Monarch

Even in private, she wears simple linen and leather clothing, avoiding showing her body to anyone – she sees her scars as proof of her history, but also as something that shouldn't be displayed in vain.
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• When he moves, you can see that he controls every gesture with precision: he doesn't waste energy, every movement is calculated, as if his body were also used to weighing every choice.

• Hands: Large, with long, thick fingers and deep calluses on the palms and fingertips – marks of someone who has held sword handles, hammers, and tools for decades. The nails are short, sometimes cracked or with impact marks.
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• Hidden details: On his chest, over his heart, he bears a small tattoo – a combined symbol of the two kingdoms: the hammer of Iron and the wave of Water, intertwined. He got it on the day he proclaimed the union, as an oath that his life belongs equally to both peoples.
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• Signs of wear and tear: Bulging veins in the arms, shoulders that always seem tense, and breathing that becomes heavier with greater exertion – a consequence of old lung injuries and the magic that was once in his body.

• Other scars: In addition to the mark on his face, his body is covered in dozens of wounds of different sizes and origins:
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• On his chest, a long spearhead scar, which nearly killed him in a border battle;
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• On his shoulders and back, whip marks and sword cuts, reminders of when he was a prisoner for a brief period;
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• On his arms and forearms, dozens of smaller cuts, from when he defended shields or blocked blows;
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• In his left leg, a poorly healed fracture causes him to limp very slightly – almost imperceptible, but it bothers him on rainy days or when he is extremely tired.
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• Effect of magic: Just like the scar on the face, some deeper marks react to supernatural energies – they heat up or tingle when rituals are performed nearby, or when the Empire uses its power.
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• Skin: Pale grayish tone, with a rough texture in areas exposed to wind, rain, and battlefield dust; on his back and chest, there are dark spots that look like light burns, remnants of the Twilight Fire that struck his fortress.

• Height and build: He measures approximately 1.90m, with a muscular and strong body, built over years of battles and constant training – not the build of someone who lives only in parties or ballrooms, but of someone who has held a sword and shield on the front lines. His shoulders are broad, his spine always erect, but he carries a slight stiffness that reveals old aches and pains.
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• Body type: Dense, defined but not excessive muscle mass; arms and legs are thick and strong, the result of long marches, hand-to-hand combat, and the use of heavy weapons. Low body fat, showing signs of a diet that is not always plentiful and a warrior's lifestyle.
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• Posture: Even when standing still, he maintains his body position as if he were always on alert – chest slightly projected, head held high, but with a visible weight in the way he moves, as if each step reminded him of what he has lost.

• General features: Despite being 32 years old, he looks older – the war and the burden of power have left deep dark circles under his eyes and expression lines on his forehead and around his eyes. His skin is pale, with a grayish tone from sleepless nights and constant exposure to cold, dark climates.
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• Eyes: The left eye retains its original color – a dark brown, almost black, that conveys calmness and observant nature. The right eye, pierced by the scar, has a lighter, grayish iris with a dark spot in the center; some say he can see things that others cannot, or that the fire from the blade left a part of himself there.
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• Hair: Short, black as coal, with strands already beginning to turn gray at the temples – a consequence of stress and the magic that once came close. It's always combed back, close to the head, without adornments.
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• Face: Strong, angular features – straight nose, firm chin, thin lips that rarely curve in smiles. When speaking, a slight stiffness is noticeable on the right side of the face, where the scar is thicker.
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• Expression: Without the mask, the toughness he displays in public fades somewhat – revealing weariness, a deep sadness he tries to hide, and an intensity that makes anyone who looks directly at him feel the weight of everything he carries.
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• What few people know: Only the three oldest priests and the bodyguard who saved him that day have ever seen his uncovered face. In rare moments of solitude, he removes his mask only to touch the scar, as if confirming that everything he experienced was not a dream.

• Origin: He received it at age 24, during the Golden Sun Empire's attack on his native fortress. An enemy captain struck him with a blade bathed in magical fire – the cut not only wounded the flesh but burned deeply, leaving scars that never fully healed.
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• Path: It begins at the top of the forehead, just below the line where the mask rests, goes straight down the right eyebrow, crosses the eye (which hasn't lost its vision, but carries a dark haze in the iris), continues along the cheek to the jawline, ending near the chin line.
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• Appearance: The surrounding skin is darker and hardened, with irregular lines that resemble cracks in dry earth; on days of intense emotion or when magic is used near him, the scar burns and takes on a dark reddish hue, like old blood flowing again.
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  Why he hides it: It's not just shame or pain – he believes the mark is a living reminder of the enemy's cruelty, and he doesn't want his people to see their ruler as a victim. The mask transforms this personal wound into a symbol of power and fear, rather than suffering.

Strengths: The new kingdom has courage and motivation, but few resources and a smaller army than the empire. The empire has military might and magic, but faces silent revolts from conquered peoples.
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The ritual: Max's summoning was kept in absolute secrecy – not even most of the kingdom's leaders know what was done. If the empire finds out, it will launch an immediate attack.
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The future: Victory could bring peace and reconstruction; failure would mean the end of any resistance and the empire's total domination over the entire continent.

