3.2 KiB
Character State: ch-03
Queen Seraphine
Location: The Obsidian Dais, Grand Cathedral, Aethelgard Physical: Shaken by psychic feedback; silver scarring appearing on forearms; magically overextended. Emotional: Vulnerable and profoundly unsettled by the shared vision. Active obligations: Owes Aldric Thorne a formal response to the Bilateral Seal (ch-01) — PAID. Open loops: [Seraphine & Aldric] The emotional fallout of the shared childhood trauma (ch-03) — UNRESOLVED. Known secrets: CARRIED: The Blight has breached the inner glass-line; the Lowen-Court is already compromised. Arc: 25% — Shifted from viewing Aldric as a structural asset to recognizing him as a mirror of her own broken history.
King Aldric
Location: The Obsidian Dais, Grand Cathedral, Aethelgard Physical: Death-like pallor; hands trembling from the weight of the blood-bind; bleeding from the palms. Emotional: Distant and armored in cold silence to mask the shock of the Communion. Active obligations: Owes Seraphine the protection of the Thorne-Valerius borders (ch-03) — UNPAID. Open loops: [Aldric & Seraphine] The revelation of the execution of his brother (ch-03) — UNRESOLVED. Known secrets: None. Arc: 20% — Allowed a rival into the most guarded vault of his memory, shattering his isolation.
High Priestess Malcorra
Location: The Obsidian Dais, Grand Cathedral, Aethelgard Physical: Radiant, unaffected; eyes dilated from the ritual’s success. Emotional: Triumphant; views the sovereigns' suffering as a necessary refinement. Active obligations: Owes the Crimson Cathedral a "purified" sovereign (ch-02) — UNPAID. Open loops: [Malcorra & Seraphine] Control over the ritualistic elements of the Thorne alliance — RESOLVED. Known secrets: CARRIED: Does she hear the ancestors, or is she a high-functioning schizophrenic? Arc: 15% — Successfully forced the Queen into a ritual that stripped away her emotional defenses.
Captain Kaelen
Location: The Perimeter of the Obsidian Dais Physical: Hand white-knuckled on his sword hilt; hyper-vigilant stance. Emotional: Overwhelmingly protective; simmering resentment toward Malcorra. Active obligations: Absolute silence regarding the Queen’s flagging physical stamina — UNPAID. Open loops: [Kaelen & Seraphine] The cost of his intervention against the High Priestess — UNRESOLVED. Known secrets: Knows the Queen nearly collapsed during the walk to the cellar — Malcorra does NOT know. Arc: 10% — Duty shifting from political to deeply personal.
World State: ch-03
NPC Memory
- High Priestess Malcorra: TRIUMPHANT. Witnessed the successful binding; intends to use the shared trauma as leverage to guide the union.
- The Cathedral Guard: ALERT. Witnessed the physical toll on the sovereigns.
Faction Attitudes
- The Crimson Cathedral: ASCENDANT. Ritual success validates their dogma.
- The Lowen-Court: CAUTIOUS. The physical toll on Aldric has his inner circle on high alert.
Active World Events
- The Sanguine Parley: The Union is legally and magically sealed.
- The Blight Advance: Tremors have resumed with a higher, glass-cracking pitch.
- The Sanguine Marriage: Blood-bond is active; a permanent psychic tether exists between Seraphine and Aldric.