princess

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

Colour me interested!

@enmuni

roleplayerguild.com/topics/195286-bey… @enmuni

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

Hopefully it's not too late to express interest!

@Blubaron45

Not at all! Please see ooc link in Tpartywithzombi's last post here

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest! Due to the overwhelming interest, we have made the character sheets with a few options to use. Please follow the link https://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/195286-beyond-the-veil/char to find the main thread. Once you've completed your character sheet please DM it to Me, Oso, and Princess for review. Once approved we will tell you the next steps! Any questions don't hesitate to DM me be happy to answer any or assist with your character creations.

Please make sure you read our rules as well they will be posted shortly in the main thread.

-Tea

@Tpartywithzombi

@Tae @Helo @Sadie @JJ Doe @ShiningSector @ReusableSword@Infinite Cosmos@deegee@Ithradine@Manzanilla@Mole@Passable Writer@Ctenoid Soul

✨Beyond The Veil✨

General Conduct

✦ Respect first, always. Standard RP etiquette applies. Treat your fellow players with kindness and maturity.
✦ No OOC drama. Any issues must be handled privately or brought to a GM. Keep the story sacred.
✦ We build together. This is a collaborative world. Share ideas, plot twists, rivalries, romances, betrayals — make Halcyon unforgettable.

Tone & Themes

✦ Genre Blend: Intrigue, horror, dark slice-of-life, and bursts of brutal action.
✦ Personal subplots encouraged. Every character should matter. Develop your arcs, weave your secrets, chase your ambitions.
✦ Plotting is open. Coordinate with GMs and fellow players — the more entangled the better.

Character Creation

✦ Power levels start grounded. Characters should grow, suffer, and evolve through RP — not start as invincible gods.
✦ Art style: Semi-realistic (realistic digital art or stylized realism). No pure anime or cartoony images. No faceclaims. Need help? Please contact us.

Character Submission

✦ This is not first-come, first-serve. Quality, depth, and narrative fit are prioritized.
✦ Submit your CS via PM to the GMs or into the OOC tab first. Wait for approval before posting to the Character Tab.
✦ We review carefully. Not every CS will be accepted unless it fits the proper standard — but thoughtful feedback will be given if requested.

Mature Content

✦ Dark themes ahead: Violence, betrayal, blood, addiction, death, corruption. Halcyon is not a gentle world. We will not shy away from sexual and mature themes either. This is an 18+ roleplay.
✦ Stay within RP site rules. No explicit NSFW content. Fade-to-black when appropriate.

Posting Guidelines

✦ Post minimum: 2–3 decent paragraphs. Quality > Quantity.
✦ Post frequency: GMs will post at least once a week. Players should aim for the same.
✦ Delays happen. Life comes first. Communicate if you need time — we’re flexible.
✦ Inactivity Policy:
➤ 7 days without posting or communicating = Marked inactive.
➤ 2 strikes = Character moved to inactive status.
➤ 1 month of silence = Spot opened to new players.

Communication

✦ Discord Required. Approved players will be invited after CS acceptance.
✦ Major updates and plotting happen there to keep the OOC clean and streamlined. Casual chat welcome too.

Post Formatting

✦ Dialogue colors are mandatory. Helps readability and looks clean.
✦ Use a simple post header. (Time | Location | Interactions) at the top of each post.

Character Fate Upon Leaving

✦ Characters become part of Halcyon. By joining, you consent to your character’s story continuing if you leave — via NPCing, death, or natural plot integration.
✦ Departures will be woven into the world. Nothing disappears without a mark on the city.

✦ Welcome to the nightmare called Halcyon ✦

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

I just want to make everyone aware: I am interested in joining this, however I am scheduled for shoulder surgery in a couple weeks and won’t be able to use both hands to type for about 6 weeks after.

@Sadie

Fine with me if you need to take a break for a bit later on. Hope your surgery brings you some relief!

Beyond the Veil

"Built by blood, bound by lies."

The Premise

Tucked away between buildings and streets that seem to lead to nowhere, veiled beneath a sky coated in smog and soot, the city of Halcyon is a place that only exists in whispers and tales.

It was built that way.

Long before the first breath of humanity, Halcyon rose from the darkness, the ancient bloodlines of Halcyon struck a deal with dark powers that twisted the fabric of supernatural existence. The world had outgrown the fear of the dark, and the creatures that lived there — the Fae, the sanguine curse and the lycans, the things that should never have walk among men — would soon find themselves exposed, hunted, and nearly brought to extinction

To survive, they made a pact — not just to hide, but to erase their very existence from the world’s memory. To be forgotten.

With a spell of unfathomable power, the Fae wove the Glamour — a force so intricate, so absolute, that Halcyon itself was now hidden from the world. A city wrapped in shadows, suspended in time, its very geography defying reason. Maps crumble to dust. Memories distort and vanish. Those who wander too close to the city’s boundaries find themselves lost in endless roads that lead to nowhere. Few leave. Fewer arrive.

Inside the Glamour’s fold, Halcyon thrives, a twisted sanctuary where the monsters rule unseen and unchallenged. But their kingdom, built on blood and power, is not as perfect as it once was.

Beneath the surface of ancient stone and overgrown thorns, something is beginning to crack. The fragile peace that holds the supernatural powers together is weakening, the threads of their bond unraveling one by one.The underbelly stirring awake with chaotic energy.

The laws that once kept the darkness in check are beginning to bend, to break. The creatures that walked in shadow now hunger for more than just survival. And in the depths of the city, in the forgotten corners of Halcyon, something ancient stirs — a force that was never meant to be freed.

As the Glamour starts to falter, so too does the city’s facade. The creatures who once existed in the safety of Halcyon’s false reality now see the cracks forming, the whispers of rebellion spreading like wildfire. Betrayals fester in the shadows, and blood flows once again.There are those wanting to break free from the cracks while others are working hard to restore Halcyon to what it once was.

In Halcyon, no one is safe…

The Powers of Halcyon

Vampires - The Sanguine Curse - The Gilded Tyrants

The Vampires of Halcyon are a breed born of blood and power, their lineage stretching back centuries — ancient, rich, and unfathomably manipulative. They are the natural-born leaders, the kings and queens of the shadows, their dominion built on the backs of those who are forgotten by the world. These vampires are no mere creatures of the night; they are the architects of empires, weaving webs of influence through politics, money, media, and vice. Cloaked in the finest silks, surrounded by neon lights and glass towers, they command the skyline, their every whim catered to by those they enslave.

They are the Gilded Tyrants, rulers of Halcyon’s underworld, where wealth and decadence flow as freely as blood. Their existence is one of excess, indulgence, and control, sustained by a curse they neither welcome nor escape: the Sanguine Curse. They must feed to survive, but over the centuries, they have learned to bend this curse to their will. While some remain tied to the primal craving for human blood, relishing its warmth and vitality, others turn to synthetic substitutes — a more refined, less perilous alternative.

Yet even in their synthetic indulgence, many of the Vampires believe that true power lies in the taste of fear. The pulse of their prey, the trembling of a dying human, the rush of blood heightened by terror — to them, it is not just sustenance; it is control, a reminder that they hold dominion over those who are weak. Some of them even claim that fear makes the blood taste sweeter, more intoxicating.

Despite their centuries-long reign, the Vampires are not invincible. The Glamour, woven by the Fae, is what keeps their world hidden and protected. Without it, they are no more than monsters in the light, and the very city they claim as their kingdom would turn on them. But even as their empire crumbles beneath the weight of their own excess, they remain ever ambitious, ever ruthless, convinced that their bloodlines — their legacy — make them superior to all others. The cost of maintaining their façade is steep.

In Halcyon, they believe themselves gods in silk, rulers in shadow — but they are still bound by the very curse that made them what they are.

