This Hornet clearly meant a lot to Lace, and now that they heard the full story, they knew they were in her eternal debt for saving them from their fate in a way they never once considered. It felt unattainable, too unrealistic, and yet there they were. Away from Pharloom, free from their toil, and too far for Grand Mother Silk to consider her a looming threat. They were actually free, and while at times it felt wrong, they were thankful for it. They struggled to imagine their life after this point, but Lace was there, and she needed them, so they would try to be there for her. And as it turned out, they needed her too.
Present day
Over the next few months, things slowly turned for the better. Hornet fully recovered from her injuries, regaining her strength and energy. Lace and Phantom settled together at Aika’s house, with Phantom occupying her office room, which was transformed into another bedroom. Lace’s relationship with Grimm, while still strained, also slowly improved, though Phantom struggled to trust him after the first impression. Lace found joy in her relationship with Hornet and Aika, which warmed Phantom's heart. Seeing her happy made them happy, even though there was still a dark cloud over their thoughts, reminding them that they're nothing more but a background character in the lives of others. There was a time they became obsessed with serving Hornet, in hopes of repaying the debt. Their attempts became overbearing, and at some point Hornet stopped them to talk, and told them that they should not feel obligated to do this. They were confused and struggled to agree with her, until she offered them another way of finding closure. Their job, from now on, was to live a full life and find happiness, and while the task felt daunting, they accepted it.
Holly also helped them learn more about the strange alienation they felt towards what others around them called gender. They did not feel like a female bug, or a male one, and that was confusing. But the existence of Holly, someone who, like them, was genderless, helped them understand and accept it. There was nothing wrong with them, they were just themselves, and they were not alone. The new realizations also brought them closer with Lace, who spent her own time trying to figure out how to approach Phantom's identity, and had her own words of assurance and validation ready for them whenever they had doubts. With their newfound freedom, the siblings were able to grow much closer than before. They were there for each other, they even caused trouble together, as they both had the tendency to respond to insults with direct actions, especially to defend one another. In their free time, between Lace's new courier bug duties, they like to visit the town's tavern to perform together, like they did back in the Exhaust Organ - Phantom playing on the piano, and Lace singing in her delightfully melodic voice. This time, their talents were rewarded with extra Geo, that they both decided would go into the purchase of a new, bigger home, for Lace and her mates, and Phantom.
They still have a long way to go before they're able to heal from their trauma and finally consider themselves happy, but they are working on it. And with each day, even the hard work starts to appear brighter. They're no longer alone, they have a sister they love dearly, a close companion in Holly, a group of friends, and even Hornet's family, who accepted them as one of their own. They even received a gift, a joint effort by Lace and Vyrm - a new mask, made specifically for Phantom out of love, not mockery like their previous mask. On top of finally giving them a proper sense of their own identity, the mask is equipped with darkened lenses, which prevent their eyes from getting tired, and most importantly, help them focus their vision better. Their disabilities are still part of their life, their vision being just one of them. The years of damage to their silk took a toll on them, and even though their body was properly repaired, its still gray and more fragile. The longpin, once a symbol of their status, now became more of a crutch that helps them walk. But even when the hardships get to them, they find comfort in the thought that they have the support of others. It continues to sound unreal when they say it, but they are not alone. They may be a phantom, but they are no longer unseen.
General characteristics
Special abilities
They are able to manipulate the silk within their body, which includes morphing it into different shapes. However, they are not able to produce their own silk, which means that they have a limited amount of it to work with. What this means, is that they are, for instance, able to unravel one of their arms and add extra silk to the other or create an extra layer to protect themselves from an attack. However, as a result of decades of neglect, this ability of theirs does not work perfectly. There are times where they struggle to shape the silk back into its original shape and require several tries to do so, and extended manipulation of it leaves them exhausted and trembling.They are extremely skilled with a longpin, trained by the best fighters in the Citadel, though their physical weakness limits their capabilities at the current point. Moreover, they have a surprising capability of mimicking the voices of others' though their frailed silk often makes their voice deeper than intended.
Gender identity & sexuality
They are genderless, which is something they realized early on in their life when the title given to them by Grand Mother Silk did not mesh with how they viewed themselves. They rejected their given gender even if they did not understand what they actually were at the time. When they got to know Holly, they learned to understand their situation better and accept it as something normal, rather than a sign of something being wrong with them. Similarly, while their sexuality still remains under question, they are aromantic, unable to form a romantic bond with anyone. They still struggle with the fear that it makes them appear uncaring and cold, though they are slowly learning that platonic love is just as valuable as anything romantic, in large part thanks to the platonic relationship they built with Holly.Fears
Their biggest fear is that they are undeserving of the chance they were given by Hornet. For decades they lived convinced that they were a failure and a disappointment to their creator, and while they understand now that they were treated horribly by the one who should've loved them, they're still terrified of making another mistake and suffering terrible consequences, whatever they may be. They're paranoid about doing something wrong, and that manifests in the struggles related to their identity. They fear that they're not "normal" enough to be accepted, another sign that the trauma of being shunned and insulted for their alien, off-putting appearance is still with them and continues to affect their daily life.Quirks & mannerisms
They walk in a slow, but elegant way, their frayed state does not prevent them from taking graceful, almost dance-like steps. They do occasionally stumble, however, which explains the presence of their longpin wherever they go, as they use it as walking aid. On top of that, the longpin also serves the function not unlike a white cane, allowing them to scan the environemnt in front of them for obstacles, and so they can sometimes be seen tapping or sweeping it along the ground. Whenever they speak, they do so in a very dramatic, theatrical manner, which is especially noticeable whenever they throw back their head in laughter.(work in progress)