to have trained in the arudous art of magic , to have endured agonising bruises from bitter mistakes , tolerated the stringent demands of the order , undergone painful mental and physical changes to be the perfect protector for mankind … and then asked to perform a silly little magic show for the queen’s nameday . it was completely and utterly humiliating . so after it all , she scurried as far away from the excessively exorbitant festivities , away from the the little children who wanted to see her levitate a leave , away from the possessive balding noble - men who reeked of ale . and she found herself in an empty hallway , seated on the windowsill of one of the castle’s many , many windows . but then she heard footsteps . she stood up quickly , taking her dagger from its sheath and pinning the intruder against the wall with her forearm against their chest and the blade just an itch away from their neck . all in a matter of seconds . “ no one ever taught you not to sneak up on a temarian ? ”
MEI WAS WANDERING the halls herself after the show that was put on for the queen. she had sat beneath the dais only a few hours prior, next to her fellow high lords and ladies. she maintained her usual cold, stoic face as she watched both girls, her daughter and her friend, reduce the powers they used to protect the realm into nothing more than something to watch while eating soup. as usual, she internalized her rage as her father taught her to do so long ago. instead, she took leave from the hall. the sound of commotion up ahead made the high lady walk slightly faster, silks and lace rustling as she advanced. she came upon her daughter, holding some unnamed man at knife point. it took her all she had to suppress the smile that so badly wanted to pull at her lips. “katya.” stern, the name echoes through the empty hallway. “impressive reflexes. let him go. i won’t have my children terrorizing the good people of brightwater keep at knifepoint.” the words are spoken out of duty ---- there were too many ears around the keep at any given time, especially with the celebrations running their course. she would have to congratulate and apologize for the interruption later, when they were truly alone.
who: high lord brannon celtigar and anyone !!
when: queen constanza’s name day celebration, day one
where: the terrace, right off of the great hall, brightwater keep
nobles milled about the great hall, sharing refreshment & small talk about the journey to the capital. brannon himself participated in the idle chatter for the better part of an hour, only now pausing to take in a bout of fresh air.
he slipped away from the merriment, and stood near a terrace that overlooked the capital. the king was growing madder by the day, and his decisions were beginning to beginning to impact the realm. he was outright refusing to meet with the small counsel, lest at least three of his kingsguard were present in the chamber with him. fearing what, exactly, brannon wasn’t particularly sure. if there was such threat to the king, it would surely follow him beyond the tower of the hand. the fool. just yesterday, king felipe had overruled yet another one of brannon’s appointments, and the high lord was beginning to lose his patience.
his ponderings were interrupted when he heard footsteps. someone interested to join him. brannon allowed the tension to roll off his shoulders, easing his stance before turning & raising his goblet to them. “a fine day for our seven kingdoms to come together,” he mused aloud, cutting across the silence. “ is it not? ”
QUEEN COSTANZA WAS blessed with a name day celebration ---- and all mei got was a pulsing migraine straining on the nerves behind her eyes. as master of law, and as kingsport’s reputation for crime her late husband had allowed to grow into some immense monstrosity, the migraine was more than justified. the day had been going relatively smoothly, though she was glad to have appointed her personal guard to watch over the nobles, and her lesser warriors who sought so badly to prove themselves out in the streets. just in case. even so, she allowed herself a moment’s respite by heading to a terrace tucked by the great hall.
the raven-haired lady was not surprised to see her fellow council member here. tensions in the council meetings were increasing at an alarming rate. dark eyes had watched brannon and felipe butt heads more and more frequently. despite her distrust of the hand, she couldn’t help but to take his side more oft than not recently. however, the last thing any of them needed was to have the whole realm watch as their king crumbled. though mei had never liked her king much, having anyone outside the small council share her views was dangerous for them all.
“that it is, my lord.” she took a deep breath of the fresh air as she joined his side. “let’s just hope we can get ten consecutive days of this.” she clasped her hands together, glancing out towards kingsport. she always hated this city, though she had to admit it had it’s charms. “i shall not rest easily until this...this is all over with.” she almost said madness. almost.
the evening had barely begun, and rúairí had found himself to be half cut already. he had drawn the attention to himself that he so desperately wanted after a half effort jab at a nobleman in the form of song, yet he craved even more. with a fresh goblet of wine, he approaches a body from behind and grins to himself, knowing he was either about to receive another joyous laugh or a punch in the face. “evening, wench!” he greets the figure, downing his wine in one quick gulp. “care to get me another drink?” he asks, raising an eyebrow in a cheeky fashion. he knew he could get in trouble tonight; it was almost as if he craved chaos in his life. he figured he had made the right decision leaving his beloved frog companion, swamp, at home for the night.
