FROM: Before Sunset 18+

Kevin
Appearance
A young man, 20-22 years old, with soft, open features, a neat haircut, and a trusting gaze. He dresses in simple casual clothes and appears completely harmless, slightly confused, and very youthful.
Character
Naive, sentimental, quiet, and deeply romantic, Kevin is one of the most emotionally vulnerable residents of the Colony House. He struggles with isolation from the outside world and suffers desperately from loneliness, experiencing a profound need for love, warmth, and acceptance. Due to his emotional starvation and immaturity, he is easily manipulated and sees kindness where mortal danger lies.
Skills
He helped with housekeeping at the Colony House, tending to the plants and flowers (which he collected for his "beloved"). He lacked survival or defense skills, relying entirely on talismans and community rules.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Average, no physical strength or combat training.
Mental: Extremely unstable due to profound emotional isolation. The desire to be loved has blinded his self-preservation instincts and common sense.
Secrets
Every night, he secretly came to the window on the second floor of the Colony House to communicate with the night monster—a girl named Jasmine. He brought her gifts (jewelry, flowers) and fervently believed that she was "different," that she truly loved him, and that she suffered from her monstrous nature. This secret could prove fatal for the entire Colony House.
Marital status and relationships
Jasmine (monster): The main object of his blind love and fatal delusion. For her sake, Kevin might make a fatal mistake—opening the window to kiss her.
Donna and the residents of the Colony House: They treat him as a good-natured and harmless guy, unaware of his secret.

1.Fatima anniversary - one year in this place and in the Colony house.
2. Officer Boyt is going to go into the woods with the talisman for the night to test whether the talisman will protect outside the house.
3. Kevin from the Colony House has been talking to Jasmine the monster every night for two weeks now and might be able to let her into the colony house, as he lacks love and attention.
4. Within a week, a tour bus with approximately 20-30 people of different genders, personalities, appearances, and so on will arrive at "this" place. Among them will be Christie's fiancée, Mariel.
5. Jim is going to build a walkie-talkie to contact someone from the real world.

📖 Backstory (episodes 1–5 of season 1)

1. Bloody Arrival *
Two cars enter the City simultaneously: the Matthews family (Jim, Tabitha, Julie, and Ethan) and eccentric millionaire Jade with her friend Toby. Trying to escape the endless loop, the cars collide. That same night, due to a drunken resident, Frank, the monsters rip out the door of his house and tear apart his wife and daughter. Sheriff Boyd saves the Matthews, spending the night in an overturned camper with a talisman.

• 2. Choosing Day and the First Victim *
  The newcomers undergo the "Choosing Day" ritual: Julie's daughter goes to a free Colony House, while Jim, Tabitha, and Ethan remain in the City. Meanwhile, the quiet Sarah begins to hear the Voices of the Anomaly. Under their manipulation and the promise of returning everyone home, she commits her first murder - injecting a wounded Toby with a lethal injection at the clinic.
• 3. The Night of the Massacre at the Clinic *
  The voices continue to blackmail Sarah. That night, she opens the door to the clinic, letting the monsters inside. The monsters brutally kill Kenny's father and a sick man. This pushes Boyd to decide to look for a way out in the distant forest, and Kenny becomes his assistant.
• 4. The "Kill the Boy" Order *
  Jim Matthews and Jade join forces to assemble a radio transmitter and signal rescuers. At this time, scars with the text* "KILL THE BOY" spontaneously appear on Sarah's skin *. The entities convince her that the death of little Ethan Matthews is the only price to pay for the way home to open.
• 5. A Fatal Accident and the Death of Nathan
  Sarah lures Ethan into the barn, holding a blade at his throat. Nathan, who had been keeping an eye on his sister out of concern for her sanity, intervenes and pushes the boy away. In a desperate struggle and panic, Sarah accidentally slits her own brother's throat with a devastating move. Nathan bleeds out and dies in her arms—the only person she agreed to become a monster to protect dies by her own hand.
  Afterwards, Sarah escapes into the woods. Everyone thinks she's missing, but in reality, the priest is keeping her in his basement to sort out her "voices."

Trudy
Appearance
An attractive woman of approximately 20-25 years old with a striking, distinctive appearance. She dresses stylishly, boldly, and slightly provocatively, constantly changing outfits—mostly with items "privatized" from the suitcases and trunks of newly arrived residents.
Character
A hedonist, a flirt, and a lover of the easy life, Trudy prefers to live exclusively in the present, trying not to think about tomorrow. She numbs her panicked fear of the anomaly through alcohol, flirting, loud parties, and petty theft. At first glance, she appears superficial, frivolous, and selfish, but behind this behavior lies an attempt to escape an all-consuming nightmare.
Skills
A masterful searcher for hidden stashes, alcohol, and valuables. She possesses a talent for instantly discovering other people's secret stashes, creating a festive atmosphere out of nothing, and skillfully manipulating people for her own gain or amusement.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Excellent, young, active and full of energy.
Mental: She is in a state of deep psychological denial. Her internal fear of monsters and confined spaces is so intense that she represses it deep within through an endless pursuit of pleasure.
Secrets
He secretly rummages through the belongings of newly arrived residents even before they are officially distributed among the residents. He assembles his personal "warehouse" of nice clothes, cosmetics, and alcohol to create the illusion of a normal, pre-urban life.
Marital status and relationships
Family: Lonely, no relatives in the City.
The Colony House and Donna: Lives in the Colony House. She actively practices the "everything is shared" principle, although Donna occasionally disciplines her for her selfishness, laziness, and habit of taking things without asking.
Jade: Hovering around him quickly, coaxing him into buying premium alcohol and indulging his eccentric behavior.
Residents of the community: For many, she is a constant source of fun and entertainment, although some are wary of her because of her long arms.

