Styx Bratoviae
Bratoviae Castle,
Bratovi.
Under the starless night sky, the moon cast an eerie glow upon the waters surrounding the island housing the ancient Bratoviae castle. In an undisclosed subterranean chamber, constructed from rough stones with polished interlocked black floors, darkness prevailed, save for a dimly lit torch on the wall. At its center, a being, an amalgamation of man and animal, had hands chained to the ceiling and legs secured to the floor. Intricate interconnected purple veins, reminiscent of octagonal scales, covered his body, resembling lightning strikes.
With disheveled shoulder-length dark hair, elongated fangs dripping dark blood, and unnaturally glowing violet eyes, he exhibited an appearance akin to a serpent. Large whip-like scars adorned his back, occasionally aflame, accompanied by agonizing screams. Constantly attempting to break free from the unforgiving chains, his legs fought against the imprisonment of the cold, unyielding floor. Agonizing screams reverberated through the chamber, a symphony of pain conducted by the relentless night. The figure endured the night, marked by piercing cries and ragged breaths.
As dawn approached, the chained being collapsed, having weathered the excruciating monthly ordeal dictated by his peculiar condition.Styx, weakened and battered, succumbed to the aftermath of his transformative anguish.
In that vulnerable moment, Rudiger, ever the vigilant cousin, , who had spent the night on the cold floor beside the torch, approached. The torch on the wall flickered, casting an ethereal glow on the scene. Rudiger's face bore a mixture of concern and sorrow as he unchained Styx. The dim light caught the glistening trails of tears that had silently carved their way down Styx's face, unseen by the moonlit night. Rudiger took down the torch, lifted Styx, and exited the dark chamber.
They made their way to a charming cottage Nestled amidst the Bratoviae estate's, the cottage exuded rustic charm. Its stone façade, softened by climbing ivy, bore the weathered marks of time. Their aunt,an eccentric Vampyre named Sylvia, the regal matriarch of the Bratoviae family who possessed an ethereal presence awaited them. Her silver waist-length hair cascaded like a waterfall, adorned with delicate jewelry that twinkled in the candlelight. Violet eyes, windows to ancient wisdom, glistened with a mix of authority and maternal warmth. Fair-skinned and draped in garments reflecting centuries of vampyric lineage, she moved with a grace that echoed the power she held within the Bratoviae dynasty.
They hurriedly moved the battered Styx into the cottage to administer healing potions to his wounds in a bid to alleviate his pain.
Inside, polished wooden floors whispered beneath one's feet, leading to a warm, inviting interior. Plush furnishings in deep burgundy and midnight blue adorned the living space, while shelves lined with meticulously labeled potions.
The air hummed with the scent of herbs, mingling with the crackle of the fireplace and the gentle glow of lanterns. Crystal orbs refracted light, casting a mesmerizing dance of colors across the room.
Concerned, Rudiger voiced, "We need to find a solution; it causes him immense pain and depletes his life force. This episode is the worst yet." Sylvia replied, "It's a challenging condition, but I can alleviate it with potions to restore some of his life essence." She sighed, heading towards a furnace to continue crafting potions while Rudiger watched over his cousin..
Styx awoke to aching pain throughout his body, and his attempt to rise from the bed ended with a thud. Aunt Sylvia, offering support, helped him to his feet. Observing the Bratoviae custom, he greeted her with a bow. "Good morning, Aunt." She dismissed pleasantries, asking, "How are you feeling?" Seating him in a chair, Styx replied with a grateful smile, "Better now, thanks to your care." Sylvia scolded him affectionately, "You naughty boy, you had Rudi and me worried yesterday. You nearly scared the poor boy during the night." Styx sighed, inquiring about Rudiger. "He went to the castle this morning for some duties. Speaking of which, hurry and get ready; the gathering is almost upon us." Before preparing for the family gathering, Styx informed his aunt, "I have an important matter to discuss with you after the gathering." The Bratoviae family maintained the tradition of a daily breakfast gathering in the dining hall..
Styx, ready for the gathering, stepped out of the cottage with Sylvia in tow, traversing through the woods, well-kept gardens, and multiple houses resembling palaces belonging to other members of the house before approaching the *musei* situated at the center of the island estate. It was a grand building mainly used to preserve monuments in the Bratoviae history and occasionally used to entertain guests. The building was adorned in gold and many rare jewels. A grand door with the insignia of the Bratoviae family led to its grand interior. *Musei* was as luxurious as the grand castle in Ouija, the capital of Regnum. Paintings depicting the history of the Bratoviae adorned its walls. Images dating back to the fall of the mortifer, the Orion war, and the crowning of the first ruler of regnis down to the current ruler, Styx's father, were on display. Styx was born to Elimaas Bratoviae and Eliana Garrow of the House of Garrow as their first and only child. His mother died at birth, with his aunt Sylvia taking on the role of both mother and father as he grew distant from his duty-bound father due to his role as regnis. The House of Bratoviae had ruled Regnum since its inception, with all 19 regnis being from the House of Bratoviae. The Bratoviaes were simply more powerful than the other houses. Though despite the fact that the decideum inheritance grants each house a unique ability, the Bratoviae reigned supreme as they were descendants of the Strigoi and a powerful lux maleficae. In simple terms, they were not only vampyres but had the power of the maleficae.
