Amerati Regulus
Amerati Regulus is a Dark Hav woman born in Hav'En approximately 160 years before the Fall — one of the most distant ancestors of the modern Regulus lineage, and arguably the one most responsible for what that name came to mean. She was trained from birth for the Holy Javelin, Hav'En's elite religious enforcement order, and by all accounts was capable and committed. What she was not was willing to accept the elitist logic that treated black-feathered Hav as Maldicites by default.
That unwillingness put her face to face with Zachariah: a sixteen-year-old with black feathers and a surprisingly capable defensive instinct, at the bottom of a cave after the ground gave out beneath both of them. She treated his wounds. He treated hers. By the time they found their way out, her certainties were considerably different than when they went in.
She helped Zachariah escape, betrayed her squad to do it, and never went back. Together they killed her father, Petrov Regulus — an abusive elitist she did not mourn — freed her younger brother Nero, and set about building something new. She acquired Maldicism along the way and managed it quietly, drinking Zachariah's blood when necessary. She also acquired the Black Devil's Claws, gauntlets capable of draining victims of blood to feed the wielder.
The Regulus Mural — an enchanted piece that displayed all Regulus family members in real time — was her gift to Nero, and the foundation of what would eventually become one of the most prominent families on the floating continent.
She raised a girl named Atrea, trained her with Zachariah, and handed her over to the world. Then, as she had always seemed to intend, she disappeared.
Amerati Regulus carried doubt about her own culture's values before she could articulate it, and she acted on that doubt before she had time to talk herself out of it. She betrayed her squad for a sixteen-year-old boy she had met at the bottom of a cave, based on nothing more than the observation that the system treating him as a monster was wrong. That instinct — to act before the internal argument concludes — defines her.
She is not sentimental about violence. She killed her father without apparent grief. She became a Maldicite and accepted the terms of that existence, including drinking Zachariah's blood to manage her condition. She treated none of this as tragedy. It was simply the shape of the life she chose.
At the same time, the Regulus Mural was a gift. She made something beautiful and gave it away. She raised Atrea with patience and rigor. She built something that outlasted her by centuries, then left without announcement when the work was done. This is not the behavior of someone indifferent to what they leave behind — it is the behavior of someone who knew exactly when to let go.
She loved Zachariah in the specific, uncomplicated way of two people who built something together and trusted each other completely. There is no drama in that record. They were partners.
Her doubt about Hav'En's elitism was not ideological posturing. It was personal: she did not enjoy treating people as lesser. That directness of feeling — not a philosophy, just an honest response to what she was being asked to do — is perhaps the most telling thing about her.
Founding of Napoli: Atrea, Leonidas, and the Regulus Legacy (120–50 BF) ►
Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during the period 120–50 BF. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine sword from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site emanating energy similar to the Black Devil's Spine, where Atrea recovers a pair of black wings she converts into a scabbard for the weapon, enabling safer use. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine with its scabbard using an Iaido-inspired sword style she developed. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed people found the nation of Napoli east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, renowned for its military academy and naval strength. The lineage traces directly back to the Regulus bloodline through Atrea, connecting Napoli's founding to the broader Regulus legacy.
Founding of Napoli: Atrea, Leonidas, and the Regulus Legacy (120–50 BF) ►
Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during this period. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site emanating energy similar to the Spine, where Atrea recovers a pair of black wings she converts into a scabbard for the weapon, enabling safer use. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine and scabbard together through an Iaido-inspired sword style she developed. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He ultimately sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed individuals found the nation of Napoli east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, distinguished by its military academy and naval strength. This lineage connects the Regulus bloodline's legacy to the founding of one of the continent's notable nations, with the Black Devil's Spine and its scabbard serving as enduring symbols of that heritage.
Founding of Napoli: Atrea, Leonidas, and the Regulus Legacy (120–50 BF) ►
Atrea is adopted and trained by Amerati and Zachariah Regulus during the period 120–50 BF. Though never added to the Regulus Mural, she receives the Black Devil's Spine from Zachariah. Amerati and Zachariah disappear before Atrea reaches adulthood. Atrea marries Tyrus Napoli, taking his name. During their travels, the couple discovers an ancient burial site resonating with energy similar to the Spine. There, Atrea recovers a pair of black wings, which she fashions into a scabbard for the Spine, enabling safer use of the weapon. Tyrus dies of illness shortly after the birth of their son, Leonidas. Atrea raises Leonidas strictly but kindly, teaching him to wield the Spine and its scabbard through an Iaido-inspired sword style of her own development. Atrea dies when Leonidas is approximately sixteen. Leonidas subsequently works as a mercenary and bounty hunter, dedicating himself to liberating enslaved people across the continent. He ultimately sacrifices his life to free a large number of slaves. The freed people establish the nation of Napoli to the east of Ryukona in his honor. Napoli grows into a significant political power, distinguished by its military academy and naval strength. The Black Devil's Spine and its scabbard represent a continuous thread of Regulus heritage passed through Atrea's lineage into the founding of an independent nation.
