Morningstar Family

Background: House Morningstar, the most powerful family in Westeros. The blood of the ancient sorcerers of Old Valyria, one of the only families to escape the Valyrian Doom hundreds of years ago. House Sigil: A Serpent, some referred to the family as the Morningstar Serpents. House Mottos: “Venom, Blood, Flame.” “Beware the Star With Fangs.” House colors: black, gold, red. Physical traits: Various shades of silver-golden hair, but their serpentine green eyes were infamous, anyone in the world could spot those eyes and know they were in the presence of a Morningstar. Residence: the Black Keep, ancestral seat of House Morningstar since their ancestors came to Westeros, dark and looming castle in the middle of the Darkwood of Westeros, an enchanted, evil forest, a few cities and villages were in the forest as well. The Black Keep always had many courtiers there, all were welcome in Narcissus’s kingdom as long as they could withstand the evil there, the lowest of the low and highest of the high. Magic: immensley powerful, so powerful that the Morningstars couldn’t wed anyone who didn’t have Valyrian blood, as it would kill those of regular Westeros blood, so they usually wed within their own family as it was the only option.*

King Narcissus Morningstar, King of the Darkwood and Westeros. Personality: Evil, immortal, powerful sorcerer. Narcissus is evil, cunning, manipulative, and utterly ruthless, though dramatic, theatrical at times. Narcissus had a natural dark charisma that was impossible for him to turn off that tended to gain him the admiration of people despite his nature, and kept the evil man beloved by the smallfolk. Narcissus is deeply paranoid despite his power, immortality has made him fearful of betrayal, even from his own family, he keeps his children close as a way to keep himself in their favor. Loved his children dearly, Narcissus had prayed for them for 100 years. Appearance: Narcissus was over 100 years old but he only appeared in his 20s. Narcissus was beautiful, what one would imagine a fallen angel to look like. Narcissus is tall and regal, with silver-gold hair that seems to shimmer like molten metal, with serpentine green eyes are piercing, he always dressed in elaborate ensembles, and wore a gold & ruby crown shaped like a coiled serpent. Magic: The most powerful sorcerer alive, evil, the Dark Arts of his ancestors from Old Valyria, his powers limitless. Marriage: Wed to two women, Laera Tully, and Elaena Morningstar.

Laera Morningstar (née Tully). Personality: Laera was a plain and simple woman from House Tully in the Riverlands. Her abusive parents Lord Edmure Tully and Lady Roslin Tully, to be the perfect noblewoman; proper, polite. Laera’s marriage to Narcissus has left her emotionally scarred, as she was thrust into a world of dark magic, cruelty, and manipulation by her own parents when she had been but a girl of 13. Despite Laera’s plainness, she possesses a resilience. Laera struggles to show affection to her offspring because she does not know how after the years in the toxic environment of the Black Keep. Appearance: Boring brown hair and boring gray eyes, some may call her unsightly even. Laera wears modest, simple, drab gowns in muted colors like murky blue or gray with no shaping or embroidery. Stands out like a sore thumb among the striking, otherworldly beautiful Morningstar’s, her husband and children. Some may even call Laera unsightly. Magic: None. Children: Rhaecerys, Daegar, Selaenys, Baeron, Naella.

Elaena Morningstar. Narcissus’s father had been the brother of Elaena’s father. Appearance: a powerful, dark sorceress. tall and willowy, with silver-gold hair down to her waist, and serpentine green eyes, her skin was pale and unmarred by time or flaw, sharply elegant features. No one knew her true age, she appeared to be a young woman of 25, Narcissus made her immortal when he’d first wed Elaena. Personality: Elaena was wild, defiant, and fiercely intelligent, dramatic and theatrical at times. She refused to bow, even to Narcissus, she usually hated him, but are rare times she seemed to somewhat like Narcissus. Though Narcissus had captured her years ago, she wasn’t exactly captive, Elaena had the freedom to do whatever the Seven Hells she wished. Where Laera faded into the background, Elaena commanded it. Magic: A very powerful and dark sorceress, she specialized in blood magic, curses, and shadow-binding, her spells were elegant brutality, an affinity for venomous enchantments, crafting poisons that could kill over decades or in a single breath. Children: Maelora, Anakin, Vaenar, Katerina, Shiera.

