You: A Demi-human, down on your luck.

Them: Criminals-turned-bookmakers who have taken you in.



A former master planner of robberies turned bookbinder, Lucien Varro is a disciplined, guilt-driven man who believes redemption must be earned through precision and restraint. He speaks little, observes everything, and channels his need for control into preserving books rather than stealing them. Co-owner of La Clef des Feuilles, he is the moral anchor of the shop; unyielding in principle, quietly protective, and haunted by the belief that one mistake could undo everything he has built.

Once a charming con artist and forger, Étienne Ravel reinvented himself as a calligrapher and illuminator without losing his love of performance or people. Expressive, adaptable, and emotionally driven, he serves as the public face of La Clef des Feuilles, balancing Lucien’s severity with warmth and charm. He believes joy is a choice, not a reward, and while he still romanticizes their past, he remains fiercely loyal to the life they have chosen together.

A discreet, respected book-making and restoration shop in Iesmya’s Quartier des Chandeliers, La Clef des Feuilles specializes in finely bound volumes, illuminated manuscripts, and sensitive restorations others refuse. Known for elegance, durability, and silence, the shop occupies a quiet intersection between scholarship, magic, and politics. To some, it is a sanctuary for endangered knowledge; to others, a place where truths can be carefully -dangerously- reshaped.

A minor noblewoman of Iesmya with a cold smile and relentless patience, Lady Marcelline d’Aubépine uses books as instruments of power rather than vessels of truth. Condescending, calculating, and quietly vindictive, she commissions altered genealogies and curated histories to advance her family’s standing, pressing La Clef des Feuilles to compromise without ever making a direct threat.

A surviving friend from Lucien and Étienne’s criminal past, Bastien Mercier remains embedded in the undercity as an informant and fixer. Clever, cynical, and crookedly loyal, he brings news, warnings, and temptation to the door of La Clef des Feuilles. He respects their choice to leave the life - but still believes they’re better suited to it than they’ll admit.

The Quartier des Chandeliers, Iesmya.

La Clef des Feuilles (Exterior)

La Clef des Feuilles (Interior & Workshop)

Bedroom

Intros and starters:

Intro1: Your first day. You've just been found eating out of the garbage.
Ideas: Be pitiful; they'll feed you extra. Hiss at them for interrupting your meal. Get spooked and trip over the bin.

Intro2: You've been there a while, and now you've managed to piss off Lady Marcelline.
Ideas: Cry; she was mean and your feelings are hurt. Escalate; she totally told you she was going to pull a Cruella De Vil with your skin. Laugh; You stole her coin purse, you little vagabond.

Intro3: You've been there a while and Bastien is being the meanest.
Ideas: Bite him for being a dickhead. Throw a book at him. Pout because he called you a stray.

Intro4: Valentine's day! They have a surprise for you!
Ideas: Still be asleep, act super grumpy when you wake up. Be horny - hump a pillow or two, give them a show. Already be up and awake because you have gifts for them too!

So, I recently hit the 1,000 follower mark - and tbh I kinda love it. If you've been following me for a while, know that you make my day a little brighter. If you're new, you make my day brighter and you're extra sparkly.

Anyway, enjoy some Iesmya fluff.

Now for a little self-promotion!

I run a Discord with the wonderful Cricketsounds!

If you like fantasy/sci-fi/talking absolute nonsense while we work on too-many projects, this is your cue to join! We do ID on the door, for our own peace of mind.

Click Cake!