Gemma Larsen/Infobox

It's hard to say if her introduction to Stygia was incredibly lucky or incredibly unfortunate. Depending on who you ask, she either was taken in by a group of comparatively altruistic devotees, or she was brainwashed by a dangerous cult. The group called itself the Penitent Creed, and claimed that the only true path to transcendence was by righting the wrongs comited in life. In short, a wraith needed to make a positive difference to the lives of the quick in order to be allowed to transcend to heaven.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the group was arrested by the hierarchy, their new initiate included, and brought before the law. Their punishment was, it was mockingly declared, a test. If each one could survive a period of total isolation without giving any ground to their shadows, then they were free to go. If, on the other hand, they were found wanting, the forge was always waiting.

A year of incarceration went by. The shadow whispered, cajoled, threatened, pleaded and ranted. Gemma did her best to meditate and remain calm.

Gemma doesn't know if any others were released after their imprisonment, but somehow she came out of the ordeal unscathed. On being released, she fled to the shadowlands around prospect, hoping to escape the hierarchy's grasp and earn her redemption.