#kaerholtintro
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{ charlie murphy, thirty-two, cisfemale, she/her } ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that ARIADNE HAVEN that was spotted? they’re a BARTENDER in the city and are known for being STRONG and DEMANDING. they DO have magical abilities. the whispers say they are AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. ** { nat, 24, she/her, cst, n/a }
alrighty! hi friends!
i’m nat and this is ariadne. she has literally just been thrown together, so pls hang in there with me while i feel her out over the next week or so. i will be on tonight and maybe a little thursday, but will be gone for a trip over the weekend. but i promise i will be super active next week and on from there! i am hyped to be here, kat has created a work of art and i hope to write w all of u for a long time :)))
but ANYWAY here is a little bit about ariadne! if you would like to plot pls feel free to like this os just message me on discord :)
ariadne haven
32 years old
current occupation: bartender at the gruesome garden
former occupation: escort at the flower hall
ariadne haven hasn’t exactly had a life of luxury or ease
she has never met her mother - the older woman dipped out pretty soon after she was born. reasons unknown to ariadne (could be a possible plot point? maybe she came from a wealthy family and accidentally got knocked up? maybe she was in danger? idk!! always open to ideas)
and when ariadne was young, probably about 12 or 13, her father was murdered. she wasn’t there when he died, but she was the one to find his body. she doesn’t ever talk about his death - literally dont mention it she will lose her shit
after his death she was pretty much all alone in the world
she knew that she was either going to have to lay down and die or fend for herself and fight to live and deal with the hand that she had been dealt
she quickly learned how to steal food/pickpocket/etc. but it was all just barely enough to keep her alive
when she was 16 she met a woman who worked at the flower hall - a woman who quickly became like her older sister. she could see that ariadne was pretty much skin and bone and wanted to offer her refuge and protection
ariadne was welcomed into the flower hall but just as someone to clean and take care of things
it became her home and when she was 18 she was given a place there - a real job
it was easy for her to fall into the position, after all it was all she had been surrounded by for the past two years
she learned how to be a lady - how to find out secrets, how to fend for herself, how to make people bend to her will
she’s v v good at getting what she wants - always has been
after a few years of working at the flower hall, about 7, she kind of decided she had had enough. she moved on to bartending at the gruesome garden which is where she has been ever since
she is not fond of men - she doesn’t trust them and never has since her father’s death. it’s always violence and very much use and abuse with them
then again she isn’t fond of anyone really
just a few more fun facts!
she does have magical ability - but she can’t control it, she learned ab it later in life (when she was in her late teens), and she doesn’t want to know how to control it because she knows it can put her in danger - she has the ability to see glimpses of the future, such as a seer, but only in her dreams and only every once in awhile
she is very close with baz - helps take care of his daughter
those two are pretty much the only family she has
i like to call her ariadne ‘i hate everyone’ haven or ariadne ‘kill all men’ haven
#kaerholtintro#a story filled with flames ; history#death tw#murder tw#if i need to tag anything pls lmk!#but i think those two should cover it
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LU MEI XING: AMBASSADOR, SPY, ENVOY
{ li qin, 28, cis-female, she/her } ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that LU MEI-XING that was spotted? they’re an AMBASSADOR OF THE LAOZHUN EMPIRE in the city and are known for being COURAGEOUS and OBSTINATE. they DO have magical abilities. the whispers say they are NEUTRAL to the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. **
QUICK HEADCANONS FOR YOU
Mei-xing is from the Laozhun Empire - a distant land that is dominated by a fierce magocratic society. Power and magic defines an individual’s potential. If you were born without the spark for magic, then you were destined for low and difficult work.
The Lu Clan are part of Laozhun’s magocratic elite and are stalwart supporters of the Imperial family. They trade in magical potions and enchantments, and use ships to travel across the waters in search of magical ingredients.
Mei-xing is also a cousin to the Lovelowe family. She frequently spent time in Kaerholt during childhood and adolesence. Thus, many of her informants are old friends and allies in the infamous free city.
She found Kaerholt to be a thrilling and interesting place. It was so different to her homeland. However, she quickly learnt to be cautious about exposing her magical abilities, as Kaerholt’s atttiude towards magic changed and the Eldrkirk grew more influential.
