My personal headcanon is that all “characters” already existed, and was paired up with “players” who designed characters that were close enough to the actual “characters” (living, breathing people of Arkerra). The correlation between “player” actions and “character” actions is strong enough that the “players” feel in control, but not so strong that the “characters” feel shackled.

If it’s the latter, it almost feels like a shame that Rachel’s player (I can’t remember her name) didn’t get to witness or be a part of one of Rachel’s crowning moments. This brings up the question one that’s probably been answered before, but for characters that are played by Sepia world’s people, Sepia worlders created them right? Like I know they now carry on their own lives in Arkerra, but they originated in those players minds didn’t they?