FAIM

CONGRATULATIONS, E! You’ve been accepted for the role of Celeste du Leon. Rereading your app had us hooked all over again, E! You’ve captured the very essence of who Celeste is in that they are still growing, brimming with potential and climbing with her ambition in hand. We were impressed all over again with the way you reeled us in and showed us the ins and outs of who Celeste is. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: you had us hooked from the opening line, and we couldn’t be happier to have you back on the dashboard!

The following accounts have been inactive for seven days, or are off hiatus, and must resume activity or contact the main within 24 hours to prevent having their role reopened:

The application count has been updated. (+1)

For sure! I hope these help:

What made Daghan slowly turn from their introversion? Have they had extended interactions with nobility and the court, or are they still working their way into it?

Does Daghan want to advise Calandre?

Write about a time Daghan hurt something with their magic, or maybe helped someone. How did this interaction change them?

No problem!

Lucrece often has to think on their feet; it's just a part of their work. How did they throw the show that's shown in the event together? How do their experiences translate into what gets put on stage? They're new at this, so how does that kind of chaos feel to them?

Write about Emeric and Lucrece's bond. It's a little strained on both ends, but neither would be where they are now without the other. What does that look like for Lucrece?

Does Lucrece still interact with their family, given all the work they did for their siblings, or have they isolated themselves? How do they feel about the upper echelons of Val Faim now that they're directly in it?

I hope these help!

No problem! Michiel would be a wonderful choice for Roth.

Hi! Roth is open and everything should be up to date now; I just forgot to re-update their skeleton to display that. I apologize for the confusion. Have a great day! <3

CASSIAN CIGYDD

CELESTE DU LEON

Hi! They'd both be great fits for Lucrece.

Name: Daghan Le Beau Age: 30+ Occupation: Mage and tutor Suggested Faceclaims: Jasmine Sanders, La’Tecia Thomas, Go Min Shi, Yang Yang Pronouns: Up to player Currently: Open

YOU HUNGER FOR —

Security. Magic cuts its way through you like a river. It was obvious from the very beginning that you were different from the others, like you knew something they didn’t. The start of your life was unremarkable. Your parents abandoned you, you were left to fend for yourself, and you’d become resigned to a life of loneliness. Fate had other plans. At six you begin to have strange dreams full of fire. It is not long before you almost burn down the orphanage. You are a bizarre prodigy, and so you’re quickly sent off to study under the best of the best at one of the academies in Val Faim to prevent you from burning the world down, too. Your years there are difficult, but your focus on your studies keeps you sane in the midst of darker, more intense dreams. When it becomes clear you have learned all there is to learn, you are given a choice: go out into the world, make yourself a legend… or stay behind, and teach others the way you were taught. You choose the latter, because the world seems so big, and your head is still so loud. Under your tutelage, your students are some of the most powerful magi Celestine has ever seen. You preen under your own successes and slowly allow yourself to break out of your shell, accepting invitations and proposals to dinners and events you’d once rejected. The most recent one that’s arrived on your doorstep is strange, however, even to you. From the Empress, heaping praise upon you for your skills and dedication, alongside an invitation to trial inside her Court, see how you do, potentially even become one of her Advisors. You know you can’t stay static in the same place forever. If the Empress can offer you something sturdier than your position, you know which option you’ll choose. You wonder what your dreams will have to say about that.

CONNECTIONS

Bastile Gerard: Basile is, frankly put, your greatest failure. They had such potential and they chose to spurn it rather than pursue further knowledge under you, and try as you might to cross the long bridge that’s built itself between you, they refuse to even give you an inch. Maybe you were difficult, maybe your words were colder or sharper-edged than they should have been, but you never meant to cause them any harm. You only wanted to see them thrive, in the way you did. They have a truly unique talent, and you hear stories fairly often of their journeys across Celestine. You’ve written letters, sent flowers, poultices, trinkets, but you’re beginning to think that repairing your bond and going back to the way things used to be is simply out of reach.

Sidonie Dupont: Sidonie watches you with the eyes of a hawk. They terrify you not just for that, but for their magic as well. You’ve heard of what they’re capable of, and they might outmatch you, something you hadn’t thought possible until now. When you got the letter inviting you to Court you were overjoyed, but now, a few days in, you’re worried you may have to tread lightly. As far as you know, Sidonie has been Calandre’s only magical advisor in all her years as Empress, and you’re coming to discover it’s possible you may have been hired to replace them. This is something you never intended, but the will of Her Imperial Majesty is not something to speculate on, so you try and dodge Sidonie as best you can.

