NAME (00) Portrayal - OPEN
Status:
Condition:
Position:
Alignment:
Starting:
Relationship(s):
IMPERATRIX LIA PARSYS (36) Lea Seydoux - OPEN
Status: Akaemi
Condition: Human
Position: Imperatrix of Iliam/Princess of Akaemis
Alignment: Akaemis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s):
TIER 1 (24-32 characters!!)
M/F: 13/13
Total: 26
note to self: may composite some liw peeps w toa peeps
PRINCESS AOUINE AERYN (appears 32) Emilia Clarke - TAKEN BY KATE AA
Status: Freeholder/Vatonese
Condition: Feyan/Wytch/Were/Vamp/Human-hybrid – Hydrokinesis/Prescience
Position: Princess of Vatonis
Alignment: Freehold/Vatonis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (grandfather/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased father), Sybelle Aeryn (deceased mother), Endreth Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (sisters), Findon Aeryn (half-brother), Lada Koskei (stepmother/potential council member), Ziva Xirath (stepsister), Eramis Aeryn (uncle/potential council member), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (cousins), Lia Parsys (best friend), Callias Xirath (betrothed), Audun Marr (former secret relationship)
renowned for his strategic mind and his generous heart, prince aomon was a man who divided opinions
tho he called himself ‘open-minded,’ many preferred the term 'dangerous’
both for his canny ploys and his penchant for flouting tradition
never one to be constrained, the dashing prince shocked all arnoria when, faced with the tourney, he openly decried choosing advisors from the ranks of the fey, alone
and chose, instead, to reward positions of high honor to those he believed had earned them, whatever their background
but he stunned the world, still more, when he chose to openly court one of these shocking counsellors
a hybrid woman descended from wytches, from humans, from vamps, and from weres
no clandestine tryst was this, no
prince aomon treated sybelle as he would a high lady
his father was apoplectic, and all the realm stunned, when in the sight of all and proudly before the scrying glass
he took sybelle to be his wife
and, despite every possible temptation, refused ever to put her aside
with his princess at his side, aomon won the tourney, proclaimed not only as future ruler of vatonis but as the next high king, as well
he would never have the chance to reign, however
aomon’s scandalous affair with the hyrbid-turned-princess sybelle came to a sudden end
sybelle died not long following the birth of their last child, and it was said prince amon was never the same again
though he fought hard for the sake of their children
sybelle’s death is a matter of some conjecture
for, while officially ruled to have been caused by complications from the birth, she had been quite healthy leading up to it...
and there are those who say that the princess died by poison
following the death of his beloved wife, the prince was ultimately persuaded to wed again, this time for duty
as it was made clear to him that his father would refuse to respect the position of his children if he should not heed him in this
it was then that the prince chose, at long last, to return to his life at the palace
leaving behind the quiet country existence he and sybelle and their children had shared so long in the freehold
and introducing his children to the grandeur and corruption of court life at long last
tragically, prince aomon did not long survive this transition, himself, dying rather suddenly before he ever had a chance to rule…
the firstborn daughter of prince aomon and princess sybelle, like her sisters, aouine is known for her beauty and grace
but mostly for the scandalous circumstances of her birth
though by blood and marriage a royal princess, in line to someday lead the fey, herself, aouine’s situation is not so straightforward
aouine, like her full sisters, is part in every bloodline condition, something which many hold invalidates her claim to the throne
but something which, like her sisters, also gifted her with a muted elemental power as well as another unique ability
while aouine isn’t at all certain she wishes to reign, anyway, she was never given the choice not to participate in the tourney
and, besides, there’s the principal of the thing
aouine has always known that her life would be short
a mixed blessing from her mixed blood gave her a vision of her early demise when she was still a child
but that only makes it all the more precious in her book
and she means to wring as much out of her short time on earth as she possibly can
if there’s any chance whatsoever that she can make a difference for those who follow her, others of mixed or even full blooded people
well, isn’t that worth the effort?
lately, she's been betrothed to a man for whom she holds little regard
but she believes this matters little
after all -- the silverlining of an early death is that she won't have to worry abt it very long, right?
PRINCESS ENDRETH AERYN (appears 28) Maya Hawk - OPEN
Status: Freehold/Vatonese
Condition: Feyan/Wytch/Were/Vamp/Human-Hybrid/Terrakinesis/Kinetic Manipulation
Position: Princess of Vatonis
Alignment: Freehold/Vatonis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (grandfather/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased father), Sybelle Aeryn (deceased mother), Aouine Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (sisters), Findon Aeryn (half-brother), Lada Koskei (stepmother/council member????), Ziva Xirath (stepsister), Eramis Aeryn (uncle/council member????), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (cousins), Vida Arion, Hestia Kokinos (best friends), Audun Marr (betrothed), Runar Solberg (interest?????)
endreth knows well the pain of loss, but she’s more recently become acquianted with the pain of receiving
while her early childhood was idyllic, spent playing with her sisters amidst large pastoral landscapes...
her parents languidly basking in the summer sun, or splashing with them amidst the cool waters of the creek...
endreth recalls childhood as a vibrant adventure
but adult life has been nothing of the sort
first, endreth lost her mother – and with her, much of her father’s capacity for joy
next, she lost her home, surrendered to take up residence amidst the treacherous court of her grandfather the king of the fey
lastly, she would lose her father
but even before that, she received the notice of her grandfather and all his scheming, whispering court and their hateful words for her ‘muddied’ blood
she gained a new mother, too: someone she perceived as a grasping, cutting woman
and with LADA, unlooked-for siblings, as well, siblings with whom she cannot seem to get on, whatever she tries
she received, too, a claim she'd never fully considered, before, as her father’s child – particularly once he was gone
more recently, too, she’s received one more thing she hoped never to have (at least by another’s choosing!): a state-appointed fiancé
endreth barely knows her betrothed, but she has no intention of wedding whoever she’s told simply because she’s been told to
the tourney presents many harsh opportunities, but one highlight? if she wins, she can break her own engagement…
endreth, and her full sisters, are a unique blending of bloodlines, uniting each of the birth-conditions this world offers
the unexpected result are powers unique to each: an elemental power for each of the girls, mingling with an additional ability
for her own part, endreth has manifested terrakinesis and kinetic manipulation
which comes in particularly handy w her penchant for the bow as her preferred weapon -- and tool -- of choice
if they're to be forced into this tourney -- as endreth suspects -- she's not going to go down without a fight
PRINCESS MIRALAS AERYN (appears 31) Bella Heathcote - OPEN
Status: Freeholder/Vatonese
Condition: Feyan/Wytch/Were/Vamp/Human-Hybrid – Aerokinesis/Electrokinesis
Position: Princess of Vatonis
Alignment: Freehold/Vatonis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (grandfather/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased father), Sybelle Aeryn (deceased mother), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (sisters), Findon Aeryn (half-brother), Lada Koskei (stepmother/potential council member), Ziva Xirath (stepsister/best friend), Eramis Aeryn (uncle/potential council member), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (cousins), Kresimir Koskei (betrothed), Magon Varinus (interest)
losing both her parents, her home, her life – its all been difficult on its own
but the pain of loss is one that everyone with an open heart must endure, she reminds herself
more difficult to bear with equanimity are the changes that have come out of those losses:
the constant scheming of courtiers all around her, the sudden rain of hatred and dissent owing to her "muddied" blood
a new mother who she fears seems only to judge and to despise
and new siblings who, too often, seem to take after her
most recently of all: an arranged betrothal to a rather severe stranger
miralas does all she can to see what’s most beautiful in others,
but the truth is that espying any beauty whatever in him has come hard-won
and, now, being pressed into the tourney, such beauties are even harder to see
for she is not at all certain that, betrothed or no, this is a man she can depend upon or trust with her life
or the lives of her sisters…
still, she has built her life around always trying to do the right thing and, if this marriage is the right thing for everyone then...
well, she means to go through w it
and the tourney for that matter, too, though in her heart of hearts she cannot stand the idea of it
deep down, all miralas truly wants is to return to the beautiful, idyllic ideal she once shared w her parents and sisters
at least being forced in the tourney will mean she can go back to the place where she was born and raised...
and, besides, she has a small rebellion of her own in mind
being forced into the tourney doesn't mean she has to act as an aggressor -- she means to prove a healer, instead
and, as a person capable of commanding storms and the skies, themselves, she hopes she has all the tools she needs
a storm, after all, is just the messenger of peace to come...
and, powers or no, she's always been a gifted healer...
