The Imprint

The Imprint was an extradimensional realm of existence which dwelt in tandem with the material world. In this sense, the Imprint was related to the Heaven Realm, the Under Realm and Radio World, which were also extradimensional realms of existence. While dimensions such as Radio World were discovered recently (2014) the Imprint was described substantially earlier in the 1500s. Despite this depth of time the Imprint is still poorly understood.

The first known description of the Imprint came from Gilgamesh (Grimskull) in the 1500s. A copy of this text existed in the World Mission training base library in Hawaii before the facility's destruction by the followers of Grimskull. This text was part of a broader section on the realms of existence which nevertheless was quite small. Another book in this section was Martha Lee's 'The Realms' (2007).

When visited through the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain) portal in Munich the Imprint appeared like an immense, lush field. It is unclear if all the Imprint was like this environment or whether this was a cloned reflection of some previous time when the Imprint was part of the material world, with similar though different human-less environments scattered throughout.

Shades

Shades are a particular variety of the Imprint's inhabitants. They come in diverse forms, but these most typically are enormous varieties of arthropods (bugs and similar chitinous invertebrates) at least several times the size of human beings. It is unclear if each shade is physically unique, but they are known to have distinct personalities, intelligence and free will. Shades seem unable to communicate in human language, but may be understood by humans bonded to a shade/the Imprint. An exception occurs when humans are in the Imprint, as was the case when Faust entered the Neptunbrunnen portal in Munich. Otherwise Shades speak either telepathically or in horrifying screeches to those connected to them.

Shades are magnitudes stronger than human beings and possess the ability to fly. Further, due to their extradimensional origins they possess the ability to become insubstantial at will while in the material world. They do so by maintaining their presence but shifting their mass into the Imprint. It is unclear if this could function in reverse.

As demonstrated by Gilgamesh-turned Grimskull and later Holly, shades can be fused with those they are bonded to. The exact nature of this occurrence is not understood.

Relationship to Powers

The Imprint is seemingly more accessible to particular individuals than others. This is potentially a genetically inherited trait as some symptoms of Asha Widukind's experiences (in particular hearing voices) were shared by other family members. It is unclear if connections are first formed with the dimension itself or with its inhabitants, but in either case those connected with the Imprint typically have an associated shade. A connection to the Imprint seemingly bestows a particular variety of superpowers. That is, the ability to command a particular shade and in some cases the ability to command inanimate objects and become insubstantial. There are three well known 'shade users' i.e. those with a connection to the Imprint.


 * Asha Widukind was connected with the centipede shade. She originally could command this shade as well as inanimate objects. Later her ability to influence the actions of her shade grew weaker, while she discovered she was able to become insubstantial
 * Gilgamesh (who would become Grimskull) had a praying mantis shade he named Skrumpf. There relationship seemed amicable in the 1500s, similar to a man and his beloved pet. Gilgamesh also was the 'centre of powers' granting him the ability to give and bestow powers at will. It is unclear how this is connected with the Imprint
 * Grimskull (previously Gilgamesh) was merged with his shade Skrumpf. It appeared the personality of Skrumpf had been destroyed, and Grimskull had adopted some of the characteristics of the shade, including asymmetric mantid-like developments and growths throughout his body
 * Holly was an exception to the trend of shades, featuring a corgie rather than an immense arthropod creature. The centipede shade warned Asha about Holly and her corgie, noting he too had not seen any other shade like it. He said unlike other shades the corgie maintains the same for in the Imprint. Similar to Grimskull, Holly would later begin merging with her shade dog seemingly due to Grimskull's intentions. This process was prematurely ended through her death from Asha

Trivia


 * Despite Radio World being discovered in 2014 Martha Lee wrote about it in 2007. Basically the trivia is the GM made a MISTAKE