#anyway THIS FAMILY IS SO DOOMED BY THE NARATIVE IT HURTSS

[lucindasthighs]

OOUHGU IM THINKING ABOUT THE RO'MEAVE SIBLINGS AGAIN AND MAKING IT YOUR PROBLEM

Garroth had the most of Garte's "good side" growing up, and as he was their only child at the time, Garte and Zianna favored him. He learned kindness and empathy from his mother as she stroked his hair at bedtime; He learned responsibility and loyalty from his father as the king told him of the future in store for him. He learned love from them. But then his father changed. Garroth learned to protect from his mother, standing in front of her when Garte yelled, just in case. He learned to sacrifice from Garte, complying with the king's many demands and rules "for the good of his people."

Vylad was born into a cold world. Garte treated him well at first, letting the child ride on his shoulders throughout the castle. But that candle of love was snuffed without remorse soon enough. In the end, from his father, he learned hatred and disgust. He had to hide from it. Yes, to hide away and be invisible, that's what he must do to survive. Survive. Survive. Survive. That's all that matters. But.. this cold world was not without comfort. In his mother's arms, he learned pity. Pity for the woman cursed with compassion and pity to all the bleeding hearts before and after her. He learned fairness from his older brother Garroth, who never saw him as lesser or wrong. Finally, Vylad learned that the cruel machinations of the world favored the strong over the good, as he plummeted into the depths of hell.

Zane, perhaps, was doomed from the start, being the young and malleable last son of Garte. Once his brothers died, there was no light that could combat the darkness weaving its way into his soul. Oh, Zianna tried to hold on to him; but Zane had already learned so much from his mother. She could not keep her own children alive. She could not protect them, protect him, as much as she liked to pretend her arms were a shield. She could not love him the same way she did his brothers because she was weak. Zane did not care when his brothers died. He didn't cry when he realized their shared bedroom would be silent forever. He never stared at the empty, faded spot on the wall where the family portrait used to be. Those emotions were useless, as his Father taught him. Zane learned how to get power; to invoke fear; to be a leader; to manipulate; to crush all those in his way without a drop of blood on his hands from Garte. The infallible High Priest, the benevolent leader of the Jury - that is Prince Zane Ro'meave.