The Lycan — The Iron Claws

In the shadowed veins of Halcyon, where the city’s pulse runs dark and desperate — in the docks, the dive bars, the scrapyards — the Lycan thrive. They are not the refined rulers of the skyline, nor the hidden aristocrats of the night. They are the muscle, the brokers of violence, the raw power that keeps the city’s darkest corners alive. They are the loyalists and the outlaws, the Wardens and the enforcers, the ones who survive through grit, blood, and ferocity.

Organized into tight, brutal packs, the lycans are the backbone of Halcyon’s underworld. They are indispensable, for they control the black markets where weapons, flesh, and secrets are traded in equal measure. They are the ones who enforce the unspoken laws that govern the city’s hidden realm, settling disputes in blood and bone. Their word is law in the grimy back alleys and underworld dens, where only the strong thrive and the weak perish.

The Lycans may never have the luxury of money, but they have something far more valuable — their power, rooted in physicality, loyalty, and an unbreakable bond to the land they roam. They are the "boots on the ground" that hold Halcyon’s fragile peace together. Without them, the delicate balance of the city would unravel, and chaos would reign.

While the Vampires may own the city — commanding its wealth, politics, and status — it is the Lycans who run it. They are the enforcers, the protectors, and the heart of Halcyon’s streets. And though they may walk in shadows, their grip on the city is anything but invisible.

The Lycans’ claws are buried deep in Halcyon’s flesh..

The Fae — The Architects, The Hidden Crown

Ancient. Beautiful. Terrifying.

The Fae are the unseen forces that weave through the city’s undercurrents — their presence felt in every whispered deal, every stolen glance, every moment of dread that hangs thick in the air. They are rarely seen, their movements delicate and elusive, like shadows that shift just beyond the reach of light. Yet, they are everywhere. Artists, muses, crime lords, black market dream-weavers — the Fae are the secret architects of Halcyon’s very existence.

It is their magic, their ancient power, that maintains the Glamour — the intricate, unbreakable veil that hides the city from the world. Without it, Halcyon would be revealed for what it truly is:a city of nightmares. The Vampires and Lycan may wage their petty wars for power and money, posturing in their glittering fortresses and grimy streets, but the true power lies with the Fae.

For while they may control the surface, it is the Fae who keep the city hidden, and to anger them is to invite oblivion. The Fae’s power is not one that can be trifled with, for it is boundless, ancient, and unforgiving. To provoke the Fae is to summon the collapse of everything — the fragile peace between supernatural factions, the illusion of safety, the very foundation upon which Halcyon stands.

The Vampires may claim the skyline. The Lycan may own the streets. But they both know but without the Fae’s touch, their world would shatter in an instant. The Fae are the masters of Halcyon’s survival. They are the unseen hand that shapes the city’s fate, and their silence is more terrifying than any roar.

To cross the Fae is to walk a path from which there is no return.

Humans — The Ashen Few - Wardens

The Glamour, woven by the Fae, is a web of illusion that clouds human minds, erasing inconsistencies, fogging memories, and twisting the world into a dream of complacency. It nudges the curious into apathy, dulls the senses of those who would dare question, and hides the monsters beneath a veil of civility.

It was be hunted or become the Warden, they became the Wardens.

They see through the cracks — the faintest glimpses of the dark truths that lurk beneath Halcyon’s surface. These are the Wardens — the few who have glimpsed the horrors of the city, the inhuman creatures that crawl in the shadows, and the endless cycle of power that keeps them in control.

The Wardens are outnumbered. Isolated. Underequipped. They have no grand armies, no vast networks of resources. All they have is their resolve, their grit, and the fading remnants of humanity’s will to fight back against the unnatural tide that threatens to swallow it whole. Some hunt for vengeance, driven by the loss of loved ones to the creatures that rule the city. Others seek justice, hoping to expose the truth that the world has long forgotten. And some, perhaps the most tragic, fight because they can no longer look away — because the monsters beneath the mask have marked their lives in ways that cannot be undone.

The Wardens are the thin, broken line between humanity and the inhuman thrones of Halcyon. They are the last vestige of resistance, the fragile hope that there is still a way to break the chains that bind the city’s dark reign. They fight in the shadows, their struggle unseen, their victories fleeting. But still, they fight.

And every battle they lose makes the monsters of Halcyon stronger. But they fight anyway — because if they don’t, no one else will.

Present day

The treaties are weakening.

Old grudges and new ambitions are pulling the factions toward open conflict.
Some whisper that the Glamour itself is fraying.

Power is shifting.

Murders, disappearances, forbidden affairs — each splinter threatens to become a crack in the whole facade.

Who will protect the city and who will watch it burn? Will the veil shatter or will it grow stronger. Change is coming which side will you be on?

Race specific traits

_{There is no Hybrid characters permitted you must choose a specific Race}

Vampires

Vampires

They have three options for Blood:
✦Blackmarket human trafficking, owning humans for consumption and reuse
✦Hunting the streets for fresh blood
✦Synthetic alternatives living a bloodless lifestyle

Blood thirst and Addiction are common:
✦Controlled thirst with daily sources
✦Mild blood craze, they tend to see red. Turn into mindless animals
✦Addiction, the creature comes alive. All balance of their humanity if any is gone. They live to kill, mindless ghoons. They are seens as the scum of the vampire community, looked upon as weak.

Vampires aren't burned by sunlight, but it weakens them dramatically. Each class will be affected diffrently

Fae blood is addicting, its forbidden to consume as you can turn into a ghoon. Vampires have a pact with the Fae for the protect of the veil. It is considered punishable by death to own,distribute or drink Fae blood but there is an underground market for it if you can find it.

Can get drunk and enjoy human food although human food does not offer them substance or benefit simply for social gain and enjoyment.

Naturally addictive personalities. Vampires have an affinity for anything that brings them pleasure, constantly seeking that thrill that died so long ago. Sex, Drugs and Alcohol are common addictions with high tolerances for substances.

Vampire Class Hierarchy

Elder vampires
The Elder Vampires are the ancient and most powerful of their kind, the true rulers of Halcyon. Their bloodlines are steeped in history and power, with a legacy that stretches back for centuries, if not millennia. These vampires have long ago transcended the basic needs of their kind, becoming more like gods than monsters. With the ability to turn humans into vampires, they have created generations of loyal progeny to solidify their reign and ensure the continuance of their bloodline.

Powers & Traits:

✦Mastery Over Blood: Elder Vampires have absolute control over their blood. They can turn humans with ease, and their bite is lethal to those they wish to consume. Their ability to manipulate the essence of life makes them powerful in combat, as well as in influencing other vampires.

✦Immortal Wisdom: With their immense age comes unparalleled knowledge of the world. Elders are scholars, tacticians, and politicians, using their long lifespans to amass wisdom, making them the strategic brains of their factions.

✦Mental Manipulation: This power, called Dominion, is more potent than any other vampire’s. They can bend reality to their will, shaping their surroundings, erasing memories, and controlling the minds of weaker vampires or humans. Their Dominion is essentially an extension of their willpower.

✦Invulnerability to Most Weaknesses: Elder Vampires are virtually impervious to sunlight, silver, and most common weaknesses that plague their younger kin.

✦Healing: Elder Vampires blood can offer healing properties to speed up healing. Its considered liquid gold and been known to be harvested and sold on the black markets for profit.

✦Downside: If a vampire turns a human, it leaves them vulnerable to attacks. They are weak, powerless and for that reason turning a human is rare and often done in secret. Sunlight can kill them slowly and painfully, they are more open to manipulation, they become a feeble and weak version of themselves for a period of time. They must feed in large amounts to regain their strength.

The Blooded

Normal Vampires, often referred to as the Blooded, are the core of vampire society in Halcyon.