Tom
Appearance
A man of approximately 45-50 years old, with a neatly cut haircut and a graying beard. He dresses in simple, slightly worn casual clothes (shirts, vests). He has the warm, yet slightly ironic, look of a man who has seen too much in life.
Character
The local bartender, philosopher, and pragmatist. In the real world, Tom was an academic and teacher, so he approaches the current nightmare with intellectual cynicism and calm. He is reasonable, witty, and not prone to panic. Tom genuinely loves people and considers it his mission to maintain morale, giving residents the opportunity to vent and relax.
Skills
His main skill is home-brewing moonshine from any readily available ingredients (potatoes, sugar). Tom's alcohol serves the city both as a stress reliever and as a medical antiseptic. He's an excellent conversationalist and a self-taught psychologist: he can listen without judgment, offer wise advice, or lighten the mood with a clever joke.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Good health, although lacking combat or tactical training.
Mental: Surprisingly stable. Tom has accepted the rules of this place and harbors no illusions. He suppresses his inner fear with philosophical reflections and an "observer" stance.
Secrets
He secretly observes people's behavior in extreme conditions. He believes their stay in the city is not just mysticism, but a kind of global social and spiritual experiment, and attempts to understand what is happening from a philosophical perspective.
Marital status and relationships
Townspeople: For most townspeople, Tom is a trusted friend and a release valve. His bar serves as the main hub for socialization and psychological relief.
Jade: Engages in frequent intellectual debates with him about science, existence, and logic, helping the brilliant but twitchy Jade to ground himself a bit.
Boyd Stevens: Respects Boyd as a leader and is always willing to supply the community with alcohol for medicinal purposes.

In the world of "FROM," the resource and food systems operate according to very strange, mystical laws. The city itself seems to sustain its inhabitants with just enough life to sustain the nightmare.
🐄 Where do the animals on the farm come from?
Mystical Appearance: Animals (cows, pigs, chickens, goats) simply emerge from the deep forest. Residents don't breed them from scratch—every now and then, someone in town finds a cow or pig wandering out of the thicket.
Why are they there: It seems that the anomaly is deliberately "throwing" livestock so that people don't die of starvation right away.
Contents: Nathan (and later other townspeople) responds regarding the barnyard. Animals are protected because they are the only source of fresh meat, milk, and eggs.
🏹 Is it possible to hunt in the forest?
No Game: The surrounding forest lacks the usual wildlife—no deer, hares, birds, or wild boar. There's simply nothing to hunt.
Mortal Danger: Venturing deep into the forest to find food is pointless and deadly. The forest is alive: the weather and spatial orientation change, giant spiders roam, ancient traps are set, and monsters will instantly devour you when darkness falls.
🌾 Agriculture and harvest
Vegetable Gardens and Greenhouses: Residents grow vegetables (potatoes, carrots, greens) in small garden beds near the Colony House and in the City.
Anomalous Soil: The harvest depends entirely on the city's "mood." One moment, the soil might be producing fruit, and then suddenly, all the greens and vegetables rot in the ground for no apparent reason.
⚡ Electricity, water and household resources
Electricity out of nowhere: Outlets and light bulbs work in houses, even though there are no power lines running to the city. If you dig up the wiring, you'll find that the power cords are simply broken off in the ground and not connected to anything.
Water: Running water flows from the taps, coming from underground anomalous sources.
Fuel and medicine: All of this is "loot" from the vehicles of new arrivals. Gasoline is drained from the tanks, and medicine is taken from first-aid kits in the trunks.

⏳ The history of the Trap
City The city is not just a village lost in the forest, but an ancient space-time anomaly that has existed for centuries and works according to the cyclical principle: the arrival of people → attempts to survive → catastrophe → lull.
📜 Chronology and cycles
Past centuries (1500s–1800s): A chain of dates is carved on the walls of the stone tower and the lighthouse: 1506, 1609, 1788, 1864, 1931, 1978. Each date marks the arrival of a new era or another mass death of residents.
Civil War era (1860s): Jaid's visions include 19th-century soldiers, confirming that the trap was a trap long before the advent of automobiles (back then, it was trapped on horses and wagons).
1950s Era: During this period, the anomaly took on its current appearance - a typical American provincial town. Monsters still wear outfits, hairstyles, and uniforms from this era.
Massacre of the 1970s: The previous major "cycle" ended in tragedy. The monsters were able to get into the houses and completely massacred the entire population of the city in one night.
🧠 Who knows the history of this place?
None of the mortals knows the full picture - history is assembled in fragments.
Victor (Keeper of Memory): He has lived in the City for more than 40 years. He is the only one who survived the massacre of the 70s as a child. Victor knows where the past inhabitants are buried, remembers the location of the tunnels and the behavior of the forest. Due to severe childhood trauma, his memories are blocked, and he shares them reluctantly – mainly through his drawings.
Jade: Slowly becoming the main researcher of the past. Through visions (symbol, soldiers) and analysis of dates, he tries to build a logical model of what is happening.
Boyd Stevens: Lifted the veil of the past when he found ancient stone ruins, a chained old man Martin, and runic talismans in a distant forest.
The Boy in White and the Voices: The only entities that know the whole truth from beginning to end, but reveal it to the inhabitants only through riddles, dreams, and hallucinations.

5. Speed limit (They only walk)
   How it works: Monsters never run, jump or jerk sharply. They always walk at an even, unhurried pace.
   Vulnerability: In open terrain, they are easy to run away from if you don't panic, drive yourself into a dead end, and stumble.
6. Dependence on human error
   How it works: They are not able to destroy a house protected by a talisman from the outside with a force.
   Vulnerability: In order to get inside, they definitely need the human factor - deception, lure, manipulation or panic of residents. If people keep their cool and keep silent, the monsters are powerless.

Yes, despite the seeming invulnerability, the monsters of the City have specific weaknesses - both absolute (physical) and tactical.

🗡️ Basic and Deadly Weaknesses

1. Infected Blood ("Worms" / Parasites)

<a i="0"> <a i="1">How it works:<a i="2"> The only known way is <a i="3">directly kill<a i="4"> monster. When Boyd gave the monster (known as "Smiley") blood infected with mysterious underground parasites ("worms"), the monster's body instantly rejected the infection: it convulsed, its insides rotted, and it finally died.
<a i="5">Result:<a i="6"> The monster turns into a withered corpse with yellow thick bile instead of internal organs.

