Quicken Forbidden - The Adventures Of Jax Epoch

The Realmsend

The hallway between worlds, the Realmsend is composed of an endless array of corridors, staircases, and platforms that stretch off into infinity. Though it seems you're in the middle of space, you can breath, and there is gravity. However, normal laws of physics don't exactly apply. It is almost like a living "Escher" drawing, with what seems to be a wall to one person actually being the floor to another.

The Quicken

A prophesized force of nature, capable of destroying the walls between reality and fantasy, and eventually everything in existence. Jax Epoch, by traveling between realms without following the rules, awoke the Quicken and made matters worse by bringing it back into world in a physical form. It is now loose and manifests itself in a number of ways: robotic worms, or as things that can transform, like collapsible cups and construction toys. And now, because of its connection through Jax, the Quicken is not just a force, but has become a sentient being, and the fate of many worlds and planes of existence is at stake.

Nosteiries

The current caretaker of the Realmsend, Nosteiries guards it from unlawful intruders. A master of stealth, he was personally chosen by the Eternal Council to maintain the order between all realms. He feels Jax must be stopped before she causes any more damage to the balance between Reality and Fantasy. Before being appointed to protect the Realmsend from those who illegally cross through it, Nosteiries was considered a feared killer and master of black magic. Nosteiries first appeared in issue #4 and then again in Issues #6-8.

Tourvel

Appointed Jax's robotic lawyer and advisor, Tourvel represents the defense in her case before the Eternal Council. Tourvel is diligent and well prepared, having researched the many inter-dimensional laws she's broken during her adventures and their relevancy in connection with the Quicken. While most of the time he floats around with his arms hanging about two feet off the ground, he does have a set of legs and hips that he can attach himself to. Tourvel first appeared in Issue #3 and then again in issues #6-8.

The Masque

A group of inter-dimensional thieves who wear ancient masks of protection to travel from world to world taking whatever they wish without being seen (unless you know of their existence, as Nosteiries does.) They are ruled by an emperor named Deis (DAY-iss). Nosteiries believed Jax to be one of them when he found a broken mask left behind in a nesting realm of the Quicken, that Jax had visited. They first appeared in the Trial Separation storyline (issues 6-8) and later in Issues #11, 12 & 13.

The Scribe

An ancient being with eyes sewn shut and writing all over his body, The Scribe chronicles the events that connect all the realms. When he was born, he was an old man and grows younger with the passing of time. When Jax stumbles into the library within the Realmsend, she finds pages of the Scribe's writings that are all about her past, present, and future.

A.M.

A prototype robot (Artificial Man) that was developed during WWII but never put into service. DAK reprogrammed A.M. and used him as a probe and sent him into the inter-dimensional portal discovered in NYC. Trapped for several months, he was recovered by Jax, at DAK's request, on her second adventure into the Realmsend. They became friends quickly, and Jax basically adopted him. A.M. is very loyal to Jax and acts at times like a bodyguard. He is capable of hundreds of functions and has many built-in accessories, including floodlights and a jet pack. A.M. first appeared in issues #4 and #5 and then again in Issues #10, #11, #12 and several short stories set between Issues #10 and #11.

Tieopes

Mystical assassins who are made of rope and cloth. They are known for leaving a trail that lead unsuspecting people to their deaths. The Tieopes first appeared in Issue #3 when Jax discovered a rope that she realized, too late, was attached to a moving car which dragged her into the middle of a busy street. Luckily she was wearing her newly found magic armor and survived the ordeal with barely a scratch. The Tieope's reappeared in Issue #11 waiting in the bathtub of Doug's apartment, hoping to drown an unsuspecting Jax. Luckily, she was saved by members of the Masque, who suspiciously showed up at just the right time.

Geoff Tarken

The Chief Operating Officer of L-Corp, a government-run facility that develops high-tech weaponry and experimental projects like cloning technology. Tarken first appeared at the end of Issue #4 when it was revealed that Jax returned from the Realmsend only to be imprisoned by L-Corp and the DAK scientists.

Thomas Lorik

A retired author whom Jax seeks the assistance of in issue #9. Lorik wrote several books on magical theory and its place in the real world.

Data Analysis Keep (DAK)

Scientists that were sub-contracted by L-Corp to help research the portal that was discovered in the middle of Manhattan. They get their funding from small countries and large corporations like L-Corp. One project the most recent projects they have become involved with is the inter-dimensional portal created in a Manhattan skyscraper (the one that Jax found her way into).

The origins of DAK go back several centuries and have existed mostly outside of the public's awareness. It is made up mostly of dedicated teams of researchers, scholars and scientists who have been archiving the advancements of human kind and the mysteries of the world around us. Issue #6 we learn a bit about the back history of the organization and its current members. The representatives of DAK that Jax interacts with are Tedd Pierce, Christina Golden, and Cal Howard. They tracked Jax down after they saw her on a security camera video that was recorded when Jax first chased the rabbit into the portal. All their tests with the portal have been unsuccessful, and they think Jax is the key to solving its mysteries.

Jax's Parents

Not much is seen of Jax's parents, except we know that they separated when Jax was very young. Jax lives (lived) with her Mom in their apartment in NYC, while her father lives in Florida. Jax would often fly out to visit her father on holidays where she spent many hours wandering souvenir shops.

Adam

Jax's ex-boyfriend from issue #1 who returns in issue #12. Despite being a troublemaker, Jax found Adam cute and followed him around with his group of friends to the abandoned office building where she discovered the magic portal to the Realmsend.

Doug

A TV-news intern that first met Jax when she jumped off the dragon in issue #2. He's interested in Jax of course because she seems like news material, but let's face it: he likes her. He lives in an apartment in Manhattan where Jax has lately been crashing (though nothing has happened between them!) and he's a freshman in college. He sees a lot of potential in Jax and is attracted to her creativity and unique sensibilities. He has also taken to A.M the robot, who has also been staying at his apartment. Having an armed robot around the house has proven useful, especially when being attacked by laundry-stealing goblins.