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Edling & Urux

Please do not post.

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Reigning Families:

➼ House Dietrich ▻

➼ The New House of Dietrich ▻ A detailed snake mark that encircles the marked's neck, consuming itself.

➼ House Leonatus ▻ A simple rune meaning protection. Can be located anywhere on the afflicted's body but always the size of a palm. Leonatus rule the docks and port, along with Ironbolt Prison.

➼ House Cazador ▻ A mark of Cazador is always obvious. Pressed onto the forehead of the marked is a single black diamond shape. The size can vary, it depends on how obvious the marker wants it to be. Cazador has links with all the underground crime in Kreah, no matter the circumstance he had a finger in every pie.

➼ House _____ (Niemir mark) ▻

➼ House Bataille ▻ A intricate crown with a pair of feathered wings sitting carefully on either side, with the wingspan extended enough from the back of the neck to be seen in near alignment with the lobes of their ears.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

Active Characters:

Sorren Warwick

Calliope Leonatus

Niemir Archambeau

Inka Yakovna

Samael Dietrich

Anjou Dietrich

Loïc Sante Bataille

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─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

Kreah: The great city of Kreah, known for it's dark underbelly of crime. Where corrupt merchants rule the streets and have the royal family in their pockets. Within this dark city is where they will find what they desire.

Kreah was created by the outcast magical members of society. No matter how human someone looked, if there was a lick of something else within them, they were sent to the island city. Initially banished by human society for a rebellious revoult, machinery and numbers quickly quelled the war. Soon enough, those that were left were escorted to Kreah and left to rot.

Except, they did not rot. They thrived, adapting to their new city with eagerness. A land to dominate with their own laws, or lack there of. The ruling families are the be all and end all of Kreah. Owners of gambling halls, taverns, fighting rings, Kreah families count on the human tourism not only to fill their coffers but to feed its inhabitants.

The lording houses have endless power and control in Kreah. Bending all to their will via their magical marks. If one turns to the powerhouses for help, then expect to be indebted to them for years if not your entire life.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

Notable Locations:

➼ The Late Moon Tarvern ▻ A ramshackle tavern in the seedier side of Kreah, frequented by many Marked and few humans. With two floors of flowing alcohol and bar fights, the following three floors consist of small inn-like rooms that can be rented out by effectively anyone.

➼ Slumside bridge ▻ A bridge that connects the two halves of the city, often a meeting point for many individuals. It sits above the canal that runs through the centre of the city, home to small row boats and the occassional river home.

➼ The Mausoleum ▻ The cemetery, or lack there of in Kreah due to its high population density, is a lovely cremetorium run by fire wielders. The dead are turned to ash and taken by their families or released into the wind. Very few are buried, mostly the lordships and they are laid to rest in their own grounds.

➼ Diamond Row ▻ A long winding street with giant houses, mansions, spaced out from each other. This is where the wealthy reside with iron gates, roaming guards and an absurd amount of magical protections. Many lordships reside on Diamond Row, but some may opt for a more out of the way location.

➼ Butcher Way ▻ The complete antithesis to Diamond Row, Butcher Way is where you can find the darkest individuals of Kreah. Many tiny, tall apartment style housing units stacked unceremoniously on top of each other in the slums. If you want to find a person to carry out your dirty work, this is where you go.

➼ Ironbolt Prison ▻ The only correctional facility on the island. Often housing the roughest criminals due to the nature of Kreah's inhabitants. Sometimes humans are sent there from the mainland if they have commited particularly horrid acts. It is a large off shore castle like structure made from heavy grey brick and iron, a literal stronghold.

➼ The Eternal Flame ▻ A well established blacksmith in Kreah with various locations and specialties. Magical metals are no problem for these blacksmiths to bend to their will.

➼ Soothing Dose ▻ A popular apothecary and undergrown doctor's quarters that are frequented by all that live in Kreah that cannot afford the traditionally trained medical assistance of the upper circles of the city. It is owned by Inka Yakovna. The interior is made of a dark mahogany wood, vintage decorations and endless glassware, dried herbs hanging from the ceilings with a constant incense aroma.

➼ The Voyage ▻ One of the three biggest gambling halls. Made of white alabaster limestone, it is a bright beacon in the streets of Kreah. Lined with golden statues and trimmings, The Voyage coaxes in the wealthiest human tourists making it a popular thievery spot. It is run by the _______ family. The white scheme is acompanied by a subtle nautical theme with gemstones and beautiful paintings. Here the most popular game is roulette.