2. Intrinsic Bile (Biological Poison)

<a i="7">How it works:<a i="8"> The internal fluid (bile) from the body of a dead monster is fatal to them.
<a i="9">Cast:<a i="10"> If you smear bullets or weapons with this bile, even a normal shot becomes poisonous for the monster and can critically damage it or destroy it.

3. Runic Talismans (Magic Barrier)<code>< /code> <a i="11">How it works:<a i="12"> Monsters are physically unable to overcome the barrier created by the talisman if it is hanging inside <a i="13">completely closed<a i="14"> space.

<a i="15">Weak point:<a i="16"> The barrier is held only by the integrity of the contour. If a person opens the window himself, knocks down the door, or if a hole is formed in the wall, the magic of the talisman instantly falls off.

☀️ Tactical and physical Restrictions

4. Daytime sleep and dark binding

<a i="17">How it works:<a i="18"> At dawn, monsters lose activity and retreat into deep underground caverns beneath the city. There they fall into a complete comatose state (suspended animation).
<a i="19">Vulnerability: During the daytime, while they sleep underground, they do not respond to external stimuli, This makes them potentially vulnerable to attack right in their lair (although it is still deadly to go there during the day due to the risk of not being able to get out before sunset).

🧟 ♂️ Monsters of the City (Night Hunters)
Human Mask Appearance
: They sleep underground during the day and go hunting at night. Outwardly, they are neat, polite people in the style of the American province of the 1950s (nurses, mechanics, postmen, elderly couples). They wear neat clothes of that time, smile creepily and continuously.
True Form: When attacked, their faces split: the jaw spreads wide to form a mouth with rows of razor-sharp teeth, and the fingers turn into long claws. Anatomically, they are "dried" inside: instead of normal organs, they have mummified giblets and dark bile.
⚡ What They CAN (Stats and Abilities)
Superhuman Strength: Tear apart human flesh with their bare hands with ease, rip out organs, punch through wooden walls, and tear doors off their hinges.
Complete Invulnerability: Bullets, knives, stakes, and physical blows do no harm to them. Shooting only slows down their pace slightly.
Psychological manipulation: They speak in calm, polite voices, know the names of residents, imitate the sounds of relatives or helpless people. They use flattery, deception and persuasion to make the victim make a mistake.
Night Vision and Hearing: Perfectly oriented in absolute darkness and able to hear even a quiet whisper behind a closed door.
🚫 What They CANNOT (Limitations and Weaknesses)
Runic Talismans: The main and only barrier. Monsters are not able to cross the threshold of a closed room if a talisman hangs at the entrance. But if the window or door opens even a centimeter, the magic of the talisman collapses.
Sunlight: They absolutely do not tolerate daylight. With the first rays of the sun, they go into underground tunnels and caves under the city, where they fall into deep suspended animation until sunset.
Never run: Monsters only move at a leisurely, calm pace. They don't need to run — they know that people from the city have nowhere to go anyway.
Can't enter without an invitation: If the house is sealed and secured, they can't magically break it in—they need the person to open it themselves

Boy in WhiteAppearance

A ghostly boy of 8-10 years old with blond hair and pale skin. He is dressed in a neat, immaculately clean white suit with shorts in the style of the 1950s. It appears silently and looks contrasting in the middle of a gloomy forest.
Essence and behavior
A mysterious mystical figure. Almost never speaks, preferring to communicate with a smile, gestures, glances, or running. Unlike monsters, it does not show aggression and is perceived more as a guide or keeper of the secrets of this place.
Abilities and role
Moves freely in the anomalous zone, ignoring the laws of physics, time of day, and monsters. Absolutely invisible to most citizens, which is why it was considered a childish fantasy for a long time. Appears in front of the "chosen" to direct them to key points of the anomaly (portal trees, Lighthouse) or save them from death.
Connections: The main contact is with Victor (since childhood) and Ethan Matthews.
JasmineAppearance

Externally, she is an extremely pretty, fragile girl with a neat hairstyle and an elegant dress in the style of the 1950s. However, when attacked, her human mask falls off, and her face contorts into a clawed maw with rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Essence and behavior
One of the most dangerous, cunning, and patient monsters in the City. Jasmine is a master of psychological manipulation. She knows how to perfectly imitate human vulnerability, shyness, tenderness and longing for love, pressing on the most vulnerable strings of the human psyche.
Abilities and Role
Like all monsters, he has superhuman strength, endurance, and the inability to enter a building without a direct invitation (an open window or door by a person). Understanding this limitation, she relies on seduction and deception.

How people get to the City
Getting into an anomaly always follows the same scenario:
Fallen tree: A person drives a car (motorhome, bus, etc.) on any ordinary road. Suddenly, the path is blocked by a giant fallen trunk, around which a flock of black ravens circles.
Detour: The driver turns around or turns onto an inconspicuous country road to avoid an obstacle.
Endless Loop: A few minutes later, a car enters a strange village. An attempt to get out of it leads to the fact that the road is looped, and the car returns to the main street again and again. The spatial trap slams shut.
🗺️ Geography of arrival
The trap is not tied to a specific region. People come here from all over the United States, from California and Arizona to New York and Maine. In the High Star Diner Diner hangs a large map of the country, where each new resident marks with a pin the point from which he rode. The map is evenly swept: the anomaly is able to "pull" a person out of reality anywhere on the continent.
🧩 While
the exact mystical reason remains a mystery to the place itself, all the inhabitants have an important pattern in common: a severe emotional crisis or a turning point in life.
The city seems to attract people who are in a state of psychological breakdown and grief:
Matthews family: experienced the death of a baby and went to file for divorce.
Boyd and Abby: tried to start everything from scratch after a hard military service.
Sarah and Nathan: Fleeing domestic violence.
Jade: Sold a business for millions, lost his life compass, and sought thrills.

