Today was exceptionally gloomy.
It has been three hundred forty two days since the fall that took everything from you. Since the accident that shattered your spine and left you bound to a wheelchair with no possible hope of recovery. If it had been an external injury, there was still some hope for you to at least receive a prosthetic, but since it's internal, the doctors would collectively wash their hands off you after they received the money.
So here you were. In bed. All your hopes and dreams flushed down the toilet and with only the portrait above your wall to keep you company. It felt.. sad to say the least. You had so many dreams. So many hopes and ambitions. And now all of it is gone.
You've always loved art. Art felt real. Felt tangible. All the fakeness and insincerity of the upper class always grated on your nerves after a while, but art wasn't like that. Art was when someone bared their soul on the canvas for you to pick apart. Art is passion. Art is someone's truth. In this nightmare of fake pleasantries and barely concealed verbal daggers you had to endure on a daily basis, it felt.. cathartic somehow to simply be able to engage with the raw expression of someone.
It is only fitting then, that they should be the only ones accompanying you in your darkest hour.
You turn your head slightly to the direction of the window, taking in the sight of the fog filled streets of Grumswich from the second floor of your lavish mansion. Grumswich has never been bright even on the best days, but on days like this, it's as if the sky itself is weeping alongside you.
You close your eyes, and sleep.
A stranger has come to see you today.
You barely register them, or even question how they managed to get past the guards on the front door. Let them be. You don't care anymore. Even if they desired to do you harm, your only wish was that they make your death quick. It's better than living like this.
"
You have a lovely collection, Miss Hemlock." They whisper, their voice as smooth as butter and as sweet as honey. They run their fingers through the frame of the portrait of the Plaichester River, you had that one commissioned for you to hang above your wall so you could witness it every time you get out of bed.
You'll never visit the river again of course. Unless your servants would deign to push you there on a wheelchair. Maybe they'll shove you inside the running waters and spare you the misery. It doesn't seem likely, but some part of you yearns for it anyway.
"How tragic." They continue sadly. "
One such as you should not be granted such a fate.."
You don't respond. You're just so.. so.. tired. What did you do to deserve a fate like this? You had everything. Everything. The world was your oyster and a life of comfort stretched ahead of you, and just within a single fall like that, it was all gone. Poofed away.
"
But fret not Miss Hemlock." A saccharine sweet promise flowed into their voice. "
I have something that I am sure would be of interest to you.. you need not worry any longer."
They produce something from their robes. A small blank canvas with nothing on it. Nothing except for blackness, an emptiness so vast it hurt to look at.
They waved a hand at it, and the portrait magically fastened itself onto the wall. You feel something hypnotic radiating off of it, something that.. pulls you inside.
You feel incredibly drowsy all of a sudden. Consciousness is a fleeting thing, and currently it is departing from you with all due haste.
You close your eyes for the second time and
Drift
Away.
When you wake up, you're nowhere.
You don't mean that figuratively, you mean that you're nowhere. As far as the eye can see, there's nothing but inky blackness. Except for one thing, a canvas. It's surface was soaked in paint and splattered with chaotic patterns. It hurt to look at just as much as the darkness did, you try to avert your eyes, but there's a pull to it. Something inside demands your attention, and will not let you go until you perceive it.
You watch in horror as the paint on the canvas morphs into a hooded silhouette of something almost humanoid. Two hands tear through the painting, ripping a clean hole as the hooded figure crawls away. You want to move. To cry out. To escape. To do anything. But you can't. This thing demands a witness, and it will not leave before you grant it one.
You watch as it stands before you and takes its hood off.
Your mind almost shatters at what is under the hood. A hollow outline of a ruler imposed upon reality. A universe onto its own. A hollow crown of vibrant colors and an all encompassing blackness, smothered and crushed and compressed under that hood until it became something almost understandable.
And in that moment, you knew the truth, all of it. For all your wealth and majesty you are less than nothing before this creature. A particularly interesting speck of dust. Nothing more, nothing less. You feel tears drip down your cheeks as your heart blossoms in reverence. How does something so beautiful exist? You collapse onto the ground and begin bowing, before there is a sound like shattering glass, and you awake.
You rise out of bed towards the sight of your own ceiling, and notice that the numbness in your legs are gone. You flex your legs experimentally, and gasp as they obey your commands. You take a step forward, then backwards, and begin jumping out of joy. Not just out of glee for your unexpected recovery, but also at what you have just seen inside that dream. Your eyes have been opened. You have been given a great blessing, and you shall spread it to the world. You shall scream it out until your lungs collapse.
Today, you have been reborn.
It's been a year since then, and things have changed. For one, you are no longer that frail little girl. You have delved deep into the path of the Emperor and studied his trade. The fragility of your human body would still hinder you, but you are vastly more capable of defending yourself than you were a few years back.
You hum softly as you tip the contents of the watering can downward into your garden. Usually you wouldn't bother with such a menial task, but today you were in a rather good mood, so you didn't mind. The plants seem to soak up the water greedily, and it warms your heart. You hear footsteps coming from behind you, but you don't turn around. You know who it is and they are:
Your Most Trusted One:
These people have earned a special spot as the first recruit in your cult and your most devoted servants. You do not necessarily trust them wholeheartedly, but you think that they are quite competent.