They are neither as ancient and powerful as the Elder Vampires nor as chaotic and unpredictable as the Spawn, but they stand as seasoned predators, honed by years of survival and manipulation. The Blooded are those who have lived for centuries but have not ascended to the status of an Elder. They are often ambitious, ruthless, and highly skilled in navigating the delicate balance of vampire politics and the shadowed world they inhabit.

Once turned, a normal vampire’s powers and control over their blood become significantly enhanced, but unlike the Elders, they do not have access to the deepest wellsprings of blood magic. They are masters of the basics, but their power is firmly rooted in manipulation, influence, and physical strength.

Powers & Traits:

✦ Enhanced Physicality: Blooded Vampires possess superior strength, speed, and agility compared to humans. Their reflexes are lightning-fast, and they can overpower most adversaries with ease. They are also incredibly resilient, able to recover from wounds that would be fatal to normal humans. They are weakened by Silver, Blood ash(dried up vampire remains) and sunlight.

✦ Dominion: While their Dominion is not as potent as that of the Elders, Blooded Vampires are still capable of subtly manipulating others. They can influence the minds of humans and weaker vampires, using their charm and persuasive abilities to get what they want. Their Dominion works best on those of lower standing, though they may struggle against more powerful minds.

✦ Master of the Shadows: Blooded Vampires excel in stealth and subterfuge. They can move through the shadows undetected, their supernatural grace making them masters of infiltration and assassination. They can appear as mere whispers in the dark, their presence barely noticeable to even the most sensitive of humans or vampires.

✦ Political Savvy: These vampires are deeply involved in the social, economic, and political structures of Halcyon. They may hold positions of power in various sectors, such as business, politics, law enforcement, or crime syndicates. They thrive on their ability to manipulate both vampires and humans to further their own goals.

✦ Blood Frenzy: Blooded Vampires, while in control of their instincts, are not immune to the overwhelming urge for blood. If they go too long without feeding, they can fall into a blood frenzy — a dangerous state where they lose all control and become mindless predators, consumed by an uncontrollable desire to kill and feed. They have addictive personalities.

✦ Ego and Pride: While not as grandiose as the Elders, the Blooded are still highly self-assured and possess significant pride. They believe themselves to be above humans, and their arrogance can lead to risky decisions or underestimating their enemies. Overconfidence in their abilities often makes them vulnerable to more cunning or ruthless adversaries. Not all vampires share this same outlook however its uncommon.

✦ Limited Control Over Younger Vampires: Blooded Vampires, while experienced, may struggle to control or mentor the newly turned Spawn effectively. Unlike the Elders, they lack the experience or patience required to fully guide the newly made vampires, leading to volatile situations when dealing with them. They may try to exert control over Spawn, but they lack the authority and respect that the Elders command.

✦ Desire for Power: While the Blooded are generally ambitious, their thirst for power often blinds them to the bigger picture. Their desire to climb the ranks and gain more control can cause them to make enemies of both vampires and humans alike. They often find themselves trapped in a dangerous web of alliances and rivalries, which can quickly become their undoing.

Spawn

Spawn are the newly turned, the freshly marked by the Sanguine Curse, and the most volatile of vampires. They are the most dangerous yet fragile members of vampire society, existing on the cusp between humanity and full vampiric transformation. Their minds, still tethered to their human past, are often overwhelmed by the bloodlust that comes with their new existence. Spawn are thrust into a world of darkness and power, but they are like untamed beasts — often confused, uncontrollable, and desperate for guidance.

Unlike Blooded Vampires, who have honed their abilities and learned the subtle art of manipulation, the Spawn are still learning to master their bloodrage and control their impulses. They are easily manipulated and are seen by many as little more than weapons to be wielded or discarded by the older, more powerful members of vampire society. The Unraveled, as they are sometimes called, are living in the storm of their transformation, unfit for leadership but dangerous in their unchecked power.

Powers & Traits:

✦ Blood Frenzy: The Spawn are constantly on the edge of their bloodlust. When hungry, their hunger is nearly insatiable, and they are prone to slipping into a blood frenzy — a primal state where all reasoning and self-control vanish. In this state, they become mindless killers, completely driven by the need to feed, even at the expense of their own survival. Unlike older vampires who can withstand their cravings, the Spawn must feed regularly to stave off the madness that threatens to consume them.

✦ Unstable Abilities: Spawn possess the physical strength and agility of vampires but lack control over their powers. They are fast and strong, but they may inadvertently unleash their abilities in uncontrollable bursts. Their reflexes are sharp, but their heightened senses are a double-edged sword, often overwhelming them. The Spawn may be able to heal faster than a human, but their healing process is erratic, and wounds may take longer to close, leaving them vulnerable until they feed.

✦ Emotional Sensitivity: Having recently been human, the Spawn are emotionally volatile. Their new existence amplifies their feelings, particularly anger, fear, and despair. They may struggle with their humanity, often torn between the lingering attachments to their old life and the predatory instincts of their new one. This emotional instability makes them susceptible to manipulation, especially by older vampires who know how to exploit their weaknesses.

✦ No Control Over Their Hunger: Unlike Blooded Vampires who can manage their craving for human blood through synthetic substitutes or blood rituals, Spawn are often slaves to their hunger. Their cravings are overwhelming, and they are less able to control the urge to feed on human blood. This lack of control often results in them acting out violently, sometimes leading to killing innocent people or destroying their relationships with their creators. Those with strong wills attempt to satiate with synthetic blood while others cave into their desires.

✦ Inexperienced in Dominion: Spawn have little understanding or control over theDominion that vampires use to manipulate humans or other vampires. They may instinctively try to charm or dominate others, but their attempts are often clumsy or chaotic. They struggle to hide their true nature and may attract unwanted attention when they fail to disguise their predatory tendencies.They Dominion will fail but may grow stronger as they adept.

✦ Mentorship Dependency: Spawn are highly impressionable and need the guidance of an experienced vampire to avoid succumbing to their base instincts. If they do not receive proper mentorship, they risk losing themselves entirely to the bloodrage or being used as pawns by older vampires. A lack of guidance may also cause them to go feral, driven by madness or chaos that ultimately results in their death or complete loss of self.

✦ Loss of Humanity: One of the greatest challenges faced by the Spawn is the overwhelming loss of their human identity. As time passes, the memories of their mortal lives begin to fade. The more they succumb to their vampiric urges, the further they drift from their former selves. The deeper their bloodlust becomes, the harder it is for them to maintain any sense of moral clarity or self-control. This internal struggle can leave them feeling broken or torn, sometimes leading to self-destructive behavior.

✦ Vulnerable to Manipulation: The Spawn are at the mercy of those who are more powerful or experienced. They are often seen as tools to be controlled by Blooded Vampires or Elder Vampires. Manipulation is an essential part of their existence — their desperation and lack of control make them highly susceptible to influence, whether it be through fear, promises of power, or emotional ties to more experienced vampires.

✦ Vulnerable to Sunlight: They cannot go out into the sunlight.

Lycan

Lycan

Flesh and fury bound to the pulse of the moon, the Lycans are the city's unbroken spine. Where Vampires rule from towers of glass and neon, Lycans stalk the alleys, the gutters, and the abandoned streets where the real power is decided. They are the black-market kings, the street enforcers, the silent protectors and ruthless killers. Their strength lies in unity — packs woven tighter than blood, forged in violence, loyalty, and ancient instinct. To be Lycan is to carry a storm beneath your skin. Their rage is both their greatest weapon and their deadliest curse. Alphas lead with tooth and claw. Packmates fight and die for one another. Rogues, cast adrift, either master their madness — or are consumed by it. Without the Lycans, Halcyon would already have torn itself apart.But even their iron bonds are beginning to fray...And when a wolf runs wild, nothing can stop the slaughter to come.

