SP The Change

So, what happens when you walk through an Arch?

The first thing - and on this, all Archies agree - is that you find yourself in a small, unmarked chamber.

Then you get briefed. This part changes. For some, it's a bodiless voice. For others, it's a Mental voice. For still others, it's just pure knowledge. Then there are those who actually meet someone, but the description is always a faceless, sexless humanoid.

The briefing seems to consist mostly of questions, and advising the individual that they can still leave without what they came for, no harm no foul, but no Arch will ever work for them in the future whether they stay or go.

At the end of the briefing, the individual learns that their greatest wish for change will be granted. Once more, they're given the option to leave before that happens. This is when many of them learn their greatest wish for change.

If they persist, they find themselves outside the Arch with the knowledge that they have been changed.

To date, the largest percentage of Archies are those who've had what most would call minor changes - They had a minor issue cleared up, changes to hair color/type, body type changes, etc. Most of those also have some of the more obvious markers of all Archies. Clear up persistent and untreatable psoriasis, get skin the color of obsidian; Change from lank, fine brunette hair to long, thick red locks and your eyes turn gold - and glow bright enough to be seen through welding goggles; Change from an ectomorph to a mesomorph and your feet turn into hooves - that kind of thing.

Some won't say what they wanted / had changed, but most people think it was bad. These are the ones who are now 10' tall and look like ogres, or who look like demons, living rock statues, etc.

Some, though, got lucky. They got marked, but their mark is often enough just the existence of their power - a power they use.