The Emperor (of Chaldee/the ancient felin empire): A good ruler with an eye for big-picture thinking, strategy and planning, if perhaps somewhat high-handed and haughty. Misses to take into account people's feelings a lot, even if he cares. Has more doubts than he cares to acknowledge in the light of day. 34 y/o, 185 cm - Feli/Chee (The Humbling River - Puscifer / Towards the Sun - Rihanna)
Background: Fantasy - The seventh emperor of the second dynasty of the only Feli empire and one of their few real countries, he fell afoul of both an ambitious younger brother and hostile elven and human kingdoms. He was in the middle of waging war on several fronts when his younger brother saw fit to try and usurp him, using a curse of elven origin to both try and shift the blame and gain control of the magical army his older brother had inherited as he took the throne. It didn't quite work; the curse worked fine, but the magical army was simply "deactivated" and the land reacted negatively as well, slowly falling to ruin. After that, the allied elven and human rulers found it rather easy to break up the felin forces and divide the empire between them. He didn't die, however, as his spirit was separated from his body and stuck in the dagger he was struck down by. The attempted usurper fled with the dagger but died later, and the dagger started a long wandering route through the centuries until it came back into the hands of one of his descendants... and not someone who should have charge of the magical army, he realized quickly, no matter how much he would wish at least his land restored and revenge taken on the descendants of the surrounding kingdoms. Sci-fi - The current Emperor of Chaldee and its surrounding colony planets and sovereign space, unaware the one of his young nephews who was kidnapped is still alive, and more focused on dealing with the mess that meant someone managed to escape with the activation key to their new fleet.
The concubine/crime lord: Slightly erratic, cynical and deeply emotionally wounded even by small hurts, his experiences have molded him into a high-strung, ruthless and cruel young man with a hunger for revenge and power, to make sure he can't be used or abused again. He does, of course, have perfectly legit reasons to not be "kind", but he's also a fragile soul who, while risen above the trauma he's been through, nurses all hurts, big and small, and lets them fester. A good actor, despite what it might look like. 21 y/o, 181 cm - Feli/Chee (Bird With a Broken Wing - Owl City / Control - Halsey. With Juri; Open Up Your Eyes - MLP the movie / (sci-fi), Ready As I'll Ever Be (fantasy))
Background: Fantasy - Half forcibly, half knowingly by his guardians, sold into future sexual slavery as a royal concubine because the king knows what his exact lineage is and wants to keep it (and the local Felin) under control. His guardians hope that by having someone in the palace close to the king, he (and they) might have influence. Trained for his future position from 12 to 17, he has spent the last four years not just doing his "job", but gathering a power base and influence, butting heads behind the scenes with the king's wife. Sci-fi - The nephew of the chee emperor by a younger brother, the boy was kidnapped young with the intention of ransom by a long-time enemy of the chee. The delivery went awry, though, and the boy was lost, ending up picked up by the leader of a growing criminal organization. Partially raised as a potential successor, partially used, he finally succeeds his "mentor" and goes about gaining influence and power with near single-minded fury.
The historian/agent: Diligent and competent, she has years of experience to back up her no-nonsense (and, when younger, precocious) sharpness. Can be slightly condescending, however, as she considers herself to "know best" in what needs to be done, and her experience and skill often means she does. 40 y/o, 165 cm - human
Background: Fantasy - Enterprising "historian", she has often taken it upon herself what to do when it comes to certain artifacts, something that goes doubly when she's on the trail of a cursed feli dagger. She does not think that restoring the emperor is the best course of action, but further that it would be unwise that anyone else have access to and control over the magical forces still tied to him, so she wants to destroy the dagger. Sci-fi - Decorated military and inter-galactic agent to a law-keeping force, she's given the mission of getting the activation key for the new chee fleet back. Against her better judgement, she does as told, instead of destroying it (it's not like a new wouldn't be able to be made, in time), and realizes the "courier" currently in possession of it is but a hapless accident. Ends up playing babysitter.
The free agent/assistant (the leader of the rebel colony/the northern tribes): Charismatic, arrogant and of the certain opinion he knows best (for himself, for the people he leads), he's also well aware of his ego. Which means he's capable of tempering it, and can do so if the situation calls for it, but if he doesn't have to he doesn't bother. Takes his responsibility for his people seriously, despite his apparent attitude of divine right to rule, and can be both surprisingly generous and kind... when it suits him. Is not so secretly possessive and more secretly (and perhaps surprisingly) scholarly. (Name: Dima Gennady - where "gennady" is actually his title) 26 y/o, 195 cm - Chee/Feli
Background: Fantasy - The overlord of the "wild" tribes of feli who live in the far north of Spears Rest, unfortunately near countries of orcs who are very firm about their own place at the top of the food chain and do not really tolerate the existence of free peoples within their grasp... even more so when they're not orcs. Has been leading his people for nearly seven years, and always looking for something that will give him an edge over their would-be oppressors, and a chance to preemptively strike at any and all who've subjugated feli in the past. Sci-fi - The elected leader of a colony in the feli empire, and the secret leader of a brewing rebellion, as they feel the control from the feli capital planet is a yoke, not responsive to their needs... and he really, really just wants to lead an independent state, no matter how true or wrong the feelings about the governance from the feli capital is.
