The Ahn'Ger Stone: Overview & Primary Cast

INTRODUCTIONS

The Ahn'Ger Stone is an ancient, mystical artifact that is capable of granting wishes...But only when the person holding it is angry. It has found it's way to Earth and onto the doorstep of Bill Strasserman, a high school Senior in the American town of Shermer, Illinois. Bill is enamored by it's unique shape and strange beauty; a teardrop emerald with a golden core that seems to pull the light of the morning sun into it. Through a series of strange events, Bill discovers that the stone is magical and grants wishes! But only when whoever is holding it is angry! And to make matters worse, Bill is surrounded by a cast of friends and enemies and all of them seem compelled to use the Ahn'Ger Stone! With the wishes capable of permanently altering not just bodies, but the entire fabric of reality and the minds of everyone within it, can Bill discover the truth behind the Stone without getting transformed by an angry wish?

-Cast of Characters-

Bill Strasserman is your average 18 year old High School senior. He has a small group of friends and has average grades, and is a more than a bit of a geek, though doesn't mind physical activity. His life is comfortably middle of the road, with one younger sister, a mom and dad and a dog and lives in a nice house in the upper middle-class section of Shermer Illinois. Outside of dodging bullies and dealing with the relationship problems of his best friend Tom and his girlfriend Gloria, Bill has been enjoying his final year of school and looking forward to college and perhaps finally finding his path in life. His only problem? Several powerful enemies.

Tom Ackerton Is Bill's best friend, having grown up with him. A natural athlete, Tom's talent for football, basketball and baseball have made him the star of Shermer High, and with a bright future in sports ahead of him. The only problem? Tom's long-time on/off again girlfriend, Gloria Vanapolous and her extremely toxic, controlling behavior. After ending their long-term relationship, Gloria's rage has destroyed Tom's social standing in Shermer and what was left of his confidence and self-worth. Tom desperately wants to feel happy again, and sometimes it feels as if Bill is the only person that he can turn to...When the two are not being harassed by Gloria or the bullies of Shermer High.

Gloria Vanapolous is Tom's formerly long-term girlfriend, and the 'Queen of Shermer High'. The most popular and prettiest girl in school and a cheerleader, Gloria's break-up with Tom has been less than smooth and her cruel social influence succeeded in making him a pariah. Gloria is an only child, and due to issues with her mom, Gloria has taken her frustrations out on those that cross her and is not above hurting others to get what she wants. Enacting a complicated plan to get Tom back (while removing Bill, the one friend Tom has left, from the picture), Gloria is determined to win, one way or the other.

Rob Bolstrum is the former leader of the high school bullies, now disgraced after losing a fight for dominance to Big Jon last year. Rob is now nothing more than Ingerman's lackey, and harbors a deep, burning hate for his rival. Incredibly strong and smarter than he looks, Rob is constantly plotting on how to get rid of Big Jon and reclaim his place as 'King of the Bullies' once more. That may or may not include defying Big Jon's orders. But can the big man put aside his anger long enough to work with his other enemies?

-Secondary Characters-

Jonathan Ingerman, or 'Big Jon' is the head bully of Bill's high school. A physically powerful, handsome, intelligent son of Ragnar Ingerman, a extremely wealthy and politically powerful businessman. Using his father's wealth and influence, Big Jon has the run of the school and few dare to stand against him, save for Bill Strasserman, who managed to trick him into getting caught during one of his criminal enterprises and nearly being expelled from Shermer High. With a near-murderous grudge and practically unlimited resources, Big Jon is willing to do almost anything to get back and Bill and make him (and anyone else who gets in his way) suffer.

Ragnar Ingerman: Big Jon's father and the powerful CEO of IngerCorp, one of the largest corporations on the planet. Ragnar is a tall and imposing man of Scandinavian origin and handsome in the grizzled, silver fox way. Ragnar has a weakness for sexy college aged women, and has several of them hidden away in Shermer as kept mistresses, despite being newly married. Ragnar has a fiery, dangerous temper and is used to getting his way, growing greatly displeased to the point of physical violence if defied. No one knows what happened to his first wife, Lorraine, only that she disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

Tara Ingerman: Ragnar's current wife and Big Jon's stepmother. Young enough that she could be Jon's older sister and Ragnar's daughter, the incredibly attractive Tara lives the life of a trophy wife. While she and Big Jon despise each other, Tara enjoys wealth and luxuries that most can only dream about...But each year she gets a little older. She was the 'other woman' while Ragnar was still with Lorraine, so she knows that Ragnar's eye roams. She is desperate to keep her place in the wealthy lifestyle she has grown accustomed to living and remain Ragnar's wife.

Paige Walters: Paige Walters is the unpopular girl of Shermer High. Obese and unfortunately quite ugly, the sophmore finds herself at the mercy of Gloria and the other popular girls, or anyone looking to 'punch down'. Paige wishes that boys would notice her, however most recoil at her unattractive and piggish face, leaving her with very few options in terms of romantic partners. She is quite intelligent and has a kind heart, but the years of bullying has created a layer of bitter cynicism around it.

