Draft:Kris (Deltarune)

Kris is a character in the role-playing video game Deltarune, initially released in 2018. They are an androgynous teenage human who acts as the protagonist of both currently released chapters of Deltarune. Characters in Kris’ hometown describe them as a slightly ill intentioned trickster, who mostly keeps to themselves and had a troubled childhood. In the game's first chapter Kris and their reluctant ally Susie enter a closet which leads them to a "Dark World", an alternate reality in which concepts and inanimate objects are personified as monsters named "Darkeners". Over the course of the game Kris befriends Susie and the Darkener Ralsei, as a result of the players input. Although Kris is the games player character, controlled through their red soul, they are established as a separate entity; they are aware of the players interference and are occasionally able to act independent of their input. Kris was initially created by Toby Fox in 2011 with later assistance from artist Temmie Chang.

The reception of Kris has been largely positive, with players and critics praising their characterization and use as a tool to explore the conventions of player characters in gaming. In particular many have praised the endings to both chapters, noting their use of abstract horror while increasing the depth and intrigue of Kris as a character.

Concept and history
Toby Fox has been very secretive about the behind the scenes of Deltarune, and as such not much is known about the character's conception. Kris bears a very strong resemblance to both Humans found in Deltarune’s predecessor Undertale, Frisk in particular. Much like Frisk, Kris is a silent protagonist, never speaking outside of implied answers chosen by the player. Hints throughout both chapters of Deltarune and their endings suggest that Kris is capable of thought and movement outside of the players control, and have had their soul hijacked by an outside force. This is most prevalent in the ending of Chapter 2, in which Kris pulls their soul out before struggling to climb out a window, while the player can do nothing but watch. The idea that Kris is an independent entity we are controlling against their will is further reflected in one of the games prevailing themes, in that “your choices do not matter.”

In Deltarune Chapter 1
When the player is introduced to Kris, they live with their adoptive mother Toriel and older brother Asriel. The game begins with Kris waking up late for school, and arriving to find that everyone already has a partner for the class project. When resident school bully Susie arrives, she and Kris are sent to find more chalk from the school closet. Upon entering, Kris and Susie fall into a mysterious “Dark World”, where the inanimate objects of the closet are personified as living playing cards, board game pieces and building blocks.