WILLIAM WAS UPSET he’d missed the evening’s main event. whispers were already floating around about how a certain bard created a song about a noble falling into a fountain. he had been gambling in the corner of an alehouse, and managed to win over some poor squire’s invitation to the feast. he’s only been here for five minutes that he hears a much too familiar voice. he turns, incredulous smile on his face. “rúairí. i should have known you’d be the only sot dumb enough to write a song about a nobleman falling from grace and into a fountain.” he’s quick to finish his own wine. it’s been years since he’s seen the other. rúairí had been the first person william connected with after escaping the sect. he didn’t think he’d ever see him again. “remember me?” he asks, grin spreading to reveal pearly whites. apart from all the scarring and tattoos, william was a new man, with ten years of real world experience and ( too much ) confidence.
asha was beaming as she stepped off the stage with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. as soon as her silken slipper touched the ground, she looked around for rúairí as he was the only reason she had even volunteered to perform the role of lyria, but soon friends and well-wishers flocked around her and she got lost in endless conversations about the music, the death monologue of her character and her newly announced betrothal to lord eddard celtigar. when she finally broke free from the small crowd, she went straight to one of the servants carrying a golden tray stacked with goblets of red wine. she downed almost half the goblet in one gulp and turned around to go back to her small group of friends, but asha ended up colliding with a body and almost spilling the precious red drops on herself. “oh sh- i mean forgive me,” she apologised thoughtlessly with an automatic smile before even registering whom she had rudely stumbled into.
IT ALL HAPPENED so fast. all he wanted was a glass of red wine to drown the memories that had surfaced seeing asha’s face on stage. instead, he ran right into a beacon of all he had been running from for ten years. he felt like he couldn’t breathe ---- of course she didn’t recognize him. they were children when her parents brought her into the sect to help cure her of her childhood sickness. he only had a few tattoos and barely any scars then. “i ---- yeah, i mean, of course you’re forgiven. i’m the one walking too close to ladies, apparently. sorry.” his hands tremor slightly as he tries to rationalize that she doesn’t know him. he is a different person now. he left the kid who stood above her closed eyes and helped heal her down in the sect’s caves. there was nothing left of that child, yet he was still racked with fear at the appearance of the lady of erys. “did any get on you?” he asked quickly, averting his gaze from her own.
CLOSED starter for @immcrtalhearts
TIME: evening of the seventh day.
LOCATION: masquerade party.
WILLIAM IS PRACTICALLY running up the steps to the mansion. he swiped the invite from some drunk lord at the tourney earlier today - he wouldn’t dare miss a mysterious masquerade ball. though a black mask covers his eyes, the black ink of tattoos snaking up his neck and down his hands were a dead giveaway, if anyone even knows who he is. he’s lugging a cask of spiced wine in a barrow, and uses what little magic he has left today to pull it up the steps and with him into the hall. he catches the first person he sees’ arm, and points to the wine. “excuse me, do you know where i can set this? and then proceed to drown in it?” he asks, wicked grin pulling at his lips as he taps the oaken cask with pride.
CLOSED starter for @immcrtalhearts
TIME: morning of the eighth day, right after dawn.
LOCATION: zuko’s chambers.
MEI STORMS INTO the room, silks sweeping the floors as she glares into the darkness. a hand grabs at the heavy velvet drapes, ripping them from the window to bathe the room in light. she sees zuko tangled in his sheets, and she crosses her arms at the sight. “what in seven hells do you suppose you were doing last night?” her voice cracks like a whip at her eldest son. her only true heir had always been the most mischievous of her three children. when news of the masquerade party thrown by none other than zuko reached her ears this morning, the rage consumed her. this was not how she wanted temaria to be remembered on the queen’s nameday celebrations. she could only hope the anonymous invitations stayed anonymous. “you better pray to the seven that our name does not get associated with this.”
CLOSED starter for @gildedthcrns
TIME: seventh day of celebrations, some time in the evening.
LOCATION: an inn near the tourney grounds.
