Qia

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

Dare to be brave, dare to venture, dare to go where no leader has gone before~

@Estylwen

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

<Snipped quote by Estylwen>

Sounds like a trap.

@The Savant

I mean...what's the worst that could happen? :)

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

Oh wonderful~ @ERode, you can make Vincent's beating even more severe now!

Edit:

Take us for a ride, Sporko. 🤩

@Estylwen

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

How is everyone doing? ;)

I'm hoping to unveil collabs with Flux tomorrow or the day after, and the White Pine collab doc is still going strong! Though, if anyone wants to help ERode, they might need it. ;>

@Estylwen

I mean Bella and crew should still be there/I'm always down to write/collab more. :)

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

A

_{Interactions/Mentions: VV-@Estylwen}

---

A barely had time to parse the discord before the world around her unravelled into sheer bedlam.

The shriek of AE rifles detonated through the air, each shot punctuated by bursts of searing light. Ghost Corps answered in kind, their retaliation swift and brutal. Bodies crumpled on both sides, lifeblood spilling onto scorched earth as the acrid stench of burning flesh and spent gunpowder thickened the air. The heat clung to her skin, feverish and suffocating, as if the very atmosphere recoiled from the carnage.

She hadn’t even realized she was holding her breath until VV moved.

Her friend’s parting glance and words struck like a verdict.

We’re definitely not.

Then VV was gone—peeling away from the vehicle, her presence unravelling into something vast and insidious. Shadows coiled around her, slithering toward Vin like living tendrils, responding to her outstretched hand with eerie sentience. In an instant, the darkness closed around him, unyielding, an executioner’s grip made manifest.

A’s pulse thundered against her ribs, her body caught between instinct and hesitation. But before reason could intervene—before doubt could sink its teeth into her resolve—she was moving too.

Her boots struck the ground hard as she vaulted from the jeep, her body coiled tight with urgency. Gunfire split the air, hot metal slicing past her ears in erratic, deadly whines. Savio’s inferno pulsed outward in waves of molten gold and black, distorting the battlefield into a shifting hellscape. Every breath felt like inhaling embers, scorching her throat as she pushed forward.

Her gaze locked onto VV through the chaos, and she sprinted, weaving between wreckage and fallen bodies.

A twisted her wrist, feeling the hum of her power in her veins, restless, waiting. She skidded to a stop near VV, voice cutting through the chaos with fierce urgency. “How long can you hold him?” she asked, sparing a glance at Vin’s struggling form as he twitched against the suffocating grip of the shadows.

Before VV could answer, another hail of bullets rained toward them. A reacted on instinct, her power surging forward before she could second-guess it. The effort sent a lance of pain through her skull, but she gritted her teeth against the dizziness that followed.

She barely had time to steady herself before speaking again.

“We need to end this. Fast.”

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

Fire post, Herald! Now it's just Qia, then I'll be my turn again. :>

@Estylwen

I should have my post out hopefully tonight.

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

Good news, Lougham and Riverbend are essentially done,it's just White Pine now. :>

Now, I have a strong feeling we are going to want to do some more actions this day IC-wise, like checking out the warehouse officially in Heavy Crossguard. Would we like today to be in two parts? Like, conclude the wars, then I'll give points and make it evening? Or I can give points and make it the next day, entirely up to you guys. :>

@Estylwen

Either or works for me. Based on what happens in White Pine especially there's a lot I can do in either case.

Realms of Sun & Shadow

Location: Eye of the Beholder

Interactions/Mentions: Sya (@PrinceAlexus)

---

Thalia watched the Blightborn woman carefully, arms loosely crossed, her weight shifting slightly as Sya addressed Lark first. The innkeeper’s attempt at friendliness was… unexpected, but not unwelcome.

Lark, as ever, remained unruffled. He regarded Sya with the same equanimity he offered all strangers—his head tilting thoughtfully, ears flicking like the soft flutter of a candle’s flame. A subtle twitch ran through his tail, but there was no telltale bristle, no wary withdrawal. He had been reared amid the restless stir of farmsteads, accustomed to the mingled scent of beasts and earth, to hands both rough and gentle. If he harboured an opinion on Sya’s special attributes, he kept it well-guarded beneath his thick coat.

