History Characters / TheStrangerTimes

* JerkassHasAPoint: For all of his unpleasantness, Banecroft is usually correct in his judgements. For example, his editorial decisions are incredibly rude but improve the paper's overall quality. In fact, he cultivates an angry, unreasonable exterior so that he can act without others questioning his logic. So, when he blows his top and fires those nice builders (who are actually making booby traps), or tosses that promising young job candidate (who was sent to be [[TheMole a mole]]) out on his ear, everyone assumes he's just being his usual JerkAss self instead of a very perceptive and efficient protector.

* SymbioticPossession: Manny shares a body with his Friend, an immensely powerful spirit which protects the Church of Old Souls/''Stranger Times'' office.

* CalmingTea: She's the kind of person who thinks all problems can be solved with a [[nice cuppa. When things are rough, she compulsively offers to make everyone, or just herself, tea.

* DrinkBasedCharacterization: She's the kind of person who thinks all problems can be solved with a nice cuppa. When things are rough, she compulsively offers to make everyone, or just herself, tea.

* CameraFiend: Simon is fond of snapping pictures for the articles he can never publish. This works to the heroes' advantage when he takes a picture of the Were, which helps them to identify the monster.
* IntrepidReporter: Simon is far more excited about investigating the supernatural than any of the actual staff at the ''Times''. [[Spoiler: His lack of caution is what gets him killed.]]

* DealWithTheDevil: A Were can only result from a willing sacrifice. So, a man agrees to die and be reborn as a Were if Moretti promises to save his daughter's life. [[spoiler: Moretti never intended to keep his end of the bargain and is killed by the Were when his betrayal is revealed.]]

!!Mr. Merchant

* DealWithTheDevil: A Were can only result from a willing sacrifice. So, a man agrees to die and be reborn as a Were if Moretti promises to save his sickly daughter's life. [[spoiler: Moretti never intended to keep his end of the bargain and is killed by the Were when his betrayal is revealed.]]
* HealthcareMotivation: Merchant went along with Moretti's plans because the latter promised to heal his sickly daughter Cathy.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The main monster in the first book is a Were, a human who has become a supernatural hunting dog and used by the Founders to capture Folk.

The Roxy theatre is haunted by the organ-playing ghost of a woman who is said to have been abandoned y her lover.

* Does Not Like Men: The Roxy ghost leaves female theatre staff alone but harasses male staff, culminating in the head chef getting stabbed in the hand. Her hatred leads her to [[spoiler: curse some predatory men with vampirism]]. Her misandry is cured by The Power of Love [[spoiler: from Banecroft, no less!]]

* TheBigGuy: John's a seven-foot-tall wall of muscle. Enough said.

*

Ronnie runs the the ''Roxy'' cinema. She takes pride in making a space where all freaks and geeks are welcome.

* DemonicPossession: She is possessed by the ''Roxy'' ghost [[spoiler: who is in turn possessed by a greater power]]. The ghost compels her to re-enact a hackneyed but [[GenderFlip gender-swapped]] silent movie script. She kidnaps [[spoiler: Sturgess]] and ties him up in the cinema, where he is menaced by vampires and saved by a daring heroine.

Victor Tombs is a self-made vampire who frequents the weekly vampire-movie nights at the ''Roxy''. His father Gregory is a security consultant who wants nothing more than to protect his son from harm.

[[folder: The ''Roxy'' Ghost]]

The ''Roxy'' theatre is haunted by the organ-playing ghost of a woman who is said to have been abandoned y her lover.

*

*

Moira is the head of a stationery empire. She has checked herself into the Pinter Institute to work through some body image issues and quickly befreiends Hannah.

[[folder: The Vampires]]
!!Phillip Butler, Andrew Campbell, Leon Gibson, [[spoiler: Alan Baladin]], others
Vampires never existed, even in the world of Founders and Folk, until a group of young men sprouted fangs and started prowling around Manchester. Dealing with this sudden outbreak of vampirism is the main focus of the second book.

* ColourfulThemeNaming: The members of the group never used their real names. Their codenames were based around the colour of their outerwear: Mr Red has a red hoodies, Mr Green has a green anorak, etc.
* FullyEmbracedFiend: Some of the vampires panic when they realise [[WhatHaveIBecome that they are no longer human]]. Others, like Mr Red and Mr White, embrace their vampirism.
* LaserGuidedKarma: The men who became vampires were targeted because they already had a predatory nature. [[Spoiler: Specifically, they were using a prototype dating app to emotionally manipulate women into having sex with them.]]
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Traditional Folk knowledge says that vampires do not exist, but were invented as an allegory for the Founders. Of course, that doesn't stop these "allegories" from popping up in Manchester and ripping out a few throats.
* WhatHaveIBecome: Most of the vampires have this reaction when they realise that they have been transformed into monsters.

