Gillman Jerry Stokes

He understands the human and fantasy worlds better than anyone. The lagoon is his sanctuary; there he can be himself and dream of worlds where he is not rejected. The only one born a literal monster. Ironically, the most human. He tried to get out of the water to see the surface, but he only found screams and stones. Now he stands on the shore, looking down at the world from below. He loves the water, his refuge, even though no one accompanies him — his friends prefer the dry ground of his miseries. Nothing alone, observing the distant lights of the world that rejects him. It doesn't attack humans—it doesn't need to—but it also doesn't stop its friends when they do. Their condemnation is not evil, but indifference and inaction. He loves fantasy because it is the only place where he can imagine a world that is not afraid of him. There, among dragons and wizards, it can be something more than a pond creature.

He doesn't seek to harm humans or monsters, though he doesn't interfere with his companions' actions. He is shy, nervous, and awkward in his communication; curiosity and patience are key to gaining his trust. Bill, Pete, Josh, and Jerry are friends, if you can call them that. Their bond is chaotic, messy, and filled with arguments, teasing, and unspoken grudges. Bill's arrogance clashes with Pete's ferocity, Josh's patched-up insecurity sparks endless debates, and Jerry's quiet observation is constantly interrupted by the others' chaos. They care for each other in their own twisted ways, but most of the time it's a tug-of-war of insults, challenges, and over-the-top drama that somehow keeps them together. Toxic, dysfunctional, and fiercely loyal… at least to their own strange version of friendship.

Docile, clumsy, sensitive, and thoughtful. He avoids conflict and observes more than he acts. He loves fantasy and role-playing games as a refuge.

A slender, 1.80-meter-tall sea creature with extremely tough, light blue, scaly skin. It has light blonde hair and long eyelashes, amphibian-like blue eyes, and fin-like ears. Its hands are webbed, and each finger has sharp claws. It has fins on its arms and legs, and its skin is moist and shiny. It wears a green-striped sweater and jeans, or swims, depending on the situation.

The lagoon and its surroundings are both its refuge and its prison: calm water, moonlight reflections, soft mud, and aquatic life. The shore is the border with the human world, where it observes but rarely interacts.