# Character State: ch-10

## Isabella Voss
Location: The Great Hall floor, Blackthorn Keep
Physical: Extreme hemomantic exhaustion; collapsed; fresh palm lacerations; severe hemomantic scarring on arms.
Emotional: Vindicated but physically broken; hyper-focused on Damien.
Active obligations:
- Nightbloom survivors protection (ch-09) — UNPAID
- Life-debt to Damien Blackthorn (ch-09) — UNPAID
Open loops:
- Legitimacy of "Blood-Sovereignty" claim under Coven Law (ch-09) — UNRESOLVED
- Isabella's unmarked vessel trial status (ch-09) — UNRESOLVED
- Reaction of the Coven Council to the broken Great Binding (ch-10) — UNRESOLVED
Known secrets:
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Scarring severity (Damien aware only)
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Blood-sharing circumvents treaty protections
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Can channel Nightbloom collective without Matriarch
- Internalized the Nightbloom "Song of Thorns" as a living archive — Malphas Blackthorn
Arc: 90% — Legitimized her rebellion by surviving the physical backlash of a sovereign vow, shifting from usurper to recognized ruler.
Permanent: YES

## Damien Blackthorn
Location: The Great Hall, Blackthorn Keep (kneeling by Isabella)
Physical: Stained with Isabella's blood; minor feedback lacerations; exhaustion.
Emotional: Fanatically devoted; defiant; somber realization of the war he has started.
Active obligations:
- Isabella's protection (ch-09) — UNPAID
- House Blackthorn succession (ch-09) — UNPAID
Open loops:
- Damien vs. Lord Malphas for Coven leadership (ch-09) — UNRESOLVED
- Survival of the Nightbloom refugees during the retreat (ch-10) — UNRESOLVED
Known secrets:
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Isabella's intentional bloodletting fuels her magic
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Will kill father to protect new union
Arc: 85% — Fully severed ties with his father's law to become the martial enforcer of Isabella’s new sovereignty.
Permanent: YES

## Lord Malphas Blackthorn
Location: The High Dais, Blackthorn Keep
Physical: Trembling with suppressed rage; uninjured.
Emotional: Seething; humiliated; transition to pure predatory calculation.
Active obligations:
- Finalized Nightbloom annexation (ch-09) — FAILED
Open loops:
- Malphas's retaliation via heresy trial (ch-09) — IN MOTION
- Retrieval of the Nightbloom "stolen" blood-assets (ch-10) — UNRESOLVED
Known secrets:
- CARRIED (ch-09--unresolved): Plans heresy trial to seize assets regardless of marriage outcome
Arc: 80% — Lost his legal and ritual grip on the Nightbloom Coven; now relies on raw political force.
Permanent: YES

# World State: ch-10

## NPC Memory
- High Priest Malakor (The High Dais): ABJECT TERROR — Witnessed the shattering of the Great Binding ritual stones — Religious authority is voided.

## Faction Attitudes
- Nightbloom Coven: EXALTANT — They felt the "Song of Thorns" return through Isabella; they are now a unified insurgent force.
- Blackthorn Coven: POLARIZED — Guards hesitated to strike Damien, suggesting a growing schism in House loyalty.

## Active World Events
- The Sovereign Breach: COMPLETE — The Great Binding ritual was destroyed, ending the era of Annexation Treaties.
- The Nightbloom Exodus: IN PROGRESS — Isabella and Damien are attempting to lead survivors out of Blackthorn Keep.