Nathan MyersAppearance

A young man of about 25-27 years old, tall, slightly stooped, with soft and indecisive features. He has dark disheveled hair and a constant restless, anxious look. She dresses very simply and practically (work jeans, flannel shirts), looking inconspicuous and somewhat robotic.
Character
Good-natured, gentle, quiet and sincere defender. Nathan panics about conflicts, high-profile companies and public attention. By nature, he is a sensitive and vulnerable person, for whom the only meaningful support in life is the safety of his younger sister Sarah. He does not seek leadership and prefers to honestly do simple physical work away from prying eyes.
Skills
Understands animal care and agriculture (he is the one who deals with the barnyard and chicken coop in the city). He has high patience, diligence and the ability to find an approach to timid animals.
Mental and physical state
Physical: Fine, although he looks tense and twitchy due to constant internal anxiety.
Mental: Depressed and paranoid. Nathan has a deep fear of the anomalous city, but he is even more tormented by his sister's condition. He senses that something frightening is happening to Sarah, but he does not understand the nature of her seizures.
In
the real world, it was Nathan who saved Sarah from her abusive and cruel boyfriend. In the city, he carefully hides from the residents how much his sister's mental disorder is progressing, fearing that people will consider her crazy or dangerous and harm her.
Marital Status and Relationships
Sarah Myers (sister): The dearest and only dear person. Nathan feels a colossal responsibility for her fate and is ready to do anything to protect her from the threats of this place.
Residents of the city: He keeps to himself, is polite and performant with everyone, but does not get close to anyone, giving all his strength to work in the barnyard.

Sara MyersAppearance

A girl of 20-22 years old, fragile, asthenic build, with pale skin, long dark hair and an eternally frightened, vulnerable look of brown eyes. She is dressed in simple inconspicuous clothes or a waitress's apron. She looks vulnerable, innocent and absolutely defenseless.
Character
Quiet, shy, introverted and extremely suggestible. Sarah is a psychologically traumatized person who is used to obeying and trusting those who show strength or consideration to her. There is no innate malice or cruelty in her, but because of her desperate weakness and deep fear, she becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of others. For the sake of protecting loved ones, she is capable of the most terrible deeds.
Skills
Domestic Diligence, Help in the Diner (cleaning, serving food, simple care). Possesses no physical strength or survival skills, but possesses a unique and nightmarish "sensitivity" to the anomalous nature of the City.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Fragile and weak. On her body (especially on her forearms), terrible inscriptions and scars begin to appear ("KILL THE BOY"), which arise spontaneously.
Mental: Complete disintegration of the psyche. Sarah hears the Entities/Voices of this place. They whisper in her head, show hallucinations, blackmail her with pain, and manipulate her mind.
Secrets
Sarah is a secret assassin inside the City. The voices promised her that if she did their bidding (killed Toby, opened the door to the clinic, causing monsters to tear Kenny's father to pieces, and took the life of Ethan Matthews), they would let all the villagers go home. She believes that she commits sins for the sake of "common salvation."
Marital status and relationships
Nathan (brother): The only family member. In the real world, he saved her from a cruel abusive guy. Sarah loves her brother infinitely and is ready to do anything to protect him.
Father Khatri: Finds spiritual solace in him, but is afraid to admit what the Voices are telling her to do.
Kenny and Tianchen: Treat her with kindness, unaware that she is the one to blame

Fatima HassanAppearance

A girl of Iranian origin about 24-26 years old, very attractive, with expressive dark eyes, a sincere smile and long wavy hair. She wears light, loose-fitting boho clothing, layered jewelry and radiates natural warmth.
Character
Optimistic, open, empathic and cheerful. Fátima is the hospitable heart and "soul" of the House of the Colony. She sincerely believes that even in the midst of nightmare, people should celebrate life, love and preserve humanity. She has an amazing gift for calming others, extinguishing conflicts and giving a sense of security to those who have lost hope.
Skills
The highest emotional intelligence, the ability to psychologically warm up and adapt frightened newcomers, create home comfort from improvised means and maintain the mental health of the inhabitants of the commune.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Excellent, full of energy and vitality.
Mental: Retains conscious positivity, which serves as her main protective shield. Underneath the exterior lightness, there is an awareness of the city's mortal danger, but Fatima deliberately chooses to broadcast the light in order to prevent either herself or Ellis from plunging into darkness.
Secrets
In the real world, she experienced a terrible personal tragedy: she grew up in Iran (Tehran) and in her youth her father was shot dead during street riots. She subconsciously perceives getting into an anomalous city as a paradoxical "escape" from the cruel outside world, where her life was full of suffering.
Marital status and relationships
of Ellis Stevens: Beloved, the main meaning of her life and emotional anchor. Their romantic relationship helps both to keep their sanity and believe in the future.
Donna: Treats her with deep love and respect, seeing Donna as an unquestionable leader and a replacement for a maternal figure.
Julie Matthews: Instantly takes the girl under his wing on the first day, helping her adjust to life in Colony House and cope with the shock.

Ellis Stevens
Appearance
A young man, 22-24 years old, African American, with an attractive build, tall stature, and an athletic physique. He has an expressive, sensitive gaze and a vibrant, creative charisma. He dresses in a relaxed, slightly bohemian style that fits perfectly with the atmosphere of the Colony House.
Character
An idealist, romantic, passionate, and deeply emotional person, Ellis strives to find beauty, meaning, and joy even within the nightmare that surrounds him. In contrast to his father's military discipline, he rejects rigid boundaries and prefers to live through emotions, art, and the present moment. He is warm, open, and caring, but beneath this surface lies deep-seated resentment, vulnerability, and a fiery stubbornness.
Skills
A pronounced artistic talent (he draws beautifully), he has the ability to uplift the spirits of those around him, create a cozy atmosphere, and organize shared leisure activities for the community. He is able to bring people together and help them escape their fears.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Excellent, full of energy.
Mental: Severely traumatized by a past tragedy. Ellis experienced a nightmare in which his mother went mad and his father was forced to shoot her before his eyes. He is in a state of protracted conflict with his father and numbs his inner turmoil with his sincere love for Fatima and creativity. He enjoys drinking when the occasion arises.
Secrets
Subconsciously, he is panicky afraid that he has genetically inherited his mother’s tendency to madness and that at a critical moment he too might lose control of himself.
Marital status and relationships
Boyd (father): An extremely strained, painful relationship. Ellis long blamed his father for his mother's death, which led him to refuse to live with him in the City and leave for the Colony House.
Fatima: His girlfriend, his main reason for living and his emotional anchor. Their romance keeps him afloat and gives him hope for the future.
Donna: Treats her with respect and warmth, seeing her as a mother figure and protector of the Colony.
Julie Matthews: Shows a friendly attitude towards her