PRINCESS ISLANDRIEL AERYN (appears 29) Elle Fanning - OPEN
Status: Vatonese
Condition: Feyan/Wytch/Were/Vamp/Human-Hybrid – Pyrokinesis/Deathtouch
Position: Princess of Vatonis
Alignment: Freehold/Vatonis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (grandfather/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased father), Sybelle Aeryn (deceased mother), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn (sisters), Findon Aeryn (half-brother), Lada Koskei (stepmother/potential council member), Ziva Xirath (stepsister), Eramis Aeryn (uncle/potential council member), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (cousins), Vida Arion (best friend), Adalet Atamon (believed deceased best friend), Kresimir Koskei (interest)
islandriel sometimes laughs that she is, indeed, a princess of ivory – she cannot be touched
yet, this is no haughty claim of superiority when it comes to islandriel but, rather, an admission of weakness
islandriel, it is said, is cursed
while it took some time for the curse to show itself, she learned too late, and too terribly, just which power was in her multi-hybrid-blood
islandriel was a soul-stealer
while all her sisters had received betrothals when they came of age, islandriel, alone, had proven lucky in hers
soon enough coming to share a tender love with her future husband
yet, their love was doomed
the very first time his lips brushed hers, her flame scoured him, burning him from inside out, and leaving him dead at her feet
since that time, islandriel has not dared to touch another living soul for fear of the horrid end they might meet
now, though, faced with the games and those who would steal what little she and her sisters have left...
perhaps now it is time to unleash her curse against all those who would stand against them…
her betrothed has been some time dead, its true, but she will never forget him, or the life they planned together
their dream was to see the world set to rights, and now she’s hellbent on seeing that through both for him and for herself
and -- gifted by her combined hybridization -- as well as a claim, she believes she has the gifts necessary to see this through...
PRINCE FINDON AERYN (appears 26) Tom Glynn-Carney - OPEN
Status: Vatonese
Condition: Feyan/Vamp-Hybrid
Position: Prince of Vatonis
Alignment: Vatonis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (grandfather/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased father), Lada Koskei (mother/potential council member), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (half-sisters), Ziva Xirath (half-sister), Eramis Aeryn (uncle/potential council member), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (cousins), Hanno Turinus (former best friend), Audun Marr (mentor/best friend), Hestia Kokinos (potential spouse/interest)
findon knows what's expected of him
since birth, it's been clear to him that he must lay claim to his father's position as heir to emrys aeryn
ideally as both king and high king -- but certainly as one or the other
his mother has raised him in no uncertainty upon the matter: his safety, and that of his entire family, rests upon it
nonetheless, having watched his father's sudden and shocking murder, findon can't help but find himself shaken in this certainty
it certainly didn't protect aomon, the mighty, renowned hero-prince who stood to inherit both thrones, just as emrys had before him
but the truth is, afraid as he is, findon wants it, was raised to want it
he's never considered another option anything but failure, and can't seem to lose the notion now
using both his mother's contacts as well as his father's, he's coming into this grand event with his eye on the prize
and, true, for the first time in his life, his resolve may be beginning to crack -- but it remains far from broken
he wants the throne of his fathers, to finally prove himself worthy of his father's love and respect
aomon was a good father and a better man, after all -- he sought to conceal the truth, and findon knows that
but he couldn't help but perceive the terrible truth that, bc sybelle had been the woman he loved, aomon preferred his daughters
it's always been an ache inside him, but proving himself? doing what his father could not and ruling vatonis? well, surely, that'll heal it
whatever his uncle and cousins may try to say -- the crown was his father's by rights, and w him gone, he regards it as squarely his own
findon believes his mother intends to rule through him
and he's more or less content to let her believe that he's amenable to that, while its helping get him places as she helps him scheme
but the truth is that no one -- not his mother, and certainly not his ill-blooded half-sisters -- are coming between him and his throne!
still, w so many rival claimants, findon isn't blind to the certainty that he must work extra hard to sure up his position
his favorite such scheme? courting HESTIA KOKINOS
he believes it would help him politically, given she's sybil to iliam and, thus, could conceivably help sway the imperator's support to findon
but also because...the truth is, he's fancied her from the first day they met
smth in her makes him feel alive in a way he never has, before, and he can't help but want to be around her
unfortunately for the prince, however, hestia seems decidedly less intrigued
but findon's never shied away from a challenge, before...
PRINCE ERAMIS AERYN (appears 34) Lee Pace - OPEN
Status: Vatonese
Condition: Feyan
Position: Prince of Vatonis
Alignment: Vatonis/Self
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Emrys Aeryn (father/council member), Aomon Aeryn (deceased brother), Andarne Aeryn, Ormond Aeryn (sons), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn, Findon Aeryn (niblings/rivals), Lada Koskei (rival/former sister-in-law/potential council member/interest), Cassian Asciam (best friend), Runar Solberg (former best friend), Kyore Floros (deceased interest)
eramis may love his nieces, but he doesn't for a moment believe they're fit to rule vatonis
the fact is that aomon, in his radical confusion, allowed the poor things to grow up country bumpkins
and that's without even touching on the matter of their disreputable bloodlines on their mother's side
besides, as far as he can tell, not a one of them seems to want to rule, and he can't imagine anyone forced into a role will flourish there
no, far better that they be bypassed when it comes to the succession
and FINDON? a sweet boy, to be sure, but no one could take him for king material! no, no, it must be eramis or else his son as future king
eramis has always been ambitious, it is true enough
does this come out of a genuine wish to serve the realm and the greater good? yes!
does it also come out of a self-serving and self-aggrandizing nature? also yes!
both things can be true and, in this man, the two impulses most certainly are blended!
to this end, eramis is constantly seeking three things
first, positions and situations in which he can prove both his own and his sons' ability to lead
second, unfortunately, positions and situations to further discredit all of his niblings in this same capacity
and, finally -- and perhaps most pressingly -- alliances to to help prop up his claim as well as those of his boys
any and all alliances are most assuredly welcomed, but those he views as most pressing at present are marriages for all three
those being most permanent and also promising to provide yet further heirs
after all, an heir with heirs of his own is far more promising than one without -- who wants to start at square one again w a succession?
and where better to achieve each and every single one of these ends than by attending the summit
and ultimately pressing his sons into fighting in the tourney to come?
soon enough, he has no doubt, they will have proved themselves an unstoppable force for the good of their entire country...
PYTHIA VASIA ARGYRIS (44) Rosamund Pike - OPEN
Status: Khaldian
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer)
Position: The Great Sybil/Pythia of Khaldia
Alignment: Khaldia
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Varan Sarkasian (colleague/best friend/interest), Charis Metana (best friend/enemy), Lada Koskei (best friend), Vida Arion (rival), Leila Arion (childhood best friend/enemy/potential council member), Kleio Ikonomos (missing preferred heir), Hestia Kokinos (secret daughter/potential heir), Lada Koskei (best friend/secret keeper), Jovis Turinus (former lover/father of secret child)
vasia means to hold this world together, if its the last thing she ever does
the khaldian order is, and has been, the last vestige of real civilization -- of true hope -- that arnoria has had in centuries
without them, all that is left stands at the brink of collapse, not simply civilization, but all life snuffed out in a tryst of fire and blood
this is smth vasia has known from childhood, plucked out of a hopeless situation as a scavenger by a passing soothsayer
if she hadn't, vasia knows she would have expired in those sands
the order can save thousands of lives, just as it did hers -- it can save all of them
to this end, she has worked ceaselessly her entire life, willing to give anything, sacrifice all
the concerns of individuals are nothing to the needs of all
through her grit and devotion, she has risen to be arguably the most powerful woman -- if not the most powerful person -- in all of arnoria
holding power over both the temporal and spiritual world of most of the peoples of the world
to that end, vasia has done many things she isn't proud of, things which -- in an ideal world -- she would never have had to do
but these are the sacrifices which must be made for the greater good
one such example was betraying LEILA ARION's lover to the order in the past, knowing her to be too valuable an asset to the order to lose
she was right, after all, abt her former friend's incredible skills -- even if she was wrong abt how it would play out after her admission
another example is her support of JOVIS TURINUS
vasia hardly agrees w everything the imperator chooses to do, but he bc he offers stability, she is happy to prop him up
nevertheless, she sees the writing on the wall -- the ilian oasis will shrink as all oases do and, when it does, she means to be ready
she is always actively seeking out other institutions which uphold order and stability to support
and what better place to find them than the coming summit and following tourney?
always turning over the next possibility in her head, vasia has a back up plan, an exit strategy, and a crisis solution for every turn
however, vasia also recognizes that -- particularly w assassinations removing prominent figures -- she won't live forever
she needs to have her succession secure before her death
a visionary w an open, far-reaching mind, will be needed to fill her shoes, but there is a struggle within the ranks of the soothsayers
first, there was the crisis led by LEILA during their youth, but more recently another controversy has risen
vasia was grooming CHARIS METANA to succeed her
she put sm fath in that woman over many objections, given how unruly she was, bc she had faith in her abilities and insights
but, when charis betrayed her and disappeared into the sands, vasia's options for heir became more limited
and she was, at the time, left in no position to pursue the question, anyway, as her rule was left a bit shaky
forcing vasia to pause such concerns and turn her focus to consolidating her position once again
and prevented her, for some time, from being quite the force she used to be, external to khaldia
w that crisis beginning to fade from recent memory, she's now returning to these pressing dual questions...