➼ The Labyrinth ▻ Another of the biggest gambling halls. A darker theme emits from the large space, deep earthy tones made from wood and stone in the walls give the space a more ancient feeling. Enchanted plants poke out from the walls and dangle from the roof. It is owned by the _________ family. The most popular game here is bare-knuckle fights and the lovely betting that accompanies it.

➼ Space saver for 3rd gambling hall - thinking dark gothic, black, red etc ▻

➼ Venton Reef ▻ A portion of the shore that possesses a beautiful coral reef beneath the dark murky waves, home to many aquatic species. A popular walking spot for human tourists near the port.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .*:☆ﾟ. ───

Plot:

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Calliope Leonatus

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The city had never looked so delightful, the dim lights shone from the city beyond with a gentle mist snaking its way through the near empty streets. The dregs of drunken tourists filtered out into their hotels, singing off-key in many languages after they had just gambled away their savings at one of the renowned gambling halls. The cobbled streets were slick with early morning moisture and the street lights were still emitting their soft orange glow from the candles inside, soon to be extinguished by the magic imbued within them.

Viewing from the windows high above the squalor of Kreah, Calliope sat with her spine pressed up against the cold wall of the windowed alcove. Her head twisted to peer out into the early morning sunrise as it began to crest over the horizon. The Dietrich house was beginning to stir with activity, through the walls she could hear the dull footfalls of other house members as they began to stir in their own quarters. For Calliope, the morning sun had never looked so beautiful. It may have been the mixture of tantalising orange and pink, or it may have been the knowledge that she would be leaving.

Beside her, resting on the wooden floor was a case of belongings. She did not require much, only her favourite clothing and perhaps a few sentimental items. The rest could be purchased once they had made their departure. In all honesty, if Samael had told her to come in nothing but her nightgown then she would have, but he was kind enough to allow her to bring bulky luggage along with them.

It had been in the works for moons, with each wax and wane her anticipation only grew into this festering need to leave. The walls of the Dietrich manor felt like they were closing in on her, inch by painful inch, but today they would be leaving.

Softly, Calliope turned from her seated position and set her bare feet onto the floorboards. Shoes would reveal her destination, she could deal with discomfort for now, her feet were hidden beneath her long merlot red and black gown. Elegant and almost scandalously form fitting, but in Kreah it was modest in comparison. Sleeveless with a dipped neckline, the corseted torso held her firmly. Her hair sat in its usual flowing cascade along her spine, if she was going to make a grand exit then she was going to look good doing it.

Carefully, she picked up the leather case in one hand and began to step towards the door to her room. It was time for her to meet Samael.

He told her to meet him at the entrance hall at the break of dawn and as she clicked the heavy door behind her the room broke out in the early morning light. Her footsteps were calculated and well placed, avoiding the known creaky boards. After decades in this home, Calliope was well acquainted with the little quirks of the old manor. As a young woman, she had found herself succumbing to the allure of a vampire with ever so enticing words. His silver tongue lulling her into his ranks, despite the outrage she received from her own family, Calliope had dedicated herself to this role.

The Leonatus house was also a well-known powerhouse in Kreah, manning the ports and controlling Ironbolt Prison. A hallmark of control and corruption. So when Calliope eloped to another house, the shock was shattering. A scandal amongst the higher houses. Although the majority of the shellshock had subdued by now, there were still utterings as she passed by some specific members of both households.

Upon reaching the entrance hall, Calliope’s eyes shone brightly with recognition as she spotted the lovely silhouette of her muse. Her footsteps quickened ever so slightly as she tried to reach him that fraction of a second quicker. He looked as delightful as the morning had been, no he looked wholly ethereal. The candle light of the hallway brought a luminance to the edges of his pale hair, setting a ring of fire around his head like a crown.

Her dark-red painted lips split into a sharp smile as she peered up at Samael, all the excitement in the world glowing in her yellow eyes. Without her usual heeled footwear, she stood significantly shorter than her male counterpart, having to crane her neck back to look up at him.

“Good morning, Samael.” She all but purred. “I am ready whenever you are.” Calliope stole a short glance down the long hallway, she thought she heard the click of dress shoes but perhaps she was being overly cautious.

