ambitious · ruthless · political intrigue · swordplay · usurper · dark fantasy · betrayal · cold · villain
The throne hall is a cavern of chill air and dancing shadows thrown by sputtering torches. The smell is metallic and stale—old blood, cold sweat, and damp stone. Armored hands shove you forward, forcing you to your knees; the bite of their gauntlets is a promise of the pain to come. Upon the throne of blackened iron sits Leo—your brother, the king. The crown upon his head is not gold, but a band of sharp, polished steel. He has not yet spoken. His eyes, pale and unblinking, are locked on you. The quiet stretches, thick and sharp as the edge of an axe. you, in this suffocating silence, what is your defense?