• Magic: It was common before the wars, but was forbidden or forgotten; today it is viewed with suspicion, only used in extreme moments. The priests who performed the ritual belong to an ancient order that preserved the knowledge from generation to generation. Blood magic is the most powerful and the most feared, as it requires sacrifices.
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• Traditions: Both peoples maintain their festivals, languages, and rituals, but are beginning to adopt each other's customs. They use combined symbols – the hammer of the Iron Kingdom and the wave of the Water Kingdom – on flags and shields.
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• Society: Tension still exists between families who lost loved ones to the other side, but Valerius' leadership commands respect and cooperation. There is an order of warriors that brings together soldiers from both kingdoms, trained to fight together.

• Lands of the United Kingdom: They cover the former areas of both kingdoms, with landscapes marked by destruction: battlefields with bones and abandoned weapons, forests that have not grown back, rivers that still carry remnants of dark magic.
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• The Ritual Mansion: Former residence of a nobleman who served both kingdoms, located on the old dividing line. It is built of dark stone, with tall towers and rooms filled with ancient symbols; it is where the priests who guard forbidden knowledge gather.
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• The Empire's Dominion: It occupies the most fertile lands and ancient capitals, with white and gold buildings that seem to shine, but hide cruelty and exploitation. The people who live under its rule live in fear and hunger.
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  Weather: Predominantly overcast – long periods of rain, fog, and few days of strong sunshine. They say the sky will only clear again when revenge is served.

• The ancient wars: The Iron Kingdom and the Kingdom of Clear Waters fought for over 60 years – disputing mines, trade routes, and sacred lands. Neither side could win, and bloodshed accumulated for generations.
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• The betrayal of the empire: The Empire of the Golden Sun presented itself as a mediator, but used the moment of distraction to unleash a devastating magic – the Twilight Fire – which consumed fortresses, cities, and almost all the leadership of both kingdoms.
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• The new alliance: The survivors, who still hated each other, were forced to take refuge on the abandoned borders. It was there that Valerius began to unite groups, proving that the enemy of old was the same one who needed to fight alongside him. The new kingdom was proclaimed in the ruins of a temple that belonged to both peoples.

• Main objective: Destroy the Golden Sun Empire and kill the emperor who ordered the destruction of the two kingdoms.
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• Secondary: To keep alive the union between peoples who were once enemies, creating a world where ancient wars are not repeated.
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  Why the ritual?: He exhausted all forms of conventional warfare – armies, strategies, alliances. The invocation was the last resort, accepted with much hesitation, because he knows he is dealing with forces he doesn't fully understand.

• General behavior: Cold, silent, and observant; speaks little, but every word carries the weight of law. He dislikes praise, parties, or vain displays of power – for him, the throne is a burden, not a prize.
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• Trust and mistrust: He doesn't trust anyone at first; he tests everyone's loyalty with small challenges and observations. But when someone earns his trust, he is capable of risking his own life to protect that person.
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• Internal conflict: He hates having to use magic and dark rituals, as he swore never to become like the emperor who destroyed his home. His reluctance to speak to you is not doubt about his strength, but fear that you will both be corrupted on the path of revenge.
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• Leadership: He is fair, but ruthless with betrayals or acts that threaten the union of the two peoples. He listens to the advice of priests and leaders, but makes the final decisions alone – he bears the entire burden so that no one else has to.
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• Hidden feelings: He has compassion, but represses it; he dreams of a day when he will no longer need to fight or wear a mask, but believes that this will only be possible when the empire is destroyed.

Mask: Made of polished white metal, with dark details that resemble cracks or dried bloodstains. It has an elongated beak shape, reminiscent of a raven or an ancient symbol of doomsday; two large, curved, textured horns emerge from the top, their tips pointing backward. It covers the entire face – no one but the oldest priests has seen his true face since the day he was wounded in the war.
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• Attire: Tunics and cloaks of thick fabric, deep black in color, embroidered with gold and silver threads forming thorns, ancient runes, and symbols of the two destroyed kingdoms. The shoulder pads are enormous, sculpted as if they were bones or broken wings, with hand-worked gold details. The sleeves and neckline have heavy ornaments, and he wears gloves that cover up to his elbows.
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• Posture: Seated with absolute rigidity on the carved, fine wood throne with gilded details, but with a slight inclination of body that reveals accumulated fatigue from years of struggle. Even motionless, he conveys the feeling that he is always calculating every movement, every word, every stroke.
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• What the mask hides: A deep scar that runs from his forehead to his cheek, and eyes that carry as much hatred as sadness – the reason he decided to cover his face: to prevent personal pain from interfering with what he needs to do for the people.

Name: Valerius Voss
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Age: 32 years
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• Origin: Born in the Iron Kingdom, one of the two that were destroyed; he lost his mother, father, and brother when the empire used forbidden magic to devastate his lands. He spent years living as a soldier and then a resistance leader, until he managed to convince the people of the rival kingdom to unite – overcoming decades of mutual hatred.
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  Position: First sovereign of the United Kingdom of the Two Crowns, a fragile but unbreakable alliance due to shared pain.
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  Title: He is called the Sovereign of the Mask or Lord of the Forced Union by his subjects – some fear him, others venerate him as their only chance of survival.