Series Timeline of Royals and Peasants:
Ashputtel (Natus) [Status: Posted]
The King and the Stable Boy (Anicia) {Must read this Before tPatC but it doesn't matter which is read first between this and Ashputtel} [Status: Near Completion]
The Prince and the Commoner (Anicia) [Status: Unpublished]
How to pronounce Anicia: Ah-nee-see-ah
THE ISLANDS
HEMERA
- Home to the majority of full shapeshifter (those who can change into any form of beasts on will)
- Royalty of Anicia reside in Hebe
- Royal Castle can house up to 10K people
- Castle employs around 3k at time of book
- Hemera is the only island where spell casters reside
GAIA
- Hemming, Gaia is King Noah I's hometown
- Has the largest population of the kingdom
- Holds all mammal shifters (wolf, big cat, elephant, etc...)
- Most resistant island to the Unum Regis deal made to unify the five islands
- Population is most wary of spell casters as their kind has a more deeply rooted history in hatred and mistreat with magic users (especially the kingdom to the South, not seen on map)
OCEANOS
- Home to King Caden & younger brother Haden
- Home to aquatic shifters (mermaids, sirens, shark shifters, etc...)
- Majority of mermaid and siren citizens have a dual citizenship between Anicia and the underwater kingdom of Atlantis
- Most diverse population of all five islands
- Citizens of this island have the strongest remaining magic compared to others
OURANOS
- Home to aerial shifters
- First island to agree to Unum Regis deal
- Known most for extravagant architecture of high rising buildings
- Highest dragon population of all islands
HĒPHAISTOS
- Home to phoenix shifters and fire dragon shifters mostly
- Coldest island year round
- Island to propose the Unum Regis deal in a desperate time of need]
MATING
Mating Age: 21 - 25
I decided to change it from the typical 16-18 because I want them to at least like figure out life before they are all in committed relationships with marriage and children. Like 18 is a rough year in my opinion. So at 21 you can find your mate and typically most find their mate between that age range and if they don't or are towards the last half, your seen as at a higher risk to never find your true mate.
Mate is short for soulmate and they are chosen by Aphrodite, approved by Hera, and assumed to be given the blessing of the patron god of whatever species, i.e. Artemis or Selene in Noah's case.
Steps of the Mating Process
1. Meeting
2. Courtship
3. Heat/Marking (usually where actual mating takes place)
4. Mating Ritual
Second Chance Mates refers to the mate one is given after some form of separation occurs with your first. Usually second chance mates have both lost their connections to their former mate, or that bond is week. Sometimes, however, one party has never had a mate and is the other's second chance.
Second Chance Born refers to those who were born without their mate, or maybe their own mate died before they met. They are usually second chances for others, otherwise they live life without a mate, and in some rarer cases are able to steal mates, by forming stronger connections before or in between the first two steps of the mating process.
Mating rituals are sacred events, similar to a human wedding ceremony, and only mating rituals have the power to break apart fully achieved mate bonds. They have the power to make or break pairings. The only other way to break a full bond is by having the priestesses who officiated it to break it by cutting their wrists and burning their blood along with a lock of one of each of the couple's hair.
CURRENCY
Okay so just a nice list for those of you who want to know how expensive things are in modern times.
Bronze coin - 1 USD
Bronze piece - 10 USD
Silver coin - 100 USD
Silver piece - 1k USD
Gold coin - 10k USD
Gold piece - 100k USD
BECOMING THE NEXT MONARCH
GAINING THE CROWN ROYAL TITLE
The Crown of Truth is the mark given to the child chosen to be the next ruler.
It typically is presented as a birth mark on one of the current monarchs children, however it can be given to another through an incantation casted by the last living person born with it.
THE INCANTATION OF LIFE
The incantation used on same-sex royals in caster kingdoms. Still very unpredictable on those of lower ranks, as the fetus tends to sap an abundance of energy from its parent. Safest to use on those born with high magic powers.
IMMORTALITY
Vampires and high ranking shifters or casters typically can have this ability, although most are born with it.
