Black Thorns

Name: Azlee Feven Blackthorne, Ph.D. Pronunciation: AZ-lee FEE-ven BLAK-thorn Nickname(s): Az Birthday: October 31st, 741 Age: 1,284 (Appears mid-30s) Zodiac Sign: Scorpio Sun, Aries Moon, Leo Rising Gender: Cis-Female Pronouns: She/Her Species: Original Vampire Orientation: Pansexual, Demiromantic Occupation: Councilman Faceclaim: Anne Hathaway

HEADCANONS

Azlee’s signature is a black rose. She gives them as gifts, as messages... you’ll even find black roses all over her house

She has a big heart but she’s been hurt too many times to actually expose it. She will give you a hard, cold exterior until you really get to know her which may take like hundreds of years lol. Sorry

She’s known by many names throughout her lifetimes; ask her about her experiences and you’ll be amazed. She even accidentally started a religion a couple of centuries ago that's still prevalent today

She has a cat that she named Dracula and he is a tabby that she initially took in when she returned to Northknot to help him heal from a leg injury but he is her cat

She is a lightweight when it comes to drinking and will usually only have a glass of wine or two; preferring red over white

The woman is quiet but when she does speak, it commands the room and everyone wants to listen

Azlee collects antique jewelry, each piece holding a story or memory. Her favorite is a brooch shaped like a crescent moon, gifted by an old lover centuries ago

She keeps a small, private room in her manor dedicated to memories of her siblings, parents, Ira, and Audrey. It’s filled with paintings, artifacts, and letters she never sent

Azlee journals regularly, writing about her struggles and triumphs. It’s the only place she feels safe expressing her full emotions

She is currently turning some of her older journal entries into a memoir

She carries a black onyx signet ring, engraved with her family’s crest, as a subtle reminder of her lineage and responsibility

Azlee takes long, contemplative walks through Northknot after midnight, finding solace in the quiet and moonlit streets

APPEARANCE

Azlee exudes an aura of timeless sophistication, with her attire reflecting a minimalist yet striking style. She often wears monochromatic outfits in black, white, or deep red, enhancing her enigmatic presence. Her hair is a luxurious cascade of ebony waves, often falling just past her shoulders with an effortless grace. Her eyes, a deep and penetrating shade, seem to hold the weight of centuries of experience and secrets. Her posture is commanding, her head held high with a regal air that demands respect. Azlee’s overall demeanor combines elegance with a hint of aloofness, her serene expression often giving way to a penetrating gaze that can both captivate and intimidate.

PERSONALITY

Azlee is a picture of grace and control, her every movement and word imbued with a sense of purpose and poise. Her elegant and disciplined nature is evident in the way she conducts herself, whether in council meetings or personal interactions. She possesses a keen intellect and an unshakable sense of duty, which has guided her through centuries of turbulent history and personal pain. However, Azlee’s sharp demeanor can often come across as tactless, her impatience with inefficiency or pettiness leaving others feeling dismissed or intimidated. Despite her guarded exterior, Azlee has a deep well of compassion and loyalty for those who earn her trust; a rarity, but a treasure for the fortunate few. She is a survivor through and through, shaped by trauma and triumph, yet she refuses to let her past dictate her future. Instead, she channels her experiences into a protective, often maternal role, offering wisdom and strength to her family and community. Her soft-spoken authority and meticulous attention to detail make her a natural leader, even though she prefers solitude over the spotlight.

AESTHETIC

silk-lined cloaks – porcelain teacups trembling with secrets – silhouettes carved by moonlight – roses with thorns sharp enough to remember you – aged wine swirling like old sins – ancient candelabras dripping forever – wisdom earned the hard, bloody way – drifting in still water as if time bowed to her – nightfall folding itself around her shoulders – old records humming ghost-soft – bats tracing dark constellations overhead – blood-red lipstick, lethal and soft at once – mysterious in the way storms hold their breath – enigmatic silence that feels like a riddle you can’t solve – crimson shadows where truth hides trembling – midnight elegance stitched from centuries – aged leather-bound books that smell like forgotten spells – dark velvet curtains whispering when no wind moves – ancient tomes filled with ink older than kingdoms – eternal night blooming behind her eyes – shattered mirrors that refuse to tell the whole story – red wine staining her lips like prophecy – black roses that never wilt for her – candlelit darkness humming with possibility – echoes of the past trailing her footsteps – cryptic symbols etched into her bones – haunting melodies drifting from closed doors – timeless opulence draped across her like a crown – moonlight balconies overlooking forever – shadowy corridors where you swear she just passed