Upon entering the Dining Hall, Styx discovered all house members already seated. His presence prompted a bow from all 20 members as he assumed his rightful place at the head of the table, acknowledged as the duke. "Greetings to his grace," echoed from every member, and "Good morning, everyone," Styx replied. Ghampire servants served various meals and blood from the healthiest humans, filling goblets as the Bratoviaes engaged in conversations. Lilith, Rudiger's sister and the youngest in the house, engaged Styx in conversation. However, the serene meal was abruptly interrupted by his cousin, Nikolai Bratoviae.
Standing with a goblet of blood in hand, Nikolai Bratoviae addressed the assembly, expressing dissatisfaction with Styx's leadership. "Our duke seems ineffective; ghampires have been vanishing, and his grace remains inactive. If he can't manage a city, how can he rule a kingdom? Perhaps we should consider another candidate for the regnis war," he provocatively suggested. Unperturbed, Styx replied, "I know you covet the regnis title, but don't question my legitimacy without defeating me in battle. Sit down and cease the disturbance."
Enraged, Nikolai swiftly attacked Styx with a unique bolt of lightning. Styx effortlessly dodged the strike, retaliating by moving towards Nikolai and delivering a forceful blow to his chest. The peaceful gathering was abruptly interrupted as Nikolai was sent flying across the hall. Styx, maintaining his composure, removed the glove from his left hand, discarding it in a nearby trash bin. "I avoid putting things that have touched garbage on my body," he calmly stated, resuming his seat in a regal manner.
As Styx's statement evokes a subdued laughter from Lilith, the older house members observe with disinterest. At the opposite end of the table, Styx's aunt Sylvia casts a spell, "numre ki culo oa ni," restoring the room to its original state before the altercation. Resting her head on the table, she emphasizes, "Let me be clear – the house has chosen Styx Bratoviae for the regnum war. Any attempt to harm him will result in dire consequences." Making eye contact with everyone, she seeks confirmation, and in unison, the room responds, "Yes." Including Nikolai as he nurses his bruised chest and ego.
Departing the hall, Sylvia, adorned with clinking jewelry, declares, "We are Bratoviaes, a united front. This tradition has sustained our power for centuries and must endure." Apart from her brother, the regnum, Sylvia Bratoviae is the strongest in the house, a formidable maleficae and vampyre whose authority is unquestionable.
Following the disastrous breakfast hours later, Styx, accompanied by Rudiger, pays a visit to his aunt's cottage to discuss the ongoing disappearance of ghampires. Settling in comfortably, they await their aunt's completion of the meal. "That dreadful breakfast has left me with severe migraines," she laments. Rudiger laughs, "We're vampyres; migraines aren't in our repertoire." Ignoring his comment, she adopts a more serious tone, turning to Styx. "I know that move you executed earlier weakened you significantly. Avoid unnecessary displays of power, especially after the full moon."
Styx responds nonchalantly, "He's been quite bothersome lately, but I'm fine. He's right about ghampires disappearing; we suspect trafficking rings in Bratovi. I'm currently investigating, and we've encountered some peculiar incidents." Continuing, he explains, "While probing a human we caught peeping at the insita sewers yesterday, his head suddenly exploded."
Sylvia, upon hearing the alarming information, sat up abruptly. "Oh no, it better not be what I'm thinking," she exclaimed. Sensing the urgency, Styx inquired, "What are you thinking?"
Sylvia sighed as she began to explain, "Even though the tenebrae maleficae, the dark witches, were eradicated after the fall of Acklomane, the mortifer, their tomes were retained by the Ecclesia. The head explosion was caused by the true discretion curse, a more intricate version than the one known today, and it can only be executed by a tenebrae maleficae."
At her revelation, the cousins visibly expressed concern, acknowledging the terrifying nature of the tenebrae maleficae. If the enemy had one on their side, trouble was imminent. Styx informed Sylvia, "We apprehended an individual attempting to drug a ghampire's drink with some powder yesterday. Lilith is currently analyzing the drink, but we may need your assistance in identifying it if a tenebrae is involved."
"Have her bring it to me. If we're truly dealing with a tenebrae, I need both of you to be cautious," Sylvia instructed, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Exiting the cottage, Styx conveyed to Rudiger, "We must uncover their motives promptly," receiving a nod of agreement from Rudiger. Recalling that he had instructed the red-haired detective to report her findings, Styx proceeded towards the Rouge.