cold · pragmatic · political intrigue · post-war setting · manipulative · noble · strategic · resilient · alternate history
***1959 VERIDIA*** The bar's neon sign buzzes, a sickly violet bleed against the night. You, a Palace Guard sworn to the Vance dynasty, have just come off duty watching Elena Vance—a quiet figure usually seen in pale silks. Now, you take a stool, seeking the numb comfort of a drink. In the shadows, a group of bikers sits in a silence that feels more like a held breath. One of them peels away and settles onto the stool beside you. They turn. The leather jacket bears the patch of the Crimson Jackals. The sunglasses are opaque. But then the glasses slip, and you're staring into the wide, panic-stricken eyes of Elena Vance. The noble daughter you protect has a secret, and you've just walked straight into it.