CONNECTIONS

Future Romance Azlee is finally at a point in her life where she's ready to open up her heart to love again. I imagine it to be kind of a slow-burn seeing that she has trauma from her first marriage and from childhood... however, I imagine it to be a romance for the ages... A true soulmate kind of love.

Followers of The Order of the Eternal Guide Sometime in the 10th century, Azlee sought refuge in a secluded village after fleeing persecution for being perceived as a witch. In the village, she quietly used her powers to help the local population. She protected them from dangers and healed their sick using her blood. She'd share stories from her past with the children and over time, the villagers began to view her as a divine being. Unaware of the influence she was having, Azlee left the village after a few decades, as she always did to avoid suspicion. However, her legend grew. Stories of her miracles spread and followers started to gather at the site where she once lived. Over time, they began to worship her memory. They believed that Azlee had been sent by a higher power to bring healing and balance to the world. As the centuries passed, the religion solidified, with her followers establishing rituals that reflected their reverence for her wisdom, mystical powers and sacrifices. Most of these people are human and related to the supernatural in some kind of way however, some of them are vampires due to her using her blood to heal them. When they died, they were turned because her blood was in their system.

Old Acquaintances (Dead or Alive) These people are ones that she met through her lifetimes while out on her travels. These people can be from as early as the 9th century and as late as the 16th century, she could have told them about Northknot.

Townies from Before These guys are going to be from right around when Northknot was created in 1506 all the way up until about 1577. So about a 70 year span of when Azlee lived in Northknot “permanently”. She was a very active part of the community before she left.

Step-Daughter (Audrey) Their relationship is, to say the least, complicated. They same thing that bonded them kept their relationship with each other strained. It’s been hundreds of years since they last saw each other.

BIOGRAPHY

tw: child abuse, death, domestic violence

"So dark, so deep. The secrets that you keep."

Ivar Blackthorne almost always had a temper. For as long as Azlee could remember, her father would always go into rages and take it out on her mother, Helga, who took his aggression with grace. The young girl never thought she would be at the receiving end of one of her father’s episodes but as she got older, he started to lash out at her more and more. It happened with all of the Blackthorne children. Azlee dreamed of one day being strong enough to protect her mother, herself, and her siblings from his outbursts. One day, she was going to fight back. But before that day could come, the two youngest Blackthornes got mixed up with some werewolves ending with one of them dead and the other severely injured. What happened next was something she never expected to happen, but a spell was cast by their mother on the remaining siblings that made them immortal. The spell gave Azlee the confidence and power she needed to talk the rest of her siblings into killing their abusive father. After his death, Azlee tried to keep the family together but when the first one took off, she knew nothing was keeping the others from leaving as well. So she parted ways with her siblings, never telling them how upset it made her feel.

"We build walls around our hearts..."

The first two hundred years, she spent trying to blend in… It was hard for her because she wasn't able to age so she moved around a lot. Discovering more and more of her powers, Azlee started to grow bored and frustrated with the life she was living. She started to befriend many influential men and women, placing herself in major events of history. She’s seen the rise and fall of many empires, became a lover to many royals, witnessed the Renaissance and many other events. Azlee even found out she accidentally started a religion. She’d run into her brothers and sisters along the way but they never stayed with each other too long. Things were smooth sailing for the vampire until someone noticed her long-lasting presence in history and started to hunt her down. She was gravely injured by the hunter and called on her siblings for help. It would be the first time all six of them got together in over 700 years. Together, along with some local witches, founded the haven, Northknot. Azlee decided to make some sort of permanent residence there. She stayed in the town for about 70 steady years before up and leaving her family behind again.

"...and wonder why no one loves us."

