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❛I need you to promise me that you won't tell anyone. You're the only one who knows. I know I should tell them, but what would I say? If they knew, they'd look at me differently, they'd be afraid. So now that you know, when you look at me, what do you see? Do you see this face? Or the one covered in blood? Can you forget it? I can't. That's why we keep secrets, because the truth changes everything. I need you to tell me if there will ever be a time when I close my eyes and I don't see it? When will it stop?❜

♧ Title: A Rope In Hand [ARIH]

♧ Status: Brainstorming & Drafting

♧ Point of View: Third Person, active, I'm going to try actively doing limited so this will be a challenge

♧ Genre: Fantasy, Drama, Supernatural Elements, a dabble of romance

♧ Warnings: Torture, cults, witch-hunts, The use of religious beliefs to commit atrocities, generational curses, witch trials, deaths, tragic endings, violence, gore, star crossed lovers, forbidden romance, toxic and abusive parental relationships, homophobia; there's probably plenty I'm missing.

♧ Featuring: Diverse LGBTQ+ characters, complex and complicated relationships, homoromantic main relationship, morally grey characters, complex world building, slow-burn relationships, plenty of symbolism, witches, fantasy religions, soulmate trope, unlearning toxic beliefs

♧ Setting: A fantasy West European setting, specifically Britain and Ireland inspired, with a possible mention of a few others.

♧ Tease: In a town of gods fearing people, the only thing left to do is kneel and pray. Plagued by the liars, thieves and killers. Controlled by crooked politicians and preachers. The gods are shaking their heads, turning away from this town absorbed in sin. Can it be saved? Can the plague be ridden? No. The true question is.. Does it deserve saving?

♧ Synopsis:

In the town of Arkaley, in the northwest of the Duchy of Ruairc, the people have been plagued by bad fortune and crime. Attacks of bandits on the road, raids from pirates on the shores, untimely deaths of children and young women, elected officials coming out corrupt; there is no end in Arkaley of the suffering the locals endure.

Rationally, to explain such a bad string of luck, there is only one possible explanation: Witchcraft.

The Duchy of Ruairc already has a history of witchcraft: the Ó Ruaircs turned out to be witches, the Abondé incident in Salem, the Liathain incident in Trakee; the Ruaircs have their record. Perfectly acceptable for everyone to assume the worse of the Ruairish, as they have proved to be nothing but.

To prove his worth, the young Reverend Prudence Clemency Frye, takes up the task of quelling this coven of witches and heading this witch-hunt. Young and naïve, witch only knowledge from books and little hands on experience, he’s unprepared for this challenge. When he finally leaves the town, well... everyone would rather put this incident behind them.

♧ Excerpt

"— But should the people not question who you are?!"

Any words to be spoken were cut off by the click of heels over the smooth wooden floor and the raised voice. All eyes turned to the only one that would have the nerve to interrupt the sermon in process. Some looks of awe. Some of sudden respect. Some from annoyance.

None of them mattered, not to Prudence. He kept hold of the neck of the bottle in one hand and strode forward. He had been drinking since last night, it was a miracle he managed not to stagger in his steps. He could see the annoyance building up behind his father's eyes, at his sudden appearance— at the disrespect he was showing.

Who was he to care?

For once in his life, he felt no fear towards this man.

Prudence only stopped when he stood by one of the pews he walked passed, mere feet from where his father stood. The hand unoccupied with the bottle raised to gesture to the man. He remained quiet, pointing to his father, before he scoffed and waved his finger.

On his heels, he spun back around, to face the people; a scowl of his own finding his features, accompanied by a bitter tone to his voice. ".... For who else would the Devil appear but in disguise of our Maker?"