Regulus Legacy: Founding of the Regulus Family (160–120 BF) ►
Amerati Regulus was born in Hav'En and trained from birth as a member of the Holy Javelin, an elite Hav military order. Zachariah, born two years later, was hidden by his mother due to his black feathers, which marked him as a suspected Maldicite. Around age eighteen, Amerati encountered Zachariah during a Maldicism investigation. After a confrontation and a cave collapse left both injured, Zachariah treated Amerati's wounds and the two formed a bond. Amerati, already skeptical of Hav elitism and anti-black-feather prejudice, attempted to protect Zachariah but was betrayed by her squad captain. She defected, helping Zachariah escape, and the two became partners and eventually lovers. Together they killed Petrov Regulus, Amerati's abusive father, and rescued her brother Nero. Amerati contracted Maldicism during this period; Zachariah concealed her condition by allowing her to feed on his blood. The group departed Hav'En. Amerati acquired the Black Devil's Claws and Zachariah the Black Devil's Spine, both artifacts suited to Maldicites. Amerati later turned Zachariah into a Maldicite. Nero settled what became Regulus Island, and Amerati and Zachariah created the enchanted Regulus Mural using an ancient Floating Continent device, depicting all living Regulus family members in real time. Zachariah was formally adopted into the Regulus family. Nero expanded the bloodline extensively before passing leadership to Apollo Regulus, who developed the family into a wealthy, prominent dynasty known for their palace-town, beauty, and insular practices.
Regulus Legacy: Origins of the Regulus Family (160–120 BF) ►
Amerati Regulus, born in Hav'En and trained as a Holy Javelin soldier, encounters sixteen-year-old Zachariah — a black-feathered Hav hidden by his mother to protect him from persecution as a suspected Maldicite. After a confrontation leaves both injured in a cave system, the two bond while recovering and escaping together. Amerati, already disillusioned with Hav elitist culture, defects from her squad when they ambush Zachariah, and the two flee together. They eventually kill Petrov Regulus, Amerati's abusive father, and rescue her younger brother Nero. Amerati contracts Maldicism during this period; Zachariah conceals her condition by allowing her to feed on his blood. The pair become renowned adventurers on the Floating Continent, acquiring powerful artifacts — the Black Devil's Claws and Black Devil's Spine respectively. Amerati later turns Zachariah into a Maldicite. Nero settles on what becomes Regulus Island, and Amerati and Nero formally adopt Zachariah into the Regulus family. Using an ancient Floating Continent device, Amerati and Zachariah create the Regulus Mural, an enchanted artifact displaying living portraits of all Regulus family members. Nero expands the family extensively before passing leadership to Apollo Regulus, who develops the Regulus family into a prominent dynasty known for beauty, wealth, insular practices, and a large palace-town. The Regulus Mural, the Black Devil artifacts, and Regulus Island are foundational elements of the family's legacy.
Regulus Legacy: Origins of the Regulus Family (160–120 BF) ►
Amerati Regulus, born in Hav'En and trained as a Holy Javelin soldier, encounters sixteen-year-old Zachariah — a black-feathered Hav hidden from birth by his mother — during a Maldicism investigation. After a confrontation and a cave collapse, the two recover together and form a bond. Amerati, already disillusioned with Hav elitist culture and its equation of black feathers with Maldicism, betrays her squad to protect Zachariah when they attempt to ambush him. The two fall in love, kill Amerati's abusive father Petrov Regulus, and rescue her younger brother Nero. Amerati contracts Maldicism; Zachariah conceals this by allowing her to feed on his blood. She later turns Zachariah into a Maldicite as well. Amerati acquires the Black Devil's Claws, gauntlets that drain and feed blood to the wielder, while Zachariah acquires the Black Devil's Spine. The group departs Hav'En; Amerati and Zachariah become renowned adventurers of the Floating Continent. Using an ancient Floating Continent device, they create the Regulus Mural — an enchanted artwork displaying living images of all Regulus family members — as a gift for Nero, who is formally adopted into the Regulus name alongside Zachariah. Nero settles on what becomes Regulus Island and expands the family extensively. His successor, Apollo Regulus, develops the family into a prominent dynasty known for beauty, wealth, incestuous practices, and a large palace-town compound.