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PLOT DROP #8: THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES - ENGLAND

Married nearly six years ago, it seemed to be that England had a bright future in both Crown Prince Henry and his new bride, Princess Victoire of Valois. From the start, they were a happy couple and many saw that Victoire was a great influence on the Prince’s reserved nature. However, as a French Princess, Victoire was ill-liked among the English people. Not only did her birth country serve as a mark against her (as both England and France had been long-term allies) but Catholic faith earned her much ire as well. She might have converted upon her marriage to the Crown Prince, but it did little to abate the outrage that now came from both sides as no one really believed that she was faithful to either religion. During her short five years at court, there have been countless whispers about where her loyalties truly remained as well as how she supposedly used them to influence the crown prince. Not that they paid any mind as they lost themselves in their own happily wedded bliss.

Or at least they did until the day it all came tumbling down.

Nearly half a year ago, a horrible scream followed by eerie silence ripped through Ludlow Castle in Wales. Princess Victoire was swiftly found at the bottom of a staircase, gripping the remnants of a banister, lying in a pool of her own blood. Many were swift to say that it was an accident, that the Princess had leaned too far out on the railing, but such thoughts were stifled in the wake of the countless rumors that swirled following her death. Could it have been murder? If so, who was to blame? Catholics? Protestants? The list of possible suspects was long as many could stand to gain influence and power over the Crown prince if he were forced to take a new bride. Some even say that Henry did it himself…

With the nature of Princess Victoire’s death unclear, Crown Prince Henry retreated from the world and remained in one of the lesser estates in his family’s holdings during his extended mourning period. However, now he has returned to court with the most astute minds that the kingdom has to offer, determined to root out the murderer by any means necessary…

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William Butler (d. 1617) was a well-known Irish alchemist who claimed to have the philosophers' stone! There were also rumours that he was kidnapped by pirates as a child and he was later arrested for forgery.

added Shea!

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Mary Radcliffe (1550 – 1617). Her father jokingly presented her to the queen as a new year’s gift when she was eleven and and she became a maid of honor at the age of fourteen. She was one of Elizabeth’s favorites and was put in charge of the queen’s jewelry.

Added Kiara!

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Francis Walsingham (d 1590) - Francis was known as Elizabeth's 'spymaster' - it is likely that there was a sort of unrequited love when it came to Francis' relationship with Elizabeth. He was involved with the entrapment and eventual execution of Queen Mary.

Added glowbunny!

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PLOT DROP #7: MY ENEMY’S ENEMY IS NOW MY FRIEND - SCOTLAND

Following the return of his mother, Queen Mary, the current King of Scotland is facing the new threat of needing to defend his crown. However, the arrival of Queen Mary is swiftly pulling apart the loyalties of the Scottish people as clan leaders and common folk alike are forced to choose between two different monarchs. In order to combat this threat those surrounding King James have been seeking out possible brides who can bring an army to join the Monarch’s forces. At the moment, the most probable future Queen of England seems to be one of the English Princesses, Catherine Tudor-Habsburg. Rumor has it that King James himself balked at the idea as there had always been tensions between England and Scotland; but he was forced to ultimately agree as Queen Elizabeth made an offer that could not be refused. Now the pair are engaged much to the ire of the English and Scottish alike. Claims are being made that King James is seeking to dissolve the union by any means necessary, but the English crown is refusing to allow Scotland to relent on their deal. Could it be that England has ulterior motives for putting one of their own on the Scottish throne? Regardless, the world can see that this fragile alliance is already cracking before the ink on the treaties has dried. Perhaps this might be the chance for other suitors seeking royal matches to swoop and take advantage of the situation? Also what is this persistent rumor going around that Mary Stuart intends to make her own offer on behalf of her younger son for Catherine’s hand?

