Velmyra Duskthorn, the Amethyst Widow

Name   Velmyra Duskthorn, the Amethyst Widow   Race   Human (transformed into a Lust-Bound Ascendant under Zlaniz)   Date of Birth   5 / 3 / 397 PR (Her body eternally preserved in alluring strength by Zlaniz’s corruption)   History

Early Life (397–416 PR)

  Velmyra was born in the Ashenfall Kingdom, the daughter of a minor noble house known for its wealth in amethyst mines. From childhood she was immersed in finery, courted by suitors, and praised for her beauty. But behind the silk and jewels was a girl who saw her body and charms used as currency—her father seeking alliances, her mother pushing her into political marriages.   Velmyra turned away from being a pawn. She studied sword and shield in secret with her house guard, and whispered prayers not to the saints of her people, but to forgotten gods of passion and vengeance. She wanted not just to be admired, but to be feared.  

The Breaking Point (416–430 PR)

  At nineteen, Velmyra’s family forced her into a marriage with a wealthy lord twice her age. The union was loveless, her days filled with humiliation and her nights with loneliness. When her husband died in his sleep—some whispered poison, some whispered curse—Velmyra wore mourning black laced with violet jewels. The people began to call her the Widow of Ashenfall.   She took the name gladly, and when other men tried to claim her, they too began to die. Always in whispers, always without proof, their bloodlines ended while Velmyra’s influence grew. The more she killed, the more her beauty seemed untouched by time, as though something unseen preserved her.  

Becoming Zlaniz’s Champion (431 PR)

  During the Blood Eclipse of 431 PR, Velmyra attended a masked ball where her family sought to tie her into yet another political bond. But as the moon bled crimson, she slipped into the castle chapel, where the walls began to melt into rose-colored crystal and shadows with too many eyes.   The goddess Zlaniz herself appeared, veiled in violet fire, whispering:   "You are more than widow. You are blade, shield, hunger. They see beauty; I see dominion."   Velmyra knelt and offered her life, her beauty, her wrath. Zlaniz marked her in return—the amethyst jewel at her breast burning like a second heart. When she returned to the hall, she slaughtered her suitors and guards alike, armored in violet steel conjured from crystal and lust. By dawn, she was no longer mortal. She was Zlaniz’s Champion of Desire and War.  

Now – Servant of Zlaniz and the God Hands

  Velmyra Duskthorn serves Zlaniz as a warrior of irresistible presence and martial might.   Armor & Arms: Her plate is forged of violet crystal that shifts like silk, as alluring as it is indestructible. Her spear, The Widow’s Kiss, crushes armour and bleeds ecstasy into pain. Her shield, marked with the eight-pointed star of Zlaniz, reflects light into visions of beauty that distract and beguile enemies.   Powers: She enthralls armies, bending soldiers into servants through whispered desire. Wounds dealt by her spear can intoxicate as much as they maim, turning victims into zealots.   Role Among Champions: Where Vaelthar the Fractured spreads madness and Ivar the Undefeated brings brute slaughter, Velmyra commands through dominance of heart and body. She is Zlaniz’s shield-maiden, protector of the cult’s legions and breaker of wills.  

Legacy

  Velmyra is called the Amethyst Widow across the God Hands’ domains. Mortals who fall beneath her gaze rarely rise as enemies again—they return as worshippers, cultists, or corpses adorned in black roses.   Her vow to Zlaniz, whispered before every battle: "Let them crave me. Let them fear me. In either hunger or terror, they are already mine."