---
title: Characters
---

As the Post-Self universe contains billions, you're perfectly free to create your own characters to live, work, love, and hate within the setting. The following are those included in the canon, which you are welcome to use.

Spoilers for the Post-Self Cycle itself are marked as such: <span class="spoiler">Yikes!</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i>. Hover to expose the spoiler.

## RJ Brewster / AwDae (ey/em)

A sound tech for the Soho Theatre Troupe, RJ Brewster was among the lost in the early 2100s. Ey, along with Dr. Carter Ramirez, was instrumental in bringing to light the origin of the lost and ending that whole saga. As a member of the furry subculture, ey commonly appeared online (and while lost) as an agender anthropomorphic fennec. Ey focused strongly on making eir avatar (or av) as realistic as possible, down to the inability to form the same consonants that a human mouth would. Ey was instrumental in the creation of the System, <span class="spoiler">being the first semi-successful upload; while ey did not wind up living to see the System, eir consciousness formed the foundation of the System itself, described early on as a half-sensed presence within the System. Eir friend Sasha, so torn by eir loss and confronted by eir sensed presence after uploading, used eir poem Ode to the End of Death for the names of her forks. Early political circumstances required that her relationship with em be kept secret, leading to a near pathological obsession with keeping eir Name from being known.</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i>

[![AwDae on the back cover of Qoheleth](/img/awdae.png)](/img/awdae.png)

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

## Dr. Carter Ramirez (she/her)

Dr. Carter Ramirez was a neuroscientist and researching of the lost at the University College London during their brief existence. She went on to become something of a political proponent of individual rights of uploaded personalities.

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

## Michelle Hadje<span class="spoiler"> / Sasha</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i>

Michelle Hadje uploaded early on during the System's creation and is considered one of the founders and a member of the Council of Eight along with Debarre, Zeke/Ezekiel, Jonas Anderson, user11824, and the three nameless Sino-Russian Bloc representatives.

She is best known for being the founder of the Ode clade, and is no longer extant on the System as of 2306.

Due to her experience while lost, her and her up-tree instances have a 'unique relationship to language' that primarily manifests with a lack of contractions, florid speech with occasionally irregular word order (dative or ablative fronting, e.g: "I set up *for myself* an archetype"), and well-chosen uses of the word 'fuck'. She and her clade deal with the effects even within the System and will occasionally describe themselves as 'mad', for lack of a better term. <span class="spoiler">Additionally, the experience left her struggling to maintain a single form post-uploading, often alternating between skunk and human form, which is described as extremely unpleasant.</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i>

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### The Ode clade

The Ode clade consists of, nominally, 100 instances. In 2124, Michelle forked ten instances from herself corresponding to the ten first lines of the stanzas of the "Ode to the end of death". From there, those ten instances were free to fork as they would, and each quickly picked up on interests as they went.

*Note:* Given the unwieldy names, many Odists go by shorter versions, which are shown with *italics*.

#### *Dear*, Also, The Tree That Was Felled (it/its)

Dear is an instance artist, meaning that it plays around with the meaning of self in a world where one can create multiple copies of oneself. It was instrumental in the investigation of the events as described in the Bălan clade's *On the Perils of Memory*. It takes the form of a fennec fox with somewhat iridescent white fur, a result of it forking a few too many times in order to shift its sensorium to try and forget a fact. It is described as wearing natty, fanciful dress, whether that be a tux, dress, or whatever. It has opted out of gender.

It is in a relationship with Codrin Bălan and one other unnamed individual.

[![Dear as depicted on the cover of Qoheleth](/img/dearioan.png)](/img/dearioan.png)

[<img alt="Concept art of Dear by Iris Jay" src="/img/dearref.png" style="width: 200px" />](/img/dearref.png)

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

#### *May Then My Name* Die With Me (she/her)

May Then My Name (or simply May to those with whom she is closest) is an author, actor, and hopeless romantic. She takes the form of a short, chubby anthropomorphic skunk, and is the author of the well-received *An Expanded Mythology of Our World*. She falls in love easily and deeply, and her primary instance is in a relationship with Ioan Bălan, though several long-running forks remain in relationships with others. She dresses for comfort.

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

#### The Only Time I Know My *True Name* is When I Dream (she/her)

True Name is a politician and one of the movers and shakers of the System as one of the Founders and member of the Council of Eight. She takes the form of an anthropomorphic skunk, though is taller and slimmer than her up-tree instance, May Then My Name. She is described wearing rather nice clothes; blouses and skirts or slacks.

She is in an on-again-off-again relationship with Zacharias.

[![True Name as depicted on the back cover of Toledot](/img/truename1.png)](/img/truename1.png)

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

#### *Life Breeds Life*, But Death Must Now Be Chosen<span class="spoiler"> / Qoheleth</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i> (he/him)

Life Breeds Life was a historian and author involved in early historiographical efforts on the System. He's described early on as a middle-aged human man, usually wearing a suit, but later <span class="spoiler">as taking the form of a 'biblical notable', wearing a linen tunic and trousers with a robe.</span><i class="spoiler-warn"></i>

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

#### Other Odists

Do I Know God After The *End Waking* (he/him)
:   Ranger skunk, in charge of phys-side finances as they pertain to the System early on, but has since grown repentant of his actions. In an on-again-off-again relationship with Debarre.