She loved her family but 70 years was enough for anyone to need a break. She never expected to be gone for so long without any contact with them but things got busy. Azlee helped Queen Elizabeth I repel a Spanish invasion by defeating their armada. She was with Shakespeare while he wrote Hamlet. She helped create the steam engine and the telegraph. She started many revolutions in countries around the world helping them fight for their independence. In the late 1800s, she pushed for Women’s Rights around the world as well. 300 years had passed since she’d seen any of her siblings. She was on her way back to Northknot at the time that she met, whom she thought, was the love of her life. A man, Ira, and his daughter, Audrey, were in a horrific accident with their horse and buggy that nearly killed them. On a whim, Azlee gave them a blood transfusion and saved their lives… but also, turned them into vampires. Getting the two acquainted with life as vampires, Azlee fell in love with Ira and held so much love for Audrey that they decided to get married and become a family.

"I walk in the darkness so others can see the light."

Not too long after they declared their eternal love to each other in 1881, his newfound vampire powers started to go to Ira’s head. He started to become aggressive. The first time he hit her, Azlee was beyond stunned. She kept flashing back to her childhood and how angry her father would get. She couldn’t see a way out of it because she was paralyzed with fear… She’d just given this man immortality and her hand in marriage. She stayed with him because he promised to get better; to get help and she believed him. It’s something her father never said nor tried to do. Audrey, as soon as she turned 18, left home never planning to come back after how her father treated her, her mother, and Azlee. His daughter leaving, opened his eyes and he saw how he’d been acting. He truly buckled down and strove to be a better person. The next hundred years or so together were better. There were times when he got really mean but he’d recognized it and tried harder to be better next time. There wasn’t any more physical abuse until 2021; not long after New Year's. Ira got drunk, angry and when he hit her, she panicked and tried to leave. He wouldn’t allow it and when he woke up the next day, he didn't even remember what he did. In fact, he blamed her for it. That's when she realized he hadn't changed and probably wasn't going to. Azlee heard about the murders going on in Northknot not too long after and saw it as a sign to leave when she had the first opportunity to. She waited until he went to work one day, grabbed her things, and left for Northknot.

"Home is not a place... it's a feeling."

Azlee spent the first few months gathering intel on the attacks and trying her best to reconnect with her siblings. She hadn't really planned on staying in Northknot permanently, just until she could help stop the attacks on the now, very populated and booming, city. It wasn't until she confessed to one of her siblings the real reason she came back on her first Founder's Day back that he convinced her to stay in the city because they were stronger together. Later that night, they were under attack again. This time, they went after her brother and one of the mermaid princesses. It was the first time someone survived the attacks and they got a lead on who was behind the attacks, The Faction, a group that tried to recruit them years ago but it didn't end well. They also learned that the Original Vampires weren't as indestructible as they thought. They didn't get rid of all the Sessile Oak, the only wood that could fatally injure them. About a month and a half later, Ira showed up at her doorstep acting like everything was fine between. Azlee wasn't able to hold her tongue and he got aggressive with her. She was locked up in her home with him for 16 days until a good friend of hers showed up at her doorstep asking where she'd been. He knew of her husband, he met her during a low time in her relationship with Ira. When he found out he was there and basically holding her hostage in her own home, a fight broke out between the two men and Ira ran off, not to be seen nor heard from again.

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger."

It took her a little over three months to return home to her manor, she stayed with her friend for a month before buying a condo somewhere else in the city. Azlee wasn't sure if Ira was still there but she decided it was time. That Halloween there was another attack on Northknot. A spell was cast that lifted the veil that separated the living and dead supernatural planes and ghosts started to appear in the city. Azlee kept to herself for a while after that, kind of afraid she'd run into supernaturals that she killed in the past. Seeing that she was starting to be a recluse, she decided for her New Year's resolution that next year to be more social. She started opening up and making connections. Later that spring, Azlee was going through old boxes and found the letters she and Audrey used to write to each other after she left home. The letters stopped coming about five years ago and she always wondered why, just assuming her step-daughter had grown out of her. She also found journals she kept about her life and her experiences and got inspired to put together some of her entries to create an autobiography. Not long after that, the youngest Blackthorne sibling who died over a thousand years ago showed up in the city as a ghost. She never thought she'd see her sibling again and was overjoyed with her return.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."