Thalia, however, was still adjusting to the sheer oddity of Dawnhaven. Back home, Blightborn weren’t exactly common company, nor were they welcome in all honesty.

“Good?” Thalia echoed dryly, glancing at Lark before returning her gaze to Sya. “He’s more useful than most men I’ve met, but he knows that already.”

Lark let out a chuff as if confirming the statement.

The mention of gold earned Sya the faintest smirk, the corner of Thalia’s lips curving upward. “And yet, I’ve met men who’d do exactly that. Charge you to get in, charge you to get out. Swindlers tend to be the most resourceful people alive.”

There was an easy confidence in her voice, but her mind remained fixed on the innkeeper’s earlier words. It’s a real alarm. It’s not a drill. Thalia had suspected as much, but to hear it confirmed was like a hammer driving a nail deeper into the back of her skull.

An attack inside the town walls. And they’d only just gotten to the place too.

Still, there was little merit in prying when Sya had already drawn a firm line in the dirt. No one in. No one out. Which meant that for the moment, Thalia was trapped.

She loathed the feeling.

“Morning at most, then,” she murmured, half to Sya, half to herself. That meant waiting. And waiting, in her book, was only a shade better than being caught unarmed.

But then—abruptly—the conversation veered, snapping to something wholly different with the enthusiasm of a cart careening down an unexpected incline. Breakfast ingots.

Thalia blinked. The sheer absurdity of it, juxtaposed against their prior exchange, nearly forced a laugh from her throat. Instead, she exhaled a soft breath, something between amusement and bemusement, levelling Sya with a look that was as much incredulous as it was vaguely entertained.

“You do realize that sounds like something you’d make for horses, don’t you?” Her tone was dry, but not cruel. “That said, I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve actually tried one. Who knows? Maybe you’ll revolutionize the way people eat in the morning.”

Thalia tilted her head slightly, watching as Sya moved. “It’s odd,” she mused. “I half-expected this place to be more on edge. Instead, I’m being offered baked goods.”

𝔻𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕠𝕟: ℝ𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕣𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖

Selene Syn

Age: 20

Physical Description: Selene has a dark brown complexion and heterochromatic eyes—one piercing silver, the other deep amber. Her dark hair is streaked with purple highlights, framing her face in slightly wavy layers. She has an athletic build, honed from years of thrill-seeking and high-risk activities, and her urban punk style is fully immersive in Dominion’s underground world, built from salvaged materials, repurposed industrial fabrics, and custom modifications.

ʚїɞ Her jacket is reinforced with stitched plating or scavenged synthetic materials, giving it
both durability and a rugged look.

ʚїɞ Her boots are durable and worn, built for survival but altered for style.

ʚїɞ Her accessories are handmade from metal scraps, industrial chains, and utility belts
repurposed as fashion.

ʚїɞ Her piercings and tattoos were likely done in the Grey Market, using tools meant for medical
modifications rather than aesthetics.

ʚїɞ Her clothing materials are functional over decorative, layered with stitched reinforcements
and textured fabrics suited for Dominion’s underground world.

Enhancements:

Augmented Reflexes – Selene’s body is modified for heightened agility and reaction time, making her a natural at parkour, quick escapes, and high-speed movement. Her enhancements allow her to navigate Dominion’s vertical landscapes with ease, effortlessly scaling walls, leaping across hazardous gaps, and reacting in high-pressure situations. However, these enhancements are not infallible—overuse can lead to neural fatigue, occasional misfires in response time, or even brief moments of sensory overload. While she thrives in motion, she must be careful not to push her limits too far, as prolonged strain can leave her momentarily vulnerable.

Status:

Daughter of the Syn Family – The Syn family is one of the most powerful dynasties within the Crystalline Council, controlling vast sectors of Dominion’s commerce, trade regulations, and technological oversight. Their influence isn’t just about wealth—it’s about policy control, resource allocation, and maintaining the status quo in their favor. While they present themselves as public servants ensuring stability, their true power lies in the unspoken rules of Dominion’s elite—the kind where reputations are currency and dissent is quietly erased. However, Selene’s defiance disrupts their carefully maintained public image. Her ties to the Grey Market and Dominion’s outcasts aren’t just a personal rebellion; they’re a threat to the family’s standing within the Council. The Syns don’t deal with scandals—they erase them. If she steps too far out of line, she won’t just be disowned—she’ll be corrected.