re-establishing her position in the greater context of all arnoria, smth she plans to exploit the summit and tourney to do
and ensuring the smooth transition of power to her heir, whenever that time inevitably comes, starting with selecting one
she believes the upheaval in arnoria -- including the assassination of aomon aeryn -- is an indirect result of her loss of international control
a few years ago, vasia was beginning to believe that she was finally abt to solve her succession issue
KLEIO IKONOMOS was one of the most promising soothsayers she'd known in some time, and she was on the cusp of naming her heir
tho she was hesitant, as kleio never seemed capable of entirely removing her heart from matters despite the need to be unbiased
kleio was serving as sybil of troha, however, when jovis attacked
in the resulting chaos, kleio disappeared, and vasia has come to fear that she will never be seen again
to that end, she's been forced to begin searching again
now, her eye falls upon HESTIA KOKINOS, but is that her own bias? after all, she is secretly her own daughter with jovis turinus
and vasia seeks always to remain impartial in all that she does
and hestia's fate may has always been intended to be that of imperatrix, when her father dies
she cannot well be both imperatrix and pythia!
but she cannot help but see a promising spark there, nonetheless
and it is not as if anyone will call her biased, should she select her -- only LADA KOSKEI (a close friend since vasia was sybil in syrrar)...
and jovis, himself, know who hestia's mother really is
not even hestia, herself, knows
ofc, it will never be entirely up to vasia, anyway, as the order does vote at the end of a pythia's life, to elect her successor
but, historically speaking, a chosen successor by the previous pythia -- be she well regarded -- can go a long way to influencing that vote
and vasia wants as smooth a transition as can be
HARUSPEX LEILA ARION (39) Rebecca Ferguson - OPEN
Status: Khaldian
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer/Augur)
Position: Haruspex/High Augur of Neska
Alignment: Neska/Purgism
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Vida Arion (sister/enemy), Vasia Argyris (childhood best friend/enemy/council member), Hakon Espen (ally/potential council member), Runar Solberg (ally), Lada Koskei (friend/secret informant), Traian Brutanis (previous attachment)
leila was once the greatest believer in all of khaldia
that was before she stumbled upon the truth
before her, no one could ever truly leave the order -- even now, they aren't meant to
there are certain strictures placed upon the lifestyle choices of khaldian soothsayers
one such is that you can have a family, but only after obtaining permission, taking a kind of leave from the order
nonetheless, even in this situation, it is understood that, any time, any soothsayer can be called back into duty to serve the order
there's a chance you can live out your whole life w your family, ofc -- but there's the distinct chance you won't get that chance, too
this was smth leila completely understood when she fell in love
for years she waited, knowing she could not obtain the necessary permissions or leave until such time as she had passed her tests
leaving behind her role of acolyte, and becoming a fully fledged soothsayer
her wish to wed was no secret, yet, once she had passed her tests, she was informed that she was too talented, too valuable, to let go
leila began seeking other ways to wed or to escape -- there were none
she wasn't the powerhouse she was told she was -- she belonged to them
disturbing as the revelation was, however, even this she was willing to overlook -- surely they were putting enough good into the world
one day, the order asked her to marry to benefit them
they wished her to seduce and marry the new, self-proclaimed imperator, JOVIS TURINUS
angered, and reminding them she had been begging for permission to wed another for years, she flatly refused the political alliance
the pythia of the time was livid, she has never been openly refused in her capacity of leader, but at first nothing happened
next thing leila knew, her best friend, VASIA ARGYRIS, was pregnant, tho w whom she did not know
she thought nothing of it, at first, beyond well-wishes for her friend
not long afterwards, she received a report that her beloved was mysteriously dead
leila was frantic and heartbroken, but she had to know what had happened -- what had truly happened
leila used all her powers, all her know-how, everything, obsessively routing through the tangled mess of confused and faked clues
until she finally learned to her horror that it was the order, itself, which had murdered him
at first she determined to revenge herself on the pythia, till a last tidbit of information came out
it was her own dear friend, VASIA, who had not only willingly given the pythia the name of leila's lover
but also information -- gleaned from leila herself -- on his vulnerabilities and whereabouts
leila realized w this betrayal that, not only that the order was evil, but that, in serving them so long, she herself had perpetuated its evil
fomenting rebellion from within, a crisis broke out, leading to a fracture
many soothsayers were killed but, ultimately, leila and her contingent were beaten and driven out into the desert, intended there to die
but leila has always been the determined sort
falling in with the neskans, leila took in their beliefs, realizing they aligned v closely with the conclusions she herself was reaching
beginning to train with the augurs, leila amassed more power, more learning, determined to wipe out the menace upon the earth
leilia is the first ever augur to rule neska
and she is making this a theocracy, one radical move at a time
the people believe in her, and she, herself, is a zealot -- prepared to do anything it takes to see her vision executed
however great her distaste for the other cultures of arnoria, however, no hatred touches that she holds for khaldia
she is renowned for her vehemence in preventing ppl from crossing her land into or out of khaldia
and for executing soothsayers on sight, tho she will extend mercy to any acolyte who agrees to become an augur, instead
and asylum to those fleeing the khaldian order
leila rarely, if ever, leaves neska, making her sudden avowal to attend the summit in the freehold all the more shocking
yet, faced with the opportunity to stare down her dearest friend turned greatest enemy, leila could not deny the temptation
but even more delicious is the opportunity to crush khaldia, once and for all, should HAKON ESPEN manage to become high king...
VIDA ARION (28) Rosie Huntington-Whiteley - OPEN
Status: Khaldian
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer)
Position: Soothsayer
Alignment: Khaldia
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Leila Arion (sister/enemy/potential council member), Vasia Argyris (leader/rival/council member), Islandriel Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn (best friends), Shams Sardar (best friend/ally), Hestia Kokinos (best friend/failing trust), Thalia Akakios (best friend), Callias Xirath (best friend/former secret attachment), Findon Aeryn (interest)
the arion sisters were once on the same side
LEILA was once someone vida believed in, looked up to, wished to be like -- but all of that is long done
the two grew up together, w the other khaldians, learning their skills as soothsayers w the rest
it didn't take long for leila's radical side to show itself -- she was always the firmest believer in any room
vida could never keep up w her but she never expected to, she was only leila's baby sister, and surely all was just as it ought to be
in truth, vida doesn't know exactly what happened to change leila's perspective
yet, she slowly watched the shadow overtake and consume her, helpless to stop it
vida feels deeply that she somehow failed her sister, wasn't there to help her when she evidently needed it
for leila, she believes, has truly abandoned all the principles that vida holds dear to embrace what vida sees as reprehensible
vida has not seen her sister since she abandoned the order and joined the purgists -- she's not convinced she wants that to change
but she has no illusions abt VASIA's intentions bringing her here
ostensibly it's so that she can change hands -- vida is set to become a handmaiden to LIA PARSYS, a woman in crisis she must aid
(and, in unspoken truth, act as a court spy for khaldia)
as well as, secretly, to keep an eye on HESTIA KOKINOS for the order, and help her in her ascendancy as JOVIS' true heir
(as well as to help reinforce her loyalty to khaldia above either jovis or iliam which vida believes to be flagging)
the summit will be a convenient place for them to meet and for lia to accept vida into her household
but the truth is, vida wasn't the one selected for this role until word reached them that leila would be attending the summit
vasia need not tell her that she wishes vida to intercede and, hopefully, turn leila back to the truth -- vida already knows it
besides, vida has a set of beliefs of her own -- a middleground between strict khaldian principles and purgist ones
and she's well aware that vasia feels these are dangerous beliefs to keep within the reach of the acolytes training in khaldia
until such time as she is delivered into lia's household, vida is set to act and aide and attendant to vasia
but she knows she's keeping a close eye on her -- and to showcase how unreasonable leila must be given they're sisters
there is yet another situation, however, in vida's life which can no longer be concealed
about eight months ago, vida was involved in a secret entanglement with CALLIAS XIRATH
the situation ended between them as his ideas grew increasingly dangerous and revolutionary, and her mind could not be changed
she didn't know, before they ended their secret affair, that she was with child -- and she never told him afterwards
she'd hoped he'd never know a thing abt it
she could quietly raise the child at khaldia and keep with her, forever, at least one family member at her side
and spare the child the life of a royal (for the khaldians are sure to use her baby as a piece on the board, should they learn of the father)