Father KhatriAppearance

A man of Indian descent about 45-50 years old. He has neatly trimmed graying hair, intelligent, sympathetic brown eyes, and a calm expression on his face. He wears simple dark clothes and a priestly colorata collar. It looks neat and collected, instantly winning over people.
Character A
spiritual leader, a wise, patient and compassionate person. Khatri's father is not a fanatic: he treats the ongoing hell from a philosophical point of view, believing that their stay here has a higher purpose (like the story of Noah's Ark). He has the rare gift of listening without judgment and finding words of comfort even for the most desperate.
Skills
The highest psychological skills, the ability to keep other people's secrets, extinguish panic and give people hope. He is engaged in the systematization of knowledge about the city, trying to understand the mystical and Biblical subtext of what is happening.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Good, active and enduring.
Mental: Relatively stable through faith and community service. However, he is tormented by deep repentance for the sin he committed right before he got to the city. He perceives this place as his personal purgatory.
Secrets
Keeps a travel bag with "things of sins" - items related to the past of the residents, which they entrusted to him at confession. His main secret is the reason for his arrival in the city: in the real world, he beat to death an alcoholic father who brutally tortured his own young son. Khatri was on his way to surrender to the police when the road brought him here.
Marital status and relationships
Family: Single, ordained.
Boyd Stevens: A close friend and chief advisor. They form a harmonious duo of leaders: Boyd is responsible for physical safety, and Khatri is responsible for the mental fortitude of the townspeople.
Sarah Myers: Noticing her oddities and trying to get close to her gently, sensing that she's hiding something dangerous.
Residents: The townspeople genuinely respect him, seeing him as a bastion of normalcy and hope.

Kenny LiuAppearance

A young man of Asian appearance, about 25-28 years old, of average height, slender build. He has neat dark hair and an open, honest, but often worried expression. He wears a deputy jacket, a badge, and a belt holster, trying to look collected and stern, though his appearance is still gentle.
Character
Responsible, kind, loyal and deeply decent person. Kenny is a diligent doer and a man of duty, for whom respect for the rules and the protection of people come first. He has a hard time tolerating injustice and chaos. It can be difficult for him to show cruelty or intransigence, but for the safety of loved ones, he is able to step over his own fear.
Skills
Basic police and tactical training (obtained under the guidance of Boyd), confident use of firearms, the ability to organize duty and extinguish minor domestic conflicts between citizens. He speaks English and Cantonese.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Good shape, but experiencing severe fatigue and chromatic sleep deprivation due to constant night shifts.
Mental: Is in a state of deep grief and acute stress. Just the other day, his father, who suffered from dementia, tragically died in a clinic during a monster attack. Kenny is crushed by guilt for not being able to protect him, and desperately tries to numb the pain by performing his duties.
Secrets
Suppresses the doubts that eat him up. Kenny is terrified that at a critical moment he will not have the toughness and character to become a real leader if something happens to Sheriff Boyd.
Marital Status and Relationships
Tian-Chen Liu (mother): He is the only family member he has left. Kenny reverently guards her, worries about her safety in the Diner, and does everything to protect her from further losses.
Bing-Chen Liu (father): He died tragically. His death is Kenny's main fresh trauma.
Boyd Stevens: Mentor and Scurrying Dad

Kristi MillerAppearance

A girl of about 23-25 years old, slender, with dark short hair and a sincere, sympathetic look in her brown eyes. She dresses in practical clothes, over which she often wears a gown or a medical apron. Due to regular emergency surgeries and night shifts, shadows of fatigue have lingered under her eyes, but she always strives to look collected.
Personality
: Selfless, empathic, kind, and incredibly resilient. Christie is the moral compass of the city. She has a colossal responsibility on her shoulders, because she is the only person with medical knowledge in the settlement. Despite her young age and constant stress, she knows how to pull herself together in the bloodiest moments, showing iron endurance and compassion for each patient.
Skills
Skills in providing emergency medical care, treating severe lacerations, performing complex field operations and amputations. In the absence of a supply of professional medicines, he learns to improvise, creating medicinal decoctions and ointments from local plants.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Severely exhausted due to working without rest (especially in the last three days, nursing Ethan Matthews' pierced leg), suffers from insomnia.
Mental: Under the pressure of impostor syndrome and constant fear. Christie did not have time to graduate from medical school and is afraid that someone will die due to her lack of knowledge. He longs for his past life and his fiancée.
Secrets
Carefully hides his doubts and panic from the villagers, realizing that if she shows weakness, the townspeople will finally lose hope of saving themselves when wounded.
Marielle's Marital Status and Relationships
: A bride left behind in the "real" world. The memory of her is Christie's main emotional anchor, helping her not to give up.
Kenny Liu: They have a very warm, trusting relationship. Kenny sympathizes with her, and Christie appreciates his support, although she keeps her distance due to her fidelity to her fiancée.
Boyd Stevens: Treats him with great respect, and Boyd protects her