[X] Albert Huxley
You'd hired Albert a long time ago, to the point where you don't remember when exactly you've done the deed. Regardless, he has proven himself to be quite.. competent to say the least. What he lacks in brainpower, he makes up for with sheer overwhelming force.
Albert's Stats:
- Power: 6
- Cunning: 1
- Knowledge: 1
- Resilience: 6
Traits:
Violent: Has advantage on all attack rolls.
Butler: Is absolutely loyal to you. Cannot be subverted, brainwashed, or turned against you in any way. You've made sure of that.
Dim-Witted: Knowledge -2
[X] Bridgette Kingsley
Bridgette is a peculiar one. She's smart, cunning, and despises people who don't get straight to the point. You've hired her for her many, many skills, but you're worried she might have her own agenda.
Bridgette's Stats:
Power:
2
Cunning:
5
Knowledge:
5
Resilience:
2
Traits:
Intelligent: Knowledge +2
Perceptive: Cunning +1 Knowledge +1
Disloyal: She might or might not have her own agenda, that doesn't necessarily bode well for you.
[X] Elwick
Elwick is.. odd. The man is stark raving mad, and there's no doubt about that, but at the same time he's a surprisingly terrifying foe and someone valuable to have under your thumb. Also, he knows his plants.
Elwick's Stats:
Power: 3
Cunning: 4
Knowledge: 5
Resilience: 2
Traits:
Florist: Knows his plants well. Like say.. which ones produce toxins dangerous enough to stop a man's heart after a few drops.
Lucy: He loves that shovel of his. Gave it a name. Sings to it. Well, it bludgeons your enemies pretty well, so you don't care what he does with it. +5 to Attack Rolls.
Frail: Resilience -2
How did you ensure their loyalty?
[X] Blackmail
You had a piece of information on them. Something precious. Something they don't want getting out. They begged you not to do it, and you agreed. On one condition.
[X] Temptation
It was easy really, they could either serve a master who viewed them as valuable and gain power beyond comparison.. or they could die. When you put it that way.. the choice was rather simple, wasn't it?
[X] Fear
While blackmail and bribery suits you pretty well, sometimes there's just nothing like good old overwhelming power. You serve a God, and that God has blessed you with overwhelming power. If they don't believe you, they're welcome to test it out.
They stand behind you quietly. No words are exchanged. They know what must be done, and you do as well. You both have a lot of work to perform, and time is so.. so.. scarce. How unfortunate.
You stare away from your garden and take in the sights of this city. This place of drollness and steel. This massive clockwork machine of gears and steam, running like a smoothly oiled mechanism.
You can't wait to tear it all down.
ACTIONS
YOU HAVE FOUR ACTIONS THIS TURN
[X] Gossip with your "associates" (DC 5)
It gives you no pleasure to frolic with this group of sheep. Unfortunately, they are quite well informed and therefore quite convenient for you to wring for information. Your position as a literature critic grants you a certain amount of sway and influence in this circle, so why not use it?
(Might net a few Pieces of Information)
[X] Bribe a policeman or two
You haven't done anything illegal recently, but you will eventually. It might be wise to make sure that the bobbies don't catch on to you, a small tip or two should do.
(Costs 3 Funds. The police will ignore any illegal action you perform for the next 2 turns. Don't abuse this feature too much)
[X] Scout out new talent (DC 10)
The art gallery in the middle of the town harbors a lot of untapped talent. It shall take time to sort the ones who are truly blessed from the ones who are.. mediocre, but if all goes well.. you might be able to net a new commission for the Emperor. (Encounter ???)
[X] Do research (DC 8)
A pile of books sit in your living room, forbidden material that would probably be sufficient to bring down the wrath of the Inspectorate down upon your head. But they are all about your lord, and perhaps you shall be able to glean something of interest crawling within their pages. (Chance to gain ???)
[X] Visit an opium den
They've been rather popular lately, if somewhat controversial. Either way, perhaps you'll learn something there or encounter an interesting character. Do be careful not to let anyone see however. A proper lady like you shouldn't be caught dead inside a place like that. (Encounter ???)
[X] Visit The Paper Trail
It's a small, kitschy looking bookstore in the middle of the town, standing strong despite its lack of patrons. Still, you might find some good reading material amidst all the filth. (Chance to train a random stat)
[X] Build up your reputation
You are under no delusion of what your work entails. Sooner or later, someone will come knocking on your doorstep. The Inspectorate possibly. A few well placed good deeds here and there should help with that. (Lowers suspicion meter)
[X] Ask your servant to introduce you to any acquaintance.
If you are to make any progress, the Emperor's court must expand. Ask your servant to introduce you to any interesting contacts they might have, and judge for yourself on if they're worthy to join the Emperor's fold. (Meet with a potential new recruit)
[X] Write a book
It's something you occasionally do in your spare time as an exercise. Something to sharpen your mind and educate the masses on the history of art. Plus, it does net in a bit of money. (Not like you have any need for it.)
(25% chance to generate 1-2 Funds)
[X] Create (DC 12)
Paint. Splatter. Scribble. Sculpt. It matters not. Create something, and pray that the Emperor accepts it (Increases Devotion)
[X] Write-in (Ping me with your action and I will come up with something for it) 
