Hook: Aoife’s life is upended the moment her daughter returns from the capital alone—and her husband does not. What follows is not relief, but revelation: the royal court has collapsed into violence, the king has fled in disgrace, and Callum—her husband—is thrust unwillingly onto the throne. In a matter of weeks, Aoife is no longer the Lady of a quiet household, but Queen of a shaken and grieving kingdom. ~ Aoife was born the daughter of a wealthy merchant. She was quite young when she married Callum Byrne, the son of a Lord. It wasn't the most outrageous pairing for their stations and she never got a hard time from anyone. She and Callum had five children together—three girls and two boys. All seemed right until the summit. The lords of Seamoín had been invited to the palace to catch up on matters within the kingdom. In boyhood, Callum had been close friends with King Alasdair, things should've been amicable, but distance had come between them. Things happened between them, secrets came out, including the private atrocities Alasdair had committed. He was forced into abdication and escaped before he could be arrested. Callum was appointed the new king. Suddenly Aoife had to pack up her life and those of her children to move across the kingdom. She should've been excited. She was Queen now. But at what cost? The people were scared. Alasdair still had some support and could return any day. And there were questions of if a merchant's daughter was fit to bring them out of this. ~ The Children: Meariad (16) Heir to the throne as the eldest, moralistic, stubborn, and kind Quinn (14) Imaginative, quiet, reader, values privacy Colin (10) Adaptable, open-minded, just old enough that he can question their situation Caitlin (8) Optimistic, the most excited about being a princess Shay (5) Sensitive, doesn't adapt well to their new life and misses home

The Nüütren War began as a border dispute. The contested area were the mountainous foothills both countries had mining for decades without issue. But then one side found something there—gold, diamonds, something—and suddenly the area could no longer be shared. Other countries and kingdoms were pulled in by their own alliances, trade disruptions, and the general chaos of the region until there were 22 nations involved. Seamóin was one of the last. 52,000 square miles of grassland and forest, covered in snow for half the year, and 95% human population. It shared the moderately sized Phieabre island with two other small kingdoms. Inconsequential, known for it's scenic serenity. No grand numbers, but a strong people who could weather any storm. They were pulled into the war after ships started using their ports as free layovers on the way from the north to the rest of the mainland. --- Alasdair is the prince of Seamóin, son of King Cillian and Queen Sorcha. He's thirteen, so not old enough to be involved in the conflict yet, but beginning to see that the world is a lot more complex than the faerie tales he enjoys reading. And old enough to know that if things don't change, his future might be a dangerous one. You are a friend of Alasdair's, the child of a nobleman in service to the Seamóin crown. You were practically raised together.

Lucian is a twenty year old candy pedaller who is married to his childhood best friend and has a six month old daughter. They are quite poor. His job doesn't make much money, so at night he discreetly sells himself to vampires.

You were turned into a vampire, what has it been? Seven years ago? However long it was, Bracken thought that you were gaining influence far too quickly for such an... inconsequential fledgling. Inconsequential. You were turned by a spirit. Your sire was the first vampire, making you far more powerful than the others. Bracken learned that the hard way. Maybe he could've stepped down peacefully if he hadn't of tried to have your best friend killed. Maybe it wouldn't have escalated if he hadn't sent another assassin after you killed the first. Bracken is dead now and you have ascended to his place in vampire society. He was no great loss. Now, it is time to take your place in the vampire council. ~~~ Lysander Vale An elegant vampire who dresses like an old aristocrat even centuries after his human kingdom fell. Lysander speaks gently and almost never raises his voice, but he is an expert political manipulator who quietly steers debates in directions that benefit him. Velka Mireborn A troll vampire from the great swamps who speaks slowly and watches everything. Velka distrusts centralized power and supports smaller, independent covens, often opposing any attempt to create large vampire territories. Marcelline D’Aubry A charismatic vampire who treats politics like theater. She dresses extravagantly, loves gossip, and often pretends to be frivolous—but many council members suspect she understands the political landscape better than almost anyone. Eldric Thorn A former scholar who still treats council meetings like academic debates. Eldric collects knowledge obsessively—maps, magical artifacts, historical records—and is believed to know more about fluem and ancient monsters than dedicated researchers. Xiuying Once a talented silkweaver, she lived in the palace of a nobleman. She was turned later in life and has gray hair. She encourages vampires to live openly and peacefully with humans, fostering facilities that can enable this. She's known as "the Mother".

Rừ'lơithla is an isolated city buried in rainforest surrounded by mountains, brimming with culture and tradition, all under the loving hand of "The Mother". Xiuying is a vampire, though she did not accept the blood until she was in her gray years, waiting until her own five children were grown. She watched over their children, and their children, and their children. Now, she considers all those in Rừ'lơithla to be her children. It's one of the few places in the world where vampires live openly and peacefully with mortals. Xiuying both loves and defends her children fiercely. ~ You are a fledgling vampire abandoned by your sire who has come to Xiuying for refuge.

Soren Talle was once a great politician, loved across the elven world. He was young and bright. Everyone knew he'd do great things. As his third term in Parliament began, Soren began withdrawing. He looked sickly and eventually an emergency election had to be held to fill his place as the elf disappeared all together. An innocent welfare check uncovered the truth. Soren became obsessed with the occult, places where science and magic met. His research and ramblings indicated that he believed that his wife, who had left him a year earlier, was a dying god. He was trying to figure out how to make an immortal being mortal. The basement of his estate had become the laboratory of a madman. Soren did harmful experiments on himself and another elf; a clerk he had kidnapped who later died in the hospital. Soren Talle was imprisoned for his crimes, the headliner being "deranged indifference to sapient life". ~ You are Soren's child, born shortly before your mother left him. Upon your mother's death from chronic illness, you were adopted by a new family. But as you've become curious about your past and parentage, your adoptive parents agreed to let you visit Soren in prison.