The Laozhun Empire are curious and sceptical about the Eldrkirk's movements. More importantly - they are concerned about Eldrkirk's laws and views regarding magic. Since Kaerholt is a bustling trade city, they believe that that influence could travel overseas and cause issues within their own territory. There has been a growing resentment towards magic, Mages, and the unfairness of society in the Laozhun Empire. So, they sent Mei-xing to Kaerholt for an extended mission - to gather intelligence on the Eldrkirk’s movements, to gauge if their influence could travel to other areas, and to make political alliances where necessary.
Mei-xing’s placement in Kaerholt was also due to her connections with the Lovelowe family. Mei-Xing's mother was a cousin of the Lovelowe family and met Lu Yuyin (Mei-Xing's father) on a merchant voyages. However, there is no mistaking that her primary loyalty is to her birthplace of the Laozhun Empire, even if she has fond memories of Kaerholt’s ‘liberal’ and wild ways.
Amongst friends, she is called Mei or Lu Mei.
Her striking white hair is a birthright feature of the Lu family. Some say it is because of their magical power, whilst others say it is a sign that they have been over exposed to too much magic and will suffer from weakening ailments in the future. The latter gossip infuriates and frightens Mei-xing because there is a growing madness in her clan which haunts her dreams.
DESIRED CONNECTIONS
A CHILDHOOD BLURRED
(This is vague but I would love to have childhood/adolescent friends of Mei-xing! Whether they are part of the Merchant families, the criminal underworld (which Mei-xing frequently uses as a source of information), or fellow sorcerers - anu would bewelcome! During Mei-Xing's visits to Kaerholt, she often travelled around and enjoyed exploring the interesting free-city.)
SECRETS FOR TRADE
(Mei-Xing is not scared to dabble in the underworld of society. They usually hear the best gossip. She'll have a contact in Kaerholt's crime world and she'll trade her clan’s magical potions for information regarding the Eldrkirk)
THIN BLOOD, THICK BLOOD
(Familal connection within the Lovelowe family - someone she grew close to during her visits or perhaps a rival who she clashes with!)
FORBIDDEN ARTS
(A possible pen-pal, apprentice, or sorcerer friend who Mei-Xing has kept in touch with over the years)
PERSONALITY
+ RESOURCEFUL
Alert and attentive. Mei-xing has been trained in the arts of subterfuge and deceit. She has explored lands from the Laozhun Empire to Kaerholt, learning languages, cultural customs, and political scheming. Now that she has been charged with this dangerous and extended mission in Kaerholt, Mei-xing must use all of her skills of persuasion to create a foothold in the social elite and the grim underworld.
+ BRAVE
Courage and fearlessness are forged into a mage’s bones during training. They are the soldiers, spies, and guardians of the Laozhun empire. Thus, they are all trained to become weapons. Mei-xing does not shirk away from duty or danger. Whilst this may come across as arrogance or recklessness, but to her - she was forged for breaking and being broken. She refuses to bow down to fear, as that is how a mage’s power fails, and she will continue to challenge anything in her path.
+ FIERY
x
- BLUNT
x
- STUBBORN
x
- HAUNTED
White hair started to appear in the Lu clan’s bloodline a few centuries ago. At first, it was regarded as a striking and unique feature which they proudly showed off, but as they investigated its roots, they learnt that it was linked to an omen for their bloodline. Too much magic ran in their veins, and some of their children were growing weaker - not just in potential but also in body and mind. An ailment was quietly and softly spreading through the clan, and Mei-xing has watched many cousins - even siblings - fall prey to madness because of this strange side-effect. She is desperate for a cure and is becoming increasingly paranoid that she too would fall ill. Sometimes, she catches the shapes of shadows twisting and turning into monsters from the corner of her eye, and her dreams are rarely ones she would like to remember.
ABILITIES
x
LAOZHUN EMPIRE WORLDBUILDING
x
#kaerholtintro#this is not as in depth as i like but maybe i make it better later aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa#bio
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{ esra bilgiç, 29, genderfluid, he/she/they } ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that AKSANA ÜÇ ZIRVE that was spotted? they’re a SEER in the city and are known for being STEADFAST and MAGNANIMOUS. they DO have magical abilities. the whispers say they are AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. ** { kat }
the eternal flame moved me, so i had to.
askana was born into a community of seers deep in the mountains that surround kaerholt.
named for the famed three peaks that surround the glade in which their village sits, the people of their village practice seeing magic, enabling them to plan harvests and hunting to survive the harsh winters in the mountains. while not everyone has magic ability within their village, seeing in their culture extends to various practices that can be interpreted by non-magical practitioners, such as bones, runes, and scrying stones.
