distortion (tma)

The Distortion is a recurring character from The magnus Archives. They're an avatar of a cosmic entity known as the Spiral, which deals in the fear of madness and deceit. Their original form was as a door that could suddenly appear anywhere and led to a series of never-ending, impossibly twisting corridors. Their corridors were entered during a ritual for the Spiral by Michael Shelley, who used a map and instructions to stop the ritual, which forcibly combined them into one entity. As Michael, the Distortion is a tall, blonde man with curly hair and inhumanly long, sharp hands. He still can summon the door to his corridors whenever and wherever he wants and spends his time spreading fear and confusion, but is trapped in a humanoid body and takes on many of Michael's emotions of betrayal and anger. He traps Helen Richardson in his corridors with the intent of keeping her there forever. However, due to Michael's compromised emotional state, she is able to similarly navigate the corridors and combines herself with the Distortion, replacing Michael. As Helen, the Distortion has no detailed visual description, though she retains her inhuman hands and takes on Helen's appearance. She is much happier and friendlier as Helen, but still gaslights and traps people.