I really wanted to do a bit of an infodump on some Shadow Guard stuff so here we are.
A variant is the term used to describe a person with superpowers in this universe. Their abilities can be anything from shapeshifting to pyrokinesis to super speed. Variants normally have one ability, but can have more (not counting any secondary abilities caused by their first, like a shapeshifter having better senses). Abilities are genetic. Variants are born with their powers. Many variants are born to entirely human parents, however as time goes on, more and more are born to either a human and variant parents or two variant parents. A child with a human and variant parent will normally end up having powers, but it is possible for them to not end up with powers. A child where both parents are variants will always end up with powers.
Variant abilities are often passed down genetically, although they do crop up where two humans are the parents, and no one entirely knows why. Children born with a variant parent(s) who end up with powers will either have the same ability (or a similar ability) to one of their parents. Sometimes they may end up with versions of both of their parent’s powers if they were both variants but usually they will be weaker versions of those powers. They can also end up with entirely different abilities from their parents, but that is not common.
Variant powers normally manifest just before puberty, although some have their powers manifest earlier or later. Sometimes variants will be able to use a very weak version of their power until they reach a certain age where they then are able to use a stronger version.
Most of the stories in the world so far take place in the UK btw, so different areas of the world reacted to variants differently, but I’ll probably go more into that in another post.
Variants were rumoured to exist for a long time, however the first comfirmed variants appeared in World War 1, where some variants decided to become the first superheroes and supervillains (or at least the first ones known to the public). Now variants ended up with a very mixed reputation after WW1 and WW2. This led to the creation of the Variant Protection Act. This meant that any time a variant’s powers manifested, they were required by law to report that they were a variant and what their abilities are, although many variants are not recorded due to many fearing them so parents hiding the fact their children had abilities. While the VPA did eventually state that no variant should be discriminated against, it does hapoen fairly often especially if the variant’s ability causes them to have a non-human appearance. Variants are banned from all sporting competitions, and many are not allowed to join the military, police or emergency services in general as many beleive their abilities would be a risk.
Normal humans often feared variants due to media reporting far more on criminal variants and in general a lot of misinformation was spread. Some religions also deemed variants as evil due to their abilities. Superhero work (well, specifically vigilante work) is deemed illegal, similar to how it is in our world, however the penalties against variants are much worse than normal humans as they carry much longer sentences. This is until the late 90s, where the original Shadow Guard are the only reason the police were able to catch up to the dangerous team known as the Mercury Guild, but that puts superhero work into a grey area where it ends up being up to the police in the area if they want to arrest them or not.
Hello, im ashraf azmi, im a father of a young man called ‘JAD ASHRAF AZMI’✅
Jad is a 9-year-old boy and the only child of his parents, their big dream was to have a baby after 7 years of marriage full of struggles and health problems, they had almost given up on the idea of having a child, but then JAD came and filled their lives with joy and happiness, he was a very smart kid, great in his studies, and loved by his friends and family.
But one day, while playing like usual, he suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous, then threw up and fainted, his parents quickly rushed him to the hospital, where they got a shocking surprise🚨💔the doctors discovered that JAD had irregular and strong electrical charges in his brain.
From that moment on, the family’s life changed completely, and JAD’S treatment became their top priority, they started an expensive treatment journey, they bought high priced medicine and even had to borrow money from relatives to cover the treatment costs, but unfortunately, the treatment wasn’t effective, and his condition worsened, he began suffering from daily, chronic seizures, which made it impossible for him to go to school or live his normal life🥹💔🚨
Every donation, no matter how small, can give JAD a new chance at a better life and bring back his smile, JAD is the future, and he is his family’s hope that they cannot give up on, help JAD go back to school and live his childhood with joy and hope. DO NOT IGNORE THIS ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
A woman named Fadia has reached out to me (@fadia) and trusted me to tell you her story. Fadia and her husband have 5 children and are trying to survive through the horrific conditions enforced upon Gaza by Israel.
They've had to evacuate their home and currently their family is crowded within a car garage, housing 12 people, with absolutely no privacy. And occasionally accommodating even more people. They're suffering from a lack of clean environment, with car exhausts and smoke from burning wood as well as insects which are all polluting the space this family is living in.
Fadia's youngest daughter is still a toddler with a weak immune system and the environment is causing her to have a persistent cold and cough.
Additionally, Fadia's mother is an elderly woman with diabetes and blood pressure who is experiencing health complications which cannot be healed in Gaza. She needs to be evacuated in order to seek treatment.
Fadia's family is trying to raise $100,000 CAD to evacuate but have merely reached $4,369 CAD.
Even a small donation can make a difference here. Please donate. And even if you can't please share and get their story out there.
This video shows my children thanking you for your donations and sharing their story.
They hope you will continue to donate and spread the story so we can achieve the campaign's goal.
My campaign has been documented before.
@soon-palestine @ibtisams @90-ghost @northgazaupdates @heba-20 @sar-soor @i-am-aprl @el-shab-hussein
I know it’s not hard to point out reactionaries hypocrisy when it comes to like safe spaces or hug boxes or whatever but genuinely how much of an echo chamber do you have to exist in for you to think this is a reasonable thing to say
Israel has destroyed every university in Gaza but despite that, many students have continued their education thanks to Palestinian universities in the West Bank
🇵🇸Hello🇵🇸
I am Ahmed Mahmoud, currently living in the completely destroyed city of Gaza🍉. Since the war on Gaza began on 10/7/2023, my family and I have been living in constant fear, crying and suffering because of shrapnel, shells and bullets. We have no food, no electricity, no cooking gas, no schools, no home, no cleaning supplies, no clothes. Our house was completely destroyed.
My children’s school was bombed, which deprived my children of education. The war forced us to live in displacement centers, which are just tents that are not suitable for living, especially in winter. Every day we live death, terror and panic a thousand times because of the continuous bombing of my city. Imagine: we have escaped imminent death more than 20 times, and we have been displaced between shelters more than 13 times. My family and I have suffered from many diseases due to malnutrition, and we need medication constantly. If we stay in Gaza, we might lose our lives. Recently, we were seriously thinking about leaving Gaza to a safe place. However, the travel costs are very high. We need over $50,000 to leave Gaza. With the skyrocketing prices, rampant unemployment, insecurity, ongoing blockade, and constant bombing, we have lost all our money. How can we live in such insecurity, with constant bombing and shrapnel flying over us? My dear compassionate friends around the world, with your generous donations, even small ones, you can save 6 people from imminent death, allowing us to start a life outside Gaza filled with love, peace, and hope. Best wishes from Gaza City,❤️🩹🇵🇸
i've shared amal's gofundme (@amalashuor) several times, but i just received messages from her that broke my heart
amal is a 26 year old mother from gaza. she is an incredibly dedicated and loving mother to her year old daughter, maryam. before the war, she was studying to receive her masters degree in french language. on her instagram (@/amal_sufian97_) she shared beautiful photos of her life and family in the years before the war.
now amal, her husband, and maryam have been displaced several times and have nowhere to turn to. amal wishes to finish her degree, and both she and her husband want nothing more than a better life for their young daughter. every time i receive a message from amal, my heart is full knowing she is still alive, but it breaks for her suffering. i implore you, please donate any amount you're able to help amal and her family escape gaza. they deserve nothing less than safety, warmth, love, laughter, security, and life. as of july 6th, €1,025 / €30,000 has been raised. her campaign is also included on el-shab-hussein and nabulsi's spreadsheet of verified fundraiser (#175). if you're unable to donate, please share. i want nothing more than to give amal hope that she can provide a better life for her daughter.