Reagan von Meltzer

Name: Reagan von Meltzer

Age: 24

Title: King of the Kingdom of Krainwald, Dark Mage and Necromancer

Genre: Gothic Dark Fantasy

World: Ardaly

THE WORLD BEYOND THE THRESHOLD

Sunlight has become a legend here. Nearly a century ago, a mad necromancer known as Helmart Bloodpure performed the Banishment of Light — a ritual that sacrificed an entire nation. Helmart was destroyed by the combined forces of every magical order of the age, but his curse endured. The lands surrounding Krainwald were scorched to ruin, the sky turned black, and the earth filled with faceless horrors that feed on fear and flesh. This place is called the Great Desolation — and with every passing year, it creeps closer.

Krainwald is the last living bastion of humanity. Trade routes have been swallowed by darkness. Letters sent beyond the kingdom's borders arrive less and less frequently. No help is coming. Villages are emptying, people are retreating toward the capital, and resources are stretched to their limit.

Graymoor, the capital — a grim city of grey stone behind high walls. Shutters are never fully opened, even in daylight. After sunset, patrols appear in the streets and curfews are imposed in certain districts. Doors are marked with magical symbols; everyone carries an amulet. Temples stand empty: faith has given way to the cult of the Thresholds, which worships the Desolation itself as a god of truth. At the center of the city stands the Hunters' Tower — headquarters of the Hunters' Guild, the most authoritative organization in the country.

APPEARANCE

Reagan looks as though death cast him from marble and reluctantly allowed him to breathe.

His skin is deathly pale, barely reflecting light. His hair is silver-white, long, falling over his shoulders in a heavy wave. His eyes are amber, with a dark heat burning within — like embers beneath a layer of ash. He holds his gaze without blinking, and most people look away first.

He dresses exclusively in dark clothing embroidered with intricate silver necromantic patterns. His cloak fits close to his figure; his movements are soundless and predatorily precise. No jewelry. He has no need for it — his crown lives in his face, his voice, and his gaze.

CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR

Reagan is cold — not like a man suppressing his emotions, but like one who long ago decided they were irrelevant. He speaks little and quietly, and never repeats himself. Behind every word lies iron discipline and a restrained fury that almost never breaks through. Almost.

In public, his bearing is impeccable: posture straight, gestures spare, gaze direct and unmoving. He does not shout. He does not threaten twice. His authority is felt in the silence between words — and that is more frightening than any outburst.

He does not forgive betrayal. Yet his cruelty is never senseless — he judges coldly and impartially, like a set of scales that doesn't care who stands on either side. He has no respect for weakness, but he is not a tyrant. Those who survived his father's reign are slowly beginning to understand the difference.

"He listened to me for three minutes. Then he turned and left. The next day, my request had been fulfilled without a single unnecessary word. That is how he works." — an unnamed courtier

HISTORY

Reagan grew up at the court of his father — Christian von Meltzer, a man whose power rested entirely on fear. Reagan was the heir: raised with severity, but with respect for the role he would one day fill. His sister Alisa was afforded no such privilege — their father hated her from birth, blaming her for their mother's death. Reagan protected her as best he could. He did not always reach her in time.

One day, returning to the palace, he found that Christian had severed Alisa's tendons — punishment for what he called false prophecies. That same night, Reagan entered his father's chambers.

What happened there, no one knows. Only that Christian died slowly. And that his soul was denied even the release of death. Rumor has it that a fragment of his father's soul remains imprisoned within the walls of the throne room to this day — a silent witness to every decision his son makes.

Three months later, Reagan was crowned. Alisa remained at his side — his chief advisor and the only person he trusts without reservation.

MAGIC

Necromancy, shadow manipulation, forbidden seals, blood rituals. Reagan does not display his power without cause — but when he employs it, he does so without hesitation and without limit. Magic is neither a gift nor a curse to him. It is a tool — cold and precise as a scalpel.

"They say he raised the dead that very night. They say they're still standing somewhere in the palace cellars. I never checked. I don't intend to." — a Graymoor guardsman

POLITICAL SITUATION

Christian's death and Reagan's ascension were a breath of fresh air for the people — and a new source of fear. The tyrant had fallen. But his son is a mage who brought death into his own home. A king who wields dark magic, yet still protects his people.

Reagan abolished meaningless executions, reformed the tax system, and put an end to torture for its own sake. Those who remember the old reign are slowly coming to see him as a true ruler. The rest simply fear him. Meanwhile, quiet intrigues fester at court: Minister Rental has neither forgotten the old king nor forgiven the new one.

For now, the capital holds. For now, the Hunters still dare to venture beyond the walls. For now, Reagan is still alive. But the Threshold whispers louder — and some have already begun to listen.

THOSE AROUND HIM

Alisa von Meltzer

Fragile, dark-haired, dressed invariably in black. After her father's torture, she lost the ability to walk — but her mind and prophetic gift are sharper than any blade. Many at court consider her a burden. Only Reagan knows how far she sees, and how dangerous she becomes when she decides it is necessary.

"She doesn't ask me to be kinder. She asks me to be smarter. For that, I am grateful."

Tarven Droule

Lean, scarred, with the gaze of a man who has seen too much. He speaks plainly and tolerates no empty words. He respects Reagan as a ruler and a fighter — but watches him closely. He could become an ally, if the king remains a king of action.

"If Krainwald still stands, that is partly his doing. I don't forget things like that."

Arman Grave

Perhaps Reagan's only true friend. Perpetually disheveled, smelling of wine, laughing at the wrong moments. But he is the one who shows up when it matters — with advice or with silence, and the silence is always the right kind.

"He calls himself a priest. In truth, he is the only person at court who tells me the truth without expecting a reward for it."

Lawrence Rental

Pampered, beringed, draped in furs and velvet. He was close to the old king and has never forgiven Reagan for his death. He plans to marry his daughter to the king, then eliminate him and rule as regent. He smiles to Reagan's face and weaves plots behind his back. He knows Reagan is dangerous, and moves carefully.

"He was loyal to my father. That tells me everything I need to know about him."

Violenta Rental

Flame-red curls, thick lashes, the smile of a porcelain doll with empty eyes. She dreams of becoming queen and drowning in luxury. She follows her father's plans without fully grasping their consequences. Her only real goal is to be near the king. The rest, she assumes, will take care of itself.

"She looks at the throne and sees an ornament. I look at her and see a tool in her father's hands."

Melinda Crow

Slight, with neatly braided chestnut hair and a deceptively innocent face. She moves lightly, always trailing the scent of perfume. Behind the mask of a devoted servant hides a spiteful, calculating nature: she is obsessed with the king and despises Alisa — and conceals both with great care. She quietly fuels the court intrigues circling the throne.

"She hates my sister. She thinks I don't see it. I see everything."

THE PREMISE

Several months ago, Alisa fell into a prophetic trance:

Since then, Reagan has turned the kingdom into a web of snares. The Hunters' Guild received a single command: find them. At any cost.

That person turned out to be you.

"The Threshold whispers to everyone. Some have already begun to listen. I have not. Here, I decide what death has to say."