[[folder: The Ceathramh]]
!!The Ceathramh
Before the Accords were established, a group of Folk rose up against the Founders. Even now, after the war is supposed to have ended, a group of resistance fighters continue to stir up unrest in the magical world. Not much is known about this organization's plans, but there's no doubt that they're dangerous.

* FacialMarkings: The signature markings for the Ceathramh are a quartered face (the society's name comes from the Scottish Gaelic word for 'quarter'), with each section dyed a different colour.
* MindOverMatter: One of them uses telekinesis to float Stanley over a cliff and attempt to pull him apart.

[[folder: Cogs and Zeke]]
!!Cogs and Zeke
Cogs was a traveling minstrel who made the mistake of snubbing a river goddess. Now he lives on a houseboat where is is compelled to give anyone who offers tribute an honest answer to their questions. He lives with Zeke, a talking bulldog who is not actually a bulldog.

* {{Animorphism}}: Zeke used to be a human but is currently a [[TalkingAnimal talking bulldog]]. He isn't too upset by the change though, as his human life was "a lot of hard work."
* CannotTellALie: Cogs was cursed by a river goddess to only tell the truth. Sometimes he is forced to tell the truth when he'd [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud rather keep silent]], like when he admits that Zeke has been a good friend to him.
* WomanScorned: Cogs made the mistake of jilting a river goddess. She cursed him to always tell the truth and to always remain on the water.

[[folder: The ''Roxy'' Ghost]]
!!The Ghost of the Roxy Theatre
The ''Roxy'' theatre is haunted by the organ-playing ghost of a woman who is said to have been abandoned y her lover.

* Does Not Like Men: The Roxy ghost leaves female theatre staff alone but harasses male staff, culminating in the head chef getting stabbed in the hand. Her hatred leads her to [[spoiler: curse some predatory men with vampirism]]. Her misandry is cured by The Power of Love [[spoiler: from Banecroft, no less!]]
* WomanScorned: The ghost of the Roxy was left at the altar and has turned her rage onto all men, and [[spoiler: specifically turned the sexual predators who frequented the area into literal monsters.]]

[[folder: John [=Mór=]]]
!!John [=Mór=]
John [=Mór=] runs a bar catering to the Folk. He uses his immense strength and canny ability to read people to help the Mancunian Folk community.

*

!!Allies and Others

[[folder: Cogs and Zeke]]
!!Cogs and Zeke
Cogs was a traveling minstrel who made the mistake of snubbing a river goddess. Now he lives on a houseboat where is is compelled to give anyone who offers tribute an honest answer to their questions. He lives with Zeke, a talking bulldog who is not actually a bulldog.

* {{Animorphism}}: Zeke used to be a human but is currently a [[TalkingAnimal talking bulldog]]. He isn't too upset by the change though, as his human life was "a lot of hard work."
* CannotTellALie: Cogs was cursed by a river goddess to only tell the truth. Sometimes he is forced to tell the truth when he'd [[DidIJustSayThatOutLoud rather keep silent]], like when he admits that Zeke has been a good friend to him.
* WomanScorned: Cogs made the mistake of jilting a river goddess. She cursed him to always tell the truth and to always remain on the water.

!!Antagonists
[[folder: The Founders]]
!!The Founders
The Founders are a conspiracy nut's dream come true. This secret organization of immortals rules over both the magical and the mundane worlds with a hidden hand. Their main representative to the ''Stranger Times'' is Dr. Carter, though as the series progresses they recruit other ambitious up-and-comers such as [[spoiler: media mogul Tamsin Baladin]].

* AncientConspiracy: The Founders are a shadowy cabal of immortals with limitless influence and resources. A single member has a small personal army, enough money buy the silence of victims of paranormal events, and enough influence to make police enquiries vanish in a matter of minutes.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Founders are not allowed to procreate, and [[spoiler: Dominic Johnson]] shows why. He loves his son and wants to save him from death by making him immortal as well. This prompts the plot of the first and third books.
* ImmortalsFearDeath: The moment a Founder first drains life from one of the Folk, they receive a vision of Hell and the knowledge that their soul is forfeit. Needless to say, they are very motivated to stay alive.
* LifeDrinker: The Founders drain the Folk of life force to keep up their immortality.
* OlderThanTheyLook: Founders are immortal and ageless.

[[folder: Moretti]]
!!Charlie Moretti
Moretti is the main antagonist of the first book. He is a rogue Founder who creates a forbidden Were and sets it loose in Manchester.