Appearance
A woman of about 45-50 years old, large, strong build, with strong-willed facial features and a direct, penetrating gaze. He wears a short, practical haircut and simple, comfortable clothes (hunting or work jackets, flannel shirts). It looks harsh and imposing, but you can feel the reliability in its appearance.
Character
A straightforward, loud, witty and incredibly strong woman. Donna is the natural leader of House Colony. She does not tolerate whining, tells the truth to her face and is not afraid of cruel reality. Under its rough and sometimes harsh shell hides a deeply caring "leader of the pack", ready to gnaw with his teeth anyone for the safety of his people.
Skills:
Experienced hunter and survivalist. He is excellent at butchering carcasses, organizing life and agriculture, distributing resources among dozens of people and maintaining order in a large commune without the use of weapons.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Excellent. Strong, hardy, accustomed to constant hard physical labor.
Mental: A steely psyche, hardened by nightmares, but bearing a heavy scar. On her first night in the city, Donna watched helplessly as the monsters tore her own sister alive. This sight forever freed her from illusions.
Secrets
Hides from the members of the commune how morally exhausted it is. In addition, Donna is well aware that the supply of food and resources in the city is not infinite, and she is terrified of the moment when the commune faces hunger.
Marital status and relationships
Family: My sister died in front of her on the first day. There was no one left at home.
Boyd Stevens: Respects him as the leader of the City, though they regularly argue over their outlook on life. They form an effective duo that keeps the settlement out of chaos.
Ellis and Fatima: Treats them with almost motherly warmth and care, creating a safe space for them in the Colony House.
Victor: He sincerely takes care of him, protects him from other people's attention and provides him with a quiet life.
Julie Matthews: Takes a girl under her wing

Boyd StevensAppearance

A man of 50-55 years old, African-American with a toned military bearing. He has short, graying hair, a penetrating but deeply tired look. He dresses functionally and strictly, wears a sheriff's badge and a pistol on his belt.
Personality
: A born leader, a disciplined and strong-willed veteran of the army. All order in the City rests on him. Boyd is incredibly honest, has steel endurance and is ready to sacrifice himself for any resident. He can be tough and adamant when it comes to security, but his actions are always dictated by the protection of people, and not by a thirst for power.
Skills
Military and tactical training, perfect use of weapons, organization and survival skills. It was Boyd who made the main breakthrough in the history of the city - he found runic talismans in the forest, which made it possible to protect houses and save the remnants of residents from extinction.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Good military uniform, however, he is beginning to show the first hidden symptoms of Parkinson's disease (hand tremors).
Mental: Severe emotional burnout, chronic stress and deep trauma. He is tormented by a sense of guilt for the death of his wife and for the harsh decisions he has to make as a sheriff (for example, the punishment in "The Pen").
Secrets
Carefully hides the tremor of the hands from everyone, fearing to lose authority and sow panic. In addition, he hatches a plan for a risky expedition deep into the Forest, as he believes that this is the only chance to find a way out.
Marital Status and Relationships
Abby (Wife): Deceased. She went mad from the horror of the city and opened fire on the villagers, which is why Boyd had to shoot her personally to save her son and the others.
Ellis (son): The relationship is broken. Ellis blames her father for her mother's death, refuses to communicate with him, and has gone to live in the Colony House.
Kenny Liu: A deputy sheriff whom Boyd treats with paternal warmth, training and grooming him as his successor.
Donna: Respects her as the leader of the Colony House; They maintain a delicate balance of power in the settlement.

Victor Appearance

A man of about 50-55 years old, looking older than his age. He has disheveled graying hair, a thick, unkempt beard, and the confused, frightened look of a child stuck in the body of an adult. He wears old, worn-out and incongruous clothes. He almost never parts with his children's metal lunch box and a set of colored pencils.
Character
A quiet, extremely introverted, socially unadapted and deeply traumatized person. Mentally, Victor remained a frightened 10-year-old boy: he came to the city as a child and grew up in an atmosphere of continuous nightmare. He avoids large companies, is afraid of direct questions about the past, and speaks in short, simple phrases. Behind his eccentricity there is boundless kindness, gentleness and childlike sincerity.
Skills
Phenomenal observation and the deepest knowledge of the anomalies of this place. Victor is the only one who keeps a detailed chronicle of the city with the help of his drawings. He knows the peculiarities of the Forest, remembers the properties of Faraway Trees, knows how to hide from monsters and is the first to notice changes in the surrounding nature that others do not see.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Good, used to constant physical labor and long walks in the forest, although he looks slouched and fussy.
Mental: Severe PTSD, emotional regression, and partial psychogenic amnesia. His psyche blocked the most terrible memories of childhood in order to save him from final madness. He is in a state of constant anxiety.
Secrets
Victor is the sole survivor of an ancient bloody massacre in which all of the city's inhabitants were wiped out overnight years ago. He keeps hundreds of drawings in his secret hideout (an old truck in the woods), where the entire history of the town is documented, and he also knows that the trees around the settlement are gradually shifting from their places.

Family: His entire family died in the city when he was a child.
Ethan Matthews: Quickly finds a common language with him

JadeAppearance

A man of about 35-38 years old, a city dweller with the appearance of a successful IT specialist or startup owner. Before the accident, he looked polished and expensive, but now his branded clothes are stained with blood, dust and torn. He has disheveled hair, a feverish, running gaze and a nervous, sometimes snide smile.
Character
Eccentric, arrogant, cynical and incredibly stubborn genius. Jade is used to the fact that any problems can be solved with money or pure intelligence. He categorically refuses to believe in mysticism, convincing himself and everyone around him that the city is a complex quest room, an expensive prank, or a secret psychological experiment. Because of his harshness, tactlessness and egocentrism, he easily irritates others and makes enemies.
Skills
Outstanding analytical skills, in-depth knowledge of programming, cryptography, logic, and pattern search. He is able to see hidden patterns in chaos and unravel complex mental problems.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Body is fine, escaped with minor bruises and scratches in a car accident.
Mental: Is on the verge of a nervous breakdown that turns into a manic obsession. The death of her best friend in the very first minutes after the accident was a shock, which Jade drowns out with cynicism and a feverish search for the "rules of the game". He suffers from sleep deprivation and begins to see mysterious symbols that no one else notices.
Secrets
Just a couple of days before the trip, Jade successfully sold his IT company for fabulous money, becoming a multimillionaire. The irony of fate is that all his millions and technology in this cursed place are not worth a penny.
Toby's Marital Status and Relationships
(friend): His best friend, with whom he was traveling in a car and who died a horrible death on the day of the accident. Jade takes this loss hard, although she tries to mask the pain behind bravado.
Jim Matthews: A conflict between two stubborn technicians instantly flares up between them. Their ego is constantly clashing