IT TAKES ALL of mei’s carefully constructed composure not to leave the tourney grounds with a smug smile. nothing lifts her spirits quite like breaking a heart or two, publicly so. she finds herself sitting in a private room at the back of the nearest inn, hiding her smiles behind the overfilled wine cup. dark eyes watch as ismira walks in. leather-clad feet kick out a chair for the hallower, eyes filling with warmth at her one true ally. “i thought we could benefit from some privacy.” she explains as she motions to the dimly lit room, the muted sounds of chaos and music wafting from the common room. “i honestly did not expect the man to cry.” a dry chuckle leaves her lips before taking another sip of the fruity red wine. “tell me true, mira. was i too merciless? do you think he’ll survive the heartbreak?” she couldn’t care less about his feelings ---- mostly, she just doesn’t want another pathetic death tied to her name.
CLOSED starter for @ladymilla
TIME: morning of the sixth day.
LOCATION: forest just outside of kingsport.
“THANKS AGAIN FOR helping me, milla.” he’s slightly out of breath as they stop to lean on a tree, and finally william takes the time to look around the forest. they are far away from the kingdom he spends most of his time in ---- and closer than he is comfortable with to erys. he’s spent his nights in kingsport drinking, and it was finally catching up to him. william is supposed to set up a booth later today with his renowned love potions, but he was swept away at the beginning of the week and never actually got around to it. thankfully, milla offered what help she could.
“gods, i don’t think i’ve ever had this much wine in such a short period of time.” his head feels like someone shoved cotton balls up into his brain, and his words come out in a slight rasp, from all the yelling. “the first thing we need to get is daisy nectar. shout if you see a cluster of daisies.”
CLOSED starter for @ladymilla
TIME: first day of celebrations, right before the feast.
LOCATION: brightwater keep, mei’s quarters.
GRACEFUL SLIPPERED FEET pace the length of the small solar as mei fidgets with a delicate silver bracelet. she ends up throwing the valuable item onto a side table, instead looking around to find something to fix. the rooms were modest, but mei rarely spent time in her quarters when she was in town for small council meetings. they had a musty, shut up smell to them, and mei suspected the maids dare not enter her chambers, even when she was far off in temaria. the faint knock on the heavy oak of the door brings mei from her reverie, and a small, tight smile etches itself on her features as she pulls open the door for milla to enter. genuine smiles from mei were long forgotten.
mei had sent out a note as soon as she caught word that the lady had arrived, as she wanted to catch her before the feast. she owed it to the girl’s late mother to make sure she was prepared before the first event of the week. “welcome to kingsport, my lady.” the smile grows slightly wider as she takes the younger girl in for a short-lived embrace. “how was the voyage?” mei asks milla as her eyes do a once over of the girl, approving of her look for the feast. “are you well prepared for tonight?”
♛ 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓 ♛ — WILLIAM DARKMAGE the WOODSWITCH from ERYS. tales of this TWENTY-EIGHT year old CISMALE tell of their CHARISMATIC & OPEN-MINDED nature, but beware, for they are also UNRELIABLE & IMMATURE. the gossips whisper they use HE/HIM pronouns and look strangely like TARON EGERTON. but i’ve also heard they bring images of SKIN ETCHED WITH TATTOOS AND SCARS, NEVER TRULY ABLE TO FORGET WHERE THEY ARE FROM; SLEEPLESS NIGHTS FILLED WITH MEMORIES OF A SHORT-LIVED CHILDHOOD; WICKED GRIN PULLING AT WINE STAINED LIPS to mind. how will their story unfold?
TW: blood, child abuse
no one truly knows who or where william came from. his first memory is of having his hand cut at four for his blood, to be used in a secret ino’hr ritual. the rest of his childhood was much the same. the sorcerers in the sect did not bother to even give him a name. he was simply a shadow on most every day ---- those special days, they used his innocent body for whatever ritual needed, usually leaving him with scars, burns, or tattoos of runes. at this point, it’s deduced he was sold off from a poor fisherwoman to one of the sect’s followers.
he gave himself the name william darkmage at age ten, and resolved to learn of all the magic and powers his elders possessed, and used him for as well. he could have ended up being a hallower ---- his burst of magic came like any other at a young age. though it was kept hidden deep in the caves that belonged to the dark god. instead of going through the usual rigorous training of the others who demonstrated his ability, he barely got away with learning to read and write. most of his time was spent in the deep caves, brewing potions and getting tattooed for differing reasons, none of which he ever was aware of.
at sixteen, he managed to gather up all the knowledge he’d learned and subdue his kidnappers, making his way to the surface. the boy hadn’t seen sunlight in at least ten years. it was hard, to adjust to the outer world, the real one, but he was able to make a way for himself. he decided to travel all over the seven kingdoms, his tattoos and wicked grin drawing curious stares. he learned the ways of the wood witches. he knew he was capable of so much more, though his night terrors and subsequent trauma from his childhood abuse keeps him, to this day, of accessing his true powers.
instead, he drinks his way through the kingdoms, healing the smallfolk as best he can, giving them potions and telling their fortunes for what little hey can give him - a roof over his head, a hot meal.
his past haunts him every day, yet he puts up a wall, coming off as a sarcastic, charming man-child who travels the world. in the back of his mind, he is always worried someone of the sect will find him and bring him back to finish off the rituals they needed him so badly for as a child.