The mercenary/gang leader: Flamboyant and dramatic, she's far more competent than she might seem to be. Possesses a curious sense of honour where she will not drag in people unrelated to the goings-on, doesn't condone of raiding farms or raping, but is also very much of the "ends justify means" when it comes to whatever mission while hired as a mercenary. 35 y/o, 175 cm transgender - Chee/Feli
Background: Fantasy - Grew up a petty thief in the slums of the capital of an elven kingdom, and wanted to be more than that. Worked herself up into having her own gang, somewhere between mercenaries and raiding merchants on the lonely stretch of road that passed across a stretch of no-man's land between her home and another country. Ends up in the employ of the concubine of the ruler of her country. Sci-fi - Grew up much the same, joined a small-time smuggler/pirate gang and took control of it herself. Wanting more influence in the criminal underworld, finding out about the mostly-automated chee fleet and that the activation key was "wandering", it seemed like a good opportunity.
The captain of the royal guard/the general: Ambitious, conniving and neither as dutiful or loyal as she appears. She does, however, always do her job right and as well as she is capable of as long as she has it and there's no better chance of "promotion" (actual or engineered). 45 y/o, 174 cm - half-elven/ehlzee
Background: Fantasy - Despite being half-elven and human, rose up into prominence within the military of her home, all the way up to captain of the royal guard, to the disapproval of many. She got the position after supporting the current king, who usurped his sister. She doesn't intend to stop here, however, but replace the king... and keep his wife, as she's having an affair with her. Sci-fi - The illegitimate daughter of a daughter of a highly respected military family, she's always doubted her place in the family and their acceptance of her. Supported the now-autocratic dictator when he replaced the duly elected Presidium after accusations of corruption (mostly fabricated). Intends to replace him, if she can only gain the clout and force to do so... which the new chee fleet would be useful for, wouldn't it?
The King/military dictator: Cold and ruthless. Thinks he knows best, and will make sure his orders are followed. A hedonist who does not balk from indulging himself, but also surprisingly indulgent and generous with the people he loves (he knows about his wife's affair and isn't doing anything about it since he knows it makes her happy). Autocratic and expansionist-minded. Looks down on any who isn't his own (but has a fondness for the looks of felin). 37 y/o (337 is the equivalent in elf aging), 178 cm - elf/ehlzee (Pet - A Perfect Circle / Centuries - Fall Out Boy
Background: Fantasy - The younger brother to the crown princess and later queen of their kingdom, she didn't think it was necessary for them to turn their efforts towards expansion and empire-making. He didn't agree, and, with his wife's support, usurped his sister's place. Is looking to bolster his army's forces, and what better way to do that than add the magical army of the cursed feli emperor? His concubine isn't as stealthy as he thinks he is, at least in this (on the other hand he doesn't know his captain his scheming against him...). Sci-fi - Power hungry and certain he can lead the ehlzee planets better, he leads a military coup against the elected Presidium after mostly fabricating charges of corruption (the Presidium herself was clean, and she was working through the government to clean up, just not fast enough). Would certainly not want to see the chee possessing such a fleet as they've made, and it would probably be very useful to him in chipping away at their holdings, if he can just get his hands on the activation key.
The Wife: As cold as her husband, cheerfully scheming behind the scenes but extremely and precisely formal in public. Loves her husband deatly but is jealous of his attention to his concubine/his weakness for feli in general. 36 y/o (336 equivalent in elf), 155 cm - elf/ehlzee
Background: Fantasy - Has not just been supporting her husband in his ambitions, but aided and abetting him with her spy network and skills at pulling strings behind the scenes. Eagerly imagining all the influence and wealth they could have if his ambitions of an empire come to fruit. Is, however, indulging in and soothing some of her hurt regarding her husband's attention to his concubine (even if it's not to the exclusion of her) with an affair with the captain of the royal guard. Is not aware of said captain's full ambitions. Sci-fi - As above more or less. She was the one who seeded the false rumours and "evidence" of corruption to beef out the real corruption.
