Cursed Blood
Cursed Blood
While awaiting an audience with his mother, Nyssa Valderin, Valerian overhears a conversation between her and his aunt, Trea Bennett, the head of the Sanguine Order. Trea reports on the capture of Elven women and children, but the vague language masks something sinister. Suspicion stirs within Valerian, setting him on a path to uncover the dark secrets lurking within his family and kingdom. Uncertain of who to trust, Valerian decides to confide in his father and leaves with Aeris Serpenthelm, claiming he needs time away. Aeris, noticing his unease, deduces that he carries a heavy secret. Safe within Ocean Breeze Manor, she reveals the whole truth about the Order’s dark deeds and the resistance group known as the An Aghaidh. Trea, alerted by her best spy that Valerian knows more than he should, acts decisively. Without informing Nyssa, she sends him to silence the prince: Caelum "Ash" Eryndal. Ash, a "Child of the Order" and skilled operative trained from infancy to serve the Sanguine Order’s purposes, has infiltrated the ranks of the An Aghaidh under orders to gain their trust, sabotage their plans, and prevent breaches of the Order’s secrecy. Over years of undercover work, however, Ash has grown conflicted, struggling with his loyalty and the darkness of the life he leads. His nature, charming and resourceful, hides a moral confusion and an awareness of the pain caused by the Order's actions. When Aeris plans a mission to Crayfish Wharf to rescue a group of Elven captives, freed by the An Aghaidh and led by Vax and Vex Ravaren, Valerian secretly stows away on her ship. Upon arrival, the sight of the malnourished and traumatized prisoners overwhelms him. Emerging from his hiding spot, Valerian helps them onto the ship and confesses his guilt, pledging to dismantle the Order and atone for his family’s sins. Vex starts to see the prince as a useful took to free their people, while Vax is furious how the prince was even able to sneak onto the ship, endangering their operation.The Turn of the Tides
As the group prepares to ship the freed prisoners from Crayfish Wharf to the safety of New Fearann, Caelum is among the members of the An Aghaidh, calculating his next moves and how to proceed with the assassination of Valerian, who served himself on a silver platter to him. At night, the tension in the small cabin where Valerian is trying to get some rest, is thick with anticipation. The quiet clashing of the waves against the ship and the soft rustling of the crew a distant sound, while Ash stands in the corner of the room, watching Valerian as he sleeps, unaware of the silent presence at his side. To Ash, this is a man surrendering everything: his family, his future, his kingdom—all for a chance at a better world. The assassin has seen the cost of this game before, and as he studies Valerian’s peaceful face, he’s confronted by the weight of what could happen if he carries out his mission. The contract on Valerian’s life was clear: eliminate him, and secure a future for the Sanguine Order. But Ash can’t move. He’s torn between his duty to the Order and the truth he’s learned during his time with the An Aghaidh. Ash quietly retrieves the weapon from his belt, the sharp steel glinting in the dim light. He holds it in his hand, his fingers trembling as he stares at the prince. The future seems so fragile in that moment—one decision could shape it forever. But then, something shifts within him. The weight of all he’s done, the lies he’s lived, the people he’s betrayed… it all crashes down. With a quiet sigh, Ash places the weapon on the table beside him, the cold metal clinking against the wood. His voice is barely above a whisper, but it carries the depth of his resolution: “I’m not doing this anymore.” He leaves the room, his heart pounding in his chest, the door closing behind him. Outside the door, Vex Ravaren is leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed. He doesn’t flinch as Ash steps out, his gaze steady and unblinking. "Right decision," Vex says simply. Without waiting for a response, he turns and walks away, leaving Ash standing in the hallway, his future uncertain but his resolve unshakable.At some point between the arrival at Crayfish Wharf and New Fearann, it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce the party closer to the different key figures, if they had chosen to join their journey. If not they might get the word that Valerian is now marked a traitor and working with the An Aghaidh.
Second Chances
In the time that follow, Vex takes Ash under his wing. While his sister, Vax, begins spending more time with Valerian—understanding his inner struggles and becoming an unexpected ally to the prince—Vex sees something in Ash that no one else does. Despite the weight of his past, he knows that Ash's true potential lies beyond the chains that have bound him to the Order. Ash’s Skills in espionage, mimicry, and his arcane talents are unmatched, and Vex understands the importance of helping him find a new purpose. “You’re more than just a weapon,” Vex tells him one evening, as they stand on the ship’s deck, watching the sun set over the horizon. “You’ve been used, yes, but it doesn’t have to end like this. You can make something of yourself. A second chance. Just like we all have.” For the first time in a long while, Ash starts to believe that maybe there’s something worth fighting for—something beyond the shadows of the Sanguine Order. As they continue their journey, Vex teaches Ash not only how to survive but how to embrace the freedom that the An Aghaidh offers to those who have been broken by the Order. Together, they forge a new path—one where Ash can finally step out from the shadow of the assassin’s blade and carve a future on his own terms.There are many more tales that could be spun between the events on the ship and the climax later down the road. Maybe Valerian seeks refuge with the An Aghaid and pretends to be murdered, after Vex told his sister about the assassination attempt, getting closer to Vax.
The Failed Assassination
After the successful rescue and escape to New Fearann, Valerian remains in hiding, unsure of whom he can trust. Despite his efforts to stay under the radar, word gets out that Valerian is alive, and Trea, informed by spies within the Order, tries to turn him into a public enemy, marking him as a traitor to his kingdom and ally of the An Aghaidh.. She spreads rumors, branding him a rebel sympathizer, further complicating the political landscape. Meanwhile, Ash continues his internal struggle, and he begins pointing out other members of the Order within the ranks of the An Aghaidh, trying to help them root out spies. The tension grows as Valerian is forced to navigate this dangerous game of deception and survival.The Torn Army
As the final battle approaches, Valerian’s identity as the Lord General of the Ederran army still weighs heavily on him. His past loyalties to his kingdom are tested as the conflict between the Sanguine Order and the An Aghaidh intensifies. When the battle breaks out in the Vale Of Eternal Strife, Ederra’s army is called upon to join the fray. Many of the soldiers, who once served under Valerian, are now torn—some recognize their general fighting on the side of the rebels, while others are unsure who to follow. The uncertainty causes divisions within the ranks, as some soldiers defect to the rebel cause or lay down their weapons altogether, unsure of where their allegiance should lie.The Final Battle at the Vale of Eternal Strife
The battle culminates in the Vale of Eternal Strife, where Trea Bennett leads the Sanguine Order's loyalists in a desperate stand. Valerian, now fully committed to ending the Order’s reign of terror, leads the forces of the An Aghaidh alongside Vax and Vex Ravaren. As the battle rages on, Trea’s fanaticism becomes evident, and Valerian calls for her surrender to avoid more bloodshed. However, Trea, unwilling to see the Order crumble, takes her own life, breaking the morale of her followers and leading to their surrender.Aftermath
With the Order dismantled, Valerian reforms the institution into an academy that fosters magical talent through guidance and choice rather than fear. Thornshire, the stronghold of the Sanguine Order, is turned into a memorial for those who suffered under its rule. Valerian’s mother, Nyssa, is imprisoned for her complicity in the Order’s crimes, while his father abdicates the throne, unable to reconcile with the truth. Valerian ascends as the new ruler of Ederra, with Vax by his side. Together, they work to forge a fragile peace and an alliance with Cirabaen, offering a new hope for the future.
Plot type
Side Plot
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