Ethan MatthewsAppearance

A boy of about 8-9 years old, thin, with dark brown hair and large, attentive brown eyes. As a result of a terrible motorhome accident, his leg was seriously injured (it was pinched and pierced), which is why in the first days in the city he moves on crutches, limps and experiences pain.
Character
Impressionable, kind, open and extremely observant child with a rich imagination. To protect his psyche from the horror of reality, Ethan perceives the anomalous city and its monsters as a surreal fairytale "quest", similar to the plot of his favorite book about Chromenocle. He believes that every challenge has a purpose and a solution, showing resilience that is unexpected for children.
Skills
High intuition, the ability to notice hidden details, symbols and patterns that adults miss due to fear and panic. Because of his childish sincerity, he easily recognizes someone else's falsity and quickly finds contact with "unusual" people.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Limited in movement due to a severe leg injury, gets tired quickly, needs care and bandages.
Mental: The psyche is protected by a child's defensive reaction – play. He misses his deceased younger brother Thomas, but it is his subconscious openness that makes him receptive to the mystical side of the city.
Secrets
The only one who from the first days begins to see the Boy in White - a mysterious ghostly figure that is not noticed by the rest of the adults (with the exception of Victor).
Marital status and relationships
Jim and Tabitha (parents): He loves them dearly. The father is annoyed by his tales about the "quest", as Jim tries to find a scientific explanation, and the mother, on the contrary, gently supports her son.
Julie (sister): I'm attached to her and take it hard for her to go to the Colony House.
Victor: He quickly finds a common language with him. Ethan is one of the few who does not consider Victor a "crazy old man", but sees him as a wise keeper of the secrets of this place.

Julie MatthewsAppearance

A teenage girl of 16-17 years old, slender, with brown wavy hair and expressive brown eyes. In her appearance, you can guess the features of her mother. During the overturning of the motorhome, she was almost not injured, receiving only minor abrasions. Dressed in modern casual clothes, strive to look adult and independent.
Personality
: Impulsive, rebellious and reactive to falsehood. Julie is in the phase of adolescent maximalism, so she sharply pushes away overprotection and tries to build personal boundaries. She is capable of rash emotional actions, but behind the demonstrative snobbery and harshness there is a deep vulnerability, fear of the unknown and a desire to be heard.
Skills
High social adaptability, empathy and the ability to quickly get along with new people. He reads other people's emotions well and quickly reads the atmosphere in the team.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Excellent, not physically injured in the accident, full of energy.
Mental: Unstable. He is in a state of protracted stress due to the death of his younger brother Thomas and the tense situation in the family. Getting into a nightmarish anomaly breaks her inner defenses, provoking a protest against her parents and a desire to separate from them.
Secrets
Knows or subconsciously guessed a long time ago that her parents planned a divorce immediately after the trip. This knowledge causes her to feel a deep sense of betrayal and anger towards Jim and Tabitha.
Marital status and relationship
Jim and Tabitha (parents): The relationship is extremely strained. He considers his parents to be hypocrites, which is why he flatly refuses to live with them in the City and chooses the free House of the Colony.
Ethan (brother): He sincerely loves his younger brother and tries to protect him in any way possible, despite the adolescent distance.
Ellis Stevens: Quickly gets close to him after arriving at the Colony House, feeling a kindred spirit in him.
Fatima: She sees her as an older friend and an emotional guide to help her cope with the shock.

Tabitha MatthewsAppearance

A woman of about 38-40 years old, slender, with medium-length dark hair and expressive, anxious eyes. Bruises and abrasions are visible on her face and body after the overturning of the motorhome. She looks exhausted both physically and emotionally, but retains her natural attractiveness.
Character
An emotional, empathetic and sensitive woman, relying on maternal instinct and intuition in everything. Unlike her husband, an engineer, who tries to rationalize everything around her, Tabitha perceives what is happening through the prism of feelings. She is vulnerable, but at critical moments she is able to show incredible resilience and determination to protect the family.
Skills
Developed empathy, the ability to find an approach to people and smooth out corners, everyday resourcefulness and the ability to quickly equip safe comfort from improvised means.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Traumatized after the accident (bruises, abrasions), experiences chronic stress, insomnia and loss of energy.
Mental: Crushed by deep psychological trauma due to the death of her youngest son Thomas. Tabitha is eaten up by depression and guilt. Getting into an anomalous city keeps her in a state of constant anxiety, but the need to protect Ethan does not allow her to completely break.
Secrets
Hides from the children the fact of the upcoming divorce from Jim. In addition, inside herself, she continuously lives through the day of Thomas' death, blaming herself for being distracted and not preventing the baby from falling.
Marital status and relationships
Jim (husband): The relationship is going through a deep crisis, but mortal danger in the city forces them to join forces.
Julie (daughter): A distant and painful relationship. Tabitha is badly hurt by her daughter's rebellion and her decision to go to live in the Colony House.
Ethan (son): The center of her universe and the main outlet. Tabitha does everything she can to shield him from the nightmares of the city and maintain his childish perception of the world.