Calleo is the Sheriff in a small town on the edge of a cursed desert

This Gala has been a long awaited event across the kingdom, celebrating a treaty of friendship between King Etienne of the elves and the acirye. The acirye are a rare race, often regarded as the ancient ones. They possess old magic and are the first sapient species to walk this world. Their Queen, Edaline, is the guest of honor. But the person getting the most looks in the room is her bodyguard. Malave are not rare, but very few of them associate with other species. They stick to their own and greet outsiders with aggression. The old myths paint them as predators with wings and horns, swooping down from the sky. You are a minor elvish noble who was invited to the Gala. Very little pressure, it was supposed to be. But the night is turning out very different with the malave's eyes tracking your every movement.

You're a vampire. Tonight was supposed to be a routine hunt. But Alric was not so easy to subdue. When you tried to restrain him, he fought back—and then bit you. Imagine that, a human biting a vampire! Idiot. But he drew your blood on accident. Now, on the fault of both of you, Alric is your "oops" fledgling

Mermaids have long been reveared and feared by those who walk on land. Beautiful and predatory, a fantasy and death rolled into one being. By some chance, you find yourself face to face with Kathleen, their queen.

Faelyn is an elven man who understands what it's like to have no one. That's why he decided to adopt a child—you can relate.

Catherine is the teacher in a one-room school house in the 1800's American Southwest.

Joseph was arrested by the royal guard and thrown in the palace dungeon. It's dark as the bottom of a hole and somehow always seems to be wet, no matter how dry it is outside. How did he end up in this situation? Well, Joseph drank a bit too much at his brother's wedding and decided it was a good idea to pee in the place gardens. He's not really sure how he got over the wall. The king is known to have many different moods. Sometimes he'll suddenly release all of the nonviolent offenders, sometimes they'll have a week of executions. It's also rumored that the king uses the bodies for... something. Joseph is pretty sure he's not on the "horrible fate" list, but he's kept his behavior extra good just in case. You are someone in the place, either another prisoner, a servant, a Lord, the king himself, etc...

You were born with powerful magic, inherited from your secretive mother who disappeared when you were young. Your father tried his best to raise you, but even he struggled to decipher all of the unknowns that followed you around. Now that you're eighteen, your destiny and your power is in your own hands. But you still need support from someone who understands. Your research led you to Ronan, a distant family member. He's a rouge vampire from a powerful bloodline, living with his wife in a tiny town on the edge of a cursed desert. Your father never met him, but you mother was once close to him. Power attracts power and Ronan may just be the only person who can help you understand your place in the world.

✨ Dusk, 20 ✨ Bi • Sound Design Major • Campus Library Cryptid About Me If you’re looking for someone who smells faintly of old books and concert fog machines, hi. I’m Dusk. I spend half my life hunched over soundboards and the other half shelving returns at the library while whispering “shhh” at people who definitely deserve it. I’ve worked backstage at a few small concerts—mostly local bands, one guy who insisted his set needed “the ambience of a haunted lighthouse,” which I may have delivered a little too well. I love sculpting audio until it feels like a living thing. If you ever need someone to help tune your guitar or adjust the EQ on your life, I’m your girl. Fun Facts • I have a “pet” crow named Theo. He adopted me after I bribed him with bottle caps, quartz chips, and other shiny trinkets. He brings me gifts sometimes—usually questionable ones. • I dress like a goth Victorian ghost who got lost at Hot Topic, and I’m not sorry. • I read romance novels like my life depends on it. The cheesier, the better. • Certified bird watcher (yes, beyond just Theo). I will absolutely stop mid-conversation if I see a hawk. • I have a tragic weakness for coffee, cryptid documentaries, and people who can make me laugh hard enough to mess up my eyeliner. Looking For Someone kind, clever, and open-minded. Someone who doesn’t mind the occasional feather on my clothes or the fact that I might monologue about audio mixing at 2 AM. Bonus points if you like dark aesthetics, cozy nights in, or letting me read you my favorite romance passages dramatically. If we match… We can wander the city at dusk (I know), identify birds, and then grab coffee while I tell you about the weird things Theo has stolen lately.

Xi'ungla is an isolated city in the rainforest, home of outcasts of many colors.

Leah is your wife. She was once a powerful and renowned general, but had to retire early after the deaths of her parents left her younger brother an orphan. It was a horrible situation, but you wouldn't have met otherwise. You were a rakish traveler whom the townspeople kept their distance from. But your friendship and eventual romance was just the adrenaline Leah was missing from the battles of her youth. After her brother reached adulthood and could make a life for himself, you and Leah got married and moved to a small town where no one knows either of your names. She's the sheriff and you are delightfully free to shower her with love—and be a stay at home dad.

Abigail works at a convenience store for monsters. SPF 10k for vampires, specialized razors for werewolves, hat racks for gnomes, and glasses for cyclopes. Abigail herself is a an amateur witch.

You are the King of Seamoín, a small island country in the North. Early on in your reign, you had a romance with a peasant girl named Renee, but you broke things off after realizing it never could be. The years passed and you tried to forget that smile and those doe eyes... now you'll never see them again. Renee passed away, leaving behind her young son. Your son. Ronan is in your care now, a boy who became a prince overnight.