♧ Characters: There is a full cast of characters, I have separated them into a few categories to help with organization: You will find in order, witch-hunters, and then the coven of witches

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♧ Prudence Clemency Frye; The Reverend Intersex • Genderfluid • He/They • Homosexual • Homo-demiromantic

The bastard son of Lord Zachariah Frye. Raised by his father, with his mother dying young, he took to following in his footsteps. He became a religious young man and an active witch-hunter. A part of him desires his father’s acceptance, his praises; the other part despises his father and everything the man stands for. In recent years, he has joined the De La Cruz household, becoming an apprentice beneath the famous Witch’s Advocate; upholding the beliefs that not every witch is evil and has foul intentions, and the ones that mean harm are the only ones that should be hunted.

♧ Zachariah Frye; The Bloodhound Male • He/Him • Heterosexual • Aromantic

The oldest living member of the Order. Now he is the man that holds the face of the Order, who you think of when they come to mind. Cold. Vindictive. Despotic. Violent. He is not a good man. He is firm in his beliefs and stubborn to change. Once his mind is made up, he cannot be reasoned with. He is blindly convinced of his beliefs and his cause to eradicate every living witch, unfazed if he has to fill a few innocent thousands in the process.

♧ Calisto Ferzan Hermengildo Melchior Lorencio De La Cruz; The Witch's Advocate Amab • Genderfluid • He/They • Asexual • Aromantic

A witch-hunter in title alone, Calisto has been making enemies since he could first talk. He's always enjoyed being the underdog, going against the expectations of society, being ridiculed by his peers. The sole reason? Proving them wrong. To ridicule his own peers for their outdated beliefs, he's taken to defending witches, proving them innocent of their 'crimes', and going on to help them to set up a life in a country more accepting of witchcraft.

♧ Myk'loumihr [Michelotto Dougal] Siavash; The Man-Servant Amab • Agender • He/They • Asexual • Aromantic

The servant of Calisto, never seen far from his side. He is servant in name alone, and is more-or-less an assassin, a hitman for Calisto. Held in contempt by Athylian society for being a foreigner, he often treated by others more as a slave than a servant. To help be unseen, to help the De La Cruz Household, Michelotto endures the treatment, and goes as far to be perceived as ignorant, alongside him being born a mute. Keeping his true intents and intelligence duly guarded, only a handful are aware he is also a witch.

━━━━━━━━━━

♧ Karayan [Ianira] Than Blackburn; The Dark Devourer Intersex • Genderfluid • He/They • Pansexual • Grey-Aromantic

An ancient witch that has adopted several identities over the years, his current one being Lord Blackburn, a member of Athylian parliament. A high member of society, he keeps his identity a secret, as he never slips what his true intentions are. God-touched from a young age, he acts on behalf of his deity, adopting their identity and all. To appease his deity, he has begun supplying assistance and guidance to the coven of Arkaley, using them to fulfil his own personal agenda. He prefers to stay behind letters, using a servant to relay his order and acting as his envoy to the coven.

♧ Anisha Kaur; The Servant Afab • Demigirl • She/They • Asexual • Aromantic

The acting servant of Barion, Anisha’s true loyalties lie with Ianira. She stays within the town, serving the coven, while acting as his eyes and ears. She is the one to relay information and letters between the coven and Ianira. She is a quiet woman, that keeps her head down and her mind to herself. She only shows her true, confident and demanding, nature behind closed doors with the coven when they dare to question her.

♧ Dairine Ó Séaghdha; The Crone Afab • Agender • She/They • Asexual • Aromantic

The oldest member of the coven, Dairine lives under the guise of an elderly woman, who lives alone with her children and grandchildren already leaving her to live their own lives. She is a kind and understanding woman, and cares for the younger witches in the coven. She will not support Baríon with her agenda, nor does she care for the servant girl, she even despises the so-called ally Baríon claims to have and who they all adhere to.

♧ Baríon Nolc Baoghal; The Town’s Head Female • She/Her • Bisexual • Aromantic

The woman in charge of the town, widowed and inheriting the right to rule as her husband had no heirs. She is a manipulative and dangerous woman, eager to commit any sin or crime for more power. She, in truth, cares only for herself and would feel no remorse if she had to turn on one of her coven to further her own agenda.

