Those who can recall Her Lady Reina can tell you one thing or another. Her charisma pulled those close to her closer, and those who didn't know her into intrigue. As is the nature of the heiress apparent within a Matriarchal society, Reina grew up proper and polite. Read, embroidered, pet sheep, walked in the soot gardens, prayed to herself. As opposed to her elder brother, Gwen, who was more rowdy, though we can get to that later.
She is diplomatic and has good posture. She tastes like orange soda, and you just can't place what she looked like when you last saw her. It's like a halo of static takes her place in your memory-- she was
there but now she isn't. Reina was kind, and she knew it was unfair. She believed herself and her existence to be unfair. A lot of loathing in a little girl, now wiped from the place.
Content Warnings:
naught
Chapter I. "BEFORE"
Reina was born five years into her parents' marriage, four years after their firstborn, Gwen. She was an extremely quiet baby, to the point where her mother thought there might be something wrong with her. She didn't fuss like Gwen, and was contrasted with him a lot in her early childhood.
The nature of Vesuvius is that of a divine right matriarchy. Every queen, first-born daughter in the royal family is the sun/volcano/light deity Rēsniýa. She is prepped and groomed to take over from her mother when the time comes, while also being the subject of worship among the more devout citizens, ridicule from the less so.
On Reina's eighteenth birthday, Gwen and a party of militants usurped the throne, aiming to kill Reina like they did the King and Queen. But, Pep Fairchild, old Alke (knight/servant) to Gwen, helped Reina escape to the city.
Chapter II. "DURING"
Pep involved Reina with a group of people who were safe. As soon as they laid eyes on her, they were dedicated. The members of her "inner circle" included Pep, Res Fwoukes, Marlēnne Peer, and Lilac Smithe, among others. Her holy draw was intoxicating, and everyone was instantly in deep, though Reina did not wish for this and struggled with it.
Reina could not leave the city, due to her connection to the volcano. She and her guard dogs hopped from safe house to safe house, just trying to keep Reina from being killed by Gwen. Reina began a relationship with Pep and Res, though she tried to break it off many times due to the guilt she felt in the perceived otherworldly attraction. She and Marlēnne grew close as well. They all spent the next couple of years floating, on edge, but exhilirated.
The group was sold out. At a "safe house," they were apprehended, and Reina was executed as an example.
Chapter III. "NOW"
Someone who looks too much like Reina, when one could capture her face in the moment, is somewhere in the city.
Romantic and sexual partners. Reina wants it to be real.
Alke to her brother. Sexual partner-- she broke his "vow of chastity." He protects her.
Marlēnne is an empath, medium, etc. She does not initially believe in Reina as a deity, but she feels the pull. She is the most self aware of the phenomenon, and thus spends time around Reina trying to figure it out. They're pals!!