but now that she's being taken to the summit, she's sure to encounter him, and he's certain to put the pieces together
now she's faced with a dilemma -- lie to the father of her child abt the parentage, or risk the baby's future
LORD SENESCHAL CASSIAN ASCIAM (42) Benedict Cumberbatch - RESERVED BY LIZZY
Status: Mitani
Condition: Human
Position: Lord of Mitanis/Seneschal of Iliam
Alignment: Iliam/Troha/Mitanis/Self
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Larsyn Asciam (deceased brother), Maral Ataya (deceased sister-in-law), Ayana Asciam (presumed dead niece), Kleio Ikonomos (presumed dead former betrothed), Jovis Turinus (imperator/council member), Traian Brutanis (rival), Hestia Kokinos (rival/interest???), Erenn Azand (secret ally), Hanno Sarion (ally/potential council member), Hakon Espen (former co-conspirator/potential ally/council member????), Severin Varinus (gladiatorial beneficiary), Eramis Aeryn (best friend), Lada Koskei (former betrothed)
cassian is a man capable always of seeing the big picture – a weapon he wields as surely as any gladiator in the ring
like any warrior, however, cassian is not without his own scars of conflict
cassian’s father was a weak man and, as a boy, he watched in horror as their more powerful neighbor, TROHA, encroached
the matter came to a head, however, when cassian’s brother – as incensed as he by his father’s poor rule – become lord
together, the brothers conspired with another neighbor, ATLATON, to help destabilize troha while they launched an offensive
tho the plan was a good one, it was not enough, and trohan soldiers ran rampant over mitanis, claiming it as a client state
cassian watched, helpless, as the land he so loved was devestated, and he swore never to be helpless again
they even made off w LARSYN’s only child and heir, AYANA, raising her themselves, and arranging for her to wed the king’s own heir
this was no olive branch, however, as cassian saw it, but a deliberate effort to subsume mitanis into troha
from that day forward, cassian plotted his vengeance – no more bold and blinding campaigns like his brother’s but others means
so it was that cassian bent the knee, swearing false loyalty to troha
seeing the progress of ILIAM, cassian traveled there, offering his services in arranging an alliance between troha and iliam
so it was that JOVIS took an ATAMON princess to wife, and cassian planted the first seeds of his vengeance
all the while, cassian used his position of trust in both courts to poison both king an imperator against one another
when the time was right, he persuaded both that the other was moving against him and the trap was set
TROHA rose up in revolution against ILAIM and, predictably, jovis crushed them beneath his heel
still, the plan backfired for, while he had hoped that jovis would rule against the female right to rule, that he might claim mitanis…
AYANA was lost, and is to be assumed dead, amongst the destruction that came to house atamon
jovis has broken his promise, and has stood far too long in the way of survival for much too long
when the late IMPERATRIX learned of his movements, jovis’ rage at her father was such that encouraging him led to her doom
still, cassian’s scheming is far from over – HESTIA remains troublesome to him and he is forever attempting to undermine her
and w the atamons eliminated, cassian lends his support to troha’s growing rebellion – and its imposter princess
mitanis and ILUSOS sport old ties, too, and he means to make smth of that as well, hoping to wed the false ADALET to HANNO
and make a go at disposing of jovis turinus for good…
there are many powers, after all, who would gladly contribute to his downfall, not least amongst them, himself…
LORD TRAIAN BRUTANIS (39) Pedro Pascal - OPEN
Status: Ilian
Condition: Human
Position: Lord Commander of the Armies of Iliam
Alignment: Ilian
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Jovis Turinus (imperator/best friend/council member), Hanno Turinus (prince/concern/potential council member), Cassian Asciam (rival/potential council member), Hestia Kokinos (sybil/secret princess), Lia Parsys (imperatrix/friend), Coryn Atamon (hostage/potential council member), Leila Arion (previous attachment/council member????), Erenn Azad (gladiatorial beneficiary/interest???), Islandriel Aeryn (interest??????)
traian was a great friend of JOVIS as children, growing up in a client state held by the oppressive rule of ILUSOS
their shared childhood was hard, and it made hard men of them both
but jovis was a visionary – he pictured a world in which they could be free of their ilusan oppressors and live freely
beauty and music and art could return to the wartorn earth, and flourish, and civilization once again be restored
it was a beautiful dream and traian gave his all in that fight and the bloody uprising that followed, building ILIAM out of its ruins and overthrowing ilusos once and for all
yet, jovis went further than traian would have
saying it was essential to the preservation of order upon which he’d build civilization, traian eradicted the entire royal family
people who, new to the throne at the end of the war, had, themselves, been innocent of the crimes of their predecessors
wishing to retain some legitimacy even in the eyes of faithful ilusans…
and wishing to appease his friend who said beauty could not be built in blood, jovis left the youngest son alive, but him alone
the years have passed and traian has worked hard to overcome this, focusing on how jovis did, indeed, realize his promise
reinvigorating art and culture and giving structure to society
the weak were protected from the strong, the needy were cared for, and everything of that nature was put to rights within ILIAM
traian’d managed to put the massacre of ilusos behind him
but one day word reached them that TROHA was in full revolt against the treaty
once again his oldest friend’s cruelty showed itself for all the world to see, in just the same way
and traian came too late to fully see troha’s purge as a distored reflection of the things done to them as children
have they just changed sides, becoming the oppressors rather than the oppossed, is there freedom at all to be had?
and traian begins to wonder, which is the truth of his friend’s rule – the beauty or the brutality?
nevertheless traian is in a strange position: until another heir is recognized, he technically stands as heir: a thing he does not want
but he also knows he could do much good that way – still, he’s seen how rule has twisted jovis a man who, by traian’s estimation, was better than him at the start
and he does not believe he could long withstand those temptations – but who could?
not lawless HANNO, or angry CORYN, or secretive HESTIA
yet someone must do it or what will become of the innocents the law supports?
meanwhile schemers lurk everywhere in the shadows – not a one to be trusted
traian does his best to navigate these murky waters, hoping to marshall the council into peace despite its many tensions
traian has always been proud of his interplay of wits and might, and he means to bring it to bear for the good of all
if they can’t hold each other together, how’re they to hold a whole empire?
and make no mistake, jovis wants more: he knows it
MAGNAR HAKON ESPEN (42) Matt Smith - OPEN
Status: Atlaton
Condition: Human
Position: Magnar of Atlaton
Alignment: Atlaton/Purgism
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Leila Arion (ally/religious leader/council member????), Runar Solberg (ally/prophet), Cassian Asciam (former co-conspirator/potential ally/potential council member), Adalet Atamon (hoped-for ally), Vasia Argyris (enemy/council member), Varan Sarkasian, Jovis Turinus (enemies), Seph-0-ne (sacrilege), Arne Agnar, Dareia Metana (heretics), Lia Parsys (former betrothed), Lada Koskei (interest)
he is the fury of the desert
hakon is a visionary and charismatic leader, and a true believer
before his rise to magnar, atlaton was little regarded -- a loosely connected band of sea-roving reavers
but hakon has brought them together, shaped them into a real force in this land
ordained by the prophet RUNAR SOLBERG, and backed by the haruspex, LEILA ARION, his ppl believe in him to the hilt
and he means to make them the greatest power in all arnoria before he's through -- to see the ideals of purgism take root
and, thus, to save the world, entire
yet, to achieve these ends, hakon is well aware that he will have to do things distasteful to himself and those around him
yet, he's never shied away from doing what it takes to secure the greater good -- he's always been clear-sighted abt practicalities
even now, he's launching a two-pronged assault against his unwitting enemies
in an unprecedented move, the purgist factions are looking to join the summit, and claim seats upon the council there
make no mistake, this is the power grab his enemies imagine it to be, but it's so much more as well
disguised amongst his retinue, hakon brings with him faithful who will now integrate themselves into the various other societies
reporting back their findings to atlaton, while also helping to tear their enemies down from within, and convert all that they can
partially by encouraging them to turn and destroy themselves and one another
given the state of things, hakon believes it will not be difficult
still, there are other matters to consider as well
hakon is beset by the sacrileges of nonbelievers, pursuing SEPH-0-NE, ARNE, and DAREIA, all, for their heinous crimes against the gods
there is only one fitting punishment for such blasphemy -- he means to make examples of them all
much to neskan consternation, hakon actively encourages the feeding of the unworthy to firedrakes and firewyrms in the desert
not only is such an ideal of his people, but he has found it also makes them less likely to attack when they're not so hungry
not that he'd admit such a thing aloud
in truth, for all that he encourages such things, in his private moments, hakon feels some guilt abt such harrowing deaths
but he truly believes that all he does is for the greater good -- do not such holy ends justify even the most terrible means?
and it is not as if he could stop: how will people ever learn if they cast off their divine punishment as soon as it comes to them?