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THE O’KENNEDYS

Seamus O’Kennedy - 39 M - Ard Tiarna O’Kennedy - FC: Jamie Dornan [OPEN] Having become the Ard Tiarna in his teenage years, Seamus was not yet ready for the vast responsibility place upon his shoulders at such a young age. What made matters worse that when his father drowned in the Dublin river, his mother had already been long dead leaving Seamus an orphan and a clan head. His young age encouraged him to make several prideful and utterly unforgivable mistakes that led to both famine and conflict. He allowed his sisters to remain unmarried for far too long that now even the youngest among them is unlikely to find a husband. Now that age has given him wisdom, he’s trying to right these wrongs, but will he be able to salvage anything resembling good leadership out of the scraps of his mistakes? Sorcha O’Kennedy - 36 F - Mhuile O’Kennedy - FC: Minka Kelly [OPEN] Following their mother’s passing while giving birth to Sara, Sorcha became a mother figure to the children she left behind and has been Seamus’s right hand since they were little. There is no advisor he has trusted more than his little sister, which is something that Sorcha knows has cost him greatly as they both lacked the proper knowledge to lead.  It had even been her fault that none of the O’Kennedys are married as she has been in love with a lower born boy for several years, conducting their liaisons in secret. However, her courses have now stopped and it’s clear that the mother figure will become a mother herself. Will Sorcha be able to secure a respectable marriage to hide the truth? Siobhan O’Kennedy - 31 F - Mhuile O’Kennedy - FC: Leighton Meester [OPEN] If there is one thing that has been constant about Siobhan from her younger years, it is that she can always be found with her nose in a book. Her passion for the written word had started when she was little, having realised that the epic poems of both her culture and those beyond her borders were excellent escapes from the grief that surrounded her family. As she has  always been a bookworm, it’s little surprise that Siobhan eventually picked up a quill and became a writer herself. She adds to the canon of  folktales and epic poems that she once thrived upon, but her gender forces her to publish under a male name.  Will the world ever know that she is the true author of these stories? Stefan O’Kennedy - 29 M - Tiarna O’Kennedy - FC: Theo James [OPEN] If his twin sister is the epitome of virtue, Stefan is the symbol of vice. The man is known to be prideful and stubborn, never backing down from a conflict if he is challenged. Unfortunately, due to his favourite pastime of pub crawling in Irishtown with Niall MacDermont and Aedan O’Neill, he often finds himself in brawls that see him returning home with a black eye and bruised ego. Having been present for the attempted arson of the Ramble Inn, Stefan has made it his personal challenge to find the arsonist and bring him to justice. However, no one believes that Stefan will turn the arsonist over in one piece if he gets his hands on him… Slaine O’Kennedy - 29 F - Mhuile O’Kennedy - FC: Alicia Vikander [OPEN] If there is one thing that is known about Slaine O’Kennedy, it is undoubtedly the fact that she is a fiercely pious woman. Her devotion to the Catholic faith is well-known throughout Ireland, leaving her to be admired by those who do not know her and detested by those that do as her hidden judgemental nature is shown against those whom she believes are not Catholic “enough.”She also attempts to convert those of the Protestant faith back to the “true” religion. It has been her lifelong dream to become a nun, but her brother has prevented this and is now dead set on marrying her to one of the MacDermont boys. How far will Slaine go to prevent this from happening? Sara O’Kennedy - 23 F - Mhuile O’Kennedy - FC: Zoey Deutch [OPEN]As the youngest of the O’Kennedy clan, Sara was often left to her own devices as a child. This solitude combined with spending most of her time out of doors encouraged a deeply held passion for the natural world. She is a budding scientist in the making as she studies and catalogues every plant, bug, and creature she comes across with her keen eye and deft hand, recording her observations with beautiful sketches. She longs to travel to Edinburgh to study at the University there, but she knows that she would need to leave her beloved Ireland behind permanently to make that happen. Is she truly willing to marry a Scottish lord to make her dreams come true?

