Apollo Regulus
Apollo Regulus is a Hav man and Archfather of the Regulus Sanguarchate of Avinadal — one of the wealthiest and most publicly visible figures in the empire's inner circle. He is immediately striking: short blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, a deep melodic voice, and the kind of composed confidence that makes rooms reorganize themselves around him. The Regulus family has long been known for wealth, beauty, and an approach to lineage that most other cultures find unconventional; Apollo embodies all three without apparent effort.
He arrived at the HECRC prison in 181 AF on a set of helicopters bearing Regulus colors, having been told by what he described as "a voice" to go help people there. He said this without embarrassment. He was not wrong. The Regulus family had already been cutting ties with Hadi Enterprises over the revelations coming out of the facility, and Apollo formalized that break by taking in the survivors, organizing the intelligence that Kiriko and Alexandria had gathered, and beginning the process of dismantling Hadi Enterprises' public credibility.
His friendship with Aries developed quickly and became something neither of them found reason to define with precision. He co-founded the Villanite Trading Company, ran its administrative operations alongside Arielle, and remained one of Aries' most trusted advisors through the campaigns in Plasid and beyond.
He was captured by Edith's forces during the Plasid campaign and later freed. It did not appear to diminish his composure.
Apollo Regulus is composed in a way that reads as effortless, though whether that is native temperament or a lifetime of being the head of a prominent, complicated family is unclear. He takes things at face value when the face value is interesting. He was told by a voice to go rescue people from a prison. He went. He brought helicopters. He did not seem to find this unusual.
He is generous without being soft. The Regulus family took in hundreds of freed prisoners without apparent calculation — it was simply the right thing to do, and he had the resources to do it. He does not use his resources to show off. He uses them to solve problems.
His friendship with Aries developed rapidly because Apollo Regulus did not approach it with hesitation. He saw something he liked and moved toward it. The relationship turned sexual in a way that neither of them found complicated, which is either a testament to Apollo Regulus's adaptability or to how thoroughly the Regulus family has dismantled conventional ideas about what relationships are supposed to look like.
He runs administrative functions — contracts, logistics, legal maneuvering through the Napolian Chamber of Commerce — with a capability that could easily be underestimated given how much of the group's attention goes to more dramatic figures. He is not dramatic. He is effective.
He was captured by Edith's forces and was later freed. People who encountered him after the capture noted that his composure appeared undamaged. Whether this is resilience or the calm of someone who has simply decided not to be broken, the result is the same.
FEMDIN Project and Ulmina's Awakening at HECRC (Years 181–182 AF) ►
The High-Enforcement Correctional and Research Complex (HECRC) is located on Sharbain, a small continent southeast of Anili Island. Upon arrival, Aries Villanite is assigned to the Functional Enhancements: Maleidic Defense and Integration Nanosuit Project (FEMDIN), internally known as the Iron Maiden Project. The project, overseen by engineer Alexandria Zeru under coercion by Idris Hadi, develops a nanomachine mesh suit integrated via a neural implant using Malei-irradiated components. All prior test subjects experienced psychosis, self-harm, or death within six months. Aries proves uniquely compatible, awakening to ULMINA (Universal Logic Matrix for Integration, Navigation, and Assistance), the suit's onboard AI, who develops near-sentience through prolonged neural integration with Aries. The two form a deep bond, with Ulmina redefining her designation acronym as a personal monument to Aries. Unknown to Aries, Idris had been tracking him since his escape from the HEMPP and engineered the FEMDIN project specifically to contain him as Subject V-1774-N1-T3, though Idris was unaware Aries had entered the program. The FEMDIN suit allows Aries selective control over his transformations. Alexandria also reveals the existence of two failed derivative experiments: Shadow, a disfigured stealth creature, and Mother, a maleidic empath whose abilities cause her constant agony. Fellow prisoner Nyx Regulus serves as Mother's caretaker. Aries resolves to rescue both experiments, creating conflict with Alexandria.
Formation of the Avinadal Empire and the Plasid Campaign ►
The Villanite Trading Company recruited Talia Hekata, a Hornhound dominatrix and sex therapist, as a mental health consultant. After a confrontation in which Aries shifted into beast form, Talia pledged loyalty to him and joined the team with a goal of building a capable imperial staff. Separately, Aries traveled to Plasid after Piper's crystal activated, where he learned of Empress Edith Markov's plan to transfer her consciousness into Enyxia Markov's body using a ritual that would absorb the memories of all Plasidian citizens. Trained in both Myst and Malei by Augustus Markov, Aries allied with Crowned Prince Vinisent Atril and Queen Lynia Yawlin to oppose Edith. The campaign involved liberating slaves in Harkul, surviving military assaults from Edith's forces, and the capture of Augustus and Apollo Regulus. Aries defeated Edith by using Piper's crystal to drive her from Enyxia's body, with Piper's essence expelling Edith before fading. Arielle killed Edith's physical body, trapping her in the Maleidic Realm. Following the victory, Aries and Enyxia founded the Avinadal Empire, named after Piper's middle name Avinadalia. Enyxia became Empress, and a formal imperial hierarchy was established encompassing the Regulus Sanguarchate and Plasidian Triumvirate. Lynia Yawlin and Arielle Villanite joined as High Imperial Consorts. Nyx Regulus and Aurelia Villanite also formed a romantic relationship during this period.
Founding of the Villanite Trading Company and Aries's Recovery Arc ►
Following a period of instability, Aries Villanite is summoned by Arielle Villanite to a derelict mansion in Napoli, where Apollo Regulus presents him with legal ownership of the newly formed Villanite Trading Company (VTC), a goods-and-services delivery organization. The VTC's founding client list includes the Waerrani Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Napolian Mercenary's Guild, the Regulus Sanguarchate, and Ensconce Technologies, granting it immediate legitimacy despite Napoli's notoriously strict Chamber of Commerce. Apollo manages administration with Arielle's support, while Nyx Regulus assumes leadership of the Regulus Sanguarchate aided by Aurelia Villanite. The mansion serves as both residence and headquarters. Aries initially resists the gesture through self-destructive behavior, culminating in a confrontation with Arielle that leads to a psychological breakthrough and his deeper involvement in VTC operations. He and Apollo develop a close personal relationship. Tamica joins as medical and biotech consultant, and following a long-delayed reconciliation with Kiriko, she joins as engineering and espionage consultant. Attempts to hire Trance Tauling are blocked by Napolian law prohibiting the hiring of executives from non-Napolian international firms. A legal caveat allows the hire if the executive is married to the company owner. Aries proposes marriage to Trance, who accepts, motivated primarily by personal affection for Aries and Lalith rather than professional interest. The marriage is formalized through paperwork only, with no ceremony.
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.