Name: Bastile Gerard Age: 30+ Occupation: Mercenary-for-hire, mage Suggested Faceclaims: Alba Flores, Joel Kinnaman, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Wunmi Mosaku Pronouns: Up to player Currently: Open

YOU HUNGER FOR —

Remembrance. All your life, fragments of memory have spoken to you. In your youth it was easy to get lost in recalling things that did not belong to you, touching a trinket or memoir and getting lost in the past before coming back to yourself. Your parents thought you nothing more than strange, at first, until it became clear the matter was far more serious. You’ve met several self-important mages over the years, but none of them have been able to give you the kind of clarity or control you seek, so your restraint sits entirely in your hands. Some might call you deathly serious, but you know that without utter restraint, you might just lose yourself to history’s pages entirely. You’ve lost days before, but who’s to say you won’t miss weeks, months, maybe even years? You joined up with a mercenary group, an eclectic collection of friends and fellows who each have their own crosses to bear, and while they know something’s off, as you steadily climbed the ranks to become their Captain, they never asked. As of late, you’ve felt a strong pull in the direction of Val Faim, as if you’ve been caught up in the sweeping power of a whirlpool. You only arrived recently, and have kept your head low since, but as it becomes clear that chaos has plucked this city up from the ground and tucked it in its pocket, you’re beginning to realize you might have no other choice but to intervene in whatever way you can. You’ve gotten yourself directly involved in the mess by stopping the woman who tried to assassinate Calandre. This place is hot-to-the-touch with recollection, and it seems like everyone is chomping at the bit for answers to questions they haven’t fully asked.

CONNECTIONS

Daghan Le Beau: When you say you’ve met self-important mages over the years, the first that comes to mind is Daghan. They’re an interesting individual with a vast skill set, that you’ll admit to, but they were your mentor for years and you feel you came away having learned nothing. There was a time when the two of you were friends, but those days are long gone by now. Knowing that they have been poached by the Empress for a possible seat as her advisor makes your jaw tighten so much it may as well have wired itself shut. Your views and opinions on magic and the best way to use it are very different. Truth be told, you find them to be selfish, self-centered, and stubborn. They’ve tried to mend the wounds of your broken friendship over the years, but you refuse to bow to them.

Zhenya: Zhenya fascinates you. You’ve not traveled North — in fact, you haven’t traveled very far at all outside of Celestine, as it is incredibly vast, and your mercenary band never saw the point in moving outside the best spot to make a profit. The two of you ran into each other in the Silver Quarter several times, though, and struck up conversations that you thought were so odd you found them… endearing, maybe. Now, you want to know all about them. How do they live well among Celestinians? Do they enjoy their time in Val Faim? How do they perceive memory? What do they think of magic? Who are they, outside of their role? You want to know more, but you fear that badgering them might turn them from you.

Name: Emeric Claude Age: 30+ Occupation: Owner & Head Chef of La Perche Suggested Faceclaims: Martin Sensmeier, Kofi Siriboe, Marquita Pring, Sonoya Mizuno Pronouns: Up to player Currently: Open

YOU HUNGER FOR —

Ambition. Your mother always warned you to temper your eagerness and ego. It’s one of the first things you can recall when you think of her now. Patience, Emeric. Patience. She’d roll in her grave to see you now, with the way you have consistently made efforts to climb the mountain of fame only to tumble under the weight of your efforts. You’re a bit of an enigma among Val Faim’s high society: noble in blood and name, but lacking in any of the grace and propriety that typically follows. You’re blunt, rude, a little unkind, and cut right to the point. No dancing around words or trying to be clever; what you say is what you mean. It makes sense that the best place for you is in La Perche’s kitchen. You’ve been there for years and seen the restaurant through thick-and-thin. Its failings were not your fault, but it’s true that the place has certainly seen better days. Only through pulling it through the other side of several storms and taking on ownership has it emerged victorious — maybe with a little help from Lucrece — gradually squeezing out competition over the years. Your sudden success caught the eye of a newer benefactor, Alain Gauthier, who offered to invest a little bit of dor in exchange for whatever secrets pass across the lips of your customers. You couldn’t help but agree, and now, anything interesting goes right on along to Gauthier. You have your doubts some days about the morality of whatever it is that Gauthier does with those secrets, but you figure that so long as La Perche can remain on the throne, you’ll be better for it.