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THE O’NEILLS

Cormac O’Neill - 50 M - Ard Tiarna O’Neill - FC: Idris Elba [OPEN] The last thing that Cormac ever wanted was for the troubles plaguing Ireland to spin out of control in the way that it had. As one of the most well-respected of the Gaelic lords, known for his high moral character and distaste for rashness and hostility, many of those who have been offended by the English crown have turned to him. Although Cormac may have great personal restraint, he cannot say the same for those who have gathered around his banner. The Gaelic lords are clambering for war, demanding the removal of the English by violence. The O’Neill head might agree with his cause, but can he find a different means to be heard lest see his country engulfed in war? Elise O’Neill - 47 F - Ard Mhuile O’Neill - FC: Zoe Salañda [OPEN] When Cormac O’Neill first married Elise, many of the Gaelic lords were not keen to accept her as one of their own. She had been a commoner from a rival clan when the two of them met and fell in love. Now nearly thirty years later, Elise is mostly accepted by the Gaelic lords. The only fault they still find issue with is the extravagant parties Elise is known to throw at Leap Castle. Little do they know that the decades of judgement and disrespect have deeply affected Elise. She may not show it publicly, but behind closed doors she has a certain affinity for a drink that leaves the rest of her family walking on eggshells around her. Aedan O’Neill - 28 M - Tiarna O’Neill - FC: Michael B Jordan [SHEA] From a young age, Aedan has understood that he would have rather large shoes to fill if he was going to be the next Ard Tiarna following his father. He has spent a lifetime preparing for this eventual role, trying to emulate his father as best as he can. There are rather notable lapses in judgement blotting his record as the hot-blood of his youth failed to keep his impulsive nature in check. However, that has not stopped him from attempting to teach himself everything his father knows. As the inevitable conflict between the Gaelic lords and English draws closer, Aedan has spent his time bouncing between training the recruits of the newly formed Irish army and drinking with his close friends to let off the compounding stress building upon him. Magnus O’Neill - 25 M - Tiarna O’Neill - FC: Sinqua Walls [OPEN] Having followed in his father’s footsteps in more ways than one; Magnus is known to be a skilled diplomat among the Gaelic lords. Once there was even talks of him taking a position on the Irish privy council, but that has fallen through as the tensions between the Gaelic Lords and English grow. However, they didn’t end in time to prevent Magnus from meeting the eldest FitzGerald girl, Rose. It was practically love at first sight and now the two are in the midst of a secret relationship behind their parents backs. Knowing that neither side will ever approve of the union, are these star-crossed lovers willing to leave everything behind in the name of their love? Or will the politics of their country tear them apart? Alionora O’Neill - 24 F - Mhuile O’Neill - FC: Keke Palmer [OPEN] Having always had a slight aura of vanity around her, Alinora has no greater love than fashion. Determined to lead the Irish court, Alinora is well-versed in the latest trends from France and abroad. She makes a spectacle of showing off these dresses, garnering admiration and jealousy in equal folds whenever she enters the room. However, what most people do not know is that Alinora does not have these fabrics shipped to her from France at all. Instead, many of them are made with her own hand as her passion for fashion design allows her to copy nearly anything she hears about from Paris. Though as she grows more popular and people are paying more attention to the trends she creates, will she be able to keep her secret?

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hello! i'm shea (they/them). i'm a raging nerd for d&d, books, and rpgs. i like my plots angsty, my men beardy, and my characters endlessly stubborn. I can’t wait to write with you all!

Heyya Shea! Welcome to NoL!

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Timeline Event in regard to Prince Henry Tudor-Habsburg: The Wedding of Marriage of Prince Tudor-Habsburg & Princess Victorie Valois of France - 1851: This marriage unlike many others was met with joyous blessings and true love in the eyes of the pair. The wedding itself blessed by their countries and taken as a matter of love more than a duty. As such, it was easily seen how deeply they treasured one another. It was a wedding to be remembered and one truly met with joyous uproar. Love Eternal..

Added to the Timeline!

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Heyo, it is me breezy, that is not my real LEGAL NAME but it is close! I've been burnt out for ages now and I'm looking forward to revving up the ol' brain juice and getting creative again. I love the show Resident Alien to a gross degree and never shut the hell up about microbiotics. My life ambition is to someday go food shopping without forgetting the one thing I went to buy in the first place. My writing aesthetic is angsty tragic apps followed by posts that are nothing but godawful puns.

Heyya Breezy! Welcome to NoL!

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Plot Drop #6: DESTRUCTION ON YOUR DOORSTEP 

For the past few months, Dublin has been held in a terror grip by an unknown arsonist with unknown motives. At first the flames could be explained away with simple human error. Perhaps a hearth was left unattended or a candle burned too close to a stack of letters. However, as the number of flames increase through Dublin in both the Liberties and Irishtown alike, people are starting to wonder if these incidents are actually connected. Such thoughts were kept to rumors until late one evening a deafening crash followed by a stone wrapped in flaming rags came through the window of the popular Ramble Inn. Luckily, the flames were stamped out before they could catch, but the fears of the citizens of Dublin have become a raging inferno that has swept through the city. Now it is common knowledge that there is an arsonist loose in the city, but as no one knows who’s to blame or even why they’re intent on burning Dublin to the ground, accusations as to culprit and motive are running wild. Fears are increasing that the flames are political motivated, further increasing tensions in an already tense city. The only thing that is clear is that this arsonist has no plans to stop until they witness Dublin burn to the ground.