✦ Lycan Transformation ✦

✦ Triggered by Emotion or Will: Rage, fear, pain, even fierce loyalty can trigger a change. Most seasoned Lycans can shift by will alone — but younger ones often lose control during emotional outbursts.

✦ The Moon's Influence: The full moon amplifies the curse, making it harder to resist. Even the strongest Alphas struggle to stay human under its pull. Some packs chain themselves underground during these nights... others revel in the bloodletting.

✦ Physical Transformation : It is violent — bones snap, muscles tear and regrow, skin stretches. There is nothing clean or "magical" about it. It hurts every time. The more experienced a Lycan, the faster (and slightly less agonizing) the change becomes.

✦ Partial Shifts: Skilled Lycans can "half-shift," growing claws, fangs, heightened senses, or increased strength without fully turning into their wolf form. This is often used for quick fights or intimidation.

✦ Appearance : Their wolf forms are not pure wolves — they are monstrous hybrids: too large, too muscular, with eyes that burn gold, red, or silver depending on the bloodline. Fur tends to mirror their human hair color.

✦ Consequences: Shifting burns calories like wildfire. Afterward, they’re often ravenous, exhausted, or both. Wounded Lycans may heal rapidly in wolf form but crash harder once the shift ends.

✦ Creation:

Lycans can be born into their curse - The pure blood allows their abilities to be stronger then one pron of transference

Lycans can also be created through a violent transference of the curse. It must be deliberate — a Lycan must tear into a human with intent, mixing blood during a near-fatal mauling. The human must survive the attack — a rare and painful ordeal.

Bloodline Strength: Who bites you matters. If bitten by a pureblood Alpha, you have a greater chance of surviving with strength and sanity. If bitten by a feral Lycan or a weakened rogue, the curse often comes twisted — leaving the new Lycan unstable, sickly, or doomed to madness. That is if they survive the transformation.

✦ Lycan Abilities ✦

✦ Superhuman Strength: Lycanthropes possess immense physical power, far beyond that of a normal human, which makes them formidable in combat.

✦ Heightened Senses: Acute senses of smell, sight, and hearing, allowing them to track prey or detect danger with ease.

✦ Regenerative Healing: Rapid healing of wounds, enabling them to recover from injuries far quicker than humans.

✦ Shapeshifting: Ability to shift between human and wolf forms, or a hybrid of both (werewolf form). Full transformation typically occurs during the full moon, but some Lycans can shift at will.

✦ Savage Instincts: Lycanthropes are driven by primal instincts, often making them volatile, aggressive, and hard to control during moments of stress or danger.

✦ Pack Loyalty: Lycans are social creatures, forming strong bonds with their pack. Loyalty to their pack is paramount, and the strength of the pack often dictates individual power.

✦ Feral Rage: When provoked or threatened, Lycans may enter a state of blind rage, causing them to attack indiscriminately and become difficult to stop.

✦ Vulnerability to Silver: Silver is toxic to Lycans, causing them intense pain and often permanent injury if wounded by it.

✦ Moon Influence: Their power and aggression are often linked to the lunar cycle, with their transformations and abilities being stronger during the full moon.

✦ Longer Lifespan: Lycans tend to live much longer than normal humans, often reaching hundreds of years, although they age more slowly in their human form.

✦ Alpha Dynamics: The pack is typically led by an Alpha, who is the strongest or most dominant Lycan in the group. Challenging for leadership within a pack is common. The Alpha must die or be removed from the pact for a new one to take over.

✦ Immune to Mind Control: Lycans are less susceptible to mind control or manipulation, especially when compared to vampires or other supernatural beings. Though it can happen its much harder to manipulate one especially one in a pact.

Benefits of Being in a Pack:

✦ Strength in Numbers: Packs provide mutual support, increasing the overall power of each member, especially during times of conflict or danger.

✦ Protection: Pack members protect one another from external threats, making it safer to exist in a world filled with supernatural dangers.

✦ Shared Resources: Access to shared territory, food, and information, which makes survival easier.

✦ Increased Status: Pack members gain status and respect through their alliances, with the potential for rank advancement based on loyalty and strength.

✦ Guidance and Mentorship: Newer or younger Lycans are mentored by older, more experienced pack members, learning control over their abilities.

✦ Unity: A pack provides emotional and psychological support, fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty.

✦ Alpha Leadership: Strong leadership from an Alpha ensures clear direction, discipline, and order within the group.

✦ Pack Loyalty: The bond of loyalty can provide a sense of purpose and motivation, as pack members have a direct stake in the pack’s survival and success.

✦ Independence: No need to follow pack rules or an Alpha; total autonomy over one's actions and decisions.

✦ Freedom: No allegiance to a pack means freedom from pack politics, rivalries, or internal power struggles.

✦ Avoidance of Control: No need to submit to an Alpha or other pack hierarchy, allowing for personal freedom and self-determination.

✦ Less Conflict: Avoiding pack dynamics may reduce in-fighting or tension that can arise from competition for rank or leadership.

✦ Unpredictability: As a lone wolf, you may surprise others with your tactics, as you’re not bound by the traditional rules of pack behavior. However you find yourself with less control over your powers and you may end up becoming more animal than man.

✦ Control Over Territory: Without a pack, you have full control over where you roam or establish territory, without having to share it.

Fae

Fae

Fae are bound by old "laws" of promise and a debt — but their words twist like knives holding the power of manipulation over everyone else.

Ancient. Elusive. Dangerous.

The Fae are beings of pure, raw magic — creatures who embody both beauty and terror. Their power stems not from brute force, but from the weaving of reality itself. They are artists, tricksters, and manipulators, shaping Halcyon with whispered bargains, twisted dreams, and ancient rites. The Glamour that shields Halcyon is their greatest creation — a living spell so vast it rewrites the mind, twists memory, and bends space itself. It is the Fae who ensure that Halcyon remains unseen by the mortal world, hidden in plain sight. But power has its price. Every promise a Fae makes binds them, every deal they strike carves invisible chains into their soul.

To bargain with a Fae is to risk losing your mind, your freedom, even your name. They cannot lie — not in the way mortals do. Their words must always hold truth — but the truth can be sharpened, twisted, and woven into snares. A Fae will say exactly what they mean, and still lead you to your own destruction with a smile. Their mischief is legend — light as laughter or cruel as a knife. A misplaced word, a careless acceptance of a gift, even a dance under the wrong moon, can spiral into ruin. For the Fae, rules are weapons. They obey the letter of every law but twist it so deftly that mortals rarely realize they’ve already lost.

Fae Powers & Traits:

✦ Glamourweaving: Masters of illusion and perception, able to cloud minds, alter appearances, or make entire streets disappear into mist.
✦ Reality Distortion: Subtle shifts in space, luck, or even fate itself. Fae can tilt a coin toss, make a bullet miss, or turn a casual glance into obsessive love.
✦ Pact Binding: Every promise spoken by a Fae is enforced by ancient magic. Breaking it can result in madness, physical decay, or a fate worse than death.
✦ Agelessness: Fae do not age like mortals. They exist outside time’s grip, though the Glamour ties them closely to Halcyon's pulse.
✦ Elemental Affinities: Some Fae attune to elements like shadow, mist, thorns, or lightning — minor, localized powers tied to their nature.
✦ Compelled Truths: Fae cannot speak direct lies — but they can deceive through omission, riddles, and half-truths sharpened to a deadly edge.