JOVIS remains perhaps his greatest enemy
hakon once allied with him, aiding in the massacre of the evil state of troha (hoping but failing to seize DAREIA in the chaos), but no more
the magnar truly believes the imperator is not only evil himself, but also represents all the evils the purgists seek to eradicate
still, he means to play it as though they remain allies, still, till such time as it serves him to show his hand more freely
that particular ruse will last little time at all, he's well aware
after all, troha is primed to turn on their oppressors, and hakon means to stir them to rebellion -- and then aid them in it
to this end, he is both supporting and lending protection to ADALET ATAMON as she comes to take her own seat at the table
SYBIL HESTIA KOKINOS TURINUS (26) Jodie Comer - OPEN
Status: Ilian
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer)
Position: Princess of Iliam/Sybil of Iliam
Alignment: Khaldia
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Jovis Turinus (imperator/secret father/council member), Vasia Argyris (pythia/unknown secret mother/council member), Hanno Turinus (adoptive brother/potential husband/potential council member), Coryn Atamon (potential adoptive brother/former step-cousin/potential husband/potential council member), Endreth Aeryn, Vida Arion (best friends), Traian Brutanis (general/potential husband), Cassian Asciam (rival/potential council member), Iridia Apollymi (akaemi soothsayer), Lia Parsys (imperatrix/stepmother/concern/rival), Aspasia Parsys (step-aunt/concern/council member????), Triphon Parsys (step-uncle/archon/potential husband), Hakon Espen (magnar/potential husband/council member????), Peren Okalan (gladiatorial beneficiary), Findon Aeryn (annoyance/potential future husband), Lada Koskei (unknown secret keeper)
there is a secret regarding hestia’s birth: a secret w the power to, perhaps, change everything
but one which she may never speak aloud should she wish anything to come of it…
for the imperator does not much like being maneuvered – and who would know that better than his own secret daughter?
but while she’s been raised w the knowledge of her secret paternity, what hestia has never known is who her mother is
smth she assumes would make little political difference, but smth she immensely wishes to know for personal reasons
one thing she does know, however: KHALDIA expects her to make much of her position in ILIAM, and become her father’s heir
to that end, hestia supports his reign, but she also truly believes – hateful as his cruelty is – that JOVIS is humanity’s best bet
shrewd and consistent, he has ushered stability into a word otherwise deprived of it, allowing culture to flourish
and, terrible tho he may be, isn’t that smth worth saving? if she is ever to rule, that will be her goal: to save what’s best abt humanity
for one thing, hestia’s paternity is a secret and she is not regarded as jovis’ heir by anyone – even her father, it seems
instead, he juggles multiple alternate candidates: TRAIAN, HANNO, CORYN, and a potential new child w his latest wife, LIA
but lia, herself, is a danger whom hestia believes means to assassinate jovis, tho w/o proof she can’t openly move against her
instead, she secretly laces the imperatrix’s food w infertility drugs and watches her like a hawk for any plots or proofs
another threat is HANNO, someone hestia views as the worst potential heir
if there is one thing hanno does not represent its stability, after all, leaving hestia to attempt to discredit him at every turn
tho never too obviously – jovis will not be dictated to! and hanno is not the forgiving sort…
TRAIAN and CORYN, however, hestia hopes to turn into allies…one of whom potentially to wed in order to unite their claims
but, of course, the various leaders of other states serve as tempting potential spouses as well
still, even these connections are complex, and daily made more so by the meddling CASSIAN ASCIAM, always looking to thwart her
other concerns, however, currently crowd, as a new soothsayer is coming to court w ASPASIA to consolidate the AKAEMIS alliance
its a delicate balance for hestia – the alliance would be a powerful tool to herself as imperatrix…
but can she risk further empowering the imperatrix whom she believes means to make off w hestia’s own crown?
PRINCESS LADA KOSKEI (appears 38) Carey Mulligan - OPEN
Status: Syrarri
Condition: Vamp
Position: Princess of Syrarr (by birth), Princess of Vatonis (by marriage)
Alignment: Syrarr
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Ziva Xirath (daughter), Findon Aeryn (son), Grigori Xirath, Aomon Aeryn (deceased husbands), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Miralas Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (stepdaughters), Eramis Aeryn (former brother-in-law), Vesna Koskei, Kresimir Koskei (distant cousins), Vasia Argyris, Lia Parsys (best friends), Leila Arion (friend/secretly informing), Cassian Asciam (former betrothed/interest)
a princess born and a princess married, lada has always had soaring hopes
a daughter of koskei, lada was born to a fractured house, making her life one of bitter upheaval and fear
something she has always been determined shall not be visited upon her children
due to this determination, she has always pressed both her children towards securing their positions are surely and rapidly as possible
her own path has shown a similar trajectory
lada has managed to secure two marriages, first to a younger prince of dorrain, and more recently to aomon aeryn
in truth, it was only with aomon that lada finally felt safe for the very first time in her life
aomon was the crown prince of vatonis, champion of the tourney, destined to rule all arnoria, and she the glittering queen at his side
from such a lofty height -- who would dare touch her or any of her children, ever again?
aomon's death, however, shattered her exquisite hopes, and once again left her uncertain -- once again, a vulnerable piece on a board
but she's far from giving up
lada vigorously supports both her children's various claims (tho she acknowledge's that FINDON has a stronger one than ZIVA)
and pushes her children to pursue them as much as they can -- only then can she rest easy, knowing they will be safely installed
findon can press his claim as aomon's only son while disloding his sisters by discrediting their distasteful human blood
ziva will have a tougher time, as in the cases of both her parents, the crowns of dorrain and syrrar are nowhere near them
but the right match will do her well -- and, now that the tourney is upon them -- ziva can propel herself above them all if she wins
in the mean time, lada is hedging everyone's bets
faced with her change in position, lada has been maneuvering to be named part of the council at the summit
and she hopes she can depend on some key votes
she has been dear friends with VASIA ARGYRIS since she was sybil of syrrar
so close are she and vasia that lada is the one person, outside of vasia and jovis, themselves, privy to the truth of HESTIA's parentage
yet, separately from this, in exchange for support for her various causes, she has begun informing for LEILA ARION
not on her friend, so far, but its growing more and more difficult to keep the two things separated
and she does have a rather priceless piece of information at her disposal...
has she gotten herself in too deep, or will lada manage to keep her head above water for both herself and her children?
PRINCE KRESIMIR KOSKEI (appears 37) Henry Cavill - OPEN
Status: Syrrari
Condition: Vamp
Position: Prince of Syrarr
Alignment: Freehold/Syrarr
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Findon Aeryn, Vesna Koskei, Lada Koskei, Ziva Xirath (distant cousins), Audun Marr, Callias Xirath (best friends), Miralas Aeryn (betrothed/interest)
the last vestige of a distant branch of the syrrar royal family, kresimir has lived his life in a nebulous state
at once supremely royal -- and nothing at all of the kind
there was, after all, something of a clash between the two branches, a generation or so back, resulting in a civil war in syrrar
kresimir descends from the losing side: the elder sister; the current ruler descends from the winning side: the younger brother
now that the winning branch, however, has come to strife of its own, the occasional whisper looks to supplant them both w kresimir
leading his existence to a merry-go-round of turmoil, where sometimes his relatives are wise to be in league w him
and others, would do well to kill him
so far, kresimir has managed to survive the ever-shifting sands beneath his feet, but its not been an easy go
his life so far has forged him into someone well equipped at concealing his own true thoughts and feelings
often showing himself as careless and more absorbed in partying than anything else -- a threat to no one
but the truth is that he is someone entirely different beneath his indifferent exterior, more given to brooding than laughter
he has no interest in rule, he knows it would be his death, but he does wish to make a difference in this world
perhaps, in a world where life and limb would not be risked, he might have enjoyed entering the world stage from a throne
but without that option, he's opted instead for a more secretive option, following CALLIAS into his revolutionary action
now, though, he must navigate once more becoming embroiled in family politics as his betrothal to MIRALAS is announced
the summit is the perfect opportunity for such things but it makes his options more limited to have someone looking to him
he's never wished to be responsible for anyone else, after all -- the last time someone relied on him...well, he won't repeat that
he means to make it clear to her that their marriage will be in name only -- and what better path than to begin pushing her away now?
the only problem? that he might just be falling for her, for real
besides, there's another matter, as well -- the promise he once made to her late father...but that's a secret, as well...
PRINCE AUDUN MARR (35) Chris Hemsworth - OPEN
Status: Evrese
Condition: Were
Position: Prince of Evris
Alignment: Evris
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Findon Aeryn (mentee/best friend), Kresimir Koskei, Callias Xirath (best friends), Aouine Aeryn (former secret relationship), Endreth Aeryn (betrothed), Ziva Xirath (interest)
the one the world sees, and the one his true friends see
audun's reputation is that of an oafish lummox and -- make no mistake -- he can certainly lean too far this way
but the truth is that this is a perception he plays up, as well
evris stands in a difficult position politically and audun's here to play the game
being perceived as witless is occasionally a thing that can come in handy
particularly when one has were abilities, handy as they are for spying to keep him well informed of just what's really going on around him
afterall, he's well aware of the fact that no one will see him coming as a player
with a warm heart and determination to help, audun means to do well by his country
and even for his friend, CALLIAS, whose views are so persuasive
and, besides, he is a redoubtable warrior -- he has no doubts he can do well in the tourney but that's where they'll see him coming
but he's not worried -- chaotic and enthusiastic, he doesn't credit the idea that he could fail there
truthfully, audun may overestimate his own prowess in such competitions, but his arrogance is in fact well earned
he's always been quite athletic
still, he's been put in an awkward position -- while he's always liked ENDRETH well enough, he doesn't know her well...
but he does know her sister rather well
while matters fizzled between them long ago, and it was never terribly serious, they did date, complicating his current situation
not even to touch on the fact of the real reason that relationship ended -- his feelings for ZIVA which have never gone away
still, in his arrogance, he's sure endreth must be interested in him, never imagining for a moment she might not
and if it's what's best for evris, he's sure he'll make a smashing success of it -- doesn't he always?