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(part 3) boardings were often left with a large majority of their treasured goods. The ship, or perhaps it was really multiple ships, has not been seen in the past year or more but sailors still keep a close watch for the ghost ship just in case.

Part 3 Added to our timeline Xae!

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(part 2) and divest them of treasures. Strangely enough only certain items were taken though it is rumored there were some passengers of a more gentle persuasion that were made away with and never heard from again. Many sailors believing women were bad luck were often relieved to see them gone, a sacrifice to whatever creatures could slice through them with their ethereal blades. The ones who fought the invading ghouls found themseslves fishbait by morning. Those who cooperated with the (cont.)

Part 2

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The Haunted Sea (1574-1584)A decade of silent terror on the Irish Sea. A ship, though no two accounts of it are quite the same, plagued the seas between England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland - from Oronsay to the Isle of Mann and southward. Ghastly creatures spilled en masse from the ship that seemed to emerge from the foggiest night as if an apparition. Grey sails, grey hull, grey mast, and the descent of an eerie silence marked the ghost ship. The equally grey men would board ships (continued)

part 1

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THE STANLEYS 

Eleanor Stanley - 45 F - Countess of Derby - FC: Lana Parrilla  [SHAYLA] Calculative and manipulative, Eleanor Stanley is a woman who is rarely caught off guard. It’s almost like she sees the world as a chess board, anticipating moves long before her adversaries think of them. She’s a skill she utilizes to keep her deepest secrets including her amorous relationship with Edmund Habsburg. Eleanor is her lover’s eyes and ears in court and has been the key to helping Edmund regain his prominence. She is also the most senior descendant of Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor, giving her both a strong claim to the throne and possible motivation for entangling herself with the King Consort. If the opportunity arose, would she even hesitate to put herself upon the throne? Henry Stanley - 54 M - Earl of Derby - FC: Pedro Pascal [OPEN]

Having once been the second son of a Viscount, Henry had launched himself into society with his marriage as he won the hand of one of the most eligible heiresses in England. However, this wasn’t a feat that he accomplished on his own as he had his close friend Edmund Habsburg pull a few strings to make it happen. This has permanently indebted Henry to Edmund, ensuring the man’s loyalty for decades to come. As the head of a textile industry, Henry uses his wealth to achieve both his and his friend’s goal at any cost. There is nothing that he will not do for his closest ally – including murder. However, will his loyalty survive once he learns that his closest ally is the true father of his second son? Ferdinand Stanley - 25 M - Baron Carey - FC: Marlon Teixeira [OPEN] Lacking the ruthless loyalty of his father, Ferdinand has been regulated to maintaining the textile industry that has given their family its immense wealth. While his father makes the decisions on whom to trade with, Ferdinand is the one who speaks to the sheep farmers, captains, and weavers who make this industry possible. This work has created a hardworking young man who has become disillusioned with the facade of the nobility and spends more time with this common girl who has ensnared his heart. She might be just a weaver in the employ of the Stanley family, but Ferdinand wants her to be his wife. Can he convince his family to allow the marriage? Or will he be forced to settle down with one of the noble girls vying for this heir’s hand? Francis Stanley - 23 M - Lord Stanley - FC: David Castro [OPEN]  Oblivious to his true parentage, Francis is the perfect mixture of his parents. Blessed with his mother’s manipulative abilities and fueled by his father’s endless hunger for power; he is the sort of man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Knowing that he is unlikely to inherit the Earldom, Francis has been seeking power in other ways by courting heiresses who are destined to inherit earldoms or higher. He currently has his eyes set on the various princesses arriving at the English court who are vying for Prince Henry’s hand. Self-assured and arrogant, firmly believes that he should be nothing less than a prince and may or may not be working in secret to find foreign allies to help put his family on the throne… Felicity Stanley - 21 F - Lady Stanley - FC: Victoria Moroles [OPEN]

Other girls might be content with bending the rules of the nobility, Felicity is determined to outright break them. Often disappearing from her family’s lodgings, Felicity is a frequent guest at the various parties thrown in bachelor’s rooms where she jumps headfirst into all of their promiscuous activities. Her fun doesn’t stop in the bed sheets though as she takes great joy in watching the rest of the court be scandalised by her low cut dresses and friendliness with other boys. Others have tried to get this noble girl to play by the rules, but she brushes them all off as she views it all as just a great deal of fun. However, what’s going to happen once  Felicity learns what the consequences for her actions could be?

