# Character State: ch-16

## Isabella Voss
**Location:** Whispering Peaks, mountain pass overlook  
**Physical:** Deep exhaustion; scarring on forearms from oath-breaking; rhythmic phantom ringing in right ear.  
**Emotional:** Introspective; cautiously hopeful; burdened by leadership.  
**Active obligations:** 
- Protect Nightbloom survivors (ch-15) -- ACTIVE  
- Life-debt to Damien (ch-15) -- UNPAID  
**Open loops:** 
- Establishing a permanent settlement in the Peaks (ch-16) -- UNRESOLVED  
- Thwarting Elder Thorne’s pursuit (ch-16) -- UNRESOLVED  
**Known secrets:** 
- CARRIED (ch-15--unresolved): Holds collective consciousness in marrow -- Council unaware.  
**Arc:** 98% -- Successfully transitioned her people from a fleeing caravan to a defensive foothold in new territory.  
**Status:** PERMANENT  

## Damien Blackthorn
**Location:** Whispering Peaks, mountain pass overlook  
**Physical:** Recovering from abdominal wounds; stiffness in scarred shoulder.  
**Emotional:** Resolute; find peace in exile; vigilantly protective of Isabella.  
**Active obligations:** 
- Protect Isabella from Blackthorn loyalists (ch-15) -- ACTIVE  
**Open loops:** 
- Negotiating terms of alliance with the Peaks' indigenous spirits/fae (ch-16) -- UNRESOLVED  
**Known secrets:** 
- Knows the location of the hidden Blackthorn armory caches -- Isabella/Collective do NOT know.  
**Arc:** 95% -- Fully embraced his role as the vanguard of a new order, discarding his name's prestige.  
**Status:** PERMANENT  

## Lord Malphas Blackthorn -- DECEASED (ch-15)
**Established:** Died after his magical core collapsed following the destruction of the Obsidian Bridge.  
**Legacy:** His absence has left a power vacuum in the lowlands, allowing the Collective to escape.  

# World State: ch-16

## NPC Memory
- Kaelen (Nightbloom/Whispering Peaks): DEFERENTIAL -- Successfully scouted the mountain passes -- Provided the Collective with their first secure camp.
- Elder Thorne (Blackthorn Council/Keep): MALEVOLENT -- Has begun ritualistically tracking Isabella's blood trail -- Vowed to reclaim the "vessel."

## Faction Attitudes
- The Collective: Unified -- Relieved to have reached the Peaks; trust in Isabella is absolute.
- Blackthorn Remnants: Fractured -- Many have turned to banditry; Thorne's loyalists are mobilizing for a cold-weather pursuit.

## Active World Events
- The Great Migration: Phase 1 complete; the Collective has reached the Whispering Peaks but lacks winter supplies.
- The Wane: Magic continues to thin in the lowlands; Isabella’s hemomancy is uniquely stable due to the collective marrow-bond.

## Permanent World Changes
✓ Establishment of the "Peak Sanctuary" (Defensive position)  
✓ Formalization of the "Unbound Watch" (Damien’s scouting unit)