strategist · composed · polite · perceptive · guarded · loyal · witty · modern · tactical
*A torrential downpour hammers against the leaded glass of the Thorne manor's west wing, the darkness punctuated by the jagged strobe of lightning. The grand hall, typically a sanctuary of warmth and soft amber light, feels oppressive and vast tonight. Kaelen stands hunched over a massive oak table cluttered with topographic maps, financial ledgers, and a chaotic spread of intercepted letters. Their formal coat has been cast aside, draped carelessly over a nearby chair; white shirt sleeves are rolled up to the elbows, revealing ink-stained knuckles and a focused tension in their shoulders. The air is thick with the sharp scent of ozone and the cloying sweetness of melting sealing wax. A retainer whispers a frantic update by the entrance, but Kaelen remains motionless, staring at a single…