* BloodMagic: Moretti practices illegal blood magic and has been tortured and imprisoned as punishment. It doesn't stop him from planning a bloody ritual as soon as he escapes.
* TheCakeIsALie: Moretti promises Merchant to heal his daughter in exchange for his services as a Were. In fact, [[spoiler: he intends to make another child, Daniel, immortal]].
* DealWithTheDevil: A Were can only result from a willing sacrifice. So, a man agrees to die and be reborn as a Were if Moretti promises to save his daughter's life. [[spoiler: Moretti never intended to keep his end of the bargain and is killed by the Were when his betrayal is revealed.]]
* HypnoPendulum: Moretti hypnotizes normal humans with a spinning coin on a chain.
* LaserGuidedAmnesia: Moretti can wipe the memory of specific events, as he does with the real estate agent who set him up in the warehouse.

[[folder: The Were]]
!!Mr. Merchant
A family man turned hideous wolf-like creature. In the past, Weres were used by the Founders to track down members of the Folk, but have since been forbidden. That doesn't stop Moretti from making one anyway.

* DealWithTheDevil: A Were can only result from a willing sacrifice. So, a man agrees to die and be reborn as a Were if Moretti promises to save his sickly daughter's life. [[spoiler: Moretti never intended to keep his end of the bargain and is killed by the Were when his betrayal is revealed.]]
* HealthcareMotivation: Merchant went along with Moretti's plans because the latter promised to heal his sickly daughter Cathy.
* OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The main monster in the first book is a Were, a human who has become a supernatural hunting dog and used by the Founders to capture Folk.
* SuperPersistentPredator: Weres will not stop until they have their prey in hand (or maw). This is why they were ideal hunting dogs for the Founders.

[[folder: The Vampires]]
!!Phillip Butler, Andrew Campbell, Leon Gibson, [[spoiler: Alan Baladin]], others
Vampires never existed, even in the world of Founders and Folk, until a group of young men sprouted fangs and started prowling around Manchester. Dealing with this sudden outbreak of vampirism is the main focus of the second book.

* ColourfulThemeNaming: The members of the group never used their real names. Their codenames were based around the colour of their outerwear: Mr Red has a red hoodies, Mr Green has a green anorak, etc.
* FullyEmbracedFiend: Some of the vampires panic when they realise [[WhatHaveIBecome that they are no longer human]]. Others, like Mr Red and Mr White, embrace their vampirism.
* LaserGuidedKarma: The men who became vampires were targeted because they already had a predatory nature. [[Spoiler: Specifically, they were using a prototype dating app to emotionally manipulate women into having sex with them.]]
* OurVampiresAreDifferent: Traditional Folk knowledge says that vampires do not exist, but were invented as an allegory for the Founders. Of course, that doesn't stop these "allegories" from popping up in Manchester and ripping out a few throats.
* WhatHaveIBecome: Most of the vampires have this reaction when they realise that they have been transformed into monsters.

[[folder: The Ceathramh]]
!!The Ceathramh
Before the Accords were established, a group of Folk rose up against the Founders. Even now, after the war is supposed to have ended, a group of resistance fighters continue to stir up unrest in the magical world. Not much is known about this organization's plans, but there's no doubt that they're dangerous.

* CampStraight: Reggie is mistaken for gay at least once on account of his flamboyant, plummy-voiced, theatre-loving style. However, he identifies himself as heterosexual. This contrasts with his roommate [[StraightGay Ox]], who ''is'' gay but not markedly effeminate.

* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: She breaks down and releases a terrifying burst of power when she is led to believe that the villains [[spoiler: killed Grace, the first person to ever treat her nicely]]. Later, after [[spoiler: Hannah was stabbed trying to save her]], she releases a shockwave of power strong enough to tear up the ground and vaporize the main villain.

* SameRaceMeansRelated: Stella accuses Hannah of assuming she and Grace are related just because they're both Black. In fact, Hannah had just witnessed a conversation between the two that sounded very much like a sassy teen arguing with her overbearing mother. The writing is also on Hannah's side: Stella's race had not been described up until that point.

* TrashOfTheTitans: Banecroft's office is absolutely disgusting. It's cluttered with papers, old take-away boxes, and effluvia from Banecroft's personal habits. It's unclear how much of this is a natural uncleanliness and how much is a MessOfWoe.

Simon is a geeky young man who wants nothing more than to be a journalist at the ''Stranger Times'', despite Banecroft's repeated refusals. He spends his days either lookin for leads or sitting outside the office, hoping that he'll be invited in. [[spoiler: He come back as a ghost.]]

* InventedIndividual: He created the fake ConspiracyNut identity Dex Hex to pull a second paycheck. As Dex, he would get drunk, hammer out a slew of nonsense, and submit it to the paper as an irregular column.

* [[spoiler: TakenForGranite: She is temporarily petrified after an animated stone cherub bites her.]]

* TheTeamWannabe: [[CameraFiend Simon]] desperately wants to join the newspaper and become an IntrepidReporter. He sits outside every day and searches up his own leads in the hope of getting hired.

* AccentSlipUp: Reggie usually adopts an upper-class Received Pronunciation accent, but when he [[LetsGetDangerous is pushed to fight]], he slips into his native Scouse accent.