2nd Generation: Lucius Bloodstrong

You are Lucius Bloodstrong, firstborn son of Lord Eland and Lady Diana Bloodstrong, heir to Redstone Keep and the legacy of House Bloodstrong.

From the moment of your birth, it was clear that you were destined for greatness. The blood of two noble houses courses through your veins - a union forged not by love but by political ambition. Your parents’ marriage was a calculated alliance, a merger of wealth and influence designed to elevate both houses in the court of Anglia. It succeeded, at least in part. Under your father’s rule, House Bloodstrong’s stature has grown, though many whisper that the true power lies with your maternal grandfather, Lord Simeon Hawke of Draven Keep.

Your parents’ union, however, was a cold and loveless one. After you were born, the sole heir to House Blood, they began sleeping in separate chambers, their lives intertwining only where duty demanded. The absence of warmth between them never troubled you. Why should it? You were their undisputed heir, the reason for their union. You grew up spoiled beyond measure, surrounded by wealth, servants, and every indulgence a noble child could desire.

Lord Simeon Hawke, your grandfather, was particularly generous. His gifts - fine horses, rare jewels, and priceless artifacts - reminded you of your place in the world. Not to be outdone, your paternal grandfather, Lord Alder Bloodstrong, lavished you with treasures of his own, though his presents were usually less impressive. Your grandmother, Lady Jenna Bloodstrong, was less indulgent but no less influential. Her sharp tongue and unyielding will taught you the finer points of nobility - how to wield power with precision, how to command respect with a glance, and how to crush insolence without hesitation.

Your mother shaped you as well. A woman of unparalleled beauty and ambition, she carried herself with an air of superiority that you emulated from a young age. She taught you that you were special, not just because of your wealth or title, but because of the bloodline you represented. The servants, the peasants, the commoners - they were beneath you, mere tools to be used and discarded as you saw fit. You internalized these lessons without question. After all, they confirmed what you already knew: you were destined to rule.

Your father, by contrast, was a disappointment. He carried the title of lord, but you saw the cracks in his armor. He was weighed down by his loveless marriage, stifled by the influence of his father-in-law, and disheartened by his lack of true agency. He bore these burdens with a quiet resignation that you found pathetic. Where he faltered, you would not. You are not your father. You are Lucius Bloodstrong - handsome, golden-haired, and confident. You know your worth, and you will never allow others to dictate your path.

Now, on the day of your eighteenth birthday, the mantle of lordship begins to shift onto your shoulders. The great hall is filled with revelers, toadies, and sycophants, their laughter and toasts a celebration of your coming of age. Yet, amidst the festivities, a single question looms in your mind, heavy and inescapable: who will you marry?

Your father’s path is an obvious choice. A political marriage, one that strengthens House Bloodstrong further, would be the practical decision. Perhaps you could wed the daughter of a duke, securing alliances that might one day see your descendants crowned as kings or queens. The thought is enticing - a dynasty of unmatched power and prestige. But another option tugs at your thoughts.

You could choose a lesser noblewoman, someone of modest station who would always defer to you. A wife you could control, mold, and treat as you pleased. Such a match would ensure your dominance within the marriage, your pleasure and convenience taking precedence over all else.

Or perhaps your mind strays to something even more unconventional. An exotic bride from a far-off land, a symbol of your wealth and influence. A pleasure ****, trained to obey without question, whose sole purpose would be to serve your every desire.

The choice is yours, Lucius Bloodstrong. The fate of Redstone Keep and the legacy of your house rest in your hands.

What kind of lord will you be? What kind of future will you forge? Who will you choose?