The Interested Parties
A good ruler with an eye for big-picture thinking, strategy and planning, if perhaps somewhat high-handed and haughty. Misses to take into account people's feelings a lot, even if he cares. Has more doubts than he cares to acknowledge in the light of day. 34 y/o, 185 cm - Feli/Chee
(The Humbling River - Puscifer / Towards the Sun - Rihanna)
Background:
Fantasy - The seventh emperor of the second dynasty of the only Feli empire and one of their few real countries, he fell afoul of both an ambitious younger brother and hostile elven and human kingdoms. He was in the middle of waging war on several fronts when his younger brother saw fit to try and usurp him, using a curse of elven origin to both try and shift the blame and gain control of the magical army his older brother had inherited as he took the throne. It didn't quite work; the curse worked fine, but the magical army was simply "deactivated" and the land reacted negatively as well, slowly falling to ruin. After that, the allied elven and human rulers found it rather easy to break up the felin forces and divide the empire between them.
He didn't die, however, as his spirit was separated from his body and stuck in the dagger he was struck down by. The attempted usurper fled with the dagger but died later, and the dagger started a long wandering route through the centuries until it came back into the hands of one of his descendants... and not someone who should have charge of the magical army, he realized quickly, no matter how much he would wish at least his land restored and revenge taken on the descendants of the surrounding kingdoms.
Sci-fi - The current Emperor of Chaldee and its surrounding colony planets and sovereign space, unaware the one of his young nephews who was kidnapped is still alive, and more focused on dealing with the mess that meant someone managed to escape with the activation key to their new fleet.
The concubine/crime lord:
Slightly erratic, cynical and deeply emotionally wounded even by small hurts, his experiences have molded him into a high-strung, ruthless and cruel young man with a hunger for revenge and power, to make sure he can't be used or abused again. He does, of course, have perfectly legit reasons to not be "kind", but he's also a fragile soul who, while risen above the trauma he's been through, nurses all hurts, big and small, and lets them fester. A good actor, despite what it might look like. 21 y/o, 181 cm - Feli/Chee
(Bird With a Broken Wing - Owl City / Control - Halsey. With Juri; Open Up Your Eyes - MLP the movie / (sci-fi), Ready As I'll Ever Be (fantasy))
Background:
Fantasy - Half forcibly, half knowingly by his guardians, sold into future sexual slavery as a royal concubine because the king knows what his exact lineage is and wants to keep it (and the local Felin) under control. His guardians hope that by having someone in the palace close to the king, he (and they) might have influence. Trained for his future position from 12 to 17, he has spent the last four years not just doing his "job", but gathering a power base and influence, butting heads behind the scenes with the king's wife.
Sci-fi - The nephew of the chee emperor by a younger brother, the boy was kidnapped young with the intention of ransom by a long-time enemy of the chee. The delivery went awry, though, and the boy was lost, ending up picked up by the leader of a growing criminal organization. Partially raised as a potential successor, partially used, he finally succeeds his "mentor" and goes about gaining influence and power with near single-minded fury.
The historian/agent:
Diligent and competent, she has years of experience to back up her no-nonsense (and, when younger, precocious) sharpness. Can be slightly condescending, however, as she considers herself to "know best" in what needs to be done, and her experience and skill often means she does.
40 y/o, 165 cm - human
Background:
Fantasy - Enterprising "historian", she has often taken it upon herself what to do when it comes to certain artifacts, something that goes doubly when she's on the trail of a cursed feli dagger. She does not think that restoring the emperor is the best course of action, but further that it would be unwise that anyone else have access to and control over the magical forces still tied to him, so she wants to destroy the dagger.
Sci-fi - Decorated military and inter-galactic agent to a law-keeping force, she's given the mission of getting the activation key for the new chee fleet back. Against her better judgement, she does as told, instead of destroying it (it's not like a new wouldn't be able to be made, in time), and realizes the "courier" currently in possession of it is but a hapless accident. Ends up playing babysitter.
The free agent/assistant (the leader of the rebel colony/the northern tribes):
Charismatic, arrogant and of the certain opinion he knows best (for himself, for the people he leads), he's also well aware of his ego. Which means he's capable of tempering it, and can do so if the situation calls for it, but if he doesn't have to he doesn't bother. Takes his responsibility for his people seriously, despite his apparent attitude of divine right to rule, and can be both surprisingly generous and kind... when it suits him. Is not so secretly possessive and more secretly (and perhaps surprisingly) scholarly. (Name: Dima Gennady - where "gennady" is actually his title)
26 y/o, 195 cm - Chee/Feli
Background:
Fantasy - The overlord of the "wild" tribes of feli who live in the far north of Spears Rest, unfortunately near countries of orcs who are very firm about their own place at the top of the food chain and do not really tolerate the existence of free peoples within their grasp... even more so when they're not orcs. Has been leading his people for nearly seven years, and always looking for something that will give him an edge over their would-be oppressors, and a chance to preemptively strike at any and all who've subjugated feli in the past.
