Any ᴠᴇʀᴅᴀɴᴛ ʜᴜɴɢᴇʀ, ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴇᴠᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ━ ꜱᴇᴇᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇꜱꜱ (ꜱʟᴏᴡʙᴜʀɴ / ᴅᴀʀᴋ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ / ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ)

[Sibylline]

green, not like the renewed spring —
like envy
like madness, a poison of the mind.
the colors of the old gods.
the color of that which takes root
— and slowly overtakes.

— saluations

Hello there! I'm Sybil (25+) and I've been role-playing for almost nine years. After re-watching House of the Dragon and The White Queen, I found myself pulled back into ASOIAF with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and now I've got an itch to write something original in the vein of dark, high (or low) fantasy. This lead me to an old worldspace of mine I previously had on haitus and slowly dust out again. This thread isn't an extensive view of that world, rather a snippet set in a specific time and country of said world: I do have an assortment of original ideas based around this world which, while lore rich in it's own right, is more than welcome to be improved upon by an outside perspective.

What am I ultimately craving: I want to write a dark royal, neither noble nor neutral, unlikely to be good and more likely to be wicked -- yet despite all else, he comes to love dangerously. He discovers that he would burn cities and boil rivers for love, his hands will never be clean but they are hands that hold her nonetheless. Does that sound fun to anyone? Well, if you're looking for a story with palace intrigue, grim fantasy, complicated romance and equally complex characters, keep reading!

— rules & reminders

Before I get into the meat of the thread, I need to establish a few things about me to verify if we'd be compatible partners:

RESPONSE TIME​

I work morning to afternoon, so evenings work the best for me (I'm off weekends!). Since I'm just getting back into roleplay again, I'd say once to twice a week (while working back to my regular response time of every other day). I just ask for patience and you'll get it in return! I'm very patient and don't mind waiting for replies, i know how busy life can get.

WRITING STYLE​

I write in third person with anywhere from 500 to 1000 words (lately, I'm I've been on the lower end and I try to match my partner's length). That being said, I prefer quality over quantity so no pressure to match my length so long as you give me something to work with. I do expect partners to write in third person with proper grammar and spelling.

MULTIPLE CHARACTERS​

If I could find someone who could write side characters along with our main characters, that would make my day. The hope is to fit a similar vein of ASOIAF in regards to expansions of perspectives. I also don't mind doubling (not required) if there was pairing that you personally wanted. Just let me know your limits and comfortability.

INCLUSIVITY​

I'm a queer POC who loves writing with and against other queer and POC characters, especially in fantasy or historical settings. I can write any pairing as well as any gender, and ask for respectful representations of both when they are in use.

MATURE CONTENT​

I'll take story over smut, but will not object to the latter if used in taste! I don't have a ratio, so just let me know your limits and we can agree on a comfort level (if you're looking for high levels of smut over story, this probably isn't the place for you). Pregnancy is welcomed as a story device, but not as a kink. In matters of violence, there may be mentions of: eldrich horror, gore, wartime violence (battles, executions, or unfortunate accidents), domestic violence, violence against targeted groups, etc. All of these themes will be used with taste and never in excess. That being said, please let me know what your triggers:

My current likes/cravings include:

• Abduction Plotlines
• Jealousy, and/or Possessiveness
• Opposites Attract
• Sexual Tension
• Slowburn Romance

My limits/triggers include:

• Non Con: I don't mind it being implied or mentioned, but I will not roleplay this out
• Underage: You MUST follow site rules. I don't mind mentions or flashbacks, but children must never be subjected 18+ situations.

— setting the scene

I don't like telling others how to write their characters! However, due to the nature of the themes present in this world, I thought I'd put some disclaimers (and suggestions) on what characters might be the best fit for this setting:

MORAL GREY MAY BE THE MOST "GOOD" YOU SEE​

There typically aren't very many "good" people in this setting, and if they are, they don't last for very long. Mindsets change for the sake of survival or lives are lost for the especially stubborn. Instead, many are morally grey or morally evil. This isn't to say that your character(s) can't be! But if they are, you should expect that those around them won't always have their best intentions in mind. If you're hoping for chivalry and altruism, this isn't the story for that.