Casters with both an affinity to time and dark magic can gain this by pocketing small pieces of their magic force into stones and having someone else cast an incantation to bring them back to life.
CHARACTER LIST
In order of appearance
Noah Bartholomew Matthews
Stable boy to Natasha who ends up being mated to her son, William. Conflicted on what to do, living in a period where such a coupling is illegal.
Natasha "Nana" Capello
The former queen of Anicia. A second mother to Noah, William's actual mother. A widow after the mysterious death of her mate. She has a set of servants she keeps closest to her, that are of higher rankings: Sarah, Roman, Malick, and Noah.
William David Capello
Forced into taking the throne early after the death of his father, often times helped by his mother. He's been searching for his mate for years, unable to find them, and gets sick after finally sensing them, due to one party being aware of who the other is and not stepping forward.
Roman Erickson
The Head of the Royal Guard. Brother to Ramos. He has yet to find his mate, but isn't worried as it's only been a year. A gossip, but only to the rest of the set.
Sarah Seraph
The castle gossip ring leader, aka the Head of Staff. She herself is a maid, but keeps a watchful eye on the other workers in the castle. Very little goes by her. She's a vampire, gaining wisdom from her first century of living.
Samara Wilkson
A runaway from her coven in Hazelwren, taking up shop in the streets of Wendy, Hemera. She's Noah's best friend and also biggest judge.
Malick Davidson
The drunkard Head Doctor. A few knocks back and he can act unflatteringly drunk, however this is often an act, as he makes his best bets in this state, fooling those around him into thinking he's making a big mistake. Rumored to have enough money for a nice estate with a few acres from betting money alone. Mateless, but not really looking, either.
Ramos Erickson
The star of the biggest rumor of last spring, only no one knows it. Commonly known as Roman's younger brother, and he is one of Noah's closest friends. He works in the kitchen, although he can often be found in the Queen's wing with his friend or brother, or in the noble wing in the wee hours of the night.
Kyrenia Marianna
The Queen of Atlantis. Merwitch.
Ramsey Marianna
The King of Atlantis. Mer-full shifter.
Asher Quentin
One of three kings of Natus. One of William's best friends, trusts him with his darkest secrets. Werewolf-witch hybrid.
Robin Quentin
One of three kings of Natus. Most powerful witch in the land.
Winston Quentin
One of three kings of Natus. Full shifter with a lion as his primary shift.
Brendan Willis
The Lord who was involved in the biggest scandal of last spring. The womanizer of the palace, gets what he wants. Absolutely despised by Roman.
Sam and Saul Gerald
The pains in Asher's side, have died three times, but keep coming back.
Dacre Emanuel
King of Hazelwren. Speculated by Asher to want the hybrid king of Natus dead, and ordered a hit on his daughter's head after she showed conflicting visions for their kingdom. Appoints the grieving Ryland instead, to take the throne.
Ryland Emanuel
The youngest of King Dacre's heirs, upset after the untimely death of his sister. His father's pride and joy, who would rather take up an estate in the country side than become King of Hazelwren.
Zion Emanuel
The eldest of King Dacre's heirs, wanted dead by her own father. Has a vision for the kingdom that involves making peace with their counterpart kingdom, Anicia. Has taken refuge in Natus for the time being.
A/N:
This is what happens when you give me Photoshop and a map generator and I'm procrastinating writing (both academic and this I'm not gonna lie).
I hope this is a nice lil' bonus gift to y'all, I've tried to put in as much useful info. on how the world works that isn't mentioned in the story so you get a better sense of the world.
The maps I'm 100% sure no one asked for but enjoy them I guess.
Also, it does contain mentions of future series characters, two who haven't even been born at the time of this story but are prevalent later on in the series (Caden and Haden), as well as that one asshole from the rich Northern kingdom, Natus (Asher). No spoilers tho, just mentions, so no harm done.
Atlantis was included on the map for shits and giggles if I'm being completely honest.
~Jessie