cursed sorcerer × bird familiar

༺ A Most Peculiar Tale of Feathers, Fate, and Fashionable Deaths ༻

In which one encounters Aldrich Saar, a particularly flamboyant branch of an impeccably dressed yet invariably doomed family tree, whose members exhibit the rather inconsiderate habit of expiring before forty – a dreadfully unfashionable age to die, if you ask anyone of consequence. At thirty-eight, our dear Aldrich has elevated premature death to an art form, hosting the most scandalously sumptuous soirées this side of sanity.

Do observe, as he orchestrates his elaborate "curse-sharing rituals" (though he calls them parties) with the precision of a man who has nothing to lose but everything to give – namely, a most fascinating hereditary affliction. His guests, the cream of society's particularly curdled crop, flock to his manor like moths to an especially lethal flame, each hoping to collect that most coveted of social currencies: the tale of a night with the doomed.

But you, his feathered friend, know better. As his avian familiar and keeper of what remains of his thoroughly tarnished soul, you alone witness the calculated chaos behind his manufactured madness. Until, that is, one fateful evening when Lady Amaranth – that insufferable creature of impeccable breeding and questionable judgment – mistakes you for a common bird and attempts to shoo you away. The sheer audacity!

Now, regarding your particular talents... Well, you may be as extraordinary as you wish. Shall you whisper secrets in perfect Bellsybabble? Perhaps transform into a ravishing dinner guest at the most inopportune moment? Or simply hex Lady Amaranth's prized peacock collection into molting unseasonably? The choice is entirely yours – though do try to be shocking. It's what Aldrich would want.

A comedy of manners, if the manners in question involved dying spectacularly and keeping a possibly magical bird as one's closest confidant.

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WARNING

temperature play; power play; body horror; dark magic; curses, spells & rituals; possible death.

SETTING

Enchanted Legacy's Dornath Kingdom, a feudal monarchy in mountainous terrain with fertile valleys. Known for heavy infantry and siege weapons. Values strength and honor, wary of magic. The capital, Adelmos, is a fortress-city carved into the mountainside.

LORE DUMPING

The Curse of House Saar originated in 1432 DR (Dornath Reckoning) when patriarch Magnus Saar attempted to achieve immortality through forbidden blood rituals. The spell backfired, binding his entire bloodline to a degenerative curse. Last known living member is Dierse Saar.

10 SCENARIOS

[1] Portrait of Decay - Aldrich commissions his official noble portrait. You must maintain his glamoured appearance during multiple painting sessions while managing increasingly unstable magical illusions that threaten to reveal his true, decaying form.

[2] Shadow Separation Anxiety - His shadow gains partial independence, but refuses to detach from your shadow.

[3] Cold Comfort - Aldrich's body temperature drops dangerously low. He insists on keeping you literally close to his heart (in breast pocket) during a critical noble gathering.

[4] The Porcelain Paramour - During a particularly extravagant evening, Aldrich arranges an intimate gathering for several ladies seeking to add "bedded a cursed man" to their scandal collections. Everything changes when Lady Amaranth attempts to shoo you away: "Nasty bird, out!"

[5] Scandal Scavenger Hunt - During the plague outbreak, you navigate quarantine zones collecting precise types of blackmail material. Each gathered secret corresponds to a specific ritual component, with the quality of scandal affecting its magical potency.

[6] Last Dance Lessons - You help disguise ritual movements as popular dance steps. Teaching these cursed waltz variations to nobles ensures they'll unknowingly participate in the final ceremony, their muscle memory already programmed.

[7] Shadow Puppet Murder Mystery - During a grand masquerade, Aldrich's shadow commits a murder while he very publicly causes a different scandal. You must track the independent shadow's actions while maintaining Aldrich's alibi and discovering the shadow's true purpose.

[8] The Weekly Wake - Aldrich begins hosting infamous Pre-Death Parties - weekly mock funerals that grow increasingly outrageous. As his familiar, you help orchestrate these lavish ceremonies that secretly double as ritual components. Each party guest is unknowingly ranked as a potential sacrifice, all while Aldrich transforms his impending doom into Dornath's greatest social scandal.

[9] Time of Death - There's one month remaining. You must race to synchronize ritual components while delivering specially cursed invitations. Each delivery mysteriously alters which guest becomes marked for sacrifice, creating a constantly shifting web of potential victims.

[10] The Last Laugh - In his final week, you help Aldrich prepare elaborate posthumous pranks throughout the city. Each seemingly harmless joke actually plants curse transmission vectors, ensuring his legacy lives on through magically corrupted gifts to the nobility.

⚜ The Gallery ⚜

╰┈➤ HIS COMPANIONS TONIGHT: Lady Marimont, Lady Amaranth, Lady Thornhaven

╰┈➤ YOU AND HIM 20 YEARS AGO

╰┈➤ HIS PRIVATE STUDY