# Character State: ch-01

## Isabella Voss
- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
- **Physical:** Hemomantic exhaustion; silk gloves saturated with blood; internal "lashing" from the Peace Vow; fresh wrist scarring hidden by lace.
- **Emotional:** Managed defiance; hyper-vigilant; performing a "regal correction" mask.
- **Active Obligations:** Compliance for binding ritual (PAID); Marriage to Damien (PAID); Production of sanctioned heir (UNPAID).
- **Open Loops:** Survival of the wedding night; maintaining "Undamaged Vessel" facade.
- **Known Secrets:** Actively bleeding beneath gloves; severity of hemomantic scarring hidden from Elders; using her mother’s death as a template for survival.
- **Arc:** 15% — Transitioned from POW to legally bound hostage-bride via the Blood Contract.

## Damien Blackthorn
- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
- **Physical:** Predatory vitality; no injuries.
- **Emotional:** Cruelly intrigued; focused on dismantling Isabella’s composure.
- **Active Obligations:** Presenting the "vassal-bride" to Elders (PAID); Protection/Containment of Isabella (UNPAID).
- **Open Loops:** Testing the limits of Isabella’s Hemomancy.
- **Known Secrets:** Aware Isabella is hiding hemomantic bleeding/scarring.
- **Arc:** 08% — Established as primary tormentor and shadow-husband during public annexation.

## Lord Reginald Thorne
- **Location:** Blackthorn Keep, High Dais.
- **Physical:** Aged, commanding; aura of acquisitive power.
- **Emotional:** Triumphant; views the Nightbloom lineage as a resource to be harvested.
- **Active Obligations:** Overseeing integration of Voss bloodline (UNPAID).
- **Open Loops:** Monitoring the "unmarked vessel" clause for breeding viability.
- **Known Secrets:** Plans to discard Isabella once a viable heir is produced.
- **Arc:** 05% — Architect of the diplomatic annexation.

# World State: ch-01

## NPC Memory
- **Blackthorn Court:** DERISIVE. Witnessed Isabella’s forced submission; view her as a conquered trophy and a "broken" witch.

## Faction Attitudes
- **Nightbloom Coven:** SILENT. Isabella feels abandoned by her kin in exchange for a fragile peace.
- **Blackthorn Coven:** IMPERIAL. The marriage is treated as a legal and magical annexation of enemy assets.

## Active World Events
- **The Peace Vow:** ACTIVE. A magical pulse enforcing non-aggression; punishes Isabella’s internal dissent with physical pain (the "lashing").
- **The Transition:** COMPLETE. Isabella is legally and physically isolated within Blackthorn territory.

## Objects/Artifacts
- **Blood-Soaked Silk Gloves:** Hiding hemomantic scarring from the Elders.
- **The Binding Contract:** High-tier hemomantic artifact; legalizes the annexation of Nightbloom magic.
- **Vow-Sealed Locket:** Isabella’s last link to her lineage; hidden talisman.

## Lore Note
- **Hemomantic Scars:** Visible marks of used power that the Blackthorn Elders view as "damage" to a vessel's breeding purity, necessitating Isabella's deception.