Weaknesses:

✦ Iron: The touch of cold iron disrupts their magic, burns their skin, and weakens their illusions.
✦ Binding Promises: Once a Fae gives their word, they are magically bound to it. Clever wording is their shield, but a misstep can doom them
.
Fae Feasts — The Forbidden Temptations

Among the oldest and most dangerous Fae enchantments lies the magic of their food and wine. Their offerings are not sustenance — they are weapons. Every bite, every sip, is an invitation to entrapment, binding the unwary into servitude, addiction, or even madness.

Fae Food and Wine Effects:

✦ Enchantment of Yearning: A single bite can spark an endless hunger for more, chaining mortal will to the Fae who offered it.
✦ Dreambinding Elixirs: Fae wines cloud memory, entrap the mind in vivid dreams, or create bliss so perfect the victim never wishes to wake.
✦ Binding Fruits: Blood-plums, golden apples, nightshade berries — all hide spells that twist the eater's loyalty or memory into the Fae’s design.
✦ Glamour Weavings: Certain meals layer glamour over the senses, blurring time, reality, and will.

✦ Survival Tip: Carry salt, iron cutlery, or woven hawthorn charms. And remember — a Fae’s smile is never just a smile.

Wardens

Wardens

Mortal. Outnumbered. Unbreakable.

The Wardens of Halcyon are not just warriors — they are the last crusaders of humanity.

Forged by blood, grief, and sacred vows, they stand against the darkness not merely to defend the city — but to purge it.
Their ultimate goal is nothing less than the survival of humankind and the annihilation of the monstrous.

The Vampires. The Lycans. The Fae.

All are abominations that have no true place in the natural order.

The Pact was a temporary shield — a necessary evil to contain the nightmare.
But it was never meant to be permanent.

The true Wardens fight for a future where no monster hides behind a human face.
Where humanity walks free under a clean sky.
Where the unnatural is wiped away forever.

Until the time is right, they fight in the shadows — preserving the Veil, preventing chaos.
But the dream that burns in their blood is clear:

One day, Halcyon itself must burn — and with it, every monster.

Warden Code — The Sacred Laws

✦ The Glamour must be protected — until the Hour of Reckoning.
✦ The supernatural is a cancer — contained now, eradicated in the future.
✦ Mercy is weakness. Mercy births monsters.
✦ Trust no creature that was born from blood, magic, or nightmare.
✦A Warden who wavers is already lost.

There is no room for sentiment.
No space for sympathy.
Every supernatural spared today becomes another grave tomorrow.

Faction Reputation Among Wardens

✦Vampires: Wretched parasites. Beautiful masks hiding rot and ruin. Must be destroyed.

✦Lycans: Savage beasts. Their loyalty is to blood and violence. No pact can tame the wolf forever.

✦Fae: The most dangerous of all. Their beauty is a weapon. Their bargains are poison. Tolerated only because the Glamour remains, and watched with the sharpest knives.

Warden Powers & Traits:

✦Oathsworn Guardians: Sworn by blood and rite to protect the Glamour and keep Halcyon’s balance intact.
✦ Experimental Enhancements: Use volatile alchemical serums and drug cocktails to temporarily rival supernatural abilities — at terrible personal cost.
✦ Arcane-Tech Weaponry: Steampunk-inspired arms powered by stolen Fae magic and crystal energy cores.
✦ Tactical Brilliance: Masters of asymmetrical warfare, traps, and sabotage.
✦ Iron Will: Hardened against glamour, mental domination, and illusion — their minds are trained to resist supernatural corruption.
✦ Engineering Genius: Innovative creators of deadly hybrid weapons that blend technology with forbidden magic.

Warden Enhancements — Blood for Survival

Desperation breeds innovation. In hidden labs beneath the city, rogue alchemists and engineers forge salvation in the form of volatile serums and experimental devices.

Known Enhancements:
✦ Nightshade-X: Boosts night vision, reflexes, and spatial awareness — side effects include seizures and hallucinations.
✦ Redspire Serum: Grants superhuman strength and pain resistance for a short time; leaves the user broken and vulnerable afterward.
✦ Viper-Veil Injections: Blocks glamour and mind control; causes emotional deadening and memory erosion over time.
✦ Ghostfire Dust: Inhaled powder granting bursts of speed and partial invisibility; addictive and psychologically corrosive.

No enhancement is perfect.

Every drug taken brings a Warden closer to losing their mind, their body, or their soul.

Victory demands sacrifice.
The Wardens accepted that long ago.

Warden Gear — The Engineer’s Arsenal

Human ingenuity fused with stolen magic:
Weapons designed to kill gods.

Standard Equipment:
✦ Thornsteel Nets: Cursed nets made of cold iron and fae-thorn vines, able to entrap even shapeshifters.
✦ Cryo-Shard Rounds: Ice-forged bullets that freeze blood and slow healing.
✦ Echo Rifles: Sonic-powered rifles designed to shatter enchantments and defenses.

Advanced Inventions:
✦ Aegis Mantles: Iron-thread cloaks that repel minor glamour effects and fire magic.
✦ Arclight Lances: Electrified spears that disrupt lycan transformations mid-shift.
✦ Bloodrune Blades: Vampiric rune-etched swords that sever regenerative abilities.
✦ Nullbombs: Detonate to create fields that silence magic and cripple supernatural strength.
✦ Ironfang Pistols: Small arms crafted to fire silver-shard rounds in rapid bursts.
✦ Basilisk Eyes: Anti-glamour monocles revealing hidden illusions and shapeshifters.
✦ Skybreaker Harnesses: Crystal-powered jet packs allowing rooftop-to-rooftop leaps during urban warfare.

✦ Halcyon Faction Dynamics

The Wardens

The Wardens of Halcyon are ancient guardians, bound by oath and blood to protect humanity and uphold the Pact of the Veil — the enchantment that keeps the supernatural hidden from the human world. They do not trust the Fae, nor do they see them as allies — merely necessary evils. Wardens ultimately seek the downfall of all supernatural beings, including the Fae. However, they recognize that destroying the Veil prematurely would unleash monsters on the world again. Thus, they maintain a tense, temporary cooperation with the Fae — but assassination attempts, betrayals, and "accidental" killings between them still happen in the shadows.

The Fae

The Fae disdain the Wardens as crude, short-lived things — but tolerate them to ensure the vampires and lycans remain trapped within Halcyon.

However, Fae are inherently manipulative and capricious: they see Wardens as disposable tools, pawns to be used and discarded when the time is right.

Some rogue Fae delight in twisting Wardens’ minds, binding them to bargains, or leading them into traps.

Despite the political "treaty," blood is still shed between Wardens and Fae regularly.

The Vampires and Lycans

Both Vampire and Lycan factions chafe under their imprisonment.

Though historically bitter enemies, some among them see the Wardens and Fae as a greater common enemy than each other now.

Tenuous alliances, whispered meetings, and forbidden romances bloom in the shadows — but old hatreds die hard.

Pack loyalty and blood lineage remain strong forces. Unity is fragile and easily broken.

The True Nature of Halcyon

Everyone is using everyone.

Treaties are fragile masks — behind them lie ambition, fear, betrayal, and vengeance.

Individuals can defy faction expectations: love across battle lines, betray their own kind, seek peace or bloody revenge.

Halcyon is a beautiful, decaying war zone where trust is a currency rarer than gold.

Werewolf bites are toxic to both Fae and Vampires, carrying a venom that weakens and sickens them over time. Though rarely fatal, the wounds fester unless treated with specific cures. Likewise, vampire bites poison Lycans, causing fever, delirium, and violent bloodlust if left unchecked. Among the factions of The Wardens, these wounds are seen not just as injuries they can be changed or have life threatening consequences if not done appropriately like feeding off a Warden.

