valley of kings, an interactive novel
the sun hasn’t set in days; it’s fallen each night – crashcrashcrashing down into the horizon. they say with darkness comes demons and perhaps that’s true – but whether the demons are you or him or her it never really matters anymore. there are bigger badder demons that feed on the blood of infidels and innocents a like. a triad of big bads claim the land street by street by street and all you can do is watch as they rip out your heart in half a breath and say you’ve been a good little boy in the next half.
careful my dear, you’re a damsel tied to the tracks,
a deer in the lights of a car,
a girl’s last smile as she’s snuffed out by the one she trusts the most –
never trust a snake in a pup’s clothes
if one doesn’t catch you, there are two more behind the first – never ending, spawning and whipping through the land like an infection. you can’t hide, you can’t resist, you can’t survive this war of hearts as battle lines are drawn and trenches are dug.
who do you become, in a war of gods?
september 2, 1859, solar cycle 10.
a swan song erupts: the baying of dogs, the crying of children, the shattering of society. one thousand colors drip across the starry sky, waltzing like rivulets of water running down a window. a girl of no more than thirteen watches, eyes glimmering and wide. she doesn’t see the man behind her, doesn’t see the way the mallet crashes through the air. her swan song is a lullaby in a single syllable - “oh!” - in tandem with a sigh like satin. it ends, like most things do, with a body crumpled on the floor and greed scrabbling at anything it could.
this is what a dying world sounds like.
it is, after all, the end of the world.
it came without warning - or if it did, there was no one listening. dawn comes on the third of september, but society does not follow. in time, perhaps, the world will recover. nature giveth, and nature taketh away - and oh, she is hungry. as the world burns, she gathers the tithes owed to her in burgundy and bone. it will be centuries before her hunger is sated.
eras pass, and civilizations rise and fall. nature swells in contentment, languid and quiet. the year is 4739 AC, the season is summer.
it begins as most things do: words spoken without meaning, promises made behind closed doors. a pawn, selected with purpose and given the tools of the trade. information is freely given, and then the pawn and their companions set forth to win a war of gods.
LYSANDER MINAEVE [he/him, 31, bisexual man]
lysander hails from the broceliande forest, from a clan of elven druids. he’s tail, with tawny skin and eyes the color of freshly tilled soil. typically, his silver hair is kept braided or tied in a bun. he’s a gentle giant, hovering somewhere north of six feet - you aren’t quite sure. his presence is a steadying, soothing one. he cannot abide cruelty, even cruelty born of necessity. his magic allows him to shift into a variety of forest creatures, as well as a fair amount of plant-sympathetic magic. commanders of any gender identity can romance lysander.
KESTREL VYRAN [they/them, 28, demisexual nonbinary]
kestrel was born and raised in the temple of solun in the capital. their laughter is like bottled sunlight, warm and comforting - much like their ability to conjure and manipulate sunlight. everything about them draws people in, from their softness to the way they always smell like home. deep brown skin, with eyes to match, they have long hair that falls in braids decorated with golden clasps. golden heart, golden dress. commanders of any gender can romance kestrel.
CAPTAIN BRISEIS MAC LIR [she/her, 26, homosexual woman]
what briseis lacks in propriety, she makes up for with her rather underhanded talents. she’s quick on her feet and twice as fast with her hands - some would call her a thief, but she prefers liberator of imprisioned items. her skin is deeply tanned and freckled, a product of her time spent as a privateer. she has shoulder-length black hair that is usually wildly curling, as loose and unmoored as she herself prefers to be. like lysander, she has the pointed ears that indicate elven heritage, and her magic allows her moderate control of water. commanders that identify as female or nonbinary may romance briseis.
HONORABLE LADY EOWYN BLACK [she/her, 29, pansexual woman]
if a fallen star were made human, they might look something like eowyn black: pale blonde hair spills down her back in loose waves, eyes that are such a pale blue they are nearly gray, and delicate rosy skin of someone who doesn’t spend much time under the sun. she is soft-spoken, but nobles and commoners alike often find themselves hanging on her every word. her grace is her power, having been born bereft of any magical ability. the second daughter of a local duke, she brings clout and well-needed resources to the group. commanders of any gender identity may romance eowyn.
HOLLIS GERMAINE [they/them, 28, pansexual nonbinary]
hollis is an unusual sort - rather distant, even if they’ve known folks for a long period of time. they are a healer, though occasionally patients die of mysterious causes, and you’re left wondering who they truly serve. a shock of copper hair is kept trimmed in a neat undercut, emphasizing their cheekbones on an already willowy build. freckles dot across their pale skin, and their blue eyes often force them to wear brimmed hats during the day. as a healer, hollis is a valuable addition, and their expertise in alchemy is no hindrance. commanders of any gender identity may romance hollis.
SIR TEDDREN KEARNEY [he/him, 25, homosexual man]
teddy is quiet and gruff when you first meet him. he doesn’t speak much about his past life, but you get the hint that it wasn’t happy. still, he carries a title and you can’t help but wonder why? he has busty brown hair and eyes, with clear skin that’s just starting to become tanned. as far as you know, he has no magic of his own - only immense skill with the sword strapped around his waist. once he has spent considerable time with you, he is as loyal as they come, and a few may even catch him cracking jokes quietly in the background. commanders that identify as male or nonbinary may romance teddy.
links to spotify and pinterest can be found in the navigation side bar. character tags for the cast are simply their first name (briseis, lysander, etc). any updates will be tagged #update. please feel free to send in asks about lore/characters/reacts, however i reserve the right to not answer any ask that makes me uncomfortable. this blog and if are 18+ and will remain that way.
my name is rose, and i use she/her pronouns. i track #valleyofkingsif
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