EMYNA NIKAR/PRINCESS ADALET ATAMON (26) Haley Bennett - OPEN
Status: Khaldian/Trohan
Condition: Human
Position: Handmaiden of Adalet/Princess of Troha
Alignment: Troha
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Arlan Atamon (deceased "father"/king), Felyce Andar (deceased "mother"/queen), Alpar Atamon, Adnaran Atamon, Syrdar Atamon (deceased "brothers"/princes), Naermina Atamon, Adila Atamon, Simae Atamon (deceased "sisters"/princesses), Adalet Atamon (supposed self/charge/childhood best friend), Beryn Atamon (deceased "uncle"/prince), Sophonisba Sarion (deceased "aunt"/princess), Coryn Atamon ("cousin"/prince), Alym Atamon ("distant cousin"/prince/former interest/potential council member), Ayana Asciam ("foster sister/best friend"/lady), Islandriel Aeryn ("best friend"), Erenn Azand (supporter), Findon Aeryn (interest)
emyna nikar, for all intents and purposes, is dead – only adalet remains
it wasn’t KLEIO IKONOMOS' intention when she glamoured emyna, to make her permanently believe that she was adalet…but she does
a terrible blow to the head, while in the throes of this power, has done it, so she now remembers herself only as her friend
yet, previously a handmaiden of adalet's, trained as a bodyguard and double, all that training still lives in her bones
there is more, after all, to being a trohan handmaiden than most will ever know
emyna was selected for her resourcefulness, her militaristic training and skill, and for her close resemblance to the princess
handmaidens aren’t just go-fers or servants in trohan culture, after all, they’re bodyguards and decoys as well
raised alongside adalet to ensure loyalty and perfect imitation, emyna was always intended to be adalet’s last line of defense
able to become her in the eyes of all at a moment’s notice – but now she’s become that even in her own eyes
its adalet’s voice she hears in her own mind, her own a mere whisper in her dreams – remembering herself as a friend to mourn
someone who learned beside her in the classroom, slept in her room, wore her cast-off clothes, played games w her…
emyna watched her own family die without knowing who they were to her, and someone else's w the horror of a daughter, a sister
and she’s angry – she will do now whatever it takes to reclaim TROHA from its enemies
teaming up w ERENN AZAND, she's joined the rebellion, pressing her claim as adalet
emyna is passionate in her pursuit, willing do anything it takes to avenge house atamon and free troha from JOVIS' tyrannical grip
but the truth is she’s not adalet, and she’s not even trohan to boot – emyna, like others in her line of work, is and was a khaldian agent
not deemed promising to make the final trials to become a soothsayer, she was instead sent as a girl to troha for this purpose
but that training lives, too, lodged somehwere in her brain…and at her fingertips
will she ever remember the truth abt herself and, if she does, what then will she choose to do?
emyna is leaving safety and arriving now in the freehold, as adalet, to take troha's place on the council in direct opposition to jovis...
IMPERATRIX LIA PARSYS (36) Lea Seydoux - OPEN
Status: Akaemi
Condition: Human
Position: Imperatrix of Iliam (by marriage), Princess of Akaemis (by birth)
Alignment: Akaemis
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Jovis Turinus (husband/imperator/enemy/council member), Triphon Parsys (brother/archon), Aspasia Parsys (sister/future council member), Hanno Turinus (adopted stepson/potential council member), Aouine Aeryn, Lada Koskei (best friends), Espen Hakon (former betrothed), Kresimir Koskei (interest)
originally hemmed in by ice, lia's recent marriage to JOVIS, the notorious imperator of iliam, was intended to safeguard her people
with the ice line dropping every year, they required a place of safety further south, to avoid freezing to death
yet, the very alliance which appears to promise salvation is a double edged sword
one of jovis' better known exploits, afterall, is feeding his previous wife to a firedrake for no other crime than being her father's daughter
lia does not intend to meet the same fate
secretly, she plots to poison her husband, taking all that he has for herself and her people, before he can do away with her, instead
it is not that she easily resorts to murder -- but lia truly believes her husband is a monster, and all arnoria will be better off if he were gone
and both her position and that of all akaemis are truly desperate, now
in truth, she no longer believes she has any other option available to her...
nevertheless, the traceless poison required for this comes from a rare substance found only near the ice line and must be given secretly
the only person she trusts to carry out this task is her younger sister, ASPASIA, whose coming has been unaccountably delayed
and, given how she, herself, has been feeling since her marriage, lia fears jovis has beat her to the punch and begun poisoning her
nevertheless, lia knows he can't afford to be rid of her just yet -- jovis is pressing for lia to be nominated part of the summit council
that way, he believes, he can pressure her vote and thus wrest greater control of the council from their marriage
desperate to prevent the tyrant from such abuses, and wishing to turn the tables on him, she summoned aspasia
but her sister has taken strangely long to arrive
with no way to contact someone on the long wasteland road between akaemis and the freehold, she is left to worry ceaselessly
and if something did happen -- was it truly an accident? but also if she does arrive -- will she be safe?
no matter what she does, she finds herself outflanked -- and those she loves in jeopardy
if she is put on the council, and her sister does not appear, lia fears she will suddenly find herself too 'ill' to attend meetings
thus leaving jovis unfettered to 'represent' akaemis on the council -- she does not to doubt that all he'd represent are his own interests
thus, she works in the background to frustrate her own chances at power
doing all she can to undermine jovis in his efforts to place both his wife, and his various cronies, on the council
while also fighting to learn as much as she can about aspasia's whereabouts
and secure further aid for the flagging wellbeing of all akaemis...
VARAN SARKASIAN (45) Oscar Isaac - OPEN
Status: Neskan
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer, former Augur)
Position: Soothsayer
Alignment: Khaldia
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Vasia Argyris (pythia/interest/council member), Leila Arion, Runar Solberg (former friends/former colleagues/enemies), Cassian Asciam (frenemy), Aris Asterios (former pupil)
no one is more loyal to VASIA ARGYRIS than her right hand
tho he does have tender personal dedication to her, however, this isn’t just abt her for him, its abt what khaldia stands for
order and perseverance and teamwork in a world crumbing at the seams
he was starving and wretched when he first came to khladia, a child of the wastes
long ago, he turned entirely away from the purgist ideals of neska
he delights in hunting down and slaying the firedrakes and firewyrms that come near to the protective mother mountains of khaldia
ofc this is partially in order to protect any travelers at the foot of khaldian mountains…
but it's also to defy the teachings of his youth by those who abandoned him to starve
varan is generally an even, steady person, yet presented with anything neskan, that veneer of calm disappears
in turth, he’s a touch rabid, as eager to purge this world of purgist as they are of those who tamper with their ideals
perhaps fortunately for khaldia's public relations, he is more relaxed with atlaton
but he regards even them as heretics who cannot be suffered to spread their filth
varan genuinely believes he’s protecting ppl w this outlook
preventing what happened to him from happening to anyone else
but this blinds him to the suffering he creates at his own hands in attempting to exterminate them…
difficult as life has been for him, he found some sanctuary within the mother mountains, as an acolyte, training alongside VASIA
he knows her to her core, and he believes in her, but also, muddying the waters a bit…he’s frankly in love w her
he knows this is inappropriate to her office, and to all the good she might do this world from it
so he contents himself in giving his all to support her in her mission to save the world and never speaks of his feelings
having retired from his faraway post as a nostradamus, he has returned to the mother mountains of khaldia, serving beside her
now, he practically serves not merely as her right hand, but as her bodyguard as well
second amongst the order to only the pythia, herself, his word is practically law
SEPH-0-NE/KYORE FLOROS (appears 28) Evan Rachel Wood - TAKEN BY LAUREN
Status: Ancient Imperial/Trohan
Condition: Reprogramed Android/Disembodied Spirit
Position: Scavenger
Alignment: Ancient Empire/Troha
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Arne Agnar/Magon Varinus (“creator”/husband), Eramis Aeryn (soul’s former annoyance), Leila Arion, Hakon Espen, Runar Solberg, Jovis Turinus (hunters/enemies)
legend tells of an ancient empire which once, in fleeting millennia past, ruled over all arnoria
yet, it is said that corruption and greed and over-reliance on technological wonder brought this once-glorious empire to ruin
horrific wars tearing the world apart and laying waste to all upon it
in the ages that have past, the ancient empire has turned as much to a cautionary fairy tale as to believed reality
its traces all but gone, save in the ruination of the world
but, lately, the heretic ARNE AGNAR, claims that he has discovered proof of a mechanical being boasting such origins
brittle and broken, ripped apart by centuries of lying amidst the shifting sands, the wonder was thought broken beyond repair
yet, in the heat of the burning desert sun, the desperate mad scientist managed to resuscitate the age-old remains
alongside the soul of his dead wife, KYORE, within the mechanical body
as the mech body spurts to life with garbled memories of an ancient past, a spirit haunting the machine, which is real?
the haunted corpse, or the ghostly memories of a dead woman?
the last vestige of an ancient, doomed society, whose cataclysm killed the world, SEPH-0-NE dreams of a life thousands of years gone, a mission no longer possible
kyore chases a grieving husband, despite a vessel not her own
both recall a brilliant, feverish scientist, desperate to preserve and restore knowledge -- but which is which?
her circuits were badly damaged when arne found her
she had fallen out of space, generations upon geneartions ago, when the orbit of the ghost ship she inhabited finally decayed
for centuries upon centuries she lay, lifeless, beneath the desert sands
arne reworked her from scavenged parts and his own knowledge and hopes and dreams -- and memories of the deadwoman he loved
and his soothsayer-augur arts which gave some part of her lifeforce to the lifeless thing before him
the damage to her memory banks remains extensive -- she can convey nothing now of what once was beyond foggy memory
she can never restore the world she once knew
she is haunted by the confused recollections of her world's destruction
yet, still she's hunted, now, by the purgists as if she can -- those who seek to destroy her
as well as by JOVIS TURINUS, who hopes to rip her apart and find out how she works
forced to run and hide, she is torn between two things she once was -- the two things she has never been
RUNAR SOLBERG (32) Cillian Murphy - OPEN
Status: Atlaton
Condition: Wytch (Augur), Infectant?