sana’s father was tasked with locating supplies in kaerholt that the village could not produce for themselves, and she began accompanying him to the city at a young age. the journey took weeks each way down treacherous mountain paths, but he was training sana to take over his role in the village.
sana had just entered her teens when an avalanche hit the three peaks. they were traveling to kaerhold with their father when it happened, and it was too dangerous to return home. later in the season, their father died on the road to kaerholt, killed by a bear that had stumbled upon their camp. she joined a group of travelers continuing down to the city, earning coin by peddling their abilities as a seer.
while not the strongest seer from their village, aksana caught the eye of the patriarch of the vanbeerg family, who took them in as a ward. they trained as they came of age, becoming one of the most trusted seers in the city.
sana generally keeps to themselves and is known for being very quiet and mysterious, only speaking when spoken to and only using their seeing abilities when asked or when paid. they’re extremely loyal to the vanbeerg family for taking them in after their father’s death and disapprove of the decision to send the younger vanbeerg to the church to appease the high priest, but they keep that opinion to themselves.
being in kaerholt and having the time to hone their craft has made sana extremely sharp. they have to concentrate when they are asked to see into the future, but they can, especially when touching the person who requests their services.
their village is often seen as more wild and barbaric in comparison to city life in kaerholt, similar to how vikings were seen by outside communities. she has not had to live off the land in decades, but keeps some of her old traditions.
sana does not know if the three peaks still house her village, or if the village is now gone, but her sight does not show her returning. not for a long time.
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{ froy gutierrez, 23, demi man, he/they } ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that amaru “peony” de la mara that was spotted? they’re an ESCORT at THE FLOWER HALL in the city and are known for being EFFERVESCENT and IMPULSIVE. they DO have magical abilities. the whispers say they are ALLIED AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm.
tw : sex work.
positives : kind , effervescent , loyal , open-minded negatives : impulsive , stubborn , easily-manipulated , childish
born into a family of ample wealth & status , amaru de la mara was a child destined for either wild greatness or earnest mediocrity ; with a father well-versed in high-end commerce amongst the more refined merchants of kaerholt & a socialite mother with a pearly smile & full lips , amaru had always been meant to uphold the glittering gold of prosperity through either a successful career in the trades or as a beautiful creature engaged in the ascension of social ranks.
their charming looks & honeyed smile earned them many an admirer from a young age ; his mother would often brush flaxen curls with a gilded hairbrush and coo at them all the while , assuring her beloved child that the sun seemed to follow them no matter where they went. amaru grew up with freckles lining the bridge of their nose & a dimpled smile -- but more than that , they seemed to always glow with something soft & golden , like an angel amongst men …
… & though amaru always knew that the child of a family that wasn’t quite noble but wealthy enough to mingle with those who were would always be expected to marry well & continue the family line in some capacity. while they lacked the cut-throat shrewdness required to be a successful merchant , it became clear that amaru was beautiful and tender enough to secure a suitor in due time. perhaps they would be unable to meet their father’s expectations , but at the very least , a practiced smile & a bell-like laugh paired with their good looks could earn them a partner worthy of status higher than their own. what more could a child ask for ?
a life of unignorable ease & comfort , however , came to a brutal end two weeks prior to their coming of age year ; only a fortnight before they were to debut as an adult at 18 , blinding white light bled from their palms with white hot intensity , overwhelming enough to leave them crumpled at their feet & their mother huddled in a corner , quaking in fear.
the de la mara family , while modest in their wealth , remained devout to the high priest & his fanatical teachings. magic , they claimed , would destroy purity. that anything tainted by something so ugly and unnatural would was a curse against the eternal flame that they held so sacred. in an instant , a dazed & lost amaru was cast to the streets with not a penny to their name. it would do the de la maras a disservice to house something so sacrilegious , so heretical against everything they believed in. an elden family , after all , held no place for a cursed being that could wield magic.
for weeks , amaru wandered the streets ; slept in taverns in a huddled heap , teeth chattering & their clothes slowly gathering grime. stale pieces of bread scavenged from the street-sides and what butter he could purchase with the coin given to them by passerbyers that took mercy on the young boy were the only thing to take the edge off the hunger gnawing at his belly. but , oh , how their beauty came to save them …
perhaps it was foolish for an innocent flower like themself to wander into the rowdiness of the docks well past dark , but the promise of fresh fish roasted with vegetables caused their tummy to rumble. maybe , they thought to themself , if they fluttered their lashes and played coy that a sailor or fisherman may take mercy on their trembling form -- and though it worked , it brought on with it a spiral of events that amaru couldn’t have anticipated. the brothels by the dock were frequented by a demanding bunch --- and amaru’s beauty stood out in the darkness , surely. going to bed with a stranger , amaru rationed , was a price worth paying if it meant he had enough coin in their pocket to afford a warm meal and a bed to sleep in.