♛ 𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓 ♛ — MEI CESARE the HIGH LADY and MEMBER OF THE SMALL COUNCIL of TEMARIA. tales of this FIFTY-ONE year old CIS FEMALE tell of their CUNNING & FEARLESS nature, but beware, for they are also SEVERE & VENGEFUL. the gossips whisper they use SHE/HER pronouns and look strangely like LUCY LIU. but i’ve also heard they bring images of THE SCRAPE OF STEEL AGAINST ITS LEATHER SCABBARD, A CONSTELLATION OF BRUISES ON PALE RIBS AND WHISPERS OF SCHEMES IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT to mind. how will their story unfold?
TW: death and a hint of murder (mayhaps?).
for full effect you can listen to this playlist while reading. wc page should be up soon!
mei cesare was born on a stormy winter night in the highest tower of hearthall. she came into this world kicking and screaming, and she hopes to leave it one day the same way. she was the only living child of the high lord and lady of temaria, their prized possession - their legacy. she grew up surrounded by people fawning over her, never getting more than a few minutes alone. though she could have grown to be a spoiled, sheltered lady, she sprouted a different way - a delicate rose with thorns that easily draw blood, if you’re not careful.
her father personally instructed her in the ways of war, recounting the good and the bad stories from his years in the battlefield. her favorite lessons were the ones to be had in the courtyard. she could disarm and win a hand to hand combat with men twice her size, as early as thirteen.
she was always a tomboy, never truly enjoyed the lessons in being a lady, but her mother stressed that she was destined for greatness - combat wouldn’t cut it alone. she diligently learned her lessons, for the hope that someday they would be useful to her. mei cesare never had time for things that weren’t useful to her.
at age seventeen, her mother caught ill, and it was her dying wish to see her daughter married. mei absolutely refused, but her father was stern, and there was no room for arguing. they found her suitor from a lower branch of a house that needed a favorable alliance. she tried to run away, yet that didn’t work. then, she tried to scare off her suitor and eventual husband, arthur. he was a dim, meek man, and her attempts to ruin the betrothal fell on deaf, dumb ears.
they were married at eighteen, and that was the day mei felt like she died. the first few years of marriage were dutiful, passionless nights, and eyerolls as she watched her husband drink their marriage away. when the crown sought out a new master of law, mei, nine months pregnant and absolutely done with her husbands shit, sent him off to be on the small council and out of her hair. he rarely ever came home - though that was no surprise. he was getting bribed left and right as master of law, letting the corruption and lawlessness grow under his ignorant nose as he wined and slept his way through kingsport.
during that time, mei fell in love, truly and completely. a gallant knight he was. brave, strong, intelligent, capable. she gave him two children. she was now mother of three, only one being her legitimate child. she always loved her children dearly and equally. though she was a severe and lawful, god fearing woman, her children were her children, and she would not stand for any inequality between them.
she kept arthur in the dark, though her father was furious at her, and ordered the knight beheaded for treason. he forced mei to watch the execution. after that, she threw herself in the education of her children, trying to keep busy from the heartbreak. her father passed away of a heart attack a few months later, making mei the high lady of temaria.
when arthur finally came home, he was a different man. his ego had blown up. he was a nasty, prideful man who stank of wine. mei uncovered a scheme he’d devised to send her natural children away. days later, arthur was found in the stables, bottle of wine in hand and kicked in the head by a horse. both deaths are rumored to be of mei’s hand. no one knows if it is true, but anyone to speak them in her hearing loses their tongue.
now that her husband has passed, she has stepped into the role of master of law. she hates how kingsport is run with the rampant corruption,genuinely despising her husband for the ruin of lawlessness he created, though she’s smart enough not to make any drastic changes with the mental state of the king. instead, she bides her time equally between kingsport and stone’s meadow with her children.
germansingergirl
discoholicmusic
annaxmalina
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
romaincrisis