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THE DUDLEYS 

Robert Dudley - 53 M - Earl of Leicester - FC: David Harewood [OPEN] 

Known favourite of Queen Elizabeth, Robert Dudley hadn’t always been held in such high graces. His father had been a key player in the nine day rule of Jane Grey and for the role he had personally played in it Queen Mary had sentenced him to death. However, he managed to prove his loyalty to the Tudor Queens and save his neck in the process. The experience was enough to ensure that he never stepped a toe out of line again, but there are some who say that his steadfast loyalty comes from something deeper. After all, it has long been rumoured that the Queen and Robert are romantically involved.  Could there be any truth to these whispers? Amy Dudley - 53 F - Countess of Leicester - FC: Caroline Henderson [OPEN]

Rarely seen at court, Amy Dudley has long been regarded as the ‘other woman’ in her own marriage. The rumours surrounding the Queen and her husband are persistent, but Amy has thus far seemed to be unbothered by them. After all, what is not known publicly is that calculating, but outwardly cold, woman encourages Robert to curry the Queen’s favor in exchange for lands and titles. However, that nagging fear that perhaps Robert is playing the game just a smidge too well is never far from Amy’s thoughts. She also struggles with a spotty short-term memory after a tragic accident where she fell down a flight of stairs. Could her previous misfortune be connected to the death of the Princess of Wales? Thomas Dudley - 31 M - Viscount Dudley - FC: Elliot Knight [OPEN] Fiercely loyal to his mother, Thomas doesn’t understand the game that his father is playing. That’s always been an issue with him as he lacked any political edge and is far more literal than any nobleman ought to be. However, this makes him well-suited for his chosen career in the military. It is well-known that he is a talented soldier that has earned every accolade he has from his own merit, not from his father’s position in court. Well-respected by his peers, Thomas is a candidate for the position of Master-General of the Ordnance, although nothing has been publicly stated on the matter. If he were chosen could Thomas look past his anger of Elizabeth shaming his mother and serve the Queen on her privy council? Jane Dudley - 27 F - Lady Dudley - FC: Gugu Mbatha-Raw [OPEN] At her core, Jane is a tomboy. She would never go as far as to fully eschew the standards of a proper noblewoman, it is well-known that Jane is not an ‘English Rose’ who is content to spend the day with her needlework. Instead, she would much rather be out in the woods on a hunt or challenging her brothers to a lighthearted archery competition. It’s clear that there’s nothing she loves more than being outdoors in the muck and grime – much to her parent’s chagrin. That is why she has a certain disdain for court as the stiff rules conflict with her free spirited nature, but she views it as a necessary evil of her life. Ambrose Dudley - 26 M - Lord Dudley - FC: Rene Jean Page [OPEN] Having been born with a gift for politics and thirst for knowledge that could never be quenched, Ambrose seemed destined to rise to a great position on the Privy Council. However, now he’s learning that there’s a cost to his father being favoured by the Queen. It was Elizabeth who strongly suggested the match between Ambrose and Margaret in the hopes of quieting any rival claims to her throne. However, Ambrose fears that any dreams of political ascension will die on that altar as the English Queen will not want to give Margaret any fraction of power. With his dreams on the line, but unable to refuse the Queen, does Ambrose have the skill to navigate these neck-deep waters?

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PLOT DROP #5: RUMORS OF REBELLION

Discontent with the English taking control of Ireland has been rippling through the country since the moment Henry VIII declared himself to be their king. There are many who live beyond the boundaries of the Pale who believe that they should be governed not by some English Queen, but instead by one of her own. These common folk look to their old lords – the Gaelic Nobility – to find that leader among those who are angry and insulted by how the English are treating them. Men who were the descendants of Kings were offered lowly titles; Earls, Viscounts, and Barons, unable to make decisions in their own land without approval of a foreign privy council. It is more than some of them can bear, including the leader of the O’Neill family, who has begun to gather members of the Gaelic Nobility to discuss what could be down about their “English Problem.” It’s only a matter of time before they make their sharpened blades and rebellious intentions known throughout Ireland…