Floodwaters
Eris Vandermere
Early Life
Eris was born in the year Prosperity 2175. He spent his childhood in the suburbs before his family moved into the city of Anesh. Up until he was in middle school, his parents made him play basketball, a sport he strongly disliked. He switched to lacrosse at the age of 13. Eris uses an inhaler, but his asthma does not impact his enjoyment of sports and exercise.
​
When his sister, Aria Vandermere, was born, Eris felt a strong jealousy toward her thanks to the differences in which their parents raised them. While Eris was raised under strict rules, Aria was spoiled, driving Eris to feel frustrated and dismissive toward his little sister.
​
Eris’s parents worship Aeris, which is where Eris’s name is derived from. Eris strongly dislikes his name, as he does not believe Aeris to be a god worth worshipping. He wishes to someday change his name to John.
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Appearance: Pale skin, short blond hair, blue eyes. Eris typically wears athletic clothes.
Relationships (Primary):
Aria Vandermere – Sister
Miri Chase – Friend
Einari – Primary religious figure
​Relationships (Minor)
Mom & Dad Vandermere – Parents
Adrien – Classmate, teammate
​Marco Pike – Teammate
Mr. Darren – Teacher
High School
Eris is a junior at Wayfarer High School. For his final research project, his teacher, Mr. Darren, assigns him to work with Miri Chase. Together, they initially agree on the topic “Tree Biodiversity’s Effect on Local Squirrel Populations.” However, this topic bores both of them.
​
When the God King Einari visits the mortal realm of Midir, Eris pitches to Miri that they switch topics, despite knowing they’ll receive lowered letter grade.
​
Eris and Miri spend their time together in the streets of Anesh, researching for their new paper topic: “The Effect of Divine Presence on Human Behavior.” Their research brings them closer as classmates, and eventually as friends.
Great Flood
After witnessing Einari’s murder, Eris goes home with severe post-traumatic stress. Soon after, Anesh floods with water, and he and his family climb to their roof for safety. Their refuge does not last long as the ocean surges ever higher.
When a small fishing boat sails past their house, Eris’s parents urge him aboard. There is not enough space for everybody, so Eris’s parents stay behind, hoping to save their children’s lives at the expense of their own. After Anders Chase coaxes him aboard, Eris mourns his parents’ deaths, knowing they’ve drowned.
​
Eris lives aboard the fishing boat with seven others: Aria, Julie (the boat’s owner), Celia, Miri, Anders, Robert, and a man whose name Eris never learns. One by one, these occupants die off. The man whose name Eris doesn't know dies first by suicide, followed by Julie, who has a heart attack. Later, the occupants of the boat find a skyscraper poking out of the ocean. Celia volunteers to search for supplies. Eris gives her his phone, hoping she can charge it. Celia does not return. Presumably, her death is by electrocution.
​
The boat’s occupants spot another boat, whose captain asks for water. When they refuse to hand water over, the captian murders Anders. Eris scrambles to maneuver the fishing boat out of harm’s way, using up the rest of the boat’s gasoline.
​
In an act of what he believes to be mercy, he drowns Aria. Afterward, he is consumed by guilt and plagued by dreams from Einari, who declares Eris just as evil as the rest of mortalkind.
After Robert dies of dehydration, he and Miri are the last ones left.
Death
The fishing boat scrapes something under the surface, tearing its hull. The boat sinks, leaving Eris and Miri floating in the water. They tread water for a while until Miri runs out of strength and drowns.
​
Eris floats for a little while longer until he eventually gives up on survival. He dies by drowning.
Last Words
“Hang on, Miri. We’ll be okay. Hang on just a little longer.”