CONNECTIONS

Lucrece Bassot: Lucrece often reminds you of what it is they did to aid you all those years ago, when La Perche was failing and failing rapidly. They seem convinced that without them you would have crashed and burned, but you aren’t sure that you believe them. Yes, they have a designated table in the restaurant, and yes, you know their drink order like you know the back of your hand, but that doesn’t mean that you owe them anything. You sent Alain their way to get him off of your back for a little while, but now they’re looking at you differently, and… you hate to admit it, but that bothers you in a way you can’t quite put your finger on. You don’t rely on Lucrece, you tell yourself, but when trouble is on your doorstep and you need help, they’re the first person you call.

Victoire de Chevin: You have a long-standing grudge against Victoire, although it’s possible they don’t even remember you. There was a time when the Empress called for you to serve her a meal at the Summer Palace, and in your efforts to appease her, you made a wrong move and gave Victoire the impression you had a knife in your hand even when you didn’t. They almost broke your arm on sheer reflex before realizing what had occurred, and while you’ve since recovered and the Empress sent you extra funds to commiserate an apology, you are convinced that they overreacted. Now, with the Opera done and other possibilities at your fingertips which may lead to the Summer Palace, you’re determined to get back at them. You certainly aren’t capable of breaking their arm, but you’ll figure something out.

Name: Lucrece Bassot Age: 30+ Occupation: Owner of L’Opera Imperial Suggested Faceclaims: Lesley-Ann Brandt, Naomie Harris, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Gemma Chan  Pronouns: Up to player Currently: Open

YOU HUNGER FOR—

Prosperity. You are the eldest of several siblings and had to learn the precise art of running a noble house from a young age. Your parents were far more concerned with their social standing than the comings-and-goings of their own children. Your dreams were often forced to sit on the backburner and boil over until all that remained was the scalded pot, your focus instead lying on chasing down rowdy teenagers and ensuring that your name was not tarnished by youthful scandal; you had a vast set of skills in several areas, but never the opportunity to use them. So you idled, and watched as your brothers and sisters grew, standing at the grand hearth with your hands folded behind your back, more governess to them than blood. It was only a matter of time, you suppose, until something broke, and that something was you. So you struck out with the desire to seek better pastures, and stumbled across Emeric Claude, bleeding money and bleeding fast. You managed to convince Emeric to let you help draw customers into La Perche, using the same strategies to wrangle passersby into seats as you had your siblings at the dinner table, all charm and sudden, sharp scorn. This went on for several years, until business was booming — it was right when you were beginning to feel static again that Alain Gauthier reached out, an associate of Emeric’s. What he offered you shocked and awed: ownership of L’Opera Imperial, bought out by Alain in secret and handed along to you, in exchange for a cut of the funds and whatever gossip you could funnel back to him. You don’t know the first thing about Opera, but you figure that if you please Gauthier in spite of his difficult reputation, things can’t go too poorly. With some humor, you’ve come to realize that it was only after you left the great house of Bassot that you were given the opportunity to rub shoulders with those you’d quietly come to resent the most.

CONNECTIONS

Mélodie Martine: They are your star. Every task you’ve thrown at Mélodie, they’ve taken and devoured without hesitation or fear. You weren’t here when they first began their work for the Opera House, but the two of you get along so well that the circumstances of their arrival are something you’ve told yourself you can ignore. In several ways, you’ve come to see them as another sibling, someone to care for with the condition that they do well on-stage. They’re marvelous to everyone they interact with, but they’ve seemed distracted lately, quick to leave once their time is done, oftentimes escorted by those who don armor rather than finery. You’re tempted to follow them, to find out where exactly they’re going (and really, you think a part of you knows), but you worry that doing so could break the tenuous bond you’ve formed and get you into more trouble than you can handle.

Emeric Claude: Emeric is, perhaps, the most perplexing individual you’ve ever met. You’ve become fond of them over the years, but their hot-and-cold attitude swings rapidly back and forth, and you’re not sure which Emeric you’re going to get on any given day. You have to remind them that without you, La Perche would not be what it is. It was only thanks to your charisma and skill in putting out fires that the building is still standing, much less thriving. While you have a table in their grand restaurant overlooking the city that’s dedicated just to you, you fear that one day they will forget you entirely. That’s the thing about them you’ve come to find is most important: nothing Emeric does is ever by accident. They don’t allow mistakes in any area of their life, and you think that would cow you more if it weren’t for the fact you have years of experience in dealing with them under your belt. They’re fond of you, you think, but you’re careful to make sure you don’t get burnt.