one evening became two in a week , then a consistent gig amongst the docks -- and soon enough , amaru found themself working within the brothels to an official capacity. perhaps it was their tenderness , the glow of effervescent golden light that never seemed to leave them … but the customers that came to them regularly soon grew affectionate , fond. clients more wealthy than the others soon sought him out -- and by some turn of events , a brothel with a high reputation soon became the next warm bed for them to stay in.
they adopted the name peony , after the multi-petaled flower that held a delicate beauty. to become a flower , after all , meant that amaru had gained a standing. a proper reputation. their bell-like laughter and twinkling eyes won the hearts of his patrons with steady resolve. and while many scorned the work of escorts within brothel walls , amaru finds in it comfort. solace. security. at the very least , his clients wanted them , wanted to bed them , wanted to chat with them … and to feel wanted after being cast out from the only life he ever knew … it was the only safety amaru could find.
five years have passed since then & amaru continues to clench their hands & dig their nails into their palms , hiding the magic that had caused them to lose it all. while others with sorcery have honed their skills , amaru is only able to summon slight flickers & hazy orbs , too afraid to exert more energy at the risk of bursting with light so hot that they melt away at the seams. they bite their tongue , hide their magic , and traverse through the flower hall with a buoyant spirit. they smile & they laugh & they touch others with a tenderness few have tasted. While they refused to allow hardship to make them unkind , there’s no doubt that amaru aches & aches & aches to be seen.
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Aymeric Duchamp | artist
{ louis garrel, 38, demiman, he/they } ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that AYMERIC DUCHAMP that was spotted? they’re an ARTIST in the city and are known for being CREATIVE and STUBBORN. they DO NOT have magical abilities. the whispers say they are AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. **
A foreigner, born and raised without a cent to their name. They never paid attention in lessons, barely learned how to spell their own name. They cared not for history or politics or even to continue their family’s farm - they had a younger brother for that. No. All Aymeric ever cared for, even in his youth, was art.
They painted with anything they could get their hands on - ground up seeds from the farm, grapes mashed together, even dirt after the rain worked. After all, their family could afford nothing more than what they already had.
That wasn’t enough for Aymeric. They had the name of a king, but the prestige of a farmer’s child, and they wanted more. Selfishly, they kissed their family goodbye and moved to brighter pastures - travelers through their small town had mentioned the free city of Kærholt many times before, and, quite frankly, it seemed like the best option for them. There was no king to bow down to, no Lords to obey, just the freedom to do whatever they desired. And they’d heard that there were plenty of patrons, as well - people who would actually pay for them to do art, as opposed to their art just sitting around, wasted in their family’s farmhouse.
They arrived in Kærholt nearly fifteen years ago. Since then, they’ve learned the ways of the city. They’ve learned of the eldrkirk, of their... proclivities, of their ways of life. They certainly don’t worship the fire - for fire is unstable, ever damaging. They’ll stick to their Old Gods, thank you very much. Those whose lives are devoted to the flames may see them as too self indulgent - his fire burns too bright. And Aymeric would never deny that - they’re a passionate person, easily excitable, quick to action. But they’re good at what they do - they love to paint, and it seems as if the paint loves them. Perhaps... too good at what they do.
WCs !!
Head & Spouse of House Lovelowe - Aymeric has been their patron for years. They know him, he knows them, and it’s mutually beneficial; they have one of the best (if not the best) artists in the city in their pocket. Aymeric wants more, though. He wants to share their bed. (this is totally up to the players of the head & spouse - it could definitely be unrequited desire!!)
Lovers - past & present! Aymeric is fluid in every way, polyamorous and bisexual, they will go to bed with anyone who presents interest in them (except for maybe members of the elden order, unless they have something to give to him in return).
Friends - he’s been in the city for fifteen years, he’s got some friends by now, they go out drinking, out dancing, out burning too bright. But isn’t that the fun of it all?
Patrons - people who have come to them for their art, whether it be a portrait of themself or a loved one, or of someplace or something special to them. After all, Aymeric is good at what they do - word does travel throughout the city.