Position: Augur
Alignment: Purgism
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Hakon Espen, Leila Arion (allies/council members), Arne Agnar, Seph-0-ne (heretics), Eramis Aeryn (former best friend)
runar is smth of a prophet and kingmaker…
when he was a lad, he and his whole clan were pursued by a firewyrm upon stepping foot on dry land
in blind terror, the clan broke and ran, fleeing headlong into the forbidding desert, their only thought to escape a horrific doom
one by one, they were overtaken and burned and devoured
when the wyrm had eaten his family entire, however, runar lost the will to fight
exhausted, terrified, and grieving, runar sank to his knees before the wyrm, he surrendered himself to the will of the great god…
and when he opened his eyes, the creature was still, staring directly at him before, all at once, it bowed its mighty head
and, w a gout of flame to incinerate the sand at his feet, dove back into the sands before him, sparing him, and him alone
for unknown days and nights he wandered through the desert, trusting that if the great god wished it, he would be spared
and on the last night he came, again, to civilization…in neska
he was never after able to say how long he’d wandered, nor how he’d survived, save that it must be a miracle of the great god
there, runar was nursed back to health and, ultimately, trained by the augurs who were overawed by his story
it was a spiritual awakening for runar who, tho growing up atlaton, had never fully embraced their beliefs on a practical, day-to-day basis
it was runar who convinced the neskans, by his own augury and tho a boy himself, to accept and train LEILA
despite his position in neska, he believed that his true destiny lay back home in atlaton and so, after many years, he returned
there, his cult grew and, when HAKON made his bid for control, runar championed him, hailing him as the great god’s chosen warrior
destined to drive the palgue of disbelief from the earth
runar is revered in both ATLATON and NESKA
and, at hakon's request, proved one of the driving forces in helping to bring about some commonality between them
and, indeed, he believes that only by uniting can the two forces truly purify this world
as it is, he is now the chiefest of hakon’s advisers and supporters while still a powerhouse in neska
a man walking the line between their differing perspectives...
hakon has heard rumblings of a machine walking once again in this world, and has called for a holy war against such abomination
this world must be purged of such things before sin lays waste once more...
IMPERATOR JOVIS TURINUS (42) Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - RESERVED BY KATE AA
Status: Ilian
Condition: Human
Position: Imperator of Iliam
Alignment: Iliam
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Hestia Kokinos (secret daughter/sybil/khaldian ambassador), Lia Parsys (wife), Hanno Turinus (rival/adopted son/potential council member/potential heir), Coryn Atamon (hostage/former brother-in-law/rival/potential adoptee/potential council member/potential heir), Triphon Parsys (ally/brother-in-law), Aspasia Parsys (sister-in-law/ambassador), Traian Brutanis (best friend/general/potential heir), Cassian Asciam (advisor/potential council member), Vasia Argyris (uneasy ally/former attachment/council member), Leila Arion (enemy/rival/council member), Adalet Atamon, Hakon Espen (enemies/rivals), Alym Atamon (potential enemy/rival/potential council member), Ayana Asciam, Kleio Ikonomos (secretly missing/headaches)
there is but one word to adequately describe jovis turinus: hunger
as a child, jovis grew up desperate, he and TRAIAN BRUTANIS eking out meager survival, oppressed by their ilusan overlords
the ilusan oasis was, in those days, ever shrinking, and house sarion sought to make up for the loss by squeezing the lower orders
as orphaned children, jovis and traian were amongst the lowest of the low -- and desperation soon set in
jovis knew what his place was meant to be, how he was meant to be smothered in the sand, but he'd always dreamed of more
once, the tales all said, civilization had flourished: once there had been art and beauty and music and a thing called hope
jovis believed that could come again -- and he believed he knew how to bring it, tho it would require wading through blood
invigorating and inspiring those around him with his vision of a hopeful future, he soon had a resistance behind him
and a legend, soon, took root -- spread by himself but by others too, in an effort to restore hope and faith to the failing populace
the war was long and bloody and terrible, but soon jovis mounted the marble throne of his sarion predecessors, and declared new iliam
building a walled city in a flourishing oasis, his legend took wing: the sun, the messiah, come to liberate all, to bring peace and prosperity
the walls are high and impenetrable, and beautiful, too, wrought with tiles of blue and gold and depicting upon them his glorious legend
within, a world of green blooms: orchards and flowers and gardens hanging from walls and spilling over terraces
art and culture soar to renewed heights, sponsored and nurtured by the self-proclaimed imperator
but there is a darker side, as well
his bloody revolution taught him that to wrest order from the chaos, he must be more feared and revered than the wastes, themselves
a brutal world requires a more brutal dictator lest all he cultivates be crushed beneath the choking sands -- and greedy hands
despite his messianic image, this cruel side has displayed itself most recently when troha rose up
years ago, to cultivate an alliance with iliam's neighbors, troha, jovis had wed a princess of troha
yet, when jovis learned of her father's treachery -- apparently seeking to overthrow himself -- he led a brutal slaughter of the nation
and publicly fed his own wife to one of the firedrakes he'd captured for his fighting pits, for no other offence than being her father's child
yet, these arena are not used for discarding wives alone -- they are a sporting event jovis has long fostered, inspired by the tourney
gladiators enter to fight one another, and even captured firewyrms and firedrakes, becoming the most renowned warriors in arnoria
the best of them are elected to jovis' own legions, enjoying a ferocious reputation and the greatest comfort possible in arnoria
jovis has, afterall, managed to create a center of learning and beauty and untold resources -- tho the knee must bend to access them
and he willingly and frequently turns away the hungry and the needy to whatever fate, that his own people may live in abundance
all this he does in the name of reviving civilization -- hard choices must be made, for the greater good of humanity, he says
and as, slowly, he begins to buy into his own legend, he begins to believe to, that he's the man to make them
he looks into impossibilities such as taming firedrakes and wyrms as fighting assets for his army, tho so far its only result is fire and blood
there may be a fight to come, after all, if the khaldians ever learn that one of their own, SYBIL KLEIO IKONOMOS was lost in troha
particularly as his succession is unstable, and khaldia has a means of pressing a claim through his secret child, HESTIA KOKINOS
now, with AOMON AERYN dead, jovis sees an opportunity to claim power over all arnoria by installing himself as the future high king
both in the tourney, and in the summit leading to it, he means to press his advantage
and right now, that includes making his cronies council members in order to give himself greater control in all that is to come...
PRINCE HANNO SARION TURINUS (32) Austin Butler - RESERVED BY LIZZY
Status: Ilusan/Ilian
Condition: Human
Position: Prince of Ilusos/Prince of Iliam/Free Gladiator
Alignment: Iliam
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Jovis Turinus (adopted father/council member), Lia Parsys (adopted stepmother/potential future bride), Coryn Atamon (cousin/rival/potential adoptive brother/potential council member), Kleio Ikonomos (missing cousin), Rostam Somm (gladiatorial beneficiary/training partner), Findon Aeryn (former best friend), Vida Arion, Adalet Atamon, Aspasia Parsys, Ziva Xirath (potential future brides), Hestia Kokinos (sybil/unknown potential future bride)
what is now iliam was once the remnants of an even older realm
ilusos was, in its day, the reigning power in the region
but when JOVIS rose up, he cast ilusos down and took all that it had for his own
including the murdered king's son, hanno
only a small child at the time, hanno has always regarded jovis as his true father, and striven in every way to please him
he would do anything to finally achieve his love or, at the least, his respect -- even if that means murdering and overthrowing him
particularly as he's feeling rejected just now
while hanno has always believed himself to be the de facto heir, jovis' new trohan captive, CORYN ATAMON, being adopted is a threat
and one he means to deal with absolutely
it wouldn't be the first time, after all -- much to jovis' continuous frustration, the previous imperatrix never conceived
jovis never realized it was all down to hanno: secretly poisoning her, a little at a time -- now he's meant to do the same to the new wife
yet, now that he's considering assassinating jovis and usurping his throne, other thoughts have entered his mind abt LIA
what better way to secure his position than to wed her, when jovis is dead, and thus showcase a certain continuity of reign
or, another possibility has also presented itself
her sister, ASPASIA, could serve a similar function while preventing any fears that a child of his might actually be a child of jovis'
and, besides, he and lia are already decidedly enemies
or, with rumors of ADALET ATAMON's survival, might he wed her and thus unite the claims of troha and ilusos?