FLAWS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE REDEEMED​

Everyone's flawed. Some are more flawed than others, and a few may even strive to "be better". But there will be individuals who may never change in the ways they "should". Instead, they become layered and complex, and it becomes up to you to decide your opinions about them (which might fluctuate or flip flop -- I love that!). I love when characters are able to love and be loved despite the worst parts of themselves.

HORROR CAN COME FROM HUMANITY​

This worldspace is filled with horror-esque aspects. Grotesque monsters, dark magic, cultish undertones and eldrich themes to imply the nature of gods in this universe. But sometimes, the darkness comes from the capabilities within people, especially those you'd least expect -- the surprise, then horror, of what mankind is capable of.

-— a world of wrath and wealth

Now to the meat of the thread: characters and plot! let's start with a VERY brief summary of the world, history and events leading up to our story ideas. The continent is called Daedrielle. The kingdom is called Mytheris. The ruling family are called the Dewguards (conquerors and beast slayers) and the ideas would center around them (political intrigue, royal drama and the occasional curse)

GEORGRAPHY​

Mytheris is a medium sized realm located in the north east region of Daedrielle. It's a temperate climate filled with lush forests, marshlands and riverlands. Weather year round consists of rain, fog and cloud (although some rumor even the weather is enchanted). There's a mountain range to it's west known as the Jadian Peaks and a large body of water to it's east known as the Silver Sea (across from it are two continents, North and South Isakar). Mytheris has a prosperous mining industry as many of it's natural resources include gems, diamonds, metals, minerals and coal. Other trade resources include timber, fish, and fruit from their renown vineyards (silver grapes and silver wine). Unicorns are a common sight in Mytherian forests, which are also home to creatures like basilisks, silver deer, qilin and river wyrms. While dragons used to be native to the region, they were driven to extinction years ago.

HISTORY​

Modern Dewguards trace their ancestry several hundred years ago to the Age of Heroes (an era known for it's vast amount of demigods born to the divines, raised as champions to spiritual wars among various pantheons -- it was an age filled with many monsters, spiritual conflicts and the peak of power for many religious organizations). Once the Age ended, the divine bloodline became diluted over time and while their connection to the gods vanished, other passive abilities endured: the most prominent being their abilities to see the otherworldly (dew eyes).

Over several generations, the lineage honed their abilities and adapted as beast slayers until the 2nd Dark Age where they held their first place of power as a lesser house to the ruling power at the time, House Redayne. Not long after, the Dewguards would experience a second spiritual resurgence: It's said an ancestor, Edwin Dewguard, peered into the an artifact. A divine Eye (the face of the Abyssal God) which saw visions of the future. He took it upon himself to mount a four year war of succession against Redayne, ultimately overthrowing the reigning power.

Although Edwin would succumb to his madness before he could seat the throne, his son, Charles I Dewguard, succeeded him as the first Witcher King. Charles the Conqueror declared worship of the Old Ones to that of the new and lead Three Great Crusades to further enact religious and magical purification across Mytheris. He conquered realms beyond Mytheris and established several foreign colonies, promising peace in exchange for surrender. His crusades are remembered as a violent contribution to the Dewguards infamy and is still remembered generations later.

The current year is 1450 AP (After the Phoenix). In current affairs: Mytheris has christening it's third diamond mine and established an account with the Emerald Bank. King Petyr II Dewguard has died under mysterious circumstances and his eldest son, Aurelius Dewguard is heir to the throne. Before he can ascend the silver steps, he first must find a bride and wed. Rumors are that the Queen Mother, Hellene Dewguard, is falling into a similar madness that took Edwin I.

CULTURE​

A native is called a Mytherian. The majority of the populace are humans, with minorities of high elves, moon elves and a small populace of dark elves (half elf children are generally accepted in this culture, although it's encouraged to marry within one's own race). Other elven races are considered immigrants, typically here for work opportunities (miners, fishers and merchants for the Emerald Bank).

Magic is known, but is heavily restricted. Only highborn individuals or individuals with specific consent from the crown (usually court wizards, alchemists with permits and anyone with the king's/queen's seal) may use magic. Discovery of unauthorized magic will be punished and it's not above the law for offenders to be executed depending on the severity of the offense.