♧ Leary O'Laoghaire; The Magistrate Male • He/Him • Heterosexual • Aromantic

The magistrate and also the chief policeman of the town. He maintains a calm, but manipulative personality. As a front he presents himself to be fair and just, liked and favored by the people for genuinely caring for them. While in truth he has his own heinous and sinister agenda, aiding Baríon in her plans.

♧ Abban MacClery; The Minister Male • He/Him • Asexual • Aromantic

The town’s minister. Abban only stepped into the role to further secure power within the town for the coven. Personally, he cares little for religion. He prefers to indulge himself however he likes: booze, sex, fighting; you name it. He isn’t your ideal minister, but the towns-people never speak against him.

♧ Ceann Ó Buachalla; The Baker Female • She/Her • Bisexual • Demiromantic

The town’s baker, she owns a small family business that functions as a small café. She keeps to herself and stays out of the affair of the coven. She wishes a good life for her daughter, thus she does what she believes is best to secure Liannah’s happiness. She is an introverted woman, allowing her daughter to be the face of their business, and being a private woman, close to a small handful.

♧ Asa de Paor; The Healer Afab • Queer • He/She • Homosexual • Homo-Demiromantic

The town doctor, Asa is a peculiar woman. During the week, she is found to be a man, on her days off and the weekend she is a woman. She is a kind woman, never turning away anyone in need. Nor does she share the heinous intentions of the coven, she looks for her out of the coven and to move to be a solitary witch at any given time she can.

♧ Alkyone Iordanou; The Pirate Transfem • Nonbinary • They/Them • Pansexual • Aromantic

Originally not a member of the coven, Alkyone was brought in through being paid to do the coven’s dirty work. A rogue pirate, a small-fry compared to the big names such as Kaimana Peisinoe, Edvard Ó Cochláin, Sabir Rouge, and all the other pirates that sail beneath The Liberty. They prefer the smaller life, not having a giant bounty on their head. Currently, they are loyal to the coven, however their loyalty can be bought for an easy price.

♧ Nathir O'Laoghaire; The Magistrate’s Son Amab • Agender • He/Him • Bisexual • Aromantic

The charming son of Leary. Many whisper that is part fae, due to his charm, if it’s true or not many are unaware. He is a very sophisticated young man, that has managed to wrap the entire town around his finger. While on the surface he is alike his father is a caring, compassionate, charming young man, something sinister brews beneath. He is devious, demanding, domineering.

♧ Liannah Ó Buachalla; The Baker's Daughter Afab • Genderfluid • She/They • Asexual • Panromantic

Being Ceann’s daughter, Liannah helps around the bakery and family business. Unlike the company she keeps, she is a reserved young woman. She is polite and maintains her manners with whomever she is dealing with. She has the patience of a saint and rarely loses her cool. Liannah is the woman with a calm demeanor about her, being a woman many are comfortable around due to her peaceful and calm aura.

♧ Mastema Farrell Baoghal; The Knave Amab • Genderfluid • He/They • Pansexual • Demiromantic

Baríon’s bastard son she had with a fiend she bargained with for more power. Since he was young, he was raised by the servants of the house, and the coven, over his own mother; the two have more of a business relationship over a familia one. Since he cares less what his mother does, he spends his time with Liannah and Reyes, either at the bakery or getting into trouble somewhere. With Reyes as an influence, Mastema is a flirtatious man that enjoys scandals and making the most of life

♧ Reyes Amor Bello; The Charlatan Amab • Queer • He/She • Pansexual • Aromantic

A foreigner to the Coven, born and raised in the Duchy of Incali. At a young age, he became a traveling charlatan, recently settling within the coven only as he befriended Liannah and Mastema and enjoyed their company. Now, he is the local bad influence: scamming locals out of their money at the taverns, wooing and seducing young men and ladies alike, always trespassing and vandalizing something. He is trouble, but has a heart of gold when it matters.

━━━━━━━━━━ Character list is liable to update as progress is made ━━━━━━━━━━

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