# Character State: ch-03

## Isabella Voss
Location: The High Tower balcony, Blackthorn Keep.
Physical: Hemomantic exhaustion; open wrist wounds; scorched skin from the Peace Vow’s reaction; now stabilized by Damien’s vitality.
Emotional: Defiant, calculating, and cautiously collaborative.
Active obligations: 
- Owes Damien a sanctioned heir (ch-01) — UNPAID.
- Owes Reginald Thorne Voss bloodline assets (ch-01) — UNPAID.
- Bound to Damien’s safety via blood-ink (ch-02) — UNPAID.
Open loops:
- Management of the blood-pact ink (ch-02) — UNRESOLVED.
- Scaling the "false consummation" ruse (ch-03) — ACTIVE.
Known secrets: 
- True severity of her scarring (ch-02) — CARRIED.
- Manipulation of Damien’s blood as a magic anchor (ch-02) — CARRIED.
- Knowledge that blood-sharing bypasses the Peace Vow (ch-03) — CARRIED.
Arc: 30% — Leveraged the threat of her own death to force Damien into a public charade of intimacy, shifting from prisoner to lethal co-conspirator.

## Damien Blackthorn
Location: The High Tower balcony, Blackthorn Keep.
Physical: Slightly lethargic from hemomantic drain; palm cut from the pact-sealing.
Emotional: Grudgingly respectful; intrigued by Isabella’s ruthlessness.
Active obligations: 
- Owes Isabella protection/containment (ch-01) — UNPAID.
- Bound to Isabella’s safety by the blood-ink pact (ch-02) — UNPAID.
Open loops: 
- Managing his father’s expectations of Isabella’s submission (ch-03) — UNRESOLVED.
Known secrets: 
- Aware Isabella is an "Unmarked Vessel" violation (ch-02) — CARRIED.
- Knows Isabella is fueling magic with intentional bloodletting (ch-02) — CARRIED.
Arc: 25% — Abandoned the intent to dominate, choosing to shield Isabella’s secrets to preserve his own tactical advantage and life-link.

# World State: ch-03

## NPC Memory
- High Priest Malakor: SUSPICIOUS — Intends to increase surveillance on the High Tower after the signal delay.
- Lord Malphas Blackthorn: SATISFIED — Believes the Consummation Silk signifies Isabella’s breaking; plans annexation of Voss lands.

## Faction Attitudes
- Blackthorn Coven: TRIUMPHAL — Believe Isabella is "tamed"; military readiness has dipped due to perceived victory.
- Nightbloom Coven: DESPERATE — Rumors of Isabella’s submission are causing fracturing into splinter cells.

## Active World Events
- The Peace Vow: ACTIVE — Nearly killed Isabella during her blood-casting; remains a lethal constraint on direct aggression.
- The Blood-Ink Anchor: ACTIVE — Damien’s vitality is now directly stabilizing Isabella’s physical form via their mutual pact.
- The Treaty of Thorns: ACTIVE — Publicly validated by the display of the "Consummation Silk" on the balcony.

## Global Variables
- Location: Blackthorn Keep (The High Tower).
- Tension Level: High (Internal conspiracy).
- Political Climate: False Stability.
- Canonical Status: Chapter 03 finalized.