Shadow of the Underground – Though her last name still carries weight, Selene has carved out an identity separate from her family’s rigid expectations. In Khia’s Grey Market, she operates on the fringes, making connections with smugglers, information brokers, and disenfranchised rebels. She trades in rare goods, modified tech, and valuable intel, using her keen instincts and agility to navigate the treacherous underworld. However, her presence in these circles is both a blessing and a curse—while she earns respect among outcasts, she constantly treads a fine line, as her family's reach extends deeper than she’d like to admit. If the Syns ever decided to pull her back, few places would truly be safe.

Backstory: Born into privilege, Selene was raised in a world of wealth, high expectations, and ruthless pragmatism. From a young age, she was molded into the perfect successor—a poised, intelligent figure meant to uphold the Syn family's dominance over Dominion’s commerce, law, and technological regulations. Every aspect of her upbringing was carefully managed—she was taught by private tutors specializing in negotiation, political maneuvering, and corporate strategy, and she was expected to form alliances with only the most advantageous connections.

Yet, the weight of being a Syn was suffocating. She was never truly given a choice—only the illusion of one. As she grew older, she found herself drawn to the messiness of Dominion’s underbelly, where people lived by their own rules instead of dictated social order. Her acts of rebellion—small at first—became more frequent: sneaking out, ditching formal events, and secretly engaging with the Grey Market’s underground culture. But one particular act of defiance changed everything. She uncovered a family secret, something buried deep within the Syn archives—one that shattered any lingering obligation she had to them.

Whatever she discovered was enough to make her walk away.

She wasn’t outright disowned—that would have been too public, too scandalous—but she was quietly exiled, kept at arm’s length. Her once-limitless access to resources was reduced to nothing but a leash; her movements monitored, her contacts scrutinized. The Syn name became a chain, binding her to a family she could never fully escape, no matter how far she ran.

Yet, she refuses to be dragged back. In the underground, she has built a new life—one where she isn’t just a Syn heiress, but someone making her own name. But even as she tries to carve her own path, the past remains. The Syn family doesn’t let go of its own so easily, and she knows, deep down, that one day they’ll come calling.

Notable Features:

Hidden but Growing Tattoos – Selene refers to her tattoos as Suralites, inspired by the bioluminescent Noctilites (moths) of Dominion. However, she takes artistic liberty with their design, making them resemble what she believes to be an entirely original creature. She envisions them as symbols of freedom, believing they embody an untamed beauty unlike anything else underground. Unbeknownst to her, they bear a striking resemblance to butterflies, an extinct species lost to time. The name comes from Sura (surface) and lites (light), symbolizing something beyond the underground world she knows. As time passes, her tattoos multiply, each new addition marking a choice, a rebellion, or a moment she refuses to forget.

Signature Habit – Always has a lighter on her, flicking it absentmindedly in moments of thought or tension.

Personality: Selene carries an air of apathy, playing the part of someone who doesn’t care about anything—but underneath her detached front, she is restless, searching for something she can’t quite name. She’s sharp-tongued, fiercely independent, and allergic to authority, but she’s not reckless without reason. Her defiance is as much about control as it is about rebellion. When backed into a corner, she fights with wit, speed, and a grin that dares the world to push her further.

Connections & Motivations:

Seeks genuine freedom—not just from her family’s expectations, but from the systems that keep everyone in place.

Uncertain about her place in Dominion—is she running from her past, or toward something new?

Has begun to question the cracks in the city’s foundation, though she’s not yet sure if she cares enough to do something about it.

For now, she’s just looking for the next thrill… or the next escape.

Nocturnal Memoirs: An Urban-Fantasy Mafia Epic

Bella just laying in the sun with tanning lotion ("I really don't get why people think I'm a vampire but this will help") Dom just staring at her and then the bottle of red liquid in her hand as she lays on the towel. "Yea Bel...big mystery."