A Flaw is an entity from a dimension between stories, I think in TLT this is known as The Void. Flaws exist for one purpose- to prey on Authors and destroy their stories. There are three types of Flaws I have created: Subversion Flaws, Killer Flaws, and Tyrant Flaws.

The Subversion Flaw is a demon-like entity that lives in its normal form in the space between worlds. It is the lowest level of the Flaw hierarchy and subservient to higher ranks, and is also the most common form of a Flaw. A subversion Flaw operates by wiping or suppressing its memories, then taking a host character in an unfinished story and magnifying the issues with that character. The end goal is to destabilize the story before it is finished and create issues with it that lead to it never being completed. If it is successful, the dead story falls into the space between worlds, and over time, with enough destruction, a Subversion Flaw can become a Killer Flaw. 9/10mmHB#2 is an example of this type.

The second form of Flaw is a Killer Flaw. A Killer Flaw’s job is to break down and consume the dead story. They systematically slaughter every living thing, destroy every world, kill any god that lived in that story, converting them into Subversion Flaws. In rare cases they may be sent into a story before a Subversion Flaw has finished their job, if that Subversion Flaw is having difficulty ending it. Instead of fully entering a story, they project a physical form into the story while keeping their soul safe from the Author in the form indulges in the slaughter. Instead this sense they are immortal, being able to simply project a new form of the old one fails, with no consequence. These forms are incredibly difficult to kill, having complete control over their body’s particles and suffering little to no damage or pain from physical harm. They also have the ability to rip through the fabric of reality, creating portals or even pockets of null space around themselves. Sanguine is an example of this. 

As a Flaw grows in power by the destruction of an author’s characters, it can grow from a Subversion Flaw into a Killer Flaw. Killer Flaws also can grow into the final form of a Flaw’s life cycle, the Tyrant Flaw. This type of entity never puts itself into the power of an Author by entering a story, instead feeding on dead worlds, as well as other Flaws. A Tyrant Flaw could conceivably end any world it touches, and is strong enough to exert control over any other Flaws it spares the life of. When a Killer Flaw grows strong enough to begin the process of becoming a Tyrant, it is usually destroyed by the current Tyrant.

As a Flaw grows, it becomes less intelligent and more of a force, losing the intelligence it had as a character. As a result, while Subversion Flaws are typically quite devious, Killer Flaws are usually quite stupid, and Tyrant Flaws are little more than forces of nature. 9/10mmHB#2 has internalized fragments of memories from characters of mine he has killed, and has decided to become a character himself. Sanguine has defined himself as an instrument of death and an incarnation of violence.

If you find my cosmic horror creativity eating story demon hives interesting, this is not a thing that only I do! You can alter a Flaw Hive to fit however you want to create a character, and it doesn’t have to be part of TLT either! If not, thanks for your interest in my weird nerdy excuse for why I haven’t published anything in four years of writing, and I hope you enjoyed.