Romanian
Legacy Name: Romanian

Romanian - a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova.- Wikipedia

People love to be scared. That's why they watch scary movies. It's why they love Morostide. And it's why they flock to Cirque de Terreur, the Circus of Terror.

A popular attraction that seemed to have bloomed out of nowhere, Cirque de Terreur is the creation of Romanian, the circus' ringmaster. The circus is equal parts traditional and contemporary circus, blending the two styles to rave reviews. The show often follows a loose narrative concerned with human nature with a bittersweet, at best, ending. Considered not only to be entertaining albeit scary, but also beautiful and thought provoking.

So much praise is lavished on the show that people don't pay too much attention to some of the more...strange aspects. The performers, always in the spotlight, are never seen outside of shows and never give autographs to their fans. Indeed the performers all act under alias. And then there is the train. The famous Cirque de Terreur train. A black as coal steam locomotive that ferries the circus from one town to another. It always arrives and leaves in the dark of night, fog appears to cling to its sides, and no one can ever recall seeing its end. People have even claimed to have seen the train running where there are no rails, appearing and disappearing suddenly in deathly quiet. The most disturbing yet unconnected aspect of the circus is that when they are in town, fear levels rise. Unmeasurable and unnoticed it may be, it is none the less true that people experience more fear. This might be hand waved by saying that the circus is scary so of course people will be affected. But that does not explain the rise of fear also in those that never went to a performance.

But these all pale in comparison to the ringmaster himself, Romanian. No one knows where he comes from or his life before his circus. A malitcorn with dark fur and a crooked horn, he is the voice and face of the circus. He wears the expected ringmaster costume complete with top hat, though in dull greys and blacks rather than the bright colors. He is charismatic despite, or maybe because of, his demon smile and piercing eyes. People have just opened up to him, confessing their darker aspects without knowing why.

Romanian is a Fear Spirit, encouraging and drawing out the fear people hold in their hearts. His circus is only his latest method. He has never had it easier, as people are willing to be scared. But those that willingly stay away are not out of his grip. He can dissipate into black smoke and reform at will. This allows him to travel over a town and infect a persons dreams or waking thoughts. And considering the amount of ground the circus allows him to cover, his reach is as far as ever.

A normal amount of fear, even fear caused by him or his circus, has no real lasting effects on the person. It is when they give in to their fears, truly and fully, that Romanian will come for them. Cirque de Terreur locomotive will appear in the streets and Romanian will beckon them. Having sunk so low into their own fears, he is rarely resisted. The person then belongs to him and becomes a performer in his circus. The person is alive and their soul intact, but their will has been broken. They appear as silent and melancholy as drifting spirits. Hundreds over the years have joined the circus, performing then retreating to the train. It is possible to escape the circus. Should a person recover their courage and then their will, Romanian no longer has a hold on them and has to let them go. But most don't, preferring the safety and concealment offered by Romanian. For sometimes, real life can be truly terrifying.

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Romanian appears as a male anthro malticorn. He has a slight build and is on the lower end of average height. His fur is a dark grey and his hooves and fingertips are the same color as his crooked horn. His ringmaster uniform is similarly dull and grey. He carries an ornate walking stick which he uses to gesture during shows. While most of him does appear in somber colors, his eyes are a piercing white and his teeth are noticeably sharp and threatening. His spirit form is black smoke.