    [![End Waking as depicted on the cover of Toledot](/img/ewioan.png)](/img/ewioan.png)

    * [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
    * [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
    * [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

*Serene*; Sustained And Sustaining (she/her)
:   A fennec like Dear, Serene was forked when her down-tree instance wanted to explore a twinned interest in instances and sims. She build fantastic, nature-based sims, including Dear's prairie and End Waking's forest.

    * [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
    * [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
    * [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
    * [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

That Which Lives is Forever *Praiseworthy* (she/her)
:   Another skunk-type Odst, Praiseworthy focused on shaping sentiment early on in the System's history. No one's sure what she's up to now.

    * [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
    * [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
    * [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

*Why Ask Questions* Here At The End Of All Things (she/her) and Why Ask Questions When The *Answers Will Not Help* (she/her)
:   Commonly described as shitheads, Why Ask Questions and Answers Will Not Help shaped sentiment, with the former focusing on building camaraderie sys-side and the latter working via the text line to build support phys-side.

    * [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
    * [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
    * [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

## Douglas Hadje (he/him)

Douglas Hadje-Simon is Michelle Hadje's ancestor and the phys-side launch coordinator for the launch project.

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

## Jonas Anderson (he/him)

Jonas Andersen was another member of the Council of Eight and worked to guide the System throughout the years.

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

## The Bălan clade

### Ioan Bălan (ey/em)

Ioan Bălan is a historian, investigative journalist, and writer. Ey uploaded in 2238 and began working with Dear, Also, The Tree That Was Felled of the Ode clade in 2305 on a project that resulted in the well-received book *On the Perils of Memory*. Later, while working on *An Expanded History of Our World*, ey entered into a romantic relationship with another Odist, May Then My Name Die With Me. Ey's described as of average height, a little soft, and with tousled blond hair. Ey has kept eir masculine name and relatively masculine appearance from phys-side, dressing in 'faux-academic garb' (usually slacks, a dress shirt, a sweater vest, a bow tie, and occasionally a jacket), though ey describes eir gender as fluid.

[![Ioan as depicted on the cover of Qoheleth](/img/dearioan.png)](/img/dearioan.png)

[![Ioan as depicted on the cover of Toledot](/img/ewioan.png)](/img/ewioan.png)

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink)

### Codrin Bălan (ey/em)

After the conclusion of eir project with Dear, Ioan forked a new long-running instance, Codrin Bălan, who moved in with Dear and its partner and later joined their relationship. Ey has grown eir hair out and 

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### Sorina Bălan (she/her)

Forked from Codrin in order to continue along on Artemis's journey, Sorina owned her Romanian heritage perhaps more than either of her down-tree instances.

*Appears in:*

* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

## Tycho Brahe (he/him)

Born under a different name, Tycho chose the name of the Danish astronomer when he agreed to be interviewed by Codrin for the *History*. An anxious and often depressed individual, he's depicted as a graying middle-aged man, working as an astronomer on the System, and one of the first to make contact with the Artemisians.

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

## Other characters

### Yared Zerezghi

A 'net addict and DDR (Direct Democracy Representative) junkie, Yared was instrumental in the secession of the System from the rest of the governments on Earth. He's described as a tall Black man from Ethiopia, the events of Secession having left him incredibly anxious.

[![Yared as depicted on the back cover of Toledot](/img/yared.png)](/img/yared.png)

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### Sarah Genet (she/her)

Sarah is a psychologist and one of the emissaries chosen to meet with the Artemisians. She later becomes a mentor for Codrin as ey works on moving towards psychology as a career. She's described as having short, gray hair and wearing business casual sorts of clothes.

*Appears in:*

* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### Debarre (he/him)

Having lost his boyfriend to the lingering effects of getting lost, Debarre uploaded along with Michelle Hadje. He's usually depicted as an anthropomorphic weasel dressed in all black. He's in an on-again-off-again relationship with End Waking.

*Appears in:*

* [*Qoheleth*](https://qoheleth.post-self.ink)
* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### Zeke/Ezekiel (he/him)

Zeke (later known by his full name, Ezekiel), is an Israeli Jew who uploaded early on and worked to implement forking while on the Council of Eight. He's described as anything from a pile of dirty rags or rubbish, barely recognizable as human, to a homeless man.

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)

### user11824 (he/him)

All anyone can really tell about user11824 is that he's male. He's described as being so utterly boring that one's eyes simply slide right off him. This fact, combined with his anonymous chosen name, make him quite interesting, much to his chagrin. He described himself prior to uploading as 'a nobody, but a Maori nobody'.

*Appears in:*

* [*Toledot*](https://toledot.post-self.ink)
* [*Nevi'im*](https://neviim.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
* [*Mitzvot*](https://mitzvot.post-self.ink) (mentioned)