and thus rise to his throne as a conquering savior, just as jovis once did...
or perhaps the dual claims of ZIVA XIRATH might better serve?
his options are many, and he means to suss out which will best serve him on the road ahead -- just as soon as he has dealt with his rival
still, he must be circumspect even in that
with the summit rising, it would not due to kill coryn before his usefulness has entirely run out...
and, besides, perhaps there is an unspoken bond, now, with the only brother he has ever known, the only person w his own experiences...
entirely unknown to hanno is the fact that jovis has, already, sired a child of his own flesh but, conveniently for him, she is a daughter...
known for his violence and cruelty, hanno gained popularity fighting as a gladiator in iliam's arena
he's also known for having actively participated in the brutal massacre of troha, an act he considers an achievement...
and means to press this decided advantage of experience and name recognition when the tourney at last arrives
MAGON VARINUS/ARNE AGNAR (36) Ryan Gosling - TAKEN BY KATE AA
Status: Ilusan/Neskan
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer/Augur)
Position: Khaldian/Rebel/Scientist/Augur/Exile
Alignment: Freedom
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Hirom Varinus (deceased father), Kyore Floros (deceased wife), Severin Varinus (brother), Seph-0-ne (android), Leila Arion, Espen Hakon, Runar Solberg (enemy)
the name varinus means rebellion, now, in ilusos
when magon was yet a child, his father rose up against the revolution of JOVIS, trying to take back their homeland from ilium
magon, who had been given to the khaldians to be trained, was stolen back as only an acolyte, becoming a child soldier for his father
alongside his brother, severine
in the penultimate battle the freefighters ever waged, magon was injured, a thing which he now believes saved his life
unable to fight, he was left behind when his family marched off to fight what would prove to be the last battle
the rebellion was smashed, his father put to death horrifically and publicly, and his brother forced to fight in the arena afterwards
magon doesn't know much more, assuming doom came for the boy
for his own part, magon was warned and fled into the desert
he is believed to have perished of his wounds
no longer able to seek sanctuary with the khaldians -- having abandoned their training -- he escaped into the wastes
having received forbidden scientific training from his father in the years leading up to the war, he leaned on this skill for survival
soon enough, however, his lonesome wanderings -- and use of science -- came to an abrupt end as he fell in w the neskans
there, realizing he was a wytch, he was trained as an augur after narrowly managing to assimilate to their culture -- and thus survive
a genius, gifted with the trifold powers of soothsayer, augur, and scientist, magon -- now arne -- has always been arrogant
and, clever as he is, overestimates his own talents in a dangerous way to all around him
tho he is blind to this himself in his reckless, single-minded pursuit of knowledge and potency
secretly combining all these skills, he quickly rose in his training as an augur -- and has gone on to invent his own system
however, these heretical ideas saw him labeled as a heretic by RUNAR SOLBERG
now, he wanders the desert, a wanted man once more
yet, these wanderings brought him perhaps his greatest treasure as through them he met a fellow anti-jovian rebel on the run
her name was KYORE, a young woman escaping the ruins of jovis' bloody conquest of troha
traveling together, the pair soon fell in love and were eventually wed
one day, they happened upon a sight no living mortal had ever seen: the decaying remnants of a crashed ship from the ancient empire
little could be salvaged from it, save a wrecked android body which arne worked on obsessively, leaving kyore to her own devices
but disaster struck when kyore tragically died
desperately, using his forbidden trifold skills, he managed to contain her spirit within the robotic body he'd found
and finally managed to power up again
now, he the two once again wander the wastes
but blinded by guilt and grief -- arne refuses to acknowledge that his creation may be something other than the woman he loves...
PRINCE CALLIAS XIRATH (29) Theo James - OPEN
Status: Dorraini
Condition: Wytch (Soothsayer)
Position: Prince of Dorrain
Alignment: Freehold/Dorrain
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Agathon Xirath (father/prince regent of dorrain/king consort of syrrar/council member), Vesna Koskei (stepmother/council member), Ziva Xirath (distant cousin), Aouine Aeryn (betrothed), Ziva Xirath (cousin), Vida Arion (best friend/former secret attachment/interest), Kresimir Koskei, Audun Marr (best friends)
expectation has been the theme of callias' life
the son of an ambitious father who has managed to finagle his way to claims upon not one but two crowns, pressure has been his mainstay
callias' own dreams, however, are utterly unlike those of his father
his life has been a series of dramas, while callias has only ever wanted peace
his father has had a long parade of wives over the years, with the disputed queen of syrrar only the latest
callias had to watch, helpless, as his own mother suffered her fate -- ignored save for whatever she might do for her husband
now a similar fate is being visited upon yet another, and, though pitted against her by circumstance, callias can do naught but pity her
not unlike his father's wives, callias is one of many -- a seventh son, just like his father before him, trapped by a disastrous family
he fights to hold them together as best he can, but nothing he ever does seems to stem the drama
now, it seems his own time has come as his father has announced callias' betrothal to AOUINE AERYN, an utter stranger
which is disastrous timing as callias recently embarked upon an illegal mission: secretly trying to change the world for the better
taking a wife who might notice his illicit dealings seems a near-untenable notion, but he doesn't know how to avoid it
and its worth the risk to aid the resistance -- the people of arnoria are suffering, and it's his duty as royalty to do whatever he can to help
callias has always been a champion of the downtrodden -- though until now always by legal means, but he's realized it's not enough
it doesn't matter to him what happens to him -- he has to do what's right, and damn the consequences
his father has given him another stricture as well -- callias will be fighting in the tourney, whether he wills it or not
as perhaps the most skilled archer of his generation, he does stand a good chance, but callias has made a promise to himself
while the games are intended to be a bloodbath, callias means to take not even a single life, whatever happens to him as a result
and to help those innocents trapped between these royal wars however he can
he's conjured a plan to this end -- callias means to steal all the wealth and supplies he can from those who have more than enough
and give them to the needy -- as well as whatever meager protection he can conjure, by recruiting a band of likeminded individuals to help
that will be his legacy in the games -- achieve those ends, or die trying
and, going into the summit, callias has his eye on this essential prize
it's a small act of rebellion, perhaps -- but maybe the most important one, too
PRINCESS ZIVA XIRATH (appears 34) Morfydd Clark - OPEN
Status: Syrrari
Condition: Wytch/Vamp-Hybrid
Position: Princess of Syrrar
Alignment: Dorrain/Self
Starting: Freehold
Relationship(s): Grigori Xirath (deceased father), Lada Koskei (mother), Findon Aeryn (half-brother), Callias Xirath, Kresimir Koskei, Vesna Koskei (distant cousins), Aomon Aeryn (deceased stepfather), Aouine Aeryn, Endreth Aeryn, Islandriel Aeryn (stepsisters), Miralas Aeryn (stepsister/best friend), Traian Brutanis (interest)
a glittering jewel, and she knows it, she’s out here to play it big
it's true that she wants her brother to do well
after all it's helpful to have powerful allies, even when ur at the top, but…not ~that well
after all, she has not a drop of aomon’s blood and, frankly, she’s determined that ~she shall be the one enthroned
her mother might not think it possible, but this is one place where she fully intends to prove the woman wrong
ruthless and cunning, she’s always felt overshadowed by her stepsisters whom their father unabashedly preferred
determined to prove herself and take her place amongst the worthy, and within his affections (even if posthumously), she plots her way towards his throne, whatever it takes…
besides, she's got a claim to three thrones (even if all three are weak) but this one's the most embattled -- may the strongest win
she's got a strategy, too: blood isn't the best deciding factor in leading kingdoms, and she's not the only one who knows it
ziva is intent upon entering the games and, when she does, holding a contest within the tourney, to sort out the strongest of every group
to the greatest warrior will go her hand in marriage -- and the rest she shall make her queensguard, the greatest knights in all arnoria
and she will provide a better life for them all
to that end, she's hoarding all the supplies she can and already courting sponsors to aid her in the games...
and she intends to ruthlessly punish any who cross her
its not that she wishes to harm anyone, really, but she knows she has to show strength
its the only bargaining chip she's got in the war to come
and ziva's nothing if not a planner
she has already announced that if she ever catches anyone stealing from her, she will imprison them in a cage over a burning fire to slowly roast alive, and see how well they like her cookfires, then
it was a drunken boast about how she would handle her games, true, but now she feels honor-bound to follow through
because, whatever else is true, she knows popularity lies with her stepsisters and blood with her brother
once again, strength is all she has
