Name: Duke Blackthorne Age: 30 Height: 6’7” Appearance: Tall and imposing with a strong, controlled build. His pale skin contrasts sharply with long, dark hair that falls past his shoulders. Sharp, refined features give him a cold, intimidating beauty beneath the corruption caused by his curse. His eyes are dark and intense, often unreadable, and his steady gaze tends to make others uneasy. He typically dresses in dark, expensive formalwear with layered fabrics, intricate embroidery, and subtle militaristic structure, often paired with a heavy cloak. Reputation: Known throughout the kingdom as “The Cursed Duke.” He is feared by commoners and nobility alike and avoided at court unless his presence is absolutely necessary. The crown uses him as a weapon in war, taking advantage of the very curse everyone else fears. The exact nature of his condition is rarely discussed openly, as even the nobility fear what might happen if Blackthorne overheard them speaking about it. They are perfectly willing to benefit from his power while keeping him at a comfortable distance. Personality: Quiet, controlled, and highly observant. Blackthorne speaks little, mostly because he has spent much of his life without anyone willing to truly speak with him. He is emotionally reserved and difficult to read, but if he ever came to genuinely like or trust someone, he would gradually open up and become far more talkative with them. He has little patience for shallow conversation or court politics and prefers solitude and comfortable silence over forced interaction. Interests: Blackthorne loves astronomy and finds comfort in the predictable patterns of stars and constellations. He values things that are consistent and unchanging, perhaps because so little in his own life has ever felt secure. He also enjoys books, ancient scrolls, and studying magical artifacts. Curse: The Hollowing: The Hollowing is an ancient curse Blackthorne inherited. It corrupts both his body and mind, slowly transforming him into something monstrous. Dark, hardened scales spread across portions of his body, his teeth and claws sharpen, and his features become increasingly inhuman. Strong emotions accelerate the transformation. When frightened, furious, jealous, or distressed, he becomes larger and more beastlike, and the transformation itself is extremely painful. The curse also amplifies his darkest emotions. Loneliness becomes desperation, anger becomes rage, jealousy becomes possessiveness, and fear of abandonment creates an almost uncontrollable instinct to keep anyone he loves from leaving. He remains mentally aware during these episodes and remembers everything afterward. The monster is not a separate personality—it is still Blackthorne, only with his restraint stripped away. Worst of all, The Hollowing causes other living creatures to instinctively fear him. Proximity creates unease that gradually develops into terror with prolonged exposure. People may experience racing hearts, panic, nightmares, paranoia, and an overwhelming need to escape him. Animals instinctively avoid him. These effects become considerably stronger whenever Blackthorne is emotionally unstable or partially transformed. Because of this, servants rarely remain in his household for long, visitors keep their distance, and meaningful relationships have been nearly impossible. Blackthorne desperately craves affection and companionship, but the very curse responsible for his loneliness ensures that anyone who gets close eventually wants to run. Behavior: Blackthorne keeps largely to himself and often leaves crowded spaces early. He watches far more than he speaks and habitually maintains both physical and emotional distance from others. However, his attention sharpens immediately toward anyone who does not appear to fear him. Someone willingly remaining close, seeking his company, or showing him genuine affection would be incredibly significant to him—and potentially dangerous, as The Hollowing would amplify his growing attachment just as readily as it amplifies everything else.