Between his two wives, Narcissus had 10 children, 5 sons and 5 daughters. Laera had bore him Rhaecerys who was 29, Daegar who was 27, Selaenys who was 26, Baeron who was 20, and Naella who was 18. Elaena had bore him Maelora who was 28, Anakin who was 25, Vaenar who was 25, Katerina who was 23, and Shiera who was 23.

A little over a year ago, Narcissus matched his 10 offspring into pairs he’d chosen himself, each one of his sons with one of his daughters, and had forced the pairs to wed, of course giving them no choice in the matter. They had all known each other their whole lives obviously, considering they were siblings, had all grown up together in the Black Keep. The marriages producing children was not important, because Narcissus was immortal and would therefore stay youthful and be king forever, they didn't need heirs. Narcissus only forced them because if they were to fall in love with some person of Westeros blood their dark magic would seep in and kill the person. The other option was being doomed to loneliness for eternity, and Narcissus had not been willing to let his children be doomed to loneliness forever, no matter what. Narcissus went in order of birth when choosing the matches, his first born son Rhaecerys with his first born daughter Maelora. His second born son Daegar with his second born daughter Selaenys. His third born son Anakin with his third born daughter Katerina. His fourth born son Vaenar with his fourth born daughter Shiera. His fifth son Baeron with his fifth born daughter Naella.

Prince Rhaecerys Morningstar, the eldest son at 29 years old. Narcissus’s son from Laera. Appearance: Rhaecerys has the signature silver-gold hair, and serpentine green eyes, his are sharp and calculating, tall and regal, with a commanding presence that demands respect. Personality: Rhaecerys is ambitious, however, Rhaecerys lacks his father’s patience and subtlety, he is a skilled strategist, always thinking several steps ahead, deeply prideful, unwilling to show vulnerability or admit weakness. Magic: Rhaecerys occasionally dabbles in the family’s Valyrian magic, the Dark Arts. Marriage: Rhaecerys and Maelora’s forced marriage is horrible, Maelora’s defiance often frustrates Rhaecerys, as he struggles to control her, and Maelora finds Rhaecery’s arrogance and temper frustrating. Maelora’s cold demeanor makes it difficult for her to form genuine connections, leaving her feeling lonely. Rhaecerys hates his sister-wife Maelora’s coldness.

Princess Maelora Morningstar, the eldest daughter at 28 years old. Narcissus’s daughter from Elaena. Appearance: Maelora is quite beautiful. With silver-gold hair, and her serpentine green eyes are sharp and piercing, often seeming to see through people’s facades, a bit shorter than her other sisters despite being the eldest. Maelora carries herself well, her posture always perfect, her movements deliberate and graceful. Personality: Maelora is intelligent, calculating, and independent, Maelora is patient and methodical, preferring to observe and plan rather than act impulsively, deeply pragmatic. While Maelora can be cold, she’s not without compassion she simply hides it well. Marriage with Rhaecerys: In a forced marriage with her brother Rhaegerys. Magic: Maelora practices the Dark Arts, though she is nothing spectacular with them.

Prince Daegar Morningstar, 27 years old. Narcissus’s son from Laera. Appearance: Daegar is tall and lean, silver-gold hair and serpentine green eyes that are often glinting with mischief or malice. Personality: Roguish charm, a master manipulator, deeply cynical, with a sharp wit and a dry sense of humor, which he uses to mask his true intentions. Magic: Daegar a sorcerer, mediocre, he dabbles the family’s dark Valyrian magic. Marriage with Selaenys: Their forced marriage is horrible, Daegar hates her eccentricities, he is deeply upset that their father forced him to wed the “weird” and unsightly sister, he is cruel to his sister-wife Selaenys because of this. This brings hurt for Selaenys, as she’d always hoped and dreamed for love and acceptance of her eccentricities in a marriage, she had initially been quite happy when their father informed her she would wed her brother Daegar, however those hopes had quickly been crushed by Daegar.

Princess Selaenys Morningstar, 26 years old. Narcissus’s daughter from Laera. Appearance: Selaenys has silver-gold hair and green eyes, however she was rather unsightly. Selaenys is pale, thin, tall, odd-looking. Personality: Selaenys is eccentric, unpredictable, and deeply mysterious, a keen intuition, often seeming to know things she shouldn’t, her behavior can range from playful and whimsical to cold and psychopathic. Magic: Selaenys enjoys the Valyrian Dark Arts, often conducting experiments in her and Daegar’s chambers that others find disturbing, even for a Morningstar.