Sci-fi - The elected leader of a colony in the feli empire, and the secret leader of a brewing rebellion, as they feel the control from the feli capital planet is a yoke, not responsive to their needs... and he really, really just wants to lead an independent state, no matter how true or wrong the feelings about the governance from the feli capital is.
The mercenary/gang leader:
Flamboyant and dramatic, she's far more competent than she might seem to be. Possesses a curious sense of honour where she will not drag in people unrelated to the goings-on, doesn't condone of raiding farms or raping, but is also very much of the "ends justify means" when it comes to whatever mission while hired as a mercenary.
35 y/o, 175 cm transgender - Chee/Feli
Background:
Fantasy - Grew up a petty thief in the slums of the capital of an elven kingdom, and wanted to be more than that. Worked herself up into having her own gang, somewhere between mercenaries and raiding merchants on the lonely stretch of road that passed across a stretch of no-man's land between her home and another country. Ends up in the employ of the concubine of the ruler of her country.
Sci-fi - Grew up much the same, joined a small-time smuggler/pirate gang and took control of it herself. Wanting more influence in the criminal underworld, finding out about the mostly-automated chee fleet and that the activation key was "wandering", it seemed like a good opportunity.
The captain of the royal guard/the general:
Ambitious, conniving and neither as dutiful or loyal as she appears. She does, however, always do her job right and as well as she is capable of as long as she has it and there's no better chance of "promotion" (actual or engineered).
45 y/o, 174 cm - half-elven/ehlzee
Background:
Fantasy - Despite being half-elven and human, rose up into prominence within the military of her home, all the way up to captain of the royal guard, to the disapproval of many. She got the position after supporting the current king, who usurped his sister. She doesn't intend to stop here, however, but replace the king... and keep his wife, as she's having an affair with her.
Sci-fi - The illegitimate daughter of a daughter of a highly respected military family, she's always doubted her place in the family and their acceptance of her. Supported the now-autocratic dictator when he replaced the duly elected Presidium after accusations of corruption (mostly fabricated). Intends to replace him, if she can only gain the clout and force to do so... which the new chee fleet would be useful for, wouldn't it?
The King/military dictator: Cold and ruthless. Thinks he knows best, and will make sure his orders are followed. A hedonist who does not balk from indulging himself, but also surprisingly indulgent and generous with the people he loves (he knows about his wife's affair and isn't doing anything about it since he knows it makes her happy). Autocratic and expansionist-minded. Looks down on any who isn't his own (but has a fondness for the looks of felin).
37 y/o (337 is the equivalent in elf aging), 178 cm - elf/ehlzee
(Pet - A Perfect Circle / Centuries - Fall Out Boy
Background:
Fantasy - The younger brother to the crown princess and later queen of their kingdom, she didn't think it was necessary for them to turn their efforts towards expansion and empire-making. He didn't agree, and, with his wife's support, usurped his sister's place. Is looking to bolster his army's forces, and what better way to do that than add the magical army of the cursed feli emperor? His concubine isn't as stealthy as he thinks he is, at least in this (on the other hand he doesn't know his captain his scheming against him...).
Sci-fi - Power hungry and certain he can lead the ehlzee planets better, he leads a military coup against the elected Presidium after mostly fabricating charges of corruption (the Presidium herself was clean, and she was working through the government to clean up, just not fast enough). Would certainly not want to see the chee possessing such a fleet as they've made, and it would probably be very useful to him in chipping away at their holdings, if he can just get his hands on the activation key.
The Wife:
As cold as her husband, cheerfully scheming behind the scenes but extremely and precisely formal in public. Loves her husband deatly but is jealous of his attention to his concubine/his weakness for feli in general.
36 y/o (336 equivalent in elf), 155 cm - elf/ehlzee
Background:
Fantasy - Has not just been supporting her husband in his ambitions, but aided and abetting him with her spy network and skills at pulling strings behind the scenes. Eagerly imagining all the influence and wealth they could have if his ambitions of an empire come to fruit. Is, however, indulging in and soothing some of her hurt regarding her husband's attention to his concubine (even if it's not to the exclusion of her) with an affair with the captain of the royal guard. Is not aware of said captain's full ambitions.
Sci-fi - As above more or less. She was the one who seeded the false rumours and "evidence" of corruption to beef out the real corruption.