Locations

Locations:

Bars, Clubs, and Food

✦ The Velvet Bite — Supernatural-only glamour lounge. Vampires, fae, lycans — no humans unless "invited." Blood cocktails, whisper deals, dangerous charm.
✦ Ashwell’s Grill — 24-hour dirty fast food diner, famous for its "Double Doom Burger." Humans think it's just bad food — supernaturals know the back booths are for black market deals.
✦ Sundown Diner — Retro 1950s diner where time feels... wrong. Humans love the milkshakes. Lycans come for the rare meat. Wardens share booth meetings under flickering neon.
✦ Taco Bellezza — A cursed offshoot of Taco Bell. Open way too late. Vampires grab cheap tacos to blend in with humans. Occasionally the food is... not what it seems.
✦ Red Widow — Vampire nightclub; glittering death wrapped in velvet and champagne. Humans enter for fame, leave in body bags — or don't leave at all.
✦ QuickStop Market — Gas station and bodega — sells snacks, weapons, and "holy water" that might actually just be vodka. Open 24/7. The night shift guy definitely knows too much.
✦ Halcyon Pizza — The greasiest, cheesiest pizza in the city. A favorite late-night haunt for lycans after full moons and Wardens after a bloody hunt. Vampires order... hold the garlic.
✦ Golden Wok — A Chinese restaurant tucked between two collapsing buildings. The food is real, but some of the "special spices" are not meant for humans. Supernaturals know to order off the hidden menu.
✦ Ink & Iron — Tattoo parlor where humans and supernaturals alike get inked. Some tattoos are laced with fae magic, offering subtle protections... or secret curses.
✦ The Eclipse — A thundering supernatural dance club hidden underground. Glamoured entrances, flashing neon, heart-pounding beats. Lycans howl, vampires seduce, fae weave chaos on the dancefloor.
✦ The Gilded Hare — A Fae café and restaurant known for food that shimmers, glows, and enchants. The desserts can make you laugh uncontrollably, fall in love, or dance until your legs give out. The music never stops, and neither do the secret deals struck over glittering wine and silver plates. Humans stumble in sometimes... and forget their lives by morning.

✦ Human-Dominant but Tainted Locations

✦ Silverleaf Mall — Looks like a dying suburban mall. Inside: fake perfume stands, empty arcades, forgotten escalators... and sometimes a Fae black market on the third floor after hours.
✦ Neon Lanes Bowling Alley — Cheap beers, dripping ceilings, ancient arcade machines. Lycans sometimes get into fistfights here. Staff turns a blind eye.
✦ Halcyon General Hospital — Humans think it's a struggling hospital. Wardens know some floors are off-limits — and that's where supernatural patients "disappear."
✦ Urban Grind Café — A dingy coffee shop that serves the best espresso in town. Warden meetups, lycans drinking three cups before a full moon, and Fae gossip disguised as poetry readings.
✦ Last Call Liquor — Grimy liquor store. Wardens stock up here. Vampires sometimes buy a bottle just to keep up appearances. Fae use the bathroom mirror to cross realms.

✦ Secret and Dangerous Spots

✦ The Spillway — Half-flooded tunnels under the city, home to things better left unnamed. Blood sometimes runs through the water here.
✦ The Sinking Library — A drowned place of forbidden knowledge. Human scholars tend to disappear if they read the wrong books.
✦ The Hollow Sanctum — Forgotten cathedral where Fae hold forbidden rites. A place that even vampires fear to tread.
✦ Mirage Market — Fae black market hidden between subway stations that no longer exist.
✦ Blood Market Row — Shady market alley where Wardens, lycans, and vampires barter for cursed items, rare blood, fae relics — if you can pay the price.
✦ Shroud Avenue — Old shopping strip full of abandoned salons, vape shops, pawn shops — some still active if you know the password.

✦ Faction Territories

✦ The Gutterbane — Werewolf territory. Abandoned industrial parks and rusting shipyards where packs rule through blood and loyalty. Trespassing here means you'll be lucky to leave with your limbs.
✦ The Black Spire — Vampire mafia stronghold. An abandoned luxury skyscraper fortified with layers of glamour, private security, and old blood magic. Deals are struck here... and debts are paid in screams.
✦ Thornmere Hollow — The ancient heart of the Fae in Halcyon. A mist-choked park full of gnarled silver trees, ruins, black ponds, and shifting pathways. Time moves strangely here, and so do memories. It is forbidden for outsiders to tread without invitation. There is a twisted, beautiful stretch of crooked Victorian houses and little shops, hidden behind an illusion of boarded-up streets. Each home belongs to an ancient Fae family or rogue fae lords. The doors don't always lead where you expect — and the rent is very steep.
✦ The Bastion — Warden stronghold. An old brick firehouse, long "abandoned" by the city. Beneath it lies an armory, archives of monster knowledge, and safehouses. It’s Halcyon's worst-kept secret... but protected fiercely all the same.

Beyond The Veil Interest Check

Let’s get this party going !!! 🧛‍♀️🧚🏻‍♀️🐺

H.A.R.M.O.N.Y

My interest is piqued, potentially. Following this.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 6pm
Location: The Castle Dining Hall
Interaction/Mention: @Tpartywithzombi Violet @ReusableSword Roman @Silverpaw Wulfric @FunnyGuy Alexander/Lorenzo @Helo Callum @Oso Cassius @Tae Mina

---

“Goodness, Your Majesty,” she said sweetly, lifting her goblet in a delicate toast. “I do hope that was a jest. I'd hate to think a man of your stature still believes a woman can be struck into sense.”

Edin’s face soured mid-sip, as though the wine had suddenly turned. His jaw ticked, and he set his goblet down a little harder than necessary.“Of course it was a jest,” he said tightly, eyes seemingly fixed on Mina now, though if one looked closely, they'd notice he was roving her up and down perhaps a bit unnecessarily. He paused to lick his lips.

“...Though if women listened the first time, there wouldn’t be so much fuss over how sense is found.” He sighed, gesturing to his wife with meaty fingers, “You may be used to a looser tongue where you come from, girl,” he said, voice rich with condescension, “but this is Caesonia.” His goblet lifted slowly, fingers tapping along the rim. “Here, a woman honors her husband. She obeys her father. ”

Alibeth bit her cheek, eyes averted, then only shifted her gaze once Mina addressed her. She assessed her with narrowed eyes, still perturbed by her earlier "flattery" of Callum. “Her Majesty the Queen must have the patience of a saint. Or the reflexes of a swordswoman.”

“How gracious of you to consider the burden of royalty, Lady Blackwood.”

“...Their royal highnesses honor us with their words as their wisdom in these games far exceeds our own.”

King Edin let out a sharp bark of a laugh, shaking his head with a grin. “At least he’s got some charm when he talks back. I’ll give him that. And I'll also give him his kudos for appreciating my excellent food.”

“As for my freedom? I have faith in this great kingdoms' courts that they will be as just and fair as his majesty king Edin Danrose himself.”

King Edin’s smile stretched just a little too wide at Roman’s remark, the kind that never reached the eyes. “Yes, Lord Ravenwood. I am very wise, and very just, as the Gods demand me to be.”

He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering in pitch, laced with something darker,“And we will indeed discover the truth together, won't we?”

He chuckled then raised his goblet in a mock toast, eyes glinting.“To justice. May it fall where it must, no matter how... heavy the blade.”

From there, Roman went on to defend his slap as a moment in passion while the two had been drinking. Both Count Calbert and Violet reacted none-too-happily. Then Callum stirred the pot, attacking Count Damien of all people.

King Edin finally let out a low chuckle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“Ah, young love and clumsy hands.” He lifted his goblet again. “A man gets drunk, a woman gets loud—it’s only natural things get... passionate during a lover's quarrel as Callum says. ” He waved his hand dismissively. He glanced at Violet with a lazy grin, then he leaned in to whisper to Alexander, “Women act like they hate it, but most come crawling back wanting more.”