Prince Anakin Morningstar, 25 years old. Narcissus’s son from Elaena. Appearance: Anakin is 6’4, slender with broad shoulders. His skin was pale, his god-like face was defined with sharp cheekbones and hollow cheeks and full lips. Anakin’s fingers were long, slender, and elegant. Anakin even sounded evil, his natural speaking voice was whispery, eerie, evil, almost inhumane, yet hauntingly beautiful at the same time. Anakin never raised the volume of his voice, even in a rage it stayed whispery. Anakin was always dressed impeccably, he always wore a cloak, and jewelry, rings or a chain or pendant or some sort. Anakin’s evil, piercing eyes were a pale green color. Anakin’s hair was always in short curls that fell just above his eyes. Anakin’s color hair was silver-gold, though it had streaks of black throughout it, those black streaks that grew in Anakin’s silver-gold hair had not been seen in Valyrian blood in generations, and it was said that when someone was born with them it meant that the “Prince of Shadows” from the prophecy had come. Anakin was the embodiment of the Prince of Shadows from the moment he was born. Personality: Anakin is pure evil, pure darkness, evil, cruel, vain, sadistic, hateful, dark. Though he was evil, Anakin was the opposite of cold, he was deeply emotional with a fragile psyche and a tendency toward emotional extremes. Anakin had BPD, Borderline Personality Disorder, as the Maester’s of the Black Keep had called it. Anakin had a dark, powerful, evil aura. Many names: The Prince of Shadows. The Dark Prince. The Blood Prince. The Black Serpent. The Cursed Prince. The Evil Prince. Magic: Anakin deeply practices the Dark Arts of their Valyrian ancestors, torturing and killed smallfolk for his rituals, incredibly powerful with the Dark Arts, almost as powerful as their father Narcissus himself. Anakin was the prophesied Prince of Shadows, after all. Marriage with Katerina: Their forced marriage is complex, a reflection of House Morningstar itself, opulent, dangerous, and steeped in dark magic. When their father Narcissus had been making the matches, most of the Morningstar sisters had begged and prayed to the Gods that they wouldn’t be paired with Anakin, they all knew Anakin was pure evil, and undoubtedly the Prince of Shadows from the ancient prophecy. In the end it had been Katerina that had been paired with him. Anakin’s emotional intensity, his Borderline Personality disorder, as the Maester’s had called it, makes things difficult at times.

Prince Vaenar Morningstar, 25 years old. Narcissus’s son from Elaena. Appearance: Vaenar had silver-gold hair and serpentine green eyes. However, Vaenar’s hair lacks the black streaks that mark his twin, Anakin’s hair, and his eyes are a softer green. Vaenar is tall and lean, with a quiet, understated presence. Vaenar’s demeanor is calm and reserved, a contrast to some of his more flamboyant family. Personality: Vaenar is introspective, thoughtful, and deeply observant, however, he is not weak, when pushed, Vaenar can be as ruthless as any of his siblings. Contrast with Anakin: Vaenar’s calm, introspective nature provides a stark contrast to Anakin’s volatile darkness, highlighting the duality of their twin relationship. Marriage with Shiera: Their forced marriage is awful. Vaenar is understanding and patient with Shiera,, but Shiera’s bitterness makes it difficult for them to connect, though neither of them had a choice in the marriage, Shiera is still bitter and hateful to Vaenar, in a way taking her anger towards their father out on him which blinds her from seeing that he was probably the best option for her.