Matt Harris: The bottom-most rung of Shermer High's social ladder, Matt is an angry, possessive, crude and rude sophmore student who almost perfectly fits the description of 'future school shooter'. Matt desires the attention of, well, any girl at Shermer High, but due to his erratic behavior his only friend is the physically repulsive Paige Walters. Matt doesn't know why he's so angry, or why he feels like he doesn't 'fit' in life. He just knows that something is incredibly wrong and that his constant strange dreams may hold the answer.

Kimberly Strasserman: Bill's younger sister. Twelve years old and a brat, Kimberly, or Kimmy, makes Bill's life a pain. Loud and obnoxious, she and Bill barely a relationship while their parents dote and baby her. But Kimberly hates being twelve, she hates having to follow rules, listen to her teachers, and secretly has a crush on Tom Ackterton and is jealous that he spends all his time with Bill and barely seems to acknowledge that she exists!

Jules Harper: One of Rob Bolstrum's cronies, Jules was handed an unlucky card early in life. His mother died in a house fire when he was young, and his father spiraled into depression and alcoholism. With his father getting fired from his bank job and unable to keep a steady job, Jules found himself in the Shermer Fields trailer park; skid row in almost every sense of the word. Living in poverty and shunned by most kids his age, he fell in with Rob Bolstrum, his neighbor, and now spends his days taking orders from his 'friend' and desperately wishing he could go back to how his life was. Or at least get a girlfriend and not take orders from Rob all the time.

Mr. and Mrs. Strasserman: Greg and Martha Strasserman are Bill and Kimberly's mom and dad. Upper Middle Class Gen-Xers, Greg is an accountant for IngerCorp, while Martha works at Shermer First National Bank. They love their children, but can't help but be disappointed in Bill's wasting of his potential. Greg spends long hours at work, grinding for a promotion and doesn't interact much with his kids, while Martha smothers Kimberly with affection, spoiling her rotten while just wishing that Bill could grow up a little bit and stop wasting his life on Marvel and video games.

Mr. and Mrs. Ackerton: Roger and Elaine Ackerton are Tom's parents. Roger is a former high school football star who never quite let go of the dream of one day making it to the NFL. The reality of being a foreman and the IngerCorp factory has made him try to live vicariously through Tom, forcing his son to play sports and not really caring about anything other than trophies and fame. Elaine is a kind, small and gentle woman who works as a hairdresser in downtown Shermer. Elaine knows that Tom is suffering, but is more concerned with her husband's health rather than fixing her son's failing relationship.

Ariadne and Roman Vanapolous: Gloria's mother, and the matriarch of the Vanapolous family. Ariadne is a force to be reckoned with, a dominating personality that seeks to control everyone around her. She KNOWS best, and craves the silent adoration and respect of others. The manager of the Shermer First National Bank, she has crafted an immaculate, flawless image of herself and demands that Gloria do nothing to tarnish it, even to her own detriment. This has led Gloria to both resent and fear her mother, and Ariadne seeks to do whatever she can to better her family's station in life. Roman is Gloria's often absent father who works in marketing for IngerCorp. He is rarely home and barely knows his daughter.

Eugene Krasinski: Eugene is Shermer High's long-suffering janitor. Old, un-educated, poor, Eugene's life has been one of hardship, made even worse from being the target of pranks by Rob Bolstrum and his band of bullies. Eugene deeply regrets the mistakes that led him down this path in life and longs for a chance to start over and try again.

Emily McLeod: One of Shermer High's more balanced individuals, Emily is a cute senior who has a kind heart that is tempered by a fear of being unpopular. She is a cheerleader and is barely tolerated by Gloria Vanapolous. Emily wishes that she didn't have to play the popularity game, but she doesn't want to end up with creeps like Matt Harris or gross losers like Paige Walters. Emily's desire is to just be the most popular girl in school so that maybe she can stop the rampant bullying.

Amber Reid: One of the few to escape the Shermer Field's trailer court, one of Ragnar Ingerman's kept mistresses, and Rob Bolstrum's only real friend. Amber managed to stay free of the rough life that most in the Shermer Fields trailer court live and, upon graduating from Shermer High, caught the attention of Ragnar Ingerman. Forced to make a choice between being property for the very powerful, very dangerous and very rich man or shaking her tits at the local strip club, Amber lives an isolated life in a house that Ragnar pays for. Unable to leave unless it's with him, Amber is a bird seeking the freedom of the sky, and looking for a way to get out of the dangerous gilded cage she allowed herself to be locked up in.

'Sandy': A strange entity that appears to have almost limitless powers and knolwedge, but appears to merely work for a higher authority. Calling itself 'Sandy', it takes the form of a fairy made out of green energy, and has adopted, for now, a feminine mannerism. It, or 'she' is observing the events of Shermer with great interest though can, for now, only intervene if things get too extreme.

There are many characters within the town of Shermer. Who we see, who we meet, who gets involved in the story is up to you, the readers. 

The Ahn'Ger Stone begins with Chapter 1 next Wednesday.