Edin’s gaze drifted toward Count Calbert, and with a sigh that carried the weight of reluctant finality, he spoke: “Count Damien has served this kingdom with tireless devotion and unshakable loyalty—more than any man seated at this table. " His then looked at Callum, “You will not disrespect him for his misfortunes again, Callum. He is a good man.” He lifted his goblet, as though to toast to Count Damien. “If he wishes that Roman give his daughter space, then let it be known: his word shall stand as law in this court. Let no man, noble or not, test his patience—or mine—on this matter again.”

Alibeth's gaze drifted to Violet with an unusual look in her eyes. There was the faintest softening in her expression, subtle enough to question whether it had ever been there at all. Yet the intent lingered behind her words. “One hopes,” she said gently, with a quiet sip of wine, “that Lady Damien will be met with the care her station—and dignity—demands, moving forward.”

However, Count Damien's son, Cassius, was speaking up as this occurred. The monarchs' attention turned to him as his words caught their attention. “And even still…My father loves me more than our King has ever even pretended to love you.”

Edin’s expression twisted. He was no longer amused, and no longer indulgent. The room had quieted again, not out of reverence, but sheer disbelief. “The bastard dares,” he muttered, voice like gravel beneath a heel.

His goblet hit the table with a clang—not spilled, but loud enough to punctuate the tension.

And Alibeth? Her face had darkened more than it ever had in the public eye, her chin lifted, and her eyes set on Cassius with murderous intent.

“That’s the difference between you and me, Callum. I was born a problem, and still, here I stand…as his chosen son. And you? You’re just acting like a mouthpiece for a crown that’s too ashamed to be anywhere near your head....And speaking of shame,”

Cassius’s gaze burned even brighter as it met Roman’s eyes. “You hit my sister...Let me be clear, Ravenwood. Just in case my father’s words aren’t enough. You don’t touch Violet Damien in passion. You don’t touch her in rage. You don’t touch her when drunk, when sober, when dreaming, or when dying.”

“In fact, you big son of a bitch…You never touch her again.”

The noise of a laugh being stifled escaped Edin audibly. His hand clapped over his mouth, failing to mask the hoarse bark of amusement that escaped.

“Because if you do…I swear to the cunts above you call gods, and to the very king sitting right here in front of us both, that you won’t even make it to your little trial.”

Silence.

...But if anyone had been listening closely nearby the queen, they might have heard the sharp, unmistakable sound of steel leaving its sheath. A chair screeched violently as the Queen rose to her full, imposing height.

She did not raise her voice. She didn’t have to.

Her presence commanded the room like a stormcloud splitting the sky as her eyes locked onto Cassius, not with fear, but fury. Pure, maternal fury. “Speak ill of my son again,” she said, her voice low and sharp. One hand rested lightly on the hilt of the dagger she had drawn beneath the table. “I dare you.”

Meanwhile, the King turned, half in disbelief, half entertained, eyes gleaming with dangerous glee. “Oh… You’re so lucky you’re funny.” Then, shaking his head, he warned, “You forget yourself, Lord Damien.” His voice was cold, dangerous. “You may be tolerated at my table for the sake of your father, but do not mistake tolerance for favor. You speak to a prince, and still you yap like a mongrel who’s only just discovered his bark.”

“Alright!” Alexander cut in energetically as if the group had just finished a productive meeting. All eyes fell on the King's advisor. “I believe this has gotten way out of hand and now I feel guilty for even bringing something so sensitive up in the public light in such a way.” Alexander turned to the count's son, then he commanded him to sit, which impressed the King visibly. He listened as Alexander spoke, happy to hear that he was eager to be trained to do even better. After all, he was the King. He deserved all his staff constantly working harder to appease him.

“I won't apologize to you, as you seemed to have enjoyed every second of this. You should really-”

Edin's smirk barely had time to stretch before it was shattered by the booming bellow of a name that thundered across the banquet hall:“ALEXANDER DEACON!”

"Oh, just what this situation needs!" It was impossible to tell if Edin was exasperated, or sort of excited.

"Back to your seat now, Duke Vikena!" Meanwhile, Alibeth's tone was certainly obvious.

"HEY!" Both monarchs froze and turned to their daughter, just in time to see Princess Anastasia Danrose rising to her feet like a war goddess armed not with a blade, but a half-eaten drumstick.

The poultry was held aloft like a royal scepter of judgment.

“CASSIUS!” she yelled with all the authority of a sister unhinged. “If you bully my sweet little brother again—THEN I WILL NOT BE YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE!”

The room held its breath.

A single roasted potato rolled off someone’s plate.

Edin stared, dumbfounded. “…She gets it from my side.”

Alibeth, pinching the bridge of her nose, exhaled deeply. “No one’s arguing that.”

The room hadn’t quite settled from the outbursts when another hush crept in. It began when Charlotte Vikena crossed the floor. Not with her usual grace, nor with her half-curtsied apologies. She reached Cassius just as he turned back toward his seat, and before he could speak, before anyone could speak, her arms wrapped around him.

Even Anastasia, mid-bite into her drumstick, had glanced over.

Charlotte Vikena, standing in full view of the court, her head rested against Cassius Damien’s chest. And King Edin?

King Edin licked his lips. Again.

His eyes roved across Charlotte the way they always did over women—uninvited, unapologetic. He leaned unnecessarily far over the table, goblet forgotten, to murmur toward Alexander with a grin that reeked of rot.“I bet I miss her mother more than she does.”

Then, she turned, skirt swaying, and returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.

Edin cleared his throat loudly. “Well.” He shifted in his seat. “That was unexpected.” He glanced toward Alibeth, who said nothing. Nonetheless, his gaze wandered back to Duke Lorenzo Vikena, praying to the Gods he had something of importance to say... Or at the least, amusing.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Duke Gideon Edwards & Duchess Victoria Edwards

Time: 6pm
Location: Castle Dining Hall
Interaction/Mention: @TpartywithZombi Ariella @Lava Alckon Drake @Tae Thea, Kalliope @Apex Sunburn Sjandehk @Helo Leo @CitrusArms

---

“Oh, I don’t doubt it. Wherever that woman goes, drama inevitably follows…”

“Hmm, I can almost relate, Smithwood. Except in my case, it’s not drama that follows—it’s obsession.” Victoria gave a lazy toss of her hair, her grin curling on her face. “It’s exhausting being everyone’s favorite fixation.”

She winked and added unprompted, “Oh, don’t look so surprised. I didn’t ask to be adored, it just... happens.” She gave a theatrical sigh, fluttering her fan with mock exhaustion. “A burden, truly.”

“Duchess Victoria, I must say, it’s refreshing to hear your thoughts aloud. Most people wait until they’re alone to sound so terribly insecure.”

Victoria glared at Thea venomously. “You speak of dancers and desperation, yet I imagine it takes a truly gifted performer to balance so many masks at once. Jealousy disguised as concern, bitterness as etiquette, and of course, judgment wrapped in lace.”

“Though I do envy your confidence. It must take a certain kind of self-assurance to confuse a woman’s boldness with her worth, or a fall with a failure. But then, I suppose when one is so far removed from youth, passion begins to look like scandal.”

The duchess's eyebrow twitched, but she feigned a saccharine smile. “Oh, darling.” She swirled her wine as she caught Thea's glance. “I don’t need youth to turn heads. But I understand why you would confuse passion with scandal.”

She gave her a cutting grin. “I know you’re new here, Thea, and bless your silly little heart for trying—but please, try using your brain before your mouth.” She gave a little sigh, as though she were exhausted by the very idea of being misunderstood. “Insecurity implies there's someone to be intimidated by. And I promise you, no one here comes even close."