And anything else tbh I can’t wait to vibe with yall
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{ casey deidrick, 29 , cisman, he/him} ** whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that BRYNJAR SCHWAB that was spotted? they’re a SELLSWORD in the city and are known for being PLAYFUL and SPITEFUL. they DO have magical abilities. the whispers say they are ALLIED AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. **
from old lands , with old ways , worshipping old gods —
name. brynjar dmitri schwab age. twenty-nine gender. cisman pronouns. he/him sexuality. homosexual occupation. sellsword / adventurer for hire politics. known to be against the eldrkirk & it’s anti-magic policy magic. battle enhancements — skin hardening , strength & speed amplifying , able to be silent & hide well in shadows. battle buffsTM. it’s not well known that he has these abilities. pros. playful , excitable , capable , strategically intelligent , open minded cons. temperamental , lacking some common sense , petty , selfish , defensive
brynjar hails from the countryside , north of kaerholt , free of the mess & influence of the political & religious strife that plagues it. magic is accepted & honed , whatever the skill may be. he grew up in a way that the eldrkirk’s would call primitive - farming , hunting , fishing , gathering. one with the forest & following the ways of the old gods. his family was good to him , & it wasn’t a life he had to escape from.
he was curious about kaerholt as a young adult , so he traveled into the city & offered up his physical skills as labor to the merchant market. . . & the rest was history. brynjar found himself addicted to city life — the thrum , the money , the services that were available , the treasures that could be had.
he’s well known for his adventures & his willingness to take any job , the more dangerous the better. of course , no one knows his magic is why his success rate is so high. . . & he’s looking to keep it that way.
he’s known to be against the church , but he’s not that much of an idiot. he doesn’t walk down the streets screaming his ‘blasphemy’ , he keeps it to himself.
he does leave the city a few times a year to go meet up with his clan for important celebrations like harvest season & lunar events.
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{ luke arnold, 31, cis man, he/they } * * whispers dart through the streets of kærholt. was that CASSIAN ISKANDER “BAZ” BASTELL that was spotted? they’re a DELIVERY MAN and GRUESOME GARDEN SECOND IN COMMAND in the city and are known for being COMPASSIONATE and SELF-SERVING. they DO NOT have magical abilities. the whispers say they are AGAINST the eldrkirk and are AGAINST the laws about magic. may the fire keep them warm. ** { kat, 22, she/her, est }
no one bring up how long it took me to come up with this grubby, confused man.
bas was born to a man who was born to a man who was born to a man of means, but by the time baz came into the world, he had the long time, but he did not have any of the means.
his father was a very low-level merchant and they lived near the shipyard, selling fish brought in on boats to those who would eat it.
overall, baz did not have much in his childhood, but he was never without the most basic of necessities and he never wanted for a life of luxury or anything more than an honest day’s work.
but baz was never very honest, as much as he tried to be.
apprenticeships made him miserable, he never took direction very well even if he was quick with his fingers. and he kept making mistakes, stupid mistakes no one else would make if they were paying attention.
down on his luck, the thieves guild at the gruesome garden took him in when he was just eighteen and he trained up under them and he found the one thing he was perfect at: stealing.
he met a girl when he was young, they fell in love, the girl was with child. it was not how baz thought his life would turn out. they married, ever the traditionalists. their daughter was born. she died.
the shortest, saddest love story in the world.
anjali had many jobs after she and baz met when they were young, eventually landing a well-paying position as one of derya dogan’s flowers. baz was never quick to anger about his wife’s profession; being a courtesan brought in good money and she was loyal to him. she became the fire lily in derya’s bouquet. when anjali died, he named their daughter lily.
baz was devastated. his parents had long past, his siblings were flung to the far winds, and now his wife was dead. he was only twenty-eight and already a widower.
but his daughter became his world. even as a wee one, leliana delighted and surprised him and as she grew, she looked more and more like her mother every day. everything was perfect until the moment he discovered she had magic.
she was powerful, powerful enough that she could babble as babies do, making things fall off shelves and jostle the drink in baz’s cup. this was dangerous, even he knew that. with the laws around magic, baz was worried for lily’s future and he was woefully under-prepared to raise a daughter, let alone one with magic.
lily is now three years old and baz has a job as a delivery man, using those connections to help the gruesome garden network expand their reach.
he’s the second-in-command at the gruesome garden, with a lover that helps him balance his woes (wanted connection) and a brothel worker that helps him manage lily (wanted connection). as the eldrkirk continue to constrict the usage of magic in the town, he’s looking for a way to fight back and make a better future for his daughter.
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