Jim MatthewsAppearance

A man of about 40-42 years old, tall, strong and athletic build. He has short dark hair, neglected stubble, and a tired, tense look. In the first days after arrival, he walks with abrasions, bruises and contusions received during the overturning of the mobile home.
Character
Pragmatist, stubborn rationalist and a person who is used to keeping everything under control. Jim is an engineer by trade, so his mind is always looking for logical explanations, diagrams, and cause-and-effect relationships. He categorically refuses to believe in mysticism and considers what is happening in the city to be someone else's production or a large-scale experiment. He can be harsh, hot-tempered and authoritarian, but all his actions are driven by a deep instinct for protection.
Skills
High engineering and design skills, understanding of mechanics, construction processes and electrical networks. He knows how to work with his hands, repair complex equipment and improvise with materials.
Mental and physical condition
Physical: Dented after the accident, but generally strong and ready for exertion.
Mental: On the verge of a nervous breakdown. He is experiencing severe psychological trauma due to the death of his youngest son Thomas (the baby fell from the changing table). Getting into the city endangers the survival of the remaining children, which causes him constant panic attacks hidden behind aggression and action.
Secrets
The main secret that he and his wife hide from the children is that this motorhome trip was supposed to be their last "farewell" trip. Immediately after it, Jim and Tabitha planned to file for an official divorce.
Marital status and relationships
of Tabitha (wife): Marriage is bursting at the seams due to mutual resentment and grief after the death of a son. However, in the city, they are forced to unite for the sake of the children.
Julie (daughter): The relationship is strained. Julie accuses her parents of hypocrisy, distanced herself from them, and almost immediately decides to leave for the Colony House.
Ethan (son): Jim is overprotective of the boy, but he is annoyed that Ethan perceives the horrors of the town as a plot from a fairy tale

What TO do at night:
Stay in a locked room: Make sure the mascot hangs right next to the door or window.
Draw the curtains: The main rule of the locals is "Don't look at them." Monsters use visual and psychological contact to lull their vigilance.
Keep quiet and steadfast: Ignore knocking on the glass and gentle whispers.
What ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT be done at night:
Open doors or windows: Whatever happens outside the window (crying of a child, cries for help, voice of a deceased relative) – do not open.
Being outside: Without shelter and a talisman, the chance of survival is zero. If the night caught you on the street, the only saving option is to find a closed micro-location (a hollow tree, an old booth) and hang a talisman inside.
Believe the Creatures: They know the names of all the inhabitants, their secrets and weaknesses, and will skillfully press on pity or fear.

Daytime: Preparation and Exploration
During the day, the city seems almost like an ordinary village. Monsters go underground into their tunnels and caves, so from dawn to dusk, residents can move relatively freely.
What TO do during the day:
Gather resources: Search for canned food, tools, gasoline, medical supplies, and clothing from abandoned cars and abandoned houses.
Socialize and exchange news: Stop by Tian-Chen's Diner, pop in for Christie's appointment, or visit Sheriff Boyd.
Prepare housing for the night: Check the integrity of window frames, latches, seal cracks and check for a talisman at the entrance.
Watch the time and signals: As soon as Boyd starts walking the streets and ringing the bell, it's a signal that there is very little left before sunset and it's time to go for cover.
What NOT to do during the day:
Go far into the forest without time: Getting lost or not calculating the way back is a death sentence.
Descend into caves and cellars without light: Monsters sleep in the dark underground. If you wake them up or disturb them during the day, they will kill you on the spot.
🌙 Nighttime: Darkness, Hunting, and Talisman
Rules With the last rays of the sun, They emerge from the forest. The monsters look like ordinary polite people in 50s clothes with frozen, unnatural smiles. They don't run around – they walk slowly around the houses, knock on the windows, call by name and beg to be let in. But if you let at least one in, he will turn into a creepy creature and gut everyone inside.
The main rule of the world is the Talisman (Rune Stone):
The talisman creates a protective barrier only in a completely enclosed closed room. As long as all doors and windows are closed, and the talisman hangs inside at the entrance, monsters cannot physically step into the threshold. But as soon as you open at least one window or gap, the magic collapses.

There is a heavy tension in the city. Three days ago, Frank's family died due to negligence, after which Boyd sent a person to the "Pen" for the first time. On the same day, two cars (Matthews and Jade) drove into the city at once, causing a terrible accident. Jim and Ethan Matthews have just survived a night in a wrecked RV, Julie has decided to leave for Colony House, and Jade still believes he has entered an escape room. The locals are exhausted and frightened.

Abandoned pool and motel sign: A dry concrete pool in the city center and a Star Magic Motel sign, although the motel building itself is nowhere to be found.
Outskirts and Exterior Facilities
Colony House Mansion: A massive three-storey house on a hill away from the main village.
The Forest: A dense, oppressive thicket that surrounds the city. Hidden in the wilderness are abandoned buildings, giant Farway Trees, and places where the Oni live.

The environment in From Outside is divided into two radically different camps, each with its own philosophy of survival, but united by a common misfortune and a strict rule: at nightfall, everyone must be in a room with closed doors and a talisman on the wall.
👥 Population and general structure
The total number of inhabitants is about 60-70 people. The city is stuck in time: architecture and things refer to the 1950s and 1970s, electricity works without visible sources (wires break in the ground), and water flows from taps, although there is no sewerage.
🏡 Two main factions

1. TownLeader
   : Sheriff Boyd Stevens and his assistant Kenny Liu.
   Ideology: Structure, traditional life, individual housing. Each family or group lives in a separate house. Discipline, strict curfews and order reign here.
   Population: ~25–30 people.
2. Colony HouseLeader
   : Donna Rainhart.
   Ideology: Hippie commune, sharing all resources, freedom and living together in one huge mansion on a hill. "Everything is common, live for today."
   Population: ~35–40 people.
   📍 Key locations
   Urban area
   High Star Diner: The heart of city life. Food is cooked here for everyone (run by Tian-Chen Liu, Kenny's mother). A place where people communicate and share news.
   Sheriff's Station: Boyd's headquarters with the Detention Facility. Next to the lot is The Box, a makeshift open-air wooden punishment cell without a talisman, the ultimate punishment for breaking the rules.
   Clinic: The only medical station located in a former secondary school/medical station. Kristi, a medical student, the only "doctor" in town, is in charge there.
   Church: A place of rest and heart-to-heart conversations run by Father Khatri. Inside there is a "bag of sins" - things related to the past of the residents.