— aligning the actors

You've made it here, thank you so much for reading this far! There's far more information that I can really fit in this thread, so if you'd like to know more, don't hesitate to reach out. Otherwise, let's get into some plot ideas (ranked from most craving to least and I'm willing to play any on this list!). Bolded is my side, underlined is who I'm looking to fill with a partner.

Prince x Princess -- arranged marriage / slowburn / opposites attract (MxF)​

With the death of the king, the kingdom readies itself to witness another Dewguard on the throne of Mytheris. As it is with every king or queen, they need to secure a spouse in order to take the crown. Here's a couple of subplots:

• Lamb Among Lions || The bride comes from a small and obscure lower house of Mytheris. So how did she come to be the prime candidate for marriage, even above other wealthier and prominent nobles? Due to an exchange made by the previous king and the head of the house: An artifact is imbued within the small patch of land their own and in exchange for access to said artifact, said house could ask the king for anything without repercussion. On the king's deathbed, the favor was traded: they asked for one of their daughters to marry the heir to the crown. But asking for a marriage pact was the easy part, the hard part is surviving the complex court intrigue with her life intact.
• The Tamed Dragon || The bride comes from one of the conquered colonies within the Dewguard name. Where she was once apart of the ruling lineage, she was taken from her homeland and forced wed a foreign prince. The reasoning: due to her bloodline's rich magic rites, in hopes that future Dewguard children will possess potent magic. With no where else to turn, what becomes of the captive turned princess now.
• Maiden of Cinder || The bride has no noble upbringing, instead is a commoner to the Mytheris. She was handpicked by a Dewguard themselves on a seemingly random encounter (and who is she in a position to say no) and seemingly elevated into the highest position one could possible achieve. But why a commoner when there are a wealth of nobles and artisans to choose from? She is a beacon of magic, in the most literal sense: not only are they keeping her from others with nefarious interest, but intend to keep her close for their own means.

Bastard!Child x Anyone -- unlikely partners (MxF or FxF)​

Bastard children are not uncommon among the upper class of Mytheris. How they are dealt with varies: the higher in rank, the more risk with claims of inheritance in an already cutthroat landscape. Often time, it's not worth the sympathy of keeping them alive. Here's a couple of subplots:

• The Blood Princess || The bastard is the youngest daughter to the Queen, kept alive only out of the necessity of her blood (literally). Her blood possess powerful magic properties and she has no used to the royal family dead. But her life is far from luxurious. Sequestered to a lone tower, she grew up under the watchful gaze of those who see straight through her. All the way, she plotted her escape -- they always told her that her father was a disgraced knight. But she believes otherwise, that they're keeping the truth from her to avoid her uncovering her full potential and she intends to find out through any means necessary.

Queen x Anyone (MxF or FxF)​

Taking place a few years before the previous entries: A younger Queen in the early years of her "madness". The king was kind to her at first, until the marriage was solidified in the wake of their first night together and he changed into a completely different person. He ripped pieces of herself from her, pieces she will never get back and his greed for her family's growing fortune sickened her. The Queen hadn't expected marriage for love, but something new bloomed between them -- a newfound hate she had difficulty suppressing. She was a Child of the Conqueror, not someone's means to power. So while the King sat on a stolen throne, the Queen buried herself in her family history searching for answers left by her ancestors. What would be the best way to dispose for a Usurper? Here's a couple of subplots:

• The Queen's Hand || The knight had never been fond the King, but it wasn't apart of the job to like him. It was the duty of the king's guard to, indeed, guard the king. It also wasn't apart of the job to fall in love with the Queen. Yet here they were, and here she was in a plot to install her son to power as soon as possible -- to regain what dignity the Dewguards had and have their enemies remember who they really were. She could do it, with her new loyal Hand.
• The Whisperer || The handmaiden has seen the Queen in ways that others would've been executed for. In her most vulnerable moments, despite her cold exterior and the proud history of her family line, she has stayed with her. With all that's been said and done, perhaps the servant doesn't have much in terms of power. At least, not in the same power the nobles have. Instead, her power comes from being unseen in their eyes. The servant becomes the spy.

If interested or you have any questions, then please send me a private message and we can talk details. I'm also open to changes/expanding my ideas or listening to any cravings you have. It's collaborative writing after all. Thank you for indulging my cravings -- and happy writing!

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after dark (slowed)

mr. kitty

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