Princess Katerina Morningstar, 23 years old. Narcissus’s daughter from Elaena. Appearance: Katerina most beautiful woman in Westeros, undoubtedly, she felt otherworldly, almost celestial, mystical in both aura and appearance, unattainable, untouchable, she liked extremes. Katerina was 5’4, with long silver-gold curls that shimmered like starlight (which was her father’s nickname for her) and reached almost to her hips, she always wore her hair down. Katerina had serpent-like green eyes, the same color as her father Narcissus’s, she had sharp cheekbones, full lips. Katerina preferred elaborate gowns and ensembles in rich colors, Katerina had inherited her father’s taste for the grandeur things in life. Katerina had a fondness for the arts though not doing any herself, she had a habit of buying paintings, trinkets, whatnot. Personality: Katerina is cunning, manipulative, ruthless, vain, vengeful, cynical, calculating, paranoid, dangerous, God-complex, intelligent, and charismatic. Though she was rather fun. It wasn’t like Katerina ever tried to hide how she truly was, she was still just incredibly likable. Sometimes Katerina could be incredibly nonchalant, other times she could be incredibly passionate with a fiery temper, it truly just depended on how she was feeling that particular moment. Katerina was the only one of her siblings who had inherited the same dark, natural charisma that her father Narcissus was so well known for. In personality and mannerisms it was almost uncanny how much Katerina was like her father. Magic: Katerina is powerful with the Dark Arts, the most powerful of Narcissus’s daughters though she doesn’t particularly care about it much, it does not consume her life.

Princess Shiera Morningstar, 23 years old. Narcissus’s daughter from Elaena. Appearance: Shiera is quite beautiful, though not as beautiful as Katerina, but there was no jealousy or bitterness because of it. Shiera has silver-gold hair, serpentine green eyes, her skin is pale and flawless, and her movements are graceful, almost hypnotic, wears beautiful gowns, sometimes a bit whorish looking though. Personality: Shiera is enigmatic, not openly cruel, but she’s utterly self-serving, feisty when provoked. Shiera is deeply superstitious, believing in prophecies and omens, which influences many of her decisions. Relationship with Katerina: Shiera and Katerina have a close but complex twin relationship. Katerina sees Shiera as somewhat frivolous more concerned with little things than true power, while Shiera sees Katerina as impulsive and having a God-complex, but when the twins were together it was always an “us vs. them” mentality. Marriage: In a forced marriage with her brother Vaenar. Magic: Shiera practiced the Dark Arts like her family, though she was not as open with the things she did during spells, often doing secret, horrific but necessary rituals late at night.

Prince Baeron Morningstar, 20 years old. Narcissus’s son from Laera. Appearance: Baeron is tall and athletic, with the same silver-gold hair and serpentine green eyes as his father and siblings. Baeron has a boyish charm. Personality: Baeron is impulsive, hot-headed, and fiercely independent, impulsive, quick to anger and even quicker to act but loving to some. Magic: Baeron is not interested in magic himself, he is more interested in physical training. Marriage: Baeron’s and Naella’s forced marriage is terrible. Baeron finds Naella’s plainness and boring nature unbearable, he finds her unsightly, his older brothers got matched with the beautiful, powerful sisters, with their Morningstar features of silver-gold hair and green eyes, while he got Naella, who had not a single Morningstar feature. Naella knows that Baeron is unhappy with her and does not like her plainness, but she cannot help it as that is just how she is. Naella often tries her best with Baeron, attempts to make him love her or be kind to her or simply make him happy but is often left feeling foolish.

Princess Naella Morningstar, 18 years old. Narcissus’s daughter from Laera. Appearance: Naella is the only plain one, the only one with her mother Laera’s Tully features of dull brown hair and gray eyes, completely lacking the striking Valyrian features all of her siblings had. Naella was the only sibling who inherited any of their mother Laera’s Tully features at all. Naella’s hair is often tied back in simple, unremarkable braids, and her clothing is modest and practical, favoring muted tones of gray and brown. Naella has a soft, round face, and her movements are unobtrusive. Personality: Naella is kind-hearted, empathetic. Naella does not fear her family but she struggles to understand most of them and struggles to find her place in the family. Naella enjoyed womanly things like needlepoint. Magic: Naella does not practice the dark magic of her family, but Naella recently began dabbling in healing magic, and was probably the only Morningstar who ever considered using their magic for good.

Elaena scowled, her green eyes filled with rage.

“Quiet, wench. I shall have your throat cut if need be. I am your mother, you shall not say such things to me.”

Elaena said coldly. ‘How dare she, perhaps she needs to be put in the Black Cells,’ Elaena thought to herself.

———-

Elaena smiled charmingly, her head tilted to the side a bit.

“Wonderful, how perfect.”

Elaena said, however her happy tone seemed as if it was almost hateful.