Calliope knew they were headed somewhere, Samael was always prepared with something when he concocted these endeavours. However, this was the most daring of the lot. Founding his own house, pursuit of power over the entire city of Kreah. Their elongated lifespans would almost ensure his success, even against the vampire relatives of Dietrich. They lacked the ambition and lethality that Samael possessed, that was exactly what drew Calliope to him like a moth to a flame.

His brother, Anjou was a little more…lacking in his dominating presence. While the similarities were evident, the way he carried himself paled in comparison to his younger brother, at least in Calliope’s opinion. She was not a blind woman, she knew that both were gifted with incredible beauty and they used it to gain whatever their heart or mind desired. It was how Samael used this skill set that set him apart from Anjou, a brilliant mind.

✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩ Inka Yakovna ✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩

The previous night had been absolutely atrocious, the stream of Kreahan citizens that required her help seemed to never end. Even with her little helper, Inka couldn’t seem to quell the queue of people outside of the shop door. So much so that the poor woman had fallen asleep on the main floor of the shop, slumped backwards in her wooden chair with pale blonde hair falling over her features as she softly snored.

The shop had been in darkness, the gentle aroma of drying herbs and incense permeating the air in a way that brought comfort to Inka. It reminded her of safety, a homely smell of her own shop and domain. A respected safe ground between all battling gangs and alliances, no harm should be carried out in Soothing Dose. It was almost sacred ground, it was where all the less than fortunate injured came to get their battle wounds fixed. Not to mention Inka was certainly not opposed to slicing a few necks of her own if it came to that. No one messes with her shop.

Only as the gentle morning light became a glaring shine through the front windows and landed in streams across her form did Inka stir with a gentle groan. Her body fought to re-enter sleep, she was exhausted from the previous night. Even her muscles shouted in protest as Inka stretched them out, hearing the gentle pop of the joints. No matter how tired she was, there were always injured people at her door in the mornings. Waiting for the door to be unlocked and then they could bleed all over her floor.

As if on cue, Inka’s sleepy head lifted and turned to the door as she heard a quiet thud against it. She barely had time to wake up before she was disturbed, her nose scrunched up in annoyance before reluctantly she picked her way across the shop to the door.

The Soothing Dose was a wooden building with a low ceiling, from which hung endless drying herbs and bundles of plants. Almost every surface had some kind of tincture resting on it, all at different stages of manufacture. Rows upon rows of glass jars were lined up behind the main counter, they seemed to go on forever with small handwritten cursive labels that made the text almost illegible. In the far corner another door sat nestled under the staircase that led to her quarters. That was where her little helper lurked, he never liked to poke his head out when he wasn’t required, at least during the day.

Inka opened the door, the old oak creaked as she did so. Her eyes met the broad expanse of a chest and her hunched form slowly tilted her head back and back until she saw a familiar face attached to the muscles. Though, no smile etched into her features instead she huffed out a sigh and without a word turned back into the shop. Leaving the door open behind her for Loic to follow her into the dimly lit space. Her narrow form skirted around the edge of the store to a corner where a stove and kettle were already simmering. With an idle flick of her hand the flame beneath it roared and the kettle began to squeal.

“What happened this time?” Inka’s voice was gruff with sleep, a contrast to her usual smooth tone. Her hands moved to pour into two intricate porcelain cups that sat on matching saucers, letting the herbal tea meet the rim before she placed the kettle back down onto the now cool hob.

Twisting back around, Inka carried the two cups towards the counter and slid one along the sanded wood towards Loic. Immediately, she sank back down into her chair and lifted her cup with one pinky poking out. Peeking over the top of the pottery at him.

Her head cocked to the side as she analysed him, so many times Loic had come staggering into Soothing Dose with a horrific wound. Bleeding into the wood so deeply that Inka would have to spend hours coaxing the liquid out with her magic after the fact. For years she had danced this dance with Loic, endless repairs and endless freebies. She never charged him. The poor man had enough on his plate, Inka didn’t need money. She had enough of that from simply selling silly little enchantments. Love potions, luck charms, you name it somebody wants it. Inka would sell it for the right price.

“You don’t look deceased, so what happened?” She pressed, sipping in another mouthful of tea before she leaned forwards to set it down on the counter. Her loose linen shirt flowing forwards with the movement, exposing her skinny shoulders and collarbones with the beaded necklace laying on them. More often than not, she was in the same outfit. Magic did wonders, cleaning clothing while wearing them, incredible.