“The line between passion and scandal is thin. It takes wisdom and experience to know where that line lies.” She turned to Leo, her eyes roving over his face until finally, “Yes, precisely.” Victoria gave a dainty nod, eyes locked on Leo with patronizing sweetness. “Wisdom like mine is tragically rare these days. I'm glad to see you still recognize it when it enters a room.” She took a slow sip of her wine, her smile never reaching her eyes.

“And when it comes to Kalliope, she is firmly rooted in scandal.”

“Oh, I’m listening,” Victoria leaned in slightly, her fan fluttering lazily by her chin as her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “What exactly did that tramp do?” She sipped her wine delicately, then added with a faux-innocent smile.

“is Victorria off on anothair tyrrade, Duke Gideon?”

Both Gideon and Victoria's gazes rapidly shifted to Captain Durmand.

“I s’ppose tae ken ‘ow ye should nae be’ave is imporrtan’, too. a shame yerr good self ‘as tae sufferr thrrough ‘er strrange methods.”

“Captain,” Gideon said smoothly, his voice even, “while I’ve never doubted your skill, I’d caution against charging headlong into domestic territory that isn’t yours to navigate.”

He didn’t raise his voice as he continued, “I appreciate frankness in the field—but in the banquet hall, we value decorum. Let’s keep the swords metaphorical, shall we?”He gave a slight, respectful nod: one that left no room for argument, yet didn’t escalate tension.Then, turning his attention subtly to Victoria, he added with a composed breath: “Let’s both aim to set a finer example, shall we?”

Victoria rolled her eyes, not impressed with Gideon's defense. Her attention returned to Leo. “You know, just the other day Lottie and I shared a table with Kalliope at The Royal Curd, a brunch to honor the generous and gracious King Edin.”

Victoria’s wine glass paused midair, her expression tightening ever so slightly. The twitch at the corner of her mouth betrayed her distaste before she could mask it as her eyes dared to dart to Charlotte, who looked like a frightened mouse awkwardly lingering behind Leo and Thea. “A feud at that ridiculous brunch?” Victoria’s eyes lit up as she leaned in, fan fluttering with renewed interest. “How delightfully lowbrow.”

She followed Leo’s gaze to Sjan-dehk and Iyen with visible scrutiny, lips pursed in theatrical judgment. “Mm. That one’s far too handsome to be as oblivious as he looked while she straddled him in the entryway. And her?” Her fan snapped closed with a decisive flick as she eyed Iyen. “If that woman is a bodyguard, I’m the Queen of Caesonia.”

She suddenly giggled, "Oh wait, I am!"

“But boy, did those three turn a whole brunch into an uncomfortable affair. It was downright embarrassing to witness such theatrics play out before a single plate of food was at the table. Then, I swear to the Gods, Kalli flipped her lid over every mention of cheese at a restaurant themed around the dish. Shouting and eventually brandishing a knife, the second someone mentioned a melty brie or sharp cheddar. Insanity. Clearly, the girl is not right in the head. Deranged even. Honestly, I’ve never seen such fear in Lady Morrigan’s eyes as i did at that brunch. To think that someone would dare grip a weapon in the presence of the king's cousin.”

Victoria let out a soft, scandalized laugh. “A knife over cheese. What a fucking lunatic. What's her childhood trauma?”

She tilted her head thoughtfully, giggling, “Do you think she was dropped on her head as a child?” She gave a faux-pitying pout, then added with a conspiratorial whisper, “Either way, the damage is so loud. And all that over dairy. Imagine what she'd do at a wine tasting—bite someone?”

Victoria sipped her wine slowly, eyes twinkling with malice. “I swear, if she gets invited to another event, I’ll need a bodyguard and a waiver.”

“You know what else I’ve noticed. Never before have I seen any of this nation’s fine and aloof Princes so taken with a lady as Prince Callum seems to be with your daughter. But of course, if any family is worth royal attention, it would be one as distinguished as yours. You must be very proud of Lady Ariella.”

Victoria’s smile blossomed with perfect composure, like a flower that only blooms in the presence of flattery. “Oh, Prince Callum?” she purred. “Well, of course he’s taken with her. She’s my daughter.”

She took a sip of wine, then continued as though stating a universal truth. “Ariella was an absolute mess of lace and insecurity before I taught her how to hold a fan and shut down a room with a single glance. I said, ‘Darling, you're not here to be liked. You’re here to be admired.’ And clearly, it worked.” Her tone oozed sweet satisfaction. “I always said she had potential—she just needed the right molding. Like marble. Or wet clay.”

She glanced toward Ariella with a distant, almost generous nod. “It’s very rewarding to see one’s efforts blossom into royalty-worthy appeal. Very.”

Victoria’s hand flew to her mouth as Charlotte suddenly hurried away, though not quite fast enough to hide the glint of amusement in her eyes, and the laughter threatening to escape her lips.“Oh dear,” she murmured, just loud enough for those nearby to hear, “Did anyone else see that little exit?”

She took a sip of wine, letting the silence sit a moment before twisting the knife with a smirk.“Honestly, someone ought to escort her back to the loony bin. "

Gideon’s jaw tensed, and he leaned in with a glare. “Don’t ever bring that up again.” His voice was quiet, but deadly firm.“Charlotte’s been through enough without you turning her pain into dinner conversation.”

Victoria scowled and turned on him, “Seriously Gideon? You're-"

And then a sudden rush of cold hit her lap.

Victoria blinked.

The scent hit her next: deep, heady, red wine. The kind that lingered... That stained. Her eyes dropped instinctively, and what she saw nearly made her scream.

A river of crimson poured down her gown. It was soaking through silk.

Time slowed, and her plate clinked faintly as the spill reached its edge, as if the very table was mocking her. A nearby attendant rushed in with a cloth, flustered and apologetic, trying to stanch the crimson tide as it spread. Her hands itched. Her jaw locked. Her heart thundered with the kind of fury that could end bloodlines.

“Mother!” Victoria whirled her eyes on Ariella with what could be mistaken as murderous intent, her eyes blazing. “Oh gods, I’m so terribly sorry—I wasn’t thinking, I was just so rattled after that little scene earlier…Must have just been lost in my thoughts again…” She stood swiftly, plucking a napkin to dab at the mess, though her hand lingered a little longer than needed. “How foolish of me…”

Her mouth parted, a retaliation ready to slice Ariella into ribbons, but then—

“Father. It might be best to find Mother a change of clothes so that you may both be back in posthaste. The sooner the better.”
Gideon sighed, already waving over an attendant, his voice low as he whispered instructions—trying, somehow, to salvage dignity from the wreckage.

Meanwhile, Drake had the gall to boss around the infuriated Duchess. ”Do. Not. I know what you are thinking. But do not. Not here.”

Then Drake went on a tirade of a speech. Victoria sat stiffly, jaw locked, barely blinking as Drake’s words washed over the table like cold water.

The absolute gall of being spoken to like a misbehaving child at a public banquet. Her fingers twitched at her sides. Her ruined dress clung wetly, clumsily, to her thighs. She was soaked, stained, and now—she was being commanded by her own son, of all people, as if she were not the reigning Duchess of Soralia.

She didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. Her silence screamed. The attendant gently leaned in, murmuring about a change of clothes, and Victoria rose. Every step she took away from that table was a war march.

And just before she passed Ariella, without even glancing down, she murmured darkly,“Enjoy your little moment, Ariella. But trust me when I say, I'm the last person you want as your enemy". She hissed under her breath then vanished through the doors like a parting storm. Gideon let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting to Drake with a tired smile just beginning to form—

“ALEXANDER DEACON!”

The shout cut across the hall like a thrown plate. Gideon winced.

He rubbed his temples and muttered, “It never stops.”